by Translator: BornToBe; Author: Ordinary Magician (平凡魔术师); Licensed From: 17k
“Can I ask who you owe this favor to? Are they worth you risking your lives?” asked Long Chen.
“This crystal core is something the junior gate master of Mo Gate, Mo Nian, requires. So we have to get it for him,” sighed Mo Xue.
“Mo Nian?”
[1] Zhang Wu, Zhang meaning manifest, Wu meaning martial.
[2] First he says he should change it to the Lang meaning wolf. But he really means , pronounced Zhang Lang with the same tones, which means cockroach.
Chapter 543 Hidden Ground Spider
“You… and Mo Nian… are you?” Long Chen felt it was a bit inconceivable.
“Where did your thoughts stray? It’s not like that at all.” Mu Xue was a bit resentful. “Our Muxue Mercenary Unit was very weak when we were first established. We were always suppressed by the other powers.
“During that time, our unit almost completely collapsed. However, those people still didn’t let up, forcing us to the brink of despair.
“It was Mo Gate who couldn’t bear to see that happen and warned our enemies that in the next three years, they were not allowed to do anything to us. Without Mo Gate, we’d have been destroyed before ever maturing.
“So we owe Mo Gate a great debt. It was Mo Gate who made the request to the Mercenary Guild, causing them to create this mission for the Hidden Ground Spider’s core. Furthermore, it is extremely urgent.
“I’ve heard it’s something they’re preparing for their junior gate master, Mo Nian. Mo Gate has treated us with kindness, but Mo Gate is too large, and we don’t even have the qualifications to return the favor. This is our only chance to repay them, so no matter what, we have to obtain the Hidden Ground Spider’s core.”
Long Chen understood now. These people were all open and candid. They didn’t like owing favors, but it was impossible for them to repay Mo Gate’s favor. That was a constant knot in their hearts.
So even though this Hidden Ground Spider was extremely powerful, and this mission was extremely dangerous, their honor did not allow them to turn back.
That made Long Chen feel a kind of respect for them. Within the cultivation world, where schemes and inner strife were everywhere, where it was either you deceive me or I deceive you, such people had already almost gone extinct.
“In truth, you should have given this information to Mo Gate, and Mo Gate would have sent several Xiantian experts to fight with you. Wouldn’t that be much easier? Why must you risk this danger?” asked Long Chen.
“There are two reasons we came to attack it on our own. The first is that we noticed the Hidden Ground Spider a year ago, but the Hidden Ground Spider often switches territories, so no one can be sure whether or not it will still be there.
“The second is that Mo Gate has now offended the Pill Tower, and the Pill Tower has stopped selling medicinal pills to them. Furthermore, it seems there are people targeting Mo Nian from behind the scenes.
“Other than Mo Gate, Qing Prefecture has three powerful sects. They stood up to publicly challenge Mo Gate at the same time, beginning to fight with them over Qing Prefecture’s natural resources. Right now, Mo Gate is in an extremely disadvantageous position and is very busy. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have asked the Mercenary Guild to set up this mission,” sighed Mu Xue.
Long Chen narrowed his eyes. Was the Pill Tower trying to show their prestige? After being cut by the Huayun Sect, they raised their own blade against Mo Gate, cutting them off from medicinal pills.
Furthermore, now those other sects were fighting against Mo Gate. That would sever Mo Gate not only from the medicinal pills, but from all their other resources. They really were vicious.
As for the three large sects Mu Xue mentioned, Long Chen did have some impression of them. Back in the Jiuli secret realm, Mo Nian had been entangled by three powerful experts. It seemed they were very familiar with each other, and they should have each come from their own powerful sect.
But in the end, two of those experts had been cut down, while the last one’s situation was something he wasn’t aware of because the battle had been too chaotic.
He really hadn’t expected the three huge sects to challenge Mo Gate now. It was without a doubt that there was a powerful backer behind them. And the power supporting them was very likely the Pill Tower.
Recently, the Pill Tower had lost all their prestige because of the Huayun Sect. Now, it seemed they were planning on using Mo Gate to retrieve that prestige and warn the other sects of their power.
