The world of film and television starts from the flow of money

Inside the sealed room, the air was still.

Zuo Youxian, You Niaojuan, and Bichen concealed themselves in the shadows and crevices of the building structure, their breathing reduced to an extremely low frequency, their aura almost completely sealed off. Six pairs of eyes were fixed on the dark-clad figure sitting cross-legged by the ink pool, and on the Evil Emperor's Relic that she held in her palm, constantly emitting a faint yellow light.

Zhu Yuyan was enveloped in a layer of flickering black glass light, almost blending into the surrounding darkness, with only her peerless face standing out clearly in the dim light.

As the halo swirled, it seemed as if countless tiny black vortexes were being created and destroyed, emanating a heart-palpitating suction and pressure, intertwining, penetrating, and repelling each other with the yellow halo emanating from the Evil Emperor's Relic.

The two forces were clearly distinct, yet they probed each other. The yellow light of the relic sometimes tried to invade the black halo, and sometimes it was forced back and compressed by the deeper black light.

Time passed silently, each breath feeling exceptionally long. The three people in the shadows could even hear the faint sound of their own blood flowing through their veins.

Suddenly, Wen Caiting, who had been standing quietly to the left and behind Zhu Yuyan, seemingly focused on protecting her, moved.

Without any warning or leakage of energy, Wen Caiting pushed her technique to its limit, her right arm lashing out. The wide, five-colored brocade sleeve, infused with the true energy of the Heavenly Demon, sliced ​​through the air and struck Danmei's vital point, the Mingmen acupoint.

Although Danmei was a master of the demonic sect and maintained basic vigilance at all times, most of her attention was focused on sensing the entrance to the secret chamber. The sudden, fierce gust of wind from behind was faster than she could react.

Faced with imminent danger, her instincts honed through decades of arduous training replaced her thoughts. She didn't even have time to turn around completely; in a split second, she frantically concentrated the chilling true energy she had cultivated throughout her life towards her back, attempting to form a protective energy wall. At the same time, she exerted force in her waist, twisting her upper body to the left as far as she could, hoping to avoid vital points.

"puff!"

A dull thud, like the sound of leather being struck, exploded in the silent chamber.

Wen Caiting's sleeve struck Danmei's back, where she had hastily gathered her true energy. The collision of true energy tore apart and invaded Danmei's protective, icy aura almost instantly.

Danmei's body jolted violently, as if struck by an invisible giant hammer, and she staggered forward several steps.

"Wow--"

A mouthful of bright red blood gushed from Danmei's mouth, splattering onto the cold, dark ground, forming a glaring mess.

Danmei forcibly steadied her almost collapsing body, abruptly turned around, and fixed her gaze on Wen Caiting. Her cold eyes were filled with disbelief and shock, as well as the raging anger that had been ignited by the betrayal of her most trusted companion.

"Wen Caiting! You...!"

She only managed to utter those few words before another wave of metallic taste rose in her throat, leaving her only able to stare at the other person with eyes full of hatred.

After severely injuring Danmei with a single palm strike, Wen Caiting didn't hesitate. Her left hand had already secretly gathered another surge of true energy within her sleeve. As she retreated, her left palm suddenly pressed down towards Zhu Yuyan's back from a distance!

A chilling energy burst forth, heading straight for Zhu Yuyan. Its purpose was not to kill Empress Yin with this palm strike, but to exert external interference and impact at the moment when Zhu Yuyan was fully suppressing the Evil Emperor's Relic and her energy was most sensitive and vulnerable, thereby increasing the risk of her internal energy backlash.

The moment the palm strike landed, Wen Caiting's retreat speed increased again, quickly widening the distance. At the same time, she slightly turned her body and fluttered her sleeves, already assuming a complete defensive and evasive stance.

"Ugh—!"

A muffled groan, suppressed by pain, escaped Zhu Yuyan's throat, and the previously stable black aura surrounding her suddenly fluctuated violently. Her hands, forming a mudra, trembled slightly, and the light from the Evil Emperor's Relic in her palm surged, its yellow glow blinding, as if the violent energy it contained had lost its restraint and was about to backfire!
Immediately afterward, under the watchful eyes of Zuo Youxian and the other two, Zhu Yuyan suddenly bent forward, spitting out a mouthful of dark red blood with a "whoosh." The blood splattered onto the edge of the ink pool, where it was quickly absorbed and disappeared by the strange liquid. Her once upright figure instantly became unsteady, and the vast, ocean-like aura around her rapidly receded like a tide. Her face also turned an unnatural golden-paper color, clearly indicating that she had suffered a backlash from her internal energy and sustained severe internal injuries!

