Going With The Flow, Heaven and Man Both Face Hardship

Upon seeing the condition of the outskirts of the cultivation retreat, Chen Dengming knew that someone had been there, and had even forced their way in.

This was not entirely unexpected.

After all, as long as Xu Ning and the Iron Forest Hall weren't giving up, they would definitely search for him everywhere, and the places he had stayed were no exception.

However, these people couldn't possibly stay in one place for a long time, waiting for him to walk into a trap.

He had, after all, demonstrated the strength to heavily injure a Qi Cultivation fourth-level cultivator. What level of personnel would be left behind to guard him?

And at such a critical juncture of intense fighting, how could personnel of that caliber be wasted in a remote corner, waiting for someone who might not even show up?

Chen Dengming was well aware of these circumstances, which was why he dared to come to the cultivation retreat to retrieve his belongings.

But now, he vaguely sensed a spiritual energy presence, as if someone was inside the cultivation retreat.

He wasn't the only one who felt this way; the Little Array Spirit, extremely sensitive to spiritual energy and life force, felt it even more strongly and had already conveyed a warning to him from within the array disk.

"Is it a Rogue Cultivator who accidentally entered and is temporarily staying here, or..."

Chen Dengming hesitated for only a breath before slowly beginning to retreat. For safety's sake, he had decided to give up and avoid walking into a trap specifically set for him.

However, just as he was about to move away, a voice, amplified by qi, reached him from afar.

"Is that Fellow Daoist Chen?"

"Hmm?"

Chen Dengming's eyes narrowed. He instantly recognized the peculiar tone of the voice – it was Qian Yuan.

He didn't stop his retreat, his vigilance increasing. His two Gu Worms were also on standby.

At that moment, the forest ahead rippled, and an illusionary array opened, revealing the figure of a one-armed old man with white hair.

The old man's eyes were bright, but his face was gaunt. A faint medicinal aroma emanated from him. His gaze was fixed on Chen Dengming's position a hundred paces away, and he raised a hand in a gesture of invitation.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, why must you keep me at arm's length? We may have had some past grievances, but now we are both like stray dogs, fellow sufferers of misfortune. Why not join forces and seize the opportunity to break through the blockade?"

"Blockade?"

Chen Dengming blinked, his steps faltering. He frowned, looking around vigilantly, his hand already gripping the Ice Spirit Blade.

Qian Yuan accurately perceived Chen Dengming's reaction and shook his head. "It seems Fellow Daoist Chen is unaware of recent events. The war between the Zhu Family and the Lüo Family has not yet ended.

However, both sides have temporarily ceased hostilities these past few days. The Lüo Family has chosen to yield, while the Zhu Family has set up checkpoints at various major routes to screen and apprehend fugitives like us..."

Chen Dengming frowned and finally let out a cold snort in response. "If it's so difficult to get around outside, why are you hiding here instead of going to the Lüo Family? You are, after all, a member of the Lüo Family."

Qian Yuan heard Chen Dengming's voice and breathed a sigh of relief, chuckling bitterly. "Not to mention that the Zhu Family currently has the upper hand and is setting up checkpoints everywhere. If I even approach that direction, I'll be detected.

Even without this connection, I am no longer favored by the Lüo Family. Although Xu Ning and I have been working for the Lüo Family all these years, we were both leaders of factions. Whose hands are clean?

Xu Ning has been secretly supplying some women to the Zhu Family as part of a deal. While I haven't cooperated with the Zhu Family, I've also colluded with the Merchant Alliance to embezzle quite a bit. Do you think the Lüo Family would let me off?"

Chen Dengming remained silent for a moment, then said, "Since that's the case, let's pretend we never met today. We'll go our separate ways from now on. As for joining forces to break through the checkpoints, that's impossible!"

Qian Yuan sighed, his eyes flickering. Recalling the rumors about this person, he finally nodded.

"After this place was searched, I hid here. The most dangerous place is often the safest. However, I later discovered your hidden provisions here and assumed you might return.

I had originally intended to join forces with you. If you hadn't appeared in recent days, I would have left.

Since you're unwilling to cooperate, so be it. Take your things. I only hope that if we meet again, you and I will be friends, not enemies!"

With that, a bundle of provisions was thrown out by Qian Yuan, landing and hanging on a treetop far away.

Chen Dengming's brows furrowed. He looked at the provisions, then saw Qian Yuan retreat back into his dwelling, his figure obscured by the illusionary array.

His expression was peculiar. He patted his ear.

The Blood Centipede Gu buzzed and flew out, burrowing into the provisions to investigate for a moment before buzzing back.

