Wang Jianqiang had originally intended to kill the two.
Though his cultivation was being suppressed, slaying those two alone wouldn't have been difficult.
But after some thought, he changed his mind.
These disciples who entered the secret realm all carried wealth. Why not use this chance to lure in more prey?
And then… harvest them.
At that thought, Wang Jianqiang's eyes lit up.
Looking at the two raging men trapped within the formation, he laughed heartily and deliberately shook the jade in his hand."Gentlemen, this treasure will be accepted by me, Wang. I won't be accompanying you further."
With that, without waiting for their replies, he slowly flew off into the distance.
"That old bastard!"
Seeing the opportunity snatched right from under their noses—and brazenly at that—both of them nearly exploded in rage.
Wu Yan ground his teeth so hard it was almost audible, his huge body trembling.
Wu Feng's face was icy cold, his sword qi surging out of control, scattering in all directions.
"Break for me!"
Like men injected with chicken blood, the two frantically attacked the formation.
But alas—
Though the formation looked on the verge of collapse, every time it was covered in cracks, they instantly healed.
Crack!
At some point, the formation shattered like a mirror.
Wu Yan and Wu Feng both froze.
They exchanged glances—yet their faces showed no joy, only a grim, deathly expression.
Because the formation hadn't been broken by them.
It collapsed only because that old man had left, withdrawing his support. With no more spiritual power fed into it, the formation naturally crumbled.
It was like playing rock–paper–scissors with someone who slapped your face every time you lost.
You've lost round after round, your cheeks swollen, and just when you'd finally psyched yourself up to win a round, that person casually said: You're too weak, I'm done playing.
Infuriating?
Wu Feng and Wu Yan were nearly driven insane.
"Old bastard! I'll see you pierced by ten thousand arrows!"
"I'll crush your balls into dust!"
Their roars shook the sky as they bolted after him at full speed.
Once they were gone, silence returned to the land.
Before long, three men and one woman appeared at the scene.
One swept his gaze across the scorched earth and sighed regretfully."We're late. The treasure's already been taken."
"Missing out is unfortunate, but for us, that treasure isn't the greatest opportunity."
The leader smiled, turning to look at the man and woman behind him.
"Brother Shouren, is what you said really true?"
"Brother Liang Chen, you've asked me that many times already." Niu Shouren gave a bitter smile. "You ranked fifth in the outer sect tournament. Even if I had the guts, I wouldn't dare deceive you."
"So, Wang Jianqiang truly has a method to make one's cultivation skyrocket?" Liang Chen mused.
"One hundred percent." Niu Shouren nodded firmly. "That woman, Wang Yuyao—you know her, don't you?"
"Ninth place in the outer sect tournament? Wang Yuyao?" Liang Chen raised a brow.
Niu Shouren nodded again. "Exactly. You may not know this, but I happened to hear about her a year ago."
"Half a year ago, she was only at Qi Refining sixth layer. Her looks caught the attention of Bu Yueban—people in my circle were talking about it a lot then."
"But after she started associating with Wang Jianqiang, her cultivation soared. In just half a year, she went from Qi Refining sixth layer to peak Qi Refining."
Liang Chen's face visibly shook.
"Only half a year, and such a breakthrough?! Are you certain?!"
That wasn't cultivation—that was enjoying the immortal path!
Such progress wasn't bitter toil, it was pure pleasure!
But soon he frowned."No, if Wang Jianqiang really had this ability, why has he himself been stuck at Qi Refining third layer for so many years?"
"It's true."
Niu Shouren nodded. "My dao companion often visited Wang Jianqiang's residence, and she ran into Wang Yuyao there several times."
Liang Chen turned his gaze to the woman at Shouren's side."You? You often went to his place? For what?"
Chen Jiaojiao's expression grew uneasy.
She was about to make up an excuse, but Niu Shouren quickly jumped in.
