At this moment, those low-cultivation disciples of Fubo Mountain were filled with panic, while the slightly higher-ranked Fourth-tier Black Spirit Masters, along with Lin Jun, Yan Xiong, and others, were furious but dared not speak. The words of the Soul-Devouring Sect Master were aggressive; if Milo and the others dared to refuse, and no one could withstand Gong Teng, a Sixth-tier Black Spirit Master, tomorrow the Underworld might no longer have the Fubo Mountain sect!

Everyone on Fubo Mountain saw the current situation clearly, and Gong Teng, Ao Lang, and Fu Cheng were also well aware of it. Seeing the expressions of the Fubo Mountain disciples, the three Sect Masters remained outwardly composed, but the disciples and followers behind them showed varying degrees of mocking smiles.

After a moment of silence, Milo narrowed his small eyes and said in a deep voice, "Sect Master Gong's proposal is excellent, and we at Fubo Mountain naturally have no reason to refuse. As for the 'Black Armor Vein,' the three of us can also agree on behalf of the Sect Master to offer it as the stake for this sparring session."

"Elder Milo is indeed straightforward."

As soon as Milo finished speaking, Fu Cheng, the Sect Master of the Yin Soul Sect, waved his hand, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Since that's the case, we shouldn't waste any more time. Fu Shang, go and exchange pointers with our senior and junior brothers and sisters of Fubo Mountain!"

"Yes, Master!"

A boy of seventeen or eighteen strode out from behind Fu Cheng, head held high, his eyes sweeping over the timid Fubo Mountain disciples behind Milo, Feng Hu, and Yan Luo. His expression was stern, as proud as a rooster that had just learned to crow.

Fu Cheng smiled faintly, "Apprentice, have you forgotten what I told you earlier?"

"I remember!"

Fu Shang's lips curled up almost imperceptibly. "You must win, you cannot lose. If you lose even one match out of five, I won't need you back in the Yin Soul Sect!"

Fu Cheng waved his hand in satisfaction, "Very good, go!"

Even though they had already psychologically prepared themselves to hand over the 'Black Armor Vein' to the Soul-Devouring Sect, the Wind Chasing Valley, and the Yin Soul Sect for free, seeing this mere youngster treat their Fubo Mountain disciples as if they were nothing still infuriated Milo, Feng Hu, and Yan Luo immensely.

"What arrogance!"

Yan Luo gritted his teeth and sneered, slightly shifting his body to look at a young man in his twenties standing behind him, shouting, "Huo Yun, come out!"

"Yes."

Huo Yun stepped out from the crowd with a heavy heart, standing two meters opposite the boy named Fu Shang. A faint hint of timidity lurked in his brows.

Seeing this scene, Nie Kong secretly sighed.

All the Fubo Mountain disciples here had been utterly terrified by the manner in which the Sixth-tier Black Spirit Master Gong Teng had appeared. Not to mention that their cultivation levels were inherently inferior, their momentum alone was more than a notch below the opponents'. Even if their cultivation surpassed the others, it would be difficult to exert their true strength in combat.

Milo and the other two seemed to realize this as well, their faces turning quite grim.

"Begin!"

Ao Lang gently waved his hand, a mild smile on his face. Almost the instant his voice fell, Fu Shang roared, his figure like a streak of black light, instantly crossing the two-meter gap to appear before Huo Yun, his iron-hook-like hands grasping towards his chest.

The outcome of this "sparring session" was essentially without suspense.

"Bang!"

A moment later, Huo Yun spat out a mouthful of blood, crashing down before the three of them in a highly exaggerated posture, splayed out on his back and limbs. A few meters away, Fu Shang stood proudly, leisurely dusting off his hands as if what he had just done was a trivial matter.

Staring at Huo Yun with disappointment, Yan Luo signaled two disciples to take him away, then looked behind him...

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

In just a few short minutes, all four Fubo Mountain disciples who had fought were defeated. The longest one managed to last less than half a minute. In contrast, Fu Shang, whose appearance was still somewhat youthful, hadn't even broken a sweat after fighting four consecutive matches.

This so-called "sparring session" was nothing more than a joke.

Looking at the disciples behind them whose faces were ashen with fear, Milo, Feng Hu, and Yan Luo felt both bitterness and helplessness. Fubo Mountain, which used to be the strongest of the four sects, had declined in talent to such an extent! Within the entire Fubo Mountain, there were only thirty or forty young disciples under the age of twenty-five, yet not a single one could even manage a draw against that Second-tier Black Spirit Master from the Yin Soul Sect.

Even if Fubo Mountain managed to rise again in the future, today's events would forever remain an indelible stain on its history.

"It seems there's no need to proceed with the final match," Ao Lang's smile remained warm as his gaze swept over Milo, Feng Hu, and Yan Luo. "Elders, what are your opinions?"

"..."

Milo let out a long sigh.

According to Gong Teng's proposal, the so-called four-sect "sparring" was actually the Soul-Devouring Sect, the Wind Chasing Valley, and the Yin Soul Sect on one side, and Fubo Mountain on the other, each fielding six members. If one side could secure five consecutive victories, the remaining matches would be unnecessary. If neither side achieved five consecutive wins, the final tally of victories would determine the loser. If Fubo Mountain won, they would gain one vein each from the Soul-Devouring Sect, the Wind Chasing Valley, and the Yin Soul Sect. If the Soul-Devouring Sect and the others won, they would claim Fubo Mountain's Black Armor Vein.

If Fubo Mountain possessed truly outstanding young disciples, such a rule would naturally greatly benefit them. However, given Fubo Mountain's current state, Gong Teng's proposal was sheer bullying of the weak.

