Su Chen spoke indifferently.

Phoenix hesitated for a moment, then said firmly, "Don't worry, I guarantee this won't happen again. If I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning."

Su Chen's face remained indifferent, yet his heart was shaken once again. Hearing her oath, it seemed she had truly repented. Should he trust her once more?

Seeing his worried expression, Phoenix gathered her courage and took two steps forward, suddenly hugging Su Chen from behind. Su Chen was like struck by lightning, his body instantly stiffened.

"What are you doing?"

"I'll be your slave, do anything you want, as long as you let me stay by your side."

Phoenix said, trembling.

Su Chen took a deep breath, suppressing his shock, and said in as calm a tone as possible, "You don't have to do this, nor do I need it."

"No, I'm willing. You can refuse me, but I will definitely follow you."

Su Chen suddenly realized, "So you're worried about being hunted."

Phoenix pressed her jade-like face against his back, inhaling his pleasant scent. She had never tried hugging a man like this, especially a boy much younger than herself.

"You can think of it that way, it doesn't matter anyway, I'm sticking with you."

Phoenix said words that made her blush and her heart race, quickly pressing her face tightly against Su Chen's back, afraid to face him. But Su Chen felt entirely different.

Su Chen shook his head with a bitter smile, thinking, he was very angry just a moment ago, why did his heart seem to melt when embraced? That resentment dissipated instantly. Is this the power of a woman?

After a moment of helplessness, he glanced at Phoenix, whose face was flushed, and asked, "Since you said you're willing to be a slave, then give me the sheepskin scroll, will you?"

Phoenix paused for a moment, then quickly nodded, appearing natural, "I'm willing, anyway holding it only brings endless harm, why not give it to you for security."

Su Chen lightly smiled, "And you're not just afraid of being hunted, pushing trouble onto me?"

"Hmph, I'm planning to wholeheartedly follow you, yet you doubt me..."

Mid-sentence, Phoenix suddenly froze. She glanced at Su Chen who had a similarly stunned expression. Her beautiful eyes blinked, then she covered her mouth in shock, "I, it wasn't me just now..."

Su Chen suddenly laughed, a faint chuckle that held a hint of delight. He suddenly found this version of Phoenix more endearing than the cold and ruthless one.

"This is your woman's right, only you've always closed yourself off. Actually, there's so much in this world worth cherishing and changing for."

Phoenix murmured in agreement, feeling her face flush and burn, heart racing like a deer, afraid to meet Su Chen's gaze. But after a while, without hearing Su Chen speak, she curiously looked up, only to see Su Chen's slightly mischievous eyes, and immediately exclaimed, "What are you still looking at..."

"Weren't you going to give me the sheepskin scroll? Did you forget?"

Her face reddened further, delicate lips pursed, she quickly retrieved a crumpled sheepskin scroll from her bosom and slowly handed it to Su Chen. Standing nearby, Phoenix bowed her head, afraid to meet Su Chen's bright black eyes.

Su Chen took the sheepskin scroll, and after skimming it, he was overjoyed. This was indeed the authentic scroll, with dry and ancient ink marks and lines drawn with incredible clarity. It seemed Phoenix was truly "wholeheartedly devoted" to him.

"What's the matter?"

Phoenix glanced at Su Chen through the corner of her eye, feeling anxious.

"Where did you get this sheepskin scroll? Why have those three ghost-faced men been chasing you?"

After his delight, Su Chen voiced his doubt.

Upon hearing, Phoenix's delicate body suddenly trembled, as if recalling those three men's frightening skills, her face turned pale, "I picked it up from a group, but afterward, I was targeted by several other gangs, and they relentlessly pursued me. I thought I could escape by shaking them off, but..."

"But what?"

Su Chen pressed her.

