Change our strategy? Everyone was stunned and slightly puzzled.
Le Wuhen explained. “When we set out as a group, we’re only able to search for a single target at a time, and if we split up, then we would undoubtedly be able to obtain an Ancestral Dao Root for everyone as soon as possible.”
This suggestion was undoubtedly tempting to many, but they were clearly aware that doing this would cause their forces to be split up. So, the dangers they faced would be greater as well. It could be considered as having its advantages and disadvantages.
Le Wuhen seemed to have discerned the worries in their hearts, and he said with a smile, “There’s no need to worry. Even though we’ll be splitting up, we can utilize Mindnet Shells to communicate. No matter who encounters danger, we’ll be able to head over and provide support at the first possible moment.”
As he spoke, he flipped his palm, and then a string of crystalline and translucent shells that seemed like green leaves floated up into appearance.
Mindnet Shells were a rare treasure produced in the Imperial Region. Once worn, even if people were at different ends of the world, they would still be able to obtain information about the other at all times.
Le Wuhen passed the Mindnet Shells to Chen Xi, Shentu Yanran, Yuqiu Jing, and Zhuanyu Shui while he left one for himself.
After that, he said, “We five Spirit God Exalts will lead the teams, and we’ll help Fellow Daoists seize an Ancestral Root each. In this way, even if a team encounters danger, it would be able to persist until the others arrive to offer support. So, it would undoubtedly be much safer.”
When they realized that Le Wuhen had made such sufficient preparations, all of the worries in their hearts instantly vanished greatly, and no one made an objection against this suggestion.
“Now, let’s start dividing up into teams. How about we each bring a few Fellow Daoists alone?” Le Wuhen swept his gaze past everyone before he spoke with a smile on his face.
Chen Xi, Shentu Yanran, Zhuanyu Shui, and Yuqiu Jing naturally didn’t have any objections.
Besides the five of them who were Spirit God Exalts, their group still had another 14 cultivators.
In next to no time, their groups had already been split up completely.
Le Wuhen, Shentu Yanran, Yuqiu Jing, and Zhuanyu Shui had three cultivators in each of their teams, whereas, Chen Xi had two.
This wasn’t because they were making allowances for Chen Xi. It was because those cultivators had been rather hostile and averse towards Chen Xi earlier, and they’d offended him. Even if they’d already acknowledged Chen Xi’s status, they were worried that Chen Xi held a grudge against them. Because it would be bad if he tried to get even with them while they were searching for Ancestral Dao Roots.
This was pure overthinking of things. With the way Chen Xi looked at things and his own breadth of mind, how could he possibly make a fuss about it with them?
Moreover, no matter how much he disliked them, out of consideration for the overall situation of the group, Chen Xi wouldn’t do something like leading his allies into a trap.
However, it was very obvious that those cultivators didn’t think in this way, so they would rather follow Le Wuhen and the others than be in the same team as Chen Xi.
As for these two companions that were distributed to Chen Xi, one of them was called Tao Dong, and he was from the Imperial Region’s Tao Clan. He was really against being in the same team as Chen Xi, but it couldn’t be helped because he was a step slower and wasn’t quicker than the others. So, he could only follow reluctantly by Chen Xi’s side in the end.
The other person was Wei Zifu. Since Wei Zifu had already obtained a sixth-grade Ancestral Dao Root, he didn’t have to worry at all about whether Chen Xi would intentionally make things difficult for him.
After the teams had been divided, Le Wuhen said with a smile, “Everyone, I have a suggestion. Why don’t our teams compete with each other? How about we compete on the quality of Ancestral Dao Roots that our respective teams are able to obtain in the end?”
The eyes of the other cultivators lit up when they heard this suggestion, and they were clearly aware that this suggestion was extremely beneficial to them.
“This suggestion isn’t bad. However, Chen Xi only had two people by his side, and one has already obtained a sixth-grade Ancestral Dao Root. If we compete in this way, then it would be slightly disadvantageous to him.” Shentu Yanran smiled lightly as she spoke softly.
