"Let's go!" True Person Yuan Mu said after his expression shifted several times. "Leave the main hall, enter the underground palace!"
Seeing Mo Tiange, Qin Xi, and Jing Xingzhi look over at him, seemingly very surprised, and then look back at the Bow of the Vermilion Bird with no intention of leaving, True Person Yuan Mu said in a low voice, "Fellow Daoists, this change in the demonic qi and demonic creatures could mean Demon Lord Guifang has obtained a treasure. This treasure might not be as precious as the Bow of the Vermilion Bird, but for a demonic cultivator, it is absolutely more valuable! If he truly uses it to greatly increase his strength, then..."
"Are the two seniors giving up on the Bow of the Vermilion Bird?" They probably knew more about the Origin Demon Stele in this sacrificial temple than True Person Yuan Mu did. Hearing him say this, Mo Tiange understood the speculation of these two late-Nascent Soul cultivators. With such an event occurring in the underground palace, of course they wanted to leave quickly. But giving up the Bow of the Vermilion Bird? That didn't seem like something True Person Yuan Mu would do. Such a Spirit-Connecting Treasure—if they missed this chance, there wouldn't be another. And now this opportunity was right before their eyes.
This question made True Person Yuan Mu's eyes flicker. He didn't answer directly, instead saying, "The anomaly in the underground palace is equally unsafe for the three of you. Since our goals are aligned now, how about we wipe the slate clean regarding previous matters?"
"..."
Just moments ago they had been fighting fiercely, as incompatible as fire and water. Yet in less than a quarter of an hour, they were shaking hands and making peace, wiping the slate clean. The change was too fast. However, that was how things were in this world. Between gain and loss, between enemy and friend, it was all just a matter of profit.
But True Person Yuan Mu's evasion on the matter of the Bow of the Vermilion Bird was rather unusual.
Mo Tiange's eyes shifted, noticing True Person Yuan Mu's gaze falling on Ling Yunhe. She asked directly, "Senior, are you hoping we agree to let Fellow Daoist Ling take the Bow of the Vermilion Bird before we leave?"
True Person Yuan Mu only paused for a moment before answering gravely, "Correct! To preserve our lives, we must leave quickly. But we cannot leave without taking the Bow of the Vermilion Bird!"
"Heh!" Jing Xingzhi once again wore that seemingly mocking smile. "Fellow Daoist, what benefit is there for us in letting you take the Bow of the Vermilion Bird? You get the Spirit-Connecting Treasure and achieve your goal. And what about us?"
"You..." True Person Yuan Mu frowned, then suddenly took something from his hand and tossed it over.
Qin Xi caught it. It was a Qiankun Ring.
True Person Yuan Mu said calmly, "This Qiankun Ring was found on the remains of an Ancient Era God Transformation Stage cultivator. I won't deceive you—we've taken most of the items inside, but there are still some crystal jades and materials left. Just this Qiankun Ring alone is something one can only encounter by chance in today's cultivation world, let alone seek out. Combined with the items inside, its value matches the total assets of all three of you! How about I use this to compensate you?"
Qin Xi sent his divine sense inside. He saw there were still over a hundred crystal jades, tens of thousands of high-grade spirit stones, and some strange materials. Magical Treasures and commonly used precious items were gone, likely taken by them.
He tossed the Qiankun Ring to Mo Tiange, then looked at Jing Xingzhi. Jing Xingzhi hesitated slightly, then gave a slight nod. Though his words were sarcastic, he wasn't blind to the situation. Their strength was inferior; seizing the Bow of the Vermilion Bird was impossible. Getting some Ancient Era cultivator treasures from two late-Nascent Soul cultivators was already a good outcome.
Mo Tiange held the Qiankun Ring, sweeping her gaze over True Person Yuan Mu and Perfected One Iron-Face. If the three of them were just ordinary cultivators, not to mention the Qiankun Ring itself, just the over hundred crystal jades inside would indeed match their total assets. True Person Yuan Mu was being quite generous. Though it couldn't compare to the Bow of the Vermilion Bird, they were at a disadvantage. Trying to extort more from them wasn't very likely.
The stream of demonic creatures passing through the hall was gradually thinning, and the demonic qi was growing fainter. True Person Yuan Mu grew anxious. "Fellow Daoists, decide quickly! We don't have much time!"
"Senior Yuan Mu," Mo Tiange asked after a moment's thought, "how can you guarantee that once we leave the underground palace, you won't turn hostile?"
"..." True Person Yuan Mu didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned to look at the Bow of the Vermilion Bird. After over a hundred thousand years, the golden bow still shone with a dazzling light, surrounded by leaping flames. The Vermilion Bird's aura was fervent and full of majesty. Even just looking at it, that intangible pressure made it impossible to stare directly.
Cultivators in today's cultivation world habitually called powerful Magical Treasures or materials 'spiritual treasures.' But according to Ancient Era terminology, only Spirit-Connecting Treasures truly deserved the name. After the great changes between heaven and earth, the methods for refining Spirit-Connecting Treasures had long been lost. Even if they survived to this day, they couldn't be forged anymore because the materials required were all astonishing natural treasures that were now untraceable in today's cultivation world. Even in the Ancient Era, Spirit-Connecting Treasures weren't something every high-level cultivator could possess. Only some major sects had a few such treasures.
Now, right before his eyes lay a Spirit-Connecting Treasure, and it was the treasure that guarded the foundation of an Ancient Era great sect. How could he possibly let it go?
"...In that case, I swear by my inner demon that within the Immortal Palace, I will never take the initiative to attack the three Fellow Daoists. If I break this oath, may I be plagued by inner demons, suffer deviation, and lose all my cultivation. How about that?"
