C19 Surprised(1)

Whether it was the formidable Rhinoceros Tyrant, the swift Python King, the Bear Demon Beast, or the Demonic Phoenix, all these mythical creatures hailed from the Soul Sea.

Their power was immensely fearsome. Lin Shouchuan was on the verge of shedding his Outer Sect disciple status this year. Had he succeeded in joining the Inner Sect, he would have gained access to a wealth of cultivation resources.

But now, all his aspirations had dissipated into thin air, slipping away from him. Lin Shouchuan was consumed by hatred. His body shook uncontrollably, and his mouth bled from biting his own teeth, yet he was oblivious to his own pain.

He resented Elder Liu's interference and loathed Wang Yufei for ensnaring him. Indeed, it was all a meticulously laid trap by Wang Yufei, a ploy to ensnare Lin Shouchuan—a case of killing two birds with one stone. The so-called wager was nothing but a sham. Wang Yufei's true intention was to ruin Lin Shouchuan.

"Will you enter the Soul Sea of your own accord, or shall I have the honor of escorting you?" Elder Liu's patience was wearing thin. Lin Shouchuan had dismissed his warnings as mere wind.

As Elder Liu's words hung in the air, he was ready to make his move. Lin Shouchuan, startled, hastily entered the Soul Sea. The rift in the sky that had been torn asunder began to mend, seamlessly closing as if it had never existed.

"You'd better watch yourself from now on, young man. Old Man Witherwood is not one to be trifled with," Elder Liu advised before departing on his white crane.

Wang Yufei offered a deep bow to Elder Liu's retreating figure. His reason for framing Lin Shouchuan was straightforward—it all traced back to Wang Shaofeng. Wang Shaofeng had suffered several broken ribs due to Wang Yufei's surprise attack.

Since Lin Shouchuan was Wang Shaofeng's senior brother, Wang Yufei had to ensure that Lin Shouchuan fell into the trap and entered the Soul Sea. Otherwise, Wang Yufei might have been strangled in his cradle before he had a chance to grow.

Thus, Wang Yufei reluctantly took this risky gambit, a move of sheer strategic calculation. Zhang Tianmeng was thrilled to see Wang Yufei, as he had just completed his mission and received a reward that perfectly complemented his saber.

Zhang Tianmeng cherished his saber as if it were his life, dreaming of mastering a saber technique. Now, his dream had come true, and his admiration for Wang Yufei grew day by day. By sticking with Wang Yufei, Zhang Tianmeng was confident his future would be nothing but bright.

Wang Yufei, having assigned a mission to Zhang Tianmeng, reaped considerable benefits himself. Notably, he acquired a cultivation technique experience card. Though it was a one-time use, Wang Yufei felt completely content with it.

The talent experience card represented a battle-oriented cultivation technique. In essence, Wang Yufei could absorb flames, transforming them into his own power for combat, killing his adversaries undetected as the flames merged seamlessly with the air.

The air, an elusive element, left Lee Tianhu with a flush of embarrassment on his face. His luck was bitter; having narrowly escaped Lin Shouchuan's clutches, he now found himself at the mercy of Wang Yufei.

Despite his conviction that Wang Yufei was no match for him, Lee Tianhu couldn't ignore Zhang Tianmeng's threatening presence at Wang Yufei's side. Lee Tianhu was baffled as to why Zhang Tianmeng was so eager to please Wang Yufei, even willingly serving him.

"Do what you will—kill or mutilate me—but please, spare me any dishonor," Lee Tianhu implored, putting himself in Wang Yufei's shoes. If their roles were reversed, he knew he wouldn't show mercy.

"Why would I kill you? If you willingly become my loyal follower, you might just survive," Wang Yufei stated coldly. While killing Lee Tianhu would be satisfying, Wang Yufei pondered the advantages of utilizing Lee Tianhu's formidable abilities for his own ends. After all, Lee Tianhu's python was a force to be reckoned with, and in his fury, he was even more powerful than Zhang Tianmeng. Wang Yufei was somewhat reluctant to dispose of such a valuable asset.

