Qin Feng thought he had hidden himself quite well, having eavesdropped on the entire planning process of the trio.
Yet among those of the same cultivation level, when it came to the application of divine sense, who could compare to Lu Yang?
After entering the first level, Meng Jingzhou calculated the distance from the entrance to the Heavenly Ladder based on the map; even at top speed, it would take at least a full day.
The first level was a circular space. Since the rules stipulated that one had to slaughter demon beasts to obtain soul essences, everyone's initial instinct would be to fan out from the entrance and gradually explore the first level, searching for and killing demon beasts. No one would ever think to head to the Heavenly Ladder entrance first to scout the situation there.
Once they figured out the rules of the first level, both Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou thought of building a chest at the Heavenly Ladder entrance to collect soul essences.
The only uncertain factor in this plan was the strength of the demon beasts. If a Nascent Soul demon beast possessed Soul Formation strength, the demon prodigies wouldn't even have the capability to obtain ten soul essences, let alone be swindled at the Heavenly Ladder entrance. In that case, wouldn't it be faster for the three of them to team up and hunt demon beasts for soul essences?
Therefore, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou immediately took Jiang Shishi to slaughter a demon beast and confirm its strength.
Once they confirmed it truly only had Nascent Soul combat strength, Meng Jingzhou set off immediately for the Heavenly Ladder entrance, leaving behind Lu Yang and Jiang Shishi.
To deceive onlookers, Lu Yang used the Tree Planting Art and Imitation Fist to alter his clone into Meng Jingzhou's appearance.
Shortly after, Lu Yang noticed Qin Feng lurking in the shadows and decided to turn the tables. On the surface, he fabricated a gate-blocking plan, while secretly transmitting his voice via divine sense to inform Jiang Shishi of the real plan.
Only then did Jiang Shishi display that mixture of anxiety and excitement. If it were up to her, let alone coming up with it in the shortest time possible, she wouldn't have been able to think of it even if given ten days.
Was this the intellect of human prodigies?
Lu Yang and Jiang Shishi systematically hunted demon beasts, deliberately arriving a bit late at the Heavenly Ladder entrance.
And thus came the scene from before.
"Fellow Daoist Qin Feng, thanks for your hard work! I'll be taking these soul essences, then." Meng Jingzhou laughed heartily as he stood on the rim of the chest, strings of soul essences tied all over his body like a zongzi, a sight that turned everyone's eyes red with envy.
These were the soul essences accumulated over ten days by all the prodigies!
"You bastard!" Enraged, Qin Feng reverted to his true form as a Jiuying—a beast with nine heads and a single body, all nine heads resembling pitch-black serpents.
His eighteen eyes were bloodshot, as if about to drip blood.
The gate-blocking plan was what he had proposed to the prodigies of the Demon Alliance, which was how he had naturally seized the initiative and leadership.
Now that the plan had crashed and burned, manipulated by the opposing side to leave them without a single soul essence, the prodigies of the Demon Alliance would undoubtedly vent their fury upon him.
Even with a Tribulation Transcendence ancestor backing him, he could never withstand the collective rage of all these clans.
"Give the soul essences back!" Qin Feng roared in fury. All nine serpent heads lunged simultaneously toward Meng Jingzhou. Meng Jingzhou had long anticipated this mindless reaction; with a swift shift of his feet, he sidestepped the attack.
Seeing this, the Demon Alliance prodigies realized they had been played by Meng Jingzhou. Revealing their true demon forms as well, they pounced toward him.
They couldn't just walk away without a single soul essence and fail to even pass the first level!
Lightning crackled in Ao Yue's palm as he weighed whether to step in and seize them.
Their soul essences were on Meng Jingzhou as well.
Just then, Jiang Shishi walked over and stopped Ao Yue.
Pointing at the agilely dodging Meng Jingzhou, she said, "He is my ally. We anticipated that the Demon Alliance would pull something like this and laid an ambush beforehand. Junior Brother Ao Yue, you and the other fellow Daoists may rest assured: our actions are aimed solely at the Demon Alliance. Once he shakes them off, he will give ten soul essences to each of you, ensuring everyone smoothly enters the second level."
This was also the explanation she and Lu Yang had agreed upon in advance.
