Situ Shuang'er slowly stood up.
She wore a white sword robe, with the Ice Soul Spirit Sword hanging at her waist, and her cold gaze swept over the crowd.
"Instead of continuing to argue, let's figure out a way to break the formation first. Once we enter the main hall, who gets the treasure will be determined by their own efforts."
Wu Changge slightly restrained his fighting spirit.
Yin Hanmei narrowed her eyes, but did not refute.
Situ Shuang'er only has three people, but she represents the Heavenly Sword Sect, so no one would want to make a powerful enemy at this time without good reason.
Seeing that the conflict had been temporarily suppressed, Zhao Manshan said in a deep voice, "Saintess Situ is right. Although this formation is powerful, it has been through many years and many of its runes are damaged. It is difficult for one side to shake it. If Divine Sea Realm cultivators present join forces to attack the same key point of the formation, they may be able to break it."
As he spoke, he pointed to the third stone pillar on the left side of the main hall.
"Just now, Zhao and several fellow cultivators observed for a long time, and the flow of spiritual energy under that stone pillar was the most sluggish, which should be the weak point of the formation."
Everyone looked in that direction.
There were indeed several dim array patterns at the base of the stone pillar, their light much weaker than in other areas.
Several cultivators skilled in formations stepped forward to investigate and quickly confirmed Zhao Manshan's assessment.
Qin Hao and Yue Chenzhou exchanged a glance.
Using the combined strength of many to break the formation would indeed save their resources.
As for the distribution after the formation is broken, it will naturally be determined by strength.
Qin Hao concealed his aura and feigned magnanimity, saying, "Since everyone is willing to contribute, I, the Holy Son, can give you a chance. If we work together to break the formation, after the main hall opens, the Cangyun Sect and the Puppet Sect will jointly own 50% of the treasures, and the two sects will have priority in choosing."
"The remaining opportunities, beyond 50%, will be distributed among other forces."
These words immediately reignited the tension that had just eased.
"Why should your two sects account for 50%?"
"There are no fewer than a hundred experts at the Divine Sea Realm present. How many people do the two sects have combined? Yet they dare to swallow half of them!"
"You want to give us priority? If you take all the seventh-grade spiritual herbs and heaven-rank spiritual artifacts, what we'll be left with is nothing but trash!"
Zhao Manshan's face was ashen, and the veins on the back of his hand gripping the knife bulged.
Qin Hao acted as if he hadn't heard, his eyes filled with an arrogant sense of entitlement.
In his view, being able to share half of it with others was already a great favor from the Cangyun Sect.
Situ Shuang'er's gaze turned completely cold.
" Qin Hao, does the Heavenly Sword Sect also include the other forces you mentioned?"
Qin Hao looked at her, his heart already filled with resentment.
Situ Shuang'er stood by and watched the entire altercation between the two sects and the Rogue Cultivator.
Later, he spoke up to quell the conflict, showing no regard for the fact that the two factions had secretly formed an alliance.
What he found even harder to accept was that Situ Shuang'er's gaze repeatedly fell on Chu Yunfei.
One Ling Xueyao, another Wen Jiao, and yet another is a mysterious woman in a black dress. Now, Heavenly Sword Sect is paying special attention to Chu Yunfei.
That resentment made Qin Hao's words become increasingly sharp.
"Saintess Situ has only brought two fellow disciples this time. The Heavenly Sword Sect will naturally receive as much as it can contribute here. Does it really think it can share the opportunities with dozens of elites from my Cangyun Sect and Puppet Sect just because of the name Heavenly Sword Sect?"
Situ Shuang'er slowly gripped the sword hilt.
A chilling cold spread along the stone platform, and nearby pebbles quickly condensed into white frost.
"How much my Heavenly Sword Sect gets is not for you, Qin Hao, to decide."
Qin Hao's eyes darkened.
" Situ Shuang'er, the sects have a long-standing agreement. Now you're making things difficult for us at every turn because of a few Rogue Cultivator. Do you also want to ruin our grand plan?"
Situ Shuang'er remained expressionless.
"I never agreed to your promise."
From a distance, Chu Yunfei watched all of this, a cold smile creeping onto his lips.
Qin Hao remained as self-righteous as ever.
Before the formation was even broken and the treasures were even touched, they had already begun to distribute 50% of the prizes, showing no regard for even the Divine Martial Sect and the Heavenly Sword Sect.
"The skin of the Holy Son of the Cangyun Sect is even thicker than the protective array of this hall."
