The lead disciple of the Dragon Tiger Sect didn't get angry and chuckled. "Isn't that Uncle Yan? To think that Mao Mountain actually sent you, tsk, tsk... I heard that for this mission, they were sending young disciples of similar strength. It seems Uncle Yan's skills haven't improved much over the years."
Uncle Yan said angrily, "You whippersnapper, what did you say?"
The female disciple from Longhu Mountain smiled and said, "Right now, it's most important to get the True Word Brush first, so it doesn't fall into the hands of those Evil Spirits and Demons."
The people from the Ghost Dao Sect snorted coldly. The leader, whose strength was not insignificant, also showed no fear of the Longhu Mountain and Mao Mountain disciples.
The hidden Snake Demon didn't seem to have any intention of backing away either, seemingly amassing more and more Monster Qi, becoming increasingly terrifying.
As for the two-meter-tall man, he showed no emotions, but his Ghost Qi was chilling, and his strength was extremely formidable.
A spark was all it would take to ignite a major battle, and whether human or supernatural beings, the tension weighed heavily on everyone.
「...」
"Do you all think I don't exist?"
At that moment, a voice spoke up, filled with dissatisfaction. Chu Hao folded his arms and swept a cold gaze over everyone present.
"Chu Hao, hand over the True Word Brush. You have no business here," Ze Ming said, his arm in a bandage.
Chu Hao glanced at him, his eyes sharp. "Looks like you haven't been taught enough of a lesson."
Ze Ming became furious with embarrassment and almost whipped out a fire talisman to deal with Chu Hao. This guy beat me up so badly. With my face like this, I can't pick up girls for a while!
The Longhu Mountain disciple, a man in his mid-twenties, said, "Young man, please present the True Word Brush so we can verify its authenticity."
Everyone's eyes were on him.
Chu Hao looked at the Longhu Mountain disciple and said coldly, "And who are you to tell me to hand it over? Do you think I'd do so just because you said it? Not to mention you. Would I even hand it over if your Taoist Ancestors dared to speak to me like this?"
The three of them were both shocked and angry at such a disrespectful remark.
Chu Hao looked at everyone and said, "I'm not just targeting them. I'm addressing all of you present. You all are trash, and so are your ancestors."
"Ding... Host has successfully shown off with high-profile pretentiousness, receiving 400 Pretentiousness Points."
I'm not showing off. I'm just lonely.
The scene fell eerily silent, as if one could hear the heavy breathing of humans and ghosts. They were genuinely provoked. This kid was too damned arrogant. They couldn't believe he'd call them trash and even their ancestors trash.
The old man next to them was stunned. Does this kid truly have no fear?
"Are you seeking death?" a Longhu Mountain disciple shouted, enraged.
Chu Hao sneered, "Don't think just because you are from a renowned orthodox sect, I will show mercy. I'm making it clear here today, anyone who tries to steal my things will definitely not see tomorrow's sun."
Chu Hao's domineering presence truly intimidated these people. He was just too composed, not nervous at all. It didn't seem like an act.
In fact, I'm feeling somewhat scared. I've never encountered a situation like this before, and I'm already contemplating where to run if a real fight breaks out. What a joke! These people look very threatening, especially the one with the snake-like pupils in the dark—definitely a demon capable of taking human form. And the two-meter-tall man with chilling Ghost Qi is definitely a Top-level Xuan Sha Ghost with a fist larger than a pot. Moreover, who knows how many people and ghosts are lurking in the dark, watching. I always feel like I'm being watched from all directions. Although I'm confident of taking on some of them, I'd absolutely be overwhelmed by their numbers. I'm sweating bullets but still have to act tough and not let my fear show.
His words indeed had an impact, as surprisingly, nobody dared to make a move. Could someone in possession of the True Word Brush be weak? After all, that was a supreme treasure of Taoism.
They were all smart, not wanting to rush in and be the first to die. The people from Longhu Mountain and Mao Mountain also became silent.
