Chapter 121: The Wanted Notice and the Minor Kings List

An elderly man, dressed with the air of an immortal sage, approached holding a medicinal pill. Although his words feigned a polite request for an exchange with Duanmu Meng'er, his expression and demeanor made it clear he intended to seize it by force. At that moment, everyone else in the mystical realm was preoccupied with excavating treasures, leaving no one to intervene.

Duanmu Meng'er naturally had no desire to trade; the Fragmented Jade Crystal was not something easily acquired. She gripped the crystal tightly, biting her lower lip. Being unskilled in social confrontation, she did not know how to handle the situation.

"Well? Did you not hear me? Hand it over immediately, and don't force me to take action."

Seeing that Duanmu Meng'er remained silent and motionless, the old man grew exasperated. He took a step forward, and she retreated in kind. In that moment, her thoughts turned to Chu Han; he was her only hope. Had they been outside, her own strength would have rendered this old man inconsequential, but here, her cultivation was suppressed to the Divine Bridge realm. Lacking Chu Han’s peerless power, she dared not fight him herself.

Glancing back, she saw Chu Han still intently focused on his digging. A sense of grievance welled up within her, but her gaze sharpened. There was no other choice; she would have to fight.

Just as she prepared to move, a hand gripped hers. Her heart skipped a beat as Chu Han stepped out from behind her. "Trash. To be as old as you are and bullying a young girl? It’s a disgrace to speak of. Have you wasted all your years living like a dog?"

Chu Han spoke with cold finality before stepping in front of Duanmu Meng'er. Previously, she had never felt the need for protection—after all, she came from a place of great power—but entering this realm had taught her that, regardless of her origins, she was still just a woman. She stood obediently behind him, trusting that no matter the circumstances, this was the man she could rely on.

"Who do you think you are? Don't think that because you beat a few incompetent fools, you can act so arrogant. Get lost now, or you’ll both die here."

The old man snorted, showing no regard for Chu Han. While Chu Han had demonstrated formidable strength earlier, the old man did not believe he was inferior. Chu Han glanced at the insignia on the man’s robes; he belonged to the Hantian Sect. It was a mid-tier sect—decently powerful, but a far cry from the transcendent major factions.

Too lazy to waste more words, Chu Han threw a punch. The old man scoffed in disdain, dodging the attack with a shift of his body. He formed his left hand into a claw, reaching toward Chu Han’s back. Yet, despite missing his first strike, Chu Han didn't even turn his head; he simply lifted his right leg and kicked the old man squarely in the chest.

The old man flew backward, slamming into the wall. His bones shattered upon impact, and he was left barely drawing breath, dying instantly.

Chu Han walked over and squatted beside him. "Heh, remember in your next life that there are people you shouldn't provoke. As for your belongings, I’ll consider them my spoils of war."

Chu Han took the pill and sniffed it; he couldn't help but feel delighted. Though he didn't know its exact properties and would need to test it, the scent clearly indicated it was a high-grade pill, which was quite a find.

As time passed, a ten-second countdown appeared in the center of the realm. Chu Han was startled, unsure of what it portended.

"Chu Han, hurry! If we aren't out by the time the clock hits zero, we’ll be trapped here forever," Duanmu Meng'er said anxiously. A sphere of light appeared behind them—the exit to the realm.

Chu Han dug with even greater urgency. He had gained nothing since entering, while others had walked away with at least something. He was unwilling to leave empty-handed. He had already abandoned hope for the item the Tianyi Sect desired, but he desperately wanted some consolation prize. Alas, things did not go his way; he found nothing.

Soon, only three seconds remained. Duanmu Meng'er was in a panic, and Chu Han was drenched in sweat. Suddenly, he spotted a rusted iron shard under his feet, its edges nearly corroded away. With no time to spare, he grabbed it and pulled Duanmu Meng'er into the sphere of light.

They were instantly transported back to the great hall where they had started. Chu Han breathed a sigh of relief. They had entered the light with only one second to spare; they had nearly been trapped inside.

"Come on, let’s leave. There's no point in wasting more time here."

Duanmu Meng'er nodded, her face reddening slightly. Chu Han found this strange but said nothing, walking out of the treasury with her.

Once outside, Chu Han felt an immense surge of energy. Everyone had regained their true strength. He found himself surrounded by experts at the Inscription realm and even some half-step Great Sages, which gave him quite a shock. Inside the treasury, his suppressed power had made him invincible, but back in the outside world, he was only at the Dao Palace realm and stood no chance against such powerhouses.

"You have offended quite a few people today. You should head to the Tianyi Sect trials. I need to return home. Be careful—there are many organizations in Central City looking to eliminate you. Act with caution and never be impulsive."

Duanmu Meng'er spoke with solemnity before drifting away. Once she was out of sight, her voice drifted back to Chu Han's ears: "Thank you for earlier. I hope we meet again soon."

Hearing this, Chu Han smiled slightly. He understood why she thanked him; he had helped her in the treasury. After spending so much time together, and having relied on each other for survival, they were no longer bitter enemies. On the contrary, Duanmu Meng'er had developed feelings for him—something she had yet to realize herself, and the same was true for Chu Han. This brush with death had brought their hearts closer.

Feeling the strange, hostile gazes of those around him, Chu Han swallowed hard. If these people decided to strike, he wouldn't even have a chance to retaliate. He slipped away quietly, making a swift escape.

Since he could now head to the Taiyi Sect for the trials, he decided not to idle. He set off directly for Central City, where the Taiyi Sect was based.

Central City was perhaps the largest city in the world. It belonged to no nation, controlled entirely by the various sects of the cultivation world. It was a paradise for practitioners, a place where one could purchase high-level techniques and pills—anything one could desire.

Entering Central City, Chu Han was struck with astonishment. It was his first time there, and the city was teeming with people—more than even the Imperial Capital of Great Chu—and it was filled with formidable experts.

As he wandered the streets, he saw a large crowd gathered, pointing and whispering. Curious, he approached to look, and what he saw nearly scared him to death.

Posted on the wall was a wanted poster. The portrait depicted none other than Chu Han, issued by over a dozen sects combined, complete with a bounty. Seeing the scale of the pursuit, Chu Han couldn't help but find it amusing. He wasn't afraid; he was heading to the Taiyi Sect to participate in their trials anyway. Once he was inside, he would have nothing to fear.