I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 155 Innate Foundation Establishment Pill

The clamor finally subsided, and the surging literary energy gathered once more. The lingering glow of the jade mirror was only half its original size, which meant that Xue Xiang only had one more chance to unleash his power.

Xue Xiang felt melancholy, yet also vaguely excited.

Three purple-grade crystal cores! Three!
The little cutie seemed very unhappy, constantly nudging Xue Xiang's arm with her chubby little head.

Clearly, it was extremely unwilling to accept Xue Xiang's act of destroying the finest blood food.

Three purple-level demonic monsters were enough for it to feast on, but under Xue Xiang's ferocious attack, all three purple-level demonic monsters were turned into blood mist, leaving not even a trace.

"My dear brother, you have excellent writing skills. The twilight of your life has fallen into your hands at just the right time."

Han Feng shouted loudly.

Xue Xiangdao said, "Brother Han, everyone, I only chased after them because I saw the lightning flashing here."

They wanted to investigate, but were afraid of danger, so they set up a defensive array.

Unexpectedly, three purple-level demons charged in.

Seeing that the three purple-level monsters are covered in wounds, I imagine you have severely injured them.

Xue was simply getting a bargain.

Han Feng laughed and said, "There's no such thing as a bargain. We fought fiercely for two hours and still couldn't take down a single purple-level demon monster. We've already done our best."

My worthy brother fought against three opponents single-handedly. Although he relied on the power of the setting sun, the grandeur and poetic style he produced were beyond the capabilities of ordinary people.

I am completely convinced.

It seems that human schemes ultimately cannot defy fate. My brother's opportunity was bestowed by Heaven, and I, Han, have no regrets. I presume the same is true for all of you.

Since Han Feng had said that, others naturally couldn't say anything. Besides envy and awe, they were also filled with intense jealousy.

Just as Xue Xiang was about to speak, his document ring suddenly trembled violently, and a message was sent out, instructing him to prepare for the teleportation to be activated within ten breaths.

Immediately afterwards, the magic ring emitted a hazy light that enveloped him.

Han Feng said urgently, "Brother, remember this well: head south, do not enter any caves, go straight into any water, and take any white things you see. You will be blessed with unparalleled fortune."

What Han Feng was reciting was the key to entering the blessed land that his elders had told him.

Having missed his chance to enter the blessed land, he told Xue Xiang the secret.

"Thank you, Han..."

Before Xue Xiang could finish speaking, a white light completely enveloped him, and he vanished from the spot.

The remaining people looked at each other, each feeling dejected.

…………

Canaan Commandery, Yong'an City, Shen Mansion.

Mingyu Hall was brightly lit at night, and the wind chimes under the eaves jingled in the wind and snow.

The charcoal stove inside the hall was glowing red, and the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

In the main seat of the hall, Shen Junyuan, the head of the Shen family, sat upright. He wore a black robe with python patterns and thin silver trim on the cuffs. His expression was gentle, but his eyes were cold and sharp.

Seated opposite them were Lü Qiao, the head of the Lü family, Lou Guanlan, the head of the Lou family, and Ning Chen, the eldest elder of the Ning family.

In addition, important members of each family were also seated in the hall.

The group had been gathered for some time, and had already finished discussing the important matters and exchanging pleasantries.

At this moment, they all remained silent, quietly drinking their tea.

They gathered here for no other reason than to await the outcome of the trials.

There was only one person involved: Xue Xiang.

The noble families of Canaan never imagined they would be bullied like this by a mere boy.

They had been patiently waiting for the fatal blow in the Trial Realm.

Suddenly, a phoenix cry was heard, and the bronze and black jade phoenix statue in the center of the hall rang out. The black jade phoenix suddenly opened its eyes and spoke in a human voice, which was old, "Gentlemen, the academic records of the three students, Lü Wenhou, Shen Nansheng, and Lou Changqing, have been sent back first."

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent for a moment.

"Brother Tong, what do you mean by that?"

The one who spoke was Lü Qiao, the head of the Lü family, with leopard-like eyes and a broad nose, dressed in a black sable coat, and had the most violent temper.

The aged voice sighed softly, "According to the rules, there is only one reason why a ritual ring can be returned: the wearer has perished."

"absurd!"

