After cutting down a few branches of century-old Ironpear Wood, Zhao Hai turned his head to Li Zongdao and Mo Sheng. Li Zongdao and Mo Sheng already dealt with their enemies. Zhao Hai received the two Ironpear Rats that Mo Sheng killed. Li Zongdao also wanted to give Zhao Hai his rats, however Zhao Hai waved his hand and said, Keep it. Those are yours. If you cant meet your quota later, these two will be worth two months of tax. Keep it, its your hard work.

Li Zongdao knew that Zhao Hai wouldnt take the rats no matter what, so he took them for himself. However, he made sure to feel gratitude towards Zhao Hai.

After Li Zongdao kept the two Ironpear Rats, he looked around before turning to Zhao Hai, Little Hai, do we head inward?

Zhao Hai shook his head and said, We wont, lets leave immediately. Once the other Ironpear Rats discover the situation here, they would certainly chase us. We will be in deep trouble if we dont leave right now.

Li Zongdao was aware that Zhao Hai was telling the truth, so he nodded and left the area with Zhao Hai. Zhao Hai looked at the sky and said, Its already late. Lets head back and eat something. Well go out again tomorrow.

Li Zondao nodded and said, Alright. So should we pay our tax for this month after we go back?

Zhao Hai laughed and said, Brother Li, youre really an uptight person. Dont worry, dont we still have one month? If we act too well, then those monks will turn their attention to us. Lets wait until the end of the month. If we get injured this month and forced to leave the battlefield, then wouldnt that be a waste?

Li Zongdao listened intently to Zhao Hai. Then he thought about what Zhao Hai said. If he paid his taxes now, then if he was injured in the coming month and forced to leave the battlefield, his gains would be much less.

As the three were flying, Zhao Hai suddenly felt a strong aura approaching from a distance. Judging by the aura, the source must be a Transcending Tribulation Expert.

Zhao Hais complexion changed, then he turned to Li Zongdao and said, Brother Li, put away your defensive artifact. Well be flying at full speed.

Li Zongdao quickly put his defensive artifact away. Zhao Hai waved his hand and took out a metallic ship. Zhao Hai stood on the ship along with Li Zongdao and Mo Sheng. Then Zhao Hai controlled the ship to fly forward with all its strength.

The ship also had formations that increased its speed. And with Zhao Hai controlling it, its speed was naturally fast. That Transcending Tribulation aura was beginning to lag behind.

Zhao Hai didnt intend to use his Space to immediately return to the newcomers area. He didnt want to reveal that he can use spatial techniques this early.

Only people from the World of Cultivation knew about Zhao Hai being able to use spatial techniques. As for the other people in the Ten-thousand Realm Battlefield, they were naturally unaware. Zhao Hai decided to use his spatial techniques as an ace. So he didnt want to use it at this time.

Li Zongdao stood on the ship wondering why Zhao Hai wasnt using his spatial techniques. However, he didnt say anything. He also felt the strong aura just now. Seeing that the aura wasnt in pursuit, he felt relief.

As for Mo Sheng, he actually didnt care. It was as if he didnt know what fear was. He just looked around curiously as he stood on top of Zhao Hais ship.

Although the aura was now very far from them, Zhao Hai didnt slow down. He kept flying at full strength. This was because he knew what was chasing him. The Transcending Tribulation Expert was actually one of the strange green creatures.

The green creature that Zhao Hai killed was just a Nascent Soul Expert. But the one chasing him right now was at the Transcending Tribulation stage. However, the Transcending Tribulation expert didnt seem to be chasing them for revenge but instead to rob them. Now that Zhao Hai and the others had run away, he no longer chased and just flew away in anger.

Zhao Hai didnt decelerate even after the danger left. He kept flying towards the newcomers area. It didnt take long before they arrived and entered Zhao Hais cave.

Upon entering the cave, Zhao Hai and Li Zongdao began to relax. Then at this time, Mo Sheng turned to Zhao Hai and said, Elder Brother, Im hungry.

