Chapter 31: Harvest

"Who is it?!"

Liu Xuande looked at the newcomer in surprise, and after recognizing him, said incredulously: "Cang Shidi? You saved me?"

The newcomer was Facing Facing Cang Luo; he had thrown his long sword to break the tail-hook attack of the Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion and was the one who saved Liu Xuande.

One minute earlier, after Facing Facing Cang Luo had killed the Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion with the Roaring Thunder Palm, he found an irregular green crystal the size of an ox eye inside its corpse.

Facing Facing Cang Luo guessed this object was a Demon Core, but could not be certain, so he wanted to return and ask Cang Feng about it.

As a result, when he used satellite search to locate the positions of Cang Feng and the other two, he discovered they were locked in a bitter battle, so he immediately rushed over to support them.

Facing Facing Cang Luo hurried desperately toward this side and happened to see Liu Xuande on the brink of death, but at that moment he was still more than ten meters away from Liu Xuande, unable to reach him in time.

Thus, in his urgency, Facing Facing Cang Luo thought of his stone-throwing specialty and prepared to throw a stone to attack the Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion.

However, after looking around, Facing Facing Cang Luo could not immediately find a convenient stone; the situation was urgent and allowed no hesitation, so Facing Facing Cang Luo simply took the iron sword in his hand and threw it as if it were a stone.

With this sword throw, Facing Facing Cang Luo's focus reached an unprecedented level, predicting and aiming at the tail-hook of the Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion.

Whether it was luck or skill, it actually hit, pulling Liu Xuande back from the gates of death.

"Hmm."

Facing Facing Cang Luo nodded casually, paying no attention to Liu Xuande's surprised gaze; he was analyzing that sword throw just now.

Was that sword throw simply good luck, a stroke of incredible fortune that happened to hit, or was it his own skill?

Did he truly possess talent for throwing hidden weapons?

While Facing Facing Cang Luo was thinking, Li Zhanxing suddenly walked over and shoved him hard, nearly knocking him down.

Li Zhanxing angrily said: "It's all your fault; you insisted on showing off, refused to follow Cang Shixiong's orders, and nearly got us all killed by it."

After speaking, Li Zhanxing saw that Facing Facing Cang Luo had not been knocked down by his shove; in a fit of rage, he raised his fist and struck at Facing Facing Cang Luo, but missed.

Li Zhanxing was already half-dead, while Facing Facing Cang Luo was still in peak condition; how could he possibly get hit?

Li Zhanxing missed his first strike and wanted to continue attacking Facing Facing Cang Luo, but Cang Feng and Liu Xuande quickly shouted to stop him.

"Stop!"

"Do not!"

Liu Xuande grabbed Li Zhanxing, and Cang Feng said in a deep voice: "This is not Cang Shidi's fault; I misjudged the strength of this Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion."

Speaking thus, Cang Feng picked up the iron sword and walked toward the already lifeless Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion, thrusting the sword into its back as if searching for something.

He continued: "This Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion is a leader-level First-Rank Demon Beast; even if the four of us joined forces, we might not have been its match."

I used a secret technique to find an opportunity to kill it, but I never expected it to show a final burst of strength and launch one last attack before dying."

Hearing Cang Feng's explanation, Li Zhanxing quickly lowered his fist, scratched his head, and said awkwardly: "Cang Shixiong, I'm sorry!"

"It's fine."

Facing Facing Cang Luo would not hold it against a fifteen-year-old brat; at this moment, his mind was entirely focused on the two words "secret technique" mentioned by Cang Feng.

The phrase "secret technique" sounded grand and lofty; he did not know how it differed from a cultivation method, but since Cang Feng did not continue speaking, he felt it improper to ask.

Seeing that Facing Facing Cang Luo had forgiven him, Li Zhanxing asked curiously: "Cang Shixiong, where is that Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion that was chasing you?"

"I killed it!" Facing Facing Cang Luo said lightly, as if he had merely crushed an ant.

