Chapter 275 - 268: Breaking Away

Chapter 275: Chapter 268: Breaking Away

People from the Upper Realm!

Jiang Zuo had never heard of people from the Descent Realm before, let alone seen them with his own eyes.

And now, two had appeared right before him. If he included the Sang Family, the number was even higher.

No wonder that Demoness Bai Ling’s methods were so incredible. If she came from the Upper Realm, it all made sense.

Jiang Zuo didn’t know their specific purpose for descending to this realm.

But he was certain that the Beast God Tree Forbidden Land, and perhaps other forbidden lands in the Cultivation Realm, were inextricably linked to the Upper Realm.

The recent anomaly in the Beast God Tree Forbidden Land had been caused by that Sang Family.

And Bai Ling and Gu Wei had gotten wind of it, coming here to either stop the Sang Family or claim a piece of the pie for themselves.

Jiang Zuo had many questions he wanted to ask, but he held his tongue.

He hadn’t forgotten that Bai Ling wanted to capture him.

Attracting too much of Bai Ling’s attention was not a good thing.

The number of Tier 4 Demon Beasts appearing on their path grew. Perhaps due to the anomaly of the Beast God Tree, even Tier 5 Demon Beasts had started to show up.

But with two Venerables present, the Cyan Ape Demon Venerable and Mo Yunzhen, these Demon Beasts couldn’t slow the party’s advance in the slightest.

The Cyan Ape Demon Venerable and Mo Yunzhen had no patience to wait for Jiang Zuo and Qu Chengyuan’s group to deal with the Demon Beasts; they took action personally.

Jiang Zuo just tagged along, occasionally touching a Demon Beast’s corpse to stash it away.

He was especially interested in the corpses of Tier 5 Demon Beasts, as he needed their Essence Blood. The moment one was killed, he would immediately go over and collect it.

It was one thing for him to sneakily take the Tier 4 ones, but the Tier 5 Demon Beasts were killed by the combined efforts of the two Venerables, the Cyan Ape Demon Venerable and Mo Yunzhen, who had to expend some effort.

But when Jiang Zuo swiped the corpses, it looked as if the two Venerables were working for him.

For a moment, both Bai Ling and Gu Wei fixed their gazes on Jiang Zuo.

"Aren’t the corpses of Demon Beasts from the Forbidden Land said to be worthless? What are you collecting so many for?"

Bai Ling asked coolly, looking at Jiang Zuo.

"Reporting to Senior, this junior is a Spirit Beast Doctor. I need these Demon Beast corpses to take back for research."

"Firstly, it can improve my medical skills. Secondly, with enough research, I might find a way to make use of the corpses of Demon Beasts from the Forbidden Land."

Jiang Zuo said unhurriedly.

Bai Ling and Gu Wei immediately looked toward Qu Chengyuan.

"Seniors, Master Gu is indeed a Spirit Beast Doctor! He is exceptionally skilled at treating all sorts of difficult and unusual ailments in Spirit Beasts. Every Cultivator outside the Beast God Tree Forbidden Land knows his name!"

Qu Chengyuan said hurriedly.

He knew his life was only temporarily spared. Once he led them to their destination, he would most likely be silenced for good.

But Jiang Zuo’s words, actively revealing his identity as a Spirit Beast Doctor, gave him a flash of inspiration.

If Jiang Zuo could save his own life, then perhaps he could ride his coattails.

So not only did he speak up for him, but he also did his best to embellish Jiang Zuo’s abilities.

"A Spirit Beast Doctor?"

Bai Ling and Gu Wei both gave Jiang Zuo another look.

They said nothing more, but they also didn’t stop Jiang Zuo from taking more Demon Beast corpses afterward.

With the two Venerables clearing the path, the group advanced at an extremely fast pace, venturing deep into the Beast God Tree Forbidden Land.

The Beast God Tree Forbidden Land resembled a boundless grassland, though the terrain changed from time to time.

Most areas were covered in grasses of various colors, with a few sparse, small trees occasionally dotting the landscape.

