Chapter 144: The Ambush on Jiang Min

Rumble!

Within the cave, the ancient stone platform at the center suddenly trembled, prompting the three Nascent Soul cultivators, who had been meditating with eyes closed, to open their eyes and fix their gaze on the shifting platform.

A deep, resplendent spiritual light surged upward from the stone platform, spreading an ancient and profound aura throughout the chamber, accompanied by a chilling coldness.

The stone platform and the nine stone pillars shook violently, with fragments of rock tumbling down and cracks spreading rapidly, as if on the verge of collapse. The three Nascent Soul cultivators exchanged glances and, without hesitation, poured their immense spiritual power into the platform to stabilize it.

Yet, despite their efforts, the platform’s tremors only intensified under an invisible, overwhelming force.

Then, with a thunderous roar, it collapsed!

Dust and debris filled the air.

Through the swirling dust, a figure emerged faintly.

As Jiang Min steadied herself amidst the ruins, she clenched her palm, retracting the communication jade talisman into her space pouch and immediately sent a message to Lord Guanqi…

When the dust finally settled,

the three Nascent Soul cultivators stood silently outside the platform, their arms folded behind their backs, their eyes sharp and piercing as they fixed their gaze on her.

An intangible pressure descended, causing a chill to ripple through Jiang Min’s heart.

Her expression solemn, she cupped her hands respectfully toward them and spoke before they could utter a word, “There are traps beneath the Taiyin Spirit Tree that even we Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot overcome. I beg you, Lords, to be aware.”

Traps?

Her words struck the three cultivators unprepared, their hearts sinking. Could it be that everyone else had perished, and the Taiyin Spirit Core had not been retrieved?

“What of the Taiyin Spirit Core?” Elder Guishan showed no concern for danger or traps; his sole focus was the treasure that could aid in breaking through realms.

Seeing their lack of concern for their disciples’ fate, Jiang Min felt a flicker of relief. She moved toward Elder Guishan’s side, bowing as she shifted, “As you entrusted, Lord.”

Her anxiety eased slightly, no longer fearing that the other two cultivators might attack her for the treasure. Though Elder Guishan’s presence ensured protection, should they truly come to blows, her humble life would surely be lost…

“Good, good.”

A rare smile flickered across Elder Guishan’s stern visage. He did not demand the Taiyin Spirit Core immediately in front of the others but asked, “What exactly happened? What kind of trap?”

Jiang Min observed Elder Guishan’s demeanor and felt some reassurance. She explained, “Perhaps the Lords are aware that beneath the Taiyin Spirit Tree rests the skeletal remains of a Nascent Soul cultivator.”

She waved her hand and produced a glazed mirror.

The others immediately recognized it as a magical artifact capable of imprinting images.

The glazed mirror hovered in midair, its surface rippling gently, revealing a scene beneath the Ancient Spirit Lake—

A set of bones seated beneath the ancient tree, hands folded, the residual aura of a powerful presence lingering, rendering the surrounding grass barren—undeniably a Nascent Soul cultivator.

This was the scene Jiang Min had captured with the image-mapping mirror while cleaning up, to explain to the Nascent Soul cultivators after her departure.

With the intent to buy time, Jiang Min braced herself and recounted in detail, “You can see this is the remains of a Nascent Soul cultivator who passed away here. For unknown reasons, they appeared beneath the Taiyin Spirit Tree.”

“Attached to these bones is a powerful lingering soul. Perhaps it sought to possess another, so it laid a trap by transforming its residual spirit into a cluster of extreme yang spiritual marrow. As you surely know, such spiritual marrow holds irresistible allure to cultivators… Thus, many fought to the death for this treasure.”

“My companions Yao and Dong arrived moments too late; by the time we reached the Ancient Spirit Lake, the battle was already over…”

Jiang Min paused, withdrawing the image mirror, delicately sidestepping some unspoken details, and cleared her throat, “In the end, only the three of us remained: Yao, Dong, and myself. The other two first retrieved the Taiyin Spirit Core, then went beneath the tree to seize the extreme yang marrow.”

“Unexpectedly, the so-called extreme yang marrow was a trap of the lingering soul. Dong, who sought the treasure, was instantly possessed. Yao, who was beside him, was also slain.”

