3: "Treasure Hunt" in Black Wind Valley, Brother, let me explore the way first!

Lin Gou licked his lips.

“Is something big about to happen?”

A thought stirred within him, and he immediately cast the Aura Concealment Technique he had just learned.

His aura instantly retracted to its extreme.

At the same time, Swift Wind Steps was activated, and his figure weaved through the dim forest without making the slightest sound.

Mottled specks of light filtered through the gaps in the leaves, illuminating his ordinary face, which was now filled with barely suppressed excitement.

He crept towards the direction of the greatest disturbance.

Each step was cautious, as if he were approaching some peerless treasure.

Yes, a wave of “high-stakes” death experiences was the best treasure for him.

Soon, the area ahead suddenly opened up.

In a messy clearing, the rich smell of blood mixed with the earthy scent assailed his nostrils.

Stimulating every nerve in his body.

Three Qingyun Sect Outer Sect Disciples stood back to back, forming a circle.

Their clothes were tattered, and their expressions were panicked, clearly having just gone through a desperate battle.

One of them had an arm hanging limply, his sleeve soaked in blood, and his face was as white as paper.

Opposite them, a colossal Yao Beast glared menacingly.

It was a Yao Beast resembling a giant ape, as stout as a small mountain, covered in blackish-green, hard scales.

Its eyes were blood-red.

It let out a muffled roar, each breath carrying a fishy wind (foul wind) that made one almost vomit.

“It’s a Green-Scaled Violent Ape! A Qi Refining fifth-layer Yao Beast!”

One Disciple’s voice trembled, filled with despair.

Qi Refining fifth-layer.

This number, for Outer Sect Disciples like them, who were generally only at Qi Refining second or third layer, represented absolute suppression, an unbeatable force.

Lin Gou silently hid behind a giant tree, holding his breath, observing in secret.

His heart pounded uncontrollably.

But this wasn’t entirely due to fear.

A larger part of it stemmed from an almost pathological anticipation.

Green-Scaled Violent Ape.

Qi Refining fifth-layer.

How generous would the reward be for being directly killed by such a high-level behemoth?

An A-grade evaluation should be guaranteed, right?

His gaze swept over the three trembling Disciples, and the corner of his mouth slightly curled up.

One of them was none other than Senior Brother Liu, who had mocked him at the martial arts arena earlier.

At this moment, Senior Brother Liu no longer showed any of his usual arrogance; his face was only filled with pure fear and regret.

“What do we do? Senior Brother Li, we… one of us should break out and report to the Sect!” another Disciple cried out anxiously, with a sobbing tone.

The one called Senior Brother Li was the one with the injured arm.

He gritted his teeth, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes, yet he was powerless.

“Break out? Where to? This beast is incredibly fast, none of us can escape!”

“Are we… just going to wait for death?”

The aura of despair, like a tangible dark cloud, enveloped the three of them.

Lin Gou took a deep breath.

A nearly perfect “suicide” plan quickly formed in his mind.

It would allow him to experience the thrill of death in a “high-stakes game” and also gain a bonus for “selfless” positive behavior.

Simply… perfect!

He no longer hesitated.

He suddenly darted out from behind the tree, using all his strength, and let out a righteous shout:

“Senior Brothers, don’t panic! I’ll draw it away! You all seize the chance to escape!”

His voice was loud, full of fearless self-sacrifice, echoing through the forest.

The three Disciples, who had already fallen into despair, were stunned by the sound and looked at him in unison.

When they saw that it was Lin Gou—this fellow who was usually timid as a mouse and had mediocre Aptitude—their faces showed expressions of disbelief.

Senior Brother Liu even blurted out instinctively:

“Lin Gou? Are you f*cking crazy?”

The Green-Scaled Violent Ape was also attracted by the sudden sound, and its massive blood-red beast eyes instantly locked onto Lin Gou.

“Roar—!”

A deafening roar, as if it would tear one’s eardrums.

Lin Gou faced the Violent Ape’s ferocious gaze, but in his heart, he was madly shouting: “Come on, baby! Come for me! Give me a quick one!”

He even felt it wasn’t enough, so he provocatively beckoned with his finger towards the colossal beast.

This action completely ignited the Green-Scaled Violent Ape’s fury.

It completely abandoned the three prey in front of it, who no longer posed a threat, and slammed its four limbs onto the ground, its massive body, like a cannonball, charging violently towards Lin Gou.

The ground trembled slightly under this immense force.

The three Disciples watched this scene, their eyes flashing with extremely complex emotions.

There was shock, confusion, and also a subtle hint of gratitude and guilt.

“Junior Brother Lin…”

Senior Brother Li murmured to himself, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end, not a single word escaped his lips.

Lin Gou had no time to concern himself with their inner turmoil.

He watched the Green-Scaled Violent Ape getting closer and closer in his vision, feeling the suffocating terror and pressure, but the flame in his heart burned even brighter.

“Excellent!”

He even pretended to take out a rusty short sword from his Storage Pouch, striking a flawed defensive pose.

Of course, all of this was just to make his “heroic sacrifice” appear more tragic and visually appealing.

