Chapter 924: Ye Mo Takes No Share

The teleportation formations were all occupied. A Southern cultivator, at the tertiary stage of the Golden Core realm, noted about twenty remaining individuals but surmised no one would dare challenge Ye Mo. He declared, “Since we have sufficient participants, let us activate the teleportation formations using our cultivation essence.”

Seven formations simultaneously activated, each flashing with white light, forming a spoon-shaped constellation. A rumbling sound accompanied the activation; when the white light subsided, everyone within the formations had vanished.

Observers watched in awe, recognizing their lost opportunity and departing. Only a few lingered.

Han Qianye stared bleakly at the formation, a trace of coldness in his eyes. He then departed on his flying spirit artifact. His sect had failed to secure a place, and he vowed to ensure those inside wouldn't benefit freely. He planned a surprise upon their return. Had he known the secret land lacked an exit, perhaps his plan would have differed.

Ye Mo initially conjectured a vast plane or spirit herb garden. Upon arrival, however, he found a mist-shrouded valley, impenetrable to spiritual sense. Only a small, wooden room, seemingly protected by seven restriction formations, was visible. The room's contents remained unseen, and Ye Mo found no nearby spirit herbs. He surmised the valuable resources lay within the restrictions, perhaps seven separate spirit herb gardens.

Several tertiary and peak-stage Golden Core cultivators rushed towards the small wooden room, finding nothing else of interest.

A level-five Golden Core cultivator expressed disappointment, “Nothing here. This doesn't seem to be a secret land.”

Another countered, “Perhaps the treasures are within the restrictions. Let's try to break through.”

“Everyone, halt.” A peak-stage Golden Core cultivator, having investigated the room, returned, confirming its emptiness.

Nearly everyone focused on the seven restrictions. They assumed valuable items lay within.

Ye Mo frowned, pondering the absence of an exit portal.

“There’s no teleportation formation for egress,” Ye Mo stated, echoing Zhe Qiushui’s observation.

The question of escape preoccupied everyone.

Suddenly, a level-three Southern Golden Core cultivator gestured towards the misty area beyond the valley, suggesting, “This might be an interior section of the Desert Plain Herb Valley. Perhaps traversing the mist will allow us to leave. I’ll test it.”

“Be cautious; the mist may be poisonous,” warned someone.

The cultivator replied, “Naturally, I understand.”

He erected a cultivation essence barrier and checked his spirit artifact armor before cautiously approaching the mist. He believed this precaution ensured safety; any perceived danger would prompt immediate retreat.

Initially, nothing occurred, easing concerns. The mist appeared ordinary, a possible escape route.

However, the cultivator vanished abruptly, leaving everyone stunned. Moments later, a terrified howl pierced the air, followed by the mist's return to stillness. A Golden Core cultivator had perished within breaths. A bleak realization settled: this wasn't a secret land; it was a death valley.

“Perhaps we can fly out,” a tertiary-stage Golden Core cultivator suggested, breaking the silence.

Ye Mo sneered silently, aware of flight restrictions upon entry.

Another cultivator echoed his knowledge with a sneering comment.

“Let's break these seven restrictions first. Even if we can’t escape, the three-month duration should trigger teleportation,” Liu Yuetang proposed.

“What if teleportation fails after three months?” another questioned.

A level-eight Golden Core cultivator from the God Sword Sect retorted, “Being within the Desert Plain Herb Valley, we should be teleported out normally after three months.”

However, a peak-stage Southern Golden Core cultivator shook his head, countering, “Cultivators within the Desert Plain Herb Valley will be transported out, but not those here.”

Immediate queries followed.

The peak-stage cultivator responded coldly, “That’s what my map indicated. We must escape before the Herb Valley closes, otherwise…” His unspoken implication was understood.

The Immortal Herb Valley possessed the largest contingent, four cultivators. The God Sword Sect had two: Yuan Ting (level eight) and Ximen Ji (level five). Zhe Qiushui accompanied Yuan Ting.

The North controlled another formation, but Ye Mo was unfamiliar with its three occupants. One was a peak-stage Golden Core cultivator like Liu Yuetang.

Noticing Ye Mo’s gaze, Guang Wei whispered, “That’s Ji Zhiyuan of the Ghost Immortal Sect, with Ge Ba and Wenren Tian.”

Ji Zhiyuan seemingly overheard; Guang Wei quickly lowered her gaze, saying to Ye Mo, “I’ll join my Martial Sister.”

Ye Mo nodded, sensing Ji Zhiyuan as his greatest threat.

“Regardless, let us break these restrictions first,” Ji Zhiyuan declared, shifting the focus.

Everyone reacted, aiming to secure any spirit herbs potentially contained within.

Another Southern peak-stage Golden Core cultivator agreed, “I concur with Brother Ji. We must break these restrictions. But with twenty people, how do we divide them?”

The first Southern peak-stage Golden Core cultivator approached a formation, stating, “The two of us will take one.” Their original group of three had dwindled.

He gestured to his companion.

The Immortal Herb Valley senior martial sister and her three sect members claimed a formation. Ji Zhiyuan and Yuan Ting took one. Due to limited power, Ye Mo refrained, leaving a Southern Peace State level-eight cultivator to claim the final restriction. The South, with only eight participants, controlled four restrictions.

Only Ye Mo and Qiu Xuanyu remained without assigned restrictions.