Lu Qiao slammed his fist on the table and stood up. "Lord Wen possesses various healing pills, wears the Xuanwu Armor, has a protective talisman, and cultivates the Cold Jade Divine Art. He has already condensed the power of a Dharma Image. How could he possibly have perished? How could he possibly..."

"That's exactly right. Changqing wields a blue-grade natal sword. My family's Wenlou has been refining it for three years, and Changqing has already reached the state of oneness between sword and man."

Lou Guanlan, the patriarch of the Lou family, spoke slowly, but each word seemed to strike the ground: "Let alone Xue Xiang, even a Core Formation expert would not be able to stop him."

“Nan Sheng refined a beast fruit that my Shen family has cultivated for a thousand years. In beast form, he has the strength to move mountains and invincible defense. Even a Core Formation expert cannot kill him.” Shen Junyuan’s knuckles turned white. “Elder Tong, I have always respected you. Why did you not verify the information before passing it on?”

The bronze and black jade phoenix fell silent, and hope arose in everyone's eyes.

"Fake news, it must be fake news."

"There must be a mistake. It's more appropriate for Lao Tong to go."

"..."

The roaring fire inside the hall made the room warm as spring, but everyone felt a chill to the bone.

Everyone knew what Tong Lao's announcement meant, but no one was willing or dared to believe it.

Time passed in the dead silence for over a hundred breaths. Suddenly, the bronze and black jade phoenix chirped softly again, and Elder Tong's voice came once more, "The trial is over, and all the students have returned, except for the three young masters."

Someone wore a recording device and recorded the fierce battle between Xue Xiang and the three young masters. If you want it, I will send it to you immediately.

The room remained deathly silent; no one responded.

"pass."

Lu Qiao's tiger-like eyes were filled with tears.

Suddenly, the bronze and black jade phoenix let out a loud cry, and its body emitted a surge of black light.

The black light dispersed in the air, transforming into clear light and shadow.

The interplay of light and shadow creates a visual effect.

It was a scene of Xue Xiang, Lü Wenhou, Lou Changqing, and Shen Nansheng engaging in a heated debate.

Subsequently, Zhou Mingtang lent the protective array, and the four of them entered one after another.

Later, Xue Xiang activated the Yu Hui Yu Long, using the power of poetry to achieve unparalleled protection, and by throwing Yuan Bao Zhu, he killed three people.

The scene was so horrific that it chilled everyone to the bone.

Even after the image faded away, no one in the room spoke.

No matter how much anyone resented Xue Xiang, they had to admit that Xue Xiang's victory was fair and square.

Although it was achieved through clever means, it was ultimately due to his own efforts in guiding the situation.

He was able to defeat three opponents single-handedly, and his fame spread throughout the world; this was also justifiable.

"In addition, only Xue Xiang advanced in this trial. He killed three purple-level monsters in one fell swoop and was transported to the middle area alone."

Tong Lao has made another announcement.

The agarwood curled into an extremely delicate flower on the charcoal, and the black smoke rose up, dissipating after reaching mid-air.

The snow and wind outside blew in from the corridor, and the lamplight sliced ​​everyone's face in two: one half shadowed, the other half bright; one half filled with hatred, the other with fear.

"Xue Xiang is like the rising sun, a dragon emerging from the abyss. Even Han Feng and Mo Rufeng couldn't defeat him. It can be said that he has the momentum. Although you gentlemen have lost the talents of your sects, your foundations are not damaged. If you insist on competing with someone who is blessed with good fortune, the consequences are unpredictable. That's all I have to say. Farewell."

As the old man's last words were uttered, the black jade phoenix closed its eyes.

The hall remained deathly silent for a long time.

Ning Chen spoke first, his voice low: "Gentlemen, from this day forward, the Ning family will no longer contend with Xue Xiang. Farewell."

Having said that, he drifted away.

Lou Guanlan nodded, his face pale: "With Changqing gone, the Lou family has secluded itself for three years, avoiding any involvement in disputes. Take care, everyone."

After saying this, he also left.

Lu Qiao clenched his fists and finally uttered, "He fought against three men alone. Marquis Wen died without regret. I have nothing to say."

Xue Xiang is such a scoundrel, so wicked, that even the son of a Hanlin scholar can't compete with him. What more can be said?

Brother Shen, let it go. Just avoid this scoundrel in the future.

Lu Qiao bowed to Shen Junyuan and strode out the door.

Shen Junyuan's face turned ashen.

