A moment later.
The once crowded San Bao Yan became surprisingly spacious, all because too many people had died!
And among them...
The fake Emperor's men, arriving early and rushing to grab, lost nearly half of their numbers!
Everyone exchanged glances.
A dead silence fell upon the place. The elixirs and treasures, dropped by their deceased owners, lay scattered around, yet no one dared to snatch them.
Treasures were good, but life was more important!
"Uh..."
Just then.
A desolate voice echoed from mid-air, tinged with an apology. It was the Dragon Emperor, who had vanished earlier: "I forgot to tell you all."
"These treasures are all highly poisonous."
"This poison is called 'Tian Yin Shi Ling' (Heavenly Yin Soul Devourer). Once touched, it penetrates the soul."
"Even a cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage would inevitably die a death beyond death if invaded by this potent poison."
The people in the pavilion instantly clenched their fists.
Damn it.
"Forgot to tell you."
This was clearly deliberate.
Especially the fake Emperor's faction, who had suffered heavy casualties in this round. Their eyes burned with fury, wishing they could slaughter the Dragon Emperor on the spot.
Of course, this was merely a thought.
Even after losing much of his power over the years, the Dragon Emperor was still far beyond their capabilities.
"Heh heh."
At this incredibly awkward juncture, Bai Zi He suddenly chuckled and said to the experts by his side, "See? I told you earlier, haste isn't always a good thing!"
While his words didn't seem to directly address the fake Emperor, they were, in essence, aimed squarely at him.
The fake Emperor's face turned crimson with rage. However, with their strength severely depleted, any further conflict with Bai Zi He would only result in more devastating losses.
"You all continue."
The Dragon Emperor's voice carried a hint of an unreadable emotion: "Tian Yin Shi Ling is a one-time poison. Once the treasures are touched, it's equivalent to being detoxified."
"Now, you can all fight over them to your heart's content."
With that said.
The Dragon Emperor's phantom form dissipated once more.
However, even after the Dragon Emperor's words, the fake Emperor did not dare to act rashly.
The reason was… uncertainty about the truth.
If he "forgot" to mention some crucial information again, he feared he would suffer another great loss, truly a complete humiliation.
But to give up like this was not in the fake Emperor's character.
His gaze fell upon the experts behind Bai Zi He, and he sneered, "Bai Zi He, aren't you quite pleased with yourself?"
"If you have the guts… have your people try touching them. See if these things are still poisonous!"
Bai Zi He scoffed, too disdainful to even bother responding.
Subsequently.
A mighty palm of force swept out, gathering all the treasures and elixirs from the ground, finally presenting them before Bai Zi He.
However, Bai Zi He divided these treasures into two piles.
One pile consisted of items that had been touched by the fake Emperor's subordinates.
The other pile contained items that no one had yet touched, which Bai Zi He had just retrieved from the shelves.
The fake Emperor's expression immediately changed.
Bai Zi He intended to take everything, leaving him not even a sliver of opportunity.
However, that wasn't the main point.
The crucial point was...
Whether these items were still poisonous or not. If they were, Bai Zi He couldn't possibly keep them wrapped in force forever!
In that case, they would still have a chance.
"Swish..."
However, just as the fake Emperor was hatching a sinister plan, several streaks of light suddenly shot out, entering the bodies of the experts behind him.
"Puff!"
"Puff!"
"Puff!"
These were the Yin-Yang Seventy-Two Golden Needles.
The light in the eyes of those experts instantly dimmed, their minds temporarily controlled by Bai Zi He.
"Come here."
"Touch them for me!"
Bai Zi He shouted coldly. These experts shuffled towards him, each extending their hands towards the weapons and elixirs.
Poisonous or not poisonous…
The answer was about to be revealed, and everyone held their breath.
Time slowly trickled by.
One breath.
Two breaths.
Several breaths passed.
These experts…
Their hands showed no signs of change.
No bleeding, no corrosion.
Their faces remained unchanged; the scene of blood gushing from the seven orifices they had imagined did not materialize.
The fake Emperor could no longer contain himself.
It seemed…
The Dragon Emperor's later statement was truthful.
Once the weapons and elixirs were touched, the poison was neutralized.
Bai Zi He, however, remained cautious.
It wasn't until approximately a minute had passed.
These experts, under his control, had touched the previously contaminated treasures without any adverse effects.
Only then did he feel relieved.
Then.
Bai Zi He pointed to the remaining experts: "You all, come and touch all the weapons and elixirs here."
Those experts were already devoid of consciousness, like walking corpses.
Under his command, they immediately stepped forward and ran their hands over all the remaining treasures, from top to bottom, from beginning to end.
The fake Emperor's mouth twitched violently.
These people…
Were all his elite subordinates.
They had fought their way here with him, normally the cream of the crop.
But now…
They were being used by Bai Zi He as tools for detoxification!
Before the fake Emperor could erupt in anger.
"Uh..."
"Mmm hmm..."
"Oh oh oh..."
Groans of pain echoed. Those experts who had touched the items began exhibiting the previous symptoms, bleeding from their seven orifices and dying!
"Done!"
Bai Zi He wore a satisfied smile: "All these items have been 'detoxified' and can be put away!"
With that, he pocketed all the elixirs.
As for the weapons and such…
Bai Zi He couldn't carry them all alone. An expert from the Xuan Tian Pavilion quickly stepped forward, packing them all into cloth bags to be distributed later.
"Bai Zi He, you..."
The fake Emperor was furious, his anger boiling over, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "These were obtained with the lives of my people! How dare you hoard them all for yourself?"
"You are not satisfied?"
Bai Zi He's lips curved into a chilling smile. He glanced at Liu Wen, who was still recovering from his earlier exertion.
"If you have the guts, come and try to take them."
"Exactly, why the incessant yammering? Weren't you quite arrogant earlier?"
"If you lack the strength, stop yapping like a dog!"
"If you can fight, stop arguing!"
Bai Zi He's experts retorted fearlessly, enraging the fake Emperor to the point where smoke seemed to be emanating from his nostrils.
But he dared not truly engage Bai Zi He in battle.
Firstly, Liu Wen was greatly weakened.
Secondly, they had lost too many experts recently and their strength was severely depleted.
"Crack!"
"Crack, crack..."
At this very moment.
A wall in the main hall of San Bao Yan suddenly began to vibrate.
Under everyone's gaze.
Light appeared there.
This was...
The Path of Life and Death!