After Han Shizhi finished speaking, several gazes hardened, revealing a hint of ferocity.
Indeed, such were the rules of the cultivation world. The Nine Swords Sect had held the position of the top sect in Yunzhong for tens of thousands of years. Could it be that during all those years, no other cultivators ever contested them? Of course not. Treasure-seizing was treasure-seizing; the grudges formed were personal vendettas. Sects generally didn't interfere too much.
Even taking a thousand steps back, if one truly incurred the Nine Swords Sect's ire, they could simply avoid them. If the Nine Swords Sect truly pressed step by step, cutting off all paths of survival, then the cultivators of Yunzhong would rise up together to oppose them.
Juewu, standing to the side, seemed somewhat hesitant. He said uncertainly, "But... if the treasure has already recognized a master, how can it be seized again?"
Han Shizhi shot him a glance, inwardly looking down on Juewu's gentle and weak character. He said, "If there's no master, then it's not recognized, right?"
After these words, the gazes falling upon Ling Yunhe grew even more malicious.
Ling Yunhe's smile vanished, his expression turning grim. The moonlight radiance still transformed into a jade blade, held in his hand. "If you gentlemen wish to act, then there's no need for further talk."
"Heh heh, young Ling, I like your temperament!" Venerable Xuxiang shouted loudly, hoisting his monk's staff and stepping forward. "Come on, come on. I won't bully you all. Come at me together."
Before Ling Yunhe could react, Demon Lord Yeshuang, who was standing to the side with her arms crossed, let out a derisive snort. "I say, monk, aren't you overestimating yourself? Didn't you see that old zombie and Old Donkey Ma were driven off by them?"
"Heh," Venerable Xuxiang immediately retorted, "then why don't you join me? If the two of us take care of these juniors, won't Old Yue and Old Donkey Ma dare to act so arrogantly in front of us anymore?"
"They've never dared to act arrogantly in front of me," Demon Lord Yeshuang said coolly, her gaze flicking towards Han Shizhi. "Besides, as a great Late-Nascent Soul cultivator, it's not my place to be the vanguard for juniors."
Hearing her words, Venerable Xuxiang scratched his head and smacked his lips. "Old Ye, why do I feel there's something off about what you're saying?"
Demon Lord Yeshuang lifted the corner of her mouth, a flash of helplessness crossing her icy face. "Monk, it's truly a wonder you managed to cultivate to the Late-Nascent Soul stage."
Venerable Xuxiang nodded earnestly. "That's true, but you've said that many times, Old Ye."
"Yet every time I see you, I can't help but say it again," Demon Lord Yeshuang sighed. "Forget it. If you want to fight, then fight. Don't call on me."
"What a pity," Venerable Xuxiang muttered, then thought for a moment and asked, "Old Ye, are you just not interested, or are you waiting to reap the spoils?"
Demon Lord Yeshuang couldn't help but rub her forehead. Leaning against the stone wall, she said, "What use is some divine beast inheritance to us demonic cultivators? Why should I get involved in this commotion?"
"Then you..."
Pestered too much, Demon Lord Yeshuang shot him a cold glance. "Can't I just watch?"
"Yes, yes," Venerable Xuxiang nodded repeatedly. His temper might be a bit fiery, but he knew who he could and couldn't afford to provoke. Shifting his attention to Ling Yunhe and the others, he said, "Juniors, come on!"
"..."
Mo Tiange looked at Demon Lord Yeshuang, their eyes meeting. She smiled and gave a slight nod. The corner of Demon Lord Yeshuang's mouth lifted slightly, resembling a smile.
"Aren't you coming yet?" After waiting for a long time with no movement from them, Venerable Xuxiang asked impatiently, "What are you doing? Scared?"
Ling Yunhe sighed and asked, "Venerable Xuxiang, do you truly intend to seize the treasure, or are you just here for the excitement?"
"...Excitement to be had, treasure to be seized," Venerable Xuxiang declared resolutely.