“A bunch of rats. If they won’t fight, my Shen family will fight alone. What is there to fear?”

"A Shen family elder said sternly."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Junyuan suddenly looked at him, his eyes flashing coldly, and said sternly, "If you want to die, first remove your name from the family genealogy, then go and fight Xue Xiang to the death."

This fiend is a plague god, a venomous snake. If he manages to emerge alive from this demonic land, the Shen clan must never again have any dealings with Xue Xiang.

"promise."

………………

With a shift in the light and shadow, Xue Xiang appeared in another location.

The first thing that catches the eye is the air here, which seems even heavier.

Thinking of the so-called middle layer, which is a deeper area where literary and corrupting influences intertwine, Xue Xiang felt relieved.

He looked up and found himself on a green meadow, surrounded by beautiful mountains and clear waters, with a vast sky and a wide-open view.

Just then, a burst of chaotic light flashed through the document ring. Xue Xiang's thoughts sank into it, the virtual geographical map disappeared, and no more information came in. The document ring had turned into a simple storage ring.

With a gentle tug, Xue Xiang's literary ring slipped off his finger.

Clearly, all the restrictions in the Trial Realm have become ineffective.

The Wenlu Ring no longer possesses the ability to teleport him back to the Canaan Academy.

Xue Xiang slipped the document ring into his sleeve and hid it.

Here, surrounded by powerful enemies and gathering with strong cultivators from all walks of life, if one carries a document ring, it's tantamount to announcing to the world that he is a small fry that everyone can eat.

Immediately afterwards, he swallowed a Blood Strengthening Pill, which could expand his blood and qi, so that powerful cultivators wouldn't be able to tell at a glance that he only had the Qi Refining cultivation level.

Then, he put on an expensive imitation leather mask and transformed into the appearance of a middle-aged man.

There was nothing he could do; in this world, he had far more enemies than friends.

After taking care of all that, Xue Xiang shook his left sleeve. The little cutie had curled up into a ball of flesh and was fast asleep. With his shaking, the little one rolled around in his sleeve, showing no signs of waking up.

Xue Xiang glanced at the celestial phenomena and quickly determined the south. Following Han Feng's instructions, he headed south.

To avoid leaving footprints, he walked on air as if stepping on air throughout the entire event.

As they traversed mountains and forests, suddenly, in the distance, a cave was enveloped in golden light, seemingly concealing some wondrous treasures.

Remembering Han Feng's advice to "never enter any caves," Xue Xiang ignored the warning and continued on his way.

Before long, a thunderous roar was heard, the sound of the giant waterfall crashing down.

Xue Xiang followed the sound and suddenly the space in front of him opened up.

In front of us was a sheer cliff, like a curtain falling from the sky.

A towering waterfall cascades down from the cliff top, a white ribbon stretching across the sky, hanging straight from the clouds.

Below the waterfall, mist surged and raindrops filled the air, reflecting the sunlight and creating streaks of rainbows.

The splashing water droplets landed on Xue Xiang's eyebrows, their coolness penetrating to his bones.

A thought flickered in his mind, and he remembered Han Feng's instructions: "Go straight into the water! Does this mean I have to walk through the waterfall?"

Xue Xiang concentrated for a moment, then his literary energy transformed into a gust of wind, engulfing him and propelling him into the waterfall.

The water rushed down with a roar, like iron rocks crashing down, making it hard to breathe.

The icy mist hit my face, feeling like a knife cutting into it.

He used his literary talent to create a shield, managing to withstand the impact of the waterfall.

After more than ten breaths, the thunderous sound suddenly subsided, and a dark stone door appeared before us.

The stone gate was about ten feet tall, with broken array patterns embedded around it. It shone faintly, but it was already dilapidated, like a person in their twilight years, which could be extinguished at any moment.

Xue Xiang stared intently for a moment, knowing that the formation had fallen into disrepair over the years and no longer possessed any real power. However, to be on the safe side, he still took out a spirit stone and flicked it into the formation.

A burst of light gently swept over, and the spirit stone easily penetrated it, falling to the ground.

Xue Xiang breathed a sigh of relief, still using his spiritual energy as a shield to clear the way ahead.

As expected, the array of light didn't even have time to put up a proper resistance before he easily passed through it.

As Xue Xiang entered, it felt as if he had stepped into a new world.

The outside world is filled with a cold and squalid atmosphere, but here, a gentle and vibrant spirit permeates the air, carrying a touch of warmth from life.

