Mutual Prey

Under the cover of night, towering mountains stood one after another. Many people had already gathered in the dense forest, and the noise was somewhat clamorous.

The New Life Evolvers from every village were extremely indignant. Entering the mountains today was bound to be fraught with danger; once they entered the Special Nodes, whether they lived or died would be hard to predict.

"What are you making such a racket for? Let me see who still dares to spout nonsense!" A Golden Chicken Knight appeared, his expression indifferent as his icy gaze swept across everyone.

The Golden Chicken beneath him was fierce, and it let out a piercing, prolonged crow.

The Golden Chicken Knight snapped, "You'd all better behave yourselves. We're only making you prospect for minerals. Where did all this nonsense come from? Shut your mouths! Just do whatever you're told!"

The New Life Evolvers from the villages dared to be angry but not speak out. If not for their wives, children, and elderly relatives, they would truly have wanted to fight him to the death. What he said simply did not sound human. By now, even ordinary people knew that Heavenly Light within Special Nodes severely eroded the body.

"Let's go. I'll lay the ugly words out first: whoever dares stir up trouble, don't blame me for getting ruthless when the time comes!" the Golden Chicken Knight threatened.

At his side was another large group of people clad in armor and carrying weapons, all New Life Evolvers from Golden Chicken Ridge. Like prison guards escorting convicts, they led everyone onward.

They traveled in silence until they reached the outskirts of the Great Rift Valley. Some villagers were waiting there as well, brought over by the Three-Eyed Sect. Sure enough, the two local organizations had joined forces.

The Great Rift Valley covered a vast area, with ground fissures everywhere. In some places, huge quantities of rocks were piled up, vegetation was sparse, and stone forests stood alongside ravines.

Few creatures usually appeared here, because one careless step could send them plunging into a fissure.

Golden Chicken Ridge and the Three-Eyed Sect had brought a great many people this time. They had been waiting here for quite a while, but had no intention of prospecting themselves.

"Hm?" Within the Great Rift Valley, another Golden Chicken Knight spotted Qin Ming, and a cold, sinister look flashed through his eyes.

He had once brought people to Old Man Liu's home in an attempt to forcibly purchase the fiery red grass. Qin Ming had later told Cao Long and Mu Qing directly, resulting in this man receiving several slaps and losing several teeth on the right side of his mouth.

"Take extra care of that boy later. Make him prospect a few more mineral deposits!"

He did not dare act openly. After all, Cao Long and Mu Qing had both warned him, and they had not even left yet.

But this time, the order had come from the bandit chiefs of Golden Chicken Ridge and the local higher-ups of the Three-Eyed Sect, forcing villagers from outside the mountains into the Nodes. He could simply follow the current and steer the boat, give a casual order, and torment a person who had only undergone New Life once to death through continual Heavenly Light erosion.

An elderly villager with grizzled hair looked deeply worried. "I hope we can quickly find these so-called mysterious resources. Otherwise, if this drags on, even as New Life Evolvers, we'll be left with chronic ailments. We might not even make it out of here!"

"Shut up! Did I permit you to speak?"

With a crack, the Golden Chicken Knight lashed out with his whip, sending the elderly New Life Evolver staggering. The man's clothes tore across his chest, and where the whip grazed his face, it left behind a bloody gash.

"Anyone who finds mysterious resources may leave immediately, and there'll be a substantial reward as well. Take note—it won't be Night Silver. You'll receive Day Gold when the time comes!"

The people from Golden Chicken Ridge and the Three-Eyed Sect had not completely driven everyone into a dead end. At the very least, they had given them something to hope for and made a promise.

An old man from Golden Chicken Ridge walked over and ordered, "Enter underground. This region has been occupied by us and the Three-Eyed Sect. The entire underground of the Great Rift Valley is now worth an inch of land an inch of gold. Search carefully!"

Golden Chicken Ridge and the Three-Eyed Sect occupied an area near the entrance. It was not an especially good location, since their strength truly could not compare with those people from Red Haze City.

Qin Ming entered underground with the other New Life Evolvers. Each person carried Sun Stones prepared in advance, otherwise the fissures would have been far too dark.

This was an underground karst cave, with countless spiderweb-like passages stretching in every direction. Faint light flowed through certain areas, and merely approaching them was unbearable. Other regions were relatively dark, and staying in such places caused no bodily discomfort.

"Everyone, I don't think we need to ruin our bodies or even throw away our lives. Even if we enter those glowing areas, it'll be difficult to find mysterious resources. We might as well search for safe underground routes in advance, enter those dark regions, and slowly wait out the time..." an old man suggested.

In truth, many people had the same thought.

