Chapter 41: Growth

After a long while, the candy melted.

Sunlight fell through the gaps in the canopy, and one beam rested on Xu Qing's face, as if it, like the candy, had melted deep into his heart.

It soothed his sorrow.

After a long moment, Xu Qing silently opened his eyes, looked at that beam of light, followed its source to gaze at the sun in the firmament, then lowered his head to look at the old man's tombstone and sighed softly.

"Captain Lei, have a... safe journey."

Xu Qing stood up and bowed deeply. As he turned, he forcefully pressed all his vulnerability deep into his heart, and at the same time, he buried the last trace of his inner childishness here to sleep forever with Captain Lei, ensuring it could never emerge again.

Fate had given him a glimmer of warmth, but now it had been ruthlessly snatched away by this world. This was the helplessness of the human world, but Xu Qing had to continue walking this path of life.

His eyes slowly became sharp again, gaining a touch of profundity.

His aura gradually regained its edge, gaining a touch of mellowness.

With a flicker, Xu Qing sped toward the edge of the jungle in the sunlight.

His figure was extremely fast, weaving through the spots of light, but if one looked closely, one could still see the desolation remaining on him—that was something even the light could not dispel in a short time.

The richness turned into loneliness.

Deeper and deeper.

And colder and colder.

Like a wolf cub living in a cruel jungle, he had grown up a bit in his loneliness, gradually taking another step closer to becoming a true lone wolf.

Time passed, and soon a day went by. Xu Qing's figure did not stop within the jungle, and by the time the sunset glow fell, he had already stepped out of the forbidden zone and entered the human world.

But the area he stepped into was not the camp's range, but the other side.

He did not intend to return to the camp.

The death of Captain Lei's enemy would surely have repercussions.

Since the organization the other party belonged to could travel throughout the Eastern Wanggu, it was clear their influence was immense. Although only an insignificant person had died, there was a high probability that an investigation would still exist.

Xu Qing could not gamble on this matter.

Most importantly, there was the death of the camp master.

Xu Qing had heard Captain Lei speak of the Jin Gang Sect.

Although the former had immense influence, they were merely a powerful dragon, while the latter was the local snake.

That was the strongest power within this large area nearby.

The dozens of cities and scavenger camps here were all more or less related to the Jin Gang Sect, controlled by them directly or indirectly.

Their sect ancestor's cultivation had even reached Foundation Establishment.

For the people and scavengers living in this area,

Foundation Establishment was already like an immortal. Although few people had truly seen one, the pressure and deterrence from a Foundation Establishment cultivator made everyone feel awe in their hearts.

Therefore, Xu Qing was very clear that having killed two elders of the Jin Gang Sect, the first thing he had to face was inevitably the Jin Gang Sect's fury, and the method to solve this problem was also very simple.

He needed a more powerful force to deter the Jin Gang Sect, making them afraid to act rashly.

This force was the Seven Blood Eyes.

For the nearby cities and camps, the Jin Gang Sect was a behemoth, but to the Jin Gang Sect, the Seven Blood Eyes were the true heaven-propping existence.

Even if given a hundred guts, the Jin Gang Sect would not dare to provoke the Seven Blood Eyes.

Therefore, Xu Qing was very clear that as long as he became a disciple of the Seven Blood Eyes, the crisis could be temporarily resolved.

So, as he walked out of the forbidden zone at this moment, he touched the Seven Blood Eyes token in his leather bag, his eyes revealing a sharp glint.

He prepared to make a trip to the Seven Blood Eyes!

The Seven Blood Eyes were very far from here. Ordinary people wanting to go there often had to spend several years, during which they not only had to cross mountains and ridges but also experience all kinds of dangers.

But for those holding the token, all of this was much simpler.

On the back of this token was engraved a map of the Seven Blood Eyes, and at the same time, there were many raised points on it; any one of them was the location of a Seven Blood Eyes branch city.

Holding the token to step into any branch city allowed one to enjoy one free teleportation.

