Chapter Forty-Three: The Appearance of Murong Ying

The Platform of Life and Death!

The pitiless voice echoed through the entire square, sounding like the mutterings of Death himself. Murderous intent surged forth as golden fists crashed down, overwhelming all resistance in an instant and enveloping Li Long and Zhang Hu atop the Platform of Life and Death.

Golden radiance flickered, countless dragon patterns unfurled, thunder roared, and the desolate cries of tigers and dragons resounded as if heralding the twilight of the gods. An immense power descended, imposing its will from the heavens.

“Splurt!”

Under the terrifying pressure, Li Long and Zhang Hu’s bodies cracked, blood gushing uncontrollably from their mouths. As their life drained away, despair consumed them; they wished to cry for help, but the abyssal force pressing upon them rendered them utterly mute.

Amid the clanging intent to kill, Luo Hao’s blood-stained face once more appeared clearly in their vision. His expression betrayed no emotion—only a killing intent that chilled to the bone.

“Spare us! Please, let us live!”

The shadow of death hovered, and for the first time, regret entered their hearts—they should never have obeyed Murong Ying’s command to plot against Luo Hao. The man before them was a demon, utterly unrestrained by any taboo, paying no heed to the Purple Star Pavilion at all.

“Boom!”

Golden ripples spread out, dazzling brilliance enveloped the Platform of Life and Death. The disciples of the Skysea Sect watching felt their vision overtaken by a vast golden radiance.

The golden fist fell like a bell of gold, its terrifying sound shaking the earth. It was not a real bell, but an extension of Luo Hao’s martial technique—a testament to the power of his blow.

“He’s gone mad! This Luo Hao is defying fate!”

The disciples gathered around the platform were shaken to their core. Countless gazes fixed upon the golden-shrouded platform, cries of astonishment erupting. Even a Blood Condensation realm martial artist would struggle to withstand such an assault; many suspected that ordinary Blood Condensation cultivators could no longer suppress Luo Hao. At the seventh level of Spirit Energy, he possessed the strength to defeat those of the Blood Condensation realm. They could hardly imagine what he would become upon breaking through to that realm.

“So strong. Perhaps one day I can challenge him.” In the crowd below, Ji Rou had recovered from her initial shock. Unlike others, her beautiful eyes held anticipation rather than awe.

“Haha, looks like we’ll need to work harder ourselves.”

“Indeed. Tomorrow, I’ll enter the mountains to fight beasts and strengthen my own abilities.” Yan Longyuan and Sikong Xuan exchanged hearty laughter, glancing at the golden brilliance covering the platform, their faces free of jealousy.

“Wait, look! Who is that?”

As the golden light gradually faded, the Skysea Sect disciples below revealed astonished expressions. A tall, upright figure stood on the platform, like a divine spear piercing the heavens, blocking Li Long and Zhang Hu.

“Murong… Murong Ying!”

“Damn, how did he end up here?”

“A little commotion drew out the big fish—this is interesting!” Not far from the platform, someone on a pavilion revealed a playful smile. Behind him, a woman furrowed her brows. “Zikong, should we intervene?”

“No need. Since he’s not acting, we’ll just enjoy the show.”

The sudden appearance of the figure on stage stirred a commotion among those below. Standing there was none other than Murong Ying, the most outstanding disciple of the previous generation in the Purple Star Pavilion.

Clad in a coiling-dragon purple robe, with a face like white jade and sword-like brows, his black hair flowed in the wind. He stood like an ancient mountain, exuding authority without anger.

A crisis of life and death!

Luo Hao’s eyes, obscured by black hair, narrowed sharply the instant the man appeared. A profound sense of danger, the scent of death, made his soul tremble.

“Why him? This is trouble.” In the crowd, Ji Rou’s brows knitted as she recognized Murong Ying. Sensing things were amiss, she pushed through the crowd and rushed toward the Hall of Contributions.

