Chapter 1153: Cooperative Treasure Hunting

Deep within a verdant mountain range stretching tens of thousands of miles, two groups of cultivators stood in a standoff below a secluded waterfall that plummeted straight down from the sky. At the base of the waterfall was a pool several dozen yards across, where a massive blue python lay dead at its edge, its millstone-sized head having rolled off nearby.

Behind the waterfall, a faint white light barrier could be vaguely seen, clearly indicating a restriction formation.

Wang Jiyu and Ouyang Mingyue stood close together, enveloped by a yellowish-brown light barrier. Opposite them were four Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Rogue Cultivator Alliance, led by a tall young man in a black shirt whose powerful, bulging chest muscles exuded strength.

"You Wang family members are going too far," the black-shirted youth said coldly. "We clearly discovered this restriction formation first. Do you really expect a share?"

The black-shirted youth spoke with a cold expression. After killing a high-grade second-tier demonic python, they had unexpectedly discovered a restriction formation, which was very likely left behind by an ancient predecessor.

It was known that the Five Dragon Secret Realm had last opened over a thousand years ago. This restriction formation might have been left by cultivators who previously entered the realm, or by members of the Five Dragon Palace. Regardless, they did not want any outsiders interfering.

"What a joke," Wang Jiyu sneered, a look of disdain on his face. "Is this secret realm yours, the Rogue Cultivator Alliance's? If our Wang family hadn't provided two tokens, would your alliance even be able to enter this secret realm?"

Having previously been attacked by Rogue Cultivator Alliance members, Wang Jiyu instinctively harbored animosity towards them.

They had heard the roar of battle and quietly followed. Initially, they had little interest upon finding the Rogue Cultivator Alliance members hunting demonic beasts. However, when the Alliance cultivators unexpectedly discovered a restriction formation, the situation changed.

A restriction formation must have been set up by a predecessor, and it surely contained valuable treasures.

"Fellow Daoist Zhu," a Rogue Cultivator Alliance member transmitted to the black-shirted youth, "don't be polite with them. No matter how strong they are, there are only two of them. Our chances of winning are still quite high."

The black-shirted youth was somewhat swayed. After a brief consideration, he nodded and said, "Alright! Finders keepers. Let's open the restriction formation and share the treasures together."

He didn't know what lay behind the restriction formation. If it was merely some three to four-hundred-year-old spirit herbs, there was no need to fight to the death with the Wang family cultivators, especially since everyone knew the Wang family was skilled in puppet arts. However, if it was something extremely rare, like thousand-year-old spirit herbs, it wouldn't be too late to engage in a deadly battle with them then.

"Who's there?" Ouyang Mingyue said, her face suddenly turning cold. "Hiding sneakily!"

With a gentle flick of her wrist, a loud whooshing sound filled the air as a large swathe of crimson sword qi swept out, heading straight for a large yellow boulder outside the valley.

A large expanse of purple blade light materialized out of thin air, shattering the incoming crimson sword qi. This unleashed a powerful shockwave that swept countless tiny pebbles high into the air, creating billowing dust.

Three men and one woman emerged from underground. Leading them was a delicate-featured young woman in a purple dress, whose brows held a rare heroic spirit.

This was Sun Rongrong, one of the Seven Golden Blades.

"We heard there are treasures here," Sun Rongrong said with a charming smile, appearing very approachable. "Our Golden Blade Sect would also like a share."

The black-shirted youth saw Sun Rongrong and her three companions. His eyes flickered as he said with a half-smile, "There isn't much here, and with so many of us, how should we divide it?"

His meaning was clear: kill the Wang family cultivators, and the Rogue Cultivator Alliance and Golden Blade Sect would share the treasures.

Wang Jiyu's face tightened. The Rogue Cultivator Alliance and Golden Blade Sect together totaled eight people. No matter how strong Wang Jiyu and Ouyang Mingyue were, they couldn't possibly be a match for eight Foundation Establishment cultivators, especially since those capable of entering the secret realm to seek treasures possessed strength far surpassing ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Two Rogue Cultivator Alliance cultivators suddenly conjured their spirit artifacts and attacked Wang Jiyu and Ouyang Mingyue.

