The Nameless District Arc Chapter Fifty-Nine: Robbery

After eliminating Xu Biao, the bloodthirsty insects carried his corpse far away, spending nearly eight or nine hours in flight. These creatures were neither cultivators nor ordinary monsters; their abilities lay in devouring vital essence and concealing themselves, not in digging deep pits to bury corpses. Thus, they could only resort to such a clumsy method to erase all traces.

Xu Biao’s corpse was thrown to a late-stage Qi-refining beast to be devoured, while the bloodthirsty insects took his three storage bags and headed toward their target cave. Such caution was necessary, for Zhou Xuanhong feared that people from the Five Spirits Pill Valley might scour the battlefield for resources and stumble upon Xu Biao’s body, which would inevitably lead to a host of troublesome consequences. It never hurts to be prudent.

Xu Biao’s unexpected death forced Zhou Xuanhong to revise his plans. Originally, he intended for Xu Biao to escort the bloodthirsty insects underground, where their devouring abilities could circumvent the restrictions of the teleportation array by opening a small gap in the formation, allowing them to remain hidden for a long time.

But with Xu Biao gone, this plan was doomed. Now, all that remained was to gamble on another approach.

...

Back on the battlefield, seventeen disciples of the Five Spirits Pill Valley, protected by a giant cauldron, grew restless. Ever since Mao Yishan returned, saw all the storage bags swept away by the sword cultivators, and left with a dark expression, no one else had come, and the disciples’ hearts itched with anticipation.

Even without storage bags, the monster corpses and the priceless treasures at the rear of the beast army were a fortune waiting to be claimed, all depending on Wei Cuiyao’s orders.

To be safe, Wei Cuiyao waited another two days. Seeing her fellow disciples growing impatient, barely restraining themselves from leaving the cauldron’s protection, she finally permitted them to step outside its range.

First, five left to harvest the valuable parts from the monster corpses, quickly returning to deposit their loot in the cauldron before heading out again with empty storage bags to search further afield.

Cultivators are clever; wary of hidden threats, they chose to gather resources in batches and return, repeating the process to maximize safety and profits.

Thus, as the secret realm’s closure approached—three days, two days, one day remaining—the disciples gradually relaxed their vigilance.

They divided into three alternating groups, each collecting treasures for four hours before returning to the cauldron, never leaving it unguarded. This ensured that, even in danger, the entire group wouldn’t be wiped out.

Time ticked away. When only five hours remained, the last group departed, not to return, for they would soon be teleported out.

The first group had already come back, and two hours later, the second returned safely. Relief washed over the crowd; evidently, no ambush awaited them, and the best opportunity for assassination had passed. They were safe.

Smiles graced their faces, for they had gathered a great many treasures of heaven and earth. Though not of the highest grade, the sheer abundance would suffice to refine pills and trade for resources—this journey had not been in vain.

All cultivation resources were heaped in the cauldron’s center, guarded by Wei Cuiyao, who cast a curtain of flames to protect them.

“Put them inside,” she commanded.

The five who had just returned poured their harvest into the pile, making the mountain of treasures grow even higher.

The disciples relaxed, chatting about their gains.

“Ah, what a pity. We never managed to collect any truly rare treasures—they were all snatched up.”

“I agree. That mid-stage Foundation Establishment expert from the Form Shaping Sect was so stingy, not a single plant left behind.”

“Be content! At least he left plenty of low-grade spiritual herbs. Looks like our status as second-grade alchemists is secure. Without monsters guarding them, these herbs are as easy to pick as mushrooms.”

Their conversation soon turned to the Foundation Establishment cultivator who smiled quietly nearby, teasing him for his luck in obtaining a main ingredient for refining the Golden Condensation Pill.

...

“Haha, it was pure luck—the location of that Pill Fruit was remote, likely overlooked by the others. By the way, how much longer until the little world closes?” asked a Foundation Establishment cultivator, producing a time pearl—a common timing artifact in the cultivation world, powered by a single spirit stone for a hundred years.

The pearl’s internal array was linked to a master array in the city of Extreme Yin in the Nameless Region, ensuring consistent timing for all who purchased one.

The teleportation array in the secret world was just as precise: exactly thirty days, not a second more or less.

“It’s close, only a few dozen seconds left.”

The young Foundation Establishment cultivator nodded, a smile curling at his lips. “Just a few dozen seconds, huh? Looks like our junior sister is about to pack up the treasures. We should hurry.”

The others looked puzzled. “Hurry for what?”

Suddenly, the cultivator who had seemed to be at the first stage tore off his mask, revealing a face that filled the disciples of Five Spirits Pill Valley with terror—Mao Yishan!

“Why, to seize the resources, of course!” he declared.

