Han Li's Haul

Qiong Old Monster was not particularly willing to believe Nangong Wan's words, but when it came to a cultivator's spiritual premonition, one would rather believe it existed than believe it did not.

After all, no one would joke with their own life. Since Nangong Wan had offered this reason, he could not say much more.

After all, the wager was his own affair and had nothing to do with the Moon-Covering Sect or Nangong Wan. Whether he won or lost did not matter to them.

At most, if he won, he would give Nangong Wan some benefits. If he lost, he would have nothing to say.

"Forget it. Since Junior Sister is unwilling to say more, I will not ask further."

Qiong Old Monster spoke rather helplessly and listlessly.

"Mm, thank you for being understanding, Senior Brother."

At those words, Nangong Wan smiled sweetly.

"Senior Brother need not worry too much. The disciples entering this time were all carefully selected by their sects, and their strength is far from ordinary. Even without me leading them, gathering spirit herbs should not be a problem."

"May your words come true!"

Seeing this, Qiong Old Monster shook his head, a pained expression appearing on his face. He had spent no small amount of effort refining his talisman treasure, the Formless Needle. If he lost it, it would pain him to death—and he could not break the agreement, for he could not afford to lose face.

The moment his words fell, the first figure emerged from the passage: a middle-aged Daoist from the Clear Void Sect, who walked out with a composed expression.

However, his Daoist robes were covered in dust, with several sizable tears and bloodstains. Clearly, he had only managed to emerge after a fierce battle.

After coming out, the middle-aged Daoist bowed to the Clear Void Sect's Foundation Establishment-stage Daoist, then quietly sat cross-legged to one side.

Seeing this, the Foundation Establishment-stage Daoist smiled at the middle-aged Daoist and nodded repeatedly.

At this sight, both Qiong Old Monster and Li Huayuan's expressions turned somewhat unsightly. Still, this was only the first person, so it could not decide anything.

Yet it did give Clear Void Sect's Fuyunzi a few more grounds for pride.

Next, disciples from Blade-Transforming Fort, Spirit Beast Mountain, Heavenly Gate Fortress, and Yellow Maple Valley emerged from the passage one after another, each bearing more or fewer injuries.

Every one of them walked wearily toward where their sect elders were gathered, then sat cross-legged to rest.

After the time it took to eat a meal, another large group of disciples emerged.

Unlike the lone travelers who had come out earlier, these people all came in groups of two or three. The expressions on their faces varied greatly—some were jubilant, some deeply dejected, and some wore looks of lingering relief.

Including those who had emerged earlier, more than twenty disciples from the seven sects had come out in succession. Yet not a single person from the Moon-Covering Sect had appeared, leaving the people of the other six sects astonished.

Not a single Moon-Covering Sect disciple had appeared, causing Qiong Old Monster, Rainbow Robed Fairy, and even Nangong Wan to reveal worried expressions.

Fang Yu also found it deeply strange. This time, Nangong Wan was not there—so why were the Moon-Covering Sect's people still coming out so late? Something was wrong!

Could it be that another Moon-Covering Sect disciple had taken Nangong Wan's place and become the guide?

That was not impossible. After all, the identities of the Moon-Covering Sect disciples entering the Blood-Colored Forbidden Land this time were probably anything but ordinary. It truly was possible.

At that moment, a figure flickered at the mouth of the passage, and a young man from Yellow Maple Valley emerged. He had an ordinary face and neat clothing. It was none other than Han Li, who had rushed here only after killing several people in succession with the speed of thunder, too swift to cover one's ears.

When the Moon-Covering Sect's people saw a figure move at the passage entrance, delight appeared on their faces. But upon seeing clearly that it was someone from Yellow Maple Valley, they were immediately greatly disappointed.

Fang Yu, meanwhile, gave Han Li an extra look. His aura was unsteady, clearly showing that he had gone through a fierce battle. He just did not know how many spirit herbs Han Li had obtained.

At the same time, Fang Yu was quite curious about how Han Li, with his aptitude, had cultivated to the eleventh layer of Qi Refinement. Could it be that he had obtained some treasure again?

Still, just as he remembered, Yellow Maple Valley had comparatively more disciples who emerged alive from the forbidden land than the other six sects!

Han Li, the Chen Family's eldest son—Chen Qiaoqian's elder brother—Nie Ying, an old man, and a young man at the thirteenth layer of Qi Refinement: there were a full five of them.

Compared with the three or four from the other sects, and the mere three from Giant Sword Sect, they far surpassed the rest! This made Li Huayuan unable to conceal his delight, and his face became radiant with joy.

Among them was a burly man from Giant Sword Sect carrying a silver greatsword, which surprised Fang Yu somewhat.

Qiong Old Monster and Fuyunzi's expressions also darkened considerably.

As the time for the passage to close drew nearer and nearer, not a single Moon-Covering Sect disciple appeared. Qiong Old Monster, Rainbow Robed Fairy, and even Nangong Wan could no longer sit still, the worry on their faces plain for all to see!

If something had truly happened, then even though Nangong Wan was the disciple of the Moon-Covering Sect's Grand Elder, she, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, would likely be questioned. Punishment, however, would not be likely.

This scene secretly delighted Li Huayuan and Fuyunzi beside them.

But very soon, the smiles on their faces stiffened. The Moon-Covering Sect disciples had emerged—and they had come out in a group. Though five or six fewer than when they had entered, nearly twenty still emerged.

That was almost equal to the combined number from all the other sects.

"How is that possible?"

Li Huayuan and Fuyunzi's faces turned livid as they exchanged a glance.

Fang Yu looked instead at the two leading female Qi Refinement disciples of the Moon-Covering Sect. Their appearances were similar; they were clearly sisters.

Could they be... No way!

Fang Yu thought of a pair of minor-character sisters from the original work: the Moon-Covering Twin Beauties.

"Good, hahaha, good!"

At this sight, Qiong Old Monster could not help laughing loudly.

"Very well, it seems all the disciples who should have come out have come out. Those who have not emerged..."

Another half an hour passed, and the leader from Spirit Beast Mountain cleared his throat and began to speak.

But before he could finish, someone else came scrambling and rolling out of the passage just as it was about to close. It was a little old man. Fang Yu's heart jolted at the sight, and he quickly shifted his gaze to Nangong Wan of the Moon-Covering Sect.

Mm!

She looked much better than the little old man.

The little old man had barely crawled out of the passage when a burst of tremors came from the forbidden land. Then green light flashed, the passage shattered, and finally vanished without a trace.

At this point, even if anyone remained inside the forbidden land, only a dead end awaited them.

For any disciple who failed to emerge in time had never reappeared when the forbidden land opened again. They had completely vanished for unknown reasons. This was why no one else dared delay.

Afterward, the wager between the three sects began. The other sects did not leave either, all wanting to watch the excitement.

Fang Yu also wanted to know how many heaven-and-earth spirit herbs Han Li had obtained.

As expected, Han Li's spirit herbs made him the disciple with the greatest individual harvest among the three sects: a full nineteen stalks of heaven-and-earth spirit herbs.

Although he ultimately had not helped Li Huayuan win the wager, he had still surpassed Clear Void Sect, so Li Huayuan was not overly angry.