Yuelan stomped on the ground over and over again, her expression frustrated.

"Are you sure it’s here?" Xuan asked skeptically.

She turned to him with a glare.

"What? Do you think I’d go around stomping just any piece of grass? Do you think I’m some kind of idiot?"

I won’t answer that.

"Whatever you’re looking for, it’s not here," Sierra chimed in. "Hua Lian and Huang Shuying already checked the places I asked them to. It’s just... gone."

Yuelan finally stopped, turning toward Sierra with a cracking smile.

"So you’re telling me giant pillars and a shrine just up and walked away?"

"..."

Sierra nodded.

"Fuck..." Yuelan sighed, turning to Hanbi. "What about you? You said you had some healing powers? Any way you can check when the grass was grown?"

"What...?" Hanbi froze. "No? I can heal. I’m not a botanist."

As Yuelan was about to speak, Xuan walked over to her and covered her mouth.

"That’s enough of that. You said there was one more location, right?" Xuan asked.

Yuelan began biting his hand, and he was forced to let go.

She pouted and then nodded at him.

"One more, and it’s only a few steps away. Like... I personally visited each one to make sure we’re not being scammed. It doesn’t make sense that something like this just disappeared."

As silence descended, Sierra raised her hand, getting their attention.

"Is it possible that after Xuan absorbed the Qi in that strange realm... he also absorbed the Qi of all the shrines we were going to?"

Yuelan’s eyes widened, then narrowed. "Really? That does sound possible."

With that, she pointed onward.

"We’re not stopping. Everyone, run at full speed. Even you, Sierra. Just don’t trip."

And like that, she vanished from sight first, followed by Xuan, then Hanbi, and finally the others.

Even though she said the shrine was not that far away, it took them nearly half an hour to arrive. And when they did, they were met with the same outcome as Yuelan relentlessly stomped the ground.

She grew furious, and without a moment of hesitation, she actually slammed her foot down, cracking the stone beneath them and nearly making everyone tumble.

But when the earthquake settled, Yuelan exhaled a deep breath.

"Honestly, with these shrines, I feel like I’m going to start having anger issues."

Xuan raised a brow. It was almost like what she did just now didn’t indicate anger issues.

"Anyways... These were the only three I know of. The rest of Europe is a dud. The other continents might have something, but I honestly think that Sierra’s theory is right. There might not be any more shrines left here."

She wiggled her finger in a circle.

"In this world, I mean."

As the last of her words fell, everyone took a moment to process. Xuan, in particular, was expecting to gain more power. However, it seemed like what happened inside the Void Realm really did have an effect out here. And while he was a little disappointed, he had no choice but to accept the reality.

But since that was the case, then that meant they had nothing more to worry about and only had one more clear goal in mind.

"Where did you say that dungeon was again?" Xuan asked.

Yuelan tilted her head. "You wanna go there right now?"

"Why? Do you have some other place in mind?" Xuan replied.

"Nope. I just thought you’d be more depressed after this whole fiasco. Never mind me~" Yuelan said, and tippy-toed to the north.

With her back turned to everyone, she said, "The dungeon is definitely going to be dangerous. If you all are really up for it, then let’s go. But this is the final time I’m allowing you to back out," she added.

None raised any objections, until...

"I’m feeling a little spooked, mistress," Huang Shuying said with a raised hand. "May I take my leave now?"

"Uhh..."

"She’s just kidding, mistress," Hua Lian chimed in with a smile, and gave Huang Shuying a quick bonk over the head.

Yuelan didn’t seem convinced, but even so, after Huang Shuying didn’t raise any more objections, Yuelan took that as approval.

And so, after giving them the general layout of the dungeon, Yuelan finally led them all toward it.

.

.

.

(Three hours later...)

After non-stop running, the group finally halted. In front of them was a large city, surrounded by a thick stone barricade. If he had to guess, this wasn’t here the last time Yuelan was here.

"Hmm..." Yuelan rubbed her chin, then turned to Xuan. "Change of plans. We’re demolishing them and taking the dungeon."

"Why don’t we try talking it out first?" Xuan suggested.

"Yeah, that won’t really work," Yuelan replied, avoiding his gaze.

Her cheeks flushed slightly.

"I may or may not have accidentally tested my full strength around here. Uhh... Let’s just say they had two more cities side by side and a massive wheat farm."

"..."

So they are acquainted. Xuan closed his eyes. But as expected, she’s a troublemaker. Reaaaaally big troublemaker.

"So now what?" Hanbi crossed her arms. "Did you bring a disguise?"

Yuelan shook her head again.

"They have someone like Sierra on their side. They probably already detected us."

Then, she turned toward the giant gates of the city that had suddenly opened. Through them, hundreds of cultivators dashed out and, with hatred in their eyes, headed straight for them.

Yuelan nodded innocently. "Mhm. Yeah. There they are."

At those words, and the sight of the approaching cultivators, every single one of them entered a combat stance.

Sure, they could probably just smash their way through, but with so many people being at least at the Spirit Warrior realm, he wasn’t sure he could fight without accidentally killing them.

So slow and steady was the plan, but when he turned toward Yuelan, a hint of worry began welling up in his chest.

Yuelan raised her hand as a miniature black vortex appeared in the air. It grew larger with every passing second, and after just five seconds, Yuelan spiked the black vortex like a volleyball, sending it hurtling toward the cultivators.

When it reached them, it suddenly condensed, then rapidly expanded, turning the majority of the cultivators into dust while severely injuring the rest.

Yuelan coughed once, then gave Xuan a cheeky smile.

"I’m not really big on talking with my enemies. Sorry."

"..."

This girl needs to learn restraint.