Chapter 92

One by one, fireballs flew out, landing on the corpses, causing the area to be filled with the smell of burnt flesh despite the lingering blood.

Meng Hao collected all the storage bags, sniffing the pungent odor, and looked toward the Northern Sea. After a moment of silence, he turned and left.

"I can no longer stay in the State of Zhao... I should leave this place." After the appearance of those few people from Qu Shui Sect, Meng Hao had already guessed that the three major sects of the State of Zhao had learned of the deaths of their respective sect leaders and elders. Next, there would likely be a large number of cultivators gathering in this mountain range to investigate the cause of their deaths.

Meng Hao frowned, looking into the distance. In his mind, a map of the Southern Domain appeared, clearly outlining the route: after crossing this mountain range and traversing a vast plain, one would reach the border of the State of Zhao.

"Although this route is shorter, the situation here is turbulent, and I cannot stay for long." Meng Hao changed direction, intending to move away from the mountain range of the Mountain Rely Sect and leave the State of Zhao from another direction.

Having made up his mind, Meng Hao immediately sped off. But before he had gone far, his eyes suddenly narrowed, and his body sank to the ground. His frown deepened as he coldly observed the scene ahead. About dozens of miles away, a massive light curtain descended from the sky, transforming into snowflakes that covered the entire mountain range and surrounding area.

In the distant sky, a middle-aged man in a black robe stood, his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment stage. He hovered in mid-air, holding a glowing ice jade in his right hand. The snowflakes and light curtain were emitted from this jade, enveloping the area and sealing it.

Beside this elder were seven or eight Qi Condensation cultivators, all with serious expressions. From their attire, Meng Hao recognized them as disciples of the Cold Wind Sect.

"Truly worthy of being one of the three major sects, even with so many Foundation Establishment elders dead, they still have Foundation Establishment cultivators appearing." Meng Hao's heart sank. This seal also blocked his path to leave, making it impossible for him to escape. Before he could continue observing, his expression changed, and he immediately retreated. The snowflakes and light curtain that enveloped the mountain range of the Mountain Rely Sect suddenly trembled and rapidly contracted.

As it passed, the earth and forests instantly turned to ice, moving swiftly toward Meng Hao. The snow seal was not specifically targeting Meng Hao; it was a regular change in the seal's formation. This contraction would not last long, often stopping after contracting for a hundred miles.

However, Meng Hao was not far from the seal's range. With no time to worry about revealing his presence, the moment the seal approached, he immediately stepped on his sword and flew backward, transforming into a long rainbow. This immediately caught the attention of the Cold Wind Sect cultivators in the distance.

"This person is...?"

"It's Meng Hao, I've seen his portrait!"

"It's actually Meng Hao! The sect leaders and others went to find him. Capturing this person will reveal what happened!" The Cold Wind Sect cultivators immediately became alert and hostile.

"You go and capture him. I will reinforce the seal, which will take about an incense stick's time." The Foundation Establishment man of the Cold Wind Sect decisively spoke. Having just cast the seal, he could not leave, but he believed that Meng Hao would have no chance of escape.

With his words, the seven or eight Cold Wind Sect cultivators immediately rushed forward, using their full speed to chase Meng Hao.

Meng Hao's eyes flashed with determination as he quickly slid backward, with the snow seal contracting from all sides and the seven or eight Cold Wind Sect cultivators in pursuit.

As he fled, the snow seal drew closer, finally stopping about ten feet from Meng Hao's body, no longer contracting. Instead, it formed an icy light dome around the mountain range of the Mountain Rely Sect.

However, this icy seal was not entirely solid, occasionally showing ripples and distortions. If Meng Hao were only at the ninth layer of Qi Condensation, he might not have noticed, but as a cultivator at the peak of Qi Condensation, he gradually realized that the seal would not last long.

"Since I can't leave, I'll have to fight my way out. I need to cross this mountain as quickly as possible. Judging by this seal, it should loosen soon. When it does, I'll cross the mountains and take advantage of the seal's weakening to leave." Meng Hao gritted his teeth. He knew this plan was risky, but he had no other options. Hiding was not a long-term solution; he needed to take the initiative to break the deadlock.

With a flash of determination in his eyes, Meng Hao stopped retreating and stood there, coldly watching the seven or eight Cold Wind Sect cultivators rapidly approach.

"Eight in total, two at the ninth layer of Qi Condensation, four at the eighth layer, and two at the seventh layer. They all have flying magical treasures, indicating that the three sects are in a hurry and have spared no expense to arrive quickly." Meng Hao's gaze fell on the Foundation Establishment man in the distance, who was maintaining the formation and could not move. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, his aura was extremely powerful, and when Meng Hao looked at him, the man also coldly returned the gaze.

The moment their gazes met, the eight Cold Wind Sect cultivators had already entered the snow seal. This seal was peculiar; outsiders could enter but not leave.

Almost the moment the eight cultivators approached with sinister grins, Meng Hao moved.

He raised his right hand and took a step forward, delivering a punch. As he struck, Meng Hao's peak Qi Condensation cultivation burst forth, causing the eight cultivators to pause mid-stride, as if hit by a strong wind, their expressions changing instantly.

At the same time, Meng Hao took a step, and his flying swords whistled through the air. Two wooden swords instantly flew out, and screams of pain echoed as the heads of the two seventh-layer cultivators were severed.

