Xiao Mu pondered and then suggested, "I have a proposal."

"Speak!" Xu Qianwu was very direct.

Xiao Mu proposed, "How about we head to Cangmang Mountain? It lies between the Leihe Region and the Nanhua Domain. If the opportunity arises, we can always escape back to the Leihe Region."

It would be very difficult for Xiao Mu alone to break through the Curse Gate's blockade and flee from the Nanhua Domain to the Leihe Region.

But with Xu Qianwu added to the equation, once Xu Qianwu's injuries healed, under his leadership, breaking through the Curse Gate's blockade would be much easier relatively speaking.

"No, we can't run!"

Xu Qianwu's face darkened as he rejected Xiao Mu's suggestion and firmly stated, "The Curse Gate is after you, and your situation is very dangerous. I can get you into the Leihe Region, but I cannot run."

"I have been ordered by the great chief, Wu Jie, to guard the South Five Regions. My duty is to protect the safety of you task force members as well as that of the South Five Regions. Now, not only has the Nanhua Domain been taken over by the Curse Gate, but many members of the task force have also been captured."

"In my view, this is already a severe dereliction of duty. How could I possibly abandon others and run away?"

"Xiao Mu, if you want to leave, I will send you back. However, I must stay and rescue the people captured by the Curse Gate."

"This..."

Xiao Mu had not expected Xu Qianwu to say such a thing and immediately felt torn.

To be honest, if he could avoid death, he definitely did not want to die.

For him, leaving the Nanhua Domain now was the most rational and advantageous choice.

Yet, Xu Qianwu's words had touched his heart.

As a member of the task force, while everyone else was fighting on the front lines, how could he be the only one to flee the scene?

He was very afraid of dying, but to abandon others and flee alone, leaving them to fight while he cowered – he absolutely could not do such a thing, nor could he afford to lose that kind of face.

"Forget it, since Elder Xu wants to stay and fight, then I'll stay and fight with you," said Xiao Mu, grinding his teeth as he made up his mind.

What am I doing? There's absolutely no need for this! Even if I left Xu Qianwu and the others behind and escaped alone, it wouldn't be so bad, right?

Xiao Mu cursed himself inwardly but was unable to force himself to change his mind.

"Xiao Mu, you really don't need to do this." Xu Qianwu shook his head, not agreeing with Xiao Mu's decision to stay and fight with him, "The Curse Gate is trying to capture you, and though I don't know why, to the Curse Gate, you're obviously more important than me, even more than all of us combined."

"If you get caught, the consequences might be unimaginable."

"Therefore, I still suggest you leave. Once my injuries have healed, I will send you into the Leihe Region as soon as possible."

"There's no need."

Since Xiao Mu had already made up his mind, it was hard for him to change it, "Elder Xu, don't mention sending me off alone again. I will fight alongside you."

"How blindly stubborn!" Xu Qianwu glared at Xiao Mu and said angrily, "Do I need you to fight with me? With your little bit of strength, do you really think you can help me?"

Again with the childish reverse psychology!

Xiao Mu scoffed in his mind and laughed, "Provocation won't work on me! Elder Xu, don't forget that you need my life force to heal your injuries quickly."

Xu Qianwu cursed fiercely, knowing he couldn't persuade Xiao Mu, and grudgingly said, "Fine, I knew I couldn't convince you, kid. But since you've made your decision, be prepared to take responsibility for it. Let's go, to Cangmang Mountain!"

The two continued heading north, making their way toward Cangmang Mountain.

They deliberately kept a low profile, concealing their tracks. Even though they encountered Mutated Beings from the Curse Gate along the way, they did not engage in battle.

Finally, they safely reached Cangmang Mountain.

Xu Qianwu found a valley, sat down under a cliff, and gradually merged into the mountain wall.

With his back to Cangmang Mountain, the old man's Spirit Tablet of the Mountain God fully manifested, revealing the image of a Mountain God sitting cross-legged overhead. This Mountain God's image was identical in appearance to the old man, solemn and dignified, truly like a real Mountain God.

However, this Mountain God's image was not golden but black, and faintly imbued with Curse Power.

After repeated battles with the Divine Spirits of the Curse Gate, the Spirit Tablet of the Mountain God had been cursed numerous times, and its divine essence was now severely corroded by the Curse Power.

