I established the Eternal Immortal Clan by taming beasts.

Zhou Wanhai returned to the second floor, his face now calm and composed. He even feigned concern and telepathically asked Zhou Wanhong if any support was needed outside.

After receiving the reply that "everything is under control," he continued to participate in collecting and organizing the inherited jade slips in the designated area as if nothing had happened.

After the Zhou family members had collected all the jade slips they had been allocated, Zhou Wanhai, with an impeccable smile on his face, approached Zhao Wenxuan once again.

"Clan Chief Zhao, we have finished taking inventory. Now, let's proceed as agreed and transfer our core cultivation techniques and inheritances to each other."

As he spoke, he took out several blank jade slips and, in front of Zhao Wenxuan, began to make rubbings of the core contents of the agreement between the two parties, his demeanor calm and composed, as if he were holding nothing back.

Zhao Wenxuan narrowed his eyes slightly and waved his hand imperceptibly, signaling his family members to also begin the rubbing work.

A moment later, both parties completed the rubbings and exchanged jade slips.

The cooperation on the surface seemed to have come to a satisfactory conclusion.

Zhou Wanhai asked casually, "What are Clan Chief Zhao's plans next?"

This cultivation method hall is already the core of the ruins, and the most valuable part has already been obtained.

Why don't we each explore other areas separately, so as to avoid unnecessary competition and each get what we need?

Zhao Wenxuan pondered for a moment, then raised his hand and pointed to the faint outline of a magnificent building in the distance: "My Zhao family plans to try our luck at the Weapon Refining Pavilion."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Wanhai's smile widened, and he nodded repeatedly: "Excellent, excellent! My Zhou family was just planning to visit the Talisman Hall, it seems we truly have no conflict. In that case, we'll take our leave!"

He bowed in farewell, then called to all the Zhou family members, and quickly left the Cultivation Hall. Sure enough, they hurried towards the general direction of the Talisman Hall, and their figures soon disappeared among the ruins.

Only after the Zhou family's presence had completely faded into the distance did Zhao Wenxuan's calm expression vanish instantly, replaced by a cold, mocking laugh: "Did they really think I, Zhao Wenxuan, am such an easy fool to deceive?"

They already harbored suspicions about the Zhou family because of the previous attack.

He had been secretly sending out a wisp of his divine consciousness.

They kept a close eye on the Zhou family's every move, especially Zhou Wanhai.

How could that brief abnormality, the barely concealed yet still slightly leaked excitement, and the overly smooth and natural "performance" that followed completely deceive his eyes?

"Wen Yuan," Zhao Wenxuan said in a deep voice, "Gather the elite troops and follow at a distance."

"I want to see what incredible thing these sneaky guys from the Zhou family have discovered that's making them act like this!"

Zhao Wenyuan immediately nodded in agreement. He had been paying close attention and had just noticed Zhou Wanhai's fleeting unease.

Soon, a well-trained Zhao family team quietly assembled, concealing their presence and trailing far behind the Zhou family team, like the most patient hunters, stealthily making their way towards the southern part of the ruins.

Out of everyone's sight, Lin Che, who perfectly concealed himself using the Absolute Concealment Divine Power, followed at the very back of the Zhao family's group at a leisurely pace.

Looking at the two groups of people, one in the light and one in the shadows, both of whom he had lured into his trap, a knowing smile slowly crept onto his lips.

The real show is about to begin.

……

Meanwhile, the Zhou family members had already arrived outside the square testing ground shrouded in thick poisonous miasma.

Zhou Wanhong narrowed his small eyes, gazing at the ominous-smelling building before him, and asked in a low voice, "Is this the place?"

"There's no mistake, the location recorded in the jade slip is right here!" Zhou Wanhai's face was no longer filled with his usual smile; his expression was more serious than ever before.

The tribesmen following behind looked at each other, full of doubt.

Weren't we supposed to be heading to the Talisman Hall? How did we end up in this eerie-looking place?

Even standing outside the building, the billowing, thick toxic fumes and pungent stench made them feel extremely uncomfortable.

Zhou Wanhong and his companion did not offer any further explanation.

"Everyone, take the high-grade antidote pills, circulate your internal energy to protect your bodies and isolate yourself from the poisonous miasma, and follow me in!" Zhou Wanhong gave the order and took the lead in stepping into the dark gate.

His natal spirit beast, Iron Bone Ferocious, followed closely by his side, its dark golden pupils coldly scanning everything around it, its five metal-boned tail swaying slightly, poised to strike.

Zhou Wanhai also drew his sword and followed, saying to his spirit beast in a deep voice, "Don't ask any more questions, you'll find out soon enough."

"Stay close to the group. If you encounter monsters blocking the way, prioritize repelling or driving them away. Do not kill them unless absolutely necessary!" He deliberately emphasized the last point, clearly still shaken by the eerie curse.

Although the clansmen did not understand what was going on, seeing the two Foundation Establishment elders so solemn, they dared not be negligent. They summoned their spirit beasts, circulated their qi to protect themselves, and stepped into the strange building one by one.

Shortly after they entered, the Zhao family also quietly followed them there.

Looking at the buildings shrouded in poisonous miasma ahead, Zhao Wenxuan's face revealed a cold, mocking smile: "As expected, there's something fishy going on!"

"Hmph, what a Zhou family they are, what a bunch of accomplices! They discover a treasure and want to hoard it all? They're truly a bunch of ungrateful wretches!"

His clansmen behind him were also filled with righteous indignation.

