There were many grand halls within this cave dwelling.
Each grand hall had four stone gates, and behind each stone gate was a stone chamber.
At this very moment, inside a stone chamber of one grand hall, over a hundred people were squatting on the ground, carefully picking up some azure-blue, grain-sized particles. Each particle was crystalline and translucent, shimmering with a faint blue light. There were quite a few scattered on the ground, looking to be over a hundred in total.
"Everyone must be extremely careful when picking these up," True Being Da Qian said, stroking his beard as he directed the crowd, his face brimming with a smug and satisfied smile. "These particles seem to have exploded not long ago. The Tai Yin Spiritual Energy contained within is very unstable. Everyone must exercise the utmost caution."
He wasn't the only one. Everyone present felt the same way—True Being Ziyun, Qin Wanli, and even Mu Yulong, who had been furious over Gu Xin's death earlier, had now cast aside his gloom. His handsome face was alight with excitement.
Indeed.
Finding so many Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal particles was absolutely worth the trip.
Even though each one was only the size of a grain of rice, this was, after all, Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal containing Tai Yin Spiritual Energy.
Everyone knew just how precious Tai Yin Spiritual Energy was.
And Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal containing Tai Yin Spiritual Energy was a priceless treasure. It was no exaggeration to say that even a grain-sized piece of Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal was worth a fortune, because this material was simply too precious and too rare. The Tai Yin Spiritual Energy within was perfect for tempering a Golden Core. The world was filled with countless pseudo-Golden Core cultivators, which had driven the price of Tai Yin Spiritual Energy to astronomical heights.
"Well, everyone?" True Being Da Qian asked with a smile. "Following this old man here, obtaining so many Blue Nurturing Frost particles—are you satisfied?"
True Being Ziyun and Qin Wanli both nodded in agreement, their faces unable to conceal their excitement.
"It's good, it's good," Mu Yulong transmitted via secret voice. "But there are many monks and little meat. There are only a bit over a hundred particles. If we divide them equally, it's unknown if each person could even get one. Why don't we...
...take care of these people..." Qin Wanli, wiping the frost short sword in his hand, heard Mu Yulong's words and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He nodded and transmitted back, "I agree. Precious treasures like Blue Nurturing Frost particles would be wasted on them."
True Being Ziyun did not respond, as if he was hesitating.
"That won't do," True Being Da Qian hurriedly transmitted in reply. "This cave dwelling expedition is being led by this old man. If we kill them, my reputation would be ruined..."
Mu Yulong said insidiously, "Senior Da Qian, we can do it without anyone knowing. When we go out later, we can just say they all fell victim to mechanisms...
If I don't talk, and you don't talk, who would know?"
Qin Wanli also smiled sinisterly. "Why not say they were all killed by that guy surnamed Gu? We can come out and testify then, heh heh..."
"Good idea," Mu Yulong laughed. "I was just worried about how to explain Gu Xin's death to the sect. We can pin these people's deaths on that guy surnamed Gu as well. When the time comes, I'll personally take action to erase him."
Seeing that True Being Da Qian and True Being Ziyun were still somewhat hesitant, Mu Yulong added, "These are Blue Nurturing Frost particles containing Tai Yin Spiritual Energy. They are far too precious. Refining just one particle can equal months of arduous cultivation. If we divide them among ourselves, each of us could get at least thirty pieces, heh heh...
Senior Da Qian, what do you think?"
"This..." True Being Da Qian stroked his beard, thinking it over back and forth, but still felt it was inappropriate. "If there were no one else in the cave dwelling, doing this would be fine. But Murong Fei and Wei Qing are also inside. I'm afraid this matter couldn't be hidden from them..." He paused, then continued, "Moreover, there are many stone chambers in the cave dwelling we haven't explored yet, especially that stone gate. This old man always feels there should be something good inside."
As he spoke, True Being Da Qian looked towards the opposite white stone gate. An intricate pattern was imprinted on the gate—it was a formation array. Unfortunately, he couldn't understand it and didn't know what kind of mechanism formation it was. Most of the mechanisms on the other stone gates had either degraded over time, their structures incomplete, or their intricacies lost, making them not too difficult to crack.
Only the mechanism formation on this stone gate remained completely intact in both structure and intricacy. From this, one could infer that the formation eye inside must contain something good!
"A pity! A pity... This mechanism formation is too profound. This old man has never seen its like in his life and doesn't understand its mysteries either. Sigh..."
