Just as Guz Congfei and his three companions were discussing how to divide the four Low Grade Artifacts among themselves, Ye Zhen’s Cloud Winged Tiger Cub pitter-pattered towards the old tortoise that faintly appeared and disappeared in the Cold Pool.
"Mew..."
The Cloud Winged Tiger Cub growled lowly at the Old Tortoise of the Cold Pool, and to Ye Zhen’s surprise, the tiger and the tortoise actually seemed to be able to communicate.
However, there was always something odd about the clear gaze of the Old Tortoise of the Cold Pool, which made Ye Zhen feel uneasy. While the tiger and the tortoise were communicating, Ye Zhen carefully turned his head away, choosing not to look, only to listen!
"Grandpa Tortoise, how many years have you been staying here? Is there anything good around here?"
After a few casual exchanges, the Cloud Winged Tiger Cub, prompted by Ye Zhen, started to fish for information from the Old Tortoise of the Cold Pool.
"Oh, little fellow, you’ve got quite a sweet mouth. How many years? I can’t remember..."
"Good stuff? There’s plenty. It’s just that those stupid guys can’t find it. They keep quarreling over a few pieces of scrap metal..."
"Good stuff?"
The cub looked around, putting on a very cute act, and said, "Grandpa Tortoise, where is the good stuff? I can’t find anything."
"In the Cold Pool, of course you can’t find it..."
"Cold Pool?" Ye Zhen’s eyebrows furrowed into a frown.
"Little kitty, let me tell you, the most precious thing in here is beyond anyone’s imagination..."
It had to be said, the Cloud Winged Tiger that Ye Zhen had subdued with the Blood Sacrifice Technique was indeed full of spirit nature. Once it got going, it didn’t even need Ye Zhen to guide it, almost chatting casually as it drew out the secrets of the Old Tortoise of the Cold Pool.
The Old Tortoise of the Cold Pool surely never dreamed that Ye Zhen could understand their communication.
"Old rules, according to our previous arrangement, I must pick first. This Low Grade Treasure Sword is mine!"
Luv Congfei didn’t care whether the others agreed or not; he directly chose the sword that looked best and suited him most from the weapon racks. Jiulie, Han Shi, and Ren Xihua all turned their eyes to Ye Zhen, especially Ren Xihua, whose eyes were full of disappointment.
Since he had killed the fewest Green Water Dragon Crocodiles, following this selection order, he wouldn’t be able to get a Low Grade Artifact.
Now, there was still one sword, one spear, and one knife left on the weapon rack, all Low Grade Artifacts.
Ye Zhen, however, hesitated a bit.
Ye Zhen already knew about the most precious thing mentioned by the Old Tortoise of the Cold Pool. The question now was, should he pick now, or should he quietly find an opportunity later?
"Ye Zhen, what are you doing? Are you going to pick or not? If you don’t pick, someone else will," Luv Congfei said, urging impatiently.
But it was Luv Congfei’s words that solidified Ye Zhen’s resolve.
Choose now!
Although the treasure mentioned by the Old Tortoise of the Cold Pool wasn’t very eye-catching, there was also a high chance it could be discovered. If that really happened, Ye Zhen would regret it later.
"Alright, I choose this one!"
Ye Zhen pointed his finger towards a block of Black Crystal Stone on the wall above that radiated a shimmering glow, illuminating the whole training ground.
The others were stunned for a moment, but Luv Congfei didn’t care at all. He was still exulting over the Low Grade Artifact in his hand and didn’t expect Ye Zhen to choose something else.
Almost simultaneously as he spoke, Ye Zhen leaped up, his sword flashing as he dug a large hole in the cavern wall where the Black Crystal Stone was located.
Bang!
A black sphere the size of a human head fell down, revealing that the previously visible Black Crystal Stone was just the tip of the iceberg.
Whoosh!
The entire training ground lit up brilliantly, as the fully exposed black sphere emitted an exceptionally dazzling light bright enough to clearly reveal every detail of the several miles of the training ground, as if it were daylight!
