Chapter 179: 179. Chapter 176: My Ningxing Bamboo

179. Chapter 176: My Ningxing Bamboo

Ding Huan spoke modestly, but among these qualified disciples—even those already within the sect—

Ding Huan's life was indeed worthless; this was an ingrained subconscious belief, not merely simple disdain.

So when Ding Huan said this, everyone felt a tiny flicker of emotion—nothing more than that.

At least they'd remember for a few days that this cook, Ding Huan, wasn't bad.

Worthless as it was, even an ant's life is still a life, isn't it?

Only Liu Liu Yinzhu and Gu Youchang held different views.

Gu Youchang believed Ding Huan was no ordinary person; if not for his slightly inferior talent, his future achievements might surpass even his own.

But Liu Liu Yinzhu was certain Ding Huan did not speak as he claimed.

This Ding Huan absolutely did not regard his own life as less valuable than others'—in fact, in Ding Huan's eyes, his life was worth more than all others combined.

Otherwise, Ding Huan would not have gone to any lengths to kill Qu Yueshan.

What was Ding Huan's purpose in killing Qu Yueshan? Wasn't it simply to survive?

Even Gu Youchang did not know Qu Yueshan was killed by Ding Huan—Liu Liu Yinzhu knew.

Liu Liu Yinzhu found it puzzling: why had Ding Huan stepped forward to lead the way?

Even sixth sense wouldn't suffice here, because one misstep meant total annihilation.

Given Ding Huan's current status in this group, there was absolutely no need for him to risk himself.

"Thank you, Brother Ding, I…" Seeing Yan Mei stammered, overwhelmed with gratitude.

He was certain that if Ding Huan hadn't stepped forward, the one leading the way would have been him—he'd already mentally prepared himself for it.

If fate gave him another chance, he would never again wish to join any sect of the Xiujiede Sect.

Many powerful cultivators rose from the Mortal World, climbing all the way to become peerless masters.

Seeing Yan Mei expressed his thanks, and the other disciples followed, coming forward to thank Ding Huan.

Ding Huan bowed his fist and said:

"Our meeting is fate. I only hope that after we pass through the Lost Marsh, whether I, Ding Huan, am still alive or not,

you all will remember that once, a man led you all through."

As soon as Ding Huan spoke these words, Liu Liu Yinzhu suddenly understood.

It was a preemptive warning: after crossing the Lost Marsh, don't gossip. Don't go to Shuanghun Sect to report that Ding Huan refused Qu Yueshan's place in the team.

Indeed, every step was deliberate and planned.

Liu Liu Yinzhu admired Ding Huan's intention.

At least he gave something before expecting gratitude.

Leading the way through the Lost Marsh was no small sacrifice.

If such a sacrifice still fails to earn gratitude, and someone betrays him to Shuanghun Sect, then that person's character is so vile it cannot be looked upon—and no one will ever deal with him again.

Ding Huan's original plan was to calculate one path; if it failed, he'd calculate a second.

But when he reached the edge of the Lost Marsh, he froze—he could faintly see a few black holes within it.

He immediately calculated: if he walked through the black holes, the result was nearly blank.

If he avoided the black holes, the calculation yielded results—though vague.

Ding Huan realized this must be tied to the Dahuang Eye gene he had fused. Though his cultivation was still low, he could now perceive some illusions.

It seemed that his earlier ability to distinguish forests from roads wasn't just due to the Toxin-Neutralizing Gene—the Dahuang Eye had played a major role.

"Old Six, stick close to me. Don't wander off."

Ding Huan spoke, then stepped straight into the marsh.

Old Six didn't need Ding Huan's reminder—he'd never left Ding Huan's side for a single step these past days.

In a place this dangerous, leaving Ding Huan meant certain death.

After stepping into the marsh, Ding Huan turned back and said:

"All of you follow behind me. Watch my steps as you walk."

No one dared hesitate. No one cared whether Ding Huan would die—so long as he could lead, they were fine. If he sank, they'd just send someone else.

As long as Ding Huan remained unharmed, they all would.

With the Illusion Eye's enhancement, the path ahead became simple for Ding Huan.

Given his current state, he could move five times faster.

Yet Ding Huan, a veteran who'd faced countless dangers, didn't speed up—he slowed further, even wiping sweat frequently.

Not just the new disciples—even Liu Liu Yinzhu, watching Ding Huan's face grow paler with each step, wondered if he'd misjudged him.

Was Ding Huan truly clueless about the safe path, relying only on blind luck?

Regardless, Ding Huan's performance deepened everyone's gratitude—he was genuinely appreciated now.

What should have taken one day took Ding Huan one and a half.

Nothing happened along the way.

"Ding Daoist, your luck is truly unmatched," Gu Youchang couldn't help exclaiming as they stepped out of the Lost Marsh.

Liu Liu Yinzhu agreed:

"Others have crossed the Lost Marsh unharmed before, but rarely. This time, Ding Daoist's safe passage is indeed tied to fortune."

Ding Huan wiped sweat from his forehead:

"Good, good… no harm done…"

Gu Youchang waved his hand—a ship suddenly appeared before them:

"Gentlemen, we've finally left the Dahuo Gorge. Disciples of the Yanyue Sect, board the ship. Ding Daoist, will you come with me to the Yanyue Sect?"

Ding Huan quickly said:

"Thank you, Elder Gu, but I won't be going…"

As he spoke, Ding Huan seemed to remember something and immediately turned to Executive Dong Qiong:

"Executive Dong, I originally planned to go to Yanyue Sect to claim some compensation, but after thinking it over, my talent is too low—I'd struggle to survive there.

