Chapter 28: He Had Never Seen Such a Shameless Person…

As Lin Chuyun’s voice fell, countless thick branches burst out from the desert.

These branches were even thicker than the main body of the previous tree demon. Strange flames clung to them. The fire didn’t burn the branches themselves but distorted the surrounding air with its heat.

On the ground, vines had silently crept in at some unknown point. These vines looked unremarkable, but they radiated a chilling cold that seeped into one’s very core.

Lin Chuyun looked at the two demon beasts before him, let out a deep breath, and his grip on Feng Xixing’s hand tightened slightly.

In the original book, Bai Linghan hadn’t encountered the smaller tree demon. He had found the Purple Ice Soul Stone directly and was then wounded by this very Flame Tree Demon that had been lying in wait.

The original text hadn’t detailed this part much, only mentioning that Feng Xixing had struggled mightily to defeat this Flame Tree Demon.

So Lin Chuyun was mentally prepared. He knew this particular demon beast possessed considerable cultivation. As expected, the Flame Tree Demon had reached the Core Formation Mid Stage, a level far beyond what Golden Core stage disciples could handle.

But the problem was, the original book never mentioned there being two of them!!!

Lin Chuyun was now seriously doubting whether he could defeat these two demon beasts with his own half-baked sword skills and spiritual power. Compared to the Flame Tree Demon, he actually felt that the unremarkable vine was much more terrifying.

Sensing Lin Chuyun’s grip on his hand tighten, as if frightened by the scene, Feng Xixing frowned. He stepped forward to stand in front of Lin Chuyun, subtly shielding him.

Yan Sha was still shocked by the sight before him, but then he turned his head and saw those two holding hands again. He felt like he was some sort of glowing crystal, shining like a beacon.

……

The appearance of the two demon beasts also caught the disciples attacking the smaller tree demon off guard, and several were sent flying instantly. The remaining few reacted quickly enough to scatter and avoid severe injury.

The downed smaller tree demon was quickly wrapped up and protected by the vines, held securely beneath them as the Flame Tree Demon began attacking the surrounding disciples without mercy.

These disciples were all at Foundation Establishment. Working together to resist a single demon beast at the early Core Formation stage was already difficult. Now facing a mid Core Formation stage beast, they were completely defenseless. Within moments, several disciples were struck by the Flame Tree Demon, sustaining severe injuries and collapsing to the ground.

Bai Linghan had originally stood at a distance, but when the smaller tree demon fell, he instinctively stepped forward, wanting to find the treasure he sensed. As a result, he was now trapped in the Flame Tree Demon’s attack range, chased about in a pathetic and wretched state.

What pained him most was that the flames on the tree demon’s branches were extremely strange. Even his spiritual power couldn’t extinguish them. If a single spark touched you, it would burn until nothing was left.

Bai Linghan ducked to avoid another branch, his gaze sweeping around.

The Foundation Establishment disciples were all trying desperately to flee, but the Flame Tree Demon blocked them at every turn. Two disciples who had been touched by the flames didn’t even have time to sever their limbs before they were burned to ash.

Bai Linghan’s expression was dark. He didn’t care if these disciples lived or died, but he couldn’t stand the thought of giving up this treasure.

He had assumed that defeating that one tree demon was all it would take to get the treasure. He never expected such a powerful demon beast to appear. If he had known, he would have stolen the treasure while the disciples were busy swarming the smaller tree demon.

Growing more and more unwilling to let it go, Bai Linghan scanned the area, his mind racing for a way to lure the two demon beasts away. As his eyes roved, his gaze landed on Xu Quanfeng.

His chance to enter the Thunder Echo Grotto had come from the slot Xu Quanfeng gave him. Bai Linghan was sure that Xu Quanfeng had a favorable impression of him.

It was true that Xu Quanfeng had been inexplicably cold to him since last night, but Bai Linghan believed it was only because he’d been such a mess. Now the wounds on his face were healed and his appearance was restored. There was no way Xu Quanfeng would keep avoiding him.