Chu Yunfei's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
"If your two sects were truly capable, why would you need the help of others to break the formation? To ask for others' assistance while simultaneously trying to take all the good stuff first—such behavior would make even the most cunning bandits bow down in defeat."
A moment of silence followed, then many Rogue Cultivator couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Zhao Manshan's gaze towards Chu Yunfei held a hint of satisfaction.
Qin Hao's face instantly darkened.
" Chu Yunfei, I originally planned to seize the opportunity in the ruins first, and then slowly settle the score with you for the Jingyuan Hall. Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish first!"
Yue Chenzhou also took a step forward, and the aura of the Divine Sea Realm slowly rose.
" Chu Yunfei, you shattered my battle puppet in the Jingyuan Hall, and today you publicly humiliated the Puppet Sect. This time, without Shen Qianyue protecting you, I'd like to see if you can still live."
Yin Hanmei raised her finger, and the lid of the black wooden coffin made a low rubbing sound.
Three chilling auras emanated from the coffin.
He Yang and dozens of disciples from the Cangyun Sect quickly dispersed, occupying positions around Chu Yunfei.
Wu Changge was about to step forward when Chu Yunfei raised his hand to stop him.
"Brother Wu, this matter has nothing to do with you."
Chu Yunfei slowly walked out from beside the broken wall, his right hand resting on the Abyss-Devouring Sword, looking at Qin Hao and the others with a half-smile.
"Since they're so eager to die, I'll accept this opportunity for now."
Qin Hao's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he drew his longsword half an inch from its sheath.
"Do it!"
Just as their energies were about to collide, a rapid, angry shout boomed from the distant horizon.
"Stop!"
Before the shouts had even faded, a streak of azure light had already crossed the outer palace and landed heavily in the center of the two sides.
The surge of spiritual energy kicked up a cloud of dust.
Xie Yunyi staggered half a step, barely managing to steady herself.
Her chest heaved violently, her delicate face was pale, and her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.
Clearly, he had pushed his movement technique to its limit along the way, and his spiritual energy had been significantly depleted.
But she had no time to adjust her breathing.
Her gaze swept around and she saw Qin Hao standing with his sword, Yue Chenzhou and Yin Hanmei had also awakened their battle puppets, and dozens of the Cangyun Sect disciples were faintly forming a sword formation. Xie Yunyi's heart sank.
She was still too late.
This group of people were actually planning to attack Chu Yunfei!
Xie Yunyi subconsciously looked towards the distance.
Chu Yunfei's black robe fluttered slightly as he rested his right hand on the hilt of the Abyss-Devouring Sword, looking at her calmly.
There was no accidental leak.
There was not a trace of panic.
But it was precisely this calm that caused cold sweat to quickly seep out from Xie Yunyi's back.
Chu Yunfei had the same expression before Nangong Wuhen's demise.
When Wei Shanhe believed victory was assured, he was equally frighteningly calm.
If these people take just one more step forward, dozens more corpses will appear on the ground.
When Qin Hao saw Xie Yunyi arrive, the anger on his face subsided somewhat.
Xie Yunyi, who is at the Divine Sea Realm Second Layer, is no weaker than him in combat strength.
Their side has a better chance of winning.
You've come at the perfect time.
Qin Hao raised his sword and pointed it at Chu Yunfei, his tone filled with barely concealed excitement.
"This person publicly humiliated our sect leader outside the secret realm and plotted to kill our Cangyun Sect elder. Now that he has taken the initiative to provoke us, it is time to settle our blood debts. Let us join forces and form an array to first destroy his Divine Sea, and then interrogate him about the opportunities he possesses."
Xie Yunyi's face turned even paler.
Join forces?
These people might not even be able to withstand a single sword strike from Chu Yunfei, so what's the point of forming an array?
She suppressed her heavy breathing, her voice suddenly turning cold.
" Qin Hao, what are you doing?"
The anger in those words startled Qin Hao slightly.
He frowned at Xie Yunyi, clearly not understanding what she meant.
Xie Yunyi ignored him, turned to look at the Cangyun Sect disciples, took out the Saintess Token from her waist, and raised it high.
"All Cangyun Sect disciples, heed my command!"
Her voice, amplified by spiritual energy, echoed throughout the ruins, each word carrying an undeniable severity.
"In the name of the Holy Maiden of the Cangyun Sect, I order you to immediately withdraw from this ruin and not to engage in any conflict with Chu Yunfei. Those who disobey will bear the consequences!"