Xiaoxiao.

The three great protective formations, under the impact of countless dazzling rays of light like shooting stars and surging energy like a torrent, finally shattered like an overburdened dam!

In an instant, a force that seemed capable of destroying the world erupted like a volcanic eruption, creating a massive, earth-shattering explosion.

A dazzling flame shot into the sky like a giant dragon, accompanied by a deafening roar, as if it were about to tear the entire world apart.

The terrifying shockwave swept outwards with overwhelming force, turning everything in its path to dust, as fragile as porcelain.

In the blink of an eye, the area within a hundred meters was completely swallowed up by this violent force, instantly turning into a vacuum zone that seemed capable of devouring everything.

The mountains, trees, houses, and all kinds of living things that originally existed here vanished without a trace, like a candle flickering in the wind.

As the billowing smoke dissipated like the thick fog, the once bustling and lively scene vanished like a shattered mirror, replaced by a deathly silence and desolation.

Looking around, the scene was one of devastation. The earth was torn apart with deep ravines, and the air was filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder and burning, as if it were a curse from hell.

After the devastating explosion, only a handful of people, like withered leaves swaying in the storm, were able to barely survive on the ruins.

They were all dressed in rags, their faces haggard, their bodies covered with a dense web of wounds, and blood seeped out from the wounds like a flood, staining the ground beneath their feet red.

The head of the Blade Sect Master had been completely shattered. His brains and blood were mixed together like an overturned palette, red and white, which was horrifying and made him look like a demon crawling out of hell, extremely ferocious and terrifying.

The broken bones, like snapped branches, were exposed jaggedly, each one like an open, bloody maw, telling the world of the cruelty and ruthlessness of this fierce battle.

These cracks seem to bear countless pains and indignation; they are silent, yet they record this breathtaking battle in a way that is both mournful and poignant.

Qingxian's eyes were wide open, like copper bells, staring intently at the horrific scene before him, a scene that resembled hell.

An indescribable grief surged into his heart like a flood bursting its banks. His heart pounded wildly, as if it would burst from his chest at any moment.

A deep sense of lingering fear surged into his heart like a tidal wave, causing him to shiver involuntarily.

Although he had managed to save his precious life, his body felt as if all his strength and vitality had been drained away, leaving him like a candle flickering in the wind, on the verge of burning out.

Even the slightest rustling of the wind felt like a heavy mountain pressing down on him, making it hard for him to breathe.

The usually imposing and well-trained elite troops of the Yellow Crane Tower suffered almost total annihilation in this sudden and exceptionally fierce encounter, with losses so heavy as to be astonishing.

The once mighty and imposing team is now reduced to just a handful of people. Even the usually spirited Qingxian has ended up as a lone commander, all alone and utterly desolate.

If he hadn't known that the poster was hiding nearby, he would have definitely made a quick getaway without hesitation!

After all, given such a dire situation and immense pressure, staying would be tantamount to suicide.

Everything here naturally did not escape Huang He's eyes. Watching Ying Yue sweep through the elites of Huanghe Tower as easily as cutting melons and vegetables, he knew that he had met a formidable opponent this time.

His years of hard work vanished in an instant; at this moment, his heart was breaking, and he was filled with unbearable grief.

This is the very foundation of his livelihood!

He knew that there was no room for sentimentality in Penglou; to gain a foothold, he needed to have strength and be of use.

His strength has always been at the bottom among the nine sect leaders. The reason he has been able to maintain his position as sect leader all these years is because of the people under his command.

Now everything is gone, but at this moment, endless anger is like a raging fire, raging wildly in his chest.

He knew all too well that the battle was lost, which meant that the forces he had cultivated at the cost of countless precious resources had vanished in an instant.

This also means that the poster's position is in jeopardy if he cannot prove his worth.

The three mysterious and terrifying masters on the third floor would eliminate him without hesitation. Just thinking about those three terrifying beings made Huang He shudder involuntarily.

He took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale all the surrounding air into his lungs to calm the surging emotions within him.

"How dare you! Does your Great Qin intend to wage a war to the death against my Penglou? Has your Ying clan already prepared for extinction?" The hidden Huang He finally appeared like a ghost.

"Stop spreading alarmist rumors! You, the lowest-ranking lord, dare to speak so arrogantly. Ying Yue is already betrothed to me; she is my rightful woman! You, a mere lord who has descended from the bottom, dare to spout such nonsense and intimidate me. I would like to ask you, is your Penglou lord prepared to face my wrath?" Upon hearing this voice, Ying Yue was struck dumb, and tears of happiness streamed down her face.

