Chapter 630: Trap

As Zhou Yuan entered secluded cultivation, the enormous natural barrier deep within the Great Xuan Mountain Range began to show signs of collapse. With its various nodes being successively breached by different sects, an increasing number of treasure lands emerged, including some rare seven-colored ones.

This development made it clear to all sects that the vast barrier likely wouldn't hold much longer, and the great fortune concealed within its depths was on the verge of appearing.

With treasure lands continuously appearing, the Cangxuan Sect's forces became increasingly busy, constantly dispatching members to secure them. Despite the growing number of treasure lands, they were still outnumbered by the numerous sects now present in the Great Xuan Mountain Range. In a situation where resources were scarce relative to demand, failing to dispatch guards would inevitably invite covetousness.

***

In front of the bamboo house at the peak.

Yaoyao approached with a slow gait, her delicate figure tall and slender, her skin like pristine snow. Her exquisite, jade-like face drew constant furtive glances from the Cangxuan Sect male disciples passing by. Yet, her detached demeanor ensured that no one dared to approach her.

"Yaoyao?" Li Qingchan emerged from the bamboo house, momentarily surprised upon seeing Yaoyao. She then smiled and asked, "Have you completed your mission?"

Over the past few days, Yaoyao had been actively taking on missions to seize and guard treasure lands—a level of initiative that was a complete departure from her previous demeanor.

Yaoyao nodded subtly. She held considerable goodwill toward Li Qingchan, which softened her serene, beautiful face with a faint smile.

"Are there any six-colored treasure lands available?" Yaoyao asked directly.

Li Qingchan sounded surprised. "You just returned. Aren't you going to rest?"

Yaoyao shook her head.

Li Qingchan glanced towards the back mountain, her rosy lips curling slightly. "Honestly, is that boy worth all this effort from you?!" she muttered.

She knew full well that Yaoyao’s uncharacteristic willingness to contend for and guard treasure lands was solely to help Zhou Yuan pay off his considerable debt.

Yet, now that Zhou Yuan had acquired the treasure and was calmly cultivating in seclusion, Yaoyao was left here to diligently help him clear his debts!

The thought filled Li Qingchan with indignation on Yaoyao's behalf. Such an exceptional person, whom even she admired, was inexplicably captivated by Zhou Yuan. She couldn't fathom what charm he held to win such favor from Yaoyao, who was otherwise indifferent to everything.

"So he won't constantly accuse me of tricking him," Yaoyao replied, her red lips curving slightly at the thought of Zhou Yuan's expression when he heard about the debt.

Li Qingchan shook her head resignedly. "While many treasure lands have appeared recently, other Holy Sons have also claimed them, so there aren't many left..."

She produced a jade slip, infused it with Genesis Qi, and a map formed from the light emanating from it. After examining it for a while, she pointed to a glowing spot. "This is a six-colored treasure land that appeared very recently," she explained. "It's no longer within our Cangxuan Sect's territory and is closer to the Heavenly Ghost Mansion. However, the Heavenly Ghost Mansion also has new treasure lands, so it seems this place might be overlooked for a while."

"Therefore, if you can arrive quickly and deal with the guardian beast, you should be able to secure the Spirit-Building Treasure and withdraw successfully."

Yaoyao's bright eyes scanned the map, memorizing the direction and location. She then gave a slight nod. "Then this will do," she said.

"I'm leaving now," she informed Li Qingchan, then turned and gracefully departed.

Li Qingchan watched Yaoyao's graceful figure swiftly depart, then turned her gaze towards the back mountain, muttering to herself once more, "Where did that Zhou Yuan get such luck?"

She then turned back to the map before her, staring at the glowing spot with a slight frown, muttering to herself in confusion.

"Why was there no prior information about this treasure land?"

***

Amidst a desolate ridge.

Yaoyao descended from the sky, alighting atop a green pine tree. Her gaze was fixed on a desolate mountain nearby, the very location of the six-colored treasure land.

This area had not been claimed by any particular sect due to its desolate nature, making the appearance of a six-colored treasure land here rather unexpected.

After a brief observation, Yaoyao’s slender form floated onward, descending directly into the desolate mountain.

As she landed, she began to walk straight into the mountain.

However, she had barely taken a few steps when her delicate brows suddenly furrowed. She felt the ground begin to vibrate, and a peculiar undulation emanated from within the mountain.

Under the influence of this strange undulation, Yaoyao realized that even her divine soul felt a sense of suppression.

Yaoyao lifted her beautiful face to see a shimmering barrier appear overhead, enclosing the desolate mountain. From deep beneath the mountain, a jade-green aura began to ascend.

It was a highly virulent poison gas.

Yaoyao watched the scene expressionlessly, realizing this six-colored treasure land was, in fact, a trap.

Her bright eyes flickered slightly, and she immediately understood that this trap was likely orchestrated by the Sacred Palace. It seemed her recent movements had been secretly monitored. Was this the Sacred Palace's retaliation for their previous failure in the seven-colored treasure land?

And had she been specifically chosen as their target?

***

Outside the desolate mountain.

On a nearby mountaintop, two figures materialized. One wore silver robes, the other black, and powerful Genesis Qi fluctuations emanated from both.

The insignia of the Sacred Palace was visible on their robes.

They were unmistakably two Holy Sons from the Sacred Palace.

The one in silver robes was Lei Jun, and the one in black robes was Tie Mo.

Both of them ranked higher than Chai Ying among the Sacred Palace's Holy Sons.

At that moment, both men gazed at the desolate mountain. "It seems our Senior Brother was right," the silver-robed man stated coldly. "Someone from the Cangxuan Sect did indeed come here."

"The Cangxuan Sect likely never imagined that this six-colored treasure land is far from ordinary. This mountain is filled with Soul-Suppressing Stones, capable of suppressing divine souls. That little Yaoyao's Genesis Qi is weak, relying entirely on her divine soul power. Now that she's trapped within, with poison gas permeating the area, she surely won't last long."

"The poison gas inside was laid by Senior Brother Golden Toad. He possesses innate poisonous blood, and even Holy Sons find it incredibly difficult to cleanse if they're exposed—it's truly formidable. If that little Yaoyao is infected by this poison, she will undoubtedly perish."

"The Cangxuan Sect will likely realize this soon, won't they? If they send Holy Sons, we two might not be able to hold them off," Tie Mo, the Sacred Palace Holy Son, said with a frown.

"Senior Brother and the others will ensure the Cangxuan Sect's Holy Sons are unable to interfere," Lei Jun replied with a faint smile.

"That's good then."

Tie Mo nodded gently, then looked towards the desolate mountain, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "It's a pity such a beauty has to meet such a fate," he mused.

"Haha, they truly think our Sacred Palace is easy to deal with. The Cangxuan Sect previously tarnished our reputation. If we don't make them pay a price, others will genuinely believe our Sacred Palace—the strongest sect—is a sham!"

"In a way, it's her misfortune to have stumbled upon a Soul-Suppressing Mountain like this."

"Now, let's see how the Cangxuan Sect responds..."