Chapter 127: Seizing the Vase

Just as Liang Yan and Zhao Xunzhen were exchanging whispers, the four Foundation Establishment sect leaders could no longer contain their impatience.

Yun Xuzi and Qin Yuan were the first to dash toward the golden steps, followed closely by the other two, each desperate not to lose the initiative as they had earlier while fighting over spirit artifacts outside.

The four leaped high into the air, their hands reaching simultaneously toward the white jade vial atop the steps, while their other hands gathered spiritual energy to strike at those nearby.

Boom!

The four-colored spiritual energies exploded in mid-air. Though each was impacted to varying degrees, none retreated. Gritting their teeth, they continued to reach for the white jade vial.

Because they had moved first, Qin Yuan and Yun Xuzi were the closest. Just as the vial seemed destined for one of them, a sudden twist occurred!

Two beams of golden spiritual light erupted from behind Qin Yuan and Yun Xuzi, striking at their backs.

Having cultivated for many years and possessing vast combat experience, the two sensed the anomaly instantly. Mid-air and unable to turn back to defend, they decisively abandoned the vial, flying to the side to narrowly dodge the lethal strikes.

Boom!

The two golden slashes struck the stone platform with a metallic ring.

Only then did Yun Xuzi and Qin Yuan have the leisure to look back, realizing their attackers were two of the four statues surrounding the platform.

The statues—a man with a leopard-like face and bulging eyes wielding a nine-ringed broadsword, and a woman in flowing ribbons holding a seven-foot longsword—radiated an aura that was unequivocally at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.

Yun Xuzi faced the sword-wielding male statue, while Qin Yuan confronted the sword-wielding female. Both wore grave expressions, clearly recognizing the formidable power of their opponents.

Meng Qi and Li Zheng, who had been trailing behind, felt their hearts skip a beat. As expected, the moment the first two engaged, the remaining statues stirred.

One was a creature with a tiger’s head holding a pair of massive golden hammers, and the other was an eagle-headed humanoid brandishing a mountain-splitting axe. They charged toward Meng Qi and Li Zheng.

Having seen the others’ plight, the two were prepared and promptly summoned their own spirit artifacts to defend, avoiding any frantic movements.

Four sect leaders against four statues—all at the peak of Foundation Establishment. Their clash around the stone platform unleashed a terrifying pressure, an invisible field so potent that it shook the souls of the Qi Refining cultivators present, forcing them to retreat several paces.

Yet, at this very moment, a gray figure moved forward instead of back.

This figure possessed no aura; there was no sign of spiritual energy circulation. Like a slippery fish, he darted under the very noses of the four masters and onto the stone platform.

Before reaching the platform, he flicked his left hand, sending a small rosewood box flying. It erupted in mid-air into a sheet of deep red flames, scattering countless sparks in every direction.

Puff-puff-puff!

These sparks landed three inches in front of the Qi Refining cultivators, sealing off their path.

Ji Lai, Li Huayang, and the others looked closely, only to discover that the sparks were actually thousands of tiny flying needles.

The gray figure did not pause, his right hand sweeping forward to snatch the coveted white jade vial.

"Liang Yan!"

The four battling sect leaders were shocked.

They knew the four statues guarding the treasure would prioritize whoever went for the Star River Sand. Yet, Liang Yan had approached with zero aura, successfully deceiving the statues' senses—it was inconceivable!

Furthermore, Liang Yan had moved the exact moment the masters engaged the statues, as if he had anticipated everything. A strange thought surfaced in everyone's minds: Could he have known in advance that the statues would attack whoever seized the treasure?

In truth, they were correct. After entering the palace, Liang Yan had quietly employed the "Qi-Gazing Technique" from the *Mental Void Intent Method*. This profound technique, created in his later years by the peak Golden Core cultivator Xumusheng of the Yi Xing Pavilion, was truly miraculous.

He had long sensed through the technique that these statues possessed meridians and spiritual energy equivalent to peak Foundation Establishment cultivators.

With his sharp intellect, Liang Yan had deduced the purpose of the statues, leading to the scene where he used the Heavenly Mystery Bead to mask his aura and fish in troubled waters.

"Hahaha!"

While the others stood stunned, Yun Xuzi let out a loud laugh. He ceased his struggle with the statue and flipped back ten feet.

The broadsword-wielding statue immediately stopped its attack, retreated to its original position, and reverted to a silent statue.

Yun Xuzi laughed, "A soldier is kept for a thousand days to be used in a single moment! Liang Yan, you did not disappoint me. Now, hand over the Star River Sand!"

Liang Yan remained unmoved, staring at the jade vial with a pensive expression.

Seeing no response, Yun Xuzi’s face darkened as he barked, "What? Do you no longer want the antidote?"

Liang Yan looked up, a faint, mocking smile on his face. "If I give you the Star River Sand, how can I be certain you will give me the antidote?"

Yun Xuzi’s expression chilled as he snorted, "What do you want?"

"Hand the antidote to me first, and I will naturally hand over the Star River Sand," Liang Yan said calmly.

"Hmph! Do you think you have the right to bargain with me? Your life is in my hands; your survival depends entirely on my whim!"

"Haha!" Liang Yan chuckled. "My life is worth little, but the Star River Sand is a priceless treasure. If you refuse to hand over the antidote, I shall simply gift this sand to the other three sect leaders instead!"

"You...!"

Yun Xuzi’s face stiffened, then flushed with rage. After a long moment, he gritted his teeth, "Fine brat, I never thought I would be outmaneuvered by you!"

Having spent his life calculating others, he considered it a great humiliation to be outplayed by a junior.

Yun Xuzi laughed out of pure fury, "Boy, the antidote is in my hand. Do you dare come and take it?"

Standing on the platform, Liang Yan remained composed, merely pointing toward Zhao Xunzhen below.

"Give the antidote to her, and let her pass it to me. Once I have consumed it and confirmed it is genuine, I will hand over the Star River Sand."