Chapter 330: Bull Chewing the Peony

As Xu Qing's words resonated, the captain turned his head, his eyes immediately fixated on the dozens of shimmering treasure robes hanging on a distant clothes rack. There were indeed dozens of these robes, each hung neatly with perfectly smooth fabric, utterly devoid of wrinkles, and spaced evenly apart. The meticulous arrangement clearly showed the owner's profound affection for these garments.

Most of these treasure robes were skirts. One, a vibrant green misty gauze dress, was embroidered with large peonies using plain silk refined from immortal jade, further embellished with immortal gold. Its trailing hem, adorned with patterns resembling scattered pink narcissus flowers, was exceptionally dazzling. Draped beside it was a thin, misty green gauze embroidered with gold threads, suggesting that even an ordinary woman would be transformed into a figure of magnificent grace if she wore it.

Another piece was an emerald-green palace-style misty top, subtly patterned with purple and blue butterflies that occasionally shimmered to life, fluttering realistically around the garment. Its accompanying pleated skirt, adorned with scattered flowers and misty green grass, appeared extraordinarily vibrant and shimmered with light. The fabric itself seemed strong enough to form astonishing protective armor if tailored into close-fitting attire. Another item was a simple white robe that swept the ground, intricately embroidered with robust branches using silk from an exotic tree, and vibrant plum blossoms crafted from the veins of unique plants. This robe exuded an ethereal lightness, and faint shadows of mythical beasts occasionally flickered around it.

In total, each of these dozens of treasure robes was unique, crafted from extraordinary materials of immense value. The decorative pearl flowers on them also emitted an aura that noticeably accelerated cultivation. Not only was the captain mesmerized, but Yan Yan, who stood beside him, had also been staring intently at the robes for a while. The captain, however, saw only their potential monetary value, whether by consumption or sale, while Yan Yan was simply captivated by their unparalleled beauty.

"It's worth it!" the captain exclaimed, swallowing hard as he lunged towards the robes. He instantly pulled one off, intending to stash it in his storage bag, only to find that it wouldn't go in. The robes possessed unique and extraordinary properties that prevented them from being stored in ordinary bags.

"I knew this would happen," he declared. "Little Qing, you'll have to help me sort out the Profound Nether Sect's affairs later. I only went to retrieve that tooth for our grand cause."

As the captain spoke, he waved his right hand, and a sharp, massive tooth, taller than a person, instantly materialized before him. A section of this massive tooth was consumed by a golden invasion that had penetrated deep within it. The moment it appeared, astonishing fluctuations emanated from it. Xu Qing immediately recognized it as the demon serpent's tooth. Yan Yan, who had never seen a demon serpent, gasped at the sight of the tooth, sensing its exceptional power.

With the tooth in hand, the captain swelled with pride. Gripping the tooth, he ruthlessly slashed at one of the dresses. To Yan Yan's dismay, with a loud rip, the beautiful vibrant green misty gauze dress was violently torn open by the captain. As it ripped, its luminous glow dimmed, and a perfectly good garment was now marred by a gaping, unsightly tear. The captain, seemingly enjoying the sound, continued to slash rapidly, rendering the treasure robe utterly tattered with continuous ripping noises. However, this destruction did not diminish the value of the embellishments or the fabric itself. Seeing the tooth's remarkable efficacy, the captain was immensely thrilled.

"Back when I first saw Old Woman You Jing's robes, I often wondered how I'd tear them if I ever got my hands on them," he cackled. "Now, with this, there isn't a single treasure I, Chen Erniu, can't rip open!" The captain threw his head back and roared with laughter. "Even if the Profound Nether Sect skins me alive for this, I'll accept it!"

Xu Qing blinked, suitably expressing his astonishment. Seeing this, the captain's spirits soared. Xu Qing seized the moment, quickly moving closer. Together, they gathered the tattered remnants, and once successfully placed in the storage bag, their division of labor became implicitly clear. Xu Qing took charge of spreading out the garments to reveal their valuable sections, while the captain's sole task was to wield the tooth and continue slashing.

Soon, the constant ripping sounds echoed through the chamber. Yan Yan watched, heartbroken, though the robes weren't hers. She could vividly imagine the furious rage and madness Spirit Venerable You Jing would unleash upon discovering this. Observing Xu Qing and the captain's diligent efforts, she muttered softly.

"That Spirit Venerable You Jing also brought this upon herself," she whispered. "She shouldn't have hidden her treasures so temptingly; now you two have set your sights on them. When she discovers this, she'll surely be livid and tear women's clothes apart – you're truly dreadful!" Hearing this, the captain scoffed.

"This is nothing!" he scoffed. "Our master – Little Qing's and mine, that old man – *he's* the truly wicked one. Back when he was young, I personally witnessed our master's wife arguing with him. In a fit of rage, she destroyed some of his most cherished ancient texts and jade slips." Still holding the tooth, the captain continued to rip open the treasure robe in front of him, casually resuming his story. "Then our master calmly took out a pair of scissors," he continued, "retrieved our master's wife's most beloved garments, and, right in front of her, meticulously cut them all into shreds!"

"Our master's wife froze for a moment when she saw this," he recounted, "then she completely exploded with rage. Because of that incident, they didn't see each other for three years."

Xu Qing glanced at the captain but said nothing, his attention caught by the phrase "the old man was still young." Their master was certainly not young now. This implied that the captain must have undergone re-cultivation countless times. Yan Yan, on the other hand, focused on the emotional impact of the story, as men tend to prioritize logic while women often prioritize feeling. She easily empathized, keenly feeling the utter frustration and madness Xu Qing's master's wife must have experienced.

