Chapter 80: Division of the Spoils

Under Nie Han’s domineering and indifferent gaze, the survivors at the entrance to the mine involuntarily lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes. The two imposing figures had the mutated Bat King, several times stronger than themselves, pinned beneath their feet—a display of power and presence few could hope to match.

More eyes, however, were secretly sizing up Xu Xuan, the only body-refining mortal to enter the secret realm. This unremarkable mortal, at the critical moment, had shown such courage and resolve, daring to risk his life in battle against the mutated Bat King, that even someone as cold and proud as Nie Han held him in high esteem. Even more incredible was that Xu Xuan had been the one to deliver the near-fatal blow to the Bat King.

“How could someone like him possibly have such strength? Was it just luck?” Wan Fushan’s heart grew heavier, his gaze flickering as he suddenly recalled the startling cry before he lost consciousness fighting the bat swarm. His wounded, corpulent body shuddered. Now, as he looked at Xu Xuan, a deep sense of wariness—and for the first time, a trace of fear—took hold. Since entering the Immortal Sect and forming a grudge, Wan Fushan had never imagined that this mediocre, body-refining mortal would one day make him feel such dread.

At that moment, several figures hurried from outside the cave to the mine entrance. It was Senior Brother Yun and the others, all bearing wounds. When they saw the two figures standing atop the Bat King, a strange tremor passed through them. As true disciples with cultivation above the fourth level of Qi Refining, they knew well the Bat King's formidable strength after a bitter struggle. Even heavily wounded, the Bat King was by no means a foe that ordinary cultivators could handle.

As shock and silence prevailed, the dying Bat King suddenly let out a chilling shriek, beating its wings furiously. Its red, candle-like eyes were filled with an intense, searing hatred, as if it meant to launch a final, desperate counterattack. But just as it stirred—

Bang!

The Bat King’s head, as large as a watermelon, exploded, and it died instantly. The manner of death sent a chill through everyone present, and all eyes turned to Xu Xuan. None were more terrified than Wan Fushan, a cold dread seeping into his bones. Was he truly just a body-refining mortal? Even the most formidable martial cultivators could do no better.

Nie Han’s face also showed a rare hint of astonishment. The Bat King’s death reminded him of how the Blood Spirit Bandit leader, Old Cao, had died—so very similar. Yet, the one credited with slaying Old Cao had supposedly been Le Feng. His gaze suddenly shifted, sharp as a blade, to Le Feng’s face.

At that moment, Le Feng seemed to realize the connection as well. Meeting Nie Han’s stare, his heart skipped a beat. Wan Fushan and Yang Xiaoqian, who had also participated in the previous raid, noticed these oddities too. Yang Xiaoqian’s clear eyes flashed as she stole a glance at Le Feng, noticing his guilty expression and the cold sweat beading on his brow.

“Did the two of you kill the mutated Bat King?” Senior Brother Yun strode forward, his heart also skipping a beat at the sight of the Bat King’s shattered head.

“Senior Brother, the Bat King was already gravely wounded and at the end of its strength. Brother Nie and I worked together and managed to slay it by sheer luck,” Xu Xuan replied respectfully.

“The two of you together?” Senior Brother Yun glanced at Xu Xuan, a sharp glint in his eyes, then fixed his gaze on Nie Han. “So, you’re Nie Han of the Sword Sect? It seems you do have some true ability. When the Bat King charged back into the cave, it still had nearly half its strength left—no group of low-rank cultivators could have bested it.”

“Whether I have true ability or not is not for you to judge,” Nie Han replied coldly, his tone as overbearing as ever, showing no courtesy to the leading disciple of the Windfeather Immortal Gate.

“If your sect’s Yu Mo were here, perhaps he’d have the right to say that. But as a mere lower-rank cultivator, you’re beneath my notice,” Yun Yuanhang retorted, his brow furrowing with obvious displeasure. As he spoke, a powerful spiritual pressure, nearing the seventh level of Qi Refining, surged forth like a tidal wave.

Nie Han’s eyes flashed with a cold light; he did not yield. An intangible sword intent swept through the air like a chilling blade, and the surrounding temperature plummeted.

Sword intent!

