Along the way, Tan Miaotong’s heart kept fluttering wildly. Her face, already beautiful to the extreme, was flushed with a deep red blush. Whenever Ye Jingyun teased her with a couple of playful remarks, Tan Miaotong would not dare look at Ye Chu at all. She remained shy the entire journey, displaying her charms in full.
Ye Chu, however, had thick skin. No matter how Ye Jingyun accused him of having wicked intentions, he turned a deaf ear to it all. His expression stayed perfectly natural, showing not the slightest sign that his behaviour had been exposed.
The spiritual spring was located some distance from Ma Yuan City. It took Ye Chu and the other two a full hour to reach the place. By the time they arrived, quite a number of people had already set up camp outside the cave where the spiritual spring was located.
“Everyone, many people have come this time, but the spiritual spring is extremely limited. It can support absorption by no more than ten people at most. So we have come up with a method. Those with ability will step forward. We will all compete for ten spots, and whoever seizes a spot gets to enter,” a man with a long, horse-like face stood blocking the cave entrance and addressed the hundreds of cultivators gathered outside.
“What the city lord of Ma Yuan City says makes sense. After all, the spiritual spring is limited. Not everyone can have a share. Only this way can fairness be guaranteed!” a middle-aged man chimed in.
“Fairness my foot! According to what you say, the spiritual spring would basically belong to you lot. Do you really think the rest of us can compete with you Primordial Spirit Realm cultivators?” Finally, someone could not hold back and exploded in anger.
“Exactly! City lord of Ma Yuan City, your city is right next door, so of course you can mobilise a large force. If it’s really ‘the capable take it’, then the spiritual spring might as well belong to Ma Yuan City.”
“Hmph! City lord of Ma Yuan City, don’t be too greedy. Even though Ma Yuan City is right here, if we all join forces, flattening your city would be nothing difficult.”
“…”
One person after another spoke up, causing the city lord of Ma Yuan City’s face to turn extremely ugly. Looking at the indignant crowd, he knew it was impossible for him to monopolise the spring.
“Then what do you suggest? Just let any ten random people go in?” The city lord of Ma Yuan City snorted. “The spiritual spring cannot be absorbed by so many people.”
“That’s simple! There are quite a few forces here this time. Let’s select several groups, and each group gets an average share of spots. How the spots within each group are divided is their own business. This way, everyone gets a fair portion.” A middle-aged man stepped forward. From the surging aura around him, it was clear he had reached the Primordial Spirit Realm.
When the city lord of Ma Yuan City heard this suggestion, he nearly spat blood. This spiritual spring had been discovered by people from Ma Yuan City, yet these people wanted to divide it equally among the various forces, snatching away more than half of it.
Moreover, if his side made a mistake and failed to secure any spots, the spiritual spring would have nothing to do with him at all.
The city lord of Ma Yuan City’s face darkened, but the others paid no attention. One after another they nodded in agreement. “Exactly! That’s fair!”
“Right! Let’s do it that way!”
“Then let’s select three groups. Each group gets three spots. In consideration that Ma Yuan City discovered it, we’ll give them the extra one spot.”
“Does anyone object? If not, then it’s decided!”
“…”
These major forces had clearly come to an agreement beforehand. With one sentence from each, everything was settled.
Although the city lord of Ma Yuan City was furious, he also knew Ma Yuan City could not confront these people head-on. He took a deep breath and, practically gritting his teeth, said, “Fine, we’ll do it that way!”
“Each group can only send five people. We will set up an arena on that open ground over there. The last three groups standing will claim the five spots each. How about it?” The city lord of Ma Yuan City shouted to the crowd, putting forward the method most advantageous to them. In terms of the number of powerhouses, they still held the advantage. If they could not rely on sheer numbers, then each camp would send only five people.
When Ye Chu heard this method, he could not help glancing at Ye Jingyun. Ye Jingyun nodded and went forward to register.
The crowd was stunned when they saw Ye Jingyun. They thought to themselves, was a lone woman really representing a camp? Was this a joke?
The leader of one camp fixed his gaze on Ye Jingyun’s long legs and said with a leering smile, “Beauty! Why don’t you come with me? I’ll definitely secure a spot for you!”
Ye Jingyun swept him with a glance full of disgust. “Get lost!”
He Jun was a Primordial Spirit Realm cultivator and the master of a mountain. Even the city lord of Ma Yuan City gave him some face. How could he have expected to be berated by a woman? He glared at Ye Jingyun and snarled, “Bitch, just wait till you’re on the stage. I’ll sort you out properly and ride you good!”
Ye Jingyun trembled with rage and was about to strike out when Ye Chu stepped forward at that moment. He grabbed Ye Jingyun’s hand and said to her, “There’s no rush to deal with him right now!”
After speaking, Ye Chu turned his gaze to He Jun. “A filthy mouth will rot sooner or later!”
Seeing a young man stand up and speak to him like that, He Jun’s face grew even darker. He was about to unleash a torrent of curses, but Ye Chu did not even spare him a glance. Instead he dragged the group away.
Soon the representatives of the various sides were chosen. Including Ye Chu’s group, there were seven camps in total. Each camp had at least one Primordial Spirit Realm powerhouse overseeing it. Ma Yuan City was the most terrifying. Apart from the city lord himself being in the Primordial Spirit Realm, his deputy was also on the verge of stepping into it.
The strength of the other groups varied, but none could be underestimated.
“What do you think?” Ye Jingyun asked Ye Chu.
“If you can hold off a Primordial Spirit Realm cultivator, then with the two of us working together, apart from Ma Yuan City’s camp, no one else would be our match. The only worry is that if they discover our strength, they might join forces to eliminate us first. After all, we’re outsiders. They won’t sit back and let outsiders take the spiritual spring.”
Ye Jingyun nodded. She also realised this was a problem.
“But this spiritual spring can help us advance a whole layer. It’s truly a great treasure. It would be a real pity to miss it!” Ye Jingyun said.
“Let’s go take a look first!” Ye Chu said to Ye Jingyun. “The best approach is to first crush Ma Yuan City’s side and intimidate them so they won’t dare act rashly against us.”
Ye Jingyun could not help glancing at Ma Yuan City’s camp. She estimated her own strength and realised there was still a considerable gap between her and the city lord of Ma Yuan City, not to mention his powerful subordinates. She and Ye Chu would not gain the upper hand.
Seeing Ye Jingyun frown, Ye Chu smiled at her. Then he turned to Tan Miaotong and said, “You don’t need to participate. Just stay outside. I’ll do my best to secure a spot for you.”
Tan Miaotong nodded. “Don’t force yourselves either. If it really doesn’t work out, just give up. We can always cultivate slowly later!”
Ye Chu and Ye Jingyun verbally agreed to Tan Miaotong’s words, but in their hearts they both understood that such an opportunity was rare and could not be easily passed up.
“Bitch, just wait. I’ll flatten you soon!” He Jun spotted Ye Chu and Ye Jingyun approaching. He looked at the two of them with arrogant swagger, laughing loudly with a lewd glint in his eyes as he kept scanning Ye Chu up and down.