The Art of Chaotic Divinity-Chapter 1423: Reaping Without Sowing

These were no ordinary cultivators. Every one of them was a true elite, and they even had a powerhouse like Yin Jian leading the team. Yet before they had even encountered the barbarians, they had already suffered such heavy losses. It was clear enough that the Dead Soul Devil Abyss was a place filled with danger at every step.

And the core region ahead would only be worse. The threats waiting there would likely surpass everything they had faced so far.

"In my opinion, they must have paid for that path with quite a few lives. Since they've already found a relatively safe route, we just need to follow it. That way, we keep the risk to a minimum."

Ling Feng smiled faintly. Only a fool would ignore a safe path and insist on exploring blindly.

"Still..." Li Fei looked uneasy. "If we do that, those people probably won't let us off so easily."

They had already split from the main team. Now they were walking a path others had carved out with their lives. There was no way that would not breed resentment.

"Just ignore them."

Ling Feng's tone remained calm. "In a place like this, they can barely take care of themselves. If they want trouble with us, they'll need the strength to back it up."

"That's true!"

The others nodded in agreement.

They rested briefly on the spot. After about half a quarter of an hour, once their strength had recovered somewhat, they followed the path left behind by those ahead and continued forward without hesitation.

A route carved out through blood and sacrifice proved to be exactly as safe as expected.

They advanced for roughly thirty li without encountering any danger. By then, the aura of the main group ahead had grown much clearer. It seemed they had been forced to stop and regroup, not daring to press on recklessly.

An encounter was now unavoidable.

At that moment, on a slightly elevated hill ahead, the main group led by Yin Jian was resting in place.

Everyone looked more or less battered. Some had paid a heavy price, though compared to those already lying dead, they were still the lucky ones.

At the same time, they were also unfortunate, because they had no idea what kind of death awaited them next.

Sweat beaded on Yin Jian's forehead. The left eye he relied on so heavily was starting to fail him at a critical moment.

The area was filled with bloodthirsty thorn vines. Some were alive and would suddenly attack anyone who entered their range, while others were just ordinary plants. When mixed together, even he could not tell which were dangerous and which were safe.

He had no choice but to fall back on the crudest method, using "bait" to test the path.

That was where the newcomers came in.

As the weakest, they became expendable.

Out of the ten newcomers, five had already died.

Thinking back to what Ling Feng had said before, regret crept into their hearts. Still, they understood one thing clearly. If they left the main group, they might die even faster.

"Rest for half a quarter of an hour. Yuwen Changkong, you'll scout the path next."

Yin Jian's voice was cold and unquestionable.

Yuwen Changkong stiffened. The moment he had been dreading had finally come.

There was no escaping the fate of cannon fodder.

His whole body began to tremble. He knew exactly what awaited him. Those bloodthirsty vines would wrap around him and drain him dry.

Even if he were lucky enough to be rescued in time, he would likely lose limbs just to stay alive.

But he had no choice.

If he wanted to remain in the team, he had to contribute. And for people like him, that contribution meant risking his life as bait.

Otherwise, he would be discarded without hesitation. And the only thing waiting for him would still be death.

"I'm finished... I'm really finished!"

His hands and feet turned ice cold. This short rest might be the last moment of peace he would ever have.

At that very moment, Yin Jian suddenly let out a soft sound of surprise and turned his head sharply to look behind him.

"They're not dead?"

The others followed his gaze.

Through the dense vines and the thin mist hanging in the air, they could still sense movement from less than five hundred zhang away.

The sound of footsteps drifted over, rustling across a forest floor covered in fallen leaves.

"It's him!"

Feng Shaoan narrowed his eyes as he sensed Ling Feng's familiar aura. His emotions were complicated.

The one who had defeated him was still alive!

"It really is them!"

Su Ming clenched his fists, his teeth grinding in anger. "Damn it! How is he still alive?"

They had left the main group and entered this perilous place, yet they had survived.

How was that even possible?

Soon, an even more shocking realization hit them.

It was not just Ling Feng who had survived. His entire five-man team had made it here without a single casualty!

Zero!

Their own large group, filled with strong fighters, had paid a heavy price to get this far.

Yet Ling Feng's group had suffered zero losses!

For a moment, the leaders among the newcomers were filled with regret. If they had built a good relationship with Ling Feng earlier and followed him instead, would things have turned out differently?

Unease spread through the ranks! 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The way many of the newcomers looked at Ling Feng began to change. Compared to following Yin Jian, who treated them as expendable, wouldn't it be safer to follow Ling Feng instead?

"Damn it! They've been following our tracks this whole time!"

Suddenly, Su Ming roared, his body shaking with rage as he glared at Ling Feng.

"What?"

Grief and anger flashed through the crowd.

They had sacrificed eight people to carve out this path, only for Ling Feng and his group to walk it for free.

"Bastards!"

Su Ming cursed loudly. "These shameless scum are reaping the benefits without lifting a finger. They ran away when it mattered, yet now they stroll along a road paved with our comrades' lives! Do they have no shame at all?"

His eyes turned red as his words stirred up fury in the crowd.

Even the newcomers were swept up in the emotion, their anger rising.

In their eyes, Ling Feng and his group had become deserters, parasites feeding off others' sacrifices!

Su Ming was skilled at manipulating people's emotions. In their anger, they forgot why Ling Feng had left in the first place. It was because Su Ming had pushed things too far.

Meanwhile, Yuwen Changkong finally felt the weight lift from his chest.

Now that everyone's attention had shifted to Ling Feng, he was no longer the one being sent to die!

"Ling Feng... you showed up at just the right time!"

A cruel smile appeared in Yuwen Changkong's heart. Then he raised his arm and shouted, "Don't let these scum go! Since they're enjoying the path we carved out with blood, it's their turn now!"