Ye Qiu’s guess was correct. He soon rushed out of the cave and saw Master Longbrow and Fairy Baihua, as well as the Dragon Vein.
Before them was a stone bridge.
The bridge, about three zhang wide and a hundred metres long, was made of bluestone, spanning a bottomless abyss.
The white wolf, accompanied by a few grey wolves, stood on the bridge.
At the other end of the bridge was a mountain peak, where the Dragon Vein coiled, its head raised high.
“Awoo—”
The white wolf let out a deafening roar, its crimson eyes fixed on the Dragon Vein, its greed unmasked.
“Ang—”
The Dragon Vein responded with a dragon’s cry, filled with deep mockery, as if saying to the white wolf, “You, a mere beast, think you can claim me? Dream on!”
Enraged, the white wolf moved forward, its limbs in motion.
The grey wolves followed closely behind.
In the blink of an eye, the white wolf reached the middle of the bridge, just forty or fifty metres from the Dragon Vein.
Fairy Baihua grew anxious. The white wolf was formidable, and she feared it might seize the Dragon Vein first.
She stepped forward, ready to charge, but Ye Qiu grabbed her wrist.
“What are you doing?” Fairy Baihua asked, displeasure in her eyes.
“With your current cultivation, even if you rush up, you can’t defeat that white wolf,” Ye Qiu said.
“I don’t need your concern. I have my own ways,” Fairy Baihua snapped. “Let go of me.”
Ye Qiu held her wrist firmly and said, “Listen to me. It’s not that simple.”
“What do you mean?” Fairy Baihua asked, puzzled.
Ye Qiu said, “Though the Dragon Vein isn’t a true living being, it’s more terrifying than one. Don’t you think it knows the white wolf and we are after it?”
“Then why is it coiled in front of the peak, not fleeing?”
“And the old man wants the Dragon Vein too. Why is he standing here, unmoving?”
Master Longbrow glared at Ye Qiu. “Little rascal, why drag me into this for no reason?”
Fairy Baihua sensed something and asked, “You think there’s danger?”
Ye Qiu said, “Not just me. The old man definitely thinks so too, right?”
Master Longbrow shot Ye Qiu another glare, then said, “Rare treasures always have guardians.”
“This Dragon Vein in Kunlun Mountain is too powerful. I believe something must be protecting it.”
“Until the guardian of the Dragon Vein reveals itself, it’s unwise to act rashly, or we’ll fall into danger.”
Fairy Baihua said, “Why didn’t you say this earlier?”
Master Longbrow chuckled, “You didn’t ask me earlier, Fairy!”
“Hmph,” Fairy Baihua snorted coldly.
Master Longbrow continued, “Speaking of which, we’re lucky this time. We have a strong beast paving the way for us. Why not observe for a moment?”
Fairy Baihua said, “Aren’t you afraid the beast will get the Dragon Vein?”
“Not at all,” Master Longbrow laughed. “The white wolf’s strength is no match for the Dragon Vein, so it can’t possibly claim it.”
“Still, for a wolf to have such cultivation is impressive. Even if it somehow manages to seize the Dragon Vein, it can’t take it away.”
“With so many of us, can’t we snatch the Dragon Vein from a beast?”
Fairy Baihua understood completely.
Master Longbrow was using the white wolf as a sacrificial pawn. If the wolf encountered danger, they could plan accordingly. If it got the Dragon Vein, they could steal it.
“You’re really cunning,” Fairy Baihua said with disdain.
Master Longbrow laughed, “When it comes to cunning, I can’t compare to Ox-nose. He’s the true schemer.”
Priest Chongxu raised an eyebrow. “You greedy dog, who are you insulting?”
“Little rascal, you don’t know, but last time Ox-nose sparred with me, he couldn’t win, so he went for my…” Master Longbrow paused, realising women were present, and changed his words. “Ox-nose used dirty tricks, you get it.”
“You dare talk about me? You’re no better. If you hadn’t pulled my hair, would I have…” Priest Chongxu stopped mid-sentence, noticing a brilliant white light suddenly appear in front of the Dragon Vein.
The white light extended, not attacking the white wolf but enveloping the last ten metres of the bridge.
In an instant, the light formed a protective wall, shielding the Dragon Vein.
“What is that?” Xiao Zhan asked in shock.
No one answered. Everyone stared at the white light, wondering what it was.
Ye Qiu quietly activated his Heavenly Eye, focusing on the light. The next second, his eyes stung painfully, nearly bleeding.
He quickly averted his gaze.
Ye Qiu said gravely, “That white light is not simple.”
“Little rascal, what did you find?” Master Longbrow asked.
Ye Qiu shook his head. “Nothing, but my instincts tell me that white light is not simple.”
Awoo—
At that moment, the white wolf, advancing on the bridge, stopped and roared angrily at the light.
“Ang!”
The Dragon Vein let out a loud cry, its eyes mocking the white wolf, as if saying, “Come and get me if you dare!”
“Awoo…”
The white wolf kept roaring but didn’t advance rashly, appearing restless and uneasy.
After a moment, the white wolf turned, glanced at the grey wolves behind it, and let out a low growl, as if issuing a command.
Then, it stepped aside, and the grey wolves moved forward.
Clearly, the grey wolves were ordered to scout the path.
Soon, one grey wolf entered the white light.
“Eh, it wasn’t attacked?”
Master Longbrow, seeing the wolf walk on the bridge within the light, was surprised and said, “If the light has no destructive power, what’s the point of it appearing?”
However, at that moment, the grey wolf’s body suddenly vanished without a trace.
“Where did that wolf go?”
The group was puzzled.
The remaining grey wolves also entered the light. Seeing their companion disappear inexplicably, they stopped, fear in their cold eyes.
But within five seconds, the remaining grey wolves vanished too.
Awoo—
The white wolf roared in fury, charging into the white light with a powerful leap.
It moved unimpeded.
Just as it seemed the white wolf would cross the bridge, its body suddenly froze.
“Awoo!”
The white wolf roared at the Dragon Vein, struggling fiercely, as if bound by invisible ropes.
Despite its efforts, it couldn’t break free.
About three minutes passed.
Before everyone’s eyes, the white wolf’s massive body turned to dust in seconds, scattering in the wind.
The white wolf died mysteriously, without a drop of blood or a cry of pain.
A chill ran through the group, their scalps tingling with unease.
