“The System cannot fulfill the host’s request.”
Qin Hao sighed. He ignored the machine-like voice in his mind and walked out of the cave.
The gentle sunlight shone upon Qin Hao. He felt warm all over and very comfortable.
“My body has recovered. From now on, I’ll just be an ordinary person.”
Thinking this, Qin Hao walked toward the foot of the mountain. In his previous life, he had read quite a few novels, but he did not want to sink into a sea of blood and slaughter. Compared with pursuing immense power and the supreme great dao, he would rather be an ordinary person and live out the rest of his life in peace and simplicity.
“Reminder to the host: Due to absorbing the virgin blood of the Primordial Spirit Sacred Physique, the host’s body is currently stable. However, if you do not continue absorbing the blood of cultivators for a prolonged period, your body will once again face the crisis of collapse in one year!”
The System’s words were like a basin of cold water poured over Qin Hao’s head.
“Then what do I have to do to stop drinking fresh blood and restore my body to normal?” Qin Hao asked anxiously.
“First, the host must reach the pinnacle of strength and achieve an immortal corpse body!”
“Second, the host must absorb the blood of the Seven Sacred Physiques. This can make up for the flaws in the Corpse Clan’s corpse body. From then on, you will no longer need to drink fresh blood, and you will also obtain the Chaotic Undying Body!”
At this moment, Qin Hao understood. If he wanted to be an ordinary person, he had no choice but to enter the cultivation world and ascend to the supreme summit!
Yet this went against his original intention. He was at a loss and fell into confusion.
But an unexpected incident appeared at that very moment!
“We found him! Junior brother Zhao’s Soul Lamp points directly to him. He is the murderer who killed junior brother Zhao!”
Three young men dressed in blue daoist robes glared furiously at Qin Hao.
One of the tall young men even drew his longsword and thrust it straight at Qin Hao. Although Qin Hao was lost in confusion, the corpse king instinct helped him evade the strike.
After dodging, Qin Hao looked toward the tall young man.
The tall young man’s cultivation level was extraordinary. According to this world’s system of ranks, he was already a qi refinement sixth layer Cultivator!
A token unique to a zhengyi sect outer disciple hung from his waist, with the two words “Zhao Ming” written on it.
The Zhengyi Sect was one of the Seven Great Sects of the Ten Thousand Mountains, a sect founded by Daoist Zhengyi!
It had thirty thousand outer sect disciples and three thousand Inner sect disciples. Its sect master was the renowned nascent soul cultivator Venerable Zhengfa of the Ten Thousand Mountains!
“You’re the one who killed my younger brother!”
Faced with Zhao Ming’s accusation and his furious gaze, Qin Hao retreated several steps. Recalling what had happened before, he clutched his head and began sobbing bitterly.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I didn’t do it on purpose. I really couldn’t control myself. I wasn’t conscious at the time!”
“It seems he really is the one!”
Although Zhao Ming did not understand why Qin Hao’s behavior was so strange, he did not care. That was his only younger brother, and he had been killed by the person before him. He had to kill Qin Hao and avenge his younger brother!
Zhao Ming thrust his sword into Qin Hao’s body, driving it straight into his chest.
The sword pierced through Qin Hao’s chest, yet his aura did not change in the slightest. Then, dense corpse qi surged from Qin Hao’s body and corroded Zhao Ming’s longsword on the spot.
“Brother Zhao, there’s something strange about this kid!” said a thin zhengyi sect outer disciple.
“He actually has corpse qi inside his body. Could he be a member of the Corpse Clan?” another zhengyi sect outer disciple asked doubtfully.
“I don’t care who he is. I’m killing him today to avenge my younger brother!”
With his longsword corroded, Zhao Ming wrapped his fist in spiritual power and slammed it viciously into Qin Hao. Qin Hao took the blow head-on and was knocked to the ground in a sorry state, rolling several times before coming to a stop.
Qin Hao did not react. Tears the size of beans continued to fall.
Zhao Ming paid no attention. No matter how remorseful Qin Hao appeared, he would never forgive him!
Qin Hao had to die. Even Daoist Zhengyi himself would not be able to stop him. That was Zhao Ming’s vow.
One punch, then another—after who knew how many punches, Zhao Ming’s hands had turned red. Apart from a few superficial injuries, Qin Hao had suffered no other harm. Even the hole in his chest from the longsword had already healed completely.
“Brother Zhao, beating him like this doesn’t seem to be working. Why don’t we burn him with a fire?” one outer sect disciple suggested.
“Yes, I think that’s a good idea too. Look, no matter how we hit this kid, we can’t damage him. Even after you pierced his chest with your sword, Brother Zhao, he wasn’t affected at all. He must be a member of the Corpse Clan. The best way to deal with the Corpse Clan is fire!”
Zhao Ming stopped swinging his fists and glanced coldly at Qin Hao, who was still mired in guilt. He said coldly:
“Go find some firewood. Later, I’ll use the Fireball Technique to ignite it and burn him alive!”
Although Zhao Ming wanted to use a fire-element spell to burn Qin Hao directly, he was a qi refinement sixth layer Cultivator who cultivated swordsmanship. He was not very proficient in spells. He might be able to start a fire or cook a meal, but to burn someone to death, he still needed some external assistance!
Besides, this was also for safety. If Qin Hao really was a member of the Corpse Clan, a small fire certainly would not kill him. Naturally, the flames had to be as large as possible, and the temperature as high as possible!
A quarter hour later, firewood had been piled all around Qin Hao, nearly burying him.
Without hesitation, Zhao Ming cast a Fireball Technique. In an instant, flames soared into the sky, almost dyeing half the horizon red. Watching the raging fire, a trace of vengeful satisfaction flashed through Zhao Ming’s eyes.
“Let’s go. We still have to investigate the emergence of the Ten Thousand Mountains secret realm.”
Zhao Ming turned around and left with the other two disciples, leaving Qin Hao alone amid the raging flames.
Qin Hao was scorched by the raging flames. His skin charred and his hair caught fire. The surrounding heat nearly roasted all the flesh from his body, yet Qin Hao did not move. He remained quietly in the fire, enduring the torment as he thought:
“Perhaps this is the best ending for me. I’m a blood-sucking monster like this. If I die, it will be better for everyone!”
This was the truest thought deep within Qin Hao’s heart.
Since he had killed the other party’s younger brother, it was only right that he pay with his life.
Even though the other party had attempted to assault a young girl, in Qin Hao’s view, his crime did not warrant death!
Soon, the great fire gradually died down, and Qin Hao had nearly become a piece of charred coal. Yet, due to the corpse king’s powerful physique, he stubbornly remained alive. A heavy rain followed close behind, causing the embers that had not yet gone out to sizzle and giving Qin Hao a sliver of hope for recovery—even though he did not want that opportunity, even though he wanted to die.
However, the severe burns still caused Qin Hao to lose consciousness.
“This big brother seems to still be breathing. How amazing! He was burned to this state and still survived.”
A girl of about ten years old happened to arrive there and saw Qin Hao, who had been reduced to charred coal. His once handsome features were completely gone, replaced by hideous, terrifying burns. Large areas of his skin had been burned black, leaving him beaten beyond recognition from head to toe. Even his black hair had been burned away without a single strand remaining!
The girl did not reveal any strange expression upon seeing Qin Hao’s appearance. Her eyes were filled with innocence.
“Mother said that saving a person’s life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. Since big brother can still be saved, I have to save him.”
And so, with her frail body, the little girl dragged Qin Hao little by little toward the direction of her home.