Li Hu gritted his teeth, staring ferociously at the blue-robed youth.
A cold glint, brimming with killing intent, shot from his eyes.
"Heh heh, useless trash!"
The blue-robed youth chuckled lightly, approaching Li Hu step by step.
Li Hu's eyes were filled with apprehension, and he kept backing away, his gaze panicked.
Zhou Yan lay at the edge of the swamp, struggling to breathe, his face ashen.
"What are you doing?" Li Hu rasped.
"Doing?"
The blue-robed youth grinned playfully, his right hand reaching out and gripping Li Hu's neck. A surge of immense power instantly invaded his meridians.
*Crack!*
With a crisp snap, Li Hu's head lolled to the side, his life extinguished.
"You..."
Zhou Yan stared at the scene in astonishment, his eyes almost bulging out.
He had never imagined that the blue-robed youth would kill Li Hu so readily.
"Hmph!"
The blue-robed youth snorted coldly, snatched the storage ring from Li Hu's hand, and turned to leave.
Zhou Yan stared blankly at the disappearing back of the blue-robed youth, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
He had thought he was doomed, but unexpectedly, at the crucial moment, an expert had saved him.
"Thank you for your rescue, sir!"
Zhou Yan struggled to his feet and shouted in the direction the blue-robed youth had gone.
*Tap, tap, tap...*
The crisp sound of footsteps echoed, and the blue-robed youth returned.
Zhou Yan observed carefully and saw the blue-robed youth holding a black snake, which he then tossed into the bushes beside Zhou Yan.
"Thank you, benefactor!"
Zhou Yan quickly knelt and kowtowed.
"No need for pleasantries. You called me 'Senior Brother' just now, so you must also practice martial arts."
The blue-robed youth waved his hand, smiling faintly.
"Senior Brother, are you from the martial world?"
Zhou Yan's eyelids twitched, a hint of surprise in his tone.
"You could say that," the blue-robed youth replied with a smile.
"Then... Senior Brother, do you have a way to help me get revenge?"
Zhou Yan gritted his teeth, speaking each word deliberately.
"Your injuries are quite severe. You'll need at least half a month to recover. I can't treat you for now,"
The blue-robed youth said with a hint of regret.
"However, once you've recovered, we can go treasure hunting together."
"Thank you then, Senior Brother."
Hearing this, Zhou Yan sighed inwardly.
Both Li Hu and the middle-aged man were peak second-grade martial artists, far superior to him, a third-grade martial artist.
Fortunately, he had this Senior Brother's assistance, otherwise, he would have already become fish food in the wilderness.
"Junior Brother, have you heard of 'Netherworld Mountain'?"
Suddenly, the blue-robed youth asked.
"Netherworld Mountain? What is that place?"
Zhou Yan frowned.
Although he was the eldest grandson of the Zhou family, due to his status, he had not ventured into the martial world, let alone heard of Netherworld Mountain.
"It seems Junior Brother has indeed not heard of it."
The blue-robed youth's gaze fell upon Zhou Yan, as if trying to see through him.
"Netherworld Mountain is one of the three perilous regions of the Northern Frontier. It is perpetually shrouded in mist and fraught with danger. Legend has it that countless powerful individuals have perished there, hence it is known as the death zone."
The blue-robed youth explained,
"It is said that deep within Netherworld Mountain lies buried world-shattering treasures, and even spiritual elixirs are born there."
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan's heart stirred, and he couldn't help but press further,
"Senior Brother, have you heard of Xuanbing Yu Sui?"
"Xuanbing Yu Sui?"
The blue-robed youth frowned and pondered for a moment before shaking his head,
"I haven't heard of it."
"Alas..."
Zhou Yan sighed, a sliver of hope rekindled in his heart. It seemed he could only rely on luck to find Xuanbing Yu Sui.
"Senior Brother, what martial technique were you using just now?"
Zhou Yan inquired.
"This martial technique is called 'Iron Sand Palm.' It's a secret manual I stumbled upon in an ancient tomb. It's not worth mentioning."
The blue-robed youth said dismissively.
