Chapter 171: 171. Chapter 168: The Disagreement Between the Cook and the Elder

171. Chapter 168: The Disagreement Between the Cook and the Elder

Given Ding Huan's status and identity, he could not propose changing routes at this moment, nor could he suggest leaving the path alone.

Even the weakest excuse, he would wait until camp was set up before requesting to leave to find food.

Under current circumstances, proposing to search for food clearly defied logic, so this excuse wouldn't work either.

Just as Ding Huan anxiously pondered how to leave the main group, a chaotic stretch of ground appeared before them.

Clothes and tents were scattered everywhere, and weapons lay scattered across various spots.

"This is where the incident happened," Han Weicheng's voice trembled.

Ding Huan could also see that extreme panic had once gripped this place, followed by the group scattering.

But Ding Huan knew clearly that Han Weicheng and the others had not been injured here—they had been attacked just minutes ago, back along the path they'd already passed.

This was merely a staged false scene.

Earlier, Ding Huan had assumed these clothes and weapons were illusions; after carefully observing them with his spiritual sense multiple times, he realized they were real.

That meant the hidden force manipulating the Tianqi Sect and the Great Sword Gate was extraordinary—it had even set up a false scene.

The only thing Ding Huan couldn't understand was why this false scene had no purpose at all.

Ding Huan looked ahead again: just moments ago, he had seen this as a forest, now it was a wide road again.

Ding Huan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, activated the Luo Shi Jing, then opened his eyes to observe his surroundings once more.

This time, things finally returned to normal—he could clearly see this was not a road, even without his spiritual sense.

After several attempts, Ding Huan vaguely understood what was happening.

This was definitely poison mist, identical to last night's poison.

Everyone had been affected, but he possessed the Toxin-Neutralizing Gene.

His Toxin-Neutralizing Gene, as his cultivation advanced, had become an instinct.

Precisely because of this, even when affected by this illusionary poison, he recovered normal perception within moments.

Of course, there was another possibility: his fused Great Wilderness Eye had pierced through part of the illusion.

Regardless of the cause, continuing like this was unacceptable.

The deeper they went, the more likely they were heading toward a dead end.

Ding Huan recalculated his fate once more—the result was far more obscure than before, utterly blurred and indistinct.

The rules here were far higher than those of the Mortal World; his calculations were indeed difficult, but his own situation could still serve as a reference.

He absolutely could not proceed forward.

"Qing Zhishi!" Ding Huan shouted out, disregarding everything else.

The team was large, and due to the strange events earlier, everyone had walked in absolute silence.

Ding Huan's shout shattered the quiet, causing nearly everyone to flinch.

What happened now? That was the only thought in everyone's mind.

Without Qing Zhishi's command, everyone involuntarily stopped.

"What's happened?" Qing Zhishi hurried over upon seeing Ding Huan calling him.

Not only Qing Zhishi, but also Gu Elder and the two other sect elders, along with Han Weicheng, came over.

Ding Huan bowed and said:

"Gu Elder, Qing Zhishi, I have great confidence in my sixth sense—I feel continuing down this path will bring misfortune."

"Then what do you suggest?" Gu Elder still held some appreciation for Ding Huan.

A cook had found Ningxing Bamboo, and last night had saved a Tianqi Sect disciple.

Qu Elder of the Double Soul Sect and Liu Elder of the Purple Mist Valley did not know Ding Huan's background; hearing Gu Elder's question, they stood aside to listen.

Ding Huan pointed to the side and said:

"I sense we must go this way to turn danger into safety."

"You want us to enter the forest?" Qu Elder of the Double Soul Sect's expression darkened.

Not only Qu Elder and Liu Elder, but even Gu Elder frowned at Ding Huan.

In the Dahe Gorge, where was the most dangerous place? Naturally, the forest.

Entering the forest meant facing not only various demonic beasts, but also countless traps.

These traps were naturally occurring—for instance, you might accidentally step into a Heaven Pit, deep beyond measure, a certain death.

Or you might suddenly be snatched by a plant demon and devoured down to the last bone fragment. As for sinking into a bog, that was the most dignified way to die.

"Ding Huan, what nonsense are you spouting? That way ahead is a forest," Qing Zhishi frowned.

Ding Huan sneered inwardly: Aren't we already in a forest? You're all poisoned by the illusion—what you see as a road is the real path, and the direction I'm pointing leads to the true road.

"Are you a Yanyue Sect Zhishi?" Liu Elder suddenly asked.

Qing Zhishi hurriedly replied: "No, he's a cook invited by one of our disciples—a temporary cook who will leave once we reach the sect."

Hearing Ding Huan was a cook, and one privately summoned by a disciple,

Qu Elder of the Double Soul Sect flew into a rage, glaring coldly at Ding Huan:

"You, a mere cook, dare to speak out of turn? Get out! If you utter another word, I'll crush you with a single palm."

Ding Huan was displeased but helpless; he turned to Qing Zhishi and said:

"Qing Zhishi, if that's the case, please allow me to leave the group."

