Yuan Ming followed Xiao Ying, Xiao Yao, and others to the Qingluo Square in front of the mountain, where the Biluo Cave Disciples were all escorted.

After scanning the crowd a few times, his eyebrows suddenly furrowed.

There were quite a few disciples from each hall of the Biluo Cave, but the disciples from the Fire Refining Hall were conspicuously few.

During the chaos of battle before, he had sent his soul crow to scout around and hadn't seen any trace of the Fire Refining Hall Disciples. The Third Cave Master hadn't appeared from the beginning to the end.

"Could it be..." A thought flashed across Yuan Ming's mind.

"Who are you looking for?" Xi Ying's voice reached him.

"The people from the Fire Refining Hall don't seem to be here," Yuan Ming murmured after a moment's hesitation but felt relieved inside.

He had some fondness for his brothers from the Fire Refining Hall; with the sect in great disarray, the disciples of the elders must have suffered heavy casualties. They were all under the Third Cave Master, who was absent at the critical moment, so they must have been taken away by the Third Cave Master.

After gaining control of the situation, the Dawn Alliance methodically began to break the restrictions on important places within the Biluo Cave, such as the storerooms of the Refining Furnace Hall, the warehouse of the Fire Refining Hall, etc. A large amount of ore, Spirit Grass, elixirs, and even spirit beasts were transported out and arranged in the Qingluo Square according to category.

Items confiscated from the Biluo Cave Disciples were also placed there; from afar, half the square glistened with spirit light, catching the eye.

The years of accumulation from Three Stars Mountain to Biluo Cave must all be here.

Members of the Dawn Alliance gradually gathered at this place, eyes shining brightly as they looked at the items on the ground, yet no one dared to touch anything.

Yuan Ming, overhearing the conversations of those nearby, learned that this was the usual practice of the Dawn Alliance. After every mission, they would display all the loot in public and then distribute it according to each member's contribution, to ensure fairness.

Yuan Ming thought to himself that the biggest gain for the Dawn Alliance in annihilating Biluo Cave this time was not these items, but rather the storage magic tools of the Great Elder, the Great Cave Master, and the Second Cave Master.

How could the truly valuable items be put out for distribution?

"Brother Yuan Ming, what are you doing here?" A somewhat surprised voice called out from ahead.

Yuan Ming looked up, his gaze also shifting.

The person approaching was Wulu, who now showed no doubts about his Foundation Establishment Stage of cultivation. Though he had some injuries, it was nothing serious.

Standing beside Wulu was Xiao Yao, who appeared to be acquainted with him.

"Brother Wulu, unhurt I see. I am grateful for your care over these past three years," Yuan Ming said.

"Brother Yuan, what a pleasant surprise. Our paths diverged, but now we meet as brothers," Wulu said, feigning sudden realization.

Yuan Ming smiled and glanced at Xiao Yao beside him, then said loudly, "It's more than brothers. We have been looking after each other since we were Beast Slaves in the Biluo Cave; we are brothers who have been through life and death together."

The two laughed uproariously together.

Xiao Yao, who had been somewhat suspicious of Yuan Ming being a spy, now saw how familiar Yuan Ming was with Wulu, a man of great merit in this mission, and how they had apparently been through adversity together. This dispelled his doubts.

Before long, a tunneling light shot from a distance and stopped in mid-air above the square, revealing the figure of Ou Ji, who announced that he would distribute the items on the square to everyone.

Upon hearing this, the members of the Dawn Alliance let out a thunderous cheer.

Bai Ye and Huan Shi were also among a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators, both unharmed.

Yuan Ming exchanged glances and nodded with them from a distance. Seeing that Yuan Ming was now dressed in Dawn's attire, they understood and smiled at each other.

Ou Ji arranged for the distribution of goods and then left.

"The distribution is starting? Let's go over there too!" Xi Ying chuckled lightly and waved her sleeve.

Yellow Array Patterns appeared under their feet on the ground where she, Yuan Ming, and Xiao Yao were standing, quickly forming a yellow Array.

Yuan Ming's vision was engulfed in yellow light, and by the time he regained his senses, they had appeared near the entrance of Biluo Cave.

Ou Ji, the hunchbacked elder, and three other Core Formation Stage cultivators were there. Seeing Xi Ying and Yuan Ming arrive, they all smiled.

