With hope in sight, the group attacked with ever greater ferocity, all of them eager to dispose of these two pestilent statues as quickly as possible so they could explore the Golden Crow Divine Palace.
As time passed, the two Golden Crow statues grew increasingly feeble. Even the Golden Crow True Fire they spewed from their mouths came in sporadic bursts, as though it was nearly depleted.
The crowd was overjoyed at the sight. Though the Golden Crow statues had been masterfully forged, they weren't actually all that fearsome — what made them dangerous was the Golden Crow True Fire. Now that the True Fire was almost gone, what was there left to fear?
Just as the many Open Heaven Realm cultivators prepared to finish off the Golden Crow statues in one decisive push, a dark shadow suddenly descended from above, blanketing them from overhead. The shadow looked like an enormously enlarged sleeve, blotting out sun and sky, its imposing presence overwhelming.
"Universe in a Sleeve!" Wei Que, who had been watching from the sidelines, cried out in alarm, instantly recognizing the origin of this divine ability.
The enlarged sleeve swept inward with a surge of tremendous force, scattering the crowd of Open Heaven Realm cultivators before drawing both Golden Crow statues inside it.
A figure flickered, and a wizened old man appeared out of thin air in midair. His wide sleeves billowed around him — portly, with a broad, ruddy face, he was currently chuckling as he peered at the sleeve on his right arm. Inside, two small Golden Crow statues could faintly be seen rushing about frantically, yet unable to break free.
Needless to say, this old man was the one who had just used his divine ability to snatch the Golden Crow statues.
The group of Open Heaven Realm cultivators froze for a moment, then flew into a rage, all glaring at the old man.
They had been fighting tooth and nail for ages, barely managing to bring the Golden Crow statues to the brink of destruction, only to have someone else swoop in and steal their prize at the final moment. Who could tolerate such a thing? After all, the Golden Crow statues were fine treasures in their own right.
But when they caught a clear look at the old man's face, their brows furrowed. Though their expressions remained indignant, none dared voice their anger — clearly, they were wary of the old man's identity and strength.
Tao Rongfang murmured, "The people from Tian Ya have come, as expected."
Wei Que's expression turned grave. "Only Elder Hong has shown up. I don't know whether the other two have come as well. If all three are here, that could be troublesome."
As they were speaking, another change occurred. In the very moment Elder Hong was preening with triumph, a golden thread suddenly shot through the void — silent and without warning — piercing straight into his sleeve. When the thread retracted, one of the Golden Crow statues that had been collected inside was yanked out along with it.
Elder Hong's face went cold, and he bellowed, "What cowardly rat dares to snatch food from this old man's hand!"
As he spoke, his fat hand reached toward the Golden Crow statue.
From within the void came a light, melodious laugh — bright as silver bells, so pleasant it made every pore in one's body open with pleasure. Along with the laughter, a graceful figure revealed herself, her slender jade palm pressing toward Elder Hong.
BOOM. A blast of violent force erupted. Elder Hong trembled slightly and stumbled back several steps. The graceful figure used the rebound to instantly widen the distance between them, turning to face him sideways with a smile. "Why so angry, Elder Hong?"
The entire exchange had happened so fast that only now did the crowd get a clear look at who had intervened.
She was an utterly mature woman, her features brimming with allure, a pair of clear luminous eyes that seemed capable of brimming with tears. Her entire being radiated boundless charm, as though it could devour every gaze in the world.
Elder Hong's face had been flush with fury, but the moment he laid eyes on the woman, every ounce of anger evaporated in an instant. He forced a smile. "So it's Madame Lan of the First Inn. My apologies for not recognizing you." His heart was seething. Had anyone else dared snatch something from his grasp, he absolutely would not have let it slide. But this woman was from the First Inn — with Tian Ya's strength, there was simply no way to pick a fight with them. He knew the Golden Crow statue that had been taken from him was as good as gone. Still, she had left him the other one, which was at least a concession to his face.
The proprietress smiled sweetly. "Elder Hong, this thing looks like fun. How about giving me one?"
It's already been taken — what, am I supposed to ask for it back? Elder Hong grumbled inwardly, but outwardly laughed. "If Madame Lan finds it to her liking, that is this old man's honor. If the lady wants it, this one can go to you as well." He gave his sleeve a shake, putting on a generous air.
The proprietress tucked a strand of hair behind her ear in a gesture of effortless feminine grace, then shook her head with a smile. "That won't be necessary. I'll just take this one back to study. Consider it a favor from Elder Hong. In the future, if the elder needs any intelligence gathered, just come to the First Inn — I'll provide it free of charge."
Elder Hong smiled at her words. "The lady is too kind. In that case, I'll graciously accept!"
One piece of intelligence for one Golden Crow statue — whether this was a good deal or a bad one, no one could say for certain.
"Is the lady also here to explore the Golden Crow Divine Palace?" Elder Hong glanced toward the ancient, unadorned palace and asked.
The proprietress replied, "Something so major happened here, of course I had to come see for myself. Isn't that true for you as well, Elder Hong?"
Elder Hong's brow twitched. "In that case, why don't the lady and I team up? We can look out for each other." He really had no way to push back against her. Fortunately, the First Inn had a reputation for honest dealings. If he could ally with this Madame Lan, and they found something worthwhile inside, he would certainly get a share — better than going home empty-handed.
The proprietress toyed with a strand of hair at her chest, laughing softly. "Team up... I'd rather not. I'm more accustomed to traveling alone. If Elder Hong wants a partner, why not ask some of these other gentlemen and see if they're willing?" As she spoke, she cast a few deliberate glances toward the side.
"They?" Elder Hong frowned, then caught on. His wide sleeve swept outward as he snorted coldly, "All of you — come out!"
A wave of violent force swept through the void, and several hidden figures were revealed.
There were only three.