44: I'm waiting for execution, what are you waiting for?

Lu Ming gave him a deep look.

Shi Hu met his gaze without fear, a profound curve playing on his lips.

“Congratulations, Senior Lei, on living another life!”

Lu Ming’s expression remained unperturbed, but a storm raged within his heart.

“So he’s also an old monster who successfully seized a body; no wonder he knows so much about ancient secrets!”

He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a blade, piercing directly at Shi Hu: “Who are you, sir?”

Hearing this, Shi Hu’s smile deepened a few shades. He unhurriedly closed his paper umbrella, revealing an ancient bronze bell hidden behind it.

“Me?”

“Much like you, Senior, people nowadays are accustomed to calling us Reincarnators.”

Shi Hu’s voice was not loud, yet it exploded like thunder in Lu Ming’s ears.

“Like you, Senior, back then, spiritual energy was scarce. Many, despite possessing astonishing power, couldn’t overcome the depletion of their lifespan and could only watch as the Great Dao collapsed.”

“However, not everyone was willing to fall before the spiritual energy’s resurgence. Some powerful beings dispersed their cultivation, choosing to reincarnate and re-cultivate, while more, like you and me, went into hiding early, awaiting a perfect physical body.”

“Thus, they call us Reincarnators!”

“Reincarnators… So that’s it.” Lu Ming’s eyes flickered, and he took a few steps closer to him.

This old fellow had quite a few identities; he was part of the Myriad Gods Sect and a Reincarnator.

“Thank you, fellow Daoist, for clarifying, but I still have a question: how many people like us are there currently?”

“I can’t say exactly, but besides you, Senior, I’ve met several other Reincarnators.”

Shi Hu was completely unguarded. Since Lu Ming managed to survive under the Mirror Demon’s hands, there could be no other possibility except that he had been taken over by Lei De.

“Oh, you don’t know this, and you don’t know that either.” A bone-chilling killing intent suddenly erupted in Lu Ming’s eyes, and his figure shot out like a ghost.

“Then what use do I have for you!”

An exceptionally violent blood-colored spirit spear suddenly appeared in his hand, and the Thunder God’s Exploding Kill Art was pushed to its extreme.

The spear, wreathed in crackling blood-colored lightning, thrust towards Shi Hu.

This strike was both swift and ruthless, clearly intended to be a fatal blow.

The bronze bell on Shi Hu’s paper umbrella emitted a yellow halo, and the Thunder God’s Exploding Kill Art’s consistently effective suppression instantly lost its effect.

The astonishment on his face hadn’t yet faded, but his body reacted a step ahead, pushing the golden paper umbrella forward to shield him.

At the same time, his other hand quickly formed a hand seal, and the ground beneath his feet suddenly cracked open. Several earthy yellow stone spikes shot up from the ground, aiming for Lu Ming’s lower body.

“Thud!”

The thunder spear collided with the stone spikes, producing a muffled sound.

The thunder spear shattered like broken rubies, segment by segment, with blood-colored electric arcs scattering everywhere.

“You’re not Lei De! Who exactly are you?!” Shi Hu steadied himself and glared at Lu Ming, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Lu Ming’s lips curled into a sneer, and another blood-colored thunder spear condensed in his hand: “I find you quite humorous. Did I ever say I was Lei De?”

“You’re courting death!”

Shi Hu’s roar was like a sudden clap of thunder, making the surrounding leaves rustle.

His originally gentle and elegant face instantly contorted, his eyes blood-red, and veins bulging on his forehead.

He had always prided himself on his superior intellect, and today he was being so thoroughly played by an unknown person.

Especially when he was so certain of the other party’s identity, calling him “Senior” repeatedly—this humiliation was worse than enduring ten thunder spears.

He suddenly slapped his chest, and what he spat out was no longer essence blood, but a dark brown mass of qi.

The qi mass landed on the bronze bell of the paper umbrella, and the ancient bronze bell suddenly emitted a piercing shriek.

