Ye Chu looked at the fat man who was boasting endlessly, and suddenly had a feeling. He felt that the fat man was not being used by them. Rather, the fat man was using them to obtain these three portraits of heavenly prodigies.
Ji Die obviously shared this feeling. She exchanged a glance with Ye Chu, and looked at the fat man with a slightly different expression.
The fat man seemed to realise he had said too much as well. He gave an awkward smile and handed the prodigy portraits to Ye Chu. “The location we are looking for should be about a hundred miles from here. It is an ancient ruin!”
Ye Chu and Ji Die nodded. They glanced at the portraits and found that nothing contradicted what the fat man had said.
“In that case, you lead the way!” Ye Chu said with a smile as he looked at the fat man.
“Of course!” Seeing the ill-intentioned look on Ye Chu’s face, the fat man patted his chest and said very seriously, “I know this area best, so naturally I will guide you.”
Having said that, the fat man dragged his heavy body forward, stepping out with the appearance of someone marching to his doom.
…
Although Ye Chu kept whipping the fat man, his speed was truly too slow. After walking a short distance, he would become breathless and panting. Then he would collapse onto the ground, and no matter how Ye Chu threatened him, he could not get him to stand up again.
Ye Chu found it hard to understand how someone at the peak of the ninth level of the Profound Fate Realm could be so useless.
But that was just the kind of person the fat man was, and Ye Chu and Ji Die were forced to slow down because of him. With no other choice, Ye Chu reluctantly began to study the method of tempering the body with intent.
However, Ye Chu could not grasp it at all. The intent would merge into his flesh and blood, but it would quickly dissipate, making it impossible to sustain.
Naturally, Ye Chu did not forget to discuss it with Ji Die. Ji Die was indeed extraordinary. Debating principles with her brought Ye Chu great benefits, even more than a bloody battle would.
What Ye Chu did not know was that Ji Die was equally experiencing turbulent emotions within her heart. Ye Chu might not have walked as far on the path of cultivation as she had, nor did his knowledge surpass hers. Yet, the occasional words he spoke made her feel as though clouds were parting to reveal the sun. Some of his ideas were bizarre, yet undeniably logical. This shocked Ji Die and made her feel that Ye Chu was an eccentric genius.
Ji Die naturally did not know that Ye Chu had lived two lives, having resided on Earth in his previous incarnation. His way of thinking differed significantly from theirs, so it was not strange that he could come up with such inexplicable notions.
Under the burden of the fat man, the hundred mile journey took Ye Chu and Ji Die a full three days. During these three days, their mutual debates made them both feel a continuous improvement in their strength.
Ye Chu felt his own power becoming more restrained. If he did not make a move, one would truly not be able to see a single trace of anything unusual about him.
After three days, Ye Chu finally arrived at a barren mountain. This mountain was completely empty, without a single blade of grass or tree growing on it. Ye Chu compared it with the prodigy portrait. “This is the place! But how could such a barren mountain be an ancient ruin?”
Ye Chu felt puzzled and looked at the fat man, only to see the fat man pulling a bitter face as well. “Do not look at me! I do not know either!”
“Brother Ye Chu, I hope you have been well!” Just as Ye Chu frowned, a voice came from another part of the barren mountain. Ye Chu followed the sound and saw that Tan Chen had somehow appeared not far from him.
“Why is he here?” Ye Chu’s body tensed up. The temptation of the holy liquid was far too great. There was no guarantee that Tan Chen would not make a move!
Tan Chen walked down with a smile, but as he approached Ye Chu and saw Ji Die in her black robes standing beside him, his expression turned surprised. “Junior Sister Ji is here as well?”
“Greetings, Senior Brother Tan Chen.” Ji Die said calmly. She stood beside Ye Chu and did not remove her veil.
Tan Chen’s originally grinning face showed a trace of awkwardness, but he quickly laughed. “Hehe, I truly did not expect Junior Sister Ji Die to be together with Brother Ye.”
Ye Chu was almost certain that Tan Chen wanted the holy liquid. Ye Chu’s pupils contracted sharply. Tan Chen was not like the others. He was a true peerless genius. Moreover, in terms of cultivation realm, he far surpassed him.
Ye Chu had fought him before. Although Ye Chu had barely gained the upper hand in terms of intent, in a true clash of strength, Ye Chu would absolutely not be a match for him. Ye Chu could not help but look at Ji Die, thinking that with her present, even if Tan Chen wanted to steal it, he would have to restrain himself somewhat.
Besides, if he truly dared to snatch it, Ye Chu would not be afraid to fight him to the death.
“If Senior Brother Tan Chen has nothing else, then we will take our leave first.” Ji Die said lightly as she looked at Tan Chen. Although Ji Die was unwilling to shield Ye Chu from Tan Chen, she had no choice but to do so. This fellow was holding the prodigy portraits at this very moment!
“Junior Sister Ji Die, please go ahead!”
Tan Chen let out a soft breath, but his heart was filled with deep reluctance. The temptation of the holy liquid was simply too great. Even as a peerless genius, he could not resist it. If he could obtain it, it would allow him to undergo a transformation. For figures like them, every transformation became extremely difficult. Furthermore, the holy liquid was refined by the Red Dust Female Saint, so obtaining it would undoubtedly bring world-shocking benefits.
If Ji Die were not here, Tan Chen would not mind making a move. But in front of Ji Die, how could he possibly act?
Watching Ji Die and Ye Chu leave, Tan Chen let out a soft breath. “Unless you stay by Ji Die’s side at all times, I will definitely claim a portion of the holy liquid.”
Ye Chu’s combat record might seem impressive to others, but to Tan Chen, it meant nothing. Killing the three kings of the Rao family would not require much effort from him at all.
It was just that his journey on the path of heavenly prodigies was merely about exploring ruins left by predecessors, not about fighting anyone. Of course, if he encountered someone of equal strength, he would not mind a battle. But as far as he was concerned, how many people actually matched his strength?
“Tan Chen wants the holy liquid, so be careful yourself. I do not hope for you to die before the year is up!” Ji Die said to Ye Chu. “Only after you reach the King Realm will you have a chance to fight him. But before reaching the King Realm, fighting him means certain death. Even if your combat power were doubled, it would be useless. Because he is also a peerless genius!”
Ye Chu naturally knew that Ji Die was speaking the truth. He took a deep breath and looked at her. “Let us discuss other matters first. As for reaching the King Realm, that cannot be rushed.”
More than anyone else, Ye Chu desperately wanted to reach the King Realm, but he had made absolutely no progress on how to temper his body with intent. Reaching the King Realm would not be that easy.
“Fat man! Do not tell me the place you pointed out is just a dead mountain.” Ye Chu said as he looked at the fat man.
Seeing Ye Chu raise his fist to beat him again, the fat man felt like crying. “So many years have passed, the landscape has changed completely, how would I know? Are not many ruins just buried underground forever like this?”
With the fat man saying this, Ye Chu and Ji Die had no other choice. Just as Ye Chu was preparing to walk around and look, the white fox in his bosom poked its head out.
All this time, the white fox had been curled up in Ye Chu’s embrace, right at the position of his qi sea. No matter how fierce Ye Chu’s battles were, it had always stayed nestled inside. This was the first time it had poked its head out to observe its surroundings on its own.
The white fox’s behaviour surprised Ye Chu greatly. He wondered if the little fellow had changed its nature today.
Author’s note: Please take a look at the new book “My Top-Notch Young Miss” by an old friend. If you are short of books to read, you can give it a try.