Chen Guan had just picked up the Vermilion Fruit when he looked up to see Xiu Jie Ming, whose body was back to its original state, looking at him. He forced a smile and said, "Commander Xiu, how about giving you the Celestial Immortal Peony?"

Xiu Jie Ming moved his gaze from Chen Guan's face, looking towards the pill furnace as tall as the mountain peaks, where golden light flowed, seemingly with immortal energy rising.

"There are so many people in this world, a few more won't make much difference," Xiu Jie Ming said, then flipped himself onto the White Tiger and turned to head down the mountain.

Chen Guan was slightly astonished and exchanged a glance with Button Brother. They each summoned their Night-Lion Horses and mounted to follow Xiu Jie Ming down the mountain.

There was thick fog and deep clouds climbing the mountain, but descending was much easier; the further down they went, the thinner the fog became. However, they didn't see Xiu Yingmei and the others who went up the mountain with them.

As they reached halfway down the mountain, they heard a brassy cattle bellowing, and then saw a hornless bronze ox charging up crazily from the bottom of the mountain.

"Did such a high cliff not kill it?" Chen Guan thought to himself.

The bronze ox saw Chen Guan and the others but ignored them, red-eyed and head twisted, charging all the way up to the mountaintop.

"Don't go... The White Deer has already escaped..." Chen Guan shouted twice, but the bronze ox seemed not to hear, already rushing into the clouds, speeding towards the peak.

"Really bull-headed." Button Brother shook his head and laughed.

The three continued down the mountain, and before long, they returned to the Ancient Green Ox Temple, seeing those who went up the mountain with them already at the bottom.

Xiu Yingmei was both surprised and delighted seeing Xiu Jie Ming returning with Chen Guan, partly unbelieving.

She had been praying in her heart for Chen Guan not to encounter Xiu Jie Ming, fearing that Chen Guan would be killed by Xiu Jie Ming.

But now they actually returned together, seemingly they had met, although she didn't understand why Xiu Jie Ming hadn't done anything to Chen Guan.

Xiu Jie Ming inquired about the situation of the others; after going up the mountain, they got scattered, each experiencing different outcomes.

Some just walked down the mountain, while others hadn't walked far in the fog when they saw a Daoist temple, discovering some things inside, each gaining something.

Xiu Jie Ming led his team directly away from Cuiyun Mountain, packed up at the base, and prepared to leave.

"Are you okay?" Xiu Yingmei found an opportunity to talk alone with Chen Guan, her heart full of doubts.

Xiu Jie Ming didn't mention what he encountered on the mountain and didn't talk about killing Chen Guan after returning.

Xiu Yingmei asked Xiu Jie Ming how to handle Chen Guan, to which Xiu Jie Ming simply replied, "It's just a little Chen Guan, insignificant, whether dead or alive doesn't matter, not worth the effort to bother, let him be."

Xiu Yingmei was shocked; this was not what Xiu Jie Ming had said before.

But this made Xiu Yingmei very happy, and she didn't dare to ask more, for fear that Xiu Jie Ming would change his mind again.

But she was very curious about what happened on Cuiyun Mountain that made Xiu Jie Ming have the thought of sparing Chen Guan.

"I'm fine, thanks to Commander Xiu, otherwise, this time would indeed be a narrow escape." Chen Guan briefly talked about Xiu Jie Ming's battle with the Holy Horned White Deer.

Xiu Yingmei was stunned, and after Chen Guan finished, she said incredulously, "Impossible, brother saved you from the White Deer?"

This was unbelievable to Xiu Yingmei, like a fantasy; how could Xiu Jie Ming save Chen Guan when he couldn't wait for Chen Guan to die?

"I also find it hard to believe, but it is indeed the truth." Chen Guan was still somewhat puzzled.

Not only did Xiu Jie Ming not come to kill him, but he saved him, and didn't take the Celestial Immortal Peony from Chen Guan's hand, seeming to tacitly allow Chen Guan to return the Celestial Immortal Peony later.

Inside the camp, Wen Yutao also secretly breathed a sigh of relief, took out a Sound Transmission Jade Talisman in a secluded place, and said into it, "The mission is completed, heading back now, Xiu Jie Ming didn't act against Chen Guan, nor did he acquire the Golden Core."

Then he detailed the events of the Cuiyun Mountain trip, and after sending the message, the weight in Wen Yutao's heart finally dropped.

Originally, he thought that with his ability, nothing should go wrong, but he lost track at the last stretch, thankfully nothing happened, otherwise it would be hard to explain when back.

Xiu Jie Ming's team was fully packed, Chen Guan and Button Brother waited beside to see them off.

As they watched the team go past, Xiu Jie Ming suddenly stopped his mount, but didn't turn around, merely said lightly, "I'm waiting for you to challenge me, only the winner is the protagonist."

After saying this, Xiu Jie Ming left with his team.

The others didn't know what Xiu Jie Ming's nonsensical remark meant or who he was speaking to.

But Chen Guan and Button Brother knew very well that Xiu Jie Ming's words were aimed at Chen Guan.

Chen Guan's expression was bizarre: "So he heard what I said, did he take it seriously? Is that why he didn't act against me?"

Although the situation felt a bit surreal, it surpassed the expected outcome.

Having one less enemy is always good, at least Xiu Jie Ming isn't intending to take his life now.

Yet if Xiu Jie Ming truly acted against Chen Guan, it's not certain who would end up dead.

Chen Guan had plans in mind, but they didn't come into play.

However, Chen Guan was not entirely confident that his plan would succeed; this outcome was the best.

Chen Guan didn't go to Peony Mountain to return the Celestial Immortal Peony but instead brought it to the Reserve Team.

Over ten thousand little Flower Demons were oppressed, this was no joke, he needed to earn money first before he could return the Celestial Immortal Peony.

Button Brother also returned to his army; with this experience and acquiring two Unparalleled Secret Skills, his future achievements won't be low, and if enlightened, he might accomplish great things.

Whether he's a dragon or a worm depends on his own skills.

Returning to the Reserve Team, after completing the task, Chen Guan gained several points.

He wasn't interested in those now, so after returning to his dormitory, he took out that Vermilion Fruit to compare with the others.

At first glance, it indeed seemed similar, but upon careful distinction, this Vermilion Fruit was indeed different from the others and quite similar to the one Yan Zhi ate.

"It's up to you." Chen Guan had no better options, he could only gamble with this Vermilion Fruit.

Having witnessed the battle between Xiu Jie Ming and the Holy Horned White Deer, Chen Guan realized that killing the Secret God was far too difficult now, virtually hopeless.

Instead of wasting time, it was better to gamble with the Vermilion Fruit, as Yan Zhi became a Secret God through it, should not be worse than her.

At the instant he put the Vermilion Fruit into his mouth, the originally hard Vermilion Fruit melted immediately, flowing into his stomach, and Chen Guan instantly felt a boiling sensation from his stomach.

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