Zong Shou let out a slight sigh and walked over to Gong Xinran. After a moment's hesitation, he finally spoke with bitterness, "Senior Sister, do you have any final wishes?"

Gong Xinran visibly started, then let out a short, incredulous laugh. "For that brief moment, I actually hoped you could save me, Junior Brother. Using those golden needles to stimulate the pressure points, preserving my life completely unharmed, yet taking down six men. I almost believed you were capable of anything. But how wonderful! I remember three years ago, you promised me personally that one day you would surpass your father and become an unparalleled powerhouse, making everyone who once looked down on you see you in a new light. I thought you had long since given up. I never imagined you would actually achieve it. Among the disciples who started at the same time as you, I doubt a single one can match you now—"

Zong Shou paused briefly, reviewing the memories in his mind. Then he shook his head inwardly; he hadn't realized the 'Zong Shou' of the past could be so naive.

A faint flush of embarrassment crossed his face. Although the words weren't spoken by the real him, others might not see the difference.

Gong Xinran seemed weary, letting out a slight gasp before speaking again. Her expression, however, was chillingly indifferent. "Speaking of final wishes, Junior Brother, could you retrieve that secret martial scripture for me? I don't truly hate Gao Yi. What he said was correct; the reason for my death today is ultimately due to my own foolish obsession. It was my blindness that made me trust him. But that secret scripture involves the legacy of the Gong family and is crucial for my young brother; it cannot be lost from my possession." As she said this, Gong Xinran’s eyes flickered slightly, revealing a plea. "I know this request is likely too much to ask, and I know you might not be able to fulfill it now. I only hope that when you possess the ability and have the leisure to recall your Senior Sister, you will retrieve it for me—"

Zong Shou listened silently, suddenly feeling a strange premonition. He looked sharply to his right, seeing the grass and trees in that direction shake violently.

A moment later, Chu Xue’s figure emerged, panting heavily. Upon seeing the scene before her—and the near-dead Gong Xinran—she first froze instinctively. Then, her delicate features tightened, and she stood quietly to the side.

Though unaware of what had just transpired, she instinctively dared not interrupt.

After a full ten counts, seeing Zong Shou remain noncommittal, a bitter expression slowly spread across Gong Xinran's face. Then, the very next moment, she heard Zong Shou suddenly speak, "Just retrieving that secret martial scripture? You don't wish to see Gao Yi die before your eyes?"

Gong Xinran, who had just resigned herself to despair, immediately snapped back to attention, looking over with disbelief. After a moment, her delicate eyebrows knitted slightly. "It's not that I fear you can’t kill him. It’s just that Gao Yi has already left the mountain. From his tone, there are many people waiting for him below, perhaps even a Xiantian expert. Even with your formidable strength, Junior Brother, there’s no need to clash head-on with them now—"

Zong Shou ignored her and walked over to a nearby corpse. With a slight kick of his foot, he picked up an Iron-Tipped Great Bow.

He pulled it casually; the string was extremely tight and immensely resilient. He had to exert about three thousand jin of force just to draw it back, and even with his current strength, he couldn't draw it fully.

Satisfied, Zong Shou strapped the bow onto his back and picked up the quiver. It contained twenty arrows, unused by the previous owner. They were made of Cloud Whale bone, extremely light, inlaid with Golden Tiger teeth, and etched with blood grooves. The tips glinted with a sharp, chilling coldness.

He weighed each arrow in his hand, gaining an understanding of their balance, before securing them at his waist. Then, he strode down the mountain, calling out as he walked, "Xue’er, carry her over here, but be careful not to touch those needles!"

Chu Xue wanted to ask what he intended to do, but she also thought, My young master looks like he’ll collapse with a strong gust of wind. After running so far, he should be exhausted and on the ground. Why is he pretending?

Yet, she dared not delay. She hurried over and carefully lifted Gong Xinran. Only when she was close did she realize the severity of Gong Xinran’s injuries; almost all her blood was gone, and it was a miracle she had survived this long.

Zong Shou had only taken a few steps down when he indeed felt a shortness of breath and a wave of weakness. He tried to activate the Wind-Walking Spirit Bone beneath him, only to realize the object had been completely ruined during the earlier exertion.

His brow furrowed instinctively, just as a pair of blood-red lights flashed before his eyes.

At first glance, they resembled two red lanterns. On closer inspection, he saw a giant lion, fully two zhang tall, staring intently in their direction. Its form was lithe, muscles taut, and its pupils filled with bloodthirsty malice.

Even from a distance, a stench of raw flesh hit his nostrils.

"It’s a Third-Rank Scythe-Tail Lion!"

Chu Xue froze, her arms nearly failing to hold on. She quickly sniffed herself; indeed, the scent of the medicinal liquid had faded. And Gong Xinran smelled of nothing at all.

A bitter taste filled her mouth. The Scythe-Tail Lion before them, though only Third-Rank, displayed an unstable aura—sometimes surging high, gathering immense spiritual energy, and sometimes dropping so low it was almost imperceptible, completely withdrawn.

The situation was strangely similar to Yin Yang a few days prior; the beast was at the peak of its rank, on the verge of a breakthrough!

She wondered if her Cold Nether Tiger could contend with it.

Zong Shou, however, let out a dry laugh, and his eyes simultaneously turned blood red.

The anger, fury, and killing intent he had suppressed while speaking with Gong Xinran burst forth instantly. His thoughts drifted, tinged with wildness. He had just been worrying about how to get down the mountain, and now, transportation had seemingly found him.

The Scythe-Tail Lion seemed to sense the danger, surprisingly retreating instead of advancing, letting out a warning growl and taking half a step back.

In the next instant, purple light flickered. Zong Shou’s figure dissolved into an indistinct blur of light and shadow, appearing directly in front of the lion. Before the giant beast could react, he delivered a heavy punch to the side of its head.

Peng!

A deafening crash erupted as a full three thousand jin of sheer force slammed into the most vulnerable spot behind the ear, causing the lion to immediately jerk its head sideways, its brain reeling, feeling dazed.

This was followed by another merciless blow delivered from beneath the jaw, causing blood to spray from its mouth and nose. Several continuous strikes left it nearly senseless.

He hammered down on the giant lion’s head with frenzied force, only stopping when the intent in his chest had somewhat settled. Zong Shou finally drove a sword into the top of its head, angling downward, stopping just short of penetrating the skull and reaching the brain marrow.

Zong Shou leaped up and stood on the Scythe-Tail Lion's back. He shook his hand, thinking that the lion's bones were incredibly hard, surpassing all martial artists of the same rank. Even he, whose bones had been vastly reinforced by absorbing the essence of the Thunder Luan, was far inferior.

Barely a dozen punches had nearly cracked his own bones.

Seeing Chu Xue still standing there in a daze, Zong Shou frowned again. "What are you waiting for? Aren't you coming up?"

Chu Xue felt her throat dry out, and along with Gong Xinran, she stared blankly at the man and the beast before her.

Could Zong Shou really be planning to ride this Scythe-Tail Lion down the mountain?