Chapter 163 - Let’s Join Forces and Fight Our Way Out

Gu Han owed his earlier cultivation breakthrough to the red bead. After the mysterious meridian completely refined the red mist, only an extraordinarily marvelous essence remained. Thanks to that, not only was all his bodily harms repaired, his cultivation nearly advanced to the Spirit Profound realm.

He was all too familiar with the essence’s aura. It was the exact same liquid used to cultivate the Seven Star Grass in the Yang family’s secret realm. At the same time, it was also the greatest opportunity within this secret realm. Hence, although the bead was an extremely lethal killing tool for others, it was an incomparable, ultimate cultivation resource for Gu Han. As if he would let it slip away!

Just as Gu Han approached that area, his ears caught faint, intermittent low roars. There were much fewer now compared to before. Having lost their target, they had gradually and mindlessly wandered elsewhere.

This is my chance!

Gu Han took a deep breath. He swiftly approached the previous battlefield, flickering repeatedly. Very quickly, he found Yang Lin’s severed hand lying on the ground, still clenching the bright red bead. Silently and without a trace, Gu Han swerved it.

Wait! There’s more!

He remembered that before Yang Lin fled, his left hand had also been severed by Gu Han. There was a storage ring on that hand!

Without hesitation, he advanced forward once more. However, just as he reached that spot, his brow furrowed. Nearby, a monster was wandering nearby incessantly, drooling and muttering incessantly. It was unmistakably the one smashed by Murong Yan’s hammer.

Gu Han felt a headache coming on. “What the...”

It still hasn’t left? Did the hammer smash its brains out? No, these monsters have no intelligence, so it doesn’t make a difference whether they’re stupid or not...

Regardless, Gu Han had no intention of giving up either. The concentration of the red mist within that bead was dozens of times higher than in the secret realm.

As his thoughts churned, he had already formed a plan. Sneaking near a large red boulder, his killing intent gradually rose.

Supported with four giant palms, the monster moved at an extreme speed. Gu Han remained impassive, his killing intent growing fiercer and fiercer. In no time at all, the monster had reached the side of the boulder. The nearly solidified killing intent still made it somewhat uncomfortable instinctively.

It let out a low roar, about to smash the stone to pieces. “Glory!”

There was a flash of bright light. In the next instant, a sword brimming with killing intent had already pierced its vertical eye. Just as it began crying in pain, another flash of light passed, instantly separating its head from its body. It was dead beyond doubt.

Gu Han secretly sighed in relief. Although the ambush was simple and swift, he had also exerted his full strength. Even the slightest mistake would have alerted the other monsters.

Without delay, Gu Han retrieved Yang Lin’s storage ring. He caught a glance of the red bead inside.

Joy surged in his heart.

Got it!

As the secret realm mutated, the liquid treasure—their original goal—became an uncertain prospect. However, having these two beads would greatly accelerate his cultivation speed. Stowing the storage ring away, he prepared to leave quietly.

Suddenly, a series of rumbling sounds came from the distance. Gu Han’s expression shifted as he looked into the distance. He saw Zhi Xuan stumbling and staggering toward him, her spirit light flickering. Two monsters were chasing her in tow.

The moment she recognized Gu Han, she sped up with surprise and delight. “Save—”

Gu Han roared under his breath, “Shut up!”

Certain that the foolish woman wanted to harm him, his face darkened like the bottom of a pot. Intense coldness emanated from his gaze. “Stop, don’t move! Don’t come over here!”

He sneered inwardly.

Is she diverting disaster onto me? You’ve picked the wrong person!

Unexpectedly, upon hearing his words, Zhi Xuan actually stood there foolishly. She trembled incessantly, clearly frightened to the extreme.

“Glory...”

Behind her, the two monsters caught up in an instant. Muttering incessantly, four huge hands raised high, about to smash her into a pulp. Zhi Xuan still didn’t move as she trembled even more violently.

Gu Han stole a glance back and was dumbfounded. “Idiot! Do you really want to die?”

Zhi Xuan was almost in tears. “

Ah?

Didn’t you ask me not to move...”

Gu Han was speechless.

I’ve seen stupid people, but never one this stupid! You just listen to whatever I say?

For a moment, he wondered if Zhi Xuan was doing this on purpose. However, after seeing that she still didn't move even when the large hands were only a few chi away, Gu Han finally believed it.

This girl is genuinely stupid!

At this distance, even he couldn’t possibly dodge. Helplessly, he flicked his sword, unleashing eighteen strands of Great Evolution Sword Qi at the large hands of the two monsters.

The two monsters were forced back several zhang. He wasn’t a cold-hearted, merciless person. Although Zhi Xuan was a Qixia Court disciple, she bore no grudge against him and hadn’t participated in the earlier encirclement. If she died here because of his words, he would feel somewhat guilty.