"Master Gu, Junior Sister Xie and I were just discussing this. She said that if we want to get the Celestial Dog Essence Blood, we need to split off from these people up ahead and take a different path."

"That path most likely leads to a Chaotic Space that will teleport us to an unknown location."

"I’d like to ask for your opinion, Master Gu. Will you come with us, or continue following them?"

Jie Qiu suddenly sent a voice transmission to Jiang Zuo.

"The Celestial Dog Essence Blood is more important. I’ll go with you."

Jiang Zuo glanced at Great Black.

Although it seemed Bai Ling and Gu Wei might not kill him, continuing to follow them was still very dangerous, and it was hard to say if there would be any benefits.

In comparison, getting the Celestial Dog Essence Blood first was the most practical choice.

’I can deal with other matters later.’

Jie Qiu wasn’t surprised. Even before asking, she had a feeling Jiang Zuo would make this choice.

Xie Xiuyue and Jie Qiu had actually struggled with the decision themselves. After all, by continuing deeper with Bai Ling and Gu Wei, they had a high chance of obtaining a great opportunity.

But in the end, reason prevailed for the two of them.

While they might encounter a great opportunity, the possibility of losing their lives was just as high.

Getting the Celestial Dog Essence Blood for Huahua served as a convenient excuse for them to back out.

"Alright! But there’s a problem. How are we going to get away from them?"

"It would be fine if we run into a Demon Beast. But if we don’t, we’ll probably be stopped before we can even reach the Chaotic Space."

Jie Qiu added.

Xie Xiuyue was only at the Divine Body Realm; she couldn’t run fast at all.

"I have a plan. Just do as I say in a moment. If it really doesn’t work, just use a Teleportation Talisman."

Jiang Zuo thought for a moment and told Jie Qiu his plan.

Although Jie Qiu felt that Jiang Zuo’s plan didn’t seem like a very good one, she had no other choice and decided to follow his instructions.

Soon, the group arrived at the spot where Xie Xiuyue said they needed to part ways.

Unfortunately, there were no Demon Beasts around to block their path.

Jie Qiu and Xie Xiuyue quietly shifted their positions. Huahua and the Fire Fox had also been secretly recalled by them earlier.

Jiang Zuo, however, took two steps forward and suddenly spoke to Gu Wei, "Senior Gu Wei, you and Senior Bai Ling are from the Upper Realm, correct? I was wondering, was the humans’ Heaven and Earth Sealing Spirit Array also built by Cultivators from the Upper Realm?"

"And not just the Heaven and Earth Sealing Spirit Array, but the many other forbidden lands in the Cultivation Realm—are they also related to the Upper Realm?"

Jiang Zuo’s questions stunned nearly every Cultivator present.

Qu Chengyuan, in particular, was so anxious he almost burst out cursing.

’Are those questions you should be asking?’

’Do you think your mere identity as a Spirit Beast Doctor allows you to do whatever you want?’

"That’s not something you should be asking. Do it again, and you’re dead!"

Gu Wei shot Jiang Zuo a cold glance and struck out with his palm, aiming for Jiang Zuo’s chest.

Jiang Zuo was not surprised by this at all.

He had already gotten a general understanding of Gu Wei’s personality along the way.

Qu Chengyuan and the other cultivators had all been beaten for minor issues.

His status as someone from the Upper Realm, along with the secrets related to it, gave him a sense of superiority, making him look down on everything in this realm.

Jiang Zuo knew full well that his two questions would inevitably provoke and infuriate Gu Wei.

Mo Yunzhen and Bai Ling both frowned as they watched. They both felt that Jiang Zuo’s question was too abrupt, as if he were intentionally trying to provoke Gu Wei.

’But what’s the benefit of deliberately provoking Gu Wei?’

’Does he plan to launch a preemptive sneak attack on Gu Wei?’

Both of them had this thought, but then they saw Gu Wei’s palm strike Jiang Zuo’s chest. Jiang Zuo spat out blood as his body was sent flying backward.

The scene they had imagined didn’t happen at all.

