Chapter 1749 (Raw 1761):
"Brother Xiao, where did you go earlier?" asked Meng Zhuang, who had some friendship with Xiao Chen in the team and found his absence strange.
Xiao Chen's expression did not change as he replied, "What's wrong? I happened to discover an injured Flame Demon, so I went to give it the final blow."
Meng Zhuang said in understanding, "No wonder I could not find you. Senior Ma and Senior Liu already finalized the alliance. We will share the resources and treasure in the nearby area. They will go to whoever finds them first."
Xiao Chen smiled and said, "Isn't that good? There are clear rules and regulations."
Meng Zhuang smiled helplessly. "If only it really were so. Even people on the same team have conflicts with each other, what more two teams? At that time, the only thing one can rely on is not rules but one's own strength."
"So?" Xiao Chen roughly understood why Meng Zhuang sought him out.
Meng Zhuang smiled and said, "I've found a few people to go and explore together. Do you want to join us?"
Xiao Chen rejected him, saying, "Thanks. However, I'm more used to moving about alone."
"In that case, I won't impose on you."
In reality, when Xiao Chen explored earlier, he had gained a lot.
Due to the Azure Dragon bloodline, he was more sensitive to the auras in this underground dragon city than the other cultivators.
It was like he had come home.
Xiao Chen would always be able to reach the places with treasure first.
If he traveled with others, some of his secrets would be easily exposed. It would also be rather problematic to explain some things.
Hence, he could only reject Meng Zhuang's kind intentions.
Xiao Chen went to a quiet place and closed his eyes, letting his aura spread into the surroundings.
His aura seemed to merge with the aura blanketing the ancient dragon city.
When exploring the place, Xiao Chen was much more efficient and detailed than the other people, including Senior Ma.
Soon, he found the general location of some treasures. He opened his eyes and pushed off the ground. His body soared into the air.
In a short while, a courtyard appeared before Xiao Chen's eyes.
This courtyard was very grand and imposing. It probably was the courtyard of a large Dragon Race clan during the Ancient Era.
After Xiao Chen entered, he followed the pull of the aura to a pavilion at the back of the courtyard.
"Treasure Pavilion?"
Upon seeing the damaged words on the broken signboard, Xiao Chen revealed joy on his face.
The Azure Dragon bloodline definitely would have been divided into several large clans during its most glorious era.
Perhaps the courtyard Xiao Chen was in had been the courtyard of one of these large clans.
The Treasure Pavilion would be where the clan stored its accumulations.
Xiao Chen pushed open the doors, and all sorts of treasures and rare herbs gave off lights of various colors.
Surging, pure Spiritual Energy, together with the strong Dragon Might of the Dragon Race treasures, spread out. This immediately attracted the attention of several people.
Oh no!
As it had been too long, the formation that kept the aura from leaking out of the pavilion had already failed.
Xiao Chen could not care so much anymore. He swept his gaze across the place, looking for the treasures that were the most useful to him.
"Dragon Blood Pill!"
Xiao Chen quickly discovered a jade bottle with the words "Dragon Blood Pill" written under it.
After breaking the restrictions, he took a look and saw four scarlet pills inside. A medicinal fragrance wafted out, and he took a gentle sniff.
Xiao Chen immediately felt the blood in his body surge, and his bloodline responded with a rush of energy filling his entire body.
"So, they're Medicinal Pills for bringing out the bloodline power. This is good stuff!"
Xiao Chen put the bottle away and continued looking around at the fastest speed possible.
"Dragon Subduing Wood, Ice Crystal Jade, Ink Gold Stone…this is Dragon Bone Wine!"
When Xiao Chen discovered this bottle of wine, his sharp eyes immediately lit up.
Although he did not know the effects of this wine, he rushed over and worked on breaking the Dragon Bone Wine's restriction first. This was because he loved wine.
If not for the things in this place all having restrictions, Xiao Chen would not bother with all this.
He would have directly swept everything into his storage ring, taking it all away.
Xiao Chen did not have time to think much. After getting the treasures that were useful to him, he continued breaking restrictions and taking the treasures of higher value.
Xiao Chen moved quickly and orderly, utterly unflustered.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Three figures arrived in flashes. These were the first batch of cultivators who felt the aura of the treasures.
However, at this point, Xiao Chen had already taken away the treasures useful to him and the more precious ones. While what remained still had high value, they could not compare to his haul.
"How could it be like this? The aura of the treasures has more than halved."
"All the good things are gone."
