Bai Bai dashed into a pile of top-grade spirit stones and was immediately thrilled.
Her small body pressed against a spirit stone larger than herself, rubbing against it for a while before she started circling around the piles of spirit stones.
Next to the top-grade stones were piles of superior-grade stones, and beyond those, medium-grade stones. When Bai Bai turned behind the spirit stone piles, she jumped in fright—her white fur bristled on end.
There, curled up behind the spirit stones, lay a pangolin. To Bai Bai, this was a huge beast that could crush her in an instant. She sensed the pangolin's aura rising sharply; it was clearly breaking through a cultivation stage.
Bai Bai took a deep breath to calm her racing heart but dared not be reckless here. If the pangolin woke up, things would get dangerous.
However, where the pangolin blocked, there were also top-grade spirit stones embedded in the mountain wall, shining with a light that seemed to lure mice. Bai Bai quietly slipped back to the side of the top-grade spirit stones.
After circling a few times, Bai Bai decisively reached out her little paw and touched a whole piece of top-grade spirit stone. The stone vanished instantly. Then, from the white fur under her neck, Bai Bai pulled out a storage ring her master had secretly prepared for her. It held all of Bai Bai's personal treasures.
Bai Bai emptied the spirit fruits and snacks Jian Feng had given her in the past days, then started storing the top-grade spirit stones inside the ring. One piece, two pieces, three pieces—the more Bai Bai collected, the happier she got. Suddenly, with a loud crash, the pile of top-grade spirit stones collapsed.
Afraid of waking the pangolin, Bai Bai clutched her storage ring and slipped quietly into the passage. She didn't leave immediately but listened closely to the sounds inside.
The pangolin, which had been breaking through its stage while blocking the way, suddenly stretched its body and fully woke up. It stared toward one spot, full of hostility.
With a thunderous bang, the passage was broken open from the other side. Stones flew everywhere as a blood sac appeared in the hole dug out by the pangolin.
Bai Bai immediately sprinted back. At the same time, Jian Feng and the others at the passage entrance heard the loud noise and rushed in, spreading their divine senses. They caught sight of the giant blood sac fighting a sixth-stage pangolin beast.
The blood sac tried to absorb the pangolin, but the beast sensed its hostile intent. Steel claws swiped at the blood sac. When the beast was close, it whipped its tail, knocking the blood sac away. The pangolin's tough scales protected it well.
Bai Bai met Jian Feng halfway in the passage, dove into his arms, and pointed her tiny paw at the cave where the clash echoed with stones falling. She squeaked non-stop.
"We all saw it. Hide yourself!"
Jian Feng put Bai Bai back in his arms. He and the General Hall team drew their spirit swords and charged into the cave, where rocks occasionally fell.
"This is the blood sac mentioned in the Law Enforcement Hall's intel jade slip. Don't let it escape!"
The Tracking Hall captain was the first to shout, already swinging his sword.
Jian Feng followed quickly, slicing out "Heavenly Sword Nine Forms" silently and swiftly. The blazing fire spirit energy instantly seared the blood sac's surface, sending up a foul black smoke.
Mo Su led the black-robed guards into the cave. They clearly felt the blood sac had stopped moving, blocked by someone.
Emerging from the blood sac's hole, the scene was right before Mo Su's eyes.
All three sides froze for a moment.
Jian Feng's gaze swept over ten demon cultivators in black robes wearing veiled hats. Their cultivation was clearly higher than Jian Feng's team, and judging by their direction, they were chasing this blood sac.
Mo Su immediately recognized Jian Feng. This Heavenly Sword Sect swordsman was Mo Yue's favorite. The others, seeing Jian Feng's sword techniques, knew they were Heavenly Sword Sect disciples.
The ten Heavenly Sword Sect members had one at Divine Soul stage, the rest at Divine Transformation. Two were restraining the sixth-stage pangolin beast while the rest attacked the blood sac. Upon noticing Jian Feng's group, two left the fight to face them cautiously.
The pangolin beast was frustrated. It only wanted to cultivate and break through in this blessed land, but uninvited guests kept coming, including cultivators stronger than itself.
Seeing that the new arrivals were clearly not allies of the first group, the pangolin wondered if it still had a chance. It whipped its tail toward Xiao Jiu.
Xiao Jiu knew the pangolin's scales were tough. He swung his sword but instantly teleported out of the tail's strike range, avoiding it.
Mo Su swung his poison dagger, Cold Moon Blade, flashing toward the pangolin's tail.
The pangolin quickly recoiled its tail to avoid the strike, then dove headfirst into the cave wall, using its advantage to dig an escape tunnel and vanished before everyone.
As Mo Su struck, Jian Feng recognized him. He teleported out of the fight circle and saluted,
"Jian Feng of Heavenly Sword Sect greets Mo Su Zūnzhǔ!"
Mo Su raised an eyebrow. Seeing that Jian Feng had uncovered his identity, he didn't bother with pretense and removed his veil, revealing a pale face.
Jian Feng frowned. Something about Mo Su's aura felt off, but he couldn't pinpoint what.
Nearby, Mo Yi had already ordered his subordinates to attack the blood sac and quietly approached Mo Su.
"Zūnzhǔ, this is a top-grade spirit stone vein," Mo Yi whispered.
Jian Feng became alert, gripping his soul sword tightly. His features grew serious.
"This is the Chonglin Mountain Range under Heavenly Sword Sect's jurisdiction."
In short: This top-grade vein has nothing to do with your Heavenly Demon Palace.
Mo Su waved at Mo Yi,
"Kill the blood sac first."
"Yes, Zūnzhǔ."
Mo Su held back, overseeing the battle. Jian Feng also stayed outside the fight circle. Since he knew Mo Su, there would likely be some arguing later.
The Tracking Hall captain immediately sent a hidden distress signal, hoping sect cultivators nearby would arrive. Otherwise, this top-grade vein could be lost to Heavenly Sword Sect.
Suddenly, Hai Yan, in a panic, sensed another blood sac about to escape and tried to recall it using divine sense.
After the last "Waterfall Thunder" incident, he lost a clone and a drop of essence blood, so now he was more cautious.
At the moment the Mahayana-level divine sense attack arrived, the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples' protective shields activated, giving them a moment of resistance. Then their shields broke, and all nine were flung back, hitting the cave wall as stones rained down faster.
Mo Su reacted quickly, throwing out a Mahayana-level attack talisman given by the Ancestor Mo Yan. The black-robed guards were also knocked away, their shields broken.
The attack talisman hit the blood sac perfectly. Mo Yan Zhēnzūn's "Radiant Glow" instantly wrapped the blood sac and reflected Hai Yan's divine sense counterattack.
Hai Yan had no choice but to sever his outgoing divine sense, losing a life-sustaining blood sac. He had lost both wife and soldiers.
The Mahayana-level attack talisman, though accurate, caused massive destruction. The cave collapsed instantly, and the tremors spread from the center to both Chonglin Mountain Range and Chimei Mountain Range. Both mountain ranges experienced a major earthquake.