After seeing Gu Han draw his sword, Zhi Xuan was stunned for another moment.

Gu Han’s face darkened. “Run!”

She’s really stupid to the core!

Only then did Zhi Xuan react, hurriedly breaking free from the monsters’ encirclement. “

Oh

!

Oh

!”

However, the commotion had alerted the lingering monsters. In a flash, about twenty of them closed in from all directions.

Zhi Xuan looked at Gu Han helplessly. “W-what do we do...”

Gu Han’s face remained blank. “Run!”

With his killing power and speed, he was confident he could break free from the mindless monsters. Of course, there would be a price to pay.

Zhi Xuan wore an apologetic expression. “Right... I’m sorry, if it weren’t for me—”

Gu Han looked at her with disbelief. “How did someone as stupid as you manage to survive until now?”

She had the lowest cultivation level and the least courage among her peers, yet she alone had survived. This was very strange.

Zhi Xuan bit her lip. “There’s a cave over there, I-I hid there for a long time before coming out...”

“Why didn’t you keep hiding?”

“My spirit power is running out, and I don’t have many pills left either...”

Gu Han was speechless, but he knew she was telling the truth. Although this red mist was less potent than the one in the bead, constantly resisting it also consumed a great deal of spirit power. Even with his dual Supreme Stages and spirit power, he could only last half a day at most.

Zhi Xuan mustered her courage. “Don’t worry, I-I promise not to hold you back.”

Gu Han shook his head. “Sorry, I never said I’d take you with me.”

Zhi Xuan was momentarily stunned, her gaze dimming. “

Oh?

Alright then...”

After seeing the monsters closing in, Gu Han stopped wasting words. He took out the bead and threw the storage ring to Zhi Xuan.

“If I take you, we’ll both die.” He pointed in a direction. “Next, I’ll open a gap over there. Whether you can run out depends on your luck. If you survive, the pills in this storage ring should last you a while.”

Having said that, the aura around him changed. With a light flick of his sword, he charged straight toward the two monsters ahead.

Zhi Xuan glanced at the storage ring, gritted her teeth, and immediately followed.

Strands of Great Evolution Sword Qi flew out consecutively, continuously leaving deep, bone-revealing wounds on the two monsters. Although it didn’t damage their vitals, it still impeded their steps.

Seizing the opportunity, Gu Han immediately passed through the gap. There were clearly three more to the left front. Without a second thought, Gu Han changed direction, running toward the right front. Another one greeted him head-on. Still, Gu Han didn't lose his composure.

He was about to swing his sword again, when he suddenly sensed something and broke into a smile. “Perfect timing!”

A spear suddenly thrust out from the side, unstoppable and domineering. The tremendous force sent the monster flying back over ten zhang. Who else could it be but Yang Ying?

Gu Han sighed with emotion. “Brother Yang, you really know how to surprise me.”

Given how well he and Yang Ying work together, breaking out together would definitely be much easier.

Yang Ying fell silent for a moment. “I still owe you. I haven’t repaid it all yet.”

Thinking of Yang Ying’s actions earlier, Gu Han sighed softly. “Repay? You repaid it long ago. Now, it’s me who owes you.”

Yang Ying glanced at the panicked Zhi Xuan not far away. “Who is she?”

Gu Han smiled. “Not important. Let’s go?”

With Yang Ying’s nature, he wouldn’t ask further. “Alright!”

Swinging his spear, he instantly joined forces with Gu Han. Their combat power increased greatly. In just a short while, they forcibly fought their way out.

Behind the two, Zhi Xuan gritted her teeth, following them closely. It seemed she also knew this was her only chance to survive.

After a while, listening to the gradually fading monster roars, the two simultaneously sighed in relief.

We did it!

Both were somewhat disheveled and exhausted, bearing some injuries. The most terrifying aspect of these monsters was that incredibly powerful red beam. The injuries on the two were all sustained while resisting it.

Yang Ying glanced behind him. “She made it out too.”

Gu Han chuckled. “As stupid as she is, she’s got quite a bit of luck.”

After a moment of silence, Yang Ying asked again, "Did you get the thing?”

Gu Han’s spirits lifted. “Yup! This is good stuff! I know the rules, we split it fifty-fifty this time. But you might not be able to use this thing, I’ll compensate you in other—”

Yang Ying shook his head. “There’s no need for that. You’ve given enough already.”

He hesitated for a moment, before looking at Gu Han with a hint of pleading, “If we can still get out, if something happens to my mother and me, could you... look after—”

His face instantly turned deathly pale as he trembled like a sieve. Under the immense agony, the layer of protective spirit light around him vanished without a trace.

Soundlessly and tracelessly, wisp after wisp of red mist began closing in on him.