Chapter 302: Driving Tigers to Devour Wolves

Although the Human Head Owls possessed formidable strength, their intelligence was lacking. They relied solely on brute force to resist lightning strikes and had no means of breaking such intricate barriers. Fortunately, this deficiency had preserved spiritual herbs like the Dark Patterned Yellow Essence, sparing them from ending up as bird feed.

Wandering Man had set his sights on a spiritual herb called Ninefold Azure Frost Grass.

After harvesting the Dark Patterned Yellow Essence and storing it in a jade box, Qin Sang headed toward the Ninefold Azure Frost Grass. As he approached, rumbling thunder echoed from the rear mountain, signaling that Shangguan Lifeng was harvesting the Blood Dripping Ghost Mushroom.

The seven spiritual herbs—Blood Dripping Ghost Mushroom, Ninefold Azure Frost Grass, Dark Patterned Yellow Essence, Smoke Grass, Spirit Jade Tree, Blue Dew Epiphyllum, and the Ice Spirit Fruit—varied in value.

While the differences were notable, they weren't as extreme as heaven and earth. Each herb had distinct effects; for those in urgent need, even the less valuable ones were more significant than others.

In ancient times, none of these were considered particularly rare, paling compared to treasures like the Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid.

However, as the barriers had protected them from being harvested, they had all reached a millennium in age. Coupled with the herbs' extreme scarcity in the current immortal cultivation world—some even extinct—they had become coveted treasures.

The Blood Dripping Ghost Mushroom was the most valuable of the seven. Qin Sang, Wandering Man, and Ge Yuan had their sights set on specific targets, while the white-robed scholar refrained from competing with Luo Xingnan.

Qin Sang recalled the scholar's words.

"I only need that Ice Spirit Fruit. Nothing else interests me."

Among the seven, the Ice Spirit Fruit ranked the lowest in value. This man indeed seemed entirely ungreedy.

The Ninefold Azure Frost Grass had three long, sword-shaped blue leaves, resembling three sharp blades. The leaves appeared coated with morning frost and emanated a faint glow resembling moonlight, accompanied by a subtle, fresh herbal fragrance.

Qin Sang’s knowledge of spiritual herbs couldn't compare to Wandering Man's, so he wasn’t clear about the types of spiritual pills the Ninefold Azure Frost Grass could produce.

However, securing the Dark Patterned Yellow Essence had already left him satisfied; he wasn’t concerned about the rest. His primary focus now was on how to leave the area safely with the herbs in hand.

With his earlier experience, Qin Sang picked the Ninefold Azure Frost Grass much faster.

By this time, the battle in the distance had intensified significantly. Qin Sang knew the Golden Ring Array wouldn’t hold the Human Head Owls for long. He swiftly stored the Ninefold Azure Frost Grass in a jade box and made his way toward the location of the Blue Dew Epiphyllum.

With the Blue Dew Epiphyllum and the Ice Spirit Fruit, he now possessed four of the seven spiritual herbs.

He and Shangguan Lifeng soon returned to the battlefield.

Shangguan Lifeng presented the three spiritual herbs he had gathered. Luo Xingnan casually tossed the Spirit Jade Tree back to him, keeping the other two. With an indifferent expression, Luo Xingnan watched as Qin Sang handed over the herbs to Wandering Man and the others, making no further moves.

"Everyone, channel your full power to activate the Golden Ring Array’s strongest capability. It can trap the Human Head Owls for three breaths of time. Then we must immediately descend the mountain—do not delay," Wandering Man urged.

As he spoke, he channeled spiritual power madly into the bronze ring in his hands. This ring, akin to the translucent gem of the Four-Clouded Divine Seal, was the core of the Golden Ring Array.

Realizing their lives were intertwined, even Luo Xingnan dared not hesitate. Everyone immediately followed Wandering Man’s lead, pouring their power into the Golden Ring Array.

Seven bronze rings surrounded the Human Head Owls, trembling and resonating with a crisp metallic hum.

