Chapter 2857: The Death of Zong Shenliang

In the massive hall of the Hehe Realm, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zong Shenliang let out a cold snort. A cloud of black mist surged from his body, engulfing him.

The cultivator who had first recognized him wore a bitter expression, clearly feeling Zong Shenliang's cold stare from within the black mist.

He secretly regretted his slip of the tongue, which had revealed Zong Shenliang's identity. The Lord of Senluo City had arrived in the Hehe Realm in such a sorry state, and given his status, he surely wouldn't wish to be gawked at in such a predicament.

He had now offended the other party, and his future in Xingyuan would likely be fraught with difficulty.

Zong Shenliang clearly didn't wish to linger. Just as he was about to depart and return to Senluo City, he suddenly paused.

Still enveloped in the black mist, his gaze locked onto a single direction. A familiar yet dreaded aura emerged from there, clinging to him like a leech.

Undisguised killing intent bloomed, making all the cultivators gathered there sense an anomaly.

The crowd automatically parted. Lu Ye, who had pursued him there, walked steadily towards Zong Shenliang, one hand on his saber, his posture erect, and stared at him coldly.

Zong Shenliang was suddenly so enraged he almost laughed. He watched Lu Ye's thumb rubbing the saber hilt and gritted his teeth. "What," he sneered, "did you chase me all the way here to kill me?"

What kind of deep-seated animosity was this? He was already in such a sorry state, yet this fellow still pursued him all the way to the Hehe Realm. It was simply outrageous.

With that single remark, a commotion rippled through the surroundings.

Although everyone had speculated from Zong Shenliang's earlier appearance that he had fled there for refuge, it had merely been a conjecture.

However, with Zong Shenliang's words, that conjecture was confirmed.

He had truly fled there for his life.

The powerful individual who had injured him had even pursued him into the Hehe Realm.

Many cultivators, influenced by preconceived notions, believed that whoever could force Zong Shenliang into such a predicament must be one of the Ten Great City Lords. But after clearly seeing Lu Ye's face, they were deeply bewildered.

Lu Ye appeared very young, certainly not one of the Ten Great City Lords.

Who was this person?

"Lu Ye of the Human Race! It's that Lu Ye of the Human Race!" a quiet murmur rose from somewhere.

In the previous battle where Zong Shenliang and others besieged Ba Qiu, countless cultivators had hidden in the shadows to observe. Lu Ye had shone brightly in that battle, so naturally, some remembered him.

Now, he was recognized at a glance.

"Is he the one who fought Xuan Wuzong to a standstill?"

"Didn't they say his strength was slightly inferior to Xuan Wuzong's, and that another person had to help him repel Xuan Wuzong?"

"Zong Shenliang's strength is not much different from Xuan Wuzong's. How could he have injured Zong Shenliang so severely?"

"Incredible, simply incredible."

Whispers echoed from various parts of the crowd, making Zong Shenliang's face grow increasingly uncomfortable.

He felt as though he was being publicly executed at that very moment, his lifelong reputation ruined in an instant!

Annoyance filled him. These ignorant fools were merely spreading hearsay, having no true understanding of Lu Ye's power. When he had first encountered Lu Ye, he hadn't given the man much thought, never believing he would lose. Yet, here he was, reduced to such a pathetic state.

Feeling Lu Ye's chilling killing intent, which had almost solidified, Zong Shenliang suddenly no longer seemed in a hurry to leave. He gave a slight shake, the enveloping black mist dispersed, and he stared into Lu Ye's eyes, full of mockery. "Still not making a move?" he challenged. "I, in my heavily wounded state, probably couldn't withstand a single saber strike from you!"

He enjoyed seeing Lu Ye on the verge of acting yet daring not to, and much of the pent-up frustration in his heart finally dissipated.

Of course, if Lu Ye actually made a move, that would be truly amusing.

From ancient times to the present, anyone who had acted with impunity in the Hehe Realm had never come to a good end.

With this thought, his heart suddenly stirred. Right, this Lu Ye now possessed the peak prowess that Ba Qiu once had. Even if he could ally with a few other like-minded Ten Great City Lords, could they truly deal with him?

They hadn't managed to deal with Ba Qiu for years, so they likely wouldn't be able to do anything about Lu Ye either.

But Ba Qiu was different from Lu Ye. This human looked young and hot-headed. If he could be provoked into action here, they wouldn't have to worry about a thing; the Hehe Realm's restrictions would eliminate this hidden danger for them.

The more Zong Shenliang thought about it, the better the idea seemed. His tone immediately grew more mocking: "Let me guess, why are you so intent on opposing me? It must be because of that fellow Ba Qiu, right? That scoundrel failed his promotion, his foundation utterly destroyed. Even if his injuries heal, he shouldn't dream of maintaining his current cultivation... So that's it, you're sticking up for him? As a fellow human, he must have given you many favors, and you're quite the grateful one..."

In the arena, Gong Mao hastily pushed open the door and exclaimed, "My lord, this is bad!"

Qin Feng was sitting upright in a chair, holding the pink Bobo in his hands, his brows deeply furrowed.

For some time recently, he had been feeling very low.

Ba Qiu's death, across the entire Xingyuan, was known to few, save for the Dragon Lord and Phoenix Empress.

Qin Feng happened to be one of them.

This was because the mark he had left in the Hedao Orb of Yifu City had shattered. A mark couldn't shatter without reason, unless the Hedao Orb itself shattered.

And Yifu City was Ba Qiu's Hedao City; who could shatter his Hedao Orb unless Ba Qiu himself died?

