Su Jingyao cheerfully placed the demon infant into a specially made pouch, then sealed it with a talisman.

This could lock the demon infant’s aura to the greatest extent, preventing loss and affecting quality.

You should know that a demon infant of fifth to nearly sixth grade is considered a treasure in Upper Scenic Celestial.

It could be exchanged for a substantial amount of Daoist Merit.

After securing the demon infant, Su Jingyao lifted the Thousand Threads Net, separating it from the insect skin inside.

The giant worm, after being refined by the Condensing Evil Talisman, had its flesh and bones transformed into a yin evil aura, which was extracted, leaving only a thick and tough outer skin.

It emitted a strong, rancid odor.

Su Jingyao wrinkled her nose, hesitating for a moment, as if making a difficult decision.

She handed the recoiled Thousand Threads Net to Zhang Yuan.

Just as Zhang Yuan took it, this True Disciple of Mingxiu Peak said, "Junior Brother Zhang, I’ll give you this Profound Artifact, and in return, how about all the demon infants we captured in the Cyan Profound Secret Realm go to me?"

Zhang Yuan was momentarily stunned.

When agreeing to act as Su Jingyao’s guardian, the terms had been negotiated.

Su Jingyao offered Daoist Merit as the reward, along with additional rank rewards.

As for the spoils, following the usual tradition in Upper Scenic Celestial, the guardian typically received twenty to thirty percent of the haul.

Su Jingyao gave Zhang Yuan thirty percent.

Zhang Yuan had no dissatisfaction with this, otherwise, he wouldn’t have accepted Su Jingyao’s invitation.

Unexpectedly, she proposed such terms now.

Zhang Yuan couldn’t help but ask, "Aren’t you at a loss with this?"

The Thousand Threads Net was a high-tier Profound Artifact, undeniably valuable.

And at this tier, it was not exchangeable in the Martial Pavilion Merit Hall.

Only a True Disciple of the sect like Su Jingyao had the privilege to own it!

Zhang Yuan had used the Thousand Threads Net before to capture human-faced butterflies and had just subdued a giant worm.

He clearly understood the function and power of this Profound Artifact.

The trade terms proposed by Su Jingyao certainly gave him a significant advantage!

Zhang Yuan felt embarrassed on her behalf.

"The Thousand Threads Net is wasted in my hands."

Su Jingyao earnestly replied, "You are its most suitable owner!"

She was a Daoist cultivator, skilled in casting arrays, not engaging with strange monsters in close combat like Zhang Yuan.

And the Thousand Threads Net was a close-combat weapon, requiring immense strength to control it freely.

If Su Jingyao had been in that situation, she wouldn’t have been able to hold the Thousand Threads Net at all, and the giant worm would have surely escaped.

This high-tier Profound Artifact in Su Jingyao’s hands was truly being squandered!

There was also another very important reason behind her decision to give Zhang Yuan the Thousand Threads Net.

But that reason couldn’t be expressed.

However, Zhang Yuan sensed that Su Jingyao was sincere, not acting impulsively.

He pondered for a moment and said, "How about this, I’ll accept the Thousand Threads Net, but in addition to you keeping all the demon infants, I will also forgo the guardian’s reward."

Zhang Yuan didn’t like taking advantage of people, especially when the advantage was so significant.

So his attitude was equally firm.

Su Jingyao looked deeply into his eyes, nodded, and said, "Deal!"

The two exchanged smiles.

Zhang Yuan held the coiled-up Thousand Threads Net, feeling quite emotional.

This was probably fate.

He really was destined for this Profound Artifact!

Since Zhang Yuan had already refined the Thousand Threads Net, now that it truly belonged to him, it required no re-refinement.

It was ready for immediate combat!

Thinking for a moment, Zhang Yuan said, "Rest assured, I will try to capture more deceitful monsters for you!"

He felt that only by pushing Su Jingyao into the top three of the Nine Peaks Grand Competition could he do justice to her contributions.

And he would feel at ease!

Boom!

Just as Zhang Yuan’s voice fell, a loud rumbling suddenly came from afar.

It sounded like mountains and earth collapsing, instilling fear in the listeners.

Zhang Yuan and Su Jingyao exchanged a glance, the latter quickly retreating into the array.

While Zhang Yuan’s gaze turned towards the direction of the sound.

But the direction was densely forested, with towering ancient trees, and even with his night vision ability, he couldn’t pierce through the barriers to see the distant scene.

Boom! Boom! Boom! 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

One vibration after another came closer, accompanied by the sound of trees crashing.

It seemed as if some enormous creature was approaching the deserted village!

Zhang Yuan tightened his grip on the Taowu Saber.

At this moment, Su Jingyao, guarding the center of the array, suddenly raised her arms and flung her sleeves, sending out talismans shooting from her sleeves.

These talismans flew into the air, silently bursting into brilliant lights.

Like flares, they instantly dispelled the thick darkness, illuminating a large area around them.

The next moment, Zhang Yuan saw the approaching monster.

It was a gigantic stone creature!

Standing over ten feet tall, it was made of massive moss-covered rocks.

Its head, body, and limbs were incredibly thick, and although it had no facial features like eyes, ears, mouth, or nose, its face had a wide horizontal crack that faintly glowed with a dark red light.

Each time this huge monster put down its foot, the ground shook, indicating its terrifying strength.

It advanced with firm, heavy steps toward the deserted village, knocking down any tree in its path with brute force, truly overbearing to the extreme.

"Rock Puppet!"

Su Jingyao said in a deep voice, "The Five Elements Circle Array can’t stop it, we must retreat!"

Her face turned pale, her eyes showing fear.

Rock Puppet was a rare deceitful monster, born from Earth Qi, with a body of gathered stones, possessing boundless strength and extreme defense.

Su Jingyao had only read about Rock Puppet in ancient texts, and now seeing such a powerful deceitful monster in person, feeling the horrific pressure from it, she realized how shallow the knowledge from books was!

Even though retreating now meant abandoning the desert village base and the Five Elements Circle Array, it was still better than losing their lives.

Su Jingyao had no confidence whatsoever that she could defeat this nearly legendary deceitful monster.

"Protect yourself!"

Zhang Yuan responded without hesitation, "I’ll test its weight!"

The appearance of this so-called Rock Puppet was indeed unexpected for him.

But it was far from enough to instill fear in Zhang Yuan, making him retreat without a fight.

As soon as he finished speaking, his entire body shot forward like an arrow leaving the bowstring.

Though the Rock Puppet’s pace looked slow, in reality, it covered three to four feet with each step.

The two rapidly closed in!

When the distance shrank to forty to fifty steps, Zhang Yuan suddenly soared high.

He swung his saber in the air, slashing at the Rock Puppet’s head.

The Taowu Saber in his hand suddenly emitted a blood-colored saber aura like a ribbon, the Breaking Army Saber Momentum was like a storm, enveloping the target entirely!

At the moment Zhang Yuan launched the surprise attack, the Rock Puppet suddenly halted, raising both arms to shield its body.

It managed to block Zhang Yuan’s saber aura strike!