Chapter 17. A new plan.

Alex's face contorted with confusion as he absorbed the astonishing admission. "What? Do you truly consider it a stroke of luck to serve as bait?" he found himself questioning, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Chen Wei's countenance displayed a mixture of surprise and amusement as he processed Alex's query.

After a brief moment of silence, he responded with a resolute affirmation. "Indeed, I do. I consider myself incredibly fortunate," he declared, his voice filled with conviction.

Alex's expression mirrored Chen Wei's shock, his disbelief was evident. Sensing Alex's incredulity, Chen Wei's surprise only intensified. "You do not share the same sentiment?" he asked, his voice laced with incredulity, his eyes widening in astonishment.

Caught off guard once again by Chen Wei's question, Alex replied with a query of his own. "Should I? What reasons do I have to feel fortunate?" he inquired, his confusion evident.

Upon hearing Alex's question, Chen Wei seemed almost taken aback, finding it difficult to comprehend.

Leaning forward, his eyes widened in disbelief as he asked, "Are you jesting? How could you not feel fortunate? You will have the privilege of spending time close to Wu Lina, the most exquisite lady in existence. You will be able to admire her unparalleled beauty for several forthcoming days. How can you question whether you should feel lucky? Of course, you should!"

Listening to Chen Wei's words, Alex's thoughts were not consumed by Chen Wei's talk about Wu Lina's beauty, Instead, he was preoccupied with Chen Wei's mention of 'the next few days.'

His brows furrowed in confusion as he turned towards Chen Wei and inquired, "Several days? Just how extensive is this mission, and what is its exact nature?"

Chen Wei paused, studying Alex's face intently before responding, "I cannot say for certain how long it will take. What I do know is that the mission involves hunting a middle-stage Intermediate Qi beast. However, I am not privy to the entirety of the plan."

Alex couldn't suppress his astonishment. "An Intermediate Qi Beast? And a middle-stage one at that? I cannot withstand such a beast, let alone confront it!" he exclaimed, his bewilderment evident.

Chen Wei, undisturbed by Alex's panic, reclined leisurely. "Why are you so perturbed? You are not expected to engage in combat. All we need to do is lure the creature towards the trap. The rest will be taken care of by others. There is no reason for you to be so agitated," he stated nonchalantly.

Alex turned his gaze toward the corpulent figure of Chen Wei. "Are you not apprehensive about serving as bait for an Intermediate Qi Beast?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Chen Wei, still reclined comfortably, responded, "I harbor no fear. I have my methods of survival. I must concentrate on the essential objectives." As he uttered these words, his gaze subtly drifted toward Wu Lina.

Alex could only shake his head in disappointment upon witnessing this.

Just when he had begun to question the rumors about Chen Wei's shameless nature, Chen Wei only proved them to be understatements.

"This man is not only devoid of shame but also an utter fool," Alex mused, observing Chen Wei's antics.

With a sigh, he settled himself comfortably and closed his eyes.

They would be departing within the hour, and he intended to be fully prepared for the journey ahead.

After a while, Wu Lina rose to her feet, her gaze sweeping across the group. "Rise, everyone. The hour of departure has arrived," she commanded with an air of authority that was hard to ignore.

Her words reverberated through the area, prompting everyone into motion.

Alex, having already resolved to join them, swiftly stood and prepared himself for the arduous journey that lay ahead.

Wu Lina spoke again, her voice clear and resolute. "Should any of you still harbor doubts or reservations, this is your final opportunity to withdraw," she declared, her words directed at all, but Alex felt the weight of her gaze specifically on him.

He understood that her warning was implicitly directed at him.

A surge of fury bubbled up within him, fueled by the repeated instances of being looked down upon due to being in the body of Li Wei with his lower cultivation level.

He had slaughtered numerous Qi beasts on his previous venture into the Voidlands.

Each kill had brought him EXP points and power, steadily increasing his might.

He felt his strength now rivaling that of a Stage Four warrior, yet his cultivation level remained stagnant, a fact that left him astounded.

Witnessing Wu Lina's disdainful glance at his cultivation level, Alex couldn't suppress his anger.

He knew that if strength was the sole metric, he would easily surpass Chen Wei.

Unmoved by the anger etched on Alex's face, Wu Lina continued, her voice unwavering. "I will not tolerate any hindrances to our progress," she proclaimed, met with silence from Alex, who had no intention of leaving.

His rationale for enduring Wu Lina's disparagement had shifted.

It was no longer a fear of attracting trouble by offending her; it was a decision of his own making.

A sudden thought had arisen while he contemplated whether to accompany the group or undertake the system's mission.

The mission demanded the slaying of a high-stage lesser Qi beast - not a battle, but a simple kill.

If he could land the fatal blow on such a creature, his mission would be fulfilled.

This was merely a hypothesis, yet to be proven. However, he believed it was worth testing. For Alex, survival took precedence over pride.

Thus, he chose to swallow Wu Lina's insulting words until he had a chance to test his theory. He remained resolutely silent, neither voicing his intent nor reacting to Wu Lina's provocations.

Finally, Wu Lina, observing Alex's determination to stay, stated, "Very well, let us proceed." Her words once again carried an air of authority.

With her command, the group, already poised to depart, set forth towards their destination - the Voidlands.

The Voidlands, a treacherous region within Azurewind City, was infamous for its teeming population of Qi beasts.

It served as the exclusive hunting ground for cultivators seeking these creatures.

It's treacherous terrain and dense spiritual energy made it an optimal habitat for the Qi beasts, rendering it a location both feared and revered by all within Azurewind City.