Chapter 37: The Return of the Treasure Stirs Ripples in the Immortal Sect

The arrival of Yun Yao and Jun Mohan at the foot of the Immortal Sect mountain immediately stirred a commotion. News spread with wings, swiftly traversing the entire sect.

"Senior Brother and Junior Sister Yun Yao have returned! They have brought back the secret treasure!"

"A secret treasure? What kind of treasure? Could it be the legendary..."

Disciples of the sect crowded around. That was the secret treasure—an object of desire for countless people! Now, it lay quietly in Yun Yao’s hand, emanating a soft golden glow, shimmering and kaleidoscopic, as if it held boundless energy.

Several sect elders also arrived upon hearing the news. Their gazes fell upon the treasure in Yun Yao’s hand, their eyes flickering with complex emotions.

"Mohan, Yun Yao, this treasure is of great significance. It should belong to the sect for collective study, to benefit all disciples," a white-haired elder said slowly, his tone carrying an unquestionable majesty.

Jun Mohan’s sword-like brows furrowed. He tightened his grip on Yun Yao’s hand and stated firmly, "Elder, we obtained this treasure only after enduring immense hardships. It is not something easily acquired."

"Mohan, what do you mean by that? Are you intending to keep the treasure for yourself?" another elder asked, his tone displeased. The surrounding disciples began to whisper, and the atmosphere grew tense.

Feeling Jun Mohan’s hand tighten slightly, Yun Yao gently squeezed back, offering him a reassuring look.

"Junior Sister Yun Yao, what is your opinion?" an elder suddenly turned his gaze toward her, his eyes filled with scrutiny.

Yun Yao smiled slightly, about to speak, but then paused. She could sense the varied motives of the elders surrounding them—some truly cared for the sect, while others harbored ulterior agendas.

The smile on Yun Yao’s lips deepened. "Respected elders, actually..."

She smiled radiantly, her gaze sweeping over the crowd and lingering briefly on several of the elders.

"Respected elders, actually... this secret treasure has chosen its master." She raised the treasure in her hand. The golden light danced upon her face, making her skin appear fair as snow and her presence dazzling. "It only obeys my command."

At these words, the entire crowd erupted in an uproar. Everyone looked at the treasure with disbelief, mingled with a touch of envy.

The expressions of the elders were vivid and varied, like a spilled palette of colors. Yun Yao heard their thoughts clearly: some were astonished, others were greedy and resentful, and some were already plotting how to seize the treasure.

"Elder Lingxin, you just said you wanted to use the treasure to benefit all disciples—how selfless! But in your heart, you are thinking that if the treasure were in your own hands, it would help you break through your bottleneck and achieve great hegemony," Yun Yao’s crisp voice rang out like silver bells. Elder Lingxin’s expression stiffened, and his once-ruddy face turned deathly pale.

"And Elder Xuanji, you spoke of collective study, yet in secret, you thought that refining the energy within the treasure for yourself would be a splendid idea, wouldn't it?" Yun Yao turned her gaze to another elder. Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead, his lips trembled, but he could not utter a word.

The surrounding disciples gasped. They had never imagined that these highly respected elders harbored such selfish intentions! They looked at Yun Yao with newfound admiration; not only was this junior sister exceptionally powerful, but she also possessed the ability to peer into the hearts of others!

Before everyone, Jun Mohan gently took Yun Yao’s hand, their fingers interlacing as he offered her silent support. Yun Yao’s cheeks flushed slightly; feeling the warmth of his palm, a current of heat surged through her heart. They exchanged a smile, and everything was understood without words.

"Respected elders, now that the treasure has a master, I hope you will harbor no further greed," Jun Mohan’s voice was clear and cold as jade, yet carried an undeniable authority. "Otherwise, do not blame me for disregarding our shared sect ties."

A tense atmosphere permeated the air. The elders looked grim, yet they dared not press the issue. The prestige of Yun Yao and Jun Mohan within the sect was further elevated by this incident.

Just then, a disturbance came from afar. Someone shouted, "Shadow Fiend! The Shadow Fiends are here!" A dark mass of people surged from the foot of the mountain like a tidal wave. Leading them was a man in black with a cold, stern face—the leader of the notorious assassin organization, Shadow Fiend. Behind him followed a host of assassins, all brandishing sharp blades, radiating murderous intent.

At the same time, another group appeared on the other side, led by Elder Lingfeng. The disciples behind him wore grim expressions, clearly harboring ill intent.

"Jun Mohan, hand over the treasure, and I shall spare your lives!" the Shadow Fiend’s voice echoed through the valley like a roar from hell.

"Delusional!" Jun Mohan snorted. His long sword left its scabbard, the blade’s light as snowy as his resolve. Yun Yao stood by his side, clutching the treasure, the golden light circulating around her, making her appear sacred and inviolable, like a guardian goddess.

A great battle was imminent.

Under Jun Mohan’s leadership, the sect disciples engaged in fierce combat with the forces of the Shadow Fiend and Elder Lingfeng. The clash of blades and the brilliance of spells illuminated the night sky. The sounds of battle, the ringing of weapons, and the explosions of magic wove together into a chaotic and fervent war song. Though the sect disciples fought valiantly, the forces brought by the Shadow Fiend and Elder Lingfeng were elite, and the battle soon reached a stalemate.

Yun Yao focused her mind, once again employing her telepathic ability to perceive the enemy's weaknesses.

"Left! Their left flank is weakly defended!" Yun Yao’s crisp voice clearly reached every disciple on the chaotic battlefield.

"Right! Elder Lingfeng’s disciples rely primarily on formations; attack the formation core!" Yun Yao directed again.

Under her guidance, the sect disciples fought as if divinely assisted, their attacks raining down upon the enemies' weaknesses like a violent storm. The Shadow Fiend and Elder Lingfeng’s forces were caught off guard and forced into a steady retreat.

"Withdraw!" Seeing the situation turning, the Shadow Fiend ordered a retreat. Elder Lingfeng also fled in disgrace with his remaining disciples.

As the battle concluded, the sect disciples cheered, their admiration for Yun Yao and Jun Mohan reaching new heights. However, Yun Yao’s attention was not on the joy of victory. She looked down at the treasure in her hand and noticed that its golden glow seemed even more brilliant than before, vaguely resonating with something deep within the sect.

A strange, inexplicable feeling arose in Yun Yao’s heart. She reached out and gently stroked the smooth surface of the treasure...

"Mohan, I feel..." Yun Yao paused, her gaze fixed on a distant point deep within the sect, her tone filled with an indescribable sense of doubt.