"Clap, clap, clap..."
"What a keen spiritual sense, truly worthy of a disciple of the Lingyin Sect."
From the shadows, a young man dressed in luxurious clothes, with a variety of dazzling jade pendants hanging from his waist, emerged.
In his hand, he held a spinning dark gold compass, its needle pointing towards the colossal bronze gate.
"I initially thought that besides our Spirit Treasure Sect, no one else in the entire Yan Kingdom could find this place. Never expected... to be outdone by three little girls."
This youth shimmered with spiritual light all over, with no less than five magical defensive artifacts visible to the naked eye. He looked at the three young girls in front of him and smiled slightly.
"Spirit Treasure Sect?"
Zhiwei’s eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze sweeping over the other party’s extravagant attire, and she was secretly amazed.
Among the Five Sects of Yan Country, when it comes to magical battles and slaughter, perhaps the Refining God Sect ranks first. But when it comes to wealth and numerous magical treasures, Spirit Treasure Sect claims second, and no one dares to claim first!
Of course... this is also why Spirit Treasure Sect disciples rarely venture out, as they are too easily seen as fat sheep.
But what surprised Zhiwei the most was that this person’s cultivation was actually at the Foundation Establishment Sixth-Layer!
It’s well known that outside, among the Spirit Treasure Sect’s true disciples, each one is at the fourth or fifth layer of Foundation Establishment, but not one at the sixth.
"Playing the pig to eat the tiger... this person is probably not easy to deal with, perhaps there’s going to be a magical battle for the opportunity. But such a person is even more difficult than the Ten Thousand Puppet Four Cultivators from before."
Zhiwei thought to herself, watching the youth warily.
Being stared at coldly by Zhiwei like this,
if it were an ordinary cultivator, they would probably be ready to make a move,
but this ornate youth instead politely took half a step back, revealing a friendly smile:
"Don’t panic, Junior Sister, there’s no need to draw your sword! I am Zhong Jinliu, a true inheritor of the Spirit Treasure Sect. I’m all about harmony bringing wealth. Fighting and killing not only damages harmony but what if our magical treasures get damaged, wouldn’t that be a great loss?"
This behavior left the fully-prepared Zhiwei at a loss.
In the Cultivation Realm, for the sake of snatching opportunities, cultivators meeting and attacking each other mercilessly are common.
This person clearly possesses a Foundation Establishment Sixth-Layer cultivation and is luxuriously equipped, yet facing three early Foundation Establishment cultivators, he maintains a polite demeanor, which is truly rare.
"Senior Sister..."
A small furry head peeked out from behind Zhiwei, with big eyes staring at the shining defensive jade pendants on Zhong Jinliu’s waist. Unable to resist, she swallowed saliva and whispered to Zhiwei:
"He looks really rich, his whole body is shining... just like a fat sheep walking on the road. If Master sees him, she’d definitely be delighted."
Even though the little girl’s voice was low, it naturally didn’t escape a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Zhong Jinliu’s smile froze slightly as he covered his Storage Bag on his waist, coughing twice:
"Cough, cough, this little Junior Sister is being humorous. How could the illustrious Lingyin Sect ever engage in robbery? As the Upper Sect of our Yan Kingdom, Lingyin Sect has always opposed demon paths like the Duqing Sect and the Myriad Puppets Sect. Joking like this might scare your Senior Brother."
Zhiwei glared at Qing Jun, pinning her restless little hand down, then returned her gaze to Zhong Jinliu and asked coldly:
"Since Taoist Zhong arrived before us, why delay entering, but instead hide in the dark observing us?"
Qing Jun was not pleased; she wasn’t being greedy, just probing the other side! Checking to see if he’d get mad and show flaws... Such a kind child she was incapable of killing for treasures!
"To tell the truth, it’s not unwillingness but rather inability."
Zhong Jinliu smiled bitterly, pointing at the colossal bronze gate,
"You three might not know. It is widely known outside that our Spirit Treasure Sect is skilled in artifact refining, and our sect founder was one of the Pine Yang Seven. Yet few know that our opening sect master hailed from Yunduan Mountain."
"Sect elders have scoured through fragments of ancient texts for nearly a hundred years, as well as the founder’s last words before passing, to deduce this location. Relying on the sect’s treasured Star Fixing Dragon Seeking Compass, I barely avoided demonic plants to enter this place at great risk."
"But who would have thought, in this land of refining fire, the ground fire is out of control, filling the chamber, utterly impassable."
Saying this, Zhong Jinliu spread his hands, sighed, and continued:
"I initially thought there was an unsurpassed artifact refining legacy left by the founder inside, and came with great excitement. But as it appears now, even if there was a grand opportunity inside, it has been burned by fire for a thousand years, likely leaving nothing behind!"