Just as Qu Elder of the Double Soul Sect was about to erupt again, Gu Elder of the Yanyue Sect suddenly spoke:

"I still endorse Ding Huan's idea. The Yanyue Sect will follow Ding Huan along this side path."

Gu Youchang did indeed hold some appreciation for Ding Huan—but only a little.

He chose to heed Ding Huan's advice not merely because Ding Huan had brought back Ningxing Bamboo, but also because of Ding Huan's calmness upon entering the Dahe Gorge.

More importantly, he also had a faint sense of unease.

But this unease was very light—so faint that it barely existed unless brought to mind.

Only when Ding Huan mentioned it did he feel this faint unease, and soon it vanished again.

Precisely because of this, he chose to follow Ding Huan.

"Elder Gu, Ding Huan is after all a… entering the jungle from Dahe Gorge greatly increases the danger; since records began, very few have survived."

Executive Qiong couldn't help saying.

Elder Gu frowned; he knew entering the jungle was far too dangerous, but Ding Huan's words combined with his own faint feeling left him hesitating for a moment.

"Ding Dao友's intuition may be good, but last night we still lost two disciples."

Executive Qiong said again.

"What happened last night?" asked Elder Qu of Shuanghun Sect.

"Last night, when we set up camp, Ding Dao友 sensed our campsite location was safe, and indeed nothing happened—except two disciples went missing," Executive Qiong replied.

Elder Qu stared at Ding Huan and sneered:

"If one of my Shuanghun Sect's cooks kept doing this, I'd have slapped him dead long ago."

Ding Huan's heart burned with rage—damn it, wait till I grow strong enough, I'll crush this soul-snatching sect first.

Elder Gu spoke up:

"Here's what we'll do: those who trust Ding Dao友, follow him; those who don't, stick to the original route."

Gu Youchang understood: if he didn't speak up for Ding Huan today, Ding Huan would be killed by Qu Youshan.

Ding Huan stepped forward first with Lao Liu; no matter whether others believed him or not, he had to leave this place.

He was deeply grateful Elder Gu had spoken for him—otherwise, before these people, he was less than an ant.

"Elder Gu, what about you?" a newly recruited disciple from Yanyue Sect couldn't help asking.

Elder Gu's expression was grave:

"I trust Ding Dao友, but this matter is extraordinary. I cannot decide for everyone—each person must choose their own fate."

With that, Gu Youchang stood beside Ding Huan.

"Young Lady, we cannot go over there," Qingyu pulled back Guan Chuan.

Seeing Guan Chuan look at her, Qingyu whispered:

"Ding Huan is only decent at cooking, but he has no sense of hierarchy or respect—he's just a cook. How can we believe his intuition? And he's leading us into the jungle—isn't that suicide?"

Guan Chuan frowned; she didn't trust Ding Huan—she trusted Elder Gu.

Elder Gu's strength was unquestionably the strongest here.

As long as she stayed by Elder Gu's side, she should be safe.

If she stayed here and something happened, the other sect elders would never help her—they had their own disciples to protect.

As for Executive Qiong, he was merely a Foundation Establishment peak cultivator—too weak to protect her at all.

"Elder Gu said each person can decide for themselves. Though you're my maid, you may choose your own path—I'm staying with Elder Gu."

With that, Guan Chuan also stepped over.

Qingyu was helpless; she didn't want to go, but she was a maid—her mistress could order her to die, and she couldn't defy it.

"Miss Guan, wouldn't you rather stick with us?" Executive Qiong panicked as he saw Guan Chuan leave the main group.

He couldn't stop her—Elder Gu was higher in rank and strength.

Guan Chuan was under his protection—if anything happened, how could he explain to the Shao Sect Master?

"No need. I'll decide how to move on my own," Guan Chuan said coldly.

"Let's go."

Elder Qu of Shuanghun Sect looked down on Gu Youchang's decision; he was too bored to wait any longer and simply left first.

Executive Qiong could only say:

"Those who wish to follow me, come with me; those who wish to follow Elder Gu, follow him."

The twenty-three newly recruited disciples looked at each other.

In the end, they split in half: twelve believed Elder Gu was the strongest and felt safer staying with him.

Their reasoning matched Guan Chuan's: despite the two sect elders on this side, they would never help Yanyue Sect disciples if trouble arose.

Han Weicheng hesitated for a long time, but ultimately chose to follow the main group.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Elder Gu—he didn't believe anything good could come from entering the jungle of Dahe Gorge.

Over a hundred people split into two groups: one led by Elder Qu of Shuanghun Sect and Elder Liu of Zixia Valley.

The other group, only a dozen or so, was led by Ding Huan and Elder Gu.

In truth, it was just Ding Huan leading—the moment they split, Gu Youchang said to Ding Huan:

"Lead the way. Increase your pace."

Even without Gu Youchang's reminder, Ding Huan was already speeding up.

He had to get out of the Dahe Gorge jungle as fast as possible—otherwise, splitting up made no difference at all.