Strongest Scammer: Scamming The World, One Death At A Time

The meeting was brief but heavy.

Half the elders dismissed the idea outright. "Too dangerous," one said firmly. "He is still only an Outer disciple, no matter his accomplishments. The risk outweighs the benefit."

"His contribution is commendable," another added, "but it is not his place to join such missions. We cannot gamble a promising disciple's life."

But then the Sword Peak Head spoke.

Daoist Jian Wuhen was a man whose sharp eyes seemed to pierce through both qi and lies. He leaned forward slightly, fingers tapping the table. "Han Yu…" He let the name linger in the air, tasting it. "Yes. I know about him. His name has come up more than once in this expedition. Brave acts, clever maneuvers, and a habit of walking away from death when others would fall."

Some elders frowned at the implication, but Daoist Jian Wuhen only continued, "Luck is a form of strength. And this boy seems to have it in abundance. More than that... discipline, instinct, and a mind that looks beyond his station. Such qualities are rare. If we shelter him too much, we will never see what he is capable of."

"Are you suggesting we gamble on him?" an elder asked sharply.

"I am saying we give him a chance," the Sword Peak Head replied. His tone was calm, but it silenced the opposition. "Luck such as his may yet reveal something that all our strength has failed to uncover. And should he succeed, it will not be us who gain the advantage... but the entire sect."

The room grew quiet. One by one, the dissenting elders closed their mouths.

At last, Elder Xuan bowed. "Then… the request is approved?"

Daoist Jian Wuhen nodded once. "Yes. Let the boy join a scouting mission. We will see if fate favors him yet again."

Outside, Han Yu straightened as Elder Xuan returned. The man's expression was unreadable for a moment, then he finally said, "Your request has been granted. You will join the next scouting mission under Elder Yue's supervision. Do not squander this chance."

Han Yu bowed deeply. "I will not, Elder."

But as he rose, his eyes gleamed with quiet determination.

'This is the step I needed. If someone is controlling the beasts, I'll find the trail. No matter what it takes. And I might just find the right place to hide the Undying Life Charm too...' The latter was the real reason why Han Yu wanted to take this risk.

The group set out at dawn, their breaths misting in the cold morning air as a faint fog hung between the towering blackwood trees. The swampy muck that had dogged their steps in the outer and middle rings was thinning here, giving way to firmer earth, tangled roots, and uneven ground.

A hush lingered, broken only by the occasional shrill cry of a bird-like beast far in the distance. Han Yu walked in silence, his halberd strapped to his back, mind racing faster than his footsteps.

Elder Yue led at the front, her robes flowing behind her in muted ripples. The elder's expression was sharp and vigilant, as though she were already calculating ten different scenarios for the dangers that awaited them.

Beside her were two core disciples, both well-known in the sect for their prowess: Zhang Rulan of the Saber Hall, and He Xing from the Mystic Fist division. Behind them trailed a smaller cluster of disciples—including Han Yu—each handpicked for their resilience and adaptability.

"Listen closely," Elder Yue spoke as they passed through a stretch of thick undergrowth, her voice low but carrying with the weight of command. "The inner ring does not forgive mistakes. We've charted this area from afar, and while most of the beasts remain scattered, their strength is not to be underestimated. Engaging even a single one of them could endanger us all. Should you encounter a beast, your orders are to evade. Fighting is the last resort."

The disciples nodded, though a few had stiffened jaws. The thought of deliberately avoiding battle ran counter to their training and pride, but none dared to argue with the elder.

Elder Yue continued, "Most of the local population consists of beasts at the Peak of Qi Refining, with clusters of Core Condensation mixed in. Several Nascent Soul creatures have been sighted, but they appear to be keeping away from the heart of the forest... for now. Do not draw attention. If we split, keep your formations tight and your signals ready."

The group acknowledged her instructions, though Han Yu's thoughts were elsewhere.

A forest this dense, this untamed, was filled with possibilities. A hundred twists of the land, each one holding secrets. The trees here were ancient, their roots gnarled and thick, burrowing deep into the soil like veins. Shadows stretched across hollowed trunks, stone formations poked out from mossy ridges, and fallen logs lay like the skeletons of long-dead beasts.

It was here, Han Yu thought, that he might finally find a place to anchor the Undying Life Charm.

Ever since their expedition had begun, he had been searching. The middle marshes had been too unstable, too fluid, the land shifting with each rainfall and beast passage. But this forest, this inner ring... this was different.

The land was solid, enduring. If he were to fall here, the charm could guarantee his rebirth. Without it, dying in the depths of the southern marshes would mean true and permanent death.

As Elder Yue's words faded, Han Yu glanced at his surroundings with sharper intent.

The forest breathed with quiet menace.

The canopy above stretched high, blotting out much of the sunlight, painting the world in shades of dim green and gray. Strange fungi pulsed faintly on decaying bark. Pools of stagnant water reflected fractured images of the group as they passed.

Han Yu let his gaze linger on hollowed tree trunks and deep clefts between ridges, imagining how the charm could be hidden, protected. But with Elder Yue so alert, he knew any deviation from the group's path would draw immediate suspicion.