Chapter 340: How Was My Acting?

Ye Liuyun was startled, then his face showed terror as he said, "Why are you all looking at me? Do you Great Clans still want to bully a lone free cultivator like me? You have so many disciples; can't you send someone to scout?"

"Free cultivator?" The strong ones from the Great Clans all laughed.

"That free cultivator is really foolish, still speaking up at a time like this."

"If he didn't speak, nobody would notice him either!"

Some disciples of the Great Clans whispered, ridiculing him.

At this moment, a Heavenly Gang Realm strongman said, "Free cultivators have no chance to compete for opportunities with us. But if you go scout and find an opportunity, we'll give you a share."

"No need! I'm just here to watch the spectacle."

Ye Liuyun's face turned indignant, and he lifted his foot to leave.

"Stop!"

At that moment, the scruffy old man suddenly spoke!

A pressure of Heavenly Gang Realm level bore down on Ye Liuyun, making him shiver.

"Free cultivators must have their own enlightenment! Look at me, my realm isn't bad either; if I make a little contribution, I'll still get some broth to drink later. As for you, with such a low realm, if you don't risk scouting, you'll never get a share."

The old man spoke, stretched out his massive hand, and seized Ye Liuyun through the air.

"Let go of me! Can't I refuse this opportunity?" Ye Liuyun struggled and roared, but he could not break free of the old man's palm.

"Stop struggling; who made your realm so low! Low realm means you must accept bad luck!"

The scruffy old man sneered, one hand holding Ye Liuyun, the other gripping the tiger shark that had turned human‑shaped; he stamped his foot, entered the Formation again from the just‑opened crack, and vanished before everyone's eyes, the Formation closing as well.

Ye Liuyun's curses vanished with it!

A Human Race Heavenly Gang strongman walked over, inspected the crack, and stomped again at the spot where the scruffy old man had just stamped. Unexpectedly, the crack spewed a burst of flame that burned him.

He let out a wailing "ah", exhausted all his True Essence to extinguish the flame, but his face was already burnt beyond recognition.

Everyone present let out a gasp.

"With such fierce flame inside, those who go down there are doomed, right?" someone sighed.

"That scruffy old man—could he be using a trick?" another Human Race Heavenly Gang strongman said skeptically.

"Probably not. The two who went down with him were chosen at random! We'll just wait patiently." a Sea Tribe Monster Beast immediately objected.

On the Human Race side, most people thought it best to wait and see.

So both sides obediently set up camp nearby and kept watch.

After the three of them entered the Formation, they instantly activated their True Essence Body Shields, and Ye Liuyun's curses stopped at once.

The tiger shark looked at Ye Liuyun in surprise, puzzled, when a crackle "crack!" sounded, then darkness fell and it died on the spot.

The scruffy old man crushed the tiger shark's neck, then casually tossed the corpse into the Undersea Volcano Crater. Ye Liuyun watched the shark's body being thrown into lava and swiftly devoured.

He looked at the scruffy old man and laughed, "How was my acting?"

"Hahaha! You kid, that was something! You scolded me too harshly!" the scruffy old man also laughed.

That scruffy old man was none other than Qiong Qi, who has an equal‑level contract with him. As soon as Ye Liuyun arrived, the two sensed each other's presence.

They didn't recognize each other, but tacitly performed a staged act, deceiving everyone and entering the Undersea Volcano first.

"Were you drawn here by the flame's aura? I first sensed the flame's scent and wondered how you were doing! Never thought I'd actually picture you! How did your realm improve so fast?"

Ye Liuyun asked Qiong Qi curiously.

Qiong Qi replied, "Indeed! As soon as I sensed the flame's aura here, I rushed over. I'm different from you; I have cultivation experience from a past life, so any fire source lets my realm rise quickly. And I'm alone, with no worries, so all resources I obtain I keep for myself. As for you, kid, your realm's progress is way too slow!"

Ye Liuyun had never heard anyone say his realm was progressing slowly! Yet before an old monster like Qiong Qi, he could not argue. At least Qiong Qi's cultivation speed was far faster.

Afterwards, the two walked deeper toward the crater while discussing other ferocious beasts and their own situations.

"Secret Realms have been emerging everywhere lately; I think the world is about to change. Hurry up and strengthen yourself; the time left for you may be short! Corpse Demons and Foreign Tribe evil artifacts are popping up everywhere; soon there'll be a great war! Your current realm is still far behind!"

Qiong Qi had traveled to many places recently, seeing more than Ye Liuyun, and immediately briefed him on the current situation.

"Demon Race and Demon Cultivators are all leaning toward Alien Evil Artifacts; alliances of the Human Race are rising quickly. The Five Domains Alliance you belong to, on this Cangyun Continent, is actually just a tiny force."

"How big is this Cangyun Continent? Besides the Five Domains Alliance, are there other alliances?" Ye Liuyun asked curiously.

"Of course! The world beyond is vast! I haven't gone far myself. Mainly my realm is too low to dare wander outside! And you still haven't left the Five Domains Alliance, so I said you're far behind!"

Hearing that, Ye Liuyun fell silent. After a while he asked, "Wasn't it said that once you reach Heavenly Gang Realm you can go to the Outer Region?"

Qiong Qi promptly warned him, "In theory yes. But even if you go out, your realm is the lowest; you'll barely move, getting beaten everywhere. Why would you go out? To die?"

"Then what realm must one reach to go out?" Ye Liuyun asked anxiously, worrying about his parents and aunt.

Qiong Qi understood his feelings, yet said, "At least on this continent you'll hardly meet any opponent, which qualifies you to go out! If it were that easy, everyone here would have left long ago!"

Ye Liuyun thought that made sense; Qiong Qi had some point. Yet he also felt the future was bleak. He wondered whether his parents and aunt would be safe when he found them.

"Being impatient now won't help. Without strength you can't go anywhere. Focus on boosting your power!"

Qiong Qi kept talking about cultivation, not letting Ye Liuyun dwell on other thoughts.

After chatting a while, Qiong Qi shouted, "You haven't used the Nine‑tailed White Fox Demon King's demon core? The Sea Demon Dragon King's dragon qi you also sealed? What are you keeping them for? Use them!"

"I just think I don't need the huge energy right now!" Ye Liuyun explained.

"Don't overthink, don't be stingy with them. There are plenty of good things out there. You don't need to hoard anything. Spirit Stones and other resources, use them to your heart's content, don't save them! No wonder your cultivation speed is so slow; you've wasted so many resources. Use them all now, don't fear waste. When they're gone, go to Secret Realms to find more!"

Qiong Qi urged, seeming even more anxious than Ye Liuyun.