In the ancient, dilapidated ruins, Luo Xiu looked at the frantic and extrely embarrassed Lin Xiyue, an incredibly strange expression on his face.
He wasn't as embarrassed as she was; on the contrary, he was quite composed. After all, this had happened many, many tis before. However, he still felt sowhat stifled.
To think, a grown man like himself, the mighty Azure Emperor, was actually being forced! If it weren't for Lin Xiyue, he would've started struggling and screaming long ago!
At this mont, Lin Xiyue sat on the ground with her head bowed and knees hugged, not daring to look up at Luo Xiu.
Rembering the absurd incident that had just occurred, a sense of guilt suddenly arose within her. She had never imagined that she would be intimate with any man other than Luo Xiu. Although the situation was special, with the Nine Yin Great Emperor in control, the physical intimacy was an undeniable fact. But on second thought, that two-timing womanizer, that super scumbag Luo Xiu, had a ton of won around him. Besides, she had no relationship with him now, so there was no need to feel guilty at all. Thinking this way, Lin Xiyue suddenly felt much better.
In the silence, Luo Xiu took a set of won's clothes from his Gold Bracelet and tossed them to Lin Xiyue.
"Hurry and put these on. How can you face anyone while you're bare-assed like that?"
Lin Xiyue glared at him, grabbed the clothes, and hastily scrambled behind a broken wall in the ruins to get dressed. Luo Xiu watched her flustered retreat, shaking his head helplessly. The clothes belonged to Su Shenyun, who had left them with him. After the fierce battle ended, Luo Xiu had gone to the Land of Lawlessness to retrieve the Holy Lotus Jade Pendant he had hidden, finding this set of clothes at the sa ti. He had also changed into a set of casual wear for himself.
A mont later, Lin Xiyue slowly walked out from the ruins.
When Luo Xiu looked up, he was slightly stunned. She wore tight jeans with a backless chiffon top. Though they were the sa clothes, her style was completely different from Su Shenyun's.
"Why do you have won's clothes with you?"
Luo Xiu touched his nose and looked away. "You have sothing to wear, that's enough. Don't ask so many questions."
Lin Xiyue let out a soft "oh." She wondered if this Gentlemanly Doctor had so peculiar fetish for collecting won's clothing.
Recalling the earlier events, Luo Xiu wanted to ask Lin Xiyue what she had experienced here. But seeing her state, it seed she didn't want to talk to him, so he decided against it.
"You're still very weak. Even though the potent effects of the dicine have been expelled, your injuries haven't fully healed. Do you want to rest for a while?"
Dragging her exhausted body, Lin Xiyue walked forward. "No need."
After a few steps, she suddenly turned to look at Luo Xiu and said very seriously, "Dr. Chen, about what happened... I hope you'll forget it. Just pretend it never happened, and don't tell anyone."
"I understand."
Lin Xiyue's lips quivered as she said softly, "I'm sorry."
Luo Xiu froze on the spot. He didn't know if her apology was ant for him or for the *other* him.
"Xi Yue, I'm sorry... Just forget about that scumbag Luo Xiu. He's not worthy of you."
***
They traveled in silence for nearly a day before leaving Heitian Swamp, reaching the oasis, and regrouping with the other team mbers.
As Luo Xiu had predicted, Ye Ningxue had easily taken care of the two mbers from the Sakura Country team. Now, the only one left from their team was Watari Kagura, whose strength was profound and unfathomable. But she seed to have vanished completely, never appearing again.
After a brief rest, the group of seven set out again. It took them nearly half a day to reach the center of the oasis. There was a teleportation formation in the center; stepping into it would transport them to the accommodation area of Lop Nor.
***
In the salt pit, which had been dry for countless years, Sun Li saw Luo Xiu's group appear and hurried over to welco them.
She had been on edge this whole ti, waiting here almost every day. Hearing the grim stories of the brutal events inside from the contestants who had already returned and seeing the corpses being carried out one by one, her nerves were perpetually frayed. Seeing everyone now, safe and sound, she could finally relax.
Lin Jianlong walked up and patted Luo Xiu on the shoulder. "You've worked hard. Get so good rest. The second round will begin in three days."
Luo Xiu said nothing. He simply waved his hand, handing the competition badges he had collected over to Lin Jianlong, and then started walking out of the salt pit. Right now, he just wanted to go back to his tent and get so proper sleep.