Looking around, the stone walls on all sides are flat, indicating that someone has repaired them. The ground is paved with neat stone slabs, making it look more like a dwelling than an abandoned cave.

The four walls are lined with eight recessed grooves, shimmering with a spiritual light, resembling a closet.

In each cabinet, there is a jade box of a different color, all carved from jade, with a smooth and new surface, obviously because there is a spiritual nurturing array inside the cabinet, which can prevent the erosion of time.

Not far away, a stone bed lay across the room. On the stone bed sat a withered skeleton. Its clothes were long since tattered, but it was clear that they had once been luxurious garments.

Even more strangely, the skull itself did not decay; its bones were as white as jade, as if it had remained intact for thousands of years.

That cross-legged posture revealed an indomitable spirit and a sense of peace, as if he was still watching over us in his last breath before death.

Xue Xiang felt a chill run down his spine, slowly cupped his hands, and silently bowed.

Soon, an ancient painting hanging on the left wall caught his attention.

The ancient painting is damaged, and most of the colors have faded, so the scene can only be vaguely discerned.

In the painting, a middle-aged man stands tall, his robes fluttering in the wind, playing a flute.

The surrounding mountains and rivers seemed to fall silent because of the sound of his flute.

Below the painting, a line of words is engraved. The characters are mottled with the passage of time, yet they still reveal a vigorous and powerful style: "A hundred years of life is fleeting, like bubbles in the blink of an eye; may this sound leave a corner of tranquility in the world."

Xue Xiang stared for a long time, a feeling of indescribable emotion welling up in his heart.

Even though the owner of this cave has long since turned to dust, his spirit still remains in the murals and inscriptions.

Time flows on, and all things perish, but the sentiment entrusted to music and words remains.

He sighed softly, "When a person dies, they are ashes, but their spirit lives on."

The light inside the cave trembled slightly, as if responding to this sigh.

He took a deep breath, composed himself, and suddenly remembered Han Feng's last words of advice: "Take it if you see white."

Xue Xiang's gaze swept across the room and suddenly landed on the white square box in the second closet from the right on the left wall.

The square box is warm and smooth all over, as if it were carved from mutton fat jade, with a faint white light flowing across its surface, making it particularly eye-catching.

He strode forward and reached out to take it.

However, a soft light suddenly shone from the cabinet where the box was located, like a curtain, blocking his hand.

Xue Xiang frowned, mobilized his spiritual power, and pressed down suddenly.

The spiritual energy rushed down rapidly, but only created a ripple on the array of light before returning to calm.

"What a fine protective formation!"

A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and a Yuan Explosion Bead appeared in his hand. He planned to detonate the Yuan Explosion Bead from a distance to see if the shockwave could blast through the array of light.

Just then, a commotion suddenly came from outside, sounding like footsteps or whispers.

This was a great shock. Xue Xiang secretly groaned. The noise intensified, and judging from the commotion, there were no fewer than ten people.

"This is too unlucky."

Speechless, Xue Xiang took out several more Yuan Explosion Beads and prepared to fight desperately.

After all, if they met on a narrow path, he believed that these people would not listen to his explanation and would simply kill him.

The cave was so small that it could be seen in one glance, and there wasn't even a place to hide.

To make matters worse, the Land of Demons is isolated by a strange force.

Xue Xiang could not sense the existence of the Wenxu Blessed Land at all, and naturally could not enter the Wenxu Blessed Land to avoid danger.

He looked around and found nowhere to hide. He took out the Jade Glow, feeling even more heartbroken. This was his last resort, and he couldn't afford to use it up so soon after arriving.

We will need this item to protect us as we leave this place of evil.

As the footsteps drew closer, Xue Xiang used his spiritual power to quickly clear away the footprints on the ground, then leaped onto the stone bed.

Xue Xiang took a deep breath, and with a thought, put the skeleton into his storage bracelet. Then he sat cross-legged on the spot where the skeleton had been sitting.

He then activated his mind, and the remaining golden-purple literary energy in the afterglow burst forth, instantly enveloping his entire body.

Golden light and purple clouds intertwined to form a curtain of light, making it impossible for anyone to see what was inside.

After Xue Xiang concealed himself from the golden and purple aura, his heart gradually calmed down.

If you can hold out, then hold out; if you can't, then fight. That's all.