"Jiaojiao used to be his god-niece. Though Wang Jianqiang never did anything for her, Jiaojiao is sentimental and often helped him out. But that man was shameless, constantly making demands. In the end, Jiaojiao grew fed up and cut ties."
He shot her a subtle look as if to say: See how clever I am? Half-truth, half-lie—impossible to untangle.
Heaven knows—
Even what he thought was the truth wasn't true at all.
Liang Chen didn't dwell on it; he cared little about her past with Wang Jianqiang.
What mattered was—he was now certain.
Wang Jianqiang truly had a way to help others advance quickly.
Though it seemed limited—otherwise he wouldn't be stuck at Qi Refining third layer himself.
And it was unclear whether this method only applied to the Qi Refining stage.
But even with these restrictions, its value was unimaginable.
If they obtained it, they'd strike it rich.
A hungry light flickered in Liang Chen's eyes."Good. If we catch Wang Jianqiang, you two won't be short on benefits."
"Thank you, Brother Liang Chen." Niu Shouren brightened, then added, "But Wang Yuyao seems very close to Wang Jianqiang. We must prepare in advance."
He felt faint bitterness in his heart.
It was precisely because he feared Wang Yuyao that he brought Liang Chen into this.
Otherwise, if it was only Wang Jianqiang, he'd have acted long ago—why share the spoils?
"Don't worry. We prepared Tracking Talismans beforehand, and luckily got transmitted into nearby areas. That's why we could gather so quickly."
"As for them? It'll take far longer to group up."
Liang Chen sneered. "And even if they do manage to gather, so what?"
"Ninth place in the outer sect? I alone am enough. Not to mention, I have Brother Qianyu beside me."
Qianyu, the man at his side, was the seventh-ranked disciple of the Hehuan Sect outer sect.
Hearing Liang Chen's words, Qianyu gave a confident smile."Ninth place, and won only with external aids? She's nothing to fear."
While the three men talked, Chen Jiaojiao's expression wavered.
Finally, she bit her lip and couldn't help but speak."Two senior brothers, after seizing his method, could you spare Wang Jianqiang's life?"
"Jiaojiao, why plead for him?"
Before Liang Chen or Qianyu could answer, Niu Shouren snapped,"That man clearly has a way to help others but wouldn't even help you, his god-niece. Selfish and vile—he deserves death."
Chen Jiaojiao's face shifted, and she sighed."But he was once my god-uncle, after all."
"This…"
Seeing her persist, Niu Shouren glanced at Liang Chen and Qianyu.
"Heh, it's only one wretched life. Leaving him alive makes no difference." Liang Chen shrugged.
"Thank you, Brother Liang Chen." Chen Jiaojiao's smile eased, obvious relief in her eyes.
"Let's go. We'll find Wang Jianqiang."
Liang Chen's gaze turned forward, greed flashing in his eyes.
…
Wang Jianqiang had no idea he was now a hunted prize.
At this moment, he was flying as fast as he could.
Behind him, more than a dozen killing auras pursued relentlessly.
The combined pressure of their gathered might made him swallow hard.
Had he gone too far this time?
He had only meant to use the treasure to lure in a few fat sheep for harvesting.
But clearly, he had overestimated his luck.
He hadn't flown far and already run into several groups.
And every single one of them was formidable.
Among the dozen chasing him, at least five were top-ten disciples of their sects. The rest, though not top ten, were still elite.
And the Wood Sword Formation's aggro was beyond his expectations.
Every time he threw one down, these people went mad with fury. No matter how he accelerated, he couldn't shake them.
Each radiated killing intent like he had molested their mothers.
Especially Wu Yan and Wu Feng—
Their hatred toward him had maxed out.
They led the pack like men pursuing blood vengeance.
Just as Wang Jianqiang debated whether to end the fishing and start harvesting—
A figure appeared up ahead.
"That's Senior Brother Wutong of Xuanqing Palace!"
Among his pursuers, an excited voice rang out:"Senior Brother Wutong, that man carries a great treasure! Stop him!"