"What?"

Liu Xuande and Li Zhanxing both showed expressions of shock; they believed that even if that Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion was relatively weak, it was not something Facing Facing Cang Luo could handle alone.

They knew that Facing Facing Cang Luo's cultivation was only Warrior Stage 3, the same as his own Li Zhanxing.

Their original plan was to deal with the Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion on their side, then go over to help Facing Facing Cang Luo.

But unexpectedly, the three of them nearly faced total annihilation, and Liu Xuande was even saved by Facing Facing Cang Luo.

At this moment, Li Zhanxing noticed three hook-shaped objects tied together with tree vines hanging on Facing Facing Cang Luo's body; the three of them recognized them as the tail-hooks of the Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion.

Only then did Liu Xuande and Li Zhanxing believe that Facing Facing Cang Luo had truly killed the Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion.

This was truly beyond their expectations, especially for Li Zhanxing, whose strength was lower; he had only lasted half a moment before the Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion and was forced to withdraw helplessly to heal his wounds.

But Facing Facing Cang Luo had actually killed a Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion all by himself!

Was this still a Warrior Stage 3 cultivation? Li Zhanxing could not understand it at all.

Li Zhanxing muttered to himself: "Both of us are Warrior Stage 3 cultivators; why is the gap so great? Cang Shixiong, did you cultivate some high-level method?"

"No." Facing Facing Cang Luo smiled, offered no explanation, and took out from his pocket the green crystal he had found inside the Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion.

The green crystal emitted a faint Yuan Force, not weaker than a low-grade Yuan Stone.

Facing Facing Cang Luo asked: "Is this a Demon Core?"

"Correct."

The one who answered Facing Facing Cang Luo was Cang Feng; he was also holding a green crystal in his hand, slightly larger than Facing Facing Cang Luo's, which he had just found inside the Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion.

Cang Feng walked up to Facing Facing Cang Luo, looked at him deeply, recalled what his master had just said, and thought of his feat of single-handedly slaying the Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion.

Could there truly be an existence on his body even more powerful than a Wu Sheng?

One that could allow him to rapidly reach Martial Spirit Stage 9?

"Cang Shixiong?" Facing Facing Cang Luo saw that Cang Feng was staring at him continuously and felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Cang Feng shook his head slightly, came back to his senses, and handed the Demon Core of the Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion leader to Facing Facing Cang Luo.

Facing Facing Cang Luo asked in confusion: "For me?"

Cang Feng nodded; Facing Facing Cang Luo immediately waved his hands and refused, saying: "One is enough for me; besides, this was killed by you, and I contributed nothing."

Cang Feng, who knew Facing Facing Cang Luo hid a tremendous secret, did not care; he directly stuffed the Yuan Dan into Facing Facing Cang Luo's hands, then began treating Liu Xuande's injuries.

Liu Xuande said earnestly: "Cang Shidi, if not for you, I would have perished here; you must accept this Demon Core."

Li Zhanxing also urged: "Cang Shixiong, just take it; does Old Liu's life not even equal one First-Rank Demon Core?"

While bandaging Liu Xuande's right arm, Cang Feng said: "Facing Facing Cang Luo, you need it more than we do now; do not forget Chen Dahu."

Ultimately, Cang Feng's words made Facing Facing Cang Luo decide to accept this Demon Core of the Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion leader.

After carefully storing the two demon cores, Facing Facing Cang Luo said gratefully, "Thank you, everyone!"

Facing Facing Cang Luo's sincere thanks made Cang Feng and the two Liu and Li men exchange a smile; they had experienced such things before themselves.

Only by going through battle together, by shedding blood and sweat together in combat, and by sharing the joy after victory — only then can one become brothers who share hardship.

Now, they had acknowledged Facing Facing Cang Luo and taken him as a brother.

Brothers! A bond that went one step further than fellow disciples of the same sect!

"Squeak! Squeak!"

