Chapter 82: A Fright

Chapter Eighty-Two: Li Hao’s Strange Fright

Once Qin Zhen had finished his preparations, Li Hao swiftly gathered two bodies of rule in his hands and, in an instant, smashed them against the barrier of rules Qin Zhen had formed.

Boom!

With a muffled sound, Qin Zhen’s barrier was shattered by Li Hao’s two green bodies of rule, their attack breaking it into fragments within a flash. After shattering the barrier, the two green energies collided with Qin Zhen’s chest before dissipating. The commotion this time was less intense than when Qin Zhen had attacked Li Hao; the nearby flowers, grass, and trees merely trembled before returning to calm, and there was little dust or debris stirred up. Qin Zhen, struck in the chest by Li Hao’s rule energies, let out a dull groan, but he was not forced back by the impact.

In the past, if Li Hao had struck with full force against someone of the same realm, even if Qin Zhen gathered the barrier of heaven and earth rules to defend, he would have been shaken by Li Hao’s power and sent flying seven or eight yards.

Now, the difference in strength was clear to all.

After Li Hao shattered Qin Zhen’s barrier, Qin Zhen did not retreat. Instead, he advanced, gathering the rules of heaven and earth into his left hand, throwing a punch at Li Hao. Li Hao did not underestimate his opponent, stepping lightly, his left hand meeting Qin Zhen’s attack, gathering the rules into his left fist.

Boom!

With that blow, Qin Zhen was sent flying about a yard, while Li Hao was forced back four or five steps. After exchanging two full-force attacks, Qin Zhen immediately waved his hand and said, “Young master, I admit defeat. You’re a monster I simply cannot overcome.”

“Don’t belittle yourself. My uniqueness is a gift from heaven. Enough, we’ve delayed long enough. In another two hours, night will fall. Let’s go!”

Zhenba said, “Alright, I’d like to meet your other friends as well.”

Having fought and laughed, the seven companions resumed their quest to find their friends.

…

“Little one! Have you heard? The young master went to Lishui City this time, joining Princess Xue Mei and Princess Lu Yao in some kind of selection competition. Who knows when he’ll return. Do you wish he could come back sooner?”

It was midday.

Around a grand, resplendent palace, luxurious mansions bustled with activity. In one quiet and elegant courtyard, a pretty girl of about ten was speaking to a small beast, perhaps just talking to herself.

The girl’s face was delicately sculpted, lips crimson and concealing teeth white as jade. She wore plain white robes today, her long black hair draped over her waist. She was graceful and ethereal, with tender skin, a leisurely demeanor, bright eyes, rosy cheeks, a smile just beginning, words unspoken, her breath as gentle as orchids—endlessly gentle and lovely.

Nominally, she was his maid, but he treated her as a sister, and she had never received the treatment of a servant.

The little beast had the head of a dragon, the body of a horse, the feet of a kirin, and the shape of a lion, its fur bright red. This was a dragon breed born of a divine dragon and a fire kirin: a Pi Xiu.

The beast listened to the girl and nodded human-like, then affectionately nuzzled her slender leg. The girl smiled gently, not showing her teeth, and reached out to stroke the beast’s head.

She turned and walked to her tidy room. The little Pi Xiu, half as tall as a person, shrank to the size of a human head and jumped onto her shoulder. She took it off and cradled it, where it pretended to sleep in her arms.

She was Li Hao’s maid, Xiao Lan. The beast had been injured half a month earlier and was rescued by Li Hao.

Li Hao had gone to Lishui City, and it had been three or four days. After registering for the competition, he spent three days training with the eccentric old man, Wuchang Lingkong, and had yet to return. Xiao Lan always hoped Li Hao would come back soon; in his absence, she felt a deeper loneliness and longing.

In the world within worlds, Li Hao felt three days had passed, but outside, only three hours had gone by. Time moved twelve times faster in the inner world; an hour outside was a day within.

Inside the inner world, Li Hao and his companions had reached night once more. They still had no news of Lu Zheng Tian, Lin Hua Shu, or Lu Xue Mei. The seven soared through the air and landed atop a mountain.

Lin Xue You said to Li Hao, “Brother Li Hao, let’s rest here tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll search again for my brother and Sister Xue Mei.”

“Alright.”

…

Everyone found a place to sit cross-legged and cultivate.

Lin Xue You and Lu Yao sat together; Kui Hu, Li Zhan, and Qin Zhen sat together; Zhenba and Li Hao sat together, forming a circle of seven.

“Brother, have you found any news of Brother Li Hao and his companions?”

“No, and Mei’er hasn’t either?”

“No. It’s strange, once we entered the inner world, we were inexplicably separated.”

“Enough, Mei’er, let’s rest early and continue searching tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

Lu Zheng Tian and Lu Xue Mei sat back to back, cross-legged. After sitting, Lu Xue Mei asked,

“Brother, why do you think the animals in the inner world have disappeared?”

