Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
After the middle-aged white-robed man cursed venomously, he shut his eyes tightly. He ignored the others no matter what they asked. Xiao Sha grew impatient. He turned and asked Gu Xiaojun for instructions, “Chief, shall we use the method?”
The thousands of disciples had mysteriously disappeared from the Kunlun campsite. This Hua family elite had launched a sneak attack on them while they were badly injured. If it was not for Guo Hua acting in the nick of time, everyone at the scene would have died a tragic death.
From Xiao Sha’s perception, the obscure cultivator Hua family in the Tanggula Mountains most probably had connections with the mysterious evil cultivator. He was prepared to extort information from him by torture.
Gu Xiaojun meditated in silence and had not said a word when Fei Fei shook her head. She said to her own brother, “From his looks… unlikely! He does not give much thought to our lives or deaths.” She could analyze the other person’s true thoughts from their expressions and tone.
The one who came to kill them did not care about the lives or deaths of the people he intended to kill.
Gu Xiaojun trusted Fei Fei a lot. He nodded and instructed Xiao Sha, “Tie him up for now. I’ll tell you if we have to use the method!”
Xiao Sha immediately prepared the rope. Guo Huan had always been talkative and finally, he had the chance to talk casually. He laughed rigidly from the jade knife, “The Yin’s Error’s slash had already drained him of his spirit primordial energy. He is good for nothing for three to five months, there is no need to bind him…”
The group of people was discussing how they should deal with the Hua family disciple. However, African brother Tutatunte was unusually busy. At times, he stuck his ear to the ground like a reconnoiter. At times, he would sniff the ground like a hunting hound and crawl around swiftly. After a while, he suddenly growled and jumped up strongly. Then he squalled at Wen Leyang.
Maybe it was because Wen Leyang’s final performance in the ‘elimination rounds’ was too eye-catching, the African brother believed in him the most. He would tell him everything first. Fei Fei quickly came over, intending to chase Tutatunte away with indignation. She was worried that he was bothering Wen Leyang who was recuperating.
Wen Leyang smiled and shook his head, “It’s fine. Ask him what’s he trying to say?” His method of practice was unique. The Poison of Life and Death within his body did not need his instructions and flowed out of his limbs and bones as it busied itself to repair his body. He did not need to be like Po Tu and Rangjung who had to focus their spirits and enter a trance to direct their life vitality with all their heart.
Even if Wen Leyang talked or thought or ate carrots, it would not hinder his body’s swift recuperation.
Currently, Po Tu and Rangjung had already sealed their five senses. They closed their eyes and started to direct their life vitality to heal themselves with the hopes that they could recuperate as soon as possible. They entered a state where they completely forgot themselves, utterly had no idea about what was happening outside.
Normally, Fei Fei’s communication with Tutatunte was quite smooth, but this time, Fei Fei was still puzzled even after gesturing with him. Xiao Sha laughed heartlessly at Wen Leyang from the side, “Looks like she’s faced with a lot of new vocabularies now…”
Tutatunte grew more impatient as he talked. He picked up an ice fragment, squatted on the ground and drew a simple picture. It was a fist-sized circle with a long tail.
If it was before, Fei Fei would have asked him with a shout, “Why did you draw a balloon?” However, when the group saw this picture, everyone knitted their brows.
Xiao Sha’s expression also turned grim. He asked his big sister in a low voice, “Did he draw… the strange tadpole in the ice fissure?”
Tutatunte did not stop after he finished his drawing. He pointed at the newly-drawn tadpole and then sprawled on the ground. He wriggled his body like a mudfish. He inched his way forward on the ice, then he went back on his feet at pointed towards the depths of the snow-covered peak.
Even Ji Song understood his meaning. He said with some fright, “There is a strange tadpole running towards that direction under the ice under our feet?” As he said this, he looked at the surrounding ice surface with alarm. However, he scoffed, “Old friend Rangjung said that this worm is a monster of utmost true water. Even a cultivator’s telegnosis ability could not sense it. But you? You can sense its tracks?”
Tutatunte did not understand a word Ji Song said. He opened his mouth and smiled honestly at his bamboo pole brother. He exposed rows of big white teeth.
