Chapter 1383: Traction Rune
Luo Yao had already decided that no matter what crimes or evidence the Tong Continent Great Emperor presented from the black box, he would deny them. Thus, he had to remain calm. Only by doing so could he maintain a semblance of credibility. If he appeared timid or cowered, even non-existent crimes and fabricated evidence would seem real.
Upon receiving Luo Yao's affirmative reply, the Underworld Emperor didn't stand on ceremony. With a wave of his hand, the black box flew towards him, hovering in front of him.
Looking at the black box suspended before him, the Underworld Emperor's expression remained unchanged. After all, this matter concerned Luo Yao, not him, and he had no intention of helping Luo Yao. Therefore, his face remained as it was: grim, with his displeasure clearly written all over it.
After observing the box for several seconds, the Underworld Emperor casually reached out towards the wooden box, appearing ready to open it immediately. Luo Yao watched this scene, his breath catching in his throat, and his heart involuntarily quickened its pace.
At the same time, Yang Haoran stepped out of the spatial rift. Close behind him, the Tong Continent Great Emperor and two Guardians also emerged from the spatial rift.
Yang Haoran was made to walk ahead not because his status was higher than the Tong Continent Great Emperor's, but because the Tong Continent Great Emperor worried he might try something clever and wanted to keep a constant eye on him. That was why he made him lead the way.
The four were currently at the Ghost Gate of the Underworld. Yang Haoran had come to the Underworld this time from his Guardian District, so as long as he stepped out of the Underworld's Ghost Gate, he would be able to return to his own Guardian District.
"Great Emperor, when I step through the Underworld's Ghost Gate, I can return to my Guardian District. However, you and the two Guardians did not enter the Underworld from my Guardian District. So, by common sense, you should not be able to arrive in my Guardian District with me."
Outside the Ghost Gate, Yang Haoran did not immediately step through. Instead, he turned and spoke to the Tong Continent Great Emperor with a poker face.
"Heh heh, you don't need to worry about that. As long as I have you as a catalyst, I have a way for the three of us to descend into your Guardian District together."
No sooner had he spoken than the Tong Continent Great Emperor flicked his finger at Yang Haoran. A streak of Yin Qi shot out from his fingertip, hurtling towards Yang Haoran.
Yang Haoran subconsciously wanted to dodge, but in the end, he forced himself to endure. If he chose to dodge at this moment, he would certainly incur the Tong Continent Great Emperor's wrath, and he couldn't retaliate. Once he retaliated, the Tong Continent Great Emperor wouldn't even need to go to his Guardian District to find evidence; he could directly convict him, or even kill him on the spot.
As for who would be victorious if he were to fight the Tong Continent Great Emperor, it was obvious without even thinking that he would be the one to die, not the Tong Continent Great Emperor. Not only was the Tong Continent Great Emperor's own strength unfathomable, but he also had two Guardians with him. Conversely, Yang Haoran was alone; even if he unleashed his full power, he would most likely perish on the spot.
Furthermore, this was the Underworld. Today, Great Emperors and Guardians had gathered here. If he were to fight the Tong Continent Great Emperor, the others would immediately sense it. Once they arrived, the outcome was predictable: Yang Haoran, as a Guardian defying a superior, would absolutely have no way out.
In just a brief moment, Yang Haoran had thoroughly considered the stakes. Therefore, facing the rapidly approaching Yin Qi, he chose not to dodge, but allowed the streak of Yin Qi to strike his body.
After the Yin Qi struck Yang Haoran's body, it didn't merge into him. Instead, it formed a thumb-sized, crooked rune on the front of his Death God's attire.
Seeing that Yang Haoran had not dodged, a flicker of disappointment crossed the Tong Continent Great Emperor's eyes. He let out an annoyed snort, then quickly formed a hand seal. As the hand seal was completed, a rune identical to the one on Yang Haoran appeared on the Tong Continent Great Emperor's Death God's attire and on the Death God's attire of the two Guardians behind him.
Yang Haoran paid no mind to the Tong Continent Great Emperor's cold snort. He looked at the rune on his own Death God's attire. The rune pulsed, alternately bright and dim, and constantly emitted faint Yin Qi, appearing incredibly mysterious. Not only was the rune on his Death God's attire like this, but the runes on the Tong Continent Great Emperor's and the two Guardians' Death God's attire were also the same.
