Hong Renjie pointed a finger at Hong Yu, a venomous smile on his face.
SWISH! All eyes focused on Hong Yu.
So gloated at his misfortune, so looked on with pity and sorrow, and others simply watched with cold indifference...
It was a microcosm of human nature, all displayed in that single mont.
Hong Long was the first to chi in. "I agree with Brother Jie's suggestion. I've heard this Hong Yu has so very special abilities, with a strong talent for identifying and handling danger. I think it's most appropriate for him to test the power of the Sea of Blood first!"
Seeing this, the Third Master of the Thief Gang also raised his hand in agreent.
His eyes glead with the thrill of revenge as he shot Hong Yu a frigid glare.
"If that's the case, then you shall be the one to test it," Ding Yuanshan said as well.
For a mont, everyone waited for Hong Yu's reply.
Hong Yu narrowed his eyes. Unexpectedly, he didn't speak, but instead revealed a pensive expression.
"Junior Brother Hong, you're not actually going to agree, are you?" Ling Tian, who was beside him, cautioned.
This was just how Ling Tian was.
He never cared if others would resent him for his words; he loved who he loved, hated who he hated, and said whatever was on his mind. This was the real Ling Tian—a young genius who wasn't particularly skilled at social interaction.
Tie Shou, on the other hand, was much more versed in the ways of the world. He didn't speak up directly, but instead gave Hong Yu a subtle, hidden nudge. When Hong Yu looked over, Tie Shou gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. The aning was obvious: 'Don't agree!'
This misty Sea of Blood was simply too bizarre.
Not only was the water a toxic blood from powerful Desolate Beasts, comparable to the Primordial Core Realm, but more importantly, there seed to be so mysterious creatures lurking within the dense fog. All these unknown factors were enough to send even a powerful expert to the Nine Netherworld Yama Hall.
Hong Renjie gently patted Hong Yu's shoulder, but in reality, he used Dark Force, applying pressure that sent a sharp, stabbing pain through Hong Yu's shoulder and made the muscles in his face twitch.
Hong Renjie chuckled sinisterly. "Junior Brother Hong Yu, I trust you won't disappoint the expectations of so many of us, right?"
Hong Yu frowned but said nothing.
At this very mont, his Heart Spirit was subrged within the Profound Celestial Tower...
'Little One, is everything you just said true?' Hong Yu asked in surprise.
Little One, holding its Big Smoking Pipe in one hand, replied, "This one has always prided myself on loyalty, integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness, never cheating the old or the young. Besides, given our relationship, there's no way I'd lie to you!"
'If, as you say, the Exotic Beast Demon in the Sea of Blood is very difficult to deal with, how am I supposed to get past this first trial?' Hong Yu asked with a frown.
Little One giggled. "Well, about that..." It blinked its bright eyes. "You know how it is, right?"
'What do you want this ti?'
Hong Yu sighed.
Little One rubbed its tender little palms together and giggled again. "How could this one possibly scam one of my own? Don't worry, I would never scam you. Just fifty percent of your total haul from the Eight Desolates Mansion will do. With a fifty-percent cut, you can't go wrong, you won't have any regrets! But for a fifty-percent cut, you get to enjoy this deity's information and assistance for the entire journey, allowing you to obtain unparalleled benefits..."
"..."
Hong Yu rolled his eyes and said through gritted teeth, 'Thirty percent, tops!'
'Forty percent!'
'Just thirty percent. Otherwise, we can just call the whole thing off...'
After a round of shaless and sleazy haggling, they finally sealed the deal at a price of thirty-five percent.
The smile on Little One's face grew even more radiant, as if it were a grand strategist directing an empire. "The venom in the Horned Python's blood is indeed potent, but for every poison, there is an antidote. The Demon in the Sea of Blood is the key to countering that blood toxin. You just need to lure one out, capture it, and then use it as a mount. You'll be able to cross the Sea of Blood with ease."
'But you said the Demon in the Sea of Blood is exceptionally cunning, an Exotic Beast even stranger than a Desolate Beast. How am I supposed to subdue it?' Hong Yu asked, confused.
