"Senior Brother Yun, no, I, I don't want to die... Save me, please..."
Liu Rushi knelt on the ground, her face growing more and more pained. She clutched Yun Hao's leg, begging desperately.
"Get lost!"
Yun Hao kicked Liu Rushi away in disgust. Letting her put on clothes before she died was the greatest mercy he could offer!
Of course, this mercy could also be seen as Yun Hao saving face for himself.
Within seconds of Liu Rushi swallowing the poison, she was completely gone, her soul scattered.
After kicking her away, Yun Hao didn't spare her another glance. His gaze, like that of a wolf, locked onto Chen Xiao.
As he sized up Chen Xiao, Chen Xiao was naturally sizing him up as well.
Chen Xiao considered himself a killer, not a good person by any means, but compared to this Yun Hao, he was practically a living Buddha.
Was his "Supreme Forgetfulness" so despicable and base?
"Heh, Junior Brother Li, it's been many years. Junior Brother Li's skills have certainly improved!"
Yun Hao stared at Chen Xiao with malicious eyes, speaking with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Far from yours," Chen Xiao replied calmly.
"Hmph, that's a useless statement. Did I need you to say it?" Yun Hao snorted arrogantly.
Then, he heard Chen Xiao's voice: "In terms of being despicable, shameless, and heartless, I am truly far behind Senior Brother Yun."
Yun Hao's mouth twitched involuntarily.
The Holy Sons and Holy Daughters of the Northwest behind him, though showing a hint of anger, had to admit that the Holy Son of the Earth Sect made a valid point.
Li Miaozhen almost burst out laughing. Senior Brother Holy Son was truly amazing, his words so sharp. After three days apart, one should look at him with new eyes!
"Hmph, you sharp-tongued brat!"
Yun Hao snorted dismissively again. "I'm not in the mood for a verbal spar with you. Let's get straight to the point, how do we handle this?"
"Handle what?" Chen Xiao asked, feigning ignorance.
"Liu Rushi is my woman. You killed my woman, so what do you think we should do!" Yun Hao pointed at the now deceased beauty on the ground and said coldly.
Chen Xiao shook his head. "That's where you're mistaken. It wasn't me who killed Junior Sister Liu Rushi, but you. If you want to settle accounts, you can only settle them with yourself, not bark at me!"
"You scoundrel!"
Veins bulged on Yun Hao's forehead. "Li Shouzheng, have you forgotten how I beat you back then? How dare you speak to me like this? Who gave you the courage?"
Yun Hao could feel that Li Shouzheng today was somewhat different from before.
But he couldn't quite pinpoint how.
He didn't think much of it. Li Shouzheng was still Li Shouzheng. No matter how much he changed, it wouldn't alter the fact that he was a good-for-nothing.
Although the Holy Son of the Heavenly Sect and the Holy Son of the Earth Sect had always been at odds, it was always the Heavenly Sect's Holy Son who had the upper hand.
In the past, Li Shouzheng would only flee in disgrace upon seeing Yun Hao.
Based on their few past encounters, Yun Hao naturally wouldn't take such a weakling seriously.
Hearing Yun Hao's words, Chen Xiao silently thought to himself, it wasn't Liang Jingru who gave him courage.
"That was then, this is now. If you dare to make a move in front of me again, I'll just beat you up!" Chen Xiao said fiercely.
The dignified Holy Son of the Earth Sect put on the demeanor of a street thug.
Everyone present was momentarily surprised... What had this kid eaten? Was his brain broken?
Li Miaozhen, however, was almost laughing outright. Although Senior Brother Holy Son's words were crude, they were truly satisfying, especially when directed at someone like Yun Hao.
"Li Shouzheng, since you're bent on seeking death, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Chen Xiao's words completely enraged Yun Hao. "Even if the Ziwei Dao Master were here today, I would still beat you until you beg for mercy!"
Before his words had even finished, Yun Hao's aura surged, and streaks of true essence transformed into sword light, lunging towards Chen Xiao!
The Heavenly Sect excelled at swordsmanship. In fact, most sects in the Northwest region primarily used swords, such as the renowned Xuanjian Sect.
"A petty trick, daring to show off in front of me?" Chen Xiao sneered. "Yun, you're too green! Is this all the Heavenly Sect Holy Son is capable of?"
As he spoke, Chen Xiao flicked his fingers, a rapid series of pops as he deflected the sword lights.
When they first heard Chen Xiao's words, everyone thought he was courting death.
However, when they saw Chen Xiao casually dispersing the sword lights as if playing, the expressions on their faces became exceptionally vivid.
"What? How is this possible..."
Chen Xiao's performance exceeded everyone's expectations, including Yun Hao, the Holy Son of the Heavenly Sect.
He stared with wide, shocked eyes. The last time he saw Li Shouzheng was five years ago.
Back then, he could have pinned the man to the ground with just a little finger.
Who would have thought that in just five short years, the other party's strength would have increased to such a formidable level?
The cultivators of the Immortal Hidden Realm had long lives, and five years felt as fleeting as a blink of an eye.