"Eh? What kind of treasure is this?"
"What is this thing?"
As the four men exclaimed in surprise, Ye Zhen had already stashed the huge black pearl into his Storage Bracelet, and the entire underground training ground instantly plunged into darkness.
However, as Spirit Summoning Realm Martial Artists, they had no trouble seeing in the dark.
Everyone was stunned for a moment, and as soon as Luv Congfei recovered from the shock, he reprimanded Ye Zhen, "Ye Zhen, what is that thing? Take it out!"
"I’ve made my choice; you three can pick next," Ye Zhen said, feigning ignorance of Luv Congfei’s agitation.
Luv Congfei’s shamelessness was now fully exposed, "Ye Zhen, are you blatantly going against our previous agreement? Hurry up and take out the treasure you just hid!"
"Agreement? Isn’t the agreement just to take turns choosing treasures? You picked a Low Grade Artifact, I picked such a large Luminous Pearl, it’s perfectly normal!" Ye Zhen responded indifferently.
"No, we didn’t notice this treasure before. Now, take it out and let’s choose again with all five of us, that would be fair!" Luv Congfei insisted.
Luv Congfei wasn’t a fool. The brilliance from earlier made it clear that the object was far more valuable than any Low Grade Artifact, perhaps even the most valuable treasure within this Secret Realm.
Rather than regret not having observed carefully earlier, he was now completely shameless.
"Humph, fair?"
Ye Zhen snorted coldly, "You might as well just say you want this Black Pearl for yourself, it would sound better! If we pick again and you’re the first, wouldn’t it end up with you anyway?
Luv Congfei, is it possible for you to be even more shameless?"
"Who says I’m shameless?"
Luv Congfei unexpectedly declared unabashedly, "I discovered this Secret Realm, I brought you all in. Who else should take the best treasure in here if not me?
Hurry up, Ye Zhen, give it to me. Don’t make me lose my temper!"
Ye Zhen was actually amused by Luv Congfei’s shamelessness.
For the sake of treasures, this man could stoop to such shameless depths.
Previously, he had used the three of them as sacrificial lambs at Ghost Gate, and now he had the gall to demand the treasures outright.
"If we’re going to fall out, let’s fall out. Who’s afraid of whom?"
With an angry shout, Ye Zhen beckoned with a palm, and the two other Low Grade Artifacts on the weapon rack, a sword and a knife, flew towards him. He tossed them to Han Shi and Ren Xihua.
"Senior Brother Han, Junior Brother Ren, secure these treasures early!"
Clang!
Just as Jiulie reclaimed the last spear, Luv Congfei’s body burst with Sword Light, and he suddenly thrust his sword, attacking Ye Zhen.
"I knew you would do this!"
Ye Zhen sidestepped with his Chasing Star Step, drew his Sky Crystal Sword, and cleaved out, just managing to force Luv Congfei back.
Swish, swish, swish!
With the artifacts in hand, Han Shi and Ren Xihua once again stood shoulder to shoulder with Ye Zhen, confronting Luv Congfei and Jiulie from afar.
This scene filled Luv Congfei with intense hatred.
If Balang were here, he would not have to be so passive!
Although he and Jiulie were at the Peak of the Spirit Summoning Realm and the Late-stage Spirit Summoning Realm respectively, on Ye Zhen’s side Han Shi was also a Martial Artist at the Late Stage of the Spirit Summoning Realm.
Ye Zhen and Ren Xihua, although one was at the Early Stage and the other at the Mid-stage of the Spirit Summoning Realm, both possessed the combat power of the Late-stage Spirit Summoning Realm.
Three against two!
He was at a slight disadvantage, and even if they were to engage in a desperate full-on battle, the odds of victory were not high.
What was more fatal was that Jiulie, who had come with him, might not be willing to fight to the death for him at the crucial moment.
On the other hand, the trio of Ye Zhen was a brotherhood, a much better combination than his alliance with Jiulie.
