"That's not certain! I heard the disciples of the Myriad Dharma Gate were searching for the 'Golden Silk Silkworm' everywhere a few years back, but then suddenly news of it dried up. Who knows if they've found it already. If such a miraculous insect were assisting him, then that Grand Elder Wan might really be aiming for the Void Heaven Cauldron," Ancestor Ji Yin said, his brows tightly furrowed, while unconsciously glancing towards Wan Tianming and the others with a worried expression.
At that moment, the three Righteous Path cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage were sitting cross-legged on their pillars, seemingly paying no attention to their conversation.
"Hmph! It's not just Wan Tianming who might have a Golden Silk Silkworm. I hear you, Ji Yin, also obtained two variant fire pythons on the Li Fire Island. Your ambitions for coming here must be quite large too!" Barbarian Beard swept a glance at Ancestor Ji Yin, saying without any courtesy.
He seemed rather disdainful of Ancestor Ji Yin's secretive actions.
Hearing this, Ancestor Ji Yin's expression flickered several times in rapid succession. But then his face quickly returned to normal, though inside he was cursing profusely.
No need to ask—one of his trusted confidants must have leaked the news, and it had reached the other's ears.
Barbarian Beard coming to this Void Heaven Palace this time, perhaps picking the Longevity Fruit was just along the way; his real intention was likely to monitor his movements!
Despite feeling somewhat annoyed inside, after a brief moment of stiffness, Ancestor Ji Yin's face remained unchanged as he said calmly:
"Brother Barbarian, you flatter me. Wu did indeed bring two variant fire pythons this time. However, their cultivation is still shallow, and the hope of success is truly slim. I would still need Brother Barbarian and Brother Qing to lend a hand."
"Help you? What's in it for us?" The scholarly elder's heart stirred, but he asked with hesitation.
Ancestor Ji Yin's face showed a hint of a smile upon hearing this, and he immediately stopped speaking openly, transmitting his voice instead:
"According to the information left by the master of the Void Heaven Palace, inside the Void Heaven Cauldron, besides the most important 'Mending Heaven Pill', there are several top-tier ancient treasures left by ancient cultivators, their power absolutely not to be underestimated. Besides the Void Heaven Cauldron and one 'Mending Heaven Pill', how about we divide the rest equally among us?"
Greed flickered in the scholarly elder's eyes, but after a moment's thought, he glanced at Barbarian Beard and transmitted back:
"I have no problem with that, but it also depends on Brother Barbarian's wishes. After all, without Brother Barbarian to restrain Wan Tianming, I wouldn't take such a risk."
Ancestor Ji Yin showed no surprise upon hearing this. He knew this scholarly elder, known as "Resident Qing Yi," was truly an old fox. Without dragging Barbarian Beard into it, he would never agree to such a risky venture.
So Ancestor Ji Yin turned his face towards Barbarian Beard, smiling, and transmitted his conditions. Then he asked:
"I wonder, Brother Barbarian, what are your thoughts on my proposal? Would you be interested in cooperating? After all, the value of the Mending Heaven Pill goes without saying, Brother Barbarian should know it very well! Something that can complement a cultivator's five elemental spirit roots—I doubt there's any other place in the cultivation world besides here that has it. Perhaps after taking it, Brother Barbarian would easily make great progress in cultivation and break through the lifespan limit once more!"
Ancestor Ji Yin seemed completely unconcerned by the embarrassment the other had just caused him, continuing to persuade him by his ear.
"Hmph! With just two fire pythons, you think you can target the Void Heaven Cauldron? I think you're all delirious! Back then, who knows how many Nascent Soul cultivators entered the inner palace, but they all returned empty-handed. Do you really think you have a chance of success taking such an enormous risk? You must know the inner palace's danger is completely different from the outer palace. Even we cultivators who have formed a Nascent Soul, if we go in, there's no guarantee we'll come out whole. In the past openings of the Void Heaven Palace, Nascent Soul cultivators who perished in the inner palace weren't just one or two!" Barbarian Beard snorted coldly, using a mocking tone.
"That's not something Brother Barbarian needs to worry about. I just want to ask—if Wan Tianming and his group really aim for the Void Heaven Cauldron, wouldn't Brother Barbarian really want to go in and take a look?" Ancestor Ji Yin said calmly.
The sneer on Barbarian Beard's face gradually subsided after hearing Ancestor Ji Yin's question.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing through them, before saying slowly:
"If Wan Tianming is truly willing to risk such danger to enter the inner palace, you don't need to say it—I'll naturally follow along. After all, even if we from the Demonic Path can't obtain the Void Heaven Cauldron, we absolutely cannot let the Righteous Path possess it."
His words were spoken with absolute certainty.
"Heh heh, having Brother Barbarian's words is enough. As long as Brother Barbarian is willing to act when the time comes, my previous proposal will naturally include you, Brother Barbarian. Of course, if Madam Wen is also willing to lend a hand, Wu would be even more welcoming." Ancestor Ji Yin said with a light chuckle, glancing at the beautiful woman.
"I came this time to gather some spiritual herbs to take back. The inner palace is far too dangerous; I will not be going," the beautiful woman surnamed Wen rejected coldly before even listening to Ancestor Ji Yin's conditions.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Ancestor Ji Yin's face.
One had to remember that although this beautiful woman was only at the early stage of Nascent Soul, her husband, the "Sage of Six Paths," was the foremost demonic tyrant in the Demonic Path. Even Barbarian Beard considered himself inferior in front of him. Not being able to rope her in was naturally somewhat regrettable.
However, he certainly didn't dare force this woman to enter the inner palace either, so he could only smile slightly and let the matter drop.