<h4>Chapter 140: Gains and Losses</h4>


    From what Fang Lin could see, No. 5 seems to be full of himself.


    That’s logical, since the three of them had no way of resisting against the power of No. 5. Even if they were 1,000 of them, they will just be obliterated with just one attack of No. 5.


    “What, cat got your tongue? Hahaha, that’s a good one!” No. 5 even had some time for his corny jokes. In his point of view, no matter what struggle they do, he will still be able to leave with Fang Lin at the end.


    No.5 looked at Bloodspear who was pointing his spear at him. His Dao Core was spinning rapidly, showing his stable cultivation base. Bloodspear’s spear started to shine as it was covered with a formless energy. The air crackled as he waved his spear, clearly intent on fighting No. 5.


    No. 5 eyes then widened when he realized that Bloodspear can wield the spearforce!


    “Ho, I did not expect such a talent to show up here. You are pretty good toprehend the spearforce!” No. 5 seemed regretful as he sized up Bloodspear.


    “It will be a waste to kill you. Hm... I will just take you along with Fang Lin!” No. 5 nodded to himself, clearly satisfied with his gains.


    “As for you...” No. 5 then looked at Mina whose legs were trembling. Even she felt how formidable No. 5 was. She tried to look brave, but her paleplexion and rapid breathing revealed her fear.


    “Hmm?” No. 5 seems to be intrigued as he scrutinized Mina’s face. A few moments passed by and No. 5 startedughing uncontrobly again.


    “Oh my! This is a jackpot! I did not expect to gather such a haul today!” No. 5 rubbed his hands greedily as if he uncovered a treasure haul.


    “Little girl, your father was worried sick about you. He even promised a big reward to the one who can bring you back!”


    Out of all his encounters today, No. 5 reckons that his meeting with Mina was the luckiest one. Her father was a very rich businessman in the Immortal Continent. He can even be called the richest person in the Immortal Continent!


    Before he went to the Tian Ji Empire, No. 5 heard this man announcing that his daughter was missing, and the one who can bring her back can request one thing from him.


    No. 5 knew that with his riches, this man will surely have some treasures that can reduce the effects of his mes of Decay.


    And now that the missing girl was in front of him, No. 5 will not let any of his chance to slip away.


    “You two were lucky that you were useful.” No. 5 cricked his neck as he stretched his hands towards Fang Lin.


    “You two will join us, and you cannot do anything about it.” But before No.5 could grab Fang Lin, he stopped as he noticed the look in Fang Lin’s eyes.


    That look was simr to that of a cornered animal with no other way out!


    No. 5 knew from his experience that people with this look were at their most dangerous state. They will do anything drastic in order to survive. Even his instincts were screaming for him to run now.


    No. 5 drew back as he created distance between him and Fang Lin. He tightened his defenses as he waited for Fang Lin to use his trump card.


    Moments passed by, and nothing happened.


    “Hmmph, I must be overthinking then.” No.5 was about to rx his stance when suddenly, Fang Hao’s body started to release a powerful aura


    Once No. 5 felt this aura, he immediately deployed his strongest defenses to protect himself. But nothing special followed after the outburst of that aura.


    By that time, No. 5 was partly sure that Fang Lin was bluffing. But then his expression changed as he looked at his surroundings.


    His voice was shaking as he asked Fang Lin,


    “What the hell have you done!”


    ......................


    Through their use of the sacred artifact, Old Shi and Shi Hao were able to survive the first round of attacks by the undead deer and its associates.


    But before they could even sigh in relief, cracks started to appear on the artifact!


    “Not good! This can only withstand one more attack before it breaks apart!” Old Shi sighed as he prepared to use their trump card. But before he could do so, he heard the howl that tormented them yesterday.


    “Awooo!!!”


    This howl which brought Old Shi and Shi Hao at their wits end yesterday sounded like an angel’sughter right now.


    They knew that they were saved!


    “So, you havee now to fetch some trash, Pup.” The deer did not hold back its insults as it greeted the wolf.


    “Let’s see you say that once you’re in my belly.” The wolf seemed to be nonplussed by the deer’s rudeness.


    At that moment, Old Shi started to speak up.


    “Wolf King, those three who stole the stone fragment seemed to have ratted out the information about the stone fragment to them.”


    With these words, Old Shi managed to shift the me to Fang Lin’s group as they clear up their names. He can only hope that the undead wolf will be lenient on them.


    Shi Hao tightened his fists, hoping that the wolf will cover for them.


    “Hmmph, what these two was saying was true.” Old Shi and Shi Hao sighed in relief as they managed to escape certain death by a hairbreadth.


    “So it was really stolen from them?” The deer tilted its massive head while it looked at Old Shi and Shi Hao with doubt.


    “Yes, that’s true.”


    “Blergh, so even yourckeys now can’t even manage to regain that stone fragment. How useless!”


    “What myckeys can and cannot do is out of your jurisdiction already. I am just telling you that if you want the fragment, go look for it. It’s not with us anymore, but I n to regain that.”


    “Ok then, why don’t we have a bet?” The deer seem to be confident as it challenged the wolf. “The one who gets the fragment first will get to have the chance to enter the Sanctuary alone. Do you dare?”


    The undead wolf had been prideful since its birth. It will not let any insults towards it go unanswered. And now that he was being challenged, who was it to back down?


    “Of course I dare. Just do not get disappointedter.”


    “Hmmph, we shall see.” The deer and his followers then started to leave. They were now preparing to look for Fang Lin and co. personally.


    As they left, the wolf gave an enraged look towards Old Shi and Shi Hao. The words they heard from him was,


    “Your punishment for this screw-up willeter. If you want to redeem yourselves, be sure to make yourselves useful!”


    “Ye.. ye-yes!” Shi Hao and Old Shi found it hard to talk under the immense pressure emitted by the Undead Wolf.


    Before the wolf could continue scolding Old Shi and Shi Hao, he felt a powerful auraing from the Second Stage Area. Its eyes widened as it realized that this aura was the aura of the stone fragment!


    Old Shi and Shi Hao’s face fell when they felt that aura too.


    “Damn! We’ve been yed by them!” Old Shi realized that they just yed right into Fang Lin’s hands. Old Shi and Shi Hao going into the Fifth Stage Area was to just pave way for Fang Lin’s group to leave the Forest of Death! If not for that ring aura, Fang Lin’s group could have already left the Forest of Death undetected.


    “But why did Fang Lin choose to reveal the aura of the stone fragment right now? What if this is a trap of his?” Shi Hao asked anxiously as he stared at the direction of the aura. “If we two go there now, I think something will be waiting for us.”


    “Hmmph, do you think any schemes of his will work against absolute power?” The wolf stretched its wings as it flew towards the Second Stage Area.


    “Now that that brat revealed himself, I will not give him the chance to escape once more!” As for Old Shi and Shi Hao, they grabbed the wolf’s hind legs as it flew. Their eyes widened when they saw that aside from the wolf, the remaining nine Fifth Stage Undead were also going to where Fang Lin was.


    Old Shi and Shi Hao held back the despair inside their heart as they realized their chance of recovering the stone just got exponentially lower.


    “My stone.....”