Right now, the angriest person here was probably Mou Yuntao.
The treasure should’ve been his. He had been waiting in Blood City for three hundred years.
He never imagined that now, just as the Secret Realm finally opened, so many people would dare to fight him for the treasure.
And to make it worse, he’d accidentally gotten poisoned by the Soul-Devouring Immortal Insect Poison. If he kept struggling with Tang Zhongming, his chances of winning were practically zero.
So Mou Yuntao hesitated for a moment, then turned and left.
He knew this treasure probably wasn’t fated for him. If he forced the issue, he might end up losing both his life and his fortune, maybe even dying right here.
Old Wu saw Mou Yuntao leave and instantly followed after him.
"Gao Zhan, just wait and see!"
When he left, Old Wu shot a glare at Gao Zhan. If Gao Zhan hadn’t betrayed them, Mou Yuntao wouldn’t be in such a miserable position now.
The most urgent thing now was to force the poison out of his body.
"Oh, I’m watching, alright. Just don’t die too soon!"
Gao Zhan sneered.
Up on the high platform, Tang Zhongming watched Mou Yuntao walk away, but didn’t say anything more.
Even though this guy was badly poisoned, he was still a Late Stage Tribulation Crossing powerhouse. If Tang risked a bloody fight, he might win, but there was a good chance he’d be wounded too.
He didn’t want to make new enemies right now. His target was finding Lin Chang’sheng and striking him down.
"Elder Tang, I, Gao Zhan, am willing to serve you with my life. Is there anything I can do for you?"
Gao Zhan instantly clung to Tang Zhongming, trying to cozy up to him.
But Tang Zhongming just looked at him with utter disdain.
He had always despised traitors like this the most.
Still, Gao Zhan might be useful for a while. Otherwise, Tang would have cut him down with a single sword strike already.
"Go stand guard outside! Don’t let anyone in!"
Tang Zhongming ordered coldly.
The two treasures in the altar obviously belonged to him now, and he had no desire for anyone to disturb him while he was collecting them.
"Understood!"
Gao Zhan replied, then immediately led the Blood Guard out.
Seeing that he’d lost his chance at the treasure, Lu Shan wisely chose to retreat as well.
If he’d fought for it against a wounded Mou Yuntao, maybe he’d have had a shot.
But against Tang Zhongming at his peak, he didn’t stand a chance.
He’d just have to wait for another opportunity.
"Elder Lu, are we really just going to hand the treasure over to Tang Zhongming like this?"
A cultivator asked unwillingly.
Seeing the treasure so close but unable to reach it—that was the worst feeling of all.
"What else can we do? Tang Zhongming is nearly as strong as an Immortal. Who can take the treasure from him—unless..."
"Unless what?"
Before Lu Shan could finish, the cultivator pressed him impatiently.
"Unless we join forces with Mou Yuntao."
Lu Shan finally voiced his thoughts.
Just before, they’d been enemies—but now, maybe not.
The enemy of our enemy is a friend.
Only by teaming up with Mou Yuntao did they have a chance of standing up to Tang Zhongming.
That way, they could split the two treasures in the altar.
"But Mou Yuntao’s already badly injured—can he really defeat Tang Zhongming?"
The cultivator asked skeptically.
"The Soul-Devouring Immortal Insect Poison is strong, sure, but Mou Yuntao won’t just wait to die! He’ll find a way to cure himself!"
Lu Shan then chased after Mou Yuntao, quickly catching up with Mou Yuntao and Old Wu.
"What? You want to fight again?"
Mou Yuntao’s face darkened, clearly irritated.
If these guys hadn’t wasted his time earlier, he might have already gotten the treasure by now.
"You’re mistaken, City Lord Mou. This time we’re here to make peace!"
"And besides, I was the one who pointed out the traitor at your side. Don’t you think you owe me some thanks?"
Lu Shan said with a smile.
"Thank you? What a joke!"
Mou Yuntao was highly suspicious.
Who’s to say they weren’t using some scheme to get him to lower his guard?
He didn’t think these people were that kind-hearted.
"What, don’t you want the treasures in the Blood Slaughter Cave Mansion, City Lord Mou?"
Lu Shan tried provoking him.
At this, Mou Yuntao’s expression did change.
"Who doesn’t want the Heaven-Reaching Immortal Treasure? If you lot hadn’t gotten in the way, I’d have already claimed it. Why would I be standing here empty-handed?"
Mou Yuntao’s tone was sour.
"That’s why we’re here to apologize. City Lord Mou, please don’t blame us. Right now, only by working together can we challenge Tang Zhongming. Otherwise, every treasure in the Secret Realm will end up his—then neither of us gets anything!"
Lu Shan proposed an alliance again.
"Do you really want to make peace?"
Mou Yuntao’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise. No wonder Lu Shan was an elder of a major sect—he really could let things go this easily?
"Of course. Otherwise, we’re the only ones who lose! City Lord Mou, you’ve waited in Blood City for centuries, all for this moment, right? Let’s put aside our grudges for now—the main thing is to seize the treasures."
Lu Shan lowered his stance.
This hit Mou Yuntao right where it hurt. He’d waited all these years for the ultimate treasure in the Secret Realm. There was no way he’d just let someone else take it.
"Too bad I’m still poisoned. How am I supposed to fight Tang Zhongming? Even with you guys, I doubt—"
"You worry too much, Sect Leader Mou. I have a bottle of Heart-Protecting Pills here—it’ll keep you safe for three days! In those three days, you just need to purge the Soul-Devouring Immortal Insect Poison from your body. I’m sure you’ll manage, right?"
Lu Shan produced a bottle of elixirs.
"How do I know that isn’t just poison itself?"
Old Wu didn’t believe they were that generous.
Without another word, Lu Shan popped a pill into his own mouth and swallowed it on the spot.
"We’re allies now, City Lord Mou. Why would I hurt you? What’s in it for me?"
Lu Shan explained calmly.
Seeing this, Mou Yuntao figured the elixir probably was safe.