The time has come!

Hidden in the shadows, You Niaojuan was the first to lose his composure! He had been waiting for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Zhu Yuyan was seriously injured, and Danmei was ambushed by Wen Caiting and lost her fighting ability. If they didn't seize the relic now, when would they?
"The relics are mine!"

Yu Niaojuan let out an excited howl, his single eye filled with greedy bloodshot veins. His figure shot out from the shadows like a cannonball, rushing straight at Zhu Yuyan, who seemed to have no power to fight back, and the Evil Emperor Relic in her hand!

His internal energy, flowing in reverse, surged wildly. The excruciating pain from the reversed meridians made him even more ferocious. He extended his right claw, the pitch-black nails carrying a foul stench and putrid poison. He unleashed the incomplete yet still extremely vicious "Heavenly Demon Claw"!
However, the moment You Niaojuan moved, two incomparably sharp killing intents erupted from his side at the same time!

"You bird-weary! You're asking for it!"

Zuo Youxian and Bichen seemed to have a tacit understanding. Almost at the same time that You Niaojuan made his move, the ancient sword behind Zuo Youxian was drawn with a "clang". Half of the sword was as red as a branding iron, and the other half was as blue as black ice. The Meridian Qi was pushed to its peak, and the alternating hot and cold sword energy tore through the air, emitting a tooth-grinding screech, and went straight for You Niaojuan's weak point in the ribs! It was a move from his killing move "Renbing Sword Technique"!
The amiable smile on Bichen's face had long been replaced by a chilling coldness. The gilded abacus in his hand suddenly trembled, and seven rings of true energy, solid as a substance and shimmering with golden light—the "Golden Ring Binding Demon Technique"—were instantly released. Like seven golden venomous snakes, they coiled around You Niaojuan's limbs and neck from various tricky angles. The "money poison" contained in the rings was chillingly cold!
The three were all harboring their own agendas, and their temporary alliance was merely a stopgap measure. You Niaojuan, with his most impulsive and restless nature, was someone Zuo Youxian and Bichen had already anticipated would be the first to jump out. The two tacitly agreed to first eliminate this most uncontrollable and potentially threatening factor before pursuing the relic!
"you……!"

You Niaojuan never expected that Zuo Youxian and Bichen would attack him at this time, and that their coordination was so perfect and ruthless! But his momentum had waned and he couldn't change his move in time. In his haste, he could only push the Reverse Flow Technique to its limit, and his protective aura suddenly expanded in an attempt to withstand the attack. At the same time, he slapped his left palm toward Bichen's golden ring, while his right claw continued to grab at the relic in Zhu Yuyan's hand. He was actually planning to risk injury to seize the treasure first!
"Boom! Bang! Sizzle—!"

Three powerful forces collided instantly!
Yu Niaojuan's protective aura shattered in an instant under the combined attack of the cold and hot sword energy of Zuo Youxianzi and the entangling and cutting of the Bichen Golden Ring! The intertwined red and blue sword energy left a terrible wound on his ribs that was deep enough to expose bone, half charred and half frozen, while three of the seven golden rings successfully broke through his defenses and locked his right arm, left leg and neck tightly!

The golden ring tightened, and the poison instantly invaded the meridians. You Niaojuan felt half of his body go numb, and his neck was almost suffocated by the strangulation. His right claw, which was reaching for the relic, paused involuntarily.

"puff!"

At the same time, the power of the golden ring containing the cold poison of money penetrated through Bi Chen's body. You Niaojuan could no longer suppress it and spat out another mouthful of foul blood with ice shards. He was sent flying like a broken sack, crashing into the stone wall of the secret chamber with a dull thud. He then slid softly to the ground, his single eye wide open, filled with resentment. He struggled a few times but could not get up for a while, clearly in a state of serious injury and near death.

In the blink of an eye, You Niaojuan, one of the three great demons, was instantly rendered powerless by the combined sneak attack of the other two!
The situation inside the sealed room has changed dramatically once again!

