Chapter 109: Ye Xuan Struggles Forward! The Sects

By the time the women's voices reached Ye Xuan's ears, he was paralyzed again. He had just sprinted toward the trees at maximum speed the moment he trapped the venomous centipede, pouring every ounce of strength into it.

But in the end, he realized it was useless—completely useless. Because Xu Chen and the others moved faster than him, arriving at his side with perfect timing, not a fraction off. At this moment, he couldn't even struggle.

Xu Chen regarded Ye Xuan with calm disdain and said: "Sorry, trash. We're taking the Inner Dan." As he spoke, the Huo Qilin seized the Inner Dan in its mouth.

Then, it immediately used its Huo Qilin pressure to erase the residual beast consciousness within the Inner Dan. Finally, the Inner Dan became nothing but a pure Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure, swallowed whole by the Huo Qilin. Ye Xuan's face turned ashen, utterly grim, yet he had no way to stop it. That bastard Xu Chen always did this—damn it! "Let's refine it after we get out. This Inner Dan's energy is too strong," the Huo Qilin mused, then grinned happily.

Ye Xuan's face darkened. If this Inner Dan were his, his strength could advance further.

He might even break through to Sixth Grade Middle Stage. Damn it—these bastards truly deserve to die.

The next instant, Xu Chen slapped Ye Xuan's face, speaking like a villain: "Trash, I'll give you a choice: forward or backward."

"Backward means you must not come near us at all. Forward means you may move freely. Which do you choose?" Xu Chen thought inwardly: to continue the plot, Ye Xuan must go forward. He estimated that given Ye Xuan's and Ling Zunzhe's personalities, they'd inevitably choose to advance to higher battlefield layers. As expected, Ye Xuan's face darkened: "If you have the guts, let me enter the Sixth Layer—or even the Seventh." Xu Chen laughed: "Aren't you afraid you'll keep working for me?"

Ye Xuan sneered: "Retreating means no more opportunities whatsoever. I won't retreat." Xu Chen nodded: "Good. That's the only thing about you worth a slight compliment. Go." With that, Xu Chen ordered the women to release Ye Xuan. They said nothing and obeyed immediately.

Ye Xuan coldly added: "Xu Chen, you'll regret today's decision."

Xu Chen scoffed: "Have you ever surpassed me? Where's your confidence, hmm? Don't leave, and I'll break both your legs." Ye Xuan's lips twitched slightly, then he dared not speak again, immediately dashing toward the Sixth Layer—and even the Seventh.

The women said: "What if Ye Xuan finds a chance for cultivation?" Others from Jixia Xuegong also suggested: "Young Palace Master, why not just expel Ye Xuan—and then kill him?"

"This man is so brazen, he doesn't respect you at all. You can tolerate it, but we can't." Xu Chen shook his head: "Don't rush. I have my reasons." The Jixia Xuegong members nodded: "Yes!" Xu Chen smiled faintly: "If Ye Xuan finds something valuable, we can take it. Isn't that right?"

Everyone nodded—it was true, they could take it.

Bu Fengshuang warned: "I fear he'll swallow it whole if he finds something."

Xu Chen remained calm: "It doesn't matter. If he can swallow it, it's fate. But not every treasure is something he can swallow."

In his eyes, the most important thing was still the plot. Opportunities were secondary—he could find plenty more if he wanted. With that thought, he chuckled happily: "Let's go. Maybe Ye Xuan is still just a hired laborer." With Bu Fengshuang leading, Xu Chen and the others entered the Ancient Battlefield's Sixth Layer. In this layer, Xu Chen discovered more than one treasure: Spirit Stones, Pills, Spirit Medicine, and weapons.

Though some were damaged, their quantity was enormous.

At this moment, Ye Xuan was not in the Sixth Layer—he seemed to have gone deeper. Xu Chen gave the order: "I already took the treasures. You're free to take whatever you find in this layer. Whoever gets it, it's theirs." Upon hearing this, the disciples of Jixia Xuegong and Qixiu Workshop erupted in joy: "Thank you, Young Palace Master!"

Immediately, they began searching the Sixth Layer for treasures.

Quickly, various Spirit Stones and Spirit Medicines filled the hands of Jixia Xuegong and Qixiu Workshop members. "Damn it! Even the Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure in the Sixth Layer is gone—and we're only on the Third Layer!" Seeing this, members of other sects felt their hearts bleed. The Sixth Layer's Sixth Grade Spirit Medicines and Pills were countless. Even one-tenth of them would yield a massive harvest.

Now, all of it had been handed to Jixia Xuegong and Qixiu Workshop—they were filled with bitter regret! Soon after, they watched as Jixia Xuegong's group completely ransacked the Sixth Layer. "I heard this battlefield has nine layers total—and the Ninth Layer holds the Spring of Immortality."

"Everyone, let's combine our strength and smash it open with one punch?"

"If we keep acting with divided loyalties and hidden agendas, we'll end up with nothing." The Heavenly Sword Sect's representative's face darkened. The Shadow Gate's representative nodded: "True. Individually, none of our sects have top-tier Array Masters."

