Chapter 197: Self‑Mockery

Coincidentally, another group of cultivators from East Continent and Dragon Emperor Island also arrived at this moment.

These people also caught a tailwind and squeezed into the Mountain‑Guarding Great Array.

Jiang Tu watched Lin Zhenren and his group chase Bi Luo into Tai Ji Dian, and upon discovering that only Fish Tokens were present, the bunch of Core‑binding cultivators immediately crowded to the altar and began snatching.

In the instant of pushing and shoving, no one could even hope to get one.

In the hall, spells flew chaotically, and Foundation‑Establishment cultivators each brandished defensive artifacts to dodge.

Multicolored spells and flashing blades clashed everywhere, and many that struck the hall's seals produced a buzzing, grating sound.

It was actually Xuantang Xingjun, who had entered the mountain at midnight; he never went to Tai Ji Dian at all, but instead headed to the mid‑mountain courtyards to break seals and hunt for treasure.

The team that followed his light were all Foundation‑Establishment stage, and upon finding each courtyard sealed, they kept trailing the elder to search for treasure.

At that moment, Jiang Tu wanted to send a message to Lin Zhenren to stop fighting, reminding that each person could only take one Fish Token, so it was better to hurry to the courtyards and hunt for treasure.

Unfortunately it could not exit the underground surveillance tunnel, because since they descended the stone gate had become impossible to open, and Jiang Yu and Jiang Bai were already deep in cultivation, leaving it alone unable to open the stone gate.

Under those circumstances, it could only stare at the mirror on the wall, watching the Core‑binding cultivators fight endlessly.

"Strange, the East Continent cultivators should know a Fish Token can only be taken once; why are they still fighting the Tianyuan cultivators?" Jiang Tu wondered whether he was a demon or a human.

It didn't notice that the Tianyuan and Dragon Emperor cultivators present outnumbered the East Continent ones, while the Fish Tokens in the Heaven‑and‑Earth Box were limited.

Moreover, since the Cloud‑Mist Immortal Sect was wiped out, the Cave Heaven has only opened three times in nearly a millennium, and East Continent cultivators have not seen Tai Ji Dian; some may not know the Fish Tokens are limited.

The latter are stalling, hoping that more cultivators from this continent will arrive later to seize the majority of Fish Tokens.

Jiang Yu's cultivation could not explain the key points to Jiang Tu, so he could only watch the spectacle.

Seeing a group of Foundation‑Establishment cultivators dash out of the hall into side rooms, it still hoped someone could slip under the cauldron to help open the stone gate.

"Wan Xiyue, Guo Jue, can't one of you crawl under the cauldron?" Jiang Tu's muttering was blocked by the seal, so the two outside could not hear.

The next moment, it saw the little snake king Bi Luo scramble onto the incense table, searching the hall for a legacy item in vain, and the irritated snake flicked its tail.

Boom—crack, swish‑swish

The Heaven‑and‑Earth Box on the incense table was flung to the ground, scattering the Tai Ji Fish Tokens everywhere.

Some Core‑binding cultivators seized the chance, snatching two or three tokens during the melee.

Jiang Tu, watching, muttered bluntly: "A petty little snake that only causes trouble, you'd be better off not coming."

Just as his words fell, a thicker snake shadow appeared, indiscriminately knocking down all Core‑binding cultivators.

"Grand Ancestor?" the little snake king Bi Luo exclaimed with delight, swooping down to the incense table and bowing.

"Return the fish tokens; each may take only one," the Ninth‑Tier Great Demon, displeased with Bi Luo and even more so with the cultivators, immediately unleashed Ninth‑Tier pressure.

"There's also a Ninth‑Tier?!"

Among the dozen‑plus Core‑binding cultivators, half were shocked, while the other half, having heard that Cave Heaven might house a Ninth‑Tier great demon, were not surprised.

But among that half, some tried to cleverly transmit voice to acquaintances, preparing to flee.

Yet more Core‑binding cultivators, bearing the pressure, silently drew life‑saving items, ready to counterattack.

"I'll say it again, return the Tai Ji Fish Tokens," the Ninth‑Tier Great Demon, seeing the cultivators ignore the warning and make petty moves, spun the incense burner it had taken, and the hall doors slammed shut.

