The moment they emerged from the underground passage, Gu Qing stopped.
The valley outside was quiet.
Too quiet.
The crimson color of the Fire Spring Water had faded considerably, returning to its original warm, translucent appearance.
It was as if nothing had happened.
Gu Qing looked back at the narrow opening between the rocks.
Then at Gu Chen.
"We're not going to talk about what happened down there?"
Gu Chen remained silent.
The two had walked for nearly half an hour since leaving the cavern.
Gu Qing had been patient.
But clearly, his patience had reached its limit.
Gu Chen finally stopped.
"What do you want to know?"
Gu Qing folded his arms.
"Everything."
"That's unfortunate."
Gu Qing frowned.
"Gu Chen."
Gu Chen sighed.
"I don't know everything myself."
That answer caused Gu Qing to pause.
Gu Chen continued walking.
"What happened beneath the valley was connected to something I obtained recently."
"The inheritance?"
Gu Chen glanced at him.
Gu Qing was sharper than he appeared.
"Something like that."
"So that strange object disappeared into your body?"
Gu Chen didn't answer immediately.
Finally, he nodded.
Gu Qing took a deep breath.
"And the giant serpent didn't attack because of it?"
"I think so."
"You think?"
"I've known about this inheritance for less time than you've known about it."
Gu Qing became silent.
That was true.
Gu Chen hadn't deliberately sought the underground cavern.
The Ember Scripture had reacted on its own.
Whatever had happened was beyond his current understanding.
Gu Qing eventually shook his head.
"You really attract strange things."
Gu Chen smiled faintly.
"I was about to say the same about you."
"Me?"
"If you hadn't followed me, you wouldn't have encountered a giant serpent today."
Gu Qing immediately pointed at him.
"That's exactly why I should stop following you."
"But you won't."
Gu Qing opened his mouth.
Then sighed.
"No."
They continued through the forest.
Gu Chen remained alert.
The encounter beneath the valley had taught him something important.
The Falling Flame Mountains were not simply a training ground.
The Gu Clan elders had allowed the younger generation into the outer region because it was relatively safe.
But relatively safe did not mean harmless.
A Rank 2 Flame-Earth Wolf had already appeared.
Then they had discovered an underground cavern guarded by a creature far beyond their ability to understand.
Gu Chen looked toward the distant mountains.
How many secrets were hidden deeper within the range?
He didn't intend to find out.
At least—
not now.
His current strength was too weak.
Opportunities were valuable.
But a cultivator had to survive long enough to benefit from them.
"Wait."
Gu Chen suddenly stopped.
Gu Qing immediately placed his hand on his weapon.
"What?"
Gu Chen crouched.
The ground ahead showed signs of a battle.
Several trees had been damaged.
Sword marks covered the bark.
One large stone had been split in half.
Gu Chen walked toward it.
The cut was deep.
And clean.
"This happened recently."
Gu Qing examined the surrounding area.
"Could it be Jiang Wu's group?"
"Possibly."
Gu Chen looked around.
Then his eyes landed on something.
Blood.
A few drops.
Not much.
But fresh.
Gu Qing's expression became serious.
"They were injured?"
"Or someone else was."
Gu Chen stood.
Neither of them spoke for a moment.
Then—
a faint sound echoed from deeper within the forest.
Metal striking metal.
Clang!
Another impact followed.
Gu Chen immediately looked toward the source.
Gu Qing frowned.
"We should avoid it."
Gu Chen didn't move.
The battle wasn't particularly close.
And he had no interest in interfering with conflicts between unknown cultivators.
Then he heard a voice.
"Jiang Wu!"
Gu Chen's expression changed.
Gu Qing looked at him.
"You heard that too?"
Gu Chen nodded.
The two immediately moved.
The forest blurred around them.
Gu Chen didn't use Flame Phantom Step continuously.
His movement technique was still only at Entry.
Using it recklessly would only waste World Energy.
Instead, the two moved quickly while conserving their strength.
After several minutes, they reached the edge of a rocky clearing.
Gu Chen immediately saw the situation.
Jiang Wu and his group were surrounded.
But there were no magical beasts.
Their opponents were cultivators.
Six of them.
The symbol on their robes was unfamiliar.
A black mountain beneath a golden flame.
Gu Chen recognized it.
The same symbol worn by Jiang Wu's group.
His eyes narrowed.
"They're from the same faction?"
Gu Qing whispered.
"It doesn't look like a friendly reunion."
In the center of the clearing, Jiang Wu held his weapon tightly.
There was blood on his sleeve.
One of his companions was also injured.
Across from them stood a young man in dark robes.
His cultivation aura was powerful.
Rank 2.
Behind him were five others.
"Hand it over."
The dark-robed youth spoke calmly.
Jiang Wu's expression was cold.
"I already told you."
"I don't have it."
The youth smiled.
"Then we'll search your storage pouches ourselves."
Gu Chen understood immediately.
A treasure dispute.
Perhaps Jiang Wu's group had discovered something valuable.
Now their own people wanted it.
Gu Qing leaned closer.
"Let's leave."
Gu Chen didn't answer.
The situation was complicated.
Jiang Wu was a stranger.
Gu Chen didn't owe him anything.
But Jiang Wu had helped him escape from the Flame-Earth Wolf.
Gu Chen had returned that favor with his sword strike.
The debt should have been settled.
There was no reason to interfere.
Then Jiang Wu suddenly looked toward the forest.