Chen Dengming's eyes flashed. He cast the Artifact Control Art, retrieving the provisions.

About ten feet in front of him, he opened the bundle and glanced at the more than thirty low-grade spirit stones, tied together with a special knot. The Spirit Stone Gu within were also untouched.

As for the other Spirit Seizing Array Disk, it was unclear whether Qian Yuan hadn't given it to him or if it had already been taken by the searchers.

Chen Dengming took the spirit stones, discarded the bundle containing other miscellaneous items, and quickly departed using the Divine Speed Technique.

Encountering Qian Yuan at the cultivation retreat was a complete accident.

Chen Dengming surmised that the man was desperate, otherwise, he wouldn't have occupied his territory to hide.

As for why he was willing to give him the provisions in the end, it was easily understandable. It was to maintain a good impression and turn enmity into friendship, so that Chen Dengming wouldn't turn around and sell him out, or, if he couldn't get what he wanted, resort to malicious tricks.

From another perspective, as the leader of Hutong Street, Qian Yuan must have brought considerable travel funds when he escaped the Gathering Place. There was no need for him to keep the few spirit stones that had clearly been tampered with. It was better to go with the flow.

Next, Chen Dengming visited two other locations where he had hidden provisions.

He successfully retrieved one bundle. However, when retrieving the other, an accident occurred.

This bundle had already been tampered with, and by more than one person. However, they had all been poisoned to death by the Spirit Stone Gu.

Chen Dengming frowned, bypassed the two corpses buried in the snow, and picked up his spirit stones, which were scattered all over the ground.

Counting carefully, a few were still missing.

The two Spirit Stone Gu, however, were still clutched in the hands of the two dead bodies.

"Fellow Daoist..."

The Little Array Spirit suddenly vibrated slightly at his waist.

Chen Dengming's eyes flickered. Just as he was about to retreat, an extremely faint sound of wind breaking suddenly reached him the moment his foot moved.

He was already on guard. With a flash of his body, he swiftly dodged.

He casually slashed out with his saber. The saber light seemed to have eyes. With a 'clang', the Ice Spirit Blade collided with the incoming Magic Item, stirring up waves of energy that whipped Chen Dengming's clothes backward, making them rustle.

"Qi Cultivation third level!"

The person who had ambushed him from the shadows changed their expression and immediately tried to retreat.

However, Chen Dengming casually threw the saber in his hand. Under the control of the Artifact Control Art, the saber instantly turned into a cold light, drawing an unusually beautiful arc in the air, piercing a large tree and heading straight for the attacker.

The attacker let out a loud shout. An ancient bell suddenly appeared outside his body, instantly intercepting the flying saber. The collision produced a muffled thunder, extremely deep and resonant, audible far and wide.

"Bang! --"

The golden, shining ancient bell cracked slightly, but it did manage to deflect the flying saber.

However, in that instant, a shadow flitted through the gap. Its four wings, as thin as cicada wings, vibrated, and it instantly pounced on the other person.

"Ah! --"

The scream had just started before it was quickly cut short.

Chen Dengming's expression was calm. With a movement of his body, he floated closer.

His gaze, peeking out from under his bamboo hat, observed the middle-aged man sprawled on the ground.

He saw that the man's neck and face were bitten to a dark blue, and he was clearly on his last breath.

This was also a Cultivator at the third level of Qi Cultivation. No wonder he dared to use corpses and Spirit Stones as bait to 'hunt'.

Unfortunately, he had encountered Chen Dengming, a freak who was about to step into the fourth level of Qi Cultivation and possessed a killing weapon like Gu Worms.

For ordinary Rogue Cultivators, let alone precious spirit pets like Gu Worms, it was difficult to even equip themselves with sufficient Magic Items.

Chen Dengming looked around and vaguely sensed faint auras in the distance, which quickly dispersed. Clearly, they had been intimidated and retreated.

He swept his large sleeve, quickly collected the items on the ground, summoned back the Blood Centipede and Golden Silkworm Gu, which had drunk the Cultivator's blood and absorbed its Spiritual Energy, and swiftly departed.

Heavy snow fell, and Mortals were almost freezing and starving to death. Many Cultivators also struggled to survive in the wilderness under the threat of Demon Beasts, while some, confident in their strength, took advantage of the chaos to scheme and kill others.

But who could say for sure who was the hunter and who was the prey?

Chen Dengming didn't want to be a hunter, nor did he want to be prey. After taking his cultivation resources, he quickly returned to the valley.

This time, he wouldn't come out until he had cultivated and consumed all his resources.