"Xi Ying, you've finally arrived; we were just waiting for you," Ou Ji said.

"Why wait for me? You all can distribute things without me. But this Yuan Ming, with such great merit this time, must be rewarded generously," Xi Ying said with her hands clasped behind her.

Hearing this, the faces of Ou Ji and the others showed embarrassment, insistently saying that they must all make the decision together.

"Captain Ou Ji, then I won't stand on ceremony. I exerted the most effort in killing Chen Cangqiong; I want to have the first pick from his belongings," Xi Ying stated.

Upon hearing this, Ou Ji exchanged glances with the others. The hunchbacked elder grunted, while the red-robed man and the green-dressed woman looked at Xi Ying with dissatisfaction.

"My fellow Daoists, how about we stick to our earlier agreement? The contents of Chen Cangqiong's storage magic tool will be divided into five parts, and Xi Ying will have one of them. Since she wants to pick first, let her pick first," Ou Ji said, slightly embarrassedly clearing his throat.

"Captain Ou Ji, we three were invited by your Dawn Alliance, and the battle with Chen Cangqiong nearly cost us our lives. Why should she get to pick first?" the hunchbacked elder said bluntly; they didn't understand why Ou Ji was so accommodating to a Foundation Establishment female cultivator, even if she had just saved them.

"My three friends, you don't know something. This woman comes from Red Lotus Island in the Southern Border Southern Domain. She's the direct granddaughter of the Red Lotus Island's Ancestor. She also has the Five Elements Combined Body, making her one of the most talented Array Masters on this continent," Ou Ji subtly motioned with his lips, explaining via a transmission of sound to the three.

The three showed an expression of astonishment.

The Xiao Family of Red Lotus Island is extremely famous throughout the Southern Border Southern Domain and even the entire Southern Border. The Xiao Family excels at the art of Array Restrictions and is particularly adept at refining items such as Array Flags and Array Plates, which are essential for protective formation artifacts. Many sects in the Southern Border have visited them for this reason, all in the hopes of obtaining an excellent sect-protecting Array.

And the Ancestor Xiao mentioned by Captain Ou Ji is the current head of the Xiao Family as well as a Master of Formations. His Cultivation is said to have broken through the Late-Stage Core Formation, a rarity among Array Masters. Whether in strength or connections, he is far beyond comparison with the three of them.

"Besides, the merit of breaking the Array and killing Chen Cangqiong is clear for all to see. The three of you were also indirectly saved by Xiao Ying, everyone should feel grateful," Captain Ou Ji added.

"Alright, Xiao Ying can choose first," the hunchbacked elder and the others exchanged glances, finding the point very reasonable.

"Xiao Ying, what do you think?" Captain Ou Ji turned to Xi Ying and asked, deliberately ignoring Yuan Ming's request for a reward.

"And what about Yuan Ming? He was the first to follow my instructions, infiltrating Biluo Cave three years ago and risking his life to steal Chen Cangqiong's Magic Treasure for me; he too deserves a substantial reward," Xi Ying countered.

"I heeded Senior Xiao's instructions three years ago and entered Biluo Cave, working together with Wu Lu to watch each other's backs and provide cover," Yuan Ming added.

"I can vouch for that, and if you don't believe me, you can call Wu Lu over to confirm it," Xiao Yao offered.

"It's true; Wu Lu has reported to me several times that a Disciple named Yuan Ming was very suspicious. Turns out it was your doing, Xiao Ying, a precaution that happened to coincide with my strategy. He deserves a reward. Dawn always rewards the valorous," Captain Ou Ji declared.

"Could this person be trying to claim credit after the fact?" the red-robed man challenged.

The red-robed man glared at Yuan Ming, and a wave of pressure enveloped him. The gap between their Cultivations was too vast, and even just a fraction of the released pressure made Yuan Ming feel as if a mountain was pressing down upon him face-on. His body involuntarily trembled slightly, and his bones emitted light snapping sounds.

For a moment, Yuan Ming nearly felt his entire being was about to be crushed, his Sea of Consciousness and Divine Soul also shaken continuously.

With the pressure on his body also coming down on him, his Divine Soul flickered like a flame in a gale, on the verge of extinguishing at any moment, rendering him powerless to move, let alone retreat from this overwhelming force.