“Definitely looking to die,” said Long Chen lightly.
“Whether or not we’re looking to die, we still have to pay back our favor, especially now that Mo Gate is in such an urgent state. We can only do this much.” Mu Xue bitterly smiled.
“I’m not talking about you.” Long Chen shook his head. “Although my own combat strength is the weakest of everyone here, I know a great deal about Magical Beasts’ habits and characters. I can probably help you a bit.”
“Really?” Mu Xue was a bit startled.
“Yes. I often have to deal with brutes and animals, so I’m very familiar with them. This time, I was chased down miserably by a group of brutes, so don’t worry, this is my specialty,” laughed Long Chen.
“Senior apprentice-sister, we’ve set up the tents and food.” One of the women ran over.
“Good, then we should eat. Long Chen, I don’t want to wrong you, so how about you change into our clothes too? Otherwise, it’ll feel odd,” said Mu Xue.
Long Chen was currently wearing blue robes, while they were all wearing black training clothes. He truly did stand out.
Other than that, he was also covered in dust and blood. However, although he had all kinds of various things in his spatial ring, he didn’t have an extra set of robes for himself.
“Then I’ll have to thank you.”
Long Chen naturally wouldn’t refuse. This woman took out a new set of clothes for him.
“Your face is a bit dirty. Let sister help you clean up a bit. I’ll also tidy up your hair.” The woman suddenly brazenly pulled Long Chen over to the lakeside.
“Hey… this is a bit inappropriate.” Long Chen really hadn’t expected this woman to be so direct.
“You two hurry up. Don’t make us wait too long,” called out Mu Xue.
An incense stick’s worth of time later, Long Chen was wearing their black clothes, and his face had also been cleaned up. When he entered the tent, everyone was startled, as they no longer even recognized him.
“Oh, how handsome!”
The other woman in the squad couldn’t help letting out a startled cry.
Long Chen’s sword-like eyebrows framed his starry eyes, and a special aura came from his body that possessed an extremely fatal attraction to women.
More importantly, the other men here all had bulky builds, which made his regular build even more eye-catching.
As soon as he entered, everyone’s gazes landed on him. The other woman’s arm was wrapped around his, and her immensely pleased expression made him feel very unnatural.
“Sit.” Mu Xue quickly recovered and pointed to a seat.
“About that, I see there is a lot more wine over there. I think I’ll sit with those brothers instead. That way it’ll be more convenient for me to drink. Otherwise, I really would feel a bit unwilling.” Long Chen smiled.
His words caused those two women to be a bit disappointed, but Mu Xue nodded with approval. Long Chen clearly wasn’t a thoughtless person.
“Haha, brother Long Chen, quick, come over! Come, let’s properly drink.” Long Chen’s actions also won him the good opinion of quite a few others.
Long Chen wasn’t afraid of anything, but he did feel that as a person, it was best not to be so ostentatious. Furthermore, he had no romantic feelings for these three, so there was no need to provoke anyone.
“Haha, thank you, thank you.” Long Chen cupped his fists and sat down next to that person.
There was a large, circular table in the middle of over twen
ty people. The table was filled with wine and meat. It was very rich, and just seeing it made Long Chen’s stomach rumble. To tell the truth, he hadn’t eaten anything in the past few days, so seeing all this laid out before him made him stealthily gulp down his saliva.
“I have a good announcement to make. Brother Long Chen has temporarily joined our Muxue Mercenary Unit to help us handle the Hidden Ground Spider,” announced Mu Xue.
“Haha, welcome, welcome. Don’t worry brother Long, when the time to handle the Hidden Ground Spider comes, stand by my side and I’ll protect you.” Zhang Wu patted Long Chen on the shoulder grandly.
Long Chen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Zhang Wu’s cultivation base was only at the mid Meridian Opening realm. Just what did he plan on using to protect him? It was unknown just who would be protecting who.
“This place is a safe zone. We don’t need any guards tonight. Just eat and drink as much as you want.