He had not personally witnessed Ba Qiu's death, but he had long anticipated its arrival. Ba Qiu had vaguely sensed it before his attempted breakthrough, and had even specifically discussed it with him.

At the time, Qin Feng had dismissed Ba Qiu's words as nonsense, but who knew that everything would later be confirmed?

He had also never imagined that this foremost powerhouse, who had dominated the Inner Realm for so many years, would meet his end without anyone in the world knowing.

He also wondered if his old friend had achieved his wish before his death.

He had recently been trying to contact Lu Ye, wishing to inquire about the inside story, but to no avail.

"What's wrong? Why so flustered?" Qin Feng looked up.

Gong Mao had managed the arena for many years and was always composed. It was rare to see him so panicked.

"My lord, my subordinates reported seeing Daoist Lu Ye."

Qin Feng frowned. "Where was he seen?" He grew even more puzzled. He had been seen, so why such panic? Could his young brother be in some danger?

"Right in the Initial Hall. He seems to have chased Zong Shenliang in here, and Zong Shenliang, heavily wounded, is trying to provoke Daoist Lu Ye into attacking him."

Qin Feng was stunned for a moment before reacting. "What did you say?"

His young brother chased Zong Shenliang in? And Zong Shenliang was heavily wounded? Had he heard correctly?

Gong Mao quickly repeated what he had just said, but before he could finish, Qin Feng flashed outside, and Bobo hastily landed on his shoulder.

In the Golden Core Tower, the guest hall was bustling with excitement. Numerous guests clinked cups and exchanged toasts. Places for merriment were rare in Xingyuan, and the Golden Core Tower was one of them, renowned for its excellent reputation and the remarkably high quality of its women. Of course, the cost of seeking pleasure here was also high, so those who could enter were not ordinary people, but at least those with some assets.

Lian, who was overseeing the establishment, suddenly paused, her delicate ears twitching as if she had heard something shocking. She quickly exited the hall, summoned Third Mistress to oversee things, and then hurried out of the Golden Core Tower, heading straight for the Initial Hall.

Along the way, she constantly heard surprised discussions. It wasn't just her hurrying towards the Initial Hall; many people throughout the entire Hehe Realm were also rushing towards it.

In a short time, the Hehe Realm seemed to boil over with activity.

Inside the Initial Hall, it was overflowing with people.

Normally, many cultivators moved in and out, and while it was lively, it wasn't crowded. But at that moment, the hall was packed with jostling bodies.

Lu Ye's confrontation with Zong Shenliang attracted the attention of all cultivators. Those who had just arrived, seeing such a grand spectacle, naturally didn't want to leave, and even more people gathered upon hearing the news. Thus, in a short time, the crowd here grew larger and larger.

By the time Lian and Qin Feng arrived, they were surprised to find the Initial Hall completely besieged by cultivators from all directions, making it impossible for them to even squeeze their way in.

They exchanged glances, both inevitably anxious.

From inside the great hall, a familiar voice was heard: "Lu Ye, if you truly have the guts, then hurry up and act. I'll stand right here and promise not to resist."

Qin Feng's face sank. It was indeed Zong Shenliang's voice. Although he couldn't see what was happening inside, he could still imagine the man's ugly expression at that moment.

He couldn't help but feel a little worried.

"Arena Master, no need to worry. Lu Ye isn't a fool. How could he not see through Zong Shenliang's petty tricks?" Lian's voice rang in his ear.

Qin Feng nodded slightly.

It was common knowledge that one could not act arbitrarily in the Hehe Realm, a fact known to any cultivator who came there for the first time. But Lu Ye was still young, and young people were most prone to getting hot-headed and acting recklessly.

"What? Don't you dare make a move? If you don't, then I'm leaving. Today's grudge, I will definitely settle properly with Ba Qiu. Even if he hides at the ends of the earth, I will find him. I want to see how pathetic this former foremost powerhouse of the Inner Realm is now."

With that one remark, the killing intent within the hall suddenly solidified.

Qin Feng inwardly cursed.

Zong Shenliang still didn't know that Ba Qiu was dead, but Qin Feng did. And he also knew that Ba Qiu must have died at Lu Ye's hands. These seemingly unintentional provocative words appeared to have touched Lu Ye's raw nerve.

As expected, the next moment he heard Lu Ye's chilling voice: "Since you want to die so much, then I shall grant your wish!"

"Lu Ye, no!" Qin Feng urgently cried out.

Lian also cried out with him.

However, the next moment, they heard a ringing sound, and within the densely packed hall, a flash of saber light briefly appeared.

Qin Feng's heart instantly plummeted!

Inside the hall, everyone stared, dumbfounded, at Lu Ye, who was slowly returning his saber to its sheath.

Including Zong Shenliang, who stood before him, still wearing a somewhat provocative expression.

No one had expected that Lu Ye had actually made a move!

The provocation on Zong Shenliang's face slowly transformed into astonishment, then into panic. His facial muscles twitched uncontrollably, and he raised a finger to point at Lu Ye, seemingly wanting to say something, but no words escaped his lips.

*Thud...*

As the sound echoed, his head was sent flying by the gushing blood from his neck, his life extinguished!

A generation's powerful lord, Zong Shenliang, Lord of Senluo City, one of the Ten Hedao Cities, was beheaded by Lu Ye of the Human Race with a single saber strike here today, dying in the Initial Hall of the Hehe Realm.

The entire process was witnessed by countless cultivators. This one of the Ten Great Powerhouses offered no resistance, like a buzzing fly casually swatted dead.