Chapter 206: Wild Beast Tide

The end of the cave opened into a square stone chamber, large enough to accommodate thirty or forty people. Layers upon layers of restrictions protected the chamber, indicating that this shelter had existed for a very long time and had endured remarkably well.

Thanks to the restrictions, the stone chamber remained exceptionally dry despite being underground. Everyone's tense nerves relaxed, and they each found a place to sit, began repairing the restrictions around the chamber, and waited for the celestial phenomenon to subside.

Qin Sang’s proficiency in array formations and restrictions was limited; most of his knowledge came from his senior sister Qingting’s insights. Yet, he was still somewhat stronger than the others. After busying himself for a while, he sat down in a corner. His gaze swept over his companions, briefly settling on Yin Xingge before subtly shifting away. He recalled what Mu Yifeng had communicated to him via spiritual message.

Mu Yifeng appeared crude, but in reality, he was meticulously detailed.

Before their departure, Yin Xingge had suddenly interjected. Without giving them any time to react, he directly took control of the squad.

Mu Yifeng suspected Yin Xingge’s intentions for this trip were suspicious. He feigned dissatisfaction, managing to deceive everyone. He left a message, entrusting a friend in Xuanlu Pass to help investigate the matter. Even Qin Sang hadn't noticed his subtle actions.

Mu Yifeng’s long delay in Gubei Town was precisely because he was waiting for information.

To his surprise, he really did uncover some clues. Within Yin Xingge’s sect, the Medicine King Sect, a Core Formation stage cultivator was planning to refine a magic treasure and was actively collecting extreme yang spiritual items.

This Core Formation cultivator had recently gathered several helpers and ventured deep into the core area of the Ancient Immortal Battlefield to explore an ancient immortal's dwelling called the Imperial Flame Secret Realm.

The entrance to the Imperial Flame Secret Realm was filled with terrifying celestial fire power. Even Core Formation cultivators dared not resist it with their physical bodies. They had to borrow a set of forbidden artifacts from Xuanlu Pass, which could easily be traced.

Connecting these dots, Mu Yifeng estimated that Yin Xingge was, in all likelihood, acting under the Core Formation cultivator's instruction and targeting the Crystal of Pure Yang, but with the intention of taking it all for himself!

If they were lucky enough to find a Crystal of Pure Yang and bring it back to Xuanlu Pass, this item would become public property of Xuanlu Pass, and even a Core Formation cultivator would not dare to claim it.

On the surface, the three major sects also had to follow the rules and bid for it together.

The Crystal of Pure Yang was an extreme yang spiritual item, and no one would ever have too many. As long as it wasn't for refining an extreme yin magic treasure, adding a single Crystal of Pure Yang to a magic treasure would imbue it with a trace of Pure Yang power, adding several subtle uses. A considerable number of people would participate in the bidding.

The Core Formation cultivator from the Medicine King Sect had already exhausted their financial resources collecting spiritual items and certainly wouldn't be able to outbid others.

Mu Yifeng was not a reckless person. After weighing the options, he felt that he and Qin Sang alone couldn't handle Yin Xingge. So, he sent the information back through his sect's channels. It might be too late to contact Senior Brother Qi, who was far away in Xuanlu Pass. However, there were Shaohua Mountain outposts in the towns of the middle region, where high-level experts from the sect were definitely stationed.

If Yin Xingge honestly shared the benefits, there would naturally be no trouble. But if he dared to swallow the Crystal of Pure Yang alone, they would make him spit it out the same way he swallowed it!

This plan perfectly suited Qin Sang's intentions. Yin Xingge's cultivation was one stage higher than theirs. In a direct confrontation, he and Mu Yifeng combined might not be Yin Xingge's match, unless they could outmaneuver him by playing on his unsuspecting nature.

