The crowd got up from the ground, their faces grim as they stared at the person who had made the move.
Hun Ya of the Hun Clan stepped forward first, speaking to Huo Xuan in a rather unfriendly tone, "Huo Xuan, what do you mean by this? You can't be so selfish!"
"Let's keep this passageway shared."
Everyone around also turned their attention to Huo Xuan; clearly, they all supported Hun Ya's statement.
"Snort!"
Upon hearing this, Huo Xuan snorted coldly and said, "Why should you pass through the passage I opened for free?"
Upon hearing Hun Ya's words, Hun Ya's expression gradually darkened. He said, "Huo Xuan, I'll say it again: one shouldn't be too selfish..."
"What, are you thinking of making a move?"
"Boom!"
A powerful surge of Dou Qi slammed into Hun Ya, sending it flying dozens of meters away in an instant.
"So what if you're selfish! You think you can just walk through this passage I opened for free?"
After Hun Ya was knocked away, the atmosphere around him became tense!
The crowd's expressions shifted, remaining silent. They looked at each other, none daring to make a move against Huo Xuan.
After all, they were no match for Huo Xuan.
Huo Xuan's cold gaze swept over them, then he turned around, preparing to go back and open a passage. At that moment, Lei Dong, under everyone's gaze, walked straight up to Huo Xuan.
"Huo Xuan, what are you doing? The Energy Storm is right behind us. Shouldn't we all work together to open up the passage to the Third Layer?"
"There's no need to be so heartless..."
Seeing this, Hun Ya, who had already returned, also put away his gloomy expression, put on a forced smile, and stepped forward again, saying, "Yes! Brother Huo Xuan, wouldn't it be better if we all joined forces to open up the passage to the Third Layer?"
"Oh? Is that what you all think?"
Huo Xuan glanced around at everyone present and slowly began to speak.
"Brother Huo Xuan, more people mean more strength, right?"
The people present looked at each other in bewilderment, and then spoke in unison.
"Is that so..."
Huo Xuan's gaze swept over everyone present, finally landing on Lei Dong in front of him. He reached out and patted Lei Dong's shoulder, saying, "For the sake of our friendship over the years, go in."
Huo Xuan withdrew his hand from Lei Dong's shoulder and then stepped aside to make way for him.
Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Lei Dong's eyes. He was somewhat incredulous, but since Huo Xuan had already spoken, how could he possibly miss the chance to escape?
"Lei Luo!"
Lei Dong turned his head and called out. Among the crowd, Lei Clan named Lei Luo responded and came to Lei Dong's side.
Huo Xuan glanced at the Lei Clan named Lei Luo. He should be one of the Lei Clan who entered the Heavenly Tomb in the original story. Because of Lei Dong's involvement, the other person was unfortunately kicked out.
Huo Xuan didn't let Lei Luo leave either. Since he had promised to take Lei Dong with him, adding another Lei Clan wouldn't make a difference.
"Where are the others?"
Lei Dong asked.
"The others? I'll only take you Lei Clan with me. As for the Gu Clan, Hun Clan, and Shi Clan, that's not an option."
Upon hearing Huo Xuan's words, the expressions of the other three clans changed drastically, and their previous joyful expressions vanished completely.
"Can't we go together?"
Lei Dong frowned slightly upon hearing Huo Xuan's words.
"Do you think this is possible?" Huo Xuan glanced at Lei Dong and said, "Although breaking through the crystal wall is an extremely large project, it's not impossible for you to do it. I have no obligation to take you along."
"Lei Dong, if it weren't for our friendship over the years, I wouldn't have even brought you along."
"Brother Huo Xuan, as you know, the Energy Storm is about to engulf the entire second level. Time is running out. Taking us with you will be of some help, won't it?"
"Leave a way out for others..."
Hun Li of the Hun Clan became anxious when he saw that Huo Xuan only agreed to bring the Lei Clan.
Although they and the others were able to create a passage, the Energy Storm was about to engulf the entire second level, and they really didn't have much time left.
Moreover, both the Lei and Yao clans are currently on Huo Xuan's side. If they don't want to join them, they will have no choice but to join forces with the Gu Clan and Shi Clan to create a passage.
