Although Zhang Jingmo easily dodged it, a chill still inexplicably ran down his spine. His instincts were telling him there was danger, but his reason was also telling him that the person before him only had Qi Refining stage cultivation. No matter how strong, how far could he go?

As if not recognizing Zhang Jingmo, Lu Guijiu slashed down one sword after another. Zhang Jingmo originally intended to call out to Lu Guijiu, but changed his mind, deciding to simply observe the results of Lu Guijiu's cultivation.

Seeing that he always failed to kill the person before him, the gloominess on Lu Guijiu's face deepened. Purple flames suddenly ignited in his hands, and he transformed into a fleeting shadow.

Traces of shock appeared in Zhang Jingmo's eyes. In that instant, he actually saw the form of a dragon appearing around Lu Guijiu's body. That fire dragon seemed to circle Lu Guijiu's body, constantly roaring and surging, giving his opponent an overwhelming sense of oppression.

The two continuously fought inside the cave. Zhang Jingmo did not retaliate, only constantly dodging and evading, while Lu Guijiu's speed indeed grew faster and faster along with Zhang Jingmo's evasion. In the end, the two seemed to have disappeared, only occasionally hearing the subtle sound of sleeves rubbing together.

The more Lu Guijiu fought, the angrier he became, as if about to go mad. He paid no heed to being in this cave, the flames on his body growing even more scorching hot, actually beginning to melt the surrounding rocks.

Seeing this, Zhang Jingmo also knew that if this continued, an accident might occur. He no longer dodged, simply standing in place and catching Lu Guijiu's blade with one hand.

Lu Guijiu used all his strength in this slash, but the blade only left a cut a few inches long on Zhang Jingmo's skin. However, although it was just a flesh wound, Zhang Jingmo felt the purple flames burning his palm painfully. Upon taking a closer look, he discovered the purple flames beginning to spread up his arm from his elbow.

Zhang Jingmo used spiritual energy to suppress those purple flames and sighed, "Guijiu, not seeing each other for over eighty years, you give your master this kind of greeting gift?"

Lu Guijiu's face was full of irritation, thinking to himself, why hasn't this illusion disappeared yet? Usually after chopping it a couple times it would cleanly vanish, but this time it even wants to say a few words.

Seeing that Lu Guijiu did not respond and even had a fed-up look in his eyes, Zhang Jingmo was stunned. "Guijiu? Why are you ignoring your master?"

Lu Guijiu fiercely glared at Zhang Jingmo, then raised a strange long sword, looking as if he was preparing to attack again.

Zhang Jingmo had not anticipated this scene at all. Lu Guijiu's reaction completely exceeded his scope of understanding... Lu Guijiu spat disdainfully and said, "What the hell is this? Get lost quickly."

Zhang Jingmo: "..."

Lu Guijiu continued, "If you don't scram, I'll beat you until your soul scatters."

Zhang Jingmo: "...Guijiu."

Hearing the voice calling his name, Lu Guijiu felt even more irritated. He angrily said, "Don't pretend to be my master. If you don't believe me the first time, are you going to try a few more times? Let me tell you, a piece of trash like you can't even imitate a fraction of my master's elegance."

Zhang Jingmo: "...Oh?"

Lu Guijiu sneered, "I thought you were powerful, but it turns out your acting is getting worse. At least before you looked the same as my master, but now..."

Zhang Jingmo roughly guessed that Lu Guijiu had encountered something. He said with a wry smile, "What's wrong now?"

Lu Guijiu scoffed, "My master has white hair, but you've changed to black hair. Ridiculous."

Zhang Jingmo looked at Lu Guijiu helplessly and sighed again, "Guijiu, Master didn't lie to you. This Master has returned."

Lu Guijiu stared coldly at Zhang Jingmo for a long time, but gradually all expression disappeared from his face.

Zhang Jingmo couldn't figure out what Lu Guijiu was thinking. He could only say, "Master didn't die..."

Lu Guijiu didn't respond.

Zhang Jingmo called out, "Guijiu?"

Lu Guijiu's throat moved up and down, but his expression didn't change. He said indifferently, "You say you're my master, but do you have any proof?"

Zhang Jingmo said, "What proof is needed for this?"

Lu Guijiu immediately retorted, "Then you're just deceiving me." He spoke with certainty, but after finishing, he gently pressed his chest and said softly, "My master has always been with me."

Zhang Jingmo felt a chill from Lu Guijiu's changing expressions. He also lost patience and said bluntly, "Lu Guijiu, I'll say it again. I'm not dead."

Lu Guijiu asked, "You're not dead?"

Zhang Jingmo affirmed, "Indeed."

Lu Guijiu gave a cold laugh. He said, "You're not dead? Then what's this?" After speaking, he took out a blood-red piece of flesh from his bosom. Zhang Jingmo looked closely and realized that it was actually his heart. He didn't expect that Lu Guijiu had kept it until now.

Seeing that Lu Guijiu refused to believe him, Zhang Jingmo had no choice but to explain how he had planned and revived. However, he made up an excuse for deceiving Lu Guijiu, saying that he wasn't sure if he could survive, so he said those words to Lu Guijiu, fearing that witnessing his death would extinguish Lu Guijiu's fighting spirit.

Lu Guijiu listened expressionlessly, but there were no emotional fluctuations in his eyes. After listening, he glanced coldly at Zhang Jingmo a few more times.

Zhang Jingmo thought he didn't believe it and wanted to explain further, but unexpectedly, Lu Guijiu said indifferently, "I believe it."

Zhang Jingmo was stunned.

Lu Guijiu nodded. He walked to Zhang Jingmo's side and lowered his head to gaze at Zhang Jingmo's face. After a moment, he said hoarsely again, "I believe it."

There was no ecstatic reunion, no anger after learning he had been deceived. Lu Guijiu seemed to have lost all emotion and just uttered three words expressionlessly: I believe it.

Seeing this, Zhang Jingmo inexplicably felt a rare sense of anxiety in his heart. He gently persuaded, "Guijiu, are you angry with your master?"

Lu Guijiu said flatly, "Guijiu wouldn't dare."

Zhang Jingmo said, "This was also your master's last resort. Your master couldn't be certain if the medicine would work..." This was naturally a lie. If he didn't have 100% certainty, Zhang Jingmo would never gamble with his own life.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing Zhang Jingmo's explanation, Lu Guijiu actually laughed. He said, "Then I want to ask, Master, did you ever consider what would happen if the medicine didn't work?"

Zhang Jingmo was speechless.

Lu Guijiu said, "You didn't think about me even a little bit. If the medicine hadn't worked, what kind of situation would it have been?"

Zhang Jingmo: "Guijiu, you really are angry."

Lu Guijiu smiled calmly, but there was a faint purple light flowing in his eyes. He said, "Master, Guijiu wouldn't dare be angry with Master." After speaking, he casually slashed the sword in his hand to the side, actually cutting out a trench dozens of feet wide.

Zhang Jingmo was now even more certain of his guess. Lu Guijiu was indeed truly angry, and it seemed he was quite furious.

Having no experience in coaxing people, Zhang Jingmo now faced a dilemma. He was thinking about how to appease Lu Guijiu so that he wouldn't be so angry...