Chapter 172 - 167: Disagreement between the Cook and the Elder

Given Ding Huan's status and identity, he couldn't suggest changing paths at this time, nor could he propose leaving the route alone. Even the worst excuse would have to wait until they were encamped before he could mention leaving in search of food. In the current situation, his suggestion to look for food would clearly defy common sense, so this excuse also wouldn't work. Just as Ding Huan anxiously pondered how to leave the main force, a section of disordered ground appeared before everyone. Clothes and tents lay abandoned everywhere, and scattered weapons could be found all around. "It happened right here," Han Weicheng's voice trembled somewhat. Ding Huan could tell that there had been extreme panic here, after which the people scattered. But Ding Huan was very clear that Han Weicheng and the others hadn't encountered trouble here; they had already passed the real location of the incident about fifteen minutes ago. This was merely a staged scene. Ding Huan had originally thought that these items and weapons were illusions; after he carefully observed them with his Divine Will several times, he discovered they were real. That meant that the hidden force plotting against the Heavenly Artifact Sect and the Great Sword Sect was extraordinary and had even set up a fake scene. The only thing Ding Huan didn't understand was that this fake scene was completely meaningless. When Ding Huan looked around, where he had just seen was a jungle, it was now a big road again. Ding Huan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, circulated the Luo Shijin, and then opened his eyes again to look around. This time, things finally returned to normal; he could see clearly without using Divine Will that this place was not a big road. After several attempts, Ding Huan vaguely understood what was going on. It was definitely the Poison Fog, the same as last night's poison. Everyone had been affected, but he possessed the Detoxification Gene. As his cultivation improved, his Detoxification Gene had become an instinct. Precisely because of this, even if he was affected by the Illusion Poison, he would recover to normal after a while. Of course, there was another possibility that the Eye of the Great Wilderness he had fused with had seen through some of the falsehood. No matter the reason, this wouldn't do. If they kept going deeper, wouldn't the path ahead lead to death? Ding Huan recalculated for himself again, and the result was more obscure than before, completely unclear, a blur. The rules here were much higher than the Mortal World, making it very difficult to calculate, but the outcomes regarding himself could still be referenced. Absolutely could not proceed any further. "Deacon Qiong," Ding Huan couldn't care about anything else and shouted loudly. There were many people in this team, and because of the previous bizarre incidents, everyone was extremely quiet while walking. Ding Huan's shout shattered the silence, and almost everyone was startled. What had happened now? This was everyone's only thought. Without needing Deacon Qiong to relay a message, people stopped involuntarily. "What's the matter?" Deacon Qiong saw that it was Ding Huan calling him and hurried over to inquire. Not just Deacon Qiong, but Elder Gu and elders from two other sects along with Han Weicheng also came over. Ding Huan said with a fistful salute: "Elder Gu, Deacon Qiong, I have great confidence in my sixth sense, and I feel that it's very dangerous to continue on this path." "And what do you mean by that?" Elder Gu still held some admiration for Ding Huan. A cook who had found the Condensing Star Bamboo, not to mention he had saved a disciple of the Heavenly Artifact Sect last night. Elder Qu of the Dual Soul Sect and Elder Liu of the Purple Mist Valley did not know Ding Huan's origins and, hearing Elder Gu's inquiry, stood by to listen. Ding Huan pointed to the side and said: "I have a premonition that we can only turn danger into safety if we pass through here." "You want us to walk into the jungle?" Elder Qu of the Dual Soul Sect's face changed. Not only Elder Qu of the Dual Soul Sect and Elder Liu of the Purple Mist Valley, but even Elder Gu looked at Ding Huan with some frowns. In the Great Ravine Gorge, where is the most dangerous place? Naturally, it is within the jungle. Entering the jungle means facing all kinds of Demon Beasts, and also various traps. These traps are naturally existing, for example, you accidentally fall into a deep pit all of a sudden, such pits are unfathomable, and going in means certain death. Or suddenly being swept away by a plant monster, then even bones and dregs are swallowed up. As for sinking into a quagmire, that would be considered the most dignified way to die. "Ding Huan, what are you rambling about? There's a jungle beyond here," Deacon Qiong frowned. Ding Huan inwardly despised, thinking we are already in the midst of the jungle, aren't we? It's just that you all have been hit by the Illusion Poison, and you see it as a big road; the direction I'm pointing toward is the real path. "Are you a steward of the Yanyue Sect?" Elder Liu suddenly asked. Deacon Qiong hurriedly explained: "No, this is a chef we have temporarily hired by one of our disciples. He is a provisional chef and will leave after reaching the sect." Hearing that Ding Huan was a chef, and even one privately brought in by a disciple, Elder Qu of the Dual Soul Sect became furious and glared at Ding Huan coldly: "You, a mere chef, dare to speak nonsense. Step down, and if you dare to talk rubbish again, this elder will slap you to death." Ding Huan felt disgruntled inside but was helpless. He said to Deacon Qiong: "Deacon Qiong, since that's the