Through his senses, Xu Mu detected two black-robed figures approaching from behind the hillside more than a hundred meters away—likely drawn by a faint surge of Gang Qi in this area.
At Xu Mu's urging, Dai Xingluo and Chen Xuan jumped down one after another, each releasing Gang Qi to keep the surrounding river water at bay.
Xu Mu was last to enter and couldn't help a small smile. Chen Xuan really was a male lead—he could expand his Gang Qi barrier wide enough to cover that huge woven sack on his back, while everyone else only had backpacks.
Barely ten seconds after Xu Mu slipped into the water, the two black-robes appeared atop the distant slope.
Following the narrow crack between rocks, they went deeper for about ten meters. The tight, single-person passage suddenly widened until it resembled a highway tunnel. Shallow water ran beneath their feet, just below their knees.
"Careful—the river hides blades. Every step, keep your legs shielded with Gang Qi," Miao He warned. "I was cut here yesterday by a blade hidden below the water and had to pull out."
She was cautious by nature; an injured leg meant losing mobility—and you couldn't run from danger. Were it not for that leg wound, she was confident she could have escaped Zhou Xing alone.
Everyone grew more vigilant.
Staring into the pitch-black tunnel, Xu Mu wondered how long it ran. "I'll lead. Stay right behind me."
He switched on his phone flashlight and moved ahead, Gang Qi guarding his legs as he quickened the pace.
Clack!
He suddenly felt something sharp underfoot—thankfully, the Gang Qi barrier held. Otherwise… his shoe might have been slit open. As for his own defense, he had confidence.
"Watch it—there's something here," Xu Mu cautioned.
The others nodded.
After several hundred meters, the water grew shallower and no more blade edges appeared. Still, Xu Mu didn't relax.
They turned a corner—light glimmered ahead.
"We're at the exit!" Miao He blurted, surging forward in excitement.
Xu Mu snagged her backpack and drew her back. "Don't break formation."
Miao He puffed her cheeks and fell in behind him again.
"Never let your guard down—especially when victory's in sight. Sometimes the next step and—poof—people just vanish…"
Whoosh!
His words had barely fallen when the ground vanished under his foot and he dropped into open space. Water surged up to his chest—then he shot back out from below.
Xu Mu stepped into Cloudstep—one, two, three—like invisible stairs in the air. Smooth and effortless, like a banished immortal descending the mortal realm, he landed gracefully back where he'd stood.
"Holy—! Brother Mu, you can fly?" Chen Xuan gaped. "Even a Grandmaster can't do that!"
Miao He sucked in a sharp breath. If not for Xu Mu's warning, she might have been the one to drop. In a tight shaft like that, there's no buoyancy—fall and you slam straight to the bottom. No need to ask what kind of killing trap waits there.
[Favorability +30]
"Xu Mu… thank you…" Miao He said earnestly.
[Favorability +10]
"Brother, you're so cool! What technique was that?" Dai Xingluo's eyes sparkled.
[Favorability +10]
Even Meng Wanyue's heart surged like a stormy sea. She'd known Xu Mu was strong from the moment he gave her those techniques—but not this strong. Then again, anyone who could hand out Qi-Sea Pills and Earth-Grade arts wasn't ordinary.
"Keep it low-key. Basic operations," Xu Mu said blandly.
If he was right, there were plenty more traps between here and the exit. He eyed the light ahead, thought a moment, then said, "We're close enough—I'll ferry you across."
He clapped a hand on Chen Xuan's shoulder. "Old Chen, let's go."
Swish!
Cloudstep carried him forward. Where he'd once managed two or three steps, at his current realm he could tread more than twenty. Each step spanned ten meters—two hundred meters in a blink—and they were across, where the ground rose dry above the water.
He flashed back to the others and landed.
"Next!" He reached for Dai Xingluo's shoulder.
"Brother, you're hurting me," she chided, tapping his hand away. Then she hopped onto his back with a sunny smile. "Carry me over."
Xu Mu's body jolted—not from weight, but from two… formidable impacts against his back. He drew a long breath and Cloudstepped her across.
Returning again, he reached for Meng Wanyue's arm—but catching her expression, he simply scooped her up in a princess carry.
Meng Wanyue gasped, her cheeks flushing visibly crimson. She squeezed her eyes shut and tucked her face against his arm.
[Favorability +20]
Once he set her down, Dai Xingluo muttered with a sweet-and-sour lilt, "Brother must always be this dashing. If little sister complained, I'd only look petty."
Xu Mu set Meng Wanyue on her feet and turned away immediately—ears closed to further commentary.
Arms folded, a small smile tugged at Meng Wanyue's lips; even she didn't know why it felt so satisfying.
"What are you smiling at?!" Dai Xingluo's eyes cooled as Xu Mu walked off.
"I'm smiling at you," Meng Wanyue shot back without flinching.
Zheng!
Steel sang. Dai Xingluo's sword flashed toward Meng Wanyue.
But Meng Wanyue was ready—her dagger caught the blade.
Boom!
Their Qi burst at once; the ground beneath them sank with a crunch.
"Whoa!" Chen Xuan leapt back in fright, scuttling away. Women were terrifying—good thing he'd decided long ago to adore just one senior sister.
By then, Xu Mu had already ferried Miao He across.
"What are you two doing? Stand down!" he barked, setting Miao He down.
"Brother, look what she did!" Dai Xingluo sheathed her sword and, all aggrieved, sidled up to Xu Mu.
"I saw everything. You struck first." Xu Mu flicked a knuckle against her forehead. "Let's move. This place is full of dangers—we help each other or we die."
He headed for the lighted exit.
Outside, Xu Mu narrowed his eyes. So this is an ancient ruin?
"Brother, look—what's that?" Dai Xingluo pointed into the distance.