Su Qin and Lu Hao Were Worthy of Going to Green Ox Mountain?

Lu Hao had now acquired the Blood Baleful Blade Method, but he lacked sufficient Blood Baleful Intent and could not practice it.

He had already intended to go to Green Ox Mountain and use a demon beast's fresh blood to consecrate his blade.

Now that the Black Tiger Gang was sending people into Green Ox Mountain, it was a rare opportunity. Naturally, he intended to go.

Lu Hao rose to his feet and clasped his fists toward Ding Mian.

"Deputy Gang Leader Ding, though Lu is only at Mid-Grade Bright Force, I believe I have the ability to protect myself in Green Ox Mountain. I respectfully ask Deputy Gang Leader Ding to permit me to go to Green Ox Mountain."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ding Mian looked slightly surprised. Then he smiled at Lu Hao. "Elder Lu truly is young and hot-blooded..."

Before Ding Mian could finish, a cold female voice rang out.

"What is Lu Hao supposed to be? With his strength, is he worthy of going to Green Ox Mountain?"

Everyone turned toward the voice.

On a chair to the left of the council hall sat a woman of twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Her lovely hair was tied high, and her face was cold and striking. She wore a fitted white martial outfit, cinched at the waist and outlining her lush figure.

The speaker was Su Qin, the only female elder among the Black Tiger Gang's eleven elders. She was also Ding Mian's trusted confidante.

Su Qin looked at Lu Hao, a cold sneer curling across her lips.

"If I remember correctly, Elder Lu broke through to become a Martial Artist only a few days ago, didn't he?"

She paused, then swept her gaze across everyone present.

"In Green Ox Mountain, a First-Order Demon Beast is already comparable to a human Bright Force Martial Artist. A Second-Order Demon Beast is even comparable to a Dark Force Martial Artist. Our purpose this time is to intercept the Praying Mantis Beast's Demon Beast Core and corpse from the Golden Saber Gang."

She glanced at Lu Hao and continued, "Lu Hao has only just entered Bright Force. Even if he follows us, not only will he be of no help, but when the critical moment comes, we may even have to divide our attention to look after him!"

The council hall fell silent at once.

Several elders exchanged glances. Other than Cao Ling, all of them nodded slightly, showing a measure of approval.

In truth, the elders' opposition to Lu Hao going to Green Ox Mountain had nothing to do with his lack of strength.

The real reason was that the Praying Mantis Beast was a Second-Order Demon Beast, and its Demon Beast Core could help them break through to Dark Force. Moreover, aside from its Demon Beast Core, every inch of the Praying Mantis Beast was treasure.

These people had long regarded the Praying Mantis Beast's corpse as something already in their pockets.

They guessed that the Golden Saber Gang would surely suffer grievous casualties hunting the Praying Mantis Beast. Their trip to Green Ox Mountain was more about carving up the spoils. One more person meant one less share of the benefits.

And Lu Hao's cultivation was a minor realm below theirs. Thus, none of them wanted him to accompany them to Green Ox Mountain.

Lu Hao took in everyone's reactions.

He thought of the Blood Essence Pill he still had. At a crucial moment, it could restore his Blood Essence. Even if he truly encountered danger in Green Ox Mountain, he still had the means to protect himself.

More importantly, his purpose in entering the mountain was not the Praying Mantis Beast's corpse. Lu Hao wanted even more to hunt demon beasts and use their Blood Baleful Intent to cultivate the Blood Baleful Golden Blade Method. This was a perfect opportunity, and he was unwilling to let it pass.

"Elder Su need not worry!" Lu Hao looked at Su Qin. "Once we enter Green Ox Mountain, if I encounter danger, I will not require anyone to distract themselves looking after me. I alone will bear life and death!"

Su Qin gave a cold snort.

"Elder Lu, no one will care if you die in Green Ox Mountain. But if the gang's great affair is ruined because of you, can you bear that responsibility?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Ding Mian stood up and smiled as he tried to smooth things over.

