Li Yi sneered, watching Zhang Ergou's slow movements.
His arrogance grew even stronger, as he believed this jade flute he played had the power to attack the soul.
This was one of his trump cards.
The fact that Zhang Ergou had fallen victim to it from the very first move made Li Yi look down on Zhang Ergou even more.
In Li Yi's eyes, Zhang Ergou was merely a brute who relied on brute force.
He would immediately be finished once he encountered a cultivator with a bit of skill.
Continuing to play the jade flute, waves of special sound passed towards Zhang Ergou opposite him.
Zhang Ergou pretended to be affected, his movements becoming stiff and slow, still holding his iron spear and advancing slowly.
However, he silently recited the incantation of the Shen Mu Yao.
Vines pierced through the soil, stealthily approaching Li Yi in the distance.
Li Yi naturally did not notice this change.
The wonder of Shen Mu Yao lay in its stealth; when the vines burrowed underground, their movement and changes were completely undetectable.
Seeing Zhang Ergou still appearing dazed, Li Yi's cold smile intensified.
However, he failed to notice that behind him, a branch from a towering ancient tree suddenly shot out and wrapped around him.
"Swish!"
The branch lunged forward, entangling Li Yi's hand.
Li Yi was instantly startled, and in his haste, he raised his jade flute, preparing to fend off the branch.
But he underestimated the strength of that branch.
As he moved, the branch tightened its grip.
Not only that, but while he was struggling with the branch, two more vines shot out from the ground and wrapped around his legs.
Another branch sprang from the ancient tree, reaching for his other hand.
In the blink of an eye, Li Yi's limbs were entangled by vines and branches.
He struggled desperately but couldn't break free.
"How could this happen?" Li Yi was filled with terror, thinking he had entered the attack range of a plant demon.
He had heard that ancient trees, after absorbing the essence of heaven and earth for a long time, could cultivate into demons and attack living creatures that approached them.
Could he be this unlucky? While fighting Zhang Ergou, and about to defeat him.
Had he encountered this legendary demon?
Li Yi struggled desperately while glancing back at the ancient tree behind him.
But he could detect no abnormality from the ancient tree.
"So, brother, what do you say now?"
Zhang Ergou walked over to Li Yi with a smile, looking at the struggling man with a friendly expression.
His movements in secret did not cease, and in fact, more vines wrapped around Li Yi.
Li Yi was being wrapped up like a zongzi.
"Zhang Ergou, you are unharmed?" More than being bound, Li Yi was surprised that Zhang Ergou could recover so quickly from the soul attack.
There was only one possibility: Zhang Ergou had not been affected by the sonic attack of his jade flute at all.
"Indeed, you realize it now, but it's too late."
A trace of ruthlessness appeared on Zhang Ergou's face.
Having been tracked by people from the Liuhai Sect twice, he had no good feelings towards their disciples.
This arrogant fellow in front of him even wanted to snatch the Zi Dan Luo that Zhang Ergou had found.
At this moment, Zhang Ergou had developed murderous intent.
Since no one else could enter this secret realm, and before the others who had entered the secret realm discovered it, he would silence this bothersome fellow.
It could also be considered interest on the previous encounters.
Without further ado, Zhang Ergou slung his spear back onto his shoulder.
With a flick of his wrist, a sharp dagger appeared in his hand.
"Zhang Ergou, what are you doing?" Li Yi looked at Zhang Ergou, who had pulled out a dagger, with terror.
He had forgotten to struggle, his eyes filled with fear.
"Heh heh, what am I doing? Of course, I'm sending you to a good place."
Zhang Ergou chuckled, looking at the man who was the complete opposite of his earlier demeanor, feeling disdain in his heart.
"Zhang Ergou, don't come any closer, please let me go, I'll give you all the treasures my master bestowed upon me."
Li Yi, seeing Zhang Ergou getting closer and closer, immediately pleaded for mercy.
There was no trace of his earlier spirited demeanor.
"Are you stupid? If I kill you, won't all your belongings be mine?"
Zhang Ergou looked at him as if he were an idiot.
Li Yi's heart turned cold. Just as Zhang Ergou said, if he killed him, all his treasures would belong to Zhang Ergou.
His eyes darted around, and Li Yi realized he had no bargaining chip with Zhang Ergou.
"Brother Ergou, please don't kill me, from now on, you'll be my elder brother, and I'll do whatever you tell me to do."
Seeing that his treasures couldn't attract Zhang Ergou, Li Yi decided to surrender.
However, Zhang Ergou wouldn't want such a fickle subordinate, one who would sell out others at the slightest threat of death.
He wouldn't even know how he died.
Zhang Ergou wasn't looking for such trouble.
Ignoring Li Yi, Zhang Ergou held the dagger, preparing to stab him in the chest.
"Grandpa Ergou, please, don't kill me."
Li Yi was truly terrified. This was the closest he had ever been to death.
...
"In your next life, remember not to provoke those you shouldn't."
Zhang Ergou reached out and closed Li Yi's unseeing eyes, saying softly.
To his death, Li Yi never understood where the suddenly appearing vines and branches came from.
He let go of the branches and vines entangling Li Yi.
Zhang Ergou casually took the storage ring on Li Yi's finger.
He rummaged through it and found another storage ring hidden in Li Yi's sleeve.
Zhang Ergou rolled his eyes, thinking this was another storage ring Li Yi had hidden for fear of being robbed.
However, he didn't know that, just like the Piaomiao Sect,
The Liuhai Sect also issued each disciple a specially customized storage ring before entering the secret realm.
Furthermore, this storage ring had a tracking and positioning function.
It couldn't be detected in the secret realm, but once they exited, everything would be under the observation and tracking of their respective sects.
Zhang Ergou didn't examine them closely and put both storage rings away.
Then he got up and walked towards the Zi Dan Luo.
Shortly after Zhang Ergou left, Li Yi's entire body was reduced to ashes by fire.
Thus, Li Yi completely disappeared from this world.
After Zhang Ergou arrived beside the Zi Dan Luo, he cautiously observed his surroundings.
Finding no other demonic beasts or people nearby.
He then took out a jade-like shovel and carefully loosened the soil around the Zi Dan Luo.
Next, he dug out the root of the Zi Dan Luo.
Then, he carefully wrapped it with soil and, with a flash, brought the Zi Dan Luo into the black iron sphere small world.
After placing the Zi Dan Luo in the black iron sphere small world, Zhang Ergou finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He took a pill to replenish his spiritual energy, meditated for a while in the black iron sphere, and then emerged.
...
"Roar~~" As soon as Zhang Ergou came out, he heard an angry beast roar from the southeast.
Zhang Ergou quickly ran towards that direction...