“At that moment, I waited on the shore, a bit distant, which allowed me to react. After great effort, I managed to drag the lingering soul to its death… thus saving my life. I gathered the remains and searched long for the teleportation array to bring back the Taiyin Spirit Core.”

Her tale was full of twists and thrills.

Yet the three Nascent Soul cultivators were not entirely convinced.

Why was she the only survivor? Without some hidden scheming, they found it hard to believe.

Though skeptical, they acknowledged the skeleton’s authenticity and accepted that an unforeseen calamity had occurred.

These ancient ruins offered not only opportunities but dangers—sometimes far more abundant than fortune.

After hearing Jiang Min’s story, Yan Shuangqing eagerly asked, “Ming Ruoshui, did you bring back the spiritual treasures our disciples carried?”

Jiang Min answered calmly, “All have been retrieved.”

Unblinking, as if feeling no remorse or regret, she decisively waved her sleeve, releasing several streams of spiritual light that hovered in the air: the Thunder Tiger Banner, the Nine Suns Tower, the Shade Spirit Banner, the Water Blossom Zither, the Shadowless Veil… Each treasure radiated a precious glow, enough to ignite fierce competition among countless Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators.

Elder Guishan snorted coldly, noting how the other two had allowed their disciples to carry so many treasures inside. His tone was ambiguous, “Heh, two friends, you certainly spared no expense.”

Lord Poxie smiled gently, “Elder Guishan jokes. Your Shade Spirit Banner must have been painstakingly forged. If we compare power, none of our treasures measure up.”

Seeing that Jiang Min held no hidden treasures, the three Nascent Soul cultivators were quite satisfied, withdrawing their own spiritual artifacts.

When Lord Poxie received the Shadowless Veil, a flicker of surprise crossed his face. “Hmm? You’ve used this Shadowless Veil before?”

His piercing gaze fixed on Jiang Min.

To wield a spiritual treasure, one must first refine it. Even though Jiang Min had cleared the Veil’s residual divine consciousness, his cultivation level still allowed him to discern her prior use.

Under their oppressive stares, Jiang Min remained composed, respectfully cupping her hands, “My Lord, in a moment of crisis, I had no choice but to borrow this treasure. Without the Shadowless Veil, I would have perished at the hands of the skeletal lingering soul.”

Upon hearing this,

Lord Poxie snorted coldly, remarking oddly, “You do know how to save your own skin.”

Elder Guishan retracted the Shade Spirit Banner, briefly inspecting it before stowing it away. He then turned to the other two Nascent Soul cultivators, bowing lightly, “The teleportation array is destroyed. This matter is settled. Friends, Guishan takes his leave.”

With that, he instructed Jiang Min, “Ming Ruoshui, let us go.”

“Yes.”

Jiang Min replied, her peripheral vision alert toward the other two Nascent Soul Lords as she followed Elder Guishan closely. Though her gait appeared relaxed, her lowered wrist was subtly tense, and her divine sense ready to strike.

Until they exited the cave.

The journey ahead was calm and peaceful.

Jiang Min glanced slightly over her shoulder, pondering, “They have paid such a heavy price to seize the Taiyin Spirit Core. Could they really give up just like that…”

Before the thought could fully form,

a sudden, chilling sensation ran down her spine, goosebumps erupting. Instinctively, she activated her Heart-Guard Mirror and summoned the power of wind and thunder, swiftly darting aside.

Bang!

Just as the golden light of the Heart-Guard Mirror flared, despite no sign of any energy or movement behind her, the mirror—capable of withstanding a Golden Core cultivator’s strike—shattered almost instantly, failing to block the ambush. Yet this brief defense afforded her a slight chance to evade and gave Elder Guishan time to react.

In the flash of a thunderclap,

Elder Guishan waved his hand, conjuring a roaring, dense wall of wind that blocked the fatal attack behind Jiang Min. He swiftly grabbed her shoulder and soared upward.

Suspended high in the air, a vast, malevolent aura radiated from Elder Guishan, spreading into a sea of dark crimson death energy that enveloped several miles of sky, plunging the vast mountain region into dusk, the land illuminated only by the blood-red glow.

Elder Guishan’s grim voice echoed powerfully across the horizon.

“Poxie, attacking a Foundation Establishment cultivator by stealth—do you have no shame?”