Even among the eight hegemonic powers, comparisons over treatment were extremely obvious. A slight difference might not prompt any complaints, but if the gap became too wide, there would inevitably be many who paid lip service while acting otherwise...
Wanfa Gate and Jingri Fort's high-level members might have been unwilling, but once they truly came out to plunder, they could earn a little for themselves if the haul was large enough.
And precisely because Quasi-Emperor Ling Jiuxiao was backing them up, the nine of them had dared to set their sights this time on people they had previously not dared to touch, attacking the disciples of Spirit Treasure Pavilion!
Even before this, when they heard from their spies that Ye Chen's group of five had gained the most, and after seeing Xue Qing's Cold Palace token, they had still hesitated. Clearly, even after learning their identities, these people had entertained thoughts they should not have had. In the end, however, they still did not dare take that step and shrank back.
Their failure to attack the five was merely because the nine did not trust Ling Jiuxiao. They feared he would push them out to take the blame and appease the Snow Emperor's fury.
But when it came to attacking Spirit Treasure Pavilion's disciples, the nine were not so worried. With Ling Jiuxiao supporting them from behind, Spirit Treasure Pavilion's Immortal King would never be able to discover who had acted afterward without help from others!
What came next was the scene you witnessed. You had not understood the twists and turns behind it. Only after joining hands with Xue Que to "subdue the nine plunderers," then forcibly taking them in with the newly acquired Houtian Demon Refining Pot, did you learn the whole beginning of the matter from them.