Yang Haoran had originally intended to discern some secrets from this rune, as he hadn't known such a Ghost Art existed before. If he could use his insight to find a clue, he could then "prescribe the right medicine" and minimize his passive state, lest the rune possess some other hidden ability that might trap him unaware. However, the Tong Continent Great Emperor did not give him such an opportunity.
"Heh heh, Guardian Yang, I advise you not to play any tricks with me. When I was engaging in schemes and intrigues, you probably didn't even know if you were a cow or a horse. So, I suggest you be honest and cooperate well with this operation. Perhaps your punishment will be lighter then. Don't just stand there, hurry up and go, don't waste my time."
The Tong Continent Great Emperor let out a cold laugh, urging Yang Haoran on.
Although Yang Haoran hadn't had time to fully understand all the functions of the rune, one thing he was certain of was that it definitely possessed the ability to locate and pull. Otherwise, once the four of them stepped through the Ghost Gate, the Tong Continent Great Emperor and his two Guardians wouldn't be able to return to his Guardian District with him.
Yang Haoran remained silent. Of course, he couldn't truly believe the Tong Continent Great Emperor's verbal inducements. He secretly sensed the rune on his body while walking towards the Ghost Gate. Although he truly didn't want to do this, the current situation left him no choice; he had to do it whether he wanted to or not!
Seeing this, the Tong Continent Great Emperor clasped his hands behind his back and closely followed Yang Haoran's pace. The two Guardians dared not be slow, respectfully trailing behind the Tong Continent Great Emperor while keeping a close eye on Yang Haoran's every move, preventing him from "jumping over the wall in desperation."
For Yang Haoran, everything that happened today was too sudden. It was so sudden that he was completely unprepared, caught off guard by the other party.
His only stroke of luck now was that Xiao Kang didn't know about the Myriad Ghost Grotto. Therefore, Xiao Kang's testimony only implicated Old Master Wu and other deceased confidants. If Xiao Kang had known about the Myriad Ghost Grotto and revealed its existence, then even if Yang Haoran hadn't died, he would certainly have been imprisoned by now, with no chance of returning to his Guardian District.
Fortunately, the existence of the Myriad Ghost Grotto had always been a secret. He had never mentioned it to his subordinates or confidants, nor had he allowed his confidants to have any contact with the people of the Myriad Ghost Grotto.
Even Ye Zhiqiu had only refined Smiling Face Masks and skins for the Myriad Ghost Grotto in the early stages. Yang Haoran had never explained the true purpose of these two items to Ye Zhiqiu, nor had he mentioned the Myriad Ghost Grotto or allowed anyone from it to contact Ye Zhiqiu. Therefore, even if Ye Zhiqiu had some suspicions, they were likely mere guesses without evidence. And given Ye Zhiqiu's personality, even if he truly knew something about it, he would definitely not speak of it to others.
It was precisely because the Myriad Ghost Grotto's existence was a secret to Yang Haoran's confidants that not only Xiao Kang, but also his other trusted subordinates, were unaware of it. Otherwise, his situation today would have been far more perilous than it was now!
However, there was one thing Yang Haoran still couldn't understand: why did Xiao Kang betray him!
He asked himself if he had ever wronged Xiao Kang or Xiujuan. Especially Xiao Kang, whom he had always treated as a godson, providing him with a childhood environment that ordinary children couldn't even dream of, sparing no expense in his upbringing. He had even paved Xiao Kang's future path in advance, so that once Xiao Kang returned with achievements, he could naturally receive everything Yang Haoran had prepared. Yet, at this critical juncture, Xiao Kang had actually chosen to betray him!
Yang Haoran multitasked, walking towards the Ghost Gate while sensing the rune on his body, keeping an eye on the Tong Continent Great Emperor and the two Guardians behind him, all while pondering why Xiao Kang had betrayed him.
The moment he stepped into the Ghost Gate, he suddenly thought of someone: the girlfriend Xiao Kang had been seeing!
Moonlit Night God
Comments