178: Chapter 178 The Battle of Spiritual Veins

The moment this thought arose, Xiao Ruobai's powerful Divine Sense, characteristic of the Heavenly Human Realm, stirred slightly, sweeping like invisible mercury across the seemingly low-key and calm camp of the Azure Profound Sect to the southeast.

His gaze suddenly sharpened!

Among the group of steady-breathed, well-trained Azure Profound Sect Disciples, he acutely caught a burly figure that was extremely familiar, yet deliberately restrained most of his aura!

That person, dressed in ordinary Disciple attire, stood idly by with his arms crossed, seemingly resting, but his eyes subtly scanned the surroundings.

It was none other than Shi Wanshan, the Peak Master of Qingyue Peak!

Martial Uncle Shi had actually concealed his Cultivation and identity, personally mixing in with the Disciple team to come here?!

Xiao Ruobai's heart suddenly tightened, and the thought of “getting rid of Xiao Pangzi” instantly vanished, replaced by a deep sympathy for Wang Xiaopang.

With this fatty's cunning tricks and Purple Mansion Realm Cultivation, he wanted to touch the Azure Profound Sect's tiger whiskers? And he still wanted to “make a big score” right under Martial Uncle Shi's nose?

If he really dared to reach out, he would probably be smacked into the ground by Martial Uncle Shi like an ignorant petty thief in the next second, unable to be dug out... Thinking of this, Xiao Ruobai's last trace of helplessness in his gaze towards Wang Xiaopang completely transformed into pure... pity.

It was Heaven-Defying luck that this fatty was still bouncing around alive.

He looked at Xiao Pangzi, who was still eager to try, and decided to make one last effort to save this ignorant fellow, saying in a deep voice, “The Azure Profound Sect, no need to target.”

“Ah? Why not?”

Wang Xiaopang immediately became anxious upon hearing this.

Xiao Ruobai ignored his exaggerated expression: “No why. This matter needs no further mention.”

Though the words were brief, they were like a basin of cold water poured over him.

Wang Xiaopang opened his mouth, muttering softly, “Oh... understood...”

At the same time, within the Azure Profound Sect camp.

Shi Wanshan, who was pretending to be on guard but actually felt bored, suddenly raised an eyebrow slightly. A very subtle, yet exceptionally pure and powerful Divine Sense seemed to have just swept over from this direction?

The Dao Rhyme of this Divine Sense... why did it feel a bit familiar?

He casually glanced in the direction of the Divine Sense's origin, his gaze penetrating the crowd, and happened to see Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu conversing in the distance, along with the dejected, chubby figure beside them.

“Hmm?” Shi Wanshan's thick eyebrows twitched, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, and he mumbled in a voice only he could hear.

“Why do these people look like my good Martial Nephews Xiao Ruobai and Hanyu? How did they end up here? They moved quite fast... Hmm?

Who is that chubby kid next to them? He looks unfamiliar, not a Disciple of my Azure Profound Sect... When did they take on such a round little Junior Brother?”

He stroked his chin, finding the combination somewhat interesting, but didn't dwell on it too much, assuming they were just new friends his two Martial Nephews had met outside.

Soon, his attention was drawn to potential auras from other directions, and he continued his boring watch.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ruobai naturally didn't know about Martial Uncle Shi's brief attention and mumbling. He no longer looked at Wang Xiaopang, but turned to gaze at the chaotic core area in the distance, pondering for a moment before speaking, “Little Fatty.”

Wang Xiaopang immediately looked up: “Big Brother?”

“Fang Junior Brother and I wish to delve deeper into comprehending Dao Rhyme and consolidate our newly Breakthrough Cultivation,” Xiao Ruobai said solemnly, “From now on, you can act on your own.”

Wang Xiaopang's small eyes instantly lit up; free activity! This was his forte!

“This place is a mixed bag of Dragons and snakes, with hidden dangers, definitely not a place for you to act recklessly. Be careful not to be discovered by the people of the Glazed Holy Land, I won't be able to save you then!” Xiao Ruobai warned.

“Understood! Big Brother, rest assured!” Wang Xiaopang thumped his chest, a look of utmost reliability and righteousness on his face.

“I, Wang Xiaopang, am the most steady! I will never actively cause trouble, I'll just wander around the periphery, gather some information, and absolutely not cause Big Brother any trouble!”

However, his own little calculations were rattling loudly in his mind: if not the Azure Profound Sect, then the Myriad Law Pavilion, the Vast Righteous Sect, surely he could take a look? And glancing at the excitement at the Burning Heaven Palace should be fine, right?

Xiao Ruobai took in his flickering gaze, how could he not know this fatty's tendency to feign compliance?

But on second thought, as long as this lively character didn't foolishly run into the formidable Martial Uncle Shi, with his slipperiness and his life-saving Talismans, he should be safe enough to maneuver and protect himself on the periphery.

