Chapter 30 I Want You to Recognize Me at First Sight "Let's choose another one..."

“Let’s choose another one. I can’t possibly give you the secret treasure of the secret realm. I need that thing to save people,” Jiang Zhihe said.

Qiu asked doubtfully, "Really?"

Jiang Zhihe said seriously, "Really, that thing is very important to me."

Seeing that he showed no signs of lying, Ling Qiu readily changed his tune: "In that case, I will be merciful and not fight you for that treasure."

Seeing this, Gu Xiaozhu couldn't help but mutter to herself:

Although Qiu appears arrogant and aggressive, his kind nature remains unchanged.

Her personality is similar to that in the original storyline.

Seeing that Ling Qiu agreed so readily, Jiang Zhihe's eyes lit up, and he slowly smiled at Ling Qiu opposite him: "Brother Ling, I have a way to prove that you are the most popular person."

Ling Qiu's eyes lit up upon hearing this: "Really? What method?"

Jiang Zhihe smiled and said, "As you said yourself, the secret realm is a mixed bag, and it won't be easy to obtain the secret treasure."

"If your brother can help me obtain the secret treasure from among so many masters to save people, it will not only demonstrate your outstanding strength, but also your kind character!"

As Jiang Zhihe recounted the story, Ling Qiu's eyes grew brighter and brighter, until finally he slapped his thigh, a self-satisfied expression unconsciously appearing on his face:

"Oh my, I didn't expect that Brother Jiang would understand me so well before I've even shown much of my strength. Sure enough, no matter how modest I am, my sharp edge will always unconsciously show itself!"

"Brother Jiang, I accept your suggestion."

Jiang Zhihe's smile widened: "Then it's a pleasure to cooperate with you, brother."

Gu Xiaozhu stood aside, watching as Jiang Zhihe easily fooled Ling Qiu with just a few words, and silently added in her mind:

Okay, he's even sillier and more... immature than in the original story.

Behind Ling Qiu, the expressions of the disciples of the First Sword Sect were... indescribable.

In the end, this unexpected event resulted in a scene where disciples of the Joyful Union Sect and the First Sword Sect traveled together.

The group of more than a dozen people marched in a grand procession. Other independent cultivators on the road would generally take a detour when they saw them to avoid conflict.

The secret realm is vast, with various different ecological zones. Generally speaking, the closer you get to the center of the secret realm, the greater the variety of rare treasures and opportunities, but correspondingly, the greater the dangers will also be.

If they want to obtain the secret treasures of the secret realm, they must go to the central area of ​​the secret realm.

In the original storyline, the treasure in this Lingyao Secret Realm is a ten-thousand-year-old spiritual pearl containing extremely vast spiritual power. It can be used as a material for refining artifacts and may even be used to refine high-grade or even top-grade magic weapons. It is considered one of the major treasures in the storyline.

This is the information that Gu Xiaozhu, the author, knows.

But strangely... judging from Jiang Zhihe's tone, he seemed to know, or even be certain, what the treasure in the secret realm was, and he said that he had to obtain the treasure to save people.

If he really did learn what the treasure was from somewhere, wouldn't he know that although this spirit pearl is rare, it can only be used for refining weapons, not for saving people?

—Because this spirit pearl contains a deadly poison.

Those below the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul stage will die upon contact with it; it is indeed a powerful weapon.

The group traveled together for several days. During this time, the First Sword Sect's team was reduced in size. After all, not all disciples wanted to travel with Ling Qiu. Although it would be safer to travel with the chief disciple, they also wanted to find their own opportunities.

On the other hand, the Hehuan Sect members never separated from each other from beginning to end, and they even wore different clothes every day of the journey. They didn't seem to be here for training in the secret realm, but rather for a picnic.

But the most amazing thing is what they've experienced these past few days; it's incredible, absolutely incredible.

Logically speaking, the secret realm is fraught with danger, and a slight mistake could lead to being attacked by monsters or accidentally entering a forbidden area with a slim chance of survival.