A middle-aged man spoke up. "Let's split into two groups. One group can pretend to search for mysterious resources, while the other quickly looks for an escape route—deep passages that preferably lead outside the Great Rift Valley. I think these people may end up in a melee. Different factions could erupt into conflict over the Special Nodes and fight until their eyes turn red."

"Right, we should prepare early!" Everyone nodded in agreement.

Qin Ming had originally wanted to suggest that they hide first. Now he discovered that people who made their living beside dangerous mountains possessed an especially strong instinct for survival.

Afterward, he began moving alone, wandering through the entire underground cave system in search of possible mysterious resources.

An hour later, the outsiders had yet to clash with one another, but another powerful force intervened, and bloodshed erupted on the surface.

Above the Great Rift Valley, apes shrieked and tigers roared. All kinds of mutated creatures appeared in droves, while numerous birds of prey began diving from the sky.

"The mutated creatures are attacking!" a Golden Chicken Knight guarding the entrance to the Great Rift Valley shouted.

Mutated creatures had appeared before, and conflicts had occurred, but never in such numbers, nor with such organization. This time was completely different.

The leading white giant bear that charged over stood five or six meters tall. No one knew whether it had just awakened from Hibernation, but it was incomparably violent. After grabbing two New Life Evolvers, it tore them apart on the spot.

Elsewhere, a golden giant bull spewed flames from its nostrils and mouth, charging wildly all the way through. It pierced many members of the Three-Eyed Sect with its horns and flung them into the air.

There were quite a few mutated creatures like these. Though they were of different species, they did not fight one another at all. Every one of them had come straight for the humans.

The mutated birds of prey in the sky were assisting as well. A giant silver eagle swooped down and ripped open the skull of a Second New Life Evolver on the spot.

"Earlier, the mutated creatures only appeared in small numbers and never on a large scale. They were waiting for us to enter, intending to hunt us specifically."

An old man from Golden Chicken Ridge spoke as he leaped into the air, snatched down a horned owl that had mutated twice, and twisted its neck with one hand.

"What do we do now?"

Many people panicked. The entrance to the Great Rift Valley had been blocked by a huge number of mutated creatures, which were surging into the valley, while birds of prey watched from above.

"Something's wrong. The surface is in chaos. Hide quickly, block those concealed passages with rocks, and conceal every route of escape."

In the Underground World, hunters from the villages heard the commotion. They were exceptionally alert and moved quickly.

Qin Ming noticed it immediately. He feared nothing and could retreat toward paths where Heavenly Light seeped out. Whether they were people from Golden Chicken Ridge and the Three-Eyed Sect or mutated creatures, none could venture deep into such places for long.

On the surface, the large forces of Golden Chicken Ridge and the Three-Eyed Sect gathered together to defend themselves. Everyone was on edge, because mutated creatures filled the surrounding wilderness.

"The Higher Lifeforms won't personally enter the fray. After all, they promised Red Haze City's higher-ups that they would not hunt in secret. But releasing some lower- and middle-tier mutated creatures here? That certainly isn't a problem."

That alone was serious enough. Everyone understood that the mutated creatures had long wanted to attack and had merely been waiting for an opportunity.

Blood Snake, Silver Camel, fiery red grass, and the like from the mountains were incredibly valuable to those outside the mountains, containing dense Spiritual Matter.

But in the eyes of the mutated creatures in the mountains, some deeply rooted two-legged beasts also made their eyes turn red. They were "medicinal herbs" brimming with spiritual essence.

"So, a massive group of mutated creatures has come. They're not just eyeing the mysterious resources—they want to hunt us too, treating us as Spiritual Creatures?"

"That's right!"

In an instant, the New Life Evolvers of Golden Chicken Ridge and the Three-Eyed Sect looked utterly grim. Their territory was at the mountain entrance. Would they not be the first to bear the brunt?

"The Higher Lifeforms deep in the mountains don't dare let their subordinates wipe out everyone who entered the mountains. That would completely enrage Ling Xu and the other high-ranking figures of Red Haze City, inviting cold-blooded retaliation. But if the New Life Evolvers here lose one-fifth or one-quarter of their numbers, that will probably be nothing."

For a time, everyone's faces turned deathly pale. If things truly developed that way, it would be disastrous beyond measure. Many people were destined not to leave the mountains alive.

"Retreat into the caves. We can't remain on the surface. Our two groups alone are no match for these mutated creatures!" an old man from the Three-Eyed Sect said.

"Go! Get underground quickly!" These people immediately sprang into action.

They used the narrow passages to defend themselves. With the terrain easy to defend and hard to attack, those mutated creatures found it difficult to break through.