"But if we combine all our Array Masters and all our strongest, we'll surely find a way." The Five Poisons Sect's Yaodu Popo cackled: "We have a method to guarantee breaking the Spiritual Qi barrier—but it requires some lives." Everyone's pupils shrank slightly. Could the Five Poisons Sect really have such a cruel method? Their eyes flickered—there were still many weaklings present.

They immediately asked: "Fine. I believe nothing is too much for the Spring of Immortality."

Yaodu Popo smiled: "To keep up with Xu Chen and Ye Xuan, I need the blood and Spiritual Qi of Sixth Grade experts. The stronger, the better. If you're unwilling, then forget it." Everyone's eyes narrowed: "You're certain?" Yaodu Popo nodded: "I'm an Array Master. I need blood to strengthen my power—I guarantee a 100% break."

The instant she finished speaking, everyone's gaze locked onto Jin Wudi of the Jingang Sect. Among the Jingang Sect, Jin Wudi was the strongest Sixth Grade expert.

But now, Jin Wudi was severely wounded—perfect target.

The Jingang Sect members roared in fury: "What are you planning? If our Jingang Sect's Palace Master finds out, none of you will leave alive!" The Shadow Gate's member smirked coldly: "Sorry. For the Spring of Immortality, you'll all go to hell." With that, the Heavenly Sword Sect, Tianlei Pavilion, and Shadow Gate members launched lethal attacks against the Jingang Sect.

Every strike was vicious, every move a killing technique.

In an instant, the Jingang Sect members were slaughtered, their blood splattered everywhere. Xu Chen turned and saw this, his expression unmoved. In his past life, these sects had done exactly this. "Boom!"

At this moment, having consumed countless flesh and Spiritual Qi, Yaodu Popo's Array mastery surged. Instantly, she unleashed numerous black Array Patterns, shattering the Spiritual Qi barrier of the Third Layer.

A clear, spacious entrance—large enough for many—appeared before them. Yaodu Popo cackled, chilling to behold: "My friends, did I lie to you?"

Seeing this, the sect leaders erupted in joy: "Madam is incredible!"

Yaodu Popo activated her movement technique and said coolly: "Let's go. We want our share of the Spring of Immortality." Everyone followed Yaodu Popo, swiftly advancing toward the Sixth Layer.

Xu Chen, still in the Seventh Layer, had already ransacked all the treasures and entered the Eighth Layer. There, he found no sign of Ye Xuan.

"Looks like Ye Xuan entered the Ninth Layer," the women said.

At this moment, Yaodu Popo and the others were breaking through the Spiritual Qi barrier at an astonishing speed. In mere minutes, they had reached the Sixth Layer.

Xu Chen said: "No rush. Let's see if there's anything left in the Eighth Layer."

Without further words, he immediately released his Divine Sense, instantly covering the entire Eighth Layer. He hadn't released it before because he wasn't in a hurry—but now, he had no choice.

Quickly, every detail of the Eighth Layer became known to him.

Finally, his gaze locked onto a stone the size of a palm. It looked exactly like a river pebble, emitting no Spiritual Qi whatsoever. But Xu Chen could sense a peculiar resonance within it. There was definitely something inside.

Yaodu Popo also saw the stone in Xu Chen's hand, her eyes instantly gleaming: "Xu Chen, hand over that stone. I'll pay you ten thousand high-grade Spirit Stones. If you refuse, the Five Poisons Sect will hunt you to the ends of the earth. Consider this your warning."

"Holy shit!"

Hearing this, the sect members were stunned.

A plain river pebble worth ten thousand high-grade Spirit Stones? No—this wasn't a pebble at all. It was a priceless treasure.

And it was surely more valuable than the Bishui Qingming Rain or the Soul Refining Liquid. Otherwise, Yaodu Popo wouldn't have offered ten thousand high-grade Spirit Stones outright!

Xi also sensed the stone's extraordinary nature: "It seems to be something left behind by ancient poison cultivators."

Xu Chen sneered: "Old hag, you dare threaten me? You'll never touch this stone—never even see it again in your life."

With that, he stored the stone in his Storage Ring and turned to Bu Fengshuang: "Let's enter the Ninth Layer first. We'll study this stone after we leave the Tianxuan Secret Realm." Bu Fengshuang nodded: "Agreed."

She flicked her ten fingers, releasing dozens of Array Patterns, opening a gap in the Ninth Layer's Spiritual Qi barrier.

Then, Xu Chen led the group into the Ancient Battlefield's Ninth Layer. At that exact moment, Yaodu Popo and the others arrived at the Eighth Layer.

Her face darkened: "Good. Keep chasing. I want both the Spring of Immortality and that stone." With that, she, like Bu Fengshuang, carved open a passage through the Spiritual Qi barrier. The next instant, all the sect members entered.

At this moment, the top experts of every sect finally gathered once more.

All sect members believed the Spring of Immortality was about to emerge. PS: Fifth chapter! Sixteen thousand today!! Thank you, great patrons, for your rewards!!