Grasping the Evil

Chapter 1204: Searching for the Umbrella

In the Xuan Yin Treasure, Ning Fan flew all the way to the repentance palaces, where fireworks and the red lotus were both suppressed.

It was suppression, not imprisonment! Facing Quasi-Saint Captives, Ning Fan dared not assume that mere charm alone could contain the two women as he had before. Under his suppression, the two females not only had their cultivations completely sealed but remained unconscious, unable even to awaken. Ning Fan originally thought he had ensured everything was foolproof, however, he was wrong!

These two women possessed such great skills that they could attack him with charm despite being unconscious and with their cultivations sealed!

At this moment, enchanting sounds emanated from the repentance palaces, resonating throughout the Xuan Yin Treasure, penetrating Ning Fan’s soul.

It was a soul sound, specifically targeted at Ning Fan, and only Ning Fan could hear it.

The soul sound was too alluring, too enticing, like soft whispers or gasps, gentle murmurs at one’s ear, like begging and crying. The sound seemed to directly penetrate Ning Fan’s soul, clearly an extremely profound bewitching technique. Were it not for the presence of the mother relic within him, and the protection of the Yin Yang Locket, he would have had a significant chance of falling under this technique’s enchantment and losing his mind.

"Interesting."

Ning Fan coldly laughed, entering the repentance palaces and heading toward the deepest cell. As Ning Fan appeared, fireworks and the red lotus felt it and communicated in soul sounds deep within their souls.

"What do we do! That damned man really fell for it! Are we really... really going to use Yin Mu’s plan against this man? Once we lose our chastity, we’ll no longer qualify for competing for the position of the Ant Queen!" Fireworks’ soul sound showed a hint of panic.

"The position of Ant Queen is secondary. The mere thought of pleasing that bastard with our bodies makes me nauseous! But without this plan, what escape plan do you and I have from this place? The High Priest said it’s impossible for reinforcements to support the Thirteenth Spine, you and I have no choice but to save ourselves! Have you forgotten how profound that bastard’s bewitching technique is? For all we know, he might have drained many to hone such a powerful charm. Even if we don’t act, he will soon do something to us! Instead of waiting passively, why not take advantage of this moment and strike back?" The red lotus’s soul sound was filled with grit and determination.

"I understand the logic, but... can we really succeed?" Fireworks was still hesitant.

"Relax, no matter how powerful that bastard’s charm is, can it surpass Hua Zhao’s bacchanalian feast? It’s just unfortunate, after this event, we’ll have no qualifications to compete for the Ant Queen position, such grief is hard to dispel! When this ends, I swear to tear that bastard to pieces to relieve the hatred in my heart!" The red lotus declared resentfully.

Recalling the power of the bacchanalian feast, Fireworks suddenly felt more confident, though still somewhat reluctant.

Ning Fan was her archenemy; she was about to offer herself to him, how could she be willing!

...

Fireworks and the red lotus were suppressed within an Ice Prison. Upon entering this ice room, Ning Fan smelled a peculiar wine fragrance.

Clearly, there was no wine here, yet a strange wine fragrance permeated, truly bizarre, but more bizarre was that the fragrance directly penetrated his soul, inducing drunkenness in it.

As this drunkenness arose, Ning Fan’s consciousness became somewhat unclear, yet it didn’t completely succumb because the mother relic inside him began to spin, instinctively protecting its master.

The relic, its form is not separate from emptiness, emptiness is not separate from form, form is emptiness, emptiness is form...

Ning Fan seemed to hear chanting, the drunkenness within his soul began to recede promptly. He never knew the mother relic had such miraculous effects until facing a formidable charm adversary today, showcasing its power.

"Look! That bastard’s gaze seems intoxicated, evidently caught in the illusion of the drunken forest! Our actions are sure to succeed!" The red lotus was jubilant.

Ning Fan’s steps were somewhat staggered as if genuinely drunk, whether he was pretending or not. He opened the cell and approached the two women.

The two women were sealed in ice pillars; to drain them, the seal must first be broken.

Ning Fan seemed deeply ensnared by charm, becoming truly impatient. He eagerly rushed beside the red lotus’s seal, only breaking the seal on the lower half, then...

The upper half of the red lotus was still unconscious, suspended by the ice pillar, while the lower half was torn open, armor and clothing ripped off, then...

Before Ning Fan could proceed to the next action, layers of illusions appeared before him!

The enemy’s charm not only had the wine fragrance but also illusions as a backup!

"Where is this..."

Whether truly caught in illusions or pretending, Ning Fan’s eyes showed confusion as he looked around the unfamiliar illusionary surroundings, seemingly unsure of where he was or who he was.

It was a bridal chamber covered with red paper.

Ning Fan was dressed in wedding attire, like a groom.

In the chamber, red candles burned, the canopy was dimmed, and a groomed maid held a lamp below the steps.

On the bridal bed lay two brides—the fireworks and the red lotus, dressed in red wedding robes, bound on the bed, unable to move, in a dazed sleep.

Though not truly immobile.

Because Ning Fan had been too hasty earlier, the lower half of the red lotus’s bonds had been undone, her garments torn bare...

"Who am I... who are they..." Ning Fan asked in confusion.

Of course, he wasn’t asking the unconscious fireworks and the red lotus; he asked the maid holding the lamp.

"In reply to the Lord, these two ladies are newly acquired concubines." The maid lowered her head, answering respectfully, her clear eyes concealed scorn for Ning Fan.

"They are my... newly acquired concubines? If so, why are they bound here? It’s not how it should be on the wedding day." Ning Fan asked, seemingly having forgotten many things, immersed in the illusion technique world.

"Indeed, on the wedding day, brides shouldn’t be bound, that’s very unlucky, please release the bindings of the two wives and proceed with your fortune." The maid pleaded.

"To release their bindings..."

Ning Fan’s eyes seemed to struggle, as though subconsciously remembering not to completely undo the women’s bindings.

"What hesitates the Lord?"

"I... don’t know... I just feel, releasing their bindings, is not good..." Ning Fan’s face showed more struggle.

"It’s nothing bad, please heed Hua Zhao’s words, release their bindings. There’s no husband in this world who would treat his wives like this... it’s inappropriate." The maid edged closer, removing her small shoes, kneeling on the bed, her cold palm grasping Ning Fan’s hand.

"Come, Lord, be obedient, release the bindings of the two wives... once unbound, the fortune can be fulfilled." She held Ning Fan’s hand, guiding it to the upper bindings of the red lotus.

Ning Fan’s expression showed deeper bewilderment, as if every touch from the maid named Hua Zhao caused him to forget many things.

Unable to remember, unable to recall why these two women were bound.

Untying, it seems correct...

So, he really started untying the remaining ropes on the upper body of the red lotus, instead of eagerly rushing to do something to the bare lower body of the red lotus.

But just as a little bit of the rope was untied, Ning Fan suddenly stopped and turned back, looking at Hua Zhao with a serious expression.

"No, this isn’t right!"

"What’s not right!" Hua Zhao’s eyes were slightly surprised, but they quickly calmed down, asking calmly.

This man surely hasn’t broken through my illusion and regained his senses, right? Hua Zhao was secretly worried.

"I shouldn’t be the one obeying you. It should be... you obeying me. You are my maid. I am your master." Ning Fan suddenly turned his hand, grabbing Hua Zhao’s hand and beginning to touch it amorously.

Hua Zhao was incredibly resentful inside, wanting to pull her hand back, but she couldn’t get it back at all. Damn it! In the Illusion Technique World, her power was unexpectedly not greater than Ning Fan’s, how is this possible! This is clearly her controlled Illusion Technique World!

Seeing Ning Fan gradually becoming unsatisfied with just touching her hand and starting to move up along her arm, Hua Zhao became very anxious, "Master, you can’t do this! Today is your joyous day, you should take care of the two wives, you can’t... can’t do this to me..."

