Mulan Qingqing stood with her hands behind her back, her face devoid of emotion as she faced her fellow disciples.
Her tone was calm and distant, “How many do we have today?”
Yan Ji, who seemed more mature, replied, “After today's tally, we have exactly three thousand twenty-seven Insect Essence Crystals.”
Mulan Qingqing sighed, “So, after more than a month of effort from over seven thousand people, we don't even have a single piece per person.”
Guan Yingjie, who carried an air of confidence, replied, “Senior Sister, true, but our numbers should still be the highest among all the prefectures.”
Zhao Zhilin, with his handsome and self-assured demeanor, added, “Senior Sister, from what we've gathered about the situation in other prefectures, no one can rally as much force as we have. So far, no faction has a chance of surpassing our number of crystals.”
Mulan Qingqing shook her head, “The issue is precisely because we are so powerful. Other sects are not helping for free; we promised them rewards. If our Primordial Origin Sect takes the first place but leaves our allies with nothing, we will be disgraced, and our reputation will suffer. The greatest sect of Shengshen Continent should have the demeanor and responsibility to match. If we win, but Xuan Prefecture doesn’t come out on top in total numbers, it's as if we've lost. Can any of you guarantee that Xuan Prefecture will definitely take first place in total crystals?”
None of the junior disciples dared to reply, as there was no guarantee they would indeed take the top spot in total number count.
The cooperation they fostered with so many sects was based on promises, sharing ranks based on each sect’s contribution.
Those who couldn't share in the profits but had helped would at least gain alliances and wouldn't need to worry about safety during this competition, as a collective force would protect them.
Larger sects welcomed this, as even if they couldn’t secure first place, they had a better chance for second or third.
That’s how the standing and influence of the largest sect in Shengshen could facilitate such collaborations.
Other prefectures couldn’t match this unity, as internal conflicts would arise over any perceived bias, regardless of the Domain Lord’s call for unity.
The alliances that formed were often based on relationships outside of the competition, with no guarantee against internal strife.
Watching the calm and composed Guan Wen, he sighed, “I truly don't understand the purpose of this competition at Xun Gate arranged by the Royal Court. Don’t they know many will die? When it's over, many sects will end up as enemies, causing endless troubles. Who thought of such a terrible idea?”
Mulan Qingqing replied, “The motives of the Royal Court are beyond our understanding. We just need to fulfill our role and answer for ourselves and our allied sects.”
Guan Yingjie asked, “Do you have any plans, Senior Sister?”
Mulan Qingqing contemplated, “I heard the Insect Essence Crystals were scarce, but experiencing it firsthand, it's like searching for a needle in a haystack. If Primordial Origin Sect, the largest in Xuan Prefecture and Shengshen Continent, doesn’t win in Xuan, can we accept that?”
Zhao Zhilin asserted, “No way. We would become a laughingstock. It would stick with us forever, used to mock us.”
Mulan Qingqing chuckled, “Would other so-called top sects accept not being first in their own prefecture?”
Guan Wen replied, “What can they do, even if they don’t accept it?”
Yan Ji suggested, “Desperate times can lead to desperate measures.”
Zhao Zhilin sneered, “And if they panic like a cornered animal, what then? They can’t rob us, can they?”
Yan Ji pondered, “Are you suggesting they might resort to anything?”
Looking at each other, the disciples hinted that without superior strength, those measures wouldn't matter much.
Mulan Qingqing sighed, “With such a dominant presence, we’ve barely gained anything after a month. Other leading sects might be getting desperate. If I were in their position, unable to find these crystals, would I not risk everything on a faint hope? Would I gamble on the Western Extreme Moon Sea?”
The disciples were startled, not by the name of the place but what Mulan Qingqing implied about it.
Even Guan Wen broke his calm, “You wouldn’t actually lead us there, would you, Senior Sister? That place is marked as a Forbidden Zone on maps. It’s dangerous; even the Heavenly Court would be cautious.”
