"Ding Huan spoke modestly," but in the eyes of these talented disciples, some of whom were already Sect Disciples.
Ding Huan’s life really was not valuable, a perception ingrained in their subconscious, not simply a matter of disdain.
Thus, when Ding Huan said those words, everyone felt a slight touch of emotion, though it was just a slight touch.
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At the very least, they would remember within a few days that Ding Huan, the cook, was pretty good.
A life might not hold much value, but even the life of an ant is still a life, after all.
Only Liu Yinzhu and Gu Youchang thought differently.
Gu Youchang believed that Ding Huan was no ordinary person, and if not for his lesser talent, his achievements might surpass even his own in the future.
While Liu Yinzhu was sure that Ding Huan didn’t really see his life as worthless, as he claimed.
In Ding Huan’s eyes, his life was more valuable than everyone’s lives combined.
Otherwise, he would not have tried every possible method to kill Qu Yueshan.
What was Ding Huan’s goal in killing Qu Yueshan? Was it not to survive?
Even Gu Youchang didn’t know that it was Ding Huan who had killed Qu Yueshan, but Liu Yinzhu knew.
Liu Yinzhu somewhat puzzled why Ding Huan would volunteer to lead the way.
Even with a sixth sense, it didn’t change the fact that one wrong step meant certain death.
Given Ding Huan’s current status in the team, there was really no need for him to take the risk himself.
"Thank you, Brother Ding, I..." Yan Mei struggled to articulate her gratitude.
She was certain that if Ding Huan hadn’t stepped forward, the last person leading the way would have been her. Indeed, she had prepared herself mentally to lead the way.
If fate were to do it all over again, she definitely wouldn’t think about joining any Taoist Sect.
There were many powerful beings who had ascended from the Mortal World and ultimately became peerless powerful beings.
Yan Mei expressed her gratitude, followed by other disciples who came forward to thank him.
Ding Huan clasped his fist and said:
"Meeting you all was also fate, I only hope that after we pass through the Lost Swamp, whether I, Ding Huan, am alive or not,
everyone will remember that there was once a person who led the way for you all, and I will be satisfied."
Once Ding Huan had said this, Liu Yinzhu suddenly understood.
It was a preemptive notice not to stir up rumors after passing through the Lost Swamp. Not to go to the Dual Soul Sect to complain that he, Ding Huan, had ousted Qu Yueshan from the team.
Indeed, every step he took was purposeful and planned.
Yet, Liu Yinzhu admired Ding Huan’s intentions.
After all, he only asked for some gratitude after making sacrifices.
Exploring the Lost Swamp was not just a small sacrifice.
If such a sacrifice still couldn’t evoke gratitude in some people, leading them to betray him to the Dual Soul Sect, those people’s characters were so despicable that they were unworthy of further association, and no one would deal with them in the future.
Originally, Ding Huan’s idea was to calculate one path and, if that didn’t work, to calculate a second path.
But when he arrived at the Lost Swamp, he was suddenly stunned; he could barely see some black holes within it.
He immediately calculated, and if he moved through the position of the black holes, the results were virtually blank.
If not moving through the black holes, there were results from the calculation, although blurred.
Ding Huan realized this definitely had to do with the integrated Eye of the Great Wilderness gene. Although his cultivation was still low, he could already see through some illusions.
It seemed like before when he could clearly see the distinctions between mountains and roads, in addition to the Detoxification Gene, the Eye of the Great Wilderness definitely played a major role.
"Lao Liu, follow closely behind me, and don’t wander off."
After saying this, Ding Huan stepped into the swamp.
Lao Liu didn’t need Ding Huan’s reminder as it would have followed him closely regardless. These days, it never strayed half a step from Ding Huan.
In such a dangerous place, straying from Ding Huan was akin to courting death.
After stepping into the swamp, Ding Huan then turned back and said:
"Everyone, follow behind me closely and watch my steps."
No one dared hesitate. Whether Ding Huan would die didn’t matter to anyone at that moment; as long as Ding Huan could lead, it was enough. If Ding Huan fell into the swamp, they could still send someone else to scout.
As long as Ding Huan was safe, they would all be safe.
With the enhancement from the Illusion Eye, the road ahead became simpler for Ding Huan.
Given his current state, he could move several times faster.
But Ding Huan, experienced in various dangers, not only didn’t speed up; he moved even slower and frequently wiped the sweat from his brow.
Not to mention the other new disciples, even Liu Yinzhu, seeing Ding Huan’s increasingly pale face, began to wonder if she was wrong?
Was Ding Huan genuinely unaware of the safe routes, purely relying on luck?
Nevertheless, Ding Huan’s demeanor made everyone feel even more grateful, at least for the moment.
A journey that should have taken a day, Ding Huan painstakingly took a day and a half to complete.
No incident occurred on the way.
"Mr. Ding, your luck really is incredible," said Elder Gu as soon as they crossed the Lost Swamp, unable to contain his exclamation.
Liu Yinzhu also agreed:
"There are others who have safely scouted before, but they are few. This time Mr. Ding safely scouted again, this indeed has something to do with luck."
Ding Huan wiped the sweat from his forehead:
"It’s alright, it’s alright..."
With a wave of his hand, Elder Gu summoned a spaceship in front of everyone:
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have finally emerged from the great ravine. Disciples of Yanyue Sect, please board the spaceship. Mr. Ding, would you also like to come with me to Yanyue Sect?"
