Boom!
Amid the deafening explosion, He Lang Zi lay sprawled at the center of the massive crater like a pile of mush.
He struggled with all his might, trying to stand, but his body was pinned down as if by an invisible mountain — millions of tons of weight crushing him into immobility.
He Lang Zi's eyes burned red, his face twisted in agony, and he let out hoarse roar after hoarse roar.
Qin Bai Sheng stood at the edge of the crater, hands hanging naturally at his sides, his expression blank as he watched He Lang Zi's futile struggle.
"One move — just one move, and He Lang Zi is completely helpless!" Xue Song Zi's eyes were filled with shock.
Hei Cheng narrowed his eyes, concealing the violent turmoil within, and rapidly analyzed the situation: "What kind of Immortal-level killer move is this? In a single use, it prevented He Lang Zi from activating even one of his own killer moves! He Lang Zi can't move, yet his body shows absolutely no signs of physical compression. This should be a Soul Path killer move…"
As for Fairy Jiang Yu, she wore a look of complete nonchalance.
The mysterious black-robed Gu Immortal had the entirety of his face shrouded within his hood, making his expression impossible to discern.
"If — if you've got the guts, let me use my killer move! Ambushing me first doesn't count as skill! I refuse to accept this!" He Lang Zi nearly ground his steel teeth to dust as he lay in the pit, looking up at the elevated Qin Bai Sheng, his voice strained and filled with hatred.
Qin Bai Sheng let out a contemptuous snort and gazed down at He Lang Zi, curling the corner of his lips. "Strike first and gain the upper hand — as a Demonic Path Gu Immortal, you don't even understand this principle? Seems I overestimated you. In real combat, no one cares whether you accept it or not. As long as the enemy is defeated, that's all that matters!"
He paused, his tone turning to ice: "Right now, I am the blade and you are the meat. You'll be at my mercy whether you accept it or not. I'll give you three breaths. Submit to me — or I'll kill you right here and now."
He Lang Zi did not hesitate. "I submit!"
Qin Bai Sheng laughed heartily and released the restriction.
He Lang Zi felt his body grow light again. He immediately bared his teeth in a vicious grin and unleashed an Immortal-level killer move without warning.
In an instant, a blinding radiance exploded outward in a dazzling burst. The light came swiftly and departed just as fast. As it rapidly faded, a monstrous wolf materialized inside the crater.
The enormous wolf opened its gaping maw and lunged directly at Qin Bai Sheng.
Qin Bai Sheng stood at the crater's edge, his tiny frame a stark contrast against the colossal beast.
Before the wolf's attack even arrived, it had already stirred up a tremendous gust of rank wind. The gale whipped the robes of all the Gu Immortals into violent snaps.
He Lang Zi, having transformed into the great wolf, attacked with explosive fury, his momentum overwhelming and unstoppable. Xue Song Zi and Hei Cheng hastily retreated, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire.
Qin Bai Sheng was the closest. Watching the giant wolf charge at him, he did not so much as flinch. A cold, mocking smile appeared on his lips — clearly, He Lang Zi's sneak attack did not come as a surprise.
Boom!
Another thunderous roar shook everyone's ears.
The giant wolf let out a pitiful whimper and plummeted from midair, slamming into the ground on all four paws. Enormous pressure crushed down upon the wolf's body, pinning it utterly in place.
He Lang Zi was in exactly the same state as before — immobilized once more.
Within his enormous wolf eyes, there was a look of disbelief and horror. He stared up at Qin Bai Sheng and cried out: "That move again! What kind of technique is this?!"
"It wouldn't make much difference if I told you." Qin Bai Sheng chuckled. "This Immortal-level killer move is called Soul Pressure. Drawing upon the depth of my own soul, it crushes your soul through sheer force. Your physical body may be powerful, but this move targets your soul directly. You possess no Immortal transformations capable of countering Soul Path, so no matter what beast you transform into, you will never be my match. He Lang Zi, I'll give you one final chance. Submit to me… or die."
Facing such an overwhelming Qin Bai Sheng, He Lang Zi fell into silence.
Hei Cheng and Xue Song Zi exchanged a glance, both sensing that things had taken a turn for the worse.
……
"Sha Huang…" Feng Jiu Ge murmured, watching the departing figures of Night Demon Dragon General and the others.
"The intelligence we obtained this time is basically useless," Hong Chi Ming, a Central Continent Gu Immortal at Feng Jiu Ge's side, grumbled unhappily.
"No — we've actually gathered quite a lot." Feng Jiu Ge smiled. "First, the fact that this Immortal Zombie Sha Huang was able to successfully join the Zombie Alliance proves he's a Northern Plains Gu Immortal. Perhaps not a native-born Northerner, but he certainly ascended in the Northern Plains. Second, the fact that he's disguised means he cannot show his true face. And third, there is a powerful figure or organization backing him. That organization is very likely the true culprit behind the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building incident!"
"Lord Jiu Ge, your reasoning is sound." The other three immortals all nodded in agreement with Feng Jiu Ge's deduction.
"What should we do next?"
Feng Jiu Ge pondered for a moment before speaking: "We'll rendezvous with Old Calculator and the others first, then share the intelligence we've gathered. That way he can refine his further deductions."