"Kill the Blood-Scaled Crocodile first, then take the flower!"
Yin Hanmei's fingers suddenly tightened.
The three black-armored corpse puppets exerted their power simultaneously, their black blades tearing open the wound on the Blood-Scaled Crocodile's abdomen.
Yue Chenzhou's four-armed battle puppet also poured all its remaining power into the serrated scimitar, firmly trapping the monster's hind legs and preventing it from retreating to the bottom of the pool.
After a moment's hesitation, Zhao Manshan and the other Rogue Cultivator decided to make their move.
The Blood-Scaled Crocodile has gone berserk. If we don't take this opportunity to kill it, once it reconnects to the formation at the bottom of the pool, everyone in the underground palace will have to continue facing this Divine Sea Realm Seventh Level demon beast.
Dozens of attacks landed simultaneously.
The scales on the Blood-Scaled Crocodile's back burst open one after another, and its massive body crashed heavily beside the stone platform in the center of the pool.
It raised its head one last time, opening its massive jaws to bite the nearest black-armored corpse puppet.
Click!
The corpse puppet's left arm was bitten off.
Yin Hanmei's face paled, but there was no sign of backing down in her eyes.
She suddenly spread her hands outwards, and two more corpse puppets leaped onto the Blood-Scaled Crocodile's head, their two black blades crossing and piercing into the monster's eye sockets.
The dark gray corpse energy surged wildly into the skull through the wound.
Yue Chenzhou seized the opportunity and manipulated the four-armed battle puppet to unleash a final blow.
Four serrated curved blades simultaneously struck the Blood-Scaled Crocodile's neck.
Pfft!
Demonic blood surged into the sky.
The Blood-Scaled Crocodile's massive head slammed into the water, its limbs twitched a few times, and finally it breathed its last.
A brief silence fell over the underground palace once again.
Both of the Divine Sea Realm Seventh Level demonic beasts perished.
At the same moment, everyone's gaze fell upon the stone platform in the center of the pool.
Seven layers of pale golden soul light flowed slowly around the Seven Revolutions Soul Condensing Flower.
After the suppression of the Blood-Scaled Crocodile's aura was removed, the pure soul power became even more concentrated. Even just smelling it from afar brought a moment of clarity to everyone's minds.
Greed instantly spread across everyone's face.
Yin Hanmei was prepared.
Almost at the same moment the Blood-Scaled Crocodile breathed its last, more than ten puppet threads hidden beneath the water's surface suddenly sprang up, crossed the stone platform in the center of the pool, and coiled around the roots of the Seven-Transfusion Soul-Concentrating Flower.
"This spiritual herb belongs to my Puppet Sect!"
A look of joy finally appeared in Yin Hanmei.
The puppet threads were now less than a foot away from the spirit flower.
The surrounding cultivators had only just reacted and had no time to fight over it.
Yue Chenzhou also smiled.
The Puppet Sect lost many battle puppets in the process of slaying the Blood-Scaled Crocodile, Seven-Transfusion Soul-Concentrating Flower should have belonged to them.
Just as the puppet threads were about to touch the flower stem, a deep rumble of thunder suddenly exploded in the underground palace.
A flash of dark golden lightning disappeared from the broken stone pillar.
Yin Hanmei.
A figure dressed in black has appeared on the stone platform in the center of the pond.
Chu Yunfei supported the root of the Seven-Transfusion Soul-Concentrating Flower with his left hand, and with his right hand forming a sword shape with his fingers, he gently made a cut three inches below the medicinal herb.
The soil cracked silently.
He stored the entire Seven-Transfusion Soul-Concentrating Flower, including its roots, in his storage ring.
More than ten puppet threads missed their target, only stirring up a patch of dirt.
Lightning flashed again beneath Chu Yunfei's feet.
By the time Yin Hanmei came to her senses, he had already returned to the edge of the pool, his black robe completely untouched by any water.
The joy on Yin Hanmei's face froze completely.
She stared at the empty stone platform, then suddenly turned her head, the gray puppet pattern on her brow lighting up.
Chu Yunfei!
Yin Hanmei's voice was icy, her anger almost overwhelming her reason. "How dare you steal my Puppet Sect's Seven-Transfusion Soul-Concentrating Flower?"
In their efforts to slay the Blood-Scaled Crocodile, the Puppet Sect has already lost two battle puppets.
The three black-armored corpse puppets also suffered varying degrees of damage, with one even having its arm bitten off.
She expended a great deal of her spiritual power, and just when she was about to obtain the elixir, Chu Yunfei snatched it away at the last moment.
This frustration was even harder for her to accept than a direct defeat.
Yue Chenzhou's face was equally frighteningly gloomy.
He manipulated the wrecked war puppet to rise from the pool, demonic blood dripping continuously from its serrated scimitar.
" Chu Yunfei, the Blood-Scaled Crocodile was killed at a great cost by our Puppet Sect. The Seven-Transfusion Soul-Concentrating Flower rightfully belongs to us. You didn't lift a finger from beginning to end, but instead took the opportunity to steal the treasure. How is such behavior any different from that of a shameless thief?"
Chu Yunfei remained calm.
He never promised to help the Puppet Sect kill the demonic beasts.
Moreover, when the Blood-Scaled Crocodile went berserk, no fewer than a hundred rogue Rogue Cultivator died by the pool. If the distribution were to be based on the amount of effort contributed, the spiritual medicine would not be monopolized by the Puppet Sect.
Qin Hao had already walked over from beside the ancient ape corpse.
His inner breastplate was torn, and his face was still somewhat pale, but he couldn't suppress the excitement in his eyes.
He was just looking for an excuse to launch an attack when Chu Yunfei offered him the opportunity.
"Brother Yue is right!"
Qin Hao gripped his sword and shouted righteously, "Everyone here witnessed the Puppet Sect pay a heavy price to kill the Blood-Scaled Crocodile, yet you reaped the benefits and forcibly seized the spiritual medicine. Immediately hand over the Seven-Transfusion Soul-Concentrating Flower and cripple one level of your cultivation to apologize to everyone, or no one can save you today!"
The nearby cultivators had various expressions.
Some martial artists who were affiliated with the Cangyun Sect and the Puppet Sect immediately chimed in.
Many others remained silent.
The two demonic beasts went berserk just now, Rogue Cultivator suffered the most heavy casualties.
The Puppet Sect never mentioned sharing the spiritual herbs with them. Now that Chu Yunfei has taken the herbs, they're starting to argue about who contributed the most, which is truly despicable.
Zhao Manshan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, leaned on his heavy sword, and walked out of the crowd.
He had been injured by the ancient ape's fist, and his breathing was still somewhat disordered, but his tone was full of sarcasm.
"What Holy Son Qin said is interesting. When the Blood-Scaled Crocodile went berserk just now, we Rogue Cultivator also suffered heavy casualties. Did the Puppet Sect ever say that they would share the spiritual herbs with us?"
Zhao Manshan raised his heavy sword and pointed it at the storage ring on Qin Hao's hand.
"The opportunities in the secret realm are meant to be obtained by the capable; whoever gets it first keeps it. If we follow Holy Son Qin's logic, the ancient spear in your hand should also be distributed to everyone who helped slay the ancient ape. Holy Son Wu, Xiao Shengzi, and Situ Shengnu—didn't they all contribute more than you?"
Many Rogue Cultivator were delighted to hear this and chimed in with their agreement.
"Senior Zhao is right, that ancient spear was only saved through the combined efforts of everyone!"
"If we're talking about contribution, Qin Hao only led the ancient apes to flee for their lives, ultimately causing the deaths of so many people. What right does he have to monopolize the spiritual artifact?"
"Hand over the ancient spear, and then cripple one level of your cultivation to apologize to everyone!"
He returned the sentence verbatim, which drew a burst of laughter from those around him.
Qin Hao's face alternated between red and blue.
He considered that ancient spear as his own, so why would he be willing to hand it over?
"This magical artifact was first discovered by me, and I personally retrieved it from the ancient temple. Naturally, it belongs to me!"
Qin Hao suppressed his anger and explained in a deep voice, "The ancient ape only chased after us to stop us, and everyone's actions were for self-preservation, which has nothing to do with the ownership of the spiritual weapon. Chu Yunfei, however, suddenly attacked after the Blood-Scaled Crocodile died. How can the two be confused?"
The sarcasm on Zhao Manshan's face deepened.
"When it's Holy Son Qin's turn to take the treasure, it's all about who gets it first; but when it's Chu Gongzi's turn to take the elixir, it's about who contributed the most. You decide the order of things with just your words. I've certainly seen something new today."
Qin Hao was speechless for a moment, caught off guard.
He desperately wanted to kill Zhao Manshan with a single sword strike, but the Rogue Cultivator nearby were already gathering in the shadows.
If they were to make a move now, it would only push more people to Chu Yunfei's side.
Wu Changge stood beside the corpse of the Crimson-Armored Ancient Ape, his thick eyebrows furrowed after listening to the argument between the two sides.
Although he wasn't good at scheming, he could distinguish the most basic principles.
If it weren't for the combined efforts of everyone, Qin Hao would have been dead long ago.
Qin Hao now possesses the ancient spear, yet he accuses Chu Yunfei of seizing the elixir; this is clearly a double standard.
"Brother Chu obtained the elixir through his own speed."
Wu Changge strode over, his voice booming. "If you're not satisfied, you could have snatched it before he took it. Now that it's his, what kind of skill is it to try and force him to hand it over by outnumbering him?"
Wu Mingyue stood beside her brother, her silver short gun still open.
She had long disliked Qin Hao's behavior, so naturally she wouldn't side with the Cangyun Sect at this moment.
