41: Chapter 41: Would you believe me if I said he self-destructed?

After a burst of smoke.

Zhao Mo knelt on one knee on the ground, hands clenched tightly, arms crossed in front of him. He had actually withstood this wave of attacks from Liu Zhiming head-on.

The short time Liu Zhiming spent using the Qi within his Dantian to fight had caused the cracks on his Golden Core to widen. Seeing Zhao Mo withstand his attack, he completely broke down.

"This is impossible?"

"How could you be at the Peak of the first stage of the Golden Core Stage?"

"Didn't you just achieve your Golden Core Breakthrough?"

What was meant by being at the Peak of the first stage of the Golden Core Stage? Zhao Mo had no concept of this at all.

Ever since he started using farming experience points to achieve his Breakthroughs, he had always advanced by an entire level directly.

When his Realm was low, he hadn't noticed the difference, but now that he had reached the Golden Core Stage, the massive disparity became apparent.

After Zhao Mo survived the Lightning Tribulation, his cultivation was at the Peak of the first stage of the Golden Core Stage, just a hair's breadth away from the second stage. For an ordinary Golden Core True Person, it would take decades of cultivation to reach this level.

"I don't believe it."

Liu Zhiming spat out a mouthful of blood and once again forcibly mobilized his remaining Qi.

"Go to hell!"

Fighting until now, Zhao Mo felt that Liu Zhiming's threat did not seem very significant.

He could withstand Liu Zhiming's iron hammer with nothing but his bare fists.

"True Person Zhiming, that's enough."

"I'm just someone who farms spirit rice, what schemes could I possibly have against you?"

"Oh, I forgot, I can also brew enlightenment spirit wine, but that's only first-grade spirit wine. It shouldn't have any impact on the well-established Liu Clan Wine House, right?"

Liu Zhiming panted heavily, and seeing Zhao Mo's casual, devil-may-care attitude caused the cracks on his Golden Core to widen even further.

"You rascal, how dare you bully me like this?"

He raised his iron hammer and struck at Zhao Mo again, but this Magical Artifact, which he had refined for over a hundred years, did not pulverize his opponent into meat paste as it usually did.

"That really hurts."

Zhao Mo was at a disadvantage for not having a Magical Artifact or cultivation techniques, forced to rely solely on his fists to fight against Liu Zhiming's Magical Artifact.

Most importantly, Zhao Mo's movement techniques were unable to shake off Liu Zhiming, so they were forced into a stalemate.

Bang, bang, bang.

Fists and hammer collided, producing a tremendous sound.

Ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators could no longer see the combat trajectories of the Golden Core Stage battle.

In the eyes of Ding Xin, who was at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, there were only two streaks of light, one white and one gold, constantly colliding, separating, and colliding again in mid-air.

"Why hasn't True Person Yuxiang arrived yet?"

Not long after Zhao Mo and Liu Zhiming began fighting, Ding Xin had sent a distress signal, terrified that Zhao Mo, who had only just achieved the status of an Immortal Master, would be no match for the enemy.

"True Person Zhiming, stop!"

Amidst Ding Xin's anxious anticipation, Chen Yuxiang finally arrived.

In mid-air, clouds supported Zhao Mo and Chen Yuxiang, while facing them was the disheveled Liu Zhiming.

Chen Yuxiang turned his head and looked at Zhao Mo in surprise.

He didn't suffer any losses?

"Chen Yuxiang, you old thief, you finally decided to show your face."

It could only be said that Chen Yuxiang's handling of the enlightenment spirit wine matter was far too crude. After obtaining the Spirit Stones, the entire process had been thoroughly investigated and exposed by Liu Zhiming.

If Zhao Mo was an important figure in this matter, then Chen Yuxiang was the mastermind.

"Good, good, everyone is here now."

After saying this, Liu Zhiming flew toward Chen Yuxiang and Zhao Mo.

Feeling the violent aura radiating from Liu Zhiming, Chen Yuxiang's expression changed drastically.

"He's gone mad."

"He's going to self-detonate. Run!"

As he spoke, he grabbed Zhao Mo and retreated at high speed.

But it was already too late. With a thunderous boom,

a massive flash of light illuminated half the sky.

