Chapter 105: Night Conversations on the Mountain Peak

"I know not which great master has descended; Zi Xinghe admits defeat!"

The vast, indifferent voice sounded as if it had traversed the long river of time, echoing from an unknown space across the sky above the Tiancang Mountain Range.

Outside the chaotic immortal light, Elder Qingyang was shaken to his core. He even felt that the purple figure within the radiance was not merely a wisp of a soul, but a true peerless demon who had once dominated the late ancient era.

Facing the reverberating voice, the chaotic immortal light continued to churn from the gaping wound in Luo Hao’s chest, once again veiling his figure in heavy, primordial haze. Only a pair of dark eyes gazed at the purple figure nearby, which was already on the verge of disintegration, as two bolts of terrifying brilliance shot out from within the chaotic light.

"Puff!"

Without warning, the two beams pierced through all resistance. The figure of Zi Xinghe suddenly dimmed, his body rapidly dissolving into a shower of light. Above his head, the Myriad Demon Bell let out a mournful cry before shattering into pieces.

As the Myriad Demon Bell and the purple figure vanished, a pair of eyes suddenly snapped open within a mysterious, unknown space. In an instant, countless hurricanes seemed to sweep through the void. They were purple eyes, and within their pupils lay visions of blood-soaked heavens and countless demon clans kneeling in worship. Two rays of light projected from those purple pupils, then vanished just as quickly.

"The chaos has begun!"

Following the disappearance of the gaze, silence returned to the mysterious space, accompanied by a voice echoing like the chanting of the Great Dao.

"Innate Dao Runes!"

High above the mountain range, Elder Qingyang’s eyes widened, his expression changing drastically. Within the final rays of light flying from the chaotic haze, he had caught a glimpse of a mottled, ancient, and obscure rune that seemed to contain the ultimate truths of heaven and earth.

As Zi Xinghe’s figure dissipated, the churning chaotic immortal light began to recede back into Luo Hao’s chest. In just a few breaths, the radiance that had shrouded tens of thousands of miles vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.

"Thud!"

Luo Hao’s body plummeted from the firmament. Just as he was about to hit the ground, a large palm reached out to steady him. Elder Qingyang glanced at the unconscious youth, a look of astonishment flashing in his eyes: "The wound on his chest has actually healed!"

With the completely unconscious Luo Hao in his hands, the elder cast a glance at the Jade Crystal Lotus in the youth’s arms and mused, "I know you have attained sentience and are comparable to half a medicinal king, but it would be best to restrain your intentions. Surely you have witnessed the terrifying power within him just now. Considering the difficulty of your cultivation, you would do well to behave yourself."

With that, Elder Qingyang took Luo Hao and soared into the air, vanishing in the blink of an eye. At the same moment, a faint glimmer of emerald light flashed across the petals of the Jade Crystal Lotus.

The veil of night had not yet lifted, and the corpse of the ancient Golden Crow remained silent in the depths of the North Underworld Sea. On a barren hill in the Tiancang Mountain Range, a campfire flickered, radiating a trace of warmth.

A man in green robes sat cross-legged beside the fire, with the unconscious young man lying before him. The Tiancang Mountain Range was fraught with danger at night, and light often attracted more demonic beasts. Yet, strangely, any beast that approached within three yards of the man in green would have its hackles raised and flee in terror, as if a far more horrifying presence lay ahead.

The old man and the youth were none other than Elder Qingyang of the Tianhai Sect and the severely wounded Luo Hao. Watching the youth calmly, even the elder had to marvel that the Dragon-Demon Power was truly extraordinary. Within a few hours, the injuries in Luo Hao’s body were already beginning to mend; both his broken bones and shattered meridians were knitting themselves back together.

"Almost there. Let me lend you a hand!"

As he spoke, a glowing white orb appeared in Elder Qingyang’s palm, within which a pill the size of a dragon’s eye was faintly visible. The pill exuded a rich fragrance that made one’s pores relax with a single inhalation. It was wrapped in golden veins, clearly no ordinary item.

"Go!"

With a slight flick of the elder's finger, the pill entered Luo Hao’s mouth. As it dissolved, a majestic surge of power rushed into his limbs and bones. His broken body greedily absorbed the sudden influx of energy like a parched sponge.