Today glanced at the ground fire seeping from the door crack, her body contained Divine Fire, indeed sensing the inside was a sea of flames, burning for centuries.
Thus, she found it hard to understand how any cultivation technique could remain inside?
"No... no treasures left? Not even a hair?"
Hearing this, Qing Jun was struck as if by lightning, full of disbelief, and angrily pointing at Zhong Jinliu:
"Outrageous! Qing Jun climbed such a high cliff, scared into cold sweat by a lazy flower, only to find everything here burned up, what will Qing Jun bring back to honor the Master?!"
"Are you deceiving, trying to trick us away to hog the treasures all by yourself, fat sheep?!"
"Oh, my little aunt, I wouldn’t dare lie to the people of the Lingyin Sect!"
Zhong Jinliu wore a bitter expression, waving his hand repeatedly,
"If you don’t believe me, feel the temperature leaking through the crack in the door! If even the crack is this terrifying, inside must surely be a sea of magma and fire!"
Zhiwei ignored their banter, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed as she stared intently at the enormous bronze door.
A millennium fire out of control?
Burning everything to ashes?
Indeed, Zhong Jinliu’s conjecture seemed flawless.
The power of heaven and earth is certainly beyond the creations of ordinary cultivators to resist.
Yet...
In her master’s strategy, it was clearly stated that the Celestial Burning Treasure Scroll was inside.
Master’s plans are always meticulous.
Since he sent them here, it indicated that the scroll was beyond common understanding and wouldn’t be burned.
Perhaps only that which is not consumed by the millennium fire is the true supreme inheritance!
Zhong Jinliu saw the fire refining ground had become a sea of flame and abandoned the thought of searching for the inheritance.
Seeing the three girls before him, all Lingyin disciples,
his gaze shifted slightly, and suddenly he smiled and said, "In the past, the Five Sects of Yan Kingdom were closely linked, especially our Spirit Treasure Sect, which always maintained good relations with other sects. Don’t worry, my sect will surely not act as a tribulation cultivator, for my sect’s long-standing kindness is why it remains in Hunyuan City."
"Bad people wouldn’t say they’re bad either."
Qing Jun snorted.
Just like our master, he never admits he’s an old Taoist!
"Oh my, if I harbored ill intentions, why would I be chatting with you three? Though I’m not talented, I’ve reached the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment and am the senior brother of the Spirit Treasure Sect. But you all are only at the early stages of Foundation Establishment."
Zhong Jinliu chuckled.
Despite his sweet talk, he wasn’t fully confident.
The fact that these three girls came here meant they might possess unique skills not to be underestimated.
In the cultivation realm, there is no shortage of unsuspecting cultivators.
While Jin’er calmed the agitated divine fire, she looked up at Zhong Jinliu, seemingly thinking, "Senior sister, this... this Taoist seems to have something to say."
The man neither acted nor left, lingering here, obviously with other intentions.
Sure enough,
Zhong Jinliu’s eyes flickered, and he shook his head, sighing, "I can’t hide anything from you, junior sisters. Just as the senior brother said, the Spirit Treasure Sect has always been kind, but alas... there’s a thief at home, attracting wolves."
Wolves?
Zhiwei’s heart skipped, could it be the Huayue Mansion?
Earlier, their master had warned them to be cautious of the cultivators from Huayue Mansion.
After being pursued by sect members from Ten Thousand Puppet Sect within the grotto heaven, she even suspected that Huayue Mansion’s cultivators might have a way to contact the outside world — possibly tracking their location through the external light curtain.
"What are you muttering about? Say it quickly! Why would your wolves concern me? You keep staying here, aren’t you up to no good?"
The vigilant young girl glared at Zhong Jinliu.
She’s experienced with these situations.
If her master pretends to ponder in front of her, unwilling to leave, Qing Jun knew master wanted her close.
Indeed, that’s how it was.
Once close, master would be content and return to cultivating.
And here Zhong Jinliu lingered shamelessly, clearly up to no good as well!
"Ah..."
Zhong Jinliu slightly shrunk his neck, this young girl was too bold!
Luckily she encountered him; with anyone else, tempers would have flared long ago.
He smiled awkwardly, "Alright, alright, I’ll leave now. Just wanted to remind you, junior sisters, to be cautious of Huayue Mansion’s cultivators... If necessary, you can ask senior brother for help. If... they die in Luoxiao Grotto Heaven, Huayue Mansion surely wouldn’t have the face to cause trouble."
After saying this, he cupped his hands ceremoniously, untied a jade pendant from his waist, placed it lightly on the ground, and then turned to leave neatly and briskly.