Getting Along

In terms of strength, even the weakest Jin Wanliang was stronger than Huo Qubing.

However, Huo Qubing possessed a unique advantage at that time.

This is an arrow from the master of the secret realm.

Although the grade of the arrow grass on the main shaft of the Heaven-Shaking Arrow is unknown, the arrow grass spirit that could pierce Zhang Xuezhou's physical body technique is indeed extraordinary, and the arrow grass spirit that can become the master of a secret place cannot be bad.

Huo Qubing's previous attempts to apply his own blood to the scalp had no effect; instead, they caused him to experience premature thirst.

However, after Huo Qubing Realm Entry, the situation of this feathered arrow became delicate.

Even the faintest amount of Qi and Blood is still the power of a cultivator. When Huo Qubing guided the Qi and Blood power through the three acupoints, the curved body of the feathered arrow straightened, and it became a sharp piercing blade in his hand.

Huo Qubing's guided Qi and Blood power was weak and short-lived, and the time he used the feathered arrows was extremely short.

In any case, Huo Qubing was not entirely powerless against Jin Wanliang.

As for how to get Jin Wanliang to cooperate and how the two should get along, these were problems that Zhang Xuezhou couldn't solve when he was sober. He couldn't foresee the changes in the secret place, so he couldn't predict Huo Qubing and Jin Wanliang's behavior.

Whether human or demon, young or old, it is difficult for their normal state of mind to be consistent with their behavior when facing risks.

Zhang Xuezhou entrusted the relevant matters, and he didn't care that the death of the herb after being picked from the secret place would reduce its efficacy. He searched and picked through places where the water level might cover the herbs multiple times.

"Where is this place? There are so many powerful medicinal herbs here!"

Jin Wanliang, following Zhang Xuezhou's instructions, rummaged through some of the palace's horizontal beams, trying to flatten them as much as possible with his claws.

His gaze occasionally swept across the mountains below the palace, where Zhang Xuezhou could sometimes dig up large medicinal herbs.

Jin Wanliang had never eaten fine food, but he had gained some experience in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.

Compared to the large medicinal herbs that Zhang Xuezhou picked, the medicinal herbs in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains were much smaller in size.

"No wonder my godfather was able to give me such good medicine!"

Jin Wanliang stole glances several times; he was itching to try it, but he knew the rules.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so timid as to refuse Zhang Xuezhou's offer to teach him the "Yuan Dan Technique".

To survive for over a hundred years in the Southern Jambudvipa Continent, Jin Wanliang's survival Principle was to bully the weak and fear the strong, knowing what he should and shouldn't take.

"What are you looking at? My godfather has never liked useless people, and neither do I. Don't think you can avoid work just because you're a child. Now you're clinging to that broken stick; don't complain to Grandpa Jin about not taking care of you when you cause trouble!"

Jin Wanliang had one face towards Zhang Xuezhou, but clearly a different face when he looked at Huo Qubing.

Jin Wanliang was too familiar with humans. He knew very well that a human of Huo Qubing's age was too young and inexperienced to be of any use. His greatest use was to be eaten by monsters and wild beasts.

He called out to Huo Qubing, but Huo Qubing did not respond. Instead, he rummaged through the palace ruins, picking up broken doors and windows.

The situation high above the secret location is hard to describe, but the rising water level below the mountain is visible.

Once a tree is marked, and after half an hour or an hour, that tree will silently disappear beneath the murky yet calm water.

The water level has indeed been rising, slowly but steadily.

Huo Qubing could even roughly predict when this palace area would be submerged.

If they don't want to be affected by the secret formation, they have no choice but to stay in this place, even if it's flooded.

Choosing a vehicle that can float on water becomes of paramount importance.

The wooden parts that made up this palace were dry and rotten, and no one could guarantee that they wouldn't sink after absorbing water.

Huo Qubing glanced at Jin Wanliang and saw that Jin Wanliang had chosen some long horizontal logs, which were stacked together in a layered manner, clearly indicating that he had the same idea.

He also piled up the rotten planks he had chosen as high as possible, trying to make sure that if one plank sank, there was still one plank left.

If a white light appears leading to the outside world, he may be able to paddle along the wooden planks to escape the secret place.

"Hey, where did you come from? How did you end up here with my godfather?"

Jin Wanliang clearly wanted to find out about Huo Qubing's identity. Huo Qubing, who was rummaging through the wooden planks, straightened up when he heard this question.

"I am the adopted son of the Grand Commander of the Imperial Guards of Shanglin Garden..."

"Pooh!"

Before Huo Qubing could finish his intimidating words, Jin Wanliang spat on the ground.

Perhaps Zhang Xuezhou had a good relationship with some Grand Commander, but Jin Wanliang hated nothing more than the demon hunters who captured him over the years, followed by the Imperial Guards who imprisoned him in Shanglin Garden.

Upon hearing that Huo Qubing was the adopted son of the Grand Commander of the Imperial Guards of Shanglin Garden, Jin Wanliang almost spat at Huo Qubing in front of him.

"... My friend invited me to Shanglin Garden for horseback riding and archery, but I accidentally wandered into the deep mountains. Fortunately, I met Lord Dongfang, who recognized my parents and took me in. Unfortunately, a strange phenomenon occurred in Zhongnan Mountain, which dragged us into this place!"

Huo Qubing's expression remained unchanged, but he quickly corrected himself and added to the story in a slow and deliberate manner.

Clearly, Jin Wanliang was not friendly to him.

But Zhang Xuezhou had to keep this monster around to help him, lest he have no chance of escaping.

Killing Jin Wanliang Jin Wanliang be a simple matter for Zhang Xuezhou; Huo Qubing wouldn't need to rack his brains to subdue him.

The real trouble lies in the fact that it requires Jin Wanliang to do the work, which even involves troublesome matters such as leaving Zhongnan Mountain after leaving the secret place.

"Lord Dongfang probably didn't tell you how to get out accurately," Huo Qubing said. "If he's ill, only you and I working together can find the correct route out!"

"Oh!"

"You didn't come in with Lord Dongfang, but I followed you all the way in," Huo Qubing said. "We may only have one chance to escape. If we fail, we'll suffer hallucinations and then drown in the rising waters!"

"Water is the thing I hate most in this world!"

Jin Wanliang rarely makes a sarcastic remark.

Compared to the dangerous weapon, arrows, Jin Wanliang detested water even more.

This led Huo Qubing to put away his defensive arrows and begin to consider how to effectively utilize the aquatic environment.

Compared to Jin Wanliang's aversion, Huo Qubing was extremely fond of water. He even felt that he had never been as thirsty for water as he had been these past few days.

If it weren't for the formation below, Huo Qubing would have even wanted to dive into the water and swim freely.

"I also hate water. If it weren't for the fact that we would die if we didn't drink water, I would never want to touch water. My mom even tells me that children shouldn't swim in rivers!"

Huo Qubing echoed in agreement.

He wasn't deliberately trying to curry favor with Jin Wanliang, but rather that this kind of talk could lower Jin Wanliang's guard against him.

If he encountered any unexpected event, Huo Qubing could feign weakness by sinking into the water, and then channel the power of his Qi and Blood and qi to use his arrows to launch a counterattack to the best of his ability.

The man and the demon prepared for the trouble that the rising water level would bring. When it got dark, Zhang Xuezhou, who was digging for medicinal herbs at the foot of the mountain, returned on the wind and lay down at the intersection of two horizontal logs. Huo Qubing's face couldn't help but turn a little paler, and he had no choice but to accept being alone with a great demon whose nature was still uncertain.