Little Vajra Talisman

Watching the two bicker beside him, Feng An felt a faint warmth in his heart, and a sincere smile appeared on his aged face.

Then, as if recalling something, his gaze grew slightly grave. Looking toward the cave entrance, he asked, "How many days was I unconscious?"

"Two days," Zhou Tingyu answered truthfully.

"After that battle, did anyone follow us?" Feng An asked again.

Kong Jiao knew what Feng An was worried about and immediately explained calmly, "Don't worry. The news of the Twin-Stem Ice Lingzhi hasn't leaked. That battle also served as a warning—we killed an expert at the sixth level of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm. Ordinary people wouldn't dare come near us."

Kong Jiao's words did not put Feng An at ease. He frowned and pondered alone for a moment before saying, "The situation back then was complicated. Killing that fellow at the sixth level of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm could indeed intimidate people, but it won't last long."

"Two days have passed. There will definitely be sharp-witted people who suspect the motive behind that battle."

Feng An's words made Kong Jiao narrow his eyes slightly as well. After a brief silence, he nodded. "That is possible."

Feng An truly was an old hand. His cultivation was not high, yet he had remained active in the outer sect for so long. Setting talent aside, there was no way his mind could be lacking.

His words instead reminded Kong Jiao. Turning to Zhou Tingyu, he asked, "Junior Sister Zhou, when you went out to gather herbs, did you encounter any other cultivators?"

Zhou Tingyu was taken aback by the question. After thinking briefly, she replied, "I did run into some, but we only saw each other from afar before going our separate ways."

Hearing Zhou Tingyu's answer, Kong Jiao and Feng An exchanged a glance. Each saw deep concern in the other's eyes.

"When Junior Sister Zhou gathered herbs, those people would certainly have noticed that one of us was seriously injured."

"We can't stay here any longer!"

Feng An immediately made his decision. "We have to leave. This harvest is already enough. We should get away from this troublesome place as soon as possible."

Feng An's decision was not without reason, but Kong Jiao had other thoughts. He had come to seek an opportunity.

If he were not searching for the opportunity clues indicated by the Cloud-Pattern Stele, withdrawing now would indeed be the best course.

Thinking of this, Kong Jiao fell silent, while Feng An and Zhou Tingyu both fixed their eyes on him.

As the strongest fighting force among the three now, they were both waiting for him to decide.

"Even if we leave immediately, we may not necessarily shake them off. Only half of Frostmoon Altar's one-month gathering period has passed. If we leave in such a hurry, it will instead confirm that we have a guilty conscience."

Kong Jiao did not say this merely as an excuse to stay at Frostmoon Altar.

After all, even if he left, he could turn back and return.

The more he thought about it, the more improper it seemed to leave like this. He even gave the worst possible prediction.

"It might force those eyeing us to make their move early."

As he spoke, Kong Jiao recalled the battle with Jiang Xingtian. In a daze, he had glimpsed Zheng Gang, the leader of his own sect, standing atop a building somewhere in Frostmoon Altar beside another cultivator at the sixth level of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm, coldly watching them.

Before absolute temptation, fellow disciples were instead the most dangerous.

Feng An gave Kong Jiao a deep look. After spending so much time together, he increasingly felt that this youth possessed a meticulous mind.

Recalling the sight of Kong Jiao killing Jiang Xingtian, he could not help sighing inwardly. Although this Junior Brother Kong is still somewhat immature, judging by his actions these past few days, he is already quite far-sighted.

"So, Junior Brother Kong, what should we do next?" Feng An began seeking Kong Jiao's opinion.

"Once Senior Brother Feng has recovered some strength, come out for a stroll with me later." Kong Jiao seemed to have thought of something amusing, a teasing expression at the corner of his mouth.

"No herb gathering—just stroll around and let more people see us."

Feng An was slightly startled, but quickly understood Kong Jiao's plan. The tension vanished from his face as he laughed heartily. "Haha, Junior Brother Kong has guts. I think it'll work."

"What does that mean? Can you two big foxes speak more plainly?" Zhou Tingyu grew more confused the more she listened. Finally, she shouted, "Keep this up, and you can brew your own medicine!"

"Junior Brother Kong wants those people harboring designs on us to be uncertain. If they're uncertain, they won't dare act rashly." Feng An did not dare offend Zhou Tingyu and immediately explained in a low voice, "This is called doing the opposite."

Feng An had awakened. Next came the formal division of the spoils.

After killing Jiang Xingtian, aside from the gains from his spirit herb pouch, there was also the harvest from his storage pouch.

Kong Jiao now dumped everything out in one go, scattering it across the cave floor.