Little One chuckled. "An ordinary expert would naturally have no way, but you're different. Your Power of Soul is already twice as strong as an ordinary expert's. With the amplification from your Star River Spirit Bone, your current Power of Soul is enough to subdue a Demon. Of course, since this deity has accepted your paynt, I will certainly tell you how to subdue the Demon. Now listen closely..."
Just as Hong Yu was listening to Little One impart the Secret Technique...
Neither Little One nor Hong Yu noticed that in a dark corner of the space inside the Profound Celestial Tower, a small, furry figure was squatting on the ground.
It was clutching a half-eaten fruit in its front paws, staring at the two with jewel-like eyes, committing their entire transaction to mory. A strange light seed to flash through its lively, clear eyes, which now held a hint of profound, unfathomable cunning that one could only see in the eyes of a seasoned rchant.
All of this seed to take a long ti, but in reality, it happened in the span of a single thought.
When Hong Renjie pressed him for the third ti, Hong Yu finally returned to reality and smiled. "Alright. So what if I go test it first?"
"Huh?"
"He agreed?"
"Holy crap, am I hearing things?"
Every single expert had been certain that Hong Yu would refuse this suicidal mission.
But Hong Yu's final answer was completely unexpected, shocking everyone...
Ling Tian was furious. "Hong Yu, are you stupid?"
Hong Yu: "..." Faced with the outspoken Ling Tian, he could only offer a wry smile, at a loss for what else to say.
How could Hong Yu not understand the genuine worry and anxiety Ling Tian felt for him?
Tie Shou also frowned. "Junior Brother Hong, this Sea of Blood is perilously unpredictable. You should think twice!"
Hong Yu was just wondering how to explain himself.
Hong Renjie, afraid he would go back on his word, quickly said, "Good, good! Junior Brother Hong is indeed a man of his word. How about this? In light of your bravery, you can make one request as your last words... ah, I an, not last words, but... final wishes! Ah, just listen to this mouth of mine!"
Even as Hong Renjie feigned self-reproach, the smugness in his eyes was utterly unconcealed.
Hong Yu pursed his lips, tempted to make a sarcastic remark.
But then, recalling Hong Renjie's words, a strange expression appeared on Hong Yu's face. He put on a solemn look, like a martyr going to his heroic death. "This journey is perilous and unpredictable. The mont I step into the Sea of Blood might be the mont I die. I have an audacious request now, and I wonder if you all would be willing to grant it to ?"
Hong Renjie couldn't wait for Hong Yu to jump into the Sea of Blood and die. He waved his hand dismissively and urged, "Whatever your condition is, we'll agree to it!"
"You don't get to decide!"
Hong Yu rolled his eyes and looked at Ding Yuanshan. "Master Ding, my request is simple. If I am fortunate enough to reach the other side, I must be the first to choose a Treasure. The second and third picks will go to my brothers, Ling Tian and Senior Brother Tie Shou. If you agree, I'll go test it. If you don't, then you can find soone else!"
After saying this, Hong Yu crossed his arms over his chest and fell silent, looking perfectly composed and at ease.
His posture clearly said he couldn't be bothered, that they could do whatever they wanted.
Hong Renjie frowned and exchanged a look with Ding Yuanshan.
Ding Yuanshan's sharp brows knitted together as he thought, 'This young man has quite a grudge against Hong Renjie. And Hong Renjie's talent and combat power are truly monstrous; even I might not be his match. I shouldn't make an enemy of this person. Forget it, I'll just do him this favor.'
At this thought, Ding Yuanshan nodded. "If you can find a safe path to the other side, the three of you may choose from the Treasures there first. However, each person may only choose one item!"
Hearing this, Hong Renjie also nodded in agreent.
'Never mind how terrifying this Sea of Blood is—if Hong Yu goes in, he'd lose nine and a half of his ten lives. Just the fact that they're only allowed to pick one Treasure each is a major restriction.'
'After all, the Treasures left behind by a dignified Primordial Core Realm expert surely wouldn't be shabby.'
'Unless...'
'There are only three Treasures!'
