After learning the full story about the dog hole, Wen Shuangbai: "..."
So there was a shortcut to solve this problem?
She had also wandered around that ancestral hall—how had she missed the dog hole?
Xie Ziyin noticed the regret and envy on her face and said, "What, you want to be a dog?"
He had no such desire, so digging a tunnel was the optimal solution for him. Thus, hearing about the dog hole from Yu Xiaoli left him completely unfazed.
"Piss off." Wen Shuangbai immediately shot him a glare. "No one would mistake you for mute if you shut up."
Xie Ziyin: "."
Shen Hefeng, muttering mysteriously, crouched by the tunnel entrance, divining the path with his tortoise shell.
Wen Shuangbai walked over to the golden silk carpet and peered through the gaps into the distance.
Those three sects really had no shame—copying her idea by using a cloth barrier reinforced with an isolation array, making it impossible for her to spy on their digging progress.
Still, a quick glance into the underground palace through the tunnel revealed no signs of activity. They must have started later and fallen behind.
Tsk. Serves them right for blindly copying her.
If they hadn’t mindlessly followed her approach and instead worked hard during the day to solve the puzzle themselves, the protagonists’ luck might have led them to discover the dog hole.
Now, stuck digging like everyone else, they were doomed to lag behind.
Well deserved.
Wen Shuangbai shook her head and walked back with light steps.
She asked Yu Xiaoli, "Are you sure you won’t come down with us?"
The credit for digging the tunnel went largely to Senior Brother Yu Dachuan.
Wen Shuangbai was fine with Yu Xiaoli joining them—in fact, as long as it didn’t interfere with securing the sacred stone, they’d gladly protect their generous sponsors from the Jade Rhino Valley.
Yu Xiaoli’s fox-like nose twitched before she shook her head vigorously. "No, it feels too dangerous down there. Be careful, Sister Wen."
"Alright."
Faint black mist drifted up from the underground palace, absorbed by the tortoise shell before slowly forming a winding black line on its surface.
[This perennial runner-up has some skills. The Ghostly Pathfinding technique isn’t easy to pull off.]
[True. Shen Hefeng’s methods are all pretty unorthodox—one misstep and he could get backlash.]
Looking utterly drained, Shen Hefeng swallowed the spirit-restoring pill Xie Ziyin handed him and said, "Done. Let’s go!"
Li Zhuohua, ever the sword cultivator, shouldered the alchemy furnace and took the lead, descending first.
After landing steadily on the stone steps of the underground passage, she scanned the area. Detecting no immediate threats, she signaled the others to follow.
Shen Hefeng, cradling the tortoise shell, trailed behind Li Zhuohua, guiding her.
Wen Shuangbai, Xie Ziyin, and Lu Jiayao followed Shen Hefeng, while Senior Brother Yin Xuan brought up the rear.
After just a dozen steps, the six of them sharply picked up faint noises from above.
This was...
Wen Shuangbai snapped her head up and declared, "That’s their tunnel."
Lu Jiayao looked up but saw the ceiling intact, with no signs of being breached. Delighted, he said, "They’re definitely slower than us!"
Xie Ziyin studied the situation with an unreadable expression before suddenly catching some falling dust. He turned to Wen Shuangbai. "Something feels off."
Frowning, Wen Shuangbai agreed.
Logically, they shouldn’t be close to breaking through yet—the current tremors didn’t match the distance left. Unless...
Shen Hefeng sensed a familiar aura in the surroundings, one that disgusted him.
Over the years, he’d disliked many people, but only one had ever made him feel this revolted.
Realizing what it was, he cursed, "Damn that Lu Ying! He’s using Divine Wood Stakes! If he wants to die, he shouldn’t drag us with him!"
[Wait, what does that mean?]
[I know! I just came from the Purple Flame Realm’s stream—Lu Ying of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace is using Divine Wood Stakes to blast through with an array.]
Digging tunnels in a shared dorm was delicate work.
One wrong move could collapse the safe house and let the ghosts in.
That’s why Wen Shuangbai’s group had stuck to manual digging, avoiding spells.
But Lu Ying and his crew had no such reservations, recklessly disregarding everyone else’s safety.
[That’s too much! What if the house collapses? The Jade Rhino Valley and Divine Inference Temple disciples would be screwed.]
[What’s the big deal? Since when do we owe those little foxes and bald monks any consideration? Reminder: this is a competition, not a tea party!]
[If Jade Rhino Valley’s so rich, why not just use their fancy artifacts to kill the village chief? Scared of a little cave-in?]
[Exactly! I’ve always hated Jade Rhino Valley’s attitude. The Di Clan’s loaded too, but Di Qi and Di Yanran don’t act so high and mighty!]
[All that money’s wasted on cowards too scared to even go underground. Just eliminate them already! They make me sick!]
Wen Shuangbai closed her eyes, thinking quickly before telling Yin Xuan, "Senior Brother, go back and get the Jade Rhino Valley group down here. It’s not safe up there anymore."
Yin Xuan nodded gently. "Understood." With that, he swiftly departed on his sword.
