NOVEL NEXT Chapter 272: Showdown at the Entrance of the Underground Cave Dwelling
"Is this the inside of Cave Heaven?" Tower Lord Lu An mused. "The Spiritual Qi here seems even more sparse than in our sect. I reckon the furthest one can cultivate here is up to the Dao Comprehension realm."
"Eh, look, there's an inheritance over here! And another one over there!" exclaimed Dao Palace realm powerhouse He Tian, his eyes widening in disbelief. "While these aren't high-grade inheritances, they are cultivation methods I've never come across before. And the inheritances are scattered everywhere, completely unguarded. It's astonishing!"
"With so many common inheritances in plain sight, it stands to reason that the high-grade ones must be treasured immensely. Perhaps there truly is a chance to reach the Transcendence realm."
"Even if we can't locate it, by tapping into this Cave Heaven to its full extent, our Nine Heavens Tower is bound to elevate to another level!"
Their eyes reddened, the group of experts from the Nine Heavens Tower scanned the numerous inheritances scattered around them.
Just then, after surveying the area, He Tian proposed, "Tower Lord, this Cave Heaven seems immense; our divine sense can only detect a small corner of it. How about we divide into two teams to explore, and then regroup?"
Searching as a large group seemed inefficient, given the numerous inheritances scattered around.
"Good idea!" Tower Lord Lu An nodded, his face serious. "But we mustn't stray too far. We aren't the only ones who have entered this Cave Heaven."
"I understand!" responded He Tian, a buoyant smile on his face. "Then I'll lead a team in this direction."
Lu An gave his assent and watched as He Tian led a portion of the group onward. Subsequently, he led the remaining members in a different direction.
'They've split into two groups?' Jiang Chen pondered internally, a flicker of realization crossing his mind. 'He Tian's chosen direction leads straight to Gu Ran!'
'Initially, this way, Gu Ran will only encounter the Nine Heavens Tower group led by He Tian.'
'The combat prowess of these cultivators is not much different from Wu Qian, Liu Xiong, and Gu Ran.'
'So, if an evenly matched situation arises again, Gu Ran could stealthily kill, grow stronger, and eventually break the deadlock,' he theorized within himself, closely monitoring the movements of the Nine Heavens Tower cultivators. Through divine sense, he relayed this information to Wu Qian and Liu Xiong.
Before long, the group of Nine Heavens Tower cultivators led by He Tian discovered the underground space entrance where Gu Ran and the others were hiding.
"What's this?" one of them questioned, his voice tinged with curiosity. "A cave formed by a battle? But why are there so many golden patterns adorning the walls here!"
Upon discovering the cave, He Tian and his group quickly deciphered the golden patterns, gleaning a wealth of information.
"Could this be... a Dao Palace realm inheritance!" a voice exclaimed, brimming with excitement.
"But someone's beaten us to the inheritance!" another observed, frustration coloring his tone.
Just as they reveled in their discovery, they spotted Gu Ran, Wu Qian, and Liu Xiong, who were still in the underground space and had yet to depart.
Suddenly, the faces of He Tian and the others darkened.
Accustomed to having their way throughout the Ninth Heaven Domain, this group of experts from the Nine Heavens Tower couldn't stomach the fact that someone else had claimed the inheritance they'd just discovered.
"One at the Dao Palace realm, another at the Dao Comprehension realm, and the least powerful among them at the Inquiring Journey realm," He Tian observed, his voice laced with disdain. "They're all unfamiliar faces; they must be loose cultivators without any notable backing."
"How dare they snatch the inheritance meant for my Nine Heavens Tower! Today, we'll teach them a harsh lesson about the ruthlessness of the cultivation world!" A cold light flashed in his eyes as he ordered everyone to secure the entrance.
He too took cover, readying himself to ambush Gu Ran and his group.
However, unbeknownst to He Tian and his party, Jiang Chen had already detected their movements and swiftly informed Wu Qian and Liu Xiong.
Inside the underground dwelling, Wu Qian and Liu Xiong divided up the pills. Along with Gu Ran, they scoured the vicinity once more but found no additional inheritances.
Deciding to head back, the trio approached the entrance of the underground cave dwelling. Just as they did, Wu Qian gestured for the group to halt.
Staring at the vacant entrance, he spoke in an icy tone, "Slinking around like this, could it be you're too unsightly to show your face?"
"Hmph! It seems your senses are keener than I anticipated," He Tian emerged from his hideout, his expression grim, locking eyes with Wu Qian. "I'm offering you a chance. Leave behind everything you possess, and I might just spare your three worthless lives."
"Exactly!" another cultivator chimed in, his voice tinged with arrogance. "Surrender all your belongings!"
"Otherwise, we won't hesitate to end your lives."
"And not just you, but also your friends and family. Our Nine Heavens Tower will ensure their complete obliteration!"
"Hand over the inheritance swiftly, surrender all the treasures. You have only one chance!"
The other Nine Heavens Tower experts joined in, their eyes equally filled with greed.
"So, you're nothing but a band of beggars. I'll offer you a chance too! Apologize right now and leave, or face certain death!" Liu Xiong glared coldly at He Tian and the others, his voice unwavering and devoid of fear.
Standing behind him was Jiang Chen, the one who had slain Long Tianlu. What did they have to fear?
Moreover, Jiang Chen had personally instructed them to be assertive and confront their adversaries head-on.
Once the battle began, they were to seize the opportunity to eliminate the weaker cultivators first!
"Hahahaha!" one cultivator burst into laughter, his eyes filled with mockery. "Coming from you, the claim that we'll die is simply laughable."
"Old man, you've labored hard to reach the Dao Palace realm. I suggest you preserve that and retreat promptly, lest you meet a tragic end."
"More of us from the Nine Heavens Tower are on their way. If you're so eager to court death, we'll happily oblige."
One after another, the members of the Nine Heavens Tower sneered relentlessly, their faces twisted into merciless expressions.
Under the influence of Heavenly Fate, they had already grown 'less judicious' and came to view Gu Ran as a sworn enemy.
Now, with Jiang Chen stealthily encouraging Liu Xiong and Wu Qian to stir up trouble, reconciliation between the two sides had become impossible.
"Young man," He Tian, his eyes narrowing as he observed Gu Ran's demeanor, began to speak, "it seems you're the one calling the shots here."
"These two are merely your guardians, correct?"
"Or perhaps, you're the prized disciple these two elders discovered after much effort?"
"You have a boundless future ahead of you. Are you willing to throw that away for mere material wealth?"
"Wouldn't it be more prudent to persuade these two elders to step aside? That would be your path to survival," he concluded, his voice tinged with a cold, calculated manipulation.
"Heh. A pack of scum, today will be your end," Gu Ran declared, a cold chuckle escaping his lips. Far from afraid, he was actually thrilled!
After all, opportunities to encounter another group of enemies, especially ones with a substantial number of Inquiring Journey realm cultivators, didn't come around often.
If he could eliminate just a few, he would have the chance to instantly advance to the Middle-stage, or even the Late-stage, of the Inquiring Journey realm.
"Hmph!" He Tian snorted disdainfully, his eyes flashing menacingly. "Since you remain obstinate and hell-bent on courting death!"
"Then I, He Tian, will grant your wish and leave you without a grave!"
"All disciples, attack!" With a chilling command, his aura surged and his robe billowed, ready to spring into action at once.
However, at that very moment, a dull sensation clouded his mind, delaying his move ever so briefly. By the time he regained his clarity, the opposition had already sprung into action.
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