“After rushing for nearly a month, I’m sure you’re all a bit tired. So just relax today so that you’ll be in your peak condition for tomorrow. Then we’ll take down that Hidden Ground Spider. Come, cheers!” Mu Xue raised her glass.
The current Mu Xue was truly grand and heroic. She was not lacking compared to any man and was truly worthy of being their squad’s leader.
Everyone cheered and gulped down three cups in one go. Only then did they begin eating and drinking. Long Chen was truly hungry, and he followed along with everyone else, holding a chicken leg in one hand and a chunk of meat in the other, crazily devouring them both.
“Long Chen, come, let me offer you a cup!”
“Another one!”
Long Chen’s mouth was full of food, but no matter who came to offer him a cup, he would down his cup. This was extremely refreshing, and after a few dozen cups, everyone began to become a bit noisy.
This wine was no ordinary wine, but wine made for cultivators. It was extremely potent; thus, they were starting to get drunk.
What Long Chen hadn’t expected was that these fellows were actually conspiring against him to get him drunk. He laughed and drank over and over again, never refusing anyone. In less than two hours, the only ones who were still capable of sitting were just Mu Xue and the other two women. The others had already collapsed, their snoring shaking the tent.
Long Chen knew these fellows hadn’t circulated their qi to resist the alcohol. They were borrowing the wine to make themselves completely relaxed.
After continuous days of weary travel, they were about to face a Xiantian Magical Beast tomorrow. To say they weren’t nervous would be a lie. That was a battle in which the slightest mistake could cost them their lives.
After drinking and eating to his full, Long Chen sat cross-legged, continuing to insert his Blood Qi into his new meridians.
Mu Xue and the other two women were meditating to preserve their strength. Although this place was a safe zone, there were no absolutes. It was always best to not be careless.
After expanding his meridians to their limit, he began to circulate his two stars to urge on the primal chaos space. Although the growth was slow because there were too many trees, this investment would definitely lead to a bountiful harvest in the future. He couldn’t waste his time.
When the sun finally spilled its light over them, the Muxue Mercenary Unit all stood up completely refreshed.
The drinking yesterday had completely calmed their nerves, and then their sleep had been incredibly refreshing. Their mental states had reached a peak.
After the tents were put away, Mu Xue led them towards the west. After four hours, they arrived at a mountain range.
Then after several dozen miles, Mu Xue raised her hand, causing everyone to immediately stop. Everyone held their breath, because they saw a mountain-like figure ahead of them that emitted an aura that chilled them to the bone.
Chapter 544 Leading the Monster
Seeing that mountain-like figure, all their hearts pounded wildly, and they didn’t dare move.
Before them was a spider three hundred meters long and half as tall. Its eight legs were tightly contracted right now. Countless barbs shone on them with a metallic light. No one doubted their sharpness.
Its large stomach was covered with strange lines that made it look like it was made of rock. Its head was stuck within the ground so they couldn’t see it, but just the aura emitted from its body was enough to make them tremble.
“Long Chen, what’s your opinion?” Mu Xue was also nervous. This matter could cost them their lives.
“Let me tell you something very unfortunate: it’s advanced. Seems like it just advanced and hasn’t solidified its cultivation base yet,” said Long Chen helplessly.
Everyone’s expressions changed. An early Xiantian Magical Beast was their limit. It was impossible for them to defeat a mid Xiantian realm beast. Fighting would just be sending themselves to their deaths.
“How could this happen?!”
They were all filled with regret. It had taken them so much work and time just to get here, and luckily the Hidden Ground Spider was still present. But it was as if the heavens had just been playing a joke on them.
“Are we just supposed to give up like this?” They were all very unwilling.
Mu Xue took a deep breath and asked Long Chen, “According to your estimate, if we go all-out, what are the odds?”
Long Chen looked at Mu Xue and then the others, thinking for a moment. “If you face it head-on, you should have a fifty percent chance of killing the Hidden Ground Spider.”
That made all of them delighted, but his next words made their hearts sink.
“However, even if you can kill it, most likely over half of you will die. Furthermore, there is a fifty percent chance the Hidden Ground Spider will kill all of you. You should discuss amongst yourselves about what you should do,” said Long Chen.
Just facing an early sixth rank Magical Beast, in other words, an early Xiantian realm Magical Beast, was already extremely dangerous for them.
Now the situation had changed, and they couldn’t follow their previous plans. They were unable to deal with the Hidden Ground Spider now that it had advanced.
“Leader, we should fight!” said one of the mercenaries.
Although they usually called Mu Xue senior apprentice-sister, when they were carrying out a mission, they would all call her leader.
“Yes, I agree! We aren’t afraid of death, but we can’t owe others.”
It was up to Mu Xue to make this agonizing choice. However, it was too dangerous to face the Hidden Ground Spider. She was unwilling to see them all face such danger. She couldn’t bear to see them die.
“Leader, have you forgotten? We all came from our own powerful families and powers. We were considered their elites. Have you forgotten our goal when we formed the Muxue Mercenary Unit?
“Wasn’t it because we all were fed up with the deceptions and internal strife within those powers? We were tired of being pushed aside through other people’s sinister schemes and contemptible shamelessness.
“We formed the Muxue Mercenary Unit so we can be free, right? We want to live unconstrained, repaying gratitude and enmity, having our lives within our own control. Even if we can only control them for one day, we could still die content.
“These years, we escaped all other restrictions, living our lives for ourselves. We’ve already gained enough. Could it be that after experiencing peaceful time for too long, we’ve become so cowardly that we don’t dare to risk our lives?” asked a member of the unit, his eyes red.
“That’s right, leader! Right now, the only debt we owe anyone is the one to Mo Gate. Once we repay that favor, we’ll be completely free and won’t have any more pressure.
“Anyone who chooses the path of cultivation knows they can’t expect to have a good death. If we die, all it means is that our lives weren’t hardy enough. We won’t have any complaints. What we want is to be free.”
Hearing their passionate words, Long Chen
couldn’t help but sigh. This world was like a vat dye, but there were still some people that hadn’t been dyed by its contamination yet. They still possessed their original hearts.
“Fine, then today we’ll go all-out against this beast.” Mu Xue clenched her teeth and then turned to Long Chen. “You should leave for now. Your cultivation base is too low, and you won’t be able to help us.”
Long Chen shook his head. “Why do I feel like you guys are acting like martyrs? Isn’t it just killing a Magical Beast? There’s no need to make it seem like we’ll be separated by life and death.”
“Long Chen-”
Long Chen cut off Mu Xue. “I really didn’t expect that I would run into people like you all. If you guys trust me, then listen to my orders in a bit. Although I can’t guarantee every single one of you will survive, I can definitely increase your odds of survival.”
Mu Xue hesitated. She looked at Long Chen. “Alright. In a bit, everyone listen to brother Long!”
“Yes!”
Long Chen was very pleased to see that the Muxue Mercenary Unit was very united. A single word from Mu Xue was able to make them all listen.
Mu Xue had essentially placed all their lives in his hands, while they all trusted Mu Xue enough to do that.
Mu Xue had only known him for a single day. That moved Long Chen emotionally. She was the same as him, someone who judges people based on their intuition. Since she had put her trust in him, he would have to show off his use.
“Everyone, retreat!”
What dumbfounded everyone was that Long Chen’s first order was for them to retreat. Was he messing around?
“Long Chen, you’re…?” asked Mu Xue.
“Haha, looks like my orders aren’t very effective.” Long Chen shook his head.
“Don’t get angry. We just don’t understand,” said Mu Xue hastily.
“Then I’ll explain this one time. But this will be the last time. Next time I give an order, no matter what that order is, you have to follow it, because if you don’t, it may cost lives.” Long Chen was extremely solemn. “This terrain is mountainous, and it’s not suitable for us to fight. The Hidden Ground Spider can dig into the ground, and we’ll be unable to catch it. If we lure it into the grassland, with the wide field of view, our chances of success will greatly increase.”
