124: Did they lose? Or did they win?

"Let go of that box!"

Zhao Long looked up at the sound. Seeing the attack incoming, he tucked the box under his left arm and swung his blade horizontally with his right. Sword glows shattered, flames were extinguished, and the spear wind was blocked.

At this moment, Xie Ning's group of three also rushed forward. However, Zhao Long did not engage them head-on; instead, he fought while retreating, trying to break out.

For a time, blades flashed and swords shadowed, pillars of fire and spear winds clashed. Amidst the dodging and weaving, the battle grew intense.

The four fought from the edge of the fire source into the Burial Zone, then from the Burial Zone back to the original clearing, drawing everyone's attention once again.

"Look! They're out! That box..."

"There's no mistake. Damn it! Zhao Long actually beat us to it!"

"Prepare to intercept. No matter what, we cannot let the Zhao family take away the holy yuan fruit!"

"Yes!"

The Mu Family and Duobao Sect members braced themselves, each ready to strike. On the other side, the people brought by the Zhao family also watched the Mu Family's side warily.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, the Demon Tamers Beast faced each other from a distance, waiting only for the command.

Just as Xie Ning and Mu Tian's twin swords blocked the Tyrant Blade, Ye Feiyu saw an opportunity and swept her long spear, sending the box flying into the air.

This strike was like a battle horn. The two factions, already at daggers drawn, erupted into violence.

In an instant, Demon Tamers Beast roared, baring ferocious fangs and claws. The air filled with the roar of voices and the sparks of clashing weapons. Elements exploded like clusters of firecrackers. Torn wounds sprayed like crimson fountains, and occasionally, marrow flowed from bones into pools of blood like white tofu falling into duck blood soup.

The Demon Tamers Beast charged at the front, followed closely by those practicing ancient martial arts, while the fragile pure Demon Tamers hid far away.

Fei Shanqiu, who had never seen the horrors of war, hid in the farthest corner, his Face pale as he vomited and trembled. But seeing Mu Xiaolong, who was several years younger than him, still charging ahead with a sword, he found courage from somewhere. Hardening his heart, he rushed toward the battle circle: "Who wants to fight Fatty!"

Bang!

A fireball flew out from the chaotic battlefield, knocking him back to his original spot.

Just then, the leader of the group from Lingbei Academy that had been chasing Lu Bingyun—the boy with iron fists—suddenly appeared within the ruins. His fists sent an Ice-Fire Lizard flying as he rushed toward the battle between Zhao Long and Xie Ning's group.

"Be careful, this guy isn't easy to deal with either." Mu Tian frowned visibly upon seeing him and gave Xie Ning a warning.

Ye Feiyu's long spear was like a Torrential Pear Blossom rain, stabbing out a curtain of rain that was blocked by the Tyrant Blade with a dense 'dang-dang' sound. Occasionally, a few strikes landed, but they were only minor wounds. She glanced over and said, "Iron Fist Lu Si, born with Divine Power, an ancient martial arts Genius from Lingbei Academy. In Lingnan City's younger generation, his ancient martial arts strength is second only to Zhao Long."

Xie Ning looked over and nodded slightly.

The three changed their previously conservative fighting style, abandoning defense to launch a more fierce attack. For a time, Zhao Long, who could only use one hand to hold his blade, found it difficult to resist, and his situation became precarious.

He also saw Iron Fist Lu Si. After enduring a spear wind and retreating, he threw the disc-shaped box toward Iron Fist Lu Si with his left hand: "Take the stuff and go!"

After speaking, seeing Xie Ning's group about to chase the box, he held his blade with both hands and blocked their path: "Don't be in such a hurry, your opponent is me!"

"Dammit!" The three were once again locked in combat with Zhao Long.

Hearing Zhao Long's words, Iron Fist Lu Si leapt up, grabbed the disc-shaped box with his large hand, and hurried outward. Mu Xiaolong tried to stop him but was sent flying over ten meters with a single blow. Just as he was about to hit a protruding stone spike on the rock wall, a bolt of lightning struck the spike, shattering it and allowing him to survive.

Mu Xiaolong let out a long breath and looked toward the source of the lightning. It was Lu Bingyun and Xiao Ya who had arrived. Without time for thanks, he pointed at Iron Fist Lu Si: "Stop him! He has the box!"

The two girls heard him and commanded their Demon Tamers Beast to charge. However, Iron Fist Lu Si did not engage. He dodged ice blocks and lightning one by one; those he couldn't dodge, he simply rammed through, shattering the ice and forcing his way out. His burly physique was like a humanoid Yao Beast.

"After him!"

Lu Bingyun, Xiao Ya, and several others from the Mu Family and Duobao Sect quickly gave chase, launching attacks from behind.

