“I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before...”

At those words, Chu Kuang’s heart skipped a beat, and he began to tremble even more violently.

Yuan Gang frowned deeply. “Junior Brother, what’s wrong with you?”

He had never seen Chu Kuang so flustered before. As far as he was concerned, Chu Kuang had always been confident, composed, and strategic. Even when facing the divine emissary, or upon learning he had been deceived by Gu Han, he had responded methodically. Why would he become like this when facing a rooster? To be fair, the rooster did seem somewhat extraordinary.

Chongming suddenly slapped its own head. “I remember now! You’re that unlucky fellow from back then, right? Hahaha... You’re still alive! How tenacious!”

Chu Kuang clenched his fists until they turned white. We meet again, Chongming! This damned rooster! And that damned blind old man!

If not for them, he wouldn’t have been forced to be reborn and possess another’s body! As an esteemed Saint realm cultivator, he was supposed to be free and unfettered between heaven and earth! His hatred and resentment boiled just thinking about it.

Chongming stared at him. “You don’t seem too convinced?”

Chu Kuang remained silent. As much as he hated them, no one understood better than he did just how terrifying that rooster—and especially that old blind man—truly was.

Meng Xing’s gaze flickered with doubt and alarm. “Brother Chu, what is that thing? Why—”

He didn’t get to finish. A terrifying pressure instantly descended. Without any chance to resist, Meng Xing was forced to kneel.

Chongming fixed his two beady eyes on Meng Xing, his tone turning icy. “Thing? Kid, say that again?”

Meng Xing was terrified. “I-I didn’t mean—”

He never imagined a rooster could be this terrifying! A figure instantly appeared before him. A wing swung around, delivering a resounding slap to Meng Xing’s face.

“Call me Master Rooster!”

Just as Meng Xing was about to speak, Gu Han beat him to it. He gritted his teeth, forcing the words out. “Brother Meng possesses the Immortal Metal Treasure Physique, a peerless Heavenly Pride. How could he possibly bow his head to you?!”

Even though he was barely holding on, he still had no intention of letting Meng Xing off.

Chongming flew into a rage, delivering another slap to Meng Xing. “Immortal Metal Treasure Physique?”

Smack!

“You won’t bow?”

Smack!

“Call me Master Rooster!”

While Meng Xing was being beaten senselessly, Gu Han kept answering in his stead, “No!”

Smack!

“Will you call or not!”

“Not even if you kill me!”

Smack!

Smack!

In the blink of an eye, over a dozen heavy slaps landed on Meng Xing’s face. He opened his mouth, vomiting a large quantity of blood and several teeth.

Not far away, Yuan Gang felt his scalp go numb. Even Meng Xing’s teeth contained a trace of immortal metal properties, their hardness rivaling ordinary profound items, yet a few flaps from this rooster knocked them loose? The rooster also didn’t seem to be using much strength.

Upon seeing Chongming was about to strike again, Meng Xing finally reacted. “S-stop hitting, M-Master Rooster!”

He had a feeling his proudly touted Immortal Metal Treasure Physique was no different from paper before this rooster. A few more hits and he would truly die.

Only then did Chongming relent, though its tone was still unfriendly.

“Kid, when you go back, have your elders teach you how to write the words ‘manners’... Huh?” Mid-sentence, it suddenly realized something. Its gaze shifted to Gu Han, blazing with anger. “Kid, you dared to use me?”

Meng Xing was full of suppressed grievances. You’re only noticing now? With strength like this, how come it has no brains at all?!

Compared to Chongming, he hated Gu Han more. “Gu Han!”

Gu Han sighed inwardly, feeling some regret. What a pity. This rooster is a bit unreliable. Fatty would’ve beaten him to death already.

However, Chongming refused to let it go and slowly approached Gu Han. “Kid, you’ve got quite the strength, huh? Even cultivated to the Supreme Stage? Too bad your heart’s too dirty. Today, I need to teach you a lesson—”

Suddenly, another change occurred. The enormous blood cocoon pulsed slowly like a heart, as though something were incubating within. Its color grew more vivid with each pulse.

Chongming shifted its tone. “Oh no! I got carried away having fun and forgot the main task!”

Disregarding everyone else, it lunged toward the cocoon. The blood cocoon unleashed a red beam, which collided against the sphere of light. A terrifying shockwave spread out from the point of impact, and the secret realm began to disintegrate.

In the blink of an eye, countless pitch-black, deep spatial fissures appeared around everyone. At the same time, endless red mist seeped out from the fissures.

“Ah!!!”

“H-help!”

Two agonized, piercing screams rang out. They came from the two surviving Yuqing Sect disciples. One was sliced into several pieces by a spatial fissure, while the other was penetrated by the red mist, beginning to transform.

Chu Kuang turned grim. “Let’s go! This secret realm is about to be destroyed! The divine power is also going berserk!”

Yuan Gang’s heart sank. “Berserk?”

He could sense that in just a short moment, the concentration of the red mist had doubled.

“What do we do?”

Chu Kuang shook his head. “Let’s leave first! With such a huge commotion, those outside will surely notice! We’ll have a chance to get out. Be careful, absolutely do not touch these spatial fissures, or I won’t be able to save you either.”

Yuan Gang and Meng Xing didn’t hesitate. “Alright!”

They immediately stuck close to him and left the area. Meng Xing glanced back from afar but lost sight of Gu Han in the red mist.

Chu Kuang seemed to know what he was thinking. “Don’t worry. He absolutely cannot withstand my power. This time, he’s definitely dead!”

***

Outside, Murong Yuan stared intently at the secret realm entrance. He frowned deeply, his eyes betraying occasional flashes of worry. Something’s wrong! Something must have happened. Otherwise, Senior Chongming wouldn’t appear for no reason! Should I go in and take a look? Just one look! It wouldn’t be disobeying Senior Chongming’s order.

He gritted his teeth and stopped hesitating. Taking out a jade talisman, he opened a portal and flashed into the secret realm.

The moment he entered, he was stunned by the red mist. “Oh no! How did this thing get out?! Did something happen to the God-Slaying Formation?”

Instinctively, he closed the secret realm’s portal. He knew how terrifying the red mist was. If it leaked out, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Just then, something occurred to him, and his expression changed drastically. “Damn it! Yan’er!”

Even a Half-Step Transcendent realm cultivator like him was wary of the overbearing mist, let alone Murong Yan and the others.

Without hesitation, he instantly shot into the sky, flying swiftly toward the depths. I hope they’re alright! If...

His heart trembled, not daring to think further.

Suddenly, he seemed to sense something. “Hmm? There’s someone... It’s her?”