Chapter 496 - 215: Great Treasure
Zeng Xiuzhu clearly had a more fiery temper. She sneered, her tone abrasive. "Who are you? Hiding your face like a coward. State your name before you speak!"
The older man, a Mid-stage Astral Force expert, laughed heartily, completely unbothered by her tone. "Easy, easy. I am Fu Chunsheng of Yidao An."
Yidao An?
Chen Qing’s gaze sharpened as he reassessed the three of them.
Yidao An was a motley crew. Besides its core members, it also recruited a large number of Assassins, Lone Rangers, and even experts holding nominal positions for various factions, making for a complex background.
Shen Xiuyong had specifically warned him that Yidao An seemed to have the shadow of a millennium-old Noble Family pulling the strings from behind, making it an incredibly murky organization.
The fact that they had previously ambushed members of the Bai Family showed just how disorderly their ranks were, accepting even people like that.
"So, you’re friends from Yidao An."
Wang Yang suppressed his displeasure and cupped his fist again. "A pleasure to meet you. The wound at the base of this Golden Feathered Eagle’s wing was left by my Thunder Hall’s unique Vajra Pestle. The mark is distinctive. If you don’t believe me, I can go over and verify it."
As he spoke, he prepared to walk toward the Golden Feathered Eagle.
"Hold on! Even if you were the ones who injured the Golden Feathered Eagle, these ownerless eggs and this Treasure Medicine should be shared among those who found them, shouldn’t they?"
Fu Chunsheng said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, "Besides, this young hero arrived here first. As I see it, shouldn’t we hear his opinion on how to handle this?"
After speaking, his gaze shifted to Chen Qing by the nest, attempting to pull him to his side to jointly oppose Thunder Hall, which had two Mid-stage Astral Force experts.
Wang Yang’s and Zeng Xiuzhu’s expressions instantly darkened. Their gazes, filled with unspoken pressure, also fell upon Chen Qing.
Chen Qing felt their gazes on him and sneered internally. ’This Fu Chunsheng pretends to speak up for me, but he’s up to no good. He just wants to use me to relieve some of the pressure on him.’
After all, against two Mid-stage Astral Force experts, the three from Yidao An were clearly no match.
On the surface, however, his expression remained unchanged. He pondered for a moment before saying, "Arguing here won’t solve anything. Since there are three eggs and one Spirit Ginseng, and there are three parties here, why don’t we split them evenly? One Eagle Egg for each party. As for the Treasure Medicine... perhaps we can negotiate for an item of equivalent value in its place, to avoid any bad blood."
"Split it evenly!? I have no objection!"
Fu Chunsheng immediately nodded in agreement, though he was thinking to himself: ’I’ll pretend to agree for now and stabilize the situation. If we really split it, it’ll be as easy as flipping my hand to ambush and kill this lone brat afterward.’
’If we can’t, this is the perfect opportunity to team up with him and take a bite out of this tough bone, Thunder Hall.’
"Bullshit!"
Zeng Xiuzhu sneered. "We went through all that trouble to seriously injure this feathered beast, so everything here should be ours! Who the hell do you think you are to split it with us? And that Crimson Sun Spirit Ginseng, is that something you can covet? Are you looking to die?!"
"Junior Sister!"
But Wang Yang suddenly shouted, his gaze flickering rapidly between the Crimson Sun Spirit Ginseng and Fu Chunsheng’s group as if weighing the pros and cons.
A moment later, he actually suppressed his anger and said in a low voice, "Fine! We’ll do as this friend suggests. We can split the Eagle Eggs! But the Crimson Sun Spirit Ginseng must belong to my Thunder Hall! We can compensate you with other things!"
He deliberately emphasized the ownership of the Spirit Ginseng, clearly determined to obtain it.
Chen Qing raised an eyebrow, the movement almost imperceptible.
’Thunder Hall’s desire for the Spirit Ginseng is far greater than I expected. They’re even willing to give up a portion of the Eagle Eggs for it?’