First, they counted the Moonfrost Ice Lingzhi in his spirit herb pouch.

Relying on his formidable strength, Jiang Xingtian had come alone to Frostmoon Altar to gather herbs.

Thus, he had not gathered much—only seven or eight Moonfrost Ice Lingzhi.

Added to the fourteen Kong Jiao's group had gathered earlier, their number of Moonfrost Ice Lingzhi reached an astonishing twenty-two stalks.

Split evenly among the three, that came to around seven stalks each.

"What a bumper harvest! This old man has come to Frostmoon Altar so many times, yet this is the first time I've gathered so much Moonfrost Ice Lingzhi." Looking at the Moonfrost Ice Lingzhi scattered across the ground, Feng An grinned so broadly that his mouth nearly would not close.

"This isn't the end. Once Senior Brother Feng's injuries are a little better, we'll gather some more and try to make it thirty stalks—ten each." As Zhou Tingyu collected the spirit herbs, she calculated with a beaming smile.

Then she recalled something and added, "The value of the Twin-Stem Ice Lingzhi can't be estimated. Once the three of us return to the sect, we'll go to the Pill Pavilion together to have it appraised, then discuss how to divide it."

"Good!" Feng An naturally had no objection.

Kong Jiao nodded slightly as well.

What remained was Jiang Xingtian's personal fortune.

A dull-colored golden talisman.

Feng An picked up the talisman and studied it for a while before naming it and explaining its use.

"Little Vajra Talisman! It's the defensive barrier that fellow activated when fighting us. It can withstand a full-force strike from a cultivator at the sixth level of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm."

"Most of its spirituality has dissipated. It looks like it can still be used once or twice."

A jade slip recorded a spell technique named Flame Python Coiling Plate.

Kong Jiao and Feng An remembered the power of this spell technique vividly. It could attack and defend alike. Once Jiang Xingtian unleashed it, he had nearly crushed the two of them beneath overwhelming force.

"This spell technique would be considered respectable even in the Wheel-Nourishing Realm." Kong Jiao gave it a high evaluation.

The two spell techniques he currently possessed, the Frost Breath Technique and Water-Drawing Formula, were both merely basic spell techniques, a whole level below Flame Python Coiling Plate.

Unfortunately, the prerequisite for cultivating Flame Python Coiling Plate was fire-attributed spiritual power among the five elements.

None of the three could use it, so Kong Jiao tossed it aside.

There were two items left: a jade slip of the Basic Forging Manual.

And a pill bottle containing an unknown liquid.

The liquid in the bottle was green. The moment the stopper was opened, it gave off a faint, fragrant scent.

"Spirit-Returning Liquid." Zhou Tingyu took the medicine bottle and sniffed it before saying, "This medicinal liquid is very expensive. It can instantly restore a cultivator's depleted spiritual power. Anyone below the seventh level of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm can use it."

"Good stuff!" Kong Jiao's eyes shone brightly.

Other than the Little Vajra Talisman, this was the spoils he favored most.

The rest consisted of some Spirit Crystals and scattered forging materials. Jiang Xingtian's fortune amounted to a little over three hundred Spirit Crystals.

As for those materials, none were particularly precious. They would probably sell for only a few dozen Spirit Crystals.

"Junior Brother Kong, you choose first!" Feng An motioned for Kong Jiao to pick.

That was also the rule. The person who contributed the most and possessed the greatest strength often had the right to choose the spoils first.

Between the Little Vajra Talisman and the Spirit-Returning Liquid, Kong Jiao ultimately chose the Spirit-Returning Liquid.

Frostmoon Altar was fraught with danger. What he feared most was lacking spiritual power after a fierce battle.

With the Spirit-Returning Liquid, he would have the capital to fight a drawn-out battle.

After Kong Jiao made his choice, it should have been Feng An's turn.

Yet the old man smiled and let Zhou Tingyu choose first.

Though Zhou Tingyu was usually carefree and rough around the edges, she still understood propriety.

She hurriedly waved her hands, shaking her little head like a rattle-drum. "How could I? I hardly contributed anything."

Kong Jiao understood Feng An's intention and explained, "Senior Brother Feng is thanking you for helping treat his injuries. Don't refuse."

"If Junior Sister Zhou hadn't kept this old bag of bones alive, I don't even know whether I could have woken up. Don't stand on ceremony with me." Feng An nodded as he spoke.

Only then did Zhou Tingyu shyly choose a Little Vajra Talisman.

She knew her strength was low. With the Little Vajra Talisman protecting her, she could at least keep herself safe in a sudden battle.

That would keep Kong Jiao and Feng An from being distracted.

That was also one of the reasons Feng An had let Zhou Tingyu choose first.

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