Zuo Youxian and Bichen, having landed a successful blow, quickly separated, each taking up a position and warily watching each other. Both were breathing heavily; although their combined attack had successfully severely injured You Niaojuan, it had also taken a toll on them.

"Junior Sister Wen, well done!"

Zuo Youxian spoke first, attempting to win over Wen Caiting. His Ziwu Sword pointed diagonally at the ground, its sword energy flickering erratically: "Zhu Yuyan has acted perversely and acted arrogantly, she deserves this calamity! Now that Danmei is crippled and You Niaojuan is dying, as long as the three of us join forces, the Evil Emperor's Relic and Yang Gong's Treasure Vault will be in our grasp! Afterwards, the position of Yin Kui Sect Master will undoubtedly belong to you!"

Bi Chen immediately put on his usual amiable smile and replied, "Brother Zuo is absolutely right. Elder Wen's profound understanding of righteousness and his decision to abandon darkness for light is truly a wise move. Our Lao Jun Temple will not take a single coin from the treasures in this treasury, only seeking to establish a good relationship with the Yin Kui Sect and the True Transmission Dao to jointly pursue great undertakings. As for the Evil Emperor's Relic... hehe, perhaps Elder Wen and Brother Zuo can discuss how to handle it?" His words were smooth, both flattering Wen Caiting and implying to Zuo Youxian that he could withdraw from the competition for the relic, only seeking a share of the benefits.

Both of their gazes were fixed on Wen Caiting. Wen Caiting stood several feet away from Zhu Yuyan, her colorful brocade dress appearing somewhat eerie under the glow of the luminous pearl. Her face showed no smugness or relaxation, but rather an unusual calmness, even coldness. She glanced at You Niaojuan struggling on the ground, then at Danmei, who was severely injured, vomiting blood, and barely breathing. Finally, her gaze swept over Zuo Youxian and Bichen, a meaningful smile curving her lips.

She raised her slender hand and gently tidied her slightly disheveled hair, the movement still carrying a touch of allure:

“Senior Brother Zuo, Abbot Bi, I appreciate your kindness, but…”

Wen Caiting deliberately dragged out her words, turning her gaze towards the tightly closed stone door, and said softly:
"Such an important matter cannot be without a true leader. Caiting is of low status and her voice carries no weight; she cannot make this decision. How about we wait for Senior Brother Bi to come down before discussing it further?"

Upon hearing this, both Zuo Youxian and Bichen's expressions changed slightly!
Zuo Youxian's eyes flashed sharply: "Bi Shouxuan? He's nothing but a cunning old fox who relies on his seniority and tries to please everyone! Junior Sister Wen, why wait for him? This opportunity is fleeting, what if Zhu Yuyan..."

Before he could finish speaking, his gaze swept over Zhu Yuyan by the pool. He saw that Zhu Yuyan was still in the position of vomiting blood, one hand supporting her on the ground, the other seemingly trying to stabilize the increasingly unstable light of the Evil Emperor's Relic, which looked as if it might explode at any moment. Her breath was weak, clearly at her limit, and nothing to worry about. This reassured him somewhat, but Wen Caiting's attitude made both him and Bichen feel uneasy.

Pi Chen narrowed his small eyes even more, put away the golden abacus in his hand, and chuckled twice: "Since he is also going to participate, it is naturally safer. However, Elder Wen should make sure that Elder Pi's appetite is not too big."

Wen Caiting smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying: "The abbot is overthinking it. Senior Brother Pi knows what he's doing."

As soon as the words were spoken, Zuo Youxian and Pichen's eyes flickered, alarm bells rang in their hearts, and the two unconsciously moved closer together. The original atmosphere of mutual wariness temporarily formed a fragile alliance in the face of a possible common enemy.

Wen Caiting calmly retreated to a position near the stone gate, a faint smile playing on her lips.

The stalemate did not last long.

"Zha zha zha..."

The tightly closed stone door emitted a low, rumbling sound as its mechanisms turned once more!

Zuo Youxian and Bichen tensed up, their eyes flashing like lightning as they instantly locked onto the doorway.

The stone door slid open, and two figures stepped into the secret chamber one after the other.

The person in the lead was none other than Bi Shouxuan, still wearing that indigo scholar's robe, but now his face no longer showed any of the previous humility and caution, but instead a smug composure. His eyes swept over the crowd, lingering for a moment on the seriously injured Danmei, You Niaojuan, and the "dejected" Zhu Yuyan, before finally landing on Zuo Youxian and Bi Chen, who were on high alert. A cold sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.

