Battle for the Treasure, Fishing in Troubled Waters?

At this moment, within the inner valley.

Qing Yang and the other three remained locked in a standoff, all of them radiating sharp, oppressive auras.

Everyone knew that the golden light emanating from the valley below was no ordinary object—if they could claim it, it might well be a tremendous stroke of fortune.

In the midst of the silence, someone spoke up first:

"This item—I, Li Yang, am taking it!"

The speaker was a youth in a red robe, standing with his hands clasped behind his back atop his flying sword, his brows brimming with arrogance.

Li Yang stood tall and straight, his features handsome.

His crimson robe was embroidered with golden flame patterns, and the cuff bore the faint emblem of the Li Clan.

This man was a prodigy of the Outer Sect First Courtyard, at the Foundation Establishment realm.

Beyond that, he was a direct descendant of the illustrious Li Clan, a well-known family within Mount Shu Sect.

Within Mount Shu Sect, there were many scions sent from great families to train.

Earlier, Liu Ruyan had noticed Elder Willow Wood showing special care toward Chen Changqing.

She had privately speculated, wondering if Chen Changqing might be from some prominent clan.

Only later did she learn that Chen Changqing was merely a disciple guarding the Mountain Gate.

"Hmph!"

Hearing Li Yang's words, Qing Yang couldn't help but snort coldly:

"Li Yang, quite the bold claim."

"You say you want it, and that makes it yours?"

"Treasures go to those with the skill to take them!"

Qing Yang's face was stern, showing no sign of backing down.

Though Li Yang's background was formidable and he was at Foundation Establishment, Qing Yang wasn't someone to be intimidated easily.

The reason he had chosen not to enter the Inner Sect earlier and had remained in the Outer Sect Seventh Courtyard was precisely to re-enter the Void Realm.

Now that he had finally encountered a rare treasure emerging into the world, how could he possibly hand it over?

"Oh?"

At Qing Yang's words, Li Yang's brow darkened, his expression turning ugly.

Just as he was about to retort, Wen Liang of the Second Courtyard cut in first:

"Senior Brother Qing Yang speaks truly."

"Good things naturally go to those with the ability."

"This treasure—the Second Courtyard has its eyes on it too."

Wen Liang wore an orange robe, a Foundation Establishment disciple of the Second Courtyard, with a refined face and narrow, shrewd eyes that glimmered with cunning.

Despite his outwardly modest demeanor, he was deeply calculating.

Many disciples of the Second Courtyard followed his lead, and no one dared underestimate him.

Just then, a sharp voice rang out from not far away:

"Why waste so many words?"

"Whoever grabs it gets it!"

The speaker was a burly man with bulging muscles, faint scars visible beneath his yellow robe—clearly a ruthless character.

This was Meng Zhou, a Foundation Establishment disciple of the Outer Sect Fourth Courtyard.

As Meng Zhou spoke, the atmosphere on the scene instantly grew tense, swords drawn.

Qing Yang's face was grim, and he understood clearly in his heart.

To claim the treasure in the valley below today, a fierce struggle was all but inevitable.

But none of the four made the first move.

They weren't fools—the one who struck first would become the target of the other three, drawing their full attention.

In the ensuing scramble for the treasure, that would surely put them at a disadvantage.

That was precisely why the four had been locked in this standoff in the valley for so long.

"Boom!"

At that moment, the golden light at the bottom of the valley surged once more, and a vast wave of spiritual power swept outward.

Seeing this, Qing Yang and the others could no longer hold back.

"If we keep waiting like this, it will inevitably draw more people here."

"Strike first, gain the upper hand!"

A flash of resolve crossed Qing Yang's eyes. He steeled himself and directly flew his sword down toward the valley below.

Almost at the same moment, Li Yang, Wen Liang, and Meng Zhou also made their moves.

Before the four had even flown down to the valley below, they had already begun a fierce clash.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

"Bang bang..."

In an instant, spiritual power collided, and waves of air surged!

Four Foundation Establishment disciples were locked in battle, their might terrifying to behold.

The disciples from various courtyards watching outside the valley were all shaken, none daring to intervene!

At the same time.

Outside the valley, Chen Changqing watched the scene, his eyes growing fervent.

"They're fighting."

"Something that can stir up four Foundation Establishment disciples into a scramble can't be ordinary!"

After a moment's thought, Chen Changqing turned his gaze to Liu Ruyan beside him and said with a smile:

"Senior Sister Liu."

"Take care of yourself from here on."

In Chen Changqing's view, this opportunity was a rare stroke of luck.

Since he'd run into it, why should he let it pass?

Besides, over the past few days, he'd been walking the path of robbery anyway—who he robbed made no difference.

Hearing Chen Changqing's words, Liu Ruyan's beautiful eyes sharpened.

"Junior Brother Chen, you... be careful."

She had originally wanted to persuade Chen Changqing not to get involved.

But on second thought, she felt she was worrying too much.

Though Chen Changqing was only at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, when he'd encountered Cui Hao and the others from the Second Courtyard before, he had single-handedly broken the Seven Kill Sword Formation.

Even Cui Hao, with his Foundation Establishment strength, was no match for Chen Changqing, who had suppressed him with a single punch!

"Senior Sister, are you worried about me?"

Chen Changqing smiled as he looked at Liu Ruyan.

"Ah?"

Suddenly caught off guard by his teasing words, Liu Ruyan froze, completely unprepared.

Before she could react, Chen Changqing's figure flickered, and he was already flying on his sword toward the valley.

Seeing this, Liu Ruyan let out a long sigh and murmured:

"At a time like this, he still has the mood to... flirt with me?"

Before long, Chen Changqing arrived outside the valley.

The disciples from various courtyards guarding the area all tensed up, eyeing him warily.

"Who are you?"

"This valley is off-limits. Get lost, wherever you came from!"

"From the Seventh Courtyard?"

"A Qi Refining cultivator has no business meddling here. Leave now!"

"Get out while you still can! Otherwise, we'll take all your Points!"

"..."

In an instant, the disciples from various courtyards began shouting.

Though they couldn't control what was happening inside the valley, outside it, with so many of them standing guard, they wouldn't let anyone who wasn't a Foundation Establishment disciple pass.

"Oh?"

Chen Changqing was slightly surprised.

He hadn't expected his arrival to make the disciples so nervous.

"So many disciples, all at the Qi Refining level."

"All of them together—that's another big haul of Points!"

After a brief thought, a fiery gleam lit up in Chen Changqing's eyes.

He figured that while seizing the treasure, he could also harvest a wave of Points—why not?

"Hand over your Points obediently."

"Then step aside."

"Spare yourselves the pain."

Chen Changqing said calmly.

The moment these words left his mouth, they immediately drew jeers and mockery from the disciples of various courtyards.

"Haha!"

"Did I hear that right?"

"Is this kid's head stuck in a door or something?"

"Just a Qi Refining level—who gave you the nerve to spout such nonsense?"

"You want to snatch our Points? I think you're asking for death!"

"..."

Amid the taunts, some disciples had already made the first move against Chen Changqing.

Facing the several disciples charging at him, Chen Changqing wore a look of utter calm.

"Thunderclap Divine Fist!"

As the men closed in, he didn't dawdle and instead lashed out with a punch.

"Boom!"

A terrifying fist force erupted abruptly, the fist like thunder, instantly blasting several people flying!