"Why not, as long as I am willing, what’s the harm in taking another concubine? You’re called Hua Zhao, right, little Hua Zhao, just submit to your master, as long as you submit, I’ll grant you a life of glory and wealth," Ning Fan seemed to have truly become a master in dire need!

"No, stop! Dog man! I command you to stop! I’m not your maid! I am..." Hua Zhao was flipped over by Ning Fan, pressed onto the bed, and with a few strikes, her outer garments were peeled off, revealing her undergarment, causing her to curse anxiously.

She wasn’t sure if Ning Fan had broken through her illusion, or perhaps Ning Fan’s nature was just like this, still maintaining his usual lust in the Mirage...

She wasn’t sure, so she didn’t dare to rashly break the illusion and bewitching technique, but she also didn’t want to lose her chastity in the Mirage.

She wanted to resist, wanted to struggle, but the mouth of Ning Fan, smelling of wine, had already started nibbling on her, she... she couldn’t resist at all! This was too abnormal!

In her urgency, another maid came in carrying a copper basin, providing Hua Zhao with relief. This was an exceptionally beautiful woman, standing there, causing Hua Zhao, Hua Huo, and Red Lotus to all lose color.

She was Yin Mu, the uncrowned king of the Saint Ant Sect!

Seeing that Hua Zhao alone couldn’t handle Ning Fan, she also entered this Illusion Technique World.

With her entrance, the dalliance between Ning Fan and Hua Zhao was naturally interrupted.

"Who are you! Who let you in!" Having his good time interrupted, Ning Fan seemed very angry, casually grabbing a porcelain pillow from the side and throwing it at Yin Mu.

Yin Mu was greatly startled, who would have thought Ning Fan would dare to attack her? Hastily dodging, she was still touched on the head by the porcelain pillow, and immediately blood trickled down.

"You dare to lay a hand on me! You’re courting death!" Yin Mu was instantly furious, but then suppressed her anger. This is Hua Zhao’s concoction of bewitching and illusion techniques in a dual space, where she could use very little power, even if she were a genuine Second-Grade Quasi-Saint. Somehow, even Hua Zhao had trouble suppressing Ning Fan here, let alone her. If she truly angered Ning Fan, this plot would surely end in failure...

"What! Dressed as a maid, how dare you speak to your master this way!" Ning Fan was so furious that he was practically smoking from the ears.

"High Pri... Sister Yin Mu, quickly apologize to Master!" Hua Zhao didn’t want the good plan to fail miserably, despite still being pressed down by Ning Fan, she spoke out to urge Yin Mu to subdue her anger.

Yin Mu, too, was someone with a high and proud nature. Despite this being just a Mirage, she wouldn’t allow Ning Fan to have the upper hand. But there was no help for it. Before achieving the objectives, she didn’t want to ruin the big plan out of a moment’s anger.

So she gritted her teeth, lowered her noble head, and apologized, "Yin Mu realizes her mistake, please forgive her, Master."

"Humph! Now you realize your mistake? It’s too late! If you want my forgiveness, there’s no way, today I’m going to properly punish both of you, and teach you what is hierarchy!"

Ning Fan, out of nowhere, took out a piece of rope, and in a flash, tied Hua Zhao into a dumpling, harshly throwing her onto the bed.

Then... he got off the bed, and barefoot, pounced towards Yin Mu!

"Master! What are you doing!"

Hua Zhao was extremely anxious! Yin Mu was also extremely anxious!

Hua Zhao never thought that Ning Fan could bind her in her Illusion Technique World, this was too abnormal, a sense of unprecedented foreboding surged up in her heart! Could it be, could it be... this dog of a man never fell under the illusion! No, that’s impossible! She even used the "bacchanalian feast"!

"Hehe! Yin Mu little beauty, stop running, let the master have a taste!"

In the chase, Ning Fan grabbed Yin Mu, and gave her a hard kiss on her face.

Yin Mu’s pretty face grew cold as frost instantly; noble as she was, she was actually sullied by Ning Fan! How could this be tolerated!

