Shu Han watched as the trio whispered among themselves, unfazed by whatever stratagem they might be plotting. The current stalemate of their battle had been deliberately engineered by Shu Han himself. He sought to gauge his proficiency with the Triple Rotation Avatar Technique and to test his own combat prowess. Indeed, since his life-or-death duel with Master Mystical Dragon, he had not truly sparred with any other cultivators. If he had desired to swiftly end their lives, he could have summoned the Purple Thunder Pearl and the Four Phases Array Plate, against which their abilities would have been utterly ineffectual.

At this moment, Chen Yuehua seemed to have made her decision and stepped forward.

Shu Han had initially thought that they intended to shift their formation. However, he then heard Chen Yuehua loudly declare, "Fellow Daoist, if we continue this battle, it will only end in mutual defeat. We bear no life-or-death grudges against each other. Why not transform hostility into amity?”

Shu Han, perplexed, countered, "Mutual defeat? It appears you three haven't grasped the state of this battle. You are but trapped turtles in a jar. You have already exerted your utmost, whereas I have not even begun to exert myself! Spare me your nonsense. If you have any techniques, feel free to unleash them, and don't say I didn't give you a chance.”

Chen Yuehua bit her lip, knowing that Shu Han's words were far from baseless. "What if I said I would give you the Clear Bright Spiritual Eye technique and its formula free of charge? Didn't you intervene in Cui Xiangming's attempt to save me just for this technique and its formula?”

"You're right. However, I dare not touch what you have given me. It is safer to take it from your corpse!”

At his words, both Qiu Changchun and Qiao Xiangrong were incensed, ready to fight to the death. Yet Chen Yuehua stopped them.

"The Daoist friend is jesting. This formula is the lifeblood of me. How could it possibly be in written form? Unless you can extract it from my memory, which, given your cultivation level, is surely impossible. Why not be straightforward? I won't resort to deceit, and you shouldn't harbor murderous intent. Cooperation benefits both, while struggle harms both.”

Shu Han pondered, seemingly in deep thought.

Chen Yuehua internally chuckled, thinking men were always easy to appease. She could hand him a redacted formula and he wouldn't notice any discrepancies on the spot.

However, Shu Han's next words sent a chill down her spine.

"If anyone else had said that, I might have agreed. But a formula obtained from you? I would never trust it! However, if you are willing to give me those three magic tools you have and accompany me to verify the formula, I might consider sparing your lives.”

"What! You're pushing too far!”

"Yuehua, why waste words on him? Let's fight to the end!”

However, Chen Yuehua's eyes revealed her inner struggle. She turned to the two men behind her and barked, "Enough! Shut up!”

Seeing Chen Yuehua enraged, the two men remained silent.

Chen Yuehua stepped forward, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"Can you make one more concession, Daoist friend?" Chen Yuehua implored. "I am willing to surrender myself to your disposal. However, you absolutely cannot take my brothers' magic tools. We siblings have made numerous enemies in the cultivation world. Without these superior magic tools, their lives hang by a thread. I beg for your magnanimity!”

Is this venomous woman truly willing to sacrifice herself for her brothers?

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

A glint of admiration flashed in Shu Han's eyes. However, this glimmer was subtly caught by Chen Yuehua, who had been looking down.

There's hope!

"The affection between you siblings is indeed praiseworthy," Shu Han conceded.

Chen Yuehua smiled bitterly, "When I was just a farm girl and entered a declining sect to cultivate, my two brothers took care of me. However, our master was a true devil, who took advantage of my youth and beauty, violating me night after night, to the point where I wished for death. Thankfully, my brothers pitied me, secretly eliminating that beast, giving me the courage to continue living. If today, my life can ensure their safe departure, I will be forever grateful! I will be your servant and hold no resentment.”

"Yuehua! You…”

Chen Yuehua waved her hand to silence them. Tear-filled eyes pleadingly gazed at Shu Han, the very image of vulnerability.

Shu Han found himself moved by her heartfelt words, a struggle in his gaze. Eventually, he sighed, "Since Miss Yuehua has shared her story, allow me to share mine."

"As I journeyed to Great Cloud, I passed through a desolate desert. I was running out of magic power and water, ready to die in the sand, but fortunately, a young girl saved me. I was so grateful! After spending some time together, I learned she lived alone on the edge of the Great Cloud, gathering herbs, and often washing her face with tears. I later found out she had a talented brother who had gone to a gathering in Green Mountain Town and never returned. I heard that her brother was coveted for his treasures and murdered for them. The girl knew I was a powerful cultivator, so she begged me to find the murderer."

At this point, Chen Yuehua trembled.

"After coming to this vicinity of Green Mountain Town and making several inquiries, I found an eyewitness. The description of the murderer from the witness bears a striking resemblance to your two brothers! Presumably, they brutally killed the victim after stalking him?"

Shu Han challenged, "While I admire the love between you siblings and am inclined to let you go, how can I face that girl who saved my life?”

Chen Yuehua, panicked, blurted out, "Where is this girl? I am willing to use all my wealth to compensate her! I just beg you to spare me and my brothers!"

"Hahaha!" Shu Han burst into laughter, "I was kidding, none of this is true! I made it up!”

Chen Yuehua's face fell immediately.

"What do you mean by this, Daoist friend?"

Shu Han put away his smile and said seriously, "My point is, every word said here is just one side of the story. There is no truth or falsehood! You can tell a story to appeal to my compassion, and I can fabricate a plot to justify my actions! But the only truth here is that I hold your lives in my hand! In this world, the victor is justice! Either give me the three magic tools and you in exchange for their lives! Or you all can die!"

Qiu Changchun was the first to lose patience, "I told you not to waste words with this guy! Let's fight him! At worst, the three of us siblings will die together!"

Qiao Xiangrong agreed, "Yes, what goes around comes around!"

Chen Yuehua also gave up resistance. She realized that although the young man in front of her seemed immature, his mindset was mature and her words couldn't sway him.

"Kill!"

Shu Han watched as the three charged at him, shaking his head in resignation.

..........

The woods on the east side of the Green Stone gathering place was bathed in the glow of spiritual light for a while before it permanently extinguished.

Shu Han's two avatars returned to him, and he felt depleted of his magic power.

Looking at the bodies of the three, Shu Han couldn't help but sigh, "These three were really tough, it took almost all my magic power to take them down." He quickly took out a mid-level spirit stone and absorbed the spiritual energy to replenish his magic power, rummaging through their bodies for storage bags.

The Green Dragon Spear and the Thunderbolt Giant Axe were now his, allowing his avatars to wield them. With the offensive and defensive capabilities of his main body and the two avatars, his combat power would significantly increase.

However, when he reached for Chen Yuehua's body, he discovered something strange. Chen Yuehua's storage bag was still in its recognition state!

How could this be possible?

Shu Han checked Chen Yuehua's body several times, quite sure she was dead.

Strange!

..........

In a small village graveyard near Green Mountain Town, a group was preparing to burn paper offerings when suddenly intricate array patterns lit up the gravesite. The weed-filled gravesite burst open, revealing the coffin that had been hidden beneath the patterns. The coffin was brand new and had not rotted. The people who gathered around watched the blood-red coffin, trembling with fear. Suddenly, the coffin moved.

"The corpse is coming back to life!"

The villagers scattered in fright, wetting themselves in terror.

However, the coffin lid was pushed open from the inside by a fair hand. A stunningly beautiful woman in a single garment crawled out of the coffin, her eyes full of confusion. After a moment of disorientation, her face filled with sorrow. Tears welled up in her eyes as she clutched the coffin tightly.

"You bastard... I'll remember you... I'll make you pay!"