At the moment when Huang Zhongtian was in shock.

He saw Ruan Tang throw out several Spirit Stones, blocking all of Huang Zhongtian's retreat paths.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

A total of eight Self-Destruct Formations arranged with Ten-color Immortal Grade Spirit Stones, each containing a piece of Netherworld and Yunmeng Blue Sand.

Huang Zhongtian angrily cursed.

In the past, he even helped Xu Qingfeng several times, although it was for mutual benefit, but wasn't there any credit or hard work?

This damned thing always guarded against him.

Wasn't it just because he once tried to abduct Xu Yiyi? This Xu family really holds grudges!

But it wasn't to harm Xu Yiyi, it was to save her. As a Ferryman of the Netherworld, what malicious intentions could he have?

Huang Zhongtian took a deep breath and forced a smile, "Daoist Ruan, I'm not an enemy, I'm here to do business with you."

"I know."

"But this isn't the posture for discussing business."

"I know."

"So we can sit down and have a slow talk, it's not unreasonable to drink tea and talk when a guest comes from afar, right?"

Huang Zhongtian tried to make his expression look gentle, his intuition telling him that the woman in front of him would really detonate the formation.

So there must not be any words or actions that provoke Ruan Tang, otherwise, once the formation is triggered, even if he doesn't die, he'll be seriously injured.

Of course.

Most likely, he would die here.

After all, the Self-Destruct Formation is already very tricky, and it's sealed with countless strands of Qingfeng Sword Intent, even an Emperor Realm expert would have their scalp crawl.

"We'll drink tea after the transaction, the item." Ruan Tang extended her hand.

"Uh."

Huang Zhongtian suddenly understood why Ruan Tang used the Self-Destruct Formation to block his path, clearly for that Magical Treasure that could reach the end of the White Jade Stairway.

"Since I'm here, I naturally came in good faith, Daoist Ruan, please take back your Divine Skills first."

"The item."

Ruan Tang emphasized, her eyes unblinkingly staring at Huang Zhongtian, as if if she blinked the other party would disappear.

"Caw, caw, caw."

The three crows on the bow started squawking again, flapping their wings as if ready to rush at Ruan Tang, scaring Huang Zhongtian into almost using the Blood Escape Technique to flee.

Fortunately.

Ruan Tang did not trigger the Spirit Stone Formation.

Huang Zhongtian forced a smile, "Here, I'll give it right away."

Having said that, he lightly knocked on the heads of two of the three crows, and those two crows unexpectedly turned into two black handheld lanterns.

"Is it just this?" Ruan Tang was somewhat skeptical.

"Just this."

Huang Zhongtian said seriously, "This Magical Treasure comes from..."

Seemingly remembering some taboo, Huang Zhongtian quickly fell silent, only vaguely saying, "I cannot say exactly where it comes from."

"I don't care where it comes from, I just want to know how to use it."

"..."

Huang Zhongtian coughed, "As long as you hold the Suiya Lantern, you can reach the end of the White Jade Stairway, but there's one thing you must be reminded of."

"Daoist Huang, please speak."

Ruan Tang took the black lantern but did not withdraw the eight Immortal-grade Spirit Stone Self-Destruct Formation.

"The White Jade Stairway barely counts as the Immortal Path, though it's just a small segment, once you step on it, there's no turning back."

"What do you mean."

"The Immortal Path can only go forward, you either become immortal, or become nourishment for the Immortal Path."

"So I will die." Ruan Tang spoke.

Huang Zhongtian hesitated for a moment, then still nodded, "Yes."

"Then if I pluck the fruit, how do I send it down?" Ruan Tang asked.

Huang Zhongtian was taken aback.

I tell you the end of the Immortal Path is certain death, yet you ask me how to send the Immortal Fruit down?

Are you not afraid of death!

"Daoist Huang?" Ruan Tang frowned.

"Here, here."