She could ignore any threat from Penglou, but most of the Ying family members were ordinary people who couldn't even kill a chicken.

She knew better than anyone what it meant to be targeted by a powerful ancient martial arts force; ordinary people were as fragile as ants in front of ancient martial arts practitioners.

Therefore, she hesitated when Huang He threatened her family.

Everyone has their weaknesses, and everyone has their own principles. Family is the softest corner in Yingyue's heart.

To uphold justice, she would not hesitate to give up her own life; for her family, she would also act without hesitation. There is no question of which is more important; they are all her inseparable flesh and blood.

Now, someone is using her family's lives as leverage, instantly putting her in a dilemma.

At this moment, her mind was in turmoil, and this was exactly the moment Huang He had been waiting for.

Seeing that Ying Yue had some concerns, he was secretly delighted, knowing that he had already won.

Taking advantage of his illness to kill him, Huang He naturally wouldn't let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

He moved with the agility of a swallow, leaping forward and appearing before Ying Yue in the blink of an eye, as if struck by lightning. Only then did Ying Yue awaken from her daze. However, it was all too late; Huang He's long-planned killing move was not something an ordinary person could withstand.

This attack could either kill someone or severely injure them, leaving them on the verge of death.

At the critical moment, Huang He heard a voice just as terrifying as the mysterious tower master's. This voice had once shocked him greatly, so upon hearing it, Huang He risked injury and immediately withdrew his attack.

Because he clearly heard the word "wife," he dared not harm the woman in front of him even though he was seriously injured.

Huang He had been launching a fierce attack on his target with great momentum, but just as he was about to strike, Kuang Zheng's calm and powerful words exploded in his ears like thunder! Huang He's heart trembled, and he had no choice but to forcefully suppress his surging offensive.

His body twisted rapidly in the air, like a nimble swallow. After several leaps and turns, he finally managed to steady himself, staggering a few steps when his feet landed, almost falling to the ground. At this moment, Huang He's face was alternating between pale and green, changing unpredictably like a palette of colors.

Clearly, this forced reversal of the momentum had a significant backlash against Huang He.

Standing to the side, Qingxian's face was filled with disbelief, as if he had seen the most terrifying ghost in the world.

You must know that in Qingxian's heart, Huang He is a god-like being! He not only possesses unfathomable martial arts skills, but his wisdom is also as unfathomable as a bottomless abyss.

On ordinary days, he always presents an attitude of being detached from worldly affairs, like a hermit.

However, what Qingxian never expected was that Huang He, who seemed to be all-powerful, would rather risk being attacked and retaliated against than take any further action simply because of a casual remark made by a greenhorn.

Qingxian stared wide-eyed at Huang He, her mind a complete mess.

"Is this...is this really the same OP I know?" Qingxian murmured to himself, his voice filled with confusion and bewilderment.

In that instant, Qingxian's worldview, which he had always firmly believed in, completely collapsed, and he felt that the whole world had become strange and unreal.

However, something even more shocking happened next.

Huang He shouted with a hint of resentment, "If you're so capable, go find someone on the third floor! All you do is bully me, the bottom-ranked landlord on the third floor. What kind of skill is that?"

As soon as Huang He finished speaking, he vanished without a trace, as if his feet were greased, leaving no mark whatsoever. His speed was astonishing; in the blink of an eye, he disappeared from everyone's sight.

Upon hearing these words, Qingxian felt a rush of blood to his head, and his chest churned as if struck by a heavy hammer.

He tried his best to suppress the surging emotions, but the feeling of anger and disbelief kept crashing against his mental defenses.

Finally, after a great struggle, Qingxian managed to calm herself down.

However, when he looked at Huang He again, it was as if the whole world was collapsing in an instant.

The beliefs I once held firmly, my understanding of things, and my sense of inner balance all vanished at this moment, leaving only confusion and helplessness.

At this moment, Huang He had no mind to consider the feelings of his subordinates.

He had his own grievances but couldn't express them!

I can't even begin to describe how frustrated I felt.

"It matches up, it all matches up!" The moment Kuang Zheng's voice reached Huang He's ears, he felt a surge of excitement rush to his heart, and he shouted wildly in his heart!

