Turtle Retreat (Seeking Follow-up Reads, Seeking Votes)

"Burying corpses..."

After turning it over in his mind, if there were no other secret moves at work, this was the only step where other arrangements might be hidden.

But for disciples of Heavenly Corpse Peak, burying corpses was perfectly normal.

After all, this place had a Second Tier Yin Spirit Vein. Carrying them on one's back was far less beneficial than burying them in the soil. Absorbing more Earth Yin qi was beneficial to the growth of Refined Corpses.

"Could there be some secret beneath Profound Bone Mountain?"

After all, the Formation Gu Zheng Shun had set up only concealed the bottom thirty levels of Profound Bone Mountain, completely contrary to Liu Jin Xian and Situ Hong's actions of setting up Formations to envelop the upper fifty levels.

"Dog bastard—

"You're still plotting against me!"

He did not believe Gu Zheng Shun had no other arrangements. Now that he faced a critical situation, he had shown no reaction whatsoever. He was even willing to give up the Profound Essence Flowers, the greatest benefit of Profound Bone Mountain. There could only be an even greater benefit tying him down.

With that premise in mind, it was only natural to find Gu Zheng Shun suspicious.

But...

Was he really going to defect to Liu Jin Xian?

To Wang Yu, that was the worst possible option. Liu Jin Xian was simply too powerful! As a Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivator, how could he possibly receive the same attention and equal treatment from her as he did from Gu Zheng Shun?

Forget greater benefits—even the two levels he currently held and the third level he was about to claim might be snatched away. After all, quite a few of those under the Liu Clan were Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators.

He could not compete with them!

At that thought, Wang Yu's head throbbed. He immediately abandoned his plan to take the third level. He would only defend the two levels he already possessed, especially those nine Second Tier Bone Woods that were about to bloom. Whoever dared seize them would become his mortal enemy!

"Time to be ruthless..."

And so, another three days passed.

Nearly three hundred cultivators arrived together, led by Liu Jin Xian and accompanied by twenty Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators. Among them was one person who made Wang Yu's eyelids twitch as he watched from the shadows.

It was Su Qing Shan, who bore a personal grudge against him. When they had set out, there had been too many people and too many distractions. Wang Yu's attention had been focused almost entirely on the two Mountain Masters, so he had not noticed him.

Discovering him now came as something of a surprise. In the next instant, Wang Yu realized that if this man said a few bad words about him to Liu Jin Xian, his situation would become even worse.

"Trouble..."

Outside the black mist, Liu Jin Xian fully unleashed her aura and called out, "Junior Brother Gu, this Senior Sister has come according to our agreement to help you clear out the troubles of Profound Bone Mountain. Why will you not come out and meet me?"

From within the black mist, Gu Zheng Shun's thick, foolish-sounding voice immediately rang out. "Senior Sister Liu is bold and generous. Gu is not a stingy man either. Aside from the bottom thirty levels, Senior Sister may do as she pleases with the vacant areas. Whoever occupies them owns them."

With such permission, Liu Jin Xian could not look too ugly while eating. What Second Tier Bone Wood could there possibly be in the bottom thirty levels? A scornful smile appeared on her frightening face.

Yet outwardly, she remained amicable.

"As fellow Mountain Masters, there is no need to be like this. I do have rather a lot of subordinates, but they are risking their lives to help you clear Profound Bone Mountain, so they must be paid.

"How about this? Whatever territory they take, they will occupy for four years before returning it to you."

Four years? By then, the flowering season would not have arrived, while the five-year garrison mission would be nearing its end. She was truly ruthless—not even willing to share a single hair's worth of profit.

"I said it already. Senior Sister Liu may do as she pleases. Even if you occupy it for ten years, I will have no objections. It is only right."

The intent to Turtle Retreat was obvious. Now, not only Liu Jin Xian, but even the followers by her side felt that Gu Zheng Shun was finished. The dignified grand-disciple of a Core Formation Elder was actually such a soft-legged coward.

Su Qing Shan's heart also burned with excitement. Following Zhao Shang's advice, he had learned of the many benefits of Profound Bone Mountain, and his heart had already been stirred.

