Chapter 578: Chapter 577: Cold
This lad, gravely injured, still dreams of making a getaway from me? This is nothing but delusional folly.
Thinking this, a cold arc formed on the corner of the black-robed elder’s mouth.
Liu Zheng lay on the ground, his body involuntarily twitching a couple of times.
Although he had just narrowly escaped the black-robed elder’s attack, he had also suffered a backlash that left him with numerous internal injuries.
However, he harbored not the slightest thought of giving up. His gaze was fixed on the black-robed elder as he pondered how to free himself from the latter’s clutches.
Seeing that Liu Zheng remained silent, the elder felt a surge of irritation, and his eyes glinted menacingly, "Do you really think that with your meager strength, you can escape my control?"
"I admit, I indeed have no ability to break free from your bonds, but do not forget, I have a powerful master backing me. If my master learns of your actions toward me, he will surely come to tear you limb from limb," Liu Zheng said, glancing indifferently at the elder.
"Haha..." The black-robed elder could not help but laugh, his ferocious expression slowly fading, replaced by a hint of arrogance and a dash of mockery, "You think he can find me?"
"How will we know if we don’t try?" Liu Zheng shook his head, a trace of mockery on his face.
"You think I would believe you just because you say so?" The elder sneered, then snorted coldly, "Even if he really does find me, so what? In this world, only I am worthy of possessing a treasure. You ants will never touch it."
With that, he turned his gaze toward the snakes.
"If that’s the case, then I have no choice but to fight them desperately!" Liu Zheng sneered, and suddenly, his body rolled violently as he struggled to rise amidst the encircling snakes.
He knew that if he delayed any longer, he would sink into an even worse situation.
Better to launch an offense than to sit and wait for death; perchance, there was still a chance to win.
"Hmph, you truly won’t cry until you see the coffin!" The black-robed elder’s eyes swept coldly around as he let out a chuckle.
"Swoosh!"
His figure dashed forward, his fists clenched, smashing towards the direction where Liu Zheng was.
Seeing this, a deep sense of despair rose in Liu Zheng’s heart.
His current condition was dire; he simply could not withstand the other’s attack.
At that moment, he suddenly felt a pain in his head as if countless needles were simultaneously piercing into his mind.
Following that, Liu Zheng felt a strange current of qi coursing wildly through his body, his bones crackling loudly.
Not long afterward, Liu Zheng fell into unconsciousness.
...
Within a desolate ancient castle, Liu Zheng lay on a large bed, his brows expressing an indelible fatigue. His lips were cracked, with traces of blood at the corners of his mouth, looking very disheveled.
However, even in his unconscious state, Liu Zheng’s lips maintained a slight curve, as if smiling.
"Master oh master... Your disciple has failed to retrieve the lost item for you... But rest assured, I will use my last breath to retrieve what you have lost," Liu Zheng silently thought to himself.
"Bang! Bang! Bang..."
Suddenly, a series of rapid knocking sounds came.
"Who is it?" Liu Zheng asked with a hoarse voice, his eyebrows slightly furrowing.
"It’s me, Butler Liu," a clear and strong voice came from outside the door.
Hearing this, Liu Zheng immediately opened his eyes and leaped up.
"Master, have you arrived?" Liu Zheng’s face showed a hint of excitement as he quickly opened the door to greet them.
"Yes!" Butler Liu looked at Liu Zheng with a look of gratification, "Well done, this mission has been completed successfully!"
"Indeed, Butler Liu!" Excitement was written all over Liu Zheng’s face.
At that moment, Liu Zheng also saw his wife standing beside him. She was dressed in a long white gown, with fair skin, delicate features, and an hourglass figure, exuding an air of nobility and elegance that was utterly breathtaking.
The wife of Butler Liu was named Liu Yuling, in her thirties, and she was Liu Zheng’s stepmother.
"Liu Zheng, your strength is still too weak," Liu Zheng’s wife said to him, worry on her face.
"Thank you for caring, madam!" Liu Zheng said, showing a hint of shame, "I am ashamed that I did not complete the mission and have disappointed you."
"Do not dwell on it too much," Liu Yuling soothed in a gentle tone, "Although your strength is still insignificant, being able to successfully complete the mission is nonetheless cause for celebration."
