FRGNM -Chapter 199 Unexpected Developments

“You…”

“I know, I’m old, but an old man’s heart doesn’t age. Besides, I’m at the peak of my vigor now, so why would I bother quarreling with a little brat like you? Don’t worry, I’m magnanimous—I’ll forgive your ignorance. But you must call me Uncle Murong.”

“Go to hell!” Luo Mingyu rolled his eyes, too lazy to argue. He knew Murong Ming was trying to ease the tension, but his gaze fell again on the plain blade. His voice lowered, serious: “What about my master… how is he?”

“Sigh…” Murong Ming’s brows furrowed. He swept his duster, gently stroking the blade, and smiled wryly. “Follow me. Mo’er should have told you—whatever you see, you must keep it secret, especially from Ruoxi…”

A roar echoed through the forest. Ahead, the jade-green frog led them as if equipped with a GPS tracker, guiding them safely around the fierce beasts.

Strange—through the outer forest, the inner layers, and up to the mountaintop, they should have encountered several monsters along the route. Yet now… it seemed as though the path deliberately avoided the beasts, leading them straight to the divine beast’s location.

Silent outwardly, Ling Ruoxi understood perfectly. Those people wanted these kids as cannon fodder. The Xuanming Pill? Was it really that easy to get?

Green-Rank Dou Qi practitioners would only meet death here!

Ling Ruoxi stopped, leaning against a tree to wipe her sweat.

“What the hell is wrong with you again?!” the fat man shouted. This kid had rested three or four times already—how could they set traps for the divine beast at this rate?

Ling Ruoxi ignored the complainy fat man, raising an eyebrow. “I’m hungry, tired, can’t walk anymore. Got a problem with that?”

“You eat three or four meals a day and still complain?!” The fat man choked on his own spit. Every time they stopped, she either ate or rested—like a pampered young master, completely unused to forest life.

The man beside him frowned. “Forget it. Let her rest. It’s not far anyway. In less than a day, we’ll reach the place and hunt the divine beast. We should be glad. It’s dusk now—we can camp here, rest, and hunt tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Jiang Ling,” Ling Ruoxi said casually. This man seemed to enjoy mocking her, yet he genuinely cared, subtle but effective. She noticed everything without saying a word.

Hearing that they would rest, the others erupted. “Rest? Again? Haven’t you seen it? She’s a rich brat playing at the Gods! She’ll get us killed if we stay with her!”

“I refuse to team up with her. If you stick with her, I’m leaving the team!”

“Same here! I’m leaving!”

Suddenly, eight of the ten disliked Ling Ruoxi and opposed her presence. Only Jiang Ling raised an eyebrow, surprised at the chaos.

“Have you forgotten the last lesson? Acting alone leads to a worse death. I refuse to let you leave—everyone stays. Tomorrow morning, we’ll assign tasks!” Jiang Ling’s command silenced the group, even the fat man. He acted like their leader.

Ling Ruoxi had never participated in the “Gods” challenge and didn’t know the details. Seeing the others settle, she stayed quiet.

Her eyes landed on the jade frog. She smirked. Avoid monsters, huh? Fine, let’s see how strong these guys really are.

“All right. I know you think Number Ten is weak, but she’s the tenth entrant. No matter what, we must complete the mission!” Jiang Ling said, raising his hand and shouting.

The other eight glared at Ling Ruoxi coldly, leaning against trees.

The talkative fat man muttered, “Weak… not even Green-Rank Dou Qi… what right do you have here? Probably got in through connections. You think you’ll get the divine core? Forget it! Hmph!”

Ling Ruoxi rolled her eyes, letting a dead branch fall to the ground. “Don’t you know the difference between monsters and divine beasts?” she asked casually.

“Difference? Ha!” Jiang Ling paused, looking down at the firewood he was arranging. A sharp glint flickered in his eyes, quick and unnoticed by others.

“Damn it, divine beasts aren’t much different from high-level monsters. I don’t believe they’re stronger than us!” The fat man thumped his chest, causing his plump muscles to jolt.

Ling Ruoxi silently wiped the sweat from her forehead. That chest… probably stronger than a woman’s!

Another man smirked, holding the fat man back. “Don’t bother with her. That kid came here to die, hasn’t even seen a divine beast, how will he complete the task? Whoever let her in must be blind.”

“Hey! What’s your problem? At least I’m better than you, dressed as a beast!” Ling Ruoxi raised an eyebrow. The fat man was Number Three; this scoffing guy was Number Five.

The tattoos on their arms marked rank and strength. Ling Ruoxi, having just restored her Dou Qi and mainly focusing on medicine, hid her power—only to reveal it when needed. Her arm pattern was the faintest, the smallest.

Even if all the men fully released Dou Qi for a whole day, by the time they reached the divine beast, traps and formations might force submission—but their bodies would collapse before then.

“What did you call me?!” Number Five grabbed Ling Ruoxi’s collar furiously. Such a tiny kid, daring to speak to me like that!

Ling Ruoxi shrugged with a wry smile. “I didn’t call you a beast. I said ‘hey.’ You’re taking it too seriously—it makes it sound like you are the beast.”

“You! Sharp-tongued brat! Don’t think talking fast makes you stronger. Sit down, or I’ll be the first to snap your head off!” Number Five shouted, yanking her aside.

Ling Ruoxi only smirked, dusted off her clothes, and sat calmly.

“I want to hunt myself. I’ve had enough of dry rations!” She tossed the bread aside and began walking off.

Quick as she was, Jiang Ling grabbed her arm. “Don’t leave. I told you—you can’t leave the team.”

“Relax. I can protect myself. Besides, you all can hunt the divine beast—you think I’ll just eat dry rations?” Ling Ruoxi cast them a disdainful glance, pressed Jiang Ling’s hand down, and walked on.

Jiang Ling sighed, seeing the eight others staring. “Eat first. I’ll go after her.”

“No point. She’s useless anyway. Not even Green-Rank…”

Roar! A deep growl reverberated through the forest. The eight tensed, drawing weapons, scanning their surroundings.

The fat man shivered, feeling an icy presence along his back, as if something was leaning on him. He glanced behind, nearly falling over.

From the forest ahead, a black alpha wolf emerged. Its claws dug into the earth; its red eyes glowed coldly. With a flick, a boulder beneath it cracked into pieces.

“What the hell is that, Jiang Ling?” Number Five panicked. Had the divine beast appeared early? They were unprepared.

Damn, was it because they stayed too long? Jiang Ling’s eyes darted to the jade frog at his feet—every frog had frozen. Someone had tampered with them!

If danger occurred, the frogs would flee, signaling danger. This plan couldn’t be ruined!

Jiang Ling’s eyes hardened. He drew the long blade behind him, whispering, “It’s just a monster. What’s there to fear? Watch me!”

“Good, Jiang Ling! Kill that damned wolf!” The fat man roared, glancing around for Ling Ruoxi. Perfect. Maybe that kid’s already wolf food.

Just a monster?

High in the trees, Ling Ruoxi sat on a branch, holding a flower stem in her mouth and peeling a banana from her storage ring. Seven-star monster, and these Green-Rank kids think they can fight it?

Suddenly, the black alpha lunged. Ling Ruoxi nearly choked on her banana. Jiang Ling’s blade swung with explosive Dou Qi, striking the wolf’s head like a heavy hammer.