Published: March 3, 2025
Chapter 278: Escaping Underground (Combined Chapter)
The torrent of flames spewed forth by over a thousand Flying Fire Will-O'-the-Wisps gradually dissipated in the night sky, and the obstacle that stood before the three men, including the bearded man, had vanished.
Yet, they did not dare to take another step forward.
The bearded man widened his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing.
That experienced and deeply skilled “leader,” who held dual identities and led them through the Jinxing Branch, had simply died just like that?
He was well aware of Elder Qing Song’s strength. How could that yellow-robed Daoist with unkempt hair have eliminated him in such a short time?
Then, what about the strength of the opponent...
Thinking of this, cold sweat broke out on the bearded man's forehead.
As for the two brightly dressed female cultivators, they shared the same thoughts. Their eyes widened, and they huddled closely against the bearded man.
Their gazes toward Liu Yu were filled with shock, fear, and reverence, with not a trace of hatred.
They had only united out of self-interest, relying on each other when resources for cultivation were scarce to pull off a big heist.
Like shifting sands, they came together when there was profit and scattered when there was none—there were no feelings involved.
Naturally, they had no strange thoughts about avenging one another.
Moreover, since even Elder Qing Song had been killed in a short time, how could they hope to deal with him?
In an instant, the three exchanged glances with a deeper sense of awe toward Liu Yu.
At the same time, they cursed in their hearts, wondering if Elder Qing Song, with his failing eyesight, could not have chosen his targets more carefully. Was this truly a fat sheep?
Looking at how Liu Yu skillfully collected the spoils, it was clear he was a fierce tiger!
At that moment, the three received a message from Azure, and they exchanged discreet nods.
The two small groups quietly drew closer, with a hint of intention to unite.
There are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests.
The bearded man and his companions knew that these two were not on the same side. Seeing the astonishing strength displayed by one of them, the other likely felt extremely uneasy.
Thus, the weak allied against the strong became the path to self-preservation.
As soon as they had made up their minds, the reaction speed of the foundation establishment cultivators was no match for that of mere mortals, and their communication through spiritual consciousness was incredibly swift.
From the death of Elder Qing Song to the four of them laying down their disputes and reaching a tacit understanding, merely four or five breaths had passed.
The bearded man and his companions looked at each other with a mixture of vigilance and panic, while Azure’s eyes were filled with unease and alertness.
“Ha~”
Having taken in their “little actions,” Liu Yu smiled lightly, as he was all too familiar with this kind of gaze.
The short burst of full power had achieved the desired effect, and his magical power had been replenished by the Premium Snowflake Brew, still around eighty percent.
With the strongest among them, Elder Qing Song, now dead, the remaining four posed little threat to him, even if they formed an alliance.
“Should I take the opportunity to harvest some fuel?”
“The wealth of these people should be worth a good number of spiritual stones.”
Liu Yu watched their actions with a smile that held a hint of mischief, weighing his options in his heart.
The initial investment at the jade alchemy hall, combined with his purchases at the Jinxing Bazaar, had left his storage bag nearly empty, with just over two thousand spiritual stones remaining.
The wealth of these foundation establishment cultivators could almost replenish half of what he had spent.
“Friend Hong's strength is astounding and hidden from view, certainly not something ordinary loose cultivators can compare to. I admire you!”
As the Flying Fire Will-O'-the-Wisps and the White Spiritual Butterfly circled around him, Azure spoke in a serious tone before suddenly changing the subject: