The Xiao family caravan had just begun their journey back home. Xiao Chen walked at the forefront, occasionally hearing his mother proudly exchange farewells with villagers. Her voice brimmed with a pride she could no longer contain.
A faint smile tugged at Xiao Chen's lips, but his expression suddenly stiffened. His gaze turned toward the shadowy expanse of the rear mountain, flickering with uncertainty. After a brief hesitation, he instructed the caravan to continue on without him, offered his mother a quick explanation, and silently veered off toward the mountain alone.
With a Windwalking Talisman affixed to his leg, Xiao Chen felt as though his body had become as light as a feather. Navigating through thick underbrush and rugged terrain was effortless. As he drew closer, a strong surge of spiritual energy rippled through the air, growing more intense with every step. Xiao Chen slowed his pace, creeping forward cautiously.
He hadn't left on a whim—he'd detected this unusual spiritual energy fluctuation earlier. Curiosity had compelled him to investigate.
As he drew nearer, Xiao Chen's face paled. The oppressive waves of spiritual energy felt as vast and overwhelming as a stormy sea. Even the smallest ripple could obliterate him. Every instinct urged him to flee, yet the thought of leaving without seeing the source gnawed at him. Gathering his resolve, he pressed onward, his steps lighter and more measured than ever.
Concealing himself behind a towering tree, Xiao Chen cautiously peeked out—and his breath caught.
About a hundred meters ahead, the forest was in utter chaos. Several large trees had been reduced to splintered stumps, some still smoldering. The ground was marred with deep craters, as if struck by meteors. In the clearing stood four figures in the midst of an intense confrontation, with one side clearly at a disadvantage.
"Heh heh, I'll give you one last chance," sneered a cold-looking old man clad in black robes. His voice was sharp and venomous. "Hand over the treasure, or don't blame me for extracting your souls and condemning you to eternal torment!"
Beside him stood a strikingly beautiful woman. Her peach blossom eyes gleamed seductively, and her revealing attire did little to hide her ample curves, which added to her dangerous allure.
"Hmph! Blackwind Old Devil, don't think we're fools!" snarled one of the opposing men, a middle-aged cultivator with a haggard face. He was gasping for breath, his complexion waxy—a clear sign of severe injury. "Even if we hand it over, you won't let us leave alive!"
The woman's expression turned icy, a vicious glint flashing in her eyes. Her voice, however, remained sweet as she said, "Elder Brother, why waste time with these two? Let's just kill them and take what we want. The longer we drag this out, the higher the risk of complications."
"You're right," the old man hissed, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "Time to send you both to the afterlife!"
He waved his hand, conjuring dozens of black fireballs that hurtled toward the opposing duo. The two scrambled to erect spiritual barriers and dodged desperately, the fireballs striking the ground and leaving scorch marks in their wake.
The woman laughed coquettishly, summoning a glowing longsword. The blade radiated spiritual energy as it arced toward the heads of their adversaries with deadly precision.
Xiao Chen's eyes widened. A spiritual weapon!
In the cultivation world, treasures were ranked as spiritual weapons, magical tools, arcane artifacts, and, at the apex, spiritual treasures. Even the lowest-ranked spiritual weapon was a prize beyond the reach of most cultivators, especially those at the early stages of their training. Xiao Chen couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.
"Second Brother, take the treasure and go! I'll hold them off!" one of the embattled men shouted, breaking from their defensive position to charge at the enemy head-on.
The old man and the woman faltered briefly, then locked their sights on the man who had stayed behind.
"Elder Brother, you traitor!" the retreating man bellowed, his voice filled with fury and betrayal. "The treasure is with you—don't try to frame me!"
"Split up! We can't let either of them escape!" the old man barked. His figure dissolved into a shadowy blur, darting after the first man. The woman, giggling softly, followed in pursuit of the second.
Shortly after, two short but chilling screams pierced the forest. Moments later, the old man and woman returned to the clearing.
"Did you retrieve it?" the woman asked breathlessly, her eyes bright with anticipation.
The old man smirked, retrieving a delicate brocade box from his storage pouch. His gaze burned with greed as he held it aloft. "Heh heh, it's ours. The rumors were true! With this treasure, my cultivation will soar. I might even reach the Nascent Soul stage! Who knows, I might establish my own sect and become a power in the cultivation world!"
"Oh, Elder Brother, that's wonderful!" the woman cooed, throwing herself into his arms with a bewitching smile.
Xiao Chen watched from his hiding spot, his emotions in turmoil. He was desperate to know what lay within the box, but his rationality kept him frozen in place. Drawing the attention of these two would spell his doom.
Before he could retreat, the situation took a sudden and unexpected turn.
"Ah! You… you wretched harlot!" the old man roared in agony, shoving the woman away. Blood trickled from his mouth, and his face contorted in fury.
"Elder Brother, don't blame me," the woman replied with a cruel laugh, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "The treasure is better off in my hands. That dagger was laced with Death's Web Poison. You won't last much longer."
"Traitor!" the old man snarled, staggering forward, blood spurting with each step. He collapsed in a heap, his body twitching before falling still.
But the woman didn't approach. She stood at a distance, wary. "Don't think I don't know about your resistance to poison. You're not fooling me."
When no attack came after several moments, the woman cautiously edged forward. She stooped to claim the brocade box, her eyes alight with triumph.
In that instant, the old man's hand shot up, hurling a small, black dagger.
The woman reacted too late. The blade embedded itself in her shoulder.
"Damn you!" she spat, stumbling backward. She clawed at the wound, consuming pills from her pouch to stave off the poison. Meanwhile, the old man exhaled one last ragged breath and died.
Though injured, the woman's expression softened as she clutched the treasure tightly. She searched the old man's corpse for his storage pouches before limping deeper into the forest.
Watching from behind the tree, Xiao Chen's heart raced. The treasure had to be extraordinary—it had driven allies to betrayal and murder. Most intriguing of all was the old man's claim that it could boost cultivation. For someone like Xiao Chen, with no natural spiritual roots, this was an opportunity he couldn't ignore.
His eyes hardened with determination as he crept after her, careful to keep his distance.
After a while, the woman paused, her sharp gaze scanning her surroundings. "Who's there? Come out!"
Xiao Chen froze, his breath shallow. His heart pounded like a drum, but he remained hidden.
The woman lingered for a moment, then smirked and moved on, producing a flag to reveal a hidden cave entrance. Xiao Chen waited until she vanished inside before following, ready to stake everything on this one gamble.