As soon as Jian Ruyu left, Deng Qing followed. He puffed out his chest and held his head high, wishing everyone could remember his face and that he now had a powerful backer and would be someone not to be trifled with in the future.
After a dozen or so breaths, Deng Qing followed Jian Ruyu into the Dense Forest.
Jian Ruyu stopped by a clear pool of water and said in a low voice, " Huang Changhe's heart meridian has been injured by my attack. Even if he takes Ten-Ingredient Great Tonic Pill, it will take him three to five days to recover. You can rest assured."
Deng Qing bowed respectfully, "Thank you, senior. But wasn't what you just did too much to offend Commander Feng?"
Jian Ruyu snorted, "Don't worry about my affairs. You're so smart, why don't you think about why I would resort to violence in front of so many people?"
Deng Qing was slightly taken aback. Just as he was pondering, Jian Ruyu provided the answer herself, "What's so scary about offending Feng Xiuquan? What I'm truly afraid of is failing to put your mind at ease today."
Don't worry!
Deng Qing's eyes flashed, and she suddenly understood. With a wry smile, she was deeply moved.
At first, he really didn't understand why Jian Ruyu would do it in front of everyone.
To deal with Huang Changhe, we could simply wait until the old guy is alone and then strike without anyone noticing.
Now, under the public eye, not only did they beat up Huang Changhe, but they also greatly humiliated Feng Xiuquan, creating too many enemies.
Now he understood that Jian Ruyu's actions were meant to make it clear to everyone who she was fighting for.
Today, everyone witnessed it with their own eyes.
For Deng Qing's sake, she could injure Huang Changhe in public, disregard the commander, and even if Feng Xiuquan personally intervened, she would still repel him.
From now on, anyone who wants to ask Deng for a hand should think twice before doing what happened today.
This was the courage that Jian Ruyu had placed in him.
Deng Qing's heart warmed, and he solemnly cupped his hands again, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, senior."
Jian Ruyu waved his hand and said, "Whether it's a matter of favoritism or not, the main thing is that I can't stand your habit of shrinking back when faced with trouble."
Deng Qing gave a wry smile.
He knew that her cautious nature would likely be something she couldn't stand.
Jian Ruyu waved his hand, "Of course, caution isn't a bad thing, and I don't want to raise you into a reckless brat who only knows how to show off."
Whether it's prudent or reckless, you'll have to weigh the options yourself later.
I'm just putting up a wall behind you, so that when you want to act recklessly, you won't feel uncertain and won't be as unrestrained as you thought.
Deng Qing cupped his hands and said, "Senior's kindness is as vast as heaven, junior, junior..."
Deng Qing's words were tinged with sorrow, and she lamented that she couldn't squeeze out any tears.
"Alright, stop being so annoying."
Jian Ruyu flicked her sleeves and left, followed by Deng Qing. As soon as they emerged from the Dense Forest, Old Han gestured to Jian Ruyu from afar, and Jian Ruyu walked over.
Deng Qing guessed that Old Han and Jian Ruyu had something to talk about, so he didn't follow them.
As Jian Ruyu approached, Old Han said in a low voice, "Why are you doing this? Deng Qing is indeed extraordinary, but aren't you going too far for this kid?"
Jian Ruyu said, "Too much? I don't think so. I think some people have gone too far."
Old Han, "Although Feng Xiuquan and the others are incompetent, once they leave, they will inform the head of the academy, and the matter will be settled."
But if you do this now, someone might file a complaint after they leave, causing you a huge problem.
I know you're not afraid of these troubles.
But I just want to ask, is Deng Qing worth such a heavy bet?
Jian Ruyu smiled and said, "I remember you highly praised this lad, even saying he was a talent in Numerical Arts."
Old Han, "He's certainly talented, but it's not worth it." Jian Ruyu replied, "Who cares if it's worth it or not, I'm happy as long as I'm having fun."
Old Han was speechless and sighed repeatedly.
Just then, several Flamebird flew by, and the Divine Shadow Stone on their backs emitted a voice, telling everyone to be prepared and ready to be deployed at any time.
Jian Ruyu suddenly rushed towards the western cliff, and with a few leaps, he was on a high place, waving to Deng Qing.
Deng Qing activated the Collapse Step, his figure flickering, and after more than ten breaths, he also climbed up.
The two quickly reached the mountainside.
Looking south from here, a thick blue mist hangs in the air, like a wall of fog stretching across the front of everyone.
Jian Ruyu pointed in that direction and said, " The Wasteland Qi there is too stagnant. Not to mention the Furnace Realm, even the Skin Tempering Realm can't get in for the time being."
The Command Center has already set up a large formation and is guiding and dispersing the Wasteland Qi inside; it's estimated to be almost done.