Zhao Hai smiled and said, Alright, lets eat something. Brother Li, lets drink a few cups to celebrate our first day. Li Zongdao certainly wouldnt decline. The three proceeded to drink inside Zhao Hais cave.

Meanwhile, at this time, someone flew outside Yuan Dings cave and reported, Master, Liu Wu asks for an audience. Yuan Dings voice was then heard, Come in.

Liu Wu complied and entered the cave. Inside the meditation room, Yuan Ding and Yuan Zhen were currently meditating. Seeing Liu Wu come, Yuan Ding nodded and said, Whats the situation?

Liu Wu reported, Zhao Hais group of three went to the Ironpear Forest. I dont know if they were able to get some harvests, I didnt dare enter the forest.

Yuan Ding nodded and said, What about the others?

Liu Wus expression turned gloomy as he said, Most of them were robbed and killed. Masters judgement was correct. Some people have been aiming at us. As long as our newcomers head out, they would immediately attack. Besides Zhao Hais group who came back safely and those who werent able to come back, most of those who came back were injured.

Yuan Ding nodded and said, Alright, you can head back. Dont tell anybody about this. Keep monitoring Zhao Hais group. See if you can find out how strong they are. Liu Wu nodded before leaving.

When Liu Wu left, Yuan Zhen said, Senior Brother, what do we do about this? We have already lost a lot of Buddhist disciples. Do we invite more people here?

Yuan Ding thought about this and said, Lets not worry about that for now. Also, adding more people wont help our situation. On the contrary, this would inform the Cultivators that we are having trouble over here. After all, there are still Cultivators in the Ten-thousand Realm Battlefield. Once they know that were in trouble, they would certainly make a move.

Yuan Zhen nodded, then his two eyes turned vicious as he said, Once I find out whos behind this, I certainly wont let them off. Yuan Ding lowered his head and chanted the names of Buddha. Although he no longer said anything, one felt a killing aura coming out of his body.

What Yuan Ding and Yuan Zhen didnt know was that Zhao Hai was aware of Liu Wus surveillance. Liu Wu followed them the moment they left their residence. Zhao Hai found out about him a long time ago. However, Zhao Hai didnt deal with him. He just wants to see what Liu Wu wants to do.

At this point, almost the entire newcomers area has been mapped by the Space. The only exception was inside the caves. This was because each cave has a defensive formation that would activate the moment it gets touched by the silver needle.

However, Zhao Hai didnt let this opportunity go. When he discovered that Liu Wu was tracking him, he made Caier place a silver needle on Liu Wu. Because of this, he was able to hear what Yuan Ding and Yuan Zhen were talking about.

He didnt expect that what Huang Daoran and Feng Baiming said about the dispute between the Cultivators and the Buddhists was true. Who knows what method the Buddhists used in order to prevent the sects from entering the Ten-thousand Realm Battlefield.

However, this dispute had very little to do with Zhao Hai. The Buddhists treated him well, and so did the Cultivators. Also, Zhao Hai belonged to the Machine Field. He didnt belong to either the Buddhist Sect nor the Cultivators. It must be said that his relationship with the Cultivators was at the same level as the Buddhists.

Zhao Hai has a Cultivator as a Master. Although Huang Daoran was a rogue cultivator, he still studied orthodox methods of the sects. Therefore, Huang Daoran can be said to be someone from the sects. In this case, it might seem that Zhao Hai was closer to the sects than the Buddhists. However, one shouldnt forget that Zhao Hais current strongest techniques belonged to the Buddhist Path, which might lead him to be called a Buddhist. In the end, Zhao Hai couldnt really be distinguished as either a Cultivator or a Buddhist.

However, Zhao Hai also knew that no matter what, he was someone from the World of Cultivation. If people from other great realms dealt with his people, then he wouldnt be polite.

If things went with what Yuan Ding and Yuan Zhen said, then the ambush on the Ironpear Forest wasnt just a simple attack. There was a much bigger event behind it.

