Chapter 24: The Death of That Guy

After a brief discussion, the groups were quickly settled.

Luo Chen, Luo Yuanshan, and Luo Yan formed one team.

Su Zimo and Su Xinyuan paired into another.

The remaining Luo clan disciples—including That Guy—made up the third.

Once arrangements were complete, Luo Chen retrieved two round jade rings from his storage pouch and handed them to Su Zimo and Su Xinyuan.

“This item can sense one another’s location. The closer you are, the stronger the reaction,” he explained. “All Luo clan members already carry one. Now you have them as well. Don’t stray too far. If we encounter Luo Jiutian, it’ll make coordination easier.”

The siblings exchanged a glance, then simultaneously accepted the rings.

Su Zimo nodded. “For Young Master Luo to entrust us with this—it is our honor.”

Su Xinyuan also smiled and said, “Many thanks, Young Master Luo.”

They both understood clearly. These jade rings had originally only been distributed to the Luo clan. Handing them over now was not just the transfer of an item—it was an acknowledgment.

Luo Chen inclined his head slightly, saying no more. His gaze swept across all three teams, confirming that everyone was ready. Then he lifted a hand in a gesture to depart.

The three groups split off and set out on their separate paths.

After some time, the team of Luo clan disciples was moving cautiously along a narrow woodland path.

Everyone wore tense expressions, treading lightly, unwilling to relax.

Several kept glancing back, eyes flicking over the trees behind, as though Luo Jiutian might leap out at any moment.

Luo Chen’s earlier words had calmed them somewhat, but worry lingered.

They all knew their group’s strength was the weakest—at best cannon fodder ProMax.

If they actually ran into Luo Jiutian, who knew what kind of nightmare awaited?

The cruel irony, of course, was that Luo Jiutian was already among them, hiding in plain sight at the very heart of their formation.

Head bowed, he played the timid coward, trailing nervously behind a few clanmates.

Whenever anyone turned to glance at him, he would flash a sheepish grin and nod quickly.

Halfway along, Luo Jiutian suddenly quickened his pace, catching up to a mid-stage Foundation disciple at the front. He produced an activated recording stone and held it out.

“Here. Take this.”

The disciple accepted it warily. “What’s this about?”

Luo Jiutian deliberately lowered his voice, sounding nervous. “Our group’s the weakest. If something happens, at least there’ll be a record… a message for Young Master Luo.”

He avoided the man’s gaze, voice trailing smaller and smaller. “I—I’m not saying something will definitely happen. Just… feels safer this way.”

The disciple hesitated for a few breaths before finally pocketing it.

He didn’t sense anything suspicious. If anything, this bumbling coward showed some forethought—at least his head was working.

“Alright. I’ll keep it. Just don’t fall behind.”

“Okay.”

When the others heard, a few even nodded in approval, thinking it a sensible precaution.

Not one of them doubted his intentions. The group pressed on.

Soon, the terrain shifted—the once-flat path grew uneven, broken in places, tangled with vines.

“Wait!” Luo Jiutian suddenly raised a hand. “M-my stomach… it’s acting up. Can I… step aside for a bit?”

The group blinked.

One disciple narrowed his eyes. “Do we look like three-year-olds to you?”

Luo Jiutian shook his head vigorously.

“Then why would a Foundation cultivator suddenly complain of a stomachache? What’s your game?”

“No, no! You’ve got it wrong!” Luo Jiutian waved frantically. “It’s just… earlier, in the misty forest, I panicked and swallowed a pill. Might’ve had side effects. I’ll just handle it over there—be quick!”

He pointed at some nearby bushes.

The others looked at each other. Then one snorted a laugh. “Let him go. At a time like this, leaving the group’s even riskier than sticking with us.”

A few exchanged glances, then nodded. It was true.

“Fine. Be quick. Don’t dawdle.”

“Thank you, thank you!” Luo Jiutian bobbed his head, turned, and scurried off.

As soon as he left, a chuckle rippled through the group.

“This guy’s really timid. Even answering nature’s call has him spooked.”

“At least he’s harmless. As long as he doesn’t cause trouble for us, I don’t care.”

“Enough chatter. We’ll wait for him here.”

Meanwhile, hidden behind the bushes, Luo Jiutian finally dropped the act.

After confirming he was alone, he pulled a body from his storage pouch.

It was that guy’s corpse.

Back in the misty forest, Luo Jiutian hadn’t just killed him and looted his belongings—he had also carefully stowed the body away, preparing for exactly this moment.

More importantly, he had found something interesting on the corpse.

A round jade ring.

As long as he carried it, the closer he drew to Luo clan members, the stronger the reaction.

So that was how Luo Chen and the others had reunited so quickly in the Azure Cloud Secret Realm.

As for Su Zimo and Su Xinyuan—they had likely run into the Luo group by chance and tagged along.

Luo Jiutian slipped the ring back into the corpse’s sleeve.

Rising to his feet, he brushed his palms together, though they were spotless.

“Senior,” he said, “what comes next… may not be pleasant to watch. If you mind, perhaps return to the ring for a rest.”

The White Tiger Xuanjun’s expression remained cool. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve witnessed slaughter aplenty.”

“Oh? I thought you’d accuse me of being too ruthless, killing at every turn.” Luo Jiutian’s gaze lingered on the body at his feet.

“In this world, speaking of good and evil is easy. Surviving is hard.” The White Tiger Xuanjun’s tone was calm. “If the enemy is left alive, they’ll only become a hidden threat. You and I both understand this.”

Luo Jiutian gave a soft laugh and said no more.

Closing his eyes, he circulated his qi. His muscles and bones shifted subtly. Skin, features, physique—all began to transform.

Within mere breaths, the cowardly figure of That Guy vanished.

Standing in his place was—

Li Daming.

Back on the woodland path, the Luo disciples were still waiting.

“What’s going on? Why isn’t he back yet?” one muttered. “It’s been nearly a stick of incense, hasn’t it?”

“Maybe something did happen?” another joked nervously.

“Shut it.” Someone cuffed him on the head. “Even if he had, he wasn’t far. How could there be no sound at all?”

“Still… honestly, if he ran into trouble, I doubt he could escape,” another whispered.

“Stop guessing. We’ll know soon enough.”

At that moment, a rustling came from the bushes.

Ka—sha—

The sound was faint, but in the stillness of the forest it was piercing. Everyone snapped their heads toward it.

A moment later, a broad-shouldered man emerged.

In one hand he carried that guy’s corpse.

He strode forward without pause, tossing the body onto the ground before them.

In that instant, every disciple’s face went pale with horror.

“Li… Li Daming?!”