When I woke up, I wanted to go home.

Hey!

Hey bro, what's been going on lately?

Did we mess with a really tough opponent?

How could someone take over your own territory?

Arrive a moment too late, and there will be no trace of your remains!

That's really audacious. Don't they know this territory is under my protection?

An outsider, so ignorant of the rules.

I'll avenge you in a bit.

Here, I'll light three incense sticks for you. Now you can die a full-bodied ghost!

Say it!

She raised her small hand and snapped her fingers. Then, three metal incense sticks, each half a meter long and as thick as a finger, slowly rose from the smooth, mirror-like metal floor.

When the metal incense candle is lit, it glows red as if it has been ignited at the top.

As the red light appeared, the metal incense candle slowly burned and melted.

A few moments later, the metal incense sticks burned out completely.

Subsequently, people, like molten metal, slowly flowed into and merged into the smooth, mirror-like metal surface until they disappeared.

Looking back, it's as if nothing ever happened.

As Xiao Hei carried Zhu Chongjiu leisurely through the depths of Zhijin Mountain, Zhu Chongjiu asked Xiao Hei with some doubt, "Xiao Hei, don't you have a feeling that someone is watching us from behind?"

After hearing Zhu Chongjiu's words, Xiao Hei looked around and replied, "No, Ninth Brother, apart from some low-level demonic beasts, there's no one else in this barren metal mountain range!"

After walking with Xiao Hei for a while, Zhu Chongjiu, still puzzled, suddenly stood up from Xiao Hei and said in a deep voice, "We've been following you for so long, why don't you talk about it back then?"

This method is rather underhanded and unmanly!

Xiao Hei was startled by Zhu Chongjiu's sudden standing up and speaking. After looking around, he didn't say anything, but instead sent a telepathic message to Zhu Chongjiu: "Brother Jiu, it's broad daylight and the world is bright, don't scare me."

With our combined mental strength, who on this continent could be tracking us without us noticing?

"It's not about strength."

Have you forgotten that Xiao Tian carries a treasure that can conceal his aura?

So you discovered it?

No.

No, then who are you talking to?

I'll try to trick him and see if I can get him to reveal his secret!

As Zhu Chongjiu and Xiao Hei exchanged questions and answers using their consciousness, a childish voice came from the ground, "How did you find me?"

See? I tricked you into revealing yourself!

Haha! Ninth Brother always has more dirty tricks... no, more clever ones.

While communicating with Xiao Hei, Zhu Chongjiu spoke up, "Since you have already spoken, why not show yourself?"

Hiding underground, concealing one's true nature—that's hardly classy!

Just as Zhu Chongjiu finished speaking, a ball of metallic liquid slowly rose from the ground in front of him.

When the liquid appeared on the ground, it instantly transformed into the appearance of a two- or three-year-old child.

Upon witnessing this scene, Zhu Chongjiu was overjoyed and thought to himself, "Damn, what luck!"

This form, this incredibly dense aura of the golden elemental law—this is definitely the source of gold.

After his initial excitement, Zhu Chongjiu's expression immediately turned serious. He spoke first to the little metal figure, "Little one, I don't care what you want to do with me, but can you find a place where no one will see you?"

Upon hearing Zhu Chongjiu's words, the metal figure instantly became alert and asked, "Why are we looking for a secluded place?"

You killed my little brother, do you still want to kill me?

I tell you.

I'm not as weak as you, little brother. If we really have to fight, you'll be dead for sure!

Oh, and the dog behind you.

After hearing the little man's description of him, Little Black raised his paw, pointed at the little golden man, and then pointed at his own nose.

He angrily addressed Zhu Chongjiu, "Ninth Brother!"

He said it was a dog too.

Can you tolerate this?

I simply can't tolerate even a little bit of it!

Zhu Chongjiu comforted Xiao Hei, saying, "Bear with it for now, and your Ninth Brother will teach him a lesson later."

However, these are extraordinary times, so we must protect him.

We can't let him be captured by the Peace Chamber of Commerce.

After hearing Zhu Chongjiu's words, Xiao Hei understood something and instantly stopped being unreasonable. Instead, he became vigilant.

After observing the behavior and conversation between the man and the beast, the little golden man thumped his chest loudly and asked urgently, "What are you two talking about?"

What will protect me from being captured by this Peace Chamber of Commerce?

In these mountains, who can catch me?

Also, don't change the subject.

