Chapter 184: Exhausting All Efforts to Save Lives, Sharing the Spoils After Returning

Inside the massive cavern.

Yue Pingfeng was still treating Hu Chang and Wu Sanxing’s injuries.

Both were severely wounded—channeling spiritual energy even for a moment couldn’t be stopped. Just a few breaths when Yue Pingfeng had left nearly caused Wu Sanxing’s already fragile heart to stop again.

Yu Xian quickly approached, placing Zhong Fa’s corpse and Zhang Pin together respectfully.

Then, raising his hands, he released a soft green glow and pressed it against Hu Chang and Wu Sanxing.

It was the Art of Woodification, renowned for its remarkable healing efficacy.

The little elm tree tattoo on Yu Xian’s chest glowed gently. The elm tree on his inner foundation swayed slowly, transforming the abundant spiritual energy into Wood-attribute healing qi, nurturing and restoring the injuries within the two wounded cultivators.

With his infusion, their unstable conditions stabilized within moments!

Yue Pingfeng was stunned at first, then quietly withdrew his own spiritual energy.

He noticed that his own energy was clashing with Yu Xian’s Woodification Qi.

It was like a mediocre doctor interfering with the work of a divine healer—he would only make things worse.

So, he stopped his efforts, letting Yu Xian handle the treatment.

Yu Xian looked solemn, his hands continually transferring Woodification Qi into the two.

Yue Pingfeng stared at Yu Xian, eyes filled with surprise.

—Who knew Yu Xian was also a master healer?

What kind of cultivation technique was he practicing?

Wood-type energy did have healing properties, but it typically couldn’t match water-type techniques. Yet Yu Xian’s was exceptionally effective!

Clearly, the technique must be extraordinary.

This “little brother” must have encountered many fortuitous opportunities to have reached mid-Foundation Establishment realm at such a young age.

Yue Pingfeng praised him inwardly, full of admiration.

Yu Xian, meanwhile, spared no spiritual energy, transforming it continuously.

After half an hour of nurturing, his own complexion had paled—but the two heavily injured cultivators had regained their human form.

Their faces were still deathly pale, but their breathing had stabilized—they were completely out of danger.

“Ugh…”

A pained groan escaped as Hu Chang slowly opened his eyes, confusion giving way to agony.

His internal organs throbbed with pain, countless bones likely broken.

But he had survived.

And survival, for a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, meant his spiritual energy could now circulate, automatically repairing his injuries.

Still, it would likely take over a month to recover fully.

Yu Xian, seeing this, withdrew his hand and turned fully to treat Wu Sanxing.

Wu Sanxing’s heart had even stopped—he had truly walked through the gates of death. His condition was slightly worse than Hu Chang’s.

“Daoist Hu!”

Yue Pingfeng’s eyes lit up with joy when Hu Chang awoke. He rushed over excitedly:

“You’re awake? How do you feel?!”

“Did… I not die…?”

Hu Chang’s eyes were dazed, his body wracked with pain, but his voice was weak:

“I thought I was dead… Thank you, Daoist Brother, for saving me…”

Yue Pingfeng shook his head:

“I was the one being reckless, dragging everyone into this. What is there to thank me for? I feel ashamed…”

Cough, cough…

Just then, Wu Sanxing began coughing violently, spitting out a blood clot, finally catching his breath and slowly opening his eyes.

“Daoist Wu!”

Yue Pingfeng rushed to him, joy blooming again:

“You’re safe too!”

Wu Sanxing took several deep breaths, closed his eyes again, and sighed:

“I must have incredible luck… I actually didn’t die… Thank you for saving me…”

Yu Xian saw that Wu Sanxing had also awakened and could circulate his spiritual energy again, so he withdrew his technique.

His spiritual sea was more than half depleted.

Though the Art of Woodification had great healing effect, it consumed massive amounts of energy—five to six strands of spiritual energy for one strand of healing Woodification Qi.

But reviving two people was worth it.

They were both Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivators—so long as they weren’t instantly killed, flesh and bone injuries could heal over time.

Hu Chang inhaled deeply, opening his eyes and regaining some vigor.

Both cultivators, having skirted death, seemed to have some insight from the ordeal.

A breakthrough to late Foundation Establishment seemed close!

Seeing them both awake, Yue Pingfeng and Yu Xian also rose—they hadn’t been meditating deeply, just resting.

“How do you two feel?” Yue Pingfeng asked with concern.

Hu Chang and Wu Sanxing exchanged a glance, then stood up and bowed deeply to Yu Xian and Yue Pingfeng:

“Many thanks to the two of you for saving our lives!”

