Chapter 473 - 471: Oasis Treasure

Qing Jinzi, Hundred Schools’ Sons, Prince Shen Ran, and the Ghost Monk—once they joined forces, as long as the successors from Emperor Immortal Gates like Saint Child Ji Que weren’t present, they practically represented the strongest power here.

Qing Jinzi and the others were all famous geniuses with profound Dao Practices. Even if cultivators from other clans had designs on the treasure, they were likely powerless to do anything.

Qiu Rong Wanxue was mixed in with the young cultivators of other clans, about to follow them out of the small oasis. However, the Ghost Monk put his palms together, and his eyes, blazing with ghostly fire, fell upon her. "Clan Leader Qiurong, please stay."

Qiu Rong Wanxue’s heart sank, but she pretended not to hear, thinking that he might not have recognized her.

However, the Ghost Monk narrowed his Ghost Eyes and said with a sinister smile that didn’t reach his eyes, "Clan Leader Qiurong, must this humble monk personally invite you?" His eyes were fixed on Qiu Rong Wanxue.

At this point, everyone else’s gaze fell upon Qiu Rong Wanxue. It was now impossible for her to leave.

"Thank you, Your Excellency." Qiu Rong Wanxue took a deep breath, then stepped forward and shook her head. "I am only here to broaden my horizons. I wouldn’t dare to touch the treasure."

The Ghost Monk gave a sinister smile. "Clan Leader Qiurong, you are too polite. As fellow members of the Ghost Race, you should of course stay. Perhaps you might even obtain a treasure or two."

"The Snow Shadow Ghost Clan is but a minor clan. We cannot afford such a precious treasure. I appreciate your kind intentions," Qiu Rong Wanxue said. She knew this was bad but remained calm. "I have other matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave."

However, just as she turned to leave, Prince Shen Ran blocked her path. He sneered, "Leaving isn’t hard. Just have Li Qiye come and ransom you!"

Prince Shen Ran had been slapped several times by Li Qiye, losing all face. How could he not avenge such an utter humiliation? Although his backer, Prince Ghost Insect, wasn’t here now, he had allied with Qing Jinzi, Hundred Schools’ Sons, the Ghost Monk, and the others. If he were to encounter Li Qiye again, he was confident he could take him down and wash away his shame.

Everyone looked at Qiu Rong Wanxue. It was common knowledge that she was traveling with Li Qiye. Moreover, the two of them were the first to set foot on this land.

Prince Shen Ran and his group wanted to keep Qiu Rong Wanxue for more than just simple revenge against Li Qiye; they also wanted to get some information out of her.

"Prince Shen Ran, I don’t understand your meaning. We have no grievances or grudges between us, do we?" As a Clan Leader, Qiu Rong Wanxue remained composed in the face of crisis, speaking slowly and deliberately in a low voice.

"You may not, but Li Qiye does." Prince Shen Ran sneered. "Traveling with Li Qiye is just courting death!"

"Clan Leader Qiurong, I’m sure you can contact Li Qiye," Hundred Schools’ Sons added with a smile. "Why don’t you stay here for now, Clan Leader Qiurong? You can wait and watch the treasure emerge, and at the same time, it will give Li Qiye a chance to come and take you away. What do you say, Clan Leader Qiurong?"

Qiu Rong Wanxue’s heart grew cold. She understood that Prince Shen Ran’s group had formed an alliance. They weren’t just here to look for treasure; they also wanted to lure Li Qiye here. They might even have laid a trap, intending to capture her Young Master in one fell swoop.

The cultivators from other clans who had been driven out of the oasis were merely watching from the sidelines. They had no connection to Qiu Rong Wanxue, so of course they wouldn’t step in to help her.

As for the Ghost Race cultivators inside the oasis, they were all on the same side as Prince Shen Ran’s group, so they were even less likely to help Qiu Rong Wanxue.

Completely surrounded, Qiu Rong Wanxue knew her chances of survival were slim. She took a deep breath, shook her head, and said, "I’m afraid you have the wrong person. Since we set foot on this land, Fellow Daoist Li and I have gone our separate ways. I have no idea where he is now. Besides, my relationship with Fellow Daoist Li is merely an ordinary one; I have no way to contact him."

Although Qiu Rong Wanxue could indeed contact Li Qiye, she didn’t want her Young Master to come. Prince Shen Ran’s group had already joined forces, and there were thousands of Ghost Race experts here. If Li Qiye came to save her, he would be jumping right into a trap.

No matter how powerful he was, she feared he wouldn’t be able to handle Prince Shen Ran’s group, let alone the thousands of Ghost Race experts working together.

Thus, Qiu Rong Wanxue steeled her resolve. Even if it meant dying here, she would not lead her Young Master into danger.

"Heh, Clan Leader Qiurong, if you don’t help us out, I’m afraid we won’t be able to help you either," the Ghost Monk said with a sinister smile. "As a clan leader of the Ghost Race, you should understand that we ghosts must stand united. Pests like that Human Race ant should be exterminated!"

"Clan Leader Qiurong, even if you won’t think for yourself, you should think of the Snow Shadow Ghost Clan!" Qing Jinzi said slowly, his words cold and merciless.

This was an undisguised threat. Many who heard it shuddered, understanding that when Qing Jinzi said such a thing, it wasn’t a boast or an empty threat.

Qiu Rong Wanxue’s expression changed at once. The Snow Shadow Ghost Clan was only a minor clan in the Netherworld, so small it was practically insignificant.

The White Bone Saint Clan, on the other hand, was a famous great clan in the Netherworld. Although not an Emperor Immortal Gate, it was still a behemoth that could easily crush the Snow Shadow Ghost Clan with a single finger.