Wang Yang immediately added, "However, to be fair, the Golden Feathered Eagle’s corpse must also belong to Thunder Hall!"
He seemed to want to finalize the distribution as quickly as possible to reduce any uncertainties.
"Agreed."
Fu Chunsheng readily agreed, seemingly unconcerned about the eagle’s corpse, but his gaze kept drifting faintly toward the Crimson Sun Spirit Ginseng.
In just a few words, the two of them seemed to have reached an agreement on the distribution, completely sidelining Chen Qing, who had discovered the nest first. It was as if he had no right to participate in the division of the Spirit Ginseng, and that single measly Eagle Egg was a mere handout.
Immediately after, Wang Yang and Fu Chunsheng, each with their own ulterior motives, slowly approached the nest, as if to confirm the condition of the treasures.
Chen Qing circulated the True Astral in his body, remaining on high alert.
’A thirty-year Treasure Medicine... I refuse to believe Thunder Hall can offer any compensation of equal value!’
Sure enough, just as the two were less than a hundred feet from the nest, at the exact moment their paths crossed—
The situation changed in an instant!
"Attack!"
A vicious glint flashed in Wang Yang’s eyes as he targeted the most threatening person: Fu Chunsheng!
With a flip and a flick of his palm, several jet-black, longan-sized spheres shot straight for Fu Chunsheng’s face and vital points!
It was none other than Thunder Hall’s exclusive, terror-inspiring Hidden Weapon—the Thunder Fire Bomb!
Fu Chunsheng seemed to have been prepared. At almost the exact moment Wang Yang attacked, the True Astral in his body erupted. As he retreated explosively, the long, narrow Curved Saber in his hand drew a ghastly white arc, precisely cleaving the first two Thunder Fire Bombs that reached him!
"Explode!"
Wang Yang let out a low growl.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A series of deafening explosions rang out, shaking the very ground!
Flames instantly engulfed the area. A scorching shockwave mixed with countless tiny, poisoned Iron Thorns fanned out wildly, blasting several charred craters into the ground. The surrounding rocks were peppered with impacts, CRACKLING loudly as dust and smoke filled the air!
At almost the same instant the explosions began, Zeng Xiuzhu moved like lightning. No longer concealing her objective, she shot straight for the Crimson Sun Spirit Ginseng and the three Golden Feathered Eagle Eggs in the nest!
As long as she got her hands on the treasures, their mission would be a success!
"Stop her!!"
Although the explosion had left Fu Chunsheng in a slightly sorry state, he was uninjured. He let out a sharp cry.
The two Early-stage Astral Force experts who came with him immediately brandished their weapons and lunged at Zeng Xiuzhu. Flashes of their blades crisscrossed, tying her down as their target was also the treasures deep within the nest.
The scene instantly descended into utter chaos!
The goals of both sides were crystal clear—the thirty-year-old Crimson Sun Spirit Ginseng that flowed with a rosy light, and the three Eagle Eggs beside it!
"Little brother, if you’re not going to make a move now, when will you? Let’s team up and destroy this bunch of hypocrites from Thunder Hall first, then we can split the spoils!" Fu Chunsheng shouted toward Chen Qing while brandishing his saber to deflect the flying Iron Thorns.
He knew his two men were definitely no match for Zeng Xiuzhu, and he himself would have a hard time defeating Wang Yang quickly. If they waited until Zeng Xiuzhu freed herself, they would be in serious trouble.
"Alright!"
Chen Qing replied, his fingers forming a sword as he jabbed swiftly from a distance!
ZZZRAK—!
An incredibly condensed beam of Finger Force, flashing with cyan-purple lightning, shot through the air at an unimaginable speed!
Nine Heavens Thunder Shocking Finger!
Cyan Wood True Gang surged at his fingertip, emitting a heart-pounding hum, as if thunder from the nine heavens had been compressed into a tiny point. Carrying enough Power to pierce Gold Stone, it was fired last but arrived first, shooting straight for Zeng Xiuzhu’s vitals!
With Chen Qing and the two men from Yidao An joining forces, a delicate balance was formed.
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