Chapter 123: Kunlun Mountains [2]

The night was hazy, and life felt like a dream. Daokong and Zhao Wushuang ran toward Luffy.

"My god, Luffy, you are truly incredible! You wiped out that nine-tailed fox demon with just a single finger." Zhao Wushuang smiled, looking at Luffy with undisguised admiration. Daokong was equally awestruck; he never imagined that Luffy could destroy such a powerful monster with a mere flick of his finger.

"Boss, I want to learn from you!" Zhao Wushuang said earnestly.

"Hehe... No can do. My techniques are absolute and cannot be passed on to outsiders." Luffy popped a medicinal pill into his mouth, stood up, and began to walk away.

"Are you really not going to take me on as a student?" Zhao Wushuang asked, very serious.

"That’s right." Luffy headed toward a distant stream, intending to wash up. "Why are you following me? I’m going to take a bath. Do you want to join me?"

"I certainly do not!" Zhao Wushuang blushed, turned around, and retreated to the dilapidated shack. Luffy bathed, changed into clean clothes, and returned to sleep.

The next day, as the first light of dawn broke, Luffy rose early and left quietly without saying goodbye to Daokong and Zhao Wushuang. He had things to do and didn't want to deal with farewells. When Daokong and Zhao Wushuang woke up to find Luffy gone, they were both helpless.

"This guy!" Zhao Wushuang was speechless.
"This benefactor..." Daokong shook his head.

***

Luffy flew for an hour before arriving at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains. The scenery was majestic and spectacular, with towering peaks piercing the clouds, undulating ranges, and layered cliffs that were truly breathtaking.

As Luffy stepped inside, he was surprised by the density of the spiritual energy and the towering trees. The moment he entered, he felt an eerie silence, as if some beast had claimed the area as its territory, leaving no other creatures daring enough to approach. He looked around, finding the quietness somewhat unsettling. He pressed on toward the mountainside, but the stillness remained. Suddenly, an ancient, dilapidated temple appeared before him, weathered and crumbling.

As Luffy walked toward it, the temple vanished. It was nowhere to be found, making Luffy wonder if his eyes were playing tricks on him or if he had encountered a ghost. Suddenly, the small Taoist temple reappeared a short distance away. Luffy frowned, wondering if the temple was trying to lure him in. Unsure of the dangers, he proceeded with caution. Despite his immense power, he knew he had to be careful in the Kunlun Immortal Mountains; after all, this was the apocalypse, and who knew what mutated monsters might lurk here.

He approached again, and the temple vanished once more. It was truly bizarre and incomprehensible. After walking for half an hour through thick, impenetrable mist, he reached a clearing. Suddenly, footsteps echoed, and a middle-aged man in golden armor charged out, wielding a five-foot-long golden sword. The man radiated a powerful, majestic aura, his eyes fixed on Luffy like a hawk watching its prey.

"Did you come following the ruined temple?" the man demanded sternly.

"That's right!"

Upon hearing this, the man’s eyes filled with murderous intent. "Daring to compete with my young master for the inheritance? Die!"

The armored man swung his sword at Luffy with the force of a surging rainbow.

"What the hell? What inheritance? You try to kill me the moment we meet?" Luffy dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike. The man's sword blast dissipated the mist and gouged a massive hole into the mountainside.

"Damn it, are you looking for death? What kind of bullshit inheritance is this?" Luffy was speechless. This guy was trying to kill him without rhyme or reason, which made him genuinely angry. He had to teach him a lesson, or the man would continue to think he was all-powerful.

"Don't play dumb. You came here at this time, which means you know about the existence of the Nether Cold Flame. That ancient temple is the gateway to it," the man, Zhao Ritian, scoffed, refusing to believe Luffy.

"Oh, so you're saying the Nether Cold Flame is in that temple? Thanks! I actually did come here for that fire. I'm quite surprised it's here. So, your young master is currently trying to secure it?" Luffy smiled at Zhao Ritian.

"I can't believe I just spilled the beans! I was such a fool to blurt it out and pique your interest," Zhao Ritian said, filled with regret.

"Hehe... You really are an idiot. You tried to kill me the moment you saw me, and then you told me everything. How reckless. You can go die now." Luffy suddenly raised his hand, pointing his middle finger at the man. "Come on, old man. You have to pay for your impulsive behavior."

"Are you kidding me? You think you can handle me with one finger?" Zhao Ritian burst into wild, disdainful laughter. He felt it was absurd. As a high-ranking member of the Tiancheng Safe Zone, he had spent tremendous effort and endured family opposition to find the secrets of the Nether Cold Flame in ancient texts. He thought this boy was just an arrogant, ridiculous fool who needed to be crushed to save face. "Let me ask you something: where is your master?"

"My master? I don't have one." Luffy pointed his finger directly at him, dragon energy surging.

"Then you can die." Zhao Ritian was overjoyed, convinced the boy had run off alone. "Die!"

He fired a powerful, roaring blast from his weapon. The force of the strike pushed back the surrounding mist. Zhao Ritian envisioned the boy being torn to shreds. Luffy sneered at the man's foolishness. He exerted a slight force, and a beam of light shot toward the middle-aged man—the Finger of the Ancient God.