"Elder Su! Although Elder Lu has only just taken up the position of elder, he is still Mid-Grade Bright Force, and he has rendered great service to the gang. There is no need to speak so harshly."

Ding Mian's words appeared to defend Lu Hao. In truth, they pointed out the facts that Lu Hao was weak and low in standing.

He continued smiling at Lu Hao. "However, Elder Lu, what Elder Su said is not entirely without reason. Green Ox Mountain is indeed dangerous. Elder Lu could remain at the main headquarters and hold down the fort."

Seeing that the atmosphere was turning sour, Cao Ling hurriedly stepped forward to mediate as well.

"Brother Lu, why not stay at the main headquarters this time? Green Ox Mountain is truly dangerous. Not only must you deal with demon beasts, but also people from the Golden Saber Gang. Staying at the main headquarters is not a bad thing."

Lu Hao could tell that Cao Ling was sincerely thinking of him. Cao Ling worried that Su Qin and the others would target him, and he also worried that Lu Hao would encounter danger in the mountain. But Lu Hao had to go to Green Ox Mountain.

"Brother Cao," Lu Hao said, looking at Cao Ling, "as a newly promoted elder of the gang, now that the gang has need of me, I should naturally share its burdens and resolve its troubles! Therefore, I must go to Green Ox Mountain."

He made his reasoning sound lofty and righteous, leaving Ding Mian, Su Qin, and the others speechless for a moment.

After everyone fell silent for a while, Su Qin said coldly, "Since Elder Lu has set his heart on going, I will say no more. However, whether you can go or not will be decided by what you can do under our hands."

Su Qin stood up.

"Elder Lu, let us take a trip to the training grounds. If you can withstand one hundred moves under my hands, I will agree to let you enter Green Ox Mountain with us."

After saying that, she did not even look at Lu Hao and walked straight toward the training grounds.

Cao Ling hurried to Lu Hao's side.

"Brother Lu, Su Qin entered Upper-Grade Bright Force nearly ten years ago and has faintly touched the threshold of Dark Force. No one who has fought her has ever survived. In this old brother's opinion, you would be better off not going to Green Ox Mountain this time."

Lu Hao smiled faintly at Cao Ling. "Brother Cao, there is no need to worry!"

Seeing this, Cao Ling lowered his voice. "Three years ago, she sparred with an Upper-Grade Bright Force elder from the gang. She knocked that elder out of the training grounds; by rights, the sparring match should have ended then. But Su Qin still stepped forward and struck him dead with a single staff blow, even smashing out his brains. This woman's hands are venomous indeed!"

When Lu Hao's Black Tiger Method had been solidified, his Qi-Blood had already doubled. Later, the Qi-Blood within his body had transformed into Blood Essence. The Blood Essence in his body was far more abundant than that of Martial Artists at the same realm.

Looking at Su Qin's retreating figure, Lu Hao felt even more eager to test himself against an Upper-Grade Bright Force Martial Artist. He wanted to know exactly how great the gap was between himself and Upper-Grade Bright Force.

After Cao Ling finished speaking, Lu Hao smiled at him, then strode out of the council hall and onto the training grounds.

Su Qin was already standing in the middle of the grounds, holding two short staffs as she watched Lu Hao coldly.

"Elder Lu, are you not using a weapon when sparring with Su?"

Lu Hao said softly, "Elder Su, Lu has no need for a weapon when sparring with you."

Su Qin had not expected Lu Hao to be so arrogant. She only felt that he was looking down on her, and fury immediately surged into her heart.

How could she know that Lu Hao mainly cultivated the Black Tiger Fist Technique and the Black Tiger Hand-Saber Art? The only technique that required a weapon was the Blood Baleful Blade Method, but without Blood Baleful Intent, he could not practice it to its fullest. For that reason, Lu Hao had no choice but to fight barehanded.

Su Qin gripped her twin staffs and assumed her stance.

"Elder Lu, have you thought this through? It is not too late to regret it now. Otherwise, once we begin, I may end up injuring Elder Lu!"