Black smoke began to seep from the bell’s body, and the golden runes that had been circulating instantly turned inky black, emitting a chilling, ominous aura.

“If I don’t extract your soul and refine it into lamp oil today, I swear I’m not human!”

“Soul Suppressing Bell, seize!”

Shi Hu’s ten fingers intertwined into a bizarre shape, and the bronze bell spun wildly in the air. Inky black runes surged out like a tide, condensing into a giant ghostly claw in the air.

Wherever the ghostly claw passed, the air was corroded, making a “sizzling” sound, as it grabbed towards Lu Ming’s head.

Looking at the ominous power contained within the ghostly claw, Lu Ming was first stunned, then laughed happily.

“Haha, clown!”

Lu Ming completely ignored the ghostly claw, advancing instead of retreating. His movement technique erupted again, approaching Shi Hu at an extremely fast speed.

To fight such a squishy mage, one must get close.

The ghostly claw, carrying a pungent, foul smell, lunged forward. Lu Ming’s body glowed with golden light, and intricate Nine Yang runes appeared on his skin.

The moment the ghostly claw touched the golden runes, it melted like ice and snow.

The inky black ominous energy shrieked piteously as it was scorched by the intense flames, and wisps of black smoke rose.

In less than a moment, it completely dissipated into the air, leaving not even a trace of coldness.

“This… This is impossible!” Shi Hu’s pupils contracted sharply, and the rage on his face was instantly replaced by terror.

The ominous power of the Soul Suppressing Bell was his trump card, having devoured the souls of countless transcendents.

But now, it couldn’t even harm this brat in the slightest!

Seeing Lu Ming charging again with the thunder spear, Shi Hu was greatly alarmed.

This brat’s physical strength was even greater than Mo Ya, that high-ranking Nether race member.

He knew that in terms of physical strength, he was absolutely no match for him.

If he were entangled in close combat, things would be dire.

Shi Hu bit his tongue sharply, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart, and rapidly changed his hand seals.

The golden paper umbrella suddenly spun above his head, and the bronze bells between its ribs emitted crisp, clear sounds. Countless golden runes surged from the umbrella’s surface, circling around him like living butterflies.

The paper umbrella suddenly lifted upwards, carrying Shi Hu’s body off the ground.

If I can’t win, I can at least run, right?

Could that brat possibly fly?

Shi Hu floated in mid-air with the help of the paper umbrella, glaring at Lu Ming with venom: “Brat, I’ve got my eye on you! I’ll make you pay for this blood debt someday!”

Lu Ming’s face suddenly darkened, and a cold sneer played on his lips.

“The Myriad Gods Sect’s trash really loves to make threats. In that case, you can stay!”

The blood-colored thunder spear in his hand once again condensed with dense lightning, and he hurled it towards Shi Hu’s retreating back.

The thunder spear, like a blood-colored lightning bolt, streaked across the sky, instantly catching up to Shi Hu.

Shi Hu felt the terrifying aura coming from behind him, his face changed drastically, and he tried to dodge.

But the thunder spear’s speed was too fast; it was already too late to dodge.

He hastily turned the paper umbrella.

“Ding!”

The thunder spear heavily struck the center of the paper umbrella’s surface, instantly shattering.

Shi Hu laughed triumphantly: “Little beast, don’t waste your strength. Save your energy to think about how you’ll face my revenge!”

Lu Ming remained silent, once again condensing and throwing a spirit thunder spear.

One.

Two.

When the seventh one was thrown, Shi Hu’s triumphant expression froze, and a mysterious force instantly bound him.

Death descended, and he couldn’t even muster a thought of resistance.

“What in the world is this thing?!”

“It’s fine, that brat can’t break the Vajra Umbrella’s defense, it’s fine…”

“Pfft!”

A soft sound.

The bronze bell at the umbrella’s tip shattered, and the paper surface split into two.

The blood-colored thunder spear instantly pierced through his body.

He completely lost consciousness before he even realized what had happened.

Lu Ming’s lips curled into a sneer: “I’m waiting for the Execution, what are you waiting for?”