"Senior Brother is too modest. I know that once mastered to the minor success stage, it can move mountains and overturn seas, capable of immense destruction."
Zhou Yan quickly flattered.
Although he was a dissolute young master, it didn't mean he lacked knowledge.
Martial arts were divided into nine grades, with each grade further subdivided into early, middle, high, and grand stages.
His grandfather, for instance, was a peak seventh-grade Martial Apprentice, known as the King of Martial Apprentices.
"Heh heh, a mere low-grade Yellow-tier martial technique, it's nothing."
The blue-robed youth waved his hand and said indifferently.
A smirk played on Zhou Yan's lips, though he inwardly scorned. If not for this technique, how could you have instantly killed Li Hu!
Although Zhou Yan did not voice his thoughts, the blue-robed youth sensed them, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Immediately, he raised his hand and placed it on Zhou Yan's shoulder.
*Buzz~*
Zhou Yan's blood boiled, his entire body trembled incessantly, and his bones crackled, as if struck by electricity.
In just a moment, Zhou Yan could no longer bear it, crying out in agony before fainting.
The blue-robed youth scanned his surroundings, ensuring safety, then directly hoisted Zhou Yan onto his back and ascended into the sky, heading towards Netherworld Mountain.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he appeared on the outskirts of Netherworld Mountain.
At this moment, the sky was dark, dotted with stars, and a gentle night breeze was blowing.
On the outskirts of Netherworld Mountain, a colossal stone stood, upon which several characters were carved:
Netherworld Forbidden Zone!
"Netherworld Forbidden Zone, is it?"
The blue-robed youth murmured.
Then, he leaped forward, directly plunging into the Netherworld Forbidden Zone.
*Roar! Roar! Roar!*
Within the Netherworld Forbidden Zone, monstrous beasts howled, deafeningly, like a chorus of ten thousand demons.
The Netherworld Forbidden Zone was vast, teeming with demonic beasts and incredibly perilous. Even innate realm experts dared not enter lightly.
The blue-robed youth forged ahead, killing any demonic beasts he encountered without mercy.
After approximately two incense sticks' worth of time, he arrived at the depths of the forbidden zone. A majestic mountain stood tall, its summit wreathed in clouds and mist, with hints of palace structures visible.
Midway up the mountain, in a secluded chamber, a grey-robed elder sat cross-legged.
This elder, with hair like snow and a youthful countenance, his beard and hair entirely white, his eyes closed, was none other than the Zhou family's guardian, a sixth-grade Martial Master – Zhou Yuantong!
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Zhou Yuantong opened his eyes. His gaze was sharp as a sword, piercing through illusions and looking towards the depths of Netherworld Mountain.
"Such potent true qi fluctuations!"
Zhou Yuantong's eyes widened in shock and horror.
*Whoosh!*
The next moment, he transformed into a streak of light, bursting out of the chamber and rapidly heading towards the source of the aura.
"This... how can there be human aura?"
Within the Netherworld Forbidden Zone, a mammoth with an all-white coat lay prostrate in the forest. Its nostrils twitched, and it showed surprise.
It was the most formidable existence in the northern region, possessing strength equivalent to a fifth-grade, comparable to a Martial Master.
"Eh? It's actually a Martial Grandmaster!"
The mammoth's pupils constricted, its surprise palpable.
A Martial Grandmaster was akin to a martial saint, possessing world-altering power and not to be trifled with. Even a fifth-grade demonic beast would find itself in dire straits.
*Rumble...*
Suddenly, the mammoth's body grew, emitting a terrifying aura of malevolence, as if an ancient savage beast had awakened, becoming incredibly ferocious.
*Swish!*
Following that, its massive form surged upwards, soaring into the sky, and it sped away, vanishing into the depths of Netherworld Mountain.
...
Within Netherworld Mountain, the blue-robed youth, carrying Zhou Yan, traversed over a hundred zhang before finally reaching the foot of the mountain.
Inside the mountain's belly, countless bones were piled up, along with severed limbs and fragments of weapons, scattered in disarray across the ground.
"The demonic beasts here are all the remains of martial artists!"
Zhou Yan surveyed his surroundings, his heart filled with dread.