Just then, Wendy trotted up to Lin Jianlong with a serious expression. "Long Shuai, co with for a mont. I have sothing to report."
Lin Jianlong frowned slightly. "About the Heretic Cult?"
He was naturally aware of Wendy's true identity, as Lu Nianjiao had inford him about it long ago.
Wendy nodded lightly. "Let's find sowhere private to talk."
***
「Three days later.」
Luo Xiu had remained in his tent recovering. Other than sneaking out for a rendezvous with Sun Li or Xu Qianqing, he barely left. Although he had used the Ghost Valley Cleansing Technique to neutralize Watari Kagura's Heavenly Control Hand back in Heitian Swamp, the attack had still inflicted injuries that were proving difficult to heal.
Early this morning, Sun Li snuck into Luo Xiu's tent and urged him to get ready to go to the salt pit's teleportation formation.
"Your ex-wife's condition is quite serious."
Luo Xiu asked, "What happened to Xi Yue?"
"She's currently in seclusion to recover," Sun Li explained. "After discussing it with Long Shuai, we've decided she won't participate in the second round. She'll continue her recovery outside."
Luo Xiu nodded slowly. "That's for the best."
Sun Li added, "So this ti it'll just be the five of you. You have to protect those four beauties, you hear?"
Without another word, Luo Xiu began packing his things.
A glint appeared in Sun Li's eyes. She suddenly leaned close to his ear, her breath fragrant. "Want to have a morning quickie before we head out?"
***
「In the salt pit.」
Xu Qianqing, Ye Ningxue, Su Shanyue, and Zhang Yi had been waiting for a very long ti before Sun Li finally brought Luo Xiu over.
The four won puffed their cheeks in annoyance and started to approach him, but before they could even begin their interrogation, Sun Li pointed at Luo Xiu and scolded him first. "This lazy bum of a doctor sleeps like a log! I couldn't wake him up no matter what, and when I finally did, he insisted on lazing around in bed."
Then, without missing a beat, she bowed smoothly to the four won. "I'm so sorry, ladies. This was my mistake... I apologize for making you wait so long."
Faced with Sun Li's preemptive strike, Xu Qianqing and the others could only look at each other and obediently keep their mouths shut, their complaints effectively silenced.
***
According to the rules of the Shi Wu Great Reef, the team with the most competition badges from the first round could freely choose their teleportation destination for the second round. Team Hua Country, thanks to their degenerate doctor, Luo Xiu, undoubtedly had the most.
Inside the teleportation formation, Luo Xiu accepted a map from an elder and began examining it carefully.
As their coach, Lin Jianlong reminded them from the side, "The place you're going next is the deepest part of the Lop Nor Secret Realm. Its core, located deep underground, is a prehistoric ruin. Its origins are unknown..."
While Lin Jianlong was patiently explaining, Luo Xiu suddenly pointed to a spot right in the center of the map. "Let's go here."
The elder gave the map a deep look, then stepped aside to join three other elders in activating the teleportation formation.
The next mont, Luo Xiu and his group of four companions vanished as if they had evaporated.
***
In an endless expanse of ruins, Luo Xiu looked around, bewildered. The familiar ancient aura reminded him of the Tomb of Civilization he had visited before.
As he was lost in thought, Zhang Yi sidled up to him. "Gentlemanly Doctor, why did you pick this place? It looks so eerie."
Luo Xiu didn't hide the truth. "Actually, while Long Shuai was giving the briefing, he also sent a Divine Sense Communication. He said this place, called Tianshui City, has the most opportunities. Also, those supposed Divine Skills are most likely located here as well."
"Aweso!" Zhang Yi's eyes lit up, and she pumped her small fists. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go find them! Divine Skills, Divine Skills, they're all mine!"
At that mont, Xu Qianqing spoke up. "Finding those Divine Skills is a hidden mission from the dic Immortal, but the Shi Wu Great Reef itself is also very important. Only by winning the championship can Hua Country beco the chief nation of the Martial Alliance."
"The second round is about finding opportunities of the Great Dao. While it's not as combat-heavy as the first round, these opportunities are often the hardest to find. Therefore, we should focus our energy on that to ensure we successfully advance to the third round."
Su Shanyue nodded slightly. "The vice-captain is right. Compared to those vague and elusive Divine Skills, winning the championship is what matters most."
Ye Ningxue felt the sa way. "A Divine Skill, no matter how powerful, cannot protect an entire country on its own."
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