Lin Yao and the other outer disciples were surprised and delighted to learn they were included.
Sun Lulu said shyly, "Senior Sister Su, this, this isn't right. After all, you discovered it all by yourself. We just helped dig it out, we didn't contribute much…"
He Bi'er also whispered, "I, I'd rather not."
Li Tianjue said calmly, "There's no need to decline. Since your Senior Sister Su has spoken, accept it with peace of mind. We are all fellow disciples; those who contributed should naturally receive their due share."
After a moment of hesitation, everyone happily agreed, feeling both flattered and surprised.
Having worked for so long, everyone was hungry. They took out food and water from their storage rings and ate while resting.
"This ancient mine area doesn't seem that dangerous."
Lu Jixing, while eating a beef patty, looked around. "We've been in here for so long and haven't encountered any Netherfire. Instead, we've found so many gems. Are the rumors all alarmist…"
Before he could finish, a scream drifted over on the wind, causing everyone's expressions to change.
"Jinx!" Chu Tianshu scornfully remarked.
Everyone looked warily at a tall, black cliff in the distance, from which the sound had originated.
Li Tianjue listened for a moment. "Someone's in trouble, and it sounds like quite a few people…"
Chu Tianshu immediately said, "I'll go take a look!"
He rushed to the front, with Lu Jixing closely following. Li Tianjue, Su Luo, and the others stayed put with the outer disciples.
Upon reaching the black cliff, Chu Tianshu peered over. He saw blood splattered everywhere, with many bodies lying haphazardly. A battle was still underway.
Furthermore, he saw clusters of gray flames floating in the air.
"Netherfire?!" Lu Jixing blurted out, his eyes wide.
His exclamation attracted attention.
As if the gray flames had ears, they suddenly flew towards Chu Tianshu and Lu Jixing. Several people, covered in blood and with frenzied expressions, also stared intently at them. They abandoned the injured and gave chase.
Chu Tianshu quickly regained his composure and unhesitatingly slashed at the flames, while simultaneously attacking the frenzied individuals. A bright sword energy erupted from his long sword, mixed with spiritual light, and instantly sliced a gray flame in half.
However, the flames were formless, splitting into two and continuing to drift towards him. Chu Tianshu continued to attack, as swift as lightning, fighting and retreating. It took over twenty sword strikes to completely shatter that Netherfire.
Lu Jixing beside him was in a similar situation. Even with all his might, it took him over twenty moves to eliminate a single Netherfire.
In just a moment, they were surrounded by more than a dozen Netherfires and four crazed individuals.
Just then, a figure appeared behind Chu Tianshu and Lu Jixing, and a gentle, calm voice spoke, "Don't panic. When dealing with Netherfire, your power cannot be dispersed! First, wrap it with spiritual energy, then use the compressed energy's sudden explosion. This will make it much easier to eliminate."
"Senior Brother!"
Hearing the voice, the two were immediately relieved.
Li Tianjue struck away a charging madman and then reached for a basin-sized Netherfire.
Spiritual light, like a diffused thin veil, instantly enveloped the Netherfire. He formed a fist in the air, and the spiritual light rapidly contracted. The Netherfire distorted in 'pain,' writhing as if alive.
With a 'bang,' it disappeared!
Chu Tianshu's eyes lit up. "So that's how it's done. I've got it."
He replicated the method, and although it wasn't as effortless as Li Tianjue's, he succeeded.
Lu Jixing on the side had already subdued the remaining three berserk cultivators, throwing a handful of Bewildering Powder at them to incapacitate them. Soon, the more than ten Netherfires were also eliminated with 'bang' sounds.
"So this is Netherfire. It's not that difficult to deal with," Chu Tianshu said, sheathing his 'divine sword,' which he had bought at a high price.
It was the best sword he had specifically prepared for the Heavenly Pride Competition, with its hilt inlaid with eight dazzling gems, costing him over eighty million spirit coins!
With the danger gone, Su Luo and the others walked over. She surveyed the surroundings. "It seems they encountered the Netherfire, which caused them to lose their minds and attack their companions. This Netherfire is quite peculiar."
At that moment, a wounded person nearby stood up.
He was also a genius participating in the Heavenly Pride Competition. Covered in blood, he staggered over, evidently still retaining his sanity. "It's Young Master Li! I am Sun Jian, the Young Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Thank you for saving my life! If not for you, Young Master Li, I fear I would be dead by now."
"You're welcome," Li Tianjue replied calmly.
"So it's you, Young Master Du. My apologies for the oversight," Su Luo said, a little surprised.
Last time she went to the Black Market Ghost Elder's place, she saw someone auctioning the Heavenly Sword Sect Master's Ice Soul Snow Sword, and now she had met the Young Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Sun Jian was slightly surprised. "You know me, girl?"
Su Luo shook her head. "No, but I heard your father's Ice Soul Snow Sword is lost."
Sun Jian immediately felt awkward.
Was this a case of good deeds going unnoticed, while bad news spread like wildfire?
His father's personal artifact had gone missing, and such an embarrassing matter was known even to people from Qingxu Heaven!
Su Luo had said it casually, without any ulterior motive, and even felt a bit regretful. If she had known Netherfires were present, she would have come earlier to test her Xuanmen techniques and see if they were effective against Netherfire. But now, it would have to wait for another time.
As they were preparing to leave, Sun Jian became anxious. "Wait, Young Master Li, young lady, can you… can you take me with you?"
Li Tianjue said indifferently, "No."
Sun Jian: "…"
Brother, must you refuse so quickly? I haven't even finished speaking.
Su Luo turned back to him. "Young Master Du, if you don't want to participate in the competition, you can leave with a teleportation bead. There's no need to follow us."
Sun Jian said with a mournful face, "If I still had my teleportation bead, I would have left long ago. But it's lost! We suddenly encountered these Netherfires, everyone panicked, and in a moment of carelessness, my teleportation bead disappeared…"
No wonder he was so flustered. Su Luo and the others shook their heads, unable to help.
Without a teleportation bead, surviving and leaving this place was incredibly difficult. Finding a teleportation gate was still a glimmer of hope. If they couldn't find one, they could only walk out of the ancient mine area on foot…
Just imagining it was enough to make one despair.
"But we are not related, and we are even rivals. There's no reason for us to help you."
Su Luo earnestly refused. "I'm sorry, Young Master Du. Please find someone else. We're leaving now."
Sun Jian wished he could kneel on the ground right there, abandoning all dignity and rankings. He pleaded, "Don't go! Please, everyone, I, I can pay. Will you accept compensation? I just beg you to take me out…"
Hearing the mention of money, Su Luo's eyes lit up.
"How much?"
"Ten million… no, thirty million!" Sun Jian eagerly said, holding up his storage ring. "As long as you people from Qingxu Heaven take me out, I will definitely reward you with thirty million. If it's not enough, I can add more!"
"A fixed price, fifty million!"
"Good, good, good!" Sun Jian nodded as if granted amnesty.
Su Luo tugged on Li Tianjue's sleeve and winked at him. "What do you say, Senior Brother? Fifty million!"
Seeing the stars in her eyes, Li Tianjue helplessly tapped her forehead. "Su Luo, you can't forget to make money even when you're in the ancient mine area. I'm truly impressed by you."
Even he hadn't noticed the pampering tone and gaze in his voice and eyes.