Chapter 133: Battle with Mai Nouno

"These aren't for myself," Earth Bear said with a mysterious smile. His face lit up with excitement as he began to fiddle with the pair of gloves.

Seeing that Earth Bear truly loved them, Yu Mu said no more. Both of his companions had found items they cherished, while he remained empty-handed, so he began to search through the treasures himself.

Suddenly, his fingertips brushed against something that made his heart leap. He could feel a rich, vibrant energy of wood radiating from it. Yu Mu reached out to grasp it, but—hm? He couldn't pick it up. It felt as slippery as a wet bar of soap.

"What is this?"

Yu Mu hastily pushed aside the surrounding treasures and pulled out a hempen garment. As soon as it appeared, both An Shu and Earth Bear stopped playing with their own finds and fixed their gazes on the strange piece of clothing.

It wasn't that the garment was particularly stunning; on the contrary, it looked extremely ordinary, no different from the clothes worn by commoners, save for a surface that felt remarkably smooth. They were merely curious because they didn't understand what it was.

Yu Mu, however, felt as if he had discovered a rare treasure and immediately put it on. As he infused it with his spiritual energy, the information inscribed within the garment flooded his mind.

[War Farmer’s Hempen Cloak: Protective equipment, low-grade wood-attribute spiritual artifact, woven from honey-oil hemp. Increases defense by 100%, has a chance to deflect external force, reduces vibration damage by 50%, and reduces resistance by 80%. Additional 80% effect when used by a wood spirit cultivator.]

Since the loss of his "Crowd Spirits Protection," he had been in desperate need of such defensive gear. This garment was far superior to that belt, and the feature that delighted him most was its ability to deflect attacks.

"What are its attributes?" the two asked curiously.

"Even if it were better, it wouldn't belong to you," a cold, sinister voice came from behind them before Yu Mu could answer.

The three were startled and turned to look toward the cave entrance, only to see that someone had quietly slipped in. Yu Mu and An Shu were shocked to recognize the intruder.

"It’s you!?"

The man, holding a small white beast, was the City Lord’s steward who had been relentlessly tracking them. The steward ignored them entirely, his eyes fixed greedily on the scattered treasures.

"The Ancient Kingdom’s treasure! I’ve found it! Hahaha... with this wealth, that bastard Abi Dao and that pathetic City Lord will both be trampled under my feet. Oh, Rong Gu, it must be your spirit in heaven guiding me here! Not only can I avenge you, but you’ve also gifted me endless wealth. Hahaha!"

The steward looked as if he had gone mad, pointing at the trio. "You all have to die! Everything you have is mine! Everything here is mine..."

*Is this guy crazy?* the three thought.

With bloodshot eyes, the steward tossed the Spirit-Scenting Beast aside and lunged at them like a madman, as if he feared the wealth would slip through his fingers if he were a moment too late.

Earth Bear stepped forward and brought him to his senses with a single punch.

"Nascent Soul stage!?" The steward was horrified.

Yu Mu brandished his long staff, and An Shu summoned her crystal orb, the three surrounding him in a triangle formation. The steward scrutinized them closely; in less than a month, both had made significant progress. Yu Mu, in particular, exuded an aura that threatened him. Even more alarming was that the one-armed man was now at the same cultivation level as himself.

He had intended to use the environment to trap them like turtles in a jar, but now he was the one in the trap.

An Shu, who held the deepest grudge against him for nearly selling her into slavery, didn't hesitate. With a sharp cry, she summoned several water tornadoes from her crystal orb. Enhanced by the orb, these currents were denser, more agile, and had turned a deep shade of blue.

The steward dared not face them head-on and dodged, only to see Yu Mu suddenly drop to the ground and start rolling. Thinking the weakest one should be removed first, the steward struck down with his palm. But Yu Mu’s emerald staff danced into a blur, neutralizing the force of the blow. From within the staff's shadow, a strike countered, forcing the steward to scramble back. *Clap!* The ground where he had been standing shattered.

*How can a mere Golden Core early-stage cultivator unleash such power?* The steward broke out in a cold sweat.

However, since Yu Mu and An Shu were significantly lower in cultivation, they could only harass and restrain him; his real concern was Earth Bear. Earth Bear had donned the gloves, and while he couldn't unleash the full power of the artifact, it was far better than fighting barehanded. The four clashed in the main hall.

As time passed, the disadvantage of Yu Mu’s limited techniques began to show. He had only three moves, and even the most brilliant technique loses its edge once the enemy learns it. But with three of them teaming up, the steward—no matter how formidable—could not gain the upper hand.

In terms of raw strength, the steward was still a cut above Earth Bear, who was freshly promoted and weakened by the loss of an arm. Yet, with the artifact, Earth Bear held his own. Combined with the other two, their total strength far exceeded the steward's.

Gradually, the steward grew exhausted. Hemmed in by the three, he could find no escape. Finally, Earth Bear spotted an opening, broke through the steward’s defense, and struck toward his chest.

Just as the steward had nowhere left to dodge, Earth Bear suddenly let out a pained groan, his face twisting in agony.

"Damn it!" Yu Mu cried out in shock and rage. The Great Chief’s Nascent Soul was taking advantage of the moment to seize control of their body.

An Shu immediately began chanting the Soul-Calming Song, but Earth Bear was still facing his enemy. The steward, previously in a desperate situation, became eerily calm. He opened his mouth and spat out a golden needle, which flew straight toward Earth Bear’s forehead.

Earth Bear’s hand, which should have retreated to defend, did not stop, driving straight into the steward’s chest.

*Ah!*

Both let out a miserable cry and collapsed to the ground.

But their fates were vastly different. The steward was severely wounded but not dead. Earth Bear, however, had been pierced through the brain by the needle; both he and the Great Chief’s Nascent Soul were killed instantly. Earth Bear had lost his source of spiritual power—he was now just a mortal.

The steward didn't stop, summoning the golden needle to strike at Earth Bear again, clearly still uneasy. Yu Mu rolled over, shielding Earth Bear with his own body and pulling him into his arms.

*Zip!* The golden needle pierced directly into Yu Mu.

*It’s a spiritual artifact!* Only a spiritual artifact could pierce the hempen cloak so easily.

It seemed that even if the Great Chief’s Nascent Soul hadn't interfered, Earth Bear would have been ambushed anyway. The opening the steward had shown was clearly a trap—a sacrifice of his own body to ensure Earth Bear’s death. That he had managed to time it with the Great Chief’s revolt made his scheme even more effective.

The steward’s cunning chilled Yu Mu. He had possessed a spiritual artifact but held back, waiting for the final moment. Even knowing the outcome, how many could exhibit such patience?

The steward tried to recall the needle, but Yu Mu forced his own body to "woodify," slowing the needle's return. An Shu, now the only one left to fight, was no match for the steward. Within moments, she was knocked away by his palm wind.

Seeing where An Shu had landed—near the cave entrance—Yu Mu shouted, "Go! Don't worry about me!"

An Shu tried to rush back, but Yu Mu roared, "Fool! Have you forgotten what my true form is? I have a way out. If you don't leave, we all die! Go!"

An Shu hesitated, but seeing the resolve in Yu Mu’s eyes, she gritted her teeth and flew out of the cave.