Li Cang and Liao Yunliu followed Lu Dongliu.

Li Cang’s hair and beard were white, and he looked kindly and benevolent. Liao Yunliu wore Daoist robes, and she had a longsword strapped to her back. They were, respectively, the grand and second elders of the Inner Dragon Sword Sect’s outer sect.

“This Treasure Temple Yao Mountain is actually an excellent place to kill someone.” Lu Dongliu stared at the distant Treasure Temple Yao Mountain, then said lightly, “Its depths hide strange perils, and it’s easy for unexpected situations to arise. This might well be our chance to slay Su Yi!”

“That Su Yi kid is actually quite interesting. It seems he’s in no rush to reach the Jade Capital. Instead, he’s traversing mountains and rivers on foot. Now, he’s even stopped to play on Treasure Temple Yao Mountain….” Li Cang laughed. “I’ve never seen someone so gutsy.”

“Gutsy? Not necessarily, but what I can say with certainty is that the cards at his disposal are enough to contend with Xiantian Martial Ancestors,” said Liao Yunliu. Her clear eyes were as sharp and intimidating as swords. “Don’t forget: at Dragonbridge Station, he defeated Wang Zhuo of Skywalk Academy.

“And at Roiling Cloud Temple, Situ Gong of the Ten Great Xiantian Martial Ancestors couldn’t take him down, not even after joining forces with four of his fellows.”

She paused, then continued, “Although the Ten Directions Palace hasn’t revealed the specifics of their battle, Su Yi emerged from both struggles as the final victor. That’s clear proof of his strength.”

Lu Dongliu nodded, his expression tranquil. “So if we want to take him down, we have to wait for the right opportunity. We cannot be hasty. If it’s not the right time, better give up than attack recklessly.”

“Let’s go.” As he said this, he strode towards Treasure Temple Yao Mountain. His companions followed.

As for the snow-white bird, it took to the skies and disappeared into the depths of the clouds.

……

Four hours later, in a stretch of mountain shrouded in dense mists. 

Bzzzz!

The golden edge of a knife shot through the air, leaving dazzling radiance in its wake.

It cut through the charging swarm of spirit beasts as if they were made of paper.

Whoosh!

Lan Suo beckoned, and the golden knife returned to her palm. Upon closer inspection, this was a slender golden throwing knife. It was dazzling and resplendent, and it brimmed with spirituality.

Su Yi and his companions had long since grown accustomed to this, so they just continued on their way.

They’d encountered numerous dangers since entering Treasure Temple Yao Mountain. Swarms of spirit beasts, vicious spirits, and vengeful souls nourished in the baleful mists, flocks of vicious birds descending from the skies…

Their ranks included no shortage of beings capable of threatening a Xiantian Martial Ancestor!

But without exception, Lan Suo cut them down as if they were made of rotten wood!

This inheritor of the Great Qin’s Donghua Sword Sect didn’t just have a lofty status and mysterious origins; she even wielded numerous mighty secret treasures.

For instance, her golden throwing knife. It was an extraordinary spiritual weapon, and it was obviously the work of an Origin Dao cultivator. It far surpassed the spiritual weapons of the mundane world.

Apart from that, she had countless jade talismans at her disposal They, too, were the work of an Origin Dao cultivator.

Some of the jade talismans could summon lightning to slay her foes. Others could exorcize evil spirits, while some could control ghosts…

Even ignoring their power, the materials alone were rare and precious; without exception, they were carved of tier-five spiritual materials!

Add that to the time and effort it took to make them, and each jade talisman was priceless!

Were any ordinary martial artist to obtain even one such treasure, they’d likely keep it in reserve as their ultimate ace-in-the-hole.

Yet in Lan Suo’s hands, they seemed worthless. She used them without the slightest heartache.

It had been only four hours since they set foot on Treasure Temple Yao Mountain, but Lan Suo had already used six such jade talismans.

Seeing this, even Su Yi couldn’t help but lament. It’s obvious at a glance that this woman has no shortage of cash!

From head to toe, her entire get-up screamed “I have money, so I can do whatever I want!”

“Young Lord Su, do you think I’m a burden now?” Lan Suo asked calmly, her eyes shining with nigh indiscernible pride. 

She’d killed every last strange and dangerous creature they’d encountered thus far. All of this was in the name of vindication; she wanted to return the label of “burden” to Su Yi!

Su Yi laughed dryly and shook his head. “You slew a few unsightly spirit beasts and vicious ghosts. What does that prove?”

With that, he continued ahead, entirely unconcerned.

Lan Suo couldn’t help but purse her lips. Is it really so hard to admit you were wrong? What a small-minded man!

“Big Sister Ning, use these to protect yourself.” Lan Suo took out a handful of jade origin talismans and passed them to Ning Sihua. There were at least ten of them, yet she just stuffed them into her friend’s hands as if they were no more precious than bok choy.

Ning Sihua accepted them with a smile, then transmitted, “Lan Suo, don’t take Fellow Daoist Su’s words to heart. He’s a bit overly prideful, but he’s a real cultivator, with the skill to back it up. Should we encounter life-threatening danger, I’m afraid only he can save us.”

“I naturally know he’s capable,” said Lan Suo dismissively. “Otherwise, he couldn’t have rid me of my Spirit Parasite Devilworm. But he… He looked down on me earlier. He acted like I was a burden. That really displeased me.”

Ning Sihua smiled but said no more. Some things were better to touch on gently.