But they've had it too easy these past few days.

It was even... strangely smooth.

Not only did they not encounter any magical beasts or dangers along the way, they even discovered several rare treasures and spiritual herbs and plants.

Everyone who comes here says that these people are just too lucky!

At night, the group found a safe place to camp. After the campfire was lit, they started chatting and laughing with the people next to them, without any tense atmosphere at all.

Gu Xiaozhu was standing next to Jiang Zhihe. She turned her head and saw that the boy seemed to be staring blankly at the campfire.

The orange flames illuminated the boy's figure, his tall, black hair cascading down his back, and his red clothes seemed to blend into the flames, coalescing into an even more intense and radiant fire.

"Um...do you really like red?" Gu Xiaozhu couldn't help but ask.

Every time she saw Jiang Zhihe, he was always dressed in a fiery red outfit. Although the styles of the clothes varied, the main color, red, remained constant.

Jiang Zhihe snapped out of his reverie and looked at the girl beside him: "Yeah, and don't you think red is the most eye-catching color in a crowd?"

Gu Xiaozhu was taken aback: "Yes... but what does it have to do with this?"

Jiang Zhihe smiled brightly: "Because I also want you to see me first when you look at the crowd."

Gu Xiaozhu was stunned, her heart skipped a beat.

She fell silent for a moment before replying dryly, "Ah... I see."

She suddenly stood up and said, as if trying to cover something up, "It's getting late, I... I'll go rest first." After saying that, she quickly left.

Jiang Zhihe watched the girl's slightly flustered figure with a smile until she entered the tent and disappeared from sight, at which point the smile on his face gradually faded.

He stood up and strode towards the edge of the camp. Zhang Yuanming, standing nearby, asked curiously, "Hey, senior brother, where are you going?"

Jiang Zhihe greeted him, "I'm going to patrol the area to see if there are any potential dangers."

Zhang Yuanming nodded: "Oh, then be careful, senior brother!" After saying that, he continued chatting with his fellow disciples.

Jiang Zhihe shook his head helplessly, then walked away into the distance.

… …

"Come out, you've been following me all day."

In the woods not far away, Jiang Zhihe stood still, holding his sword.

He waited there for a long time, but when no one responded, he sighed helplessly, drew his long sword, and suddenly unleashed a burst of sword energy!

A figure in black robes suddenly fell from the tree, dodging the sword energy that was swung towards him. Behind him, the tree was severed by the sword energy and crashed to the ground with a thud, shattering a cluster of white flowers on the ground.

Jiang Zhihe looked at the black-clad youth who had just appeared, sized him up, and smiled: "Your injuries are healing quite quickly. It seems the medicine Xiaozhu gave you is quite effective."

Teng Shao looked at him coldly, his hands already on the hilt of the sword at his waist: "It's quite useful."

"Tsk." Jiang Zhihe was even more displeased after hearing this, and the sword in his hand began to throb with desire. "Tell me, what are your true intentions in following us all this time?"

Teng Shao remained expressionless: "Safe."

"Huh?" Jiang Zhihe instinctively wanted to retort, but then suddenly remembered his experiences over the past few days...

Okay, undeniably, it's safe.

"Do you know me?" This time it was Teng Shao who asked first.

Teng Shao was certain that the boy first appeared at the bottom of the cliff, so naturally he wouldn't have seen Teng Shao on the cliff. At that time, after sensing the different spiritual energy fluctuations, he decisively fled.

But upon meeting him today, the person opposite him accurately stated that he had known Gu Xiaozhu before, and even knew about the medicine for injuries.

Could it be that Gu Xiaozhu told him?

Moreover, judging from the situation, this person seems to have a close relationship with Gu Xiaozhu.

Jiang Zhihe smiled, a harmless smile, like that of a cheerful boy: "Yes, of course I know you."

"Aren't you the Holy Son of the Demon Realm, Teng Shao?"

