Chapter Sixteen: None of These People Can Be Trusted!

Sensing the presence of a magical beast, Mo Bufan immediately took two swift steps to position himself in the middle of the group. As the saying goes, when the sky falls, it’s the tallest who hold it up; when a beast appears, naturally those with higher cultivation should stand in front. Yet, upon reaching the center of the five, he suddenly realized the atmosphere was a bit off.

The five were looking at him as if he were a fool, entirely baffled by Mo Bufan’s abrupt movement.

Mo Bufan’s face flushed with embarrassment, but he quickly noticed their attention was wholly on him, oblivious to their surroundings.

“Damn, don’t tell me none of you noticed the beast?”

He checked again—astonishingly, the beast was moving away, whether because it sensed their power was insufficient or simply wasn’t interested.

Now he felt truly awkward.

“Uh… my leg… cramped up…” Mo Bufan muttered an awkward excuse and slunk to the rear of the group.

“Hmph, making a fuss over nothing!” Zhao Yunfan grumbled.

Zhao Sinan shot her brother a glare, slowed her pace, and approached Mo Bufan. “If you’re truly frightened, walk with me. I’ve been here a few times—I can look after you a bit.”

Mo Bufan grinned. “Thank you…”

Then he asked, “Did you really not sense anything just now?”

Zhao Sinan gave him a puzzled look, shaking her head. “Was there something unusual?”

Mo Bufan felt a headache coming on. He was certain he’d detected a beast—his spiritual sense was sharp; it couldn’t be wrong.

“Friend Mo, perhaps you’re just too nervous. With Master Gao here, he’ll sense anything before we do,” Zheng Feng chimed in.

Mo Bufan forced a smile, saying nothing more, but inwardly he began to doubt the abilities of his companions.

What he couldn’t possibly have expected was that, at this very moment, a pair of hate-filled eyes were fixed on him. Following the gaze, he saw the icy expression of Chen Tianwen.

Seeing that look, remembering Zhao Sinan’s earlier conversation with him, Mo Bufan understood at once and sighed inwardly: “Damn, so he’s jealous now. What a hopeless devotee…”

As the journey continued, Mo Bufan’s suspicions were thoroughly confirmed: these companions’ spiritual senses were woefully lacking. Along the way, Mo Bufan sensed the presence of no fewer than six beasts—some merely passing by, others harboring ill intent but held back by caution. Yet, aside from Master Gao detecting one, the other four noticed nothing at all.

“Is my spiritual sense too strong, or are they just too weak?” Mo Bufan grumbled internally.

He could tolerate their lack of perception—after all, strength counts for something, and facing a beast they could at least intimidate it.

But soon, things came that he could not endure.

Their knowledge of Dragonfall Abyss was pitifully shallow. Mo Bufan suspected they were relying solely on hearsay from others who had been here before, never bothering to study any actual information.

They failed to notice even the obvious traces—beast droppings, lingering scents—let alone the common methods for identifying and avoiding beasts.

Several times, when Mo Bufan pointed out something amiss, Chen Tianwen and Zhao Yunfan immediately dismissed his concerns, not forgetting to add a mocking jibe:

“You’re just a country bumpkin—what do you know? When would an Iron-Eater appear in grasslands like these? Their lairs are always among dense rocks. Don’t talk nonsense if you don’t know…”

“Friend Mo, if you’re not sure, don’t cause trouble. Master Gao will handle things—please stay in the back, lest you end up a corpse in the wild if something does happen…”

A few times, they nearly blundered into a beast’s lair and were almost devoured, only to be saved by Master Gao’s timely intervention.

Mo Bufan began considering leaving the group—staying with them felt like courting death or, at best, marching toward it. He was truly uneasy.

Finally, after a direct confrontation with a beast, Mo Bufan resolved to part ways. These five not only had spiritual senses inferior to his, their knowledge was lacking, and none of them could match him in cultivation either.

Even Mo Bufan found it hard to believe. Master Gao, at the fifth tier of the Nascent Void realm, had taken a full incense stick’s time to subdue a Flame Turtle at the third tier—a beast known for its sturdy defense but slow movements. In the end, it was only thanks to sneak attacks from Zheng Feng and Zhao Sinan that the beast was finally dealt with, leaving all three exhausted and drenched in sweat.

Not to boast, but Mo Bufan could have handled that third-tier Flame Turtle in less than the time it took to pour a cup of tea.

Though just at the first tier himself, he knew his own strength and was confident in it.

Was Master Gao too weak, or was he too strong?

The gap between tiers was supposed to be a vast chasm, yet Mo Bufan was certain he could finish off Master Gao within an incense stick’s time.