For a brief moment—
his eyes met Gu Chen's.
Jiang Wu's expression changed slightly.
He had noticed them.
Gu Chen remained hidden.
Jiang Wu didn't call for help.
He simply looked away.
That action made Gu Chen pause.
He hadn't expected Jiang Wu to remain silent.
The dark-robed youth raised his weapon.
"Last chance."
Jiang Wu's expression became cold.
"You think six people are enough?"
The youth laughed.
"Five Rank 1 cultivators and one Rank 2 cultivator."
His gaze moved across Jiang Wu's group.
"Against three injured people."
"Yes."
"I think it's enough."
The atmosphere immediately became tense.
Gu Qing whispered.
"Gu Chen."
"I know."
"You can't fight a Rank 2."
"I know."
"And there are six of them."
"I can count."
Gu Qing glared at him.
"Then why are you still watching?"
Gu Chen's hand rested on his sword.
Because something felt wrong.
If Jiang Wu truly possessed an important treasure, why hadn't his group simply returned to their faction?
Why were they this deep in the outer region?
Before Gu Chen could think further—
Jiang Wu suddenly moved.
BOOM!
His weapon collided with the dark-robed youth.
A powerful shockwave spread through the clearing.
The battle began.
The difference between Rank 2 cultivators was immediately obvious.
Their movements were far faster than Rank 1.
World Energy surged around their bodies.
Every strike carried enough force to crack stone.
The two Rank 2 cultivators exchanged several attacks.
Neither immediately gained the advantage.
But Jiang Wu's injury gradually became a problem.
Meanwhile, the remaining cultivators attacked Jiang Wu's companions.
Three against five.
The situation rapidly worsened.
Gu Qing looked at Gu Chen.
"Don't."
Gu Chen was silent.
He knew Gu Qing was right.
Charging into the clearing would be foolish.
He couldn't defeat the Rank 2 youth.
And even if he used every ability available to him, the difference in cultivation remained.
Then—
one of the Rank 1 cultivators raised his sword behind Jiang Wu's injured companion.
The young woman hadn't noticed.
Gu Chen's eyes narrowed.
His fingers tightened around his sword.
One strike.
He could make one strike.
Not to defeat anyone.
Just—
Shing!
A crimson line flashed from the forest.
The attacking cultivator's expression changed.
He immediately turned his weapon.
Clang!
Gu Chen's sword energy struck his blade.
The impact forced him backward.
Everyone froze.
Jiang Wu turned.
The dark-robed youth's eyes narrowed.
"Who?"
Gu Chen stepped from behind the trees.
Gu Qing cursed quietly.
Then followed.
"Gu Clan."
The dark-robed youth looked at Gu Chen's robe.
His expression became cautious.
Gu Chen slowly walked forward.
His Scarlet Ember Sword rested in his hand.
He didn't release a powerful aura.
He didn't make threats.
He simply stood there.
Jiang Wu stared at him.
"I thought you preferred traveling alone."
Gu Chen glanced at him.
"I do."
"Then why are you here?"
Gu Chen looked at the injured members of his group.
"Bad timing."
Jiang Wu laughed despite the situation.
The dark-robed youth's expression darkened.
"This is not a Gu Clan matter."
Gu Chen nodded.
"I know."
"Then leave."
Gu Chen remained silent.
The youth's eyes became colder.
"You are only Rank 1."
Gu Chen's grip tightened slightly.
"So are most of your people."
A dangerous silence followed.
The youth looked toward Gu Qing.
Then back at Gu Chen.
"You intend to interfere?"
Gu Chen considered his answer.
"No."
Everyone looked at him.
Then Gu Chen continued.
"I intend to make sure this doesn't become a one-sided slaughter."
Jiang Wu's eyes changed.
Gu Qing closed his eyes briefly.
He knew that tone.
Gu Chen had already made his decision.
The dark-robed youth laughed.
"A Rank 1 cultivator wants to threaten me?"
Gu Chen raised his sword.
A faint crimson flame appeared along the blade.
"I haven't threatened anyone."
His crimson-golden eyes reflected the firelight.
"But you should know something."
The clearing became silent.
Gu Chen looked directly at the dark-robed youth.
"I've already fought a Rank 2 beast today."
The youth's expression changed slightly.
Gu Chen smiled.
"I didn't win."
His smile disappeared.
"But I'm still standing."
The crimson flame around his sword slowly intensified.
Gu Qing stood beside him.
Across the clearing, Jiang Wu tightened his grip on his weapon.
The situation had changed.
Gu Chen couldn't defeat a Rank 2 cultivator.
He knew that.
Everyone present knew that.
But defeating someone—
and making them pay a painful price—
were two entirely different things.
The dark-robed youth stared at Gu Chen.
For several moments, neither moved.
Then a cold smile appeared on the youth's face.
"Interesting."
World Energy erupted from his body.
The pressure of Rank 2 descended across the clearing.
Gu Chen's expression became serious.
He immediately felt the difference.
This was not the Flame-Earth Wolf.
This was a human cultivator.
Someone who could use techniques.
Someone capable of thinking.
Someone who would target his weaknesses.
For the first time—
Gu Chen stood directly before a Rank 2 cultivator.
His hand tightened around the Scarlet Ember Sword.
He knew he couldn't win through brute force.
So if a battle was unavoidable—
he would have to use everything else.
The forest became silent.
Then—
the dark-robed youth took a step forward.