The three no longer held back, even exchanging injury for injury. Combined with both of the python’s eyes being blinded, making its attacks difficult to land, its strength greatly diminished, giving them an opportunity.

After about fifteen minutes, accompanied by tremors through the earth, the red python’s massive body heavily thudded to the ground, completely lifeless.

The three had no time to investigate the python’s condition. Instead, they hurried over to where Wang Hao was. Using magical instruments to dig or their hands to scrape, they extracted Wang Hao from the wall.

“Brother Wang, wake up!” Chu He patted Wang Hao’s face vigorously.

Li Derong and Chen Qing examined Wang Hao’s wounds, bandaging them and applying ointment. Seeing that although he had many wounds, his heartbeat remained strong—indicating his life was not in danger—they finally relaxed.

Wang Hao only felt pain throughout his entire body. Had he not cultivated the Icy Muscle Jade Bone Art, he likely would have perished this time. With great difficulty, he opened his eyelids, asking, “Has… has the demonic beast been dealt with?”

“That vile creature is dead! Brother Wang, it’s truly wonderful that you’re alright!”

Seeing the burly Chu He with reddened eyes shedding tears, Wang Hao suddenly recalled that day when Chu He had stared intently at his collar. A shudder ran through him as he struggled free from Chu He’s embrace, saying, “I’m not seriously injured. I’ll recover after some rest. Everyone should go deeper into the cave to check, lest other dangers remain.”

“Well said, brother. You’re right. Junior Sister Chen and I will first scout our surroundings. Fairy Li, please stay and look after brother.” Taking up his magical instrument, he led Chen Qing, cautiously exploring deeper into the cave.

Li Derong took out a bottle of elixirs, her tone no longer as cool as before. “Thank you for saving me this time. This life-saving grace, I will surely repay in the future. These are healing pills, extremely effective for physical injuries. Please take them.”

Wang Hao didn’t stand on ceremony, taking two pills with a pained smile. “Fairy Li, please don’t mention it. Saving you was saving myself. Had something happened to you, we three would have eventually been killed by that beast anyway.”

Li Derong shook her head. “Without that push from me, Derong would have already perished in that beast’s jaws. You should talk less now; quickly refine those pills.”

Wang Hao nodded, ceasing his speech and beginning to circulate his energy to heal his injuries.

Li Derong was also quite injured. She took two pills herself, sitting beside Wang Hao to guard him while he meditated.

After roughly half an hour, Chu He and Chen Qing returned. Seeing Wang Hao was largely unharmed, they smiled. “Brother Wang, although perilous this time, our gains are also considerable. We discovered a nest of Tier 2 python eggs deep in the cave, plus many medicinal herbs. Adding these two demonic beast corpses, we can sell them for at least six thousand Spirit Stones.”

He then produced a piece of earthy-yellow stone. “Brother, weren’t you looking for earth-attribute spiritual materials? This is Wutu Essence Stone, a Tier 2 Low-Grade material. Since your treasure seal is shattered, using this material to forge a new one would be perfect.”

This essence stone was about twice the size of a watermelon. Used well, it could serve as the main material for crafting two spiritual artifacts. Given Tier 2 material prices, it could fetch at least five hundred Spirit Stones.

Wang Hao accepted the Wutu Essence Stone. His Sky-Overturning Seal had only shattered externally; the inside remained a small seal core, which Wang Hao didn’t fully understand. Having hastily stored it away earlier, he’d need to study it later.

So he said, “This essence stone is indeed useful for me. I’ll shamelessly accept it. When dividing Spirit Stones, deduct five hundred from my share then.”

“How can that be? This stone is compensation for you, brother.” Chu He looked at the other two. “Any objections, Junior Sister Chen, Fairy Li?”

Chen Qing shook her head. “Naturally not. Had Brother Wang not risked his life striking, we definitely wouldn’t have obtained so many treasures so easily.”

Li Derong also shook her head. “Please don’t refuse. If you won’t take it, we’ll feel even less entitled to the other treasures.”

Seeing their sincere expressions, unlike pretense, Wang Hao finally accepted. After all, incidents where killings erupted over uneven loot distribution existed. Injured as he was, he felt compelled to test the waters slightly.

This swamp teemed with demonic beasts. Although they had eliminated two high-grade pythons, they feared others might investigate the commotion. So after a brief rest, the four quickly departed the swamp area.

After resting for two days, the group prepared to proceed with retrieving the ruins site.

Chu He said he had encountered the place when he was still at the seventh layer of Qi Refining, but he was blocked by a formation and unable to enter. However, the formation was not overly strong; the four should be able to break it together.

Arriving at a small hillock located at the edge of the Duan Yuan Mountain Range, they found an area rich in spiritual energy, suggesting nearby at least one Tier 2 spirit vein.

“Right below. Using the Earth Escape Technique to descend, we can find it,” Chu He said, pointing at a patch of ground.

The four first observed their surroundings, detecting neither human nor demonic activity, and began descending underground.

After a dozen zhang, a faint green light barrier appeared before them.

“Here it is. Everyone attack!” Chu He excitedly declared, also drawing his magical instrument and striking the barrier fiercely.

Wang Hao and Li Derong exchanged a glance and also joined the assault. Chu He spoke the truth; the formation was not powerful and lacked offensive capabilities, passively enduring strikes.

They continuously attacked for half a day. Finally, the barrier was unable to withstand the assault and shattered completely. Losing support, they felt their feet give way, their bodies plummeting downward and thudding onto the ground.

Before he could react, another person landed atop him. Instinctively, he reached out to push, but feeling something amiss, he hurriedly withdrew his hand, his face flushed crimson. He hastily stood up.

They were currently observing the scene ahead and didn’t notice the interaction between the two others present.

It was a cavern. Judging by the surrounding wall marks, it was clearly a man-made excavation. Inwardly, Wang Hao thought this place likely held little danger, but probably also minimal gains; it was too easily discovered.

There was a skeleton, its clothing completely rotted. The person had been dead for at least several hundred years. On the skeleton’s waist bore a storage pouch.

Wang Hao carefully picked up the pouch and shook it a couple of times. Seeing no danger, he opened it and poured the contents out.

A pile of items appeared on the ground: roughly over four thousand Spirit Stones and three Tier 2 magical instruments, among which was a red alchemy furnace. Additionally, there were some jade bottles, jade slips, plus a formation disk.

He picked up a jade bottle, finding it contained certain pills, but the time had been too long. When he poured a pill out, it quickly turned to dust, lightly blown away and dispersed by the wind.

“Pity, these Tier 2 pills. A bottle is worth over three hundred Spirit Stones,” he lamented. “This senior was likely a Foundation Establishment cultivator. It appears he was severely wounded and fled here to recuperate but unfortunately passed away in this place.”

Wang Hao analyzed and nodded, pointing at the surrounding walls. “Look at the marks; they are not smooth. It was likely hastily excavated. We should first examine the jade slips; perhaps they contain messages left behind by this senior,” he softly suggested.