Chapter 1014: The Conflict Caused by the Jade Box

Hearing this, Cheng Yugeng and Zheng Yidao looked at Fu Rong with surprise. They had agreed Ye Mo could choose any jade box. This meant its contents were his, regardless of their value. Yet, after dividing the spoils, Fu Rong questioned Ye Mo's box.

Everyone harbored selfish motives. Zheng Yidao and Cheng Yugeng found Fu Rong's inquiry peculiar but refrained from questioning him, sensing he anticipated their acquiescence. Fu Rong simply stared at Ye Mo, a hint of menace in his eyes.

Ye Mo smiled. “I took the least; everyone agreed I could have a jade box. If it contains the Huang Star rock, it's my good fortune; otherwise, bad luck. But what concern is it of yours?”

Fu Rong smiled. “We shared the loot; only your box remains unknown. We don't demand its contents; we merely request you show us.”

Ye Mo sneered. “Then I'm sorry; the jade box is mine. Even if it contains an immortal pill, I'm under no obligation to reveal its contents.”

“The choice is not yours.” Fu Rong’s smile vanished as he deployed several formation flags, instantly transforming their surroundings into a trapping and attack formation.

It was merely a level three formation, yet Cheng Yugeng and Zheng Yidao's faces changed. They looked at Fu Rong, asking, “Brother Fu, what is this?”

Fu Rong explained, “Brothers Cheng and Zheng, don't worry. My primary interest was the jade box Ye Mo obtained, and now that he has it, I'm naturally unsatisfied. If you help me retrieve it, I'll share my portion of the loot.” Fu Rong had acquired a dao artifact, half the spirit stones (1.5 million), and a large quantity of materials.

Cheng Yugeng and Zheng Yidao exchanged glances, remaining silent. Understanding their unspoken agreement, Fu Rong produced a bronze bell and additional formation flags.

“Wait, Brother Fu,” Zheng Yidao called out, halting Fu Rong. “What are you seeking? You're willing to sacrifice a low-grade dao artifact for it?”

Fu Rong hesitated, then declared, “It's a Hollow Meridian Pill. I discovered Yu Baisheng stole one.”

“What? A Hollow Meridian Pill?” the two exclaimed.

Ye Mo was stunned. A Hollow Meridian Pill aided nascent soul cultivators in achieving the Hollow Spirit state, yet Fu Rong claimed his box contained one—a blatant fabrication! He knew the box's contents; it certainly held no such pill.

The two remained silent. Cheng Yugeng, heavily injured, remained unconcerned; but Zheng Yidao grew suspicious. Who wouldn't desire a Hollow Meridian Pill? Fu Rong's generosity regarding the low-grade dao artifact now seemed stingy.

Seeming to anticipate Zheng Yidao’s thoughts, Fu Rong stated, “I have another method of acquiring a Cao Huan Pill, which I can provide you later.”

This fully swayed them. What could be more tempting to peak Golden Core cultivators than a Cao Huan Pill? A Hollow Meridian Pill was beneficial, but only for tertiary nascent soul cultivators. The Cao Huan Pill, however, allowed immediate ascension to the nascent soul state. Coupled with Fu Rong’s superior power, which slightly exceeded Ye Mo's, the two would be fools to refuse.

Yet, Ye Mo stared at Fu Rong and said, "Fu, if I'm not mistaken, you had a close relationship with Yu Niangyan, arriving here ten years ago to seek Yu Baisheng's ruins. I suspect Yu Niangyan died by your hand."

“Brothers Cheng and Zheng, ignore his lies. Let's attack!” Fu Rong interrupted, deploying more formation flags and striking Ye Mo with his bronze bell. He sought to prevent Ye Mo from continuing.

Before the bell reached Ye Mo, its soul-piercing sound forced Cheng and Zheng to defend themselves.

Ye Mo sneered, unleashing Zi Xu. With a clang, Zi Xu and the bell clashed, creating a deafening sound. Fu Rong's face fell as he retracted the bell. He was about to enlist their aid, but before he could, Ye Mo deployed his own formation flags, altering the trap formation and ensnaring Fu Rong within it.

Fu Rong stared, dumbfounded, forgetting to attack. He gazed at Ye Mo, awestruck. "You...you're a formation master? No, not just a master, a grandmaster!" Only a formation grandmaster could manipulate a formation with such speed.

Ye Mo sneered. “You retrieved items from the storage ring, then set those formation flags. You intended to trap us three.”

The two, poised to attack, paused, stunned by Ye Mo's power. Hearing his accusation, they instinctively distanced themselves from Fu Rong, abandoning any intent to attack.

“Nonsense,” Fu Rong retorted, having regained his composure. He hadn't anticipated Ye Mo's true abilities, realizing that Ye Mo had seen through his plan.

Ye Mo sneered. “A mere level three formation master, yet you're so adept with a level five formation. Without intimate knowledge of Yu Baisheng's formation heritage, how could you? You knew this formation intimately, yet allowed Brother Cheng to be injured. You then secretly laid a trap formation while feigning distraction with the storage ring. Weren't you planning to attack us afterward?”

Cheng Yugeng's face fell; Ye Mo spoke the truth. Ye Mo knew the formation would backfire, yet refrained from revealing it.

“Your discovery of Yu Baisheng's formation heritage and ruins points to a connection. You claimed to find this place because of Yu Niangyan. You likely plotted against her as well, didn't you?” Ye Mo sneered.

“Stop framing me! Brothers Cheng and Zheng, we are longtime friends—why would I betray them? Yet you, you did little, yet obtain the Hollow Meridian Pill? This is unjust!” Fu Rong still attempted to secure their support.

But Ye Mo, ignoring him, released Zi Xu again, employing the Illusion Cloud Whirlpool Strike. Fu Rong countered with the bronze bell, but the dense whirlpool sword rays, fueled by potent cultivation essence, overwhelmed the bell. Shaken and realizing his inferiority, Fu Rong unleashed a rune, emitting a green light which instantly transported him away, leaving only his bell behind.