“Haha! Yanran! Oh! Yanran! Just look at you, you’re constantly protecting Fellow Daoist Chen Xi. Could it be that you’ve really taken a liking to him?” Le Wuhen roared with laughter and teased.
Shentu Yanran sighed faintly and said, “Alas, while falling flowers yearn to be loved, they’re washed away heartlessly by the babbling stream.”
Chen Xi smiled bitterly and shrugged. He knew they were joking, so he didn’t take it seriously.
Yuqiu Jing who’d remained silent at the side since the beginning grew even quieter. As for how envious and hateful he was in his heart, only he himself knew the answer.
As for the other cultivators, they could only feel jealous and envious. Even though they knew that it was only a joke, it wasn’t just anyone that could possess the qualifications to enjoy such treatment and be linked to Shentu Yanran!
Le Wuhen said, “Yanran, don’t forget that if we have the chance, then we’ll each be able to obtain more than one or two Ancestral Dao Roots. Even if we can’t use such precious treasures ourselves, it’ll be extremely good to be taken back and given to our respective clansmen.”
Shentu Yanran was stunned, and they she said with self-ridicule. “Looks like once women have sincere feelings in their hearts, they really do become muddleheaded.” She utilized this moment to tease Chen Xi casually.
Le Wuhen couldn’t help but roar with laughter when he heard this.
Chen Xi sighed helplessly instead, and he hurriedly said, “Alright, let’s set out.”
The others knew that time was of the essence as well. So, they immediately stopped delaying, and their five teams flew towards five different directions.
……
Swish!
Space fluctuated as Chen Xi teleported in the lead while Tao Dong and Wei Zifu followed closely behind.
They’d chosen the north.
Chen Xi had been constantly thinking about the identity of that faint summon that he felt, and he was trying hard to sense it and locate that mysterious summon, yet he gained nothing in the end.
But no matter what, continuing north wouldn’t be wrong at all.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Along with the passage of time, numerous streaks of light gradually started to appear ahead, and they flickered through space before vanishing in the blink of an eye.
This caused Chen Xi to be shocked in his heart. He was clearly aware that those streaks of light were the other cultivators that had entered the Ancestral Root Grounds.
In other words, it wasn’t just their group that was searching for Ancestral Dao Roots, and the other cultivators were doing the same as well. This meant that the competition and conflicts between them was starting to intensify!
“Please follow closely behind me. We’ll probably encounter a great deal of danger during the operation we’re about to carry out.” Chen Xi instructed swiftly.
“Don’t worry Fellow Daoist Chen Xi.” Wei Zifu was steady and experienced. Moreover, because he’d obtained an Ancestral Dao Root at beginning and had witnessed Chen Xi’s formidable ability, he would naturally not choose to go against Chen Xi now.
“Oh.” Tao Dong didn’t speak more than that.
In his heart, he was slightly depressed instead. Because he’d been constantly following by Yuqiu Jing before this, and he’d rejected and scoffed at Chen Xi at all times. So, he was truly worried that Chen Xi would make things difficult for him.
If this fellow really dares to act in that way, then I’ll just leave. I’ll absolutely not suffer humiliation from this fellow! Tao Dong sword in his heart.
Chen Xi was able to faintly sense Tao Dong’s thought, and he couldn’t help but shake his head to himself. Even though the strengths of these disciples from the Imperial Region far exceed their peers, most of them are extremely haughty, refuse to put down their pride, and have an extraordinarily excessive sense of superiority. They truly are boring.
He was naturally clearly aware that the reason was because he’d come from Snow Ink Region, so no matter how formidable his strength was, his status was something they looked down upon.
This was like the nobles of the mortal world. No matter how stronger others were when compared to them, they would still look down upon others.
