Chapter 73

Chapter 73: No Choice

Arriving at this spiritual mine, Zhou Luo was like an ordinary person entering a dark forest, completely unaware of everything.

Precisely because of this, he wanted to better understand the situation here, so he thought of entering the second layer.

However, because he was unaware of everything, he did not expect that the Lu Family would attach such importance to the timing of the poisoning, even sending an elder to investigate, leading to the poisoning truth being uncovered.

Then, he thought of continuing his plan, hoping he could contact people from the Great Elder to find a way out.

Yet again, because he was unaware of everything, even though he originally wanted to understand the situation to seek protection, he ended up learning the spiritual mine’s biggest secret.

Now, he finally knew why, even after they discovered he poisoned, they did not choose to kill him.

For them, the poisoning matter itself was actually not serious enough.

Whether it was poisoning by the Lu Family or by him, it made no difference.

All the reactions they displayed were only out of fear that the spiritual vein matter would be exposed.

To protect the spiritual vein, they could even trap two first-tier high-tier formation masters here to die.

If Zhou Luo did not know the spiritual mine’s secret, perhaps they would not dare to try to kill him.

Because once he died, the Great Elder, who already had suspicions about the spiritual mine, would definitely use that as an excuse to probe the situation thoroughly.

But now, everything was too late.

Knowing the spiritual mine’s secret, it was impossible for him to leave here.

And one month later, he still had to go to the Qinyuan Sect, so they would certainly kill him before that.

Zhou Luo leaned back, as if he could already see the picture of his own death.

No.

Just then, he woke up suddenly and sat straight again.

He could not die here.

After all, he was one with a system and had a long life; how could he die miserably like that?

But for now, the system helped him not at all.

His mind spun rapidly as he began to think of a solution.

"Don’t be too shocked; you’ll be leaving in a month anyway to tell the Great Elder this," Lin Xianlong comforted, seeing the other’s alarm and agitation.

With a bitter expression, Zhou Luo said, "Do you think, after knowing this secret, I can still leave?"

Lin Xianlong froze, blurting out, "You’re not sent by the Great Elder?"

In his view, everything was planned by the Great Elder from behind, so Zhou Luo naturally had some self-defense trump card.

"Actually, it was the Lu Family that arranged for me to come here," Zhou Luo said helplessly.

Indeed, he was not certain if the Great Elder was involved or not, but the one thing he was sure of was that the Great Elder could not help him now.

Lin Xianlong grew even more bewildered.

With a complex expression, he looked at Zhou Luo and asked uncertainly, "How about I keep pretending to be poisoned, so they won’t know we’ve talked?"

Hearing this, a glimmer of light flickered in Zhou Luo’s eyes as a flash of insight struck.

You’re right.

As long as the main family remained uncertain whether he’d learned of this secret, their suspicions might cause them to hesitate to strike.

As long as they didn’t act immediately.

That was his chance.

Yet, the image of Lin Xuanfeng’s sharp eyes, seemingly capable of piercing through all deception, made him uncertain the main family would truly stay their hand.

This poison definitely had to be resolved.

Once Lin Xianlong woke up, subjected to Lin Xuanfeng’s methods, what if he confessed everything?

He couldn’t stake his life on someone else.

Not even an ally.

Because when true death threatens, no one can be certain of another’s heart.

Thinking this, Zhou Luo turned his head towards the window.

There, several indistinct figures stood – Lin Xuanfeng and the others.

A layer of killing intent slowly surfaced deep within his eyes.

A dead man surely wouldn’t reveal anything, right?

In that instant, the sheer will to survive birthed his first genuine thought of murder.

Of course, he didn’t intend to kill Lin Xuanfeng; his target was Lin Xianlong beside him.

Only by killing Lin Xianlong could Lin Xuanfeng never confirm whether he knew the secret of the spiritual mine. As long as it remained unknown, Lin Xuanfeng wouldn’t move against him before he left the mine. That was the time he could grasp.

Furthermore, killing Lin Xianlong might also demonstrate to the main family that his ties to the faction of the Great Elder weren’t particularly strong. Perhaps he could even use this to defect to the main family’s side.

Frankly, Zhou Luo had virtually zero fondness for the main family’s faction.

But to survive, he had no choice.

It was the only way.

He withdrew his gaze. When he looked back at Lin Xianlong, his expression hadn’t changed, yet a wave of guilt surfaced within him.

"This damned world," he cursed silently.

It was a world of survival of the fittest. If you didn’t devour others, they would devour you.

Lacking strength, you could only stumble forward passively, devoid of choices.

An overwhelming sense of powerlessness seized Zhou Luo’s chest. He took a deep breath.

"What do you think?" Lin Xianlong asked, looking at the distracted Zhou Luo.

Zhou Luo met his gaze and suddenly offered a wide smile. "I think you’re absolutely right."

"Relax, if the main family only suspects, they won’t dare act rashly against you," Lin Xianlong added.

"Mhmm. For greater authenticity, please consume this again, Senior," Zhou Luo said, producing a dark brown potion.

Lin Xianlong took the potion without suspicion, even examining it. "I hadn’t realized the poison’s effect was so potent. The Great Elder gave this to you, I assume?"

After swallowing the potion, Lin Xianlong lay down voluntarily.

He didn’t notice Zhou Luo watching him expressionlessly, his gaze like the gaze one would give a dead person.

Lying down, Lin Xianlong intended to offer Zhou Luo a few more words. Suddenly, his body jolted violently, his face convulsing with shock, followed immediately by a wave of excruciating pain that radiated through his limbs.

His eyes widened in utter disbelief at Zhou Luo, the whites already tinged with a spreading murky grey.

Thud—

Lin Xianlong vomited a massive torrent of blood. After twitching several times, all signs of life ceased.

Zhou Luo watched silently. Blood sprayed across his impassive face, creating a ghastly sight.

He exhaled shakily, stood up, collected all the spiritual symbols, walked to the door, and pulled it open.

Outside, Lin Kai and the others all turned towards him.

Seeing the blood on his face, their expressions changed dramatically.

"What happened?!" Lin Kai demanded sharply.

Zhou Luo’s face was pale as death. "I failed. My apologies."

Standing aside, Lin Xuanfeng’s shadowed eyes flickered with shock at these words.

Lin Kai directly shoved him aside and charged into the room.

Then, he saw Lin Xianlong lying there, eyes wide open, life utterly gone.

He staggered back several steps, horrified.

Behind him, Lin Xuanfeng and the others also entered.

Apart from Lin Xuanfeng, the three Pill Masters, confronted by such a brutal scene, turned equally pale, faces filled with shock.

"It… it was all my fault. I never expected Senior couldn’t endure it," Zhou Luo entered last, his expression tortured, voice choked and raspy.