The Wood Martial God waved his right hand, and the power of wood attribute surged in both hands.
Centered on him, countless withered trees erupted from the ground, their bodies swaying like demons and monsters.
As the lions all pounced forward, the Wood Martial God’s great hand fell, and all of the withered trees burst forth, some binding the lions, others knocking them flying.
The lions came endlessly, and so too did the withered trees continue to emerge.
But it was clear the Wood Martial God was under great pressure, sweat already covering his forehead.
“Master Xu, this place is a revised version of the sealed Blood Rune Space,” the Wood Martial God said, looking at Xu Zimo. “I suspect the True God Sword would have a suppressive effect here. You could try it.”
“No need,” Xu Zimo waved his hand, looking toward Shi Qianshan, and said, “You want the True God Sword, right? Then first bring out the Blood Rune beast. I’ll meet it before we talk.”
Hearing Xu Zimo’s words, Shi Qianshan was silent for a moment.
“What’s wrong? What are you afraid of?” Xu Zimo smiled. “At this point, are you still so cautious?”
“It’s not caution,” Shi Qianshan shook his head and smiled. Looking at Red Lion beside him, he said, “You go out and guard outside first. I have something to say to him alone.”
Red Lion didn’t ask further, nodded, and left directly.
Immediately, Shi Qianshan looked at Xu Zimo, grinning as he said, “It’s not fear, but the one you want to meet is right in front of you.”
As he laughed, he began tearing the skin off his body.
From scalp to face, down to his whole body, it was as though he wore a suit of leather clothing.
After ripping it all away, standing before Xu Zimo was clearly another person entirely.
“You are not Shi Qianshan,” the Wood Martial God said in surprise.
“Shocking, I know,” the man chuckled lightly.
He stood about 1.8 meters tall, his skin slightly pale, his eyes like dead fish, his nose bridge tall.
He had short hair, a scar on his forehead.
Even his clothes were the simplest standard long-sleeved outfit.
“I should have realized earlier,” the Wood Martial God suddenly understood, reacting.
“Your disguises are so strong, you can imitate almost anyone. This Lion Mansion truly is a good hiding place. I just didn’t expect that even that fellow Red Lion was tricked by you.”
The man seemed uninterested in the Wood Martial God, instead looking at Xu Zimo and saying, “Well? Now I’m here. Hand over the True God Sword. My patience is limited.”
“Good, since you’re here,” Xu Zimo laughed softly.
At once his aura exploded, and he directly charged at the man.
“I knew you’d do this,” the man wasn’t surprised, but instead stepped forward, punching toward Xu Zimo.
With a loud “boom,” both figures were forced back several steps.
“Again,” Xu Zimo shouted coldly.
Power of creation surged from his fists, his shadows multiplying in the void.
The speed created continuous sonic booms echoing across the sky.
“Boom boom boom!”
For a time, the two fought at speeds beyond the eye’s ability to follow.
Countless fragments of void shattered apart, but ultimately Xu Zimo proved superior.
With a sudden flash, he appeared behind his opponent, fists surging with rolling force, slamming into the man’s back.
A strange blood spurted from the man’s mouth.
Wiping his lips, he turned and smiled, “I underestimated you.”
“You’re still not enough,” Xu Zimo shouted coldly.
His fist smashed forward again.
The man struggled to keep up, and within only a few moves, Xu Zimo sent him flying again with another heavy punch.
“Weren’t there supposed to be three?” Xu Zimo said. “Bring them all out.”
The man didn’t answer. He wiped away the blood at his lips, as a violent aura erupted from within him.
Behind him, a mass of blood condensed into a huge face.
It was a horrifying monster’s face.
The face was thin and skeletal, blood dripping from its eyes and all seven orifices.
Its appearance was as grotesque and terrifying as possible.
The man opened his mouth, splitting it nearly a meter wide, fangs gleaming.
The sound he emitted was a beast’s growl.
He lunged at Xu Zimo.
At this moment, he was nothing but a beast, no longer showing any trace of humanity.
Xu Zimo was not to be outdone. The colossal Heaven-Shattering Giant behind him rose to its full towering height.
With a great sweep of its massive palm, it collided with the raging man.
An endless, crushing force cascaded down from the heavens.
Dust filled the air as the man was directly smashed into the ground.
The earth bore the imprint of his figure.
Just then, another figure flew over from the distance.
Wearing white robes, though slightly disheveled, she carried a cold, aloof air. It was Ji Ruobing.
“How are you here?” Ji Ruobing looked at Xu Zimo, surprised.
“It’s a long story,” Xu Zimo shook his head slightly.
As Ji Ruobing approached him, Xu Zimo suddenly raised his right hand.
Behind him, the Heaven-Shattering Giant’s massive palm fell down together with it.
“Are you insane?” Ji Ruobing screamed in terror.
“Although your disguise is convincing, appearance alone isn’t enough. Some scents cannot be changed,” Xu Zimo shook his head.
The palm came down, and this second Blood Rune Beast, unable to dodge in time, was crushed into the ground.
Xu Zimo held the Codex of Life and Death in one hand, and the Brush of Life and Death in the other.
Flipping to the first page, countless chains of life and death shot out, binding the two buried figures.
The clashing sound of iron echoed.
Chains wrapped around the two monsters, dragging them out from beneath the ground.
These monsters looked alike, their faces grotesque and terrifying.
Before, they had appeared in human form, but now their true forms emerged, bodies nearly a hundred meters long.
Their flesh was covered in countless dense black dots, enough to make anyone with trypophobia unable to look.
“Well done,” the Wood Martial God laughed behind him. “We’ve finally caught them. Now we can explain to the City Lord.”
He smiled, walking toward Xu Zimo.
“Where is Ji Ruobing?” Xu Zimo asked calmly, looking at the two struggling creatures.
“Kill us, and you’ll never find her,” the Blood Rune beasts roared, laughing wildly.
Xu Zimo frowned slightly, his chains tightening, pulling the two beasts toward the Codex of Life and Death.
“Master Xu, don’t be rash,” the Wood Martial God quickly said. “They must be delivered to the City Lord. There’s no rush to kill them.”
“Then you tell me, where is Ji Ruobing?” Xu Zimo asked, turning toward him.
“We can interrogate them slowly,” the Wood Martial God replied.
“I don’t want to interrogate. I want you to answer me,” Xu Zimo shook his head and continued.
“How would I know?” the Wood Martial God forced a smile.
“You know,” Xu Zimo looked at him with a half-smile. “I say you know, so you know.”