Chapter 184
Chapter 184: No Third Pattern!
Pei Luo Xiu, having hidden the Nian Qin sword, suddenly turned and dashed toward Shi Zi Chu. The stern and commanding tone she had just exhibited shifted into one of sweetness and playfulness, “Big Sister Shi!”
As Pei Luo Xiu rushed into Shi Zi Chu’s embrace, Pei Qing You turned to see the scene, and in an instant, the corner of Sect Master Pei’s eyes twitched, his gaze quickly rising toward the sky in exasperation.
Shi Zi Chu raised a hand to gently pat Pei Luo Xiu’s head, her voice warm and soft, “My A’Xiu has truly grown up, already capable of standing on her own.”
The tender praise made Pei Luo Xiu puff up with pride, and she confidently declared, “I can protect Big Sister Shi now!”
Shi Zi Chu smiled and nodded.
While the atmosphere here was filled with warmth, the battle against the spirit beasts had already begun elsewhere.
There were still many spirit beasts left, and as they fell and dropped items, the calm surface of the scene quickly turned chaotic, ignited by the allure of heavenly treasures.
Seeing this, Shi Zi Chu instructed Pei Luo Xiu to hurry, making sure she didn’t return empty-handed.
Ye He Qi had already returned to the Ye Clan’s ranks, commanding the disciples to cut down spirit beasts.
Shi Zi Chu casually moved to a safe spot, folding her arms and watching the battle, her indifferent demeanor attracting several curious glances.
Chu Zhi Rou returned to the Jade Void Sect’s team, working together with a few disciples to kill spirit beasts.
As the spirit beasts dwindled, the competition for resources became fiercer.
Unnoticed, Liang Wei Sheng had been pushed to the front, and his situation was growing perilous.
Chu Zhi Rou glanced at the azure luan bird circling above and then at Liang Wei Sheng, her eyes hardening with intent.
The crowd jostled, and by the time Liang Wei Sheng realized the danger, he had already been caught by the gaping maw of a saw-tooth tiger.
“Break!”
The voice, soft yet melodious, reached Liang Wei Sheng’s ears. He snapped his eyes shut just in time, but warm, foul-smelling blood splashed across his face.
The saw-tooth tiger’s head was cleaved off, its massive body crashing to the ground. The soaring azure feathered bird swooped down, flapping its wings to send the tiger’s corpse flying, before grabbing the body of the clan chief and flying off.
Liang Wei Sheng was dropped at Shi Zi Chu’s feet.
Looking up, the azure feathered bird seemed to be proudly presenting its victory to her, and Shi Zi Chu’s smile softened as she extended a hand.
The proud azure luan bird lowered its head, allowing her to gently stroke its head. “Qing Yu did well.”
Liang Wei Sheng blinked, suddenly realizing this was his spirit beast.
The azure bird turned, shrinking its body and landing on Liang Wei Sheng’s head, pecking at him in irritation as though scolding him for being such an irresponsible, unlucky master.
Liang Wei Sheng begged for mercy, “Help! My spirit beast is bullying me!”
Shi Zi Chu watched, amused, as she chuckled softly.
The returning Ziyuan shrank into a hairpin and nestled within her dark hair.
Shi Zi Chu paused for a moment, then raised her hand to touch the hairpin, her gaze drifting toward the distant chaos.
As the last spirit beast fell to Chu Zhi Rou’s sword, smoke filled the air, and infighting seemed imminent.
Chu Zhi Rou’s eyes flickered.
But, with a calm and cultured voice, the words rang out, “There are still plenty of good things ahead. Instead of fighting amongst ourselves, why not move forward and see what’s left?”
With that, Ye He Qi signaled for the Ye Clan disciples to take a moment to rest and recover.
Standing with his arms folded, Ye Chi Wei glanced briefly at his younger brother before his gaze shifted to Shi Zi Chu.
The two of them had arrived at this level first, and it seemed his younger brother had gathered quite a few treasures.
Yu Wen Wan suddenly spoke, “Why doesn’t Daoist Shi make a move? Perhaps you’ve already taken enough before we arrived?”
At that, countless greedy and covetous eyes turned toward Shi Zi Chu.
This level’s resources were bountiful, and Shi Zi Chu’s indifference made them believe she had already taken plenty beforehand.
Seeing the intent behind Yu Wen Wan’s words, Shi Zi Chu wore a helpless smile. “I can’t use spiritual power.”
