Seeing that it was difficult to deal with the blood-clothed female ghost coexisting with the ancient monstrous beast's bones using conventional methods, Wu Tao rubbed his nose and conceived the idea of negotiation.
Standing still, he looked at the blood-clothed female ghost slowly re-coalescing her body. Wu Tao spoke with an unwavering attitude.
"Amitabha, if you let us leave today, I will not trouble you. Otherwise, we will continue to fight. Let's see if I can dismantle you in the end."
He pointed at Plato and the dozen or so people with him and spoke solemnly, his tone brooking no argument, as if he might attack again at any moment.
...
"Roar!!!"
In response to Wu Tao's words, the blood-clothed female ghost let out a fierce roar. However, compared to before, she showed a rare hint of apprehension.
The blood-clothed female ghost, whose origin had been partially shattered by the power of Buddhism, which countered her inherently, had lost more than half of her strength.
Of course, such severe injuries would be fatal to a human, but for special existences like the blood-clothed female ghost, it was nothing.
As long as she devoured a few more greedy unfortunate souls, she would not only recover but even become stronger.
After struggling for a while, looking at Wu Tao before her, a hint of hesitation appeared on the blood-clothed female ghost's face.
...
Creatures like this, half-ghost and half-curse, were not highly intelligent.
They possessed an instinctive craving for consumption, growing stronger by devouring everything they could.
However, due to her innate aversion to Buddhist power, the blood-clothed female ghost was unwilling to fight Wu Tao to the death, which was why she hesitated.
Not long after, the blood-clothed female ghost voluntarily cleared a path, allowing Wu Tao and his group to leave.
...
"Let's go!!"
Seeing this, Plato did not hesitate. He immediately led his descendants and walked out with Wu Tao.
...
On Plato's side, having narrowly escaped disaster and saved their lives, the dozen or so people were embracing and weeping, comforting each other.
Looking at this scene quietly, Wu Tao's expression was calm. He silently placed his staff on the ground, as if he had done something insignificant.
...
He, who acted only when there was a benefit, would naturally not help others for free!
He had his own reasons for painstakingly saving Plato and his group.
The first reason was that Plato and his group had been here for many years and undoubtedly knew more about the taboos of the Demon Abyss than he did.
Another reason was that he needed someone to vouch for his identity as an elder of the overseas sect, the Blue Kasaya Bodhisattva Sect.
After all, an identity was not something you could claim just by holding a written note and calling yourself someone. People would only believe you if there were both tangible and testimonial evidence.
Wu Tao now had tangible evidence and only needed testimonial evidence.
And weren't Plato and his group the testimonial evidence?
...
"Patriarch, do we need to go and thank the Master?"
Bai Aodong reminded him cautiously.
Hearing this, Plato, who had just narrowly escaped death, finally came to his senses.
His expression changed, and he gave a few instructions to the younger generation around him.
...
Immediately after, Plato, with his descendants, approached Wu Tao with humble smiles.
Upon reaching Wu Tao, Plato bowed and scraped repeatedly, but a different intent clearly flickered in the depths of his eyes.
Clearly, he harbored other thoughts in his heart.
...
At this moment, Plato appeared to be very grateful to Wu Tao, but in his heart, he already had other plans.
In this world, everyone has weaknesses, and weaknesses can be exploited.
Even a snake could swallow an elephant, and an ant could kill a giant beast...
"This monk so easily exposed his weakness. He can't blame me for using him, hahahaha..."
"To save strangers, risking his own life without regard for his own safety. Such a person is either a morally upright gentleman or an incorrigible pedant."
"As long as what I say later doesn't go wrong, I can trick a master to be our free escort."
"Originally, with just a dozen or so of us, we could only wander around the periphery. With the addition of this master, we can explore the core area."
"Even better, traveling with a master of this disposition, we don't have to worry about them attacking us even if we encounter rare heavenly treasures."
"We might even be able to use this to kill them instead..."
...
"We are deeply grateful for what just happened."
"If it weren't for the Master's intervention, we would have been killed by that red-clothed female ghost."
Plato said with great respect.
However, to Plato's dismay, Wu Tao showed no reaction to his explanation, nor did any expression appear on his face.
Seeing Wu Tao's reaction, Plato immediately took out the storage bag at his waist, held it up with both hands, and said, "To express our gratitude to you, Master, this is a small token of our appreciation."