"Get off!"

Yin Mu unleashed her Divine Skills, and a light yin wind rose around her. With a sweep of the yin wind, Ning Fan seemed like he was about to be blown away, but then, Ning Fan’s own Divine Skills surged forth, fixing the yin wind in place!

In this Illusion Technique World, Yin Mu had too little power to utilize! Her yin wind was easily extinguished by Ning Fan!

Seeing this scene, Yin Mu’s expression changed greatly! Ning Fan, who was supposed to be under the illusion, couldn’t possibly use any power in the Illusion Technique World!

For Ning Fan to do this, there was only one reason... he was never under the illusion, it had all been an act!

"You weren’t under the illusion! That’s impossible! You were actually able to withstand the corruption of the ’bacchanalian feast’! You actually... mm..." Yin Mu was extremely shocked, wanting to say more, but she couldn’t say another word.

Her mouth was covered by Ning Fan’s mouth, carrying the scent of wine!

Noble as she was, actually, actually...

She bit down hatefully, biting Ning Fan’s tongue, but then was mercilessly thrown onto the bed by Ning Fan.

At this moment, Ning Fan no longer wore the foolish look of a lustful master!

Clearly, he was letting out a cold laugh like a demon!

"Interesting! I never thought the Saint Ant Sect’s four famous beauties would all be here. Although two of them are just illusionary bodies and won’t bring much benefit from harvesting, tasting such beauty seems to have no loss for me either!"

"How dare you! You’ve already captured the two successors of my clan’s Ant Queens, if you dare lay hands on this priestess, I will crush your bones and scatter your ashes, leaving you no chance of reincarnation! Hua Zhao! Why are you still standing there! The plan has already failed! Quickly lift the technique, let you and I escape with our Dao souls from this place! Otherwise, you and I shall be defiled by this person!" Yin Mu raged.

"I can’t... This person’s accomplishments in Illusion and Bewitching Techniques far surpass mine, he even knows how to rebound illusions, he had already counter-controlled this Illusion Technique World without my awareness, you and I... cannot escape..." Hua Zhao said in despair.

"Wha- what?!"

Yin Mu was greatly shocked, seeing that Hua Zhao was not to be depended on, she thought to do something herself.

But she didn’t have time to do anything!

Ning Fan was already pressing towards her...

...

Something strange happened in the Light Ant Clan.

The Yin Mu Priestess and Hua Zhao were originally planning to use bewitching techniques across domains to scheme against Ning Fan, but for some unknown reason, the two women suddenly dismissed the powerful figures in the hall and sealed the grand hall.

As a result, no strong figure of the Light Ant Clan could hear the rising and falling sounds within the hall.

Moreover, no one knew that the two women failed to scheme against Ning Fan and were instead thoroughly taken advantage of...

"Don’t come over, take your filthy hands away, don’t..." In the hall, Hua Zhao, although fully dressed, was rolling and struggling on a soft couch. Her eyes were confused, as if trapped in an illusionary art. In that world of illusions, she was suffering humiliation from Ning Fan, and under the unbearable insult, tears of hatred flowed from her eyes...

"Get away! How dare you! How dare you! Damn it, it hurts... take it away, I forbid you... I forbid you to touch..." The Yin Mu High Priestess was also caught in an illusion. She brought it upon herself and had no idea what she experienced in that illusory world.

No one knows what kind of illusory humiliation these two women were subjected to.

While Hua Zhao and Yin Mu were tormented by illusions, Hua Huo and Hong Lian had it even worse!

They suffered the real repercussions of their actions!

In the repentance palaces, they couldn’t remember how many times Ning Fan had absorbed their energy, and from each absorption, Ning Fan gained tremendous benefits!

The effects of the Ant Species Soup had long been exhausted! But it didn’t matter! Whenever that happened, Ning Fan would flash out of the Xuan Yin Treasure, drink a couple hundred bowls of Ant Species Soup, then... turn back and continue the absorption!