“It’s Senior Brother Murong Ying! Senior Brother Murong, this newcomer has disregarded his elders, seriously injuring Junior Brother Chang Yue. Li Long and Zhang Hu tried to apprehend him, but he used some demonic technique to wound them both. Please, Senior Brother Murong, restore order!”

Below the platform, disciples of the Purple Star Pavilion line grew feverish at the sight of Murong Ying, as if he were their living faith.

“Twisting truth, shameless!” Sikong Xuan immediately retorted, and disciples of other lines showed their disdain.

“You are Luo Hao, aren’t you? You have talent. Join the Purple Star Pavilion and this matter will be settled. I believe you’ve heard my name.” Murong Ying stood with hands clasped behind his back, his voice calm yet laced with an undeniable authority, like a ruler surveying the land.

“Senior Brother Murong, how could that brat deserve to join the Purple Star Pavilion—” Some disciples wanted to object, but meeting Murong Ying’s gaze, they immediately fell silent.

Not only the Purple Star Pavilion’s disciples, but those of other lines were stunned. None expected Murong Ying to invite Luo Hao to join their ranks.

For a moment, all eyes focused on Luo Hao, eager to see how he would respond to Murong Ying’s invitation.

Luo Hao sneered inwardly. If he hadn’t already uncovered Murong Ying as the mastermind behind his troubles, he might have admired his magnanimity.

Everyone watched Luo Hao, waiting for his choice. Blood-stained, Luo Hao suddenly smiled, then strode toward Murong Ying. Stopping just a few yards away, he spoke coldly: “I have no habit of being anyone’s dog. Not interested!”

“Damn!”

The crowd erupted. Countless eyes fixed on Luo Hao—was he really so fearless? Murong Ying was a leading candidate for chief disciple of the Purple Star Pavilion, his cultivation unfathomable. None knew his true strength.

Murong Ying was renowned in the Skysea Sect. Rumor had it that upon joining, he caught the eye of a major figure in the Purple Star Pavilion and was admitted out of turn. He was said to have defeated a Blood Condensation cultivator with a single effortless move.

Luo Hao’s words froze the atmosphere atop the platform, making it tense and oppressive. Murong Ying’s gaze shot toward Luo Hao like a sharp blade, a fleeting glimmer of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

“Are you sure?”

His voice was cold and indifferent, his jade-like face betraying no emotion, but everyone could sense the chill in his words.

“I have no interest in the Purple Star Pavilion!” Luo Hao sneered, refusing any pretense with Murong Ying. After what they’d done to him, did they really think he was some naive saint?

Madness! Luo Hao was truly mad. Did he not know whom he faced? Or did he really believe he could defy fate again? The crowd watched with a mix of sympathy, pity, and ridicule, their eyes converging on Luo Hao.

“What a shame! Assaulting others—I suppose I must now eliminate a prodigy myself.” Murong Ying spoke as his hand, hidden in his sleeve, began to rise. Though seemingly slow, the movement matched some profound rhythm.

“Boom!”

As Murong Ying raised his hand, the previously healed space atop the platform suddenly exploded. Countless gales raged like white serpents, biting and tearing at the void. (The void cries—why must I suffer every time they fight, either torn asunder or blasted open?)

White serpents raised their triangular heads, their eyes shooting icy killing light. Their murderous intent made Luo Hao’s soul tremble as the powerful gales transformed into sharp wind blades, slashing toward him.

“Whoosh, whoosh!”

Wind blades pierced the air, emitting shrill sonic booms and leaving fine cracks in the void. Luo Hao’s pupils contracted, and his dragon force surged forth without reserve—ten thousand dragons charged. The thunderous dragon roar caused Murong Ying’s eyes to glint, his power intensifying.

“Bang!”

In the air, the white serpents multiplied—one became two, two became three, three became thousands—instantly locking onto Luo Hao.

Countless white serpents bit and tore, engulfing the Platform of Life and Death in madness. The terrifying storm shattered the remaining stone platform, and the surrounding Skysea Sect disciples scattered in terror like startled birds and beasts.