Zhao Mo, who was in mid-air, only felt a massive force slam into his body, followed by excruciating pain. It felt as if his body was being torn apart, and then he passed out completely.

...

"Where is this?"

He didn't know how much time had passed when Zhao Mo woke up from his coma.

"Hiss, that really hurts."

"It's supposed to hurt."

"Four ribs broken, left hand fractured, right shinbone snapped."

"It's lucky you attained the status of a Golden Core True Person; otherwise, True Person Zhiming would have taken you with him in that blast."

Ding Xin looked at Zhao Mo with wide, happy eyes, yet not a single kind word came out of his mouth.

"Hiss, no wonder it hurts so much."

Zhao Mo moved slightly, and the piercing pain made him gasp.

"Alright, they're just external injuries, you'll be fine after some rest."

"True Person Yuxiang next door is the one who's miserable. He injured his Dantian. Although it's not a critical injury, he'll need to recuperate for several years."

Zhao Mo smiled bitterly: "You don't call that critical? He has to recuperate for several years."

"And this Liu Zhiming, what's his deal? Isn't it just a few Spirit Stones? Anyone with eyes can see that those experts were the ones plotting against the Liu Family."

"But he, of all people, actually targeted a small fry like me."

"And he even resorted to self-detonation. Tell me, was it worth it?"

Ding Xin rolled his eyes.

"A loss of over a million High-Grade Spirit Stones, what do you think?"

"And you call yourself a small fry?"

"The renowned True Person Mo, inventor of the Xuan Sect's hybrid spirit rice and mutated white orchid fruit, and the brewer of enlightenment spirit wine—I'm afraid you don't realize how famous you are."

"If I were someone from the Liu Family, I'd probably try to find a way to kill you first."

Zhao Mo: "Huh?"

"Am I that powerful now?"

"Hiss, ouch, that hurts!"

It turned out he had accidentally moved his leg.

Given Zhao Mo's injuries, an ordinary person probably wouldn't recover for a year or more.

But as a Cultivator who was a Golden Core True Person, just five days later, Zhao Mo was full of life again.

Seven days after Liu Zhiming fell, the Steward from the Xuan Sect's Law Enforcement Hall finally arrived, albeit late.

"Greetings, True Person Yuxiang, True Person Mo."

Steward Luo felt miserable. Three Golden Core True Persons had fought, and one had died. Forcing him, a fifth-level Foundation Establishment Cultivator, to come and investigate the cause of death—was this not sending him to his death?

But being in the Xuan Sect, he had no choice, so he had to bite the bullet and come.

"Regarding the fall of True Person Zhiming..."

"The Liu Family has now reported to the Xuan Sect, claiming that True Person Zhiming was killed by the two of you?"

"Hmm?" Zhao Mo's expression darkened.

Everyone saw that massive mushroom cloud that day, right? Are they blind to claim we killed him?

Seeing Zhao Mo's expression, Steward Luo quickly reversed himself: "Of course, True Person Zhiming fell due to self-detonation. Many people saw this, and it has caused some very negative repercussions."

"However, regarding the fall of True Person Zhiming, the Xuan Sect still wants to know why he self-detonated?"

"I wonder if you two True Persons have anything to say?"

Zhao Mo said: "Nothing to say. What does his desire to self-detonate have to do with me?"

"Everyone in the Xuan Sect knows that I just like studying things in the spirit fields and never hold grudges against anyone."

"Do you understand?"

Steward Luo nodded hurriedly: "Yes, yes, I understand."

Then he turned to look at Chen Yuxiang, who was to the side.

To his surprise, Chen Yuxiang completely ignored him and leaned against the corner of the wall, feigning sleep.

Steward Luo dared not wake Chen Yuxiang, so he could only say bitterly: "Thank you, True Person Mo."

Then he bowed and left.

After walking a few steps, he turned back and said: "The Liu Clan's focus is currently on the Heavenly Phoenix Grotto-Heaven. Once matters there are concluded, I fear trouble will come for you two True Lords."

Zhao Mo said: "Thank you for the warning."

After Steward Luo left, Chen Yuxiang suddenly opened his eyes and said: "The Liu Clan's plans for the Heavenly Phoenix Grotto-Heaven will not succeed."

"They are destined to end up with nothing."

Zhao Mo asked curiously: "What plans?"