Chapter 1822: Stealing Chickens Ends in Loss

Zu An initially tried to store the violet-gold alms bowl in his Glazed Pearl, but after several attempts, it didn't work. He figured it must have an owner, bearing the old monk's mark, which prevented it from being stored. So, he simply stuffed it into his embrace and ran.

The scene utterly bewildered the old monk. His first reaction wasn't even that the other party was escaping; after all, he had just offered to pass on all his legacy, and the alms bowl would rightfully belong to Zu An soon. Why would he run? After watching for a moment, seeing no sign of Zu An stopping, he hastily shouted, "What are you doing?"

Rage points from Jinshan Motuo: 444,444,444...

Seeing the rage points, Zu An was even less inclined to answer. He simply put his head down and ran back. Behind him, the monk's anxious voice called out, "Don't go! You have no idea what opportunity you're missing!"

"Did you hear what I said?"

Zu An quickened his pace.

Watching Zu An disappear into the distance, the monk realized he had been outmaneuvered; his own violet-gold alms bowl had been tricked away from him. A thunderous roar erupted from the depths of the magma.

Rage points from Jinshan Motuo: 888,888,888...

"Do you really think you can take my treasure?" the old monk sneered, chanting something under his breath.

Suddenly, a brilliant light erupted from Zu An's embrace. The violet-gold alms bowl flew out, humming loudly, seemingly trying to return. Zu An, quick-eyed and quick-handed, grabbed it, finding himself in a stalemate with the alms bowl. It couldn't fly back, and he couldn't continue running.

The violet-gold alms bowl trembled violently, as if struggling, and the power emanating from it grew stronger. Zu An even felt as though he couldn't hold onto it. The old monk's cultivation was terrifying, exerting pressure on him that was no less than the Ghost King's.

At that moment, the old monk's cold laughter reached him. "This item has recognized me as its master; you cannot take it. I'll give you one last chance: come and accept my legacy, and I will let bygones be bygones."

Zu An didn't reply, instead attempting to erase the divine consciousness on the alms bowl. The old monk grew furious. "You seek death! If you won't let go, then come with it!"

No sooner had he spoken than a massive force erupted from the violet-gold alms bowl, making Zu An stumble. He was pulled, flying towards the old monk's location. Zu An knew that if he didn't let go, being dragged into the magma would surely mean death. Yet, letting go just like that felt somewhat unwilling.

Suddenly, an idea struck him. He hastily summoned a figure: clad in a chest-wrap leather armor and a mini-skirt, with defined abdominal muscles, wheat-colored skin, and full, strong thighs, radiating explosive power like a beautiful female leopard. It was Mo Xi.

"Quick, help me sever this contract!" Zu An didn't even have time to speak, communicating directly through divine sense.

Mo Xi had initially intended to demand vital energy pills before acting, but quickly noticing the perilous situation, she dared not be careless. Instantly, a golden scissors-like phantom appeared in her hand, cutting directly between the violet-gold alms bowl and the old monk.

The "Southern Nest Separation" skill was activated! Using this skill, one could sever all forms of contracts, even solemn vows, leading to countless betrayals and regrets!

Zu An's heart suddenly sank, for he remembered that this skill had prerequisites: if consensual, Mo Xi's cultivation level needed to be no less than one major realm lower than either party. If non-consensual, Mo Xi's cultivation level must be greater than or equal to one of the parties. Each level increase in the "Southern Nest Separation" skill granted Mo Xi a 0.2 major realm advantage in judgment.

Currently, Mo Xi's cultivation level wasn't high. Even if he desperately poured all resources into nurturing her, her realm was still far from that of the old monk. The aura unleashed by the old monk in his anger made Zu An's heart pound; perhaps his true strength was even greater than the Ghost King's. How could "Southern Nest Separation" sever the relationship between such a terrifying entity and his magic treasure?

Just as he decisively decided to let go, he suddenly felt his grip loosen. The violet-gold alms bowl had stopped struggling; instead, it gently nudged against his hand, as if conveying a sense of intimacy.

Zu An: "???"

Old Monk: "???!!!"

"How is this possible? How can an ant like you sever the connection between me and my magic treasure?"

Rage points from Jinshan Motuo: 999,999,999...

Zu An looked at Mo Xi with a puzzled expression. A hint of triumph appeared on her face, and she immediately held out her hand to him, clearly indicating she wanted vital energy fruits. He quickly pulled out a handful of vital energy fruits and gave them to her. Watching her eat the fruits with a look of pure delight, he hastily asked what had happened.

