"Young friend Gu Huang, wait here a moment. I'll return to the Blood-Baleful Abyss to fetch a few things, then escort you to Southern Cinnabar City," Rong Shao said.
"Please, go ahead, Senior," the Heaven-and-Earth Avatar said.
Rong Shao smiled faintly, passed through the ceremonial archway, and vanished into the depths of the Blood-Baleful Abyss, where baleful energy swirled.
A moment later, the Heaven-and-Earth Avatar's expression abruptly turned cold. His icy gaze swept over the guards outside the archway entrance, one by one.
"Remember this, all of you: not a word of my visit to the Blood-Baleful Abyss today may get out. If so much as a whisper reaches the outside world, I'll make you wish you were dead!"
As he spoke, the Heaven-and-Earth Avatar stomped on the guard captain, who was still lying on the ground.
Crack!
The guard captain felt a piercing agony shoot through his right shin.
The bones in his lower right leg had shattered, though the skin and flesh remained intact.
Even so, he made not a sound of pain or protest. He merely gazed pleadingly at the Heaven-and-Earth Avatar.
"Rest assured, Young Master. We won't breathe a word to anyone."
"Get up. Are you lying there to make me pity you?" the Heaven-and-Earth Avatar said.
A flicker of incredulous gratitude immediately flashed through the guard captain's eyes.
"Thank you, Young Master."
With that, he abruptly rose to his feet.
Though his shin bones had shattered, he forcibly held them together with his magical power, leaving no outward sign of anything amiss.
The Heaven-and-Earth Avatar said nothing more. His figure flickered, and he flew off into the distance.
"Young Master, weren't you going to Southern Cinnabar City with Elder Rong Shao?" the guard captain called from behind him.
"I have a small matter to attend