Qian Shaojie's eyes lit up. "Obsidian, a top-tier material for forging divine artifacts. Because it neither absorbs nor reflects light, and is incredibly hard, it can enhance a divine artifact's defensive and stealth capabilities."
He swallowed, then continued, "I've only read about it in ancient texts. To think I'd be fortunate enough to witness it with my own eyes today."
Zi Lingling was once again astonished.
The divine beast White Tiger was too wealthy!
Judging by the looks of it, the entire staircase was paved with obsidian.
Although Mu Qingyan didn't speak much, the astonishment flashing in his eyes betrayed his thoughts.
Only Ye Lingyuan's brow furrowed slightly, as if he hadn't heard Qian Shaojie's words.
How could this be?
Ye Lingyuan's mind was filled with doubts. He had clearly sensed it with his divine consciousness just moments ago, yet he hadn't detected this staircase at all.
Strange, at such close proximity, how could his divine consciousness be mistaken?
He certainly didn't attribute it to the lighting. Light only affected the eyes, not divine consciousness.
Could it be...
A hint of gravity flickered in Ye Lingyuan's eyes.
As a merchant, Qian Shaojie's eyes were only on treasures, he paid no mind to anything else.
He rubbed his hands together and said with a grin, "I wonder how many steps there are. If we were to dig up all this obsidian, we'd surely become the wealthiest people on the Tianyuan Continent!"
Mu Qingyan's attention was currently focused on Zi Lingling and Qian Shaojie, so he hadn't noticed Ye Lingyuan's expression.
Seeing Qian Shaojie's greedy demeanor, Zi Lingling couldn't help but retort, "Fatty Qian, whether you become the wealthiest on the Tianyuan Continent by digging up this obsidian, I don't know. But you'll definitely be the fastest to die!"
Qian Shaojie deflated like a pricked balloon. He understood the principle of "possessing treasures invites disaster."
This much obsidian was enough to provoke a frenzy of pursuit from everyone on the Tianyuan Continent.
Qian Shaojie thought to himself, "Alas, a fleeting joy!"
To enter a treasure mountain and return empty-handed, that's probably what they'd say about Fatty Qian, right?
Mu Qingyan patted Qian Shaojie's shoulder sympathetically. "Fatty, my condolences!"
Qian Shaojie nodded helplessly. "That's all I can do. Thankfully, I have you, brother, to comfort me..."
Wait a minute!
Qian Shaojie finally reacted and glared at Mu Qingyan. "Mu Qingyan, you scoundrel, is that how you use 'my condolences'?"
Mu Qingyan rolled his eyes at him and said coldly, "Isn't it? Seeing your look of utter despair, what else should I say but 'my condolences'?"
Zi Lingling chuckled. This Mu Qingyan was quite amusing.
Saying words that could kill with a straight face, only someone with a poker face like Mu Qingyan could do it.
Qian Shaojie was almost choked to death, but what could he do?
Fight? He couldn't win!
Retort? He was afraid he'd be choked to death first!
So, he could only glare fiercely at Mu Qingyan with his small, beady eyes.
Mu Qingyan looked up at the staircase, appearing too lazy to bother with Qian Shaojie.
Qian Shaojie was once again infuriated, his layers of fat trembling.
Zi Lingling's stomach ached from laughter. She hadn't expected Ye Lingyuan to have such amusing companions by his side.
She finally managed to suppress her laughter and said, "Alright, alright, let's go up and take a look first!"
Mu Qingyan cast a disdainful glance at Qian Shaojie, nodded to Zi Lingling, and stepped onto the staircase first.
Qian Shaojie shot a venomous glare at his back, then nodded to Zi Lingling and stepped onto the staircase.
Just as Zi Lingling was about to step forward, she felt a pull and lost her balance, falling backward into someone's arms.
At the same time, Ye Lingyuan's anxious voice rang out.
"Ling'er, don't rush!"
Zi Lingling was taken aback, and the word "scoundrel" that was about to escape her lips was swallowed.
Ye Lingyuan stopped Zi Lingling and, without regard for her reaction, said to the two who were about to step onto the stairs, "This staircase is strange. Be careful, you two!"
Unfortunately, it was too late.
As soon as Mu Qingyan stepped onto the stairs, he felt a powerful force press down on him.
He stumbled and hastily circulated his spiritual energy, only to discover that it couldn't be circulated within his body.
Disaster!
Mu Qingyan was greatly alarmed. He immediately concentrated all his strength on his feet, barely managing to stand on the first step, thus avoiding the embarrassing situation of being pressed to the ground.
Even so, he could feel the staircase repelling him.
In comparison, Qian Shaojie, who was only half a step behind, was not so fortunate.
Qian Shaojie's strength was mediocre. The moment one foot landed on the stone steps, he was pressed to the ground.
With two sounds, "plop" and "crack," Qian Shaojie let out a wail.
Ye Lingyuan reacted swiftly. With one hand supporting Zi Lingling's waist and the other quickly grabbing Qian Shaojie's arm, he gave a fierce tug, pulling Qian Shaojie off the stairs.
At the same time, Mu Qingyan also flew off the stairs.
The repelling force from the staircase was too great; he could no longer hold on.
"Ouch..."
"Thump thump thump..."
Qian Shaojie clutched his broken leg, letting out waves of agony.
Mu Qingyan retreated five or six steps to dissipate the residual repelling force.
He wiped the cold sweat from his brow, a look of terror on his face.
Zi Lingling was greatly shocked. She quickly leaped out of Ye Lingyuan's embrace and swiftly inserted several silver needles into Qian Shaojie's body.
Qian Shaojie, who had been wailing, paused and murmured, "Huh? Why doesn't it hurt anymore?"
Zi Lingling crouched beside him and said grumpily, "What? Do you still want it to hurt?"
As she spoke, she grabbed Qian Shaojie's broken leg and with a strong push, rejoined the fractured ends.
Then, as she removed the silver needles, she said quickly, "I've already reset your bones. As long as you take a Bone-Mending Pill, you'll be able to move freely."
"Bone-Mending Pill?"
Qian Shaojie blinked. Bone-Mending Pills were considered low-grade elixirs. However, because they weren't commonly used by spiritual cultivators, they were rather obscure.
Coincidentally, he happened to have one on him. This was truly a stroke of luck.
Zi Lingling nodded. "It's just that I don't have the medicinal herbs for refining Bone-Mending Pills on hand, so..."
"No 'so'!"
Qian Shaojie interrupted Zi Lingling, reached into his spatial storage bag, and took out a porcelain bottle. He poured out the pills and shook it. "I happen to have a Bone-Mending Pill right here!"
Zi Lingling was taken aback. "If you have one, then take it quickly. The bone-mending effect is best within fifteen minutes!"
"Oh, oh, oh!"
Qian Shaojie quickly responded and swallowed the Bone-Mending Pill in one gulp.
Zi Lingling commanded, "Quick! Circulate your spiritual energy and guide the medicinal effects to the fractured bone!"