A Little Something

After hearing Li Zhen, Zhang Tao thought it over and said, "Come with me to find Zhu Wusheng and the others first. We'll talk after that!"

Li Zhen naturally had no objections. After getting ready, the group headed in the direction the Catacombs Rank 7 had indicated. When they were still some distance away, Zhang Tao sensed Zhu Wusheng and the others. There were still more than thirty Rank 7s over there, including quite a few Rank 7 peak experts.

Zhang Tao silently sized up the situation. If they charged in head-on, he would be fine, but Su Changqing and the others would probably be in trouble. So he lowered his voice and said, "Li Zhen, go draw the monsters over!"

Li Zhen didn't ask any questions and left at once.

He didn't need to worry about timing this time. Zhang Tao would take care of everything.

After Li Zhen left, Zhang Tao silently counted. When the time came, he drew the God-Slaying Blade and said, "Dig a hole here and hide in it. I'll lure them over in a moment! Don't attack until I give the word!"

With that, Zhang Tao was already flying off. Su Changqing and the others looked at one another, then immediately began digging. They'd just do as they were told.

Zhang Tao wasn't concealing his aura at all. Instead, he raised it to its peak, and the God-Slaying Blade in his hand glowed blood-red.

So before Zhang Tao even arrived, Zhu Wusheng and the others sensed him. Their expressions immediately turned serious. Zhu Wusheng stared at Zhang Tao with bloodshot eyes. Because of Zhang Tao, he'd suffered a huge humiliation. He'd meant to kill a Heaven Suppressing King Descendant, but had been ambushed at the entrance. It had greatly damaged his standing.

Now that the two enemies had met, their eyes burned with hatred. Zhu Wusheng had already signaled to several nearby Rank 7 peak experts. They knew by now that the blade in Zhang Tao's hand was probably a high-grade divine weapon. After all, even a Rank 7 Divine Weapon couldn't withstand a single blow from him. They had no intention of meeting him head-on; instead, they would wear him down.

With more than thirty Rank 7s on their side, surely they could wear Zhang Tao to death.

Zhu Wusheng had to be given credit: he was no fool. When Zhang Tao's blade came down, those few Rank 7 peak experts struck at once, gathering all their energy together to block the blow.

The result was quite effective. Zhang Tao's strike was powerful, but his own cultivation was still a weakness. He could kill a Rank 7 peak expert in an instant, but the combined outburst of several Rank 7 peak experts was enough to neutralize his attack.

"Attack together! Don't lose your formation!" Zhu Wusheng shouted. He had rehearsed countless times in his mind how to deal with Zhang Tao.

Zhang Tao glanced at Zhu Wusheng in surprise. Well, this guy really had something going for him. He'd clearly underestimated the Catacombs' geniuses.

Zhang Tao couldn't even get close to them now. His greatest advantage was the sharpness of the God-Slaying Blade, but Zhu Wusheng knew that too. He kept his people at a distance on purpose, wearing Zhang Tao down.

When Zhu Wusheng saw Zhang Tao trying to flee, he calmly ordered his people to pursue him. He'd learned from his past mistakes. Since he hadn't seen the Heaven Suppressing King Descendant, he knew those people might be up to something.

"Impressive. You've got some tricks!" Zhang Tao muttered as he flew ahead, feeling a little frustrated. Zhu Wusheng had mastered the art of retreating when the enemy advanced and harassing them when they fell back.

After flying past the place where Su Changqing and the others were hiding, Zhang Tao still didn't call out. Zhu Wusheng's group was so well organized this time that if Su Changqing and the others came out, they might well be counterattacked and wiped out.

Su Changqing had actually been watching through a narrow gap. When he saw Zhang Tao fly past without telling them to attack, he was at a loss for what to do.

"Brother Su, what should we do? Zhang Tao seems to have flown off!" one of Zhenxing City's Rank 7s said in a muffled voice.

Su Changqing had no choice but to say, "Let's wait here. Zhang Tao must have a reason for not calling us out!"

The others said nothing and could only remain in the hole.

After flying some distance, Zhang Tao ran into Li Zhen head-on. More than a dozen monsters were chasing Li Zhen.

"Zhang Tao?" Li Zhen called out. This wasn't how things were supposed to go.

Zhang Tao didn't answer. Instead, he grabbed Li Zhen and flew off to the side. Zhu Wusheng saw Li Zhen and the monsters behind him and let out a cold laugh. The same trick again? Did they really think they could fool them? Did they intend to keep relying on one trick forever?

Zhu Wusheng waved his hand, and the Catacombs Rank 7s all retreated together. Sure enough, the monsters chased after Zhang Tao and Li Zhen.

Zhu Wusheng followed leisurely behind them. This time, he would be the one waiting in ambush.

"Zhang Tao, what now?" Li Zhen asked. The original plan wasn't going to work. Zhu Wusheng wasn't stupid.

Zhang Tao glanced behind them, feeling a little troubled too, then said, "Forget it. Let's shake off the monsters behind us first!"

He'd waited until now to say it because he needed to lead them farther away, so they wouldn't discover Su Changqing and the others' hiding place.

Now they were far enough away. Zhang Tao could finally speed up.

As Zhang Tao and Li Zhen picked up speed, the monsters gradually fell behind. Zhu Wusheng, following behind them, frowned. This wasn't looking good.

But if they tried to get ahead of the monsters, the beasts would surely attack them. For a moment, Zhu Wusheng was at a loss.

Before long, Zhang Tao and Li Zhen had shaken off the monsters. As for Zhu Wusheng and the others trailing behind them, they couldn't see Zhang Tao or Li Zhen anywhere.

In the end, Zhu Wusheng could only land and wait for another opportunity.

Zhang Tao and Li Zhen found a small hill, dug a hole, and climbed inside. Li Zhen mocked him, "You underestimated the Catacombs' geniuses, didn't you?"

Zhang Tao chuckled without denying it. He had underestimated them. Still, it wasn't as if he had no options. In a few more days, he'd finish tempering his skull and reach Rank 8. Then killing them would be a piece of cake.

After staying in the hole for a while, Zhang Tao said, "Come on. Let's find Su Changqing and the others, then go mess around in the Rank 6 Domain!"

Li Zhen was stunned, then rolled his eyes. Zhang Tao really was shameless. He was already at Rank 7 peak, yet he wanted to go to the Rank 6 Domain. It was obvious what he was planning.

"Zhang Tao, you still need to be careful. Many of these people are True King Descendants. Some might have a True King's Mental Power Avatar. If they throw one out, it could end in mutual destruction. I heard the Old Ancestor say that this is a chaotic zone. If an Apex's Mental Power Avatar appears, it could draw an attack from the Great Mask. Even a Rank 9 wouldn't be able to withstand that!" Li Zhen was afraid Zhang Tao didn't know much about this place, so he hurriedly explained.

Zhang Tao nodded. "I know."

Li Zhen was speechless. What the hell did you know? Where had you heard that? Even I was hearing it for the first time, so how could you possibly know?