Chapter 3184: A Master of Sarcasm Right Off the Bat! Treasures Are for the Fated...

"You bastard!!!"

The countenance of the Venerable Shadow Lightning instantly darkened to a deep, ominous charcoal.

He wished to retaliate, yet found himself entirely at a loss for how to mount a defense.

Wang Teng had lumped him together with the True God Yaofeng, and though it was hardly a compliment, it was a claim not so easily refuted.

After all, he could scarcely speak ill of the True God Yaofeng, could he?

If such words ever reached the True God's ears, what would become of his own future?

Yet, if he failed to object, would he not be conceding that both he and the True God Yaofeng were birds of a feather?

Curse it all, this Wang Teng was an absolute agent of chaos; the moment anything passed through that boy's lips, it became an intractable, thorny mess.

He felt he was now beginning to taste a fraction of the suffocating grievance and helplessness that had plagued the True God Yaofeng.

Previously, during the council of the allied army's elite, he had watched the True God Yaofeng reduced to a state of speechless fury by Wang Teng's sharp tongue.

At the time, though he had deemed Wang Teng exceptionally troublesome, the impression had lacked this profound, agonizing depth.

Some things, it seemed, could only be truly understood when the blow landed squarely upon one's own flesh.

In any case... it was simply infuriating!

Venerable Rong Feng stole a surreptitious glance at the Venerable Shadow Lightning, thinking to himself that this fellow's prowess in verbal combat seemed rather lacking.

With but a single utterance, he had been utterly silenced by Wang Teng!

What were they to do now? The situation had turned quite awkward, even for him.

In truth, he had initially leaned toward making a quiet retreat.

It was only because he had been swayed by the Venerable Shadow Lightning’s unshakeable confidence that he chose to remain and see how the matter unfolded.

Now, his resolve wavered once more.

He began to suspect that the Venerable Shadow Lightning was thoroughly incompetent, a broken reed upon whom he could not lean.

Sensing the doubtful gaze thrown his way by Venerable Rong Feng, the Venerable Shadow Lightning felt an even tighter constriction in his chest.

What was the meaning of this?

He had stood up for this Rong Feng, only for the man to turn around and view him with suspicion?

Should he just leave, then?

Rage and humiliation warred within the Venerable Shadow Lightning's breast; he felt a powerful urge to abandon the fool on the spot and wash his hands of the entire affair.

But the words had already been spoken, and having suffered Wang Teng’s mockery, he now found himself astride a tiger from which he could not dismount.

If he were to depart in this manner, how would the world perceive him?

That he had cowed before Wang Teng?

What an absolute jest.

He, a grand and venerable Immortal, cowing before a mere Cosmos-stage warrior?

Even if this Cosmos-stage upstart possessed no small number of formidable methods, it was no justification for him to show fear.

Outsiders would not care for the nuances of the situation; they would see only the vast chasm between their respective realms.

If he retreated today, he, the Venerable Shadow Lightning, would likely never hold his head high again within the cosmos.

At this thought, the Venerable Shadow Lightning fixed Wang Teng with a gaze of absolute ice and spoke:

"Wang Teng, do not presume that a few clever tricks entitle you to act with such insolence before this venerable one."

"Your unbridled arrogance today rests on nothing more than the handful of Immortals who flank you."

"When the day comes that you stand alone, this venerable one shall see if you can withstand a single blow of mine!"

The words, saturated with a biting chill, spilled from his mouth, causing the very temperature of the surrounding void to plummet.

Luo Fute, Venerable Tian Yan, Venerable Tian Lan Yuan Hai, and Venerable Zhu Long all knit their brows in unison.

This Venerable Shadow Lightning was truly shameless beyond measure!

Wang Teng spoke the absolute truth; this man was cut from the exact same cloth as the True God Yaofeng.

They could not help but harbor a tincture of worry for Wang Teng; after all, being marked by an Immortal-level entity was never a comforting prospect.

"Oh, I am so very terrified."

Yet, precisely at that moment, Wang Teng spoke, his voice drifting forth steeped in mockery and a careless, roguish disdain.

The crowd fell into a collective silence.

The moment the several Immortals heard that tone, the corners of their mouths twitched involuntarily.

What a character!

Not only did the lad show no fear, but he was actively stoking the flames.

What if the Venerable Shadow Lightning truly flew into a homicidal rage?

His audacity was simply monstrous!

Though they had long been acquainted with Wang Teng's temperament and the lethal sharpness of his tongue,

every time they witnessed him disarming an adversary with a mere handful of casual remarks, a wave of astonishment and marvel still washed through their hearts.

This sensation... was, in truth, remarkably gratifying!

"..."

On the opposing side, the muscles in the Venerable Shadow Lightning's face twitched uncontrollably, and he felt a surge of stifled rage so pure he could have spat blood.

With a single line, he felt his temper flare anew.

This wretched brat was utterly detestable!

The moment he opened his mouth, he exuded the aura of a master cynic, possessing a knack for infuriating others to the brink of death.