Hearing his wife’s words, Liu Zheng felt a sigh of relief in his heart and couldn’t help but let a smile appear on his face as he said, "Yes, my lady, you are right."
"Alright, now that you’re awake, I won’t disturb your rest anymore. After you rest for the night, follow me to the auction tomorrow. This time I will take you with me to bid, so you can see for yourself the strength of our Liu Family," Liu Yuling said.
"Yes, my lady," Liu Zheng respectfully nodded.
"Then I’ll be leaving." Having said that, Liu Yuling turned and left.
Watching Liu Yuling leave, Liu Zheng’s expression also turned solemn.
He didn’t like being restrained by others, even less so being someone’s dog; he wanted to become a truly strong individual!
"No, I must find a way to break this seal!" Liu Zheng thought to himself determinately.
He believed that as long as he could find a way to break the seal within him, his cultivation would soar, perhaps even surpassing his previous achievements!
Moreover, he was not content to live in such a subdued way.
After all, he was still young; he didn’t want to spend his whole life stuck in this accursed place.
At that moment, Liu Zheng noticed a piece of paper on the table; he picked it up and unfolded it.
"Liu Zheng? What does this mean?"
After reading the contents of the note, Liu Zheng furrowed his brows in confusion, clearly not understanding the hidden meaning.
"Could it be that the Liu Family intentionally left this note for me, hinting at my attendance at the auction?" he thought to himself, his lips curling into a wry smile.
"Forget it, since the Liu Family wishes to play games, I shall entertain them! After all, I have no way out now, do I?" Liu Zheng murmured to himself.
He then tore up the note in his hand and threw it into the waste bin nearby.
"Butler Liu, please take care of him here. Once he wakes up, have him find me," a cold voice slowly rose in the living room at this moment.
"Yes, Miss!" Liu Zheng responded respectfully.
"Liu Zheng, I’m leaving now. Take good care of your injuries. Once you’ve recovered, I’ll send someone to take you to that auction," Butler Liu said with a smile.
"Alright, Butler Liu, I understand what I should do!" Gratitude appeared on Liu Zheng’s face.
"Well then, I’ll be leaving now!" After finishing, Butler Liu turned and left, quickly disappearing at the doorway.
Gazing at the disappearing figure of Butler Liu, Liu Zheng’s eyes sparkled with sharpness, and then he took out a bottle from his storage ring.
The bottle was fully red, sparkling and translucent as if it were made from red agate, appearing exceedingly precious.
He extended his palm, opened the bottle cap, and instantly a red liquid sprayed out, landing on Liu Zheng’s chest.
In the blink of an eye, a crimson flame burned up from Liu Zheng’s chest, forming into a sphere and floating in the air.
The red flame danced continuously, as if it could extinguish at any moment.
Yet, it remained steadfastly suspended in mid-air, not extinguishing.
After a short moment, the flame completely died out.
At this point, a fierce flame pattern had appeared on Liu Zheng’s chest, as if alive.
The flame pattern was lifelike, as though it truly had a life of its own, constantly changing shape.
At that moment, Liu Zheng’s mouth slightly opened, revealing a row of white, neat teeth.
"Haha! I’ve finally broken through to the Purgatory level! My strength has once again ascended by two levels!"
"I refuse to believe, with my current Purgatory realm strength, who in this secular world could be my adversary?" Liu Zheng thought arrogantly.
Afterwards, he took a set of clothes out of the storage ring, put them on, and then left the room.
"Butler Liu, we can leave now," Liu Zheng arrived at Butler Liu’s room and said respectfully.
"Alright, Young Master," Butler Liu replied, then turned and left.
"This is a storage ring, it contains many items, enough for you to live here for a while," Butler Liu said as he handed over the storage ring to Liu Zheng.
"This..." Liu Zheng looked at Butler Liu hesitantly.
"Don’t worry, I will ensure your safety. As long as you behave, you will definitely not be harmed," Butler Liu said lightly upon seeing the hesitation on Liu Zheng’s face.
"I understand, Butler Liu, thank you," Liu Zheng nodded and accepted the storage ring.
