Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er, worried about trouble brewing in the main hall, did not linger any longer in the sub-treasury storeroom.
Clutching their passage tokens, the pair charged through the sub-treasury corridors, evading the swarm of stone monsters, and emerged into the central hall of the Ancient Vault.
Upon entering, Ye Qin immediately spotted Jiang Ling, Zheng Chenghui, the Wang uncle and nephew, Fan Cultivator, and others, each stationed in a corner of the hall, projecting defensive artifacts to shield themselves, either meditating with eyes closed or examining newly acquired magical tools.
Also present were the three surviving treasure-hunting cultivators from the earlier melee over the tokens, their clothes slightly disheveled and stained with blood, resting near the stone statues surrounding the ancient central teleportation array.
They remained in the vault, clearly unwilling to leave empty-handed from such a place.
As for the corpses lying on the ground, no one paid them any mind. In the Sea of Blood, a treasure hunter's unexpected death usually meant their body would be left to the elements, slowly weathering into bone—unless they were a close friend or relative, few would bother with burial.
When the others saw Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er emerge first from the sub-treasury, their gazes immediately snapped towards them, though their expressions varied significantly.
Fan Cultivator, in particular, looked somewhat surprised, apparently not expecting Ye Qin and his companion to exit the sub-treasury so quickly.
The three surviving treasure hunters, their faces flickering with uncertainty, knew Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er must have secured items from the storeroom; their jealousy and envy were barely containable. Yet, they dared not rashly attempt a robbery; their combined strength was simply no match for the Ye couple.
Moreover, Jiang, Zheng, the Wang uncle and nephew, and Ye Tai were all allied with each other.
Ye Qin’s side already possessed enough power to eliminate the trio with minimal cost.
“Fellow Daoist Ye, your harvest this trip must be substantial! Hmph, while we cultivators bled and fought, it seems Fellow Daoist Ye walked away with immense, unearned benefits!”
Though afraid to make a move, one of the men in green could not resist flinging a sarcastic barb.
Ye Qin knew they had gained nothing and were already harboring dissatisfaction and resentment, making their cynicism inevitable.
However, his true enemy was the Cao clan; these treasure hunters were not worth dwelling on. Besides, once they left this Ancient Vault, the remaining cultivators would make excellent cannon fodder against the savage island evil cultivators and ghost cultivators outside.
“Fellow Daoists exaggerate. As you know, the sub-treasury stores were filled with spiritual stones, various scriptures, scrolls, and miscellaneous items. I merely collected a few jade slips of the Golden Core and Nascent Soul grades. While valuable, among all five storerooms, this one likely holds the least significant treasures. The other vaults are certainly far superior to this.”
Ye Qin then produced several ancient slips to substantiate his claim.
“Well, that’s still better than us walking away with nothing but empty pockets.”
Upon seeing the items Ye Qin had acquired, the treasure hunters exchanged glances and snorted a few times, the sting of jealousy slightly dulled.
A few jade slips intended for Nascent Soul cultivators—they couldn't be sure what knowledge they held. Still, while precious, items of this grade could be bought at high prices in the East Sea's major merchant guilds; it wasn't worth risking one's life to seize them.
They were all seasoned treasure hunters, cultivators in the late Golden Core stage. Frankly speaking, fighting to the death over these few slips was not worth it.
It appeared Ye Qin's haul wasn't overwhelmingly superior, so there was no need for intense jealousy.
A measure of emotional balance was restored.
“Congratulations, Brother Daoist Ye!”
“Brother Daoist Ye has obtained some fine ancient jade slips. When we leave, you must treat the two of us to a feast at the ancient ship outpost!”
Jiang Ling and Zheng Chenghui, seeing Ye Tai and his companion emerge from the sub-treasury, felt some envy but no true jealousy; they offered immediate, cheerful congratulations.
When it came to true treasures, Jiang Ling had the thirteenth-grade lotus seeds from the Ziyou Lotus obtained in the Langnuo Secret Realm, which could refine the Spirit Root Potential Pill—an item almost impossible to find.
And Zheng Chenghui had acquired the tenth-grade lotus throne of the Ziyou Lotus, a supreme spiritual object that greatly aided cultivation.
In the East Sea cultivation world, few things truly compared to the seeds of the Ziyou Lotus.
Their ability to obtain these top-tier spiritual items was undeniably linked to Ye Qin.
With their standards raised, they paid little attention to common goods.
Their desire to maintain a strong relationship with Ye Qin, a cultivator of immense potential, stemmed from the hope of future cooperation and greater rewards, not from short-term gains.
“Fellow Daoist Ye, my nephew and I owe you much for your assistance along the way. We must certainly host you upon our return! Allow me to treat you to that banquet.”
