68: Get an umbrella

Qin Chuan wasn't too surprised to hear the urgent footsteps behind him.

He had factored these rescuing protectors into his calculations from the beginning.

The young Guozijian Students before him were all from wealthy and influential backgrounds.

There were certainly many hidden protectors.

Naturally, nothing had happened when they were gathered together previously.

Now that they were captured, it might trigger some mechanism, or perhaps their cries for help.

It was just that Qin Chuan recalled the scene he saw before Huang Shu's death—

A multi-story tall green demon, engulfed in flames, with fleshy wings on its back.

How could it not be a formidable opponent?

Could this group of people defeat it?

Qin Chuan wasn't very sure about that.

But one thing was certain: he absolutely couldn't just leave.

The entire process sounded long, but it happened in an instant.

Almost as soon as Qin Chuan's thoughts settled, a whirlwind swept past him.

Several different people paused briefly beside him.

However, when they discovered Qin Chuan's identity and that he was alone, they didn't do anything.

They knew the purpose of their young masters coming here, and although they were somewhat displeased that Qin Chuan had put them in danger, this was not something they could interfere with.

Those who were displeased snorted coldly as they passed by him.

Those with slightly better attitudes hastily told him to leave quickly and fetch reinforcements.

Qin Chuan smiled awkwardly, watching these people move swiftly forward.

Just as he was wondering whether to summon Huang Shu again to scout ahead,

“Greetings, Chen Jie Yuan!”

Three people dressed in black knelt before him.

Qin Chuan could clearly see a look of relief in their eyes.

These were his protectors?!

He actually received such treatment too?!

Then, he smiled, wasn't this to be expected?

Previously, during Wang Xuan's life, he had heard that assassins from the Hundred Schools were intercepted.

It seemed they were called 'Hidden Dragon Guards'?

The leader of the three said, “Chen Jie Yuan, this place is dangerous. Please leave with us.”

Qin Chuan, however, shook his head, “Wait a little longer.”

He could certainly leave, but that would mean he would thoroughly antagonize the trapped Guozijian Students and the forces behind them.

Although Qin Chuan didn't care, there was no need to do something that would deeply harm people.

With a thought, Huang Shu was summoned out again.

“Squeak squeak squeak squeak!!”

As soon as this little creature came out, it started howling incessantly.

It seemed it had been greatly frightened just now.

“Go scout again.”

With that, he was about to send Huang Shu flying again.

Just then, an evil whisper suddenly sounded in his ear.

“What is that—”

Before the questioning words could dissipate, Qin Chuan found the scene before him suddenly changed.

A dark red kiln ceiling, hideous demons, a deep dark river—

It was precisely that underground kiln space.

Qin Chuan's heart sank.

“Teleportation? No, was it a grand formation set up beforehand? This Abyss is indeed cautious.”

—Speaking of which, since this place was discovered, how could the Abyss easily let them go?

Qin Chuan's gaze swept around; the situation in the Cave was already dire.

The Guozijian Students currently had some light emanating from their bodies, more or less.

Hairpins, jade pendants, folding fans, clothing...

Presumably, these were life-saving items given by elders or their clans.

But most of them were already on the verge of collapse.

As for the protectors who had rushed here, they were even worse off.

They seemed to be under immense pressure, struggling even to lift their heads, let alone resist.

Thus, Qin Chuan looked forward.

Besides the vicious lesser demons wielding sharp blades, the one Huang Shu saw earlier seemed to be their leader.

However, Qin Chuan's attention was not on these things.

Instead, it was on — that small section of deep abyss flow behind them.

This river water... was definitely not the underground river previously speculated.

“￥*&%&#@”

An unknown whisper came, and that demon seemed to be adhering to the 'villain dies from talking too much' theory.

But unfortunately, no one understood what he was saying.

Just then, from that small section of river water, countless gray dots leaped out like scattered flowers from the heavens.

Qin Chuan glanced at them and almost suffered from trypophobia.

Were those—worms?

The giant demon leader seemed very pleased, pointing a finger at the Guozijian Students.

That group of worms began to move rapidly towards them.

Even while moving, they seemed to be slaughtering each other.

During this process, many worms directly transformed their forms.

It seemed to be—evolution?

Watching this scene, the Guozijian Students who were still conscious completely collapsed.

“Worms... are we going to become food for these ugly creatures?”

“This is... disgusting!”

“Where is my Great Zhou Heavenly Army? Father, Mother, your child is probably...”

These people, if not raised in a honey pot, were close enough; they had never seen such a scene.

Seeing this, Qin Chuan sighed.

He glanced at the three Hidden Dragon Guards who were once again struggling to defend him.

He pulled out the “Celestial Change Treatise” with one hand.

“The ancient sword is dark and cold, forged for thousands of autumns!”

With that, a sharp sword formed by Haoran Righteousness floated in the air and shot out rapidly.

“Clang! Clang!”

The front row of Abyss worms were directly cut into meat paste.

But... it was useless.

The number of these Abyss worms was simply too great.

Although Qin Chuan could wipe out the front row, their continuous advance, even devouring the corpses of their companions, was like trying to put out a forest fire with a cup of water.

His current Haoran Righteousness couldn't unleash many large-scale destructive literary techniques.

So it was better not to waste Haoran Righteousness.

And it was precisely because of this action that the demon, who was likely the leader, turned its gaze towards him.

“%￥##%￥.”

Qin Chuan: “What the hell are you yelling about?!”

The Hidden Dragon Guard beside him said with difficulty, “Chen Jie Yuan, this evil creature seems to possess the power of a Great Confucian; you must not—”

“It's fine, I understand.”

Qin Chuan shook his head.

He wasn't going to do anything useless anymore.

Because of Qin Chuan's actions, many gazes in the field were now cast upon him.

The next moment, they saw him slowly draw out his 'flower umbrella'.

The umbrella tassels fluttered, and small paper strips, each inscribed with a name, gently swayed with Qin Chuan's movements.

“Why didn't I think this umbrella was so beautiful before?”

Muttering to himself, Qin Chuan no longer hesitated.

A trump card is only a trump card when it's played; if it's always hidden, it will truly be hidden until death.

The tall umbrella stood upright, and a familiar feeling emerged, as if he were stepping on the land of Qiao City.

Estimating the duration of the state, Qin Chuan looked at the terrifying demon leader.

He said softly, “Are you ready? This strike... will pierce through the stars and the Abyss!”

Demon Leader: ?

Guozijian Students:

“What is he going to do? How can he be so exaggerated?”

“I don't know, but maybe like the protagonists in those storyteller's tales, a desperate counterattack?”

“Hmph, if he can really turn all of this around, I'll be convinced! The grudge of tricking us into coming here will be wiped clean!”

Qin Chuan, however, ignored how they looked at him, signaling the Hidden Dragon Guards in front of him to retreat.

Feeling that sense of omnipotence, Qin Chuan prepared to—

Do something big!