Xu Ziang's expression was grim. He had initially thought that He Yuan's presence wouldn't interfere with his plans, but now this guy kept ruining everything.
At the moment, he trailed behind Fairy Ling Miao and He Yuan, his face dark and unreadable. No one could tell what he was thinking.
"We need to cross the forest and climb the stairs to reach the palace at the mountain's peak. Stay close, or I won't be able to protect you," Fairy Ling Miao said, glancing at the towering mountains beyond the dense forest.
Just as she finished speaking, a black shadow darted out from the forest. It moved with incredible speed, lunging straight at He Yuan before he could react.
Fortunately, Fairy Ling Miao had already sensed the danger. A cold light flashed, and a finger-sized insect was sliced in two, falling to the ground.
"There are likely many similar poisonous insects in the forest. Stay close to me. We need to get out of here as quickly as possible," she said, her expression tightening.
The three of them moved swiftly through the forest. Most of the poisonous insects seemed to target He Yuan, as if they sensed that Fairy Ling Miao was not to be trifled with.
This guy must have some treasure on him. I don't see any insects going near him. It must be related to Old Man Wan Du's inheritance, He Yuan thought to himself.
Overhearing his thoughts, Ling Miao noticed that no poisonous insects approached Xu Ziang. This realization sent a chill through her heart. Xu Ziang knew how to avoid the insects but had chosen not to share this information. This alone made her even more wary of him, and her gaze toward him grew colder.
Xu Ziang, however, had already resolved to follow through with his plan against Ling Miao, so he paid little attention to her scrutiny. Ling Miao, knowing this wasn't the time to dwell on such matters, focused on leading He Yuan safely out of the forest.
But greater dangers awaited them ahead.
"There are a thousand steps on the Heavenly Stairs. Once you reach the top, you'll arrive at the mountain's peak. However, once you step onto the stairs, no one can interfere. We'll be on our own," Xu Ziang explained, casting a meaningful glance at He Yuan.
Fairy Ling Miao frowned slightly. In the past, she wouldn't have cared about He Yuan's fate, but now, having overheard his inner thoughts about Xu Ziang's ulterior motives, she felt compelled to protect him.
"He Yuan, you go first. I'll follow behind you," she said, intending to shield him from any schemes Xu Ziang might have.
Xu Ziang's eyes flickered with resentment. Though he didn't know why Fairy Ling Miao was so cautious of him, he was certain it was He Yuan's doing.
"Master, why don't you go first? Don't worry, I'll be fine," He Yuan said, scratching his head. He then revealed a stack of talismans he had brought from the Wanxian Sect—hundreds of intermediate-level talismans, each capable of causing significant damage.
Seeing the talismans, Fairy Ling Miao's eyelids twitched. Realizing He Yuan was confident in handling Xu Ziang, she nodded and stepped onto the Heavenly Stairs. A shimmering light curtain appeared, obscuring her figure as she ascended.
"Brother Xu, after you," He Yuan said, turning to Xu Ziang.
He had stayed behind because he knew Xu Ziang held the key to reaching the mountain's peak. As long as he followed Xu Ziang, he'd be fine.
"Junior Brother, you go first. I'll stay behind to cover you," Xu Ziang said, his gaze lingering on the talismans in He Yuan's hands. He Yuan's expression made it clear that any suspicious move would result in the talismans being activated.
"Haha, you're too kind. You go first! Don't worry, I won't leave until you do. I think it's fine to wait for Master to obtain the inheritance and take us away," He Yuan said with a sly smile.
He could afford to wait, but Xu Ziang couldn't. If Fairy Ling Miao secured the inheritance, all his efforts would be wasted.
Xu Ziang glared at He Yuan with dark eyes, but He Yuan simply found a comfortable spot to sit down, clearly in no hurry.
The two remained locked in a stalemate for some time. Finally, Xu Ziang could wait no longer. He pulled out a black iron token from his storage bag. As soon as the token appeared, the light curtain on the Heavenly Stairs shimmered, revealing a path leading directly to the mountain's peak.
As expected, he's the protagonist. Following the protagonist is like cheating—it's impossible to fail! He Yuan thought.
"Brother, why didn't you bring out this treasure earlier?" He Yuan said with feigned admiration, then quickly followed Xu Ziang onto the path.
Xu Ziang, however, was too annoyed to respond.
Soon, they arrived at the fairy palace atop the mountain. The palace, shrouded in clouds, was breathtakingly majestic, far surpassing the grandeur of the Wanxian Sect's palace.
"Brother Xu, should we wait here for Master, or...?" He Yuan asked, glancing at Xu Ziang. He estimated it would take Fairy Ling Miao some time to reach the peak, which was more than enough for Xu Ziang to make his move.
He Yuan didn't want to face Xu Ziang alone, but if he didn't let Fairy Ling Miao go ahead, the inheritance of the Demonic Valley would likely fall into her hands.
"How about you wait here, Junior Brother, while I scout the palace? If there's no danger, I'll come back for you and Master," Xu Ziang said with a forced smile.
He clearly wanted to get rid of He Yuan and claim the inheritance for himself.
"The Demonic Valley is full of dangers. How could I let you go alone? I'll come with you," He Yuan said, tightening his grip on the stack of talismans.
Xu Ziang's eyelids twitched again.
"Fine, since you insist, let's go together," Xu Ziang said through gritted teeth.
The two of them walked toward the fairy palace, one after the other.
When they reached the treasure hall, they found the entrance blocked by a formation. Though not as formidable as the one outside the core area, it was still difficult to breach.
For Xu Ziang, however, it was no problem. Using the core token, he opened the formation with a few simple gestures.
He Yuan followed closely, remaining on high alert. Xu Ziang was far more familiar with this place than he was. Although He Yuan knew the plot of Sword Immortal and some of the mechanisms, he still needed to be cautious. If Xu Ziang tricked him, it could mean the end of his life.