438: Chapter 438 You think I'm showing off? No, no, no, that's not it.

Although those Spiritual Artifacts had strange shapes, the Array Pattern carved onto them could be felt by everyone present.

Those Array Pattern were extremely complex, layered one upon another, and were more exquisite than any Array Pattern on the Magical Artifacts they had ever seen.

Moreover, the Array Pattern carved on each Spiritual Artifact were different, clearly having been meticulously designed.

These things were not decorations or toys; they were true Sharp Weapons for killing.

Situ E's expression grew increasingly grim.

He suddenly realized he had made a mistake—he shouldn't have given Xu Ruyu time.

This kid had been stalling for time from the very beginning.

He had deliberately laid out these Spiritual Artifacts one by one, not to show off, but to buy time.

What was he waiting for? Reinforcements? Or some kind of opportunity?

"Xu Ruyu," Situ E said coldly, "do you think laying out a pile of scrap metal can intimidate this seat? No matter how powerful these things are, they are nothing more than external objects.

You're only at the Qi Refinement Stage; how many pieces can you control at once? How many shots can you fire? After you're done, you'll be nothing but trash!"

Xu Ruyu looked up at him and smiled. "Cult Leader Situ is right. These things are indeed external objects. However—"

He paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "These things are enough to blast your subordinates into dust."

He patted the last Thunder Roar Cannon and stood up, facing Situ E and Zhao Qian.

Behind him were the neatly arranged Spiritual Artifacts—three Thunder Roar Cannons, one psionic rocket launcher, over a dozen qi-breaking guns, five sniper rifles, and six sets of Source Energy Armor.

Under the moonlight, these Spiritual Artifacts emitted a cold glow, like a pack of sleeping Vicious Beasts ready to awaken at any moment.

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of everyone present clearly.

Within the Jile Sect's camp, the looks in many people's eyes had changed.

Those Golden Core Stage and Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators looked at the Spiritual Artifacts with eyes that shifted from initial disdain to astonishment, and then to undisguised greed.

The three Thunder Roar Cannons were covered in flowing dark-gold runes; just one look was enough to feel the world-destroying pressure they emanated.

On the barrel of the psionic rocket launcher, dense Array Pattern were nested layer by layer, so exquisite they were breathtaking.

Although the qi-breaking guns had a simple design, any discerning person could see their value from their sleek lines and the faint spiritual light flowing at the muzzles.

And those six sets of Source Energy Armor made many people's breathing quicken—those were treasures that could allow someone to fight above their level!

What moved them even more was Xu Ruyu's statement—"enough to blast your subordinates into dust."

To Situ E, this sounded like a threat, but to the Jile Sect experts, it automatically translated into another meaning: these things were incredibly powerful, far exceeding ordinary Magical Artifacts.

Great power meant they were worth a fortune.

Furthermore, the person controlling these Spiritual Artifacts was just a kid at the Qi Refinement Stage.

A Qi Refinement Stage brat holding such treasures was like a three-year-old child holding a gold bar in a crowded marketplace.

He'd be spent after just one shot. What would happen after that?

Wouldn't these Spiritual Artifacts become ownerless items?

The experts of the Jile Sect exchanged glances. Although they maintained their encirclement on the surface, everyone's mind was already racing.

"I want one of those three cannons."

Ancestor Wandu suddenly spoke, his voice as raspy as sandpaper.

His eyes were fixed on the three Thunder Roar Cannons, a flash of greed in them.

He held the highest seniority and was the oldest in the Jile Sect, so he never minced his words.

Blood Axe Ancestor snorted. "You want three all for yourself? Old Poison, aren't you afraid of choking?

I want that set of Source Energy Armor; it looks sturdy."

"Those qi-breaking guns are quite good—small and flexible, perfect for my use."

Another Nascent Soul Stage Elder spoke, his tone full of determination.

"The rocket launcher is mine."

"I want two of the sniper rifles."

"A Foundation Establishment Stage like you dares to snatch them? Get lost!"

The Jile Sect's formation began to undergo subtle changes.

The originally tight encirclement unknowingly loosened.

Those Golden Core Stage and Nascent Soul Stage experts instinctively moved forward a few steps, and their positioning shifted from coordinated combat to acting for themselves.

They although they still stood in place, their attention was no longer focused on the Hehuan Sect Disciples but was fixed on the Spiritual Artifacts, like a pack of hungry wolves staring at a piece of fat meat.

Everyone was calculating: once the fighting started, Xu Ruyu would at most fire one or two shots before being exhausted. At that time, whoever snatched them the fastest would own these treasures.

As for Situ E's orders? Or whether the people from the Hehuan Sect escaped? Those were secondary.

These treasures were what truly mattered.

Situ E noticed the changes in those around him and frowned slightly, but soon relaxed.

He didn't care about his subordinates' greed. In his view, their competition for the Spiritual Artifacts would instead increase their Battle Intent.

As long as Xu Ruyu died, these Spiritual Artifacts would eventually belong to the Jile Sect.

On the Tianshu Sword Sect's side, Zhao Qian's expression wasn't very good either.

Although the people he brought were well-disciplined, he could feel that the breathing of several Golden Core Stage Disciples behind him had become rapid.

The temptation of those Spiritual Artifacts was equally massive for Sword Cultivators.

"Steady yourselves."

Zhao Qian barked in a low voice, his Sword Intent flaring and then retracting, pulling those Disciples' minds back.