Seeing Xu Quanfeng dodge an attack from the Flame Tree Demon and fly over on his sword, Bai Linghan seized the chance to approach him. His face was a mask of anxiety. “Senior Brother Xu, those disciples are about to fall! You need to think of something, quickly!”

Xu Quanfeng dodged a branch, his face an ugly, furious mask. He wanted nothing more than to strike Bai Linghan with his sword.

Since that morning, he’d wanted to split up and go his own way, to get as far away from this strange disciple as possible. But after Bai Linghan told everyone there was treasure here, they insisted on helping him snatch it. They wouldn’t listen to any rebuke.

If those disciples were from another peak, he would have abandoned them long ago. But they were from Spirit Wind Peak. As the Eldest Senior Brother of Spirit Wind Peak, he could never let his junior brothers risk themselves like this.

Now the situation was critical, and Bai Linghan had the nerve to tell him to think of something?! If cutting down Bai Linghan right now would appease the two demon beasts, he wouldn’t hesitate for a second!

Xu Quanfeng shot a murderous glare at Bai Linghan and, without a word, charged forward. He barely managed to rescue one person before a branch from the Flame Tree Demon smashed into his protective barrier, shattering it in less than a second.

“Ugh…” Xu Quanfeng swallowed the metallic taste of blood in his throat and dodged more branches with the person he saved, landing near Lin Chuyun’s group.

The look Xu Quanfeng gave him chilled Bai Linghan to the bone. Before he could even speak, the Flame Tree Demon targeted him again. And Xu Quanfeng didn’t even glance his way, as if he didn’t care about him at all.

No… it wasn’t as if he didn’t. He didn’t care!

Bai Linghan’s face paled. He didn’t understand what had happened. It felt like something was slipping from his control, but he had no idea what it was, much less how to fix it.

The disciple Xu Quanfeng rescued was badly hurt. He force-fed the man a pill, but had no time to treat his wounds. In the short moment he was delayed, another disciple was burned to ash by the flames.

Luckily, the remaining disciples had stabilized. Working together, they raised a spiritual power shield to keep the tree demon at bay. But this was only temporary. Once their spiritual power ran out, they would all be burned to ash.

It was all Bai Linghan’s fault…

Xu Quanfeng gritted his teeth, staring daggers at Bai Linghan, his heart filled with regret. If he hadn’t been so possessed, so insistent on finding Bai Linghan first, these disciples would never have faced such a terrifying demon beast!

His murderous gaze made Bai Linghan’s blood run cold. Not daring to stay a moment longer, he watched as the Flame Tree Demon tried to break the disciples’ shield. Seizing the moment, he summoned his Green Water Sword and fled at top speed.

“Cough, cough.”

Lin Chuyun coughed softly, trying to get Xu Quanfeng’s attention. But Xu Quanfeng only stared after the direction Bai Linghan had fled with an intense, burning gaze.

“COUGH!!!” Lin Chuyun increased his volume. When Xu Quanfeng finally turned his head, Lin Chuyun gave a gentle smile and spoke in a soft tone. “Senior Brother Xu, would you like to make a deal?”

Xu Quanfeng didn’t know him, and he frowned, ready to refuse. But then he saw the two people standing behind Lin Chuyun.

Feng Xixing and Yan Sha.

Although Xu Quanfeng was a disciple of Spirit Wind Peak, he’d heard of these two. One was a fierce man who used a mere disciple spirit sword, with only Foundation Establishment spiritual power, yet still forced his way into the third round of the Disciple Grand Competition. The other was the prized disciple of Zhu Yan of Spirit Fire Peak, who had broken through to the Golden Core stage in just two short years.

Seeing them, Xu Quanfeng immediately swallowed his refusal. He began to wonder just who this person before him was.

Xu Quanfeng’s eyes swept over the group before he asked a clarifying question. “Are you speaking for yourself, or for all three?”

Lin Chuyun wasn’t surprised by his caution. He raised an eyebrow slightly and said firmly, “For all of us, naturally.”

Behind him, Feng Xixing and Yan Sha could hear his reply but made no move to object.

