Chapter 478: Praying Mantis and Yellow Sparrow

Patriarch Extreme Yin's face darkened momentarily when he heard the other party dismiss his words as nonsense. However, the words that followed immediately forced him to suppress his anger. He then turned and conversed telepathically with Barbarian Ghoul and Layman Qingyi to discuss further.

“We will follow your suggestion and refrain from conflict for now. Everything can wait until after we’ve obtained the treasure!” Shortly after their discussion concluded, Patriarch Extreme Yin said coldly to Wan Tianming.

“Good! This is indeed a wise choice by all of you. Let’s enter together.” Wan Tianming chuckled as he spoke.

He then stood up and walked towards the enormous stone gate. Daoist Tianwu and the old man resembling a farmer immediately followed suit.

“Hmph!” Barbarian Ghoul snorted disdainfully when he saw Wan Tianming and the others acting so boldly. His gaze suddenly swept over Yuan Yao and the Core Formation cultivator Han Li didn’t recognize, and a fierce glint appeared in his eyes.

Almost simultaneously, the two cultivators also sensed the malice on Barbarian Ghoul’s face. Their faces paled, and they spontaneously transformed into a yellow light and a red light, darting towards the stone pagoda ahead of the others.

Seeing this, Barbarian Ghoul let out a sinister laugh:

“Where do you two think you’re going?”

As he spoke, he rubbed his hands together, then simultaneously raised them. Two streaks of golden light shot out, instantly striking the two fleeing lights, arriving even before them.

The male cultivator within the yellow light screamed, and a figure stumbled and fell. He was instantly swept into the air by the golden light, and in a flash, his body was sliced into seven or eight pieces, his bloody remains scattering across the ground.

On the other side, after the red light was struck by the golden light, it erupted into several dazzling green flames. These flames actually dispersed the golden light somewhat for a moment.

Then, as if provoked, the red light instantly transformed into a crimson strange bird. It shot past the golden light’s interception at several times its previous speed, vanishing without a trace. The next moment, it appeared inside the stone pagoda’s passage, and after a few flashes, the figure completely disappeared.

“Oh! That’s a bit strange.”

The scholarly old man and Extreme Yin had initially paid no attention to Barbarian Ghoul’s actions. But seeing the red light actually escape Barbarian Ghoul’s attack, they couldn’t help but show surprise. The old man even frowned slightly and murmured.

“Barbarian Ghoul, what is the meaning of this? Why did you attack and kill someone without provocation?” Upon seeing this, Daoist Tianwu turned with a displeased expression and questioned him.

“I was unhappy, so what’s your problem with me killing a few outsiders? Do you want to seek justice for them, or do you personally want to test my Sky-Upholding Demonic Art?” Barbarian Ghoul glanced indifferently at the old Daoist and spoke coldly.

“You…”

“Forget it, Daoist Tianwu! Those two weren’t from our righteous path anyway. Let them die if they die! The main objective is more important!” Wan Tianming called out to the old Daoist without even turning his head.

Hearing this, Daoist Tianwu could only glare resentfully at Barbarian Ghoul. Then he turned away helplessly.

Shortly after, the cultivators of the righteous path crossed the stone gate and entered the inner hall.

“Brother Man, you killed well! I also dislike having one or two rats scurrying around, annoying us before important matters! Two Core Formation cultivators wanted to sneak into the inner hall and take advantage. They were truly tired of living. However, there seems to be one more person here. Why didn’t Brother Man finish him off?” Patriarch Extreme Yin watched Wan Tianming and the others’ figures gradually receding, then suddenly clapped his hands and chuckled sinisterly, turning his gaze to Xuan Gu.

Facing this situation, Xuan Gu’s expression remained calm, showing no unusual reaction. It was as if Patriarch Extreme Yin wasn’t looking at him, but someone else.

“This person has a connection to me. He is a descendant of an elder who showed me kindness, so of course, I wouldn’t touch him. And neither of you are to plot against him either?” Barbarian Ghoul said expressionlessly, uttering words that greatly surprised the others.

“Since he’s a junior related to Brother Man, Brother Qing and I naturally won’t act recklessly. However, it is quite surprising that Brother Man also accepts favors from others.” Patriarch Extreme Yin’s eyes shifted slightly, and he squinted, carefully examining Xuan Gu twice. After confirming he truly didn’t recognize the person, he spoke a few ambiguous words.

“Heh heh! Extreme Yin, do you dare question me?” Barbarian Ghoul’s face turned cold, and he stared menacingly at Patriarch Extreme Yin.

“How could I? I was just a little curious, that’s all! If Brother Man doesn’t wish to discuss it, then let’s drop the subject. However, the black-robed woman who escaped just now likely has a significant background. Brother Man should be extra careful!” Patriarch Extreme Yin laughed it off in retreat, but then added a meaningful remark at the end.