But his gaze also involuntarily lingered on those sniper rifles for a moment—if those things were combined with a Sword Cultivator's Sword Qi, how terrifying would their power be?

Xu Ruyu took all these changes in.

His Divine Sense spread out silently like spilled mercury, taking in everything in his surroundings.

He perceived the changes in the eyes of the Jile Sect experts, the subtle adjustments in their positioning, and even the rhythm of their accelerating heartbeats with total clarity.

This was the ability he had gained after his Breakthrough to the Saint Realm—Microscopic Divine Sense.

In the Taihu Clan, he had used this ability to observe the changes in Xiao Nianyin's Soul; now, he used it to analyze the power balance between both sides and the greed in human hearts.

On the Jile Sect's side: two Grand Elders at the Early Saint Realm stood behind Situ E, one on his left and one on his right.

The one on the left was thin and withered, with a sallow face and hands tucked into his sleeves, appearing old and frail. However, Xu Ruyu could sense the terrifying poison cultivation stored within him—that was "Ancestor Wandu." As the Taihao Clan had mentioned, he was one of the highest-ranking Grand Elders in the Jile Sect, having lived for three thousand years with poison skills so profound that a single touch meant death.

The one on the right was burly with a hideous face, radiating a heavy scent of blood, and carrying a blood-red axe larger than himself on his back—that was "Blood Axe Ancestor," also a Grand Elder of the Jile Sect, known for his immense strength and bloodthirstiness. It was said he had once single-handedly slaughtered an entire small Sect.

Situ E himself was at the Half-step Saint Realm, a titan of the Demonic Path.

He stood between the two, appearing relaxed but actually guarding against an ambush from any direction at all times.

At some point, a pitch-black saber had appeared in his hand, its blade flowing with an eerie light. That was his Life Magical Artifact, the "Soul-Devouring Saber," specifically designed to break through Protective Spiritual Light.

Besides these three top combatants, the Jile Sect also had thirteen Nascent Soul Stage experts, over thirty Golden Core Stage experts, and nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment Stage Disciples.

These people were scattered throughout the encirclement, but now, their attention was firmly fixed on the Spiritual Artifacts.

On the Tianshu Sword Sect's side: Zhao Qian, a Nascent Soul Peak Sword Cultivator with a clear sword heart, was decisive in slaughter.

Standing behind him were two Mid-Nascent Soul Stage Sword Cultivators, Protector Elders of the Tianshu Sword Sect. One was a cold-faced man and the other was a woman as beautiful as a painting, but both radiated sharp Sword Intent.

Further back were twelve Golden Core Stage Sword Cultivator Disciples, each holding a longsword, standing in a neat formation with sharp Sword Intent.

Although their cultivation wasn't as terrifying as the Jile Sect's, they excelled in strict discipline and seamless coordination. Once they acted, the power of their sword formation would be enough to trap a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator.

And on the Hehuan Sect's side—

The Grand Elder, at the Early Stage of Tribulation Transcendence.

He had lived for several hundred years; though old and frail, his cultivation was incredibly profound.

He held an ancient longsword in his hand, its blade flowing with a faint spiritual light. It was his Life Magical Artifact that he had refined for hundreds of years.

He stood behind Xu Ruyu, his gaze as steady as a mountain.

Fifth Elder Hua Xunhuan, at the Mahayana Peak.

Her cultivation although wasn't as high as the Grand Elder's, she excelled in bizarre Cultivation Techniques and varied methods.

Although her short sword was only one foot two inches long, it was a Magical Artifact she had spent three hundred years refining, specifically designed to break through Protective Spiritual Light.

She stood beside the Grand Elder with a cold smile on her lips, her eyes full of Battle Intent.

Granny Liu, at the Half-step Saint Realm.

This is the deepest hidden asset of the Hehuan Sect.

Usually, she leaned on a cane and walked with staggering steps, appearing to be just an ordinary old woman.

But now, she let go of her cane, and it hit the ground with a "clack."

She pulled a short dagger from her sleeve; it was a Magical Artifact she had used in her youth and hadn't brought out for decades.

The dagger was covered in the marks of time, but the blade was still sharp, glinting coldly under the moonlight.

Her back was straight, and a sharp light flashed in her cloudy old eyes—that was the pressure of the Half-step Saint Realm!

But as she looked at Xu Ruyu's back, her eyes held a trace of complex emotion.

She had lived for over two thousand years; what kind of person hadn't she seen? What kind of thing hadn't she experienced?

Xu Ruyu laying out these Spiritual Artifacts one by one seemed like a display of military force, but she saw it clearly—the kid's gaze had never once landed on Situ E or Zhao Qian.

He was looking at those Golden Core Stage and Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators from the Jile Sect.

He was watching the changes in their eyes, their adjustments in positioning, and the frequency of their breathing.

He was using these Spiritual Artifacts to slowly draw out the deepest greed in their hearts.

Granny Liu sighed inwardly.

This kid never intended to use these Spiritual Artifacts to kill the enemies from the start.

He was using these things to fight for a way out for the Hehuan Sect Disciples.

Once they started fighting, the first reaction of those from the Jile Sect would definitely not be to attack the Hehuan Sect Disciples, but to snatch the Spiritual Artifacts.

As soon as they started snatching, the encirclement would show flaws.

And those flaws would be the opportunity for the Hehuan Sect Disciples to escape.

Granny Liu gripped her short dagger tightly without saying a word.

She just silently moved her position half a step closer to Xu Ruyu.

No matter what this kid was planning, even if she had to risk her old life today, she had to protect him.