I have to say, although Ji Xiaoyu is a bit mischievous, she indeed comes in handy at critical times.

After all, she is the biological granddaughter of the President. No matter how unruly her character is, it's impossible for her to deliberately scheme against her teammates. Besides, she probably doesn't have the intellect for that. Moreover, she's a walking treasure chest, and to this day, no one knows how many Mythical Weapons she carries.

Her name is always on the bounty list in the Dark World.

Although her bounty is zero.

But everyone knows she's the most expensive.

Looking at the petite silhouette with her hands on her hips amidst the raging flames, everyone felt a strong sense of security.

Of course, there was also a tinge of guilt.

They had to rely on a child to resolve the crisis this time.

Yet in the next moment, Ji Xiaoyu came charging out of the flames, yelling: "Run fast!"

Behind her, a horde of living corpses crawled out from the dead trees or the soil. Even though their bodies were being incinerated by the flames, they still howled and chased after her, making for an extremely horrifying scene.

Most critically, after being burned by the flames, those living corpses emitted a stench!

No, it was a downright stench!

Those unaware might think the Little Princess had poisoned them again.

"Run fast!"

Everyone was an elite, and they knew what needed to be done at this time.

Even someone like Gu Jianlin, with his defiant personality, couldn't withstand it: "Direction six o'clock, 115 meters."

Tang Ling dashed alongside him, surprised: "Your Life Perception reaches that far?"

Gu Jianlin responded expressionlessly: "It's a gift from my father."

By now, he had learned to push any mishaps onto Old Gu.

Although the others didn't understand the reason, they could only run toward the six o'clock direction.

The Little Princess was running at the back.

At this moment, Tang Ling and Gu Jianlin slowed down simultaneously.

Ji Xiaoyu ran past them, bewildered, unsure why they had suddenly stopped.

However, in the next instant, both of them raised their legs and kicked her on the butt!

Their actions were perfectly synchronized and standard, almost exuding the aura of world-class football champions.

Uninformed observers might think they had planned it in advance!

Bam!

Ji Xiaoyu's exclamation got stuck in her throat as she drew a graceful arc in the air and fell face-first into the ground.

Fortunately, her path in Ancient Martial made her skin tough and thick-skinned, so she wasn't hurt and felt no pain.

But she felt utterly humiliated!

Just as she was about to get angry, she suddenly realized she had landed at the front.

Looking back, the horde of living corpses had already overwhelmed her former position.

"Hurry up, don't just stand there!"

Everyone raced past her: "Those two are staying behind to cover us!"

"Sorry, Little Princess!"

Dawn grabbed the Little Princess by the scruff of her neck and sprinted like crazy.

Gu Jianlin glanced back at the departing group, saying expressionlessly: "Feels good."

Tang Ling picked up the Iron Sword and blandly said: "Quite satisfying."

Though they didn't like that kid, she was indeed very useful.

With their pride, they would never let a twelve-year-old child be the rear guard.

"As usual, you take the left, and I'll take the right, fight for five minutes then withdraw."

Behind Gu Jianlin, a sinister and terrifying ghost energy surged, clusters of pale ghost fires ignited, ghastly golden Ghost Hands tore through the Void, mysterious black talismans were scattered across the palms, and ancient iron chains adorned the wrists.

When these four Ghost Hands clenched fiercely, it seemed as if Evil Spirits were roaring.

"Mm."

Tang Ling responded indifferently, then suddenly remembered something, seriously hanging her backpack and the pouch full of Funerary Goods on his Spirit Ghost Hand at the back.

Like dancing a graceful waltz, she wielded the Iron Sword, plunging into the horde of living corpses.

Sword Qi swept across like a storm!

Even in his berserk state, Gu Jianlin was astonished by this operation.

"Just fight for five minutes, no need to go all out."

Tang Ling's proud voice echoed amidst the corpse horde, relaxed and leisurely.

Boom!

Gu Jianlin unleashed a Dark Shock, obliterating countless living corpses in the dense black light.

"I have a question, when your first team came in, was it the same situation?"

He suddenly asked.

Tang Ling swung her sword, beheading a living corpse: "Something like that, but what we encountered wasn't a tree burial, but some petrified sculptures, and those living corpses emerged from the sculptures, including one that was an Ancient Ancestor."

Gu Jianlin gave an acknowledgment and then turned to look aside.

Alright, it's your turn, Old Gu.

Come forth.

The Old Gu he imagined, grinning mischievously, said mysteriously: "My good son, now you realize how important your well-read and knowledgeable old dad is, right? What Tang Ling's group encountered is called Stone Burial, and yours is Tree Burial, but they have one thing in common."

"After thousands of years, unless a large number of living people die here, they cannot awaken."