However, among the Eight Clans, the Gu Clan harbors strong hostility towards the Hun Clan. In recent years, the Gu Clan and the Hun Clan have been secretly fighting each other, and many powerful members of the Gu Clan died at his hands. Hun Li is uneasy about cooperating with the Ancient Clan!
Huo Xuan looked at Hun Li and began to ponder.
As members of the Hun Clan, to be honest, Huo Xuan had no intention of saving them. However, even without them, they might not necessarily die if they joined forces with the Gu Clan. Therefore, he might as well take this opportunity to extract some reward from them...
"I opened a passage to save your lives, what do you intend to do to repay me?"
Hearing Huo Xuan's blunt words, Hun Li was slightly taken aback, but he quickly came to his senses. Since Huo Xuan wanted a reward, then he would give him one.
"Brother Huo Xuan, these are the Energy Core I've collected over this period. How about I offer them as payment?"
After a moment's thought, Hun Li tossed a cloth bag at Huo Xuan. The bag was filled with extremely dense energy, and judging by its weight, it probably contained no less than a hundred particles.
After seeing Hun Li take the lead, Hun Ya also took out some cloth bags containing Energy Core from his Storage Ring and threw them to Huo Xuan.
"Please!"
Smiling, Huo Xuan carefully put away the cloth bag thrown by Hun Li and Hun Ya, then gestured for them to proceed and said casually.
Upon seeing Huo Xuan's gesture of invitation, both Hun Li and Hun Ya were overjoyed. They exchanged a glance and then walked into the passage.
"And you?"
Huo Xuan turned his gaze to the two members of the Shi Clan and said calmly.
"Huo Xuan, wasn't it enough that you robbed us of so many Energy Core back then?"
"Robbery is robbery, but I'm saving you. These are two different things. Why shouldn't I take your payment..." Huo Xuan said with a smile. Expecting him to work for these guys for free was simply wishful thinking.
Upon hearing this, the two members of the Shi Clan were so angry that they gritted their teeth. But despite their anger and reluctance, they did not stop working for a moment.
They took out a cloth bag from their Storage Ring, but the amount of Energy Core in this bag was significantly less than that of Hun Ya and Hun Li. With gritted teeth, they threw the bag at Huo Xuan.
"That's far too little..."
Huo Xuan weighed the two bags of Energy Core in his hand and said with some displeasure.
That's all we have.
"Most of what we harvested on the second floor already ended up in your pocket last time; this is our last remaining stock."
Shi Mo said, his tone also somewhat displeased.
"I'm sorry, I don't do business at a loss."
"Huo Xuan, what do you want! Even if you kill us, we really have no more Energy Core!"
"Hehe, the remaining Energy Core won't be replaced with anything else, like cultivation techniques, Dou Technique, pills, or Pill Recipe. I'll accept anything. I don't require them to be very valuable, but they can't be the kind of low-end street vendor goods."
Huo Xuan said casually.
"Of course, if you're reluctant to part with it, I won't force you."
"I've really messed up here today!"
Shi Mo gritted his teeth, hardened his heart, and took out a gray scroll from his Storage Ring, handing it to Huo Xuan.
High-Level Earth Rank Battle Technique - Heaven Piercing Palm!
Although this Dou Technique is only at the high-level Earth rank, it is not considered powerful in their Shi Clan, but it is not considered inferior either. Shi Mo was extremely unwilling to hand it over to Huo Xuan, but Huo Xuan said that he would never accept something that was too low-end and cheap.
Although he possessed a considerable collection of cultivation techniques and Dou Technique, the vast majority of them were acquired during his training in Central Plains. They could be considered high-level but low-grade items.
The highest level is only the Mysterious High-Rank. If you give those low-level Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills found in Central Plains to Huo Xuan, will he accept them?
With no other choice, he could only hand over the advanced Dou Technique belonging to the Shi Clan to Huo Xuan. At least it wasn't a secret Dou Technique. Using this Earth-rank Dou Technique to safely reach the Third Layer was definitely worthwhile.
After Huo Xuan received the scroll, he glanced through it briefly, then put it into his Storage Ring and made a gesture of invitation.
"Please."
"Next, only a few members of the Gu Clan remain."