Discarded Pawns

After Xiao Jingshan left, Chen Lin's expression darkened.

There was something unusual about the Tianluo Race's sacrifice this time. The gathering place had no shortage of people who had lived for hundreds or even thousands of years and had witnessed several sacrifices before, but none had caused a stir like this one.

It had not even begun, yet many cultivators had already gone missing.

Some had vanished into thin air without ever leaving the gathering place!

The leaders could no longer sit still. Afraid that the sacrifice might claim every cultivator once it began, they decided to send teams out to investigate what the Tianluo Race was doing.

Three Kings Grotto was not alone. The other gathering places would also send people to explore nearby villages.

And Chen Lin had been assigned to one of the teams.

Chen Lin returned to his room and sank into thought.

It seemed an Outsider was an Outsider in the end. No matter how many gifts he gave, it made no difference. Things were fine in ordinary times, but now that their survival was at stake, they had pushed him straight to the front.

He did not much mind, though. He had been planning to leave anyway. The Tianluo Race's methods were unfathomable, and staying inside the grotto was hardly safe. Everyone there might be wiped out in one sweep. He would be safer alone in the wilderness.

This suited him perfectly. Otherwise, applying for a token to leave would have been troublesome.

Time was tight. Xiao Jingshan had waited until the last moment to notify him, fearing he might cause trouble. They were leaving in half an hour. After a moment's thought, Chen Lin packed his things and left the courtyard.

"Lord Chen!"

"My lord!"

At the designated meeting point, Chen Lin saw