God of Pets

After studying for half a day, Chen Guan and his team discovered that the easiest target here was actually the thousand-year Ghost Emperor.

The Holy Horned White Deer was difficult to lure down, and it required time and patience. Now they only had six days, which they couldn't afford to waste, so this option could be abandoned for the time being.

The Emperor Vein Ghost-Eyed Python lived in the complex Ghost Eye Cave, where the environment was incredibly complicated and extremely dark. Finding the Emperor Vein Ghost-Eyed Python, which could move silently and invisibly, and fighting it in such an environment was not an easy task. There was nowhere to hide, and the advantage of numbers was hard to utilize. Mounts were useless there, and no amount of pets would help.

In a one-on-one duel, trying to take down a giant creature weighing nearly a hundred tons and dozens of meters long that could swallow several people in one bite was truly too difficult.

Not to mention the scales of the Emperor Vein Ghost-Eyed Python were incredibly hard, making it tough for swords and knives to cause any damage. Even if they could manage to cut it, the sword would probably only inflict a minor injury.

Moreover, due to its enormous size, the Emperor Vein Ghost-Eyed Python possessed immense strength. It could physically confront cultivators of the Third Awakening with just its raw power, making them insignificant opponents.

The Underworld Blood Phoenix was even more formidable, being capable of flight. Regardless of whether they could win or not, if it couldn't win, it could simply fly away, couldn't it?

Of course, the strength of the Underworld Blood Phoenix itself was also terrifying. Its feathers were soft and flexible, like a soft sword, with edges that resembled unparalleled divine weapons, effortlessly capable of cutting through level 10 secret treasures.

Moreover, the speed of the Underworld Blood Phoenix was top-tier among First Awakening Secret Spirits. Even supreme lightweight skills might not catch up with it, and an average person might not even react in time before being sliced in half by its feathers.

By comparison, the Ghost Emperor seemed the easiest to kill. After consulting with the team, Chen Guan and the others decided to go after the thousand-year Ghost Emperor first.

"Although the thousand-year Ghost Emperor possesses a Body Protection Divine Skill, it must have a weakness. As long as we can seize upon its weakness, there is indeed a chance to slay the Ghost Emperor. After all, it's just a First Awakening Secret Spirit," the team leader encouraged everyone.

Chen Guan had no interest in motivating them; the 17th team's goal was to kill as many as possible, but his objectives were different.

The areas where these four World-Defying Secret Spirits resided were designated as forbidden zones by the Celestial Court Army. Without a mission, they didn't even have the qualification to enter, so there would be no chance to kill such World-Defying Secret Spirits.

Chen Guan intended to take down all four Secret Spirits, maxing out only on the Holy Horned White Deer on Cuiyun Mountain, because it was an uncontrollable factor that might not appear at any given time.

He planned to kill the Ghost Emperor, the Emperor Vein Ghost-Eyed Python, and the Underworld Blood Phoenix, hoping that perhaps something valuable might drop. Coupled with the mission rewards, it wouldn't be a minor accomplishment.

They agreed on the strategy to tackle the Ghost Emperor and their retreat plans, deciding to head back to the Beimang Mountain Secret Realm after having a meal.

The main reason why they agreed to engage the Ghost Emperor was that An Yiqi found out the strategy 9th team used to fight the Ghost Emperor. Considering that even if they failed, there was a high chance of retreat without losing their lives, they begrudgingly agreed to go after the Ghost Emperor.

As Chen Guan's group was about to head to the dining hall, they saw a familiar figure emerge from one of the dormitories.

Everyone's gaze turned cold as they looked at that person. Even though he wore a hat with its brim pulled down very low, almost hiding his face, someone recognized him just by his back as Bu Changning, who had just betrayed the 17th team and sent them into a desperate situation.

"Why are you still here? Weren't you supposed to be transferred away? Wearing a hat, you must know you're a traitor and can't show your face," the team members sneered.

Bu Changning remained silent, tugging at his clothes and turning to leave. He moved by exerting force with one leg, the other seemingly useless and dragging behind.

At this moment, everyone noticed he had a crutch under his arm.

"What's wrong? Did karma get you, and you broke your leg? Serves you right," someone jeered.

"My affairs have nothing to do with you," Bu Changning said, dragging his broken leg and hobbling forward.

"Of course you have nothing to do with us. Don't ever come back to the 17th team. Move away; the stench of a traitor is revolting," An Yiqi retorted sharply, never holding back her words.

Amid the verbal abuse from everyone, Bu Changning quickened his pace, reaching the steps where he awkwardly maneuvered the crutch, misstepped, and tumbled down the stairs, clutching his leg and wailing in agony.

His hat rolled aside, revealing a face covered in bruises, with one eye blackened and swollen shut.

Seeing Bu Changning in this state, everyone paused, ceasing their derogatory comments.

"Bu Changning, what happened to you?" An Yiqi curiously inquired.

"It's none of your business." Bu Changning, sweating from the pain, crawled to retrieve his crutch. Struggling to his feet, he had barely taken a few steps when the crutch got stuck in a tile seam, causing him to fall again.

This time, Bu Changning seemed to break down completely, furiously smashing the crutch in his hand until it broke, tossing it aside.

"Are you happy now? I learned my lesson, got used, tossed away like trash, and even had my leg broken. Satisfied?" Bu Changning said coldly to Chen Guan upon calming down.

"That's your own fault; you chose to be a traitor, so who's to blame?" An Yiqi responded.

"Yes, I brought it upon myself. I deserve to die. But if you were me, with someone capable of taking your life at any moment, forcing you to do their bidding while threatening your family, what choice would you have? I deserved my fate; I got used and discarded, but at least I kept my family safe. That's enough for me; I have no regrets," Bu Changning declared, struggling to his feet and hopping forward on his good leg.

He hadn't gone far before falling again.

Someone couldn't bear it and wanted to help him up. If what he claimed was true, that he betrayed due to threats to his family, while unforgivable, from his perspective, it was understandable.

"I don't need your pity, nor do I want it." Bu Changning, however, brushed the helping hand aside.

"Bu Changning, tell me, who exactly targeted the 17th team?" the team leader asked.

"Why should I tell you?" Bu Changning, sitting on the ground, answered helplessly.

"He coerced you, used you, and left you in this state. Don't you want revenge?" An Yiqi questioned.

"I do, but I can't do it. Neither can you," Bu Changning replied.

"How do you know we can't fight back if you don't tell us?" the team leader pressed.

"You really want to know? Fine, I got played, can't leave, and have to remain stuck with the 17th team. Let me stay until I join the Celestial Court Army, and I'll tell you who's behind this mess," Bu Changning proposed, sounding like a gambler clutching at his last straw.

"Alright." The team leader looked at Chen Guan, agreeing only after he nodded.

"Xiu Haofeng." Bu Changning, assured of their promise, immediately revealed the name of Xiu Haofeng.