Wen Shuangbai pulled out a sheet of Spirit Mountain Veil talisman paper, sat cross-legged, and began inscribing symbols without looking up. "Xie-dog, prep the goods!"
Xie Ziyin: "??"
What a grudge-holding woman.
All he’d done was ask if she wanted to be a dog.
Nearby, Lu Jiayao paced anxiously. "What do we do? I hope nothing happens to Jade Rhino Valley."
Shen Hefeng, still recovering from the energy-draining divination, sneered, "Weren’t you just arguing with their little fox and horse earlier?"
Lu Jiayao: "Arguing doesn’t mean I want them dead!"
Before he could continue, Xie Ziyin called, "Lu Three-Dog, over here."
Lu Jiayao: "?"
Lu Jiayao, exasperated: "Ziyin, it’s ‘Yao’! Stop making up nicknames!"
Ignoring him, Xie Ziyin asked, "Where’s that thing I told you to collect earlier?"
After a brief pause, Lu Jiayao brightened. "Oh! Right here!"
He fumbled through his storage ring before producing a leather pouch.
Xie Ziyin pinched the bag’s opening with two fingers, swiftly retrieving a vial with his other hand and dripping three precise drops into the pouch.
Li Zhuohua watched the exchange with a strange expression.
So that’s what it was for.
She’d assumed it was just Lu Jiayao’s personal quirk.
[What is that?]
[Something Xie Ziyin made earlier using the Entangled Silk Lotus they looted from the village chief’s house while everyone else slept.]
"I'm not asking about the potion—the juice of the Entangled Silk Lotus is a deadly poison when used alone. I'm asking what's inside that small beast-leather pouch!"
"I don't know."
"No idea. It looks like Lu Santu picked it up, but he’s always been raising chickens, so I barely check his Mystic Heaven Mirror feed."
"Same, I only watch Wen Shuangbai’s."
Everyone claimed ignorance.
Then, someone timidly spoke up: "I... I think I might know..."
But after that single sentence, no matter how much the cultivators on the Mystic Heaven Mirror pressed, the person fell silent.
Left with no choice, the crowd suppressed their curiosity and continued watching.
Wen Shuangbai finished drawing the talisman, took the pouch containing the "upgraded treasure," and affixed the talisman to it.
Yin Xuan drifted back: "The little fox won’t come down. They said they have their own way—told us not to worry."
Wen Shuangbai nodded and acknowledged with a soft "Alright," then mounted her whip. After a brief rustling along the cliffside to set up something, she and her team pressed onward.
Above, Lu Ying completed the formation. The ground trembled faintly, energy gathering, ready to unleash.
He stood, casting a sharp, prideful glance toward the Purple Flame Realm cultivators, and said coolly, "The formation is set."
"Ahhhh! Lu Ying is just too dashing—my heart can’t take it!"
"Seems like his strength was underestimated before. He actually has a Divine Wood Seal!"
"Exactly! Senior Brother Lu has always been strong—just not one to flaunt it."
"I think the Ten Thousand Saints Palace might take second place this year. Look at the Celestial Demon Sect—their people are being shoved to the back by the Ten Thousand Saints disciples, too furious to speak up."
"Of course! The Ten Thousand Saints Palace contributed the most here. The Celestial Demon Sect did nothing—letting them stand here at all is already generous!"
The Celestial Demon Sect, cloaked in black, were pushed to the periphery. One of the Ten Thousand Saints hammer cultivators even turned and spat at them openly.
One of the black-cloaked figures seethed, stepping forward—only to be stopped by a raised hand from their leader.
The subordinate protested, "Young Master!"
The man addressed as "Young Master" merely curled his lips.
If the Ten Thousand Saints Palace was eager to act as the Purple Flame Realm’s lapdogs, he’d gladly let them play the fools to their heart’s content.
The Ten Thousand Saints Palace’s Mystic Heaven Mirror feed had been flooded with admirers fawning over them—until suddenly, a wave of odd interjections appeared.
"Hahaha, I’m here!"
"Me too!! Has the formation been activated yet? Hurry up and break open the hole—I want to see!"
"Gathering now! This is so exciting!"
"Hahaha, I can’t wait to find out what’s inside!"
On-screen, Di Qi smiled gently, giving a refined nod. "We appreciate your efforts, Brother Lu. Activate the formation."
Lu Ying acknowledged with a hum. With a sweep of his sleeve, the Divine Wood Seal embedded in the ground began to tremble violently—then, with a sharp whoosh, it plunged into the earth like lightning, unstoppable, crushing all in its path!
The sheer force of the formation made the entire area quake. Cracks spiderwebbed across the ground.
Outside the hut, the village chief and the gathered villagers surrounded the crumbling structure, sealing it off completely.
The ghosts hovered with ashen faces, long tongues lolling grotesquely, their eerie grins stretching wide.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The ground exploded, spraying dirt and rock—along with chicken droppings and pig manure. A blinding flash erupted, bursting like fireworks in the night sky.
"Ah—!" The three Ten Thousand Saints Palace disciples at the front took the brunt of it, their faces splattered with filth.