The next instant.

The Green-Scaled Violent Ape’s giant, fan-like palm, carrying immense power, tore through the air and slammed down!

The wind shrieked, like the wailing of ghosts.

Lin Gou only felt his vision go black.

An irresistible force crashed into him, as if he had been directly hit by a speeding mountain.

“Crack…”

The sound of all his bones shattering into powder clearly echoed in his mind.

The excruciating pain lasted only a thousandth of a second before being completely swallowed by darkness.

【Ding! Host has died!】

【Method of death: To cover fellow Disciples, was directly killed by a Qi Refining fifth-layer Green-Scaled Violent Ape.】

【Overall evaluation: A-grade (includes significant positive behavior bonus and high-risk challenge bonus).】

【Rewards: Cultivation Technique “Nine Revolutions Body Refining Art” First Revolution, Cultivation advancement (Qi Refining third-layer Early Stage → Qi Refining third-layer Perfection), High-Grade Spirit Stone x1, ‘Tenacity’ trait (Elementary).】

【Resurrection countdown: 55:00.】

The familiar darkness, the familiar System prompt sound.

Lin Gou’s consciousness rejoiced in the void.

A-grade evaluation!

Nine Revolutions Body Refining Art! Just by hearing the name, he knew it was a top-tier Body Refining Cultivation Technique!

His Cultivation directly soared from Qi Refining third-layer Early Stage to Perfection in one go! How much effort would that save him from arduous Cultivation!

And a High-Grade Spirit Stone! That was an astonishing purchasing power equivalent to ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones!

Finally, there was a “Tenacity” trait, although only Elementary, it was clearly a premium attribute for strengthening the Physical Body.

This death was too worthwhile!

The fifty-five-minute resurrection countdown, in the midst of his infinite anticipation for the generous rewards, also seemed less long… Outside the Blackwind Valley entrance, beneath the unassuming old tree.

A flash of light, and Lin Gou’s figure appeared out of thin air, completely unharmed, as if he had never experienced that tragic death.

He immediately checked his status.

Cultivation: Qi Refining third-layer Perfection!

He was just one step away from breaking through to Qi Refining fourth-layer.

He could clearly feel that the spiritual Qi in his Dantian was several times more abundant than before.

At the same time, a profound Cultivation Technique information naturally flowed through his mind; it was the complete Cultivation method for the First Revolution of the Nine Revolutions Body Refining Art.

This Cultivation Technique was overbearing, as if a craving emanated from the depths of his Soul, urging him to temper his Physical Body until it became sacred, comparable to a Magic Treasure.

“Tenacity trait, Elementary.”

Lin Gou clenched his fist.

He could feel that the toughness (resilience) of his skin, fascia, and muscles had been significantly enhanced.

Now, his resistance to attacks had increased by at least thirty percent.

“Not bad, not bad.”

He nodded in satisfaction, carefully putting away the heavy High-Grade Spirit Stone.

This was currently his largest sum of wealth, and it needed to be used wisely.

“Those three guys should have escaped by now.”

Lin Gou thought of his three fellow Disciples “he had saved.”

He wondered how they would spread his “heroic deeds” after returning to the Sect?

He was actually somewhat looking forward to it.

After a brief rest, Lin Gou’s gaze once again turned towards the depths of Blackwind Valley.

Now he was at Qi Refining third-layer Perfection.

He possessed the two life-saving divine skills: Aura Concealment Technique and Swift Wind Steps.

Furthermore, he had a top-tier Cultivation Technique like the Nine Revolutions Body Refining Art at his side.

Stepping into this perilous Secret Realm again, his confidence was more than ten times greater than before.

Of course, his greatest confidence would always be the System that allowed him to revive infinitely.

He began to “seek treasures” in Blackwind Valley with a plan.

When he encountered a lone low-tier Yao Beast, he no longer mindlessly courted death as before.

He began to try to maneuver around them, familiarize himself with his surging power, and hone his combat skills.

Swift Wind Steps made his movements agile; ordinary Qi Refining third- and fourth-layer Yao Beasts couldn’t even touch the hem of his clothes now.

Aura Concealment Technique, on the other hand, transformed him into a ghost in the night, allowing him to hide himself better and choose the most suitable “death-seeking targets.”

When he felt his combat skills needed sharpening, or when he was dissatisfied with his current strength, he would start looking for new “death opportunities.”

After this A-grade death, he keenly discovered a pattern.

Actively attacking a Yao Beast and being killed in retaliation yielded far less generous rewards than “accidental death” or “sacrificing for others.”

The System seemed to be encouraging him to perform “theatrical self-destruction.”

And so, his performance began.

For example, upon seeing a Spiritual Plant of good age guarded by a powerful Yao Beast.

He would first deliberately expose himself, feigning inability to defeat the guarding Yao Beast, being chased to the point of having no escape route.

Then, at a perfectly timed moment, he would “accidentally” roll next to the Spiritual Plant and “casually” pluck it.

Finally, amidst the Yao Beast’s impotent rage, he would be “killed with regret.”