After a dozen or so breaths, more than ten figures filed in and entered the cave one after another.

As soon as everyone entered, they scattered and looked around, exclaiming in surprise.

"Look, the air is filled with literary spirit, such pure literary spirit, this must be the place where the remains of a great sage are."

One of them pointed in the direction where Xue Xiang was and shouted in alarm.

This man, whose full name was Qin Bing, was in the late Foundation Establishment stage, thirty-six or thirty-seven years old, with a face as sharp as if carved by a knife, and eyes that were cold and sharp.

Behind Qin Bing were three men, all of whom were his brothers who had risked their lives for him.

As soon as Qin Bing and his men entered, Xue Xiang noticed the problem from their seating arrangements.

These dozen or so people were roughly divided into four groups, clearly a temporary team formation.

"If that's the case, then there's still a chance."

Xue Xiang steadied himself, not letting his energy leak out in the slightest.

"Don't disturb that literary spirit. The remains of great sages often contain their will before death. If you're not careful, you might awaken their dormant resentment and trigger an attack, which would be worse."

The speaker, whose full name was Wen Xiang, was dressed in black robes, with a gaunt face, carrying a long sword on his back, and eyes as deep as an abyss. He was the only Core Formation cultivator present.

"What you say is absolutely right."

The speaker, Dong Xiaoping, was the leader of the largest group here, with six people under his command. Having reached the peak of Foundation Establishment cultivation, he was well aware of Wen Xiang's importance.

Dong Xiaoping exclaimed, "If it weren't for Brother Wen's reminder, we might have inadvertently stirred up this literary spirit and offended the remaining will of the sages, which would have been a real problem."

I suggest that when we choose the treasure later, Brother Wen, you go first.

Wen Xiang slightly raised her chin and nodded slowly, her eyes showing a hint of approval as she looked at Dong Xiaoping.

"All eight treasures are nourished by spirit arrays and protected by formations, which is quite remarkable."

Tong Feiyu, who was speaking, was in his early thirties and was the leader of the last small group. He was always shrewd and did not want to have a direct conflict with Wen Xiang, but he still wanted to use the power of the group to balance the division of interests. "Brother Wen can choose first, of course, no problem, but who chooses second and who chooses third, we need to make it clear."

There are eight jade boxes here, all nurtured by array formations, and the treasures inside must be rare and precious.

If we don't agree on the division of profits first, I fear we might end up fighting, damaging our relationship, which would be undesirable.

Dong Xiaoping stroked his long beard and said with a smile, "There are eight jade boxes here. There are thirteen of us in total. I think that apart from Brother Wen, who can take one treasure first, we can make some lots for the remaining seven treasures and draw lots according to the number of people. Whoever draws a lot gets it."

Qin Bing's long robe fluttered slightly. "Brother Dong, please don't treat us like fools. You have the most heads, so the chances of winning are the highest when the lottery is drawn by headcount."

Let's divide them into groups. We'll have four groups. There are eight jade boxes here. It's fair and reasonable to take two from each group.

"I think it's okay."

Wen Xiang was the first to express his agreement.

If he counts as one group, according to the Qin soldiers' division method, he could get two.

After a moment's consideration, Dong Xiaoping, unwilling to offend Wen Xiang and suffer a greater loss for a small gain, had no choice but to agree.

Instantly, everyone looked at Tong Feiyu, waiting for him to make a statement.

Tong Feiyu smiled and said, "I have no objection. My only request is that our side should be first in the order of treasure acquisition."

Wen Xiang raised an eyebrow and glared at Tong Feiyu, "Brother Tong, you probably don't know what you're saying, do you?"

Tong Feiyu said, "Brother Wen, please listen to me first before you get angry. All the treasures here are locked by the spirit array, and it will not be easy to break through it."

Apart from Tong, who was proficient in array formations, no one knew who could break the array here.

If we can buy the information and find this place, wouldn't others be able to as well?

If we delay until outsiders arrive, it will be too late to regret it.

After a quick discussion, everyone could only agree with Tong Feiyu's opinion.

Tong Feiyu immediately began to break the formation, and he took out a formation plate.

A faint blue light ignited at his fingertips, flying into the array plate. The array plate then emitted wisps of electric arcs, which intertwined in the air to form a net.

As he chanted the incantation, the electric arcs suddenly expanded, transforming into a light curtain resembling a galaxy.

"rise!"

