The appearance of the Giant and horned man was stunning for both Cao Tianyi and Luo Tu.
But after seeing him clearly Luo Tu was especially scared as he knew who the man was.
"Immortal Juo… I-Immortal Juo… how can he be here?" Luo Tu almost couldn't believe his eyes.
"Immortal Juo?" Cao Tianyi who heard his foe's words narrowed his eyes.
He found the name familiar but couldn't exactly recall where he had heard it.
It wasn't until the man started walking towards them did he figure it out. But by that time, it was a little too late.
Immortal Juo's face was expressionless, but an impending sense of disaster would rise in the hearts of all those that watched him.
He walked towards the two men who were now standing still in surprise, every step of his created a thudding sound while the stones cracked under them.
"Luo Tu of the Luo Clan, and Cao Tianyi of the former Cao Clan… Do you two know your crimes?" Immortal Juo questioned in a cold voice.
"I…" Luo Tu couldn't even bring himself to answer.
Cao Tianyi though gritted his teeth, knowing that things had gone in a direction he had never expected.
'How can the Steel Horn General be here? Why would he leave his post?' Cao Tianyi couldn't figure it out.
The Immortal in front of him was one of the top figures of the entire Huiqing empire. One of the Imperial Generals of the Huiqing Empire… Steel Horn General Niu Juo!
He was a sixth Tribulation Stage Immortal Realm expert that was said to be very close to his next breakthrough. He had fought in several battles for the empire and had established his power.
The recent times had been peaceful for the Huiqing empire thus the name of the Steel Horn General had faded away for a while. But there were still people who knew about him as a legend.
"Speak!" Immortal Juo demanded.
"Immortal Juo… No, General… I…" Luo Tu felt like his legs would turn into jelly if he stayed in the gaze of the man.
Cao Tianyi was doing a bit better, but that was simply because he was ready to face any consequence when he had decided to enact his plan.
In just a couple of seconds, a hundred thoughts passed through his mind before he decided something.
"DAMMIT! I'll kill you even if I have to die!" Cao Tianyi moved rapidly as the black dagger was stabbed towards Luo Tu's neck.
Luo Tu was too occupied by the presence of Immoral Juo thus, he didn't sense it quick enough. With his guard down, the man could already feel the black dagger cutting his skin, while blood dripped out.
"YOU DARE!" Immoral Juo exploded at this time.
His large hand slapped at Cao Tianyi's hand, shattering it instantly.
~CLANG~
The black dagger was slapped away while a cut was left on Luo Tu's neck. Blood continued to leak out of the cut, but the man's life was secured for the time being.
"ARGH! MY HAND!" Cao Tianyi felt intense pain from his bones that had been shattered into fragments.
It made him recall the time when Luo Tu had broken his bones, but at least back then they were fractured and not shattered entirely like this.
~CRACK~
Immortal Juo's knuckles cracked as he grasped onto Cao Tianyi's waist as if he were a twig. He easily lifted the man up as if he were a simple feather and gazed into the man's eyes.
"Acting imprudently in my presence will cost you." Immortal Juo stated, but Cao Tianyi didn't care.
The pain in his arm didn't compare to the pain in his heart, and he stared back.
"Do your worst." He said. "But know this: the heavens will not forgive Luo Tu and the Luo clan. I CURSE THEM WITH MY ENTIRE BEING!" Cao Tianyi declared as a fervor filled him.
A strong energy fluctuation rose from his body at that time, that alarmed even Lin Mu.
~KABOOM~
In the next second, Cao Tianyi's body exploded into a blood mist that ignited like gunpowder.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!" Luo Tu's screams could be heard for a few seconds before they faded away.
Dust and smoke covered the entire area, leaving only the periphery free of it.
"This man…" A few moments later, a heavy voice was heard.
~WHOOSH~
Then a gust of wind blew from the center of the area and cleared out the dust. In the center stood Immortal Juo.
A crater had formed around him, while a layer of ash covered his hand that had been used to hold on to Cao Tianyi. The battered body of Luo Tu was lying a few meters from the crater.
He was missing an arm and leg, while half of his face had been burned all the way to his skull. Despite that though, he was still alive and that showed the vitality of an immortal.
Only Immortal Juo seemed to be fine as other than some ash on his arms and blood splattered on his chest, the man was completely fine.
~CRUMBLE~
The building that Lin Mu was standing on earlier collapsed into a heap of rubble from the impact of the explosion.
~shua~
Lin Mu reappeared there a few moments later, having returned from the parallel worlds.
He looked at the scene of devastation as well as Immortal Juo that stood in the center.
'He seems unaffected…' Lin Mu thought.
He could imagine the power of the explosion and knew that it wasn't just the detonation of someone's Nascent soul.
'That Cao Tianyi used some other methods to make that explosion… this wasn't just some simple self-detonation.' Lin Mu reckoned.
It was at this moment that he felt a gaze on himself. He followed the gaze and saw none other than Immortal Juo looking at him.
"You didn't think to interfere?" Immortal Juo spoke, his voice easily reaching Lin Mu, making him a bit surprised.
Lin Mu hesitated for a second before replying, "why should I?"
😉