Chapter 344: Chapter 342: Strong
CLACK CLACK CLACK...
Jiang Chen and Flame Dragon entered the seventh layer one after another.
The seventh layer was a strange, grand hall.
Inside the hall stood a pitch-black statue, a full hundred meters tall.
The statue was quite majestic.
However, the most eye-catching feature wasn’t the statue, but the altar in the center of the hall.
And on that altar, an old man was currently sitting cross-legged.
The old man’s eyes were closed, as if he were asleep.
"Hm?"
’There’s someone here?’
The moment Jiang Chen entered, his gaze immediately fell upon the old man.
He had never seen this old man before.
He was definitely not one of the Martial Cultivators who had broken into the Ghost Temple this time.
He then activated his Nine Heavens Spirit-Seizing Technique, trying to inspect the old man.
But when he did, he discovered a bottomless pit surrounding the old man. As soon as his Divine Thought drew near, it was sucked into the abyss.
Startled, he hastily retracted his Divine Thought, his expression changing.
’This person... he’s unfathomable.’
This was his first thought after inspecting the old man.
He realized that if even his Nine Heavens Spirit-Seizing Technique couldn’t probe him, it meant the other party’s Cultivation was so powerful that it automatically shielded him from being spied upon.
This was an ability only achievable once one’s Cultivation reached a certain level.
His pupils constricted slightly, and Jiang Chen took a few imperceptible steps back.
This old man gave off an extremely dangerous feeling.
After surveying their surroundings, Wen Shixuan and Grand General Ming Zhe also locked onto the old man.
Wen Shixuan frowned deeply.
He motioned to Grand General Ming Zhe.
Grand General Ming Zhe also examined the old man but found nothing unusual about him.
He berated, "Old man, what are you doing here?"
"When did you get in?"
At that moment, the old man slowly opened his eyes.
His eyes were like an abyss.
He glanced indifferently at Grand General Ming Zhe and Wen Shixuan.
But he didn’t speak.
He simply remained sitting cross-legged in the center of the altar.
Grand General Ming Zhe was, after all, a Martial King Eighth Layer Heaven expert. Seeing the old man ignore him made him rather angry.
He barked, "Are you deaf, old man?"
"Didn’t you hear me talking?"
A flicker finally appeared in the old man’s eyes.
He said coldly, "Slap yourself."
The next moment, Grand General Ming Zhe felt his hand rise uncontrollably.
He was utterly horrified.
He couldn’t believe that he, an expert at the Martial King Eighth Layer Heaven, couldn’t even control his own hand.
Just as he was filled with confusion, he suddenly looked at the old man.
Only then did he understand what the old man’s words had meant.
Before he could react, Grand General Ming Zhe’s raised hand suddenly and involuntarily slapped him across his own face.
SLAP!
This bizarre slapping sound echoed abruptly throughout the seventh layer.
It was crisp and loud.
’What?’
Jiang Chen, Flame Dragon, and the others were all stunned.
They stared blankly at the scene. Grand General Ming Zhe, a Martial King Eighth Layer Heaven expert, was actually slapping his own face.
But this was only the beginning.
SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!
Grand General Ming Zhe’s hand rose again and again, delivering a series of vicious slaps to his own face. Each one was precise and brutal.
Seeing this, Flame Dragon sucked in a breath of cold air. He stared at the old man, the hair on his body standing on end.
’Such powerful Cultivation.’
He was truly dumbfounded.
Flame Dragon was originally the most powerful expert to enter the Ghost Temple this time. His Cultivation was nearing the Martial Emperor realm, making him countless times stronger than Grand General Ming Zhe.
However, he knew he couldn’t make someone slap themselves with just a single sentence.
This was something only possible when one’s Cultivation reached a terrifying level—the ability to control an enemy with one’s will alone.
Grand General Ming Zhe was clearly unable to resist the old man’s will.
Thus, his heart filled with endless fear of the old man.
"Big Brother, be careful of this man. I’m no match for him."
Flame Dragon retreated to Jiang Chen’s side, speaking with extreme caution.
There was a hint of nervousness in his voice.
Meanwhile, Wen Shixuan was frozen in place.
He couldn’t process what was happening.
Grand General Ming Zhe was his most capable subordinate, yet he was forced to slap himself with a single command from the old man.
’What kind of terrifying Cultivation would that require?’
SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!
Grand General Ming Zhe continued slapping himself left and right, beating his face into a bloody pulp.
But the old man remained unmoved.
As long as he didn’t speak, Grand General Ming Zhe couldn’t possibly stop.
In fact, the slaps came so quickly that Grand General Ming Zhe didn’t even have time to beg for mercy.
And so, he just stood there, slapping himself without end.
The old man slowly turned his head and looked in Jiang Chen’s direction.
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
But he didn’t speak.
The old man then averted his gaze and said indifferently, "I know you’ve all come for the Black Fire."
"Those who wish to obtain the Black Fire, go to the eighth layer."
As soon as he spoke, everyone was taken aback.
Then, Lord Wangu was the first to bolt for the eighth layer.
There were no obstacles between the seventh and eighth layers to stop them.
The others entered the eighth layer one after another.
Wen Shixuan wanted to leave, but he saw that Grand General Ming Zhe was still slapping himself.
He hurriedly said to the old man, "Senior, please show mercy and spare him. He didn’t mean to be disrespectful to you."
Knowing how powerful the old man was, he quickly tried to smooth things over.
After all, this old man had a strange background and immense Cultivation. He already regretted provoking him.
The old man glanced at Wen Shixuan before speaking. "Fine. You can scram now."
The moment he spoke, Grand General Ming Zhe immediately stopped slapping himself.
He shot the old man a look of extreme fear before hurrying away with Wen Shixuan.
Flame Dragon tugged on Jiang Chen. "Big Brother, there’s something strange about this man. Let’s go first and not get tangled up with him."
With that, he started to pull Jiang Chen away.
"Wait!"
Just then, the old man suddenly spoke again.
Flame Dragon and Jiang Chen both jolted and came to a halt.
Flame Dragon gave a dry laugh. "Senior, may I ask if you have any instructions?"
The old man said in a flat tone, "You may go. He stays."
He pointed at Jiang Chen as he spoke.
Flame Dragon looked at Jiang Chen in confusion, and Jiang Chen stared at the old man in bewilderment.
The old man’s meaning was clear: he wanted Jiang Chen to stay.
Flame Dragon gave a wry smile. "Senior, your Divine Techniques are vast. My Big Brother really can’t be of any help. If there’s nothing else, why not let us go?"
He didn’t dare to offend the old man, so he could only speak cautiously.
But the old man just snorted coldly.
"This doesn’t concern you. Scram."
As he spoke, he waved a large hand.
WHOOSH!
Flame Dragon was sent flying, completely out of his own control.
His mouth gaped in horror as he shot straight into the passage leading from the seventh to the eighth layer.
Soon, Flame Dragon vanished into the passage.
Jiang Chen was dumbfounded.
He had been reborn, so his Cultivation wasn’t high yet, but he knew very well just how powerful the old man before him was. He was frighteningly strong.
Unsure of the old man’s purpose, Jiang Chen could only stop. He hesitated for a moment, then calmed himself. ’Since the old man sought me out, he must want something. I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but...’ He finally asked, "Senior, may I ask what business you have with me?"
Comments