Absorbing from Quasi-Saints wasn’t an easy task, especially with the gap between Ning Fan’s realm and that of the Quasi-Saints. It couldn’t be accomplished in one go; it needed to be conducted in stages, and absorbed step by step.

A day went by, two days went by... in the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

This half a month was torturous for Yin Mu, Hua Zhao, Hua Huo, and Hong Lian! The only difference being that the former two suffered mentally while the latter two suffered physically.

They had long been awakened by Ning Fan, and the tears of regret and humiliation had long dried up.

The two women couldn’t even recall when Ning Fan had implanted Zi Relics in them from their union. The Zi Relics were too formidable; they could subtly change a person’s emotions, allowing a woman who originally hated Ning Fan to fall in love with him...

The Zi Relics could affect a person’s emotions; thus, although these items could make a woman’s cultivation soar, Ning Fan had always only implanted them in his own women, not to plague the world.

But this time was different! Hua Huo and Hong Lian were enemies. Against enemies, Ning Fan saw no need to be merciful. He wanted absolute control over these two women! Even though these two had been depleted of their Quasi-Saint realm, a scrawny camel is still bigger than a horse! Even if their cultivation levels were no longer Quasi-Saint, their physical defense was still at the Quasi-Saint level, and continual absorption still bore considerable benefits.

Under the influence of the Zi Relics, although they wanted nothing more than to chop Ning Fan into pieces, they... couldn’t truly summon the intent to kill him! Moreover, as time passed and the absorption occurred more frequently, they began to develop an uncontrollable affection towards Ning Fan.

Developing affection for the enemy who humiliated them! The Zi Relics were terrifying!

...

This half month was also the most astonishing for Ancestor Leize!

In just half a month, Ning Fan’s cultivation advanced greatly each day, and the speed of his improvement left Ancestor Leize dumbfounded and incredulous!

Mana broke through to 14,900 Calamities!

15,000 Calamities!

15,200 Calamities!

15,400 Calamities!

16,000 Calamities!

17,000 Calamities!

Ning Fan’s mana advancement speed was too fast! It is known that after 10,000 Calamities, it is exceedingly difficult for a Master’s mana to improve, yet in just half a month, Ning Fan’s mana surged by over 2,000 Calamities. Such an advancement was beyond Ancestor Leize’s comprehension!

Did that kid really absorb all of Hua Huo and Hong Lian!

But even if he did absorb, it shouldn’t have led to such a high boost in cultivation! Where in the world could one find such a powerful absorption technique... Even the Yin Yang Transformation of the Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor didn’t seem to have such miraculous effects.

Ancestor Leize didn’t know that ever since Ning Fan inherited the Reverse Relic from another Charm Arts Grandmaster, his skills in the bewitching arts had long surpassed those of the Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor. Therefore, achieving such an absorption effect wasn’t surprising at all.

The Dao Soul Clans and the Ancient Demon Clan had opposing Yin and Yang relationships. Because of this, this time, through the absorption of these two Quasi-Saints, Ning Fan’s greatest gain was in Ancient Demon Cultivation, which leapt to the peak of the Eternal Five Tribulations! One more step would take it to the Immortal Emperor Realm, but alas, the Immortal Emperor Realm seemed to hold a daunting threshold. Even with the absorption of two Quasi-Saints, Ning Fan couldn’t break through that bottleneck, and in the end, his Ancient Demon Cultivation could only stay at that level.

Unlike the dramatic rise of Ancient Demon Cultivation, the Ancient God and Ancient Chaos Cultivations didn’t see much improvement this time, merely a slight uptick, with the lion’s share being accumulated by the Ancient Demon Cultivation.

As a result, among Ning Fan’s four types of cultivation, Ancient Demon Cultivation became the strongest, having reached the Immortal King Peak! His total mana combined eventually rose to 17,000 Calamities!

In terms of sheer mana quantity, Ning Fan could easily surpass most First Order Quasi-Saints of the Era of Decline! However, when it came to mana purity... Ning Fan felt somewhat embarrassed.

