430: A simpleton? A simpleton?

In just a few breaths, Yao Delong transformed from a “Yin Yang Sect Disciple Xiao Chen”,

into an inconspicuous, Middle Golden Core Stage fire-attributed Loose Cultivator.

“Hoo…”

Yao Delong exhaled a turbid breath, feeling the aura of his new identity, and nodded in satisfaction.

This was true low-key infiltration.

“Tonight, I’ll find a cave nearby to make do.”

Yao Delong stood up, his Divine Thought sweeping over the desolate rock formations around him. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll head straight into the mountains!”

As night deepened, the reddish-brown rock formations gleamed with a dull luster under the moonlight.

Yao Delong quickly found a dry, shallow cave beneath a wind-sheltered cliff.

He casually set up a few simple concealment and warning Restrictions, then sat down cross-legged to regulate his breathing.

He adjusted his state to Peak, while simultaneously immersing his Divine Thought into his Sea of Consciousness to meticulously study the White Cloud Merchant Guild map once more.

He deduced the optimal path to enter the core region of the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range.

Qiong Shuang, meanwhile, lay bored at the cave entrance, her small nose sniffing the increasingly strong scent of sulfur in the air, and the faint roars of Yao Beasts echoing from deep within the mountain range.

Her tail flicked idly.

The night passed without incident.

When the eastern sky turned a fish-belly white, painting the bronze-colored sky with a golden-red hue,

Yao Delong opened his eyes, a keen glint hidden within, his state having reached Perfection.

“It’s time to go.”

He removed the Restrictions, and his figure transformed into an inconspicuous crimson Escape Light, speeding towards the depths of the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range,

which lay like a crouching giant beast, exuding a wild and ferocious aura.

Target – the Earth Core Blazing Flame Fire!

At this moment, at the other end of Blackrock Town.

The Myriad Sword Valley group, led by Ling Xuzi, also greeted the rising sun,

transforming into several sharp sword lights that shot into the vast mountains of the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range.

Their goal was to investigate the reason for the continuous disappearance of Cultivators in recent days.

Beneath the bronze sky, the dark red Demon Skeleton Mountain Range was like an awakened giant beast,

opening its ferocious maw, silently awaiting the arrival of intruders.

An undercurrent revolving around Essence Fire and demonic traces was quietly stirring on this scorching land.

Yao Delong transformed into an inconspicuous crimson stream of light, quickly moving deeper along the rugged mountain terrain.

In the outer reaches of the mountain range, one could still sporadically see figures of Foundation Establishment Stage and Early Golden Core Stage Cultivators,

cautiously searching among the reddish rocks like ants, with occasional small-scale battles and Yao Beast roars echoing from afar.

The resources here had long been plundered countless times, and their value was limited.

Yao Delong did not stop, speeding directly towards the core region marked on the map.

As he went deeper, vegetation became scarcer, leaving only some strange drought- and heat-resistant thorns and mosses.

The temperature also rose sharply, the rocks underfoot were scalding, and the air was filled with visibly distorted heatwaves.

The number of Cultivators encountered also rapidly decreased; those daring to venture this deep were at least Middle Golden Core Stage or above.

Just as he passed through an area filled with huge black weathered stone pillars,

two figures flashed out from behind a stone pillar ahead and to the side, blocking his path.

These were two middle-aged Cultivators; one was short and burly, with a fleshy face,

a hideous Scarface, and shifty eyes that held a hint of roguishness.

The other was taller and thinner, with a sallow complexion, sunken eyes, and thin lips that exuded a sense of meanness and sinister.

Both wore brown leather armor suitable for movement, their auras restrained, revealing a cultivation of Middle Golden Core Stage.

The burly Scarface squeezed out a seemingly honest but actually false smile, cupped his hands and said:

“Fellow Daoist, please wait! Seeing that Fellow Daoist is also venturing alone into this Demon Skeleton Mountain Range,

this place is dangerous, filled with rampant Yao Beasts, and there are even ominous rumors. Why don’t our two brothers accompany you?

We can look out for each other!”

