Chapter 473 - 470: Malicious Intent

Chapter 473: Chapter 470: Malicious Intent

"A disciple from an Overlord-level Influence... was actually outdone?"

Wei Song, an elder from Longquan Manor, muttered, his voice filled with disbelief.

The wrinkles on his sallow face deepened in astonishment.

Before this, when the elders from the various counties had discussed it privately, they had almost unanimously agreed that with disciples from the Overlord-level Influence, the Celestial Essence Sect, participating, the prodigies from their own counties were destined to be mere foils on this trip to the Ancient Ruins.

The best treasures in the ruins were certain to fall into the hands of the Celestial Essence Sect’s disciples.

But who would have thought such an unexpected turn of events would occur.

An elder from Taishun County, dressed in a brown robe, frowned deeply. His gaze fell upon Fang Han, and after pondering for a long while, he slowly spoke:

"Just how many trials did that boy clear?"

No one could answer him.

But everyone knew in their hearts—since Fang Han came out later than Bai Yan, he must have cleared at least as many trials as Bai Yan, and possibly... even more.

And Bai Yan was the strongest disciple from the Overlord-level Influence, the Celestial Essence Sect, on this trip. The number of trials he cleared was bound to be extremely high.

Over with Donglu County, the expressions on the faces of their elders were the most complicated.

This was the territory of Donglu County. However, the strength of their sects alone was insufficient to monopolize these Ancient Ruins, so they had no choice but to open them to the influences from other counties.

Seeing someone else obtain a great treasure from the Ancient Ruins was more agonizing for them than being killed themselves.

Especially since this person wasn’t a disciple of an Overlord-level Influence, but a disciple from another county, from a fellow top-level influence.

But for most people, their gazes toward Fang Han held not only astonishment but also a thread of inexpressible awe.

Twenty years old, number one on the Celestial Pride List, comprehended Sword Intent, and now, the last to leave the Ancient Ruins—

With time, a figure like this was destined to become a titan in his own right.

"Qingyang County has really produced an incredible figure."

Someone lamented in a low voice, their tone tinged with envy.

The leading elders from the major influences of Qingyang County, on the other hand, were all smiling.

Although Fang Han wasn’t a disciple of their sects, he was, after all, from Qingyang County.

With Fang Han’s brilliant performance in the Ancient Ruins, Qingyang County also shared in the glory.

With the matter of the Ancient Ruins concluded, the various county influences gathered here began to disperse one after another.

The first to leave was the Celestial Essence Sect.

The Celestial Essence Sect’s leading elder for this expedition stood at the edge of the basin with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze lingering on Fang Han for a moment.

No emotion could be discerned in his deep eyes.

Then, he turned and led Bai Yan, Xu Qing, and the other disciples away from the basin.

Their moon-white figures receded into the mountain forest, soon disappearing into the lush green woods.

Following them, the influences from Songquan County, Bailu County, and Taishun County also departed, each going their separate ways.

On Qingyang County’s side, Chen Wanjun also led Fang Han and the others away quickly.

...

The group from Thunderlight Pavilion journeyed through the mountain forest.

Xue Wu’s face was pale, his right arm simply slung across his chest in a strip of cloth. He followed behind his sect’s elder with an unsteady gait.

He kept his head down, not daring to look at anyone.

’I lost.’

’In the Ancient Ruins, in front of the prodigies from every county, I was beaten by Qingyang County’s Mad Saber until my longsword flew from my grasp and I coughed up blood.’

’If Lie Yunting hadn’t stepped in to stop it, I would have been gravely injured, if not killed, had that strike truly landed.’

’What’s even harder for me to accept is that—if I hadn’t been injured, I might have been able to clear the fourth trial.’

’The rewards for the fourth trial were several times more generous than those for the third.’

’It was all that Mad Saber’s fault.’

"Mad Saber!"

Xue Wu gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with venomous hatred.

At the very front walked the leading elder for Thunderlight Pavilion’s expedition.