"Ye Zhen, hand over that Black Pearl, and I’ll trade you this Low Grade Treasure Sword for it! I will no longer hold Balang’s death against you from here on out," Luv Congfei still couldn’t give up.
"Luv Congfei, do you think we are fools?"
Ye Zhen sneered, "You want us to be the cannon fodder to lead the way, and we haven’t even settled the score with you for that. We’re already being generous by not holding it against you, and you’re still trying to settle scores with us?"
"You..."
Luv Congfei was so angry that he was speechless, but still unwilling to give up on the Black Pearl, which was clearly no ordinary treasure.
In the end, it was Jiulie who spoke up, putting an end to the matter.
"Brother Luv, let’s just let this matter go, shall we? After all, it was our lack of insight that failed to discover that treasure. Today’s haul is already quite substantial," Jiulie said.
Jiulie’s stance was quite reasonable and dealt another blow to Luv Congfei.
Luv Congfei, with no options left, knew that Ye Zhen wouldn’t be intimidated by him, and since he couldn’t outfight him alone, he could only gracefully step down with the face-saving excuse Jiulie had given him.
However, because of Ye Zhen’s unexpected discovery, Luv Congfei was still not ready to give up on the Black Water Legacy Mansion they had already searched.
It was almost like sifting through a sieve, even willing to destroy the Black Water Legacy Mansion. Many places where treasures could be hidden were thoroughly searched by Luv Renfei, who hacked them apart mercilessly.
When the search reached the Cold Pool, and he saw the Old Tortoise of the Cold Pool’s bright, clear eyes, Luv Congfei, full of anger, slashed at it with his sword.
"You old bastard, what are you looking at!"
With one sword strike, water splashed everywhere, causing Ye Zhen great concern.
"Luv Congfei, what are you doing? Take your anger out on me, not these Spirit Communication Beasts!" Ye Zhen stopped Luv Congfei’s violence under the pretext of caring for the little cub.
After giving Ye Zhen a hateful glare, Luv Congfei suddenly leaped into the Cold Pool, "Who knows if there are any treasures in this Cold Pool?"
Seeing this, Ye Zhen’s heart sank.
Because according to the Old Tortoise of the Cold Pool, there were treasures in the Cold Pool, and if that despicable Luv Congfei found them, it would be frustrating.
"Damn, it’s freezing me to death!"
Water splashed as Luv Congfei shivered and leaped out of the Cold Pool. After resting for a moment, he went back into the Cold Pool three or four times, with no discoveries.
Now, after scouring the Black Water Legacy Mansion thoroughly and devastating it, Luv Congfei was completely disappointed, convinced that there were no more treasures left.
"Ye Zhen! You just wait, that treasure might choke you to death! Things you shouldn’t take often bring disaster!"
Leaving behind such an ominous remark, Luv Congfei and Jiulie left first, not daring to traverse the Black Gold Python infested riverbank area alongside Ye Zhen.
"Junior Brother Ye, should we leave too?"
Shortly after Luv Congfei left, Han Shi spoke up.
After pondering for a while, Ye Zhen decided to explore for treasures with Han Shi and Ren Xihua. Since they had come together, they should leave together. Ye Zhen couldn’t hog the discoveries all to himself.
"Senior Brother Han, there might be treasures in this Cold Pool. Shall we explore a bit more?" Ye Zhen suggested.
"Impossible, right? Luv Congfei has already dived down there three or four times," Han Shi responded.
"Let’s try again, maybe Luv Congfei didn’t dive deep enough?" Ye Zhen insisted.
The treasure mentioned by the Old Tortoise of the Cold Pool had been verified by the Black Pearl on the cave wall.
Although Ye Zhen did not yet know the specific nature of the Black Pearl, its brightness alone was enough to suggest that it was extraordinary!
For this reason, Ye Zhen believed that there was indeed a good chance that there were treasures in the Cold Pool!
"Senior Brother Han, you have the deepest cultivation and should be able to dive the deepest. Could you give it a try?" Ren Xihua suggested.
With a nod, Han Shi gathered his Spiritual Power and took a plunge into the Cold Pool!

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