Sun Rongrong and the other three Golden Blade Sect cultivators did not make a move, intending to reap the benefits of others' conflict.

The black-shirted youth cursed inwardly. "These two idiots!" he thought. "Attacking the Wang family cultivators proactively? Isn't that just benefitting the Golden Blade Sect?!"

Ouyang Mingyue conjured nine red flying swords, which transformed into nine streaks of red light and met the attack. Wang Jiyu, meanwhile, released two second-tier puppet beasts to guard himself.

Boom!

A deafening roar echoed as several spirit artifacts were sent flying backward, unable to get close to Wang Jiyu and Ouyang Mingyue.

"Fellow Daoist Sun," the black-shirted youth said, his face grim. "Didn't our two factions agree to cooperate against the Wang and Lu families? They are both from the same sea region and are close neighbors. Are you going to breach the agreement?"

On the way here, high-ranking members of the Golden Blade Sect and the Rogue Cultivator Alliance had reached an agreement for their two factions to cooperate against the Wang and Lu families.

If the Golden Blade Sect unilaterally tore up the agreement, the black-shirted youth would rather join forces with the Wang family against the Golden Blade Sect than allow them to reap the benefits of their conflict.

To put it bluntly, if both the Rogue Cultivator Alliance and the Wang family were to suffer heavy losses, and the Golden Blade Sect then killed them, who would avenge them?

"Fellow Daoist Hu, don't misunderstand," Sun Rongrong said with a captivating smile, taking out a shimmering purple long saber. "This junior sister will assist you now."

Just then, her expression changed dramatically, and she quickly exclaimed, "This is bad! Something is coming from underground."

Her gaze turned cold. She swung her purple long saber at the ground, and a streak of purple blade qi, over ten yards long, shot out and struck the earth.

Boom!

A groove over ten yards long and two feet deep appeared in the ground, as a yellow centipede puppet beast, over ten yards long, burrowed out from underground. Wang Xianfen and two other Wang family cultivators then appeared at the valley's exit, their expressions cold and indifferent.

"You dare to scheme against our Wang family," Wang Xianfen said chillingly, his face filled with murderous intent, "without even weighing your own capabilities."

If he hadn't happened to pass by, Wang Jiyu and Ouyang Mingyue would have been in serious trouble.

"Conjure puppet beasts, form the array!"

The Wang family cultivators quickly conjured their second-tier puppet beasts, each releasing three, totaling fifteen second-tier puppet beasts. The situation rapidly turned; the Wang family instantly shifted from a disadvantage to a clear advantage. Unlike ordinary puppet beasts, these set puppet beasts could be used to deploy formations. Many factions had pre-ordered set puppet beasts from the Wang family to use in duels with their juniors and enhance their combat experience. Both the Rogue Cultivator Alliance and the Golden Blade Sect had purchased set puppet beasts sold by the Wang family and naturally knew their power.

As soon as the black-shirted youth saw so many second-tier puppet beasts, his mouth twitched a few times. He wished he could slap those two impulsive companions to death. He offered an awkward smile and said, "Fellow Daoist Wang, it's all a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding. We all entered the secret realm to seek treasures. Harmony brings wealth. If we cooperate, our survival rate will be higher. What do you say?"

"Hmph, you weren't saying that just now," Ouyang Mingyue scoffed. "Cooperating to search for treasures is not impossible, but that demonic python belongs to us."

Ouyang Mingyue also didn't want to fight to the death with the other party, so she demanded the corpse of a second-tier demonic python.

The Wang family offered a way out, and the black-shirted youth readily agreed, yielding the demonic python's corpse to Ouyang Mingyue. This demonic python was worth at least two thousand spirit stones, allowing the Wang family to make a small profit.