Bone Tempering Xiao Hua and Dragon Vein Xiao Hua had originally intended to follow Phoenix Body Xiao Hua to get some spirit fruits. But upon hearing Xiao Hua's sharp shout, both stopped and turned toward the palace doors. Yet the doors stood utterly empty, with nothing unusual in sight.
Bone Tempering Xiao Hua frowned, picked up a spirit fruit, took a bite, and walked toward the doors, mumbling through his mouthful, "Damn it, could it be the Demon Emperor again? What is that bastard doing, playing ghost and god? Is he trying to lure us into an ambush?"
"Fellow Daoist, be careful..." Xiao Hua said urgently. "Let's go take a look together!"
"Hehe..." Bone Tempering Xiao Hua laughed. "No need. I want to see whether the Demon Emperor's bones are harder, or mine are!"
"Why must fellow Daoist act alone..." Xiao Hua began, but before he could finish, Dragon Vein Xiao Hua laughed from afar. "Don't bother with him, fellow Daoist. Without his demonic artifact, the Demon Emperor probably can't do anything to Bone Tempering fellow Daoist. Come taste these spirit fruits instead. They seem to do our physical strength some good!"
"All right..." Xiao Hua was indeed feeling somewhat drained at this point. Watching Bone Tempering Xiao Hua's figure vanish through the palace doors, he turned and walked toward the spirit fruits.
Bone Tempering Xiao Hua spoke with disdain, but inwardly he remained alert. Gnawing on a spirit fruit, he carefully entered the neighboring hall. Yet the hall was empty as a void, containing nothing at all. Unwilling to accept this, Bone Tempering Xiao Hua passed through several more halls in succession before preparing to return. But just as he turned around, a bang sounded from a hall not far away. Startled, Bone Tempering Xiao Hua clenched his fists