"We don't dare to go in here for now. We're planning to explore other places to see if we can find the spiritual medicine we need, or wait for Hua Yunfei to find out about more spiritual medicine. Alternatively, we can wait nearby for the Hedao Fruit to mature."
Mu Jinyu and the others gradually moved away from the Cursed Soul Forest. Wen Rou turned and asked Mu Jinyu.
Mu Jinyu thought for a moment and said, "It's not that easy to rely on luck. Let's wait in the Chu Kingdom first, while we wait for Hua Yunfei's news, and for the Hedao Fruit to mature. If the maturity date of the Hedao Fruit is approaching and there's still no news, then we'll go to pick the Hedao Fruit."
"Humph, you still dream of picking the Hedao Fruit? You should join my brother down there!"
Just then, a voice filled with immense resentment and coldness suddenly echoed from beside them.
Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan, who heard it, felt chills down their spine, and goosebumps rose all over their bodies.
"Hoo!"
Thirty meters ahead of them in the void, space began to ripple.
Then, they saw the figure of a gaunt old man holding a familiar figure, glaring at them with poisonous animosity.
"Senior Zhuo!"
"It's Zhuo Yue!"
Mu Jinyu and the others quickly recognized the familiar figure that the gaunt old man was holding; it was Zhuo Yue, whom they parted ways with yesterday.
"Hurry up and leave, this guy is in the False Pill Realm!"
Zhuo Yue's expression was wan, his face as pale as gold paper, and his hands were bleeding, with all ten fingers gone. Evidently, he had suffered inhuman torture from Ji Ran on the way here, and he was already on the brink of death.
But upon seeing Mu Jinyu and the others, he still forced himself into spirit to issue a warning to Mu Jinyu and them!
"Humph! Still dare to talk back!"
Ji Ran saw Zhuo Yue, whom he had tormented nearly to death, still speaking to warn these three people upon seeing them, and he couldn't help but rage. With a fierce hand gesture, he tore off both of Zhuo Yue's arms.
"Ah!!"
Zhuo Yue let out a painful scream and immediately fainted.
His pain was not just of physical torture, but also because all his lifelong skills were in his iron fists. With his fingers twisted off by Ji Ran, his combat prowess drastically decreased, but he could still barely execute moves!
However, with his arms broken, he was considered completely crippled!
"You!"
Mu Jinyu and the others were furious at the bloody scene of Zhuo Yue's arms being torn, their foreheads pulsing with bulging veins.
"Humph, does it hurt? Are you angry? Are you desperate? Are you powerless? My brother before he died was just like you are now. Are you comfortable now?"
Ji Ran saw that Zhuo Yue had fainted and shook his head uninterestedly, then turned his cold and resentful gaze toward Mu Jinyu and the other two, while indifferently questioning.
"Who is your brother?"
Mu Jinyu calmed down, knowing that the more angry he was, the happier it would make the other party.
Conversely, the more he showed indifference to Zhuo Yue's life and death, perhaps Zhuo Yue could survive. Even if he couldn't, he could suffer less before dying!
And if Zhuo Yue died, he would definitely make this guy pay with his life!
"Who is my brother?"
Ji Ran's expression changed dramatically upon hearing Mu Jinyu's question, feeling both angry and hateful, but also somewhat self-mocking, screaming frenetically, "You don't even know who my brother is, and dared to kill him!"
"Seems like you've killed quite a few people. For this revenge to catch up with you, don't even know who's innocently died at your hands. Hahaha..."
Listening to Ji Ran's frenzied screams, Mu Jinyu's mind raced analyzing that no one among those who died under his hand yesterday likely had such a backing, regarding a half-step Great Power in the Broken Pill Realm chasing them.
The most likely possibility was that it was the heroic male who suddenly appeared after Mu Jinyu attempted entering the Secret Realm early and decided to leave, reaching the peak of the ninth layer of the Fanxu Realm.
Mu Jinyu calmly spoke, "Was your brother that fellow from the ninth layer of the Fanxu Realm?"
"Ha, you finally figured out who your enemy was before dying. That's good, I will let you die knowing, so you can kneel in Hell and repent before my brother!" Ji Ran's voice was mockingly cold.
His tone, like a fiercely resentful ghost, and speaking more, he suddenly burst into tears, appearing even more horrifying!
"My poor brother, finally cultivated to the peak ninth layer of the Fanxu Realm, only one step away from entering the Unity Realm Stage I couldn't reach. He just needed a key, adding a chance to charge into the Unity Realm, but got killed by you beasts!"
"My poor little brother..."
"Rest assured, I will definitely kill these heartless beasts to serve you underground..."
Ji Ran rambled on frantically, crying and laughing.
Mu Jinyu, listening to Ji Ran's words, looked indifferent, smirked disdainfully, "Turns out both beasts share the same nature. Birds of a feather flock together."
"What did you say?!" Ji Ran was filled with rage upon hearing Mu Jinyu's words!
Mu Jinyu nonchalantly remarked, "A young beast sees that we have the Secret Realm Key, which is useful to him, and without saying a word, tries to kill and rob us! I counter-killed him. Then an old beast finds out someone has died, disregarding fairness and justice, attempts to reverse facts to justify his actions, and comes for revenge. If they're not two beasts, what are they?"
"You're seeking death!"
Ji Ran erupted in fury hearing Mu Jinyu, like a bloody attempt to rip open a scar.
His murky, backlit eyes almost to emit an evil substantial glow, like a soul-calling ghost fixating on Mu Jinyu.
"My brother wanted to borrow your key, it was your greatest fortune. You three can't even use the Hedao Fruit. Once he succeeded in unifying paths, you'd have a Unifying Paths Great Power standing behind you! Yet somehow, you weren't satisfied or valued the opportunity; dare to brazenly kill him, even trying to reverse black and white facts..."
"Die!"
At the end, Ji Ran issued a thunderous roar!
Then he raised a hand and threw the unconscious Zhuo Yue toward Mu Jinyu and his fellows!
While throwing, his eyes carried a mischievous and cruel cold glow, fixating on Mu Jinyu to observe his reaction!
"Hmm?!"
Mu Jinyu seeing the old man angering to losing reason throwing Zhuo Yue over, initially planned to catch hold of Zhuo Yue.
But suddenly, a shuddering premonition overcame him.
He sensed an overwhelming deadly aura emanating from Zhuo Yue's body; should that release, even if they survived, they'd be gravely injured and dying!
"This old bastard!!"
Mu Jinyu cursed silently, now realizing Ji Ran tampered with Zhuo Yue.
Ji Ran must have infused terrifying murderous intent inside Zhuo Yue, feigning anger and loss of reason before throwing him over, ensuring no one would suspect Zhuo Yue was essentially a human bomb!
Even if discovered, throw him aside to detonate him.
Then how to face this brutal truth afterward?!
Ji Ran would surely use it ruthlessly to humiliate them.