Upon learning that Mo Tiange was a disciple of Dao Lord Xuanyin, Ren Yufeng's attitude immediately changed. Previously, while he hadn't looked down on Mo Tiange as dismissively as he did Jiang Shanghang and the other sect disciples, he had only maintained a surface-level respect. Now, however, his eyes held a trace of genuine deference.
A disciple of a Nascent Soul cultivator, even if only a nominal disciple, was several times more esteemed than a disciple of a Core Formation cultivator. And based on Ren Yufeng's speculation, she was likely a formal disciple. Since Dao Lord Xuanyin had only recently formed his Nascent Soul, most of his disciples were probably still in the Foundation Establishment stage. Given the cultivation level and methods Mo Tiange had displayed, she was certainly qualified to be a personal disciple of a Core Formation cultivator.
As Ren Yufeng corrected his attitude internally, he also felt a pang of jealousy. How did others have such luck, to be accepted as disciples under Core Formation masters, only to have their masters coincidentally form their Nascent Souls? Meanwhile, he had to painstakingly scheme for everything himself.
However, no matter how jealous he was, he still had to put on a polite and respectful front for now. Fortunately, Mo Tiange wasn't an arrogant or overbearing person, which spared him too much discomfort.
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Lu Rongsheng and Xiang Zhiyang finally finished treating their injuries.
"Senior Brother Ren," called the one who came to summon them. It was that Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator named Tang Fang, who appeared to be the youngest among the nine Zhengfa Sect members. He glanced somewhat timidly at Mo Tiange before addressing Ren Yufeng. "Senior Brother Lu and Senior Brother Xiang's injuries have stabilized. Shall we set off now?"
"Ah," Ren Yufeng looked over. Indeed, Lu Rongsheng and Xiang Zhiyang were both standing, though their faces were still pale, their demeanors had returned to normal. The Fifth-Rank Water Carp Beast's corpse had also been processed. "Then let's continue."
Ren Yufeng turned back to Mo Tiange. "Junior Sister Ye, regarding the demon beast's corpse, we'll divide it after leaving the Land of Hidden Dragons. Is that acceptable?"
"Acceptable."
The group of ten reunited and, led by Ren Yufeng, continued forward.
Mo Tiange followed the team silently, but a sense of foreboding grew in her heart.
Lu Rongsheng and Xiang Zhiyang appeared to be quite severely injured. Even if they had suppressed their wounds, they likely couldn't exert much combat power if a fight broke out. Ren Yufeng was too arrogant. Tang Fang and Yu Xiaoran were too green. The two female cultivators, Ai Xian and Xia Houyuan, seemed to lack initiative. There was also a male cultivator named Qiu Zhiming, but nothing about him stood out yet. Jiang Shanghang was the only one she was familiar with; his methods and intellect were both solid. He was likely the only one who could be considered a reliable partner.
For such a team to enter a place guarded by a Fifth-Rank demon beast was truly not ideal.
She didn't believe Ren Yufeng's claim that there was only a single Seventh-Rank demon beast guarding the place. A location said to possess the so-called "Breath of the Divine Dragon" couldn't possibly be simple.
In the midst of her silent contemplation, Ren Yufeng, leading the way, stopped and turned. "Junior Brothers and Sisters, we've reached the Divine Dragon Stele. Prepare to lift the restriction."
Reached it? Mo Tiange was puzzled. Wasn't the Divine Dragon Stele supposed to have the Breath of the Divine Dragon? Why didn't she feel even a hint of it? She looked up. The surrounding scenery was no different from elsewhere—still deep blue seawater and coral scattered everywhere.
"Junior Sister Ye," Ren Yufeng called. "There's a restriction placed around the Divine Dragon Stele. We need to lift it first before we can enter. Junior Brother Xiang and Junior Brother Lu are both injured, and the others' cultivation levels are insufficient. Please lend me a hand."
Mo Tiange pondered for a moment, then nodded. "...Alright." Aside from her, there were no other mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators present.