"It’s shit?!"
"Qingling Mountain’s move is downright filthy!"
"I can smell it through the Mystic Heaven Mirror—ugh!"
"Help! I’m eating chicken feet right now!! Why does this always happen when I’m eating?!"
The stench was overwhelming, but the Ten Thousand Saints disciples had no time to gag—they clutched their faces, howling in agony. "Ah—! My eyes—my eyes—it burns—!"
The cultivators stared in horror. Where the filth had touched the disciples’ skin, their flesh was rotting at a terrifying speed. In moments, bone was exposed.
"Hiss—the Entangled Silk Lotus’s juice is horrifying."
"Mother of—! That’s terrifying! My face hurts just looking at it!"
"Guess I’m not finishing these chicken feet, huh?!"
Di Qi reacted swiftly. The moment the talisman’s light flashed, he raised his hand, summoning a massive Yin-Yang Disk to shield the other five Purple Flame Realm disciples—along with Yu Xiaoxiao.
Lu Ying wasn’t slow either, retreating several steps just in time to position himself behind Bai Lijue.
Bai Lijue, an artifact cultivator, had never fully recovered from the severe injuries he sustained at Ningyuan Mountain. Worse, he’d forced himself to participate in the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion’s first trial despite his condition, leaving lingering aftereffects.
He tried to cast a defensive spell, but it was too late—his hand was grazed by the filth, and the rot began instantly.
"Lu—Brother Lu...!" Bai Lijue gasped through the pain, reaching out to Lu Ying. Without hesitation, Lu Ying snapped his entire arm off.
"AH—!" Bai Lijue shuddered violently, sweat pouring from his forehead. "Brother Lu...!"
Lu Ying glanced at the three Ten Thousand Saints disciples—now reduced to skeletal husks—and said grimly, "No time to hesitate. This was for your own good."
Amid the chaos, the Purple Flame Realm and Celestial Demon Sect cultivators seized the chance to leap into the underground palace, vanishing without a trace.
Lu Ying’s eyes twitched at the swarm of ghosts descending like locusts. He grabbed Bai Lijue’s remaining hand and jumped down after them—
Only to jerk to a halt midair.
He turned. A long, grotesque tongue had coiled around Bai Lijue’s waist, dragging him back.
Bai Lijue’s eyes bulged in terror. "Brother Lu! Save me! Don’t let me die—!"
He wouldn’t truly die—but if a ghost devoured his spiritual consciousness, the damage would linger even after revival. And with his spirit bone already injured, he couldn’t afford it.
For a split second, shadow flickered in Lu Ying’s gaze.
The Divine Wood Seal had drained him. He lacked the strength to rescue Bai Lijue now.
More tongues lashed through the air. The village chief’s ghastly laughter rang in his ears.
If he delayed any longer, he wouldn’t escape either.
Lu Ying took a sharp breath—then, under Bai Lijue’s disbelieving stare, let go.
Eyes bloodshot, he choked out, "Bai Li... wait for me outside!"
And without looking back, he plunged downward.
Bai Lijue’s screams echoed behind him, but Lu Ying clenched his jaw and chased after the Purple Flame Realm and Celestial Demon Sect.
Chicken droppings. Pig manure. A lethal poison.
Only one faction was vile enough to orchestrate this—
Qing. Ling. Mountain.
He swore he would slaughter everyone on Qingling Mountain to avenge his fallen brother!
...
The six from Qingling Mountain had long since fled deep into the underground palace, leaving their pursuers far behind.
The Mystic Heaven Mirror trembled incessantly.
As she walked, Wen Shuangbai took it out to check.
[One eliminated from the Ten Thousand Saints Palace this round. Remaining: five.]
[Two eliminated from the Ten Thousand Saints Palace this round. Remaining: four.]
[Three eliminated from the Ten Thousand Saints Palace this round. Remaining: three.]
A moment later.
[Four eliminated from the Ten Thousand Saints Palace this round. Remaining: two.]
Noticing this, Xie Ziyin leaned over and glanced at it. "Pity," he remarked. They weren’t completely wiped out.
Wen Shuangbai tilted her head, eyeing the man now standing uncomfortably close. "Don’t you have your own Mystic Heaven Mirror?"
Xie Ziyin scoffed. "Stingy." Then, as if nothing had happened, he caught up to Shen Hefeng.
Wen Shuangbai chased after him, grumbling, "Oh, I’m the stingy one? How about you lend me some of your spirit stones, then?"
To her surprise, Xie Ziyin agreed without hesitation. "Fine."
She paused, stunned. "Don’t tell me you’re so broke you don’t even have a single spirit stone left!"
If he had even one, he’d never have agreed so easily!
Xie Ziyin grinned. "Clever girl."
He truly was penniless—not a single spirit stone to his name.
Before coming to Di Zhou, he’d used all his remaining stones to pay off debts. And even then, he still hadn’t cleared them all.
After bickering for a while, they halted when the group ahead stopped.
Shen Hefeng turned to them, warning, "The path ahead is tricky. Everyone, stay sharp."
