Chapter 72

A group of four people continued to move forward.

Gradually, as they walked, Lin Yiming lightly sniffed the air. A putrid stench wafted from the air ahead. This smell, he had encountered before in the Yuanyang Mountain, where there was a swamp.

After walking for a while, sure enough, a swamp appeared before them.

This swamp seemed to stretch for more than three miles. The nearest part of the swamp was already marked with various clear signs, clearly indicating that it had been explored.

In the depths of the swamp, six men stood on a red marker. Apart from them, there were seven or eight others, seemingly connected by something, exploring the unmarked swamp with wooden sticks.

Behind them, another man stood on the already explored ground, holding something as if he were directing the others.

"The red markers indicate safe areas. Everyone, follow the safe areas," Lin Yiming observed the swamp for a moment and figured out the pattern. He called out to the group, put Little Guoguo on his back, and led Zhu Lubin and Ouyang Aoting into the swamp.

Although Sun Pingyang had once told him how to navigate a swamp in Yuanyang Mountain, now that there were clear safe markers, he didn't need to worry.

"Are we just going to walk through like this?" Zhu Lubin looked at Lin Yiming uncertainly, his voice full of worry. "Old Lin, this place is clearly explored by them. Look at those people; their hands and feet are tied together. If I'm not mistaken, they are also students being evaluated. They grab people to explore the swamp for them. If we just walk through, I'm afraid we'll be caught and used to explore as well."

"It's fine, just follow the path," Lin Yiming smiled inwardly and took the lead.

Seeing Lin Yiming walk forward, Zhu Lubin had no choice but to follow. As for Ouyang Aoting, he paid the least attention and followed others.

The four of them followed the red safety markers and moved forward.

After walking for a while, they finally reached a group of people standing on the farthest red safety marker.

Further away, a man holding a rope pulled it and shouted to the explorers in the swamp, "Alright, take a break for now. We'll continue later." He then threw the chain around a metal post in the swamp and turned to walk towards the group standing on the safe ground.

A moment later, he joined the others, and they approached Lin Yiming and his group.

"They're coming over," Zhu Lubin quietly tugged at Lin Yiming's clothes and whispered, "I have a bad feeling. They're coming to cause trouble."

"Maybe," Lin Yiming replied absentmindedly, his eyes scanning the group.

This group of seven people were all quite strong, with the weakest being at the fifth level of Martial Dao Spirit Heart, and there were two of them. The remaining five included one at the sixth level, three at the seventh level, and one Blood Soul Transformation expert.

The seven people quickly scanned Lin Yiming and his group, and their eyes all lit up when they saw Little Guoguo on Lin Yiming's back.

The seven people spread out and surrounded the four.

"You four are quite smart. We risk our lives to explore the path, and you just follow our markers. Did you get permission?" A particularly fierce-looking man stepped forward and pointed at Lin Yiming and his group, speaking harshly.

Zhu Lubin's eyes darted around, and he pulled out a piece of silver from his pocket, trying to appease them, "We didn't know. We've already walked this path. If you want, we can pay you as a fee for the path. What do you say?"

"Money? How much do you have? Do I look like I need money?" The man sneered, advancing towards Lin Yiming and his group.

At the same time, the other six people also moved closer.

"We'll go back ourselves, we'll go back right now," Zhu Lubin cautiously retreated.

"Go back? Now that you're here, do you think you can leave?" One of the three seventh-level Martial Dao Spirit Heart warriors laughed loudly, "Let me tell you, now you only have one choice: to do the same as them."

The man pointed to the people resting on the side, "Join them and explore the path for us."

"Using people to explore the path, what a brilliant idea," Lin Yiming pointed to the ground and said angrily, "This is a swamp. No one knows which part will sink. If someone sinks while exploring for you, what will you do? You're forcing people to their deaths."

"We'll save them if they sink. We are very kind people," the seventh-level Martial Dao Spirit Heart warrior replied.

Lin Yiming laughed, his face full of mockery, "Saving people, what a nice word. If someone sinks slowly, you might save them. But in many places, people sink very quickly. Once they step in, they'll be gone instantly, and you won't have time to save them."

"Then that person is just unlucky," the man waved his hand impatiently and took a few more steps forward, "Enough talk. You four, except for the little girl, the three of you, line up for me."

"What if I say no?" Suddenly, Zhu Lubin stepped forward, looking very domineering.

This sudden change surprised Lin Yiming; he didn't expect Zhu Lubin to have such a domineering side.

"Hmph, no? Then we'll beat you until you submit and do as we say. But don't worry, we are very merciful. We need you to explore the path, so we won't kill you," the man's smile turned sinister.

The moment the man finished speaking, Zhu Lubin's expression changed. He suddenly became very subservient, "Look at my build, I'm too heavy to explore. You should find someone else."

Lin Yiming glanced at Zhu Lubin, who was retreating while speaking, and felt speechless. This fat guy, who just seemed so domineering, turned into a coward at the first threat. It was embarrassing.

Ignoring Zhu Lubin, Lin Yiming looked at the man and laughed coldly, "You make others explore for you and call it kindness, and beating people is mercy. Is that how the world works?"

"That's right. If I don't kill you, that's mercy. Brat, now get over here," the man waved his hand at Lin Yiming and his group.

"Is that so? If that's the case, I'll be merciful this time," Lin Yiming put Little Guoguo down.

Seeing Lin Yiming's action, the seven people laughed simultaneously.

"Ha, big brother, look at this guy. He actually wants to challenge us."

"He's not the first to challenge us. We've been working together here, grabbing people to explore for us. We've encountered six or seven who resisted, but this is the first time we've seen someone like him. Look at his two companions; they're so scared they can't even speak and are retreating. He dares to challenge us alone. What courage," the man pointed at the retreating Zhu Lubin and the fearful Ouyang Aoting, laughing loudly.

"Big brother, let me teach this guy a lesson," a fifth-level Martial Dao Spirit Heart man said and, without waiting for a response, charged at Lin Yiming.

This was a swamp, but the man's speed was not much slower than on flat ground, clearly indicating his familiarity with the area.

As he was about to reach Lin Yiming, he didn't immediately attack but paused, sweeping his foot across the ground.

A patch of wet mud flew up and whizzed towards Lin Yiming.

After the mud, the man lightly stepped on the ground, confirming it was safe, and then fully exerted his strength.

A thick aura of spirit energy flowed from his body, gathering on his fists, and he struck Lin Yiming's head with a heavy blow.

The punch came down like a giant hammer, creating a whistling sound.

"Brother Liu, you're getting better at this."

"Compared to last time, Brother Liu has improved a lot. At this rate, it won't be long before he breaks through."

"Brother Liu has great talent, he's just a bit lazy. If he trains diligently, his achievements won't be low," the others watched Brother Liu, nodding in satisfaction.

Lin Yiming watched the mud flying towards him, a look of surprise on his face. Although he had walked through the swamp before, he had never fought in one.

Instinctively, he wanted to dodge to the side, but as soon as he moved, he quickly realized something.

No, this is a swamp.

Although the ground he was standing on was safe, who knew if the surrounding ground was safe. If he moved and stepped into a dangerous area, he could sink.

So, in a swamp, it's best not to move if you don't have to.

If he couldn't move, he had to block the attack.

Page AD starts

Page AD ends