Chapter 279: You’ve Overestimated Me Far Too Much

Dongbo Xueying nodded. “Admiring your insight. Indeed, as Master Wuma Hai predicted, my True Intent of the Void has indeed reached the Second Layer.”

His True Intent of the Void had already reached the peak of the Second Layer.

He originally thought that among Demigods, few would detect his movements. Yet, there were experts even beyond experts! A champion capable of suppressing an entire era couldn’t sense him, but this stronger team leader, Wuma Hai, could.

“You’ve been poisoned by the Six Cursed Witchcraft, yet within a century, your Void Intent has reached the Second Layer?” Bobo couldn’t believe it. It was humiliating. Though the Void Intent was famous, he believed that with his Three-Rarity Divine Heart cultivation, he should have been able to suppress even the First Layer of Void Intent. Yet, Dongbo Xueying had surpassed expectations by a wide margin.

“What a pity,” sighed the golden-armored youth, Wuma Hai. “You’ve been poisoned, and now not a shred of divine aura remains within you. You can neither ascend to Demigodhood nor wield sacred artifacts. Though your Void Intent runs deep, your strikes lack true power. Should you face formidable foes upon Crimsonstone Mountain, even if they stood motionless before you, your attacks would fail to leave so much as a scratch.”

“Exactly,” Bobo immediately agreed. “You’re quite mysterious in traversing the Void, so as a scout, you might be somewhat useful. But your offensive abilities are still far too weak.”

Dongbo Xueying listened without speaking.

“Bringing you to Hongshi Mountain would benefit us very little, but we would bear the risks! This time, we are all well-prepared, and sent by powerful entities of the Divine Realm—we’re risking our lives for this.” The tall, thin man, Bahai, said, “Many things in this world are fair. We can bring you along if you’re willing to offer sufficient sincerity.”

“Oh? And what sincerity do I need to offer?” Dongbo Xueying asked.

“First, the Xia Clan’s complete intelligence on Hongshi Mountain. Of course, this is the easiest one—Palace Master Chen has already agreed that if you follow us, he will definitely provide it. In fact, we already had plenty of intelligence before we arrived. Whether we have your Xia Clan’s report or not makes little difference.” Bahai narrowed his eyes. “What we need is for you to be our scout! We will send you to investigate, and you must go ahead and scout without hesitation. To us… you are only useful for reconnaissance.”

Dongbo Xueying frowned. “A scout? You want me to go, and I must go? If I know it’s extremely dangerous ahead, charging in would just be suicide.”

“Scouting doesn’t require getting too close,” Bahai smiled. “As long as you can gather the information, it’s fine.”

“If you’re too afraid to scout, what use are you?” Bobo sneered coldly.

Dongbo Xueying’s expression darkened slightly.

This Bobo was indeed quite domineering.

“Hongshi Mountain was left behind by an ancient Divine Realm expert. You should already have some intelligence on it and know that the need for your reconnaissance is minimal,” the golden-armored youth said. “We won’t be too demanding, but you must offer something, after all, we are the ones doing all the fighting along the way.”

“Fine,” Dongbo Xueying nodded. “I will do my utmost.”

But he would never recklessly throw his life away.

“One last request,” the golden-armored youth smiled. “We need ten Divine Scrolls!”

“What!” Dongbo Xueying’s face changed drastically, his eyes flickering with barely concealed fury. “That’s going too far, isn’t it?”

“Ten Divine Scrolls—we must have them!” Bobo, the red-haired man, said coldly. “This is our final demand. Hand them over, and we will certainly bring you into Hongshi Mountain. Refuse… and there’s nothing we can do.”

The mask had finally fallen.

Only now did Dongbo Xueying realize the truth. He had originally thought that the Earth Temple team, seeing that he possessed the Void Intent and wouldn’t be a burden, and with the intelligence on Hongshi Mountain, plus helping as a scout, would be willing to bring him along. But he had been too optimistic. Their true goal was the Divine Scrolls!

“Impossible!” Dongbo Xueying said darkly. “Moreover, I personally don’t even own a single Divine Scroll.”

“You may not have any, but the Xia Clan does,” the tall, thin man in heavy robes, Bahai, said softly. “Although your Xia Clan has few who have ascended to godhood, throughout history, there have still been many. After becoming gods, their mages should have crafted some Divine Scrolls. For the Xia Clan, producing ten Divine Scrolls should not be difficult. We’ve heard that they paid a great price to save you before—so ten more scrolls…”

Dongbo Xueying angrily replied, “Impossible! Give up on that idea.”

The three Demigods from the Divine Realm exchanged glances.

In truth, their ultimate goal was the Divine Scrolls!

