Chapter 54: The Seizure of the Treasure (Part One)

“Brother Chen, if you don’t mind, may I offer a suggestion?” Ji Mo saw that he was unable to make a decision, and the pursuers behind them were drawing ever closer. The longer they delayed, the worse it would be for their group, so she broke the strange, awkward silence.

“Speak freely, Sister Ji.” Brother Chen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

“Stay below to block the enemies while Brother Mu and I go up to retrieve the treasure. There’s one thing I must make clear in advance: if there are more than three items inside, Brother Mu and I each have the right to choose one. What do you all think?” Ji Mo exchanged a silent glance with Mu Baiyun, and when he nodded to her, she continued.

“Why? If there are only three things, you two each get one? What about the rest of us—are we just here for nothing?” As soon as Ji Mo finished, Zhong Yao immediately protested.

“Then why don’t you go? If you can safely bring back the items, you’ll have first pick.” Ji Mo arched her brows slightly.

“Enough, no more arguing. Sister Ji, I agree with your proposal. Brother Mu, what do you think?” Brother Chen spoke deeply; though he was somewhat dissatisfied with Ji Mo’s division, he knew full well that only by letting Ji Mo and Mu Baiyun join forces could they hope to retrieve the treasure. The rest of their group had no chance of completing the task. He could only grit his teeth and agree.

“I have no objection,” Mu Baiyun shrugged.

“Brother Zhao Hu, be careful,” Ji Mo turned and warned Zhao Hu, then leaped toward the stone wall. She didn’t even draw her White Jade Dragon Whip, simply suspended herself in midair, her toes touching the rock as she swiftly ran along the vertical face. Mu Baiyun’s eyes flashed when he saw this; unwilling to fall behind, he gathered his energy and lightly floated up the stone wall. Unlike Ji Mo, he drew his Rainbow-Slaying Sword. With a gentle tap of the blade against the stone, he soared forward and rapidly caught up with Ji Mo.

Ji Mo glanced back at him, quickening her pace. In the blink of an eye, the two traversed the thousand-meter distance to the end, arriving at the glowing cave entrance. Chen, Jiang, and the others watched from below, both amazed and envious, unable to fathom how the cultivation of these two was clearly lower than their own, yet their abilities were so much stronger.

“Get down!” Just as the pair reached the stone wall, a fierce roar echoed from afar. Ji Mo and Mu Baiyun turned to see two men and a beast charging up the wall. The two men were peak Qi Refiners, climbing the stone with astonishing speed. When the shout rang out, they had just leaped onto the wall, but now, in mere moments, they were upon them.

“It’s that stone-boned brute. Brother Mu, let’s join forces!” Ji Mo’s gaze chilled. Fate truly had brought enemies together on a narrow path—the one at the forefront was the very same peak Qi Refiner who, earlier that morning, had tried to kill them for Ji Mo’s Lightning Beast. The one who shouted was named Zhong Kun, a dual cultivator of spirit and body. He had been in the sect for over fifty years, yet remained at the peak Qi Refining stage.

Though he couldn’t break through, few could match his combat prowess. Zhong Kun was a twelfth-tier Qi Refiner, and his body cultivation had reached the third tier of extraordinary refinement. When dealing with Ji Mo and Mu Baiyun earlier, he’d merely watched coldly, never acting directly. First, he wanted to watch the tigers fight from the mountain; second, after witnessing their strength, he guessed their identities and had some reservations.

But things were different now. With each ebb of the tide came a battle for treasures. At such times, everyone relied on their own abilities—there was no hesitation or concession, and the sect tacitly allowed it. If Ji Mo and Mu Baiyun were wise enough to relinquish the treasure, he would not cause trouble. But if they insisted on competing, then if they were beaten into Blue Moon Lake, even if the sect investigated, he would not be found guilty.

Ji Mo recognized him, and so did Mu Baiyun. His gaze flashed with murderous intent. The two exchanged a look; Mu Baiyun’s Rainbow-Slaying Sword erupted in dazzling brilliance, accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder as it slashed fiercely at Zhong Kun. Ji Mo’s White Jade Dragon Whip transformed into a silver serpent, coiling toward Zhong Kun’s legs.

However, Zhong Kun, having reached the peak Qi Refining stage over twenty years ago, was a wily veteran with immense battle experience. He remained calm, his figure darting upward in a flash, evading Mu Baiyun’s sword and Ji Mo’s whip. Suddenly, a black spear appeared in his hand. He shook it several times, creating countless black spear shadows, which rained down from above upon Ji Mo and Mu Baiyun.

Meanwhile, the man who followed closely behind Zhong Kun arrived, wielding a strange square seal. He silently slammed it down toward Ji Mo.

In an instant, Mu Baiyun and Ji Mo were beset from both sides. Mu Baiyun let out a clear cry, his Rainbow-Slaying Sword circling back to guard him, blocking Zhong Kun’s descending spear shadows. Ji Mo, however, abandoned her whip, and with a light shout, punched directly at the silver-gray seal. Fist and seal collided; the seal was knocked upward, and Ji Mo fell like a meteor toward Blue Moon Lake.

The Lightning Beast perched on Ji Mo’s shoulder let out a strange, whimpering cry, perhaps from fright. As Ji Mo’s figure was about to plunge into the thick mist, she flicked her silver whip, anchoring it into the stone wall. Using the momentum, she steadied herself and surged upward once more.

Zhong Kun saw his full-force spear attack blocked by Mu Baiyun, a mere sixth-tier Qi Refiner, and his face darkened. He was about to press the attack when the beast that had followed them suddenly howled and lunged at him. It was a silver wolf, at the peak of the first tier and on the verge of advancing to the second. Its eyes were not the usual crimson of ordinary demon wolves, but an eerie silver-white.

Zhong Kun was both shocked and furious. He didn’t know what connection this beast had to Mu Baiyun, but here it was, launching itself at him. The silver wolf cared nothing for his thoughts; with a bound and a swipe, its claws enveloped Zhong Kun in a barrage. Zhong Kun roared in rage, his area echoing with the sounds of fierce impact. After several rounds, man and beast retreated from each other, Zhong Kun’s robes torn, his body slashed with claw marks, blood staining his lips—clearly he had suffered significant injuries.

The silver wolf fared little better; a patch of fur was missing from its left back, and a fresh spear wound marred its chest, blood flowing freely. Yet the wolf showed no sign of retreat, its silver-gray eyes burning with battle spirit and ferocity.

The man who had climbed up with Zhong Kun was stunned, hesitating instead of attacking Ji Mo and Mu Baiyun, and quietly withdrew several dozen steps. Ji Mo stared as well, involuntarily glancing at Mu Baiyun, her lips moving, silently asking: What is your relationship with this silver wolf?