Moments later, a burst of shadowy projections exploded forth, dragging streams of golden light that engulfed the Human Head Owls. These projections fused mid-air, forming a massive, unbreakable bronze ring that tightly encased the creatures.

The Human Head Owls shrieked wildly but couldn’t break free from the bronze ring's grasp within such a short span.

"Go!"

Wandering Man swiftly retracted the Golden Ring Array and flew toward the mountain's base.

The others followed closely, unwilling to lag behind.

Seven streaks of evasion light streaked across the air, each a different color but moving at roughly the same speed. Wandering Man and Luo Xingnan deliberately restrained their speed to ensure everyone stayed together, and Qin Sang refrained from using the Nine-Dragon Heavenly Chariot Talisman.

The group naturally split into two factions. Shangguan Lifeng and Luo Xingnan traveled together, while the scholar closely followed Qin Sang and the others, staying near Wandering Man.

Both sides instinctively maintained a certain distance, avoiding interference with one another.

Even upon returning to the barrier, Luo Xingnan made no move, seemingly resigned to the outcome.

In the final moments, they could see the ferocious silhouette of the Human Head Owls chasing them relentlessly. But as soon as they entered the barrier, the piercing shrieks vanished abruptly from their ears.

The Human Head Owls didn’t pursue them into the barrier, allowing everyone to relax slightly, though not completely.

With haste surpassing their initial pace, they passed through the barrier. The exit lay ahead—beyond the Hook Snakes' territory. Once they crossed that area, they would be free.

Just as they steadied themselves, Luo Xingnan shot a cold glance at them, said nothing, and suddenly dashed forward with Shangguan Lifeng in tow.

In that instant, Luo Xingnan’s speed reached its peak. Unlike the others, who were still in the early stage of the Foundation Building Realm, his superior cultivation made it impossible for anyone to match his velocity under normal circumstances.

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

His intentions were blatantly clear—he was executing Yu Kong's strategy of driving tigers to devour wolves!

The Hook Snakes had already suffered significant casualties, and their king was critically injured and near death. With coordinated effort and the assistance of the Golden Ring Array, the group could have easily escaped without alerting the Hook Snakes.

This could have led to a mutually beneficial outcome.

But Luo Xingnan was clearly dissatisfied with obtaining only two spiritual herbs.

Unlike Ge Yuan’s shocked and furious reaction, Qin Sang and Wandering Man remained composed as they watched Luo Xingnan’s actions, even sneering at his attempt.

No matter how fast Luo Xingnan was, could he outrun Wandering Man’s Spiritual Bamboo Flying Boat?

Swoosh!

A streak of light shot out from Wandering Man’s palm. The moment it touched the wind, it expanded into its full form—the Spiritual Bamboo Flying Boat.

"Hurry!"

Wandering Man and Qin Sang leaped onto the flying boat. Just as Wandering Man was about to urge Ge Yuan and the scholar to board, a familiar piercing shriek echoed from above.

Startled, everyone instinctively looked up.

The barrier above trembled violently as a massive shadow forced its way through.

It was the Human Head Owl!

The beast struggled through layer upon layer of the barrier. Its body appeared twisted and compressed by the restrictive force, and its cries carried a note of pain. However, it didn’t seem to have sustained any severe injuries.

The creature’s feathers shone with an extraordinary brilliance, their peculiar luster protecting it from harm as it breached the barrier.

The fact that the barrier failed to trap the Human Head Owls shocked the group. They quickly realized that this might have been a deliberate design by the master of the cave dwelling.

After all, the Human Head Owls were the guardian spirit beasts raised by the cave dwelling’s owner.

Hovering above, the Human Head Owls let out ear-piercing shrieks, its murderous gaze locked onto Qin Sang and the others. Its hatred for these intruders, who had stolen its herbs and injured it, was irreconcilable.

Yet this was not the worst of their troubles.

What truly threw the group into disarray was the ground’s sudden tremor. From the abyss ahead, red mist began to rise, accompanied by a familiar, sinister hissing sound.

They didn’t need Luo Xingnan’s schemes anymore—the Human Head Owls had already awakened the Hook Snakes!