122 Chapter 1280: Five Minutes (1/2)

”Charge forward and subdue him?” Brother Hu and the other young men fell into deep contemplation.

”With our strength, as long as we collaborate with one another, it shouldn't be too difficult for us to seal his cultivation before he can release his artifacts! Once we succeed, we won't have to worry about him anymore. By then, we can just fight it out amongst ourselves to determine the allocation of the treasure. What do you say about that?” Brother Sun analyzed the situation for the crowd.

”Zhang Xuan will indeed be a huge trouble to deal with if we don't strike him down promptly. As long as he remains in the race, there's no way any one of us will be able to acquire the treasure. I approve of your idea!” Brother Hu nodded.

The others also quickly expressed their agreement to the temporary collaboration as well.

”Alright. Since we are all agreeable to the matter, let's make a Master Teacher Vow. Anyone who violates our agreement shall have his reputation torn to shreds!” Brother Sun said.

”Very well!” The others nodded in agreement.

Very soon, everyone made their vows, and the group began making their way in the direction where the treasure had appeared.

As powerful as the massive formation 1 cast over the island was, as top-notch geniuses, it didn't take long for the group to overcome it and make their way over the stone wall.

Circumventing the stone wall, they soon found themselves standing at the boundary of a land shrouded in mist.

There, they found that all of the remaining twenty or so candidates were gathered in the area as well.

”Shall we make an agreement? Let's first obtain the treasure before fighting it out amongst us?” Brother Sun swiftly raised his previous suggestion to the larger crowd.

”Very well!”

The crowd knew that a temporary teamwork with the others would boost their chances of acquiring the treasure, so they swiftly agreed to Brother Sun's idea.

…

”Regardless of which one is real and which one is fake, just kill the both of them to be safe!” Lying on the ground, Ji Lingfeng exclaimed anxiously.

”Indeed, elder. Please kill both of them for me…” Ji Lingzhen clasped his fist to the sword and requested.

Dealing with one Zhang Xuan had nearly cost him his life. Now that another had popped up, he wouldn't stand a chance at all without the help of the sword.

”Kill the both of them? Well, I guess that I can help you. However, don't you think that you should show some sincerity in exchange? For example, another sword of the same caliber of the Sword of Faint Warble…”

”This…” Ji Lingzhen's face twitched.

Finding an ordinary Saint intermediate-tier artifact in Qianchong Empire was no difficult feat, but those of the Sword of Faint Warble's caliber only numbered a few, and they were extremely difficult to find and obtain.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have put himself at risk and agree to help Ji Lingfeng over his sword.

”Elder, you also know that swords of that caliber are extremely hard to find. If you could just give me some time, I promise you that I'll find one for you. However, that young man over there must be killed as soon as possible, or else there'll be great trouble…” Ji Lingzhen hesitated for a brief moment before replying anxiously.

But before he could finish his words, the young man not too far away had already interjected with a voice filled with disdain, ”In the end, you are just unwilling to offer my sword to the elder!”

Following that, one of the Zhang Xuans stepped forward, and with deep indignation reflected in his eyes, he cried, ”Elder, do you know why the both of them are so determined to kill me? That's because they have stolen a top-notch Saint intermediate-tier sword which has been passed down through my clan over many generations from me! It's out of fear that I would alert the elders in my clan of the matter that he lured me here, intending to silence me!”

”You are saying that we stole your sword?”

”Who in the world stole your sword? You are the one who stole my spirit stones and the Annal of Bedstead Disquisition from me, you bastard!”

Not expecting those two Zhang Xuans to interject at this crucial moment, Ji Lingzhen and Ji Lingfeng were stunned for a moment before they lashed out furiously.

Can you get any more shameless than that?

When have we stolen your sword? Don't you dare hurl false accusations at us!

On the other hand, after hearing the words from the two Zhang Xuan, the sword on the stone platform shook its blade and sealed Ji Lingzhen and Ji Lingfeng's mouths with its sword qi. After which, it asked, ”Lad, you said that Ji Lingzhen stole your sword? What tier is it?”

”Elder, my sword is at Half-Grand Dominion realm. Even though it hasn't reached Saint high-tier yet, it isn't too far from that… An elder in my clan has bestowed it to me in case I encounter any danger in my journey, and he has reminded me time and time again not to lose it!” One of the Zhang Xuans replied anxiously.

”A Half-Grand Dominion realm sword?” The sword in the platform harrumphed coldly, and a burst of Sword Intent suddenly emanated from it, as if reflecting the overwhelming rage it was in.

”Elder, don't listen to his nonsense! I have never taken his sword! Besides, he's just an ordinary cultivator, so how could he possibly have such a powerful sword in his possession?” Ji Lingzhen desperately explained.

The spirits within weapons tended to be innocent and candid in nature.

For some reason, the personal sword of the Old Sword Maestro had an interest in collecting other high-tier swords. Thus, Ji Lingzhen brought the Sword of Faint Whisper and Sword of Faint Warble over, hoping to win the sword's goodwill through offering them.

He thought that after several centuries of companionship, they would already be considered as friends with one another. Yet, the sword actually chose to trust the words of that young man over his!

”Who are you saying is an ordinary cultivator? I am a genius of a Sage Clan, the Zhang Clan at that! Elder, if you don't believe my words, you can check my blood…” As he said those words, Zhang Xuan flicked a droplet of blood toward the sword lodged in the stone platform.

”Offspring of Sage Clans possess the strength of old Sages in their bloodline. Through using a unique method, it's possible to draw out the Sage Aura in it…” the sword on the stone platform mumbled as it shook its blade.

Wuuuuuuuu!

Numerous surges of sword qi landed on the droplet of blood, and a slight, divine aura rippled out from it.

”It's very thin, to the point that it's almost negligible, but without a doubt, you do possess the bloodline of a Sage Clan…” the sword said.

”This…” Ji Lingzhen body stiffened.

In the information which Ji Lingfeng had provided him, Zhang Xuan should have just been an insignificant figure from Qingyuan Empire. When in the world did he become an offspring of a Sage Clan, not to mention, the powerful Zhang Clan at that?