"Damn it, must I activate the Dust Escape Gu?"
Sensing the Gu worm poised and ready in his aperture, the madness in Lin Mu's eyes nearly overflowed.
Once he activated this Gu, combined with Earth Ring Body and Blood Scent Gu, he could transform into dust in an instant and break through this death trap. He could even kill that underground Gu Master within three breaths.
But just as Primeval Essence was about to flow in, that absolute rationality originating from his very marrow, like a bucket of ice water, forcibly extinguished the rage that had just ignited.
"I can't do this."
Lin Mu's pupils contracted sharply. Everything around him seemed to slow in his perception.
"After killing them, I'll be useless for a short time, all my trump cards exposed. That wolf cub Lin Feng will definitely interrogate me—might even invite fatal disaster."
"If I flee, that's an admission of guilt. Why would an outer branch collateral possess such methods? The clan will purge me afterward, Lin Feng will hunt me to seize my treasures. That's slow death."
"To survive, I need to borrow momentum."
Lin Feng hadn't saved him because in that instant, he judged the risk of saving Lin Mu exceeded the benefit.
Then, as long as he reversed this equation and proved "the benefit of saving Lin Mu far exceeds the risk," this profit-first young master would strike without hesitation.
"Gamble!"
Lin Mu released his fingers from Dust Escape Gu.
Facing those three poison needles arranged in a triangular formation blocking all escape routes, he didn't dodge left toward that seemingly safe open ground as the enemy's script dictated—that was the underground assassin's killing point.
Instead, he planted both feet firmly on the ground, even shifting slightly right, actively meeting the poison needle howling toward his right side!
Secretly, Earth Ring Body quietly circulated—not just beneath his feet, but condensing a thick earth halo beneath his skin membrane, concentrating all defensive power at a single point on his right shoulder.
"Pff!"
The ghostly blue poison needle viciously pierced into flesh.
Though the Earth Ring Shield negated most of the penetrating force, and the toxin was immediately wrapped in layers of mobilized Primeval Essence, prevented from immediately attacking his heart meridian, the wound with its curling flesh looked horrific.
His entire arm instantly went numb.
"Ugh!"
Lin Mu groaned, deliberately biting through his tongue tip.
"Pff—"
A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out. His whole body staggered to his knees, face paper-white, as if he'd die from poison the next second.
But he didn't fall.
Using the blood-spraying instant, he sharply raised his head. Those bloodshot eyes locked onto Lin Feng in the distance, releasing a hoarse, desperate roar:
"Lin Feng! Look clearly! Three sides sealed with only the left open—that's a trap!"
This roar wasn't a plea for help—more like an accusation.
"You have combat power but you're blind! Sell me out, and even with Rank 2 defense, you'll be worn to death by this poison fog!"
"Keep me alive—I know his position! Only keeping me alive can break this game!!"
These words struck Lin Feng's soul like a thunderclap.
Lin Feng wasn't stupid—just too shrewd. Hearing this, he instinctively looked toward that empty ground on Lin Mu's left—it seemed safe, yet exuded a heart-palpitating deathly stillness.
Looking again at Lin Mu, tottering yet with blazing eyes, Lin Feng instantly made his judgment.
"He's right. This poison fog is too bizarre. If I save a bit of Primeval Essence but lose my only scout, that's slow suicide."
Weighing pros and cons took only an instant.
"Verify it."
Lin Feng's eyes sharpened. He hesitated no longer. His golden sword hummed. No longer holding back, he fiercely swung down toward that "safe" ground beside Lin Mu.
"Metal Rend Sword Qi!"
A dazzling golden light plowed across the ground, instantly cutting a several-foot-deep trench through that seemingly ordinary earth.
"Screech—!"
A shrill scream suddenly erupted from underground, like a huge rat whose tail had been viciously stepped on.
Immediately after, a pool of fresh blood seeped from the crack.
The underground assassin who'd been lying in ambush there, preparing to deliver a fatal blow to Lin Mu, though not dead, was clearly seriously injured by this unexpected sword qi aftershock. The underground tremors instantly retreated.
Confirmed.
Lin Mu was right. If he'd dodged by instinct just now, he'd already be dismembered.
"What vicious calculation."
Seeing that pool of blood, Lin Feng's back also went cold. If Lin Mu had died, he and Ah Zhong would be the next victims of this scheme.
His gaze completely changed—no longer viewing a discarded piece, but a lifeline.
"Ah Zhong! Protect him!"
Without Lin Feng saying more, Ah Zhong had already stepped forward. His copper-wall-iron-fortress body directly shifted sideways, splitting half the defensive circle to firmly shield Lin Mu within.
Lin Wan'er also reacted, hastily activating Wood Essence Gu. A rich green light fell on Lin Mu's shoulder, helping suppress the poison and stop the bleeding.
"How did you discover it?"
Lin Feng asked in a low voice while remaining vigilant of the surroundings.
Lin Mu panted heavily, face pale, but those eyes shone terrifyingly bright in the darkness. Not directly answering Lin Feng—he certainly couldn't mention Blood Scent Gu.
"That sword just now injured him... Now that guy's underground blood scent is like a torch in the night to me!"
He pointed toward the ground ahead right, voice hoarse yet certain:
"He's retreating! Three zhang! Still bleeding!"
Lin Feng didn't pursue further questions. At this life-or-death moment, whether Lin Mu had exceptional talent or genuine ability, as long as he was useful, that's all that mattered.
"Good! We'll follow your lead!"
With Lin Mu as a human radar, the offensive and defensive momentum instantly reversed.
"Five steps left front, three feet underground!" Lin Mu called out positions.
"Strike!" Lin Feng swung his sword, sword qi entering earth.
"Ah!" A muffled groan from underground.
"Seven steps right, circling around!"
"Ah Zhong, ram!"
Ah Zhong roared, shoulder fiercely slamming toward empty space, directly crushing a bone spur just about to break through the ground.
The underground assassin who'd originally been slippery and toying with everyone from the shadows now felt like he'd been stripped naked and thrown into sunlight.
No matter how he hid, Lin Mu's eyes locked on the ground could always precisely predict his position.
In just over ten breaths, the underground assassin had been forced into desperate flight, sporting several sword wounds, not daring to show himself again.
"The odds are improving."
A trace of joy flashed in Lin Feng's eyes, his sword momentum growing increasingly sharp.
However, just then.
The ghastly green poison fog that had been shrouding the surroundings suddenly changed.
The fog that had been flowing seemed to freeze, its color rapidly deepening from ghastly green to a despairing ink-green. A corrosive aura ten times stronger than before instantly filled the entire canyon.
"Sizzle sizzle sizzle..."
The copper skin on Ah Zhong's body began emitting green smoke, making sounds of unbearable strain.
The poison master who'd never shown himself on the perimeter saw through the situation.
"Useless. Can't even kill a Rank 1, and let him gain momentum instead."
A cold, hoarse sigh seemed to sound right beside everyone's ears.
The poison master code-named "Green Snake" realized that if he didn't eliminate Lin Mu, this "eye," there'd be no winning this battle.
"Since you like clustering together, then rot here together."
Accompanied by a tooth-aching sound of scales scraping.
The ink-green poison fog ahead slowly parted.
A figure in green robes, entire body wrapped in bizarre withered snakes, actually abandoned his originally safe long-range attrition strategy and stepped into the battlefield step by step.
With each step, the rocks beneath his feet corroded into black water.
Those dead-fish eyes with only whites, passing over the ready-and-waiting Lin Feng and Ah Zhong, nailed themselves onto Lin Mu protected in the very center.
Killing intent descended like tangible substance.