Chapter 1034: Obtaining Benefits

"Master!"

"Master Ye!"

When the clouds dispersed and thunder faded, the old man descended before them. Everyone finally came to their senses and hastened forward to bow in salute.

The newcomer was the renowned Venerable Ye of the Dongji Alliance, deeply trusted by the alliance leader himself. He was in charge of training the rising talents within the merchant alliance. Everyone present, including Su Nu, had once received his guidance and thus addressed him as their master.

No one noticed the new shade of gloom that darkened Su Nu’s eyes.

Venerable Ye has actually smuggled himself in here! What exactly is the merchant alliance scheming?

Venerable Ye kept his eyes closed, withdrew the sword light surrounding him, and then his aura shifted rapidly. He seemed to have cast some secret technique, causing his presence to become faint and restrained. He partially sealed his cultivation.

Surveying the group, Venerable Ye frowned. "Why are there only a few of you?"

The long-bearded elder stepped forward respectfully. "Master, Third Junior Brother was delayed at the Mystic Ice Plains of the second trial. Junior Brother Zuo entered the final trial with us, but for some reason never appeared again. He may have encountered some trouble and become trapped."

"Even the Mystic Ice Plains were too much for him? Then he has no right to boast of receiving my instruction!" Venerable Ye snorted coldly, then said indifferently, "Forget it. If they can’t even pass such a simple test, it means they lack the fortune to succeed. Erase all traces here. We will first take the Soul-Cleansing Liquid."

His tone was casual, as though the Soul-Cleansing Liquid was already in his grasp. At those words, everyone froze, then erupted in delight.

Upon seeing their master, each of them had been guessing wildly about his true purpose for entering this realm. Now, learning that he intended to lead them to seize the Soul-Cleansing Liquid, they were ecstatic.

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Originally, the few of them combined still had only a small chance of snatching a portion of the Soul-Cleansing Liquid. Many heirs from the righteous and devilish paths, as well as other powers, were competing and none of them were easy to handle.

For everyone to obtain a share was nearly impossible. But with Venerable Ye involved, things were entirely different.

He was a Spiritual Infant grandmaster of great renown across Canglang Sea, a Venerable[1] of the merchant alliance. For such a figure to compete against Core Formation Realm cultivators for the Soul-Cleansing Liquid was as effortless as taking something from a child.

"Master, did you come here specially to help us obtain the Soul-Cleansing Liquid?" The charming woman’s large eyes sparkled with excitement, her voice sweet and coquettish.

Venerable Ye chuckled. "Do you have any idea how much the alliance leader and the merchant alliance paid to smuggle me in here? Taking the Soul-Cleansing Liquid is merely something I will do along the way. With such a treasure before us, how could we not take it? Once we have it, there are more important matters to handle."

"Ah?" The woman gasped softly, a flicker of worry in her eyes. "Master, the alliance leader sent you here for some grand purpose. Will it be dangerous?"

"The most dangerous part is already over." Recalling his crossing through the multicolored light, Venerable Ye still felt a lingering fear. Not only had all the protective treasures prepared by the merchant alliance been destroyed, but he himself had suffered severe injuries.

And that was only at the glow's outer edge. He could hardly imagine how terrifying the true power of the celestial barrier within must be.

After pausing, Venerable Ye glanced around. "It seems there was quite a commotion here. I cannot act openly in this place. Before seizing the Soul-Cleansing Liquid, we must plan carefully. Let’s leave first, before anyone discovers our presence."

"Yes!" Everyone erased their traces and followed Venerable Ye out of the ravine, avoiding all prying eyes.

Soon, several streaks of evasion light swept across the sky. Those cultivators looked down at the devastated valley, exchanging uncertain glances. After searching fruitlessly, they eventually dispersed.

Not far from the stone peaks, atop another mountain, Ming Wei had already arrived. She found the mark left by Qin Sang and came to meet him.

Qin Sang stood at the edge of a floating peak, gazing toward the valley with a faint frown.

When Venerable Ye entered the realm, the skies above had been in chaos. Winds howled, thunder rolled, and it felt as though divine punishment had descended. The mountain beasts went berserk, and the cultivators were filled with panic.

The disturbance had been greatest near the valley. The phenomenon came and went quickly. Soon, the trial realm returned to calm as if nothing had happened. Even so, Qin Sang could not shake a faint unease in his heart.

"Ming Wei, have such phenomena ever appeared in the trial realm before?" Qin Sang turned to ask.

Standing beside him, Ming Wei appeared completely composed, having easily passed the final trial.

She shook her head confidently. "Never. Many seniors from my sect have entered this realm before. My master ventured here before advancing to the Spiritual Infant Realm and even obtained a portion of the Soul-Cleansing Liquid. A hundred years ago, one of my senior brothers came alone to the inner hall. Though he failed to seize the liquid, he reached the final trial safely. None of them ever encountered such a phenomenon."

"Let’s hope it has nothing to do with the Soul-Cleansing Liquid." Qin Sang sighed softly.

Ming Wei smiled faintly. "That area is far from where the Soul-Cleansing Liquid will emerge. There should be no connection. We should focus on ensuring our success when the time comes."

Qin Sang nodded and withdrew his gaze.

Earlier, Ming Wei had kept her oath and told him everything she knew about the Soul-Cleansing Liquid, including the true function of the Life Talisman.

They had just begun discussing their plans when the strange disturbance interrupted them.

Since then, several cultivators had arrived at the stone peaks, entering the area one after another. Among them were disciples of Heavenly Dao Sect, but Ning Wuhui was nowhere to be seen.

It seems like I will have to work closely with Ming Wei.

Qin Sang thought.

The Life Talisman could be used three times within the trial realm. When activated in danger, it would connect to the hidden barriers of the hidden realm, granting protection. Under its safeguard, the opponent would immediately lose all sense of their target, unable to see or sense them, as if they were in two separate worlds.

Within the trial realm, where no one exceeded the Core Formation Realm, no one could possibly pierce the concealment of the Life Talisman. However, it had limitations. Once activated, one could not move from the spot, and if caught in a perilous environment, it could only delay death for a time.

Ming Wei had already used it once to escape earlier, leaving two remaining. Now, as more cultivators gathered, the Soul-Cleansing Liquid was about to emerge.

The liquid was not within the Hundred-Treasure Pavilion. While the pavilion stood proudly atop the stone peak, the Soul-Cleansing Liquid lay hidden deep underground in a secret cavern.

"The secret cavern is about to open. Let’s set out quickly." Ming Wei could no longer hide her impatience.

The two of them took flight together, heading north from the stone peaks. Along the way, they deliberately split up. Ming Wei even changed her appearance, avoiding recognition so that no one would target her for possessing the Life Talisman.

Deep within the mountain range stood a peculiar ring-shaped mountain. Compared to the other peaks, this one was not tall. What made it strange was the cold, dark mist that gathered within it, a mist unlike any found elsewhere. The moment one entered its perimeter, a chill seemed to rise straight from the depths of the heart.

A few figures floated sparsely around the ring-shaped mountain. They watched and guarded one another, occasionally casting glances into the depths of the black mist, where eagerness and fiery anticipation flickered in their eyes.

Among them, two figures stood out the most. One wore Daoist robes and carried a sword at his waist, his bearing refined and elegant.

The other was dressed in blood-red robes embroidered with a large fanged bat. His complexion, however, was so pale that it appeared eerily unnatural.

1. In Buddhism, "venerable" is a title of respect for monks, nuns, and other esteemed teachers, honoring their wisdom, virtue, and spiritual achievements, rather than their age. ☜