Chapter 00164: The Great Rift Canyon
# The Great Rift Canyon
Chapter 164
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 164: The Great Rift Canyon
"Where are you going?"
Seeing Ding Huan about to leave the group alone, a managing disciple from Yan Yue Sect immediately called out to him.
Ding Huan smiled and replied, "I’m going to get something for our young lady to eat."
"Deacon Qiong has said, you are not allowed to stray from the group, or you will bear the consequences."
The disciple reprimanded loudly.
Ding Huan hurriedly reassured him, "Don't worry, I'm just in the vicinity and won't go far."
The disciple seemed eager to say more, but another Yan Yue disciple beside him pulled him back and exchanged glances with him.
Understanding the situation, the disciple simply huffed and said nothing more.
"You’re really meddling in others' affairs. You’ve warned him before, and if he wants to wander off to a remote place, he deserves whatever happens to him," said the other disciple as soon as Ding Huan left.
"Exactly, he has taken a slot that he doesn't deserve. It’s my fault for meddling; it would be best if he didn’t return," the first disciple finally understood.
Ding Huan was aware that these two were displeased about Guan Luo taking him and Qing Yu onto the ship to enter the path of cultivation, so he paid no mind to their words behind his back.
There were indeed many dangers here, but he had already calculated well, ensuring he did not get himself entangled in any trouble.
In less than half an hour, Ding Huan returned with two Fragrant Rabbits.
The Fragrant Rabbit was a type of beast with very little combat power; even ordinary warriors could easily kill them.
Seeing Ding Huan return with two Fragrant Rabbits, the two disciples could only feel disgruntled in their hearts, secretly cursing his good luck.
Ding Huan quickly prepared the rabbit meat on the side, then casually set up a dirt hearth, took out a pot, and started to cook.
This time, unlike the cautiousness during the competition at Jin Mansion, Ding Huan had relaxed while cooking.
Moreover, now that they had entered the path of cultivation, even if Guan Luo chased him away, Ding Huan would not mind.
So, this time, Ding Huan took out various seasonings, and soon he had a big pot of spicy, braised rabbit meat.
"Miss Guan, Qing Yu, it’s time to eat!" Ding Huan called out.
"Ding Huan, what kind of spices did you use?" Qing Yu asked, noticing the unusual fragrance immediately.
"Just some spices from my hometown," Ding Huan casually replied, already handing a rabbit leg to Guan Luo.
Guan Luo took a bite of the rabbit leg, and her eyes brightened.
Ding Huan really was worth his hiring; his cooking skills were unlike anything she had tasted before.
Ding Huan himself was also unreserved, grabbing a rabbit leg and enjoying it heartily.
Qing Yu furrowed her brows slightly.
After all, Ding Huan was just a chef hired by Sister Luo; there was no reason for him to eat with the host.
However, since Guan Luo didn’t say anything, she hesitated to voice her thoughts.
Ding Huan had been around the world for quite some time; he noticed Qing Yu’s frown right away.
He chose to ignore it, treating her reaction like air.
Unless Guan Luo had clearly told him that he needed to wait for her to finish eating before he could have his own meal, he would follow her wishes.
This wasn’t about status; in Ding Huan’s eyes, such an unequal sense of hierarchy meant nothing at all.
It was merely a spirit of agreement; what they had decided together should be respected.
Guan Luo had only asked him to be the cook; she hadn’t said he must eat only the leftovers, so he had no need to wait.
Seeing Ding Huan eating alongside her, Guan Luo didn’t say much.
After all, it was a large pot of food, and she wouldn't be able to finish it anyway.
Besides, Ding Huan had only been cooking for her for a little over a month; he wasn’t bound to her like a servant.
The others around also caught the delicious aroma of Ding Huan’s cooking, but no one dared approach for food.
Outside, everyone tended to their own needs.
As for Deacon Qiong and Elder Gu, both had reached such a level that they could go for days without eating.
Although they had cravings, they wouldn’t be like ordinary people unable to control themselves.
At most, they thought that their future Sect Master’s wife really knew how to enjoy herself, ensuring the chef made delicious meals even on the journey to the sect.
Since the Yan Yue Sect had not yet entered the Great Rift Canyon, they passed the night without incident.
The next morning, Deacon Qiong called everyone to line up.
Once everyone was in place, he solemnly spoke, "I’ve already provided all the necessary warnings. Just before we enter the Great Rift Canyon, I need to say one more thing. Over the years, most of the missing newcomer disciples have disappeared in the Great Rift Canyon. We can only travel during the day and must rest at night. Therefore, we cannot afford to move too slowly; everyone must keep up with the group. If anyone falls behind, the group will not wait for you."