Fear flashed in Phoenix's eyes, her delicate body shivered slightly, the bloody and brutal scenes seemingly replaying before her eyes, "Unexpectedly, those three powerful fellows suddenly joined. Those who attempted to hunt me down were all cruelly killed! A total of twenty-five people were all slain by that strong ghost-faced man! And I could tell, he was merely a subordinate of the Dark Heaven."

Su Chen was shocked.

Twenty-five people? Though they were merely trainees at the Forest of Death's periphery, those who came here were almost all elite heirs from various families, known as geniuses in the city, yet to the ghost-faced man, they were like mere grass, casually slain?

But then a question emerged: wasn't it said that only those below Beast Venerable level were permitted at the Forest of Death's periphery? Could it be these three had recently leveled up to Beast Venerable Strong Persons? How was it possible, in a team of five, for three to simultaneously become Beast Venerables? Even if by coincidence, Su Chen couldn't believe it.

Sure enough, Phoenix frowned, saying, "I initially thought they were newly promoted experts, but later I realized they were all middle-aged men!"

Su Chen nodded in agreement. From their previous conversation, it was evident from their voices, and the concealed ferocity of their powers, was eerily terrifying.

"I just don't understand where these three came from, and how they bypassed the entrance guard?"

Su Chen frowned, spoken just then, a bone-chilling sinister laugh sounded.

"Hehehe, it's simple, because we killed all the guarding troops~" Su Chen didn't need to think to know it was the voice of Dark Heaven.

He obstructed Phoenix, vigilantly watching the three dark mist forms slowly approaching, gradually revealing the bizarre forms of the Dark Heaven's trio, his heart prepared for a deadly fight.

Dark Heaven's figure was the thinnest, and his aura was the most chilling. The other two ghost-faced men, one was built strong and fierce, presumably the one Phoenix mentioned, who killed twenty-five fearsome men. The other, by comparison, was shorter, similar in height to Su Chen, yet what drew attention most was the hem of his black long coat, adorned with messy forked white feathers, with the hems of his blue-black boots sewn with yellow flowered threads.

A woman?

With keen perceptiveness, a thought arose in Su Chen's mind.

Noticing his gaze, the ghost-faced man seemed to sense something, his figure slightly shifted. Dark Heaven, seeing Su Chen had no reaction, coaxed slyly, "Quite capable, to eliminate a fourth-grade tree python so easily. Kid, would you like to join my Dark Sanctuary and work for me?"

"Dark Sanctuary?"

Upon hearing, Su Chen didn't react, but Phoenix exclaimed in surprise first!

"What's the matter?"

Su Chen asked puzzledly, yet his gaze couldn't stray from the trio.

"They're from the Dark Sanctuary. Looks like we have no hope of leaving alive."

After her cry, Phoenix's expression turned unprecedentedly gloomy, "They are traitors of the Divine Concealment Hall, every one of them has at least Beast King level strength."

At that point, even the previously full of battle intent Su Chen was completely stunned.

Divine Concealment Hall, just the name alone was enough to shock him, and these were traitors who had escaped from it, and three came at once?

No wonder they dared to slaughter the troops guarding the Forest of Death, given their strength even a hundred of himself wouldn't suffice for their killing.

Cold sweat suddenly slid down Su Chen's forehead, quickly soaking his face. At that moment, he seemed to hear the sound of his heart beating, so intense, so anxious.

"So, how about joining our Dark Sanctuary, guaranteed to enjoy all the glory and wealth. We offer the finest Beast Cultivation environments. Advanced Cultivation Techniques, ancient secrets, and endless spiritual treasures, whatever you want, you'll have it."

Dark Heaven tempted with a sinister voice.

Su Chen steadied his mind, forcing himself to calm because if even he lost confidence, then Phoenix wouldn't need to be mentioned, she'd surely die first.

He had to take a chance, delay as much as possible, and probe their strength.

"According to you, if I join you, you would fully trust me?"

"Hahaha, young man, as long as you're loyal to me, I'll delegate the greatest power to you. As for trust, it depends on your sincerity."

Dark Heaven seemed relaxed as he spoke.

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