Then the little golden statue looked at Zhu Chongjiu and asked, "I'm asking you."

Why did you kill my underling?

I demand a reasonable explanation today!

otherwise.

As the eldest brother, I have to stand up for my younger brother.

As the little golden statue spoke, it stretched out its arm toward Zhu Chongjiu and clenched its little fist tightly.

Zhu Chongjiu was somewhat anxious at this moment.

Although he is now extremely powerful, he doesn't know what mysterious methods Xiao Feng might use to monitor his every move.

If Xiao Feng knew that Jin Zhiyuan was here, he would definitely come to capture him immediately.

Since Xiao Feng has a formation that can control the source of earth, he must also have a formation that can control the other five elements.

When it comes to the source of earth, Zhu Chongjiu can find excuses to sabotage it.

However, if Zhu Chongjiu were to sabotage Jin Zhiyuan's plans now, then Xiao Feng would almost certainly turn against him.

Zhu Chongjiu secretly activated the power of earth element and discovered that this place could not be decomposed by earth element at all.

We can't go deep underground like we did in the Houtu Swamp.

Seeing that Zhu Chongjiu did not answer his question and looked anxious, the little golden man assumed that Zhu Chongjiu was afraid of him.

Then he said, "Oh, I understand."

You're afraid of losing face after I scold you.

So you're looking for a place where no one will find you, to avoid being seen?

Just as Zhu Chongjiu was worrying about how to take the little golden statue away from here, the little golden statue's words suddenly enlightened him.

Yep!

Great hero, could you find a place where no one can find, see, or even sense it by any means?

Like those blessed lands thousands of meters underground?

That way, when you scold me and I cry and scream for my parents later, no one else will see or hear it.

After all, I am a person of some standing.

It wouldn't be good if word got out.

With Zhu Chongjiu's prompting, the little golden statue reluctantly agreed, "Alright!"

Since you've asked me so earnestly, it would seem petty of me not to grant your request.

"Then you two come with me to my underground kingdom."

After saying that, the little golden man did exactly the same thing as the little earth.

A black hole leading straight down into the ground appeared at Zhu Chongjiu's feet. Without thinking, Zhu Chongjiu, holding Xiao Hei, who had shrunk to the size of a house cat, took a step and jumped down into the black hole.

After seeing Zhu Chongjiu jump down, the little golden statue also jumped down.

After the three people jumped down, the smooth, mirror-like metal floor closed and returned to its original state!

After descending to a depth of 10,000 meters, we entered a karst cave.

However, this cave is clearly made of metal.

Zhu Chongjiu observed closely and found that the walls and ceiling of the cave were not made of just one type of metal.

Instead, it encompasses a variety of colorful metals.

Some of the metal even emitted different colors of light, making the entire cave colorful and beautiful, as if it were magical!

After landing on the ground, Zhu Chongjiu surveyed the area and, having roughly understood the situation, said to the little golden man, "Since it was we brothers who mistakenly killed your underlings, we brothers will certainly admit our mistake and accept punishment!"

But I have a question.

Young Master Jin, how do you plan to punish us two brothers?

But let me make this clear: I'm the one who will kill your little brother.

Xiao Hei is also my younger brother.

No matter how you punish me later, I, as the eldest brother, will take full responsibility.

"You can't make things difficult for my little brother."

As soon as Zhu Chongjiu finished speaking, Xiao Hei in his arms jumped to the ground and said angrily, "Brother Jiu, what are you saying?"

It wasn't entirely your fault. If that monster hadn't attacked me, you wouldn't have killed it, Ninth Brother.

It's mainly because of me, how can I let you bear the burden alone?"

As he descended deeper into the earth, Zhu Chongjiu recalled a wise saying he had heard when he was a foreman!

"If you use people's strengths, there will be no one who can be used; if you use people's weaknesses, there will be no one who can be useful."

Zhu Chongjiu understood perfectly what kind of personality the little golden man had.

Coupled with his childlike intelligence.

Therefore, Zhu Chongjiu sent a telepathic message to Xiao Hei, asking him to play along with the act.

It can make the little golden statue put aside his hatred for killing his little brother.

It can also increase the little golden statue's favorability towards itself.

While Zhu Chongjiu and Xiao Hei were taking the blame for each other and putting on a melodramatic show, Xiao Jinren watched from the sidelines, scratching his head in disbelief.

Finally, the little golden statue spoke in its childish voice: "You two stop arguing and listen to me!"