Chapter 67

Lu Mengyao, in a state of panic, never expected Luo Xiu to actually be able to kill Gou Jinchuan. She had thought that she was destined to escape the fate of being violated, but Luo Xiu saved her once again.

However... Gou Jinchuan was a master of innate martial arts, while Luo Xiu was at most at the fifth level of the Qi Sea realm. How did he manage to do it?

Luo Xiu was also somewhat stunned. He hadn't expected the death flames he had condensed to be so powerful. The sparks that splattered onto his opponent burned Gou Jinchuan in agony, causing him to instantly give up his resistance.

If not for that, his final sword strike would not have been so easy to kill Gou Jinchuan.

"The combination of the power of death and the power of fire, from now on, you will be called the Netherworld Death Flame." Luo Xiu was both surprised and delighted. If he had known the Netherworld Death Flame was so powerful, he wouldn't have had to go through so much trouble to kill his opponent.

Moreover, he believed that with the power of the Netherworld Death Flame, combined with his fast sword, he could easily contend with and kill early-stage innate martial artists.

As for mid-stage fourth-level experts, although he hadn't fought them, he estimated they wouldn't be able to withstand the power of the Netherworld Death Flame.

Putting the Shadow Sword back into its sheath, Luo Xiu gathered true energy and cast several black flames, quickly burning Gou Jinchuan and the five Qi Sea martial artists to ashes.

"We can't stay here for long. Bury your father, and we need to leave quickly."

As Luo Xiu spoke, he cleaned up the traces and collected the treasures from Gou Jinchuan and the others.

Then, he and Lu Mengyao dug a grave together, buried Lu Feichen's body, and carved a tombstone.

Lu Mengyao knelt and bowed with tears, and then the two returned to Yunlong County City.

After returning to the Hunter's Guild, Luo Xiu knew that the Free and Easy Sect would soon discover Gou Jinchuan's disappearance. Based on the clues, they would suspect him and Lu Mengyao.

His parents and sister were protected by the guild, so Luo Xiu didn't need to worry. He planned to leave Yunlong County City and go out to train.

The place he chose for training was the Guanlei Mountains, located at the border between Yunlong County and Douhai County.

"I want to go with you."

When Luo Xiu told Lu Mengyao about his plan to go out for training, her first reaction was to say these words.

The series of events that had happened recently made their relationship somewhat subtle.

"I'm going to the Guanlei Mountains for training, which will be quite dangerous. Your father left you a token. If you take the teleportation array directly to Douhai County, you can go to the Lei Wu Sect." Luo Xiu said.

"I... I want to be with you." Lu Mengyao's eyes were slightly red.

"Alright."

Luo Xiu had to agree. He knew that Lu Mengyao was alone and helpless, and in his heart, he hadn't completely let go of his feelings for her, despite her initial decision to leave him. He understood her reasons.

Moreover, by crossing the Guanlei Mountains, they could also reach Douhai County, and then take her to the Lei Wu Sect.

Lu Mengyao, at the fifth level of the Qi Sea realm, had long ago obtained a two-star hunter badge. Therefore, the two took the teleportation array directly from Yunlong County City to Gaoyi City.

Gaoyi City was the closest to the Guanlei Mountains. After leaving the Hunter's Guild, they bought a horse and left the city.

Soon, news of Gou Jinchuan's disappearance reached the inner sect of the Free and Easy Sect. Based on the clues, they learned that Gou Jinchuan had followed Luo Xiu and Lu Mengyao out of the city.

Gou Hongyi, the elder, was furious and ordered an investigation into Luo Xiu and Lu Mengyao's whereabouts. They learned that the two had appeared in Gaoyi City and headed for the Guanlei Mountains.

...

Gaoyi City was still quite far from the Guanlei Mountains. Luo Xiu and Lu Mengyao rode a horse for seven days and still hadn't reached the Guanlei Mountains.

Perhaps because of Lu Feichen's death, Lu Mengyao became silent, no longer the cheerful and playful girl she used to be.