Ling Yunhe's expression turned solemn. "Then this junior will not stand on ceremony." As soon as the words left his mouth, the crescent moon jade blade shot out like light and lightning. Simultaneously, his figure retreated, and the God-Restricting Bead floating above his head suddenly erupted with brilliant radiance.
Venerable Xuxiang remained rooted to the spot, palms pressed together. A golden light burst forth from between his palms, and instantly, the illusory image of a Buddha statue, also with palms pressed together and a compassionate expression, materialized, overlapping with his form.
"Ming King Aspect!" Ling Yunhe narrowed his eyes. His sleeve moved as he recalled the moonlight, but the God-Restricting Bead above his head shone even brighter. The Ming King Aspect was a common defensive technique among Buddhist disciples, practiced by nearly every one of them. However, few cultivated it to its peak. At Venerable Xuxiang's level, beneath the Ming King Aspect, ordinary methods could hardly harm him. Therefore, Ling Yunhe decisively withdrew his own magic treasure, supplementing it with the God-Restricting Bead, switching to a powerful divine sense attack.
"Heh, now that's a real treasure!" Looking at the God-Restricting Bead, Venerable Xuxiang's eyes lit up, but he said, "If Old Man Yuan Mu were using it, this monk really wouldn't be able to withstand it. What a pity..."
Before he could finish, a sword light flashing with golden lightning cleaved down. With a tearing sound, it ripped a gash in the Buddha light. Venerable Xuxiang turned his head to see Mo Tiange smiling at him. "Venerable Xuxiang, what's such a pity?"
"..." He had intended to lament that Ling Yunhe's cultivation wasn't sufficient, never expecting these people would actually help him. Venerable Xuxiang was left speechless.
Mo Tiange's move seemed to have stirred up a hornet's nest. Nan Guitian and Daoist Ruyi exchanged a glance and simultaneously made their move.
Nan Guitian flicked his right hand, sending a coin soaring high into the air. It suddenly enlarged, its square hole aiming to ensnare Ling Yunhe.
Before Daoist Ruyi, five small flags of different colors materialized, arranged in a peculiar pattern. With a light wave of his hand, the five small flags began to rotate at varying speeds, and the surrounding spiritual energy started to fluctuate—
"Clang—" A collision sounded as Nan Guitian's coin was struck by Jing Xingzhi's sword light. The others were also poised to strike.
One Late-Nascent Soul cultivator, two mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators... and it was uncertain if other cultivators would seize the opportunity to act as well. This was absolutely not the time to hold back.
Mo Tiange's gaze was fixed on Daoist Ruyi. She knew full well how terrifying a Nascent Soul formation master who could set up temporary arrays and influence the flow of surrounding spiritual energy could be. Back then, without Tian Zhiqian, Ling Yunfei would never have dared to set up that lethal trap for Ling Yunhe.
"Senior Brother..." she called out.
Qin Xi knew what she wanted to say. The Three Yang True Fire Sword mercilessly targeted Daoist Ruyi.
And at that moment, the Nascent Soul cultivators swarmed forward like a tide.
Everyone understood this was their best chance. In the chaos, they might become the winners—with their level of strength, they didn't have the luxury of standing idly by.
Only two people remained unmoving: Demon Lord Yeshuang and Juewu.
Demon Lord Yeshuang leaned against the stone wall with her arms crossed, her gaze indifferent as she watched the chaotic battle before her, showing not the slightest intention of getting involved.
Her eyes shifted slightly, looking at Juewu. "Aren't you joining in?"
Juewu hesitated for a long time before finally sighing and shaking his head. "My Senior Uncle only asked me to come and see what was happening. He didn't say to seize the treasure. Since the treasure has already recognized a master, to still engage in slaughter... the killing intent would be too heavy, detrimental to cultivation..."
The corner of Demon Lord Yeshuang's mouth lifted, a rare smile appearing. "I thought it was because you had old ties with them that you were unwilling to act."
Juewu scratched his bald head sheepishly. "That is also a reason... Fellow Daoist Mo once gave me a way out. I don't wish to..."
Demon Lord Yeshuang sighed. "If you don't wish to act, you'd best return early. Needless to say, this chaotic situation is unfolding. Yueying and Old Donkey Ma won't let matters rest."