He paused: "Unless someone temporarily awakened them, after being forcibly awakened, these living corpses naturally become mindless, terrifying monsters, extremely aggressive."

Gu Jianlin gazed at the fog-laden sky above, lost in thought.

"I see."

·

·

"Hurry and get out of the way! I want to return and fight!"

"I, Ji Xiaoyu, have never bowed to anyone my whole life, who wants those two to rescue me!"

"What are you dawdling around here for? If you want to fight, fight; if you want to retreat, retreat! So annoying!"

The brat whined impatiently, biting a handkerchief in frustration.

However, everyone was serious, and nobody paid her any mind, focusing their attention on what lay ahead.

Because ahead was a roaring river with scattered large boulders and dense shrubs and bonfires burning on the ground, alongside six tents.

Ten mercenaries raised their automatic rifles, aiming at them.

Each of their eyes was as sharp as an eagle's, evidently on the Overlord Path.

Outside the tents, identical twin women wearing black tight-fitting combat uniforms were strapping multiple Tachi on their backs, looking nervous and scared, remaining vigilant at all times.

Lastly, an elderly man in a kimono and a handsome young boy stood.

Nightmare raised a hand to signal his teammates not to advance for now, and then looked up and asked calmly: "Who's the leader among you?"

The old man in the kimono stood up, with a gentle smile, saying: "It's me. My name is Jing Shangxiu, from the Ying Province. This is my pioneering team, and we came in from the sea."

His statement carried a hint of flattering intent.

Because he clearly sensed that the opposing team had unquestionable strength and configuration.

Nightmare, however, frowned: "Yingzhou people? Through whose channel did you come?"

Jing Shangxiu hesitated for a moment, with his teammates equally tense.

"Ether Association, A-rank investigator, Omega Sequence ranked fourteenth, codenamed Nightmare."

Nightmare said coldly: "We're conducting a classified mission, and we need you to report your identity and the channel through which you entered the Immortal Palace, otherwise we will treat you as enemies and eliminate you on the spot. Even if some of you manage to escape to the real world, you will still be listed on the Ether Association's wanted list."

He paused: "I have marked your spirituality."

"I suggest not resisting."

Dawn said gently: "You won't be able to beat us."

Meanwhile, Demon Blade and Blue Whale started stepping forward, their expressions indifferent.

Especially Mountain Ghost, who began picking up the remaining household items on the ground, ready to cast a curse.

As for Ji Xiaoyu, whether to fight or not, she was nearly driven crazy.

Jing Shangxiu and his subordinates didn't expect to encounter members of the Ether Association, which was an unfortunate turn of events.

"I came through Mr. Liu's channel."

He sighed and admitted truthfully: "I, along with my student and a pair of nieces, came from Ying Province. These ten mercenaries were recruited from the black market."

"We can assure you that everyone here is clean and by no means wanted criminals. We have not harmed any members of the Ether Association since entering here; we're just here for treasure hunting."

"If you require anything, we can provide assistance free of charge."

Nightmare exchanged glances with his teammates, pondering whether to simply eliminate this group.

Because it's quite possible they were the ones who attacked the first team.

Especially in a place like the Qilin Immortal Palace, where there is no order, law, or bottom line.

When it comes to profit, anything can be done.

If you sacrifice your safety for others' kindness, you might end up being the one devoured.

Meanwhile, footsteps echoed from deep within the dense forest.

Gu Jianlin, carrying the bags of the irritable sister, walked over expressionlessly: "What's going on?"

Tang Ling followed him, using tree bark to disdainfully wipe her sword edge.

Seeing the two return, none of the group had any particular reaction.

The combat prowess of these two was the fiercest in the team, with no chance of them perishing in the living corpse horde.

After a simple briefing, Tang Ling turned to the young man: "What next?"

Gu Jianlin considered it, glancing at the crowd, and asked one question: "While you were here, were you attacked by living corpses, be it from inside trees or sculptures?"

Nightmare, though inclined to contest him, took out the Crystal Ball, eyes turning white.

Teammates remained on high alert.

If they showed any sign of lying, they were ready to strike.

Jing Shangxiu frowned and answered: "No, we haven't been attacked by living corpses. Instead, we encountered several mutated beasts; we just came out from an Ancient Ruin."

Their subordinates exchanged glances, evidently unaware that the living corpses here would genuinely attack people.

Gu Jianlin squinted his eyes, finding this quite intriguing.

When the first team of eleven entered, they coincidentally faced living corpses.

And this rescue team encountered living corpses as well.

In other words, there's a traitor.

"Shall we camp here tonight?"

Tang Ling glanced at him.

Gu Jianlin nodded: "Okay."

[ps: This book was first published on the Qidian Reading App, and you are welcome to read the original version.]