...
"Are you familiar with this area?"
Hearing Plato's words, Wu Tao looked at him seriously and asked.
Upon hearing this, Plato was stunned for a moment, then nodded quickly and said, "I've been here for many years and am very familiar with many places in the Demon Abyss."
"Master, if you need someone to guide you, we are more than willing to play that role."
Plato said earnestly, looking at Wu Tao.
After hearing Plato's confident words, Wu Tao nodded and said, "I want to go to the core area of the Demon Abyss. Can you lead the way?"
...
"The core area of the Demon Abyss?"
Hearing this, Plato's eyes lit up. However, to avoid suspicion, he said, "The core area of the Demon Abyss is very terrifying. I know of several monsters that even Nascent Soul cultivators dare not provoke."
"And because the core area of the Demon Abyss is too dangerous, I haven't been there specifically. I only know its general location."
...
Standing still, Plato tentatively asked, "Master, you don't intend to go to the core area of the Demon Abyss, do you?"
Facing Plato's question, Wu Tao's expression was calm, and he nodded directly.
He did indeed want to go to the core area of the Demon Abyss to find Dao Embryos and ginseng fruits to help him break through his cultivation realm.
Seeing Wu Tao's determined look, Plato pretended to hesitate for a moment, then immediately agreed.
...
Upon hearing Plato's words, Bai Jingru, Bai Aodong, and the others turned pale, almost thinking their patriarch had gone mad.
After all, the core area of the Demon Abyss was a place that devoured people without spitting out bones.
...
After Plato and Wu Tao had made their arrangements, Plato found an excuse and, taking his descendants alone, went to a secluded spot.
After setting up a restrictive formation to prevent eavesdropping, Plato began to explain to his descendants why he was willing to lead Wu Tao into the core area of the Demon Abyss.
"Judging by his appearance, although he is not a cultivator from this region, he is likely a high monk from an overseas sect."
"Moreover, judging by this high monk's actions, his character should be very pedantic, and it would be much easier to deal with him than others."
"I estimate this high monk's cultivation realm to be around the late stage of Core Formation. With this master overseeing us, although venturing into the core area of the Demon Abyss is dangerous, it's better than us just lingering around the periphery!"
...
Hearing their patriarch's explanation, Bai Jingru, Bai Aodong, and the others, whose hearts had been hanging in suspense, finally relaxed.
Since their patriarch was confident, they felt at ease.
...
Subsequently, Plato and Wu Tao exchanged some information about each other through their conversations.
At this moment, Plato and Wu Tao were walking at the forefront, with bursts of laughter emanating from their conversations from time to time.
Anyone who saw them would have thought they were friends who had known each other for many years.
"So it really is a monk from overseas, no wonder he's so strong!"
Bai Jingru, walking behind, muttered to herself.
Bai Aodong next to her quickly tugged at her. "Didn't you see they're building a relationship? My dear young lady, why are you holding them back here?"
...
"Master, I've been here for many years and know a lot about the three calamities and seven tribulations in the most dangerous core area of the Demon Abyss."
"The three calamities are demonic wind, demonic creatures, and vengeful spirits."
"As for the vengeful spirits, there's no need to mention them. You've already seen them yourself, Master. You should be clearer than I am about how troublesome and terrifying they are."
...
"And the demonic wind is a demonic tide that periodically blows outwards from the core area. The destruction it causes wherever it goes is terrifying."
"Even cultivators like us in the Core Formation stage would find it extremely difficult to escape if caught in the demonic wind, and might even perish in it."
"However, the only fortunate thing is that after years of exploration, the times when the demonic wind blows have been remembered by many cultivators."
"Nowadays, few people are injured or killed by the demonic wind."
...
"Demonic creatures are the most terrifying of the three great calamities. They are said to be born from the remains of abyssal demons, nourished by demonic energy for countless years, giving rise to these evil beings."
"Not only do Core Formation cultivators die upon seeing them, but even Nascent Soul cultivators will avoid them."
"Because, anyone targeted by demonic creatures has never returned alive, not even Nascent Soul cultivators!"
...
Plato paused noticeably at this point, clearly giving Wu Tao room to think.
"Then what do the seven tribulations refer to?"
Wu Tao nodded and continued to ask without betraying any emotion.
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