Although he was thinking about this, Zhao Hai didnt express it in his expression. His face was still calm as he drank with Li Zongdao and discussed todays harvest.

Li Zongdao didnt notice anything. He was currently thinking about how lucky he was to be with Zhao Hai. Not only would he be safer during battles, he could also eat delicious food and drink tasty drinks every day.

The one who indulged in the food and wine was Mo Sheng. He ate two chickens on his own and drank a jug of spirit wine. When he became full, he immediately fell down and passed out. He looked like he drank himself to sleep.

Zhao Hai didnt mind Mo Sheng. He took his wine cup and then turned to Li Zongdao and said, Brother Li, come, lets drink!

Li Zongdao looked at Mo Sheng, then he smiled faintly and said, I really envy this kid. He could eat and sleep with no worries. Sometimes I wish I was like him.

Zhao Hai smiled faintly and said, Right, hes quite lucky. We couldnt compare to him. Then he clinked Li Zongdaos cup and then downed the liquor.

After doing this, Li Zongdao looked at Zhao Hai and said, Little Hai, without you, I wouldnt have this rich of a harvest on the first day. The battlefield is indeed too dangerous to be alone. Let this Brother toast you a cup. Ill remember this gratitude.

Zhao Hai smiled faintly and said, Brother Li, youre too polite. Were brothers, so you dont need to mind it. The two chatted and drank for some time. Unknowingly, both of them sensed that they were getting drunk, so Li Zongdao said his goodbyes and went back to his cave.

When Li Zongdao left, Zhao Hai immediately returned to the Space. Upon entering the Space, he was immediately greeted by the green creature that has been turned into Undead. Zhao Hai looked at the green creature and said, What is your name? Whats your race called?

The green creature gave Zhao Hai a salute and said, Replying to the Young Master, Im called Xu Zuotian and I belong to the Xu Race.[1]

Zhao Hai looked at Xu Zuotian and said, Xu Race? Why do you call your race Xu?

Xu Zuotian replied, Were named after the feelers on our heads. These feelers can help us control magic artifacts. The stronger we are, the more magic artifacts we can control.

Zhao Hai looked at the feelers on Xu Zuotians head and then nodded, Your ambush, is it something you did on your own, or were you instructed by someone? Whats your goal?

Xu Zuotian replied, We were ordered by our race to deal with the World of Cultivations newcomers. Because of this, I made a move against the Young Masters group. The World of Cultivations newcomers area has been supposedly encircled by our clansmen. As long as the Young Master heads out, you will immediately be discovered by our people.

Zhao Hai nodded, then he looked at Xu Zuotian and said, Your Xu Race wants to deal with the World of Cultivation? Does the World of Cultivation have a grudge against you?

Xu Zuotian shook his head and said, Theres no grudge. We Xu people live by robbing other people. In the Ten-thousand Realm Battlefield, we mainly focus on stealing. As for why we target the World of Cultivation, I dont know.

Zhao Hai nodded, he understood what Xu Zuotian said. The Xu Race was a bandit race, taking things by force in order to survive. It was not strange to be ambushed by them. The only strange thing was the fact that they seem to be targeting the World of Cultivation.

Judging by Xu Zuotians words, he didnt know anything besides the command given to him. Zhao Hai couldnt help but knit his brows as he said, Are you under the control of your race?

Xu Zuotian nodded and said, Yes, Young Master. All Xu Race who enter the Ten-thousand Realm Battlefield must get the approval of the race. After that, we need to obey the races commands. However, the race rarely gave us direct orders. We can do things on our own while turning over 30% of our harvest.

Zhao Hai nodded, So its like that. Alright, you can go back. Xu Zuotan nodded before he was sent to the Hell Space. However, Zhao Hai was now more curious about the Xu Race. If Xu Zuotian was under his race, then why did the races higher-ups make the decision to suppress the World of Cultivation?

1. Xu() means feelers or palpus of an insect