You don't want your clan members to get hurt either, right Skillfully using the stratagem of luring the enemy away from their base.

Feng Jinhuang’s mentality had completely collapsed.

Originally, she had been brimming with confidence, leading nine Taiyi experts and 140 Golden Immortal clansmen to seek opportunities. Even if they failed to obtain the Chaos Supreme Treasure, they could at least secure a batch of valuable accompanying treasures or even search for the hidden Lingxiao Treasury in the lower realm!

But alas, reality was far harsher than her dreams.

It seemed like they had gained a sliver of the treasures’ accompanying opportunities—yet it also felt like they had gained nothing at all.

The first trial, the Spiritual Treasure Paradise, had been the sweet bait. The second trial, the Five Elements Mountain Range, was the brutal stick!

Eating the sweet bait only to be beaten by the stick—this seemed inevitable. But the bait hadn’t been sweet enough, and the stick was far too heavy, wiping out 90% of her clansmen in just two strikes. She simply couldn’t endure it!

What infuriated Feng Jinhuang the most was that the five great clans had reaped the most rewards in the Spiritual Treasure Paradise, while her Taichu Xinhun Clan had strictly restrained themselves under her orders, taking only a tiny fraction.

Yet, in the second trial, the Guardian Spirit ignored the greedy five clans and targeted her Taichu Xinhun Clan instead?

What, was the Guardian Spirit also a bully who preyed on the weak?

The five clans were a tough nut to crack, so it picked her Taichu Xinhun Clan as the soft persimmon to squeeze?

140 Golden Immortal disciples, plus one Taiyi elder—gone, just like that!

The Taichu Xinhun Clan was already sparsely populated. These were the backbone of their clan!

How could she possibly face the elders upon her return?

Especially since the captured Taiyi expert was the last surviving descendant of her elder brother!

Now that she had lost him, how could she ever face her brother again?

She was a sinner!

She had sensed the extreme danger of this secret realm, yet she had still been blinded by greed, failing to make the right choice!

If Heaven granted her another chance, she would have forced her clansmen to halt before that stone tablet, turn around, and search for the elusive Lingxiao Treasury instead!

But there were no second chances...

"Young Great Luo, please remain calm. Do not act rashly. Your clansmen are still safe for now. If you wish to keep them unharmed, then follow my instructions. Otherwise, I cannot guarantee their lives."

Suddenly!

An ethereal voice drifted into Feng Jinhuang’s mind.

She froze, then shuddered in terror.

This was telepathic communication—yet in the Five Elements Mountain Range, where all magic power was suppressed, who else but that damned Guardian Spirit could still wield spells so effortlessly?!

Suppressing her fury, she lowered her head expressionlessly and murmured, "As long as you do not harm them or cross my bottom line, I will obey your instructions."

There was no choice. When under another’s roof, one had to bow. The other party held her lifeline in their grasp—the initiative was theirs. She could only endure humiliation to survive.

"Good. You no longer need to be on guard. Lead your remaining clansmen straight to the mountain peak. I, as the spirit of the Five Elements Mountain Range, swear I will not attack you again!"

Chen Yi made the promise with practiced ease.

Feng Jinhuang fell silent for a moment before suddenly shouting, "All clansmen, heed my order! This is no place to linger. We have no retreat left! To avoid further pointless sacrifices, travel light and advance at full speed—push forward, push forward!"

"As the Elder commands!"

The remaining eight Taiyi clansmen did not hesitate. They immediately rose and began scaling the mountain at full speed!

This was the best choice under the current circumstances.

Staying put to defend would only allow the hidden Guardian Spirit to pick them off one by one, slowly whittling them down to death!

So they could not afford to sit and wait for doom!

Just follow the Elder’s orders!

As the Taichu Xinhun Clan surged ahead, the five great ancient clans grew frantic.

The importance of seizing the initiative was undeniable—not just for claiming scarce resources first, but also as a demonstration of capability in the face of trials, earning the favor of the supreme treasures!

More importantly, though the Taichu Xinhun Clan had suffered heavy losses, they had also shed their burdens. Without the deadweight slowing them down, their speed far outstripped that of the five great clans!

A slight lead could be caught up to, but an overwhelming one? Impossible!

The five great clan elders, who had been gloating over the Taichu Xinhun Clan’s losses just moments ago, were no longer smiling. Their expressions turned grave.

"Everyone, what should we do?" The Yin-Yang Daoist, the Great Luo elder of the Green Lotus Ancient Clan, asked with a dark face.

"This is bad. Unless we also travel light, we’ll never catch up to them!" The elder of the Taixu Star God Ancient Clan also looked grim.

"What’s so hard about it? If we can’t move fast, then we’ll just stop her!" The Great Luo elder of the Timeflow Dragon Clan bared his fangs, eyes glinting with ruthlessness.

"But!" The Great Luo elder of the Primordial Chaos Ancient Clan hesitated. "Can we even stop her? And even if we could, if she deliberately causes trouble, we’ll be the ones in trouble!"

"We must not intercept her!" The cold and aloof Great Luo elder of the Abyssal Nether Ancient Clan said firmly. "We can stop her for a time, but not forever. If she wishes to leave, the path lies at her feet!"

"Our large numbers have become a disadvantage. Perhaps we should..."

He trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.

Before a supreme treasure, even kin could be sacrificed!

Their clans were populous, after all. A few Golden Immortals were nothing compared to the value of a Chaos Supreme Treasure!

Taiyi clansmen held significant weight, but so be it—one lifetime was nothing. They could always expend great resources to resurrect them from the River of Time and nurture them anew!

"Hah, your Abyssal Clan is truly heartless. Abandoning hundreds of clansmen without hesitation—aren’t you afraid of sowing dissent?" The Timeflow Dragon Clan elder sneered.

"If you’re so afraid, then you stay behind. My Abyssal Clan will take the lead. Once we obtain the Chaos Supreme Treasure, we’ll prepare generous gifts to thank you!" the Abyssal Nether elder retorted coldly.

"Hah! I suppose my clan’s treasury is the ‘generous gift’ you’re eyeing?"

"Naturally. You’re the one who wants to play the saint while acting like a whore. How shameless!"

"You dare insult me?!"

The Abyssal Nether elder ignored him, turning his back to address his clansmen calmly.

"One lifetime is but a drop in eternity. Rebirth awaits in the Abyssal Depths. All Taiyi clansmen, follow me at full speed. The rest shall continue gathering Five Elements ores for our future return!"

With that, he led all his Taiyi clansmen forward, unburdened.

The other four great clans fell silent before making the same choice.

There was no helping it. They had only been a loose alliance to begin with. With heaven-defying benefits at stake, once one side acted, the rest had to follow—or fall behind.

And falling behind meant suffering defeat. They had no choice!

Thus, the Great Luo alliance of the five great clans crumbled. Each left their clansmen behind to cover their advance!

From the shadows, Chen Yi smirked. With just a simple stratagem to lure the tiger from the mountain, he could now enjoy this rare feast!

He wouldn’t hold back.

......

OS: I’m truly... burned out...