After drinking more than 1,400 bowls of Ant Species Soup, his mana purity finally broke through to the purity of five Calamities, but there was still quite a distance to six Calamities purity.

Unfortunately, the Ant Species Soup had run out, and to rapidly enhance mana purity again, other means had to be considered.

"Younger Brother Ning, what have you been doing in the past half month? Your strength seems to have skyrocketed! Standing in front of you, I actually feel a sense of oppression..." Ancestor Leize asked enviously.

Ning Fan merely smiled without answering. How could he answer? Saying that he’d been busily engaged night and day in intimacy in the past half month? Such private matters aren’t suitable for sharing with others, right?

The Ant Species were exhausted, and there was no further way to advance mana purity here, so Ning Fan planned to leave.

But just at that moment, the Slime Monster weakly made a request.

"Hero Brother! Could you do me a small favor, a really small favor."

"What favor?"

"Steal something."

"Steal what?"

The Slime Monster carefully set up a soundproof barrier and whispered to Ning Fan, "Steal merits! After it’s done, we’ll split it fifty-fifty..."

"..." Steal merits? Ning Fan was stunned, not understanding.

"Sixty-forty, your favor!" The Slime Monster got anxious, thinking her Hero Brother was unwilling.

"..."

"Seventy-thirty!"

"..."

"Eighty-twenty!"

"..."

"Ninety-ten, settled?"

"..."

"Fine, you win! Just because you’re my Hero Brother! Take it all! Leave me only enough merits to break the curse! I’ve had enough of this mud curse!"

Ning Fan still couldn’t figure out what the Slime Monster wanted. But there was one thing he understood.

His little Muddy was cursed inexplicably, turning into mud, and needed merits to break the curse! And he needed to help little Muddy steal such things!

"Will you help or not! Are you no longer people’s good Hero Brother? Boohoo." The Slime Monster began to act cute.

"...Talk normally, and I might consider it." Little Muddy had made him so much Ant Species Soup, he didn’t mind doing her a small favor.

...

Meanwhile, far away on the twelfth layer of the Earth Abyss, Yin Mu and Hua Zhao finally broke free from Ning Fan’s illusory art.

The two girls wanted to kill, wanted to dismember Ning Fan! Wanted to chop that self-proclaimed Master, that scoundrel who forcibly took the maid, into meat for the dogs!

"Report to the High Priest! There is a cultivator from the Dreamland Realm requesting an audience outside the hall!"

The two women were fuming inside the hall when suddenly the report came in from outside.

"Who is it?" Yin Mu asked coldly, her mood sour, unlikely to have a good tone.

"It is Fu Su Chen, Taoist Disciple of the Water Sect."

"Fu Su Chen? Never heard of him. Make him leave!" Yin Mu immediately issued an eviction order.

"B-but..."

"But what!"

Before Yin Mu could ask further, she suddenly heard a cold snort from outside the hall. The power of that snort shattered the protective barrier of the great hall of the Light Ant Clan!

Seeing this, Yin Mu and Hua Zhao were slightly startled, then they saw two rude figures burst into the hall.

"Junior Fu Su Chen, greets the High Priest of the Saint Ant Sect, greets Miss Hua Zhao." Fu Su Chen elegantly clasped his fists in salute, his handsome face always smiling, as if he hadn’t just forcefully broken in.

"Hmph!" Behind Fu Su Chen stood a Puppet Immortal Stone with a quasi-saint cultivation. The Immortal Stone’s nose was raised arrogantly, and it was clearly him who smashed the great hall’s barrier.

"Oh? So it’s the quasi-saint from the Water Sect. My apologies for not welcoming you sooner, please forgive me." Yin Mu and Hua Zhao exchanged glances, both seeing joy in the other’s eyes.

Under normal circumstances, a proud Saint Ant Sect wouldn’t tolerate such a forceful entry, and Yin Mu would be furious, but today was different. She was troubled by not having a way to enter the Thirteenth Spine to kill Ning Fan, and the Water Sect’s arrival could serve as allies, posing as outsiders to enter the Thirteenth Spine. With that, she didn’t want to pursue the offense of these two.