Huang Zhongtian came back to his senses, saying, "Use the two lanterns, keep one with you and leave one by Xu Qingfeng's grave, just place the fruit inside. It has space law imprints inside, which can perform short-distance transport."

"Then what about this... crow?" Ruan Tang stared at the third crow.

"Caw, caw, caw."

The sound of the black crow was extremely harsh.

Huang Zhongtian straightened his back, looking proud, "They are all Suiya Crows, you can't find a fourth one even in The Other Shore or the Immortal Domain, they are all with me!"

Ruan Tang said nothing, silently staring, only the eight Immortal-grade Spirit Stone Self-Destruct Formations drew closer to Huang Zhongtian, emanating a dangerous aura.

"Hm?"

Huang Zhongtian vaguely felt something was wrong, "Daoist Ruan, what does this mean."

Ruan Tang sincerely said, "I need to place this Suiya Crow with me too, or I'm worried you'll take the Immortal Fruit."

"I won't..."

"I believe you, Daoist Huang."

"Then—"

Huang Zhongtian's expression slightly relaxed, just as he was about to say he would keep the Suiya Crow by his side, he heard Ruan Tang say decisively:

"No."

"..."

All right, you already gave two Suiya Crows, indeed keeping the third one isn't very useful.

Huang Zhongtian negotiated, "Daoist Ruan, let me make it clear first, the Suiya Crow is temporarily lent to you, it needs to be returned."

"I'm afraid only two of the three can be returned."

"So, I want to take away the No Righteous Sword. That sword, to me, is worth trading a Suiya Crow."

"Hm."

Ruan Tang nodded.

"Swish——"

The Netherworld and Yunmeng Blue Sand in the sky disappeared, even Huang Zhongtian was no longer visible, only the three lanterns in her hand proved that what just happened was not a dream.

"Junior Sister?"

Yu Guiwan, still sitting in front of Xu Qingfeng's grave, seemed to sense something, and asked in surprise, "Where did you get the lanterns?"

"A gift from someone else."

"Who gives black lanterns as gifts, so inconsiderate. Why aren't there candles lit inside, it looks creepy..."

"Senior Sister, Junior Sister begs you for one thing."

Ruan Tang knelt down, bowing deeply.

Yu Guiwan was startled, quickly helping Ruan Tang up, "Junior Sister, what are you doing, get up and speak."

"Senior Sister, that Immortal Fruit can save Xu Lai."

"Ruan Tang, I'm telling you, don't do anything foolish!" Yu Guiwan's expression was serious.

Immortal Path.

Immortal Fruit.

These four words are stained with the fresh blood of countless cultivators.

Ever since it appeared, including ten Emperors, how many Quasi-Emperors and Immortal Venerables have died?

Countless!

But even so, over six hundred steps of the White Jade Stairway remain, even Tian Gui Yuan Yin can only lurk in the dark, unable to pluck that fruit.

The Immortal Fruit seems to possess a magical power that confuses the mind, many cultivators with little lifespan left still risk everything to pick it knowing certain death.

Yu Guiwan absolutely will not allow Ruan Tang to seek death!

The Qingfeng Sword guarding the No Righteous Sword floated over, the Artifact Spirit unusually silent, merely hovering.

"Senior Sister, these two lanterns are very important to me, you must keep them safe."

Ruan Tang left one lantern, handing the remaining two to Yu Guiwan. Senior Sister tried to store them in her Storage Space, but found she couldn't.

"Are they living beings?"

Qingfeng Sword grew interested, discovering even the Emperor Artifact's space couldn't hold them.

"Caw, caw, caw."

The three lanterns transformed into Suiya Crows, their screeching akin to a Divine Sense attack, Yu Guiwan felt as if her eardrums would shatter.

"Swish!"

The Qingfeng Sword found the noise annoying, slashing a strand of Sword Intent towards the three Suiya Crows.

But they sustained no injuries, continuing to caw.

The Qingfeng Sword Spirit sneered, slashing out more than ten strands of Sword Intent, but upon contact with the Suiya Crows, all were nullified.