After nearly a year of meticulous planning, in the end, even the family members were tainted by the curse, and they even benefited the Zhou family. How could they swallow this insult?

A young clansman at the late stage of Qi Refining suddenly lowered his voice and said resentfully, "Clan leader, could those demonic beasts that attacked us earlier have been the work of the Zhou family?"

They are skilled in beast taming and have thoroughly investigated this place beforehand. Using secret methods to lure monsters and weaken our family's strength would be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?

"Hmm... now that you mention it, it's actually quite possible!"

A person next to him gasped and said, "In our area, besides the Lin family, isn't the Zhou family the only one skilled in beast taming?"

No one from the Lin family came, and they knew nothing about the situation here. How could they have arranged such a scheme in advance?

"It must be them! The Zhou family, all smiles on the surface, but behind your backs they resort to all sorts of underhanded tricks!"

Zhao Wenxuan raised his hand to suppress the crowd's discussion, his eyes sinister: "This debt will be settled sooner or later."

"Right now, let's see what's hidden here that would make the Zhou family so eager to abandon us."

He flipped his hand and took out a radiant array plate, then stepped into the building first.

Seeing this, the clansmen behind them also activated their magical artifacts and circulated their cultivation techniques, with various protective spiritual lights lighting up one after another. They followed the clan leader and filed in.

As soon as he entered the outer hall, Zhao Wenxuan scanned the area with his divine sense and took in the entire scene.

Each room was filled with poisonous pools, in which poisonous plants grew, and countless venomous pythons huddled. The sight was chilling.

Several rooms showed signs of a recent struggle, but no one from the Zhou family was to be seen.

"They're not here; they must have gone deeper! Don't get entangled with the Corrosive Serpents, hurry up and follow them!" Zhao Wenxuan shouted, then immediately mounted his sword and flew up, transforming into a streak of light and heading straight for the inner hall.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wenyuan and his clansmen also used their movement techniques to follow closely behind.

Startled, the venomous pythons attacked, but on land, their speed was far inferior to that of the cultivators running at full speed, and they were quickly left behind.

Almost the instant Zhao Wenxuan and the others rushed into the inner hall, Zhou Wanhong and Zhou Wanhai, who had already arrived there, simultaneously felt a violent fluctuation of spiritual energy coming from behind.

The two exchanged a glance, understanding each other perfectly, and then turned to look.

Sure enough, Zhao Wenxuan and Zhao Wenyuan arrived on their swords, landing a few feet in front of them, forming a subtle standoff with the Zhou family's group.

However, the Zhao brothers' gazes lingered on the Zhou family members for only a moment before they were involuntarily drawn to the strange vine in the center of the poison pool.

Their pupils contracted simultaneously, then erupted with an undisguised heat and greed!

"A third-tier... top-grade spiritual item?!" Even though they didn't know the origin of this vine, its vast and pure spiritual essence, far surpassing that of ordinary third-tier spiritual items, was undeniable!

This alone makes its value immeasurable, making it a priceless treasure!

Zhao Wenxuan snapped out of his daze, his eyes filled with icy mockery and anger as he looked at the Zhou family: "Fine, fine, Zhou family!"

"Is this what you call the way of allies? You've discovered such a treasure, and you want to hog it all by leaving us out?"

At this point, Zhou Wanhong completely tore off his mask of hypocrisy.

He might be able to negotiate with ordinary treasures, but this is a supreme treasure involving the opportunity to form a Nascent Soul, and he would never give it up!

"Zhao Wenxuan, why bother with this pretense? If you were in his shoes, would you have given it away so easily? Opportunities in the cultivation world have always been reserved for the capable; how can you claim to monopolize them? It's truly laughable!"

As he finished speaking, he gave Zhou Wanhai, who was standing next to him, a sharp look.

Zhou Wanhai understood immediately, and his spiritual energy began to rise subtly.

Their side had two Foundation Establishment cultivators and two Foundation Establishment spirit beasts, giving them a clear advantage in strength. Since a peaceful resolution was impossible, they decided to strike first!

Sensing their undisguised fighting spirit and spiritual energy fluctuations, Zhao Wenxuan knew they were about to attack, but his face showed no fear. Instead, he sneered, "Fatty Zhou, do you really think you've got us cornered?"

Before he finished speaking, he flipped his hand, and a jade array plate, about the size of a palm and three fingers thick, with five-colored light flowing around it, appeared in his palm.

It was his most treasured protective item, the Lesser Five Elements Heavenly Evolution Array Plate!

The moment the spiritual energy was injected, the array plate shone brightly, and a five-colored light shield containing the profound Daoist principles of the five elements suddenly unfolded, enveloping Zhao Wenxuan and several core clansmen beside him.

The light shield circulates continuously, with the power of the five elements mutually reinforcing each other. It has a strong effect of deflecting and neutralizing attacks of a single attribute, and is enough to withstand the fierce attacks of a late Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Form the formation!" Zhao Wenyuan shouted at the same time.

The other Zhao family cultivators reacted quickly, taking out array flags and magical artifacts, and relying on the light shield of the Lesser Five Elements Heavenly Evolution Array, they quickly set up simple attack formations.

On the other side, the Zhou family cultivators shouted in unison, and their contracted spirit beasts roared and assumed battle stances, their ferocious aura spreading out, and a great battle was about to break out!

However, at this critical moment when tensions were running high and the situation was extremely tense—

"boom!!!"

Suddenly, a jet of water shot into the sky from the deep purple, viscous pool of poison to the side of everyone!

A massive, suffocating black shadow, carrying overwhelming poison and indescribable ferocity, burst forth from the water!