Once the passage opens, just rush in. Since the Furnace Realm can't enter, that's your hunting ground.
Deng Qing bowed and accepted, his heart surging with emotion, but then a hidden worry arose in his mind. He knew that Huang Bingyao had suffered a heavy blow from him, yet he was unharmed.
If Huang Bingyao can do it, who knows if Huang Changhe can't?"
Deng Qing felt that this matter was too important, and even though it might displease Jian Ruyu, he still asked the question.
Jian Ruyu wasn't displeased. He pondered for a moment and said, "What you said is a possibility, but I don't believe that Huang Changhe would still have the energy to cause trouble after taking such a blow."
Of course, nothing is absolute.
But I think we can't expect everything to be perfect, don't you think?
Deng Qing nodded and said, "I am already very moved that you have done this for me, senior."
The senior is right. There's no such thing as a guaranteed win in gambling. The potential rewards far outweigh the risks, so I'll bet boldly.
Deng Qing thought to himself, "What if Huang Changhe really goes?"
If I can't win, I'll quickly max out my Collapse Step Grand Mastery; then I can escape, right?
Just then, the Divine Shadow Stone in the sky spoke again.
"By order of the Command Center post, a temporary storage area has been set up on the west side of Green Terrace. All Qi Petal, medicines, and spoils of war that are not currently in use by the troops may be stored there."
The command was broadcast repeatedly, and cheers erupted from the hillside.
Those who survived the series of battles naturally reaped the rewards.
But once you've amassed too much wealth, it becomes difficult to manage, and many people are already burdened by their possessions.
We still need to go deeper into the territory, and carrying a bunch of spoils is really inconvenient.
Deng Qing also breathed a sigh of relief.
His waist pouches were already full, and he had a bundle on his back; he had been climbing the mountain, and his belongings were all dangling from his body.
Not to mention, a bundle of knives, spears, and halberds was also hidden in the grass.
Jian Ruyu glanced at him. "Hurry up and go. Seeing all that stuff you've got makes me feel bad for you."
Deng Qing agreed and turned to rush down the mountain.
When he arrived, several simple sheds had already been set up on the west side of Green Terrace, with several simple long tables arranged under the sheds, Wooden Box piled up behind them, and armed soldiers guarding the area.
Deng Qing waited in line for a while before getting closer.
The person in charge of checking the items recorded all the Qi Petal and miscellaneous items he had taken out, packed them into a box in front of him, and sealed it.
Deng Qing kept all the necessary Medicinal Pills, weapons, and clothes with him.
After finishing this task, he hurried back to the place where he had previously hidden the weapons.
I was originally planning to wait until we came out to retrieve it, but this is a desolate place, and what if something unexpected happens in the meantime? Where would we find it then?
Since there's a place to handle it, it's best to deal with it as soon as possible.
Before long, Deng Qing returned carrying the bundle of weapons.
The person in charge of exchanging the items under the shed shook his head upon seeing them, without asking where they came from.
They simply said that these weapons, of mixed styles and of unknown origin, were inconvenient to store, and they were only willing to convert them into silver at the same price the quartermaster paid for miscellaneous soldiers.
Deng Qing was too lazy to argue. A lower price was better than bearing the burden herself.
He handed over his weapon, watched as the man wrote a few more lines on the deposit slip, and then stamped it with his official seal before he felt at ease.
The person in question needs to be asked whether they want a deposit slip or Honorary Merit Rank to connect with the person.
Deng Qing asked what it meant.
The accountant, pointing to the slip, said, "It's recorded in great detail. You are Eighth-Rank Commandant with Honorary Merit Rank, so you should have an identity pendant."
Using this item will save you the trouble of carrying the deposit slip with you and prevent loss.
Deng Qing naturally didn't want to carry the deposit slip with him, so he handed over the pendant. The man with the eight-character beard stuffed the pendant into a black box, which emitted a blue light that enveloped the document before the light went out.
Next, Bazi handed the pendant to Deng Qing, Deng Qing hung it up and hurried back up the mountain.
This time he felt much lighter, and with a few swaying movements, Deng Qing reached the mountainside again.
Jian Ruyu remained standing in the same spot, gazing at the blue mist ahead.
Deng Qing stopped, then suddenly remembered something and cupped his hands, saying, "Senior, have you seen my master?"
Jian Ruyu said, "After Li Dashan made great contributions on the Front Line, there was no news for a long time. Some said he died in battle, some said he ran away, I don't know."
Oh, and your Senior Brother Zhang, Zhang something, he's also disappeared."
Deng Qing felt a growing unease. Thinking of Zhang Yan's departing manner and the letter he left behind, he found it increasingly difficult to think the best of a situation.
As he was pondering this, his feet suddenly trembled, as if an earthquake had struck.
Rumble!
