I Can Extract Divine Power

He could hardly wait to make his move.

The situation had escalated to the point where it would be difficult to wrap things up if they didn’t act soon.

But to his surprise, Zhu Qingyao shot him down with a single sentence.

"When I say we’re not moving for now, we’re not moving. Don’t you understand what I mean?"

Li Ruofeng froze, his expression turning grim and uncertain.

Back in his own faction, he was doted on by all. When had he ever been so sharply rebuked by a woman?

But now, he didn’t dare talk back, as he was still bound by the power of a contract.

The contract would only be voided after the current matter was concluded.

Wang Jiu was still howling wretchedly on the ground. Although Henglian Peak’s Cultivation Technique granted faster Recovery, the pain was still agonizing.

Zhu Qingyao glanced back over her shoulder, her tone utterly vicious. "Cry out one more time, and we’ll be getting rid of you first."

Wang Jiu instantly shut his mouth. Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, but he didn’t dare make another peep.

Only then did Zhu Qingyao turn her head to face Nan Huang, her voice cold. "I really misjudged you. I thought you were just some lazy good-for-nothing, but I never imagined you’d be so scheming."

Nan Huang yawned, looking sleep-deprived. "I can’t help it. I have responsibilities, so I can’t afford to be lazy. Since you’ve decided not to fight, how about we discuss what comes next?"

"What do you have in mind?" Zhu Qingyao asked.

Nan Huang pointed ahead. "This is the Celestial Pride Hall. We can all get what we want here. You’re just looking for opportunities, right? Why don’t we team up for now? There’s strength in numbers."

"As for your grudge against Shen Bai, that can be settled once he shows up."

A flicker of indecision crossed Zhu Qingyao’s face, but she quickly erased it. "Fine. We’ll do it your way. But if it comes down to fighting over an opportunity, don’t expect me to hold back."

Her true goal wasn’t just the Celestial Pride Hall, but more importantly, killing Shen Bai.

After all, only Zhu Qingyao herself knew that she answered to an organization from the Era of Ten Thousand Cities.

If it were just about getting these resources, she wouldn’t have had to go through so much trouble.

But as things stood, she’d likely have to pay a steep price to see her plan through.

If Shen Bai showed up later, she wasn’t confident she could take him down.

’So, pretending to cooperate for now is the best option.’

"It’s great that you’ve agreed."

Nan Huang breathed a sigh of relief. "I really hate trouble. Now that you’ve agreed, we’re all in the same boat. So, shall we start exploring?"

They were in a large indoor space, surrounded by walls of grey brick. A short distance ahead was a corridor.

"Do you have any ideas?"

Zhu Qingyao looked at the corridor ahead. "Since the talents from the Great Zhou Country are the weakest, how about we have them scout ahead?"

Nan Huang shook his head. "No, no, no. We can’t needlessly sacrifice our own companions. That would just weaken our group."

"Then what’s your plan? Surely you don’t expect us to go ourselves?" Zhu Qingyao demanded.

The Celestial Pride Hall held opportunities, but also great danger.

The other talents all nodded in unison at her words.

The reasoning was simple. They weren’t about to go first—if they encountered danger, it would be their own lives on the line.

"Of course I know you don’t want to go. But we can perform a divination before we do."

Nan Huang pulled a Copper Compass from his robes. "I was really lazy back in the day, so I learned a form of Arithmetic based on the Eight Trigrams. It can determine specific Fortune and Misfortune and help me avoid a lot of danger. So, I’ll take the lead. You all can just follow me."

Zhu Qingyao looked completely exasperated. "Exactly how many skills have you learned? And you learned them all because you’re lazy?"

Nan Huang, looking utterly lethargic, replied, "That’s right. Because I’m lazy, I try to avoid doing things. But in my effort to avoid doing things, I end up creating more things to do."

His words carried a certain tone of resignation.

But as the others listened, they weren’t quite sure how to feel.

Still, with Nan Huang’s offer on the table, no one had any objections.

Only Zhou Qing and his group were talking quietly amongst themselves.

The situation ahead seemed safe for the moment, but danger was a constant companion.

Nan Huang had suddenly appeared and defused the crisis, but it was ultimately for his own benefit.

Zhou Qing and the others saw this clearly.

After all, if they died, he would be short on help should he encounter danger later.

Many of the other talents had realized this as well, and they clenched their fists.

They all knew in their hearts that this was all because the Great Zhou Country’s younger generation was in decline.

But it was a bitter pill to swallow.

The same thought surfaced in all of their minds.

’If only Lord Shen were here.’

But regrettably, Shen Bai had vanished for some unknown reason after entering.

They were all waiting for him. Once Shen Bai returned, they would have a backbone.

After that, no one said anything more. With Nan Huang leading the way holding the Copper Compass, the group followed him down the long corridor.

...

While Zhou Qing’s group had first faced danger and then seen it averted...

...on the other side, Shen Bai had just arrived before a mountain of white bones.

The scene before him was sinister and grisly.

White bones covered the ground, piled as high as a mountain.

Every single skeleton bore scars that seemed carved into the very bone.