At that moment, a stone gate within the grand hall suddenly began to glow.
"Not good! Someone is cracking my mechanism!"
After discovering the Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal particles in this grand hall, True Being Da Qian had immediately re-set the mechanism on the stone gate they had entered through. Now, the formation array on the gate was flickering with light, clearly indicating someone was trying to crack it.
But just as he was about to rush over, the stone gate emitted a series of crackling sounds. The mechanism formation had been completely cracked.
"The mechanism's been cracked! Everyone, guard this place quickly!"
Da Qian, Ziyun, Qin Wanli, and Mu Yulong hurriedly withdrew to guard the stone chamber where the Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal particles had been found.
With a hum, the stone gate was pushed open, and two people walked in.
A man and a woman.
The man was handsome with a grave expression; the woman was beautiful with a look of surprise.
They were none other than Wei Qing and Qing Ning.
"So it's Lord Wei Qing and True Being Qing Ning," True Being Da Qian stepped forward and said. "I trust the two of you know the rules of the cave dwelling."
"Don't be nervous. I understand the rules," Wei Qing said indifferently. Beside him, Qing Ning glanced at the scattered Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal particles inside the stone chamber, looking quite astonished, but that was all. She showed no other reaction.
At that moment, another person walked in—a fat monk wearing kasaya robes, with twin hammers hanging at his waist, currently munching on some delicious food.
It was Bu'er.
As soon as Monk Bu'er entered, he looked at Wei Qing, then at Da Qian and the others, and laughed, "Well, well, looks like you've found something good, eh? Hmm? Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal particles? So many? Not bad, not bad... Hey, don't be nervous. This old monk is an honest man. I won't fight you for them."
"You wouldn't dare!" Qin Wanli snorted disdainfully. Although rumors circulated in the surrounding regions that Monk Bu'er carried a curse—that hitting him would bring misfortune—Qin Wanli didn't take it seriously and didn't believe it. Since Wei Qing showed no intention of snatching the treasures, the stone hanging in the hearts of Da Qian and the others also settled.
Meanwhile.
Wei Qing stood quietly. From the moment he entered, he had been staring intently at the intricate formation array on the white stone gate, frowning as if puzzled by something.
Monk Bu'er also took a look, then walked over and said to Wei Qing, "Does it look familiar, doesn't it?"
"Hmm?" Hearing this, Wei Qing's heart couldn't help but jolt. He looked at Monk Bu'er expressionlessly and said in a grave voice, "What do you mean?"
"Heh heh!" Monk Bu'er held a piece of delicious roasted meat, took a fierce bite, chewed, squinted his eyes, and smiled, but said nothing more.
At that moment, Mu Yulong's icy voice suddenly rang out.
"Have you seen that guy surnamed Gu?"
"Guy surnamed Gu?" Monk Bu'er used his sleeve to wipe the grease from the corner of his mouth and asked, "Are you talking about that Master Gu?"
"You've seen him? Where is he?"
"Seen him, I have," Monk Bu'er asked curiously, "What do you want with Master Gu?"
"He killed my junior brother!" Mu Yulong said furiously. "I'm going to tear him to pieces!"
"Your junior brother?" Monk Bu'er scratched his head, clearly not knowing which green onion Mu Yulong's junior brother was. His ignorance didn't mean others didn't know. Upon hearing Mu Yulong's words, Wei Qing's brow twitched slightly, but that was all. Qing Ning, however, was greatly shocked and exclaimed in horror, "Gu Xin is dead? Killed... killed by Gu Qingfeng? When did this happen?"
Mu Yulong snorted coldly and stared at Monk Bu'er, asking, "Where did you see that guy surnamed Gu?"
"What do you want with Master Gu for?"
"I! Said! I'm going to tear him to pieces!" Mu Yulong enunciated each word with a cold, severe shout.
"This old monk doesn't know your junior brother, nor do I know who he is. But..." After finishing the delicious food in his hand, Monk Bu'er fished out a roasted pig's head from his storage bag—its skin red and crispy—and with one bite, tore off the snout. Munching noisily, he said, "If you're thinking of seeking revenge on Master Gu, this old monk advises you to forget it...
Master Gu is not someone you can provoke. You can't afford to mess with that lord."
"Ridiculous!" Mu Yulong, humiliated and enraged, roared sharply. "There isn't a single person in the entire Gilded Lands that I, Mu Yulong, can't afford to mess with!"