'But the Eight Desolates Old Demon dominated the Southern Ten Nations back in his day. He was incredibly wealthy. Would he really have left only three Treasures? Obviously not!'
Hong Renjie couldn't help but praise his own brilliant and divine-like strategy.
'To think I ca up with such a venomous sche in a flash of inspiration.'
'Whether Hong Yu succeeds or not, I'll still be the final winner. Why wouldn't I be happy about that?'
Since both Ding Yuanshan and Hong Renjie had agreed, no one else would object.
Hong Yu smiled and reassured Ling Tian and Tie Shou, then strode proudly toward the Sea of Blood. Standing at its edge, Hong Yu flipped his palm over. A flash of Flowing Light appeared, and a wound opened on his palm. Blindingly red blood dripped into the Sea of Blood and was quickly swallowed by the foul, bloody waves.
And so, Hong Yu waited quietly.
Ti ticked by, and in the blink of an eye, half a double-hour had passed...
"What's he doing? He's been standing there forever without moving!"
"Is he deliberately stalling for ti?"
"Damn it, you coward! If you didn't dare enter the Sea of Blood, why did you accept the task?"
Both sides gradually lost their patience, and the curses and insults grew more frequent.
Hong Yu remained deaf to it all.
Until a certain mont...
The poisonous fog ahead suddenly dispersed. The Sea of Blood surged violently, and a jet-black figure leaped out from within.
The sudden appearance of this monster revealed its considerable size. It was seven or eight ters long and two ters wide, with an appearance sowhat like a centipede. Its jet-black, hard shell was sharply angled and glinted with a tallic sheen. This was the king that lived in this Sea of Blood—the Demon!
This was an Exotic Beast, different from a Desolate Beast.
It wasn't a species, but a lifeform born of parasitic mutation. It loved to live as a parasite in the blood of Desolate Beasts, especially in rare, highly toxic blood like this.
It was brought here when the Eight Desolates Old Demon extracted the toxic blood, and it gestated in this sea of venom for several hundred years. Only after growing to such a large size was it finally released when a chanism was triggered, regaining its freedom. Just a mont ago, it had been lurking in the Sea of Blood, waiting for a human to walk into its trap.
But it hadn't expected that after waiting so long, no one ca down. Instead, a strange, powerful summons had drawn it out of the Sea of Blood.
'Perfect timing!'
Hong Yu's gaze sharpened.
This was the mont he had been waiting for.
His hands moved, forming the Mystic Sect Seal Technique that Little One had taught him. He condensed a massive character for "Suppress" out of thin air. Within his mind, the Star River Spirit Bone erupted with brilliant starlight, making the "Suppress" Seal Technique even sharper and more imposing. With a WHOOSH, it shot out and branded itself onto the Demon's forehead.
The massive Demon shuddered, a hint of confusion in its eyes, and fell back into the Sea of Blood.
A few monts later...
The Demon resurfaced on the Sea of Blood, its eyes vacant, allowing Hong Yu to leap onto its broad back.
ROAR!
The Demon let out a low roar and began to cruise through the Sea of Blood with Hong Yu.
On the shore, Hong Renjie and the others were dumbfounded. "What the hell is that thing?"
After Hong Yu demonstrated that the Demon could guarantee safe passage across the poisonous Sea of Blood, everyone clambered onto its back.
Seeing Hong Yu's faint smile, Hong Renjie felt like ten thousand wild beasts were stampeding through his heart. Suffocating with frustration, he sneered, "He only gets to take one item. The vast majority of the rewards will still be in our hands!"
Hong Yu's ear twitched slightly; he had naturally heard Hong Renjie's muttering.
He felt neither anger nor indignation. Instead, a cunning look erged from his calm deanor. The corners of his lips curled up with an inscrutable, playful sense of anticipation as his eyes pierced through the hazy fog, looking ahead.
There, in the mist, upon the Sea of Blood, a small, furry figure was paddling its paws, swimming toward the opposite shore.
The little creature's jewel-like eyes sparkled with a strange light, as if it, too, was looking forward to seeing the expressions on the faces of the people behind it when they finally reached the other side...
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