Zhao Tiezhu wiped the stinking wolf blood splashed on his face, huffing and puffing. At his feet lay three large, dead Iron-backed Demon Wolves. The surroundings were a mess—broken trees and scattered branches everywhere. He had been teleported alone into this dense jungle, and in less than half an hour, had already encountered two waves of demon beast attacks. This "Small Cave Heaven" secret realm's danger far exceeded his previous imagination.
"This damn place!" Zhao Tiezhu cursed, putting away his board-like thick stone staff, checking the wolf claw scratches on his arm. The wounds weren't deep—for his body cultivator's strong physique, merely skin-deep. He operated his technique, muscles slightly squirmed, bleeding stopped.
He looked around. Ancient trees towered, vines tangled, light dim, direction indistinguishable. The priority was finding Brother Xiaoqi. Only following Xiaoqi did he feel secure. Moreover, both the Temple Director and Eldest Senior Brother had instructed: in the secret realm, group up as much as possible.
Having decided, Zhao Tiezhu chose a direction where spiritual energy seemed slightly more active, and strode forward. His sturdy build, heavy steps, crushing thick leaf litter with "rustling" sounds, sounded especially clear in the silent forest.
Before walking far, ahead came the sounds of weapons clashing, mixed with shouts and screams.
Zhao Tiezhu's eyes sharpened. He immediately lightened his steps,suppress, his massive frame surprisingly showing agility unlike his size, silently approaching. Pushing aside huge ferns, he saw the scene on a forest clearing.
Four cultivators in varied attire, seemingly rogues, stood back-to-back in a circle, desperately holding on. Most were wounded, energy chaotic. Besieging them were five disciples in unified cyan robes, all at Foundation Establishment early to middle stage cultivation, cooperating seamlessly, sword light sharp—clearly from the same sect, steadily consuming the rogue cultivators' stamina and spiritual energy.
"You Frost Symbol Sect scoundrels! Bullying the many with few!" A buff rogue cultivator wielding a blade roared, slashing away a symbol attack, himself knocked back with blood surging.
"Hmph, rogue trash, daring to compete for fortune? Surrender your tokens obediently, still can keep your dog life!" The leading Frost Symbol Sect disciple coldly laughed, waving and sending out three lightning-flashing symbol charms.
The rogue cultivators' defense circle was precarious; collapse imminent.
Zhao Tiezhu watched, fire rising in his chest. Born a rogue cultivator, he knew how hard roguesses were for resources and techniques. He most couldn't stand these sect disciples bullying others. And this situation... He touched the lone token in his embrace, looked at the battlefield numbers, an idea sprouted.
"Hey! You blue-robed ones over there! Picking on the many with few, have you no shame!"
A thunder-like roar suddenly exploded in the forest, shaking leaves to fall.
Both fighting sides startled, stopped, looked toward the sound's source.
An iron-tower-like figure emerged from forest shadows—dark-skinned, honest face, but eyes wide as copper bells, holding what looked like an impossibly heavy stone staff. It was Zhao Tiezhu.
His appearance and dress clearly didn't look like a sect's carefully cultivated disciple—more like a mountain miner or blacksmith.
The rogues first stunned, then seeing Zhao Tiezhu was alone and seemed also a rogue path, hope ignited in their eyes.
The Frost Symbol Sect disciples frowned. Their leader scanned, discovered Zhao Tiezhu merely Foundation Establishment middle stage cultivation (Zhao Tiezhu had deliberately concealed part), and alone—no match. He sneered: "Where did this big fool come from? Also playing hero? Scram, or we'll handle you together!"
Zhao Tiezhu struck his stone staff into the ground—"boom"—the earth slightly quaked. He grinned, revealing white teeth, looking even more honest: "Hehe, I just don't like your faces! Want to try handling me?"
His fearless foolish appearanceFrost Symbol Sect. But with more people, they wouldn't fear one big fool?
"Death wish! Two of you, deal with him first!" The Frost Symbol Sect leader ordered.
