However...

What should he do now? Qin Feng was a bit troubled.

The only thing he was sure of was that there were valuable treasures in Burial Mountain, but he didn't know exactly what they were.

This Young Master Gu was a master alchemist with formidable cultivation. He was definitely here for the treasures in Burial Mountain. Competing with him was out of the question for Qin Feng and his group.

What to do?

Qin Feng frowned, pondering a strategy.

But after a while, he gave up, because there was simply no strategy. The weak have no right to compete with the strong, and going against the odds would only lead to destruction. Even if they found something, what then?

So, the treasure hunt in Burial Mountain was essentially over!

How frustrating!

Just like that, he missed out on an "opportunity"!

Gu Heng noticed Qin Feng's silence, his face full of worry and quite pale. It was unclear whether he was thinking of something terrifying or if he was genuinely exhausted and needed to eat.

To Gu Heng, he seemed like an old miser, poor and reluctant to spend, a potential penny-pincher.

Seeing how pale he was, Gu Heng feared he might just collapse by the campfire.

That candy pill was really effective, one could last a day on it, but Old Wang treated it like a treasure. What could Gu Heng do? He couldn't force him to eat it.

But after observing Old Wang's anxious expression for a while, Gu Heng realized he might have been too shallow in his thinking.

Old Wang was a hunter, living off the mountain. Judging by his sorry state, he probably hadn't caught anything today. If he wasn't alone, his family would be starving by now!

And since he was still on the mountain, he was likely hoping to find something to hunt... But there was a giant python he couldn't handle. If he didn't leave the mountain soon, he might become prey himself.

Who knew if that python had a habit of eating midnight snacks?

So, Old Wang was definitely anxious!

Look at this honest man, almost on the verge of tears!

Gu Heng sighed, feeling that his charitable nature was hard to change.

"Old Wang, take this."

Gu Heng tossed a jade bottle into Qin Feng's arms. The latter was shocked, staring at the four Essence Solidifying Blood Congealing Pills inside, eyes filled with disbelief.

"This... Young Master Gu, what does this mean?" Qin Feng swallowed hard.

Leaning against a large green stone, the firelight cast shadows on Gu Heng's face. A sudden chill ran up Qin Feng's spine.

"Take it. Leave this mountain. Staying here won't do you any good."

Giving him a few more candy pills to persuade Old Wang to leave the mountain was Gu Heng's plan. Since Old Wang valued the candy pills, giving him a few more wouldn't hurt. After all, scarcity increases value, and now that he had five candy pills, they weren't so rare anymore.

One pill would be enough for Old Wang to descend the mountain and return to the village. Even if he didn't catch anything today, his family wouldn't go hungry with the candy pills. There was no need for him to stay on the mountain, risking being eaten by a snake.

"Young Master Gu, you..."

Qin Feng looked down at the jade bottle.

Five seventh-grade pills, and there were five of them who entered the mountain.

Was this meant for each of them to have one?

He looked up at Gu Heng, seemingly trying to discern something from his expression.

"Stop looking. Consider this as compensation for your losses. Leave the mountain early. If you stay, do you want to lose your life too?" Seeing Qin Feng's hesitation, Gu Heng's expression turned stern.

This Old Wang, too honest for his own good, sometimes being so straightforward could lead to losses!

"...I understand."

With the words spoken so clearly, if Qin Feng still didn't understand, he might as well quit.

Young Master Gu must have realized something was off about him. After all, the chances of a mortal coming to Burial Mountain were slim. They had racked their brains trying to guess Young Master Gu's strength, thinking he couldn't possibly be a mortal.

Qin Feng had thought he could hide his identity as a cultivator with a Secret Talisman, but not only did Gu Heng see through his foolish act, he also knew there were five of them, with the other four not far away.

The meaning of the five pills was clear—

The seventh-grade pills were compensation. Take the pills and leave quickly. They shouldn't even think about the treasures in Burial Mountain!

"Thank you, Young Master Gu, for the medicine. I won't disturb you any longer. Farewell!"

Qin Feng bowed and quickly disappeared into the forest.

"Ah... finally."

Gu Heng sighed in relief.

At least tonight, he wouldn't hear the screams of someone being eaten by a snake in the mountains.

...

Qin Feng reached the edge of the forest and called out, "Come out!"

Rustle!

Four figures appeared out of nowhere like phantoms.

"How did it go?"

One of them asked nervously.

"We're leaving the mountain now. Whatever treasure is in there, it belongs to that senior. We can't interfere."

Qin Feng took a deep breath and said seriously.

Hearing this, the four had different expressions. One asked in confusion, "Senior?"

"He's not a mortal?"

Qin Feng didn't answer. He just took out the jade bottle with the four seventh-grade pills, looking serious. "That senior already knew of your presence and saw through our clumsy act. But he's willing to give each of us a seventh-grade pill to make us leave."

Seeing the pills in the bottle, the other four were stunned, followed by growing astonishment.

Five seventh-grade pills, just given away?

What level of power must one have to be so generous?

Body Fusion stage? Tribulation Crossing stage? Or even Great Ascension stage!?

But regardless of the level, they couldn't afford to provoke him! Besides astonishment, they were also deeply curious!

If that senior was willing to give away five seventh-grade pills to make them leave, didn't that mean the treasure in Burial Mountain was worth thousands of times more?

But curiosity aside, as rogue cultivators, they survived by having a clear self-awareness, knowing what they could get involved in and what they should avoid even hearing about!

This was something they shouldn't even listen to!

Curiosity killed the cat!

So, the five of them quickly divided the pills and headed down the mountain.

Getting a seventh-grade pill each was already a huge gain. If they harbored any greed, they'd lose not just the pills but their lives!

...

Gu Heng stared at the campfire, suddenly remembering something.

Where was that silver kitten that went off for a moment? Why hadn't it returned?

Could it be lost?

"Meow!"

Little Xi's meow came from behind.

Su Jinxi was excited, and to Gu Heng, she seemed to be wagging her tail and head, her four little legs bouncing, looking like she was about to fly with joy.

Gu Heng couldn't help but smile. When Su Jinxi bounced over, he extended a finger and gently touched her ear.

Little Xi closed her eyes in comfort.

Gu Heng smiled and asked, "What good thing did you find? You're so happy."

He didn't know why this little one was so happy. It was just a brief moment away. Anyone would think she found a companion and had a passionate encounter in the wilderness.

But Su Jinxi was excited because she had indeed found the "secret" of Burial Mountain!

"...Do you want me to take a look?"

Gu Heng interpreted Little Xi's excited bouncing.

She nodded, her tail wagging quickly, as if urging him to follow her.

Gu Heng shook his head with a smile. Although this pet wasn't easy to care for, she was always adorable when she was this happy.

To read the uncut version, go to [p𝘢wread.com].

He was also a bit curious. What else was hidden in the mountain?