His eyes shone brightly, and the light emanated into the stone wall.

Instantly, the entire stone wall trembled violently, and the spirit array runes in the eight cabinets lit up one after another.

Fine, dragon-like patterns of light swirled around the four walls, illuminating the entire cave as if it were daytime.

Instantly, the spiritual patterns within the stone wall began to ripple.

Tong Feiyu sighed, "The inner protective formation is too strong. It will take at least half a cup of tea to dissipate it. Please be patient."

Everyone remained silent, waiting quietly.

Xue Xiang was already extremely anxious.

This can't go on; I have to do something.
Just as he was about to speak, suddenly, a burst of inspiration shone from inside the closet.

The square boxes popped open one by one and closed again in an instant.

Everyone was stunned, and Xue Xiang was also taken aback.

Of the eight square boxes, six were empty, except for the third black square box on the left, which contained a golden pill.

There was also the white square box that Xue Xiang had previously focused on, containing a jade-colored scroll.

Instantly, a chorus of voices erupted throughout the hall.

"Is that... a Foundation Establishment Pill? The patterns on the pill look like one, but why is it golden?"

"It's not a Foundation Establishment Pill, it's a Primordial Foundation Establishment Pill!"

"How is this possible? The Innate Foundation Establishment Pill requires the Innate Longevity Grass, which has long been extinct."

"This is an antique, do you understand what an antique is? Who knows how many years this Innate Foundation Establishment Pill has existed?"

This pill, once ingested, can directly open the meridians and establish the foundation, stabilizing the foundation and preventing collapse. It is a supreme spiritual pill that is priceless!

More importantly, it can enhance innate talent and aptitude, allowing even those with inferior spiritual roots to leap to superior aptitude!

"Foundation building, foundation building, what we build is just an ordinary immortal foundation, but the innate foundation building pill builds a Dao foundation. Such a heaven-defying thing, if it falls into the hands of a sect or clan, is enough to rewrite the fate of the clan!"

"…………"

The appearance of the Innate Foundation Building Pill made everyone in the audience turn red with envy.

Xue Xiang was also stunned and almost sat up straight immediately.

The Innate Foundation Building Pill can change one's cultivation aptitude and guarantee a successful foundation building, which is ultimately a foundation for the Dao.

He didn't need these people to tell him; he already knew all of this.

He had been preparing for Foundation Establishment for a long time, and had collected enough relevant information and details.

He also knew that when the foundation for the Dao was built, it would attract extraordinary phenomena from heaven and earth.

Furthermore, they knew that by taking the Innate Foundation Building Pill to establish one's foundation, one could also choose a superior blessed land and, by taking advantage of the terrain, extract spiritual energy.

He couldn't let the Innate Foundation Establishment Pill pass him by, no matter what.

His mind was racing.

The group had already finished discussing the jade-colored scroll.

But no one could give a clear answer.

What intrigued Xue Xiang was that Han Feng had suggested "choosing the white one," and the white jade scroll was indeed placed inside a white jade box.

"It seems this is a good treasure, destined to be mine."

Xue Xiang was quick to make his plans.

Meanwhile, the gasps of surprise from the onlookers turned into a heated debate.

"Good heavens, eight treasure boxes, but only two contain goods, how are we supposed to distribute them?"

"We agreed that we would choose first, so of course we'll stick to the agreement. Besides, who knows when the treasure box might suddenly burst open?"

"Nonsense. If you were to choose first, would you, Old Tong, pick two treasure boxes with real contents first, leaving everyone else empty-handed?"

"That's right, the previous agreement is null and void, since no one knew the treasure box would suddenly open."

"…………"

Instantly, the entire place descended into chaos.

Xue Xiang was secretly delighted; he couldn't wait for these people to start arguing and then fight.

"Everyone."

Dong Xiaoping focused his energy in his dantian and shouted, instantly silencing the entire audience.

Then Dong Xiaoping said, "Arguing won't solve anything."

What I mean is, we'll still draw lots, make eight lots, and mark two of them.

The winner is considered to have won a treasure.

Brother Wenxiang and Brother Feiyu have made contributions, so you two should draw first.

And you each have two chances.

Brother Qin and I will draw our turn, each getting one chance.

There are a total of six chances. If you fail to win the bid after all six attempts, the lottery will be restarted.

Furthermore, those who obtain treasures in this expedition will do their utmost to help those who did not obtain treasures in the next expedition.

What do you all think?

Xue Xiang secretly groaned; Dong Xiaoping was too clever for his brilliance.

Just when things seemed to be heading into chaos, San found the optimal solution in a few words.

Seeing that Wen Xiang, the strongest among them, and Tong Feiyu, who had made the greatest contribution, both showed signs of wanting to make a move.

Xue Xiang knew he couldn't wait any longer.

The protective array in the closet was breached in an instant.

By then, even if he wanted to cause some trouble, it would be impossible.

He took a deep breath and said loudly, "Who awakens first from the great dream? I know myself best."

He slept soundly in the cave, while the sun lingered late outside the window.

He used this phrase when he was the master of Mingde Dongxuan, pretending to be profound.

Therefore, it did not cause any change in the literary atmosphere around him.

Before the poem was finished, everyone's expression changed drastically.

In an instant, everyone subconsciously looked toward the aura of literature emanating from the stone bed.

"Your Excellency has appeared! I, Dong Xiaoping, pay my respects to the venerable sage!"

Dong Xiaoping clasped his hands together and bowed deeply to the ground.

Everyone hurriedly followed suit and bowed, not daring to even breathe heavily.

"Oh, vast heavens, what night is this?"

Xue Xiang feigned a long sigh.

Having successfully assumed the role of the Lord of Mingde Dongxuan, he was now naturally adept at it. "I never imagined that a trace of my lingering will would be awakened. Could you gentlemen come here to cherish this old man's legacy?"

The group looked at each other, none of them daring to answer.

After all, there have been instances in the past where the lingering remnants of dormant sages have been awakened, and then, using their remaining literary energy, they would frequently chant and slaughter those who sought the treasure.

"Indeed, please grant my request, senior."

Wen Xiang answered loudly.

He was obsessed with cultivation and did not understand the ways of the world. He knew little about the remnants of the will of great sages. Although he respected them, he was not particularly afraid of them.

"Good, I like your straightforwardness and courage to take responsibility."

Xue Xiang had his eye on Wen Xiang long ago.

He clearly saw that the only way to break the current predicament was to start with Wen Xiang.

This person has the highest level of cultivation; if his greed is aroused, everything will fall into place naturally.

“Young friend, you wish to retrieve the treasure. I, too, wish to entrust this treasure to a person with the right destiny, and thus rest in peace forever.”

As soon as Xue Xiang finished speaking, Dong Xiaoping respectfully asked, "May I ask, senior, what is meant by a destined person?"

Xue Xiang said loudly, "Those who follow my heart are destined to be together."

During my lifetime, I was fond of painting and dyeing.

Today, we are gathered here to celebrate this grand occasion.

Since there are no paintbrushes here, I will present a theme: snow. Gentlemen, please compose a poem.

He had already decided that he had to give this opportunity to Wen Xiang.

Wen Xiang was a talented poet, so he went along with it.

When Wen Xiang was found to have no talent for poetry, he said, "It's a pity that the scholar's cap has ruined his life. What we need is a pure person like Wen Xiang who is not literate."

Therefore, he casually made up a common poem title and waited for Wen Xiang to fall into his trap.

Everyone roused themselves, pondering their next move, eager to seize the championship.

Unexpectedly, Wen Xiang immediately recited, "Birds have vanished from a thousand mountains, and human tracks have disappeared from ten thousand paths."

An old man in a straw hat and raincoat, alone in a small boat, fishes in the cold river snow.

Upon hearing this poem, the entire audience fell silent.

Xue Xiang was also stunned. He had seen shameless people before, but he had never seen anyone as shameless as this.

They themselves copied Liu Zongyuan's work, and there's a middleman to pass it on.

Everyone was also shocked.

The poem about fishing for two fish is widely circulated and is now known to everyone, from women to children.

Does someone surnamed Wen dare to plagiarize openly?
Upon realizing this, everyone appreciated its subtlety.

Wen Xiang copied it well; everyone knows he copied it. This old man has been sitting here for hundreds of years, but he has no idea.

Xue Xiang also thought Wen Xiang had done a good job. He was holding back his enthusiasm, afraid that he might not be able to give the opportunity to Wen Xiang properly.

This couldn't be better.

He exclaimed loudly, "Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! I never imagined that this old man, with his last remaining thought, would hear such a masterpiece. It is truly lofty and unparalleled, and listening to it is intoxicating."

