334: Chapter 334 Follow!

It wasn't until Qin Yan and Little Hei had walked several dozen zhang away that Xue Ye suddenly remembered something.

Enduring the excruciating pain, he staggered to where his severed arm had fallen, struggling to pick up his own dismembered limb.

As long as the severed arm was intact, even after a period of time, as long as a Great Grandmaster-level powerhouse offered assistance, he could fully recover.

And his grandfather was precisely an Eighth-Rank Grandmaster!

He had the means.

Then, his gaze fell upon the two figures ahead, their backs about to disappear from sight, a flicker of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

Immediately replaced by a resolute light.

He could not stay here waiting to die!

Although the remnants of the Phoenix Descendants had been wiped out, this Canglin Ancient Peak was fraught with dangers. In his current condition, he absolutely could not survive alone!

And that mysterious Black-Robed Person... since he had saved him... perhaps following him would actually be safer?

He might even learn what happened next, perhaps even bring back some crucial intelligence for Her Highness the Princess!

Thinking of this, Xue Ye hesitated no longer.

He swallowed a Healing Pill and stumbled forward, chasing in the direction Qin Yan and Little Hei had departed.

...

Seeing Xue Ye following behind him, Qin Yan's steps did not falter. He merely spoke indifferently:

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"

Xue Ye's figure stiffened slightly but quickly steadied. His voice was firm:

"No."

"If you, Sir, wished to kill me, you wouldn't have intervened earlier, nor would you have left me alive until now."

Qin Yan continued walking forward, offering no response.

His silence felt more oppressive than words.

Xue Ye gritted his teeth, knowing this was his only chance.

Summoning his courage, he quickened his pace, coming to a spot not far behind and to the side of Qin Yan. In the clearest voice he could muster, he said, "Sir... I wish to follow you."

As these words left his mouth, Qin Yan's footsteps paused slightly.

He slowly turned. His eyes, hidden beneath the hood, fell upon Xue Ye's face through the shadows.

Though his expression was unclear, that intangible sense of scrutiny made Xue Ye feel his breath catch.

Qin Yan naturally understood Xue Ye's meaning.

This guy had lost an arm, his combat power severely diminished. In this final stage of point plundering, acting alone was equivalent to seeking death.

If he encountered hunters from other teams, forget about protecting his points, even his life would be hard to preserve.

Following Qin Yan, at least he would be safe for the time being.

But...

"Then what use are you to me?"

Qin Yan's words were direct, pragmatic, and without courtesy.

In this dog-eat-dog world of martial arts, without value, there was no reason to exist.

Xue Ye was left speechless by the question.

Indeed, in his current state, what use could he possibly have?

Scouting? His injuries were too severe, his speed couldn't keep up.

Fighting? That was even more of a pipe dream.

His identity as a member of the Elf Clan might hold some value, but within this Ancient Peak, the convenience or threat brought by racial identity was far less direct than strength.

After two seconds of silence, a self-deprecating bitter smile appeared on Xue Ye's face. He answered truthfully:

"No use at all."

Hearing this, Qin Yan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow again.

This guy was honest to the point of being... blunt?

Clearly seeking protection, yet bluntly stating he was "no use at all"—what kind of negotiation was this?

"But! I, Xue Ye, am willing to stake my life and my future on this wager!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unyielding resolve that echoed among the desolate rocks.

"This life-saving grace you bestowed today, Xue Ye will never forget it!

Though I am severely injured and useless now, as long as I survive this day, once my wounds recover in the future, no matter where you are, Sir, or what you request, as long as it does not violate the bottom line of the Elf Clan or the principles of heaven and earth.

Xue Ye will go through fire and water, sparing no effort!"

"This vow, heaven and earth bear witness, the ancestral spirits of the elves as proof! Should I break this oath, may my soul be utterly annihilated!"

This was a sworn oath, a pledge mortgaged with his life, his future, even his racial faith!

For a race like the elves, who valued oaths and bloodline heritage, such a vow carried immense weight.

Xue Ye knew that empty words alone could hardly gain trust.

The only chips he could put on the table were his own life, and the potential value of his future restored strength and his status as an Elf Prodigy.

After speaking, Xue Ye held his breath, his remaining hand clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, anxiously awaiting the Black-Robed Person's response.

He could hear his own heart pounding like a war drum.

In the Craggy Territory, the wind moaned.

The Black-Robed Person stood quietly in place, hood lowered, motionless, not a sound escaping.

Only the branches of the nearby black Demonic Tree swayed gently in silence.

Half a moment... perhaps longer passed.

Just as despair began to well up in Xue Ye's heart—

"Follow."

From beneath the black robe came three words.

Calm, indifferent, yet like heavenly music to his ears.

Xue Ye abruptly raised his head, disbelief and wild joy flashing in his eyes:

"S-Sir, you agree?"

Qin Yan did not answer. He simply turned and continued walking deeper into the Craggy Territory.

His pace wasn't fast, clearly waiting for him.

Xue Ye hurriedly got up and followed.

"O-okay! Thank you, Sir!"

The reason Qin Yan agreed wasn't due to any complex consideration.

It was just a promise. Even if the other party didn't fulfill it in the future, for Qin Yan, there was no substantial loss.

He acted by his own principles and did not place his hopes on others' oaths.

And bringing Xue Ye along truly had no impact on him.

With his and Little Hei's current strength, in the present Canglin Ancient Peak, they could basically walk unhindered.

One more severely injured Xue Ye simply meant walking a bit slower. If they really encountered a fight, they could just have him hide far away.

If the other party truly harbored ulterior motives or became a burden, he could be dealt with casually. It wasn't troublesome.

Simply put, it was: pleasing to the eye, convenient, and not a hindrance.

Thus, the trio slowly advanced deeper into the Craggy Territory.

Xue Ye walked in front to lead the way—though severely injured, he was still somewhat familiar with this area.

Qin Yan and Little Hei followed behind.

Not a word was spoken along the way.

...

Deep within the Craggy Territory, inside a circular valley formed of crimson-red rocks.

Feng Jin sat cross-legged atop a massive crimson boulder five zhang high, meditating and regulating his breath.

In the valley below, over forty Phoenix Descendant prodigies were dispersed on guard, each alert and exuding fierce auras.

These were the most elite forces under Feng Jin's command, all possessing strength at the Third-Rank Peak.

Relying on this team, Feng Jin had been hunting frantically during this final period. His points had already broken through the 700,000 mark, firmly placing him among the top ranks.

"Why hasn't Feng Feng returned yet?"

Feng Jin suddenly opened his eyes, a flicker of displeasure flashing in his Phoenix Pupils.

He had sent Feng Feng with a team to encircle and annihilate that Elf Clan squad. By the estimated time, it should have been over long ago.

But now, more than half a shichen had passed. Not only had they not returned, there hadn't even been a single message.

"Could something have happened?"

Feng Jin's brow furrowed slightly.