Yuan Ming circulated the Nine Elements Technique and the Moonlight Technique with all his might, desperately trying to withstand the pressure from the red-robed man, but to little avail.

However, this immense pressure instead ignited his fighting spirit. Yuan Ming's eyes widened as he pushed the Moonlight Technique to its limits, his Soul Power surging in his Sea of Consciousness like a tidal wave.

Almost simultaneously, his arm warmed up as a vast stream of heat flowed from the Incense Burner Mark, merging into his Sea of Consciousness.

In his mind, a sound of shattering echoed suddenly, and his Divine Soul, which was on the brink of collapse, visibly strengthened at a rapid pace, firmly shielding against the red-robed man's pressure.

"I've broken through!" Yuan Ming exclaimed with shock and joy, as his Moonlight Technique finally advanced to its third layer!

Memories from the past flooded his mind like a tide.

He was fully immersed in recollections, and all his memories were restored!

During this period, he had been diligently cultivating the Nine Elements Technique to enhance his Cultivation while also persistently practicing the Moonlight Technique. His Soul Power had been growing steadily, culminating at the peak of the second layer.

Yuan Ming had originally planned to find a place to enter seclusion and attempt to break through the third layer of the Moonlight Technique after the matters of Biluo Cave concluded. Unexpectedly, under the profound pressure of the red-robed man, combined with the help of the Incense Burner Mark, he succeeded in one fell swoop.

Xi Ying noticed the change in Yuan Ming and immediately turned to the red-robed man.

"You sure carry a great presence, but you shouldn't bully those who have contributed. Captain Ou, you must do what's right," she protested indignantly.

"Let's prioritize harmony among us, it's all trivial issues. We'll discuss Yuan Ming's reward separately," Captain Ou Ji said, standing between Yuan Ming and the red-robed man.

"I was not bullying him; I was only testing whether he truly had the ability to remain undercover in Biluo Cave for so long. Not bad, not bad, the lad has a bright future. Dawn indeed has a keen eye," the red-robed man said, retracting his pressure and changing his tune.

The hunchbacked elder and the green-dressed young woman were somewhat surprised by Yuan Ming's performance under intense pressure.

"Hehe, it was just a little test; you won't take it to heart, will you, Yuan Ming?" Captain Ou Ji asked.

"Of course, the elders here are role models for the younger generation. I deeply admire the heroism you displayed in today's battle," Yuan Ming said with neither servility nor insolence.

"Indeed, a hero emerges from youth. You are from Da Jin, aren't you? Dawn has a significant mission in Da Jin a year from now. Our branch will be coordinating with a sect from Da Jin for an operation. Why don't you partake in it? The reward is guaranteed to be satisfactory, and we need someone to be infiltrated in advance. The task is secure, low-risk, and offers a significant reward," Captain Ou Ji suggested.

"Thank you for your appreciation, Captain Ou, but I feel my Cultivation is at a critical juncture for a breakthrough and may need to be in seclusion for a long time. I hope you will understand," Yuan Ming said, aware that he was unsuited to take part in Dawn's mission despite its high rewards.

"What mission? I can do it," Xiao Yao interjected from the side.

"Shut your mouth, we already promised that we'd return right after this event is over. It's the Ancestor's birthday soon," Xi Ying said.

"Too bad, but Cultivation is all about experience, as the Ancestor once said," Xiao Yao tried to argue further, but was silenced by a glare from Xi Ying.

The others, hearing of the Xiao Family's Ancestor's birthday and the significant upcoming event, began to think about attending to pay respects and potentially receiving several Array Flags as a considerable gain.

"I'd also like to offer my birthday congratulations; I've admired the Xiao Family's Ancestor for a long time," the green-dressed young woman said with a light smile.

"Of course, we should definitely go to give our congratulations," the red-robed man added.

"Right, right, right, we'll go together. Today we've fought and survived alongside the two Xiao Fellow Daoists; Xiao, you must introduce us," the hunchbacked elder said to Xiao Yao.

"No problem," Xiao Yao replied.

The atmosphere instantly became amiable.

"Now, what would you like, Fellow Daoist Yuan?" Captain Ou Ji, catching the vibe, turned his attention to Yuan Ming and inquired.

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