Was he simply too much of a genius?

Even so, such talent felt almost terrifying…

As the five divided the meager spoils from the Flame Turtle, Mo Bufan finally stepped forward. “Fellow cultivators, I…”

Before he could finish, Master Gao interrupted, “Don’t worry. As long as you contribute in this trial, whatever rewards we gain, you’ll get your share.”

“Huh?” Mo Bufan was taken aback, surprised by the misunderstanding.

Yet he was somehow warmed by it. These people, though not especially likable and rather self-important, weren’t truly bad.

Even Chen Tianwen and Zhao Yunfan this time only glanced at him with clear disdain, but refrained from mockery or objection, tacitly agreeing with Gao’s words.

Still, Mo Bufan had no intention of staying. Following them was inviting trouble.

He drew out a bamboo slip from his robe and handed it to Zheng Feng. “Friend Zheng, this contains some experiences recorded by a senior of the Heavenly Mystery Sect who once came here. It might be useful.”

Zheng Feng took the slip curiously, glanced over it, and asked, “Are you sure this is of any use?”

“Useful? Hardly. Those records are ancient! Dragonfall Abyss changes constantly—by now everything could be different,” Zhao Yunfan sneered.

“Indeed, Friend Mo, reading books is not the true path to cultivation. Only personal experience leads you far. As they say, ‘Traveling ten thousand miles is better than reading ten thousand books,’” Zheng Feng added.

Mo Bufan felt another headache coming on. If these two had been born in the age of the internet, they’d certainly be contrarians—armed with a little knowledge and skeptical of everything.

As for ‘traveling ten thousand miles being better than reading ten thousand books’—he’d never seen an old beggar, despite living to eighty, know more than a university student.

Such sayings only apply after one has amassed enough knowledge. Those who think they should travel after learning a little will only end up fools after a lifetime of wandering.

“Yes, you’re right. But reading a little might help, don’t you think?” Mo Bufan replied.

Zheng Feng smiled and accepted the bamboo slip. “Then thank you, Friend Mo.”

Mo Bufan continued, “There’s one more thing—I plan to travel alone for a while, so I’ll take my leave.”

At this, the five exchanged strange looks.

“Friend Mo, this is Dragonfall Abyss. It’s dangerous to leave us,” Zheng Feng said.

Zhao Sinan glanced at her brother and then at Mo Bufan. “Yes, it’s safer with us.”

Mo Bufan smiled, cupped his hands in farewell, and turned to leave in another direction.

Behind him, Chen Tianwen and Zhao Yunfan’s voices drifted over.

“Well, if he’s made his choice, there’s no need to force him.”

“Hmph, seeking death.”

“Enough. Since he’s chosen, let him go,” Master Gao said, waving for the others to follow.

Once Mo Bufan had distanced himself, he finally felt he could breathe easy. Traveling with the five had been trying, especially since they never listened to his advice. If they ran into real trouble and he couldn’t save them, he might well perish alongside them.

Better to be out of sight and out of mind.

Dragonfall Abyss was a vast canyon, flanked by towering rocky cliffs. The valley floor was a wide, fertile plain, lush with vegetation; now and then the roars of beasts echoed, danger lurking everywhere.

Mo Bufan studied the terrain, searched his memory, and confirmed his location before heading toward the valley floor.

He knew that, though the lower regions were dotted with many forbidden immortal sites, the number and strength of beasts there was much lower, and the danger minimal.

As long as he avoided the forbidden zones, there should be little trouble.

Proceeding cautiously for two hours, Mo Bufan evaded several well-documented high-level beast lairs, and, relying on his experience, avoided several others not recorded in any texts. At last, he neared the bottom of the gorge.

Here, the menacing beastly auras that frequently appeared on the slopes were much diminished, and Mo Bufan finally relaxed.

Thrown here by his master for training, Mo Bufan had little interest in treasure hunting. He wasn’t just trying to survive—he was also curious to see more of this world.

He found a relatively safe and hidden cave in the valley, ate some dry rations to restore his energy, and began planning his next month’s journey.

At the heart of Dragonfall Abyss lay the Dragon King’s Palace—the ancestral cultivation site of the Dragon Ancestor, a supreme figure said to have reached the half-step Immortal Emperor realm. Mo Bufan was determined to see this legendary palace, driven by curiosity for what such a sovereign’s residence might be like.

With his plans made, Mo Bufan was about to rest when suddenly, his spiritual sense detected a faint surge of energy. His heart skipped a beat—was a beast approaching?

He quickly concealed his presence, hoping the beast would merely pass by.

But luck was not with him. The beast was clearly heading straight for his cave, its intent unmistakable…