"You in front! If you're a man, turn around! Running so fast when you see this Young Miss, do I have no Face at all!"

"You dared to chase me before, why don't you dare stop now? Are you impotent!"

"Are you no good! Stop if you have the guts..."

"If you're a man, don't run, hey! Give me some Face, will you..."

"You @#*&#@￥..."

All along the chase, Xiao Ya let out a stream of curses and vulgarities without pause or repetition.

Iron Fist Lu Si, running ahead, remained unmoved. He just kept his head down and ran. No matter who came at him, he either punched them away or simply avoided them.

On the other hand, the people beside Xiao Ya looked at her with strange expressions. Even Lu Bingyun wanted to cover her mouth several times, but for the sake of the mission... she endured it.

They chased him all the way to the cave entrance. Just as Iron Fist Lu Si was about to escape, a flash of black light appeared, and a masked person in black appeared before him. A pitch-black dagger stabbed toward Lu Si's head. He leaned back to avoid the strike but was blocked by the person in black. Soon, the pursuers caught up and surrounded him tightly.

At this moment, another figure appeared in the distance. Dressed in white and holding a paper fan, his skin was as pale as the Sick Young Master. He was the person in charge of the Flower Sect's operation.

Iron Fist Lu Si looked around and tossed the disc-shaped box toward the Flower Sect's Sick Young Master.

The person in black turned into a black light to give chase, but Lu Si smashed down with a fist, hitting the black light and sending the person in black crashing to the ground. With his other hand, he threw a series of punches. Fist shadows knocked down over a dozen leaping Demon Tamers Beast or people, missing none. However, he didn't strike heavily, clearly having some reservations.

"Not bad, you have good judgment." The Sick Young Master caught the box, fanned himself lightly with his paper fan, and said with an arrogant look before quickly walking away.

Iron Fist Lu Si gave a muffled grunt, seemingly dissatisfied with the Sick Young Master's words, but he didn't argue. He simply blocked the corner. Whether from the air or the ground, anyone who wanted to pass was stopped by his fists. However, he was most wary of the sudden person in black.

As for who this person was, not only did Iron Fist Lu Si not know, but even the people on Xie Ning's side didn't recognize them. While fighting Lu Si, everyone also remained wary of the person in black, even though they currently seemed to be on their side.

"Dammit!"

Watching the Sick Young Master's figure disappear, Mu Xiaolong looked unwilling but was helpless.

With the box gone, the battle between Iron Fist Lu Si and Lu Bingyun, Mu Xiaolong, and the others naturally stopped. When the two sides parted ways, Iron Fist Lu Si glared fiercely at Xiao Ya, and Xiao Ya retorted without hesitation, though no further fighting occurred.

The person in black subsequently disappeared, and no one stopped them.

On the way back, Xiao Ya grumbled, "I'm so pissed! We should have beaten that lone guy to a pulp. Why did you guys stop?"

Mu Xiaolong explained, "You wouldn't know. The purpose of treasure hunting in a Secret Realm is to get the treasure, not a life-and-death struggle. Once the ownership of the treasure is clear, unless there's an absolute overwhelming advantage or a huge conflict like a blood feud, everyone chooses to stop fighting."

"After all, the treasure already has an owner. Since we can't catch up and can't snatch it back, continuing to fight would only lead to pointless casualties. Stopping the fight now is a tacit habit that has emerged since the appearance of Secret Realms. No one wants to break it, and over time, it became a rule."

Lu Bingyun took over the conversation, and seeing that Xiao Ya was still unwilling, she added:

"Besides, we couldn't beat him anyway."

While talking, the group returned to the interior of the ruins. The fighting here had also stopped. The two sides hadn't fought to the death, and no one found it strange.

Inside the ruins, everyone was divided into two sides, healing and resting. In the middle were Xie Ning, Mu Tian, Ye Feiyu, and Zhao Long.

The four were either sitting or lying down. After resting for a while, they saw the others return and learned the final news.

"You lost."

Zhao Long stood up, sheathed the Tyrant Blade on his back, looked at the three, and finally locked onto Xie Ning. With a cold snort, he turned and led his subordinates away.

After they left the core area and disappeared without a trace, Xie Ning and the other two suddenly burst out laughing.

"Hahahaha~"

Hearing this laughter, everyone looked at each other, then at the three with worried expressions.

After a while, the laughter gradually died down. Xie Ning pushed himself up from the ground. Beside him, space tore open, and Little Mantis walked out, clutching many things in its arms.

Ignoring everyone's surprised gazes, Xie Ning looked at the cave entrance where they had disappeared and grinned:

"We won."