School Beauty's Invincible Martial Expert

"No!" Xiao Han shook his head and said, "Actually, this has little to do with me."

"But you are a hero," Duanmu Ci said earnestly, "Brother Xiao, if possible, I would like to invite you to stay. The Wulan Sect lacks a Second Elder, you see..."

"No, no, no!" Xiao Han quickly shook his head and said, "I'm not interested in that."

"Then..." Duanmu Ci looked at Xiao Han, puzzled.

Xiao Han smiled and said, "I am a common man who enjoys the life of a wandering hermit. I don't like being bound in such a way. I came to the Wulan Sect this time because I couldn't bear to see the Second Elder harm our fellow disciples. So I had to step in and help."

"How about..." Duanmu Ci hesitated and then said, "I kick Head Yang out and grant you Jinfeng to marry?"

Since yesterday, Yang Jinfeng and Xiao Han had become close. The two often gathered to chat. It was rare to see the younger sister enjoy talking with a man this much. Thus, Duanmu Ci thought Xiao Han liked Yang Jinfeng, and Yang Jinfeng also liked Xiao Han. Since both sides liked each other, why not simply make it happen and let them be together?

"Stop!" Once Xiao Han heard this, he awkwardly said, "I... I already have a family."

"What does that matter!" Duanmu Ci shook his head and said, "It's normal for a man to have multiple wives. Besides, someone as excellent as you could marry as many wives as you want."

"Uh..." Xiao Han was stunned for a moment and said, "I... I plan to travel the world, and Jinfeng can't follow me there."

"Can't you stay for Jinfeng?" Duanmu Ci asked anxiously.

"I..." Xiao Han shook his head and said, "I have my own duties, my own affairs. Moreover, my strength is not strong; I need to improve myself. When my strength greatly improves, I... I'll come back, alright?"

"Good!" Duanmu Ci, upon hearing this, said, "When you return, I'll arrange your marriage ceremony with Jinfeng."

"Oh..." Xiao Han was somewhat speechless. Helplessly he said, "You decide, you decide!"

Having said that, Xiao Han quickly headed outside.

Leaving without saying goodbye was a habit of Xiao Han's.

Xiao Han left the Wulan Sect just like that. He simply couldn't stand Duanmu Ci's enthusiasm; one moment wanting to make him a Second Elder, the next trying to arrange a marriage for him. Such blessings were beyond his means to entertain. If he got lost in the Wulan Sect's pleasures, he would never make it out. He came here to properly cultivate, not to indulge in women and power.

"Where's Xiao Han?" Yang Jinfeng hurriedly asked.

"He left," replied Duanmu Ci.

"He left? How come?" Yang Jinfeng asked, puzzled.

"You should look around outside; he might just be there," Duanmu Ci said with a smile.

"Okay!" Yang Jinfeng hurriedly nodded.

After going out, Yang Jinfeng searched almost the entire Wulan Sect but couldn't find Xiao Han anywhere, which left her feeling a bit downcast.

"The kid couldn't have left, could he?" Duanmu Ci also searched but indeed didn't find Xiao Han.

"He left without saying goodbye!" Yang Jinfeng said, disappointed.

"However, he said once his strength greatly improves, he will come back to marry you," Duanmu Ci said with a smile.

"What?!" Yang Jinfeng blushed and said awkwardly, "I didn't agree to marry him."

Having said that, Yang Jinfeng turned and left with a smile on her face.

......

A hundred kilometers away from the Wulan Sect.

Xiao Han had already entered a dark forest. This place was known as a dangerous area in the Soul Bead Continent. Normally, cultivators dare not enter lightly, as it was not only filled with miasma but also various fierce beasts and crazed animals. An encounter was invariably fatal.

Of course, all this was what Yang Jinfeng had told him.

It was precisely because he had heard of the grave dangers here that Xiao Han had come to challenge himself.

Whoosh…

Suddenly, a streak of black light flashed, and then the Ghost King stood in front of him.

"Kid, it's really dangerous in there!" the Ghost King said with a cold laugh.

"A person has to continually challenge oneself!" Xiao Han replied, "I plan to take a risk inside. Who knows, there might be some unexpected gains."

"Good!" the Ghost King nodded and said, "I like your kind of spunk!"

"You're the kid!" Xiao Han glared at him irritably.

"In my presence, you are a kid. This old man has lived for three thousand years; three thousand years ago, you were merely a carbohydrate," the Ghost King snorted coldly.

Xiao Han was embarrassed, but he had no retort.

Xiao Han did not hesitate further and stepped deeper into the forest.

Mist Forest.