This man was tall and thin, around fifty years of age, and wore a deep blue long robe with silver lightning patterns embroidered on the cuffs.

He had a square face and a pair of long, sharp eyes from which a gleam of Essence occasionally appeared when he blinked.

His surname was Xue, and his given name was Yuanlang. He was a highly experienced First-Grade Elder of Thunderlight Pavilion and also Xue Wu’s clan uncle.

Xue Yuanlang walked at the very front, his pace neither fast nor slow, his expression calm and unreadable.

But upon closer inspection, one could see a hint of gloom flash through his long, narrow eyes from time to time.

He was naturally displeased that Xue Wu had been injured by Qingyang County’s Mad Saber, stopping at the third trial when he originally had a chance to pass the fourth.

"Elder Xue."

A voice suddenly called out from the side.

Xue Yuanlang’s steps paused, and he turned his head to look.

A group of people was approaching from another mountain path.

The man in the lead was about fifty, with a stocky build. He wore a crimson robe with flame patterns embroidered in gold thread at the hem.

He had a square face, and beneath his thick eyebrows, his eyes were bright and full of spirit. A faint smile hung at the corners of his mouth.

This man’s surname was Meng, and his given name was Zhao. He was an elder of Donglu County’s other top-level influence—the Red Flame Sect.

Meng Zhao walked over quickly and cupped his hands in a salute toward Xue Yuanlang.

"Elder Xue, a word in private?"

Xue Yuanlang’s brow furrowed slightly. He glanced at Meng Zhao, then at the Red Flame Sect disciples behind him, and gave a slight nod.

The two of them walked a few dozen paces to the side of the path, stopping under an ancient tree.

"Elder Meng, what is it?"

Xue Yuanlang got straight to the point.

Meng Zhao didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he turned and looked toward the various county influences dispersing in the distance.

A moment later, he finally spoke slowly.

"Elder Xue, aren’t you the least bit tempted by the treasures from the Ancient Ruins?"

Xue Yuanlang’s brow twitched slightly.

He naturally knew what Meng Zhao was referring to.

The opening of the Ancient Ruins this time had shattered all previous records for clearing the trials.

According to the rules of the Ancient Ruins, the more trials one cleared, the more precious the rewards.

The value of the rewards obtained this time was bound to far exceed any previous occasion.

To say he wasn’t tempted would be a lie.

But—

"Elder Meng, can you afford the retaliation of an Overlord-level Influence?"

Xue Yuanlang’s voice was very low, tinged with gravity.

The Celestial Essence Sect was an Overlord-level Influence with a Great Grandmaster powerhouse presiding over it. Its sphere of influence covered five counties, and its strength far surpassed that of ordinary top-level influences like theirs.

If they dared to attack the disciples of the Celestial Essence Sect and were exposed, what awaited them would be utter annihilation.

Meng Zhao just smiled faintly at his words.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a sense of confident certainty.

"I am naturally afraid of retaliation from an Overlord-level Influence, and I wouldn’t dare make a move against their people."

Xue Yuanlang stared at Meng Zhao, a faint guess forming in his mind.

"However—"

Meng Zhao’s tone shifted, and he lowered his voice even further.

"The people from the Overlord-level Influence aren’t the only ones who reaped huge benefits this time."

Xue Yuanlang’s pupils contracted slightly.

He understood Meng Zhao’s meaning.

’The Qingxuan Sect.’

’Fang Han of the Qingxuan Sect.’

’That boy’s performance in the Ancient Ruins was in no way inferior to Bai Yan of the Celestial Essence Sect, and perhaps even surpassed it.’

’The rewards he carries must also be astonishingly valuable.’

’More importantly—the Qingxuan Sect is just a top-level influence in Qingyang County, not an Overlord-level Influence.’

"You mean... the Qingxuan Sect?"

Xue Yuanlang asked in a low voice.

Meng Zhao nodded slightly, a gleam of Essence flashing through his bright, spirited eyes.

Xue Yuanlang fell silent.