With a flick of his will, three flying swords shot out, unleashing a wave of powerful spiritual energy among the crowd. The sharp blades began a slaughter.

Only two among them were Foundation Establishment cultivators; the rest were in the Qi-refining stage. Facing a mid-stage Foundation Establishment expert’s sudden assault, they had no time to react, and were instantly killed.

In a single breath, four Qi-refining cultivators fell, never realizing a powerful enemy had been among them all along.

The two Foundation Establishment cultivators quickly responded, summoning their pill cauldrons for defense, fearful of drawing Mao Yishan’s attention—a reflexive act.

But Mao Yishan’s target was not them. After killing four, he seized their storage bags and, with a blur, darted toward the pile of treasures in the cauldron’s center. His speed was unmatched, leaving the two Foundation Establishment alchemists unable to stop him.

The pile was guarded by the strongest alchemists. They faced Mao Yishan’s sudden assault with grave expressions, prepared for defense.

Wei Cuiyao sensed something amiss from above, but she needed to control the giant cauldron, and her Foundation Establishment divine sense couldn’t reach the ground in time to collect the treasures.

Even so, she dared not remove the formation. With Mao Yishan now present, who could say whether the sword cultivators lurked nearby, ready to strike her down? She was cautious, unwilling to gamble her life now that her trump cards were spent.

Likewise, the two Foundation Establishment alchemists guarding the treasures dared not put them into their storage bags. Even though they stood right beside the pile, a mere thought would suffice—but Mao Yishan’s intent was clear, and if they tried to take the treasures, his flying swords would cut them down at once. Having survived so far, they wouldn’t risk their lives for mere possessions—a wise cultivator’s choice.

Moreover, the treasures were not theirs alone; once outside, they would be divided among the sect and the alchemists who had given up their spots in the secret realm. If the treasures had been solely theirs, perhaps they would have fought harder, but as things stood, they would not.

Mao Yishan’s assault was fierce. He wielded swords in both hands, with a third hovering overhead, spiritual energy pouring in as he prepared to break through the alchemists’ defenses. His fifth-level Foundation Establishment cultivation overpowered them, changing their expressions.

Others rushed up to surround him, now alert after the initial surprise, quickly summoning their treasures for defense.

Wei Cuiyao began descending from a hundred meters above, the cauldron slowly dissipating but still imposing, timing her actions to retrieve the sub-cauldron at the moment the secret realm closed.

She shouted, “Quick, put them away!”

...

“Don’t you dare!” Mao Yishan roared.

The two Foundation Establishment alchemists could only smile bitterly, knowing what they must do. Ignoring Wei Cuiyao’s order might mean punishment, but defying Mao Yishan meant certain death—and immediate at that.

Mao Yishan’s attack arrived swiftly. The two alchemists raised their pill furnaces for defense, hoping to stall for time and ready to flee if they couldn’t hold him off.

Boom!

The three flying swords, charged with heavy spiritual energy, battered the alchemists, forcing them back and opening a path to the treasures.

Mao Yishan suffered some injuries, forced to rely on his brute strength, but his goal was achieved: he had reached the range to collect the treasures with only ten seconds left.

He laughed wildly, scooping up treasures from the pile, which shrank rapidly, much to the heartache of the alchemists.

Fortunately, Wei Cuiyao arrived twenty meters overhead—the giant cauldron had descended from a hundred meters to twenty—and cried, “Attack with all your might!”

Seven alchemists joined forces, launching fire spells. Wei Cuiyao manipulated the flames within the cauldron, focusing them on Mao Yishan. His disciple token finally succumbed to the onslaught and shattered.

Mao Yishan was suddenly in grave danger; if he didn’t retreat, his life would be at risk.

“Heh, the rest is yours!” he called.

He raised a spiritual shield, his form enveloped in a halo, and vanished from sight, leaving their attacks to strike empty air.

He reappeared at the spot where he had been chatting with the alchemists earlier. A substitution talisman lay visible on the ground. Mao Yishan smiled, waving at the eight alchemists, “Farewell!”

Then, as space power enveloped everyone, Wei Cuiyao and the others hurried to collect the remaining treasures—though little remained, for Mao Yishan had claimed two-thirds.

Wei Cuiyao glared at Mao Yishan, as if to memorize his features.

Whoosh!

All nine vanished from the secret realm, leaving behind four corpses of alchemists, growing cold as the outside world’s killing aura and blood stench filled the air.

Wei Cuiyao did not realize that, in her former position, a tiny bloodthirsty insect had fallen to the ground, remaining behind as the others departed.

Moments later, it awoke and swiftly flew into a corpse, beginning to devour its vital essence.

“For you, it is over. For me, it has only just begun. I wonder if Wang Hu succeeded—Brother Wang, I hope you won’t disappoint me.”