A roar resounded!
Another demon appeared. I'll take this moment to remind our readers about our domain name.
Just as Jiang Hao was preparing to act, Lou Feng from Heavenly Joy Pavilion had already moved.
With a single slash.
Boom!
The demon was killed instantly.
Jiang Hao could only watch.
"Junior Brother Jiang seems keen on slaying demons. I share the same passion. I wonder who can kill more?" Lou Feng remarked with a grin toward Jiang Hao.
His grin was menacing.
On Jiang Hao's second day here, he had appraised Lou Feng.
This person wasn't here for the Heavenly Joy Pavilion, but for the sole purpose of avenging Senior Sister Yun Ruo.
He was madly in love with Senior Sister Yun Ruo.
For reasons unknown.
With Yun Ruo dead, of course, he sought revenge.
"Why is Junior Brother silent?" Lou Feng's eyes widened, filled with cruelty and bloodlust.
'The hatred in him grows stronger by the day, a dangerous force waiting to erupt.' Jiang Hao thought, a hint of concern in his heart.
And he wasn't the only one worried. Zheng Shijiu was also anxious that if Lou Feng lost control, he'd attack everyone in sight.
Especially since Lou Feng was at the late Foundation Establishment stage.
Even Xin Yuyue sensed it. Though she might suppress him, the power gap was too large, rendering any advantage she had useless.
It was then that Qing Xue spoke up:
"It’s been a while since we’ve seen hordes of demons. It's likely their numbers have dwindled. Let’s split up."
Everyone sighed in relief at this suggestion.
Even Jiang Hao felt the same.
He was afraid Lou Feng might suddenly attack, and if they found out he was also at the late Foundation Establishment stage, Qing Xue would surely try to eliminate him.
With his cultivation almost at its peak, there couldn't be any conflicts now.
Splitting up, though risky, would give him the time he needed to break through.
Zheng Shijiu, aware of Jiang Hao's feud with Heavenly Joy Pavilion, did not want to get involved.
The risk was too high.
"Anyone opposed?" asked Qing Xue again.
"What do you think, Junior Brother Jiang?" Zheng Shijiu turned to ask Jiang Hao.
"This works," Jiang Hao replied calmly.
His composure impressed Zheng Shijiu.
To stay this calm, in this situation was quite admirable.
Lou Feng, on the other hand, merely smirked, appearing eager to be unleashed.
"Which direction would Junior Brother like to go?" Zheng Shijiu allowed Jiang Hao the first choice, adding:
"Let's not move in the same direction; we'll clear the area faster."
Setting a rendezvous point, Jiang Hao headed inward. Choosing first had its perks and drawbacks.
The good thing was, with Zheng Shijiu observing, the others were unlikely to follow his direction. The downside was having his path known.
But, if he moved swiftly enough, he'd only reap the benefits.
Once certain no one could see him, Jiang Hao changed directions, speeding away using the full power of his late Foundation Establishment stage.
His speed even surpassed the late Foundation Establishment stage.
After Jiang Hao departed, Zheng Shijiu watched the two from Heavenly Joy Pavilion who silently picked different paths.
As for where they disappeared to, no one knew.
"I heard Senior Brother Zheng wasn't happy with the Heavenly Joy Pavilion. Why didn't he interfere?" Xin Yuyue asked with a smile.
"It's not that I didn't want to." Zheng Shijiu sighed and explained:
"One is at peak Foundation Establishment, the other at late Foundation Establishment. I'm no match."
"Heavenly Joy Pavilion indeed has no shame," Xin Yuyue said with disdain.
"The Heavenly Joy Pavilion is furious, but Broken Hearts Cliff remains calm, ensuring the Pavilion is a step ahead.
And I heard Junior Brother Jiang advanced using rare treasures, which is why he's still only an inner disciple.
Had he been a true disciple, things might have been different." Zheng Shijiu remarked with some regret.
"True," Xin Yuyue agreed but didn't add more, though her curiosity about the three was piqued:
"Do you think all five of us will return?"
"Unlikely. Probably only four. Junior Brother Jiang might stay here," Zheng Shijiu said.
"No chance to evade?" Xin Yuyue asked.
"Probably none." Zheng Shijiu sensed and commented:
"Lou Feng's aura is fierce, heading towards Jiang Hao."
After a pause, Zheng Shijiu asked:
"Would Junior Sister like to join me or venture alone?"
"Thank you for the offer, Senior Brother, but I'd prefer to experience things on my own," Xin Yuyue declined with a smile.
"Very well, see you in a month." With those words, Zheng Shijiu chose a direction and left.
Heavenly Joy Pavilion may be corrupt, but Icy Moon Valley wasn't much better. Xin Yuyue had no intention of getting caught up in trouble.
Regarding Jiang Hao, there was nothing she could do for him.
His weak cultivation and powerful enemies meant an early death might be a kinder fate.
Sparing him from future suffering.
...
...
Jiang Hao raced inward as fast as he could.
Whenever he encountered a demon, he refrained from acting, leaving them behind to avoid detection.
By the next day.
He finally stopped by a lakeside.
After a full day of travel, he had bought himself some precious time.
Now all he needed was to kill demons and gather enough cultivation and vital qi.
Then he could attempt to advance to peak Foundation Establishment; otherwise, he couldn’t contend against Qing Xue from Heavenly Joy Pavilion.
Roar!
From the lake emerged a demon.
It had the strength of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.
Without hesitation, Jiang Hao slashed it down.
Then he picked up a bubble.
[Cultivation +1]
"Just one."
Without lingering, he forged ahead.
Every time he glanced at the fallen star zones in the sky, a sense of awe filled him.
He dared not venture near.
Yet, demons were becoming scarcer here.
After three days, he barely collected enough bubbles.
[Vital Qi +1]
Having slain a demon, Jiang Hao finally exhaled.
Both his cultivation and vital qi were now full.
[Vital Qi: 100/100 (Ready for Advancement)]
[Cultivation: 100/100 (Ready for Advancement)]
"Time to find a place to break through."
——
——
Elsewhere, Lou Feng discovered the demon's corpse.
Following the lakeshore, he gazed upward with a sinister chuckle:
"I've found you."