Chapter 161: The Appearance of the Tomb

"How dare you touch my people! You deserve to die!"

An earth-shattering murderous intent erupted, and his bone-chilling voice was colder than the dead of winter.

Ji Rou felt a strong hand grasp her delicate shoulder and pull her backward. "You reckless fool!"

Standing right in front of her was a blood-stained figure resembling a demon god, erect like a pillar supporting the heavens. His eyes were scarlet, and his long hair whipped about wildly, making him look like an enraged lion.

"Die!"

With a single furious roar, he thrust out his palm horizontally. In an instant, the winds and clouds shifted, the roars of dragons filled the heavens, and countless dragon runes flowed across his fingers and palms, radiating a terrifying dragon might that chilled the soul.

"True Dragon Hand!"

"Wu Lietian! Wu Lietian!" Wu Lietian roared frantically.

Who else could this be but Luo Hao? His strike was exceedingly swift, giving Wu Lietian almost no time to react. Under the True Dragon Hand, the powerful Thunder Spirit Sword Finger appeared frail and weak as Luo Hao's palm slammed directly into his chest.

"Crack!"

A spine-chilling sound of bones breaking echoed out. Wu Lietian's eyes bulged instantly, his entire chest caved inward, and blood spewed wildly from his mouth like gushing spring water.

"Cough, cough, cough!" Severely injured by a single blow, Wu Lietian seemed to have the courage frightened right out of him. He stumbled backward in panic, no longer daring to linger for even a second, retaining none of the demeanor of a proud genius disciple of the Leitai Sect.

"You touched my people, so we are locked in an endless blood feud!"

Roaring aloud, Luo Hao trod upon dragon runes, transforming into a black dragon that surged forward to pursue and slay Wu Lietian.

Looking at Luo Hao's back, Ji Rou's pretty face flushed red, and a lovely curve formed at the corners of her lips as she muttered to herself, "When did I become your person?"

The shadow of death loomed over him. Wu Lietian felt as though he had plunged into an abyss, unprecedented terror filling his eyes. Ever since birth, he had experienced smooth sailing, easily crushing his enemies. When had he ever undergone such a life-or-death battle?

Never had he felt death to be so close. Vomiting blood and no longer able to suppress his terror of death, he cried out to the Lesser Thunder King, "Lei Gang, are you going to stand by and watch him kill me? Don't forget that I am also a disciple of the Leitai Sect!"

The Lesser Thunder King's gaze shifted slightly, and he let out a sigh. Indeed, Wu Lietian was still a disciple of the Leitai Sect. If he watched him die right before his eyes, it would truly be difficult to give an account to the sect.

"So be it!"

Just as he was about to make a move, a longsword suddenly blocked his path. "Brother Jiang, why are you stopping me?"

The Lesser Thunder King glanced at the Sword Child Jiang Jianli. Jiang Jianli withdrew his sword and stood upright. "Brother Lei, can you not see that Wu Lietian is narrow-minded and repays kindness with enmity? He is not worth saving. If you insist on intervening, I will say no more, but I fear that saving him will bring you endless trouble hereafter!"

Hearing Jiang Jianli's words, the Lesser Thunder King pulled back the step he had just taken, falling into silence. How could he not understand Wu Lietian's personality? The man was nothing more than an arrogant scion.

Seeing that the Lesser Thunder King remained indifferent, Wu Lietian immediately cursed angrily, "Jiang Jianli, you despicable villain! Lei Gang, even as a ghost, I will not let you go!"

"You talk too much. I'll send you on your way." Suddenly, the voice of death rang out right behind Wu Lietian.

"No, no! You can't, you—Ah—"

Before Wu Lietian could finish, a palm chopped downward like a gleaming blade, and a head flew high into the air. Wu Lietian's corpse was separated from his head, and blood spurted three zhang high from his neck.

"Clang!"

Watching Wu Lietian's headless corpse crash to the ground, the murderous intent in Luo Hao's heart gradually subsided. His mop of white hair slowly turned black, and the terrifying aura of slaughter vanished without a trace.

Exhaling a breath of turbid air, Luo Hao stood against the wind and glanced at the Lesser Thunder King ten zhang away. "Wu Lietian was killed by me, Luo Hao. Lesser Thunder King, if you wish to avenge your fellow sect member, I am at your disposal anytime!"

"Farewell!"

The Lesser Thunder King took a deep look at Luo Hao. In the end, he did not strike, instead turning on his heel and disappearing from everyone's sight in great strides.

Following the departure of the Lesser Thunder King, the Sword Child Jiang Jianli, Liu Mingfei, and the others glanced at Luo Hao before quickly leaving as well. The minor world was filled with countless fortuitous encounters waiting for them to explore.

Soon, the surrounding human cultivators dispersed as well. They knew that after today, the name of the Demonic Warfiend Luo Hao would rapidly spread throughout the minor world.

After everyone had left, a grey-haired man carrying a bow walked straight up to Luo Hao. His eyes, sharp as arrows, swept over Luo Hao before he spoke, "A troubled era is about to begin, and none of us will be spared. I hope we can fight shoulder to shoulder in the future."

With that, the grey-haired man also strode away and vanished over the horizon. Luo Hao gazed at the man's disappearing back, his eyes deep and profound. "Hongyu the Archer... this person is extraordinary. Could he have noticed something?"

"Junior Brother, what are you thinking about?" Just as Luo Hao's gaze turned contemplative, Ji Rou's voice instantly rang out beside his ear.

Luo Hao turned to look at Ji Rou's pretty face and asked happily, "Senior Sister, why did you come to this place?"