"First breath." Meng Hao silently counted the time. The Foundation Establishment cultivator had said an incense stick's time, but Meng Hao did not fully trust this. He set a goal for himself to kill the eight cultivators within ten breaths.

As the wooden swords whistled, the remaining six cultivators were shaken. They immediately activated their magical treasures, but Meng Hao turned and stepped forward, directly approaching a cultivator at the eighth layer. Without using a magical treasure, he rammed into the cultivator with his shoulder.

With a loud boom, the cultivator Meng Hao hit spat out blood, his body caving in. As the cultivator retreated, Meng Hao raised his right hand and waved it, summoning a massive fire python nearly twenty feet long, which roared and swallowed another eighth-layer cultivator in a scream of terror.

"Fourth breath." In four breaths, Meng Hao had killed four cultivators. The remaining four were shaken by Meng Hao's ruthless attacks, which they had never seen before. As Meng Hao attacked, his cultivation power spread, making the four cultivators tremble with fear at his unfathomable strength.

The Foundation Establishment man of the Cold Wind Sect, watching from a distance, was greatly alarmed. Meng Hao's cultivation, which he had previously seen as only at the ninth layer of Qi Condensation, had rapidly increased in just a few breaths.

"Sixth breath." Meng Hao formed a hand seal, and the two wooden swords instantly spread their sword light, sweeping across the two eighth-layer cultivators. Despite their attempts to resist with magical treasures, they screamed in pain as their hearts were pierced, and their bodies fell to the ground.

Now, only the two ninth-layer cultivators remained. Their faces were pale, and they regretted pursuing Meng Hao. When Meng Hao coldly looked at them, the two ninth-layer cultivators immediately scattered, fleeing in different directions.

Meng Hao's expression remained cold. He raised his right hand, formed a hand seal, and slashed through the air, summoning a massive wind blade about five or six feet long, which whistled through the air and instantly cut one of the ninth-layer cultivators in half, blood splattering everywhere.

At the same time, Meng Hao slapped his storage bag, drawing out a black bow and firing an arrow that thundered through the air, piercing the head of the other ninth-layer cultivator.

"Eight breaths." As Meng Hao spoke calmly, two loud booms echoed. The wind blade cut the ninth-layer cultivator in half, and the other's head exploded, pierced by the black bow's arrow.

Eight breaths, eight kills!

Meng Hao did not even glance at the Foundation Establishment cultivator outside the snow seal, whose face was now extremely grim. He turned and transformed into a long rainbow, speeding away.

Along the way, he avoided many cultivators. However, with the area sealed, it would not take long for cultivators at the eighth or ninth layer of Qi Condensation to explore most of it, and for Foundation Establishment cultivators, it would take even less time to search the entire area.

Avoiding several encounters, Meng Hao finally approached the Mountain Rely Sect at high speed. In the distance, ten long rainbows were rapidly sliding through the sky. Among them, the leader was a grim-faced old man, who, unlike the others, was truly walking in the air.

Qi Condensation cultivators could not do this; only Foundation Establishment cultivators could!

"Fang Ye Sect..." Meng Hao sighed inwardly, knowing that he could not avoid them today. Even if he hid, they would eventually find him.

"Meng Hao!" The cultivators of the Fang Ye Sect, upon clearly seeing Meng Hao, immediately changed their expressions, especially the Foundation Establishment old man, whose eyes flashed with a cold light as he stepped forward, heading straight for Meng Hao.

Meng Hao's eyes darkened as he watched the Foundation Establishment old man approach, and a powerful aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator slowly spread from his body. This aura was so strong that the surrounding Qi Condensation cultivators dared not get close, retreating and showing signs of instability in their cultivation under the pressure.

This was the power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, walking in the air, and the aura was so overwhelming that it naturally made Qi Condensation cultivators tremble.

However, Meng Hao was not an ordinary Qi Condensation cultivator. He was at the peak of the thirteenth layer of Qi Condensation, a level that had not been seen since ancient times. He had a bit of spiritual sense, which, though not much, was enough to prevent his cultivation from becoming unstable.

His physical body was even stronger, his meridians more resilient, and his bones harder. All of these factors made Meng Hao stand firm, even in the face of a Foundation Establishment powerhouse, without taking a single step back.

"No wonder you've caused so much turmoil in the State of Zhao. You've already reached the half-step Foundation Establishment stage. However, today, I say you die, and you are already a dead man." The Foundation Establishment old man spoke calmly.

At that moment, a long rainbow rapidly approached from behind Meng Hao, carrying the Foundation Establishment man of the Cold Wind Sect, who was filled with killing intent.

"Once you step onto the path of cultivation, life and death are uncertain. I can kill others, and others can kill me. But I have a question for you: the three sects allowed Shangguan to cultivate by draining the lifespans of the common people in three counties, harming them without affecting any cultivators. You act for your own selfish interests, and this is not just or fair. Karma and retribution will come, sooner or later!" Meng Hao spoke slowly, a question he had long harbored in his heart.

"Justice? In this world, the strong are the law. If there were truly karma, why hasn't retribution come?" The Foundation Establishment old man waved his sleeve and spoke calmly.

Meng Hao fell silent, looking up at the sky.