But Yin Xingge was also a cautious person, making it difficult to scheme against him. Furthermore, it was uncertain whether Rogue Cultivator Yun Qiong was aware of this matter. In a two-on-two situation, they would definitely be at a disadvantage.

Moreover, after entering the mine, they would have to work together to evade the Cloud Beasts' senses. Internal strife would only lead to one outcome—being torn apart by the Cloud Beasts!

The Crystal of Pure Yang was not spiritual wood and thus could not enhance his Ebony Sword. Qin Sang had no need to fight desperately for it. What he needed to do now was secretly monitor Yin Xingge's actions and wait to see how things unfolded.

Thump... thud...

Just as Qin Sang was deep in thought, heavy footsteps suddenly echoed through the cave, reverberating within the restriction-sealed space. The footsteps grew closer, and then a middle-aged cultivator, covered in sand, hurried into view, appearing at the entrance of the stone chamber.

Anyone daring to travel alone here certainly wouldn't be weak in cultivation. He was likely in a hurry, his aura not yet calm. He seemed similar to Mu Yifeng, just a step away from the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.

The middle-aged cultivator held a spiritual sword, his expression wary. He was clearly startled to suddenly see ten people sitting fully in the stone chamber.

Qin Sang and his group weren't concealing themselves, so it was easy to tell they were a single party.

The man stood at the entrance, his expression shifting uncertainly. Especially after noticing Yin Xingge's cultivation, he hesitated even more, not daring to enter. Just then, another set of footsteps suddenly echoed from outside. The newcomers also weren't trying to hide; there was no need to here.

Their auras indicated there were two people.

The middle-aged cultivator seemed to receive a great pardon. As soon as the two entered, he rushed to meet them, cupping his hands and saying, "Fellow Daoists, the celestial phenomena are perilous and unpredictable. Perhaps we could journey together for a while and look out for each other."

As he spoke, he urgently gestured to them with his eyes.

The newcomers were initially puzzled, but then their expressions changed slightly as they sensed the auras within the stone chamber. One of the older-looking cultivators chuckled loudly, "That is precisely what we desire; we wouldn't dare presume to ask."

The three cultivators had similar cultivation levels, and together, they could hold their own against Qin Sang's group. Only then did they walk into the stone chamber together. The older-looking cultivator cupped his hands towards Yin Xingge, "My name is Wang Daohe. Since we are all traveling, I hope you fellow Daoists can make some room for us. We'll squeeze in. Wang is truly grateful."

The sandstorm roared, and the earth veins trembled. The shelter's restrictions were damaged by the celestial phenomenon, fluctuating unstably. Everyone had no choice but to put aside their petty thoughts and focus all their efforts on repairs.

After Wang Daohe and the two others, several more cultivators arrived one after another, all in extremely disheveled states.

However, the atmosphere in the stone chamber became considerably more harmonious.

This time, the celestial phenomenon didn't last long; it returned to normal in less than two days. Everyone filed out of the cave, only to see the vast, boundless yellow sand, seemingly unchanged.

Leaving the shelter, Qin Sang and his group sped up, spending more than half a month before finally reaching their destination. Fortunately, they weren't attacked by any more celestial phenomena along the way, and they managed to evade the Cloud Beast swarms they encountered several times.

They had already left the desert region. Before them lay mountain ranges, like giant dragons prostrate on the ground. The highest peaks even seemed to connect with the fierce winds in the high sky.

To the naked eye, the dark, black earth and rocks actually shimmered with a metallic luster. There was no sign of life on the surface of the mountains, not a single trace of green, like a land of death.

At this moment, Qin Sang and his group were hidden atop a hillside. Although the aura of the star disk cloud artifact concealed their spiritual fluctuations, all of them, including Qin Sang, looked horrified, lying there motionless, not daring to even breathe.

Before them, amidst the mountains, was an enormous rift valley. Black clouds above the rift valley blotted out the sky. Only upon closer inspection did they realize that these were eagle-shaped Cloud Beasts gathered together.