361: The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!

Immediately afterward, as Shi Wanshan watched dumbfounded, the massive spiked club smashed down with a crash.

"Who is it?"

The Purple Robe Saint, who was intently admiring the Battle Armor, felt a strong sense of danger descending and his expression changed drastically.

But before he could react, his protective Holy Light cracked and shattered, and he was struck heavily on the head by the large spiked club.

His entire body was embedded into the ground by the tremendous force of the blow, his life status unknown.

The entire process was simple, brutal, and forceful!

Shi Wanshan, hidden in the shadows outside the Immortal Cave, watched with twitching eyelids and a corner of his mouth spasming.

Inside the Immortal Cave, the black-clothed figure looked at the Purple Robe Saint, who was slumped on the ground, and seemed unsatisfied.

He raised the large spiked club again and smashed the Purple Robe Saint's head a few more times before stopping.

After confirming that the Purple Robe Saint was indeed in a deep coma and wouldn't wake up anytime soon.

He quickly bent down and rummaged through the Purple Robe Saint's body, his hands moving like the wind, precisely removing the opponent's Storage Ring and protective Magic Treasure.

Immediately, he searched every possible hiding spot on the body without pause, not even sparing the soles of the boots or the hidden layers of the underpants—his skill was utterly appalling.

The entire process took no more than two or three breaths, and the Purple Robe Saint had been stripped bare, plundered until only his underclothes remained.

The black-clothed figure weighed the Storage Ring in his hand, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.

Shi Wanshan watched as the black-clothed figure's attention was focused entirely on the treasures, and thought to himself, "Good opportunity. I'll let you know what it means for the mantis to stalk the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!"

Thinking this, Shi Wanshan couldn't help but tighten his grip on the spiked club, exerting all his strength.

"Let Grandpa show you his big spiked club!" Shi Wanshan roared internally, preparing to strike.

However, just before he was about to burst forth.

On the back of his neck, an extremely slight yet utterly real sensation appeared without warning, as if he had been stung very quickly by something small.

Immediately afterward, a force that pierced straight through his Divine Soul instantly exploded!

Shi Wanshan felt his vision suddenly go dark and his ears ring. It was as if the entire world had turned upside down and spun, and the surging Saint Qi, blood, and Spiritual Energy in his body were frozen, refusing to obey his commands.

He didn't even manage a grunt. His massive body swayed, the spiked club fell from his hand, and he collapsed backward limply, as if his bones had been removed.

Just before he completely lost consciousness, he vaguely heard an unfamiliar voice, laced with some smugness and urgency:

"Third Brother! Hurry up! I caught a fat one outside, looks like he's loaded!"

...Inside the Immortal Cave, the black-clothed "Third Brother," who was diligently working and planning to check the Purple Robe Saint's body for hidden treasures again, paused his movements and looked back with both vigilance and surprise.

At the entrance of the Immortal Cave, another black-clothed, masked figure, slightly taller and thinner, dragged Shi Wanshan—who was unconscious and disguised as a burly man—in like a dead dog.

"Second Brother? You got him?"

Third Brother lowered his voice, sounding pleased.

"Yup, must have been keeping watch outside. He hid well, but too bad for him."

The black-clothed figure called Second Brother kicked Shi Wanshan, his tone filled with the joy of a good haul.

"Don't dawdle, search him clean. We can't stay here long."

"Alright!"

Third Brother’s spirits soared. He abandoned the Purple Robe Saint, who had already been thoroughly plundered, rubbed his hands together, and pounced toward Shi Wanshan, this "new arrival," his eyes shining.

Third Brother nimbly slipped the Storage Ring off Shi Wanshan's hand and began searching his body.

"Let Grandpa see what this fat sheep has... Hm?"

Just as he felt Shi Wanshan's chest, the tactile sensation felt wrong.

The lining beneath the coarse cloth clothing felt warm and moist to the touch, with a faint spiritual glow. It seemed somewhat familiar.