A dull thud came from the depths of the blue mist, and everything shook.
As the violent shaking began, the blue mist in front started to churn, and the mist that had originally resembled a city wall slowly parted to the sides.
An entrance was revealed.
The next moment, the entire audience erupted in uproar.
At the entrance, a set of stone steps suddenly appeared.
The stone steps extend underground, with only about ten steps visible above the ground. Further down, they remain shrouded in mist and cannot be seen clearly.
Even this small section that was exposed was enough to make everyone's eyes widen.
Deng Qing's mind raced, and he thought to himself, "These stone steps are wide and arranged so neatly that even the chisel marks on the edges are clearly visible."
These are clearly man-made! But how come there are man-made stone steps here?
This is Desolate Soil!
"Stone steps?"
Why are there stone steps here?
"Did anyone ever live in this Desolate Soil?"
"..."
The surging discussions instantly converged into a tidal wave.
" The Desolate Soil just hasn't been developed by us. Who says there were definitely no people there before?"
"That makes sense. It might be a cave dwelling left by our ancestors!"
"What predecessors? This place even has Wasteland Qi, how could ordinary people live here? It might even be a relic of the immortal realm!"
These words caused a stir among the people nearby.
"If it truly is a celestial abode..."
"Let alone immortals, even an unknown ancient sect leaving behind one or two treasures is quite remarkable."
In an instant, all sorts of speculations arose, and before long, people were even discussing what treasures were hidden inside.
Deng Qing suppressed his shock, because he noticed that Jian Ruyu was quite calm.
Jian Ruyu noticed Deng Qing observing her, glanced at him, and said, "There's nothing to be surprised about. This Desolate Soil of Liangshan has only just been discovered and has not yet been developed."
But that doesn't mean it hasn't been explored. There's an Nameless Underground Palace here, which the authorities have known about for a long time.
There probably isn't anything good left inside. After all, the authorities have already discovered it; if there were anything truly valuable, they would have taken it long ago.
Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility of other stone carvings, murals, or hidden treasures.
You can go in and take a look, but the important thing is to stay with Xiao Jinglin and watch the officials secure the Wasteland Veins."
Deng Qing nodded, thinking that this was normal; there weren't that many treasure troves and secrets left for people like them to find.
The authorities are not a place to raise idiots.
With this thought in mind, Deng Qing asked, "Who will be in charge of this Command Center to 'nail down' the Wasteland Veins?"
Jian Ruyu said, "You'll have a well-trained team. Just go with Xiao Jinglin and take a trip."
Xiao Jinglin's presence there would be a show of his identity, proving that he had been there, so that when he were to claim credit, things wouldn't look too bad.
You're going in as a backup blood pack; there's a high chance you won't need your blood.
As for the Martial Artist waiting to enter the Underground Palace to seek their fortune, they are actually playing a supporting role.
First, to distract the Wasteland Beast inside.
Second, they misled the Donghuang Cult.
That's all.
Deng Qing finally understood the whole story and felt more and more at ease.
He secretly decided on the purpose of this trip: first, to go inside, take a look, and learn more, since this ancient site should have great historical value.
Second, I need to find a chance to get some Wasteland Beast Offal to nourish myself properly; I've become so thin lately. After all, it will be difficult to replenish my body once I leave the Desolate Soil.
As Deng Qing was talking to Jian Ruyu, three figures rushed out from the front almost simultaneously.
At the forefront was an old man with a white beard, his robe sleeves billowing, as he swept across the slope, the grass and trees beneath his feet bending under the force of the wind.
The two following closely behind, one swiftly treading on the treetops, the other flying like lightning, left a trail of flying sand and dust wherever they went.
The three men released their auras, startling the Martial Artist along the way who all gave way.
Anyone could tell at a glance that these three were all powerful figures in the Furnace Realm.
Their movement stirred up the entire hillside, and many people instinctively rushed forward after them.
Feng Xiuquan shouted sternly, "Come back! Who gave you permission to enter this unexplored, nameless palace?!"
The three seemed not to hear them, and instead increased their speed.
Deng Qing snorted coldly, thinking to himself, "No wonder Feng Xiuquan has such a bad reputation. This scoundrel knows perfectly well that the place has already been ransacked, yet he still makes a fuss and pretends to stop it."
Isn't this fishing?
Sure enough, the three of them went in and then came out again, even faster than when they went in!
The old man with the white beard was still in mid-air when he spat out a mouthful of blood. After landing, he staggered several steps before barely managing to steady himself.
The other two were in no better shape; both were deathly pale and trembling.
Upon seeing the three of them in this state, the crowd that had rushed forward was stunned and stopped at the entrance of the stairs, too afraid to move.
Jian Ruyu sighed, "It seems that even after the great formation has been used to channel the energy, the Wasteland Qi there is still extremely heavy."