The nearest one was Deer Horn City, which was in the opposite direction of Pine Wave City.

Unlike Pine Wave City, the qualifications to reside in Deer Horn City not only cost more spirit stones but also required a recommendation from a Seven Blood Eyes disciple, which was why Captain Lei had been unable to enter back then.

Thinking of this, Xu Qing looked back deeply at the forbidden zone. After a long while, he turned around and sped away in the twilight, his target being Deer Horn City.

"Calculating the time, I can reach Deer Horn City in at most three days," Xu Qing estimated in his heart.

He had never been to Deer Horn City, but the name was not unfamiliar, because the place where Deer Horn City was located was not far from the city where he had lived for six years, which had now turned into ruins.

At this moment, taking advantage of the night, Xu Qing was alone in the wilderness, his speed getting faster and faster.

Time passed, and two days went by.

It was correct that Xu Qing did not return to the camp.

Inside the scavenger camp now, dozens of disciples from the Jin Gang Sect were waiting coldly, and seven or eight had even stepped into the jungle to search.

The reason they knew about this so quickly was because scavengers were a mixed bag, with all kinds of people with all kinds of thoughts; unless they were all killed, someone would inevitably inform.

Thus, when the matter reached the Jin Gang Sect, the entire Jin Gang Sect was furious.

For the Jin Gang Sect, the death of two elders was a huge matter, especially for their face, it was also a provocation, so they not only had to resolve it as quickly as possible but also use this to establish their prestige.

It was just that after waiting for a long time, Xu Qing did not appear, and the forbidden zone was too large, so they were not sure if Xu Qing had entered, while the wilderness outside was empty, making it inevitable for the Jin Gang Sect's manpower to be scattered.

So, two days passed without any harvest.

Yet this matter spread uncontrollably, causing all the cities and scavengers within the Jin Gang Sect's range to hear of it, which made the Jin Gang Sect, having searched for a long time without result, even more furious.

At this moment, on the summit of the Jin Gang Sect, an angry shout erupted.

The Jin Gang Sect's mountain gate was not particularly far from Pine Wave City, located on a mountain peak, built very luxuriously, with hundreds of disciples under its banner and many experts within.

The angry shout echoing through the entire sect right now came from within the main hall on the summit.

"Still haven't found him?"

Inside the main hall, a middle-aged man wearing a golden robe sat at the head, his expression majestic, anger in his eyes, and the spiritual energy fluctuations on his body also spread in all directions amidst this anger, full of pressure.

Below him stood two people.

Both of these two were middle-aged, also wearing golden robes, their spiritual energy fluctuations very strong, surpassing the camp master. At this moment, both frowned, and after a long while, one of them spoke in a low voice.

"Sect Master, the wilderness is too large. It would be better to let the guards of those cities and the scavengers of the camps go out to search together. That way, we can find him in at most three days."

"Still think the joke isn't big enough? Two elders killed by a child, the camp blood-washed—if we let them help with this matter, where will my Jin Gang Sect's face go!!" the Jin Gang Sect Sect Master at the head shouted angrily.

The two below were silent and did not speak again.

After a long while, the Jin Gang Sect Sect Master took a deep breath, killing intent strong in his eyes, and pointed at the two below.

"Elder Li, Elder Chen, you two are at the peak of the ninth layer of Qi Condensation; either one of you could easily kill that child."

"I have already petitioned the ancestor and am prepared to borrow two tracking talismans from him for you. Once the ancestor agrees, you will go out personally. No matter what method you use, in at most twelve hours, I want to see that child's head!"

The two elders below, upon hearing that the ancestor even knew about this matter, immediately became solemn.

The Jin Gang Sect Sect Master's gaze was icy. After speaking, he took out a jade slip and was just about to ask the ancestor, but at this moment, a cold snort suddenly came from outside the main hall, roaring like heavenly thunder.

This sound was so loud that both elders felt their hearts tremble violently, and even the Sect Master's expression changed. As he stood up and walked out quickly, an old man wearing a gold-and-red dual-colored robe walked in from outside the hall.