Two disciples immediately turned, wielding symbol swords, attacking Zhao Tiezhu from left and right. Symbol light glittered, sword energy cold.
Zhao Tiezhu didn't dodge or hide. He low roared, muscles knotting, showing faint bronze luster—directly. He swung his stone staff, purely, with no frills—a horizontal sweep!
"Whoosh—!"
The staff broughtmuffled.
The two disciples, seeing him dare to directly block,1. But when sword met staff—
"Clang! Clang!"
Two deafening metal clash sounds exploded!
The two disciples felt irresistible force from the sword, tiger's mouth immediately burst, symbol swords flying, themselves like, screaming as they flew backward, breaking several small trees before landing, vomiting blood, unable to rise.
One staff's might—!
Everyone was stunned.
The rogues stared wide-eyed,Zhao Tiezhu. This big fool... strength too great?!
The remaining three Frost Symbol Sect disciples. Leader: "Body cultivator?! Who are you?"
Zhao Tiezhu shouldered his staff, grinned honestly: "Zhao Tiezhu,." He turned to the rogues: "Hey, you several, want to beat these bullies together?"
The blade-wielding rogue cultivator reacted first,: "Yes! Thanks for the rescue, good sir! Brothers, with this good sir, let's beat their mothers!"
Facing death with rescue, plus a strong ally, the rogues' morale surged, loudly roaring as they charged the remaining three Frost Symbol disciples.
The leader saw, instantly lost two, the enemy gained a powerful body cultivator and energised rogues—how dare continue fighting? He urgently shouted: "Retreat! Quick!"
The three fled,.
Zhao Tiezhu didn't chase—his intention wasn't killing.
Crisis resolved, the four rogues gathered, faces showing relief from near-death and awe for Zhao Tiezhu. The leading blade cultivator dao: "Thanks for the rescue, Brother Zhao! I'm Pang Hong, these are Liu, Chen, Han—all rogues. Without Brother's help today, we'd likely be dead."
Zhao Tiezhu waved dismissively, still honest-faced: "Nothing, I just can't stand bullies." He paused, scratched his head, seeming embarrassed: "This secret realm's too dangerous, I'm wandering alone. You several seem decent—maybe we team up? Help each other out."
Pang Hong and others exchanged glances, both seeing interest. They just witnessed Zhao Tiezhu's strength—with such a strong body cultivator, survival odds greatly increased. And this Zhao Tiezhu seemed honest and straightforward, not scheming.
Pang Hong immediately responded: "Brother Zhao's strength and righteousness, we trust! If you'll have us, we're willing to follow Brother's lead, advance and retreat together in this secret realm!" The other three also agreed.
Though rogues, they understood assessing situations. Following the strong was better than each fighting alone and being picked off.
Zhao Tiezhu,: "Good! We're family now! Rest assured, with me here, I won't let those sect bullies bully you again!" He,: "Not hiding it from you, I'm mainly looking for my brother. My brother is amazing, from Qingxu Temple, Tang Xiaoqi! Once we find him, we'll be even safer!"
"Qingxu Temple Tang Xiaoqi?" Pang Hong and others stunned, then remembering the joint first place on the Heavenly Stairs—. "Could that be the Tang Daoist Friend who reached the summit?"
"That's him!" Zhao Tiezhu beamed proudly.
This made Pang Hong and others even more determined to follow Zhao Tiezhu. Someone calling that Tang Xiaoqi brother couldn't be ordinary. This alliance might truly be their fortune!
Thus, a temporary squad led by honest body cultivator Zhao Tiezhu, composed of four experienced rogues,"Small Cave Heaven" realm. Zhao Tiezhu,"",1.
"Let's go! While looking for solo 'fat sheep,' also search for!" Zhao Tiezhu shouldered his staff,. Squad members followed, beginning in this dangerous secret realm, actively searching for their prey and the target named Tang Xiaoqi. Deep in the forest, distant sounds of other fights and beast roars3 days,.