Ding Huan quickly replied:
"Thank you, Elder Gu, I’d rather not go..."
As he spoke, Ding Huan seemed to remember something and quickly looked towards Deacon Qiong:
"Deacon Qiong, I was originally planning to collect some rewards at Yanyue Sect, but after thinking it over, I don’t have the aptitude, and survival there would be difficult.
I plan to find my own way as a mortal chef."
Deacon Qiong was taken aback, as was Liu Yinzhu.
She seemed to recall something and hurriedly said:
"Right, right, Mr. Ding, since you led us out of the great ravine, Purple Mist Valley should also give you part of the reward."
Ding Huan hastily waved his hand:
"Elder Liu misunderstood, my rewards are not for leading the way. Previously, I acquired a Condensing Star Bamboo, Deacon Qiong was holding it for me, planning to exchange it at Yanyue Sect for some useful items.
But having spent some time with everyone, I can no longer avoid the truth. My low aptitude means I cannot rely on a Condensing Star Bamboo to live, so I will not go to Yanyue Sect."
"Condensing Star Bamboo?" Liu Yinzhu looked at Ding Huan in surprise.
If she had obtained the Condensing Star Bamboo earlier, she wouldn’t have struggled so much at the Core Formation Stage of her cultivation, and would have completed it by now.
The Condensing Star Bamboo is considered the most valuable Third-level Spiritual Medicine, far surpassing even the value of most Fourth-level Spiritual Medicines.
That Deacon Qiong would actually try to claim Ding Huan’s Condensing Star Bamboo for himself, offering only a nebulous promise of a sect reward, was truly excessive.
Deacon Qiong was taken aback, needing the bamboo himself as he was about to advance to the next stage of cultivation—what would he do if he gave it to Ding Huan?
"Deacon Qiong?" Ding Huan called out again.
Yet in his heart, Ding Huan smirked; this guy was definitely playing dumb.
Let’s see how you can pretend in front of two elders and about twenty disciples.
"Oh, yes, right, right..." Deacon Qiong, having no choice, handed over a jade box to Ding Huan.
Before Ding Huan even took the box, he said:
"Mr. Ding, this Condensing Star Bamboo is also useful to me, would you consider parting with it? I am willing to exchange."
Ding Huan unapologetically accepted the Condensing Star Bamboo and said with some difficulty:
"Deacon Qiong, as you know, coming from the Mortal World, if I didn’t have any treasures on me, I wouldn’t be able to secure anything valuable for living. I’m really sorry."
Had Deacon Qiong firstly promised him a position as a menial disciple in the sect, Ding Huan might have agreed.
But now, even if Deacon Qiong promised him a menial disciple position, he would not agree.
Because he didn’t believe Deacon Qiong could deliver on his promise.
From his interactions with Elder Gu and Elder Liu, Ding Huan had learned a hard truth; entering the sect was not easy.
Even Elder Gu couldn’t make him a promise; there was no way he could trust Deacon Qiong’s promise.
Han Weicheng, standing aside, watched Ding Huan secure the Condensing Star Bamboo and shook his head in silence.
This Ding Huan was clever, but didn’t he realize that the bamboo could not be repossessed?
If it were anything else, it might be forgivable, but Dong Qiong and he were both at the stage of cultivating their spirits—how could he let go of this Condensing Star Bamboo?
Taking back the Condensing Star Bamboo was akin to seeking death.
"Mr. Ding, can you sell me this Condensing Star Bamboo?" Guan Pou suddenly came over and eagerly asked.
She needed to buy it and then give it to Deacon Qiong, since he was her protector.
Ding Huan was stunned, unable to comprehend as he looked at Guan Pou, thinking whether she was really depending on her soon-to-be-married face to buy the Condensing Star Bamboo.
But he quickly realized that Guan Pou wasn’t necessarily asking him to sell the bamboo.
If he could sell it, good; if not, Guan Pou was still helping Deacon Qiong.
This was to tell Deacon Qiong that even though Ding Huan was her servant, her words carried no weight. Deep down, she still wanted to help Deacon Qiong.
Damn, these folks were all sharp.
Ding Huan bowed his fists: "Miss Guan, I cannot sell it, I apologize."
Qing Yu snorted coldly:
"Ding Huan, you are also a chef of Jin Mansion, and the young lady asks you for something—it’s not even just asking, so why can’t you sell?"
Ding Huan looked at Qing Yu as if she was an idiot:
"When did I become a chef for Jin Mansion? My verbal contract with Miss Guan ended when we crossed the great ravine. The things I promised, did I not do them, or not do them well?
Miss Guan has nothing to say, what right does a maid like you have to speak?"
"You..." Qing Yu’s facial color turned livid.
"That’s enough, Qing Yu. Mr. Ding is not wrong," Guan Pou said coldly.
She indeed wanted to leave a good impression on Deacon Qiong, but that didn’t mean she wanted to offend Ding Huan.
She disliked Qing Yu’s previous actions; acting presumptuously before the master had spoken, especially, was something she found distasteful.
Ding Huan knew that if anyone were to snitch to the Dual Soul Sect, it would definitely be Qing Yu.
He had shown kindness to everyone, but he wasn’t about to be servile in return; since he couldn’t make the ingrate remember his kindness, there was no need to grovel:
"Miss Guan, be careful with this maid beside you. If anyone ever seeks to harm you, it will surely be this ungrateful woman."