49: Chapter 49 Greed

In this battle, they had paid a heavy price, losing nearly half of their men before finally grinding down this Yao Beast at the Peak of the ninth level of the Golden Core Stage.

But everyone's faces were filled with fanatical excitement.

Their gazes were fixed tightly behind the corpse of the Mountain Lord, on the crimson sun demonic fruit swaying at the mouth of the deep cave.

Their eyes were filled with greed.

"Hahaha! A Grade Four Spirit Medicine! This trip wasn't in vain!"

"Senior Brother, with this crimson sun demonic fruit, you will surely be able to Breakthrough to the Peak of the eighth level of the Golden Core Stage, and even touch the threshold of the ninth level!"

An uncontrollable smile also appeared on Jiang He's face, and he nodded.

Just as he was about to step forward to pick the Spirit Medicine, he suddenly frowned.

"Those two useless trash, Li Si and Wang Wu, why haven't they come back yet?"

He looked back with some displeasure; in his mind, dealing with a mere piece of trash at the second level of the Golden Core Stage...

...should have been a matter of an instant and shouldn't have taken this long at all.

However, with this one glance, the smile on his face suddenly froze.

He saw that beneath the mountain wall hundreds of Zhang away...

...that Tianyan Sect Disciple who should have been hacked into ten thousand pieces was standing there perfectly fine.

In his hand, he also held a golden longsword that radiated divine light.

And at his feet lay two cold, headless corpses.

The clothing worn by those corpses was exactly that of Li Si and Wang Wu!

"This... how is this possible?!"

Jiang He's eyes almost popped out, his mind went blank, and he completely could not understand the scene before him.

Li Si and Wang Wu were dead?

Killed by a kid at the second level of the Golden Core Stage?

"Senior... Senior Brother Jiang..."

Standing beside Jiang He, the thin and small Disciple named Xu Ming, who had been hiding on the outskirts of the battle, suddenly pointed at Chu Xiao with a trembling voice and said in terror, "Look... look at his sword!"

Hearing this, Jiang He finally shifted his gaze from those two corpses...

...and abruptly moved it to the god-slayer in Chu Xiao's hand.

When he clearly saw the spiritual resonance and restrained sharpness flowing upon that sword...

...his pupils suddenly constricted!

As a True Disciple of the eighth level of the Golden Core Stage...

...his eyesight was far beyond what the likes of Li Si and Wang Wu could compare to.

He recognized at a glance that it was absolutely a... genuine High Grade Spiritual Artifact!

In an instant, all the confusion and incomprehension had an answer.

No wonder!

No wonder that kid dared to be so arrogant!

No wonder Li Si and Wang Wu died so cleanly!

It turns out he actually had such a divine object in his hand!

Jiang He's heart began to beat uncontrollably.

The remaining shock and horror in his eyes were replaced by greed within a single breath!

"A High Grade Spiritual Artifact..." He stared fixedly at the god-slayer in Chu Xiao's hand, his Adam's apple bobbing.

He muttered to himself in a raspy voice, "This sword must be mine!"

Greed is the original sin! It is also the poison most capable of catalycing courage!

When Jiang He confirmed that the longsword in Chu Xiao's hand was a genuine High Grade Spiritual Artifact...

...the sliver of fear in his heart born from the tragic death of his fellow Disciples was instantly drowned by surging greed.

A High Grade Spiritual Artifact!

These words made the blood in his entire body boil.

He, Jiang He, was considered a figure in the Jiuyou Sect, a True Disciple of the eighth level of the Golden Core Stage.

His status was only below a few people like Senior Brother Shen Fei.

But even so, the strongest Magic Treasure in his hand was only a High Grade Spiritual Artifact-level 'Hundred Soul Banner.'

Yet this kid from the Tianyan Sect, an unknown piece of trash with a cultivation of only the second level of the Golden Core Stage—on what basis?

On what basis could he possess such a divine object?!

Jealousy madly gnawed at his reason.

"So it's you!"

Jiang He's gaze locked onto Chu Xiao as a flash of inspiration crossed his mind.

That's right, before entering the Secret Realm, Old Demon Guisha had personally given an order!

He specifically wanted the head of a newly risen Prodigy from the Tianyan Sect.

That Prodigy was called Chu Xiao!

This boy's talent is too terrifying; he must not be allowed to leave the Secret Realm alive!

Whoever can bring his head to see me, this old man will reward them heavily!

Old Demon Guisha's words still rang in his ears.

Jiang He's breathing suddenly became heavy.

The look of greed in his eyes grew increasingly thick, even overshadowing his killing intent.

It turned out that the ant before him...

...was actually the number one target personally named by the Sect's upper echelons!

Killing him would not only allow him to seize this priceless High Grade Spiritual Artifact...

...but also obtain a heavy reward from Elder Guisha!

What a massive Opportunity this was!

In an instant, all the doubts and unease in Jiang He's heart vanished into thin air.

He subconsciously believed that Chu Xiao being able to kill Li Si and Wang Wu must have been entirely due to the advantage of the spiritual sword in his hand; his own strength was still that insignificant second level of the Golden Core Stage.

And he was at the eighth level of the Golden Core Stage!

On his side, there were still three fellow Disciples in the Golden Core Stage remaining.

Among them was even Xu Ming, who hid himself very deeply and was full of schemes.

Moreover, they had just exhausted the last of the Blood-Red Mountain Lord's strength, so they were waiting at their ease while the enemy was tired.

The advantage is mine!

Thinking of this, Jiang He's tense body relaxed.

A cruel smile, like a cat playing with a mouse, even appeared on his face.

He changed his mind about acting immediately.

He decided to first crush the spirit of this kid who didn't know the heights of the heavens and the depths of the earth.

"Chu Xiao, right?"

Jiang He took a step forward, his powerful aura of the eighth level of the Golden Core Stage released without reservation, crushing toward Chu Xiao as he said condescendingly, "Should I say your luck is good, or is it bad?"

"You probably don't know yet that your name has long been on my Jiuyou Sect's must-kill list. Elder Guisha personally ordered for your head to be taken."

He paused, playfully admiring Chu Xiao's expression.

He seemed to want to see terror and despair on the other's face.

However, he was disappointed.

Chu Xiao's face was as calm as an ancient well, without a single ripple appearing.

It was as if the order Jiang He spoke of, which was enough to make any immortal Sect Disciple tremble with fear, was just an insignificant breeze by his ear.

Jiang He's brow furrowed slightly, and he felt some displeasure in his heart.

He continued to up the ante: "However, for the sake of you bringing me this divine weapon, I can give you a chance."

He reached out a finger, pointing from afar at the god-slayer in Chu Xiao's hand, his tone full of command: "Now, kneel down and respectfully present the sword in your hand, as well as all the storage Magic Treasures on your person."

"Then, cripple your own Dantian and bark like a dog three times."

"If I'm in a good mood, perhaps I can consider leaving you an intact corpse."

The several Jiuyou Sect Disciples behind him immediately let out a burst of unbridled laughter upon hearing this.

The gazes they directed at Chu Xiao were full of mockery.

However, facing such humiliation, Chu Xiao suddenly smiled.

He shook his head, his gaze passing over Jiang He.

He swept his eyes over the few Jiuyou Sect Disciples behind him, each of whom was injured and had unstable spiritual power.

Then he glanced at the massive corpse of the Mountain Lord on the ground before finally speaking leisurely.

"Killing a beast that had exhausted its blood and Qi required losing nearly half your men, and the survivors are all injured, looking like defeated roosters. With a bunch of trash like you, do you even deserve to bark wildly in front of me?"