The two packed various water canteens, and Qiangzi nodded with satisfaction: it was almost time to leave.
Yu Daochen nodded, always feeling that staying there would lead to trouble.
Yu Daochen had made marks on the way in, and the two quickly exited the cave.
Looking at the sun that had already set behind the mountain peak, Qiangzi said, "We'll be out of Yin Chen Valley tonight."
Yu Daochen agreed with a nod, and the two walked in the direction of exiting Yin Chen Valley.
On the way, Qiangzi weighed the spiritual spring on his back, "Yu Ye, it's thanks to your text message that I could get the spiritual spring so easily."
"Don't you see who I am?" Yu Daochen said proudly.
On the same day Yu Daochen encountered the fake Qiangzi, he sensed something was wrong with the fake Qiangzi and sent a text message to test him. He thought it wouldn't go through but unexpectedly it did.
After learning that Qiangzi had taken a long detour and couldn't find the cave, Yu Daochen planned to follow the lead and have the fake Qiangzi guide them to find the spiritual spring, while Qiangzi would look for a way to break the formation. He would make marks along the way, and finally, they would coordinate from the inside and outside.
As they walked, Yu Daochen suddenly stopped. Seeing Yu Daochen stop, Qiangzi beside him asked, "What's wrong?"
Yu Daochen quickly took out his phone, flipped to a number, and dialed it.
"Sorry, the number you have dialed is out of service. Please try again later."
Yu Daochen's heart grew tense. He had suspected the bead in his stomach was causing trouble but wasn't sure. Now he was certain, it was this bead causing trouble.
This bead was very important to that person. Its unusual movement indicated that person was likely in danger.
Yu Daochen, unwilling to give up, dialed again.
"Sorry, the number you have dialed is out of service. Please try again later."
Yu Daochen completely panicked. This person never missed his calls, even if he called at three in the morning, he would answer immediately.
Yu Daochen sent a few more text messages but received no replies.
Seeing Yu Daochen's extremely grim expression, Qiangzi asked, "Yu Ye?"
Yu Daochen looked at Qiangzi, his face full of anxiety, "Qiangzi, do you have any way to find someone?"
Qiangzi looked at Yu Daochen. In all the years he had known him, this was the first time he had seen him so nervous. He hadn't even been this tense when encountering Hao Tian Quan in Nan Yang Village.
Qiangzi remained silent, and Yu Daochen's heart sank.
Perhaps the bead was just acting up on its own.
Yu Daochen tried to comfort himself, but his anxiety grew.
If that person had replied even with a single word, he wouldn't be this worried.
After thinking for a moment, Yu Daochen suddenly realized that the person's phone was out of service, meaning they might have come to the Greater Khingan Range to find him because they were worried.
Just as Yu Daochen was about to set off to find that person.
"Yu Ye, I have a way," Qiangzi suddenly said.
Yu Daochen looked at Qiangzi excitedly, "What way?"
Qiangzi's expression was somewhat grim, and he hesitated.
Seeing Qiangzi's hesitation, Yu Daochen guessed that it might come at a cost, "Qiangzi, just say it. No matter the cost, I'm willing."
Qiangzi looked at Yu Daochen. If he didn't speak, he didn't know what this guy would do next, "I accidentally discovered a forbidden technique in the Sutra Depository of the Celestial Master's Mansion."
Qiangzi paused and then continued, "However, it requires a blood sacrifice."
Yu Daochen asked without hesitation, "How is that forbidden technique performed?"
"It requires a bone fragment of the person you are looking for as a catalyst, and your own blood as the price," Qiangzi said, his expression becoming serious. "However, this method requires a lot of blood, and you might be drained dry before you even find the person."
Yu Daochen frowned. The so-called bone fragment could be teeth, bones, fingernails, or even hair.
Yu Daochen became troubled. Where could he find that person's bone fragment? He completely forgot the danger Qiangzi had mentioned.
"See if this works," Yu Daochen said, channeling all his energy towards the bead in his lower abdomen.
Since a while ago, Yu Daochen had felt the bead inside him trying to break out.
As expected, as soon as Yu Daochen channeled his energy towards the bead, he felt something pushing its way out.
Yu Daochen opened his mouth and spat out a blue bead.
Qiangzi looked astonished, "Holy crap, Yu Ye, how did you swallow such a big bead?"
Yu Daochen didn't explain, "See if this works?"
Qiangzi examined the bead closely, his mouth forming a large 'o', his face full of surprise, "This is an inner core!"
After saying that, Qiangzi immediately shook his head, negating his own words. How could such a large bead be an inner core? Even the inner core of a two-thousand-year-old great demon wouldn't be a third of this size. Such a large inner core couldn't possibly exist in the world.
"Yu Ye, think carefully, this forbidden technique is not as simple as you think," Qiangzi emphasized again.
As soon as Qiangzi finished speaking, Yu Daochen directly cursed, "Stop being so indecisive. First, see if it can be used."
Qiangzi sighed and took out a blank white talisman from his pocket.
Author's Note: