At the beginning, I cleaned the Sutra Library and completed the incomplete skills.

Chapter 219: Scheming Against Each Other

However,

it was naturally impossible for Li Lan to open this Restriction under everyone's watchful eyes.

Anyway, no one present except him could open it,

so he didn't need to be so ostentatious.

Li Lan was already pondering in his mind,

that after this joint Treasure hunt was over, he would secretly return to this place to seize this Opportunity.

Thinking this in his heart,

Li Lan also symbolically made a move, attempting to break the Formation.

Under his deliberate actions, this attempt naturally yielded no results.

He spread his hands to the crowd, indicating that he was also powerless.

Although they had long anticipated this situation,

now that they witnessed it firsthand,

the other three Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators couldn't help but sigh softly.

Anyone who saw a Treasure so close, yet utterly unobtainable, would likely not be in a good mood.

Seeing this situation, Tan Sheng

came out with a smile to comfort them:

"Fellow Daoists, there's no need to be too disheartened. Although the Core Formation Opportunity is temporarily out of reach, there are other Opportunities we can strive for."

With that said,

Tan Sheng led everyone to the third passage on the right.

Although the Restriction here was also formidable, it was much weaker compared to the other two.

"I, Tan, have been wearing down this Formation Restriction, which has the power of a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, for over half a year. Now, its inherent power is less than one-tenth of what it once was.

If the six of us work together, we can completely break it in no time.

Judging by the original owner of this Immortal Cave's style,

what is stored here should be greatly beneficial even to Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators.

Even if we only manage to obtain one or two items,

it would guarantee a Breakthrough without worries.

Fellow Daoists, let's not waste any more time. Let's quickly work together to break the Formation. Otherwise, if the original owner of the Immortal Cave happens to return at this moment, you and I might be in trouble."

Tan Sheng's words undoubtedly struck a chord with everyone.

Since the Core Formation Opportunity couldn't be obtained for the time being, the top priority was indeed to secure the Opportunities that could be obtained.

After all, a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

"This Formation has a self-healing effect. Fellow Daoists, don't hold back. Use all your Divine Abilities.

Let's break this Formation as quickly as possible, divide the treasures within, and leave, to avoid any complications!"

Seeing that no one had any objections,

Tan Sheng took the lead, activating the Magical Artifact in his hand to begin breaking the Formation, with his son Tan Shun'an following closely behind.

Seeing the other party take the lead, the remaining three Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivators said nothing,

and all once again brought out the Magical Artifacts and Eagle Treasure they had used before.

Only Li Lan, witnessing this scene, secretly sneered in his heart.

He held the token, which allowed him to easily sense and control all the Restriction mechanisms in this Immortal Cave,

but he was unable to establish a connection with the one before him.

This indicated that this Restriction was not set up by Elder Di, the original owner of the Immortal Cave.

As for who was behind it, the answer was already obvious.

Tan Sheng might have deceived others, but he couldn't fool Li Lan, who held the Restriction token.

Cautious as he was, how could he not see the trick?

The reason the other party went to such great lengths to replicate a Formation here and then summoned them to assist was probably because his deepest intention was to kill them and seize their treasures.

However,

Li Lan did not expose the other party's trick on the spot at this time.

After all, it was hard to know what was in other people's hearts, and he didn't know what relationship the remaining three Cultivators had with Tan Sheng.

If these people in front of him had conspired together,

and their main target was himself,

then him jumping out to warn them would undoubtedly seem ridiculous.

His Divine Thought raced in his mind, but Li Lan showed no trace of it on his face.

Like the other Cultivators, he took out a water-attribute Magical Artifact and jointly wore down the Formation Restriction.

Secretly,

he clasped the Restriction token in his hand, hiding it within his sleeve, for unforeseen circumstances.

Although Tan Sheng was outwardly attacking the Formation with all his might,

he was secretly observing everyone's actions.

Seeing Li Lan's half-hearted effort, he couldn't help but frown deeply.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, we have all used our full Divine Abilities, yet you only brought out a High Grade Tier 4 Magical Artifact. Isn't such secrecy a bit too much?"

Tan Sheng actively pointed the spear at Li Lan.

The remaining four seemed to notice this only then, and their faces also showed dissatisfaction.

Seeing this situation,

Li Lan said with some helplessness:

"I also want to display my Divine Abilities like all of you and break this Formation as quickly as possible.

But unfortunately, I, Lin, am just a Loose Cultivator, and my purse is quite empty.

This High Grade Tier 4 Magical Artifact is already the highest-grade Magical Artifact I can produce.

I, Lin, was also lucky enough to obtain a Treasure, but its attribute doesn't match, so I can't activate it."

Li Lan's words were half-true and half-false.

He indeed did not have any water-attribute Treasures or pseudo-Treasures on him at the moment.

As for the Qinghong Duan Shui Sword, it was something even False Core Stage mighty figures coveted, so it was naturally impossible to take it out in such an occasion. "Is Fellow Daoist Lin truly in such a predicament? You even have a Treasure, but not even a decent Tier 5 Magical Artifact?"

As for Li Lan's words,

the others naturally couldn't believe them.

But Li Lan insisted he didn't have one, and they couldn't verify it.

"If that's the case, then we won't force you, Fellow Daoist.

However, if Fellow Daoist Lin only has a Tier 4 Magical Artifact, then the remuneration promised to you earlier will not count.

It must be redistributed according to effort.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair to the other Fellow Daoists."

Tan Sheng's eyes darted around as he spoke slowly.

The other Cultivators' eyes lit up upon hearing this, and they agreed repeatedly.

They were naturally a hundred percent willing to get more benefits.

Upon hearing this, Li Lan

showed a troubled expression, and finally sighed helplessly:

"Alright then, who told me, Lin, that I'm not as skilled as others."

Although he looked embarrassed on the surface, he was secretly sneering.

If Tan Sheng had said these words before they came,

he might have pondered them with some doubt.

But now that Li Lan had seen through the other party's tricks,

he naturally wouldn't believe a single word of what he said.

No matter what Tan Sheng's ultimate goal was,

at least the verbally promised benefits would definitely not be fulfilled.

Seeing that the conversation had reached this point, and Li Lan would rather suffer a loss than exert himself,

Tan Sheng had no other choice.

His gaze flickered several times, uncertain, and finally he could only accept this reality.

Although the Cultivators were conversing, they did not slack off in the slightest.

Under the repeated wearing down by several Magical Artifacts and Treasures,

the Restriction Formation quickly became precarious,

its light flickering, seemingly about to completely shatter at any moment.

Seeing this situation, Tan Sheng

could no longer bother to argue with Li Lan.

He perked up, and a clear hint of joy entered his voice.

"This Formation won't last much longer. Fellow Daoists, don't hold back, give it your all! Strive to break it in one fell swoop!"

Since the Cultivators arrived at this Immortal Cave, they had not stopped activating their spiritual power for a moment.

Even with the reserves of a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, they were inevitably feeling the strain at this point.

All the Cultivators present had already taken out their Treasures to restore their own consumption.

Li Lan noticed that

the Cultivators from different counties used different Treasures and resources to recover.

Most of them used Qi-storing spiritual items abundantly produced in Zhuozhou.

Only Li Lan himself was still using Low-Grade Spirit Stones to restore his spiritual power.

When the other Cultivators saw him doing this, a hint of surprise flashed in their eyes.

Although it was extremely well-concealed, he still accurately captured it.

It seemed to be a feeling of looking at a nouveau riche.

Li Lan pondered for a moment and guessed part of the reason.

These Qi-storing spiritual items seemed to be recyclable, while Spirit Stones were single-use consumables.

Unless it was a particularly critical moment,

to conserve Cultivation resources, these Cultivators would primarily use the former.

As he was thinking,

a crisp 'pop' sound rang out.

The Formation Restriction, which had the power of a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, finally broke as expected under everyone's continuous wearing down.

Hearing this sound, everyone rejoiced in their hearts.

The bearded Cultivator, who reacted the fastest,

flashed and was about to rush into the passage first,

to be the first to see what good things the original owner of this Immortal Cave had left behind.

The other two, though a half-beat slower in reaction, also followed closely without showing weakness.

Three streaks of rainbow light rushed towards the passage almost simultaneously.

Only Tan Sheng and his son, and Li Lan, were a half-beat slower.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, don't you want to see what Opportunities that Golden Core Stage Senior left behind?"

Tan Sheng asked seemingly casually.

"No, due to my Magical Artifact, I can no longer participate in the division of the items within.

What that Senior left behind, what does it have to do with me?"

Li Lan said indifferently,

and his words immediately left Tan Sheng speechless.

After all, what the other party said was the truth, and he had no reason to refute it.

Tan Sheng cleared his throat twice, his eyes darting around, and said:

"Although Fellow Daoist Lin didn't contribute much, you still put in effort. I, Tan, was just saying angry words to appease the other three earlier, so please don't take it to heart, Fellow Daoist.

No matter what is inside, what I promised Fellow Daoist Lin earlier still stands.

I will exchange the Treasure for the Core Condensing Pill."

"Then I, Lin, thank you in advance, Fellow Daoist."

Li Lan replied with a forced smile, his tone neither happy nor sad.

"I understand that Fellow Daoist has resentment in your heart.

But this Cultivation World is ultimately a place where the strong prey on the weak. If you don't have absolute strength to protect yourself,

not only do you not have the right to negotiate, but it's not impossible to even become someone else's prey.

However, Fellow Daoist can rest assured that I, Tan, am not a vicious person. Meeting each other is fate, and no matter what, I will protect you.

Fellow Daoist, you don't have to worry too much about those three having ill intentions towards you.

Alright, let's quickly go in and see what that Senior left behind.

If there are any water-attribute Treasures inside, it's not impossible for me to trade them with Fellow Daoist."

Tan Sheng spoke with a mix of threat and persuasion, trying to coax Li Lan into entering the passage as well.

"Fellow Daoist Tan is benevolent, I, Lin, admire you. Thank you very much, Fellow Daoist."

Although Li Lan spoke politely,

he always maintained a safe distance from the other party, lagging slowly behind.

Seeing this, Tan Sheng was so angry that his teeth itched,

Killing Intent frequently appeared in his eyes, wishing he could kill him with a single palm strike right now.

While the two were scheming against each other in the back,

a sudden change occurred in the front.

As the bearded Cultivator just reached the stone door,

before he could even enter,

several angry roars suddenly erupted from within.

The momentum was so great that it even completely blew away the heavy stone door.

The bearded Cultivator, caught off guard,

was solidly struck by the stone door and flew backward at a speed several times faster than he had come.

The other two, upon seeing what was behind the door, both gasped.

"There's someone else inside this Formation?!"

"This is the aura of a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage?!"