The Three-Way Scheming!

"Yo, looks like everyone's here."

Bing Tianxiao whistled, his gaze sweeping over Ji Xuan, Wen Qingxuan, and Mu Chen.

The few people who truly stood at the top of the pyramid in the Spirit Road had now gathered halfway up Spirit Crown Mountain.

The atmosphere instantly became rather delicate.

Wen Qingxuan held a golden spear, her phoenix eyes filled with killing intent; Ji Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, looking like a smiling tiger.

Bing Tianxiao casually spun his dagger around his fingertip, breaking the suffocating silence.

He looked at Wen Qingxuan, raised his chin slightly, and spoke with a hint of provocation:

"So, Miss Wen? With things looking like this, how do you plan to fight?"

"Should several of us join forces and drive out your dozen or so people first?"

Bing Tianxiao pointed at himself and Luo Li, then at Ji Xuan and Mu Chen, who had just arrived. "Or are you planning to take us all on by yourself?"

As soon as he said this, the dozen or so subordinates behind Wen Qingxuan's expressions changed. They tightened their grips on their weapons and warily scanned their surroundings.

If these people really joined forces, their numbers truly wouldn't be enough.

After all, they were facing four number-one figures from the Spirit Road!

Wen Qingxuan merely let out a cold laugh and was about to speak when Ji Xuan suddenly cut in.

"Brother Bing, that isn't quite right."

Ji Xuan gently shook the folding fan in his hand, looking completely uninvolved. There was a hint of mockery hidden in his refined smile:

"I never said I would join forces with you. After all... those who walk different paths cannot make common cause."

He glanced at Bing Tianxiao, then at Wen Qingxuan. Clearly, he intended to sit back and watch the tigers fight.

"Oh?"

Bing Tianxiao wasn't annoyed. He continued smiling at Ji Xuan, though his gaze gradually turned cold:

"So, Brother Ji, are you planning to give up the Spirit Crown?"

"Give up?" Ji Xuan raised his brows. "What makes you say that?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Bing Tianxiao shrugged, wearing an expression that seemed to ask whether Ji Xuan was an idiot:

"Miss Wen has blocked the entire road. If you don't beat her down, how will you reach the summit? How will you take the Spirit Crown? Or are you planning to wait until we're both badly injured and then profit from it?"

At this point, Bing Tianxiao suddenly stopped smiling, his voice turning low and dangerous:

"Unfortunately, while I don't like trouble, I hate being used as someone else's weapon even more. If you don't make a move..."

The dagger in his hand suddenly pointed at Ji Xuan, killing intent exposed in his eyes:

"Then I'll deal with you first! We'll have to settle our debts sooner or later anyway, won't we?"

As Bing Tianxiao's voice fell, the Luoshen Sword in Luo Li's hand slid half an inch from its sheath.

The tip of the sword pointed straight at Ji Xuan, and a sharp sword intent instantly locked onto him.

At the same time, Mu Chen, who had remained silent all this time, quietly took a step forward.

Although he said nothing, the faint pressure he exuded clearly showed his position.

Although he wasn't familiar with Bing Tianxiao, the enemy of one's enemy was a friend.

Compared with Wen Qingxuan, Ji Xuan was clearly the more suitable target to kill.

In an instant, Ji Xuan, who had been watching the show, became the target of everyone's hostility.

The smile on Ji Xuan's face finally froze.

He hadn't expected this brat Bing Tianxiao to act so contrary to convention and directly shift the conflict onto him.

He even had the shameless attitude of if you don't make a move, I'll deal with you first.

What troubled him even more was that, judging from Mu Chen's stance, he seemed quite willing to kick Ji Xuan out first as well.

"Hehe, Brother Bing certainly knows how to joke."

Ji Xuan gave a dry laugh, his gaze turning somewhat gloomy, but he quickly returned to his refined and elegant appearance:

"Since everyone is determined to obtain the Spirit Crown, this obstacle naturally has to be removed first."

He turned to Wen Qingxuan, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness:

"Miss Wen, it seems that today you'll have to face three opponents alone?"

Wen Qingxuan looked at the three men before her. Each had his own ulterior motives, yet they had temporarily reached an understanding because of their shared interests. She was so furious that she clenched her teeth.

She might be proud, but she wasn't stupid.

Facing these three top-tier monsters of the Spirit Road joining forces, forget her—even ten more Third-level Spirit Bodies wouldn't be enough!

"Good! Very good!"

Wen Qingxuan laughed furiously and slammed her golden spear into the ground, shattering the stone slabs.

"If you want to fight, I naturally won't fear you."

"However, there are only two Fourth-level Spirit Bodies present. Once I'm gone, I'm afraid you won't be able to deal with him either."

At her words, Ji Xuan's hand, which had been shaking his folding fan, paused slightly. Although the smile on his face didn't fade, an imperceptible gloom flashed deep in his eyes.

Wen Qingxuan's words had struck straight at the heart of the matter.

Although he had always acted carefree, even somewhat disdainful of joining forces with Bing Tianxiao, he actually understood better than anyone that the two Fourth-level Spirit Bodies present were the truly difficult opponents.

If Wen Qingxuan were eliminated now, then among the remaining three, Bing Tianxiao, a Fourth-level Spirit Body, would hold the absolute advantage.

By then, even if Mu Chen joined forces with them, Ji Xuan would have no chance!

Rather than fight Wen Qingxuan to the death right now, it would be better to...

Ji Xuan's eyes shifted slightly, and he already had a plan.

He closed his folding fan and lightly tapped it against his palm. Looking at Wen Qingxuan, he spoke with a hint of praise:

"Miss Wen is indeed refreshingly straightforward. Since that's the case, how about we change the rules?"

"Oh?"

Wen Qingxuan raised her brows and looked at him with a half-smile. "How do you plan to change them?"

Ji Xuan smiled faintly and pointed at the winding mountain road behind him that led to the summit:

"Countless ferocious beasts occupy Spirit Crown Mountain. Rather than wear each other down here, we should rely on our own abilities. Whoever reaches the summit first and obtains the Spirit Crown will be the winner."

"As for the obstacles along the way..."

He turned to Bing Tianxiao and Mu Chen, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes:

"Everyone leaves it to fate. How about it?"

This move of retreating in order to advance was extremely clever.

It avoided a direct clash with Wen Qingxuan for the time being while scattering the conflict among everyone once more.

After all, if they truly fought here, there would be far too many variables. No one could guarantee that they would escape unscathed.

"Sure."

Bing Tianxiao shrugged, put away his dagger, and said with an indifferent look:

"I only came to join the fun and see whether I could profit from it. Since Young Master Ji is in such high spirits, let's see who has the faster legs."

Mu Chen also nodded without objection.

Seeing this, Wen Qingxuan snorted coldly and swung her golden spear:

"Then it's settled! But let me make this clear first: if anyone dares to use underhanded tricks behind our backs, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

With that, she didn't wait for the others to react. Her figure flashed, transforming into a golden streak of light that charged toward the mountain path first.

"Let's go too."

Watching Wen Qingxuan's departing figure, Ji Xuan's lips curled into a cold smile. He then led his subordinates after her.

In the blink of an eye, only Bing Tianxiao, Luo Li, and Mu Chen remained on the mountain platform, which had previously been tense and ready for battle.