The Green Faction marched off at the first sight of the sun.
The night was actually quite short, lasting only about eight hours.
But luckily, they are all cultivators and they do not need longer break except for the injured.
Ji Yuan was grumbling softly; the night is really too short and they had to trek another sixteen hours nonstop. Even if they are cultivators, the trek is a tiring one.
He had spent the night talking with the six maidens, renewing their bonds with one another.
What he did not tell them is that his injuries are actually much more severe than they have thought.
On the surface, he was still laughing jovially and arguing with Xiao Muhan early in the morning but this was just a brave front that he had put up in front of them; after all the battle with the five seventh rank desolate armored spiders was not an easy feat to be accomplished without any injuries.
In the inside, he was cursing why it was taking so long for his wounds to heal. If he exerted himself further, then his more grievous wounds would start to re-open again.
Three of his wounds actually went quite deep into his body, opening a big gash into his body. If it is not for his newly acquainted golden robe then it would be very obvious to the others.
But Xiao Muhan had whispered to him, “Brother Ji Yuan, I know that you’re injured. I’ve known you for so many years. Whenever you’re injured, the more jovial you will be and the more you will drink.”
Ji Yuan merely said to him, “Don’t let anyone know about it.”
Ji Yuan was not only the Great Poet Ji Yuan; he was also the Sword Saint Ji Yuan. The number of battles that he had fought were too numerous for him to remember. Injuries were commonplace for him.
The number of golden supremacies that he had defeated were too numerous for him to remember. Luckily for him, there were few saint cultivators who were his challengers.
The main reason why there were few saint cultivators was because he was not a saint yet a 100 years ago. If a saint cultivator were to challenge him then it would be awkward to their faces since they were of a higher cultivation realm.
The few saint cultivators that had challenged Ji Yuan had suppressed their profound strength in order to make it into a fair fight.
Luckily for Ji Yuan and the Green Faction, there were only a few minor fights with some desolate monsters along the way.
There was actually no need for Ji Yuan to step in because he was under ‘protection’.
As a matter of fact, Team 10 did not even need to be mobilized to fight these desolate monsters at all.
And soon it was night.
The campsite was quickly built by the Green Faction and Gong Xiaotian immediately took his plans into action.
There were twenty cultivators that were in his inner circle and they were now planning to ambush Ji Yuan, together with Yun Chi as well.
Gong Xiaotian naturally did not intend to share Ji Yuan’s treasures or Yun Chi with the twenty cultivators.
He was actually planning to make use of them.
So he made plans with two cultivators in his inner circle as he promised them, “The three of us will co-operate together. At the end of the day, Ji Yuan’s immortal sword and his golden robe shall be yours to share, as well as Yun Chi after I’ve done with her.”
Then he smirked coldly, “As for the others, I will help you to strike them behind their backs. All you have to do is to strike first.”
He called this the War Team 1.
Then he made the same secret arrangements with another two cultivators in his inner circle, promising to do the same.
And this becomes the War Team 2.
Then he repeated to form the War Team 3.
War Team 4 was also formed in the same manner.
Soon there was a War Team 5.
War Team 6 was formed.
War Team 7 was also formed.
All the way to War Team 10.
Gong Xiaotian was now laughing jovially.
When everything was done after killing Ji Yuan, these cultivators would all kill one another to get their ‘spoils of war’. But in the end, they would all end up dead together, leaving himself to all the battle spoils from everyone.
The more Gong Xiaotian thought about this, the happier he was.
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Late at night;
Gong Xiaotian had suddenly summoned Ji Yuan and Yun Chi to his presence as he said to them, “We have found a mysterious underground ruin around here. The reason why I’ve summoned the two of you here is because we’ve found a mysterious black stele inside. As we’re all co-leaders in the same faction, I feel that I ought to inform all of you as well.”
Then he laughed, “As the saying goes, if there are any benefits, as brothers we should share.”
Yun Chi smiled pleasantly, “This is too sexist. What about maidens?”
Gong Xiaotian laughed, “Naturally we will also be sharing as well. That is why I’ve secretly summoned the two of you here. This news is only known to just a few of us.”
Ji Yuan frowned, “There are some things that even brothers cannot share.”
Gong Xiaotian: …
What is he thinking? And what is he trying to say?
But he pretended to smile and said, “Brother Ji Yuan, come with me to explore this underground ruin. As brother, I will let you have the first pick of any profound treasure that we can find.”
Ji Yuan chuckled, “Actually what if I say I’m not interested? The two of you can go ahead without me.”