Run!

After Chen Yao swallowed the Nine Soul Fire Grass, his injuries eased considerably. Lin Shuguang and Bun Head could both clearly sense that his aura had grown even more formidable than before.

The two exchanged a glance, neither knowing what the other was thinking.

Glancing at the sky, Chen Yao rose and spoke with a cold disregard for human life. "Get up. Both of you, follow me!"

Bun Head stood, her eyes shifting, seemingly working out a way to escape.

But deep down, she knew that even with the fellow she had dragged into this beside her, she had no guarantee of escaping.

And if she failed, this terrifying Martial Artist would kill her without hesitation!

As she thought, Bun Head turned to glance at Lin Shuguang.

Yet she found no trace of anxiety on his face.

Somewhat reassured, she prepared to wait and see.

Chen Yao paid no attention to their little schemes. More precisely, he considered them beneath his notice.

It was an immense confidence in his own strength.

Over an hour later, after herding Lin Shuguang and Bun Head into a gorge, Chen Yao left them alone and began setting traps all around.

The powerful stench of blood hanging in the air made Lin Shuguang and Bun Head exchange involuntary glances, a chill creeping through their bodies.

Their instincts told them that something no weaker than this terrifying Martial Artist lived nearby.

Was it a person?

Or...

Doubts clouded Lin Shuguang's mind.

Bun Head suddenly drew close and said in an extremely low voice, "Don't say I didn't warn you. If you want to live, make sure you seize your chance later."

Lin Shuguang looked over in surprise.

Unexpectedly, he saw a rare look of terror on Bun Head's face, which only deepened his uncertainty.

"What do you know?" Lin Shuguang asked quietly.

Before Bun Head could answer, Chen Yao strode over and ruthlessly kicked each of them, nearly shattering their bones.

Looking down at them, Chen Yao said, "Neither of you had better try anything! Stay right here. I've set traps all around!

"Don't test my patience!"

With that, he walked straight off into the bushes in front of the gorge, seemingly disappearing.

Coughing violently, Lin Shuguang slowly climbed up from the ground. Ignoring the dust on his body, he stared in the direction Chen Yao had gone. Connecting this with what Chen Yao had just said, he suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.

He turned to look at Bun Head.

Her face covered in cold sweat, she was slowly forcing the dislocated bones in her left arm back into place.

Seeing that she did not make a sound even through this, Lin Shuguang's estimation of her rose.

A minute later, Bun Head sat on the ground, panting, and slowly took out a medicinal pill and put it in her mouth.

Lin Shuguang silently withdrew his gaze. As he regulated his breathing, he continued surveying their surroundings.

Bun Head's voice came from beside him. "Stop looking. These aren't ordinary traps. That man must be from a top Hunting Group, or he couldn't have set up mechanical traps this complex. Don't try anything rash. Even a Martial Artist could die from a moment's carelessness."

Lin Shuguang frowned. "You recognize them. Does that mean you know a way out?"

Bun Head said nothing. Only after swallowing the pill did she regain a good deal of her mobility.

Rising from the ground, she cast a wary glance toward the gorge and said, "This is the heart of the Blood Desolate Land. You should be able to feel how dense the blood energy is here. It's even becoming somewhat vaporous."

Looking at the gorge shrouded in bloody mist, Lin Shuguang said gravely, "He wants to use us as bait to lure his prey out! Judging by your expression, you know what kind of monster lives here?"

Bun Head glanced over. "You're smarter than I thought. The Blood Desolate Land is divided into twelve districts. We're in District Nine. Every district has countless Desolate Ghost Apes. And the being that commands those Desolate Ghost Apes is the Desolate Ghost Ape King.

"Every district has one Desolate Ghost Ape King.

"All of them are stronger than Martial Artists."

Lin Shuguang frowned and asked, "Why doesn't the nation send martial arts experts to kill these Desolate Ghost Ape Kings?"

Bun Head shook her head. "Desolate Ghost Ape Kings spend their entire lives within their own territories. That's the biggest reason they've been allowed to live. Secondly... comfort doesn't just kill a person. It can destroy a nation!

"Haven't you noticed? Desolate Ghost Apes are worth so much, yet the people who actually dare to come to the Blood Desolate Land amount to less than a tenth of those who practice martial arts. Why? Because they're afraid to die!"

Lin Shuguang understood. The nation had done this deliberately.

In this age where martial prowess reigned supreme, the nation could protect you for a time, but not for your whole life. If you wanted to live without worrying about food and clothing, you had to risk your life to earn it!

The strong preyed on the weak, and the fittest survived. That was how it worked.

Lin Shuguang thought of the students at the Storm Martial Arts School. He could probably count those who had actually visited the Blood Desolate Land on one hand. Most were merely flowers raised in a greenhouse, unable to withstand a single blow.

Still, he was somewhat surprised that such words had come from this girl.

Soon, the two fell silent and began secretly regulating their breathing.

Chen Yao was shrewd. He had not completely incapacitated Lin Shuguang and Bun Head, leaving them half their strength so that they could put up a little resistance in the Desolate Ghost Ape King's jaws and buy him more time.

In Lin Shuguang's perception, Chen Yao's presence grew more distant and fainter.

Had he gone far away?

Probably to keep the Desolate Ghost Ape King from detecting his presence and becoming wary.

Lin Shuguang slowly edged toward the traps. Looking at the mechanisms buried all around like steel behemoths, he felt an urge to try his luck.

Noticing the movement on Lin Shuguang's side, Bun Head wore a peculiar expression.

But her eyes shifted, and instinct drove her to approach slowly.

Roar!!!

Just then, an earth-shaking roar suddenly erupted from within the gorge.

In an instant, an enormous Desolate Ghost Ape, over three meters tall, leaped out above the gorge. Apart from an aura more powerful than that of ordinary Desolate Ghost Apes, the ghost-mask markings on its face gleamed gold. Its mouth protruded, its fangs sharp and long.

Hidden in the distance, Chen Yao narrowed his eyes at the sight of the Desolate Ghost Ape King, a flicker of bloodthirsty excitement crossing them.

"As long as I kill this Desolate Ghost Ape King, I can exchange it for a portion of intermediate Bone Tempering Fluid. That'll be enough to temper my seventh and eighth bones... and that spot in the group will be mine for the taking!"

Watching the Desolate Ghost Ape King leap out above the gorge, Lin Shuguang and Bun Head both froze.

Perhaps because this was their first personal encounter with such a terrifying beast, and as bait at that, they were utterly shaken.

Lin Shuguang felt the overwhelming killing intent coming from the Desolate Ghost Ape King, as well as Chen Yao's rapidly approaching presence.

He knew Chen Yao's attention had shifted.

Now!

Run!

Without another moment's hesitation, Lin Shuguang took off running.

The steel-behemoth-like mechanism in front of him activated instantly!

Lin Shuguang immediately summoned the Demon God Armor.

A steel spike as thick as a person's waist slammed into his back.

Clang!

Sparks flew everywhere.

Lin Shuguang grunted and clenched his teeth. Using the tremendous force, he abruptly propelled himself forward, throwing every ounce of strength into escaping the mechanism's deadly reach.

PS: [Thanks to Crying Fox's Clone 1 and Pure Guy for the tips and support~]