Chapter 344 - 250: The Brightest Treasure Emerges
"No, no, no... Fellow Daoist Qingxu, you’ve misunderstood my meaning!"
Seeing Zhang Yao’s displeased expression, the Nether Abyss Ancestor hurriedly explained:
"I am not a fool; how dare I try to boast with mere words?"
"Since I promised to give this opportunity to you, Fellow Daoist, I will not go back on my word."
"You can rest assured, Fellow Daoist, even if we fail to eliminate the mutated and out-of-control Soul Tamer, the chance for the ’Earth Milk Bathing Body’ is still yours."
"Oh?"
Zhang Yao raised an eyebrow, seeming somewhat skeptical:
"Are you truly willing to give up and let me have it?"
The Nether Abyss Ancestor’s words were completely illogical by ordinary standards.
In this world, opportunities that are unique are contested fiercely, even between fathers and sons or loving couples, so why would anyone willingly give them away?
"Only by sacrificing can one gain."
The Nether Abyss Ancestor’s expression turned solemn as he spoke in a deep voice:
"If you don’t stake everything at a crucial moment, you don’t even qualify to be on the gambling table!"
"Indecision and hesitation are the greatest taboo when accomplishing major endeavors!"
He said this, seeing Zhang Yao’s hesitance, and immediately resorted to his final trump card:
"If you don’t believe me, Fellow Daoist, we can establish a Magic Contract!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yao was greatly moved and spoke:
"If you truly have this determination, I will accompany you to the end!"
"Good!"
Without further ado, the Nether Abyss Ancestor took out a Magic Contract and swiftly engraved the content with magical power.
The Magic Contract was not the loose agreement that had been signed by others before; not only was it of high rank and strongly binding on Golden Core Cultivators, but the content was certainly more detailed and stringent.
"Please, Fellow Daoist."
After engraving was completed, the Nether Abyss Ancestor handed the Magic Contract to Zhang Yao.
Zhang Yao carefully examined it. The contract detailed both parties’ alliance behaviors, including prohibiting any direct or indirect targeting, attacks, or intentional obstruction.
The contract explicitly guaranteed that after entering the Zhuoxiu Tribe, if there was only one opportunity for Earth Milk Bathing Body, the Nether Abyss Ancestor would willingly yield it to Zhang Yao.
And the price Zhang Yao needed to pay was to exert all effort within Mo Yuan to assist the Nether Abyss Ancestor in killing another mutated and out-of-control ’Soul Tamer’.
"Wise decision!"
Zhang Yao withdrew his gaze and inwardly praised.
The decisiveness and boldness of the Nether Abyss Ancestor were among the best he had ever seen among many cultivators.
He immediately infused magical power and divine thought, leaving his own imprint on the Magic Contract, and then handed it back to the Nether Abyss Ancestor.
"Zzzt!"
After both parties signed the Magic Contract, they watched as the golden, shimmering contract turned into a puff of smoke and disappeared.
Zhang Yao felt his divine soul tremble slightly, as if encased in silky threads—this was the binding power brought by the Magic Contract.
If either party violated the contract, these threads would turn into iron shackles, difficult to break unless at a great cost.
"... Well, that’s one weight off my mind."
The Nether Abyss Ancestor’s expression relaxed considerably, and he spoke:
"We have about half of our exploration time left in the second district."
"It would be ideal to slay the mutated creature in this district. Does Fellow Daoist have any good strategies?"
"Hmm..."
Zhang Yao mused for a moment and spoke:
"Daoist Heisen Sima Yan is dead, and the Yin Flame Ancestor is almost certainly not in collusion with the mutated creature."
"Only the last ’Ascendant Tianying’ remains, possibly as an ally of the mutated creature; we must first confirm this person’s stance!"
Two against one and two against two are completely different concepts.
Moreover, the mutated and out-of-control Soul Tamer is already challenging, with strength comparable to that of a late-stage Golden Core powerhouse, while also being able to manipulate seven or eight Black Death Beasts.
If they delve deeper, and the mutated creature and Ascendant Tianying join forces, they have little chance of victory.
"Right, what Fellow Daoist says is true!"
The Nether Abyss Ancestor nodded slightly, speaking in a deep voice:
"This matter must be addressed soon. If Ascendant Tianying is indeed in collusion with the creature, we can widely invite fellow cultivators and use collective power to slay them."
"If we delve deeper, we would instead fall into a passive position..."
Before he could finish speaking, he stopped abruptly.
At that moment:
A vast and unfathomable ripple swept across Mo Yuan, like a ripple in a silent pond, following the Primordial Magnetic Power.
"What’s happening?"
Zhang Yao and the Nether Abyss Ancestor sprang to their feet, bewildered and uncertain.
They both felt the ripple simultaneously but did not understand what it was, yet the unease in their hearts was so real.
Not only them, but the Black Abyss Ascendant, Ying Mo Sect Leader, and others were also exceedingly puzzled, unsure of what was happening.
"Roar!" "Roar!"...
The roaring from all directions echoed throughout the vast underground cavern, changing the expressions of everyone present.
This indicated that not only were they stimulated but even the Black Death Beasts lurking in Mo Yuan were provoked.
"This, this is..."
Jiuhua Ancestor’s body froze, seemingly recalling something, trembling all over:
"The Brightest Treasure!"
"This is the sign of its manifestation recorded in our Shenhua sect!!"
"What?"
The others, hearing this, were shocked.
They had long heard of the legend of the Brightest Treasure, but never imagined its appearance would cause such a commotion.
"Jiuhua!"
The Nether Abyss Ancestor instantly moved in front of him, speaking in a deep voice:
"Can you be sure it’s truly the legendary Brightest Treasure?"
To be called the Brightest Treasure, it must at least be a top-tier Heaven and Earth Treasure, its preciousness on par with the likes of the sun and moon.