Back to Kyoto

"What are those looks on your faces?" Zhang Tao asked Li Zhen and the others, equally bewildered.

Why were they looking at him so strangely?

Li Zhen's gaze grew even more evasive. Do you have any idea what you look like?

Su Changqing and the others lowered their heads. They couldn't bear to look. This guy really was shameless. They were afraid they'd let a smile slip and end up on this ruthless man's hit list!

At last, Zhang Tao caught on. He said irritably, "If we're not going to Rank 6 Domain, are we supposed to go to Rank 7 Domain and get ourselves killed? Zhu Wusheng's gone mad. What if he runs to the exit and throws out that Mental Power Avatar? What do you think would happen to us?"

Li Zhen froze, then immediately headed for Rank 6 Domain without looking back. That bastard Zhang Tao had a point.

Seeing the others run even faster than him, Zhang Tao rolled his eyes and followed them.

Once they entered Rank 6 Domain, Zhang Tao said, "We've nearly wiped out everyone in Rank 6 Domain. I'd like to kill some Rank 7s too, but Zhu Wusheng's an unpredictable factor. Should we leave? Get out ahead of time?"

Li Zhen sighed. Zhang Tao was right. They'd planned to spend a month in Land of King Battles, but it had only been a few days.

Besides, they'd killed so many people from the Catacombs that if they really waited a whole month before leaving, there was no telling whether the Catacombs would turn on them. That would be trouble.

"Good point. We've certainly made a name for ourselves this time. Let's go," Li Zhen said.

Su Changqing and the others had no objections. They had plenty of time to visit Land of King Battles, after all. They weren't particularly keen on coming here anyway. Wasn't training at home better? If another ruthless man like Zhang Tao showed up here, they might end up getting killed too.

As for Zhang Tao, now that he was Rank 8, he had no interest in wasting time here. He still had to go distribute the spoils. After that, he'd focus on tempering his body. He was aiming for Double Nine advancement.

The group then flew toward the exit of Rank 6 Domain. As for Zhu Wusheng, he'd indeed reached the entrance to Rank 7 Domain. His expression was vicious, his face twisted. He couldn't accept losing face so badly. He was waiting for Zhang Tao and the others. The moment they drew near, he'd throw out his Mental Power Avatar and escape. He'd make sure Zhang Tao and the others had nowhere to rest in peace!

But he was destined to be disappointed. Zhang Tao had already flown to the exit of Rank 6 Domain and emerged from it.

Li Wujie, who'd been waiting outside, was baffled. Why had they come out so early? And from Rank 6 Domain?

The Catacombs' Divine General saw this too and was just as confused. He had no idea what Zhang Tao and the others were up to.

Soon, the Divine General's expression darkened. Surely these people hadn't played dirty and gone to Rank 6 Domain to slaughter everyone? That would be completely out of line. They'd have to demand justice for that.

After coming out, Zhang Tao wore an expression of lingering fear. "That was terrifying! So many Rank 7s from the Catacombs were hunting us down. Luckily, we were clever and escaped through Rank 6 Domain. Great Grandmaster Li, I'm sorry. We let you down, but we brought Li Zhen back safely!"

Zhang Tao's voice was loud enough for just about everyone nearby to hear. Li Wujie raised an eyebrow. He knew many Rank 7s from the Catacombs had entered, but he hadn't expected them to start hunting Li Zhen and the others as soon as they went in. Hadn't the other Holy Lands intervened?

Li Wujie glanced at the Rank 9s from the other Holy Lands. They looked awkward, but he said nothing. They were all Holy Lands, and they all competed with one another. He simply said, "Since you're out, let's go back."

The Divine General from the Catacombs had been watching them the whole time. After hearing Zhang Tao, he sneered and even mocked them loudly. "So these are the descendants of the Heaven Suppressing King? Hahaha! Wonderful. Simply wonderful!"

The Catacombs were only too happy to see a great father have a worthless son. No one wanted another Heaven Suppressing King to appear!

Li Wujie didn't even look at him. He turned and left with Zhang Tao and the others. No one tried to stop them. After all, they'd come out with their tails between their legs, and the Catacombs couldn't be bothered to chase them.

But a month later, those Divine Generals went completely berserk. Who could have guessed that these eight people would wipe out Rank 6 Domain and rout Rank 7 Domain in just a few days? It was almost unbelievable.

As for Zhu Wusheng, he was cursed out until his face turned red and black. He'd foolishly waited at the entrance for a whole month, never once considering that the others might not leave through Rank 7 Domain. He'd been played like a fool, and they'd even lost so many Catacombs geniuses. Even the Bamboo King was mocked because of it.

Before entering, Zhu Wusheng had wanted to make a name for himself in the Forbidden Zones. And he certainly had. He'd made a name for himself throughout the world—as a cautionary tale.

He'd practically become synonymous with uselessness.

There had only been eight people from the Land of Rebirth. Zhu Wusheng had brought more than forty, yet they'd been routed by those eight. That was an achievement all right.

They passed through Sea-Suppressing Mountain and soon returned to Zhenxing City. Zhang Tao said goodbye to Li Zhen and went straight back to Kyoto. He still had something to discuss with Li Xianling.

As for explaining what had happened afterward, he trusted Li Zhen and the others to set the record straight.

After Zhang Tao left, Li Zhen told Li Wujie what had happened in Land of King Battles. Li Wujie's eyes widened. He'd assumed his grandson and the others had simply played dirty, slaughtered Rank 6 Domain, and then made up an excuse. He hadn't expected them to be so formidable.

Now he had a much clearer impression of Zhang Tao, the young man from the outside world. Someone like him was destined for great things.

When Zhang Tao reached Kyoto, he went straight to Culture Academy to find Li Xianling. He took out everything he'd obtained in Land of King Battles, even the storage equipment. Li Xianling was stunned. It had only been a few days, and Zhang Tao had already achieved so much? And he'd reached Rank 8?

Ever since Zhang Tao had returned injured from the Catacombs, it was as if he'd been given a cheat code. In just over three months, he'd gone from Rank 6 to Rank 8. They'd never even dared imagine progress like that.

"Zhang Tao, you..." Li Xianling didn't know what to say.

"Heh. Academy Head, just keep the stuff. I'm going to train!" Zhang Tao smiled, left the items behind, and headed out. He trusted Li Xianling to arrange everything properly.

Now, Zhang Tao only wanted to grow stronger. Everything else was meaningless.

When he got home, Brother Xian was cooking for Grey Cat. Seeing Zhang Tao return, he was surprised. Hadn't Zhang Tao said he'd be gone for more than a month? Why was he back so soon?

Grey Cat spotted Zhang Tao too, circled him once, then said, "You're advancing so fast! You're already Rank 8. Not bad—you really live up to this cat's expectations!"

Grey Cat was delighted. The faster Zhang Tao cultivated, the happier it was. That meant it was one step closer to eating a big fish head.