sell
The atmosphere within the team became subtle.
Although Chen Shiyi still wore a refined smile, an invisible wall seemed to separate him from Chen Yuan and Wu Guangchi.
Hua Qianyu also seemed to sense something and became quieter than before.
Only Xu Nuo maintained her aloof demeanor, as if nothing concerned her.
The five people, each harboring their own thoughts, continued deeper into the hills.
The terrain gradually rose, the strange rocks became more rugged, and the remnants of ancient trees grew massive, scattered like the bones of giant beasts.
The oppressive feeling in the air intensified, and the unknown beast roar seemed to draw closer.
Chen Yuan's Divine Sense maintained maximum range vigilance at all times.
Suddenly, he sensed intense Spiritual Qi collision fluctuations coming from a few miles ahead and to the side.
Mixed in were muffled groans, suggesting that a team had been attacked.
"There's movement over there."
Chen Yuan's expression sharpened, and he changed direction, flying toward the source of the Spiritual Qi fluctuations.
The other four hesitated briefly before quickly following suit.
In the Secret Realm, any anomaly could signify danger or Opportunity.
Soon, they passed through a twisted grove of dead trees, and the sight before them stunned everyone.
Five slightly disheveled Cultivators were gathered in a circle, warily observing their surroundings.
In the center, a woman sat cross-legged, her face showing an abnormal greenish-black Qi, her lips purple, and her body trembling slightly. She had clearly been severely poisoned.
Guarding her was an anxious-looking young man, constantly channeling Spiritual Qi into her to suppress the poison.
The clothing of these five people all bore the uniform mark of the Cloud-Wreathed Immortal Mountain.
Those were the Disciple uniforms of the Kunxu Holy Land, a first-rank power in the Kunxu Domain!
The young man leading them had a cultivation base that had surprisingly reached the Early Soul Transformation Stage. His face was currently gloomy, and he held a dark red longsword whose tip still glowed with lingering Spiritual Qi, indicating he had just finished a battle.
The remaining three were all at the Middle or Late Stage of Nascent Soul, clearly forming a team.
Sensing the approach of Chen Yuan's group of five, the Soul Transformation young man shot a sharp glance at them, filled with intense vigilance and warning: "Stop! Kunxu Holy Land is handling important matters here. Unrelated people, retreat quickly!"
His tone carried the arrogance typical of a first-rank Sect.
Facing this group of low-ranking Sect Disciples, they naturally felt superior.
Wu Guangchi frowned almost imperceptibly upon hearing this, quite displeased with the other party's attitude, but he could only silently endure it due to their strength and background.
Hua Qianyu, however, looked curiously at the poisoned woman. As a Disciple of the Beast King Sect, she was quite sensitive to various poisons and whispered:
"What potent poisonous Qi. It looks like... some kind of Corpse Yin Poison?"
Chen Shiyi's eyes flickered as he quickly assessed the opponents' lineup and status.
Just then, the young man who was channeling Spiritual Qi into the poisoned woman looked up. He was the only Alchemist in the team and urgently said:
"Senior Brother Qi, Junior Sister Zhou was struck by the 'Bone-Corroding Yin Evil.' The poison is erupting extremely fast, and my Spiritual Qi can barely suppress it anymore!
We must quickly refine the 'Evil-Cleansing Detoxification Pill.' I have all the auxiliary ingredients, but I'm missing one main ingredient: the you tan flower!
This flower thrives in places of Yin Evil. There might be some in the nearby swamp!"
Senior Brother Qi, who was in the Soul Transformation Stage, looked even worse. The you tan flower was not a common commodity found everywhere. Where could they find it now?
He swept his gaze over Chen Yuan's group of five again, this time with scrutiny.
He could tell that the cultivation of Chen Yuan's group was not weak, and there seemed to be faint traces of swamp aroma lingering from the direction they had just come from.
Xu Nuo held her sword, her cold gaze passing over the poisoned woman and then the Kunxu Holy Land group. She did not speak, but subtly adjusted her stance to a position that was both offensive and defensive.
Chen Yuan took in the opponents' desperation completely.
Just then, a sharp light flashed in Chen Shiyi's eyes. Thinking of Chen Yuan's previous actions, he suddenly stepped forward.
A perfectly timed humble smile appeared on his face as he cupped his hands toward the Kunxu Holy Land group and said:
"So it is Fellow Daoists from Kunxu Holy Land. Forgive our lack of manners. The poison afflicting this Fairy certainly seems troublesome."
He changed the subject, his tone becoming sincere and natural, as if he were merely offering a kind reminder:
"It's quite a coincidence, but we happened to obtain a you tan flower earlier in a swamp ahead. If you urgently need this flower to save someone, we can..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was crystal clear. Moreover, he directly pushed Chen Yuan forward, pointing out that Chen Yuan possessed the you tan flower.
He did not mention Wu Guangchi or Hua Qianyu, only Chen Yuan, showing how extremely narrow-minded he was.
Chen Yuan sneered internally. Chen Shiyi's acting was still too clumsy, and naming only him was clearly targeting him.
If Chen Yuan lost his composure and implicated Hua Qianyu and Wu Guangchi as well, he would likely earn their resentment afterward.
If Chen Yuan remained silent, he would lose a you tan flower; if he spoke up, he would offend Hua Qianyu and Wu Guangchi. Chen Shiyi's scheme could be called killing two birds with one stone.
However, Chen Shiyi miscalculated Wu Guangchi's character. Wu Guangchi glared furiously and pointed at him, saying, "Chen Shiyi, you!"
Hua Qianyu also covered her mouth in surprise, not expecting Chen Shiyi to betray the information so directly.
Upon hearing this, Senior Brother Qi's gaze instantly shot toward Chen Yuan like an arrow. The Soul Transformation Stage pressure pressed down without reservation: "You have a you tan flower? Hand it over! Our Kunxu Holy Land will certainly reward you handsomely!"
His tone was urgent. Although he spoke of a generous reward, his posture was more like a command, carrying an undeniable assertiveness.
The few Kunxu Disciples behind him immediately shifted, forming an invisible encirclement. Their eyes were fixed on Chen Yuan, ready to forcibly seize the item if he dared to refuse.
The atmosphere instantly became tense!
Everyone's gaze focused once again on Chen Yuan.
Chen Yuan's expression was calm. He first gave Chen Shiyi a cold glance, an look that made the latter feel inexplicably weak inside, struggling to maintain his smile.
Then, he looked at the aggressive Senior Brother Qi, his voice flat and calm: "I do possess a you tan flower. But why should I give it to you?"
"Why? Is it not enough that this Great Cultivator comes from Kunxu Holy Land?" Senior Brother Qi's tone was grim. The Soul Transformation Stage pressure intensified, pressing down on Chen Yuan like a physical mountain, attempting to force him into submission.
The Disciples behind him also drew their weapons, Spiritual Qi surging as they locked onto Chen Yuan.
However, Chen Yuan stood in the center of the pressure, his body completely motionless; not even his sleeves fluttered.
His eyes, calm as a deep pool, instead made Senior Brother Qi's heart skip a beat.
A surge of Divine Sense energy, like a flying dagger, slashed directly toward Chen Yuan's mind.
However, the moment that Divine Sense energy entered Chen Yuan's mind, it was silently annihilated into nothingness by his Fifth-Rank Spiritual Sense.
"What? A Soul-Protecting Magic Treasure?"
Senior Brother Qi was stunned momentarily, then immediately reacted, his eyes gradually filling with greed.
"Heh heh, I've changed my mind. This Great Cultivator wants the you tan flower, and this Great Cultivator also wants your Soul-Protecting Magic Treasure."