The Bird That Sticks Its Head Out

"Hmm, no need to wait. Some cultivators have probably already noticed something unusual, haven't they?"

Li Wangxian quickly recalled how he had nearly dissolved into the Dao. The formation flags he had prepared could never have blocked those vast fluctuations, even though he had subsequently awakened and immediately suppressed every strange manifestation in the cavern.

The earlier aura must have escaped, to say nothing of the terrifying saintly might that would radiate out once the Saint Weapons were forged.

"But even if they know, so what? Do I still need to be afraid now?"

Confidence showed on his face. Uncle Jiang was already a Great Ability, and his cultivation was about to advance dramatically. With two Saint Weapons in hand as well, even a Great Accomplished King without a Saint Weapon would have to give them a wide berth.

Besides, even the great sects generally would not deploy their Saint Weapons lightly, while the Great Accomplished Kings had all withdrawn from the world to cultivate in seclusion.

They could not quite swagger unchecked across Ziwei now, but neither would they have to tread as cautiously as before.

"At last, I'll be able to throw my weight around as a Divine Son of a great sect."

At that thought, Li Wangxian could not help smiling, amused by his own idea.

Outside, meanwhile, some cultivators had indeed already noticed certain anomalies.

"Hmm, have any of you fellow Daoists felt it? Since a moment ago, the myriad Daos seem to have been stirring."

"Indeed. I feel as though the world around us has become far more oppressive."

"When something like this happens, doesn't it usually mean an immortal treasure or some priceless artifact is emerging?

This was where the Human Emperor cultivated in seclusion. Heavens! Could the Human Emperor's immortal scripture finally be appearing?"

The moment that speculation surfaced, the entire ancient site erupted with excitement. It was entirely possible!

And even if it was not the Human Emperor's secret arts or immortal scripture, anything capable of causing such an anomaly had to be a heaven-defying blessing!

The news spread rapidly, soon reaching every corner of the ancient site. Even Tianyuan City began to stir.

Many cultivators were quite adept at hunting treasures and exploring mysteries. Before long, through their accounts and investigations, they discovered the cavern where Li Wangxian and Uncle Jiang were.

"The atmosphere here seems even more oppressive, and a great formation has sealed the cavern. It looks like this is where the disturbance is coming from."

After a careful examination, a cultivator confirmed that the opportunity lay within this cavern. Unless something unexpected had happened, someone had already beaten them to it.

"Exactly. Why else would anyone use a great formation to guard this place, except to conceal the commotion of retrieving a treasure?"

At those words, the entire ancient site instantly boiled over with clamor. Many people stamped their feet and beat their chests, consumed by regret.

"Heavens, I explored this cavern myself! Back then, I felt there was something extraordinary about it, but I found nothing and never investigated further. To think I missed such an immense blessing!"

"The same goes for me. Now I truly regret what I did back then!"

Many elderly cultivators wore expressions of regret and wailed without end, drawing everyone's attention. Some looked on with sympathy or schadenfreude, but plenty remained unmoved, and some even showed disdain.

"What a joke. If simply knowing about this place were enough to claim its fortune, someone would have taken it long ago during the past million years. How would you ever have gotten a turn?"

"Exactly. Who knows how many people have explored this cavern over the ages? If it were so easy to obtain, would you and I still be coming here?"

Everyone paused at those words. Thinking it through, they realized it was true. Countless dazzling talents had come seeking the opportunities within this ancient site over the years. If they were truly so easy to obtain, there would have been nothing left for them to seek.

Even the elderly men who had been so bitterly regretful gave sheepish smiles and fell silent.

"Thinking about it carefully, whoever obtained the fortune here must possess truly extraordinary talent and luck!"

"Indeed. If their talent isn't exceptional, their cultivation must be profound!"

After this exchange, many cultivators felt that whoever had secured the opportunity here could not possibly be ordinary, and offered a few words of praise.

"Exceptional talent? Profound cultivation? They'd better have it. Otherwise, I'm afraid they'll have the life to take the fortune, but not the life to leave!"

Another cultivator sneered, his words brimming with undisguised malice.

"Heavens, that's Duanmu Yun, the Great Ability from the Taiyin Sect! What's he doing here?"

A cultivator recognized him, and his expression instantly changed to one of terror. This man was ruthless. Once, merely because a disciple of an ancient sect had spoken disrespectfully of the Taiyin Sect, he had wielded a Saint's skull to slaughter the entire sect, shaking all of Ziwei.

"We're finished. He's always been vicious and merciless, and his sect has always exterminated every lineage connected to the Taiyin Human Emperor, treating them as an absolute taboo. With him here, how can we compete for this fortune? How would we dare?"

"Exactly! Who knows how many sects Duanmu Yun has wiped out over the years? Never mind us independent cultivators-even some great sects might not dare compete with him!"

Many cultivators looked despairing, bitterness filling their hearts. They were full of fear and resentment toward Duanmu Yun, yet dared not let any of it show on their faces.

"What rotten luck. Why did we have to run into this god of slaughter?"

Even some elders from the great sects looked disgruntled. Everyone across Ziwei knew that anything connected to the Taiyin Human Emperor was taboo to the present Taiyin God Sect. Touch it, and death would follow.

Unless they wanted to go to war with the mighty Taiyin God Sect, they truly could not readily compete with Duanmu Yun today. Otherwise, the calamity of their sect's destruction might be right before their eyes.

In an instant, a strange silence descended over the entire ancient site, as though every cultivator had been cowed by Duanmu Yun's might.

Yet some seasoned cultivators understood perfectly well that there were certainly people throughout the ancient site who paid Duanmu Yun no heed.

Some had formidable powers backing them and did not fear the Taiyin God Sect; others were independent cultivators with astonishing cultivation and no ties to hold them back.

Though these people revealed nothing on the surface, they would surely strike like thunder at the crucial moment and seize the fortune. There were even plenty whose cultivation was lacking but whose ruthlessness was not, all waiting for the situation to shift so they could fish in troubled waters!

Even Duanmu Yun himself knew the score. He understood that he could not cow everyone in this ancient site.

Some people were not keeping silent because they feared him, but because they wanted him to be the bird that stuck its head out first.

"But today, I'm determined to be that bird." Duanmu Yun sneered repeatedly. Whoever obtained the Taiyin Emperor's inheritance had to die.

The cavern

By now, Li Wangxian had already noticed the changes outside through his formation flags. He knew that the cultivators from across the ancient site-and probably even those from Tianyuan City-had all arrived.

Yet he felt no fear whatsoever. Today, two Saint Weapons would emerge together, and heaven and earth were destined to be overturned.

"I hope some people know what's good for them and don't force me to unleash a slaughter!" Li Wangxian likewise sneered repeatedly.