Translator: CinderTL
Xu Sanyan arrived at the base of the stone pillar, leaped up, grabbed the edge of the opening, and quickly climbed upward.
Reaching the largest opening, he peered inside and his face lit up with surprise. He saw an ancient, unadorned token encased in a bubble. The front of the token was engraved with a large character: "Holy."
It was the Holy Son Token!
It was indeed hidden here!
Xu Sanyan grinned and quickly retrieved it. The bubble burst, and a rainbow light shot straight into the sky.
The third Holy Son Token had revealed itself.
Xu Sanyan knew that taking the token would expose his location, but he had no choice.
The token was in the Bat King's nest. If he didn't seize the opportunity while the Bat King was away, he wouldn't be able to get it once it returned.
Xiang Tan and the others had been watching Xu Sanyan closely. When the rainbow light erupted, their faces lit up with joy. "The Holy Son Token! Look, Senior Brother Xu has found the Holy Son Token!"
She seemed even more excited than Xu Sanyan himself.
Little did she know that the real danger had only just begun.
Meanwhile, near the Divine Tree...
Tu Wanshan stroked the Holy Son Token in his hand, a smile playing on his lips. The second Holy Son Token now belonged to him.
The Bald Woman beside him pouted, her hand stroking the small beast's head as she muttered, "This Holy Son Competition was too easy. Is it really over already?"
Tu Wanshan patted her bald head and cautioned, "No, it's only just begun. From now on, everyone must be extremely careful."
A young man behind them nodded in agreement. "Senior Brother is right. There are only five Holy Son Tokens. Someone definitely doesn't want us to leave here peacefully."
Hearing this, the Bald Woman clenched her fists, her voice laced with malice. "Hmph, if anyone dares to try and steal Senior Brother's things, I'll beat the shit out of them!"
Suddenly, a clear bird call pierced through the dense forest. More and more calls echoed from all directions, sounding like thousands of birds.
Everyone immediately raised their guard. The Bald Woman set the small beast she had been holding on the ground and slowly straightened up.
Tu Wanshan's expression turned cold. He spoke in a low voice, "Ma Changjie!"
Ma Changjie ranked last among the Ten Great Talents.
The Ten Great Talents all knew each other well, with a general understanding of each other's abilities. Tu Wanshan was certain Ma Changjie was behind this because Ma Changjie possessed a unique Beast Taming technique that allowed him to command an entire army single-handedly, making him a formidable opponent.
However, Ma Changjie was ranked tenth because his Beast Taming technique had significant limitations. It required advance preparation and was inconvenient due to numerous restrictions.
Yet, if given ample time to prepare, his strength would easily place him among the top five of the Ten Great Talents.
"Senior Brother Tu, put down the Holy Son Token. I'll let you leave," a cold voice echoed from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint the speaker's location.
"Ha! Did you drink too much fake wine?" Tu Wanshan scoffed, completely unfazed.
In his eyes, Beast Taming was a mere minor technique, not enough to make him retreat. He believed that, aside from Qi Liang, no one could surpass him.
Just as the tension between them reached its peak, a rainbow light soared into the sky once more. The third Holy Son Token had appeared, this time in Xu Sanyan's possession.
Tu Wanshan looked up, while Ma Changjie, hidden in the shadows, turned his head, muttering to himself, "So soon... The third one has already been found..."
Fang Xiang and Mengdie, who were rushing toward the Divine Tree, Qi Liang, who had just left the Phoenix Tree Forest, Jiang Qinqin, who was sitting under the tree with her eyes closed, healing her wounds, and You Jianfeng's group, who were exploring Resting Phoenix Mountain, all turned their gazes toward the distant ruins.
Fang Xiang stopped in his tracks, and Mengdie, following behind, also halted. After exchanging a glance, they each looked away.
Fang Xiang whispered to the girl behind him, "What's that?"
The girl pulled out a map and compared it. "Ancient ruins."
"Do you know who's gone there?"
"Luo Yu and Zhou Longsheng from Crimson Dragon Mountain, and it seems Gong Niang from Joyous Harmony Mountain is headed in that direction too."
Fang Xiang's heart stirred. After a moment's thought, he called out to Mengdie, "Dream Butterfly Demoness, I'm not going to compete with you for this. I'm going to check it out."
In Fang Xiang's eyes, these people were no threat. He could take them on.
Mengdie didn't reply, her eyes flickering. In the end, she continued toward the Divine Tree.
The situation at the ruins was already chaotic. If Fang Xiang went there too, that would make four factions vying for the treasure. With Luo Yu, Zhou Longsheng, Gong Niang, and Fang Xiang himself, nearly half the people present would be there. She decided not to get involved.
She didn't know that only Xu Sanyan and a handful of misfits remained at the ruins. Aside from Xu Sanyan, there were only two Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and six Initial-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Qi Liang carefully examined the token in his hand, trying to stuff it into his storage pouch, but the rainbow light remained conspicuous, and the pouch couldn't block it.
"After you send me out, take the rest of them with you. There are still four Holy Son Tokens left. With your abilities, you should be able to secure another one no matter what."
Sima Xin nodded. This was the original agreement: first help Qi Liang obtain a token, then he would strive for another. He also wanted to cultivate the Holy Scripture.
As Qi Liang spoke, his gaze inadvertently swept over his palm, and he froze in shock. A jet-black vein had sprouted from his wrist, gradually spreading across his palm.
"What is this?" Qi Liang exclaimed, horrified. He had been poisoned without realizing it!
"The Holy Son Token!"
He instantly realized what had happened. Someone must have tampered with the token. He had been so caught up in his excitement that he hadn't noticed the poison smeared on it. He had touched it with his bare hand, without using his Spiritual Power to create a barrier.
In a moment of carelessness, Qi Liang had fallen for the trap.
"Dream Butterfly Demoness!"
Rage flared in Qi Liang's eyes as he gritted his teeth. How dare she scheme against him? He vowed to make her pay dearly!
Sima Xin, standing nearby, twitched his eyelids and slowly shook his head. "I doubt Dream Butterfly is behind this."
"Hmm?"
"Senior Brother, don't forget that Jiang Qinqin was the one who originally found the Holy Son Token," Sima Xin explained.
They had arrived just as Mengdie had taken possession of the token. Every move she made had been under their watchful eyes. Moreover, a poison potent enough to affect even Foundation Establishment cultivators wouldn't be easily concocted. It would likely require a specific method, and Mengdie hadn't had time to tamper with it.
"How dare she!" Qi Liang roared, turning back toward the Phoenix Tree Forest, determined to confront Jiang Qinqin.
Sima Xin shook his head inwardly and followed. If not for the Sect Leader's orders, he wouldn't have wasted his time assisting this hotheaded fool.
You Jianfeng searched Resting Phoenix Mountain high and low but couldn't find the Holy Son Token. He could only look toward the three streaks of rainbow light.
The gray-robed youth beside him asked, "Senior Brother You, where are we going?"
You Jianfeng glanced around and chose the closest one. "Let's check that one first."
The group descended the mountain and headed straight for the ruins.
Xu Sanyan clutched the Holy Son Token and quickly returned. With a wave of his hand, he stowed the eight small flags and pulled out the Compass of Direction. "Let's go!"
The rainbow light emanating from the Holy Son Token shone like a beacon in the night, impossible to conceal. Their only option was to flee quickly.
Fang Xiang watched the rainbow light begin to move rapidly, a sense of urgency gripping him. This place was neither too close nor too far from their sect, about a four- or five-day journey. If they didn't hurry, they'd truly let them escape.
"Hurry!"
(End of the Chapter)
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