The boy feigned terror, yet that nonchalant demeanor made it painfully clear he regarded his elder as nothing more than a clown.

Such a posture was something ordinary men could never hope to mimic.

Venerable Rong Feng stood to one side, harboring a desire to intervene, yet he felt himself entirely outmatched by Wang Teng's rhetorical prowess.

On second thought, he decided against it.

He could not win.

He simply could not win.

How pathetic!

To think that he, a powerhouse in his own right, could be driven to such trepidation by a mere Cosmos-stage martial artist.

It defied all logic.

Yet, upon closer reflection, it seemed entirely reasonable.

That mouth of Wang Teng’s had caused numerous formidable figures to suffer defeat, including even a True God-level existence like the True God Yaofeng.

To engage in a war of words with such a creature was the very height of folly!

And there was absolutely no need for it!

In any case, since Venerable Yinlei wished to stick his neck out, he might as well let him do so.

His favor was not something easily earned.

Thus, he stood silently to the side, acting as mere background scenery, waiting for Venerable Yinlei's next move.

If the other party retreated, he would follow suit.

If the other party chose to stay, he would tail behind to pick up whatever crumbs he could.

Just in case!

What if he actually managed to snatch that treasure?

It was not as though he truly desired a clash with the four Immortal-level Venerables opposite them, but trying his hand to see who could find the treasure first was certainly worth a shot.

Venerable Yinlei seemed to have seen through Venerable Rongfeng's intentions, and he could not help but curse silently in his heart.

Yet, since he was the one who had voluntarily spoken up to take charge, he could only swallow this bitter fruit.

"Enough nonsense!"

"The treasure belongs to whoever fate decrees; let our skills do the talking."

Venerable Yinlei instantly transformed into a streak of flowing light, charging straight toward that patch of fiery clouds.

Venerable Rongfeng's heart jolted, and he followed immediately.

"Damn it! Show some sportsmanship!"

Venerable Tianyan bellowed in anger, intending to rush into that field of fiery clouds as well.

"No rush!"

Yet at that moment, Wang Teng merely offered a faint smile.

He stared at the fiery clouds, a sudden, meaningful glint surfacing within his eyes.

Finding that treasure would not be so simple.

Even if the opposing party consisted of Immortal-level Venerables gifted with the fire attribute.

"No rush? They've already gone inside." As one of the main parties involved, Venerable Tianyan could not help but feel anxious.

Venerable Zhumo, Loft, and the others also looked at Wang Teng with some surprise, unable to fathom what trick he had up his sleeve.

"Venerable Tianyan, let us first hear what Wang Teng has to say."

A light flashed in Venerable Tianlan Yuanhai's eyes, as though he had suddenly realized something, and he spoke while looking at Wang Teng.

"This patch of fiery clouds is the treasure's means of self-preservation; as long as it remains within, finding it won't be that easy."

Wang Teng chuckled softly.

"Oh?" Venerable Tianyan's eyes lit up, and his heart eased considerably.

"It seems you have already discerned something," Loft remarked.

"Then can you find that treasure?" Venerable Zhumo inquired curiously.

"A piece of cake!"

Wang Teng smiled, advancing toward the fiery clouds in an unhurried manner.

Venerable Tianyan and the others exchanged glances, all discerning a trace of astonishment in each other's eyes before they followed suit.

They, too, wished to see just what mystery this treasure possessed that allowed it to evade the scrutiny of Immortal-level Venerables.

Particularly for fire-attribute powerhouses like Venerable Tianyan and Venerable Zhumo, a sense of competitiveness was at play; they wanted to see if they could rely on their own abilities to locate the treasure.

Throughout this journey, they had relied entirely on Wang Teng, which left them feeling somewhat inadequate.

Now that they were at the very doorstep of the treasure, if they still had to rely on Wang Teng, wouldn't it make them appear utterly useless?

Consequently, upon stepping into the fiery clouds, they each deployed their own methods to investigate.

Wang Teng glanced at them and smiled secretly, entirely untroubled.

If they could find it, that would be well and good, saving him a fair amount of trouble.

As for Venerable Rongfeng, with his Real Sight Eye keeping watch, he naturally feared no complications.

Should the other party show any tendency to approach the treasure, he would be the first to rush over.

Judging by the current situation, the direction the other party was heading was completely opposite to where the treasure lay.

Therefore, he was not in the least bit of a hurry.

"Senior, how is it? Have you sensed anything?"

Wang Teng inquired of Venerable Tianyan and Venerable Zhumo as he strolled through the fiery clouds.

The expressions of the two Immortal-level Venerables stiffened; they had not expected their covert actions to be detected by Wang Teng.

Was this fellow's soul perception truly that formidable?

On second thought, however, there was nothing to hide; they were all on the same side, and such a trivial matter was hardly worth fretting over.

Venerable Tianlan Yuanhai and Loft, on the other hand, looked at the two with some surprise, evidently not expecting them to conduct their own investigation.

"Haha, I was just a bit curious."

Venerable Zhumo smiled, then shook his head, adding, "Regrettably, I can sense nothing at all."

