Translator: 549690339

Yang Guang cracked a slight smile.

“Since none of you have any objections, then let’s decide on this matter happily, shall we?”

“Good!”

“No problem.”

Cai Kunxu and Xiong Da pinched their noses and laughed, even though they were a hundred times reluctant in their hearts, they still wore grins on their faces.

There was no denying it, Yang Guang had played his hand better than either of them.

“Since that’s the case, I would like to recommend two more people to join the expedition. What does City Lord Yang think?”

Elder Gongsun interjected from the side. The treasure within the black flames was a piece of fat meat, and though he couldn’t follow in person, he could send others to grab a share of the bounty.

“Could it be those two prodigies from Devil Cloud Cave?”

Yang Guang inquired.

“Indeed, both individuals are meticulous in thought, and their cultivation level and temperament are both top-notch, suitable for this operation.”

Elder Gongsun nodded and smiled.

“What does Young Master Li think?”

Yang Guang couldn’t grasp the ways of the Devil Cloud Cave, and even less understand the thoughts of those two prodigies, Yang Chen and Ling Yun. He wanted to seek Li Xiaobai’s opinion.

“Both elder brothers have skills that touch the very essence of creation; I greatly admire them and naturally agree to move forward together.”

Li Xiaobai nodded.

Yang Chen and Ling Yun bowed with their fists clasped. “Thank you, Brother Li, for your support!”

“Fine then, tomorrow our city shall form a team led by Young Master Li to head to the third and fourth battlefields to offer support, to firstly clear the Flesh Mountain on the battlefield, ensuring the safety of our defensive line, before following up to track down the black flames and search for the whereabouts of the treasure!”

“Remember, at all times, the safety of the frontier is of utmost importance. If any anomalies arise at Flesh Mountain, no matter where you are, you must rush back to your camp at the first opportunity!”

“Do you understand?”

Yang Guang said solemnly. This statement was indeed genuine; everyone clearly knew what was more important when comparing the Flesh Mountain Battlefield and that unseen treasure.

“Understood, the Flesh Mountain Battlefield takes precedence!”

Cai Kunxu slowly nodded, his face equally serious. Having guarded the place for many years, he certainly understood this principle.

But the current situation was still stable, and leaving for a short while shouldn’t cause any issues.

“That will be all, we set off tomorrow. Make more preparations today.”

With a flick of his sleeve, Yang Guang turned and left.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly turned cold; Cai Kunxu and Xiong Da’s expressions changed in an instant, their gazes towards Li Xiaobai filled with murder. Yet, they said nothing more and disappeared into the depths of the great hall.

The remaining cultivators gathered in twos and threes, discussing the events that took place in the hall today. To them, this treasure hunt was fraught with power struggles.

Although the treasure was important, by the behavior of the big shots today, it seemed more like a pretext.

Cai Kunxu and Xiong Da wanted to take this opportunity to lure Li Xiaobai out and deal with him, while Yang Guang saw a chance to meddle in the affairs of the two city-states.

All of them were old foxes, and none managed to gain the upper hand. Both parties checked each other, and the inevitable outcome was everyone earnestly searching for the treasure, then justly dividing the spoils.

“Let’s go, let’s go, this melon doesn’t seem to be very sweet.”

“Yeah, not only is it not sweet, but it might even be hard to swallow!”

“We’d better just watch quietly. This whole maneuver is just slick, but it’s hard to say who will end up benefiting!”

“How about we go send a message to the First Battlefield?”

“Forget it, if a fight breaks out, we will be the ones to suffer.”

“You’re right, better to watch and wait, then!”

Whispers among the cultivators filled the air as they fervently discussed the recent maneuvers of several City Lords.

The flames of gossip burned fiercely within their hearts.

“Hehe, kid, you’d better pray for your safety. Don’t think that with Yang Guang’s protection, you can rest easy. There are more than one family in the borderlands that wants you dead, and countless more who want to capture you alive for the bounty!”

“This time you leave, you have no chance of surviving!”

Elder Gongsun said with a sneer, his face contorted with laughter. Today, he had lost face and needed to reclaim his pride from Li Xiaobai.

“May I ask what cultivation level Elder Gongsun currently possesses?”

Li Xiaobai looked at the old man before him and suddenly asked.

“Transcendance Tribulation Stage, complete mastery. Why do you ask such things?”

Elder Gongsun was somewhat puzzled.

“A mere ant at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage dares to bark at me. Countless cultivators in the Central Province wish me dead, yet here I stand, perfectly fine. Where do you get the confidence to challenge me?”

Li Xiaobai’s expression was one of disdain, not considering him worthy of concern.

“Giggle, a mere ant at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage dares to bark in front of the venerable me?”

“When I was fighting the eight desolations, you didn’t even know where you were!”

Ji Wuqing popped his little head out from Li Xiaobai’s embrace and spoke without reservation.

“You…”

“Just a junior, yet so arrogantly presumptuous, showing no respect for your elders. Yang Chen and Ling Feng are my disciples, this time Devil Cloud Cave will make you understand there are some people you simply cannot offend!”

Elder Gongsun’s face twisted with fury. For so many years, it was the first time someone had looked down on his cultivation level.

And it wasn’t just a person who scorned him, but a chick as well!

“Yang Chen and Ling Feng are my disciples. They joined Devil Cloud Cave just a few months ago, and their cultivation levels have soared to the high ranks of the Transcendance Tribulation Stage. They will make you understand that there are always greater powers in the world!”

Li Xiaobai snorted with laughter. This old man was something else, passing the buck to his disciples when he couldn’t compete himself. Wasn’t this setting up his own disciples for failure?

Unfortunately, the old man could never dream that the two prodigies he mentioned happened to be his own senior brothers, who would rather take out the Devil Cloud Cave members first if a fight were to break out.

“Why doesn’t Elder Gongsun join in the search for treasures? It’s not a trivial matter.”

“Hehe, what, scared now?”

“Wishing to beg for mercy now? If you kneel and beg me, I might just give you a chance!”

Elder Gongsun laughed. He felt that Li Xiaobai was yielding; the prodigies of Devil Cloud Cave were beyond comparison to ordinary talents.

“Uh… no, I just meant that you’re always hiding within the Holy City, I can’t kill you there.”

Li Xiaobai scratched his head, finding the old man somewhat overconfident.

“Giggle, old man, if you dare to leave the city, I’ll kill you the moment you do!”

Ji Wuqing continued to taunt.

“How audacious! I want to see just how long you can keep up this bravado!”

Elder Gongsun’s face contorted with anger, filled with rage as his backbone had been publicly prodded.

Li Xiaobai, unconcerned, chuckled and turned to leave.

Inside the hall, Elder Gongsun, with a darkened face, approached Yang Chen and Ling Feng.

“Chen, Feng, you will venture out tomorrow. Take the opportunity to eliminate Li Xiaobai. These are also Lord Cai’s wishes.”

However, Yang Chen let out a cold snort.

“Li Xiaobai is a talent blessed by great fate, a genius who is destined to ascend to the Upper Realm one day. He should be befriended, not made an enemy. Elder Gongsun, beware not to ruin the prospects of Devil Cloud Cave for your own selfish desires!”