Chapter 106: Greed

Chapter 106: Jianmie Confronts the Greed of Assailants

While Li Hao and his companions laughed joyfully elsewhere, in another space, five or six young men dressed in elegant purple garments harbored murderous intent and coveted treasure.

At that moment, Huangfu Shengqi and Jianmie stood atop a towering mountain peak. Jianmie extended his spiritual awareness to survey the surroundings, while Huangfu Shengqi gazed calmly into the distance.

When Huangfu Shengqi first met Jianmie, he mistook Jianmie’s flamboyant behavior for that of a prodigal scion from a prominent family. He even transformed into a mischievous maiden with large yellow teeth to tease Jianmie.

Yet Jianmie never resorted to harshness against the grotesque apparition; instead, he used various means to shake off the ugly maiden. Huangfu Shengqi, a man of justice, grew curious about Jianmie.

As their conversations deepened, Huangfu Shengqi sensed that this youth was pure-hearted and simple, developing a fondness for the mischievous boy and growing curious about the “big brother” Jianmie often mentioned. Huangfu Shengqi hoped to learn about Li Hao’s character and conduct through Jianmie.

Huangfu Shengqi was the young master of the Huangfu family, a leading clan within the Judicial Palace, second only to the Palace Master, Lu Zhengtian’s father.

Though Huangfu Shengqi and Lu Zhengtian were acquainted, their interactions were minimal and free of conflict; they barely exchanged nods but regarded each other as the strongest rivals among the younger generation.

So far, Huangfu Shengqi did not know whom Jianmie sought. As he prepared to ask, he sensed approaching presence carrying hostile intent. Puzzled, he thought to himself:

“Why has killing intent suddenly appeared here?”

Upon careful consideration, he realized the hostility was not aimed at himself. Since only the two of them were present, the threat must target Jianmie.

Curious to see how Jianmie would handle this crisis, Huangfu Shengqi asked cautiously:

“Brother Jianmie, have you offended someone?”

Jianmie, unaware of Huangfu Shengqi’s implication, replied curiously:

“Brother Shengqi, since my birth, I haven’t offended anyone. Just the other day, I teased a mismatched couple a bit.”

Huangfu Shengqi noted Jianmie’s choice of words—“birth” rather than “born”—but dismissed it as a slip of language.

Since the offending parties were just a couple and only teased, the hostility shouldn’t be so severe; at worst, it should be resentment. Thus, the other possibility was greed-driven murder. Looking at the colossal Divine Demon World-Ending Sword Jianmie carried, he guessed:

“Most likely, someone covets that enormous sword on Jianmie’s back.”

He tentatively inquired:

“Brother Jianmie, where did you get that sword?”

Without hesitation, Jianmie answered:

“My big brother gave it to me! Brother Shengqi, do you have doubts about this sword?”

Huangfu Shengqi clarified:

“I meant to ask if this sword originally belonged to your big brother’s primary weapon?”

Jianmie explained:

“My big brother’s primary weapon isn’t a sword; he uses a war halberd. Since he has his own weapon, he forced me to carry, comprehend, and train with this sword.”

If not original, it must have come through other means. Huangfu Shengqi didn’t know why anyone would part with such a peerless sword, nor if it related to the six youths nearby. Time was short, and eager to uncover the sword’s secrets, he concocted an excuse:

“Brother Jianmie, wait here a moment. I need to step away briefly. I’ll be right back.”

Jianmie nodded:

“Alright!”

Huangfu Shengqi quickly slipped away.

Within moments of Huangfu Shengqi’s departure, five youths appeared beside Jianmie. Among them, five had reached the peak of the Explorer Realm, and the lowest was at mid-Explorer Realm.

All six wore elegant purple robes, their fine clothing marking them as no ordinary youths.

The leader stepped forward to stand three zhang away from Jianmie and addressed him with a sly smile:

“Little brother, could we borrow your sword for a bit?”

Jianmie, fully aware of their ill intent, feigned ignorance:

“Gentlemen, may I ask what you intend to use my sword for?”

The leader replied cryptically:

“What we do with it is none of your concern.”

Jianmie responded firmly:

“Sorry, my sword is not lent to outsiders.”

The purple-robed youths grew impatient; the leader’s tone hardened:

“You don’t have a choice. Today, you must lend it.”

Jianmie probed:

“My sword isn’t so easily borrowed. If I refuse, what then?”

One impatient youth beside the leader whispered:

“Brother, no need to waste words. Let’s just attack!”

He then warned Jianmie:

“Kid, you’ll lend it whether you want to or not. Hand over the sword, and we’ll spare your life. Resist, and you won’t survive.”

Feigning fear, Jianmie replied:

“You’re ganging up on me unfairly. Can I at least find some help?”

The youth sneered:

“Do you think we’re fools like you? No chance for backup. Hand over the treasure sword quickly.”

Jianmie looked wronged:

“So many of you bullying me alone. Don’t you feel shameless? Can we talk this through?”

The leader finally revealed his true nature, sneering as if he’d already won:

“Talk reason? Here, we are the reason.”

The others laughed mockingly.

Amid their laughter, Jianmie drew the Divine Demon World-Ending Sword and thrust it toward the leader.

In that instant, all his prior fear and grievance vanished without trace.

Watching from afar, Huangfu Shengqi’s heart raced:

“This youth is too reckless.”

He knew even a peak Explorer Realm expert could not defeat five fully mastered Explorer Realm cultivators. Jianmie, at only early Explorer Realm strength, was no match, especially for the lowest-ranked opponent who was ten times stronger.

Just as Huangfu Shengqi prepared to intervene, the leader refrained from counterattack, and the others scattered, encircling Jianmie like fish trapped in a jar, not yet intent on killing him.

Huangfu Shengqi restrained himself, waiting to see how Jianmie would fare.

Jianmie charged into the group. The six youths regarded him with amusement.

The leader said to the lowest-ranked youth:

“Number Six, this one’s for you to play with.”

Number Six replied indifferently:

“If the leader says so, then I’ll have my fun.”

Jianmie was a manifestation of Li Hao’s desire. Upon drawing the Divine Demon World-Ending Sword, his killing and fighting intent surged to its peak.

A faint, enigmatic smile appeared on his lips; his eyes narrowed slightly, and his aura radiated a blood-red glow, lending him an eerie presence.

The six paid no heed to his oddity, thinking:

“Facing death and still putting on airs.”

Huangfu Shengqi, watching from afar, was surprised:

“Why is this youth’s aura blood-red? Could it be the sword’s influence?”

Indeed, Jianmie’s original aura was fiery red, symbolizing fire attribute laws. The Divine Demon World-Ending Sword had altered it into a blood-red flame.

Though Jianmie wished to slay them all, he warned:

“I advise you to leave now while you still can, or become spirits beneath my sword.”

The youths burst into laughter at what they deemed the world’s most ridiculous joke. The leader mockingly said:

“Listen to this—Big Toad Swallowing Heaven boasts such bravado. Are my brothers afraid?”

“Afraid!” the five shouted, feigning fear to provoke Jianmie’s rage.

Jianmie never considered defeat or fear. Driven by desire, his heart knew only battle and killing.

As Jianmie unleashed his fury, Li Hao sensed abnormal fluctuations in his soul. This disturbance stirred within Li Hao a faint urge to kill.

Li Hao’s emotions were influenced by his avatar’s feelings. The root cause was the imbalance between their three souls and seven spirits, causing this turmoil.

Lin Xueyou, the highest in cultivation among them, was the first to notice Li Hao’s change. Her sensitivity stemmed from her cultivation, practiced arts, and importantly, a girl’s sixth sense.

She saw Li Hao’s eyes grow cold and asked:

“Little brother Li Hao, is something wrong?”

Startled, Li Hao immediately regained clarity and replied:

“I don’t know. Let me check!”

Zhen Ba, Kui Hu, Li Zhan, Qin Zhen, and Lu Yao did not yet understand the exchange’s meaning. They saw Li Hao close his eyes.

Though puzzled, none interrupted; they patiently awaited the answers in their hearts.

Li Hao entered his sea of consciousness and swiftly summoned the Primordial Chaos Pearl. His soul quickly scanned within the pearl.

There, Li Hao saw Jianmie conversing with the youths. He watched silently, intending no interference, curious about his avatar’s combat prowess.

Should Jianmie face mortal danger, Li Hao could summon him back anytime through the Primordial Chaos Yin-Yang Array.