Upon hearing this, a few newcomers whose strength was lacking turned pale.
Fortunately, Deacon Qiong’s next words eased their worries.
"Next, I will give each of you a Speed Symbol; this talisman can be used for about half a month. Those who fall behind should use it sparingly; otherwise, you will be left alone in the Great Rift Canyon."
Ding Huan thought to himself, this is more like it.
Otherwise, for newcomers who hadn’t cultivated yet, forcing them to keep up with the group would have been quite a challenge.
What surprised Ding Huan was that he received a Speed Symbol too, and it was two of them.
One was for Lao Liu, temporarily kept by Ding Huan.
As soon as the Speed Symbol was in his hand, Ding Huan recognized it as a level four talisman.
If he had a talisman pen, he should be able to draw it.
After everyone received their talismans, Deacon Qiong continued, "This Speed Symbol is a middle-quality level one talisman, one of your starting resources. If you can exit the Great Rift Canyon without using the talisman, it is yours to keep."
Hearing this, Ding Huan was stunned.
A level one talisman? Just a middle-quality level one talisman?
Even if he was naive, Ding Huan knew that the so-called level three talismans he had drawn were, in fact, also level one talismans, and they were probably of lower quality.
This was quite the joke; he thought he was nearing the level of drawing level four talismans!
After all this time, he was only able to draw level one talismans?
Deacon Qiong didn’t pay attention to Ding Huan’s daze as he stepped into the Great Rift Canyon.
Everyone followed him into the canyon as well.
Ding Huan had to accept this reality, guessing that his understanding of the cultivation and talisman drawing systems was not complete.
After all, he had no master, and he had been exploring alone all along.
Outside the Great Rift Canyon, he could still feel some warmth.
However, as soon as he entered the Great Rift Canyon, a bone-chilling cold seeped into his bones.
Ding Huan noticed that he wasn’t the only one; everyone felt the same penetrating cold after entering the canyon.
The newcomers involuntarily shuddered, instinctively drawing their necks in.
Elder Gu, as the guardian elder for the newcomers, had been keeping an eye on them.
When he saw all twenty-three newcomers shivering after entering the canyon, he was surprised that the chef showed little change.
That was odd.
Fortunately, after everyone adjusted to the chilling sensation, their pace did not slow down.
Elder Gu and Deacon Qiong walked steadily without losing speed, which Ding Huan didn’t mind.
Lao Liu was also a ninth-level gene beast, so keeping up was a breeze for him.
Among the twenty-three disciples, three with lesser strength needed to run at full capacity just to keep up.
Running for long periods was certainly unrealistic, and falling behind was inevitable.
Luckily, Deacon Qiong had distributed Speed Symbols, which they could use when they couldn’t run anymore.
Yet, Ding Huan was impressed by Qing Yu; her speed was not slow at all, even faster than many newcomers.
On the first day, no one used Speed Symbols, and the three struggling disciples barely kept up with the group.
Even though only one day had passed, the differences among them were clear.
Before it turned dark, Deacon Qiong ordered them to set up camp.
The campsite was quite spacious, and from the traces, it seemed to have been an old campsite.
Once they settled in, Ding Huan immediately left the camp.
This time, the few Yan Yue Sect disciples on guard ignored Ding Huan.
After all, if he died, it would serve him right; they had warned him once.
Deacon Qiong also noticed Ding Huan leave the group and didn’t care.
His main task was to protect Guan Luo, and for someone as insignificant as Ding Huan, he wouldn’t mind whether he lived or died.
A few thousand meters away from the group, Ding Huan spread his spiritual sense.
Soon, he detected a golden-patterned creature at least several meters long; he recognized it as a highly poisonous beast.
These creatures resembled pythons but had legs.
If one was bitten by this creature, there was almost no chance of survival.
Usually, the golden-patterned beast didn’t need to bite; anyone who approached would surely die.
This creature could also emit a toxic mist, which had no antidote.
Golden-patterned beasts were delicious, and they had a unique trait: wherever one appeared, treasures were often found nearby.
This particular golden-patterned creature, being several meters long, certainly guarded a top-tier treasure.
As Ding Huan confirmed that this gold-patterned beast did not pose a threat to his life, he cautiously approached.
Perhaps overly confident from long dominance in this area and reassured by its toxic mist, the golden-patterned beast did not seem to be very vigilant.
Ding Huan even managed to get behind it unnoticed.
Lifting the long blade in his hand, Ding Huan gathered his true essence and struck the golden-patterned beast.
"Poof!" A spray of blood erupted, and Ding Huan’s heart sank.
The skin of the golden-patterned beast was unexpectedly thick; his strike had only severely injured it but didn’t cut it in two.
(This chapter ends here.)