Chapter 284: Suspicions

Sheng Yuanzi, with his hair and beard entirely white, appeared to be of a similar age to Wandering Man. He had the demeanor of an immortal-like Daoist Master, yet his expression and tone carried a palpable mockery that clashed with his otherwise ethereal bearing.

Before Yu Kong could respond, another voice suddenly interjected, "Old Geezer, you're no better than Old Geezer Yu! Fellow Daoists, you'd best be cautious, or you might find yourselves being sold out by these two old devils and still thanking them for it!"

Luo Xingnan had arrived.

Qin Sang watched quietly, surprised. From his previous investigations, he had learned that Yu Kong and the other two had ceased working together after leaving Qiuhong Market last time, each going their separate ways, seemingly determined never to cross paths again. Yet, here they were, their mutual resentment running this deep.

Faced with a major event, they had immediately begun tearing each other down in public.

Sheng Yuanzi snorted coldly and retorted sarcastically, "Old Geezer Luo, you're the most treacherous one here. If you ask me, Daoist Shao's death last time had everything to do with you!"

Luo Xingnan scoffed. "You are always crying thief to cover your own crimes. And Yu Kong? He's nothing but a silent old dog that bites without barking! If I weren't naturally cautious, I'd have been devoured by the two of you long ago!"

...

After a heated exchange, veins bulged on Sheng Yuanzi’s forehead. Yu Kong, meanwhile, remained calm despite being called an "old dog." His expression betrayed little anger, and his tone remained level, as though the insult had been directed at someone else entirely.

"Before Daoist Shao's demise, I was the only one among us who had no dealings with him. I still don’t understand what treasure could drive you all to such extremes, to the point of betraying a fellow Daoist and killing him," Sheng Yuanzi declared with a grim face.

Yu Kong sighed and shook his head. "Say whatever you will. At this point, I trust none of you. Whoever the murderer may be, it has nothing to do with me. I’m too old for these games. All I want is to focus on my cultivation and form my core as soon as possible. From now on, let’s part ways and forget each other exists."

Yu Kong cupped his hands in farewell, refusing to argue further, and turned to address Qin Sang and the others.

"The Spirit Treasure Pavilion I’ve chosen has defensive barriers capable of restraining intruders, but its offensive power is only moderate. The idea of scapegoating someone through its traps is baseless."

"Naturally, the treasures inside this Spirit Treasure Pavilion cannot compare to the most dangerous ones. You’ll have to weigh the risks and rewards yourselves."

"I advise you not to let their words sway you. Focus on breaking the array, and once we reach the pavilion, you’ll see for yourselves whether I’ve spoken the truth. Should anyone decide to withdraw then, I will not stop them."

Having said this, Yu Kong ignored Luo Xingnan and Sheng Yuanzi, summoning a cloud beneath his feet as he flew toward the group of Cloud Beasts in the distance.

Sheng Yuanzi and Luo Xingnan glared at each other angrily but found no more amusement in continuing. They each flicked their sleeves and left in opposite directions.

The spectators, having watched the drama unfold, had mixed reactions. Some showed signs of concern, while others remained inscrutable, revealing no emotion at all.

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Qin Sang exchanged glances with Wandering Man and Ge Yuan in the distance. From the earlier exchange, they had gleaned several key pieces of information.

It appeared that thirty years ago, Sheng Yuanzi, Yu Kong, and Luo Xingnan had been involved in an incident that led to the death of Shao Chunhui and others. The three now harbored deep suspicions of one another. However, it was unclear if the root cause of the conflict was related to the herb garden.

Unfortunately, the three of them were adept at masking their intentions, making it impossible to discern who was truthful and who was deceitful.

There was even the possibility that none of them were guilty and that the true culprit lay elsewhere.

If that were the case, Qin Sang and Wandering Man could only resign themselves to the situation, scrounge whatever treasures they could, and return to Xuanlu Stronghold afterward.

Under the guidance of an elder, the cultivators at the middle stage of Foundation Building and above began forming battle lines as they charged into the swarm of Cloud Beasts.

The nest instantly erupted into chaos.

Cloud Beasts of all shapes and sizes surged forth from the sky and ground with a resounding roar. Qin Sang and the others had no time to think further. They quickly summoned their artifacts, preparing for a fierce fight.

This battle lasted for eight days. Several new cultivators arrived to join the fray during that time, including one unexpected Core Formation Realm expert, whose presence turned the tide.

It was Qin Sang’s first time witnessing such a large-scale hunt. He managed to claim several evil spirit-bound items, which would fetch a good price upon his return.

At last, the Cloud Beasts were entirely eradicated.

By the third day of the battle, the underground cavern had already shown significant changes. The once-brilliant light emanating from within had grown dim and feeble. Now, it could barely extend more than a few meters, a far cry from its previous grandeur.

The Core Formation Realm cultivator approached the underground cavern, tested it briefly, and then slipped inside. The protective array immediately reacted, its light slicing like blades, but none could harm him. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from sight.

The many cultivators outside could only watch helplessly. What could they do? Their skills simply couldn’t compare.

Another half day passed until evening, and at last, the protective array’s weakest phase arrived.

With a deafening roar, beams of evasion light streaked into the sky like meteors, racing toward the cavern in a frenzied competition. The entire area lit up as if it were midday.

Qin Sang and the others stuck close to Yu Kong, preparing the Guiyuan Array before entering the cavern. Many other groups adopted similar precautions.

"Everyone, stay alert!" Yu Kong shouted.

The cavern loomed just ahead, its interior shrouded in pitch darkness.

Yu Kong gave a loud cry and led the group as they leapt into the cavern together.

The instant Qin Sang dropped into the cavern, a blinding white light overwhelmed his vision. He couldn’t even see the Xiu Sisters just a few steps away. He could only sense the Guiyuan Array’s orderly components through its flow of energy.

Suddenly, a strange force surged from all directions, pressing down on them. Qin Sang felt as though he’d fallen into a swamp—each step became a monumental struggle.

Yu Kong, evidently experienced and well-prepared, acted immediately. As the oppressive force descended, he gathered the group’s collective power and unleashed it. The power transformed into a blade of qi several meters long, cleaving a path ahead.

Though they couldn’t see what lay before them, the group had no choice but to trust Yu Kong and follow the path he cut. They hadn’t flown far when the oppressive force abruptly dissipated, and the glaring light faded with it.

Their vision finally returned. Before anyone could examine their surroundings, Yu Kong’s voice transmitted to them telepathically. "We’re inside the great array now. Take your pills immediately!"

Hearing this, the group quickly consumed their spirit pills to replenish the energy they’d just expended. Only then did they take in their surroundings.

They found themselves in a vast, boundless space. They stood suspended in a void, with no solid ground above, below, or around them—only an endless haze of azure qi. The qi below them was faint and dim, while the upper layers shone much brighter.

The entire space was eerily silent.

Yu Kong’s expression turned grim as he said in a deep voice, "This is a wind array. That azure qi may appear calm, but it’s likely the wind capable of corroding bones!"

"I can’t see anything here!"

Crescent Moon Fairy frowned slightly, yet her delicate expression carried an undeniable charm. In a lilting voice, she asked, "Senior Yu, was this the same array you encountered when you entered last time?"

Yu Kong shook his head. "No. Last time, it was a fire array. The moment we entered, we were engulfed in endless flames, nearly burning us to ashes. I’ve also heard about the wind array—it’s said to be equally violent. But for some reason, it’s unusually calm here. It seems there are new changes in this place."