With her agreement, Ren Yufeng pointed to a spot beside him. "This restriction was placed by a Nascent Soul senior from our sect. I have a method to temporarily lift it, but it consumes a vast amount of Spiritual Qi. We need to set up a Spirit Gathering Array first. However, a hastily arranged Spirit Gathering Array can't accommodate so many people at once. Currently, besides me, Junior Sister Ye has the highest cultivation. Please stand with me within this Spirit Gathering Array. When the time comes, just transfer your Spiritual Qi to me."
Mo Tiange complied and stepped over. Ren Yufeng immediately set up a simple Spirit Gathering Array around the two of them.
Mo Tiange examined it. This Spirit Gathering Array was crafted unusually well; it seemed to be the work of a Core Formation cultivator. This Ren Yufeng was quite wealthy. Why, then, hadn't he employed any effective means during the fight with the Water Carp Beast?
Before she could ponder further, the array was set. Ren Yufeng began forming hand seals. He took out a jade slip, swiped his finger, and forced out a drop of essence blood, dripping it onto the slip. A thread of light ignited from the jade slip, and in an instant, the Spirit Gathering Array blazed with radiance as Spiritual Qi frantically gathered.
"Junior Sister Ye, lend me your strength!" Ren Yufeng shouted.
Without a word, Mo Tiange pressed her palms together, gathered her Spiritual Qi, placed them against Ren Yufeng's back, and channeled her energy into his meridians.
The light from the jade slip grew brighter and brighter, finally coalescing into a beam of spiritual light. Mo Tiange felt as if, in that moment, all the Spiritual Qi in her body was madly surging toward Ren Yufeng—or more precisely, she wasn't actively transferring Qi to him; Ren Yufeng was *siphoning* her Spiritual Qi!
The jade slip, having absorbed the Spiritual Qi from Ren Yufeng and her, continued to greedily draw from the Spirit Gathering Array. Mo Tiange had no choice but to grab a handful of Spirit Restoration Pills and stuff them into her mouth. But the meager Spiritual Qi they replenished was quickly drained by the jade slip.
Mo Tiange's expression changed. What kind of restriction was this? Even with a token, it required such an immense amount of Spiritual Qi. It was far too domineering!
Fortunately, just as her Spiritual Qi was about to be completely exhausted, the jade slip stopped absorbing. Ren Yufeng let out a loud shout, and the jade slip erupted with light once more, engulfing the entire group...
Mo Tiange felt as if something had opened. Immediately afterward, a powerful force rushed into her body, violently barging into her meridians with an overbearing posture.
"Ah—" An instant of excruciating pain, as that force crushed through her meridians and internal organs. She nearly lost consciousness.
"Junior Sister Ye! Junior Sister Ye!"
In her dazed state, she heard someone calling her. That was—Jiang Shanghang's voice.
Jiang Shanghang spoke to Ren Yufeng with anger. "Senior Brother Ren, were you trying to kill Junior Sister Ye? This restriction has a backlash! You actually let Junior Sister Ye bear that force alone!"
After a moment, Ren Yufeng's voice came, tinged with some remorse. "I didn't anticipate that Junior Sister Ye's cultivation foundation would be so profound. The Spiritual Qi she transferred to me exceeded my own. That force naturally targeted her. I didn't have time to..."
Then came that haughty voice of Ai Xian. "Junior Brother Jiang, what do you mean by that? Would Senior Brother Ren deliberately injure *your* Junior Sister Ye?" By the end, her tone carried a hint of contempt, clearly implying something.
Jiang Shanghang was furious. "Senior Sister Ai! Junior Sister Ye is someone I invited. Naturally, I must ensure her safety!"
"Then why are you yelling at Senior Brother Ren?" Ai Xian didn't back down an inch. "Don't forget your status! You're just an ordinary disciple. Senior Brother Ren is an elite disciple. How dare you speak to Senior Brother Ren like that?"
Jiang Shanghang didn't reply further, but Mo Tiange could feel the hand supporting her trembling.
Even if she had any grievances against Jiang Shanghang, at this moment, Mo Tiange felt no anger. Given Jiang Shanghang's status within the Zhengfa Sect, he wouldn't have dared to offend Ren Yufeng before. Yet he was willing to stand up for her now. That was already quite remarkable.
