Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

"Sect Leader! We've found a hiding spot!" Just then, Zhao Qingyan finally finished the last stroke. Three barely perceptible pale gray halos flashed by in three extremely hidden crevices in the rock wall behind them and in the underwater reef cave!

"Well done!" Shen Mo praised, then immediately ordered, "Shi Tie, Da Niu! Check weapons and personal belongings! Su Xiao, Qing Yan! Prepare lightness talismans and the last few defensive talismans! Everyone, be ready to evacuate at any time!"

"Yes!" the four responded in unison, their movements methodical despite their nervousness.

Shi Tie inspected the iron rod; Zhang Daniu tightened his grip on the axe; Su Xiao distributed several crumpled talismans to everyone.

Zhao Qingyan carefully handed the simple array plate that controlled the three hiding points to Shen Mo.

"Remember the evacuation order!" Shen Mo tucked the three array plates into his robes, sleeves, and inside his belt, emphasizing again.

"First hiding spot (crack above the rock face), second hiding spot (underwater reef cave), third hiding spot (the furthest mud pit)! If the previous one is exposed or inaccessible, immediately move on to the next one! Don't hesitate!"

"Understood!" Everyone nodded emphatically.

Just then—

"BOOM!!!!"

A deafening roar, more earth-shattering than ever before, suddenly erupted!

The azure light barrier at the entrance to the water palace shattered completely under the combined impact of countless attacks and the spiritual energy within, instantly transforming into countless azure light specks that dissipated into the air!

"The barrier has been broken!"

"Charge in!"

"The treasure is inside!"

The frenzied shouts reached their peak! Countless cultivators, like a tidal wave, with bloodshot eyes, desperately surged towards the dark entrance to the water mansion!

"Now! The Blazing Sun Sect is about to make its move!" Su Xiao suddenly opened his eyes and exclaimed in shock!

Almost at the same moment she finished speaking—

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!"

Several incredibly hot, crimson streaks of light shot out from the opposite black stone peak like meteors falling from the sky, their target being the rear of the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect, the Profound Ice Pavilion, and the Pill Cauldron Pavilion who were frantically rushing towards the entrance!

"Not good! It's the Blazing Sun True Fire! Scatter!" In the Heavenly Sword Sect's camp, a white-robed youth who seemed to be the leader's expression changed drastically, and he roared sharply!

But it was too late!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The streaks of crimson light struck the area where the disciples of the three major sects were most concentrated with pinnacle, and exploded with a deafening roar!

A terrifying wave of fire swept out instantly, and the scorching heat contained within evaporated all the surrounding moisture!

The screams abruptly stopped. Dozens of elite disciples from the three major sects were turned into charred remains before they could even react!

Even their defensive formations on the perimeter were easily torn apart, as if made of paper!

"Blazing Sun Sect! You're courting death!" The leading disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect roared, his eyes bloodshot, and he merged with his sword, transforming into a dazzling rainbow that rushed towards Black Stone Peak!

"Kill!" The experts from Xuanbing Pavilion and Danding Pavilion also reacted, both shocked and furious. They abandoned the entrance to the Water Mansion in front of them and turned to rush towards the direction where the Lieyang Sect's attackers had appeared!

The battle escalated instantly! What was originally just a matter of eliminating minor enemies suddenly turned into a bloody melee between the four major sects!

Sword energy, ice blades, alchemical fire, blazing true fire... all sorts of powerful spells and magical artifacts clashed and exploded wildly in front of the Water Mansion entrance! The affected area was getting wider and wider!

"My God..." Zhang Daniu was dumbfounded, his tongue tied in knots. He never expected the situation to turn out this way!

In his eyes, those high and mighty disciples of major sects fell down in droves like mowing grass!

"Sect Leader! We..." Shi Tie was dumbfounded; this was completely beyond his comprehension.

"Don't get distracted!" Shen Mo shouted sharply, his gaze fixed on the entrance to the Water Mansion, which had temporarily opened up due to the battle between the four major sects!

At this moment, some rogue cultivators and cultivators from small sects who had narrowly escaped the first wave of suppression and the aftermath of the subsequent battle rushed frantically toward the dark entrance, just like drowning people grasping at the last straw!

"Now's the time!" A glint flashed in Shen Mo's eyes. "We won't go in! But the opportunity has arrived!"

"Opportunity?" Su Xiao was taken aback. In the current situation, what opportunity could there be?

"A chance to pick up the scraps!" Shen Mo spoke rapidly. "The four major sects are locked in a fierce battle and have no time to spare! Those rogue cultivators who rushed in are of varying strengths; there's bound to be more fighting inside!"

"Some people will definitely get injured and escape, or... die inside! They might have items they obtained from the outer areas on their bodies! Perhaps... even things inside the Water Mansion might have been shaken out by the shockwave!"

He pointed to a relatively 'quiet' area of ​​water and reefs near the entrance to the Water Palace, which had become quieter due to the great battle.

"There! This is a blind spot! We'll sneak over there, not to enter the cave, but to 'clean up the battlefield' near the entrance! We'll pick up whatever we can! If anything seems amiss, we'll evacuate immediately according to plan!"

Picking up the leftovers? Cleaning up the mess?

The four of them were taken aback at first, then their eyes lit up!

Exactly! They don't have the strength to participate in the core competition, but while the big shots are fighting, they can skim some profits on the sidelines. Isn't that exactly what they originally planned?

"Let's do it!" Shi Tie was the first to respond, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

"But... wouldn't it be too dangerous?" Su Xiao was still a little worried.

"Fortune favors the bold!" Shen Mo said in a deep voice. "Besides, we have a backup plan! The hiding place Qingyan set up is our greatest asset! Move out! Follow me! Stay hidden!"

After saying that, Shen Mo moved like a ghost, skimming along the boundary between the rock wall and the water, using the rocks and shadows as cover, and quickly and silently made his way towards the 'edge of the battlefield'!

Shi Tie and the other three exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and suppressed their fear. Following Shen Mo's example, they held their breath and focused their attention, keeping up closely behind!

The aftershocks of the battle between the four major sects swept through the entrance area of ​​the Water Mansion like a storm.

Sword energy, flames, ice, poison... all sorts of violent spiritual energies collided wildly, turning that body of water upside down.

Screams, roars, and the sounds of shattering magical artifacts filled the air. The once azure water was now a shocking dark red, littered with severed limbs and fragments of broken magical weapons.

The five members of the Qingyun Sect, like five frightened little beasts, clung tightly to the rock wall in the shadows, not daring to breathe.

Following Shen Mo's plan, they risked sneaking to the edge of the battlefield and, sure enough, found some "spoils of war" beneath several shattered rocks:

Several pieces of mediocre ore stained with blood; a flying sword broken in half (its spiritual light lost); and even a small jade bottle containing a few low-quality Qi-restoring pills that had been left behind.

The items were few and not particularly valuable, but for the impoverished Qingyun Sect, they represented a considerable windfall.

More importantly, this risky move proved the correctness of Shen Mo's judgment—there is indeed a possibility of finding a bargain amidst the struggle between giants.