Thump—thump

Two East Continent cultivators trying to flee were instantly slammed back by the doors, and their hearts were pierced by the demon's expelled mana, killing them on the spot.

The Fish Tokens they had just grabbed were also sucked back by the Ninth‑Tier Great Demon.

Jiang Tu's heart tightened; it was like the Ninth‑Tier of the former Empress wiping out the Seventh‑Tier—just as easy as crushing an ant. If he faced it himself, escape would be nearly impossible.

At that moment, the Ninth‑Tier Great Demon swept its gaze over the Core‑binding cultivators, then abruptly looked up at the ceiling.

Jiang Tu felt the cold snake eyes staring at him, and instinctively flew behind Jiang Yu.

The Ninth‑Tier Great Demon withdrew its sight, turned and scolded the little snake Bi Luo, "Why are you dazed? Return everything to the incense table."

Bi Luo dared not hesitate, quickly placing the Fish Tokens and Heaven‑and‑Earth Box back.

Lin Zhenren and a few others who had not yet taken a Jade Token exchanged glances, then politely asked the Ninth‑Tier Great Demon.

"May I ask, Demon King, after we each take a Fish Token, may we leave?"

"May Foundation‑Establishment disciples also have a share?"

"Demon King, we mean no offense; what are your regulations?"

"Everyone may take one and leave this hall," the Ninth‑Tier Demon King reiterated, saying it had no intention to kill; the very existence of the Cave Heaven is a human destiny.

While speaking, it withdrew the pressure, adding, "Each may seek their own fate on this mountain, but no further spell duels are allowed."

If destruction continues, this Mountain‑Guarding Array will, like other peaks, gradually fail.

Seeing it was not feigning, the Core‑binding cultivators, with Lin Zhenren and Lu Xin first reaching the incense table and successfully retrieving the Jade Token, quickly sprang into action.

Then the Great Demon opened the door on its own, and the little snake demon shouted loudly, "Guo Jue, Guo Ye, quickly claim the Jade Token."

Again, Lin Zhenren was the first to dash to the side room, fetching his sect's disciples to claim them.

The Ninth‑Tier Great Demon perched on a beam, watching, and when a Foundation‑Establishment cultivator grabbed a Fish Token, it secretly snatched a second one and flung it out of the hall.

It intensified its force, hurling the person off the peak, "You're young, so I'll spare your life; get away."

Jiang Tu saw the Foundation‑Establishment cultivator coughing blood as he fled the mountain, and sighed repeatedly, "Why suffer?"

"What suffering?" Jiang Yu, after a night of cultivation, woke having refined a new technique.

She also found a blank jade tablet and recorded all her insights.

Meanwhile, Jiang Bai on the other side continued advancing within his formation.

Jiang Tu waited for her to finish, then said, "It's nothing. You won't practice the Grand Void Sect's methods anymore?"

"Would that mean you've always been a named disciple of Sui Lv Zhenjun?"

"I'll submit a copy of this newly acquired Thunder‑Fire Manual to the sect."

"As for whether it's a direct transmission, it no longer matters much to me." If the two techniques can be practiced simultaneously, Jiang Yu does not object.

Unfortunately, she still lacks the ability to open a second dantian.

She self‑mockingly said, "Back then I solemnly promised Master Lin that I would cultivate the sect's Thunder‑Fire Technique, and now that I've seen another method I feel a bit regretful."

"This moment is different from that moment; Master Lin is in Tai Ji Dian—no, he's already emerged, and we must go out to find him."

"Detoxification is best done early." Jiang Tu pointed at a mirrored scene on the wall.

Jiang Yu saw Master Lin leading several fellow disciples out of the main hall, and the Guo Jue following behind was suddenly pulled back by a surge of force.

In the blink of an eye, the young monk was seized by the throat, floated into mid‑air, and stared at the great demon on the beam.

"Ancestor, what are you doing? He is my companion." Xiao She Bilu immediately flew in, helping to shield Guo Jue.

"Junior brother! Master Lin, Master Du, Master Lu, Master Huo, please save my junior brother." With no Jie Danfo present, Guo Ye hurriedly sought aid from the Heavenly Origin Dao Sect.