However, the underground passages were like spiderwebs. Some mutated creatures that were naturally adapted to underground combat were searching for routes, hoping to lead the other mutated creatures around and slaughter their way in.

For a time, chaos reigned both aboveground and belowground.

Many New Life Evolvers from Golden Chicken Ridge and the Three-Eyed Sect rushed into different passages, hoping to find a route leading outside the Great Rift Valley.

After all, this area was the exit.

"What a coincidence?" Qin Ming spotted an acquaintance at once—the Golden Chicken Knight who had tried to forcibly purchase Old Man Liu's Spiritual Matter and had shown Qin Ming malice at the valley entrance earlier.

"It's you?" The Golden Chicken Knight had long since abandoned his mount and was wandering alone through the underground passages, searching for a way out.

"Come here!" He beckoned to Qin Ming. "Have you found any mysterious resources? Also, you heard the commotion above. What's the terrain like around here? Tell me in detail."

Qin Ming could not be bothered to respond and walked over at an unhurried pace.

"Are you seeking death? Why are you moving so slowly? I'm asking you a question!" The Golden Chicken Knight's eyes gleamed with ferocity.

His ill intent was obvious. Earlier, he had wanted someone to arrange for Qin Ming to prospect more mineral deposits, forcing Heavenly Light to continually erode him until he died. Now, he felt there would be no problem killing him here directly. Who would know? He could simply pin it on the mutated creatures afterward, leaving no evidence and no witness.

Thus, he no longer concealed anything. He even lashed out with his whip. He could guess that it had to be this boy and Old Man Liu who had reported him to Cao Long and Mu Qing, because only those two were involved.

Naturally, Qin Ming would not let the whip strike him. He raised the Long-handled Black Gold Hammer to block it.

"You still dare resist?" His gaze turned sinister as he prepared to attack again.

Qin Ming had never been one to remain passive. How could he tolerate this man trampling over the red line again and again? Fast as lightning, he thrust the great hammer forward.

With a bang, stars burst before the Golden Chicken Knight's eyes as agonizing pain overwhelmed him. The Black Gold Hammer made intimate contact with his mouth and nose. His front teeth fell out, his nose caved in, and the world spun around him as he nearly toppled to the ground.

"Sorry, my hand slipped. I didn't hold onto the hammer handle," Qin Ming said.

"I... damn it!" The Golden Chicken Knight's speech leaked air after losing his teeth, and in his fury, even his curse came out unclear.

Enduring the pain in his face, tears and mucus streaming down his face, anger rose from his heart and evil sprang from his courage. He drew his long blade and moved to cleave the boy down.

He was a Second New Life Evolver. Naturally, he believed he had the boy in the palm of his hand and could easily kill a brat who had only undergone New Life once.

Yet before his long blade could be Cut Out, a tearing pain exploded through his right hand. The Long-handled Black Gold Hammer struck it, turning flesh and blood into a mangled mess. His long blade fell straight to the ground. His entire right hand spasmed, twisted after the fracture, resembling the claw of the Golden Chicken he once rode.

"You used this hand to give Old Man Liu a Yellow Mud Palm, didn't you? Then have a taste of my Black Gold Fist too." Qin Ming wasted no more time. Gripping the Long-handled Black Gold Hammer, he delivered several thudding blows, every one landing on the man's face. In an instant, his face became flattened meat, his brow bone collapsed inward, and his corpse fell to the ground.

Until his death, the Golden Chicken Knight could not believe it. How could this be so absurd? He was a Second New Life Evolver—how could he be slower and weaker than that boy? As his consciousness scattered, he understood. His opponent had already undergone Second New Life, and was far stronger than him!

Qin Ming dragged his corpse into a very open area. Heavenly Light flowed through this place, making it relatively safe for the moment.

"Hm?" He suddenly turned and saw an old man emerge from another passage, silently closing in on him.

"Who are you? What are you doing?" The old man's expression was gloomy.

"I'm from the Three-Eyed Sect. I just saw this man being eroded by Heavenly Light and collapsing to the ground. I was saving him," Qin Ming answered.

With a boom, the old man stomped the hard ground apart and charged over with astonishing speed. A faint white light shone around him—human Heavenly Light. He was clearly a Third New Life Being.

He was not so easily fooled. The moment he sensed something was wrong, he attacked. Even against a boy, he struck with lethal force.

Qin Ming knew he had encountered a great enemy. This was an unprecedentedly formidable opponent. He had never fought a Third New Life Being before.

"I'll go all out. If I kill a great expert like you who has undergone Third New Life, I might just wipe out every person Golden Chicken Ridge has here!" Qin Ming hardened his heart and decided to give everything he had to kill the old man.