Chapter 1207: The world is not so dark

Are these two, the Nine-Headed Bird and the twelve-winged battle-line Heavenly Messenger, destined to be rivals and get involved?

Chu Feng remained quiet, recuperating from his injuries while pondering the various variables and possibilities that lay ahead.

That evening, a clansman of Chi Lingkong arrived to deliver a message, calling him out from the camp to inform him of certain matters concerning the Red-Scaled Crane clan.

Unexpectedly, Chi Lingkong was attacked with brutal force. He was cut in half at the waist and nearly split vertically. At the critical moment, he desperately fled into the Golden Body encampment.

Had it not been for the shouts of many within the Golden Body encampment, followed by powerful individuals rushing out, Chi Lingkong would likely have been killed outright.

His clansman, however, had already met a tragic end, dying instantly on the spot.

“Who was it?!”

Chi Lingkong, covered in blood and trembling incessantly, was overwhelmed with shock, fury, and immense frustration. The Red-Scaled Crane clan, after all, was an Exotic Desolation tribe, yet someone dared to plot against them!

Upon hearing the news, Chu Feng felt a chill. He realized he shouldn’t venture out for a while; the various factions had clearly gone mad over the Dao-Merging Grass.

Without a doubt, this was connected to the list and the Dao-Merging Grass. Was the aim to eliminate a competitor, thereby reducing pressure?

Currently, he, Chi Lingkong, and the monkey, among a few others, were highly likely to make that list, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

However, at such a crucial moment, someone had launched a deadly attack, effectively tearing off any pretense of civility.

Could it have been the Nine-Headed Bird or the twelve-winged silver dragon? Chu Feng speculated, recalling their recent appearance.

Or perhaps it came from the families of those closest to him? He shuddered at the thought!

Chi Lingkong was carried back. After being cut in half at the waist, he had also been severed diagonally at the shoulder. There was a terrible wound near his neck, leaving almost only his head undamaged.

Fortunately, he carried powerful medicine that sustained his life. People rushed to his aid, treating and attempting to piece together his mutilated body.

“They didn’t intend to kill you, but merely to inflict severe wounds and cripple your body, thereby preventing you from participating in the Dao-Merging Grass event. Their intentions are truly malicious,” the monkey sighed.

Chi Lingkong’s clansman, who was of lower status, had been killed, losing his life in vain.

“If your body cannot recover in time, our respective clans will compensate you!” Peng Wanli declared.

Chi Lingkong’s face was grim. He had been so brutally injured, his limbs severed from his body, and felt an immense sense of grievance. This was clearly an attempt to forcibly block him from the grand event of creation.

He felt like vomiting blood!

What was worse, the powerful medicine he now took for rapid recovery seemed to have little effect. A sinister, dark energy was intertwined within his body, corroding his Dao foundation. Though he had sought treatment from masters, it would still take one or two months to see any hope of recovery.

The following morning brought the latest news: after final negotiations, four slots were allocated for Golden Body level evolutionaries to absorb the essence of the Dao-Merging Grass.

The announcement immediately changed the expressions of many.

Even Chu Feng fell silent upon hearing this. Only four slots?

His heart sank instantly. There were six of them—he, Chi Lingkong, Mi Tian, Mi Qing, Peng Wanli, and Xiao Yao—yet only four slots had been granted?

This made his expression turn very grim.

Chi Lingkong had been crippled, his body mutilated, and his Dao foundation damaged, making it impossible for him to attend the event in the short term. He had practically forfeited his qualification.

Now, only he and four others were competing. As a rogue cultivator, he could already guess the outcome.

Given that Chi Lingkong had been crippled at such a critical juncture, Chu Feng couldn’t help but ponder the implications.

“This world is truly dark!” Chu Feng’s expression turned cold.

He pondered whether he, too, would be secretly crippled or killed if he failed to recognize the shifting tides and insisted on continuing his bid.

The monkey arrived, his face flushed, looking somewhat agitated and reeking of alcohol. “Cao De,” he said, “don’t overthink it. If there really are four slots this time, I won’t go; I’ll yield my spot to you. This world isn’t as dark as you imagine!”

In his excitement, he thumped his chest.

