Chapter 1973: Original Intended Target

Elder Song was quite satisfied with Jian Gongzi and the others' battle record.

However, he disliked how these people flaunted their loot everywhere; in the martial world, keeping wealth hidden is the rule, and displaying one's resources is tantamount to shouting "come rob me."

Fortunately there was nothing too valuable, so Ye Liuyun likely wouldn't target them over such trivial items.

The Monster Beast beside Ye Liuyun regarded Jian Gongzi and the others with utter contempt.

"I can't stand it any longer! Little brother, let's give him a good beating! He's so smug, he clearly doesn't know the limits of the sky and earth!" Lei Ming transmitted to Ye Liuyun via Transmission Voice.

"Don't interfere, don't forget why we're here! We're not here to deal with him. The more he revels in his swagger, the worse it will be when he suffers a loss. There will be a chance to deal with him!"

Ye Liuyun wasn't just reminding Lei Ming; he was warning everyone.

That Jian Gongzi was indeed unreliable, and his words were soon fulfilled.

The mountain range originally contained many Formations. Jian Gongzi once led a party to slay a ferocious beast, but his overconfidence made him ignore Ye Liuyun's advice to return the same way, and he mistakenly entered a Formation.

For such matters, Ye Liuyun would never intervene. In his own words, "He's just digging his own grave!"

Although Elder Song eventually rescued them, the few of them were in a terrible state, bloodied all over and their clothes torn.

Moreover, that male disciple who was always flattering others was injured and cruelly abandoned by Jian Gongzi, left to fend for himself. His anguished scream still makes Gong Wanting's heart race to this day.

Although Jian Gongzi noticed her worry, he specifically told Gong Wanting, "Junior sister, don't worry; if you get hurt, I won't abandon you!"

Gong Wanting nodded in gratitude, yet harbored doubts. Hence, whenever danger loomed, she would stay close to Ye Liuyun and no longer adventure with Jian Gongzi.

By this point, Ye Liuyun's party had covered more than half the journey, with only the final stretch remaining.

The Clone and Ye Liuyun had already spotted the two yellow flood dragons, which had once hidden behind a mountain ridge, silently observing them.

Yet at that moment, they suddenly heard a distant dragon's roar.

Long Nv and Lei Ming recognized it as "Come catch me, I'm right here!"

Moreover, judging by the source, it was clearly off their target. For Ye Liuyun's group to reach it would take at least two or three days, and the dangers along the way were all unknown!

"Could they be teleporting? Or are there other dragons here?" Ye Liuyun began to wonder.

The members of the Profound Heaven Sect, upon hearing the dragon's roar, immediately set off toward it.

Ye Liuyun once again summoned Bai Hu, carefully questioning the ferocious beasts. They confirmed that at Yellow Dragon Ridge, only those two flood dragons existed.

Yet they also said they had heard the two flood dragons' cries, sometimes near, sometimes far, but none dared to investigate.

In the end, Ye Liuyun concluded that the two flood dragons either had multiple exits from the cave or possessed some special means to move swiftly to other locations.

The dragon's roar was likely a lure to bait enemies.

"Sorry! That area is beyond our agreed route, and its dangers are unknown; we've already lost too many people and don't want to risk more!" Ye Liuyun declined to rush over with the Profound Heaven Sect members.

"I'll add more money!" Jian Gongzi urged anxiously.

"Even with extra money we won't go. Money earned still costs a life!" Ye Liuyun was resolute in refusing.

"Aoo!"

The distant dragon roar sounded again.

Jian Gongzi grew even more anxious.

He was after catching a dragon. Capturing a dragon as a pet would be an incredibly cool feat. Riding a dragon everywhere would make him the center of attention!

"Then you all stay here and wait for me! Let's go!" Jian Gongzi called the others and set off with him.

"I'll stay behind so I don't hold you back!" Gong Wanting said immediately.

She didn't want to adventure with Jian Gongzi again, fearing she'd be used as cannon fodder and abandoned midway.

"Alright! Then stay and watch them, don't let them scout for resources first!"

Jian Gongzi thought for a moment, then transmitted to Gong Wanting, agreeing that one person could stay to keep an eye on Ye Liuyun's group so they wouldn't go treasure‑hunting first.

Another disciple, also fearing danger, wanted to stay behind.

"No! You have to come with me to help!" Jian Gongzi bluntly refused.

The disciple, helpless, could only follow Jian Gongzi and Elder Song toward the direction of the dragon's roar.

After Jian Gongzi left, Ye Liuyun's party all turned to Gong Wanting.

"Don't misunderstand; I stayed not to spy on you, but because I'm worried following him is dangerous, fearing he'll abandon me midway or use me as cannon fodder!" Gong Wanting explained immediately.

Ye Liuyun smiled, "Even if you're watching me, we won't mind. The hiring rules don't forbid us from exploring on our own. I just want to ask: will you stay with us, or remain here alone?"

"I… I don't dare stay alone! Can you take me with you? You don't have to share any treasure you find; just guarantee my safety!"

Gong Wanting now felt a bit regretful. She had just met Ye Liuyun's group, yet she trusted them so much.

Now, looking into their eyes, she suddenly felt afraid.

Ye Liuyun nodded, "Since you kindly gave me that pill before, you may join us; we'll guarantee your safety. But you must obey my orders!"

"Alright! I'll do as you say!" Gong Wanting replied instantly.

Ye Liuyun said no more and immediately led everyone toward their originally intended target.

This time, however, the Clone led the charge, followed by Lei Ming and Long Nv. The others trailed at the rear, with Ye Liuyun still last, vigilant of danger.

Moreover, their pace was extremely fast, practically sprinting all the way. Whenever an obstacle arose, Ye Liuyun dealt with it, then used the Floating‑Sky Boots to catch up with the group.

In half a day they crossed the ridge.

On the other side of the ridge, the ground was littered with damage from massive ferocious beasts, confirming this was the frequent haunt of the two flood dragons.

"That pile of broken stones!" Long Nv and Lei Ming both pointed to that direction.

"The map shows it there too! But there should be a stone guardian there," Ye Liuyun added.

So the group sprinted to the pile of broken stones and halted.

The Clone and Ye Liuyun used Gold Eye Search to locate the stone guardian, but after a long look they found nothing.

"Xuanwu, use Invisibility Cloak to scout; everyone else, hide behind the big rocks!" Ye Liuyun ordered, having others conceal themselves behind large stones.

The Clone also donned the Invisibility Cloak and vanished, observing from afar.

Xuanwu stepped into the center of the broken‑stone pile, and the scattered stones on the ground immediately began to move.