Lu Zheng Tian answered, “That’s a question I’m puzzled about as well. I don’t know why. But we must be cautious; this trial may be related to the disappearance of these creatures.”

“You’re right, brother. I feel the same.”

After chatting for a while, they continued their cultivation.

Lin Hua Shu stood atop a mountain, gazing at the night sky with his hands behind his back. Two days had passed, with no news of his sister or friends. Aside from worrying, he could do nothing.

Before midnight, Zhenba glanced at Li Hao, who was sitting cross-legged beside him. Something seemed off. He observed carefully, but the feeling persisted.

After confirming his suspicions, Zhenba moved to Li Hao’s side and placed a hand by Li Hao’s nose. The touch startled Zhenba so much that he dropped to the ground. Lin Xue You was the first to notice Zhenba’s strange behavior and asked,

“Zhenba, what’s wrong?”

“Li Hao… he… he isn’t breathing!”

Lin Xue You saw Zhenba’s incredulous expression and, hearing his words, couldn’t believe it either. She moved to Li Hao, repeating Zhenba’s actions: placing her delicate fingers by his nose for three or four breaths, confirming he was indeed not breathing. She then touched Li Hao’s chest and found it cold.

Their strange behavior attracted the attention of Kui Hu, Li Zhan, Qin Zhen, and Lu Yao. As Lin Xue You tested Li Hao’s breath, everyone gathered curiously.

Li Hao felt a gentle hand placed on his chest and wondered who it could be. Opening his eyes, he was startled by the scene before him. He didn’t know why Lin Xue You had her hand on his chest.

When everyone saw Lin Xue You’s shocked expression, they were puzzled. Just as they were about to ask what was wrong with Li Hao, they saw him open his eyes, confusion on his face as he looked at Lin Xue You’s hand on his chest.

“Ah!”

When Lin Xue You realized Li Hao had suddenly opened his eyes and was looking at her hand, she cried out in fright and hurriedly clung to Lu Yao.

Everyone saw Lin Xue You’s pale face and ghostly expression, and were deeply curious. Zhenba’s expression was much the same.

“Sister Xue You, what are you doing? Why are you all looking at me?”

Li Hao, puzzled, voiced his confusion.

Lin Xue You pointed her slender, jade-like finger at Li Hao,

…

“Li Hao, just now you clearly had no breath or body warmth—how did you suddenly come back to life?”

“Ah!”

Lu Yao, hearing Lin Xue You’s words, cried out in disbelief. Kui Hu, Li Zhan, and Qin Zhen looked at each other, thinking they must have heard wrong.

Zhenba was equally curious. He had confirmed repeatedly that Li Hao had no breath or warmth, yet suddenly Li Hao was normal again, as though nothing had happened.

Upon hearing Lin Xue You’s question, Li Hao suddenly understood. When he sat cross-legged, he had quickly entered the cultivation of the Reincarnation Breathless Soul Refining Technique.

Zhenba, being closest, was the first to notice his abnormality. Lin Xue You, seeing Zhenba’s shocked expression, imitated him and was startled herself. Just as she was about to tell everyone, Li Hao opened his eyes, frightening her out of her wits.

Li Hao scratched his head and explained awkwardly, “Sorry, Sister Xue You, I startled you all. I’m very much alive, not dead. I just entered a special cultivation state.”

Lin Xue You, hearing his explanation, loosened her hold on Lu Yao and asked uncertainly, “Were you really cultivating just now?”

Her question was also the doubt in Zhenba’s mind.

Li Hao nodded, “Yes!”

Before he finished, Lin Xue You pressed further, “Li Hao, your cultivation is too strange. How can you have no breath? You frightened me; I thought you’d died!”

As she spoke, she patted her chest, clearly deeply shaken by Li Hao’s abnormal state.

“I was practicing a soul-refining technique, gifted by a senior.”

“I see!”

Zhenba finally understood the truth. Kui Hu, Li Zhan, Qin Zhen, and Lu Yao also realized why Lin Xue You and Zhenba had been so shocked.

“I plan to teach this special soul-refining technique to you all once we find Brother Lu Zheng Tian, Brother Lin Hua Shu, and Sister Lu Xue Mei.”

Everyone was elated by Li Hao’s words, which they had never expected. No one imagined Li Hao would be so generous.

“Really?”

Lu Yao asked, unable to contain her excitement.

“Of course! Sister Yao, you don’t trust your brother Li Hao? That’s heartbreaking.”

“You’re mistaken, Brother Li Hao! I didn’t mean it that way. I was just so excited to hear you’d teach us the soul-refining technique, I was afraid I’d misunderstood and wanted to be sure.”

Lu Yao shook her head vigorously, her delicate hands waving like autumn leaves as she explained.

Li Hao understood her meaning—he was simply accustomed to teasing her, so he said it deliberately.

…