case, please allow me to leave the team." Seeing Elder Qu of the Dual Soul Sect about to lash out again, Elder Gu of the Yanyue Sect suddenly spoke up: "I still approve of Mr. Ding's idea, we from the Yanyue Sect will follow Mr. Ding Huan from the side." Gu Youchang did indeed have a bit of admiration for Ding Huan, but it was just a little bit of admiration. He chose to listen to Ding Huan, not only because Ding Huan had brought back Condensing Star Bamboo before, but also because of Ding Huan's calmness when he entered the great ravine valley. What was more important was that he also vaguely felt a sense of unease. However, this feeling of unease was very faint—the kind that was almost nonexistent unless mentioned. It was only after Ding Huan brought it up that he felt this faint unease, which quickly disappeared again. It was precisely for this reason that he chose to listen to Ding Huan. "Elder Gu, after all, Ding Huan is a... Entering the jungle in the great ravine valley significantly increases danger. According to records, very few have survived." Deacon Qiong couldn't help but speak up. Elder Gu frowned; he also knew that entering the jungle was too dangerous, but Ding Huan's words coupled with his vague feelings made him hesitate for a moment. "Although Mr. Ding's premonitions are good, we still lost two disciples last night," Deacon Qiong said again. "What happened last night?" Elder Qu from the Dual Soul Sect asked. "Last night, when we were setting up camp, Mr. Ding had a premonition that our campsite was okay, and later it turned out to be safe, but we lost two disciples," Deacon Qiong answered. Elder Qu stared at Ding Huan and snorted coldly: "If it were a chef from my Dual Soul Sect, and such things happened repeatedly, I would have slapped him to death a long time ago." Ding Huan was furious in his heart, damn it, once my power grows, I'll be the first to trample down this possession Sect. Elder Gu spoke up: "Let's do this, those who trust Mr. Ding, follow him; those who don't, continue on the original path." Gu Youchang understood that if he didn't speak up for Ding Huan, Ding Huan would be killed by Qu Youshan today. Ding Huan, with Lao Liu, was the first to step out, whether others believed him or not, he had to leave this place. He was very grateful to Elder Gu for speaking for him, otherwise, he would be less than an ant in front of these people. "Elder Gu, what about you?" a newly recruited disciple of the Yanyue Sect couldn't help but ask. Elder Gu's expression was very solemn: "I do trust Mr. Ding, but this matter is out of the ordinary. I cannot make decisions for everyone, so each person must decide their own fate." Having said that, Gu Youchang also stood on Ding Huan's side. "Miss, we can't go over," Qing Yu said, holding back Guan Pou who wanted to go over. Seeing Guan Pou looking at her, Qing Yu whispered: "That Ding Huan might be okay at cooking, but he doesn't understand the hierarchy, and he's just a chef, after all. How can we trust his premonitions? Besides, he even asked us to enter the jungle, isn't that seeking death?" Guan Pou frowned; she didn't trust Ding Huan, but she trusted Elder Gu. Elder Gu's strength was definitely the strongest here. As long as she stayed with Elder Gu, she should be safe. If she stayed here, should anything happen, other Sect Elders definitely wouldn't help her, since they too had their own disciples. As for Deacon Qiong, he was just a Cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment, too weak to protect her. "Elder Gu said we could decide for ourselves. Although you are my maid, you can decide for yourself too. I will still follow Elder Gu," Guan Pou said and then stood over there as well. Qing Yu felt helpless. She didn't want to go over, but as a maid, if her master wanted her to die, she couldn't resist. "Immortal Guan Pou, wouldn't it be better for you to stay with us?" Deacon Qiong, seeing Guan Pou leaving the main group, became anxious. With Elder Gu's status and strength far above his, he had no way to stop her. Guan Pou was the person he was supposed to protect; if something happened to her, how would he explain it to the Young Sect Master? "No need, I can decide for myself how to proceed, I don't need guidance from others," Guan Pou said with a cold tone. "Let's go," Elder Qu of the Dual Soul Sect was very disdainful of Gu Youchang's actions. He didn't bother to wait any longer and decided to go ahead. Deacon Qiong had no choice but to say: "Those who wish to follow me shall join me, and those who wish to follow Elder Gu shall go with Elder Gu." The twenty-three newly recruited disciples looked at each other. In the end, they split into two groups, with twelve people believing that Elder Gu was the strongest and that it was safer to stay with him. They thought the same as Guan Pou; regardless of the two Sect Elders here, they definitely wouldn't help Yanyue Sect Disciples if something went wrong. Han Weicheng also hesitated for a long time but eventually chose to follow the main group. It was not that he didn't trust Elder Gu, but that he didn't believe that there could be anything good about entering the jungle of the great ravine valley. More than one hundred people were divided into two groups, one led by Elder Qu of the Dual Soul Sect and Elder Liu of Purple Mist Valley. The other group only had a dozen people, led by Ding Huan and Elder Gu. In fact, it was Ding Huan who was leading the way, because as soon as they split up, Gu Youchang said to Ding Huan: "You take the lead in front, and speed up." Without Gu Youchang's reminder, Ding Huan was also speeding up. He had to get out of the great ravine valley jungle as fast as possible; otherwise, it made no difference whether they split up or not.