Qin Yu sneered, "Lu Sangjiu, there's no one else here. You don't have to put on an act for me."
"The Devouring Spirit Sand belongs to whoever finds it. I'm entitled to half."
"Besides..." He narrowed his eyes. "Shouldn't you also explain how you knew how to deal with the Devouring Spirit Sand, and how you just so happened to be carrying a Purple Crystal Box to store it in?"
Lu Sangjiu tsk-tsked. "Getting this worked up over a bit of Devouring Spirit Sand? You really haven't seen much of the world, have you?"
"First, I already told you I read about how to deal with the Devouring Spirit Sand in a book. I bought the Purple Crystal Box because I thought it looked nice. Is there a problem?"
"Second, you didn't lift a finger to help with the Devouring Spirit Sand. In the end, *I* was the one who saved your life. You have the nerve to say half of it is rightfully yours? I'm already being generous by not asking for a reward for saving you!"
Lu Sangjiu's words were blunt, and Qin Yu's expression grew darker.
"Lu Sangjiu... don't think I won't actually kill you!"
Lu Sangjiu lifted the box containing the Devouring Spirit Sand, a grin on her face. "Then go ahead and try. In any case, this Devouring Spirit Sand has already absorbed the Spirit Stone tainted with my blood essence inside this Purple Crystal Box. It has acknowledged me as its master now. What makes you think I'd be afraid of you?"
Qin Yu was taken aback. "You're saying the Devouring Spirit Sand has already acknowledged a master?"
"Impossible. I just clearly sensed someone's aura on the Devouring Spirit Sand, and its master must be a Great Power. How could a mere Early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator like you possibly compete with them?"
Lu Sangjiu raised an eyebrow slightly. She then opened the Purple Crystal Box and twitched her index finger. A bit of the Devouring Spirit Sand flew out and swirled around her fingertip.
Seeing that Lu Sangjiu was completely unharmed, Qin Yu finally believed her. He couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Could it be... the master of this place is on the verge of death, or already dead, and only their aura remains? Damn it!"
'He was furious. He felt he'd been completely careless to overlook this point. Otherwise, if he had just tried to tame it with his own blood essence a moment ago, wouldn't all of the Devouring Spirit Sand be his now?'
But in truth, although Lu Sangjiu could be considered someone who had died once, the various treasures that had once been connected to her consciousness no longer belonged to her.
However, they were still things she had once owned. The aura of her Divine Soul hadn't changed, so these items would naturally feel an affinity for her, making it easier for her to subdue them.
Moreover, these items couldn't be subdued with just blood essence. What was more important was making the treasure willing to submit, or having enough strength to suppress it completely.
If Qin Yu had actually acted on his thought to subdue the Devouring Spirit Sand just now, the outcome probably wouldn't have been as wonderful as he imagined.
Of course, Lu Sangjiu wasn't going to tell him any of this. She just asked impatiently, "Hey, have you made up your mind? Are we fighting or not?"
Qin Yu's expression was ugly. Fear had already taken root in his heart, but he was unwilling to admit it. He just changed the subject stiffly.
"...Let's check for other traps first. If we're starting with something on the level of Devouring Spirit Sand, who knows how many more trials are ahead."
Lu Sangjiu pouted. "If you're scared, just say so. That was a really clumsy change of subject."
Qin Yu: "..."
'He clenched his jaw, desperately telling himself to be patient. This place is so dangerous. Even I nearly fell into a trap, to say nothing of Lu Sangjiu. Maybe in a little while, she'll run into some other mechanism and get herself killed. I won't even have to lift a finger.'
When Qin Yu didn't answer, Lu Sangjiu ignored him and just continued walking forward.
Seeing her continue without the slightest hesitation, it finally dawned on Qin Yu. "You knew how to avoid these traps all along, didn't you?"
Lu Sangjiu knew there was no point in being stubborn now, so she said frankly, "What do you think? Did you think I came in here ahead of you just to sit around and do nothing?"
"The floor tiles here are laid out in an Eight Trigrams Array. Where there are traps, there are also safe paths. You just have to find the pattern to avoid danger."
Qin Yu said angrily, "Why didn't you say so earlier?!"
Lu Sangjiu feigned innocence. "You never asked."
Qin Yu: "..."
He also knew that given his current relationship with Lu Sangjiu, further questioning was useless. He could only swallow his anger and follow close behind her toward the other side.
After a few steps, Lu Sangjiu suddenly stopped and looked back at Qin Yu. "There may be traps, but traps are also opportunities, you know? Who knows, you might find something like the Devouring Spirit Sand."
She asked earnestly, "Fortune favors the bold, as they say. Are you sure you don't want to give it another try?"
Qin Yu, a man who was usually so graceful and suave, couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes dramatically.
"Heh heh, I'm afraid it would be all risk for me and all fortune for you, right?"
Lu Sangjiu blinked. "Is Senior Brother Qin not confident in himself?"
Qin Yu gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Goading me won't work."
"Opportunities are good, but you have to be alive to take them. Besides, the most important thing for me right now is finding my junior sister."
'Fine,' Lu Sangjiu understood perfectly. 'In the hearts of the men who orbited Ye Zhiyao, Ye Zhiyao was always the most important thing. It was like an irresistible command implanted in their minds.'
It was a bit of a pity, but Lu Sangjiu wasn't about to risk her own life for it. She could only turn away with regret. "Let's keep moving then."
"But Senior Brother Qin, it's not very becoming for a grown man like you to always follow me and freeload, is it? It's your turn to walk in front."
Qin Yu sneered. "You deliberately tried to harm me just now, and now you want me to clear the path for you? Dream on!"
Lu Sangjiu nodded nonchalantly. "That's fine. I'm not in a hurry, anyway. My eldest senior brother is very powerful; he probably doesn't need me to rescue him. I just wonder if Senior Sister Ye has long enough to wait for you."
Qin Yu: "..."
He was furious, but he was also genuinely worried about Ye Zhiyao. In the end, he could only grit his teeth and walk ahead.
But he didn't forget to warn Lu Sangjiu, "No matter what happens, if you stand by and watch me die, I will use every last bit of my strength to take you down with me. So I advise you not to get any funny ideas!"
Lu Sangjiu blinked innocently. "Senior Brother Qin, what are you saying? Am I really that kind of person?"
Qin Yu: "Heh."
Leaving the first stone chamber, they were met with a long, narrow passageway. It was still very dark, and they could faintly hear the sound of dripping water.
Qin Yu couldn't help but frown. "This predecessor is a bit too shabby, don't you think? They wouldn't even put down a few Luminous Pearls. Didn't they mind the dark when they walked through here themselves?"
Lu "the shabby senior herself" Sangjiu: "..."
She harrumphed. "If Senior Brother Qin is so generous, then you can take out your own Luminous Pearls. You're on someone else's turf and you're still saying such offensive things. Are you afraid your journey ahead will be too peaceful?"
Qin Yu sneered. "The Devouring Spirit Sand was snatched away by a mere Early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator like you. The master of this place is either dead or dying. What's there to be afraid of?"
Lu Sangjiu: "..."
Struck a nerve again, she became angry from embarrassment. "So much nonsense! Just get a move on!"