This Is Too Arrogant

"Hahaha…"

Xu Shan's voice echoed throughout the stockade, and then everyone saw him flying high in the air.

"Spirit Profound Realm?" Ma Hongyun exclaimed, staring at Xu Shan in shock.

Xu Shan hovered in the air, "Ma Hongyun, I admit I poisoned and killed Big Brother, and I admit I coveted Big Brother's treasures. But the facts prove I was right, I've now broken through to the Spirit Profound Realm, hahaha…"

Everyone in the stockade heard his confession. The villagers who had believed him were struck as if by lightning, freezing on the spot.

Ma Hongyun roared angrily, "Bastard, don't get cocky, Sir is still here!"

"Screw Sir, isn't he just a Spirit Profound expert? I am too now. If I want to escape, can he stop me?" Xu Shan said with extreme arrogance.

After breaking through to the Spirit Profound Realm, he had become arrogant, and extremely so.

However, Zhou Hao was not in the Spirit Profound Realm, but in the Spirit Sense Realm. Moreover, even if he were in the Spirit Profound Realm, he wouldn't be someone like Xu Shan, who had just broken through.

After his arrogant outburst, Xu Shan immediately wanted to flee. Although he had boasted about not fearing Zhou Hao, he was still quite panicked in his heart.

However, because he had just broken through, he was not yet familiar with flying, and after flying for a while, he crashed headfirst into the ground.

He quickly flew up again, but Zhou Hao had already appeared above him at some unknown time.

As soon as Xu Shan saw Zhou Hao, he immediately fled, not forgetting to look back and taunt him.

"Only you…"

At this moment, Zhou Hao had caught up to him and punched him straight in the face.

Xu Shan's voice abruptly cut off, and his body plummeted straight down into the stockade, creating a large crater.

The villagers rushed over, surrounding the pit.

Zhou Hao clapped his hands and slowly descended from the air.

Seeing him descend, the villagers parted, making way for him.

Zhou Hao looked into the pit. Xu Shan scrambled out of it, looking disheveled. When he saw Zhou Hao looking down at him from the edge of the pit, he was so terrified that he immediately shrank back inside.

"Come out," Zhou Hao's calm, unruffled voice rang out.

Xu Shan couldn't help but tremble all over, then sheepishly crawled out.

Zhou Hao asked, "How did you dare to provoke me?"

"I… I didn't dare." Xu Shan was genuinely scared this time.

He thought that by breaking through to the Spirit Profound Realm, he would no longer fear Zhou Hao. However, the reality was that he feared him even more now, because he understood the gap between himself and Zhou Hao even better.

Ma Hongyun also arrived at this moment. He first greeted Zhou Hao respectfully, and then proceeded to curse Xu Shan.

Xu Shan had completely lost the arrogance he had just moments ago upon breaking through. He had already confessed to poisoning and killing Shi Po, and no one believed him anymore.

He suddenly felt that his actions just now were incredibly foolish.

"I'll kill you!" Ma Hongyun couldn't hold back any longer and drew his saber, intending to hack Xu Shan down.

"Wait a moment, let him explain the entire incident first. Then you can do as you please," Zhou Hao said.

Although the murderer was 100% confirmed, the cause and process of the incident still needed to be understood.

Upon hearing Zhou Hao speak, Ma Hongyun immediately nodded obsequiously, "Yes, Sir."

Then, his expression shifted instantly as he turned to Xu Shan, kicked him, and roared, "Explain the entire thing clearly!"

"Why should I explain? I'm going to die anyway, so what does it matter if I speak or not? Hahaha…" Xu Shan laughed maniacally.

Zhou Hao calmly said, "Speak, and you can die easily. If you don't, you'll only be tortured to death. I'll start by breaking your fingers one by one, then your hands. After your hands are gone, I'll break your feet. Once your feet are gone, I'll flay you inch by inch. Don't worry, you won't die easily. I'll also apply salt to your wounds, hiss… that feeling will instantly invigorate one."

He was merely describing the process Murong used to torture Wu Tianming when he had fallen into demonic ways. He wouldn't actually dare to do it.

However, just the description alone was terrifying enough to make Xu Shan tremble uncontrollably.

Ma Hongyun, listening from the side, also felt his scalp tingle. He looked at Zhou Hao in horror, not expecting Zhou Hao to be such a ruthless person. Truly, one cannot judge a book by its cover!

Zhou Hao suddenly barked, "Are you going to talk or not?"