Sometimes, when they rested on the road, Luo Xiu would enter the forest to hunt, and Lu Mengyao would become anxious and uneasy. Only when Luo Xiu was by her side would she feel calm.

To her, Luo Xiu was her only support in the world. Her father's death had a significant impact on her, making her feel insecure.

Half a month later, based on the map obtained from the Hunter's Guild, they could see the misty Guanlei Mountains in the distance.

Suddenly, a powerful pressure descended from the sky, making Luo Xiu's face change. The horse under him seemed unable to bear the pressure and let out a frightened neigh.

Lu Mengyao, sitting behind him, also felt the pressure and her face turned pale.

"Could it be a powerful pursuer from the Free and Easy Sect?"

Luo Xiu endured the pressure and saw a figure flying in the sky. The immense pressure was emanating from that figure.

It was a man in purple clothing. He glanced indifferently at Luo Xiu and Lu Mengyao below and then flew away, disappearing into the distance.

Luo Xiu was solemn. The man in purple could fly in the air, indicating he was at least a Spirit Refinement Martial Ancestor, and from the aura, he was far more powerful than Lu Feichen, even comparable to President Wen Qianhong, who was a Martial King.

Such a powerful figure was rare in Yunlong County.

"It's Wu King Ye Yang." Lu Mengyao, sitting behind Luo Xiu, suddenly said, recognizing the man in purple.

"Ye Yang Wu King is a powerful independent cultivator. I met him once with my father when I was thirteen." Lu Mengyao said.

Luo Xiu nodded. He wasn't surprised that a Wu King had come to the Guanlei Mountains.

The Guanlei Mountains were a vast area, almost as large as half of Yunlong County. Whether it was Qi Sea martial artists, Spirit Refinement Martial Ancestors, or Martial Kings, they often came to the Guanlei Mountains to seek treasures and resources.

According to the information from the Hunter's Guild, the Guanlei Mountains contained many precious materials for forging weapons and refining treasures, as well as various levels of spirit medicines. Additionally, there were powerful beast monsters, whose materials were also valuable.

This was a place where many powerful figures gathered. Luo Xiu knew that with his Qi Sea realm cultivation, it wouldn't be easy to stand his ground here.

Looking at Lu Mengyao behind him, she was wearing a veil. Given her appearance, it was easy to attract trouble.

Since they had come this far, with Luo Xiu's character, he wouldn't retreat. The path of martial cultivation required a fearless heart to reach the peak.

Near the Guanlei Mountains, similar to the Baqui Mountains near Qingyun City, there was a gathering place for martial artists. Many martial artists training in the Guanlei Mountains would choose to stay here, either to rest or to exchange and sell the treasures they obtained.

Such a place didn't have the four major guilds or a teleportation array, so it couldn't be directly teleported to.

However, Luo Xiu didn't go to that gathering place because he knew there were some array treasures that could transmit messages. There were definitely Free and Easy Sect martial artists in the gathering place, and if he and Lu Mengyao showed up, they would be targeted.

Bypassing the gathering place, Luo Xiu tied the horse to a large tree and then led Lu Mengyao on foot to the Guanlei Mountains.

Martial cultivation, if only done through seclusion and hard training, would not yield much progress. Every martial master had to go through numerous trials and life-and-death experiences to achieve greatness.

Luo Xiu's goal this time was to cross the Guanlei Mountains and reach Douhai County. The journey itself would be a test, and once they reached Douhai County, he could take Lu Mengyao to the Lei Wu Sect.

Luo Xiu couldn't quite define his feelings for Lu Mengyao.

Although only fourteen, Luo Xiu felt he had experienced two emotional journeys. The first was his secret love for Liu Yuxin at the Qingyun Martial Hall, and the second was his mutual affection with Lu Mengyao.

However, these two experiences made him feel the unpredictability of life, which made him more detached about emotions. What he pursued was becoming a powerful martial master.

Entering the Guanlei Mountains, Luo Xiu recalled the various information about the area from the Hunter's Guild.

Many martial artists trained in the Guanlei Mountains, and those at the Qi Sea realm were the lowest. They generally trained and hunted in the peripheral areas of the Guanlei Mountains, and dared not venture deeper, as it would be life-threatening.