Just as they were feeling confused, they saw Jiang Zuo take advantage of the momentum from being knocked back. He grabbed Jie Qiu and Xie Xiuyue and used the force to shoot off into the distance.

"Don’t let them escape!"

"Bring them back! It doesn’t matter if they’re heavily injured!"

Bai Ling shouted anxiously after a moment of shock.

Before the Cyan Ape Demon Venerable could react, Mo Yunzhen had already extended a hand. A giant palm materialized from thin air and slammed down viciously toward the trio.

But in the next instant, Mo Yunzhen’s pupils contracted, and he forcibly dispelled the giant magical palm.

On the ground ahead, countless root-like tentacles of the Beast God Tree were erupting madly from beneath the earth.

If Mo Yunzhen had let his attack continue, it would have certainly hit Jiang Zuo’s group, but it would have also inevitably struck those root-tentacles.

Once they were attacked, the Beast God Tree itself would retaliate.

Mo Yunzhen didn’t dare fight the Beast God Tree within its own Forbidden Land.

And in that moment of hesitation, Jiang Zuo’s group of three had already vanished into a Chaotic Space in the distance.

Qu Chengyuan’s eyes went wide as he watched.

Damn!

’I spoke up for that Master Gu, and he just ditches us and runs off like this?’

"Stop staring and keep leading the way!"

Gu Wei knew he had been used. He was furious, but taking out his frustration on Qu Chengyuan and the others now that Jiang Zuo’s group had escaped would just be a display of impotent rage.

He didn’t take it out on Qu Chengyuan, but Gu Wei’s voice was exceedingly cold.

Qu Chengyuan felt wronged, but he didn’t dare say a word. He could only resign himself to his fate and continue leading the way.

’Damn it! Looks like there’s no escaping death now!’

’If that’s the case, then we’ll all die together!’

With Jiang Zuo’s group gone, Qu Chengyuan quickly accepted his reality.

He knew that once he had finished leading them, death was inevitable.

’Since that’s the case, why should I keep guiding them?’

’I’ll just lead them into a ditch and we can all perish together!’

...

"Master Gu, are you alright?"

After a dizzying spell, Jiang Zuo and the others found themselves in another desolate grassland.

Seeing Jiang Zuo spitting blood, looking as though he was seriously injured, both Jie Qiu and Xie Xiuyue asked worriedly.

"I’m fine."

Jiang Zuo wiped the corner of his mouth.

Gu Wei’s palm strike hadn’t been intended to kill him. With his Cultivation suppressed, the blow felt like little more than a scratch.

He had only coughed up blood on purpose.

The only regrettable part was that in order to lure out the Beast God Tree’s root-tentacles, he had to toss out more than twenty Tier 4 Demon Beast corpses at once.

"I found it! The Celestial Dog Essence Blood should be under that tree!"

Xie Xiuyue said with some excitement, looking toward a withered tree several hundred meters away.

Perhaps thanks to the Chaotic Space, the three of them had found the Celestial Dog Essence Blood right after teleporting, without having to risk moving around much.

Jiang Zuo followed Xie Xiuyue’s finger with his gaze.

He saw a small, slightly raised mound of earth. The withered tree on top was quite large, over ten meters tall.

A few much smaller withered trees were scattered around the mound.

The surroundings were desolate, but there was no sign of any Demon Beasts.

Demon Beasts in the Beast God Tree Forbidden Land generally didn’t lay ambushes; they would attack any Cultivator on sight.

"Let’s go!"

Jiang Zuo summoned Great Black again, while Xie Xiuyue and Jie Qiu also brought out Huahua and the Fire Fox.

The three of them then walked toward the small mound together.

"Wait!"

When they were still over a hundred meters from the mound, Jiang Zuo suddenly stopped.

He then took out a Demon Beast corpse and tossed it onto the gray-black grass ahead.

THUD!

The Demon Beast’s corpse hit the ground.

Then, before the Beast God Tree’s root-tentacles could emerge, a huge, pitch-black spider burst out from underground.

"A Tier 5 Demon Beast!"

Jie Qiu and Xie Xiuyue cried out in horror.