Even if she said more, given Lan Suo’s proud heart, Ning Sihua feared it wouldn’t have much of an effect.

“Little Brother Mu Xi, do you need jade talismans to protect yourself too?” Lan Suo batted her bright eyes and turned to the Mountain-Subduing King.

Mu Xi was stunned, but then, he smiled heartily. “It seems I have no reason to refuse.”

Who would disdain a treasure delivered straight to their doorstep?

Lan Suo then took out a handful of a dozen or so talismans and handed them to him. “Here, take them! If it’s not enough, just say so! Don’t be an outsider; we’re all in the same camp here.”

Mu Xi accepted them with a smile. “Many thanks, Lan Suo.”

In his heart, he sighed. I’ve seen plenty of rich people before, but never anyone this rich. Does she live in a spirit stone mine?

Lan Suo thought, then darted up ahead and caught up to Su Yi. She took out another ten talismans and generously proffered them. “Young Lord Su, I know you saw me as a burden earlier, but I’m not small-minded enough to make a fuss. I’ll give you these. Let them mend the rift between us.”

Su Yi glanced at Lan Suo. “Want to hear my advice?”

Lan Suo grinned. “Please, enlighten me.”

“Even jade talismans of this level are, ultimately, nothing but external objects. Using them to resolve danger too often in the early stages of your cultivation has only risks and no advantages. Of course, as long as you maintain the proper balance and don’t let them confound you, you’ll have nothing to worry about.”

Lan Suo was stunned, and her smile froze in pace. Her brow furrowed, forming dark lines. I gave you treasures out of the goodness of my heart. It’s bad enough that you’re not grateful, but now you’re even criticizing me?

But she couldn’t argue, either. Her family’s seniors had given her much the same warning. They too said that when one cultivated the Dao, one couldn’t be overly dependent on external goods. Doing so would negatively influence one's growth.

When her seniors said that, she found it convincing, but hearing the same thing from a seventeen-year-old like Su Yi still displeased her.

She took in a deep breath, then smiled sweetly. “Many thanks for your guidance, Young Lord Su. These jade talismans… I think I’d best hold onto them.”

She then paid him no further heed. Instead, she turned and walked over to Ning Sihua. Who knows what they discussed, but before long, Lan Suo looked cheerful again.

When he saw this, Mu Xi thought to himself, This Lan Suo is a bit prideful, but her temperament isn’t bad, and both her appearance and disposition place her at the pinnacle of this world. Her background is obviously extraordinary too. Whoever marries her will receive both a feast for the eyes and a treasure trove….” 

Another six hours passed. Su Yi suddenly paused, then peered into the dome of the heavens and saw—

Hundreds of thousands of illusory black lotuses appeared overhead, swaying in the air, graceful and ethereal. Occasionally, indistinct figures flitted into view, then disappeared in a flash.

All of this cast the entire stretch of heaven and earth in an intimidating, sinister light.

“The Treasure Temple Ruins are up ahead.” Ning Sihua walked up and said softly, “That’s the most dangerous stretch of Treasure Temple Yao Mountain. Who knows how many martial artists have explored the ruins in search of fortune? But few ever return. Countless lives have been buried there.”

Her voice carried a hint of solemnity. 

“The Treasure Temple Ruins are enormous; they cover about five hundred acres. I once risked my life to venture inside, but even then, I only explored the outermost perimeter….” Mu Xi walked over as well, his expression strange. “That’s where I found my Qilin Blood Jade Pendant….”

He felt a bit emotional. The people of the empire thought him blessed with fortune and rare talent. They said he was a peerless genius.

But he knew better than anyone that it was the Qilin Blood Pendant he’d found that had changed the course of his life, enabling him to race down the path of cultivation and become the youngest of the Great Zhou’s non-Zhou kings!

It was fair to say that the Treasure Temple Ruins had changed his destiny!

Su Yi asked, “Is that run-down Buddha statue you told me about in the ruins too?”

Mu Xi nodded. 

“Let’s go take a look,” said Su Yi, forging ahead without delay.

Before long, they saw a winding stretch of run-down, crumbling buildings up ahead.

The skies were dark and overcast. Yao qi soared into the heavens, enveloping the ruins in dense layers of baleful mist. It was hard to tell at a glance just how vast the ruins were, adding an additional layer of mysteriousness. 

And when they arrived, the sound of Sanskrit chanting emanated from an unknown source, the sound drifting throughout heaven and earth, lingering without dispersing.

When the chanting reached their ears, it gave them an oppressive, sinister sensation, like the muttering of ghosts. It wasn’t cold, but it was enough to make one shudder.

Overhead, unearthly black lotuses filled the air. Currents of roiling yao qi circulated between them, blotting out the skies.

Every aspect of this scene had a strange and inauspicious flavor.

Su Yi briefly examined it, then glanced at the entrance of a distant temple.

This was likely the entrance to the entire stretch of ruins. The stone steps were in pieces, and the statues by the gates had crumbled. Even the gates themselves had long since fallen apart.

“Hm?” Before long, Su Yi’s gaze focused.

Right up ahead, near the gates to the ruined temple, he saw corpses scattered across the grounds—men and women, elders and children. They obviously hadn’t been dead long, as their bodies were still bleeding.

A lake of blood and a field of corpses. The sight was terrifying to behold.

“This….” When Ning Sihua, Mu Xi, and Lan Suo saw this, their hearts instantly turned solemn, and their expressions were grave.