Chapter 40: The Treasure is in Hand! Withdraw!

The dog system certainly wasn’t raised in vain. It quickly transformed into a small green bird and flew at an incredible speed. It quickly discovered something unusual.

Flapping its wings and calling out loudly: “Ning Ning! Come here quickly! There seems to be something underground!”

Ye Qingning’s eyes brightened. While she could sense the spiritual essence, pinpointing the exact location required releasing her spiritual sense for exploration.

But spiritual sense couldn’t be used lightly. If her guess was right, the group that had arrived earlier must have already released their spiritual sense.

If her spiritual sense was discovered, things could get troublesome.

Thankfully, the dog system was always reliable at critical moments. When she reached the location indicated by the system, she quickly spotted a jade-colored stone slab embedded in the dark soil.

The slab was covered in dense, intricate patterns—clearly a formation stone. However, it had already cracked into two pieces, and something seemed to be pressed under it.

Ye Qingning quickly moved one of the stone slabs, and a stream of light appeared before her eyes.

She held her breath and focused. Inside the seven-colored light, there was a crystal-clear and ancient-looking black-and-white jade bottle. The bottle was carved with patterns of the sun, moon, and stars. This could only be the secret treasure, the Nine-turn Yin Yang Vase.

She didn’t have time to examine it further, as she heard the system’s voice: “Ning Ning, someone’s coming!”

Without saying a word, Ye Qingning swiftly grabbed the bottle. However, along the way, she touched something—something that made her jump in surprise.

The shape and feel of it were unmistakable—it wasn’t a human hand, but whose was it?

Ye Qingning was stunned. Who had hidden themselves just like she had? And how had they found the Nine-turn Yin Yang Vase at the same time?

When she lifted the stone slab earlier, this hidden person must have seen it too! That’s why they had reached out to grab the bottle with her, but she managed to grab it first!

Both she and the other person were clearly taken aback. If it wasn’t for the fact that Ye Qingning reacted quickly, the other person could have easily snatched the bottle and fled.

Ye Qingning immediately grabbed the bottle, turned, and ran.

At the same time, she stored the Nine-turn Yin Yang Vase into her storage bag.

To isolate the spiritual energy emanating from the Nine-turn Yin Yang Vase, storing it in the storage bag was the safest option.

She wasn’t sure who she had bumped into, but now it was clear she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. She had to get out of there quickly.

Of course, she wasn’t worried about the other person shouting out. If they did, it would expose their identity as one of the assessment disciples.

Guessing the person wouldn’t speak out, Ye Qingning sighed in relief.

Even though that hidden person was likely afraid of being exposed and didn’t dare speak, once Yu Tangtang and the others couldn’t find the Nine-turn Yin Yang Vase, they would surely guess someone had taken it before them.

She herself, using the invisibility talisman, could also be guessed. After all, no one was a fool.

That hidden person would definitely guess that she had taken the vase and would try to follow her out.

Fortunately, her invisibility talisman still had some time left. Even if the other person wanted to track her, they would have to be able to lock onto her.

However, as she was about to leave, she saw the figures of Yu Tangtang and her group appear, with Bai Wei among them.

As soon as they showed up, they were stunned by the scene before them, having a similar reaction to Ye Qingning’s when she first arrived.

Bai Wei remembered Ye Qingning’s instructions. Once she regained her composure, she immediately raised her sword and pointed it at the Taoist, delivering a well-executed line: “It’s him! He’s an evil cultivator! He’s the one who has been using evil spirits to harm people, breaking the seal and destroying the formation!”

“Now he wants to control this suppressed evil being. We must not let him succeed! Be cautious, the formation is collapsing, and the treasure used to suppress the formation is definitely on him!”

Everyone knew that powerful spiritual treasures often played a crucial role in battles.

Bai Wei’s words, while sounding like a well-meaning reminder, naturally drew everyone’s attention to the Taoist.

The hidden assessment disciples didn’t suspect anything. Even Yun Mengyao believed Bai Wei’s words.

In Bai Wei’s view, the Taoist had broken the formation, and it made sense that the treasure used to suppress the evil being would be with him.

Moreover, when they had arrived, they hadn’t seen anyone else and assumed they were the first to get there.

After all, they had rushed to the location as soon as the seal was broken, and there was no reason anyone could have gotten there before them.

Even Bai Wei, after saying those words, wasn’t entirely sure Ye Qingning had taken the Nine-turn Yin Yang Vase.

But regardless of whether she had or not, her focus was to make sure everyone’s attention was on the Taoist.

Just as Bai Wei was mulling over this, a transmission of spiritual sense entered her mind: “The treasure is in hand. Thanks for your help, Senior Sister. I’m leaving now. Love you! (´3`)?!”

Bai Wei froze for three seconds, caught off guard by the “love you” message.

She felt a little shy but also found Ye Qingning incredibly cute, realizing the “love you” wasn’t the kind shared between dao partners.

“Junior brothers and sisters, let’s work together to exterminate the evil!” Bai Wei shouted loudly, rushing toward the Taoist with her sword drawn.

Everyone followed suit.

Among them were several assessment disciples with cultivation status, and even though the Nine-turn Yin Yang Vase hadn’t been seen yet, if they could slay a major evil being, it would certainly earn more than ten points!

They all joined in attacking the Taoist, which enraged him.

A group of insignificant little cultivators thinks they can team up against me? Today, I’ll make you regret coming here! the Taoist sneered viciously.

His words, in Yun Mengyao’s ears, seemed to confirm that the Nine-turn Yin Yang Vase was indeed on him.

Just as the Taoist was about to make a move, Bai Wei suddenly shouted: “Quick, retreat!”

The next moment, the black, eerie being took form, its blood-red eyes locked on the Taoist.

The Taoist was about to strike the group when he saw the evil spirit had fully escaped the control of the formation. He laughed maniacally.

“Well done! Now is the time! You little waste don’t even deserve my attention. Go kill them for me, and we’ll make a contract after!”

Before he could finish his sentence, the evil spirit opened its blood-red mouth and devoured the Taoist’s head in one bite.

It then licked its lips with its red tongue, letting out a strange cackling laugh.

It even dramatically said, “Ants, how dare you command me? You deserve to die! All of you deserve to die!”

The Taoist’s body collapsed to the ground, his head completely gone, and his expression in death was forever unknown.

Ye Qingning had indeed been right—he was sacrificed the moment he appeared, becoming the offering to the evil spirit.

The sudden turn of events shocked Bai Wei’s group.

Even though they knew this was a trial secret realm and the evil spirit wasn’t a real one, the sight still left them stunned, unable to recover for a while.

Yun Mengyao, however, was staring directly at the headless body of the Taoist.

Wasn’t it said that the Nine-turn Yin Yang Vase was with the Taoist? Now that his head was gone, but his body remained, the treasure should still be with him.

“Quick, we need to run! We can’t fight it! Let’s go find Senior Brother!” someone shouted.

Bai Wei immediately agreed: “Let’s go! Quickly find Senior Brother!”

With that, no one would be inspecting the Taoist’s body for the time being, allowing Ning Ning to quietly leave without anyone noticing.