Chapter 0172

Chapter 172: Do You Dare Answer When I Call?

The Li Clan of the Central Continent was a famous family of artifact refiners, and it was very likely Zhou Tong’s own clan. But in his previous life, when Zhou Tong went to the Central Continent, the Li Clan had already vanished, just like the Celestial Masters Clan. For some unknown reason, both had been wiped out.

Zhou Tong stared hard at the two people he had noticed earlier. At first he thought they had come for him, but it turned out he was overthinking it. Those two stood in the crowd without purpose, doing nothing strange.

“Boom…”

Heaven and earth’s spiritual energy shook. The seal over the secret realm’s entrance dimmed, and everyone’s hearts jumped into their throats.

Someone shouted: “Everyone be careful, the seal is about to break!”

With a crisp crack, the light shattered completely. An endless pull burst out from the entrance and locked onto the people nearby.

“Ahhh!”

Many were caught off guard and flailed as they were sucked in. Shang Guan Wu Gou entered together with the Upper Clarity Sect. Zhou Tong and his companion held hands, a gentle glow around them as they stepped in calmly.

Moments later, the entrance sealed again and all went quiet.

…

“Talisman Six: Profound Light!”

In the pitch-black space, Zhou Tong activated a talisman and cast light forward.

He called out: “Senior Sister!”

Zhang Chu Qiao answered: “I’m here.”

She stepped over, landed steady at his side, slipped her arm through his, and leaned against him. Only then did they start to study this world.

“This feels like a cave dwelling, and I can hear water dripping,” said Zhang Chu Qiao, her voice soft as she listened.

“It isn’t that simple,” said Zhou Tong.

He released his spirit sense in a rough sweep, piercing up and down until he mapped out the place.

“This is a folded space with upper, middle, and lower layers. We are in the top layer, and our final target is in the bottom layer.”

“A trial run then, sounds fun,” said Senior Sister, relaxed.

“Do not get careless,” said Zhou Tong.

His words had just fallen when killing intent surged from all directions.

“Who dares act wild!” roared Zhou Tong.

Endless radiance flooded out and chased away the dark. Strange lifeforms filled the void, some the size of a palm and some dozens of meters long: dragon-like, snake-like, tiger-like, bear-like—every shape you could imagine.

“The weakest of these things are at the Soul-Turning Realm, and the strongest have crossed the threshold beyond mortal,” said Zhang Chu Qiao, shocked. Counting carefully, there were over a thousand. If anyone else had come here, this would be a deathtrap.

“Hiss… ha…”

The strange creatures moved as they spoke, rushing in to bite, as if to tear the two apart and share the meal.

“Life and Death Balance!”

Zhou Tong unleashed a wide-range killing art. Yet when his hand seal fell, the creatures did not react at all. They were unaffected.

How was that possible? Zhou Tong rarely showed surprise, but this time he did.

“Taiyi: Extinguish,” said Senior Sister.

With one strike she crushed dozens of the creatures. They burst into golden light specks that drifted down onto her arm.

“How odd. They have no life or death force inside them,” said Zhang Chu Qiao. “They feel more like beings formed by the laws of this world.”

“If they can be destroyed, then this gets simpler,” said Zhou Tong. “Watch me wipe them out with pure spiritual force.”

“Talisman Ninety: Black Coffin!”

A darkness that bent space itself fell and then exploded, erasing everything in the area. The creatures died in an instant and became specks of light, stars scattering as they landed on Zhou Tong’s arm.

After probing them, Zhou Tong let out a breath. The light specks did no harm. Instead they held complex loops of law, like a special kind of currency.

“Since you two have been watching us for a while, you might as well show yourselves,” said Zhou Tong suddenly, his gaze turning razor-sharp toward the left.

His spirit sense already held everything here in his grasp. No one could hide from him.

Two figures strolled out: people of the Central Continent’s Li Clan.

“Give your names,” said Zhou Tong, face cold.

“I’m Li Gui, and he’s Li Chang,” said the man with the gourd at his waist, head held high. He looked quite proud.

He added with a sniff: “You wouldn’t understand even if I told you. We’re stewards of the Central Continent’s Li Clan. Our background is huge.”

“So what?” asked Zhou Tong, eyes narrowing.

“So hand over your light coins. When we finish our task, we might reward you with a little,” said Li Gui.

“Light coins?” Zhou Tong glanced at the specks on his arm and smiled. He was now sure of it: the more of these you gathered, the more authority you held in this space.

“And if I say no?”

“Then you are refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit,” said Li Gui.

Zhou Tong and Zhang Chu Qiao both paused. The two stewards were only at the Life-and-Death Realm. Where did their courage come from?

“Give your names. We don’t kill nobodies,” said Li Gui, arrogant.

“I’m Zhou Tong. Use whatever tricks you have,” said Zhou Tong.

“Good. Don’t regret it,” said Li Gui.

He took the gourd from his waist, pulled the stopper, pointed the mouth down at Zhou Tong and lifted the base.

“I call your name. Do you dare answer?”

Zhou Tong blinked, swept the gourd with his spirit sense, and licked his lips with a smile.

“Go on then,” said Zhou Tong.

Li Gui shouted: “Zhou Tong!”

Zhou Tong answered: “Grandfather is here!”

At once the gourd blazed with ten thousand rays and wrapped Zhou Tong, sucking him straight inside.

“Junior Brother!” Zhang Chu Qiao’s face changed. She burst with rage: “Give me back my Junior Brother!”

Her terrifying aura swept the void, and the two stewards flinched in fear.

“Woman, do not be bold!” shouted Li Chang.

He tossed out a golden rope that fell like a net and bound Zhang Chu Qiao tight.

“That woman!” cried Li Gui.

Senior Sister answered without thinking, and she too was sucked into the gourd.

“Hahaha, two bumpkins, delivered right to us,” the two crowed. They corked the gourd and laughed louder.

“This treasure gourd holds yin and yang qi. In no time they will turn to mush. Then all their light coins will be ours.”

“Exactly. If we pull this off, the patriarch and the young lord will reward us well.”

Arm in arm, they left.

Inside the gourd, Zhou Tong lay comfortably on the Yin-Yang Millstone and waved: “Senior Sister, you’re here too.”

“Junior Brother, help me,” said Zhang Chu Qiao.

She twisted her slim waist. The golden rope pinched her curves, making her already tempting figure even more impossible to resist.

“My cultivation is fully suppressed. I can’t fight back at all. You must not take advantage and do whatever you want to Senior Sister,” she said, voice soft.

Zhou Tong’s eyes almost shot sparks.

[Calm down. Focus.]