Mo Xi casually pointed at the violet-gold alms bowl. Although she couldn't speak, due to their soul contract, he could generally understand her meaning. It turned out that the violet-gold alms bowl was originally a sacred Buddhist artifact. By chance, it had fallen into the hands of a monster. The monster's power was too great, so the alms bowl had been refined by it out of helplessness, forced to recognize it as its master. However, as a sacred Buddhist artifact, it naturally abhorred evil creatures and monsters. Before, it was merely controlled and had no choice, but when the opportunity arose just now, it actively cooperated with Mo Xi, severing the imprinted contract Jinshan Motuo had placed on it.

The judgment method for "Southern Nest Separation" only required one side to be compliant. On the old monk's side, the power disparity was too vast for the judgment to pass. But on the violet-gold alms bowl's side, with its cooperation, the judgment was easily passed.

Realizing that his precious magic treasure had truly been snatched away, the old monk could no longer contain himself. This time, he had tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing a handful of rice, and he roared furiously.

His roar caused the entire cavern to shake incessantly, and even Zu An felt a surge of trepidation from the terrifying sound. He looked back and saw the great magma lake boiling as a colossal figure surged out from within. Vaguely, he could make out something resembling a gigantic crab, and the old monk was no monk at all, but merely an eyeball protruding from the monster. It turned out its entire body was confined within the magma, with only its eyes barely extending outside to maintain a breath.

In its fury, it actually struggled to rise, waving several hands, attempting to pounce on Zu An. Feeling himself locked on by divine sense, he had no doubt that the opponent would strike him immediately. Just then, a special rune suddenly flashed in the magma, and the monster let out a piercing scream: "No!"

Immediately afterward, its massive form seemed to be pulled by something, plummeting back into the magma. Even the eyes that had initially protruded were almost entirely submerged. The old monk's body was more than half submerged in the molten rock, sizzling. A look of pain appeared on his face. He hastily clasped his hands together in meditation, chanting under his breath, as rays of light emanated around him. Only then did he barely manage to prevent his entire body from being submerged.

However, with this, he could no longer stop Zu An. He could only glare venomously in Zu An's direction.

Rage points from Jinshan Motuo: 1,024,102,410,24...

Zu An secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that this magma pool must be some kind of terrifying seal. He expressed his gratitude to Mo Xi, but she paid him no mind, focusing solely on devouring the vital energy fruits. After finishing, she let out a satisfied burp, then contentedly returned to the void, seemingly falling into a deep slumber.

"Eat, sleep, and then eat again, yet she never gains weight," Zu An mused with a touch of envy.

Just then, a figure in red robes shimmered into existence beside him. Mi Li appeared, stretching her limbs and looking at him irritably. "Did you used to scold me like that too?"

"How could I dare? You're my master," Zu An replied, his eyes flashing with a hint of admiration for the red-clad woman before him, despite having seen her many times.

Mi Li rolled her eyes, clearly uninterested in the topic. Instead, she asked curiously, "How did you know his offer of legacy was fake?"

The old monk earlier had shown no flaws, whether in his appearance or his sincere tone. She herself had only sensed something amiss by keenly detecting the terrifying aura within the magma. However, for the sake of Zu An's growth, she had chosen not to warn him, adhering to this principle for the past two years. If he relied on her power, it would be difficult for him to become a true powerhouse. To her surprise, he had still successfully seen through the deception, and even cleverly outwitted the monk, acquiring a precious magic treasure from him.

Zu An chuckled. "There's no such thing as a free lunch falling from the sky. After nearly being possessed by Old Man Mi back then, I've always been extremely wary of similar situations."

"It's already strange enough for an old monk to be in the depths of a grand tomb, and then he wants to pass on everything to me the moment we meet."

"Honestly, he disguised everything very well, except for one thing: he seemed too eager."

"He didn't even test my character or anything else first; there was an undeniable sense of impatience in his desire to pass on his legacy."

Mi Li couldn't help but say, "Perhaps his lifespan was genuinely nearing its end, so a bit of eagerness would be understandable."

"That's certainly a possibility, which is why I deliberately tested him afterward. And sure enough, he revealed his true colors," Zu An thought to himself. "Those constantly appearing rage points were hardly the sign of an enlightened monk."

"You're a clever one," Mi Li said with a smile. Just as she was about to speak further, her expression shifted. "Someone's coming."

With that, she vanished.

A wisp of fragrance drifted by as a woman rounded the corner, then looked at Zu An with surprise and delight. "Brother Zu An?"

Immediately, she added, "Quick, come with me! The Ghost King is chasing us!"