Mad Crocodile Pool — Camp.
The other two core disciples watched as Xu Ming returned alone. They exchanged a glance—
and smiled.
No words were needed.
They understood.
Dragon Void Cave was full of dangers. People died here every year.
If someone "disappeared"…
it was easy to blame the ruins.
Xu Ming turned toward the inner disciples, his tone calm and authoritative.
"This place is deadly. Stay alert and keep watch."
"Yes!" the inner disciples responded immediately.
They didn't know what had happened to Zhou Taian.
They didn't ask.
All they knew was this—
as long as they followed the three core disciples, there would be rewards.
Meat.
Treasure.
Survival.
They scanned the dark forest around them, tense and vigilant.
The sky slowly brightened.
A thin veil of mist rose through the trees, drifting across the camp like ghost breath.
As the fog thickened, the disciples began to stir.
This hour—just before full sunrise—was when the Cold Pool Mad Crocodile was most sluggish.
If they could lure it out now…
it would be weaker.
And that would be their best chance to kill it.
Suddenly, one of the inner disciples spotted movement ahead.
Two faint silhouettes emerged in the mist.
His heart jumped.
"What—who's there?!"
He was a Spirit Spring Realm Seventh Layer archer. Mystic qi coiled around the tip of his arrow, glowing faint green with killing intent.
"—Hah."
The two figures stepped out of the fog.
When the archer saw their robes, his guard lowered slightly, though not completely.
"Lin Ye?"
He recognized the newcomer immediately.
Beside Lin Ye stood someone even more recognizable—
Liu Qingyu, one of the most famous beauties among the inner disciples.
Hearing the commotion, Xu Ming and the others walked out of the camp. More than ten disciples gathered together.
When Xu Ming saw Lin Ye…
shock flashed through his eyes—
just for a heartbeat.
Then it vanished.
His expression smoothed out as if nothing had happened at all.
He even smiled warmly and stepped forward.
"Junior Brother Lin Ye! What a coincidence. Are you here to hunt the Cold Pool Mad Crocodile too?"
His acting was quick.
Too quick.
But in front of Lin Ye, that tiny flicker of shock was like a scream in silence.
Lin Ye could tell immediately:
Something was wrong.
He swept his gaze across the group.
Three Qi Sea Realm cultivators.
The rest were Spirit Spring.
If he wanted to kill them…
it would be effortless.
But Zhou Taian wasn't here.
He couldn't slaughter everyone blindly.
Still—
anyone involved in this matter…
would not be spared.
Lin Ye's memory of Xu Ming wasn't strong. That was normal.
In the sect, Lin Ye had always been ostracized. Most core disciples rarely interacted with him. To them, giving resources to Lin Ye was a waste.
Among the inner disciples…
his only real friend had been Zhou Taian.
Liu Qingyu had also heard rumors that Lin Ye was isolated. She quickly explained, trying to help.
"He's Xu Ming. Core disciple, ranked ninth."
Lin Ye nodded lightly.
"Oh. Ranked ninth… with this kind of strength?"
Liu Qingyu blinked, slightly embarrassed.
Then Lin Ye asked, almost casually:
"What's the relationship between Xu Ming and Xu Liang?"
Liu Qingyu froze.
"Xu Liang… the manager of the Affairs Hall?"
She nodded. "He's… Senior Brother Xu Ming's father."
That explained everything.
Xu Ming had a strong background, good talent, and a "reputation" for being kind and helpful. In the sect, people spoke well of him.
But Lin Ye wasn't fooled.
He already knew what kind of man stood in front of him.
Lin Ye nodded once.
"I see."
Then he rubbed his cheek as if relaxing—
and forced a perfectly polite, perfectly fake smile.
"Senior Brother Xu Ming, it's been a long time."
"Since everyone is hunting the Cold Pool Mad Crocodile… allow me to observe as well."
As Lin Ye smiled and walked closer, Liu Qingyu shivered without knowing why.