“Speak.” Xu Quanfeng’s voice held a hint of impatience. Every moment he delayed, the disciples of Spirit Wind Peak were in greater danger. “What is this deal?”

Lin Chuyun didn’t want to waste time either, but… he needed to confirm one thing first.

“Senior Brother Xu is very fond of Junior Brother Bai?”

If Xu Quanfeng still liked Bai Linghan… then his asking price would have to go up.

Xu Quanfeng was stunned that this was the first question. But he quickly remembered the rumors in the sect about Feng Xixing and Bai Linghan. When he’d been under Bai Linghan’s spell earlier, he’d naturally thought it was all Feng Xixing’s fault.

But seeing things now…

“No!” Xu Quanfeng said firmly.

Lin Chuyun looked at him skeptically for a moment before laying his cards on the table. “Since you say so, when we move against him in the future…”

“I will help you.” Xu Quanfeng took a deep breath, suppressing the rage in his voice. “To be frank, if not for the urgency of saving my Spirit Wind Peak brothers, I would kill him myself right now.”

The disciples who qualified to enter the Thunder Echo Grotto were all talented. If trained well, they would be great assets to Star Point Sect. Now, because of one man, they were dying here.

Lin Chuyun didn’t expect Xu Quanfeng to hate Bai Linghan this much. He was dumbfounded for a moment, forgetting what he was about to say.

The original book’s plot was falling apart way too fast.

Behind him, Feng Xixing saw him spacing out, and his expression darkened. Could Lin Chuyun be thinking that now that Xu Quanfeng had no interest in Bai Linghan, he had another chance with him?

He narrowed his eyes, staring at the back of Lin Chuyun’s neck and grinding his teeth, fighting the urge to bite down.

Luckily, before Feng Xixing’s thoughts could wander any further, Lin Chuyun snapped out of it. He continued, “In that case, I’ll be direct. There are three conditions for our help.”

Xu Quanfeng looked at him, not agreeing outright.

“First, I want the Ice Silkworm Illusion Crystal you have,” Lin Chuyun said, completely blunt and unapologetic.

Xu Quanfeng’s expression flickered. He did have the Ice Silkworm Illusion Crystal. It was a once-off find, and even his Shizun didn’t know about it. How could this disciple know?!

He saw the wariness and suspicion in Xu Quanfeng’s eyes, but Lin Chuyun only smiled, offering no explanation. “Second, I need your help with a task. Don’t worry, it will be within your capabilities.”

Xu Quanfeng stared at him silently and asked, “And the third?”

“Third… I want the demon cores of these two demon beasts and the treasure they guard.”

Compared to the first two, the third demand was well within Xu Quanfeng’s expectations. But his expression still darkened, and his eyes were full of caution as he looked at Lin Chuyun.

This disciple knows me too well. That was his clearest impression.

Every single one of these three conditions pushed right up against his bottom line, yet didn’t cross it. They would cause him great pain, but to save the Spirit Wind Peak disciples, he would have to agree.

Just who was this person?!

Lin Chuyun stood calmly, letting Xu Quanfeng scrutinize him. The Disguise Art on his face was relatively low-level, but one would still need to be in the Golden Core Late Stage to see through it. Even if Xu Quanfeng racked his brain, he’d never guess this was Immortal Lord Lin.

The dignified Immortal Lord Lin, teaming up with his personal disciple to fleece disciples of other peaks of their treasures… who would believe it?

Xu Quanfeng indeed couldn’t figure it out. But he had no other choice. He gritted his teeth and agreed, “Fine.”

Lin Chuyun was not surprised at all and smiled. “I’ll need a deposit from you first, Senior Brother Xu. After all, it would be a great loss to us if you were to, say, go back on your word.”

Xu Quanfeng was utterly stunned. He had never seen such a shameless person in his life.

Lin Chuyun ignored his expression and smiled very innocently. “This junior brother won’t ask for much. Just give us the Ice Silkworm Illusion Crystal now, and that will do.”

Clutching his chest, Xu Quanfeng strongly suspected he might die of rage from this man before the tree demon could ever kill him!