Did Ren Yufeng not know? Mo Tiange sneered inwardly. Although she had been wary of this man, she hadn't expected him to scheme against her even before entering the Underground Palace. It seemed she still hadn't been careful enough. She hadn't anticipated that Ren Yufeng, upon learning she was a disciple of Dao Lord Xuanyin, would still dare to plot against her like this!
However, Ren Yufeng probably didn't know that her meridians were different from ordinary cultivators', did he? This backlash force, which could seriously injure a normal cultivator, wasn't too severe for her. As long as she treated her injuries for a short while, she could recover eighty percent. Then, taking a Biyan Pill and resting briefly would suffice.
Someone parted her lips and slipped a pill into her mouth. Then she heard Jiang Shanghang's voice transmission. "Junior Brother Ye, this matter is my failure to protect you adequately. If you're still conscious, heal quickly. I will get you out safely."
Hearing this, Mo Tiange swallowed the pill and silently began circulating her energy.
She didn't know what pill Jiang Shanghang had given her, but as soon as it entered her stomach, a cool stream of Spiritual Qi spread out, immediately alleviating her pain.
"Junior Brother Jiang," Ren Yufeng's voice now held no trace of remorse. "It seems your relationship with this Junior Sister Ye is quite extraordinary!"
Jiang Shanghang replied coldly, "Junior Sister Ye and I have shared life-and-death experiences. Naturally, it's not an ordinary relationship."
"So, you're very dissatisfied with me now, are you?"
"I wouldn't dare!" Although he said he wouldn't dare, Jiang Shanghang's voice didn't soften as it usually did. "Senior Brother Ren's actions naturally don't require explanation to an ordinary disciple like me."
"You'd better remember that!" Ai Xian interjected. "Without Senior Brother Ren, we wouldn't even be able to enter. What treasure hunting would there be? You're not foolish enough to turn against us for your Junior Sister Ye, are you?"
"Of course not." Jiang Shanghang slowly exhaled. "After all, I am a disciple of the Zhengfa Sect. The status of you Senior Brothers and Sisters is above mine..."
"Junior Brother Jiang, you've always been reasonable. You haven't disappointed this Senior Brother," Ren Yufeng said with unprecedented amiability. "We are all fellow sect disciples. Why lose harmony over an outsider? Since Junior Sister Ye has unfortunately suffered severe injuries, there's nothing we can do. Treasure hunting is urgent. Let's enter the Underground Palace first. We can take Junior Sister Ye with us when we come out..."
"Senior Brother Ren!" Jiang Shanghang said. "This place isn't entirely safe. If we leave Junior Sister Ye alone here, what if danger arises?"
"Treasure hunting carries its own dangers too!" Ren Yufeng's tone, now devoid of its former arrogance, was even more unpleasant in its slickness. "If Junior Sister Ye is truly that unfortunate, then we can only blame bad luck."
"..." Jiang Shanghang remained silent for a long time.
Ren Yufeng continued leisurely, "Of course, Junior Brother Jiang, if you wish to stay with Junior Sister Ye, I can't stop you. How about this: we won't close the entrance to the Underground Palace. After Junior Sister Ye wakes up, the two of you can enter later. How does that sound?"
His words sounded pleasant, but only he knew what the situation inside the Underground Palace was like. He had gathered so many people to seek treasure here, yet now he planned to abandon the two of them. Once they entered the palace, what were their chances of survival? Mo Tiange sneered inwardly. This Ren Yufeng was truly shameless, scheming against her like this. Once her injuries healed, she would definitely settle this score!
Jiang Shanghang remained silent. Mo Tiange could imagine the struggle in his heart. He yearned to become stronger, to advance. This treasure hunt was extremely important to him. Asking him to give it up was truly unwilling.
In truth, even if Jiang Shanghang didn't stay, Mo Tiange wasn't worried. Her injuries weren't severe; she could get up at any time. But she still hoped Jiang Shanghang would stay.