Joining Forces with Mu Chen!

"Tsk, you're quite good at keeping your cool."

Bing Tianxiao raised a brow, casually picked up a pebble from the ground, and flicked it with his finger.

Whoosh!

The pebble tore through the air, shooting with flawless precision toward one corner of the bushes.

Just as it was about to disappear into the foliage, a slender hand suddenly reached out from between the branches and steadily caught it.

Then, the bushes rustled as two figures slowly emerged.

The one in front was a handsome, refined youth dressed in tight black clothes. It was Mu Chen.

Behind him followed a towering, heavily built youth, his muscles knotted all over and radiating a wild aura.

He was most likely Zhan Xiong from the Fifth Guardian Land in the original story.

"Brother Bing has sharp eyes."

Mu Chen casually tossed the pebble in his hand as he looked at Bing Tianxiao and Luo Li, a hint of admiration flashing through his eyes.

"I didn't expect to be discovered so quickly. Looks like my concealment skills still need work."

"What? Are you here for that Thunder Kylin Beast too?"

Bing Tianxiao crossed his arms and looked at Mu Chen with a half-smile.

"Or... are you here for Ji Xuan?"

At those words, the smile on Mu Chen's face gradually faded, replaced by a trace of coldness.

"Both, I suppose."

He glanced in the direction Ji Xuan and the others had vanished, his voice calm.

"Ji Xuan wants to use the Thunder Kylin Beast to break through to a Fourth-level Spirit Body. Naturally, I can't let him get his wish. Besides..."

Mu Chen paused, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.

"Some debts are due to be settled."

Seeing this, Bing Tianxiao knew that, just as in the original story, Ji Xuan had invited these two as well...

He had even resorted to forceful measures, only for the pair to leave safely.

"What a coincidence."

Bing Tianxiao snapped his fingers and pointed at himself and Luo Li.

"We had the same idea. Since our goals are aligned, why don't we... team up?"

Mu Chen did not immediately look pleased at Bing Tianxiao's proposal. Instead, he narrowed his eyes slightly.

A scrutinizing gleam flickered in those pitch-black eyes.

On the Spirit Road, trusting others too easily often meant death.

Though he had heard of Bing Tianxiao and Luo Li's strength and knew they had considerable grievances with Ji Xuan, that did not mean he would trust them without reservation.

"Team up?"

Mu Chen lightly stroked his chin, his tone calm.

"Since Brother Bing dares to suggest joining forces at a time like this, I assume you already have some thorough plan?"

"Ji Xuan's side has seventy or eighty people, along with four or five Third-level Spirit Bodies. Without a foolproof plan, charging in rashly probably wouldn't even be enough to fill the gaps between their teeth."

"Besides..."

Mu Chen paused, his gaze sweeping across Bing Tianxiao and Luo Li.

It finally settled on Bing Tianxiao's seemingly carefree face.

"How do I know that Brother Bing's so-called 'team-up' isn't just an attempt to use us as cannon fodder to draw Ji Xuan's fire?"

Though his words were blunt, they were perfectly reasonable.

After all, on the Spirit Road, selling out one's companions for profit was nothing uncommon.

Hearing this, Zhan Xiong, who stood behind Mu Chen, let out a muffled snort.

His large, bell-like eyes watched Bing Tianxiao warily, while the massive axe in his hand lifted slightly, as if he were ready to strike at any moment.

"Haha, now this is interesting. I was starting to think your title as the top ranker of the Fifth Guardian Land was just for show."

Facing Mu Chen's suspicion, Bing Tianxiao laughed, a trace of approval flashing through his eyes.

If Mu Chen had agreed without even thinking, Bing Tianxiao would have wondered whether water had gotten into the guy's brain.

The entire Final Land was now divided between two major factions, along with their two scattered teams.

If he trusted so easily, then he would not be the Mu Chen Bing Tianxiao knew.

"Since Brother Mu is being so straightforward, I won't beat around the bush either."

Bing Tianxiao lifted his head to look at Mu Chen, a mischievous smile curling across his lips.

"My plan is simple. Aren't Ji Xuan and his people planning to besiege the Thunder Kylin Beast? Then let's give them a hand."

"The Black Demon Forest is vast. We'll split up and take out the ones bringing up the rear, as well as those who get separated."

"Even if we can't wipe them all out, we can at least drain a lot of their strength. And the Thunder Kylin Beast isn't to be taken lightly. When the time comes, we'll fire a few arrows from the shadows!"

"As for the endgame..."

Bing Tianxiao shrugged and spread his hands with an innocent look.

"Everyone relies on their own abilities. Whoever runs slower is the unlucky one. So, what do you say, Brother Mu? Do you dare play big?"

After hearing Bing Tianxiao's plan, a thoughtful look flashed through Mu Chen's eyes.

Though the tactic was underhanded, it was indeed the best way for a smaller force to defeat a larger one under the current circumstances.

Moreover, the plan did not require overly close coordination between the two sides, avoiding the risk of getting stabbed in the back by the other party.

"Interesting."

A sharp glint flashed in Mu Chen's eyes.

"Since Brother Bing has put it that way, wouldn't it make me seem far too cowardly if I still refused?"

"I, Mu Chen, am in on this big gamble!"

"Good! That's the spirit!"

Bing Tianxiao nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

He raised a hand and pointed toward the western side of the Black Demon Forest.

"In that case, Luo Li and I will take the west. The terrain there is complicated, perfect for someone like me who enjoys firing arrows from the shadows."

As he spoke, he did not forget to mock himself.

Beside him, Luo Li could not help rolling her eyes.

No wonder this fellow's reputation had spread throughout the Spirit Road. So he had been spreading it himself.

He had even fooled her!

Mu Chen nodded, a confident smile appearing on his face.

"Then leave the east to us. I also want to see just how capable Ji Xuan's group really is."

"Then it's settled."

Bing Tianxiao put away his playful grin, his expression turning serious.

"Remember, our goal is to wear them down and create chaos, not fight head-on. Once we succeed, retreat immediately. Do not linger in battle."

"Lastly..."

He pointed into the depths of the Black Demon Forest.

"We'll rendezvous at the Thunder Kylin Beast's location. When the time comes, we'll give Ji Xuan a grand gift!"

"A deal."

Mu Chen said no more and cupped his hands toward Bing Tianxiao.

Then, with Zhan Xiong in tow, he turned and vanished into the dense woods to the east. Agile as a leopard, he disappeared from sight in the blink of an eye.

Watching the two depart, Bing Tianxiao turned to Luo Li beside him, that familiar roguish smile curling across his lips again.

"What do you think, Heroine? Isn't this show getting more and more exciting?"

Luo Li said nothing. She merely tightened her grip on the Luoshen Sword in her hand.

Her glass-like eyes burned with fighting spirit.

Though she disliked such schemes and plots, she had to admit that following this fellow was far more interesting than charging around blindly on her own.

"Let's go."

The young girl's cool voice drifted through the wind.

The two figures darted out like ghosts, instantly melding into the Black Demon Forest.