From the perspective of Ao Yue and the others, they had no idea Qin Feng had been tricked by Lu Yang's group; they would only assume the trio was one step ahead, predicting Qin Feng's plot, hiding in the chest, and upholding justice.
Having recovered what was lost, Ao Yue and the others wouldn't demand extra soul essences—ten were plenty.
This way, Lu Yang and his companions not only gained a sterling reputation, but also secured the lion's share of the soul essences.
Jiang Shishi felt that it was truly fortunate the elder possessed foresight and agreed to the proposal of joining forces. Otherwise, she would have ended up with a measly ten soul essences herself.
Sometimes when she thought about it, she felt a lingering chill. These two human prodigies were far too calculating. No wonder the elder always said that while her cultivation talent was ample, she was lacking in shrewdness—so this was where she fell short.
"Many thanks, Young Mistress Jiang!" Seeing how generous Jiang Shishi was, the prodigies were moved to tears of gratitude.
Ao Yue kept feeling that something was off, but now was not the time to dwell on it. The Demon Alliance had just bullied them so miserably—how could they not seize this chance to fight back?
"Everyone, let us strike together and help this kindhearted fellow Daoist break free!"
Ao Yue transformed into his true form as an Azure Dragon. His dragon pearl radiated lightning as, with a resounding dragon roar, he swung his dragon claws and attacked freely among the Demon Alliance.
Seeing this, the other demon prodigies also howled and charged into the Demon Alliance.
Caught between chasing Meng Jingzhou and fending off attacks from Ao Yue and the others, and compounded by their distrust of Qin Feng and refusal to follow orders, the Demon Alliance quickly routed and fled in utter disarray.
"Well, Miss Jiang? Teaming up with the two of us wasn't a bad deal, was it?" Lu Yang said with a chuckle. Ever since arriving at the Heavenly Ladder entrance, he had not lifted a finger; everything had unfolded precisely as he foresaw.
Especially as he watched Meng Jingzhou leaping up and down like a monkey to dodge attacks while he rested peacefully in the rear, he felt all the more comfortable.
"Indeed, not bad at all," Jiang Shishi agreed, nodding. Far from just not bad—it was an immense windfall. Although nothing that occurred inside the ancient realm could be spoken of outside, the prodigies all knew what happened in their hearts. This single move alone would elevate her standing in their minds to another level.
The Demon Alliance scattered in all directions. The rules hadn't forbidden killing; if one died in the ancient realm, and the realm's rules forbade disclosing what happened inside, no one would ever avenge them.
When Meng Jingzhou safely rejoined Lu Yang and Jiang Shishi, he was panting with exhaustion. Catching sight of Lu Yang's utterly leisurely demeanor, he realized he had gotten stuck with the shit job yet again.
There was no helping it; who told him not to know the Tree Planting Art and Imitation Fist?
As promised, Meng Jingzhou distributed ten soul essences to each of the prodigies, leaving the remaining eight hundred soul essences for the three of them to divide.
The crowd searched for quite a while without finding anywhere to submit the soul essences. Tentatively stepping onto the Heavenly Ladder, Ao Yue watched as ten soul essences were absorbed by the ladder, and he was teleported to the second level. Only then did everyone understand how to clear the first level.
One after another, everyone lined up to enter the second level, leaving behind only the Demon Alliance prodigies lurking not far off.
Seeing Lu Yang and the others ascend, Qin Feng also wanted to enter the second level. But without a single soul essence on him, a barrier appeared before the Heavenly Ladder, blocking his path.
As the final grain of sand fell in the hourglass, the ten days came to an end, and all the Demon Alliance prodigies were teleported outside the ancient realm.
"Qin Feng, this is all your fault!"
The Demon Alliance prodigies instantly saw red. The Ancient Realm of Good Fortune was filled with immense opportunities, yet they hadn't managed to reap the slightest benefit!
"Elder, save me!"
Terrified, Qin Feng scrambled to hide behind his Dao Protector.
Only then did he notice that the atmosphere was rather strange—or rather, somber. It was as if the gazes of all the clans were drifting intentionally or unintentionally toward the Jiuying Clan, and by no means kindly.
What on earth had happened here?
Chapter 590