"This old man has eight treasures; young friend, you may take two."

"Thank you for your kindness, senior!"

Wen Xiang was overjoyed.

"No, it's alright, who, is there any good... no, this is bad, I... am going to sleep."

Xue Xiang gradually fell silent.

"Senior, senior..."

Everyone gasped in surprise, but Xue Xiang remained motionless.

"What should I do?"

Tong Feiyu said, "We haven't explained the situation to the senior yet. The senior thought he had eight more treasures, but there are actually only two here."

"What's there to say? This opportunity was bestowed upon me by my senior, and it is perfectly right for me to accept it."

Wen Xiang indeed turned hostile.

His cultivation was the strongest, just as he harbored a sharp weapon in his heart and had long harbored murderous intent.

Xue Xiang merely went along with the flow, amplifying his greed and giving him a legitimate claim.

Wen Xiang indeed harbored the idea of ​​monopolizing the precious treasure.

Brother Wen, please think it over carefully.

Dong Xiaoping also realized that the situation was in danger of getting out of control, so he cupped his hands and said, "Brother Wen, there are two treasures here. You take one, and we will draw lots for the remaining one."

"No."

Qin Bing said coldly, "Just now, you, Old Dong, finalized the plan. You can't overturn the original plan just because Fellow Daoist Wen had other ideas."

If the terms of the agreement can be changed so easily, I don't think there's any point in continuing this cooperation.

"If you don't want to cooperate, then don't cooperate. What use are you to me?"

After speaking coldly, Wen Xiang swayed and stood in front of the cabinet where the Innate Foundation Establishment Pill was located.

At this moment, the protective array inside the closet was already on the verge of collapse and could break at any moment.

"Gentlemen, do you see clearly now? This man surnamed Wen is trying to rob us outright."

Tong Feiyu said, "We have gone through many hardships, what reason is there to let this person take all the benefits?"

"That's right. So what if he's at the Core Formation stage? If we join forces, we might not be afraid of him."

"Don't think that people surnamed Wen are easy to bully. You're jealous of the opportunity bestowed upon you by your senior. You deserve to be beaten."

"Enough talk, take this."

In an instant, war broke out.

Inside the narrow cave, suddenly, a flurry of light and sand flew everywhere.

Wen Xiang fought against many opponents and did not lose any ground.

The fight grew fiercer and fiercer, and Xue Xiang gradually couldn't withstand the aftershocks of their attacks. The literary aura that had been covering him began to dissipate.

He knew he couldn't keep going like this any longer.

With a thought, he wrapped a Yuan Burst Bead in his spiritual power and quietly sent it to the center of the battle.

Immediately afterwards, the sword spirit manifested and shot directly at the Yuanbao Bead.

Now, everyone realized something was wrong.

But, it's too late.

boom! !

Suddenly, the cave was filled with white light.

Blinding flames erupted from the depths of the cave, with raging fire and fierce winds surging like a tide, accompanied by earth-shattering roars.

The stone wall suddenly shattered, sending fragments flying everywhere. The air was compressed and then violently expanded outwards.

Dong Xiaoping, Qin Bing, Tong Feiyu, and the others were all caught off guard and were blasted backward by the shockwave, spitting out blood.

Although Wen Xiang was a Core Formation cultivator, he was also caught in the crossfire. Even with his spiritual energy shield, he was forced back several feet, his clothes were charred, and he was spitting blood incessantly.

The protective array holding the closet collapsed completely, causing the entire cave to rumble and shake.

The stone wall cracked like paper, the mountain shook, a large number of rocks fell, and dust billowed, as if to bury everyone together.

A cold glint flashed in Xue Xiang's eyes.

Taking advantage of the chaos, he cast a Swift Wind Talisman, his figure flashing like an arrow, and snatched the black jade box containing the Innate Foundation Establishment Pill.

The sword's courage manifested as a long rope, inside which was a jade box containing a white jade scroll.

With a whoosh, both items entered Xue Xiang's storage ring.

The crowd was filled with shock and anger, shouting repeatedly, and disregarding their pain, they unleashed their most ferocious attacks.

In an instant, several shockwaves shot towards Xue Xiang.

Xue Xiang was already prepared and took the initiative to crush the teleportation talisman he was holding in his hand.

The talisman exploded, and Xue Xiang vanished instantly.

(End of this chapter)