Fei Fei squinted her delicate eyes and said confidently to Wen Leyang, “Tutatunte isn’t lying.”
Old Gu coughed from the side, his expression was helpless. Xiao Sha broke into a laughter and said to Fei Fei, “Next time, report any findings to the chief first, Wen Leyang’s not the one issuing your pay cheques!”
Xiao Sha’s sentence earned him the eye-rolls of Gu Xiaojun, Fei Fei and Wen Leyang. He rubbed his hands embarrassedly and diverted the topic, “Tutatunte might not have seen this worm before. He couldn’t have drawn it on a whim…”
Ji Song was unsatisfied. He looked to be the type who liked to argue, “Maybe he had seen it before in the mountain. If you guys can meet it, so can he!”
Wen Leyang shook his head, “Before the Hua family disciple made his move, Tutatunte noticed another abnormality before Po Tu did. Maybe he really does have a plan to…” As he said this, Wen Leyang could not help but smile. He recalled the performance of the African representative team during the ‘elimination rounds’, his expression quickly brightened up, “Maybe, this is their ability!”
Wen Leyang had guessed it right. The group of African evil cult followers led by Tutatunte had no magic powers of fighting abilities worth mentioning, but they had a sense sharper than a wild beast. They could sense danger before it happened. They could even sense a strange worm that could not be detected by the cultivator’s telegnosis ability.
Fei Fei did not bother about Wen Leyang’s words but looked at the white-robed middle-aged man on the ground with something on her mind. Wen Leyang did not disturb her. He moved his arm strenuously and signaled to Tutatunte to continue talking.
Tutatunte saw that he was recognized by Wen Leyang and his confidence soared. He ran forward a few steps and drew another big circle in front of the strange tadpole. He pointed at the far away direction of the snow-covered peak and continued making gestures. This time, Wen Leyang had no choice but to call Fei Fei over to translate.
After gesticulating for a long while, Fei Fei returned to Wen Leyang’s side. As if on purpose, she increased her volume so that everyone would hear, “The strange tadpole is chasing after that big thing in front of it. However, even Tutatunte could not determine what that thing is.”
When Fei Fei was talking, the corner of her sight was always on the badly injured Hua family disciple. After a brief moment, Fei Fei reopened her mouth and said seriously to Wen Leyang, “About this matter…” She had just said these three words when she suddenly remembered something. She hastily shut her mouth and turned towards Gu Xiaojun, “This matter is important! Because,” As she said this, she pointed at the Hua family disciple, “He spilled the beans!”
The Hua family disciple’s expression did not change from the viewpoint of Wen Leyang and the others, but he could not fool Fei Fei. Ever since Tutatunte discovered the worm, the Hua family disciple’s expression started to have subtle changes.
Fei Fei could only see that his interest in this worm and the ‘big circle’ in front of it had reached an unbelievable level. About the details, it could only be extorted by torture.
Xiao Sha did not talk nonsense. He dragged the prisoner into one of the tents. At this moment, Tutatunte suddenly started squalling again. He gesticulated continuously towards the group with a face full of fright. Eventually, he stomped his foot at howled like a wild beast. His whole body arched. Like a black sharp arrow, he rushed towards Xiao Sha with swift movements and sent Xiao Sha flying with a shoulder tackle!
Xiao Sha scolded with fury, “What’s your problem?” His body flew for a few meters. On the spot where he stood, a sharp ice spike protruded without warning! If it was not for Tutatunte, Xiao Sha would have been impaled by now.
Tutatunte’s body was abnormally agile. He dodged in mid-air like an alert fish. Although he could not keep his center of gravity stable and was tossed aside by the great inertial force, he still managed to evade the ice spike.
Old Gu and Fei Fei finally reacted. They screamed in unison, “Someone is ambushing us!” They drew their guns with swift movements and ran towards Xiao Sha to support him. When the group was flustered, a white-garbed man suddenly popped out of the ice cap and propped the badly wounded middle-aged man up.
Gu Xiaojun and the others stopped in their tracks. They raised their weapons and aimed. Xiao Sha’s body bounced up the moment it touched the ice. Xiao Sha raised his weapon.
Tutatunte and Ji Song stood side by side and gathered with Old Gu and the others. They spread out like a fan and faced their opponent.