They hadn’t mentioned it to Palace Master Chen at first, fearing they might scare him. Instead, they had teased him along, finally tempting Dongbo Xueying into bringing it up. From their judgment, Dongbo Xueying was extremely important to the Xia Clan, having contributed greatly. Obtaining a few Divine Scrolls should not be difficult.

You see…

Transporting Divine Scrolls from the Divine Realm down here came at an exorbitant price demanded by the Temple of Time and Space!

But the Xia Clan was different. Though few among them had ascended, over their long history, many had. Before entering the Divine Realm, they could remain in the lower realms for up to ten thousand years. During that time, they could contribute greatly to the Xia Clan, such as crafting Divine Scrolls. Since they didn’t need to transport them through the Temple of Time and Space, but instead forged them directly at home, the cost was relatively low. Of course, each Divine Scroll was still difficult to create. The Xia Clan had used many in facing their historical calamities.

Each one was a treasure, a foundation of the Xia Clan.

“Fine then, ten might be too much. How about five?” Wuma Hai, the golden-armored youth, said. “Five Divine Scrolls. We’ve heard that the Xia Clan used several Divine Scrolls when they broke through twelve magical formations set by the Demon Beast Clan to save you. Five scrolls—surely the Xia Clan can easily spare that.”

“Five, no less,” Bobo added. “Hand them over, and we’ll be comrades. Fail to do so, and you can just go back.”

Dongbo Xueying suppressed his anger.

He was a dying man seeking one last chance at survival in Hongshi Mountain. Yet now, with the Xia Clan facing threats from the Great Demon God and the Witch God, how could he possibly ask them for five Divine Scrolls?

Not five— not even one!

“Goodbye,” Dongbo Xueying said, turning to leave.

Wuma Hai, Bahai, and Bobo all changed expressions slightly.

“Dongbo Xueying, no other team will take you so easily. The fact that we’re willing to accept you is already a great fortune for you,” Wuma Hai said coldly.

“Then I’ll go alone,” Dongbo Xueying replied.

“Alone? Hmph, even someone like Bobo would face near-certain death going in alone. As for you? Certain death, with not even a sliver of hope,” Wuma Hai sneered. “You’d be throwing your life away. I advise you to think carefully. When you face death in Hongshi Mountain, no one will be able to save you, and by then, it’ll be too late to regret!”

Dongbo Xueying walked directly toward the exit, smiling as he said, “Thank you for your concern, Master Wuma Hai.”

“Kid, your life isn’t worth five Divine Scrolls?” Bahai shouted. “Promise us, and we will do everything to protect you!”

“Haha… A dying man worth five Divine Scrolls? You flatter me too much,” Dongbo Xueying said, already walking far beyond the garden gate, quickly disappearing from the sight of the three Demigods.

…

The golden-armored youth, Wuma Hai, sat down under a pavilion, placing a pastry in his mouth, frowning. “Never thought Dongbo Xueying would be so fearless. The moment Divine Scrolls were mentioned, he refused outright, not even leaving room for negotiation! For the Xia Clan, such an extraordinary talent, offering three or five scrolls should be acceptable. But this kid doesn’t cooperate at all.”

“All for nothing!” Bobo sat on a nearby rock, grumbling in anger.

“Forget it. Let the kid die,” Bahai, the tall thin man, said. “What use is the Void Intent? In Hongshi Mountain, there’s little need for reconnaissance. It’s all about fighting. His strength is far inferior to ours.”

“Right, let’s just focus on our preparations. Don’t bother with him anymore,” Wuma Hai said.

In truth, they had never truly valued Dongbo Xueying’s strength.

Earlier, letting him take the fruit was just a way to show dominance, making him look clumsy while grabbing it. Who would have thought Dongbo Xueying’s Void Intent would surpass their expectations?

Even so, they still looked down on him.

After all, Dongbo Xueying’s offensive abilities were too weak, and he lacked divine artifacts, being far inferior even to Bobo.

The only reason they valued him was for his worth in the eyes of the Xia Clan! Hence, they wanted to obtain a few Divine Scrolls.

Unfortunately, they had still failed.

…

“Master Dongbo Xueying, please take care on your way out,” the guards at the entrance of the Earth Temple still showed great respect.

Dongbo Xueying strode out of the Earth Temple’s gates, his eyes sweeping across the boundless heavens as a confident smile played upon his lips. “Such a mediocre crew isn’t worth my allegiance. If I must venture forth, I’ll carve my own path through Hongshi Mountain—alone!”

Boom!

In an instant, he soared into the sky, tearing open a spatial rift in midair. Dongbo Xueying entered the rift and vanished without a trace.