The tall, sallow-faced man also nodded in agreement, his smile not reaching his eyes:

“Exactly, exactly. Our two brothers often travel in these mountains and are quite familiar with this place.

How should we address Fellow Daoist? I am Han Bao, and this is my brother Simple Ruffian.” He pointed to Scarface.

Yao Delong stopped his Escape Light, his gaze calmly sweeping over the two.

He sneered inwardly: Simple Ruffian? Han Bao? These names are quite fitting; one is full of roguishness, and the other looks like an insidious fortress.

On the surface, both were Middle Golden Core Stage, but under Yao Delong’s Nascent Soul Great Perfection Divine Thought,

their true cultivations were as clear as candlelight in the night – the burly Scarface (Simple Ruffian) was Late Golden Core Stage,

and the tall, sallow-faced man (Han Bao) had even reached Golden Core Perfection!

Restraining their auras and actively inviting a “Middle Golden Core Stage” Loose Cultivator to team up?

In this desolate wilderness, their intentions were crystal clear – to kill for treasure!

However, a barely perceptible arc appeared at the corner of Yao Delong’s mouth.

Who was the hunter and who was the prey remained to be seen.

It was a good chance to test his skills on these two short-sighted fellows. If they were truly villains,

killing them would be justified, considered acting on behalf of heaven, and incidentally, replenishing some “travel expenses.”

He put on the appearance of a “naïve” Loose Cultivator, with a hint of wariness and hesitation, and cupped his hands:

“I am Long Aotian. What you two Fellow Daoists said is very true, this place is indeed dangerous.

It is my honor to be able to travel with you two.” He gave a temporary, fake name.

“Haha, good! Fellow Daoist Long is straightforward!”

Simple Ruffian burst into laughter, a hint of imperceptible greed flashing in his eyes.

“Then let’s go! We’ll look out for each other!”

The three formed a group and continued deeper into the mountain range.

Along the way, Han Bao and Simple Ruffian chatted seemingly casually, but their words constantly probed Yao Delong’s background,

asking where he came from, who his master was, and what he was looking for in the mountains.

Yao Delong responded vaguely, only saying that he was a Loose Cultivator who came to find some fire-attributed Spiritual Material.

“Fellow Daoist Long, you don’t know,” Han Bao pretended to be mysterious and lowered his voice,

“Recently, the depths of this Demon Skeleton Mountain Range have been very strange! Seven or eight out of ten Cultivators who go in don’t come out!

I heard there’s something ominous at work inside, and even elite Disciples from some small and medium-sized Sects have perished there!

That’s why our brothers thought of finding someone to team up with; there’s strength in numbers!”

“Yes, yes,” Simple Ruffian interjected, his eyes glancing at Yao Delong with a hint of inducement,

“But one must seek wealth in danger!

Fellow Daoist Long, to be honest, a few days ago, our brothers discovered a ‘Crimson Sun Earth Fire Ginseng’ in a hidden mountain hollow up ahead,

and it looked to be at least a hundred years old!

It wasn’t fully mature then, but calculating the days, it should be at its Peak medicinal potency these days!

That’s a top-grade main ingredient for refining fire-attributed Spirit Pills, worth a lot!

Since we are destined to travel together, why don’t we go and retrieve it together? What is seen is shared; our brothers will never keep it all to ourselves!”

Yao Delong sneered even more inwardly, but on his face, he cooperatively showed surprise and a look of being tempted:

“Oh? A hundred-year-old Crimson Sun Earth Fire Ginseng? That’s a huge Opportunity! Thank you, two Fellow Daoists, for your guidance!”

“Haha, no problem, no problem! It’s not far ahead!”

A sinister, triumphant glint flashed in Han Bao’s eyes, and he exchanged a knowing look with Simple Ruffian.

The three accelerated, traversing the rugged mountain rocks.

Soon, they arrived at the entrance of a mountain hollow surrounded on three sides by steep black stone cliffs.

The light inside the hollow was somewhat dim, with scattered charred beast bones on the ground.

The sulfur smell in the air was stronger, faintly mixed with a trace of extremely faint blood.