So, he said no more, exchanged a glance with Fang Hanyu, and with a slight movement, their figures transformed into two blurry afterimages, silently soaring towards the deeper parts of the palm print abyss, disappearing in an instant... At the same time, in the core area of the Demon Heaven Sect's old site, the valley where the supreme Earth-Grade Spiritual Vein, which had caused the Myriad Law Pavilion and the Vast Righteous Sect to be at daggers drawn, was located, the atmosphere had tensed to the extreme.

The situation's evolution was exactly as Wang Xiaopang had discovered: after several days of standoff and sporadic skirmishes, the Myriad Law Pavilion and the Vast Righteous Sect, these two old rivals, both realized that further stalemate would only benefit others.

The leaders of both sides exchanged glances across the distance, their eyes filled with determination to obtain the supreme Earth-Grade Spiritual Vein and deep apprehension towards each other.

A series of Divine Sense transmissions quickly led to a cold and realistic agreement.

First, they would jointly clear the area, expelling all miscellaneous Cultivators. Once the valley was cleared, they would then compete based on their own abilities to determine the ownership of the Spiritual Vein!

Once the agreement was made, both sides immediately displayed the astonishing efficiency and ruthlessness of major Sects.

The shimmering Formation light of the Myriad Law Pavilion and the fierce Daoist Magic of the Vast Righteous Sect no longer attacked each other, but instead turned their focus, like two torrents of steel, sweeping away and expelling without mercy the other Sects and Loose Cultivators who were trying to fish in troubled waters around the valley with overwhelming force!

Forces such as the Tianyan Sect, Cold Moon Valley, and Cloud Mist Sect also reluctantly retreated.

Screams, exclamations, and the sound of Magical Artifacts shattering were incessant.

In just half a day, the entire valley had been cleared, and layers of Restrictions had been set up, sealing it off completely.

The valley instantly fell into a deathly silence.

Only the forces of the two major Sects remained, facing each other from hundreds of feet apart.

The air was filled with a strong smell of blood and lingering gunpowder, as well as an even more terrifying, almost suffocating killing intent.

No words, no signals.

Just as the last external Cultivator was expelled from the valley's Restriction range—

“Boom!!!”

It was as if a volcano, already at its peak, suddenly erupted! The war between the Myriad Law Pavilion and the Vast Righteous Sect exploded with an intensity ten, even a hundred times fiercer than before!

Magic Treasures roared, Daoist Magic shone brilliantly, Elders and Disciples from both sides clashed, Spiritual Qi raged within the valley, and deafening roars were incessant.

Although the Vast Righteous Sect was known for its vast righteous Qi and fierce Cultivation Technique, the Myriad Law Pavilion had a deeper foundation, with various strange Daoist Magic and powerful Magic Treasures emerging one after another.

The fierce battle continued for half a day, and the Vast Righteous Sect ultimately fell short, with several Elders severely injured and heavy casualties among its Disciples, forcing them to retreat from the valley in disarray, filled with unwillingness and resentment.

Although the Myriad Law Pavilion's people also suffered considerable losses, everyone was injured and their Qi was weak, but seeing the strong enemy defeated and the huge crystalline Spiritual Vein emanating boundless Spiritual Qi right before their eyes, their faces all showed expressions of wild joy.

A white-haired Elder, suppressing his injuries, stepped forward, forming an abstruse Daoist Magic seal with his hands, and conjured a treasure basin-shaped Magical Artifact that glowed with myriad lights.

The mouth of the basin was aimed at the Spiritual Vein, emitting a powerful suction force, and runes flowed on the basin's body, humming and vibrating.

“Rise!” the Elder shouted in a low voice.

The treasure basin glowed brightly, the ground vibrated violently, and the huge Spiritual Vein slowly began to loosen, being pulled by an invisible enormous force, seemingly about to lift off the ground!

It was at this moment, when the Myriad Law Pavilion's people were most relaxed, and all their attention was focused on the final step of collecting the Spiritual Vein!

An anomaly, silent and sudden, occurred!

A chubby but exceptionally agile figure had already, using the shadows of the rugged strange rocks at the edge of the valley, stealthily approached the Spiritual Vein.

He did not rashly rush towards the main body of the Spiritual Vein, but rather, like a ghost, quickly moved around the outer warning Restrictions set up by the Myriad Law Pavilion!

It was Wang Xiaopang!

He had been loitering around the periphery earlier, heard the commotion, and sneaked over to watch the excitement, coincidentally witnessing the battle between the two Sects.

What made his heart pound even more was that, relying on his innate keen perception for treasures, he vaguely sensed that deep within that huge supreme Earth-Grade Spiritual Vein, an even purer, more inwardly contained treasure seemed to be brewing—Spiritual Vein Dew!