Despite the great danger, the number of martial artists training in the Guanlei Mountains was countless, due to the abundant resources. Even Martial Kings would enter the deeper areas to seek treasures.

Generally, martial artists who went out for training would form teams of various sizes. Those who dared to go alone were usually powerful martial artists confident in their abilities.

Not long after entering the Guanlei Mountains, Luo Xiu encountered several second-level beast monsters.

Although he could avoid these beast monsters with his life perception, Luo Xiu came here to train and didn't need to be overly cautious.

He didn't collect all the materials from the beast monsters, only selecting the most valuable ones to store in his storage ring.

Suddenly, in Luo Xiu's life perception, he detected several martial artist life auras.

Soon, three figures appeared in Luo Xiu's line of sight, walking towards him and Lu Mengyao.

The three were two men and a woman. One was a middle-aged man in leather armor with a sword at his waist, a young man with a fierce appearance and a war saber on his back, and a woman in tight martial clothing with a curvaceous and extremely alluring figure.

When Luo Xiu saw the three, they also noticed him and Lu Mengyao.

These three seemed to be experienced hunters who had been training and fighting for a long time, exuding a killing aura.

Lu Mengyao, standing next to Luo Xiu, felt the killing aura and became nervous, clinging to Luo Xiu.

Since many martial artists trained in the Guanlei Mountains, encountering others here was not surprising to Luo Xiu.

However, he was also on guard, as in the wilderness, killing was a common occurrence.

"Hello, young brother."

At a distance of about ten meters, the three stopped, showing that they had no ill intentions.

The middle-aged man, who was at the ninth level of the Qi Sea realm, spoke first. Luo Xiu felt that this man was much stronger than the ninth-level Qi Sea martial artists he had killed in Yunlong County.

Luo Xiu also bowed, "What can I do for you three?"

"I am Zhang Haifei, and these two are my companions, Tian Guangyou and Miao Feifei." The middle-aged man didn't directly answer Luo Xiu's question but introduced himself and his companions first.

Tian Guangyou was the young man with the war saber, with a fierce and ruthless appearance. Miao Feifei smiled and nodded at Luo Xiu.

These two were slightly weaker than Zhang Haifei, both at the eighth level of the Qi Sea realm.

However, Luo Xiu noticed that Tian Guangyou's gaze fell on Lu Mengyao, and his eyes immediately turned fiery.

Lu Mengyao was very beautiful, tall, and had an ethereal and melancholic aura, which made Tian Guangyou's heart race.

"I am Luo Xiu, and this is my companion, Miss Lu." Luo Xiu introduced himself.

He didn't reveal Lu Mengyao's name, as they were still in Yunlong County, and the three might know her.

"Luo brother, Miss Lu, I apologize for the disturbance. Actually, I want to invite you two to join our team. What do you think?" Zhang Haifei said.

Hearing this, Luo Xiu's first reaction was to refuse. He knew that in the outside world, people were dangerous, and even if they formed a team, he had to choose reliable and trustworthy people.

He had no understanding of these three, and their direct request to form a team made him suspicious of their intentions.

However, before Luo Xiu could refuse, Zhang Haifei continued, "We found a Fire Yang Tree, but there is a third-level beast monster nearby. The three of us are not a match for it, so we want to invite a few more people to join us."

"Fire Yang Tree?"

Luo Xiu's eyes narrowed. He knew that the Fire Yang Tree was a third-level spirit medicine, and the Fire Yang Fruit it bore was the main ingredient for refining the Heaven Ascending Pill.

The Heaven Ascending Pill was a third-grade pill, a precious pill for Qi Sea martial artists to break through to the innate realm. Due to the rarity of the Fire Yang Fruit, even though the pill's grade was not high, it was more valuable than many fourth-grade pills.

Luo Xiu had obtained the treasure vault of Wu King Bu Chen, which contained many fifth-grade pills, but most were for enhancing cultivation, restoring cultivation, or healing. There were no pills like the Heaven Ascending Pill that could help break through bottlenecks.