"Nothing is impossible!" Chen Xiao uttered a line from a commercial, casting a dismissive glance at Yun Hao and saying proudly, "Yun Hao, I told you, you're still too green!"
"Hmph, that was just a warm-up. Do you really think you can be my opponent?" Yun Hao's expression turned serious. "Li Shouzheng, brace yourself, I'm going to get serious with you!"
With that, Yun Hao began to adjust his aura, preparing to use some harsh moves against Chen Xiao!
However, his prelude to a fierce attack was too long. Before he could make a move, Chen Xiao had already arrived before him and slapped him across the face.
*Slap—*
Everyone present was stunned by this slap.
The Holy Son of the Heavenly Sect was slapped by Li Shouzheng? He was actually slapped? He was slapped...
After all, they were all powerful cultivators, and slapping was considered a rather ungraceful move!
It was crude and inelegant!
Yet, the Holy Son of the Earth Sect used this most crude, most primitive, and most inelegant method to repeatedly slap Liu Rushi and Yun Hao.
While this method of fighting wasn't elegant, it was indeed highly insulting!
Everyone looked at Chen Xiao in disbelief, wondering when the Holy Son of the Earth Sect had developed such a crude habit.
"You, you dare to slap my face?" Yun Hao covered his face, looking at the other in disbelief.
As the esteemed Holy Son of the Heavenly Sect, when had he ever been slapped in the face?
"I've already done it, and you're still asking if I dared?" Chen Xiao gave Yun Hao a disgusted look. "You're like an idiot!"
"You bastard, I'll kill you today..."
Stimulated by this slap, the Holy Son of the Heavenly Sect could no longer maintain his composure.
His eyes were bloodshot, his face contorted with rage!
*Slap—*
However, what awaited him was another slap from Chen Xiao.
With this slap, the entire place fell silent, and the eyes of the onlookers were filled with disbelief.
If the first slap was merely because the Holy Son of the Earth Sect had caught Yun Hao off guard,
Then after being slapped once, Yun Hao would surely be more vigilant. How could he be slapped a second time?
Unless... there was only one possibility... that the opponent's strength far surpassed Yun Hao's!
This situation could only occur when the strength gap was so immense that one side completely dominated the other!
But could Li Shouzheng truly dominate Yun Hao?
Was the Holy Son of the Earth Sect that strong?
The crowd couldn't believe it, nor could they accept it!
But the facts were laid bare before them, leaving them no choice but to believe.
"Bastard, I'll kill you..."
*Slap—*
"Bastard, I..."
*Slap—*
"Bastard..."
*Slap—*
"I..."
*Slap—*
In the end, as long as Yun Hao uttered a word, Chen Xiao would slap him.
The handsome and ethereal Holy Son of the Heavenly Sect was beaten into a pulp after a few slaps!
He glared at Chen Xiao hatefully, no longer daring to speak, as he finally realized that the opponent's strength was far superior to his own.
Although this was an almost impossible event!
But after eliminating all other possibilities, the remaining one, however unbelievable, was the ultimate truth.
And everyone had accepted this fact.
The strength of the Holy Son of the Earth Sect had far surpassed that of the Holy Son of the Heavenly Sect!
The Holy Sons and Holy Daughters from the Northwest also felt a loss of face.
But they absolutely did not have the courage to challenge Chen Xiao.
At this moment, Li Miaozhen jumped out, saying proudly, "Hmph, hmph, now you all understand, right? Actually, all these past years, my Senior Brother Holy Son was just deliberately hiding his strength. He did it for this Heavenly Pride Competition, and he's going to shine brightly in it!"
"For this day, he hid his sharpness for too many years, and now, he can finally reveal it... you all, tremble before me!"
Li Miaozhen spoke with increasing pride, almost unable to resist breaking into a song and dance.
The Holy Son of the Heavenly Sect's expression was as ugly as it could get.
Li Shouzheng had been hiding his strength? No, that was absolutely impossible. Who would deliberately act foolish for so many years for something that would only happen decades later?
When the absolute impossibility became the only possibility, a hint of fear finally appeared in the Holy Son of the Heavenly Sect's eyes.
He was afraid. He began to fear the Holy Son of the Earth Sect.
Because not only was the Holy Son of the Earth Sect's strength superior to his, but his ability to endure for decades was something he couldn't match.
Yun Hao shook his head with a bitter smile. Originally, he thought he was the true prodigy among the Heavenly, Earth, and Human Sects.
Who knew that before the Heavenly Pride Competition even began, the Holy Son of the Earth Sect would defeat him and make him fearful.
Fear meant he had lost!
Chen Xiao cast a deep glance at Li Miaozhen. "Junior Sister Saintess, I truly thank you, for with you, the four seasons are warmed!"
Because he acted on impulse, he had done things several times that were inconsistent with Li Shouzheng's personality and strength.
However, he never had to worry about his identity being exposed.
Because Junior Sister Li Miaozhen would help him fill in the blanks for all the remaining events.
Having such a junior sister was truly the blessing that 'Li Shouzheng' had cultivated in his past life!