"Wang Teng is right!"

"The fire energy within this patch of fiery clouds is exceptionally dense, which instead masks the aura and energy fluctuations of the treasure."

"I cannot sense it either," Venerable Tianyan said with a bitter smile. "If I am not mistaken, that treasure has likely merged its own aura entirely with these fiery clouds."

Upon hearing this, Venerable Tianlan Yuanhai and Loft instinctively turned their gaze toward Wang Teng.

"The two seniors are correct on one point."

Wang Teng nodded, then added, "That treasure has indeed fused its own power with this patch of fiery clouds."

"In other words, these fiery clouds are actually the manifestation of its power."

"However, besides that, there is another very important point..."

Before Wang Teng could finish, Venerable Tianyan asked impatiently, "What is it?"

Wang Teng smiled and continued, "The treasure's intelligence can evolve a specific type of natural inscription, using it to conceal itself and even allowing it to move rapidly within these fiery clouds."

He had just witnessed the treasure's movements; one moment it was here, and the next it was there, as though it were playing a game.

For Venerable Yinlei and his companion to think they could find it under such circumstances was nothing short of a pipe dream!

"Evolving natural inscriptions?!"

Venerable Tianyan's eyes widened, and a wave of wild ecstasy surged within his heart.

To think it was a treasure capable of evolving natural inscriptions!

Such treasures were exceedingly rare!

The treasures previously obtained by Loft, Venerable Zhumo, and the others possessed no such natural inscriptions.

Generally speaking, treasures endowed with innate patterns can unleash their unique powers more thoroughly and intensely.

Even without being controlled by anyone, such treasures can spontaneously burst forth with immensely powerful forces—no less formidable than when wielded by a master.

Moreover, treasures with innate patterns usually possess high levels of sentience, far surpassing ordinary artifacts.

In any case, the artifact before them now was undeniably extraordinary.

The appetite of the Celestial Flame Venerable suddenly flared up; his eyes gleamed as he fixed them upon Wang Teng.

“Huh?”

Wang Teng felt utterly uncomfortable under that gaze, shivering involuntarily, goosebumps nearly covering his entire body.

“Senior, don’t look at me like that! Just relax—you can trust me. This treasure isn’t going anywhere.”

“Ack!” The Celestial Flame Venerable coughed dryly. “Of course I trust you. That’s beyond doubt.”

The Candle Demon Venerable was envious to the core, murmuring wistfully, “You should be content. Finding such a fine treasure—what’s a little longer wait?”

“Exactly,” said the Sea of Distant Skies Venerable, his tone dripping with bitterness. “It’s a treasure with innate patterns, after all.”

When they had first heard that the artifact here possessed innate patterns, their astonishment had been no less than the Celestial Flame Venerable’s.

Then came envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Why?

Wang Teng hadn’t even found anything like this for them, yet the Celestial Flame Venerable had effortlessly acquired it.

This was simply too damn unfair.

Though they knew Wang Teng hadn’t done it on purpose, and the treasures he’d found for them were all perfectly suited,

still, comparing oneself to others always led to frustration.

Now, standing side by side, their inner balance was hard to maintain.

The corner of the Celestial Flame Venerable’s mouth twitched harder than an AK’s trigger, but he feigned calmness. “I’m not impatient—I’m just worried someone might beat us to it.”

“Please understand, everyone! Understand!”

The Sea of Distant Skies Venerable and the others thought he was rubbing salt in the wound, rolling their eyes at him with irritation.

Show-off!

Go ahead, keep showing off!

Wait till someone actually steals it from you—then see if you’ll cry!

Though they knew the chances were extremely slim.

With Wang Teng present, not even a Shadow Thunder Venerable, let alone the True God of Radiant Wind, could gain the upper hand against him.

That was experience talking.

“Alright!”

Wang Teng waved his hand, cutting off their chatter. “I’ve locked onto the location of the artifact. Since Senior Celestial Flame can’t wait anymore, let’s go now.”

“But to successfully claim this treasure, we’ll need your cooperation, senior brothers.”

“We need to cooperate?” asked Lord Rolford, surprised.

“Yes,” Wang Teng nodded. “As I mentioned earlier, this treasure is special—it can shift its position.”

“Therefore, capturing it requires multiple people to act simultaneously, blocking its escape routes.”

“Indeed?” The immortal-level venerated ones were taken aback.

From this perspective, the Shadow Thunder Venerable and the Fusion Flame Venerable stood almost no chance of catching it.

The Celestial Flame Venerable immediately felt much more at ease.

“I’m genuinely curious about this artifact now—let’s move quickly!” urged the Candle Demon Venerable.

“Let’s go!” The Celestial Flame Venerable’s eyes lit up.

“…”

Wang Teng stared at the ecstatic immortal-level venerated ones, speechless.

Do they really have to be this excited?

He was starting to feel anxious for the artifact itself—meeting these old tricksters was truly tragic.

If the Celestial Flame Venerable and the others knew what Wang Teng was thinking, they’d surely snap back, “Who the hell is the real trickster here?” (End of chapter)