"How truly dreadful," Yan Yan murmured, speechless, but she quickly joined them, helping to collect the remnants. In this manner, the three busied themselves, gradually tearing open all dozens of the treasure robes. However, the material of these garments was astonishingly robust, imbued with a powerful immortal spirit aura. Due to Spirit Venerable You Jing's towering stature, the clothes were immensely thick, with each individual piece piling up like a small hill. They couldn't take everything, so they had to cut off only the most valuable sections. Consequently, every robe in the room was soon tattered, some reduced to mere strips like door curtains, others riddled with holes like beggar's rags.

Meanwhile, the resounding roars outside continued to echo, growing fiercer, and the ground-shaking tremors intensified. Witnessing this, Xu Qing spoke immediately.

"Let's go! If we don't leave now, we'll be in danger!" Xu Qing urged, shaking off his lingering greed for the location and preparing to depart. Yan Yan hesitated briefly, then quickly retreated as well. The captain was initially reluctant, wanting to search further or pry loose the spirit jade bricks from the floor. But seeing Xu Qing and Yan Yan prepare to leave, he suddenly recalled an incident with the Sea Corpse Clan where he had taken the blame for something similar. So, taking a deep breath and gritting his teeth, he quickly followed Xu Qing and Yan Yan out of the cave.

"Know when to quit, know when to quit," the captain inwardly vowed as they walked. "I need to break this excellent habit of being overly greedy. This time, I must not be greedy!"

Moments later, the three burst out of the cave through the entrance hole. Activating their stealth abilities, they sped down the mountain. Not long after their departure, a crimson figure rapidly approached the cave entrance. It was a woman clad in a long red robe, her face obscured by a white mask. She carried a black, demonic scythe, taller than herself, on her shoulder, from which eerie fluctuations emanated. Her movements were fluid and light; she quickly approached, surveyed her surroundings, then let out a soft chuckle.

"The elders in the sect always claimed that Spirit Venerable You Jing, among the Three Spirits, enjoyed hoarding treasures," she mused. "Now that I've seized this opportunity to come here, I'll see exactly what treasures she possesses."

As she spoke, the woman stepped into the opening and entered the cave, her beautiful eyes, hidden beneath the mask, scanning the surroundings. Her eyes first landed on the remarkably clean floor. "Although a major battle is raging outside and the mountain is collapsing, this place is strangely pristine," the woman murmured. But the next instant, when she looked up at the surrounding walls, she froze. Many sections of the walls bore empty grooves, their shapes suggesting that beads had once been embedded there. The woman paused, then quickly moved through the cave, her expression growing increasingly displeased as she checked various rooms. She discovered that even furniture like tables and beds had been cleared out. Finally, she saw the tattered garments strewn across the floor and gasped.

"Someone got here before me," she thought. "Did this person transform from a mouse, or do they harbor such deep hatred for Spirit Venerable You Jing that they would destroy the robes just to steal the treasures?" The woman whirled around and quickly left, her heart filled with vigilance.

Meanwhile, at the foot of the Third Mountain, Xu Qing and his two companions, concealed, were rapidly moving, intending to leave the area. Now laden with spoils, Xu Qing instinctively wanted to leave immediately, especially considering the treasures in his storage bag. He wished to avoid a repeat of the incident with the Sea Corpse Clan. The captain, however, was visibly regretful, feeling that this expedition had not been satisfying enough.

"Little Qing, that wasn't very exciting this time," the captain whispered.

Xu Qing found the remark familiar and immediately grew wary, pulling Yan Yan along as they accelerated their dash. The captain sighed repeatedly from behind them, occasionally glancing up at the distant Second Mountain and licking his lips.

"How about we go check out the Second Mountain next?"

Xu Qing was about to speak, but at that very moment, a heaven-shaking roar suddenly erupted from the sky, followed by a mournful wail that echoed and reverberated in all directions. The sound was so immense that even though Xu Qing and his companions weren't particularly close, they were still affected. Their bodies violently trembled; Xu Qing coughed up a mouthful of blood, and Yan Yan's body shook so severely that over a dozen jade slips shattered on her, causing her to also vomit blood. The captain's entire body likewise convulsed, and as blood spurted from his mouth, all three looked up at the sky in horror.

What they saw was Spirit Venerable You Jing, currently engaged in battle with three Sword Bearers high in the sky, her form split into three bodies. One of her clones had just been impaled through the heart by an opposing Sword Bearer's sword, its lower abdomen shattered by a punch. Then, a massive seal, imbued with terrifying, overwhelming power and infinite Dao Rimes, materialized and slammed down with tremendous force. Instantly, this clone of Spirit Venerable You Jing burst open at the abdomen and chest, emitting a mournful shriek as the Dao Rime-infused seal struck its body. The appearance of this seal was clearly premeditated and targeted. Although the strike wasn't fatal, it immediately severed the connection between You Jing's main body and her clone.

The next moment, the heavily wounded clone plummeted from the sky with a whistle, crashing onto the ground between the Third and Second Mountains. As the earth rumbled and trembled, the clone lay motionless, its consciousness gone. What emerged from its wounds was not flesh and blood, but dazzling immortal spiritual light and an intensely rich immortal spiritual aura, so potent that a single breath of it was enough to invigorate the spirit. As dust billowed from the ground and intense fluctuations rippled as if an earth dragon had stirred, Xu Qing and his companions' expressions shifted. Yan Yan's heart pounded with fright, but the captain's eyes, in an instant, blazed with madness.