Chapter 111: The Gathering of Forces, An Impending Crisis
The azure-robed scholar was stunned, his mind reeling.
What had just happened?
He hadn’t even seen the man move, and yet he was suddenly back on the first floor?!
As he sat there in a daze, Lin Tianlu chuckled softly.
“Why aren’t you saying anything, brother?”
“I…”
The scholar’s lips twitched, and he forced a smile. “Your strength is truly unfathomable, Sir. I’m quite shocked.”
“Skip the flattery.”
Lin Tianlu patted his shoulder. “Tell me your identity.”
His tone was calm and casual, but to the scholar, it sounded like a clap of thunder, shaking him to his core. Fear crept into his eyes, impossible to suppress.
As a half-human, half-ghost being, he hadn’t felt fear for countless years.
But at this moment…
He felt a genuine tremor in his soul!
After a long silence, he finally recovered from the shock, his forehead covered in sweat. He gritted his teeth, trying to regain his composure.
“My name… is Zhao Wuhen. I’m from the Zhaoxiao Institute.”
“Speak louder, I can’t hear you!”
Zhao Wuhen’s eye twitched, and he repeated himself, raising his voice.
“Good, you seem much more lively now.”
Lin Tianlu smiled faintly. “This Zhaoxiao Institute you mentioned, is it similar to the Luo Xing?”
“…Yes.”
“Why are you in Jianggai County?”
Zhao Wuhen took a deep breath. “To participate in the Path of the Netherworld ritual and seek opportunities.”
“Then why did you approach us?”
“I just sensed that you’re no ordinary man, Sir, and your way of thinking is different from others. So I wanted to make your acquaintance.”
Feeling the oppressive aura around him dissipate, Zhao Wuhen gasped for breath and rubbed his shoulder, a lingering fear in his eyes.
“In that case, I must have a drink with you, brother.”
Lin Tianlu took out a porcelain cup and placed it in front of him, filling it with wine from a nearby flask.
Zhao Wuhen’s face contorted, and he quickly downed the wine in one gulp. He stood up and bowed. “Please forgive me, Sir. My behavior just now was indeed rude. If I’ve disturbed your peace, I’ll leave immediately.”
Lin Tianlu stared at him intently for a moment, then chuckled softly. “Farewell, brother.”
Zhao Wuhen felt as if he had been pardoned. He turned and fled the restaurant without looking back, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
…
“Ha… ha…”
In the dimly lit street, Zhao Wuhen ran frantically until he was halfway across the county, finally stopping to lean against the door of a teahouse, his face covered in cold sweat, his heart still pounding.
“What a coincidence, Young Master Zhao. I didn’t expect to run into you here.”
A gentle voice came from behind him, almost making the already tense Zhao Wuhen scream. He turned around and saw two middle-aged men sitting inside the quiet teahouse. He sighed in relief. “Xie Wen, Meng Jiangliang, it’s you two.”
Both men were dressed in understated yet elegant clothes, their bearing suggesting high status.
Xie Wen, with his friendly demeanor and gentle features, looked at Zhao Wuhen’s breathless appearance and asked curiously, “What happened to you, Young Master Zhao? You look quite… distressed.”
In his impression, Zhao Wuhen was one of the most talented disciples of the Zhaoxiao Institute, possessing extraordinary abilities at a young age. Although he was a ghost practitioner, he was highly valued by the institute and held a prominent position in the Xima region.
Even many evil spirits and ghosts would show him respect.
Even with the Path of the Netherworld ritual approaching, who would dare to attack him so recklessly?
Meng Jiangliang, who was sitting opposite him, said calmly, “Perhaps he offended some powerful ghost who doesn’t fear authority?”
Zhao Wuhen glared at him resentfully.
But after a moment of silence, he wiped the cold sweat from his face and didn’t say anything more.
He knew the identities of these two men.
Although they were unorthodox demons and ghosts, their cultivation was extraordinary. Both of them were approaching the Crimson Demon realm. If he offended them, even as a disciple of the Zhaoxiao Institute, he wouldn’t be able to gain any advantage.
Although he usually acted frivolous, he wasn’t stupid. He knew what was important.
“Forget it. This Path of the Netherworld is truly dangerous. I’ll just take this as a lesson.”
“To leave such a lasting impression on you, Young Master Zhao, it seems you’ve encountered a formidable opponent.”
“Formidable?”
Zhao Wuhen couldn’t help but touch his shoulder, a bitter smile on his face. “Indeed, formidable. Terrifyingly formidable!”
Xie Wen and Meng Jiangliang exchanged glances, surprise flickering in their eyes.
For the arrogant Zhao Wuhen to say such words…
“A Crimson Demon? Or did a Luo Xing Soultaker personally intervene?”
“Perhaps it was a Soultaker.”
Zhao Wuhen sighed deeply. “For a Luo Xing Soultaker to personally attend this Path of the Netherworld… the situation is becoming even more unpredictable!”
His eyes flickered, and after a moment of hesitation, he decided to find the other disciples who had recently separated from him.
Although it would be a bit embarrassing, in this situation, it was better to be safe than sorry.
Hum—!
Suddenly, a strange fluctuation spread out.
Zhao Wuhen’s heart trembled, and a primal fear washed over him.
Xie Wen and Meng Jiangliang’s expressions turned serious, and they instinctively crushed the wine cups in their hands.
“This aura… what happened?!”
…
Inside the luxurious restaurant…
Yang Chanzhen’s gaze remained indifferent, her expression unchanged.
“Hee hee~”
The mysterious woman behind her chuckled softly, her figure swaying seductively as she walked to the side. “The Azure Lady of Wen Mountain is still as aloof as ever. I thought my words just now would scare you.”
“I’m here for the Path of the Netherworld because of a promise, not because of any regrets.”
Yang Chanzhen glanced at her calmly.
The woman, known as Qiu Fei, was tall and slender, her body clad only in thin silk gauze. Although her skirt reached her ankles, the slits on both sides extended almost to her waist, revealing her seductive figure with every step.
Her beauty was captivating, her eyes filled with a hint of lust. Even a fleeting glance from her was enough to enchant a man’s soul.
“Qiu Fei of the Lingluo Valley. This is not a place for you to casually tread.”
“I’m not interested in the Path of the Netherworld. It’s not worth investing much effort for my Lingluo Valley.”
Qiu Fei’s red lips curved into a seductive smile. “But this place is naturally blessed with abundant Yin energy. It’s a good place to practice Yin techniques, isn’t it?”
Yang Chanzhen said calmly, “Do you intend to disrupt the Path of the Netherworld?”
“Whether it succeeds or not is of no importance to me.”
She casually tossed her long hair over her shoulder, revealing her smooth, almost naked back.
She raised her foot, her long right leg bending with surprising flexibility and resting on the edge of the table. Her silk robe slid down, exposing her plump thigh. Her fingernails gently grazed her skin, creating a soft scratching sound.
“What are you trying to do?”
“Oh my~ I was just trying to see if I could shake the Azure Lady of Wen Mountain. It seems this kind of behavior can’t surprise you?”
Qiu Fei tapped her forehead with a feigning disappointment.
Then, she suddenly grinned mischievously. “Why don’t you take a look out the window?”
Yang Chanzhen’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively looked outside.
Her usually calm face was suddenly filled with shock.
“You actually—”
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