285: Reactions from all parties

The originally orderly venue suddenly became chaotic. Cultivators swarmed out of the valley like a tide, their faces flushed and eyes fanatical. Some even flew directly into the air on their artifacts, turning into streaks of light, impatiently heading towards the direction of the Nether Crow Cave Mansion.

In less than half a stick of incense's time, more than half the people had left the once bustling temporary market, leaving behind only messy stalls—some with torn curtains and a few remaining Spiritual Plant leaves; some with overturned tables, low-grade Magical Artifacts and scattered Spirit Stones rolling all over the ground. There was even a cloth bag containing dry rations that had been dropped, rolling a few times in the wind to reveal half a piece of hard, dry steamed bun inside.

A few Servant Cultivators responsible for cleaning stood there, looking at the chaos before them with faces full of bewilderment, for a moment not knowing where to start cleaning.

On the high platform, Mo Chenggui stood with his hands behind his back, watching the surging crowd leave below, a very faint and deep, inscrutable smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

He lightly tapped the jade mallet in front of him with his fingertips, his gaze slowly sweeping across the VIP area, pausing briefly on Situ Jun, Mysterious Clarity Master, Withered Bone Ascetic, and others, his eyes carrying a bit of meaningful inquiry, as if he were evaluating something.

Daoist Ming Ya was a famous Void Refining Stage powerhouse from a thousand years ago. Rumor has it that before he went into seclusion to strike for the Mahayana Stage, he took all the Cultivation resources and Treasure Artifacts he had collected throughout his life with him. Such an Opportunity was an irresistible temptation for any Cultivator.

In the VIP seats, Mysterious Clarity Master sat up straight.

His spiritual energy, which had been restless because of the cold marrow jade fruit, was now suppressed by an even stronger thought.

Although the cold marrow jade fruit could heal old injuries, it needed to be refined in a place with abundant Spiritual Qi, and the place where Daoist Ming Ya went into seclusion was undoubtedly the best choice, as the Spiritual Qi there was thick.

Moreover, there might be healing treasures even better than the cold marrow jade fruit deep within the Immortal Cave—just thinking about this, Mysterious Clarity Master felt that the old injuries to his Divine Soul within his body didn't seem to hurt as much. He tightened his grip on the jade box in his sleeve, a flash of determination in his eyes.

Situ Jun lightly tapped the armrest with his fingertips, a flash of realization in his eyes.

No wonder the treasures in this auction were so special, even being able to bring out meteorite iron. It turned out Mo Chenggui had intended from the start to gather everyone's strength to break the Restriction.

This would both save the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce's own consumption and muddy the waters, making it convenient for them to act in secret.

He turned his head, looking first at Hua Hanxiang by his side.

Having already become a young woman, she wore a water-blue dress with a pearl Buyao Hairpin in her hair. At this moment, she was staring with wide, curious eyes toward the direction where spiritual light flickered in the distance, clearly full of longing for the Immortal Cave that was about to open.

Then, he glanced at Widow Ya sitting on the other side. On her fair and moist delicate face, a pair of calm eyes blinked, looking at him with concern.

Situ Jun cleared his throat and exhorted in a low and clear voice:

“There will inevitably be danger when the Restriction is broken later. Follow behind the outer-circle Cultivators arranged by the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce. Remember not to push yourself, and especially do not enter the depths of the Immortal Cave without permission. Although there are fewer opportunities in the outer circle, it is safer. For you, preserving your lives is more important than anything else.”

Hua Hanxiang nodded gently, her long eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings.

She was indeed curious about that ancient Cultivator Immortal Cave from a thousand years ago, wanting to see if it really was full of treasures everywhere as rumored, but she also knew she only had a Mid Golden Core Stage Cultivation. In this struggle where Late Golden Core Stage and Nascent Soul Cultivators gathered, she didn't even have the qualification to share a piece of the pie.

She raised her hand to hold Situ Jun's sleeve, her voice soft:

“I know, husband. I'll take good care of myself. Besides, with Sister Ya by my side, her Cultivation is higher than mine, so she can definitely protect me.”

Widow Ya never had any objections to Situ Jun's arrangements. She nodded gently, her voice gentle but carrying a hint of imperceptible worry:

“Husband has high Cultivation, so we are naturally at ease. But the situation inside the Immortal Cave is unknown; there might be residual Restrictions or traps. You must be careful in everything. If there is danger, do not force yourself.”

Situ Jun hummed in response, reached into his Storage Pouch, took out two jade pendants covered in runes, and handed them to the two women respectively:

“These are ‘Defense Jade Talismans,’ which can withstand three full-strength attacks from an Early Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator.”

He paused, stood up, and said:

“We should set off as well.”

He turned his gaze to Widow Ya, his tone carrying a bit more of a steady instruction:

“Yaer, return to the Poison Scorpion Cult camp first and organize the Disciples of the cult. Have them act according to the previous arrangements and not to clash with other forces without permission. Hanxiang, follow me to meet up with Bai Yu and the others. We'll go to the valley entrance early to see the situation.”

“Yes, husband.”

“Okay.”

The two women responded in unison.

Situ Jun nodded and said no more. Holding Hua Hanxiang, his figure flickered and he disappeared from the spot. The next moment, he appeared dozens of yards away, speeding toward his own camp... Meanwhile, at the Xihua Sect camp, the atmosphere was somewhat solemn.

Ice Soul Fairy Luo Yu stood at the entrance of the camp tent, her moon-white dress fluttering gently in the wind. The plum blossom pattern embroidered on the hem seemed as if it would condense frost flowers in the warm Southern Border wind.

Her brows furrowed slightly, and a wisp of cold air silently condensed on her fingertips, only to quietly dissipate the moment it touched the air, leaving behind only a very faint chill.

Her cold voice carried a hint of gravity, like ice beads falling on a jade plate, crisp yet with a bit of coldness:

“That old fox Mo Chenggui has really calculated well. Driving everyone with the general trend of ‘saving the common people of the Southern Border’ as an excuse, enticing them with the benefit of ‘ancient Cultivator legacies,’ and then binding them with the righteousness of ‘working together’—this overt scheme has truly calculated everyone in.”

She turned to look at the girl Chi Yu standing behind her, a flash of sharpness in her eyes:

“Think about it, under the banner of ‘jointly breaking the Restriction,’ who would dare to openly engage in internal strife? At least before the Restriction is broken, they wouldn't dare. And in this process, how much effort everyone puts in, who harbors ulterior motives, who has private collusions with whom... every detail will fall into the eyes of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, clear at a glance. Mo Chenggui is using everyone's hands to break the Restriction while also taking the Opportunity to find out the background of various forces. Truly a good calculation.”

Chi Yu nodded repeatedly, her eyes full of admiration:

“Elder sees through it clearly! What should we do next? Should we follow the original plan and first unite with the people of the Xuan Yin Sect?”

Luo Yu pondered for a moment and shook her head:

“No need. At this moment, all forces are waiting and watching. If we rashly unite, we will instead attract the attention of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce. Send a message back to the Sect, report the changes here, and have the Sect send two more Half-step Nascent Soul Elders to support us. As for us... we'll go to the valley entrance where the Nether Crow Cave Mansion is located now, take an advantageous position first, and see how things go.”

“Yes, this Disciple will do it right away!”

Chi Yu immediately responded, turned and walked quickly toward the inner part of the camp tent to arrange the message transmission.

Luo Yu looked at her back and then looked up toward the direction of the Nether Crow Valley, a complex light flashing in her eyes.

Although Daoist Ming Ya's Legacy was evil, his treasures were countless. If they could obtain even a little, it would be a significant Opportunity for the Xihua Sect.