The area was shrouded in dense fog, reducing visibility to less than twenty meters. Walking along, a powerful beast might suddenly leap out and devour you. Few cultivators came here to train because of the high danger level; even if they did come for adventure and treasure hunting, they came in groups, not alone unless they were highly powerful cultivators. Ordinary cultivators dared not venture here.

As Xiao Han entered the Mist Forest, his mind was constantly on high alert. Since his vision was obscured by the fog, he had to rely on his ears to discern his surroundings. Xiao Han concentrated all his spiritual power in his ears, which heightened their sensitivity tremendously. Within a hundred meters, he could immediately detect any sound.

After entering the Mist Forest, Xiao Han found it eerily quiet.

If not for his keen hearing, Xiao Han wouldn't believe there was absolutely no sound, so quiet that it felt devoid of all life. No flowers, grass, or insects—wholly astonishing.

"Damn it, why is there no sound at all?" Xiao Han wondered aloud, puzzled.

"Though there's no noise, I can sense danger approaching!" the Ghost King replied.

"Is that so?" Xiao Han appeared doubtful. The Ghost King said danger was approaching, which couldn't be wrong, but he couldn't hear anything, making it all the more bizarre.

The Ghost King quickly moved closer to Xiao Han.

No matter what, Xiao Han's life was very important. If he were to die, it meant death for him as well. So, the Ghost King had to protect Xiao Han's life at all costs, lest this young man's death be his own doom.

They continued deeper into the Mist Forest.

Swoosh...

Suddenly, a dazzling white light flashed.

Boom!

The Ghost King suddenly stood in front of Xiao Han, taking the hit of the white light, causing billows of thick smoke to rise.

"Damn it!" the Ghost King cursed out, saying, "That really hurt!"

"Are you okay?" asked Xiao Han awkwardly.

"Why don't you give it a try?" the Ghost King roared back.

"I…" Xiao Han was left speechless.

At that moment, twelve Yin Spirits quickly flew out. The twelve Yin Spirits charged directly at the adversary.

On a massive tree some twenty meters away, a huge Golden Giant Python was coiled up. This python was nearly mythical, capable of spitting lightning and catching prey from dozens of meters away. A strike of lightning could instantly kill or at least stun its prey.

"Damn it!" the Ghost King roared in anger and swiftly charged toward the Golden Giant Python.

Twelve Yin Spirits had already surrounded the Golden Giant Python. Sensing the impending danger, it became agitated, swiftly climbing to the top of the tree, opening its blood-red mouth and hissing menacingly, emitting warning signals continuously.

Szszsz...

The Ghost King leaped up, swiftly grabbed the tail of the Golden Giant Python, and yanked it forcefully.

The massive body of the Golden Giant Python, despite its size, was brutally pulled down from the treetop by the Ghost King's ferocious tug, leaving behind golden scales on the branches.

Booming...

With a loud sound, the Ghost King slammed the huge python onto the ground, and roared, "Dare to mess with the old man, I'll kill you!"

The Golden Giant Python appeared entirely defenseless in front of the Ghost King, who was violently shaking it.

The Ghost King was intelligent, with three thousand years of wisdom. Although the Golden Giant Python had wisdom from a thousand years, it was no match for the Ghost King, who had found its weakness. Instantly, the python regretted its actions.

Thud, thud...

The Ghost King slammed the Golden Giant Python around, smashing it hard against the ground and creating craters with each hit.

Szzszsz...

The Golden Giant Python became enraged, quickly coiling its body and unleashing a furious strike.

Its body coiled tightly, then suddenly burst open like a compressed spring suddenly released.

Whoosh...

All of a sudden, the Golden Giant Python shot toward the Ghost King with ferocious force.

The Ghost King, caught off-guard.

Szszsz...

Suddenly, the Golden Giant Python instantly bit into the Ghost King's arm, tearing off a chunk of black flesh.

"To hell with it." The Ghost King was immediately furious, grabbing the python's head with both hands and utterly lost his mind.

Boom, boom...

The Ghost King furiously beat the Golden Giant Python, throwing punches that left it screaming in agony. Soon, the python was brutally beaten, covered in bruises. The Ghost King leapt up and savagely slammed the python onto the ground.

The massive golden python lay on the ground like a pitiful insect, its body trembling incessantly.

The Ghost King dropped from the sky, sneered, and said, "Humph, what a pathetic creature, daring to bite me. Believe it or not, I'll skin you and make clothes right now."

The Golden Giant Python's body trembled as it barely lifted its head.

Boom...

The Ghost King swiftly charged forward, stomping fiercely on the snake's head. He spit a mouthful of black smudge—his own blood—and cursed, "In three thousand years, I've truly seen everything; this is the second time someone has dared to mess with me. The first time I let it pass because that kid had a Soul Bead, but what do you have, you insignificant creature? You are nothing compared to me; believe it or not, I'll kill you right now!"