Ruins and dilapidated walls and buildings were everywhere. This place was once the residence of a clan of gods that were born from within the Chaos, yet it had been reduced to ruins because of a world shaking battle that had erupted here.
Shattered corpses and pieces of divine artifacts could be frequently noticed on the ground. They were mottled, dim, and had long since been corroded by the elements to the point of being in a wreck. It was an extremely desolate scene.
The further they went, the more ruins they saw, and the aura of desolation in the heavens and the earth grew more and more thicker.
After the time for an entire incense stick to burn, Chen Xi suddenly stopped moving while he gazed into the distance. Within his senses, there was an extremely dazzling yellow colored beam of light that towered into the sky.
A fifth-grade Ancestral Root…. Chen Xi’s figure flashed as he led Tao Dong and Wei Zifu to speed up and instantly teleport over.
This was a shallow area that had already dried up a long time ago, and numerous cracks had split open on the ground. At this moment, a dazzling yellow colored beam of light had charged out from between the rifts.
After travelling for so long and finally finding another Ancestral Root now, there wasn’t much happiness in Tao Dong’s heart instead.
“It’s only a fifth-grade Ancestral Dao Root, isn’t it a little too substandard…” He spoke with disappointment because even Wei Zifu had obtained a sixth-grade Ancestral Dao Root, and he felt that he wasn’t inferior to Wei Zifu at all.
Chen Xi’s slanted brows raised. What high sounding sentiments. A fifth-grade Ancestral Dao Root is rare even in the Ancient God Domain, and it’s rare even in those top powers. Yet it has actually become something substandard when Tao Dong speaks of it.
“Fellow Daoist Tao Dong, you’re unsatisfied?” asked Chen Xi.
“I am a little unsatisfied. Fellow Daoist Chen Xi, can I take this Ancestral Dao Root first, and if we’re able to come across a better Ancestral Dao Root after this, then I’ll exchange this one for that one from you, alright?” Tao Dong spoke bluntly.
“Tao Dong, isn’t doing that slightly inappropriate? Fellow Daoist Chen Xi doesn’t have any obligation to help us do all of this.” Wei Zifu spoke from the side. He was rather worried that Tao Dong would infuriate Chen Xi and drag him into trouble as well.
Chen Xi’s eyes narrowed. In the end, he said with a smile, “Alright, but we must establish a rule.”
Tao Dong’s eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, “Tell me about it.”
“I can give you and Fellow Daoist Zifu two chances to choose an Ancestral Dao Root, and if you’re still dissatisfied after these two chances, then you can strive to obtain one yourselves. Forgive me for being unable to continue helping after that.” Chen Xi swept the two of them with his gaze and spoke in a low voice.
“Alright!” Tao Dong agreed without the slightest hesitation because such a condition was better than anything he’d excepted. So, how could he not agree to it?
“Thank you, Fellow Daoist Chen Xi.” Wei Zifu was slightly stunned before he cupped his hands and thanks Chen Xi in a serious manner. He’d never imagined that Chen Xi would actually provide him with such a chance that allowed him to choose an Ancestral Dao Root.
Chen Xi smiled and said, “However, both of you must take note that I’m only able to help the both of you obtain one Ancestral Dao Root each.”
The meaning behind his words was that if they were able to obtain even more Ancestral Dao Roots all along the way, then those Ancestral Dao Roots would have nothing to do with the two of them.
This caused Tao Dong’s heart to jerk, and the happiness in his heart vanished without a trace. He forced out a smile and said, “This seems to be… slightly inappropriate, right? We’re a team, so the Ancestral Dao Roots we obtain naturally has to be divided equally. At the very most, you can have a slightly larger share. Fellow Daoist Zifu, what do you think?”
As he spoke, he looked at Wei Zifu who stood at his side.
Wei Zifu didn’t even spare a glance at Tao Dong, and he nodded to Chen Xi and said, “That’s a matter of course.”
Tao Dong was instantly stunned on the spot, and his expression changed indeterminately.
