Fan Hongfei might not care much about the death of the little ape, but that giant ape did care.
This roar of anger was directed at Qin Xiao, and also expressed dissatisfaction with Fan Hongfei. They were in a Symbiotic Relationship, capable of communicating telepathically, yet facing the death of its own offspring, even knowing it was a trap, it was still furious.
Fan Hongfei quickly tried to calm the giant ape, but the giant ape didn't seem to want to listen; it wanted its offspring.
"Fine, kid, I agree. You and your dao companion can leave. Release these apes, and you can go."
Seeing he couldn't calm the giant ape, Fan Hongfei could only agree to Qin Xiao's terms.
"Senior, do you take me for a fool? If I release them now, being able to move ten zhang away would already count as my movement skill being exceptional. Don't play mind games with me either. If you truly agree, I can have a proper discussion with you about how to conduct this transaction."
Qin Xiao was no fool. If he released them now, he would be dead the next second.
"Fine, speak."
Although Fan Hongfei was grinding his teeth in hatred, he could only listen to Qin Xiao's conditions first.
"Master, can we bring that person from the Immortal Dao Merchant Association?"
Just as Qin Xiao was about to speak, Yun Man whispered.
"Do you know that person?"
Qin Xiao asked with some curiosity.
"Master, that's Sister Ling's older brother, Ling Wushuang."
Yun Man had already put on her veil by now and explained softly.
"So that's why. No wonder you wear a veil. Every time you encounter someone familiar, you wear a veil. No problem, since it's someone familiar, I'll naturally save them if I can."
Hearing it was Ling Ruoxue's older brother, Qin Xiao thought saving him was acceptable. He could even use this as an excuse to extort the Immortal Dao Merchant Association later.
"We can discuss conditions, but you have to release these three people over here first. Otherwise, there's nothing to talk about. At worst, we'll perish together."
Since he had already gambled correctly, Qin Xiao naturally wanted to maximize his benefits. Saving one person was saving, and saving three was also saving.
"Kid, don't push your luck."
The reason Fan Hongfei kept the three people was because he had his own plans. How could he easily release them?
"You don't agree, right? Then I'll kill another little monkey, and keep killing until you agree. Disciple, prepare to act."
Qin Xiao was naturally threatening the other party, which was why he said he was prepared to act rather than acting immediately.
Yun Man also understood Qin Xiao's meaning, raised her sword, and got ready, just waiting for Qin Xiao's order.
"Stop, I agree."
Seeing the giant ape beneath him about to go berserk again, Fan Hongfei could only agree.
He and the giant ape shared a Symbiotic Relationship, not a master-servant relationship. He couldn't afford to disregard the giant ape's thoughts; otherwise, if the giant ape went mad and forcibly severed their bond, they would both die.
Subsequently, the Demon Beasts released the three people. Ling Wushuang had the lightest injuries, so he helped Cang Xing and Su Lin walk over to Qin Xiao's side.
"Thank you, brother, for rescuing us. May I ask your honorable name?"
Ling Wushuang asked quite politely.
"My name is Qin Xiao, Peak Master of Seven Stars Peak of the Tianyuan Sect."
Qin Xiao quickly replied, stating his position.
"How is that possible? Rumor has it the Tianyuan Sect..."
Su Lin spoke halfway, then seemed to realize he had said something he shouldn't have and immediately shut up.
"Brother Qin, I didn't mean that."
Su Lin quickly tried to make amends.
"No problem. I just didn't expect my reputation to have spread so far; it's truly an honor."
Qin Xiao also said with a helpless expression, though in his heart he was cursing who had such a big mouth to spread his disgraceful affairs everywhere.
"Alright, kid, I've already released the people. What else do you want?"
Fan Hongfei directly interrupted their pleasantries. He only wanted to rescue these monkey offspring now to stabilize the giant ape's emotions. Anyway, he had already consumed many; he didn't care about these few people.
"Then naturally escort us to the entrance of the first layer, and then I'll release these monkeys. Otherwise, if I release them now, I won't be able to escape either. Wouldn't that mean all my efforts were in vain?"
Qin Xiao had already thought of a countermeasure and said slowly.
"No, how do I know you'll keep your word? What if you directly kill my monkey offspring then and escape? Wouldn't I be played by you? You don't trust me, and I don't trust you either."
Fan Hongfei directly refused Qin Xiao's proposal.
After that, both sides were at a stalemate, neither willing to concede.
