"I must trouble you to help find them."
"What treasures are we talking about?" the Supreme Elder asked.
"Top-grade Spirit Stones, one thousand units. Floating Stones, three hundred pounds. Taiyi Geng Gold, one thousand pounds..."
As soon as Hua Baiyu mentioned a thousand top-grade Spirit Stones, the room was filled with the sound of gasping.
Top-grade Spirit Stones are one of the hard currencies in the Cultivation Realm, nearly the highest-valued currency.
Just one top-grade Spirit Stone is equivalent to a thousand ordinary Spirit Stones, which a typical early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator might not even own.
A thousand top-grade Spirit Stones, that wealth is almost equal to the entire accumulation of several mid-sized cultivation families.
Even as the Daoist child of the Taiyi Sect, itâs unlikely one could carry so many Spirit Stones on them, right?
And as Hua Baiyu continued to mention the Floating Stones, Taiyi Geng Gold, Thousand-Year Jade Marrow, and other Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, all in large quantities, everyone quickly realized.
This wasnât about Fu Weiyi losing treasures; itâs about having the Corpse-Driving Sect pay compensation or tribute?
Bare-faced extortion!
"Master Hua, are you sure Daoist Fu brought so many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures?" Master Cang Yu asked with a frown.
"This was assigned to him by the sect, and many Masters in our sect know about this. Why would I deceive you?" Hua Baiyu saw Master Cang Yuâs troubled expression, and his face suddenly turned gloomy, "What, my disciple died defending against the Demon Clan for you.
And youâre unwilling to even help find the lost items?"
"These treasures might have already been picked up by others or demons and might not even remain within Zhao Kingdomâs borders." The Great Elder Zheng Jingming said with a bitter face.
"Iâve been to Cyan Wolf Ridge, and they donât have them.
If thereâs a possibility, itâs only in the hands of that Red Hero." Hua Baiyu sneered, "Tell me his whereabouts, and Iâll know with a single question."
"Master Hua, you jest; we truly donât know the whereabouts of Red Hero." The Great Elder shook his head repeatedly.
Not to mention knowing, even if they knew, they couldnât say it.
Because, even if they gave up Red Hero, Hua Baiyu could simply claim the items werenât with him, demanding further compensation from the Corpse-Driving Sect.
By then, not only would the Corpse-Driving Sect need to pay a hefty amount of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, but their reputation would also be tarnished.
The Great Elder isnât a fool; this isnât something he would do.
"These treasures are linked to our sectâs grand plan to resist the Demon Clan; there is no room for delay.
At most, Iâll give you a hundred days." Hua Baiyu said coldly, "After a hundred days, if they are still unseen, donât blame me for being ruthless!"
After speaking, he transformed into a green light and vanished from the spot, soaring into the distant sky.
Leaving behind a crowd of worried faces in the hall.
"Sigh, what kind of mess is this?" The elders were practically on the verge of depression.
The crisis with the Cyan Wolf Ridge Demon Clan hadnât even passed yet, and now they faced an even more formidable enemy. How could the Corpse-Driving Sect be so plagued with disasters?
"If your strength is insufficient, you will be beaten." Master Cang Yu sighed for the umpteenth time, "We might have to consider leveraging that connection."
"Master Uncle, are you referring to our ties with the Xuanyin Sect..." Zheng Jingmingâs face changed at the mention, "But that was intended to guard against Cyan Wolf Ridge. If we use it this time, then next time..."
"Letâs get through this first hurdle; otherwise, whatâs the point of discussing a next time." Master Cang Yu shook his head helplessly.
After Master Hua Baiyu of the Taiyi Sect left.
Not long after, news spread that the Corpse-Driving Sect needed to find the lost treasures for the Taiyi Sect, causing a stir across the entire Northern Domain.
"The Corpse-Driving Sect is truly finished," someone lamented.
"Taiyi Sect is far too overbearing; if they can do this to the Corpse-Driving Sect today, whoâs to say they wonât do the same to us tomorrow?" Another voiced their support for the Corpse-Driving Sect.
"You human whelps of the Corpse-Driving Sect, keep clinging to life for a few more years, and then we shall settle accounts!" The wolf clan of Cyan Wolf Ridge even sent threats, further adding to their woes.
In an instant, this colossal entity, the Corpse-Driving Sect, found itself beset by countless dilemmas, teetering on the brink of collapse, with a future as dark as night.
"Where lies the path for the Corpse-Driving Sect?"
Not only those from other powers but even cultivators within the Corpse-Driving Sect felt lost.
"Master!"
At the same time, at Wendao Peak, in Yanboâs cave residence, came the sound of frantic shouts, accompanied by the cries of a woman, creating an extremely somber atmosphere.
...