Qiu Rong Wanxue knew the consequences, but she still took a deep breath to steady herself and declared in a low voice, "I am no longer in contact with Fellow Daoist Li. If the White Bone Saint Clan insists on destroying my Snow Shadow Ghost Clan, it’s clear you’re just looking for an excuse to condemn us. Though the Snow Shadow Ghost Clan is but a small clan, that doesn’t mean we are spineless! My Snow Shadow Ghost Clan will never yield to the oppression of a great clan!"

Qiu Rong Wanxue had made up her mind. No matter what, she would not lead Li Qiye into danger.

Her words were powerful and resonant. Even the young cultivators from other clans couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration. A minor clan like the Snow Shadow Ghost Clan stood no chance against a behemoth like the White Bone Saint Clan.

In the Netherworld, even other great clans or Great Sects were unwilling to provoke the White Bone Saint Clan. This was the Ghost Race’s territory; even a Great Sect would choose to back down before the White Bone Saint Clan.

What’s more, Qing Jinzi and his allies had already joined forces. There was more than one behemoth like the White Bone Saint Clan among them. A minor clan like the Snow Shadow Ghost Clan was completely insignificant, not even as worthy as an ant.

And yet, facing a preeminent genius like Qing Jinzi, Qiu Rong Wanxue, who came from a minor clan, still spoke with such force and without a hint of retreat. Such courage was truly admirable.

"Why are we wasting so much breath on her!" Seeing the light from the oasis lake growing brighter, Prince Shen Ran said impatiently, "Let’s just capture her first, then go see if a treasure is emerging from the lake!"

"Clan Leader Qiurong, since you insist on being obstinate, we will have to ask you to stay as our guest." Compared to Prince Shen Ran’s aggressiveness and Qing Jinzi’s cold ruthlessness, Hundred Schools’ Sons showed a bit more decorum.

Qiu Rong Wanxue’s expression darkened. She knew her doom was inescapable today.

"What’s this? Trying to keep my person here? Did you ask for my permission?" Just as Hundred Schools’ Sons was about to make a move, a lazy voice drifted over from the distance.

Everyone couldn’t help but look in the direction of the voice. They saw Li Qiye striding over, arriving outside the oasis in the blink of an eye. Upon seeing him, everyone had a different expression.

"The new fiend is here," a non-Ghost Race cultivator said.

Mo Li Dao was known as the fiend in Yao Yun. Not long ago, Li Qiye had slapped Mo Li Dao to death, so he became known as the new-generation fiend.

"Young Master!" Qiu Rong Wanxue was both shocked and overjoyed. She was overjoyed to see Li Qiye again, but shocked because Prince Shen Ran and the others were prepared to join forces against him. His arrival meant he would certainly be in danger.

Qiu Rong Wanxue frantically tried to signal to Li Qiye with her eyes, hinting that he should leave this place as quickly as possible. Prince Shen Ran had already gathered thousands of Ghost Race experts to deal with him!

Li Qiye, however, simply smiled faintly. He strolled to the entrance of the oasis, not paying Prince Shen Ran’s group the slightest bit of attention. He said slowly, "What’s this? A group of grown men bullying a young lady. Is this the might of your Ghost Race?"

"You, with the surname Li! It’s for the best that you’ve come!" Prince Shen Ran ground his teeth. Being slapped several times by Li Qiye was an utter humiliation he had long wanted to avenge.

For days, Prince Shen Ran had hated Li Qiye to the bone. He longed to flay his skin and pull his tendons, to beat Li Qiye to the ground and make him kneel at his feet to wash away the shame.

Unfortunately, his brother-in-law had gone to hunt the Red Fire Qilin, and the Ghost Insect Demon Child was engrossed in comprehending the Dao. Even if Prince Shen Ran wanted to get revenge on Li Qiye, he lacked the strength to do so.

However, during this time, he had managed to unite with Qing Jinzi, Hundred Schools’ Sons, the Ghost Monk, and others. They banded together, and many young disciples from Great Teaching Territories flocked to their side, causing their strength to increase dramatically.

In terms of strength, Dao Practice, or background, Prince Shen Ran wasn’t necessarily capable of uniting with the likes of Qing Jinzi. However, geniuses like Qing Jinzi also needed to seek a breakthrough.

They could be considered some of the most talented geniuses of the Ghost Sacred Realm’s younger generation, with profound Dao Practices. However, they lived under the shadow of successors from Emperor Immortal Gates like Saint Child Ji Que, the Ghost Insect Demon Child, and even Jian Xuan.

It would be extremely difficult for them to contend with existences like Saint Child Ji Que and the Ghost Insect Demon Child in the future. Therefore, they felt it was better to pledge allegiance to the Emperor’s Throne. If the Emperor’s Throne could one day produce an Immortal Emperor, they too would become Founding Gods, possessing strength comparable to successors from Emperor Immortal Gates like Saint Child Ji Que.

It was precisely for this reason that they hit it off immediately and formed a grand alliance.

Seeing Li Qiye now, it was truly a case of foes meeting on a narrow road. Flames of fury erupted from Prince Shen Ran’s eyes; he wished he could stomp Li Qiye underfoot this very instant. However, he also knew how powerful Li Qiye was, so he wasn’t foolish enough to charge forward recklessly.

The three preeminent geniuses—Qing Jinzi, the Ghost Monk, and Hundred Schools’ Sons—exchanged a glance, already eager for action. They had no intention of fighting him one-on-one; instead, they planned to join forces and take down Li Qiye instantly.

They were all outstanding geniuses in the current Ghost Sacred Realm with extraordinary Dao Practices. By joining forces, they were extremely confident they could capture Li Qiye.