Watching such a huge statue emerge from the ground, everyone was startled.
But soon after, they all reacted.
“So it is an elder of the Mountain God Race,” the man from the Moon Shadow Race was the first to speak. “I wonder what business brings the Mountain God Race here?”
“This person disturbed our worship ritual. We have come specifically to seize him and take him back for judgment,” the statue opened its mouth and spoke human words calmly.
“That explanation doesn’t quite hold. Everything should have an order,” the masked man laughed.
“Our Patriarch’s son was killed. No matter what, he must first come with us.”
Seeing the two actually fighting over who would take him, Xu Zimo shook his head and laughed.
The temptation of the True God Sword really was great.
They said it was revenge, but that was only one side of it. The bigger reason was that they also wanted the True God Sword.
Both men coldly snorted.
The masked man said indifferently, “Then it will depend on our abilities. Whoever captures him will have him.”
“Just as I intended,” the statue replied coldly as well.
It stretched out its hand, and instantly heaven and earth collapsed. Endless power surged around its body, pressing down toward Xu Zimo.
Xu Zimo clenched his large hand, as if grasping the entire void.
He threw a direct punch.
The aftermath of the explosion completely destroyed the inn, and one of the statue’s arms was shattered by Xu Zimo’s fist.
“A mantis catches a cicada, but what if the prey is a tiger?” Xu Zimo laughed lightly.
He pressed forward, each step soaring skyward, his astonishing power erupting from his body.
He charged toward the statue.
His speed was so fast he became afterimages.
Another punch struck, and before the statue could even react, its heart was pierced through.
Seeing this, the masked man was slightly shocked.
He quickly shouted, “I’ll help you!”
Black and white energy swirled around him as he transformed into a stream of light attacking Xu Zimo.
“Piss off,” Xu Zimo stepped forward and kicked him flying.
He then rushed at the statue, using both hands to smash downward.
The massive head of the statue was directly crushed in midair.
“Ah!” A miserable scream burst from the statue. “You have offended the Mountain God. You will eventually face punishment.”
“That’s not for you to decide,” Xu Zimo said coldly.
With the statue destroyed, dust flew everywhere, leaving ruins behind.
Xu Zimo turned his head and saw that the members of the Moon Shadow Race were all trembling.
“Go,” the masked man shouted, fleeing toward the city gates.
Xu Zimo waved his right hand and said, “Since you’re here, stay.”
The overwhelming force fell from above like a waterfall, suppressing them all.
Immediately, the sound of a sword resounded. Before anyone even saw the blade drawn, heads rolled, blood grew cold.
…
Xu Zimo looked around. Apart from the ruins, Ji Ruobing was nowhere to be seen.
Xu Zimo chuckled lightly.
These Blood Rune Beasts were indeed cunning, using others to stall him, then secretly kidnapping Ji Ruobing.
Now Xu Zimo had set himself as bait, a completely open scheme.
But these Blood Rune Beasts had chosen his companion as the breakthrough point, hoping to force him into submission.
He stretched out his right hand, and a faint white energy coiled in his palm.
“Tribulation,” Xu Zimo muttered.
The energy turned into a line floating ahead, pointing the way.
Ji Ruobing’s true fate was the Myriad Tribulation Cone, a very special type of true fate. Its power was tribulation.
Earlier, the two had agreed to leave a trace of spiritforce for each other. If one encountered danger, the other could quickly find them.
Moreover, Ji Ruobing’s spirit trace was tribulation, very different from ordinary spiritforce, and hard to detect.
He didn’t speak to the Martial Gods in the shadows, though he knew they must be watching.
But even when Ji Ruobing was kidnapped, they didn’t appear, which itself revealed their stance.
…
Following the line of tribulation energy, he tracked it all the way to the main street of the eastern district, the most prosperous part of the city.
“Could they really be hiding here?” Xu Zimo frowned slightly.
Most people would assume Blood Rune Beasts hid in dark or remote places.
No one would think they would be here openly.
Xu Zimo raised his head. Before him stood a grand mansion.
Brown walls surrounded it.
At the gate crouched two lions, not stone lions, but real ones.
Their red fur looked violent. They lay quietly by the entrance, their half-closed eyes radiating beastly might that intimidated passing pedestrians.
The main gate was crimson red.
Above it hung a black plaque with several golden characters shining brightly.
“Lion Mansion.”
Just as Xu Zimo stood at the gate observing, the figure of the Wood Martial God approached.
Xu Zimo glanced at him, unsurprised.
His every move now tugged at the strings in many people’s hearts.
“You’ve found a lead?” the Wood Martial God asked.
“What is this place?” Xu Zimo asked.
“You mean the Lion Mansion,” the Wood Martial God laughed. “This is one of the strongest forces in Destruction City. Unlike gangs such as the Minotaur Gang or the Moon Shadow Gang, the Lion Mansion’s master plays both sides. A fifth of the city’s industries bear his mark.”
“No one manages this?” Xu Zimo asked curiously.
With such development, one day this man might control the entire city, threatening the Lord of Destruction’s rule.
“The City Lord forbids us from provoking them. As long as rules aren’t broken, they can develop freely,” the Wood Martial God shrugged.
“The master of Lion Mansion is called the Mad Lion. His real name is Shi Qianshan. His background is quite mysterious.”
“Can we go inside and take a look?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Looking is fine, but this man has sharp eyes and lofty pride. He likely won’t see us as worthy,” the Wood Martial God laughed.
“Even you?” Xu Zimo asked curiously.
After all, the Wood Martial God’s status in the city was second only to the Lord of Destruction himself.
The Wood Martial God just smiled faintly, saying nothing more.
“Then let’s go in,” Xu Zimo said.
The Wood Martial God nodded. Looking toward the two lions, he said, “Go announce that the Wood Martial God comes to visit your master.”
The lion on the left opened its eyes, calmly looked at the Wood Martial God, then let out a low roar.
That roar seemed to carry some kind of message.
Before long, a man in a red robe walked out of the mansion.
“What brings the Wood Martial God to my Lion Mansion today?”