He would never forget that it happened exactly four years ago. At that time, he had just ascended to the prestigious position of the Yellow Crane Tower's master.

Looking back on that time, it was truly the most triumphant moment of my life.

At that time, he was like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins, galloping freely on the road to success and glory. The sound of his hooves was crisp and rapid, as if playing a victory symphony.

What's even more exciting is that during that period, he actually broke through to the Grandmaster level!

This achievement filled him with unparalleled joy.

At that moment, his lofty ambitions erupted like a volcano, instantly reaching their peak.

Looking around, he even felt that all the heroes and great men in the world were nothing special and could not compare to him at all.

That feeling of looking down on everyone else and being the only one who matters is still deeply imprinted in his memory, becoming one of the most unforgettable and precious moments of his life.

Back then, at Wuyinpo, eighty miles away from Handan City, a shocking piece of news shook the entire martial arts world like a thunderclap—a ten-thousand-year-old He Shou Wu had appeared there! This news instantly ignited everyone's enthusiasm and desire.

You should know that this 10,000-year-old He Shou Wu is a rare treasure!

It not only possesses miraculous medicinal effects, capable of curing all diseases;

It has amazing effects; if taken properly, it can even grant one the power of sixty years of cultivation.

Such an extraordinary treasure, who in the world could not be tempted and covet it?

As a result, heroes from all directions flocked to Wuyin Slope like a tidal wave.

In just half a month, more than a hundred grandmaster-level experts have gathered here.

These people are all highly skilled and their strength is unfathomable. They all want to take this ancient He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) for themselves.

At this time, Huang He had just been promoted to the Grandmaster realm. Confident in his profound cultivation, he naturally believed that he could definitely get a share of the spoils in this competition with his own strength. With such ambition, Huang He embarked on the road to Misty Hidden Slope without hesitation.

However, things didn't go as planned. At this crucial moment, an order suddenly came from Yueyang Tower, forcing him to temporarily put aside his journey and return to deal with the situation. This delay lasted for a full half day.

When Huang He finally resolved the matters within the sect and set off again for Wuyinpo, the place had undergone earth-shattering changes.

Later, whenever he recalled this experience, he couldn't help but feel secretly fortunate: "Fortunately, I was delayed by those trivial matters for a while, otherwise I would probably have died long ago and gone to report to the King of Hell!"

In that short half-day, the gears of fate quietly turned, allowing him to escape a life-or-death ordeal.

When he finally arrived at Misty Slope after overcoming numerous hardships, the scene before him left him speechless and horrified.

The once solid ground was now shattered, as if it had been kneaded by an invisible giant hand, with cracks spreading out like a spider web.

The sky was no longer the clear blue it once was, but had become a chaotic mess, with rolling dark clouds, lightning, and thunder, as if the end of the world had come.

The entire Misty Slope was shrouded in an extremely powerful and terrifying energy, which surged like a raging wave, impacting everything around it wave after wave.

He stood there, his body trembling uncontrollably, his heart filled with fear and awe.

Just then, a deep, slightly mocking voice reached his ears: "I said this time the item is mine, and I'll owe you a favor. But you're so ungrateful, pressing me so hard. What's the point?"

The speaker's tone sounded cynical, revealing a deep disdain and contempt, as if he didn't take the other person seriously at all.

It was this voice that left a deep imprint on his heart, one that could never be erased.

The terrifying energy that could destroy heaven and earth and shake the universe actually originated from this seemingly ordinary yet mysterious voice.

The man casually waved his hand, as if it were just a random gesture, but an incomparably powerful force surged out like a tide, instantly engulfing all the grandmasters present.

Among these grandmasters, more than half of the peerless experts didn't even have time to make a sound before being completely annihilated in an instant, like candles flickering in the wind, by the surging energy impact.

At that time, Huang He was more than ten miles away from the source of that terrifying energy.

However, even at such a great distance, the earth-shattering power emanating from the burst of energy still struck his heart like a heavy hammer, causing him to feel his liver and gallbladder tremble and his soul to shake.

That deep-seated fear and shock still lingers in his heart to this day, refusing to go away.

Whenever he recalls that moment, he feels a chill run down his spine and shivers involuntarily.

That voice, and the destructive power it contained, had become an eternal nightmare in his heart, etched in his soul and unforgettable for life.

Now that he heard that voice again, how could he dare to linger for even a moment?

If we don't slip away now, will we be waiting for the King of Hell to invite us for tea?