The crisis of the Black Snake Secret Treasure was still brewing.

But the chaos within the Mayfly Treasure Land had erupted since its very opening.

This turmoil didn’t stem from fighting over treasures, but rather from a single mad cultivator among the explorers.

Wang Weiming had abandoned his five Solitary Moon Mountain companions upon entering, immediately starting his hunt for sixth-level Gathering Qi cultivators.

Within one day, four cultivators at the sixth level of Gathering Qi fell to his blade.

Two were Loose cultivators, while the others came from minor factions.

Wang Weiming wisely avoided powerful targets at first, preying on the vulnerable.

News spread quickly through the treasure land.

When sixth-level cultivators without strong backers learned of the pattern, they began living in fear.

They’d believed their cultivation level ensured safety here.

Yet before the treasure land’s natural dangers emerged, human cruelty had already found them.

Upon discovering the killer hailed from infamous Solitary Moon Mountain, the cultivators organized.

They formed alliances, moving through the treasure land as united groups.

With dwindling opportunities, Wang Weiming grew reckless.

By the third day, he fell into an ambush – over ten sixth-level cultivators chased him deep into the treasure land’s heart.

Only the sudden appearance of a massive illusion array saved him.

After this failed siege, he vanished into hiding.

Northern Front of Mayfly Treasure Land

Yang Lingrui stood lakeside, channeling Wind techniques into spiritual insect larvae.

Five spiritual insect colonies here lay under Feng family control.

Alongside their two young mistresses, the Fengs had brought four sixth-level family guards – formidable among various factions.

Though weaker than Feng Lingyue in combat strength, their duty was protecting Feng Linghua.

“Huu—”

Yang Lingrui exhaled after three hours of work.

“Y-Young Master Lin, this is for you.”

Feng Linghua approached, offering an item from her storage bag.

The unrolled painting showed him concentrating on techniques moments before.

The lifelike quality startled him – it mirrored reality like polished silver.

“Miss Hua’s brushwork astonishes me. No wonder you master the Spiritual Manipulation method through painting.”

The Feng Elder had entered the Path of Cultivation as scholar. Their four Inheritances covered scholarly arts: qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Feng Linghua’s art of painting Spiritual Manipulation also granted her exceptional disguise techniques.

This technique was far superior to the Ink Manipulation Technique used by that scholar earlier. It was an orthodox Confucian method of Condensing Essence quality, surpassing ordinary ink manipulation in both power and versatility.

Her elder sister Feng Lingyue had gained fame throughout Qiulu for her Spirit of Words Technique. Through this art, she’d repeatedly managed to slay higher-level opponents, securing her position among the top five combatants in Qiulu City’s younger generation.

“Oh, it’s nothing special! I’m still just a beginner!” Feng Linghua flushed pink when Yang Lingrui praised her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear shyly.

Yang Lingrui chuckled. “No need for modesty, Miss Hua. Though my knowledge is limited, I know this path demands exceptional talent. Your mastery of the basics already proves you’re extraordinary.”

“Alright then, I’ll accept your kind words! Thank you, Young Master Lin!” Feng Linghua grinned, practically skipping back to Feng Lingyue’s side.

The older sister rolled her eyes. “A few empty compliments and you’re floating on air.”

“Sis~!” Feng Linghua clung to her sister’s arm, drawing out the syllable sweetly. The usual sternness melted from Feng Lingyue’s features despite herself.

“That Lin fellow works diligently enough. He doesn’t seem as useless as you claim.”

“You’re too naive!” Feng Lingyue snapped. “He benefits from our family’s protection and promised rewards. Do you think he’d lift a finger if you weren’t a Feng? Consider yourself lucky he hasn’t tricked you into scouting ahead for traps!”

Feng Linghua pursed her lips. She might be innocent, but she wasn’t stupid. Her sister’s logic made sense. Yet during their days together, she’d developed a persistent intuition that Young Master Lin wasn’t what he seemed – that this persona might be deliberate camouflage.

Women’s intuition often hits the mark, she mused silently. But without proof, she kept these thoughts buried.

Their conversation halted as a sixth-level Gathering Qi family guard approached urgently. After whispering to Feng Lingyue, her expression turned glacial – a perimeter guard had gone missing.

Seven days had passed since Wang Weiming’s supposed ambush death. Two days prior, he’d reappeared with deadlier tactics, now targeting disciples from major sects rather than ordinary sixth-level cultivators. Multiple factions had suffered casualties since. Whatever treasure Wang found in that accursed land enabled his bloody vanishings after each attack.

As one of the top forces in this operation, the Feng family had never been disturbed.

But today, Wang Weiming had set his sights on them.

“Audacious! How dare you mess with my Feng family!”

Feng Lingyue shouted angrily, “Recall those two individuals! I’ll personally guard this place and measure this fool’s capabilities!”

She wasn’t foolish enough to fall for Wang Weiming’s diversion tactic.

By gathering everyone around her, she challenged him to act under her direct watch.

Any ordinary person would’ve abandoned such a difficult target.

But Wang Weiming was no ordinary man.

Having gained advantages from the treasure land and escape techniques, he’d grown increasingly reckless.

“Hahahaha!”

Peals of laughter echoed as Wang Weiming emerged from the forest.

“I’ve long heard of Qiulu Feng family’s unrivaled reputation. Might this Wang have the honor to exchange pointers with you today, Friend?”

“Insolent!”

“Restrain!”

Feng Lingyue snapped, flicking her fingers through empty air. A Spirit of Words Technique manifested instantly.

Wang Weiming’s body locked up, spiritual power freezing mid-flow. Surprise flashed in his eyes – the legendary technique truly made words into reality, cast faster than spoken language.

“Sever!”

With icy composure, Feng Lingyue formed a seal. A chilling streak shot toward her target.

“Excellent! Worthy of your unmatched fame! This delights me!”

Wang Weiming cheered fearlessly. As the attack neared, silvery moonlight erupted from his body with terrifying pressure.

The moonlight dissolved both the binding spell and incoming attack.

“That aura… stronger than mere spiritual power,” Yang Lingrui observed from the rear. He noticed ribbon-like moonlight halos swirling around Wang Weiming – seemingly fragile, yet radiating immense power.

“Hmph! Spiritual Manipulation method? Child’s play!”

Feng Lingyue’s cold snort shifted the atmosphere. Unlike Wang Weiming’s lunar glow, azure spell scripts materialized around her like floating talismans.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep