Great Demon Sun Wukong

Looking into Ming Tu's resolute eyes, Luo Chen suddenly realized that there was something very similar to himself in Ming Tu's gaze. The two of them just looked at each other, with neither saying anything more, only locking eyes. In the end, it was Luo Chen who compromised, because he discovered that if he really pressed any further, Ming Tu would absolutely choose mutual destruction without any hesitation. That was not the outcome Luo Chen wanted, especially since the trials of the Patrolling Celestial World had just begun.

"Fine then, I'll change my question. I hope the next one will get me a satisfactory answer!" Although Luo Chen had compromised, as he spoke, each arm of the other four black stone giants simultaneously produced a sharp stone blade, which they then placed against the necks of the four individuals.

The message was clear—if Ming Tu came up with any excuses this time, Luo Chen would not hesitate to act, and the lives of those four would be lost. Luo Chen was neither a great villain nor a saint. Some matters simply could not be resolved by compromise alone.

Ming Tu nodded, his eyes inadvertently glancing at the other four individuals, revealing a flash of pain and helplessness. Luo Chen didn't care about Ming Tu's feelings at the moment; he stretched out his right hand and grabbed at the void below, slowly bringing a pitch-black stone chair into existence in front of him. Walking a few steps forward, he sat on the stone chair before asking, "Tell me, how many people like you are there in total? In which areas are you active? Do you attack everyone you see?"

This time Ming Tu answered directly: "I don't know the exact number, but I am aware that members of our Underworld God Army are scattered throughout the whole Patrolling Celestial World. Nearly every place in this world bears our mark. Moreover, due to the iron chains binding us, we require five to ten times the normal amount of nutrition and nature's spiritual energy every day, which necessitates absorbing a vast amount of spiritual energy. Therefore, the survivors of our Underworld God Army will hunt all the valuable prey they see!"

"How many individuals like you might there be in this direction? Is there any way to avoid encountering your kind?" Luo Chen's eyebrows knitted slightly as he pointed in a direction—the direction of the Netherworld World—while rapidly pondering and continuing with his questions.

"Not far ahead, we have established a military fortress, with roughly three hundred people. You could detour, but then you'll risk encountering even more powerful ferocious beasts."

"If we don't take the detour, is there any possibility of avoiding a fight with them? Our goal isn't to engage in battle with you, but to pass through this area to meet up with our comrades!" Luo Chen weighed his words carefully before speaking. Rather than concoct some convoluted excuse to deceive Ming Tu, it seemed better to speak the plain truth. Moreover, if possible, Luo Chen hoped to gain the help of Ming Tu and others.

After all, fumbling through the territory with a map versus being guided by someone familiar with the area are entirely different experiences. That was why Luo Chen raised the question—if there was a way to avoid large-scale combat with them, collaboration could be a possibility moving forward.

To Luo Chen's surprise, Ming Tu nodded quite seriously and then answered, "There is a way. For every person who pays ten bottles of Supreme Rank Elixirs, we will let you pass and will even assign someone to protect you. We can personally lead you to your desired destination as well."

As Ming Tu spoke these words, Luo Chen felt as though he was haggling in trade talks with a shrewd merchant—one about paying for a guide, no less. Honestly, Luo Chen had not expected such a proposition. Initially not holding out much hope, he was genuinely taken aback by the response.

Ten bottles of Supreme Rank Elixirs in exchange not just for passage but also for guidance and protection along the way? Could this ragged-armored force bearing the character for 'nether' actually specialize in barter? Although the situation was somewhat absurd, Luo Chen revealed no sign of that on his face.

He nodded to show he understood, but then asked another question: "Who was the one that killed one of my comrades with a single palm strike?" It seemed as if Ming Tu had been expecting this question and calmly replied, "You don't need to look for him. That person was merely an ordinary Peak Supreme fighter and not of the Domain Lord level, much less a Domain Lord."

Upon hearing what Ming Tu said, Luo Chen's eyebrows shot up in displeasure, "Are you suggesting that a common Peak Supreme from your kind could easily extinguish a top-level powerhouse from my Genesis Divine Nation with just a casual palm strike? If he is that strong, why doesn't he break free from his restraints and try to kill me with one palm?"

After Luo Chen finished speaking, Ming Tu suddenly burst into laughter. After laughing twice, Ming Tu said, "The reason my companion can kill your people with one palm is because we use a special combat technique, which is called a Full Force Strike. This combat technique requires at least five people working together in order to be executed, and it allows the strongest strike from five people to be concentrated onto one person, thereby increasing that person's attack to an unimaginable level, achieving the effect of a strike that is sure to kill."

After Ming Tu finished, Luo Chen suddenly understood. He thought back to how those five had risked injury to themselves to launch their attack at the same time, which was to use this technique all of a sudden and catch him and his people off guard. Moreover, at that time, Luo Chen had already felt that Ming Tu's strike towards him had been so feeble it was practically ineffective; now it seemed certain that the attack's power had been transmitted entirely to one person.

Only by doing this could it render the attacks of four people ineffective and maximize the attack of one person, and the facts proved this approach and tactic to be very successful. If the overwhelmingly strong strike had been launched by Ming Tu, Luo Chen could not confidently claim that he would have emerged unscathed. At the same time, Luo Chen knew that Ming Tu's explanation was not exhaustive; this technique seemed too simple to be true.

However, Luo Chen did not say much else, as long as he knew that the other party did not truly possess a Domain Lord Level expert. And the capability Ming Tu spoke of, about having the ability to perish together with Luo Chen, must also refer to this technique, right?

Having understood this, Luo Chen suddenly stood up, walked over to Ming Tu, and asked in detail about some specifics. In the end, Luo Chen said, "By my usual methods, I would have silenced all of you, but this time I think cooperation is preferable. You will send someone to lead us to this place, and in return, I will give fifty bottles of Supreme Rank Elixirs."

After saying this, he controlled the ten black stone giants to release the restraint, then added, "As for the matter of you killing my companions, I will not pursue it further. But, you must understand, this is purely for the greater good; I do not wish for our disagreement to escalate into conflict."

As soon as the words were out, the giants had simultaneously released the restraints. The five freed people instantly gathered together, still with Ming Tu taking the lead, "What about our agreement to work together?" Ming Tu asked while flexing his wrists. After all, if they were to leave now, this hunting expedition would result in no gains, an outcome Ming Tu did not desire at all.

"After I call my companions, I will pay forty bottles of Supreme Rank Elixirs. I hope you can keep your word, and not lead us into danger for the sake of treachery and greed," Luo Chen said, then, without paying any more attention to the five people, turned and walked towards one side of the floating cube before leaping upwards.

While Ming Tu and the others were discussing, Luo Chen had already brought the other three people, including Meng Lan, who had run off at the very start of the battle. And now, it seemed Meng Lan showed not the slightest trace of shame for his earlier flight, as if running away was nothing out of the ordinary for him.

"We feel that receiving only ten bottles of Supreme Rank Elixirs for killing one of your companions is fair compensation," they said.

Luo Chen didn't bother to respond, simply flicked his wrist, and then forty bottles of Supreme Rank Elixirs flew out of his hand towards Ming Tu and his group.

"My brother's life cannot be exchanged for with just a few elixirs," he said.