“My eyes aren’t blind. Do you think I didn’t see that woman using Old Devil Sanyang’s Azure Fire Thunder? Aside from Old Devil Sanyang’s closest disciples, ordinary disciples of the Qingyang Sect couldn’t possibly possess such an item. Otherwise, do you really think that young woman could have escaped my killing strike?” After a moment of silence, Barbarian Ghoul said with a gloomy expression.

“Heh heh, I suppose I spoke out of turn!” Seeing Barbarian Ghoul’s displeased expression, Patriarch Extreme Yin wisely refrained from saying anything further.

“It’s alright, even if that woman is indeed related to Old Devil Sanyang. With Brother Man’s cultivation, you naturally wouldn’t fear him. However, this is a crucial period for our Demonic Path, the Righteous Path, and the Star Palace in the struggle for the Scattered Star Seas. This old devil has considerable powers. Although he comes from the Demonic Path, his temperament is unpredictable, oscillating between righteous and evil. It’s better not to needlessly make an enemy of him. Let’s let this woman go for now!” The scholarly old man said, playing the peacemaker.

It was clear that Barbarian Ghoul harbored significant apprehension towards Old Devil Sanyang, as mentioned by the others. He nodded woodenly, then remained silent.

This series of rapid developments made Han Li, who was behind Patriarch Extreme Yin, feel extremely complex emotions. Various thoughts surged through his mind.

A Core Formation cultivator was killed before his eyes, as if a mere ant. Yet Yuan Yao had found a way to escape this peril?

Xuan Gu, at some point, had established a connection with Barbarian Ghoul, the foremost Demonic Path cultivator in the Void Heaven Temple. No wonder he was so composed. Yuan Yao also seemed to have some connection with Old Devil Sanyang, an old devil whom even the domineering Barbarian Ghoul showed some apprehension towards.

Various thoughts intertwined in Han Li’s mind, but he couldn't sort them out clearly for a moment.

He could only listen intently to Barbarian Ghoul and the others’ conversation, without betraying any emotion. He hoped to gather more information to devise a safer countermeasure.

Unfortunately, a casual remark from the scholarly old man ended their conversation.

“Let’s hurry into the inner hall! Those righteous path fellows will soon be out of range of our senses. We can’t let them secretly slip away.” Layman Qingyi glanced at the enormous passage behind the stone gate, his brows furrowed as he spoke in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, Barbarian Ghoul also cast a look towards the stone gate. After a moment of thought, he silently lifted his leg and set off.

Patriarch Extreme Yin and the old man exchanged a look, then followed unhurriedly.

Han Li, Wu Chou, Xuan Gu, and the others naturally followed them into the stone gate.

Gradually, Han Li and the others’ figures slowly receded into the bluestone passage. Eventually, they disappeared from sight.

Two or three hours later, the previously dimmed teleportation array once again emitted a dazzling white light. Then, two figures, after a moment of blurriness, appeared side by side.

They were none other than the two white-robed elders from the Star Palace!

At this moment, they cautiously glanced around. Only after confirming that no one was truly around did they relax.

“It seems they’ve all gone in. No matter how cunning these old monsters are, they would never guess that our Star Palace deciphered this teleportation array’s restrictions a thousand years ago. We can enter this place whenever we please.” One of them chuckled softly.

“Let’s go, but we must be extremely careful. Unless they genuinely retrieve the Void Heaven Cauldron, we absolutely must not act impulsively and expose this secret.” The other person spoke with a cold voice.

“Naturally!” The first one nodded in agreement.

As these words fell, the two transformed into streaks of white light and shot into the stone gate.

Han Li walked behind Patriarch Extreme Yin, and to his surprise, Wu Chou was walking beside him. This made Han Li feel incredibly awkward.

However, Han Li didn’t know what Patriarch Extreme Yin had said to Wu Chou, but now Wu Chou was extremely enthusiastic towards him on the way. He constantly engaged Han Li in casual conversation, as if afraid of neglecting him. It was as if Wu Chou’s previous jealous expression and gaze had belonged to someone else entirely.

But the more affected Wu Chou’s behavior was, the heavier Han Li’s heart felt.

“Could Old Devil Extreme Yin have hinted to Wu Chou that he should eliminate me after we obtain the treasure? Is that why Wu Chou’s attitude changed so drastically!” Han Li couldn’t help but think with a bitter smile.

Despite feeling extremely anxious, Han Li still conversed with Wu Chou with a smile. The air of pretense between them was so thick that others could clearly sense it even from seven or eight zhang away.

However, Extreme Yin, Barbarian Ghoul, and the others continued silently, seemingly oblivious. It seemed that after entering the inner hall, the three Nascent Soul stage old monsters suddenly became solemn, no longer displaying their previous relaxed demeanor.

What puzzled Han Li was that despite their group having been inside this pagoda for so long, nothing had happened. They hadn’t encountered any restrictions or dangers.

Did they have to enter those stone doors before encountering any restrictions?

As he thought this, Han Li couldn’t help but look around again.