This old man had a tall body, a ruddy complexion, and a head of disheveled white hair. Lightning seemed to permeate his eyes, covering the gloominess within them. As he walked, powerful spiritual energy far exceeding Qi Condensation spread rumblingly in all directions.

Wherever he passed, cracks appeared on the ground.

The aura on his body even formed a storm, circling around him. If one looked closely, one could even see that his feet were not stepping on the ground but were walking on air.

His walking on air was not a trick using wind techniques but true walking on air.

Furthermore, behind him, faintly, there was even an illusory shadow like an angry-eyed Vajra, as if once it erupted, even the main hall could not withstand its pressure.

His arrival immediately caused the three people in the main hall to kneel down in unison.

"Greetings, Ancestor!"

The Jin Gang Sect Ancestor did not speak. After walking to the head seat and sitting down, he looked coldly at the three people below, and finally, his lightning-like gaze fell on the Sect Master.

"Yunwen, have you forgotten the tenet of my Diamond Sect!"

The Sect Master's forehead broke out in sweat, and he immediately spoke.

"Reporting to Ancestor, Yunwen has not forgotten. The tenet of my Diamond Sect has always been not to strike unless necessary, but once we strike, we must use the Qi of Golden Sharpness to execute a strike of ultimate rigidity, which is why I arranged for two great elders to go out at the same time."

"Foolish!" The Jin Gang Sect Ancestor glared at the Sect Master.

"I have just carefully studied that child's resume. This child rose from mediocrity in a short time. He was originally a newly promoted member of the Thunder Squad. Upon his first entry into the forbidden zone, he slaughtered countless people, destroyed the Blood Shadow by winning against the strong with the weak, and saved many scavengers!"

"He even specializes in the way of poison. With the cultivation of the sixth layer of Qi Condensation, he again won against the strong with the weak, killing two of our sect's elders and many disciples, and was still able to retreat unscathed, leaving you all unable to find him even now."

"And with so many people in the camp, only two scavengers informed—it shows where the hearts of the people lie!"

"For such a person, according to my experience of reading countless ancient books over the years, either you reconcile with him, or you strike with all your might to kill him."

"Your behavior of arranging for the two of them to go over like this—for this person who specializes in winning against the strong with the weak, what difference is there from sending them to their deaths!" The Jin Gang Sect Ancestor finally roared almost angrily.

The three below, amidst his anger, could only lower their heads and tremble.

The Jin Gang Sect Ancestor took a deep breath, snorted coldly, and continued to speak gloomily.

"I can conclude that after the two of them go, if they can't find him, that's one thing, but once they find him, they will definitely be killed by the other party."

"Then you will be angry and choose to go personally, and you will also definitely be killed."

"By that time, when I go again, this child will definitely have flown far away. And several years later, once he returns, I'm afraid he could slap me to death with one palm."

Listening to the Ancestor's words, the Sect Master was stunned, the sweat on his forehead increased, but in his heart, he still felt that the development of the matter would not be like this. However, in front of the Ancestor, he dared not refute.

Thus, he could only lower his head and ask a question.

"Please give instructions, Ancestor."

The Jin Gang Sect Ancestor raised his head, looking at the wilderness world outside the main hall, his gaze profound. After a long while, he spoke slowly.

"Disperse all disciples, search all areas, and at the same time, keep watch outside every city and scavenger camp, and the surrounding borders as well."

"As for the two elders, give them flight talismans and tracking talismans, each responsible for half the area, and I will also participate personally. Once there is a discovery, notify me immediately to go over. Only then can it be considered a strike of ultimate rigidity."

"This way, it will be foolproof, and we can establish our prestige again, deterring the petty!"

A moment later, the Jin Gang Sect bell echoed.

A large number of disciples went out one after another, and even the Ancestor took the two great elders and flew away suddenly in the sky.

In front of him were three shining runes, seemingly guiding the direction, taking them to rush into the wilderness, turning into three parts and speeding away separately. ===== CHAPTER 42 =====