Mo Tiange exchanged a surprised look with Qin Xi. Even Jing Xingzhi was stunned. For a late-Nascent Soul cultivator, suffering deviation and losing all cultivation was a very serious oath, especially an inner demon oath.
Being willing to make such an oath showed True Person Yuan Mu had considerable sincerity.
"Since Fellow Daoist has made such an oath, we have no reason not to trust you." Seeing that Mo Tiange and Jing Xingzhi showed no objection, Qin Xi said.
Hearing this, True Person Yuan Mu was overjoyed. He looked toward Ling Yunhe, who was restrained by Jing Xingzhi. "There's no time to lose. This Fellow Daoist Jing..."
Jing Xingzhi wasn't one to drag things out either. He sighed lightly and withdrew the sword energy enveloping Ling Yunhe.
Though he released Ling Yunhe decisively, he still gazed at the Bow of the Vermilion Bird with unwillingness. Having such a Spirit-Connecting Treasure right before his eyes, yet having to watch someone else take it—this feeling was truly unpleasant. But what could he do? Who told him he had only recently formed his Nascent Soul and was no match for them? This world was like that. With strength, one could seize more treasures. With treasures, one's strength grew even greater.
"Yunhe, go!"
Under True Person Yuan Mu's eager gaze, Ling Yunhe took a deep breath and slowly walked toward the altar.
The Bow of the Vermilion Bird... Before the sacred objects emerged, he had never known that the cultivation method he had practiced since childhood was for the sake of such a Spirit-Connecting Treasure.
When he was young, he found it strange. He was from a collateral branch, not a single Spirit Root or exotic Spirit Root cultivator. The Ling family's Nascent Soul ancestor clearly had his own direct descendants—namely his eldest brother, who had returned injured from the Guixu Sea and couldn't participate in the sect master selection. Yet the ancestor showed him unique favor. His cultivation method was personally passed down by the Granduncle. During his cultivation, he often received guidance. This made his other brothers extremely jealous.
They always said the reason he far surpassed his peers was because of the Granduncle's personal guidance. Otherwise, with just his dual Spirit Roots, how could he compare to those single Spirit Root or exotic Spirit Root geniuses? Because of this, he cultivated diligently, never slacking, because he wanted to prove he deserved all this.
And in reality? Water-fire balanced dual Spirit Roots, if cultivating the Ice-Fire Art, were not inferior to single or exotic Spirit Roots. And the Ice-Fire Art the Granduncle passed down to him was one of the top-tier cultivation methods of that Ancient Era great sect. Excellent aptitude, top-tier cultivation method, decent comprehension, plus his own unremitting efforts—this was what forged his reputation as a genius.
Precisely because he wasn't arrogant or impatient, and was diligent and hardworking, the Granduncle was even more satisfied with him. Even the Chief Supreme Elder praised him highly.
He thought he had finally proven his worth through action. But decades ago, when the Heavenly Demon Tower emerged, he learned there was another reason he received so much attention.
The Bow of the Vermilion Bird. So he was the one chosen by the Jiuyan Sect every generation for a hundred thousand years to retrieve the Bow of the Vermilion Bird.
Admittedly, when he learned the truth, he felt a bit disappointed.
So, regardless of whether he worked hard or not, as long as he cultivated the Ice-Fire Art, he would receive such attention. But thinking about it afterward, he felt relieved.
Even so, so what? During the Jiuyan Sect's hundred-thousand-year existence, countless predecessors had been chosen to cultivate the Ice-Fire Art. Most of them reached the Nascent Soul Stage, but until they died of old age, they never got to see the Guixu Sea Secret Realm open, never got to see the Bow of the Vermilion Bird. Compared to them, what did he have to feel wronged about?
Looking from another angle, the opportunity passed down by the founding ancestor, the Jiuyan Sect's greatest secret—all rested on him. What an honor! As the Jiuyan Sect's sect master, an elite disciple cultivated by the sect since childhood, he had already received plenty. Doing something for the sect was nothing. Besides, this Bow of the Vermilion Bird would ultimately be wielded by him. What more was there to be unsatisfied about?
A Spirit-Connecting Treasure! For a hundred thousand years, generations of predecessors had never seen one. A Spirit-Connecting Treasure that no longer existed in the entire human world would finally fall into his hands. For a cultivator, this was an almost unrealizable dream—
"Hiss—" His hand touched the Bow of the Vermilion Bird. The flames on it leaped twice, emitting a faint sound as if resisting. But this resistance wasn't intense. At this moment, faint ice mist rose from his arm, enveloping him. The ice mist met the flames, each devouring the other, eventually suppressing the resistance.
Seeing this scene, True Person Yuan Mu's face showed joy, while Mo Tiange and the other two couldn't help but show disappointment.
Though they had rationally given up on the Bow of the Vermilion Bird, seeing Ling Yunhe could indeed pick it up still made them feel unwilling emotionally. But what could they do? Their strength was inferior, and they couldn't pick up the Bow of the Vermilion Bird either. They said Spirit-Connecting Treasures had their own spirituality and would choose their masters. They had no affinity with it, could only sigh helplessly.
Ling Yunhe revealed a smile. Applying force, he was about to lift the Bow of the Vermilion Bird when suddenly, a powerful force surged from the bow, pouring into his body!
"Ah...!" He cried out in shock, the pain unbearable!
This force was too domineering! It rushed from his palm, through his meridians, into his dantian, almost tearing him apart!
"Yunhe!" True Person Yuan Mu's face changed dramatically as he rushed forward.