On a mission, against a formidable enemy!
These two phrases put Chen Pingping on alert. Especially since they involved the Boundary Monument and the Devouring Sky Beast, he had to be cautious.
The key issue was that there was also a system task in play.
"Perhaps they are still alive, or perhaps they are no more," Shadow said. "Too much time has passed since the great war."
As he spoke, he suddenly became agitated. "I’ve sensed fluctuations in my lord’s aura; she has been here, but she didn’t find me..."
He had waited far too long.
Unaware of the passing years, he had never forgotten his mission: to battle across the Wasteland, to slay formidable enemies, and to quell the rebellion of the Divine Clan.
Chen Pingping remained unmoved.
The person before him was merely recounting his own experiences—what did that have to do with Chen Pingping?
After I help you pull out the sword, will you go back on your word?
If not, even if it was a Great Opportunity handed to him, he didn’t really need it.
Sensing his composure, Shadow said, "You do not believe me?"
Chen Pingping shook his head. "No, I just feel that if even you, a senior, couldn’t withstand those strong enemies, how could I, a junior, compete with them?"
Setting aside the dangers of the area around the Boundary Monument, if these enemies were still lying in wait in secret, or had always remained there, wouldn’t he be walking into a trap?
"In the battle back then, although they sealed me under the Boundary Monument, they too were severely injured and needed time to recover," Shadow explained. "At least for now, they have not awakened. Otherwise, this Ancient City would have long since ceased to exist, and I... would be dead forever."
"So, you mean you could still be resurrected?" Chen Pingping asked, surprised.
Hearing these words, Shadow fell silent.
Chen Pingping understood—it was possible, but there would likely be a price to pay, and even... after paying that price, the chances remained extremely slim.
However, he admired the senior before him who, after so many years, still hadn’t forgotten his lord.
They remained silent for a long while, speechless.
Perhaps it was out of compassion, or perhaps because he sensed the senior bore him no killing intent. The senior’s deep and sorrowful emotions ceaselessly disturbed Chen Pingping, making it increasingly difficult to refuse.
Chen Pingping said, "I believe that there’s a destiny preordained."
"I want the Devouring Sky Beast," Chen Pingping looked at him. "You can keep the Great Opportunity, just give me the Devouring Sky Beast, and I’ll help you pull out that sword."
He didn’t know that this promise would change the course of his life.
And this ’destiny’ he mentioned—was it due to the system task of taming the Devouring Sky Beast? So, the appearance of the Devouring Sky Beast’s master was a way for him to help the master and thereby gain the beast’s allegiance, right?
There’s a destiny preordained.
After hesitating for a while, Shadow said, "Okay, as long as you can pull out that sword, I’ll let the Devouring Sky Beast accept you as its master."
No need to brainwash it every day like the Earth Chicken.
Chen Pingping smiled. "In that case, I’ll be going then?"
Shadow nodded and said no more.
Peace returned to the holy land, and Chen Pingping left the place.
The young members of the Wilderness tribe sitting on the steps watched him intently, a great commotion stirring in their hearts. Damn it, he actually came down! And he did so with such composure.
The Eight Treasures Chicken felt as if the whole world was collapsing.
The Earth Chicken suddenly became nervous.
Jin Qiongyu breathed rapidly. "Go check."
The maid nodded and disappeared into the night.
After descending the stairs, Chen Pingping left directly. Two chickens quietly followed him, while Jin Qiongyu kept an eye on Chen Pingping from the shadows.
She seemed to detect some special scents in the air—paints.
He is not from the Wilderness tribe?
Jin Qiongyu looked at the red powder on the ground, lost in thought.
A member of the Human Clan entered, swaggered up the stairs, and in less than an hour, came down and walked away briskly.
Eight Treasures Chicken was speechless. "Big brother, that dye of yours is really of poor quality, isn’t it?"
Chen Pingping rolled his eyes. "You don’t understand. I’ve already been exposed, so this red dye mustn’t be used again. I’m going to turn myself purple."
Eight Treasures Chicken: "..."
Under the night sky, he stripped off his clothes, revealing his bare upper body...
Hidden in the shadows, Jin Qiongyu’s face flushed red with heat. Unexpectedly, she slipped, making a faint noise. Oh no! she inwardly cursed.
As expected, Chen Pingping had already rushed over, his large palm pressing down on her.
After restraining Jin Qiongyu, he saw clearly that she was a woman—hmm, a red one, and quite good-looking too.
He thought it was a fierce beast, or perhaps a Demon Beast or something.
He was somewhat surprised.
Jin Qiongyu, on the other hand, was wide-eyed as his large palm came crashing down, pinning her to the ground in a rather special position that somewhat resembled that, um, that. What was more important was that Chen Pingping was shirtless, exuding a masculine scent that sent her heart pounding like a startled deer.
Her mind was foggy, completely forgetting to resist, let alone to think.
"WOW, WOW, WOW! A woman!" Eight Treasures Chicken cried as it ran over, snapping Jin Qiongyu out of her daze.
She quickly pushed Chen Pingping away with her flushed face, attempting to escape, but she was again restrained by him. "This woman from the Wilderness tribe has discovered my secret," he said. "I can’t let her go."
"Kill her?" suggested Eight Treasures Chicken.
"No grievances, I won’t kill her," Chen Pingping replied, taking out a Spirit Pill. "Eat this!"
Jin Qiongyu didn’t know why, but the moment he commanded her to eat, she swallowed the Spirit Pill without hesitation.
Chen Pingping said, "It’s poison, very potent poison. From now on, you must stay by my side until we leave this Ancient City. Then I’ll completely cure the poison in your body, understand?"
And here I thought it was some kind of miraculous Spirit Pill!
She pouted, thinking, Human Clan man, you know nothing of the Emperor Clan’s Bloodline Power!
Luckily, Earth Chicken didn’t recognize her.
Jin Qiongyu figured she might as well go with the flow and see what this Human Clan man, disguised as a member of the Wilderness tribe, was up to.
She decided not to resist any longer.
Chen Pingping stood up. "Get up! Come help me apply the dye. These two are no help at all since they have no hands."
My fault, is it? Eight Treasures Chicken was speechless.
Nearby, Earth Chicken also rolled its eyes.
Jin Qiongyu felt her heart pounding. Help him apply it? Wouldn’t that mean touching his body?
She was very nervous.
But Chen Pingping glared at her, his eyes teeming with killing intent as he warned, "Woman, you better behave, or else... heh, this young master can kill without batting an eye."
You just said you wouldn’t kill me because there was no enmity. Are all people of the Human Clan this deceitful?
Jin Qiongyu was skeptical but still helped him out. The process was nerve-wracking; every touch of his body sent a jolt through her hands, her heart thumping wildly.
"Can you speak?" Chen Pingping asked.
"Where are you from?"
Chen Pingping looked at her. "Don’t worry, I won’t kill you for now, as long as you don’t expose my identity."
Jin Qiongyu obediently said, "Okay!"