The rescuer was someone whom Wen Leyang and the others have met. He was the white-robed youth they met not long ago.
The white-robed youth ignored the few enemies in front of him. He went about his own business and checked the wounds of the middle-aged man. He lifted his head after a while. His sharp gaze swept across the group of people. Finally, it stopped on Tutatunte’s face, “Ugly ghost, you can see through my true body and Art of Escape?”
Tutatunte did not understand what he said. He shook his head steadily.
The white-robed man was stupefied. He seemed to be perplexed, “You can’t see through?” Then, he stopped arguing with Tutatunte. His voice was hoarser because of the anger, “Who injured my uncle Quan, come out and meet your doom!”
His voice barely faded when a ghastly pale light suddenly flew past the top of his head. The huge Yin’s Error appeared in mid-air. Guo Huan sneered rigidly, “A babe still wet behind the ears, flaunting his prowess, not knowing how high the heavens are or how thick the ground is, you won’t even know why you died when you die!”
The white-robed youth was visibly shocked. He could tell that Yin Error’s was a powerful magic weapon with a glance. It was not something that he could handle. He did not have to hesitate. He pulled the middle-aged Hua disciple named uncle Quan and escaped into the ice cap. They vanished in the blink of an eye. He only left a taunt, “You guys have destroyed my family’s magic and harmed my family’s elder. None of you may hope to go back alive!”
Nobody had expected that the Yin’s Error did not move in the mid-air and allowed the other party to escape.
Old Gu would have liked to crush the jade knife there and then. He scolded angrily, “Why did you let him run?”
Guo Huan retorted, unwilling to show weakness, “What do you know? If I truly wanted Yin’s Error Yang’s Mistake to attack and injure the enemy, I would have to expend my life vitality! There is danger in every step in this snow mountain, of course, I’ll have to use the best steel to make the knife’s edge (Translator’s note: use a material where it is needed most)!”
Although Guo Huan had healed, he was still a demonic soul. He could not use his treasured weapons as he wished. It was alright for him summon it out for a swing but every time he used the magic weapon, not only will the jade knife be damaged, his primordial soul’s energy would also be greatly diminished. He would have to fall into a deep sleep to recuperate after a few times. Naturally, he would not want to waste an attack as powerful as a thunderbolt on the white-robed youth. It was enough to scare the opponent away.
Wen Leyang also understood that using Yin’s Error Yang’s Mistake to fight against the evil cultivator was more worthwhile compared to using it against the white-robed youth.
The white-robed youth had snatched their prisoner away and escaped unharmed.
Just as Wen Leyang had guessed, the only usefulness of Tutatunte’s refined ability was a sharp sense. Not only could he detect the strange tadpole, even when the Hua family disciple of true water body cast his Art of Escape, it did not escape his eyes.
Faced with Xiao Sha and Fei Fei’s gratitude, Tutatunte smiled honestly and shook his head. He waved his reed stem arms wildly, signaling them to not think too much about this. Then, he seemed to have remembered something and started gesturing with a flustered expression.
Fei Fei explained to the others in a low voice, “The white-robed youth, strange tadpole and the strange big circle.” As she said this, Fei Fei pointed at the big circle drawn by the black man on the ground, “The direction they were heading in is the same. By the looks of things, the big circle is at the front, a strange tadpole is chasing after the big circle while the white-robed youth also went in pursuit after he rescued his uncle! Tutatunte said that if we do not move out immediately, he would not be able to sense their tracks once they get too far.”
Wen Leyang was stupefied. He said with a frown, “That big circle is alive? It can run and move?”
Fei Fei nodded and looked at her leader.
Gu Xiaojun was in an awkward situation. Kunlun, Hua family, evil cultivator, nine-headed snake, water element strange worm had a complicated relationship. It was a complicated mess. If he wanted to make sense out of this, he would have to follow the lead in front of him no matter what. However, if he did that, it would be no different than seeking their own deaths.
Guo Huan understood the thoughts of the group. He said impolitely, “Don’t get any funny ideas. I’m not going anywhere other than under Wen Leyang’s neck!”
Wen Leyang diverted the topic. He suddenly asked Guo Huan blindly, “How many times can you stand using your treasured weapon to fight the enemy?” Guo Huan would not normally activate Yin’s Error Yang’s Mistake, but Wen Leyang was sure that he would not sit idly and wait for his doom at life and death moments.
As expected, Guo Huan did not conceal the truth as he replied with ill manners, “Twice. Thrice, at most!”
There was a hint of guilt in Wen Leyang’s smile as he said probingly, “Actually… it’s already good that you can use it once more, right?” Guo Huan always spoke with a habit of bragging. Last time, in the Gold-Consuming Lair, Guo Huan had resolutely said that he could help Wen Leyang block the bronze ants’ Poison of Stream with ‘Yang’s Mistake’, but it waved for two seconds and vanished, almost costing Wen Leyang his life.
The more one bragged, the more he would believe his own words…
Guo Huan grunted. He did not have the time to retort when he suddenly thought about Wen Leyang’s objective. He quickly stated his stand, “You can go after it if you want, but don’t go having any ideas about my treasured weapons! I won’t be taking unnecessary risks with you!”
Wen Leyang smiled and acted shamelessly, “Then you may leave. Go on, leave!”
Guo Huan would have loved to have a go at Wen Leyang with his Moon’s blade. He panted heavily and tried hard to make his voice sound calmer, “If you leave and an enemy comes, they will all die. It will only take you a day to recuperate…”
Wen Leyang did not say anything else. He looked at his two badly injured companions, his expression was hesitant.
At this moment, a fair and gentle voice sounded without warning, “Go in pursuit with ease. I’ll hold this fort!” It was unknown when the lama Rangjung had woken up from his trance. He looked at Wen Leyang with bright eyes.
Naturally, Wen Leyang’s thoughts were to have Tutatunte lead him to pursue the worm and the Hua family members. He was also badly injured and could barely fight a foe, but with Guo Huan’s help, it would not be a problem to protect himself if he was truly in danger. However, his only worry was that if he left, the others would all be in a dangerous situation.
The lama Rangjung saw that Wen Leyang was still hesitating, his tone was filled with impatience, “If there’s an enemy ambush, worst comes to worst, this lama will forego his life’s cultivation base and invoke Yamantaka’s godly appearance! Rather than wasting time here, why don’t you go and find out clues about the enemy? Scram!”
After he finished, the lama paused. He shifted his gaze towards Ji Song. By his looks, he wanted Ji Song to aid Wen Leyang in this pursuit.
Ji Song looked to his left and right, pretending not to notice.
Wen Leyang did not hesitate. He nodded towards Fei Fei. Although Fei Fei was reluctant for Wen Leyang to take the risk, she did not stop him. She gesticulated towards Tutatunte and exchanged several strange syllables.
Tutatunte jumped over jubilantly. He carried Wen Leyang on his back and ran towards the boundless majestic snow-covered peaks!
The others stayed put and waited for their return. Old Gu, Fei Fei and Xiao Sha were ordinary humans. They could not keep up with Tutatunte’s speed. They were also aware that they would only get in the way if they followed.
The big circle, worm and the two Hua family disciples were swiftly escaping in the ice. Tutatunte gave chase wildly on the snow. He quickly disappeared from sight.
Tutatunte had long legs. He looked just like an ostrich carrying Wen Leyang. The speed at which he ran was fast. Wen Leyang said nothing. He tried hard to expand his telegnosis ability towards his surroundings. He strived to find something. However, other than icy snow and the strong wind, there was nothing around them, it was completely empty!
They pursued until dusk fell. Tutatunte finally slowed down. He was covered in sweat. He placed Wen Leyang down beside him. Then, he sprawled on the ice surface again. He listened and sniffed as he busied himself. Guo Huan wondered within the jade knife, “What does this mean?”
Wen Leyang looked at Tutatunte’s expression and shook his head with a bitter smile, “Looks like he has lost them!”
As expected, Tutatunte crawled back on his feet after a short while. His face was full of dejection. He first shrugged at Wen Leyang, pointed at the ice surface then gestured an exaggerated depth with his arms. He signaled that the big circle, worm, and the Hua family obscure cultivator had dove too deep. He could no longer pick up their tracks.
The ice cap on Geladaindong Peak was more than a hundred meters thick. If the other party was traveling in a shallow area, Tutatunte could still manage to keep up. However, when they reached this spot, the other party suddenly dove deep. The African brother could not do anything.
