Refining the Mountains and Rivers

After the joint attack from the four commander-level demon beasts, the troop was much more cautious than before. After a quick discussion, they decided not to travel during nighttime when demon beasts were boosted with strength. None of them wanted to end up in a situation where they were ambushed again.

Thus, they decided to make camp.

Xu Guzi took responsibility for setting up an array formation around the camp. This was to prevent any restless demon beasts from disturbing the rest of the group.

In the dim night, Sun Zifu who barely escaped became the focus of attention. Besides Zhao Qianyun who didn't care and Qin Yu who was 'healing', everyone raised a toast to him.

Perhaps in order to eliminate any acrimony between them, Zhou Fenghuang scrounged up a massive amount of precious materials from somewhere. Then, with her skilled hands, she created a full feast layout.

Everyone ate and drank. Sun Zifu didn't refuse any cheers and in his excitement, soon drank too much.

Zhou Fenghuang called out a few times. Seeing him nodding off near the campfire, she dr.a.p.ed a wool blanket across his shoulders. Then, with a look of disdain on her face, she no longer called out to him.

After all, it was a bit inconvenient for them to both sleep in the Phoenix Luan Car at night. She was glad to be alone.

The darkness deepened. Everyone made their own arrangements and started to cultivate. During the great battle with the four commander-level demon beasts today, everyone had suffered some losses. Naturally they wanted to restore their conditions to their peak state.

Near the campfire, the drunk and nearly unconscious Sun Zifu mumbled a little and struggled to his feet. He stretched his hand around his waist and fiddled a few times. Then, as if thinking of something, he trudged towards the edge of the camp.

Within the darkness, Qin Yu slowly opened his eyes. He looked at the Young Master Sun who was right now angrily peeing into the wind several dozen feet away.

"Fellow daoist Yao, I've wronged you. Now, time is urgent so please don't ask me anything and just listen to me." Sun Zifu's voice echoed near Qin Yu's ears. "Fellow daoist Yao, the jade pendant that I gave you some time ago, please do not ever wear it, otherwise there will be great potential danger to you. But, you cannot throw it away or Xu Guzi will immediately detect it. The best solution would be for you to seal it up and prevent it from coming into contact with your aura.

"Also, when it comes to hunting down the ancient tree monster, it isn't as simple to withdraw as you imagine. The ancient tree monster within this small world is the remnant body of a Great Emperor of the monster race. It has been rooted here for countless years and has absorbed endless demonic energy from this small world. Demon blood crystals have already been condensed in its body. To those that walk down the demonic path, those things are a truly inconceivable treasure. If you can obtain it and refine it, you will be able to awaken your bloodline. And if your bloodline is awakened, you can borrow the strength of the demon blood crystal to promote it to the next level.

"Everyone is holding ill intent towards you, fellow daoist Yao, so you must be extra careful that you don't fall into their trap. I know that I did you wrong so now I am pretending to be drunk and telling you all this. I only want peace of mind, nothing else."

He casually shook himself dry and sighed in comfort. Then, Sun Zifu lifted his pants and turned away, staggering back to the campfire.

Qin Yu faintly smiled. He approximately guessed why Sun Zifu had such a great transformation.

Demon blood crystal?

His eyes flashed. He carelessly swept his eyes over the camp. Sun Zifu believed he was being smart, but he didn't know that his actions weren't a secret at all.

Within a tent, Xu Guzi flicked his sleeves. An image twisted in front of him before vanishing.

He turned around and briefly hesitated, "What does fellow daoist Zuo think?"

Zuo Lanyue didn't answer. He rhetorically asked, "Does Brother Xu suspect Sun Zifu?"

Xu Guzi was expressionless. "Why does fellow daoist Zuo always try to avoid the real question? You should know that isn't what I am concerned about."

Zuo Lanyue smiled. "I don't know." He stood up and aimlessly paced around several times. "You and I both know how terrifying the seven-eyed demon beast is. It's unknown what the reason is, but Yao Bin is safe and sound right now. However, if there is one thing that I know for sure, it is that this person is unfathomably deep!"

Xu Guzi's eyes were gloomy. "This is exactly what I am worried about. A chess piece I have already set down suddenly has the ability to resist. I find it difficult to remain at peace in my heart."

Zuo Lanyue lightly said, "Brother Xu has already prepared for this, otherwise, why would you freely allow Sun Zifu to disclose secret information to him?" He paused and then continued, "If he knows about the existence of the demon blood crystal, even if he realizes he is being schemed against, his best choice is to remain silent. Of course, the premise of this is that he is in perfect condition, otherwise…"

Xu Guzi interjected, "He will choose to leave."

Zuo Lanyue smiled. "So, as long as we are patient and wait a little longer, we'll find out what we need."

The next day, as the sun rose, everyone emerged from the camp.

As for Sun Zifu who had recovered from his 'hangover', when he woke he awkwardly smiled at everyone and started to wash himself up.

Before he could finish cleaning himself, the early morning peace in the camp was broken apart by something.

Qin Yu made a decision to leave the troop. He didn't state a reason but everyone had already come up with one.

As they thought, the white light yesterday wasn't easy to block.

