Yan Jiaojiao knew that Tang Xiye would not give up so easily, but heard her continue, "However, you should still be careful. With so many Jade Crisp Fruits, don't let people from other continents target you."
Chen Bingbing's face turned uglier. It was true that treasures were fought over between continents, but she had already put the items away. If her own people didn't speak, how would others know?
This was clearly naked blackmail. Tang Xiye was brazenly implying she would collude with outsiders because of this.
As it concerned the reputation of their sect, Jiang Yiling's brow furrowed, "Tang Xiye, you'd best think before you speak. Don't go too far."
"I'm just offering good advice, how is that too much?" Tang Xiye was completely unfazed.
Seeing Jiang Yiling speak up for her, Chen Bingbing looked at him for help. Jiang Yiling sighed and said, "How about this, I see there are about twenty to thirty fruits here. Each of us will take one, and the rest will be considered this time's tribute. The next opportunity to find treasures will go to Chen Bingbing."
Everyone cheered. Although Chen Bingbing felt some regret, she was ultimately relieved. Only Tang Xiye's eyes grew cold, staring directly at Jiang Yiling, her gaze truly chilling.
Yan Jiaojiao watched the scene unfold silently. She felt that ever since entering the ownerless secret realm, Tang Xiye had become increasingly gloomy.
The cool Jade Crisp Fruits were distributed into everyone's hands. Many people swallowed them down in a few bites, their expressions refreshed.
Tang Xiye also ate the Jade Crisp Fruit with a gloomy face, her eyes still cold. Even Yan Ruxue, who had always curried favor with her, dared not approach.
Yan Jiaojiao cupped her hand slightly and placed the Jade Crisp Fruit into her spiritual jade space. She had already taken the Bright Pearl Pill, so eating just one Jade Crisp Fruit would have no effect.
The group continued to advance. As they ventured deeper, the dark green grass grew taller, eventually reaching over everyone's heads, like a dense, boundless field of reeds.
"Ouch." Someone cried out softly. He had accidentally cut his cheek with a blade of grass, leaving a bloody line. He nervously looked at Jiang Yiling, "Senior Brother, this grass isn't poisonous, is it?"
Jiang Yiling shook his head. The person just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Jiang Yiling say, "I don't know either. Every time we enter an ownerless secret realm, the terrain and creatures inside change. I've never seen this grass before either."
The person froze again, feeling a burning sensation on his face, and wailed, "What do we do? My face hurts so much."
Xu Changzong said, "It's alright, this is just ordinary Green Sparrow Grass. It's just grown a bit more luxuriantly."
Yan Jiaojiao also knew that Green Sparrow Grass was a plant that originally grew in the demon realm. These disciples who cultivated did not go to the demon realm, so naturally, they wouldn't know.
One could only say that the ownerless secret realm had a chaotic aura, with demonic, monstrous, ghost, and spiritual energies intertwined, which caused this Green Sparrow Grass to grow exceptionally well.
Yan Jiaojiao also remained vigilant because of this, as it indicated that the ownerless secret realm was a place where all three realms could coexist.
The Green Sparrow Grass grew deeper and deeper, making them feel as if they were advancing through a green sea of waves. The sight was all grass, inspiring a sense of unknown fear.
Suddenly, someone cried out, "Wen Jinshu is gone!"
Everyone stopped and peered around, but they could not see Wen Jinshu. The female student who had spoken first said frantically, "She was right in front of me just now. The grass blocked my vision for a moment, and when I looked again, she was gone."
Xiao Su had already begun forming seals to send a message to find Wen Jinshu, but he received no response.
Xiao Su's expression grew tense. He leaped into the air, trying to find Wen Jinshu from above. However, in this endless sea of Green Sparrow Grass, apart from their group, there was no trace of Wen Jinshu.
"Senior Brother Jiang, could she have been eaten by some monster hiding in the grass?" the female student asked, panicked.
"Be quiet," Xiao Su immediately rebuked.
Jiang Yiling did not dare to speak carelessly. He could not guarantee that such a thing wouldn't happen, and only said, "I haven't sensed any demonic energy. It shouldn't be."
Tang Xiye said coldly, "Perhaps she discovered some treasure and secretly went back to find it."
"Do you think everyone is like you? Greedy and shameless!" Xiao Su would not allow anyone to slander Wen Jinshu.
Tang Xiye could not tolerate this, and immediately started arguing with Xiao Su.
Yan Jiaojiao could see that Xiao Su had a special affection for Wen Jinshu. Now that she was missing, Xiao Su was the most anxious.
"Enough, let's find her first!" It was Jiang Yiling who finally spoke to stop the argument, casting a displeased glance at Tang Xiye. Tang Xiye's behavior along the way had been exceptionally annoying.
Jiang Yiling reluctantly led the group to wait, releasing countless spiritual power paper cranes to search for Wen Jinshu's trace. But in the vast grassland, when would they find anything?
A sense of unease settled upon them. The others sat in a clearing that had been cut through the grass, their faces showing anxiety. Only Tang Xiye remained gloomy, while Yan Jiaojiao showed no emotion.
However, this moment of peace did not last long. Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the grass not far away. Jiang Yiling stood up alertly, his face instantly changed, "Run, a demonic beast is coming this way!"
Everyone wanted to flee. Xiao Su, however, refused, "What if Wen Jinshu comes back and can't find us? We can kill the demonic beast together, all of us."
Tang Xiye sneered, "Are you trying to disembowel the demonic beast to see if Wen Jinshu is inside its belly?"
"To bicker at a time like this? That's a Saw-toothed Earth Dragon!"
Everyone fell silent. Even Xiao Su's face darkened, and he no longer insisted on staying to fight the beast.
Yan Jiaojiao also knew of the Saw-toothed Earth Dragon. It resembled a giant python, but was boneless and soft all over, with mouths full of sharp saw teeth at both ends of its body.
What was most disgusting was that the Saw-toothed Earth Dragon, like ordinary earthworms, would regenerate into two earth dragons if severed, and then further regenerate, endlessly. Although its attack power was not strong, its ability to regenerate infinitely made it the most troublesome. Ordinary people would avoid it if they could.
Fleeing was not treasure hunting, so everyone naturally did not need to walk step by step. Thus, led by Jiang Yiling, they displayed their unique skills, some flying, some using swords, some teleporting. In just a moment, they had traveled over ten li, leaving the Saw-toothed Earth Dragon far behind.
The group stopped with Jiang Yiling. The female student who had first noticed Wen Jinshu's disappearance said, "What about Wen Jinshu?"
Xiao Su said softly, "I've left markings along the way. You all wait here. I'll go around the Saw-toothed Earth Dragon and go back to look for her."