Seeing the whole place quiet down, Chu Hao's pretentious spirit surged again, and he said, "I'm not bragging, but as for you lot, within minutes I could scatter your souls. Back in the day... when I was dealing with the Ghost Officiant, you were nothing but a droplet of liquid."
"Scared, are you? Especially you, Ghost Dao Sect. You better release that old man's granddaughter, or else! Tomorrow, this Taoist Master will go and exterminate the Ghost Dao Sect."
The old man on the ground felt like crying. Damn it, you're screwing me over!
Chu Hao grew more and more animated as he spoke. "And you, lurking in the shadows, don't think I don't know who you are. A mere little Snake Demon daring to have designs on this Taoist Master? Believe it or not, I can turn you into snake soup in the pot in a matter of minutes!"
"HISS! HISS!" The snake's pupils glinted in the darkness. It wasn't clear if this was out of wariness or anger.
"And you, the big guy? I'm quite familiar with the Ghost Officiants from the Underworld. Of course, I'm not talking about the trashy little Ghost Officiants. Black and White Impermanence and Ox-Head and Horse-Face? They're all my little brothers."
The big guy was indeed intimidated. The Ghost Qi within him grew chaotic, and it was hard to tell if it was from anger or fear.
Chu Hao turned his gaze to the disciples of Longhu Mountain and Mao Mountain. With his hands clasped behind his back, an air of mystery and the aura of weathered loneliness radiated from him as he said, "It seems I can no longer afford to keep a low profile. I am the elder brother of Laozi himself. Once... Laozi discussed the Dao with me, and he said one thing."
"The Dao harbors no hatred; it endures forever. Do you know what that means?"
The disciples from Mao Mountain and the Dragon Tiger Sect were perplexed. Did the Master of Taoism, Laozi, ever say such a thing?
Chu Hao sneered. "Shallow in your practice, as ignorant as mallets. Go back and reflect on that."
The three from Longhu Mountain: "..."
Uncle Yan and his companion: "..."
Damn it, who is he calling a mallet?
"Ding... Host successfully showed off, earned 400 Pretentiousness Points."
"Ding... Host successfully showed off covertly, earned 400 Pretentiousness Points."
Not bad. I bluffed my way to 800 show-off points.
Honestly, everyone present, be they human or ghost, was truly taken in.
Half a minute...
One minute...
Three minutes...
No one made a move.
Brother Hao is just that awesome. Who can't brag?
Chu Hao yawned and said, "Not coming? Well then, this Taoist Master is going home to sleep."
As he turned to leave, his footsteps were firm, as if rooted to the earth, displaying the grandeur of a Grandmaster, fearless before thousands of troops, undaunted by Evil Demons or the Heretic Path.
He seemed like a legend, growing smaller and smaller in the eyes of the onlookers.
Evil Spirits and Demons, as well as the esteemed orthodox sects, watched him go. How much of what he had said was actually true? If it was true... then this was an untouchable being, a living immortal.
The Snake Demon stepped out, revealing himself as a young man with blue-green hair and jade-green snake eyes, his face covered with snake scales. He hissed, "Stop right there."
Finally, someone had stepped forward.
All eyes were fixed on Chu Hao's retreating figure.
The Snake Demon was also nervous. Seeing Chu Hao stop in his tracks, I'm even more anxious. Why was I the first to step forward? Perhaps Chu Hao will pick me to make an example of, and I'll be the one to die.
SUDDENLY!
Chu Hao, who was up ahead, paused for a few seconds. Then, damn it, he turned tail and bolted, leaving the crowd of people, ghosts, and demons utterly stunned.
Chu Hao cursed inwardly, not daring to look back. If not now, then when? Showing off and then running—damn, that's thrilling!
The disciples from Longhu Mountain were the first to give chase, cursing as they did so, "Bastard! Don't you run! Who are you calling a mallet?"
Uncle Yan roared, "Immeasurable Heavenly Venerate! You scoundrel, don't run!"