Mulan Qingqing explained, “I’m not saying we’re going in. I’m saying we should be vigilant. If someone enters there and returns successfully with a significant amount, they could surpass all our efforts. We should secretly send some people to monitor the Moon Sea. If anyone comes out, intercept and deal with them immediately.”
The disciples, relieved, nodded in agreement after hearing her plan.
With their strategies aligned, they quickly gathered the leaders of different groups for a discussion…
“Brother Chun, look, there’s movement on the hillside in the camp.”
Wu Jinliang, lying on the ground, whispered as he spied.
The two were taking turns observing.
Shi Chun, resting with his back against a boulder, rolled over and peered through.
He saw traces of sandalwood-golden flames focusing on the slope.
They flickered without revealing their purpose.
Watching for a while, Wu Jinliang suggested, “Should we act now to see what's happening?”
Shi Chun replied, “Are you crazy? Just the two of us, sneaking around at night? Wait for daylight.”
Just as the words were spoken, they both turned, retrieving half of the thermal Parent-Child Talisman from their pockets.
The ethereal light-text characters glowed like water ripples across its smooth metal surface, announcing: “Xiang Lan'er has moved out independently. If a meeting is needed, contact can be arranged.”
The other halves were with Bian Weiying, their team leader.
This was undoubtedly a message from him.
The two were used to such correspondence, having received frequent attempts to reach them.
They read without response, playing dead.
Neither trusted the alliance plans.
Once escaped, they wouldn’t return.
This time, as usual, they stashed their half-talisman away after the message vanished.
Wu Jinliang asked, “What does Lan'er alone mean?”
Shi Chun speculated, “Who knows? Maybe she can't stay there any longer or the Demonic Path is on the move, but with their protection, she’s safe.”
“True,” Wu Jinliang nodded.
They alternated between resting and watching, unaware that daylight crept upon them.
As visibility improved, Shi Chun nudged Wu Jinliang, pointing toward a slope, “There are scouts behind that hill. Let’s draw them out. The whiskered men entered the camp from that direction. Stirring things here should drive them toward us. Let’s work.”
He had activated his right-eye skill beforehand, understanding the blood and qi strain it caused.
“Alright.” Wu Jinliang chuckled, readying his large blade.
Together, the two moved stealthily, using the terrain to navigate.
Reaching their designated spot, they appeared suddenly, feigning ignorance, leaping toward a concealed enemy position.
Landing on the slope, they startled the hidden scouts.
The scouts’ initial attempts to hide became pointless, forcing them to leap up defensively.
Wu Jinliang roared, “Filthy rats! How dare you ambush us!”
His blade swung fiercely, sweeping the air.
The scouts dodged quickly, but Shi Chun also attacked.
As anticipated, the scouts standing watch lacked the cultivation to match Shi Chun’s formidable skills.
Within moments, the scouts lay incapacitated, wounded on the ground.
Their clash reverberated through the camp, instantly alarming them.
Forces rushed like a tide toward the scene.
Even the usually composed Guan Wen joined to investigate.
With victory assured, Shi Chun planted a boot on a fallen scout, blade set to deliver a fatal blow when he paused.
Both he and Wu Jinliang glanced around, seeing the incoming flurry of bodies encircling them.
One leading figure, seeing their injured allies, growled, “Who dares create chaos here?”
Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang remained unworried, scanning for familiar faces within the crowd.
Their cool composure, combined with a hostage, made them fearless.
Sure enough, they spotted the blue-robed, whiskered man they met the previous day.
Recognizing them, the man paused in surprise.
Calmly, Shi Chun replied, “We passed by, only to be ambushed without provocation. Who truly is causing chaos here?”
Guan Wen blinked.
These two, surrounded, showed no fear.
“We were only lying low, not ambushing,” a scout gasped, his life at stake.
Witnessing this, the whiskered man stepped forward, shouting at Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, “Brothers, it was a misunderstanding. Remember me?”
Guan Wen inquired, “You know them?”
The man nodded, “We met yesterday. They’re disciples of the Wandering Mist Mountain Sect, from Xuan Prefecture like us.” (End of Chapter)