Chapter 980: Falling One by One

Even a disciple, after a sword split a scorpion's shell, had his prized sword taken away by the scorpion that was in pain.

Ling Shuang also used an artifact, so it went relatively smoothly.

Yuan Datou's iron staff also smashed those scorpions into big pits, equally effective.

Ye Liuyun's main focus was still on the two of them; as for the others, he could only say he was looking after them as a matter of course. With so many disciples, he couldn't possibly protect everyone completely.

"Ah!"

A disciple let out a wailing scream, ambushed from behind by a red scorpion's tail, which pierced through his chest.

The red scorpion then lifted him up, waving and swinging as if flaunting its victory, and immediately thrust the disciple into its mouth, biting and swallowing him.

"Lei Ming, Long Nv, come out to fight!"

Ye Liuyun, seeing someone die, also thought that being surrounded by so many scorpions would be extremely arduous for the group.

So he released Lei Ming and Long Nv, letting them also come out to help, and to train a bit.

As for the senior-ranked Ice Demon Tiger and Ghost Butterfly, Ye Liuyun did not use them for now.

Their cultivation realms are too high; if he released them, those people wouldn't need any trial, rendering the training ineffective.

After Lei Ming emerged, she transformed into her true form, using lightning and claws to attack the scorpions, which proved very effective.

Long Nv also revealed her true form, circling in the air; seizing the chance, she struck with a claw. She wore artifact gloves, and each grab was precise.

The scorpions fought for a while, perhaps realizing their heavy losses, and then began to retreat.

Ye Liuyun, Lei Ming, and Long Nv gave chase for a while, then stopped forcing the pursuit, letting them withdraw.

In their first battle against red scorpions, Ye Liuyun's gains were considerable, obtaining more than twenty red scorpion corpses.

But their numbers also decreased by two; two disciples were killed by a red scorpion's ambush.

They had been inside for less than a day when two died. Everyone's mood was heavy, silently gathering loot and recovering injuries.

In the following journey, they continued to fight constantly. Swarms of scorpions and poisonous insects kept besieging them, treating them as food.

In each battle, one or two of them fell, becoming a meal for the toxins.

"These damn insects!"

Someone in the group kept cursing, while others had hollow eyes, seeing no hope of survival.

Ye Liuyun, after seeing this, shook his head helplessly. "These people's mental resilience is too poor! When faced with danger they panic like this! It seems they really need to undergo more training."

He had originally planned to release the senior-ranked ferocious beast, but held back.

Releasing the senior-ranked ferocious beast could save their lives, yet it would also deprive them of a chance to grow.

From afar, Li Qingyun, seeing Ye Liuyun's hand reach for the Storage Ring again, felt relieved and smiled.

"That's right! Don't delay others' growth!"

He whispered, yet Ye Liuyun's Divine Sense clearly captured his voice.

He looked at Li Qingyun and nodded.

Then he began encouraging everyone: "The path of a Martial Cultivator will inevitably face life and death! If you only complain when faced with difficulties, or give up hope, your martial heart is too fragile!"

"Ye Liuyun, you speak so lightly. You are strong, and you have a senior-ranked ferocious beast protecting you, so you aren't afraid."

A disciple immediately began to rebut him.

The speaking disciple had previously suggested releasing the senior-ranked ferocious beast to protect everyone, but Ye Liuyun refused. Hence he was very dissatisfied, believing Ye Liuyun ignored the dead and cared nothing for their lives.

"What are you saying? Isn't he also fighting alongside us, doing his best to kill the enemy? Without him, more of us would die!" Ling Shuang argued with that disciple.

Several other disciples, however, did not complain about Ye Liuyun, but pleaded with him.

"Senior brother Ye, release your ferocious beast, otherwise we'll all die!"

"Yes! Senior brother Ye, you still have those Yin Souls! As long as you release a bit, we'll be safe!"

Ye Liuyun, hearing this, waved his hand to cut off their voices.

"We are all newly entered inner-door disciples; I have no need to be responsible for your lives. If you think I don't care about your fate, you can stop following me!"

"However, I remind you: this is my trial, and also yours. If you don't wish to continue, just go back!"

Having said that, Ye Liuyun turned and left.

Initially he felt some guilt for the dead, but hearing them speak like that, he made a final decision.

He would only use the senior-ranked ferocious beast when he himself is in danger.

As for these people's lives, he no longer wishes to concern himself. He won't be morally blackmailed by them.

Ling Shuang and Yuan Datou also immediately followed Ye Liuyun.

"Know your place!" Yuan Datou sneered as he left.

Among those disciples, only one rose immediately and followed Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun's Divine Sense also detected this disciple.

He had previously taken note of this disciple, who never complained nor hung his head in dejection.

Although his realm was only the first level of Creation, in battle he still helped others within his ability.

"Brother, what's your name?" Yuan Datou, clearly having noticed this disciple, asked directly.

"I am Liu Yiming!" the disciple clasped his fists toward Yuan Datou.

"Liu Yiming!" Yuan Datou grinned broadly, introducing himself.

The five disciples who stayed behind glanced at each other and immediately gave chase.

Having left Ye Liuyun, they might die even faster.

Ye Liuyun ignored them; those who wanted to follow could.

At this moment, he was using his Golden Pupil to observe the distant situation.

He discovered a trail of footprints!

But when they reached the footprints, they had already been buried by quicksand.

"What's wrong?" Ling Shuang saw that Ye Liuyun seemed to be tracking something.

"It seems there's a group of people ahead!" Ye Liuyun said doubtfully.

"No wonder we haven't been attacked this stretch!" Yuan Datou also said.

They had just walked this stretch, yet they hadn't encountered any poisonous creature attacks, which was indeed somewhat abnormal.

"Then let's quickly catch up to them; having more people will help us deal with these poisonous creatures!" A disciple behind immediately proposed.

"Not necessarily!" Ye Liuyun said while pondering: "The cultivation level of those people is probably higher than ours! Moreover, encountering them in such a place may not be a good thing! Let's catch up first and see the situation before deciding."

But he still decided to catch up with those people to see the situation.