He naturally understood Meng Zhao’s meaning.

Fang Han of the Qingxuan Sect had stayed in the Ancient Ruins until the very end; the rewards he carried were bound to be extremely precious.

’If we could intercept him...’

But, the Qingxuan Sect was still a top-level influence, on the same tier as Thunderlight Pavilion and the Red Flame Sect.

If the matter was exposed, the Qingxuan Sect’s retaliation would be no simple affair.

"Although the Qingxuan Sect is not an Overlord-level Influence, it is still a top-level one."

Xue Yuanlang spoke slowly, his voice tinged with hesitation.

"If this gets out, the Qingxuan Sect’s revenge..."

"Where are we?"

Meng Zhao interrupted Xue Yuanlang.

Xue Yuanlang was slightly taken aback.

"This is Donglu County."

Meng Zhao answered his own question, his voice steady.

"Not Qingyang County. Not within the Qingxuan Sect’s sphere of influence."

He paused, then continued.

"As long as we’re discreet enough, it will be very difficult for the Qingxuan Sect to find out which influence was behind it. What’s more—"

His gaze swept over the various county influences dispersing around them.

"Right now, this forest is filled with influences from the five surrounding counties, even people from the Celestial Essence Sect. It’s a chaotic mix of friend and foe. Who’s to say who made the move?"

Xue Yuanlang’s eyes flickered.

What Meng Zhao said did make sense.

Donglu County was their home turf. As long as they did it cleanly and left no clues, the Qingxuan Sect would have nowhere to start even if they wanted to investigate.

Furthermore, with so many influences participating in the Ancient Ruins, suspects were spread across five counties. Even if the Qingxuan Sect had its suspicions, it would be difficult to pinpoint a target.

He closed his eyes, weighing the pros and cons repeatedly in his mind.

A moment later, he opened his eyes. All that remained in his long, narrow eyes was decisiveness.

"How do we split the spoils?"

he asked.

"Fifty-fifty. If there’s an indivisible treasure, the party that takes it must provide compensation of equal value."

The smile at the corners of Meng Zhao’s mouth deepened as he said in a low voice.

"Deal."

Xue Yuanlang glanced at Meng Zhao and nodded slightly.

...

The mountain forest was lush and green. The afternoon sun filtered through layers of leaves, casting dappled spots of light on the ground covered in decaying foliage.

Fang Han’s group moved through it. Chen Wanjun walked at the front with a steady pace, his deep cyan Elder Robe fluttering slightly in the mottled light and shadow.

Fang Han followed behind him. He had already given some simple treatment to the tears on his cyan robe, which had been ripped by the puppets’ sharp claws.

The Medicinal Power of the Creation Pill was still circulating slowly within his body, nourishing the wounds that had not yet fully healed.

Yun Muyao walked by his side, dressed in a plain white long dress with a light veil covering her face, revealing only a pair of eyes as clear as a cold pool.

Luo Yuntian, Kuang Tu, Chen Wuhen, Su Yuwei, Mo Chen, Liu Ruyan, and Wang Miao followed close behind, each using their own Body Technique to weave through the scattered rocks and bushes.

There were no signs of the other influences around them.

After leaving the basin of the Ancient Ruins, the county influences had dispersed one by one. Some headed east, others west, and they all soon vanished into the vast mountain forest.

In this ancient, dense forest, only the sound of the Qingxuan Sect group’s footsteps and the faint whisper of their clothes cutting through the wind remained.

"Senior Brother Fang."

Yun Muyao’s voice rang out, her cool tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of inquiry.

Fang Han turned his head to look at Yun Muyao, who had spoken.

"How many trials did you clear?"

Yun Muyao asked very softly, as if it were just a casual question.

But her cool, clear eyes clearly held a measure of seriousness.

As soon as she said this, Luo Yuntian and the others also cast their gazes over.

In the Ancient Ruins, they had been eliminated one by one at different trials. Only Fang Han had remained until the end.

Just how many trials he had cleared was something everyone was curious about.