Yun Yuanhang was stunned, truly shaken, his face filled with disbelief. To comprehend sword intent—even many cultivators at the Spirit Refining stage could not achieve such a feat. For Nie Han, at this mere stage of Qi Refining, to have grasped sword intent was almost unheard of. As far as Yun Yuanhang knew, throughout the entire Starfall Sword Sect, only the Spark Sword King had ever comprehended his own sword intent—no wonder the Windfeather Immortal Gate’s master and elders were so wary of him.

He understood all too well how terrifying a swordsman with unique sword intent could be.

“Let me tell you,” Nie Han said, slowly withdrawing his sword intent and indicating Xu Xuan beside him, his eyes showing a rare hint of admiration, “it was not I who slew the Bat King, but this Junior Brother Xu.”

“Junior Brother Xu?” Yun Yuanhang was taken aback, incredulous, but Nie Han’s proud and aloof nature was not one to stoop to lies. He quickly glanced at Le Feng and the others for confirmation.

“Reporting to Senior Brother Yun, it was indeed Junior Brother Xu who dealt the final blow to the Bat King and made the greatest contribution in the cave,” Le Feng replied promptly.

“Well done! When dividing the profits from these crystal mines, you will be given priority!” Yun Yuanhang’s eyes lit up with pleasure as he clapped Xu Xuan on the shoulder. He had thought the Bat King was slain by Nie Han; learning it was his own sect’s disciple, he was naturally delighted.

Nie Han moved aside, picked up his magic sword from the ground, and, before leaving, looked back at Xu Xuan with a faint smile. “Come visit the Starfall Sword Sect if you have the chance. If you ever encounter trouble, I will do all I can to help.”

Xu Xuan simply nodded, holding a measure of respect for this Sword Sect prodigy.

With that, Nie Han turned and walked away, ignoring the other Windfeather disciples, a trace of disdain in his eyes. The Windfeather disciples tended to their wounds, while those still able fought off the remaining bats at the mine’s mouth. Senior Brother Yun Yuanhang began to allocate the profits from the Violet Rock Crystal Mine.

There was an abundance of ordinary violet rock ore—the more one dug, the more one could keep for oneself. But the value of violet rock crystal was dozens of times higher; even a fist-sized piece was worth nearly a thousand low-grade spirit stones, equivalent to a hundred thousand spirit coins. As the chief contributor in slaying the Bat King, Xu Xuan was allotted four chunks of violet rock crystal, second only to Yun Yuanhang and even surpassing Le Feng. The rest of the ordinary disciples received one or two pieces each—Wan Fushan, Yang Xiaoqian, and the rest each got one, which was still enough to make them exceedingly happy.

The mutated Bat King’s cub was also given to Xu Xuan without objection. Lacking a storage pouch, Xu Xuan handed his crystals to Junior Sister Yu Qin for safekeeping. He mused to himself: if these few violet rock crystals were so valuable, then the violet crystal pearl he’d obtained—the mother of all crystals—must be worth even more…

He could scarcely estimate its value, likely dozens of times that of ordinary violet rock crystal. The thought filled him with excitement. This trip to the secret realm had truly been one of both peril and opportunity.

“Senior Brother Xu,” Yu Qin called softly, her bright eyes swollen and her voice heavy with worry. She dared not look him in the eye.

“What’s wrong, Junior Sister Yu?” Xu Xuan asked in confusion.

“I couldn’t help you during the fight earlier. I was too afraid—I didn’t even dare go near…” Yu Qin’s eyes brimmed with tears, her small face full of guilt and unease, her slender shoulders trembling.

The only ones who had truly fought the Bat King were Xu Xuan and Nie Han; the others had been shielded by Le Feng and retreated. Xu Xuan couldn’t help but laugh at her words, shaking his head in reassurance. “Don’t think like that. Most people wouldn’t dare step forward, let alone a gentle girl like you. If you’d rushed in recklessly, you might have lost your life.”

Given the Bat King’s power, cultivators at the first or second stage of Qi Refining would have been instantly slaughtered. Even Senior Brother Lin, at the third stage, had died amidst the chaos. The three of them had formed a group; Xu Xuan had chosen to save Yu Qin, leaving the nearby Senior Brother Lin to his fate.

“I’ll give you both of my pieces of violet rock crystal,” Yu Qin said, still uneasy and timid, wanting to hand her share over to Xu Xuan.