Peng Wanli arrived as well, accompanied by Xiao Yao and Mi Qing, who brought several jars of divine brew. They swore they had done nothing underhanded.

“Someone deliberately orchestrated this,” Peng Wanli exclaimed. “Only four slots, crippling Chi Lingkong beforehand, and now creating a situation where one more person must be sacrificed—it’s utterly despicable!”

Peng Wanli shouted, smashing the refined bronze table.

Soon after, they brought Chi Lingkong, still on his sickbed, and solemnly promised him compensation—an opportunity no less valuable than the Dao-Merging Grass.

The monkey, face flushed and reeking of alcohol, declared, “I will seek permission from my clan for you to observe the true bone of the Six-Eared Macaque Progenitor. It bears the traces of the most powerful Dao and is guaranteed to bring you immense gains!”

Peng Wanli also thumped his chest. “Brother Crane,” he said, “if you miss this opportunity, I can also bring you into my clan and allow you to observe a fragment of our ancestor’s battle imprint—the Kunpeng Sky-Rending Diagram!”

Xiao Yao also spoke up. “My Dao clan possesses a scroll of scriptures explaining reincarnation, with infinite wondrous uses. I can arrange for you to examine it!”

At this point, even Chu Feng was surprised; these were all rare, priceless treasures that even he found tempting.

Mi Qing also added, “Soon, the innate Supreme Eight Trigrams Furnace formation within a certain forbidden area will open. My clan has two or three slots, and we can offer one to you!”

Chi Lingkong’s expression softened considerably. Not long ago, he had been consumed by intense frustration and fury, feeling unfairly targeted and blocked from his path forward. His heart had been pounding with indignation.

At one point, he had even suspected that the Six-Eared Macaque, the Peng clan, and others might have been responsible.

Now, receiving so much compensation, many of his doubts dissipated, and his mindset became much calmer. He had truly been beside himself with rage earlier.

“Let’s wait for further news first,” the monkey said. “The elders in our clans are still striving for more, hoping there won’t be just four slots.”

He also felt that the opposing party was too underhanded, deliberately limiting the slots to four to sow discord among them and create an unfair conflict.

As they were toasting each other, someone reported that the Nine-Headed Bird had sent a calling card, requesting an audience with Cao De. He had returned.

“Brother Cao, I have long admired your name, and only today do I have the pleasure of meeting you. A true honor!” The Nine-Headed Bird said with a wide smile. Behind him stood several individuals, and by his side was the formidable twelve-winged silver dragon, also known as the Heavenly Messenger of the Battle Lineage.

“A pleasure,” Chu Feng replied, cupping his hands. As the saying goes, “one doesn’t strike a smiling face,” and he was curious to discover the Nine-Headed Bird’s intentions.

“How about I offer Brother Cao a grand gift? To help you secure a spot on that list.” The Nine-Headed Bird spoke directly, immediately causing the monkey and others to frown. Their own clan elders were still in negotiations; how could the Nine-Headed Bird make such a claim?

Chi Lingkong watched them with a hint of coldness, still suspecting that his crippling was connected to these individuals.

“Oh, and how would you assist me?” Chu Feng asked, not outright rejecting the offer but engaging him calmly.

“I have my own methods,” the Nine-Headed Bird replied. “I will ask my clan’s Old Ancestor to speak on your behalf, proposing to add one or two more slots for the Golden Body level.” He then smiled faintly. “I believe our clan’s Old Ancestor’s words carry significant weight. Coupled with the support of the Six-Eared Macaque and the Dao Clan seniors, the resistance faced should be considerably less.”

The Nine-Headed Bird clan originated from the eleventh forbidden zone in the world, having emerged from a place of despair. Even after countless ages, they maintained intricate ties with that forbidden area, making them a source of immense apprehension.

At this point, he smiled faintly again. “Of course, I don’t come without requests. This time, I wish to make a transaction with Brother Cao, and I assure you, you will absolutely not suffer any loss!”

Upon hearing this, the monkey immediately sneered, “When your kind makes deals, you always extract every last drop, leaving others drained. Those who have dealings with you inevitably suffer great losses and never come to a good end!”