He was smiling…
but she suddenly felt cold all the way down her spine.
"Junior Brother Lin Ye."
Gu Shusen, one of the other core disciples, spoke with a hard voice.
"Hunting that beast is extremely dangerous. One mistake, and you'll lose your life."
His eyes held a faint, hidden malice—
as if he was already calculating something.
Xu Ming laughed loudly, acting cheerful.
"Haha! If Junior Brother Lin Ye wants to contribute, then let's hunt together."
He looked at Liu Qingyu and nodded as if being generous.
"And you're Liu Qingyu, right? You should come too. Just be careful."
But under that friendly tone—
Xu Ming's eyes were icy.
He had already killed Zhou Taian.
What was one more Liu Qingyu?
Nothing.
Lin Ye watched him.
Xu Ming wasn't particularly strong…
but his heart was ruthless.
That meant Zhou Taian was almost certainly already dead.
Which explained why Xu Ming had looked so shocked when Lin Ye appeared.
His plan had been perfect.
Flawless.
He had never expected Lin Ye to return alive—
and completely changed.
Liu Qingyu, however, was still naïve.
Hearing Xu Ming's words, she felt a small burst of relief.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Xu Ming…"
So the rumors were true.
He really was gentle and approachable.
And ranked ninth among the core disciples…
He was on a level she could never reach.
They soon reached the edge of Mad Crocodile Pool.
The temperature dropped sharply.
The trees were thick, branches tangled overhead, blocking the light. It felt like something could strike from the shadows at any moment.
Xu Ming spoke seriously.
"According to the sect records, this Cold Pool Mad Crocodile is Second-Rank peak."
"Everyone… stay sharp."
The moment his words ended—
BOOM!
The pool exploded.
A massive shadow surged out of the water—
and the air filled with violent pressure.
SPLASH! SPLASH! SPLASH!
Dozens of water spears blasted forward, carrying terrifying force.
Liu Qingyu instinctively raised her sword—
but Lin Ye grabbed her by the waist and yanked her backward.
She barely had time to gasp before he launched them both into a retreat.
The water spears slammed into the camp area like artillery.
Disciples screamed.
Some were smashed into trees.
Some were pierced clean through.
Blood sprayed across the mist.
Lin Ye leapt onto a massive tree and landed on a thick branch with Liu Qingyu in his arms.
He set her down—
and his voice turned cold.
"Stay here."
"Don't move."
It wasn't a request.
It was an order.
So cold.
So absolute.
Liu Qingyu was stunned.
For a moment, she couldn't even speak.
She could only nod.
Below them, the inner disciples had been destroyed in an instant.
Dead.
Wounded.
Crying.
Only Xu Ming and the two other core disciples survived cleanly.
They used their movement techniques and avoided the water spear burst with ease.
Xu Ming's gaze turned vicious.
"You two hold that beast down."
"I'm going to kill that brat."
Gu Shusen and Jin Liangfei nodded.
"Alright!"
Xu Ming turned—
ready to hunt Lin Ye.
And then—
A blast of wind slammed into his face.
BAM!
Xu Ming felt something heavy smash his nose. The bone cracked instantly. Blood poured into his throat.
He staggered backward.
Before he could stabilize—
a razor-sharp sword qi swept across his knees.
SHHHK!
His legs… disappeared.
THUD!
Xu Ming collapsed to his knees.
His eyes were wide.
His mind blank.
He looked down.
Both legs had been severed cleanly.
"No…"
"No…!"
His voice broke.
He couldn't accept it.
How could his legs be cut off?!
Without legs…
what was he?
No matter how strong his cultivation was, he'd become a cripple.
A useless trash.
Xu Ming lifted his head—
and saw the figure standing in front of him.
A familiar face.
A face that should've been dead.
Xu Ming's teeth clenched.
His eyes burned with endless rage and hatred.
"Lin… Ye!"