Old Man Wang quickly stepped forward to chime in agreement.
“That can be arranged.”
Ye Qin smiled and waved his hand towards the Wang uncle and nephew. He noticed the three treasure hunters’ expressions had eased, while the other passages remained silent.
“I can sympathize with the frustration of you three fellow daoists.”
A thought moved through Ye Qin’s mind. “That said, Fellow Daoist Sun, Daoist Kong Shi, Fellow Daoist Pang, and I did perform certain duties to earn the treasures here. It wasn't entirely unearned benefit. But the Cao trio—they are evil cultivators, not one of us! They contributed nothing to enter this place. Yet, the Cao clan managed to seize the Wood Vault token and very likely obtained Nascent Soul Pills from that vault!”
At this point, he couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. “That is the truly priceless elixir, unobtainable anywhere in the East Sea cultivation world or the Sea of Blood! How many scriptures or magical tools wouldn't trade for it? By what right should such an elixir fall into their hands?”
“Most of us here are already in the mid to late Golden Core stage, counting on one day obtaining a Nascent Soul Pill to break through to the Nascent Soul realm! For cultivators like us, is there anything more critical than advancing past the Golden Core stage? The few jade slips I obtained are less than a drop in the bucket compared to the Nascent Soul Pills the Cao clan secured. How do you three view this matter?”
Hatred flashed across Ye Qin’s face.
The expressions of the three treasure hunters immediately shifted.
They were all at the seventh or eighth layer of the Golden Core stage; within a few decades, perhaps a century, they could reach the peak of the Golden Core and wouldn't be far from the Nascent Soul realm. Preparations for attempting the Nascent Soul breakthrough could not wait until they reached the peak; they needed to start planning early. They had been planning their breakthrough for some time.
They instantly grasped the implication behind Ye Qin’s words.
Ye Qin’s target was the Cao clan.
The Cao clan were unworthy of possessing the token, let alone the Nascent Soul Pills. If not for others obstructing the process, the Cao clan might have been killed by Ye Qin long ago, never getting a chance to enter the Wood Vault.
Since the Cao clan had no right to possess them, then others were certainly entitled to a share! Luck favors everyone at some point.
The three treasure hunters instantly grew agitated.
The three Nascent Soul Pills held by the Cao clan—surely it was their turn to obtain at least one? After all, Ye Qin, Bie Xing, and the others had already claimed treasures from the vault.
“Fellow Daoist Ye speaks rightly! What kind of entity is that Cao evil cultivator? His hands are stained with the blood of countless treasure hunters—how dare he share treasures with us!”
“For late-stage Golden Core cultivators like us, magical artifacts and techniques are mere external possessions. Once lifespan runs out, even with powerful artifacts, one can only sigh in regret! Only the Nascent Soul Pill, which extends life by breaking through the cultivation realm, is truly vital.”
“The Nascent Soul Pills held by the Cao clan must be handed over! Otherwise, do not blame us for being impolite.”
“I agree!”
The treasure hunters became intensely emotional.
They all knew Ye Qin held a grudge against the Cao clan.
Ye Qin's veiled suggestion to move against the Cao clan and seize the Nascent Soul Pills was something they wholeheartedly supported; any lingering envy towards Ye Qin vanished completely.
Just as this group of cultivators was stirred to righteous anger, the portal light door of the Gold Vault passage flickered, and Bie Xing, along with a treasure hunter who had obtained a minor Gold Vault passage token, stepped out from the light.
“Fellow Daoists, what are you discussing?”
Bie Xing walked towards them, chuckling amiably, his face composed and serene, exuding an aura of hidden depth.
“Fellow Daoist Sun, what fine treasures did you acquire?”
Ye Qin asked with a smile. Since he had found Nascent Soul grade ancient slips and fragments in the sub-treasury, it was easy to deduce that the other vaults must also hold exceptional spiritual treasures. Given that Bie Xing held the major Gold Vault token, the spiritual artifacts he took, at the very least, should be of the Minor Divine Power artifact tier.
He was asking a question to which he already knew the answer.
Indeed, when asked about his haul, Bie Xing smiled faintly. “Nothing much, just a few magical artifacts usable by Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators. Daoist Qu also acquired some very good Primordial Spirit artifacts.”
The matter couldn't be hidden, so Sun Xing admitted it, though he did not specify the artifacts. The Minor Divine Power artifacts he acquired from the Gold Vault were taken in haste and only crudely refined; furthermore, restrictions on their use made immediate deployment difficult for him.
“Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Sun, Daoist Qu.”
Ye Qin offered a faint smile, appearing unconcerned, and did not press for details on what Minor Divine Power artifacts Bie Xing had obtained.
“Not at all, everyone has had their gains!”