Ignoring the shocked and doubtful gazes, she gently asked, “Aren’t you all affected by the restrictions of the rules?”
Yu Wen Wan furrowed her brows at the question.
“Can’t use spiritual power?” Chu Zhi Sheng sneered, “But I saw you wield the Life Bound Sword earlier!”
Chu Zhi Huan, speaking with deliberate calm, added, “Didn’t the clan chief notice? Daoist Shi indeed shows no signs of spiritual power fluctuations.”
With that, he politely smiled at Shi Zi Chu.
Chu Zhi Sheng shot a cold, venomous glance at Chu Zhi Huan.
Shi Zi Chu, brushing her fingers through Xue Gu’s fur, wore a faint smile on her face.
“Someone who can’t use spiritual power has made it this far?” a delicate voice suddenly echoed, laden with unclear meaning.
“Isn’t that because of me?” Ye He Qi’s warm voice joined in, “A heavenly rank magic artifact has protected Daoist Shi all along. It’s a sure deal.”
Shi Zi Chu’s eyes narrowed slightly as Ye He Qi’s words left her with a hidden sense of unease.
“Clan Chief Ye, you are truly generous,” she said with a smile, “I am deeply grateful for your protection along the way!”
Ye He Qi couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a trace of venom behind her words, but he quickly dismissed the thought.
With Ye He Qi’s reassuring words, Shi Zi Chu’s actions dispelled many of the doubts surrounding her.
After a brief rest, each faction prepared to move on to the next level.
Hidden within Shi Zi Chu’s sleeve, her soul spirit flickered.
On the top floor, stepping out of the teleportation array, Ye He Qi squinted, immediately suspecting Shi Zi Chu’s intentions.
She was aiming to claim the remaining heavenly treasures for herself!
Her ambitions were indeed grand.
“Congratulations to all for reaching the final destination!” a young and playful voice echoed, disrupting the moment.
A group of cultivators turned toward the partially opened white door, realizing the sudden shift.
Without any warning, chaos erupted.
Cultivators who attempted to rush toward the door were intercepted and killed. The allure of a demi-god rank magic artifact proved irresistible to some.
Meng Xi Yu swiftly directed the Jade Void Sect disciples to form a defensive perimeter.
Chu Zhi Rou gazed at the door ahead, an inexplicable sense of anxiety stirring within her.
With so many eyes watching, how could she claim the demi-god rank magic artifact?
Shi Zi Chu, observing Ye He Qi, noted the growing carnage.
The path to the door was now littered with bodies, and the stench of blood thickened the air, rattling everyone’s nerves.
When Jiang Wan Sheng broke through the defenses of the Ye Clan and Chu Clan, he charged toward the door, only to be struck by a barrage of spiritual power.
As everyone thought Jiang Wan Sheng was about to enter, he was sent flying by a barrier technique.
His immortal rank defense magic artifact shattered as it absorbed the attack, leaving Jiang Wan Sheng crumpled on the ground.
In an instant, the fighting ceased, and the surrounding area fell silent.
Jiang Wan Sheng, dazed, looked at the partially open door and shook his numb palms.
“What’s going on?”
“Why can’t Young Master Jiang get in?”
“Could it be another faction?”
As whispers spread, Ye He Qi moved swiftly.
The people who had been poised to strike saw Ye He Qi sent flying by the barrier technique as well.
The next moment, both Ye He Qi and Jiang Wan Sheng rolled up their sleeves.
The markings on their arms were not the same.
Soon, many others followed suit, revealing that the patterns on their arms either matched Jiang Wan Sheng’s or Ye He Qi’s.
“The hidden faction!”
The Second Elder of the Jiang Clan shouted.
Jiang Wan Sheng and Ye He Qi clearly represented different factions. Since neither could enter, it must mean a third faction was involved!
“Who is in the hidden faction?!”
A leader of a top-tier clan shouted in frustration.
Chu Zhi Sheng’s voice rang out sharply, “Everyone, roll up your sleeves!”
At this moment, clearing one’s name was paramount. To avoid becoming enemies with everyone, all factions quickly revealed their markings.
The leaders of the top factions glanced around.
But there was no third pattern!
With the azure luan sword in hand, Chu Zhi Rou felt an unfamiliar unease.
Her instincts, usually sharp, were warning her that something was about to go wrong!
In less than a tea’s time, only Shi Zi Chu and Chu Zhi Rou had not yet revealed their patterns.