"Wang Yufei, don't push me too far, or I'll fight you to the bitter end to take your life," Lee Tianhu declared, his pride wounded but not yet defeated.

"Are you refusing me? When I, Wang Yufei, decide someone should be my dog, they must become my dog. No one is exempt from this rule."

Lee Tianhu's eyes were brimming with mockery, his lips curled in a disdainful sneer. But in the blink of an eye, he was utterly flabbergasted. The Inner Sect had issued another mission.

This time, the mission wasn't to slay a demonic beast or pursue a fiend. It was to have Lee Tianhu heed Wang Yufei's commands and become his obedient dog. The reward for this mission was a pill that could enhance his innate talent.

Lee Tianhu was stunned. His python talent was still at a One-star level. He had diligently nurtured his abilities for over six months, yet he couldn't make the leap to the Two-star realm.

Just imagine, if Lee Tianhu's python talent advanced to the Two-star level, his strength would be formidable. To coax his python talent out of its cave and undergo another purification, Lee Tianhu had no choice but to concede.

"Fine, I'll be your dog and do whatever you ask. I just hope you'll spare me," Lee Tianhu said, though he was beginning to harbor doubts.

How could it be such a coincidence? He had just turned down Wang Yufei's offer, refusing to be his dog, and now, the Inner Sect's mission was conveniently released. Anyone with half a brain would suspect Wang Yufei's involvement.

Wang Yufei was unfazed by the suspicions of others. With his system in place, if anyone pushed him too far, he'd simply assign a mission to the sect's elders. The Immortal Sect would then be thrown into disarray.

Wang Yufei eagerly anticipated that day. "Being my dog isn't just lip service. You must swear on your talent that you will never betray me. Otherwise, you'll certainly meet your end."

Wang Yufei was exceedingly clever, particularly with someone as devious and powerful as Lee Tianhu. If Lee Tianhu harbored any ill intentions toward Wang Yufei, it would be like living with a ticking time bomb at his side.

When the time came, Lee Tianhu wouldn't just be unable to assist Wang Yufei; if Lee Tianhu attempted a sneak attack, Wang Yufei probably wouldn't even realize how he met his end.

Despite his reluctance, Lee Tianhu, prioritizing his survival and the enhancement of his python to a two-star level, bit his finger and used his innate ability to make a solemn vow to the heavens. "I, Lee Tianhu, am willing to be as loyal as a dog at Wang Yufei's side, without ever harboring a second thought. Should I fail, may my talent vanish forever, and may I become a lifelong disgrace to warriors, nothing but trash."

Wang Yufei was thoroughly pleased. Lee Tianhu had fulfilled his task. This time, instead of a talent reward card, Wang Yufei received the Wild Fire Burning talent experience card. Upon reviewing the skill's description, he realized that the terrifying strength of Wild Fire Prairie grew with the user's power. This skill was yet another addition to Wang Yufei's arsenal for survival.

To Wang Yufei's surprise, Zhang Tianmeng suddenly knelt down, ready to make his own vow to the heavens, catching Wang Yufei off guard. He had no intention of demanding such an oath from Zhang Tianmeng. Wang Yufei held Zhang Tianmeng, the straightforward and honest man, in high regard and trusted him implicitly.

"There's no need for you to swear an oath to the heavens. I trust your character. Just keep Lee Tianhu in line from now on; consider him your junior," Wang Yufei said nonchalantly, bringing joy to Zhang Tianmeng and causing Lee Tianhu's face to pale with envy.

Lee Tianhu, who could defeat Zhang Tianmeng under normal circumstances, now found himself in a position to follow Zhang's lead, a situation that left him utterly bewildered. Moreover, Wang Yufei had acquired a mysterious skill experience card from Lee Tianhu.

Wang Yufei was well aware that this skill was for life, not like those one-time or one-week skill experience cards that would disappear. So, when Wang Yufei received the three skill fragments, he fused them without a second thought, eager to discover the capabilities of the newly formed skill.

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