Chapter 10: You’re Not Human?

A beastly roar broke through, dispersing some of the anger that had filled Zhou Yunmo. His face turned pale as he looked at the armored man's avatar.

"You're not human?"

The armored man gave a vicious smile, staring at Zhou Yunmo.

"When did I ever say I was human?"

As he finished speaking, the enormous avatar in the void expanded further, opening its massive maw and swallowing Zhou Yunmo's avatar whole.

"Taotie, heh..."

As Zhou Yunmo's avatar was devoured, he coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face turning ghostly white before he passed out.

The armored man retracted his avatar, stepped forward, and grabbed Zhou Yunmo by the leg, shaking him slightly.

"Tsk, tsk, I gave you a chance, and I thought you'd at least hold us off for a while. But you're worthless."

With a flick of his finger, a cage materialized in the void, and he tossed Zhou Yunmo inside. Then, with a shift of his body, he returned to the palace.

Looking at the figure seated on the high throne, the armored man asked, "Divine Son, what should we do next?"

"Nothing. Wait."

Taotie showed a look of confusion. This wasn't like the Divine Son at all!

"Go on, wipe out his family. That's part of the price for standing in our way."

Hearing this, Taotie nodded and vanished from sight.

Meanwhile, Zhou Xingchen, still on his journey, suddenly felt an ominous premonition. Something seemed off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. As he looked ahead at a distant light, he saw a figure standing there with a familiar aura—it was his father's aura.

But then, a more terrifying presence emerged, and Zhou Xingchen watched in horror as a dark shadowy avatar appeared in the void, devouring his father's avatar.

"No, no, no!"

Seeing this, Zhou Xingchen turned to head back.

But a figure appeared before him.

"Going back is pointless. Besides, this was Uncle Mo's plan all along."

"Who are they?"

"I don't know. I've never encountered an aura like that before; I have no idea who they are."

"If you don't leave now and they find you, all of Uncle Mo's efforts will be in vain. Uncle Mo probably knew who they were, which is why he tried to stop them himself."

"No, I have to go back and see."

Zhou Xingchen's face darkened.

Mu Qingxi slapped him hard across the face.

"You are Uncle Mo's hope. If you go back and get caught, wouldn't Uncle Mo's sacrifice be in vain? You must train hard if you want to avenge him."

The sting of the slap brought Zhou Xingchen back to reality, and his eyes turned red with emotion.

"Saintess, we must leave now before it's too late."

Mu Qingxi nodded.

An elderly figure broke through the void, taking them both away. A closer look revealed the elder's face still showing traces of fear.

Shortly after, Taotie appeared where the three had been. Seeing them depart, he chuckled.

"A bunch of trash. If it weren't for the Divine Son's orders, I could've killed you all in the time you stood there. Truly a group of mentally weak garbage."

"Knowing that your kin sacrificed themselves for you, yet you're still indecisive over a little sentiment. How did you even survive this long?"

Taotie vanished again, reappearing in Gu Qingxiao's palace.

"Divine Son, they've left."

Gu Qingxiao nodded.

"Divine Son, that girl's aura seems to be from the Purple Cloud Holy Land in the Zhenyuan Domain."

"Any information on that person?"

"Yes, Zhou Yunmo's previous injuries likely came from the Lin Family in the Lindao Domain."

"By the age of forty, Zhou Yunmo had reached the Saint Realm. According to our investigation, he had an accident in the Lindao Domain."

"We're still working on the details of what exactly happened."

"The Lin Family in the Lindao Domain."

Who would've thought this little mouse had such a deep background?

The reporting man remained silent, puzzled as to how Gu Qingxiao knew this.

"Let's go to the Purple Cloud Holy Land."

Hearing this, they nodded and disappeared from the hall.

Meanwhile, Mu Qingxi's protector felt the menacing aura behind them fade, his expression relaxing slightly, though his heart was still pounding.

"What is it?"

"Just now, I sensed a terrifying aura. It was too overwhelming—there was no resisting that power."

Mu Qingxi's face changed slightly at this but also sighed in relief.

Zhou Xingchen looked at the two of them.

"Thank you."

Mu Qingxi nodded, and the elder gazed at Zhou Xingchen with a complex look in his eyes. He had known Zhou Yunmo in the past, and he understood a bit of the situation.

"Kid, your mentality isn't strong enough. You still need to be tempered."

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior."

Zhou Xingchen bowed deeply, aware that his hesitation had delayed them earlier.

His father had fought to hold off the enemies for him, yet he had neither left the area nor looked away.

And even after everything ended, knowing he was powerless, he still wanted to return.

Mu Qingxi's slap had woken him up.

"Since that's the case, let's hurry back. Your Zhou family is likely already destroyed. I just wonder who that person was."

"That muderous aura was terrifying. I feel it's even more fearsome than our Purple Cloud Holy Land's ancestor."

Mu Qingxi sighed softly.

Zhou Xingchen remained silent.

"Qingxi, who exactly are you?"

"You seem to know my father quite well?"

Zhou Xingchen asked Mu Qingxi. Two years ago, a dazzling young woman with an elegant and noble demeanor had visited his family, causing quite a stir in the Zhou household. Many of the young disciples in the Zhou family had seen this fairy-like girl as their dream goddess. Some young men even carried images of Mu Qingxi...

Even he had been stunned at the time, having never seen such a beautiful girl.

But this girl had come looking for his father and had stayed at the Zhou family for two years. However, back then, Zhou Xingchen had been focused solely on his cultivation, trying to find a way to heal his father's injuries.

Mu Qingxi's protector showed a surprised expression upon hearing Zhou Xingchen's confusion.

"Your father never told you?"

Zhou Xingchen thought for a moment and shook his head.

He only remembered his father smiling and asking him,

"Chen'er, do you want a wife?"

Zhou Xingchen was momentarily stunned by his father's words and naturally thought of Mu Qingxi, who had come to the Zhou family. He then shook his head.

"I don't deserve her."

Zhou Yunmo had laughed at that time and said,

"Having her as your wife would be her fortune; you'll understand that later."

At that time, Zhou Xingchen had merely taken it as a joke.

Mu Qingxi looked at Zhou Xingchen.

"Uncle Mo should have told you that I'm supposed to be your wife, right?"

Zhou Xingchen nodded after hearing this.

"That's right, I am your fiancée, and we were betrothed as children. I came to your house before just to see what kind of person you are."

"I naturally wouldn't want to marry someone I don't know."