Deng Qing said, "If you wait a little longer, until the Wasteland Qi has dispersed further, then you can go in."
Jian Ruyu shook his head, "The array has reached its limit at this point. Waiting any longer will not be of much use."
Besides, the Eastern Donghuang Cult isn't idle either. If we don't go in, they definitely will. We can't wait any longer."
Feng Xiuquan clearly understood this as well.
With a wave of his hand, a small team that had been waiting immediately rushed forward.
Someone was carrying a bronze box, inside which was embedded a slender crystal pillar, with dense markings engraved on it.
They stopped at the edge of the blue mist, then opened the box lid, and saw a section of blue light quickly rise from the crystal pillar.
Someone read out the reading, and someone else wrote it down on paper. Then the crystal column was moved forward a few steps.
The further they moved in, the higher the blue light within the crystal pillar rose. After testing the entrance, the group gradually pushed forward.
Upon reaching the edge of the stone steps, the leader's face began to flush. He stared at the crystal pillar for a moment, then immediately waved his hand, leading the group back.
The test results were quickly sent to Feng Xiuquan.
After reading Feng Xiuquan's face darkened. He gathered his energy in his Dantian and loudly ordered, "Issue the order: Martial Artist at the Furnace Realm are strictly forbidden from entering!"
The Wasteland Qi within the ruins is too heavy. If Furnace Realm goes too deep, it can easily trigger Qi-Blood Storm. You have all seen what happened just now. Don't gamble with your lives!
Martial Artist at the Bone-Forging Realm can decide for themselves whether to enter.
Once inside, all the rare treasures and artifacts obtained belong to the person who acquires them!
Before Feng Xiuquan could finish speaking, the scene erupted in chaos.
Jian Ruyu shook his head secretly, while Deng Qing remained calm. After all, this kind of drama had played out far too often in his original timeline.
Even in the A-share market, he encountered countless temptations.
Clearly, most of the Bone-Forging Realm Martial Artist here were seeing this tactic for the first time, and almost everyone jumped in without hesitation.
Soon, the first batch of the Bone-Forging Realm Martial Artist rushed into the underground staircase.
Before long, more people left.
Some were flushed and gasping for breath, clutching their knees; others fared even worse, collapsing to the ground.
Deng Qing observed carefully and found that about two-thirds of the people who rushed in had come back out.
A poem says: A thousand sails pass by the sunken ship; ten thousand trees bloom before the withered tree.
Despite the immense profits ahead, the tragic fates of these losers did not deter newcomers; a large number of the Bone-Forging Realm Martial Artist still flocked in.
Suddenly, Deng Qing noticed someone was watching her. Looking closely, she saw Xiao Jinglin waving at her.
Not far away, Long Xiu, Lin Li, and a few others were also gesturing to him.
Deng Qing nodded, bowed to Jian Ruyu, and prepared to leave.
Jian Ruyu pointed at Deng Qing's stomach. Deng Qing didn't understand at first, but after running more than ten zhang, he realized that Jian Ruyu was asking if his "gallbladder" was alright.
Deng Qing couldn't help but smile, then ran to the foot of the mountain to join the others, and immediately headed straight for the steps.
After descending only ten or so steps, many people turned back the way they came.
The sheer number of people surprised Deng Qing.
Apart from Xiao Jinglin, three guards, and Su Yun, the others he knew, such as Pei Zhao, Long Xiu, Lin Li, Chen Hong, and Hong Lin, all couldn't withstand the pressure and returned the way they came.
In the distance, Pei Zhao was trying to persuade Xiao Jinglin to return, but Xiao Jinglin said solemnly, "I have my own mission. Even if I perish here, I will not bring shame to my Lineage's honor."
Uncle Pei, let's go back.
Suddenly, Pei Zhao knelt down, cupped his hands, and said, "Brother Deng Qing, please take good care of my young master. I will repay you handsomely."
Deng Qing then realized that Pei Zhao was bowing to him, and quickly stepped aside, cupping his hands in greeting, "Mr. Pei, you flatter me. I will do my best."
Pei Zhao nodded and quickly retreated to a distance, his face already flushed red.
"Brother Deng, you must succeed! I, Chen, am waiting to throw you a celebratory banquet. Didn't everyone say I owe you a hundred Merit Voucher? Don't worry, I, Chen, am not one to renege on debts..."
Chen Hong was still rambling on when Lin Li pulled him aside, cupping his hands in a gesture of Lin Li and saying, "May your journey be filled with boundless success."
Su Yun said, "Save your breath. Let's chat a little longer. I'll have to get out soon. Don't you know the Wasteland Qi is the strongest here?"
As he spoke, he grabbed Deng Qing's arm and pulled her inside.
Immediately, Deng Qing and the others followed the main group inside.