Just as the four were cherishing one another, several unknown demon beast cries suddenly came from the surroundings, and the four immediately fell silent and grew wary.

If a few demon beasts charged out at this moment, they'd be done for — some were wounded, others had no primeval power left.

Cang Feng helped Liu Xuande bandage his wounds, then burned the bloodstained clothing to avoid attracting demon beasts. After finishing, he said, "We're not in good shape. Let's head back to camp, rest up for two days, then come again."

"Mm." Li Er nodded, helped Liu Xuande up, and followed behind Cang Feng.

The three had not walked more than a few steps when Liu Xuande suddenly noticed Facing Facing Cang Luo hadn't caught up and was still standing in place, so he asked, "Why isn't Junior Brother Cang coming? Is he injured?"

Cang Feng and Li Er also stopped and turned to look back at Facing Facing Cang Luo, a hint of urging in their eyes.

Facing Facing Cang Luo shook his head, hesitated for a moment, then said resolutely, "I'm not injured. I want to stay behind alone to continue tempering myself. Senior brothers, you go back first."

The moment those words left Facing Facing Cang Luo's mouth, Cang Feng's brows immediately knit slightly, Liu Xuande opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself, and Li Er's face was full of puzzlement.

They understood that Facing Facing Cang Luo was eager to raise his cultivation and strength, but he couldn't take such a risk either — a person of Wu Shi cultivation moving alone through the demon beast mountains was an extremely dangerous thing.

The sect also had its rules: at least three people had to form a team before entering the demon beast mountains to temper themselves.

Li Er tried to persuade him again: "Senior Brother Cang, being alone in the demon beast mountains is very dangerous.

The demon beasts are in the dark and we're in the light; we could be attacked at any moment. Better wait until we've rested and recovered, then come back together."

Facing Facing Cang Luo shook his head and refused Li Er's kind intentions. He had already thought it through — though relying on many people cooperating could let one slay demon beasts and obtain cores faster,

it didn't help much in raising one's actual strength, and compared to those life-or-death battles from the very start, it went against his original intention.

Besides, the demon beasts had been slain by everyone's joint effort, so the cores should naturally be split among all — he couldn't possibly keep claiming them all for himself, could he?

Facing Facing Cang Luo couldn't bring himself to do such a thing; even if they bore no grudge, he still couldn't accept it.

Facing Facing Cang Luo had long since made up his mind and said firmly, "I've thought it through. I want to stay. Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after, I'll head back."

Or perhaps... never return — to Earth!

The two Liu and Li men looked toward their pillar of strength, Cang Feng. Cang Feng knew Facing Facing Cang Luo had trump cards for self-protection on him, so he pressed no further. He said, "Since you've made your decision, we won't say more."

After a pause, he continued, "But remember this — in the demon beast mountains, the most dangerous thing is often not the demon beasts, but people. Don't trust any martial artist who tries to approach you."

With that, Cang Feng took two yellow-covered books from his bosom and handed them to Facing Facing Cang Luo.

One was the *Compendium of Ten Thousand Beasts*, which recorded a catalogue of demon beasts with detailed introductions.

The other was the *Record of a Hundred Herbs*, which documented all kinds of spiritual medicines — which could be used externally, which could be used to refine pills...

These two books were what Cang Feng used to cover up why he seemed to know everything under heaven; in fact, they had all been taught to him by his Wu Sheng master.

Facing Facing Cang Luo took the books, glanced at the covers, tucked them into his bosom, and said happily, "Many thanks for the reminder, Senior Brother Cang!"

With that, Facing Facing Cang Luo parted ways with Cang Feng and the other two. However, he did not immediately go off to seek combat with demon beasts; instead, he secretly followed behind them via satellite, providing covert protection.

He worried that, in their current state, if Cang Feng and the other two ran into demon beasts, they might be in danger.

Fortunately, the journey was peaceful — not a single demon beast, not even a single human shadow, was to be seen.