"Hmph! Don’t waste your words with Immortal Stone Grandpa! Quickly return the Sky-Dueling Jade Umbrella you took! It’s something from our Water Sect; how dare you let it be defiled! The master instructed that we have two tasks in the Earth Abyss: one is to help the little Daoist and Bei Xiao Man build a relationship; the other is to negotiate a trade with the Light Ant Clan to retrieve the Sky-Dueling Jade Umbrella! If either task fails, I will be in massive trouble! If you’re smart, return the Sky-Dueling Jade Umbrella quickly! If not, we’ll have a fight!" The Immortal Stone said arrogantly.

He’s just a first-order quasi-saint, yet he dares to be so brazen in front of Yin Mu, a second-grade quasi-saint, truly brainless! Given he’s merely a Stone Warrior Puppet, it’s understandable that he’s a bit dim-witted.

But Yin Mu and Hua Zhao were clearly not inclined to forgive the Immortal Stone’s rudeness for that reason.

Fu Su Chen’s expression changed dramatically; he never imagined that the Immortal Stone would be so arrogant even on the territory of the Light Ant Clan, so he shot a fierce glare at the Immortal Stone.

For some reason, the Immortal Stone, who acted like a big shot just a moment ago, immediately fell silent when Fu Su Chen glared, as if Fu Su Chen had something on him.

Yin Mu’s expression turned somewhat gloomy and uncertain.

The Immortal Stone’s affront would have definitely warranted a bloody lesson, but considering the issue of the Thirteenth Spine, she hesitated, thinking it would be better to teach him a lesson later.

So quickly, she put on a slight smile, shifting the topic, "You two came for the Sky-Dueling Jade Umbrella?"

"Indeed. This umbrella is of significant importance to our Water Sect, and since we’ve uncovered its whereabouts, we will reclaim it at any cost." Fu Su Chen stated.

"Would you even take it by force?" Yin Mu’s eyes narrowed, and the mighty presence of a second-grade quasi-saint descended as if the sky was collapsing!

Under this pressure, the Immortal Stone, who had previously been so arrogant, suddenly changed his expression in fear, but Fu Su Chen, protected by some secret treasure, remained unfazed despite only having Immortal King cultivation, and calmly smiled, "The High Priest must be joking. We’d never take it by force; our sect is willing to offer fair compensation in exchange for this umbrella; of course, if the High Priest insists, having my master come in person wouldn’t be favorable."

Fu Su Chen’s master has a second-grade quasi-saint title! Yin Mu might look down on Fu Su Chen, but she couldn’t dismiss the person behind him. Of course, she wasn’t truly afraid; the Light Ant Clan feared no one, not even the Light Clan, let alone a Water Sect.

Yin Mu’s expression didn’t show it, but she sneered inwardly. It’s quite a coincidence the Water Sect is after the Sky-Dueling Jade Umbrella; seems like these two would be willing to venture into the Thirteenth Spine to kill Ning Fan without any instigation from her.

"The Sky-Dueling Jade Umbrella is no longer in our possession." Yin Mu finally spoke again.

"Impossible!" Fu Su Chen instinctively doubted but seeing Yin Mu’s expression without deception, he took out a Golden Compass from his storage pouch to confirm.

Upon checking, Fu Su Chen’s expression turned sour! Yin Mu was not lying, the Sky-Dueling Jade Umbrella had indeed changed owners!

"May I ask the High Priest where the Sky-Dueling Jade Umbrella is now? If the High Priest could provide its location, I would gladly offer a gift in exchange." Fu Su Chen said with a bitter smile.

"Hmph! No need for gifts, and as for the whereabouts of the Sky-Dueling Jade Umbrella, I don’t mind telling you! Recently, our Light Ant Clan was robbed, and the Sky-Dueling Jade Umbrella was stolen by a thief. If you wish to know its location, you’ll have to do some tasks for us as a trade..."