Before he could finish speaking, two curved blades came flying at him. Jiang Zhihe easily blocked them with his sword. Looking at the cold face so close to him, he smiled and said, "Oh, trying to kill me to silence me?"

As he spoke, he flicked his wrist, knocking Teng Shao's sword away. He then lunged forward, and in a flash, he exchanged several blows with Teng Shao.

He seized the opportunity and slashed out with his sword, the powerful sword energy sending Teng Shao flying!

Teng Shao held his twin swords horizontally in front of him, barely managing to block the attack, but only he knew that the demonic energy within his body had been shaken into chaos by the sword strike, making it difficult to mobilize.

Jiang Zhihe flicked the dust off his shoulder, the longsword in his hand reflecting a cold glint, but the smile on his face remained unchanged: "You can't beat me now."

Teng Shao stood there, staring at him for a long time: "You didn't intend to kill me, so what exactly do you want?"

Jiang Zhihe: "Then I'll just say it directly."

"I can help you return to the Demon Realm and overthrow the Fallen Demons, allowing you to become the Demon Lord."

Teng Shao looked at him with a deep gaze, his hands still gripping the hilt of his knife tightly: "You know a lot."

Jiang Zhihe smiled and nodded, but did not say anything.

Teng Shao: "Why? What's the price?"

Jiang Zhihe looked at him: "The reason... you can understand it as becoming the Demon Lord, it's your destiny. As for the price..."

"Join our team and help us seize the secret treasures of the hidden realm."

Teng Shao frowned: "Is that all?"

In his view, obtaining the secret treasure was much simpler than helping him become the Demon Lord. The person in front of him wasn't stupid, so why would he propose such an unequal deal?

Jiang Zhihe smiled and said, "Of course it's more than that! But you'll find out what happens later. Don't worry, it's definitely within your capabilities."

Teng Shao looked at him warily: "What if I don't agree? After all, your words are full of loopholes and are not credible at all."

Jiang Zhihe slowly raised the sword in his hand, the tip pointing directly at the black-clad youth opposite him. The smile on his face gradually faded until it vanished: "You have no choice. If you don't agree, I will kill you right now."

"You know I have the ability."

Teng Shao: "...You just said that becoming the Demon Lord is my destiny."

Jiang Zhihe: "If you don't cooperate, then this fate will fall on someone else's head."

Teng Shao: "..."

He took a deep breath, thought it over and over, and finally slowly released his hand from the hilt of the knife: "Okay... I promise you."

Jiang Zhihe immediately smiled and smoothly sheathed his longsword: "A wise choice. Then hurry up and make a vow to Heaven!"

A Heavenly Oath, as the name suggests, is an oath that is supervised and fulfilled by the Heavenly Way. If the person who makes the oath breaks it, he or she will be punished by the Heavenly Way with lightning.

The higher one's strength, the stronger the binding force of the oath. Once the lightning punishment descends, the best outcome is that all meridians are severed, spiritual power is lost, and one becomes a cripple.

Teng Shao closed his eyes, and after a long while, he gritted his teeth and said, "What oath do you want me to make?"

Jiang Zhihe: "It's very simple. Just swear that you will not harm Gu Xiaozhu by any means or actions."

Teng Shao was taken aback.

He had expected this person to make him swear an oath, something like that he had to help him or not betray him, but in the end it was just that he couldn't hurt anyone.

However... he's just a mortal, he poses no threat to me, so it doesn't matter whether he gets hurt or not.

Teng Shao brought his two fingers together, and demonic energy overflowed from his fingertips: "I swear to the heavens that I will not harm Gu Xiaozhu by any means or action."

Feeling uneasy under the invisible constraints, he shrugged.

Jiang Zhihe nodded in satisfaction upon seeing this, and even patted Teng Shao on the shoulder on the spot: "Then congratulations, Brother Teng, on joining our team!"

Teng Shao's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

Ha, he threatened to kill me earlier, and now he's calling on Brother Teng?