Chapter 102: Chapter 97: Hired a Tribulation Cultivator as a Bodyguard?

"Senior Brother, is this the shortcut you mentioned?"

Looking at the densely packed gray wolves in the forest, Bian Chuyao couldn’t help but smile wryly and asked Gu Yuan beside her.

She felt she had been deceived.

Earlier, Gu Yuan’s proficient "kill and burn" operation had shocked her, and she unconsciously followed him onto this so-called "shortcut."

But as they walked, she realized that this path was fraught with dangers, no easier than the route she had planned to Cloud Mist Valley. Most importantly, the route had diverged.

This path was leading them further away from Cloud Mist Valley.

The winding stone steps seemed to lead to another hidden place.

What shortcut, it was just Gu Yuan’s nonsense; he must have other motives.

"No worries, all roads lead to the same destination. As long as we move forward, we’ll reach Cloud Mist Valley sooner or later."

Seeing this, Gu Yuan just chuckled lightly.

He had never forgotten that his primary purpose in going to the Zhongshan Secret Ruins was something else.

The Three Heart Seal was his ultimate target.

Helping Bian Chuyao was merely a means to an end, a way to leverage resources.

He wouldn’t break his promise, but he wouldn’t prioritize her goals over his own needs either.

Bian Chuyao wanted to leverage his strength to overcome the layered crises of Cloud Mist Mountain, but so did he.

In fact, according to Gu Yuan’s original plan, he intended to help Bian Chuyao obtain the Flowing Flame Golden Fruit first before seizing the opportunity to find the Three Heart Seal. However, what Bian Chuyao mentioned earlier made him wary that others might compete for the Flowing Flame Golden Fruit, prompting him to decide to retrieve the Three Dharma Master’s hidden treasure first.

Perhaps the journey to the hidden treasure would further enhance his strength.

Even if not, obtaining the Three Heart Seal first would still resolve one concern. If they encountered a formidable enemy when picking the Golden Fruit, he could make a strategic retreat without worrying about the Three Dharma Seals.

In any case, he aimed to secure his own benefits first.

"Senior Brother, there are countless spirit grasses in Cloud Mist Valley. Why go to such lengths?"

"Help me get the Golden Fruit first, and once it’s done, I’ll give you a thousand Spirit Stones!"

Bian Chuyao realized she was being used in reverse, but after witnessing Gu Yuan’s strength, she couldn’t confront him, so she could only try to persuade him kindly.

But Gu Yuan just smiled.

The Body Seal Technique is rare and precious, a strategic resource that can’t be compared to a mere thousand Spirit Stones.

Spirit Stones can only buy ordinary items; truly precious things are priceless.

"Don’t worry, Junior Sister, follow the road ahead, and we’ll definitely reach Cloud Mist Valley. I, Gu Yuan, will not go back on my word!"

Gu Yuan struck out like lightning, his Peach Blossom Sword Seal dazzling and sharp, slaughtering the wolves in an instant as they leaped at him, while comforting Bian Chuyao.

"Howl!"

But at the same time, two giant wolves towering several meters high charged at them, bringing with them a foul stench.

Their formidable aura had already reached the pinnacle of high-grade demon beasts.

Seeing this, Gu Yuan manifested a cyan lotus phantasm around him and met one of the wolves head-on.

The other wolf, Gu Yuan simply turned away, leaving it to Bian Chuyao.

"Wow wow wow, Missy, I said already, there’s no teaming up with this big villain. Now look, he’s using you as a guard!"

"Bad person, bad person! All those spirit grass treasure pills Missy gave him were wasted!"

"Seeing his technique earlier, this guy must be a ruthless killer. If real danger hits Cloud Mist Valley, he might be the first to run!"

Several Little Flower Spirits clutched Bian Chuyao’s fair ears, complaining on her behalf. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Bian Chuyao felt deeply helpless, but the giant wolf already came at her. She had no choice but to activate her crimson Sword Seal and face it.

While helping Bian Chuyao replenish mana and assisting her in dealing with the giant wolf, the Little Flower Spirits whispered in her ear:

"Missy, this guy may be rotten to the core, but he’s cunning. If he’s gone through all this trouble to come here, there might actually be some treasure. Once he finds it, let’s take it from him and make him livid!"

"Yes, yes, take it from him, make him livid, make him livid!"

Hearing this, Bian Chuyao didn’t speak, but curiosity arose in her heart.

What treasure could Gu Yuan be risking so much for?

Gu Yuan, seemingly sensing Bian Chuyao’s thoughts, suddenly turned his head and flashed her a grin.

"Hmm?"

Surprised, Bian Chuyao suddenly felt a foreboding sense.

"Howl howl howl!"

The giant wolf entangled with Gu Yuan suddenly went berserk, its eyes blood-red. It unexpectedly abandoned Gu Yuan and turned towards Bian Chuyao.

Moreover, the incessant roars of beasts echoed through the forest, as if many demon beasts were stirred and quickly pursued a peculiar "scent" towards them.

"Sorry, Junior Sister, I’ll return shortly."

Leaving only these words, Gu Yuan’s figure gradually vanished into the forest.

"Gu Yuan!"

Seeing this, Bian Chuyao could no longer maintain her usual gentle smile and burst out with a delicate shout at Gu Yuan.

But where was Gu Yuan’s figure in the forest?

There were only the looming silhouettes of demons drawing ever closer.

Anger filled Bian Chuyao’s eyes; she hadn’t expected that Gu Yuan, who seemed so upright and handsome at the Daoist School, would change completely in the Secret Realm.

Not only was he ruthless and knew the tribulation cultivator methods inside out, but he had now abandoned her, disappearing alone!

Did she find a tribulation cultivator as a guard?

With silver teeth clenched, Bian Chuyao touched her waist, tempted to use her restricting hidden card. But remembering the unclaimed Golden Fruit and the absence of her "old friends" from the Sunset Glow Sect, she reluctantly restrained her impulse.

"Gu Yuan, if you don’t return, I’ll have my grandfather chase you to the ends of the earth!"

In the demon-qi-filled forest, an exceedingly furious cry echoed, sharp enough to overpower the roars of the demon beasts.

...

...

"In thousands of years at the Daoist School, there’s never been a precedent of a Golden Core Ascendant laying hands on a Qi Refining Disciple..."

Hearing the shout from behind, Gu Yuan just chuckled lightly, then moved like lightning toward the map on the Three Dharma Daoist’s Jade Scroll.

The matter of the Three Dharma Seal was significant, and he didn’t want Bian Chuyao to know, so he had to inconvenience her temporarily.

The many demon beasts attracted by the Evil Spirit Demon Powder charged toward Bian Chuyao, and for a moment, the obstacles in Gu Yuan’s path were considerably reduced.

Before long, he saw a cliff ahead, covered by countless weeds and deadwood.

The cliff was eerily silent, with an invisible barrier seemingly concealing it, and within its range, not a single demon beast was present.

Only a few skeletons lay silently before the cliff, resembling the remains of cultivators.

"Rumble!"

Gu Yuan, harboring a twinge of caution, gathered his mana and, following the directions on the Jade Scroll, pushed open the "cliff."

The "cliff" was merely a stone door.

The enormous rumble and rising dust revealed a wide Cave Mansion as the stone door opened.

"Boom!"

But at that moment, a silver fist, accompanied by roaring wind and sharp Sword Qi, came crashing toward Gu Yuan’s face.