The person following behind Bi Shouxuan caused Zuo Youxian and Bi Chen's pupils to shrink suddenly, and a chill ran down their spines!

This man was tall and thin, with a sinister face. His deep-set eyes gleamed with a wolf-like, eerie green light. He wore a dark purple robe, the sleeves and hem embroidered with ferocious wolf heads that seemed ready to devour anyone. He exuded a palpable aura of deathly stillness and bloodlust from the battlefield, as if he had just emerged from a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood. This was none other than the Turkic National Preceptor, the leader of the Demonic Image Sect—"Demon Commander" Zhao Deyan!

"Zhao... Zhao Deyan!"

Zuo Youxian gasped in shock, and Bi Chen's fat face twitched violently. Neither of them expected that Bi Shouxuan had actually colluded with the Turkic national teacher!

"Brother Zuo Dao, Abbot Bichen Temple, how have you been?"

Pi Shouxuan spoke leisurely, his voice carrying a playful tone, like a cat catching a mouse: "It seems the two of you have made quite a haul here."

Zhao Deyan completely ignored Zuo Youxian and Pi Chen. His eerie green gaze first swept over the Evil Emperor Relic in Zhu Yuyan's palm, and finally settled on Zuo Youxian and Pi Chen. His hoarse and deep voice was like a demonic sound from hell: "Two troublesome rats, will you end it yourselves, or will this general send you on your way?"

Naked killing intent, made no attempt to conceal it!

Zuo Youxian knew that things would not end well today, and roared, "Bi Shouxuan! How dare you let wolves into the house and collude with the Turkic barbarians! Aren't you afraid of becoming an enemy of the Holy Sect?!"

Pi Shouxuan scoffed, "The Holy Sect's public enemy? It's all about the victor and the vanquished! Once Master Zhao obtains the relic, takes control of the Yin Kui Sect, integrates the Holy Sect's power, and assists Khan Jieli in marching south to the Central Plains, then who will dare utter a single word of dissent?"

Why waste your breath on him!

Pi Chen cried out sharply, knowing that only by fighting to the death could he possibly have a chance of survival: "Brother Zuo Dao, let's go side by side!"

Before he finished speaking, Bi Chen's obese body displayed an agility that was inconsistent with his size. He suddenly flung the gilded abacus in his hand forward, and eighty-one jade beads shot out like a storm. They were not aimed at Bi Shouxuan or Zhao Deyan, but at the eight luminous pearls on the top of the secret room!

At the same time, he struck out with both palms in quick succession, and seven extremely condensed "Golden Ring Binding Demon Skill" true energy rings roared, carrying a bone-chilling cold force, like seven golden pythons, targeting the vital points around Bi Shouxuan's body!

"Little tricks!"

Bi Shouxuan snorted coldly. Facing the countless jade abacus beads hurtling towards him, he remained motionless, merely flicking his sleeve. A surge of pure, chilling demonic energy rose like an invisible wall, blasting away all the beads aimed at the luminous pearl, sending them clattering to the ground. At the same time, his palms moved swiftly, demonic energy surging between his fingers, striking and tapping with pinpoint accuracy against the seven golden rings.

"Bang bang bang...!"

The sounds of clashing energies rang out continuously! Pi Shouxuan's Heavenly Demon True Energy was clearly superior. In just a few moves, the seven golden rings were shattered and dispersed by his palm force, turning into wisps of dissipating golden energy!
Meanwhile, Zuo Youxian also made a move.

The ancient sword hummed as it was drawn from its sheath, its inner energy surging to its peak. Half of the sword was a scorching red, while the other half was a chilling blue. The alternating hot and cold sword energy caused the air around him to distort violently!
"Sword energy flows together!"

Zuo Youxian unleashed his most powerful and secret weapon right from the start.

He merged his sword with his own, transforming into a long rainbow of sword energy, interwoven with red and blue, sharp and unparalleled, like lightning tearing through the night sky, piercing straight for Zhao Deyan's heart!

This sword strike gathered all his life's power. Even before the sword energy arrived, the eerie sword intent, alternating between cold and hot attacks and disrupting the enemy's meridians, had already enveloped Zhao Deyan. (End of Chapter)