Bie Xing was unwilling to reveal his secrets, so he naturally did not press Ye Tai about his own harvest.
He chuckled heartily and clasped his hands, though a seed of doubt had been planted. This Ye clan member, knowing he obtained Minor Divine Power artifacts, remains so composed. Could it be that he also possesses some kind of killer trump card, perhaps a Minor Divine Power artifact himself? He is an elder of the Purple Sword Palace; possessing powerful means is not strange. The jade slips and texts from the sub-treasury are not that crucial. Let's put that aside for now; the treasures from the other vaults are more important!
Sun Xing pondered this discreetly.
Although Sun Xing downplayed his gains to only a few artifacts usable by Nascent Soul cultivators, the three Golden Core cultivators and the Wang uncle and nephew present could not help but feel envious.
For Golden Core cultivators adventuring in the Sea of Blood, possessing even a few powerful Primordial Spirit artifacts was considered very fortunate. Minor Divine Power artifacts were beyond their wildest dreams.
Only Nascent Soul cultivators could typically possess Minor Divine Power artifacts, or perhaps the palace master of a certain immortal palace, or a high-ranking Nascent Soul cultivator from the Heavenly Dao Alliance might bestow such an artifact upon a crucial core disciple in the Golden Core stage.
Sun Xing’s haul was absolutely massive, far beyond the casual dismissal he offered.
The treasure hunters understood this perfectly. Their jealousy towards Sun Xing was even more intense than their previous envy of Ye Tai. However, constrained by Sun Xing's strength and prestige, and Ye Qin's attitude, they dared not force a confrontation or attempt robbery.
“Fellow Daoists, what were you just discussing?”
Sun Xing glanced at their expressions, unconcerned, and asked casually.
“Oh, we were just discussing the matter of the great evil cultivator Cao. If our guess is correct, Cao obtained the major Wood Vault token and likely secured three Nascent Soul Pills!”
After a few pleasantries with Sun Xing, Ye Qin returned to the main topic. He paused here, sweeping his peripheral vision across the expressions of the three Golden Core cultivators, a cold smile touching his lips, and continued, “Fellow Daoist Sun, don't you think it’s too much that all three Nascent Soul Pills went to the Cao clan?”
“You intend to kill Cao and seize the Nascent Soul Pills?”
Bie Xing understood immediately, fixing Ye Qin with a cold, unreadable gaze.
“Why not? Does Fellow Daoist Sun intend to stop me at this juncture?”
Ye Qin’s tone was equally sharp.
In the central hall of the vault, Jiang’s faction, the three treasure hunters, and everyone else watched Bie Xing and Ye Qin. Though their eyes held varied emotions, they all radiated a strong will to see Cao killed.
Ye Qin was acutely aware that the cultivators were strangely united; Sun Xing would be powerless to stop them. Regardless of Sun Xing's agreement, the Cao clan was doomed this time.
Sun Xing, too, had no desire to intervene.
Bie Xing had long harbored extreme resentment toward the great evil cultivator Cao. Previously, to check Ye Tai’s influence, he had forcefully stepped in to stop Ye Qin from acting, granting the Cao faction a temporary reprieve.
He had not anticipated that the greatest variable in this Ancient Vault—the passage tokens—would lead to this.
The Cao clan had disregarded his authority, acted rashly to kill and plunder, seizing the crucial Wood Vault passage token, which triggered a massive chaotic battle, resulting in heavy casualties among the treasure hunters and nearly ruining his larger plans.
If he hadn't possessed a major Gold Vault token himself, he might have been forced to unleash slaughter on the spot.
The Cao clan's actions—disobeying orders and causing immense trouble—had utterly failed to check Ye Qin and instead created massive problems for Bie Xing.
Now, Sun Xing had also acquired several Minor Divine Power artifacts and treasures, his strength soaring. He no longer feared any single treasure hunter in this location, completely negating the need for the Cao clan to counterbalance Ye Qin.
The Cao clan had lost all practical value.
Furthermore, the Nascent Soul Pills were most likely in Cao’s possession—possessing such a treasure invites calamity. If not him, then whom should they kill?
“I had intended to give the Cao clan a chance to reform, but they sought their own destruction. Killing him is certainly fine! Once he emerges, it will be his death day. Fellow Daoist Ye, how do you plan to execute him?”
Bie Xing stared at Ye Qin for a moment, his expression placid as if stating the obvious, completely forgetting his previous multiple attempts to prevent Ye Qin from attacking the Cao clan.
As Bie Xing and Ye Qin conversed, Pang Cultivator, Kong Shi, and several others also materialized from the light doors of the Fire Vault and Water Vault passages.
Seeing their beaming faces and barely suppressed joy, it was clear they were extremely satisfied with their harvests.
A final chapter scheduled for midnight tonight.