"I... well, what? You heartless wretch, is that all you have to ask?" Hearing Luo Hao's question, Ji Rou, whose heart had been filled with joy, immediately flew into a rage. She huffed, "I've seen blockheads, but I've never seen anyone as dense as you. You deserved to be beaten half to death."

"......"

"Brother Luo, I am truly grateful for your saving grace!" Just as Luo Hao was feeling bewildered, Yu Qionglue's words instantly saved his life. Luo Hao chuckled softly and shook his head slightly. "We are both of the human race; when facing alien races, it is only right to help. Fairy does not need to be so formal!"

"In that case, Qionglue will take her leave first!" Hearing him put it that way, Yu Qionglue was not overly polite and directly led the three female disciples of Luoxia Mountain away.

As for those three female disciples of Luoxia Mountain, they stared wide-eyed at Luo Hao as they left. One of them even asked whether he was a monster, wondering how such severe injuries could heal so quickly, leaving Luo Hao in an awkward position.

"Luo Hao, I owe you a life. Name your terms, and I will agree to anything!" After Yu Qionglue left, Xin Lan, whose face was half-covered by a thin veil, walked forward and spoke with an unnatural expression.

Luo Hao instantly developed a headache. What terms could he possibly have? Suddenly, a mischievous glint flashed in his eyes, replaced immediately by a burning fervor. His scalding gaze swept over Xin Lan's exquisite figure, and he said lecherously, "Any terms at all...? Ouch!"

Before Luo Hao could finish speaking, he felt the flesh at his waist twist into a knot. This 360-degree dead-angle spiral pinching technique was heaven-defying and earth-shattering; even someone who had survived the gods-and-demons body-tempering could not endure it.

"Do you have any other terms? Junior—Brother!" Ji Rou stood beside Luo Hao wearing a warm smile.

"Ahem!"

Luo Hao gave a light cough, then straightened his expression and said to Xin Lan, "My nickname is Living Lei Feng. I've always been eager to help others without expecting anything in return. There's no need for thanks; just make sure you scheme against me a little less in the future."

"Miss, since he has already said so, you don't need to take it to heart," Ji Rou chimed in from the side. Xin Lan was no ordinary woman and immediately bid farewell to the two of them, though the look in her eyes as she departed carried a subtle implication.

Beside a stream in a tranquil valley, a young man and woman sat together on a large bluestone—they were none other than Ji Rou and Luo Hao.

Three hours had passed since the previous battle. At this moment, Luo Hao sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, regulating his breath. Although he had the aid of the Nine-Quend Luoxia Liquid, his previous injuries had been severe, and he still needed time to fully assimilate the medicinal potency.

"Hoo!"

Two hours later, Luo Hao exhaled a breath of white air, opened his eyes, and said, "The Nine-Quend Luoxia Liquid truly lives up to its reputation as a supreme healing medicine. In just a few hours, my injuries are already mostly healed. It seems I must make a trip to Luoxia Mountain when I have the time, to see if I can pilfer some more."

"Thud!" Luo Hao's head instantly received a blow. "Pilfer your head! I bet you just fancied Yu Qionglue and are coveting her beauty!" Hearing that Luo Hao wanted to go to Luoxia Mountain, Ji Rou flew into a rage on the spot.

"How could that be? Does your Junior Brother look like that kind of person? Even peerless beauty is nothing more than a pink skeleton to me." Luo Hao tossed his head back with considerable flair.

"Luo Hao, you reckless fool, am I a pink skeleton then? Why aren't you scared to death?!" Ji Rou snorted coldly.

"Uh, Senior Sister, I didn't mean you. Everyone else besides you is a pink skeleton, a black skeleton, a skeleton of every variety, alright?" Hearing him say this, Ji Rou lifted her chin slightly before hearing Luo Hao ask, "Senior Sister, how did you know I was here?"

"I asked Elder Qingyang, and he said you weren't returning to the Tianhai Sect. After the Blood Spirit Secret Realm, I was very worried about you, so after asking Elder Qingyang, I came down the mountain to look for you. I heard that the tomb of Chu Li, a legendary madman from several thousand years ago, had appeared in the Wild Wasteland, and I guessed you would come here, so I came as well. Junior Brother, let's return to the sect together!" Ji Rou looked at Luo Hao and spoke with sincere earnestness.

"Ah, what are you doing?" Ji Rou, who was waiting for Luo Hao's reply, suddenly let out a startled cry.

Luo Hao suddenly pulled her into his embrace, and her pretty face instantly flushed like a burning cloud. After struggling for a moment and realizing that Luo Hao still refused to let go, she gradually calmed down.

"What virtue or ability does Luo Hao possess to earn such favor from Senior Sister? But I cannot agree to your request. I'm sorry, Senior Sister!" Holding Ji Rou, Luo Hao's voice was filled with tenderness and apology.

Unexpectedly, the Ji Rou in his arms suddenly smiled. "I knew you would say that. Elder Qingyang also said you wouldn't return to the Tianhai Sect, told me not to force it, and said that one day you would return on your own."

"Senior Sister, thank you."

"You fool."

Three days later, a pillar of light soared into the sky, shaking the entire minor world. Boundless spiritual energy surged like a magnitude-twelve earthquake, sending countless waves of energy rippling all the way to the horizon.

Inside the valley, Luo Hao and Ji Rou stood side by side, gazing together at the pillar of light piercing the heavens. "It seems someone has triggered the restrictions at the tomb's entrance." With that, his grip on Ji Rou's delicate hand tightened just a fraction.

"I know you want to go, and I'll accompany you!" Luo Hao looked at the fair lady beside him and nodded. Moments later, the figures of the two vanished from the valley, but no matter what, every fleeting moment in this valley would become the most cherished memory of their lives.

(End of this chapter)