"Brother Qin, I do have a method."
Seeing the stalemate, Ling Wushuang whispered in Qin Xiao's ear.
"Brother Ling, you're too polite. Please don't call me Brother Qin; it doesn't feel quite right. Just call me Qin Xiao. What method do you have?"
Qin Xiao quickly inquired.
"This is a Mother-Child Pearl. One for each person. Within a thousand li, you can use this to communicate. The distance from here to the first layer's entrance is only a few hundred li, completely usable. Also, this is my personal token, with a coordinate inscribed on it. This is bound to another Dharma Treasure of mine. I'll stay here to hold them off, while you all head to the first layer's entrance. After you confirm it's safe, I'll release these apes and join you."
Seeing that continuing the stalemate wasn't a solution, Ling Wushuang could only propose this suggestion.
"Are you sure?"
Qin Xiao took the two items Ling Wushuang handed over. Although he was quite satisfied with this suggestion, he was also a bit worried.
"Don't worry, I'm confident."
Ling Wushuang said firmly.
"Since that's the case, then let's do it this way."
Qin Xiao still trusted Ling Wushuang's character quite a bit. After all, he had also chosen to hold off the giant ape alone before, showing he was a leader-type figure.
"Senior, how about this: we'll leave one person here. After we confirm it's safe, he'll release your monkey offspring. If you play tricks, then we can only perish together."
After thinking for a moment, Qin Xiao said to Fan Hongfei.
"Fine."
Fan Hongfei also didn't want to continue the stalemate because the giant ape was probably getting a bit restless, so he directly agreed.
"Then Brother Ling, wait for my message. If the other party goes back on their word, you just need to inject Spiritual Qi into the rope, and these apes will be instantly killed. Don't be nervous; if you accidentally kill them all by mistake, we'll all be in trouble."
Qin Xiao handed the rope to Ling Wushuang, loudly instructing him, actually speaking so that Fan Hongfei could hear. Then he took Yun Man and flew into the distance.
Cang Xing had lost an arm, and Su Lin helped support Cang Xing, following behind Qin Xiao.
"Master, isn't this just an ordinary rope? Why did you say that? What if an accident happens? Wouldn't Big Brother Ling be in trouble?"
Only after flying quite far away did Yun Man softly voice her confusion.
"This was originally meant to scare that person. If I didn't even deceive Ling Wushuang, what if he revealed a flaw? Then we wouldn't be able to escape at all. We don't have the strength to bargain with the other party; we can only deceive them."
Qin Xiao had originally been gambling. If the other party didn't care about these apes at all, then he could only accept fate. Before a Soul Formation cultivator, there was simply no room for resistance. Fortunately, he had guessed correctly.
Fan Hongfei didn't play tricks either. The four of them arrived at the entrance of the first layer without encountering any Demon Beasts, and the Demon Beasts that had been stationed there before were all gone.
"Brother Ling, it's safe."
Qin Xiao quickly contacted Ling Wushuang via the Mother-Child Pearl.
On the other side, Ling Wushuang appeared calm on the surface, but his back was already soaked with sweat. With so many Demon Beasts surrounding him, saying he wasn't panicked would be false.
Now he understood what a day feeling like a year meant. How could a few hundred li take so long to fly? It felt like several hours had passed; why hadn't any message come yet?
"Brother Ling, it's safe."
Right at that moment, the Mother-Child Pearl in Ling Wushuang's hand finally transmitted sound.
"Kid, I know you can teleport randomly, but do you think you can escape? How about we bet: after you teleport, see who's closer to the exit-me or you?"
Seeing that the one left behind was Ling Wushuang, Fan Hongfei didn't mind. Because during their previous few encounters, he had already witnessed Ling Wushuang's teleportation-it could only be random-and he had also figured out some patterns: as long as Ling Wushuang couldn't teleport directly out, he would still end up in his hands.
"Then let's bet. Farewell."
After Ling Wushuang finished speaking, his body disappeared.
"Immediately seal off the entrances to the first and third layers."
Fan Hongfei directly issued the command through the giant ape.
And on Qin Xiao's side, shortly after the transmission ended, Ling Wushuang's figure appeared before his eyes.
"Goodness, is it really this magical?"
Qin Xiao was truly envious of such a method.
"Hurry back to the first layer."
The moment Ling Wushuang appeared, he urged urgently.
The others also knew the situation was critical. Without saying anything more, they all passed through the entrance and returned to the first layer.
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