What the three felt when standing here was far from comparable to the surging, pure Spiritual Energy at the beginning.
The three could not help looking at Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen looked back at them. The three were not from his team, so he just walked away without any expression.
"You! Stop right there!" the blue-clad man in the middle shouted, holding up his sword and eyeing Xiao Chen coldly.
Xiao Chen just ignored this person and continued walking forward.
Rage immediately appeared on the blue-clad man's face. He thrust his sword at Xiao Chen.
"Whoosh!"
Xiao Chen's saber light arrived first despite being launched later. After the Tyrant Saber left its scabbard, it knocked the blue-clad man into the air before the blue-clad man's sword light could fully materialize.
"Brother Jiang!"
The blue-clad person's companions were shocked. They quickly retreated to help the blue-clad man up and checked on his injuries.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Just at this moment, Senior Liu and Senior Ma led their team's elites to this place.
They had felt the surging, pure Spiritual Energy as well. However, as they were farther, they took longer to arrive.
Upon seeing that his team member was injured, Senior Liu quickly went over and asked, "What's going on?"
"Senior Liu, he used the Dao Tool in his hand to force us away from the Treasure Pavilion. Then, he took away all the valuable treasures inside. It was clearly the three of us who arrived first."
The blue-clad man looked at Xiao Chen and started making accusations.
"He even sneak-attacked Brother Jiang with complete disregard for morality."
After all, there were no witnesses, so the three felt free to make even more ridiculous claims, upbraiding Xiao Chen for being a shameless person who sneak-attacked others for the sake of treasures.
Senior Ma frowned slightly and asked, "Xiao Chen, what's going on?"
Xiao Chen replied indifferently, "I was the one who found this place first."
Senior Ma secretly sent a voice projection. Xiao Chen, it does not matter who found it first. More importantly, they said that you took away the valuable treasures. Is that true?
This question stunned Xiao Chen momentarily, but he quickly understood what Senior Ma meant. Senior Ma wanted a slice of the pie, to obtain some benefits.
Crafty old thing.
Xiao Chen replied coldly, If Senior Ma thinks that it is true, then it is true.
"Senior Ma, you have to give an account for this matter!"
With a sullen expression, Senior Liu led the people of his team over to Xiao Chen.
Senior Ma felt upset in his heart. Despite him hinting to Xiao Chen, the other party seemed not to care at all.
At this moment, when Senior Liu went forward to question Xiao Chen, Senior Ma countered indifferently, "What account is there to settle? Have you already forgotten who saved you? Furthermore, it is just their words; there is no proof. If I take Xiao Chen's word for it, what is there to settle accounts for?"
While Senior Ma felt upset, he still had to maintain the appearance of protecting his team, so he needed to step forward and stand up for Xiao Chen.
These words immediately turned the atmosphere somewhat tense.
Senior Liu himself knew that these were just words and that there was no proof, which rendered his stance rather untenable. Furthermore, he had been saved by the other party earlier.
Hence, Senior Liu was caught between a rock and a hard place, not knowing how to deal with this.
Leng Feng tried to mediate. "Since we already came to an agreement on cooperation, how about we each take a step back? We won't take the remaining treasures in this Treasure Pavilion."
Given a way out, Senior Liu nodded and said, "That would be good."
When Senior Liu and his people entered the Treasure Pavilion, Senior Ma, Leng Feng, and the others all looked at Xiao Chen.
Their meaning was clear: We helped you deal with this trouble. You should take out some treasures to thank us.
Xiao Chen feigned ignorance. He just nodded casually and went off.
"This fellow is really not tactful," someone said coldly as he watched Xiao Chen leave.
Leng Feng shook his head and said, "Never mind. According to the rules, he indeed is not under any obligation to hand over the treasures."
Senior Ma snorted coldly and flung his sleeves out as he left sullenly.
How could Xiao Chen not understand what these people wanted? With the limited treasure, if he gave everyone one item, he would end up with nothing.
Even if Xiao Chen really managed to clear out the entire Treasure Pavilion, he would not share any of it with these people.
Firstly, Xiao Chen had not needed Senior Ma and the others' help. He could have dealt with the matter himself.
Secondly, Senior Ma's attitude was actually somewhat displeasing.
Back then, Senior Ma had cheated Xiao Chen of one million Medial Grade Spirit Stones over the matter of the pureblood dragon bones. At that time, Xiao Chen had seen through this person's nature.
Xiao Chen would not let Senior Ma cheat him once more.