His heart skipped a beat. He quickened his movements, tearing open Shi Wanshan's outer robe disguise in a couple of swift motions.

Inside, a corner of a blue lining embroidered with Qingxuan cloud patterns was revealed. Judging by the material and craftsmanship, it was definitely the standard uniform for high-ranking Sect members!

Third Brother's hands began to tremble slightly.

He swallowed, and with an ominous premonition, reached for Shi Wanshan's waist.

Soon, an Identity Token, its Dao Rhyme restrained, was pulled out by him.

The token felt warm and smooth in his hand. On the front was an ancient character, "Xuan," and on the back were three small, powerful characters that were incredibly familiar to him—

Shi Wanshan!

Third Brother: "..."

He froze in place, as if struck by a bolt of Nine Heavens Profound Lightning, numb from head to toe.

He slowly and extremely stiffly raised his head to look at Second Brother, then lowered his gaze to the token in his hand, and finally looked at the unconscious Shi Wanshan on the ground... Time seemed to solidify at this moment.

The Immortal Cave was deadly silent, leaving only the sound of Third Brother's own heart beating louder and louder, like a battle drum.

After a long moment, Third Brother finally spoke in a distorted, slightly embarrassed voice:

"Second Brother, this is likely Young Shi!"

The black-clothed figure called Second Brother had clearly seen Shi Wanshan's clothing and the genuine Azure Profound Sect Peak Master Token.

His body beneath the hood trembled violently, and he gasped, subconsciously taking half a step back.

"Holy shit..."

Second Brother subconsciously swore, then exchanged glances with Third Brother beside him. Both saw the same emotion in the other's eyes.

Endless embarrassment, absurdity, and a hint of guilt from being caught red-handed doing something bad.

Although both were masked and dressed in black, at this moment, it was as if they could see the corners of the other's mouth twitching through the fabric.

Third Brother swallowed again and cautiously sent out a thread of Divine Sense to inspect the Storage Ring he had just slipped off Shi Wanshan's hand.

The familiar Soul imprint on the ring, carrying Shi Wanshan's unique aura, was very faint, having been obscured by the Cannot See Through Me Cultivation Technique.

But since they also cultivated this Cultivation Technique, they were able to sense it upon careful inspection.

"No mistake..."

Third Brother's voice was dry, carrying the helplessness of confirmation.

"This brat, what's he doing here pretending to be a big-tailed wolf, even trying to play the mantis stalking the cicada?"

Second Brother also sighed, bent down, and personally checked Shi Wanshan's breathing and physical condition. He confirmed that Shi Wanshan's Divine Soul was only temporarily restrained by his special method and his body was fine, which allowed him to slightly relax.

But looking at the unconscious "fat sheep" on the ground, and then at the newly stolen Storage Ring that still held the owner's body temperature, an indescribable sense of absurdity welled up in his heart.

After a long moment, Second Brother nudged Third Brother with his elbow, lowering his voice, which was full of conflict: "Third Brother, what do we do now? This ring, and all the bits and pieces we took off him."

"Do we give them back?"

"Give them back?"

Third Brother raised an eyebrow, subconsciously tightening his grip on the Storage Ring. It definitely contained a lot of Young Shi's accumulated wealth, and perhaps even new treasures acquired from this Emperors Tomb.

Just give it back like that?

The two Old Ancestors exchanged glances and instantly reached a silent understanding.

Third Ancestor cleared his throat and spoke to the unconscious Shi Wanshan in a serious tone, adopting an "I'm doing this for your own good" attitude:

"Ahem! Second Brother, that is incorrect. As Old Ancestors of the Sect, how can we be so petty?"

"In my opinion, Young Shi suffering this tribulation today might not be a bad thing! He usually has such smooth sailing in the Sect, his temperament is too arrogant! That's why he was so easily tricked."

"What happened today serves as a perfect lesson for him! It lets him personally experience the wickedness of human hearts and the brutal beatings of the Cultivation World!"

"This will greatly benefit his future path of cultivation! This, truly, is a priceless treasure!"