Fortunately, Milo and the others knew that there was no way to save the 'Black Armor Vein' today, so they raised no objections to the sparring rules.

Now that the highest-ranked Fubo Mountain disciples under twenty-five had all fought, the final match, whether held or not, could not change the final outcome.

"The 'Black Armor Vein'..."

Milo's lips trembled slightly. The words, "It's yours," were incredibly difficult to utter. For Fubo Mountain, that 'Black Armor Vein' was their source of wealth. In all the years since its founding, Fubo Mountain had never lacked funds, sustained entirely by that single vein. But now, the owner of that vein had become the Soul-Devouring Sect, the Wind Chasing Valley, and the Yin Soul Sect.

"Elders, please don't be too disheartened."

Just then, Gong Teng, the Soul-Devouring Sect Master who had been watching the "sparring" from the side, suddenly spoke up in a comforting tone. "Although the 'Black Armor Vein' will no longer belong to Fubo Mountain, we four sects are all subordinate to the 'Black God Sect' and have always been closely linked. We would never stand by and watch Fubo Mountain suffer. I believe Sect Master Ao and Sect Master Fu share the same view."

Yan Luo sneered, "Sect Master Gong, there's no need for that. Even without the 'Black Armor Vein,' we won't starve."

"Elder Yan shows great spirit," Gong Teng laughed heartily. "The help that needs giving, must be given. Starting this year, my 'Soul-Devouring Sect' will provide Fubo Mountain with a portion of the 'Black Armor' mined annually, as a token of our regard. Furthermore, my sect has one more thing to say, I wonder if I should say it?"

Yan Luo let out a harsh, cold snort. "Since you wonder whether you should say it, perhaps it’s better left unsaid."

Hearing this, all the Fubo Mountain disciples flinched internally, secretly breaking out in a cold sweat, fearing Yan Luo's words might anger this Sixth-tier Black Spirit Master.

"If I don't say it, I might not sleep or eat well, so my sect will speak nonetheless," Gong Teng acted as if he didn't notice, continuing his own speech. "Elders, your sect sent out four disciples consecutively to fight, and all were defeated by that little fellow from the Yin Soul Sect. A gap between generations is an absolutely perilous thing for any sect."

Milo, Feng Hu, and Yan Luo exchanged glances, unable to immediately grasp the intention behind Gong Teng’s sudden remarks. But one thing was certain: Gong Teng was absolutely not reminding Fubo Mountain of its current crisis out of kindness.

Nie Kong's heart stirred upon hearing this. Could Gong Teng's goal be...? If that were the case, he might find it hard to remain uninvolved!

Sure enough, a moment later Gong Teng smiled again. "Fubo Mountain suffers from a shortage of talent and its strength is far inferior to what it once was, yet it possesses a cultivation sanctuary like the 'Death Spirit Cave.' This is bound to attract covetousness from other sects, and with Fubo Mountain's current power, it might struggle to protect the 'Death Spirit Cave' atop the mountain. However, as my sect mentioned before, when it comes to Fubo Mountain's affairs, we absolutely will not stand idly by."

Fu Cheng interjected with a sinister laugh, "Yes, we must help with this matter no matter what."

"With the Soul-Devouring Sect, the Yin Soul Sect, and my Wind Chasing Valley helping to guard the 'Death Spirit Cave,' the three elders and Sect Master Zhuo can rest assured," Ao Lang nodded with a gentle smile.

"You..."

At this point, Milo, Feng Hu, and Yan Luo finally understood the opponents' intentions; their faces instantly flushed crimson. Yan Luo trembled with rage, "You are utterly going too far!" Losing the 'Black Armor Vein,' their source of wealth, might be a temporary setback, but the 'Death Spirit Cave' could never be allowed to fall into their hands. Once they lost the 'Death Spirit Cave,' Fubo Mountain would have no capital for a future resurgence!

While they framed it as helping to guard it, their true intentions were glaringly obvious!

Indeed, people's greed knows no bounds! Gong Teng, Ao Lang, and Fu Cheng were pressing their advantage, aiming to seize Fubo Mountain's 'Death Spirit Cave' as well! In that instant, Nie Kong finally made a decision, feeling his mind clear and a sense of relief wash over him.

Gong Teng, whose face had been smiling moments ago, suddenly darkened. "Elder Yan, my sect, along with Sect Masters Ao Lang and Fu Cheng, are acting out of goodwill. Do not mistake goodwill for malice." When Gong Teng spoke these words, the threat was extremely palpable.

Milo, Feng Hu, and Yan Luo snapped back to reality. This was not the time to completely turn hostile against the Soul-Devouring Sect, the Wind Chasing Valley, and the Yin Soul Sect, otherwise, not only would the 'Black Armor Vein' and the 'Death Spirit Cave' be lost, but everyone within Fubo Mountain would face mortal danger.

"Then we thank the three Sect Masters for their kindness," Yan Luo took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, his expression impassive. "However, Fubo Mountain is capable of protecting the 'Death Spirit Cave' on its own; we won't trouble you all."

Ao Lang smiled broadly, "No trouble, no trouble. Over the years, our four sects have watched over and assisted each other; lending this small favor is but a simple gesture."

"Capable of protecting the 'Death Spirit Cave'?" Fu Cheng's tone was far more cutting and sarcastic. "So many people, and not one can even defeat my youngest disciple. I wonder where the capability Elder Yan speaks of lies? Fu Shang is standing right here. If any young disciple from Fubo Mountain can defeat him, I will acknowledge what you said just now."

Yan Luo was left speechless with anger; Milo and Feng Hu were equally dumbstruck. Just then, a clear, bright laugh suddenly rang out, "Does Sect Master Fu speak the truth?"