Juewu was taken aback. "Senior, weren't they driven off?"
"They're just waiting to reap the spoils," Demon Lord Yeshuang said coolly. "Once both sides are wounded, they'll naturally reappear."
"Ah..." Juewu was startled, then cautiously looked at Demon Lord Yeshuang. "And what about you, Senior?"
Demon Lord Yeshuang shook her head. "This Lord never lies. Not interested means not interested." As she spoke, she leaned back against the stone wall, closing her eyes as if entering a meditative state.
Juewu hesitated for another moment before finally sighing. "Forget it. I'd better return and report to my Senior Uncle." With that, he turned and left.
Apart from Juewu, the others lacked such "enlightenment." Cultivators who had entered the sacrificial temple arrived in waves, rushing to this place and throwing themselves into the front line of the treasure-seizing. Unfortunately, the passage was too narrow, completely unable to accommodate over twenty Nascent Soul cultivators battling. As a result, Mo Tiange and her group held the advantage of terrain, guarding the entrance. No matter how many people came, only two or three could actually engage at a time.
Mo Tiange's group was few in number but strong in strength. Qin Xi, Jing Xingzhi, and Yang Chengji stood on the front line, their defense unbreakable.
At first, these cultivators were full of fervor. But as time passed and they failed to make headway despite prolonged assaults, other thoughts gradually arose. There were over twenty of them, yet only two or three were directly engaged in combat. If they charged to the front, wouldn't they just be doing the hard work for others? If they got injured, not only would they be unable to seize the treasure from others, but they'd be lucky if others didn't take the opportunity to rob them. These few were strong; earlier, Daoist Ruyi had nearly been killed by a combined attack, and he was a well-known mid-stage cultivator of many years.
Slowly, the offensive slackened. No one wanted to be the sacrificial pawn, benefiting others. Later, they even began to shirk responsibility among themselves, ceasing their attacks.
"Brother Ruyi," Nan Guitian transmitted his voice, casting a meaningful glance at Daoist Ruyi.
Daoist Ruyi understood. He distanced himself from the crowd, hiding at the back. He had been injured earlier by the combined attack of Qin Xi and Mo Tiange. Now that everyone was slacking off, his behavior seemed normal, and no one paid him much attention.
"Brother Nan, this can't go on. In your opinion, what should we do?"
Nan Guitian stroked his plump belly, glancing outside. "Earlier, when that old monk Xuxiang acted, I thought we might be able to take advantage and pick up some benefits. I never expected that in just a few decades, these juniors' strength had grown so rapidly. Not only did we fail to get what we wanted, but Brother Ruyi was also injured..." He clasped his hands apologetically towards Daoist Ruyi.
Daoist Ruyi waved his hand. "We've been friends for hundreds of years. Why stand on ceremony? The problem now is whether we can seize it or not."
The two of them looked at the scene ahead, falling silent for a moment.
If all these people swarmed forward, no matter how fast these juniors' strength had grown, they couldn't hold out. After all, there were over twenty Nascent Soul cultivators here, not a few at the mid-stage, plus Venerable Xuxiang, a late-stage cultivator. As for Mo Tiange and her group, they only had three mid-stage, three early-stage, plus an eighth-rank demon beast and an early-stage puppet. But how could they possibly join forces without any reservations? Everyone harbored thoughts of fishing in troubled waters, so no one was willing to risk their lives—including the two of them.
"In my opinion, we should retreat for now," Nan Guitian suddenly said.
"Brother Nan..." Daoist Ruyi was somewhat surprised.
On Nan Guitian's oily face, his small eyes gleamed with shrewdness. He glanced towards the end of the passage. "Old Donkey Ma has disappeared again, who knows where."
Daoist Ruyi paused upon hearing this, then quickly nodded. "I'll follow your lead, Brother Nan."
That old fellow Old Donkey Ma could be said to be the craftiest among Nascent Soul cultivators. When there was still hope, how could he truly leave? Rather than letting him reap the spoils, it was better to leave temporarily and see what trick he was up to.