Xu Shan trembled all over from fear and nodded repeatedly, "I… I'll talk. I'll talk."

Zhou Hao smiled with satisfaction. It was best that he was willing to confess honestly, which saved him a [Truth Serum Pill]. However, he was rather curious to try the effect of the [Truth Serum Pill].

This way, he would be mentally prepared for when Murong gave him the [Truth Serum Pill] in the future.

But since Xu Shan was willing to confess himself, why waste it! This was all money!

Seeing Xu Shan hesitating, Ma Hongyun immediately kicked him again and shouted, "Hurry up and tell us."

Xu Shan nodded repeatedly and then began his story.

The matter had to be traced back to the Tomb of Opportunities. Xu Shan and Shi Po were out on official business, and on their way back, they encountered a Level Three Tomb of Opportunities opening.

Naturally, Shi Po and the others wouldn't pass up such an opportunity and entered without hesitation.

As soon as they entered, they were randomly separated by the Tomb of Opportunities. After some time, they emerged from the tomb.

Xu Shan asked Shi Po what he had obtained. Shi Po said he had gotten a [Mysterious Grade Low Rank Pill to Break Limits], which would allow him to break through to the Mystic Body Realm.

Afterward, Shi Po asked Xu Shan what he had obtained. Xu Shan said he had gotten a Mortal Tool, which was useless.

Actually, he had lied. What he obtained wasn't some Mortal Tool, but a bottle of poison called [Three Hour Powder]. Anyone poisoned would die three hours later.

When Xu Shan obtained the poison, he had already considered killing Shi Po. Over the years, he had grown tired of this life of merely collecting protection fees. He much preferred raiding, as it earned them more.

To return to their bandit ways, he had to get rid of Shi Po first, as Shi Po was the one who pioneered the protection fee system.

Xu Shan, who had been wavering, immediately solidified his resolve upon learning that Shi Po had obtained a Mysterious Grade Low Rank [Pill to Break Limits].

He intended to kill Shi Po, seize the [Pill to Break Limits], and simultaneously restore the stockade to its bandit roots.

Later, while drinking with Shi Po, Xu Shan stealthily put the poison into Shi Po's wine.

After Shi Po drank it, he would die from the poison in three hours.

During this time, he even deliberately had Heizi deliver food, intending to frame Heizi later.

After Shi Po died from the poison, Xu Shan quietly avoided everyone and went to Shi Po's room to take the [Pill to Break Limits] from Shi Po's Storage Ring.

Then, he threatened Heizi, claiming he had captured his mother, and even showed Heizi a lock of hair.

Upon seeing the hair, Heizi immediately broke down. He was an honest and filial person, not very quick-witted. Seeing hair that strongly resembled his mother's, he had no choice but to agree to cooperate with Xu Shan.

In reality, Xu Shan had gotten that hair from an old woman outside, which looked very similar to Heizi's mother's hair. He hadn't actually kidnapped Heizi's mother at all.

Afterward, Heizi was framed and then killed by Xu Shan. Xu Shan then began his act, claiming he would fight to the death with the people of Tiger Fiend Stockade to avenge Big Brother. In truth, it was all an act.

As for where the [Pill to Break Limits] was hidden? It was actually inside Xu Shan's stomach, wrapped in a special layer of material.

He hadn't had the chance to refine it due to various matters over the past few days, only gaining the time to do so after being locked in the dungeon.

After refining it, he directly broke through from the Mystic Extreme Triple Stage to the Spirit Profound Second Stage. The [Pill to Break Limits] was even more effective than he had imagined, causing him to become somewhat arrogant.

What followed was him being beaten by Zhou Hao to the point of questioning his own existence.

After hearing the entire story, Zhou Hao fell silent for a moment. What could he say?

Xu Shan wasn't particularly smart, nor was he stupid. His plan wasn't perfect, but the people in the stockade believed too much in the facade he presented, which was why very few suspected him.

Zhou Hao shrugged. Today had certainly taught him a lesson: you can know a person's face, but not their heart. Especially when looking at someone who appears simple and honest, they can sometimes be more ruthless than anyone else.

He looked at Ma Hongyun. "You handle this yourself! I won't get involved."

Ma Hongyun and the villagers immediately surged forward, kicking and stomping on Xu Shan, until Xu Shan was kicked to death.

Xu Shan hadn't expected to die in such a manner. Where was the quick death he had been promised?