It's safe to say that they are no match for Cao Zhengchun if it comes down to a fight. Besides, Cao Zhengchun definitely has many secret techniques that he hasn't used yet, so they have absolutely no chance of winning!

"Fellow Daoist Chunzheng, please calm down and let me say a few words. The news that Senior Yunxiao possesses a Chaos Spiritual Treasure was not spread by us. Our purpose in coming here is to go to the Qingxuan World to clarify this matter with Fellow Daoist Yunxiao in person."

Time was of the essence; with only a few hundred years to go, Cao Zhengchun had no time to consider whether it was truly their doing. In his eyes, killing these people and plundering their world was the wisest course of action.

Therefore, he completely ignored what Youxi said.

At this moment, he unleashed his full combat power, even using a portion of Meng Fan's stored strength.

In an instant, that terrifying aura became even more powerful and vast.

Just as he was about to make his move, a figure suddenly appeared beside him—it was the Sweeper Monk.

The sweeper gently waved his hand and said slowly to Cao Zhengchun, "Let's spare their lives for now; after all, there's strength in numbers."

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengchun immediately withdrew any signs of his impending attack.

However, judging from the surging magical power around him, he remained ready to strike at any moment.

The sweeping monk said to Youxi and the others, "Amitabha, Youxi, we actually didn't want to attack you, but you brought this disaster upon yourselves for the Palace Master. Are you willing to admit this mistake?"

When Youxi and the others saw that the Sweeper Monk had also appeared, they were filled with despair. They were no match for even one of them, let alone two.

Hearing what the Sweeping Monk said, they all had a sudden realization. Survival is a human instinct, and the higher one's cultivation level, the more afraid one is of death. Therefore, they all seized the opportunity.

Youxi hurriedly said, "Divine Monk, please understand. We were merely informing the people in the alliance about the battle between Senior Yunxiao and Tiansheng. But we don't know which of them harbored malicious intentions and spread this matter to the outside world, which brought trouble to Senior Yunxiao."

Xiu Rong chimed in, "Fellow Daoists, we were in the wrong, but we absolutely had no intention of harming Senior Yunxiao. We hope you two will understand!"

Jifeng, Jingze, Muli, and Yangcheng all spoke up, explaining the ins and outs of the matter. With each of them contributing their words, they managed to clarify the situation within the alliance.

They were all afraid that Cao Zhengchun would take action at any moment, so they recounted their entire journey from leaving the Qingxuan World to the present, even detailing the number of times they had engaged in dual cultivation with their Daoist partner. They were terrified!

Cao Zhengchun and the Sweeping Monk had worked together for many years, and the two could understand each other's thoughts with just a glance.

The sweeping monk waited for them to finish speaking before saying, "Fellow Daoists, although the calamity was not caused by you, it was caused by you. Do you acknowledge this?"

Upon hearing this, the six members of Youxi nodded with difficulty and said, "We acknowledge it. It is indeed true. We were harmed by a villain, and we are willing to make compensation."

Cao Zhengchun had been waiting for these words. Upon hearing them, he said, "We have been through thick and thin together. Since you did not do this and are willing to make compensation, I will let you go."

The group breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Cao Zhengchun's words.

They knew their lives were spared, but their resentment towards Yuan Chen and the others grew even stronger, since they had almost been wiped out because of it!

Knowing that he had no choice but to offer something, Youxi said, "Fellow Daoists, we are willing to offer two innate spiritual treasures as compensation. Could you please put in a good word for us with Senior Yunxiao?"

Cao Zhengchun scoffed, "Innate spiritual treasures? Each of our elders has two or three of them. Do you think the Palace Master would like these things?"

Youxi and the others looked at the Heaven-Turning Seal hanging above their heads, the Mountain and River Map surrounding them, and the Innate Five Elements Flag radiating destructive power, and unconsciously agreed with this point.

"Fellow Daoists, please feel free to say what you want. If we have it, we will naturally give it to you."

Cao Zhengchun said quietly, "I need you to promise me two things, and I guarantee the Palace Master won't blame you."

“Fellow Daoist Chunzheng, please speak freely. As long as it is within our power, we will not hesitate to do it!”

Cao Zhengchun said, "First, for the next few hundred years, you will have to cooperate with us and obey our orders completely."

What else could Youxi and the others say? Of course, they agreed without hesitation. A mere few hundred years would pass in the blink of an eye.

"That's no problem. Not to mention hundreds of years, even thousands of years is perfectly acceptable!"

"Alright! My second request is for all the immortal crystals of your Heavenly Dao World!"

Cao Zhengchun thought for a moment, then added, "Remember, it has to be all the immortal crystals, not a single one left!"

Upon hearing this, the six members of Youxi were all dumbfounded. Immortal Crystals? What use are these things? They seem to be completely useless to them; they wouldn't even be suitable as floor tiles.

He immediately agreed, saying, "Fellow Daoist, I cannot guarantee that not a single one will be left, but I can guarantee that I will do my best, since immortal crystals are of no use to us."

"Alright, it's your way. If you agree to these two points, then swear an oath to the Great Dao!"

The six immediately swore an oath before the Great Dao, and a muffled sound echoed in the void as the contract was formed!

After the group reached an agreement, Cao Zhengchun accepted the magic weapon and its power, and Youxi and the others were completely relieved.

"Gentlemen, we have now broken away from the alliance and even offended Yuan Chen Tianzun. His son will arrive in the Kunwu Sea in less than a thousand years and will definitely retaliate against us. Therefore, we are actually on the same side and wish we could kill them!"

The sweeping monk asked, "And who is Yuan Chen's son?"

Xiu Rong explained, "His name is Xuanmiao Tianzun. He is the youngest Hunyuan expert in the Kunwu Sea. Because of his outstanding talent, he is hailed as the person with the greatest hope of overthrowing the rule of Heaven."

"Perhaps he was born to see him as a threat, and launched a sneak attack when he advanced to the ninth level of the Primordial Chaos Realm. The two fought for three years, and Xuanmiao was no match for him and retreated to the outer realms. He did not return for tens of millions of years until he heard the news of Tiansheng's death recently, and only then did he prepare to return to the Kunwu Sea."

The two monks listened with increasing seriousness and couldn't help but exclaim, "This person has extraordinary talent; he is indeed a genius among ordinary people."

Their words had a Versailles-esque flavor, which made Youxi and the others look down on them. But thinking about it, it made sense. Not to mention Meng Fan, even the ten elders of Yunxiao Palace could be considered prodigies.

Someone like Cao Zhengchun, the Sweeper Monk, who crossed two realms in a few hundred years to reach the third level of the Primordial Chaos Realm, and whose combat power was comparable to that of the Ninth Heaven, was someone you couldn't find even with a lantern in the Kunwu Sea!

However, Cao Zhengchun and the Sweeper Monk were indeed impressed by Xuanmiao. The fact that he could fight Tian Sheng after Tian Sheng's sneak attack and then retreat safely demonstrated Xuanmiao's strength.