"Is that... Li Qi’s voice?"

Upon hearing the call for help, Ye Haochuan hurriedly looked in the direction of the voice and indeed saw Li Qi, who had entered this place with him, shouting for rescue.

However, at this point, only Li Qi’s head was above the surface; almost his entire body was trapped in a swamp of mud.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, help me!" Upon seeing Ye Haochuan looking his way, hope filled Li Qi’s eyes.

Ye Haochuan looked around and, seeing no signs of demon beasts nearby, slowly approached and took a rope from his ring, throwing it towards Li Qi.

To be honest, they were competitors. But Ye Haochuan didn’t want to stand by and watch someone die just because of their competition.

Li Qi struggled to extend his hands from the mire, causing him to sink half of his head deeper. However, it didn’t matter anymore as he managed to grab the rope thrown by Ye Haochuan.

Applying force to his waist, Ye Haochuan succeeded in pulling Li Qi halfway out.

But this exertion caused Ye Haochuan himself to sink halfway into the swamp.

What on earth? What’s going on?

Ye Haochuan was shocked.

He was standing on solid ground just a moment ago, so how did it suddenly turn into a swamp?

It really defies logic!

"I should have warned you earlier; this swamp seems to shift..." Li Qi said regretfully as he saw Ye Haochuan also getting trapped.

Damn, what’s the use of saying that now!

Ye Haochuan cursed inwardly.

Originally, he just wanted to do a good deed by saving someone, but he didn’t expect to put himself in danger as well. If he had known this, he would never have taken the risk.

"Enough nonsense!" Ye Haochuan said impatiently, "Even though we’re trapped, it’s not hopeless. Grab one end of the rope; I’ll throw you out, and then you quickly pull me out!"

Getting Li Qi out first wasn’t Ye Haochuan sacrificing himself for others; it was because Li Qi’s position was deeper in the swamp, while Ye Haochuan was at the edge. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

If Li Qi exerted force to pull Ye Haochuan, it would undoubtedly drag Ye Haochuan deeper into the swamp. It was better for Ye Haochuan to graciously throw Li Qi out and then have Li Qi save him in return.

The situation was urgent, and there was no time to delay. Ye Haochuan mustered all his strength, successfully pulling Li Qi out completely and throwing him in a perfect arc onto solid ground.

With this action, Ye Haochuan himself was fully submerged in the mire, leaving only his head above the surface.

In less than a minute, the roles of the two had completely reversed.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry and pull me up!" Ye Haochuan saw Li Qi still dazed and shouted anxiously.

But Li Qi didn’t respond. Instead, he stared at Ye Haochuan, as if contemplating something. A moment later, he raised an eyebrow, seemingly making a decision, and tossed the rope into the swamp, then quickly stepped back, as if afraid of being drawn into the mire again.

"Bastard, what are you doing? Do you want to be ungrateful?" Ye Haochuan was furious and shouted angrily.

"You’re too naive. We’re competitors, and you were foolish enough to rescue me!" Li Qi chuckled lightly.

"Competitors? Should competitors doom each other to death?"

Ye Haochuan said with hatred, "Never mind, for someone who turns on their rescuer, talking is a waste of breath."

"Don’t worry; you won’t die. Every move in this world is under the Manor Master’s control. When you’re truly about to die, he’ll pull you out of this world!" Li Qi said seriously.

Ye Haochuan furrowed his brow and asked coldly, "So you’ve known all along that you wouldn’t die, and you intended to harm me right from the start?"

"No, at first I genuinely wanted you to save me. I finally saw hope for victory and didn’t want to fail here."

Li Qi laughed strangely as he said, "I really forgot about the moving swamp initially. But the moment you got trapped, I changed my mind. You and Ju Yuqu are both obstacles in my path. Now with such a great opportunity to eliminate a strong competitor like you, I’d be a fool to let it pass."

"You knowingly do such a despicable thing while under constant surveillance. Aren’t you afraid they’ll disqualify you?" Ye Haochuan sneered.

"Despicable?" Li Qi laughed skyward, "You’re too naive. It’s not about being despicable; it’s a way to survive in this world. Honest people are always bullied. To succeed, you must choose the most beneficial way for yourself, not forsake everything because of some morality nonsense."

"That’s utterly absurd!" Ye Haochuan said disdainfully, "Clearly, you’re a selfish scoundrel masking your deeds under the guise of ambition. It’s utterly shameful."

"Say what you like, but I believe my way will be recognized by the Half-Mountain Residence. After all, it’s not a place solely about compassion."

"Do you really think harming me will make you a disciple of the Half-Mountain Residence?" Ye Haochuan mocked.

"How will I know if I don’t try?"

Li Qi chuckled softly, "At first, I thought, given my performance in the first four rounds, I had no chance at all. But now, everything is starting anew, and I have a chance. Moreover, with you about to be eliminated, my odds increase to half."

After speaking, he continued with a rightful tone, "Don’t blame me; consider it a lesson not to trust others easily. Remember my words, and you’ll thank me in the future!"

Without further words, he turned and sprinted away, soon disappearing from Ye Haochuan’s sight.

Damn, don’t trust others easily, does he take me for a three-year-old?

Ye Haochuan cursed inwardly.

Of course, he wasn’t the type to trust others easily. He only attempted the rescue under the belief that he was in no danger.

He wasn’t sure whether when Li Qi was truly dying, the people from Half-Mountain Residence would really release him.

Who would have thought, he saved someone, only to end up betrayed.

Damn, I really underestimated this guy!

Ye Haochuan had always overlooked Li Qi because, in the presence of him and Ju Yuqu, Li Qi seemed insignificant.

Thinking back now, he realized he had been too arrogant.

Li Qi’s aptitude might not match his or Ju Yuqu’s, but emerging from nearly fifty elites could not be accomplished by someone without skill or ambition.

After cursing Li Qi a hundred times, Ye Haochuan had no choice but to face his situation helplessly.

This swamp was definitely not ordinary. Within its scope, he found himself unable to use any of his spiritual energy.

Damn, am I really going to be eliminated here?