Yue Pingfeng and Yu Xian quickly helped them up.

“No need to thank us,” Yue Pingfeng said with a smile. “If anything, I should be the one thanking you two.”

“Brother Yue, we all joined the mission for personal gain. Even if we died, there would be nothing to blame. You owe us nothing. But the two of you risked your lives to save us. That is a great kindness!”

Hu Chang spoke solemnly:

“From now on, if Brother Yue ever needs anything, I’ll go through hell and fire without hesitation!”

“Indeed!” Wu Sanxing nodded earnestly.

“If I ever hesitate to help either of you, may I meet a swift end!”

“Let’s not speak of this further.” Yue Pingfeng smiled and waved his hand.

He then summoned five storage pouches and placed them in front of everyone.

“These belong to Zhang Pin, Zhong Fa, Yu Wufeng, and two other deceased cultivators,” he said.

“Zhang and Zhong have perished. I’ll ensure proper burials for them. As for their belongings… burying them with it would be wasteful. They would’ve wanted us to use it.”

“As for the other three pouches, we’ll split them equally.”

Hu Chang and Wu Sanxing glanced at the pouches, their expressions tinged with desire, but they calmed down quickly.

“Zhang and Zhong’s items, we can accept,” Hu Chang said. “They were our friends. But the other three are your spoils—we won’t take them.”

“Enough, no need to argue. We’ll split everything.” Yue Pingfeng smiled, picking up Zhang Pin’s pouch and emptying its contents.

Spirit stones, magic treasures, pills, a cultivation manual, and some miscellaneous items spilled out.

Zhang Pin had around 700,000 spirit stones, three low-grade tier-4 treasures, and a manual that could be cultivated to early Core Formation stage—not too bad.

But among the miscellaneous items were a woman’s undergarment, a child’s robe, a hairpin, and a small drum.

Seeing these personal effects, everyone fell silent.

“I once heard,” Hu Chang said softly, “that Zhang Pin had a lover during the Qi Condensation stage. They even had a child… I thought it was just a rumor. But these things…”

“It must be true.” Wu Sanxing sighed.

Yu Xian didn’t speak, but his eyes were full of empathy.

—To lose one’s wife and child to revenge, to live only for vengeance, then die mid-journey… would he end up the same?

“These few items should be buried with him,” Yue Pingfeng said, and everyone nodded.

After dividing Zhang Pin and Zhong Fa’s belongings, they moved to the pouch of one of the other slain cultivators.

Dozens of thousands of spirit stones, various treasures and manuals, and one item caught everyone’s attention:

—A pearl-like orb the size of a fist, glowing with soft, moon-like light.

Even Yu Xian, Hu Chang, and Wu Sanxing didn’t recognize it, but it was clearly a treasure.

Yue Pingfeng studied it and said, surprised,

“Could this be the Serpent’s Spit Pearl?”

Eventually, they left the cavern and returned to Mo City, taking shelter in Golden Scale Pavilion—a cover for Yue Pingfeng’s forge.

There, the injured cultivators received proper care, including tier-4 healing pills, and began recovering steadily.

Yu Xian handed over Zhong Fa’s storage pouch and the serpent’s corpse.

“I believe all gains from this venture should be shared,” Yu Xian said sincerely, even handing over three additional pouches from the slain enemies.

Yue Pingfeng was briefly stunned.

His words could’ve sounded pretentious—but he saw Yu Xian’s genuine conviction in his eyes.

—This was no act.

A noble heart, Yue Pingfeng thought, feeling warm.

Though he called him “little brother,” Yue Pingfeng had always seen Yu Xian as a child since their first meeting when Yu Xian was only fifteen.

Now, watching him grow into such a steadfast and generous person, Yue Pingfeng felt deeply gratified.

Yu Xian sat to meditate, exhausted both in spirit and energy. So did Yue Pingfeng.

The next two days passed in silence and healing.

Wu Sanxing recovered first, amazed again by the efficacy of the tier-4 pill.

They reflected on the tragedy, on those who died.

But rather than anger, Wu Sanxing and Hu Chang felt only gratitude for being saved.

Such people—those who return for their wounded companions, even at risk to themselves—were rare in the cultivation world.

“Let’s leave this damp place,” Yue Pingfeng said. “It’s not good for recovery.”

He and Yu Xian each carried one wounded companion and took flight toward Mo City.

Despite Wu Sanxing and Hu Chang’s protests, they were ignored.

The harsh truth was that in this world of cultivation, betrayal and selfishness were far more common.

To have met companions like Yu Xian and Yue Pingfeng… was a stroke of true fortune.

Two and a half hours later, the four of them arrived at the gates of Mo City.