My plan for the future is to find a path suited to me, a mortal cook."

Executive Dong Qiong froze in surprise, and even Liu Yinzhu looked stunned.

She seemed to recall something and quickly said:

"Yes, yes, Friend Ding, you led us out of the Great Ravine. Zi Xia Valley should give you a portion of the compensation."

Ding Huan hurriedly waved his hand:

"Elder Liu, you misunderstand. The compensation I seek isn't for guiding you—it's for the Condensing Star Bamboo I acquired earlier. Executive Dong held it for me, intending to exchange it at Yanyue Sect for something useful to me.

After spending this time with all of you, I can no longer ignore the truth. My talent is too low; I can't rely on a single Condensing Star Bamboo to live. So I won't be going to Yanyue Sect."

"Condensing Star Bamboo?" Liu Yinzhu stared at Ding Huan in shock.

Had she obtained Condensing Star Bamboo back then, she wouldn't have struggled so desperately during the Qi-to-Spirit refinement stage's pill-forming phase—and still not completed it.

Condensing Star Bamboo is the most valuable Level Three spiritual herb; even most Level Four spiritual herbs are far inferior to it.

This Executive Dong actually wanted to seize Ding Huan's Condensing Star Bamboo for himself, offering only a vague sect reward promise—how outrageous.

Executive Dong Qiong was dumbfounded. This Condensing Star Bamboo was exactly what he needed—he was about to enter the Qi-to-Spirit refinement stage. If he gave this one to Ding Huan, where would he get another?

"Executive Dong?" Ding Huan called again.

Inside, Ding Huan sneered. This guy was clearly pretending to forget.

I'll see how you keep up this act with two elders and twenty disciples watching.

"Oh, right, right…" Under pressure, Executive Dong could only pull out a jade box and hand it to Ding Huan.

Before Ding Huan could take the jade box, he said:

"Friend Ding, this Condensing Star Bamboo is also somewhat useful to me personally. Could you possibly part with it? I'm willing to trade."

Ding Huan took the Condensing Star Bamboo without hesitation, then said reluctantly:

"Executive Dong, you know I come from the Mortal World. If I have no treasures at all, how will I ever secure a stable future? I'm truly sorry."

If Executive Dong had first promised him a position as a sect menial, Ding Huan might have agreed.

Now, even if he promised Ding Huan a menial position, he wouldn't accept.

Because he didn't believe Executive Dong could deliver.

From his interactions with Elder Gu and Elder Liu over this period, Ding Huan had deeply understood one truth: entering a sect wasn't easy.

Even Elder Gu couldn't promise him anything—how could he trust Executive Dong's promise?

Han Weicheng, who was standing nearby, watched Ding Huan put away the Star-Congealing Bamboo and shook his head speechlessly.

This Ding Huan is clever too—doesn't he know that this particular Star-Congealing Bamboo cannot be taken back?

If it were something else, it might be fine, but Dong Qiong, like him, is facing the transition from Qi Refining to Spirit Transformation—how could he possibly let this Star-Congealing Bamboo slip away?

Ding Huan taking back the Star-Congealing Bamboo is tantamount to seeking death.

"Fellow Daoist Ding, would you be willing to sell me this Star-Congealing Bamboo?" Guan Qing suddenly walked over and asked eagerly.

She needed to buy it and then give it to Steward Qiong, after all Steward Qiong could be considered someone who had protected her.

Ding Huan was stunned. He looked at Guan Qing in complete bewilderment, thinking to himself, are you really trying to buy Star-Congealing Bamboo with nothing but a face that's about to be married off?

However, he immediately understood—Guan Qing's words didn't necessarily mean she truly wanted him to sell the Star-Congealing Bamboo.

It meant that if he could sell it, that would be best; if not, Guan Qing would still have done Steward Qiong a favor.

This was to let Steward Qiong know that although Ding Huan was her Guan Qing's cook, her words carried no weight either. Deep down, she still very much wanted to help Steward Qiong.

Damn it, every single one of these people is shrewd as hell.

Ding Huan cupped his fist: "Miss Guan, I cannot sell this. My apologies."

Qing Yu snorted coldly:

"Ding Huan, you are also a cook in my Jin Residence. When the young lady asks you for something, and she's not even demanding it for free, what gives you the right to refuse?"

Ding Huan looked at Qing Yu as if she were an idiot:

"Since when am I a cook of the Jin Residence? My verbal agreement with Miss Guan ended the moment we crossed the Great Ravine Canyon. Did I fail to do what I promised, or fail to do it well?

Miss Guan herself has nothing to say about it—what right does a mere maidservant like you have to speak?"

"You..." Qing Yu's face turned livid with rage.

"Enough, Qing Yu. Fellow Daoist Ding is not wrong." Guan Qing said coldly.

She did indeed want to leave a good impression with Steward Qiong, but that didn't mean she was willing to offend Ding Huan.

She had never liked Qing Yu's previous behavior; such overstepping—speaking before the mistress had even said a word—displeased her even more.

Ding Huan knew that if anyone would tip off the Dual Soul Sect, it would surely be this Qing Yu.

He had shown kindness to these people, but that didn't mean he had to swallow his pride after giving. Since he couldn't make an ungrateful wretch remember his kindness, there was no point in shamelessly pandering:

"Miss Guan, you should be careful of this maidservant by your side. If anyone tries to harm you in the future, it will surely be this ungrateful woman."