The Unlikely Need for a Hostage
"It seems I'll have to ask you in person..."
Although Lu Bai was speaking to the last fighter, the person he was actually communicating with was clearly not the guy in front of him.
Unable to escape under the control of Second Young Master Hu, the last remaining fighter looked terrified, as if he had guessed that his days were numbered.
He guessed right.
Lu Bai conjured another white spike in his palm and threw it decisively.
Without intending to exchange more words with this fighter, I simply eliminated him after acting as a messenger.
[Bite!]
[Points +7, Current Points: 12, Current Rank: 1/422]
"Well..."
Staring at the seven freshly prepared corpses, Chang Shengtian froze on the spot. "Xiao Bai, aren't you going a bit too far?"
Even the old Grandmother Wang San wasn't this bloodthirsty.
"It's alright, I'll make my own decision."
Lu Bai waved his hand, signaling Chang Shengtian to follow him up the mountain.
At the mountaintop, a mountain breeze blows, carrying away the lingering heat of midday.
A young man with white hair reaching his waist sat cross-legged on the altar, watching the clouds drift by, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance.
After Lu Bai decisively killed those combatants, the white-haired youth's expression suddenly froze.
The events that occurred halfway up the mountain made it suddenly realize that it seemed to have greatly misunderstood Lu Bai's intentions.
This isn't here to rescue people; it's clearly here to become an executioner.
What's going on with this Incense Officer?
When it comes to killing Reincarnated Demon, it is even more decisive than this immortal being.
Because that Second Young Master Hu changed the plans at the last minute.
Lu Bai and Chang Shengtian had a smooth journey and did not encounter any more combatants blocking their way.
If it weren't for the still palpable yin energy in the mountains, Chang Shengtian would have almost thought they were on a mountain hike.
After walking through an area full of tree stumps, Chang Shengtian, who had been relaxed for a long time, finally became alert.
It gazed at the dense pine forest ahead, the most yin-heavy place in the mountain.
"That's it, it's inside."
"Don't keep them waiting."
Lu Bai said with a smile, showing no sign of tension whatsoever, and his pace didn't even slow down.
There seemed to be no one lying in ambush in the woods. Lu Bai and Chang Shengtian walked through the pine forest, stepping on fallen leaves, and then the view suddenly opened up.
Looking beyond the cliff face, the blue sky and white clouds are in full view, complemented by the pine needles on both sides, making it a truly magnificent sight.
Unfortunately, the altar, situated on the edge of a cliff, makes the scene seem somewhat jarring.
"The feng shui was ruined, and the treasures were stolen... The Great Immortal Lord once told me that scheming will not lead to success, a principle I never understood."
Second Young Master Hu picked up three incense sticks and placed them into the incense burner in front of him.
Without showing much resentment, it said calmly, "Looking back now, there's a reason for it."
Upon hearing this, Chang Shengtian's expression turned solemn, and he sighed with feigned profundity, "The affairs of this world are inherently unpredictable... Hmm, not again?!"
But before it could finish speaking, everything before it was plunged into darkness.
Lu Bai had no intention of understanding the Second Young Master Hu's thought process, and acted without hesitation.
"How dare you!"
Second Young Master Hu couldn't help but shout angrily.
Little did it know that Lu Bai would act so unscrupulously.
After all, we've come this far.
Based on its consistent understanding, shouldn't both sides at least maintain some decorum in this level of dialogue?
To start a fight the moment you meet someone, what kind of behavior is that?!
Enraged, Second Young Master Hu unleashed his power, causing Mana to surge at the location where he stood, suddenly stirring up billowing yin energy.
These yin energies resonated with the objects buried in the mountains and forests, causing a complete upheaval in the entire Yanghu Zi Mountain.
The dense yin energy caused the temperature in the mountains to drop suddenly, as if throwing people from the hottest days of summer into the dead of winter.
The leaves quickly dried up, the stream narrowed, and the smell of decay rose from the weeds.
The vegetation in the mountains rustled in the howling wind, faintly mixed with eerie howls that sent chills down one's spine.
All of this seemed even more eerie and unpredictable under the cover of darkness.
However, Lu Bai didn't care at all. These immortals always had to put on a show of power before they made a move, creating an atmosphere. He was used to it.
He unleashed his Mana, his right arm sprouting spikes, while the Great Serpent Phantom on his left arm seemed poised to pounce.
Lu Bai concealed himself in the darkness. Without wasting any time, he shot towards Second Young Master Hu like an arrow released from a bow.
Halfway there, he suddenly flicked his right hand, shooting out several sharp spikes.
Clang! Clang~
Even with his vision obstructed, Second Young Master Hu still managed to perfectly block all the spikes.
In this situation, it's impossible to make a precise judgment. As long as danger is detected, the defensive method will inevitably be to use powerful flying bricks.
However, Lu Bai possesses attack methods that his opponents cannot detect.
[Flash Time] is activated, and the world comes to a standstill.
Lu Bai circled behind Second Young Master Hu, and the Great Serpent Phantom, which had been gathering power for a long time, suddenly blasted out with violent force.
When the Great Serpent Phantom was unleashed, it even briefly produced a sonic boom.
Bang!
A piercing explosion echoed across the cliff face.
Second Young Master Hu didn't have time to resist; to be precise, in the face of [Flash Time], it couldn't find an opportunity to resist at all.
When the world resumed its flow, it felt its mind go blank, leaving only a profound sense of powerlessness.
The shockwave swept across like a tidal wave, collapsing large swathes of pine forest.
Once everything had settled, Lu Bai finally dispelled the darkness that filled the sky.
With one hand, he controlled the Great Serpent Phantom to suppress Second Young Master Hu, while with the other hand he waved at Chang Shengtian: "What are you still standing there for?"
"You..."
Chang Shengtian was speechless for a moment; he was increasingly unsure how to treat Lu Bai.
When it discovered that it couldn't use the Four Immortal Lotuses, it thought there would definitely be a fierce battle, and it might even have to put in more effort.
But reality proved it wrong; Lu Bai, who had just learned how to make pilgrimages to the top of the mountain, turned around and pinned a celestial being of Second Young Master Hu's caliber to the ground.
Just how strong is Lu Bai right now?
Is this kind of formidable person really his own Incense Officer?
A complex mix of emotions welled up in Chang Shengtian's heart.
Following Lu Bai's instructions, it took control of Second Young Master Hu, appearing somewhat bewildered throughout.
Lu Bai pushed aside the incense burner, turned around, and sat down on the altar. "Alright, now we can have a proper chat."
Second Young Master Hu opened his mouth.
It had so much to say, but it was all stuck in its throat, and it didn't know where to begin.
Ultimately, it was defeated too quickly, so quickly that it still doesn't understand what just happened.
After a long silence, it barely regained some of its sanity. "You want to save those Reincarnated Demons, right?"
"Yes."
Lu Bai nodded. "I originally wanted to exchange hostages with you, but you didn't agree, so I had no choice but to use yourself as a hostage."
"Haha, you've underestimated me."
Second Young Master Hu retorted, his neck stiff with arrogance. "Although I don't know what you want those Reincarnated Demons for, I'm certain you want to save them, and that's enough! I'd rather die than let you have your way."