Xiao Mu took a startled look at Xu Qianwu's Mountain God image, his expression immediately growing more somber.

After the old man sustained new injuries, the damage to the Spirit Tablet of the Mountain God had worsened. The Curse Power had even infiltrated the interior of the Mountain God image, and key areas like the wrists, ankles, and neck were bound by chains filled with Curse Power.

This meant that the old man's injuries had reached the core, and if they erupted one day, he would die instantly.

"Xiao Mu, provide me with some more Life Force."

Xu Qianwu clearly did not care about the state of his Spirit Tablet damage, directly communicating with Xiao Mu to demand Life Force.

"Sure!" Xiao Mu agreed and flicked a bundle of Life Force into Xu Qianwu's body.

"Haha!" Xu Qianwu was overjoyed, feeling the Life Force entering his body, his injuries gradually recovering, "As expected of the top healing power, Life Force, again!"

Xiao Mu continuously sent bundles of Life Force into Xu Qianwu's body.

And with the infusion of Life Force, Xu Qianwu's injuries slowly began to heal.

However, even though the injuries were healing, the Divine Spirit Tablet did not recover.

The damage to the Divine Spirit Tablet was foundational, a damage to the very core, something the Life Force was incapable of repairing. Life Force could only repair the physical injuries.

"Elder Xu, the damage to your Divine Spirit Tablet is severe."

Xiao Mu glanced at the form Xu Qianwu had assumed as the Mountain God and couldn't help but remind him.

"You noticed too?"

Xu Qianwu smiled, appearing nonchalant, "If my Divine Spirit Tablet hadn't been so severely damaged, how could Qu Xuanlang have withstood my ten moves?"

Here it comes again!

Xiao Mu found it difficult to watch others boast, showing a disbelieving expression on his face.

Xu Qianwu glared at Xiao Mu, discontentedly saying, "You don't believe it?"

Xiao Mu nodded, "Elder Xu, boasting won't defeat Qu Xuanlang."

"Boasting? Xiao kid, you dare to underestimate me?"

Xu Qianwu became angry and exclaimed, "In fact, you don't understand at all. Do you know what benefits I've gained from the damage to my Divine Spirit Tablet?"

"There are benefits to the Divine Spirit Tablet being damaged?" Xiao Mu was skeptical.

"Of course."

Xu Qianwu declared righteously, "Do you know why those who practice Qinggong tie sandbags to their legs?"

"Practicing with sandbags tied to their legs, once they get used to the weight of the sandbags, they can remove them and feel like they're flying, feeling lighter."

"My situation is similar to practicing Qinggong with sandbags."

"My Divine Spirit Tablet is damaged, but as I continue to fight under these circumstances, I gradually adapt to this way of fighting."

"Imagine, even with a damaged Divine Spirit Tablet, I can exert strength as powerful as others with a normal Divine Spirit Tablet. Once mine recovers, do you think anyone with the same Divine Spirit Tablet power can compare with me?"

Is this… for real?

Xiao Mu found it hard to believe, could a damaged Divine Spirit Tablet actually enhance strength?

"Tch! I see it now, you still don't believe me, but you'll know how formidable I am when my Divine Spirit Tablet recovers." Xu Qianwu's face soured, appearing displeased about not being trusted.

"Elder Xu, it seems your Divine Spirit Tablet might not be so easy to heal, right?" Xiao Mu pondered aloud.

Xu Qianwu's Spirit Tablet was too severely damaged; it likely wasn't going to be easy to heal.

"Are you deliberately infuriating me?" Xu Qianwu was instantly deflated, his face as dark as ink.

His Divine Spirit Tablet was indeed, as Xiao Mu said, too severely damaged, making recovery extremely difficult.

Glaring at Xiao Mu, he complained dissatisfiedly, "What about the Life Force? Where's my Life Force? You're just being lazy!"

"Haha!"

Xiao Mu laughed as he kept sending bundles of Life Force to Xu Qianwu, helping to repair his physical injuries.

"Elder Xu, do you know how to recover the Divine Spirit Tablet?"

"What for?"

Xu Qianwu glared at Xiao Mu again.

"Just asking," Xiao Mu said offhandedly.

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