"Rumble!"

Suddenly, thunderous roars erupted from within Luo Hao’s body. The rumbling sounds were accompanied by a mysterious rhythm. Elder Qingyang’s eyes gleamed; it was as if war drums were beating and conch shells were blowing within every one of Luo Hao’s meridians—the sound produced when one’s blood energy reaches its peak.

"Heavenly Meridian Thunder! It seems this lad has walked the edge of life and death so many times that he has brought his Qi-Spirit Realm to perfection. Once he breaks through to the Blood-Gathering Realm, he will be like a dragon soaring from the abyss. It is a pity that such a person can no longer return to the Tianhai Sect."

Upon hearing the thunderous roar from within Luo Hao, Elder Qingyang felt a moment of approval, followed by a darkening of his expression. He sighed, "Perhaps this is for the best. One cannot raise a master in a greenhouse. Only by experiencing countless brushes with death and treading upon endless piles of bones can one achieve the supreme. Perhaps then, this boy will have the qualifications to embark on the path of the peerless."

When speaking of that path of supreme strength, a look of bitterness and struggle crossed the elder's face. It was a path of no return, a road paved with blood and corpses. In the end, only one person could walk over the bones of kings, singing all the way to stand at the pinnacle of the world. Every time he thought of this, Elder Qingyang could only sigh and sit cross-legged to guard Luo Hao.

Under the shroud of darkness, the campfire was dazzling. Beside the flames, Luo Hao’s body was covered in a faint silver glow, a result of the pill he had consumed. Two full hours later, the glow finally faded, and the roaring blood energy within him calmed.

His eyelids fluttered, and a moment later, Luo Hao’s eyes slowly opened. Upon waking, he immediately noticed the changes in his body—his injuries had completely healed, and the blood energy within him was as vast and unfathomable as an ocean.

"What happened?" Luo Hao wondered, confused as to how he had inexplicably recovered from such heavy wounds.

"You are awake!"

As he was questioning himself, a voice sounded by his ear. Looking toward the source, Luo Hao saw Elder Qingyang keeping watch. Luo Hao hurriedly stood up to salute: "Many thanks to the Elder for saving my life. I am eternally grateful!"

"You look full of vitality; your injuries must be completely healed. As for saving you, while I did intervene, I was acting on someone else's request." Elder Qingyang waved his hand and gestured for him to sit.

Sitting back down, Luo Hao said, "Regardless, Elder, I shall certainly repay this kindness in the future."

Seeing Luo Hao’s firm expression, the elder nodded silently. Having such a heart proved he had not helped the wrong person.

"Luo Hao, I know you hold great secrets, but remember that external power is, in the end, external. Do not use it unless absolutely necessary. As for the Dragon-Demon Power within you, I do not know how you cultivated it, but you must promise me not to let it lead you astray into the demonic path!"

The elder’s words were earnest, stirring a strange emotion in Luo Hao’s heart. In this world, aside from his brothers and his missing sister, there were still those willing to treat him with kindness.

"Thank you for your guidance, Elder. I will keep it in mind. I swear I shall never fall into the demonic path."

Satisfied with the firm reply, Elder Qingyang paused before saying, "You can no longer return to the Tianhai Sect. However, a senior at the Purple Peak asked me to tell you that even if the Tianhai Sect does not accept you, the Purple Peak will always be your home!"

Luo Hao was stunned for a moment before realizing that it must have been his master, Zong Lian—whom he had never met—who had asked the elder to intervene. He stood up and bowed deeply to the elder: "Elder, please convey to the senior at the Purple Peak that one day, I will walk onto the Purple Peak with my head held high."

"Good! That is good, very good!"

Hearing this, Elder Qingyang once again looked at him with appreciation. He glanced at the Jade Crystal Lotus on Luo Hao’s chest and added, "Seeing you risk your life for this, it must be of great use. The lotus has attained sentience; you must treat it with care."

"Yes, I understand!"

Luo Hao bowed again to express his gratitude. The Jade Crystal Lotus was a spiritual object comparable to half a medicinal king; even without the elder's advice, he would have been careful.

"Take care of yourself then!"

When he straightened up, the elder had already vanished. Under the silver moonlight, only a faint voice continued to echo in his ears.