Sun Zifu opened his mouth but in the end he remained silent. Leaving the troop was dangerous, but if he stayed here he would be unable to escape from the final disaster that awaited him.

Xu Guzi lightly sighed, "If fellow daoist Yao insists, I will not try to change your mind. However, this small world as it currently stands is extremely dangerous. Fellow daoist must be careful."

Qin Yu cupped his hands together and turned around and left.

"Hold on!" Sun Zifu threw himself over. He put on a cold face and said, "Fellow daoist Yao, if you are leaving halfway, please return the treasure jade I gave to you earlier."

What am I doing here? Ahhhh! I must have gone insane!

Qin Yu looked at him. He took out the jade pendant and placed it in Sun Zifu's hand. Then, his feet stirred and he soon vanished from sight.

Seeing him leave so easily and cleanly, Sun Zifu was stunned. He immediately clenched his teeth. Well, for better or worse he was a gentleman. He would simply consider this as payment for saving his life.

Yao Bin, this is all I can do for you. I hope that all their thoughts are on the ancient tree monster and they let you go.

Sun Zifu took a deep breath. He turned around and smiled, "Everyone, we should hurry along."

At this moment, he could see surprise in the eyes of everyone. In particular, Zhou Fenghuang's gaze was particularly complex.

Humhum, you brat, I bet you never expected that this father would have such a fierce moment!

Zuo Lanyue had a strange look on his face. He suddenly chuckled and said, "Brother Sun…you truly are worthy of praise!"

As he spoke, he cupped his hands together and turned to leave.

Xu Guzi shook his head, "Fellow daoist Sun, I wish you good luck."

Yao Bin was originally the person chosen to receive the monster race's bloodline curse backlash. If Sun Zifu had taken the initiative to take back the jade pendant, he naturally would have to take his place.

Sun Zifu's heroic and valorous appearance as if he were the epitome of all noble gentlemen in the world lasted for at most three breaths of time. Right after that, his face turned into one that looked like a bitter melon.

His complexion paled and then turned black, and finally paper white. His eyes lost their focus and his heart began to race and tumble. There was only a single thought racing through his mind - the monster race's bloodline backlash…the chances of that happening shouldn't be too high, right?

…

The Cosmic Seacross Bell sent out an urgent request and because of this, Qin Yu conveniently saved Sin Zifu in the meantime. This matter occurred so suddenly, but afterwards, Qin Yu soon understood his situation.

The seven-eyed demon spider's seventh eye's supernatural powers were incomparably potent. If he were able to survive the attack and be completely fine afterwards, it would definitely cause people to feel dread towards him. These people all harbored ill intent towards him, so if they discovered that this 'chess piece' had the ability to leap off of the chess board, even an idiot could guess what would happen afterwards.

If he stayed behind, there would be endless probing of him. Qin Yu was good at concealing himself, but sooner or later he would be exposed. Once those people discovered that he had a strength that could contend with Zhao Qianyun, wouldn't they go completely crazy?

Perhaps if it were other problems, then they might be able to come to terms and make peace with each other. But, the plan of these people was to have Qin Yu die. How could he easily bury a life or death enmity? Moreover, with the hunting of the ancient tree monster imminent, they had likely already completed the division of benefits. Would they willingly be resigned to Qin Yu popping out from nowhere and taking a bite from their food?

It was better to leave.

After disappearing from sight of those people, he hid in the shadows. With the Cosmic Seacross Bell, the soul fluctuations of those people were like lighthouses in the dark night. It was simply impossible to lose them. If they found the ancient tree monster, he might have a chance to swoop in from behind and take some benefits.

Of course, there were also disadvantages to Qin Yu doing this. If he chose today to leave, there would inevitably be some people who associated his departure with the white light from yesterday.

There were likely some people who believed he was severely wounded and thus he had no choice but to retreat.

In particular, after receiving Sun Zifu's 'secret information' and knowing about the existence of the demon blood crystal, there would likely be some people that soon caught up to him.

But this disadvantage, would Qin Yu care about it?

…

Sun Zifu stayed in the Phoenix Luan Car as usual. But, Zhou Fenghuang's attitude towards him was much colder and more indifferent.

The Sun Family was incredibly wealthy, so wealthy that it couldn't be underestimated. But in the end, some things still needed to be done.

Sun Zifu was a direct descendant junior of the Sun Family. Without accident, he would inherit the position of the head of the Sun Family and become a pivotal figure in the world.

But it was precisely because of this that they couldn't allow him to leave this small world alive.

Because he would never forget what happened today. And the other people in this troop would not allow a future formidable opponent to remain.

Since there was no way to return things to how they were, they would just let him die.

Zhou Fenghuang knew this, so it was naturally impossible for her to stay close to him any longer and give off confusing signals to others.

Night fell and it came time to set up camp. Zhou Fenghuang tapped her feet and raced away like a phoenix.

Sun Zifu walked around in silence. As his eyes swept about, his face stiffened.

This was because at this moment, the troop was short one person - Zuo Lanyue!

Yao Bin, in the end I wasn't able to help you. Whether you live or die, that will depend on your own luck.