Xiao Yihan and Si Yunshu also came from the other side of the underground palace.
Xiao Yihan glanced at the empty stone platform, his gentle face showing little surprise.
Chu Yunfei had seen through the counter-shock formation at a glance, and had been keeping a close eye on the Seven-Transfusion Soul-Concentrating Flower, so he was clearly prepared.
Although Yin Hanmei's puppet threads were fast, they couldn't possibly outrun that Thunder Path movement technique.
"Within the secret realm, everyone relies on their own methods."
Xiao Yihan pressed his hand on the longsword in his robes, his tone calm. "If the Puppet Sect believes that killing demonic beasts entitles them to the spiritual medicine, they should have made a clear agreement with everyone beforehand. Now that the spiritual medicine has fallen into Brother Chu's hands, discussing ownership is simply too late."
Si Yunshu nodded slightly.
Her gaze fell on Qin Hao, her clear voice carrying a hint of coldness.
"Before Holy Son Qin wishes to uphold justice for the Puppet Sect, he should first bring out the Heavenly Rank Ancient Spear. If you are willing to distribute spiritual weapons according to the amount of effort contributed, then you can ask Young Master Chu to hand over the spiritual herbs. At least that would be more convincing."
Qin Hao's expression grew increasingly grim.
He originally intended to use the Puppet Sect to launch an attack, unite with others to force Chu Yunfei to hand over the spiritual medicine, and then take the opportunity to surround and kill him.
As a result, Zhao Manshan, Wu Changge, and Heavenly Edict Sect spoke up one after another, turning their criticism towards the ancient spear in his hand.
He certainly wouldn't hand over the magical artifact.
"This matter has nothing to do with the ancient spear."
Qin Hao snorted coldly and forcibly changed the subject, "The current discussion concerns Chu Yunfei's forcibly seizing the Puppet Sect's opportunity. If you insist on protecting him, you will be making enemies of the Cangyun Sect and the Puppet Sect."
The smile faded from Xiao Yihan's eyes.
Wu Changge clenched his fists tightly.
Situ Shuang'er stood not far away, remaining silent.
She had just killed the ancient ape, and her spiritual energy was greatly depleted; she was currently secretly recuperating.
But listening to Qin Hao's high-sounding words, a hint of annoyance still flashed in her eyes.
If this person hadn't been Chu Yunfei's enemy, she wouldn't have bothered to even glance at him.
But thinking that Chu Yunfei hadn't even said a word when he took the elixir, Situ Shuang'er felt a surge of dissatisfaction.
This guy is still the same as before.
They would take whatever they wanted without caring what others thought.
However, the Seven-Transfusion Soul-Concentrating Flower had already fallen into Chu Yunfei's hands, and given his temper, no one could force him to give it back.
Yin Hanmei ignored the crowd's argument.
The Seven-Transfusion Soul-Concentrating Flower is far more valuable than ordinary seventh-grade spiritual herbs, and it has a special effect on the Puppet Sect cultivators.
Once she refines it, her soul strength will be greatly enhanced, and the number of corpse puppets she can control will also increase.
She was even confident that she could use this to break through to the Divine Sea Realm Fourth Level.
She was determined to obtain this miraculous herb.
Yin Hanmei stared coldly at Chu Yunfei, her tone icy:
"It's their business if they're willing to speak up for you. The Blood-Scaled Crocodile was killed by the main force of my Puppet Sect, so the Seven-Transfusion Soul-Concentrating Flower should belong to my Puppet Sect."
She raised her hand and pointed to Chu Yunfei's storage ring, the puppet pattern between her brows growing brighter and brighter.
"If you hand over the elixir now, I can cripple only one of your arms, and we can call it a day. But if you continue to be stubborn, I will personally refine you into a corpse puppet, and you won't even have a chance to regret it."
Chu Yunfei met her gaze and sneered disdainfully:
"When you sealed off the ruins, didn't you say that the opportunities within the secret realm would be obtained by the most capable?"
"Now that the elixir is in my hands, it proves your incompetence. Since you couldn't even guard it, why should I hand it over?"
A gray light suddenly flashed in Yin Hanmei.
"Court death!"
She suddenly thrust her ten fingers forward.
Dozens of puppet threads tore through the air, piercing straight into Chu Yunfei's meridians.
The three black-armored corpse puppets turned around simultaneously, their black blades slashing towards Chu Yunfei's head, heart, and dantian respectively.
Yue Chenzhou did not hesitate for a moment.
He formed hand seals, and the four-armed, tattered war puppet sprang up from beside the Blood-Scaled Crocodile's corpse, its four serrated scimitars blocking Chu Yunfei's retreat.
The two holy sons and daughters of the Puppet Sect joined forces and attacked without holding back.
A look of wild joy flashed in Qin Hao's eyes.
"All Cangyun Sect disciples, form the Cangyun Spirit-Locking Sword Formation!"