Chapter 16

Hu Donghan used the Spirit Shield technique to protect himself and moved towards the direction of the bone pit. The skeletal horse opened its large mouth, continuously absorbing the corpse qi and yin qi from the air. As the corpse qi and yin qi were rapidly absorbed, the injuries on the skeletal horse's body slowly began to heal. Although the soul light in its head was still faint, the cracks on its surface bones had completely disappeared. The gray bones also began to turn white. However, in terms of the degree of recovery from absorbing corpse qi and yin qi, this was probably the limit. The remaining injuries could only heal slowly.

"Alright, let's leave this place first. If there's another opportunity in the future, I will definitely bring you back to absorb more corpse qi."

Hu Donghan placed his hand on the skeletal horse's forehead and infused a strand of spiritual energy. The skeletal horse became docile again and no longer showed any unusual movements.

Then, Hu Donghan mounted the horse and quickly left the bone pit, heading directly towards the outskirts of Ghost Ridge. After leaving the inner area of Ghost Ridge, Hu Donghan slowed down the skeletal horse's speed and collected some wandering souls along the way. Once the soul ring was full, he sped up again and galloped out of Ghost Ridge.

Upon entering the Ghost Ridge outpost, Hu Donghan went to bid farewell to the three Foundation Establishment cultivators and left the Ghost Ridge's aid talisman. The three Foundation Establishment cultivators had no particular impression of Hu Donghan, simply waved their hands, and let him leave after placing the talisman.

After leaving the outpost, it took about an hour to reach the courtyard at the foot of Stacked Peaks. Hu Donghan returned the skeletal horse and asked the miscellaneous disciples to take good care of it. Then, he entered the mountain path, crossed the suspension bridge, and returned to Stacked Peaks.

Inside Stacked Peaks, everything was as it was, and nothing had changed due to Hu Donghan's absence.

Hu Donghan first went to the External Affairs Hall to complete the entry trial mission and received ten spirit stones. Then, he returned to his room.

From the time he left Stacked Peaks, Hu Donghan had been outside for a full sixteen days. In those sixteen days, the miscellaneous disciples had repaired the dilapidated room to its original state.

Upon entering the room, Hu Donghan immediately ordered the miscellaneous disciples waiting outside to bring him some bathwater. He carefully washed himself, removing the dust and dirt from his body.

By the time everything was settled, it was already dark. After eating the food brought by the miscellaneous disciples, Hu Donghan went to bed early.

The next morning, before Hu Donghan woke up, he heard a "bang, bang" knocking on the door.

Hu Donghan woke up, rubbed his eyes, and summoned some spiritual energy, feeling much more alert. He said, "Coming! Coming! Who's at the door?"

Hu Donghan got up, went to the door, and as soon as he opened it, someone squeezed in through the door crack. When Hu Donghan saw who it was, he frowned and said coldly, "It's you?"

The person who suddenly barged in was none other than Mu Zhengfeng!

Mu Zhengfeng still had his usual arrogant demeanor. As soon as he entered, he called out triumphantly, "Oh! Junior Brother Hu Donghan, it's been a long time! I heard that you finally completed the sect's entry trial mission and returned. I specially came to congratulate you! Hahaha! I heard that you managed to complete the mission after staying in Ghost Ridge for half a month, which is quite impressive!"

After Mu Zhengfeng finished speaking, Hu Donghan's hatred for him intensified. Mu Zhengfeng's words revealed some information. At least, Hu Donghan was now eighty percent sure that the sudden appearance of Wang Linshu in Ghost Ridge was most likely arranged by Mu Zhengfeng.

"Mu Zhengfeng, I don't welcome you here. Please leave," Hu Donghan said, though he really wanted to punch the pockmarked face in front of him, he knew it wasn't the best time and didn't want to listen to Mu Zhengfeng's nonsense.

"Hey! Junior Brother Hu, don't be so hasty! We haven't seen each other for a while, and we should catch up!" Mu Zhengfeng shouted loudly, startling the cultivators around Hu Donghan's room. Seeing so many people paying attention, Mu Zhengfeng became even more smug. He suddenly leaned in close to Hu Donghan's ear and whispered, "I didn't expect you to be so cautious. I asked my clan brother to send Senior Brother Wang Linshu, but he couldn't even kill you..."

With these words, Mu Zhengfeng admitted that Wang Linshu was someone he had arranged. Hu Donghan's mind went blank for a moment as he looked at Mu Zhengfeng. He felt as if he was seeing the Wang family's wastrel from his previous life, the one who was eventually exterminated by the ghosts Hu Donghan sent.

"Idiot!"

Hu Donghan's eyes turned cold, and he spat out these two words. Without another word, he swung his fist and punched Mu Zhengfeng in the face!

Previously, Hu Donghan thought it wasn't the right time; but now, with Mu Zhengfeng's words, he felt the time had come.

Mu Zhengfeng clearly didn't expect Hu Donghan to suddenly attack. He was hit in the eye, turning it into a black eye. He immediately became furious and roared, "You piece of trash, how dare you hit... Ow..."

Before Mu Zhengfeng could finish his sentence, Hu Donghan punched him again, completing the black eye on the other side. Then, Hu Donghan's fists rained down on Mu Zhengfeng's body. Mu Zhengfeng tried to resist at first, but with his scrawny build, he had no strength. After a few punches, he was already on the ground, wailing.

Once Hu Donghan started, he wouldn't hold back.

In the sect, as long as there were no serious injuries or fatalities, minor injuries were ignored. Especially since this was happening in Hu Donghan's room.

In his previous life, Hu Donghan had been involved in street fights from a young age and was very skilled at it. Each punch was aimed at the most painful but non-fatal spots on the body. Mu Zhengfeng didn't even have a chance to put up a brave front before he was reduced to tears and snot, begging for mercy.

Even as Mu Zhengfeng continued to wail and beg for mercy, Hu Donghan continued to punch him relentlessly.

Hu Donghan kept punching for a full ten minutes before stopping. By the fifth minute, Mu Zhengfeng had already passed out from the pain. The remaining five minutes were essentially beating a dead horse!

Hu Donghan stopped the beating, dragged Mu Zhengfeng out of the room, and threw him outside. Then, he scanned the crowd of onlookers with a cold gaze.

Seeing Hu Donghan's gaze, the onlookers involuntarily turned their heads and dispersed, each going about their own business—

Hu Donghan's actions had been too brutal! Beating someone unconscious and continuing for another five minutes was the mark of a truly ruthless person!