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The cultivators from the Southern Continent came, naturally to help the Southern Continent sects retrieve the heaven-grade treasures buried on the battlefield.

Other cultivators came for the chance to gain some fortuitous encounter.

Different stances and conflicting interests make these cultivators natural rivals.

Yuanshi Gang and Tan Yueqing met up at the center of the battlefield, where they also encountered several cultivators from Zhongzhou and Dongzhou who had just assembled.

At their meeting, a single glance was enough to ignite the flames of war.

As for combat strength, Tan Yueqing and Yuan Xi are not weak. However, they are facing two cultivators from Zhongzhou and three from Dongzhou, all at the peak of the Yuanying stage.

Five against two, the probability of losing for the two people is close to 90%.

After all, not everyone has Lin Qi's near-maniacal combat ability.

But before the sparks of battle could ignite, a sandstorm swept in, forcing both sides to scramble for cover and forget about fighting each other.

A group of people fled in one direction and, by some stroke of luck, stumbled into the largest ancient battlefield site in Nanchou.

While escaping the sandstorm was a good thing, looking at the imposing ruins of the ancient battlefield, Yuan Xi and Tan Yueqing's moods were not optimistic.

Within an ancient battlefield site, danger only intensifies.

As a group of people just took refuge in a castle piled high with wind and sand, a refined cultivator from the Central Plains stepped forward.

He fanned himself with his hand, bowed, and said, "Two fellow Daoists, I am Bei Chen Zhu, a cultivator from Zhongzhou. I have something I would like to discuss with you both."

"What's the matter?" Tan Yue's eyes were cold and distant, her gaze sharp as a blade, filled with caution.

Let's talk about cooperation.

Yuanshi smiled and stepped forward, "Fellow Daoist Beichen, please tell me more?"

Tanyu Qingjian Yuanxi looked very interested, quite puzzled. Her eyes scanned around but then Yuanxi reminded her to stay calm.

Beichen Zhu, unable to see the animosity between the two, said: "You both know how dangerous ancient battlefields can be. Now that this vast ancient battlefield site is full of opportunities, we want to cooperate with you both to seek treasure."

Yuan Xi glanced at the Dongzhou cultivator beside him and asked in a soft voice, "Who are you?"

Beichen Zhu smiled broadly and said, "If Yuan Daoist agrees, then it refers to everyone present."

Yuanshi's lips curled into a smile, but her heart sank. She had a vague idea of Beichenzhu's intentions.

"What if we don't want to?"

Beichen Zhu smiled, his calm words carrying the air of blades and armor. "On the battlefield, death and injury are inevitable."

Tan Yueqing's eyes narrowed. "Are you threatening us?!"

Beichen Zhu shook his head. "How is that possible? I was only answering Yuan Daoist's question."

Yuanshi stopped Dan Yuqing and gave a slight nod. "I've heard much about the renowned bamboo young master of Zhongzhou, it is truly admirable... However, this collaboration is a serious matter, would you allow me and Yuqing to discuss it for a while?"

Beichen Zhu opened his fan, making a gesture of invitation, appearing quite natural.

Yuan Xi led Tan Yueqing to a corner, and raised her hand to set up a barrier.

"Tan Yue said in a calm voice, "What kind of Bamboo Young Master? He's just a defeated general under Lin Qi's command, and he dares to speak so arrogantly!"

She finished speaking and looked up to see Yuanshi lost in thought. She frowned and said, "Are you considering accepting the collaboration?"

Yuan Xi sighed and said with a hint of helplessness, "It's not that I want to agree, but I have no choice. Otherwise, we would really have to fight them head-on?"

Yuan Xi's voice was soft and low. "We've just arrived at the Southern Continent battlefield. Not to mention collecting the lost artifacts of the Southern Continent, even the decisive battle on the Central Continent main battlefield will determine the outcome of this competition. We can't really fight them to the death for this fleeting moment, can we?"

"If you're lucky, a little injury will let you leave. If you're unlucky, you'll probably end up here. It's not worth it."

If this were coming from Lin Qi, Tan Yueqing would still have a stubborn streak. But hearing Yuan Xi speak so softly, Tan Yueqing's stubbornness had long been softened into nothing.

"Why would they ask us to collaborate? In terms of strength, these five could easily conquer an ancient battlefield site on their own and wouldn't need to share the spoils with us."

Yuan Xi lowered her eyes, "Dividing the spoils? You think too highly of yourself. They only want a scapegoat to take the blame. We can

One cannot live to see the spoils of division.

"Even if we miraculously survived, they wouldn't give us anything."

As for what Beichen Zhu had in mind, Yuan Xi only needed a glance to see through it.

"What?!" Tan Yueqing gritted her teeth and said, "Since that's the case, why not have a decisive battle now..."

"No." Yuan Xi shook her head slightly. "Fighting now would be detrimental in every way. It's better to comply with them for now and wait until we enter the secret realm of the ancient battlefield. Then, we can act accordingly."

"What does it mean?"

Yuan Xi's voice was soft, her demeanor calm: "They want to use us as scapegoats, but that depends on whether we are willing. If we fight here, our chances of winning are slim, but if we enter the secret realm... then it might be different."

"Tan Yueqing immediately agreed: "You take care of the arrangements," she said.

Yuanshi withdrew the barrier and accepted Beichenzhu's cooperation invitation.

As the seven men stepped into the sandcastle, a barrier materialized out of thin air, blocking their path.

A group of people furrowed their brows. Bei Chen Zhu raised an eyebrow, making no attempt to hide his intentions, and spoke the toughest words in the most gentle and polite tone.

"There is a barrier ahead. Perhaps the two Daoist friends should try it first? We will hold back and assist if there is danger."

Tan Yue's face turned slightly pale.

Although we had long suspected their intentions, being ordered to do this made it difficult for anyone to smile.

Yuanxi's cultivation was always high, and she smiled faintly as she replied, "Yueqing still has injuries. I am enough on my own."

Tan Yueqing wanted to speak, but Yuanyi stopped her with a look.

The ridicule and disdain in the eyes of the other cultivators were undisguised.

It's clear that he didn't take either of them seriously.

Beichen Zhu only wanted to explore, not force the two to resist, so he acquiesced.

Yuan Xi, wielding the Shui Yue Jian sword, charged into the forbidden area, leading the way.

The mirror image flickered, and the power of space rippled. Yuan Xi's figure vanished from sight in an instant.

Dan Yueqing nervously took a step forward, but still held down the surging emotions, stopping in place.

Moments later, Yuan Xi emerged with a wounded hand, "There was a group of puppet cultivators inside, all at the Nascent Soul stage. I couldn't defeat them alone."

Yuan Xi took out a memory stone and showed everyone what had happened in the space.

After reading, Beichen Zhu raised an eyebrow, her tone slightly elevated, with a profound meaning, "Yuandao is considered a Grand Perfection cultivator of the Yuan Ying stage, yet he was injured by several puppets at the early stage of Yuan Ying..."

Yuan Xi lowered her head, looking meek and fragile. "My abilities are limited, I'm afraid I've disgraced myself."

Beichen Zhu let out a light snort, her tone laced with disdain. She saw through Yuan Xi's feigned injury and chose not to comment. Instead, she immediately led her people into the fray.

Tan Yueqing grabbed Yuan Xi's arm, her brow furrowed with concern, "Are you alright?"

Yuan Xi raised her hand to show her the wound, but was surprised to find that though her sleeve was stained with blood, the wound itself was very small. It might have healed soon if they had waited a little longer.

"You..."