Wen Leyang caressed the fine hairs that sprouted up under his chin lately, he smiled bitterly with dissatisfaction showing on his face. They had pursued all this while. The end was just before their eyes but the other party unexpectedly took a deep dive underground. Now his body had healed greatly, but it still was not enough for him to use the Faulty Punch to penetrate this hard ice.
Of course, Guo Huan would not be willing to use his treasured weapons to crack the ice. Tutatunte was unsatisfied. He gesticulated towards Wen Leyang and asked probingly, “Do you want to look for the ice fissure so we can climb down and have a look?”
Tutatunte shook his head resolutely. Then, he skipped and ran towards the ice fissure dozens of meters away from them. He climbed down with agile limbs.
Guo Huan broke into laughter…
In no time, Tutatunte reappeared with ice shards covering his head. He joined his palms together and parted them while still joined at the wrist. This time it was Guo Huan who asked, “The fissure got narrower as it got deeper and you can’t go down?”
Tutatunte shook his head resolutely again. He found another fissure and jumped down…
Wen Leyang seemed to have understood. He shook his head to say that he did not understand what you said.
On the snow-covered peak, many fissures intertwine with each other. The ice cap, which Wen Leyang was on, had an outrageous amount of ice fissures. They spread out like a spider’s web. It was apparent that the contour of the peak was crooked and savage. However, these fissures were not very wide and were all shaped like a funnel, they could not go down too deep. Tutatunte seemed to know that his actions now were extremely important. He would not give up. He went up and down every fissure tirelessly.
Sometimes, he went down a fissure and surfaced from the neighboring fissure. Although he knew that there were natural passageways formed among these fissures, Wen Leyang still felt that Tutatunte’s actions were strange. He had an urge after he observed for some time. If someone gave him a mallet, he would hit Tutatunte’s head the moment he appeared…
After he tried all of the nearby fissures, Tutatunte ran to a further spot. Wen Leyang’s expression shifted from a bitter smile to one of touched. The African brother did not even know why he had to do such things. He would go out of his way just because someone asked for his help.
Tutatunte labored endlessly, working from dusk till the crescent moon hung in the sky. He was exhausted to the point where he could no longer keep his back straight. His tall and lanky figure was the size of a matchstick in Wen Leyang’s eyes.
Wen Leyang’s wounds healed quickly now. He reckoned that he would be able to use his Faulty Punch to break the ice come dawn. If they waited until tomorrow’s noon, his body would practically be healed.
Tutatunte carried him and pursued from dawn till dusk. It was meaningless to return to the campsite now. If they ran back, it would be daybreak when they arrived. During that moment, even if Rangjung and Po Tu were not completely healed, they could at least protect themselves when faced with an enemy.
Wen Leyang raised his volume and shouted at Tutatunte far away. He wanted to call him back and wait until tomorrow morning where he would break the ice with Faulty Punch and see for himself. However, Tutatunte waved his arms from afar, his face was full of joy. He pointed strongly in front of him and opened his arms in an exaggerated manner. He meant that this fissure was large. Then, he flipped and leaped. Like a nimble monkey, he climbed down swiftly.
A dozen minutes later, a slightly suffocating sharp cry came from the far away fissure!
A moment later, Tutatunte scrambled out of the fissure as if his pants was on fire. His face was full of fright as he squalled and ran towards Wen Leyang!
Wen Leyang was familiar with this expression. He stood up strenuously. He walked towards Tutatunte while he said to Guo Huan, “Something’s wrong!”
Guo Huan laughed pompously, “You’re bound to bump into the big worm when you tunneled into enough holes!” His voice barely faded when Wen Leyang’s body suddenly shook. He noticed with surprise that his telegnosis ability detected an enemy!
Within Wen Leyang’s telegnosis ability, eight figures were flying swiftly up the fissure like angered falcons. These people were not the white-robed Hua family but the small town’s Tibetan people in old-fashioned clothes!
These Tibetans had been hiding and lying silently, waiting under that wide fissure. Their motives were unknown but they were unintentionally dug up by Tutatunte, who was searching frantically for the worm and obscure cultivators!
