Chapter 82

Zong Shou sighed slightly and walked up to Gong Xinran. After a brief hesitation, he finally spoke with a bitter tone: "I wonder, Senior Sister, if there are any last wishes?"

Gong Xinran was clearly taken aback, then laughed out loud: "In that moment just now, I actually hoped that Junior Brother might have a way to save me. Using the golden needles to transfer energy, prolonging my life, and defeating six people without a scratch. I almost thought Junior Brother was invincible. But it's really good! I remember three years ago, Junior Brother once told me in person that one day you would surpass your father and become an unparalleled strong person. To make all those who once looked down on you, see you in a new light. I thought Junior Brother had long given up. But I didn't expect that you have already achieved it. Among the fellow disciples of your cohort, none of them can match you now—"

Zong Shou was slightly taken aback, reviewing the memories in his mind. Then he shook his head inwardly, not expecting that 'Zong Shou' was once so naive.

His face also turned slightly red, even though the one who said those words was not the real him. But in others' eyes, it might not be seen that way.

Gong Xinran seemed a bit tired, took a light breath, and spoke again. Her expression, however, was dishearteningly cold: "Speaking of last wishes, I wonder if Junior Brother can retrieve that martial arts manual? I don't actually hate Gao Yi. He was right; the reason for my death today is ultimately my own foolish infatuation. I was blind to believe him. But only that martial arts manual, which involves the Gong family's legacy, is crucial for my younger brother. I cannot let it fall into the wrong hands." As she spoke, her eyes finally showed a hint of pleading: "I know this request is somewhat excessive. And I know Junior Brother may not be able to do it now. I only hope that in the future, when Junior Brother has the ability and the leisure to think of this Senior Sister, you can retrieve it for me—"

Zong Shou listened silently, then suddenly felt something. He coldly looked to the right, seeing the grass and trees there violently shaking.

Shortly after, Chuxue appeared, panting heavily. Seeing the situation before her and the nearly lifeless Gong Xinran, she was initially taken aback. Then her delicate face turned serious, and she quietly stood to one side.

Though she didn't know what had happened just now, she instinctively didn't dare to disturb them.

After a full ten breaths, seeing that Zong Shou remained silent, Gong Xinran's face gradually showed a bitter expression. Then, in the next moment, she heard Zong Shou suddenly speak: "Is it just about retrieving that martial arts manual? Senior Sister doesn't want to see Gao Yi die before your eyes?"

Gong Xinran, who had already despaired, was immediately taken aback by these words. She looked over, almost disbelieving. After a moment, her eyebrows furrowed: "I'm not afraid that Junior Brother can't kill him. But Gao Yi has already left the mountain. From his tone, there are many people waiting below, and there might even be innate experts. Even though Junior Brother's strength is formidable, there's no need to engage in a direct confrontation with him—"

Zong Shou ignored her and walked to a nearby corpse. With a kick, he picked up a large iron bow.

He pulled it casually, and the bowstring was extremely tight and resilient. It took about three thousand pounds of force to draw it. With his current strength, he couldn't fully draw it.

Zong Shou, however, was satisfied and slung the bow on his back. He then took the quiver, which contained a total of twenty arrows. These arrows, made from the bones of a cloud whale, were extremely light. They were inlaid with golden tiger teeth and had blood grooves. The tips glinted with a cold, sharp light.

He weighed each arrow, noting their weight, and then tied the quiver to his waist. He took large steps down the mountain, saying as he walked: "Xue'er, carry her over, be careful not to touch those needles!"

Chuxue wanted to ask for details and was about to say that the young master's current state was so weak that a breeze could knock him over. After running for so long, he should have already collapsed from exhaustion, yet he was still showing off his strength?

But she ultimately didn't dare to be negligent. She hurried over and carefully picked up Gong Xinran. Only when she got close did she realize how severe Gong Xinran's injuries were, almost all her blood drained. The fact that she was still alive was a miracle.

Zong Shou had only taken a few steps down the mountain when he indeed felt short of breath and somewhat weak. He tried to activate the wind-traveling spirit bone under his feet but found that it had already been damaged in his earlier run.

His brows furrowed instinctively, and suddenly, a pair of blood-red eyes appeared before him.

At first glance, they seemed like two red lanterns. Upon closer inspection, it was a giant lion, about two zhang tall, staring intently at them. Its body was agile, muscles taut, and its eyes full of bloodlust.

Even from a distance, a pungent smell hit his nose.

"It's a third-stage Scythe-Tailed Lion!"

Chuxue was stunned, almost unable to hold Gong Xinran. She quickly sniffed herself and found that the scent of the medicine had faded. Gong Xinran had no scent at all.

She felt a bitter taste in her mouth. The Scythe-Tailed Lion, though only third-stage, had unstable energy, sometimes surging high and attracting a lot of spiritual energy, and sometimes low and almost undetectable.

The situation was similar to Yin Yang a few days ago, who was at the peak of his stage and about to break through!

She didn't know if her Cold Hell Tiger could withstand it.

Zong Shou, however, laughed bitterly, and his eyes turned blood-red.

The anger, rage, and killing intent he had suppressed while talking to Gong Xinran burst out in an instant. His thoughts were fleeting, tinged with madness.

He had been worrying about how to get down the mountain, but now a means of transportation had come to him.

The Scythe-Tailed Lion seemed to sense the danger and, instead of advancing, took a step back, growling as a warning.

In the next moment, a purple glow appeared before them. Zong Shou's figure transformed into an indistinct blur, appearing before the Scythe-Tailed Lion. The giant lion didn't have time to react before a heavy punch hit the side of its head.

Peng!

A loud thud, with a force of three thousand pounds, struck the most vulnerable spot behind its ear, causing the Scythe-Tailed Lion to turn its head, dazed.

Another punch followed, mercilessly striking its jaw, making it bleed from its mouth and nose. Several consecutive hits left it almost unconscious.

He pounded the giant lion's head with a frenzy. When the rage in his chest subsided slightly, Zong Shou finally thrust his sword into the lion's head, piercing through the skull and stopping just short of the brain.

Zong Shou leaped onto the back of the Scythe-Tailed Lion, shook his hand, and thought that the lion's bones were indeed very hard, surpassing those of secret martial artists of the same stage. Even with the absorption of the thunder phoenix essence, which had greatly strengthened his bones, he was far from matching it.

Just a few punches had almost caused bone fractures.

Seeing Chuxue still standing there in a daze, Zong Shou frowned again: "What are you standing there for? Get up here!"

Chuxue felt her throat dry, and she, along with Gong Xinran, looked at the man and the beast before them in a daze.

Could it be that Zong Shou really intended to ride this Scythe-Tailed Lion down the mountain?