Though he had failed to obtain a High-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, these Second Tier Profound Essence Flowers were not bad either. At the very least, they could raise his odds by twenty percent. With the Inverse Blood Pill, there was also a great chance he could succeed in Foundation Establishment.

The Second Tier Profound Essence Flowers on Liu Jin Xian's Profound Bone Mountain all belonged to her alone. But on Gu Zheng Shun's Profound Bone Mountain, it was every man for himself. He had great confidence that he could seize a level through spell combat.

"Hehe."

There was no pressure at all in overpowering a mountain. Liu Jin Xian turned to the subordinates beside her, her tone cold and severe.

"Whatever I promise will certainly be honored.

"But you must also abide by our agreement. Every last Rotting Poison Bee Swarm must be captured for me! If even one nest escapes, do not blame me for stripping you of your gains."

Everyone's hearts trembled, and they bowed their heads.

"We will certainly capture every Rotting Poison Bee Swarm for Senior Sister Liu."

"Very good. Go."

Nearly three hundred Qi Refining Cultivators rode Black Silk into Profound Bone Mountain, heading for different levels according to their own assessments.

Of the uppermost twenty levels, almost all were claimed by Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators. Clearly, they had already divided them among themselves.

Wang Yu withdrew his gaze from below and instead fixed his eyes on the two disciples flying toward levels two hundred ninety and two hundred ninety-one. Both were at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer!

With a flick of his sleeve, the High-Grade Magical Artifact, Nether Spirit Iron Chain, drilled into the ground and lay quietly in ambush, waiting for the moment Wang Yu's Divine Sense would activate it.

Before long.

The two cultivators arrived together. Since their levels were adjacent, they immediately noticed the abnormalities of these two floors. There were no Bone Lions, no bee swarms—everything looked as though it had already been thoroughly cleared.

"Qi Refining Fifth Layer? A disciple of Heavenly Corpse Peak?"

Wang Yu had long since put away the Outer Sect disciple token of Cold Blood Peak. He wore only the Outer Sect robes of the Inverse Spirit Blood Sect, intending to conceal his identity. Besides, there was nowhere to use Contribution Points while outside.

"Yes, yes, yes."

As Wang Yu answered, he said, "According to the agreement, whoever takes a level owns it. The two Senior Brothers should seek another level."

Hearing this, the cultivator who had spoken revealed a strange smile.

"You mean these two levels both belong to you?"

"Naturally."

"Heh—

"Arrogant! Gu Zheng Shun only spoke of the bottom thirty levels. The other two hundred seventy levels are not included in Senior Sister Liu's promise. If you leave now, we may spare your life."

Of these nearly three hundred people, most were disciples of Poison Gu Peak, with only a small number coming from other peaks. These two were demonic cultivators who specialized in Gu arts.

The loophole Gu Zheng Shun had left in his words was deliberate.

Feigning weakness, playing dumb—Wang Yu had heard through it long ago. Gu Zheng Shun merely wanted to push him out and use Liu Jin Xian's hand to get rid of him.

After all, since the two had come together, Gu Zheng Shun could not judge whether Wang Yu might infer some of the truth from scattered clues. Killing with a borrowed blade was a brilliant plan.

He had also concluded that Wang Yu would not be willing to part with these Profound Essence Flowers that were about to bloom.

But who was Wang Yu?

Even as a Spirit Slave, he had dared to take a risky move and cut off three arms and three legs from an enemy in the Public Square. Though he had lost an arm afterward, proving that act impulsive and foolish.

But that had been because he lacked a higher perspective. He could not see the struggles and shifting circumstances among the True Inheritor Disciples. It was not because he lacked ability.

When it was time to shrink back, he withdrew more completely than a turtle.

When it was time to be wild, he was more arrogant than anyone!

"Impudent!"

Wang Yu struck first. His figure split into five, and Ice Swords shot through the sky. The two men were Astonished for an instant, then each unleashed his own methods.

One took out a bowl and placed it before himself to withstand the Ice Swords' assault.

The other's flesh and blood at his brow split open, and a little golden snake crawled out. Under the surging spiritual power, it instantly condensed into the phantom of a great golden serpent, coiling around his body like a golden bell!