Qin Luo mentally cursed the system. Although he didn't know what the cultivation system of this world was like, the fact that it was hundreds of times more difficult than others from the very beginning was the legendary hellish start.
Despite cursing in his heart, Qin Luo's body still honestly accepted the system's cultivation return. A large amount of extremely refined purple spiritual energy surged into his body, lighting up one of his acupoints in just a moment. Then came the second and the third, until the fourth acupoint was about to be lit up before the spiritual energy was completely consumed.
When Qin Luo opened his eyes again, he found himself no longer in the dungeon, but flying across a wide open space. At that moment, Xia Zihan was grabbing him by the back of his collar and fleeing at high speed, with dozens of black-robed men chasing after them.
"Damn it."
Xia Zihan cursed inwardly. She could feel the effects of the Restoration Pill wearing off, and her cultivation was beginning to show signs of collapse.
"Since that's the case, then don't blame me for being ruthless."
Qin Luo heard her whisper amidst a gust of wind, and then saw the men in black freeze in place, their dark pupils turning purple. After a moment, a series of thuds rang out, and only dozens of headless corpses lay on the ground...
Qin Luo was so frightened by what he saw that he broke out in a cold sweat. What kind of sorcery was this? He didn't even see how Xia Zihan made her move, yet those men in black died right in front of him.
Looking at the battlefield that had already receded into the distance, Qin Luo still felt a lingering fear from what had just happened. If she had taken action herself in the simulation... The thought sent a chill down Qin Luo's spine.
At this moment, Xia Zihan also noticed his awakening. After swallowing the Restoration Pill in the dungeon, she opened her eyes and saw him standing in front of her with his eyes closed, and wisps of spiritual energy emanating from his body. With her extensive knowledge, she could naturally tell that he was now entering the first stage of cultivation, the Spiritual Awareness Realm.
However, she had never heard of spiritual energy escaping from the body when entering the Spiritual Awareness Realm. But she didn't think too much about it at the time. The effect of the Restoration Pulse Pill wouldn't last long, so she could only take him out first.
Fortunately, these men in black were just local bandits with low cultivation levels. However, by the time she escaped, the news had likely already reached the sects.
The real manhunt has only just begun. To escape this predicament, they must leave the dangerous Central Plains and go to an extremely remote and sparsely populated place, where they might have a chance to avoid this calamity.
Just as Qin Luo was still in a daze, his collar suddenly loosened, and he made intimate contact with the ground.
"Ouch."
Qin Luo hurriedly stood up, rubbed his slightly reddened forehead, and then looked at Xia Zihan with some displeasure.
"Couldn't you have told me before you dropped me? Luckily I'm tough, otherwise my head would have been cracked open."
Xia Zihan was kneeling on the ground, a trickle of black blood flowing from the corner of her mouth.
puff!
The effects of the Fuma Dan in her body had worn off, and the strong backlash caused her to suddenly spit out a mouthful of dark, purulent blood.
"Towards...the south!"
After saying those three words, Xia Zihan seemed to have used up all her strength, closed her eyes, and collapsed to the ground.
This startled Qin Luo, who rushed to her side and placed his finger near her nose. Only when a faint breath came out of her nose did Qin Luo breathe a sigh of relief.
"Fortunately, it was just a temporary coma; otherwise, my first investment would have been a complete loss."
Qin Luo carried her on his back, letting out a long sigh.
"Damn, I never expected that she looked so thin and weak, but was actually so heavy."
Qin Luo carried her with some difficulty and ran in one direction. The movement caused some vibrations, which made Xia Zihan slowly open her eyes a crack. When she saw Qin Luo's direction, her face suddenly turned red, and a mouthful of pus and blood spurted out of her mouth again.
"You're awake?"
After wiping away some blood from his face, Qin Luo asked in surprise.
"You...you're going the wrong way!"
After Xia Zihan finished speaking, whether it was from anger or the backlash that was too severe, she fell unconscious again with her head against Qin Luo's back.
"Forehead......"
Fortunately, she hadn't run far. Qin Luo, looking embarrassed, turned in a different direction and continued her escape. Damn it, she didn't even point in a direction before she fainted. How could someone with no sense of direction like me possibly tell east from west?
......
A week later, in an abandoned temple.
Qin Luo looked at Xia Zihan, who was dressed as a man, on the ground with mixed feelings. After traveling for so many days, he was too exhausted to run anymore. He didn't know where he was, so he had to find a dilapidated temple to rest for the time being.
"Is she going to die?"
Seeing that she showed no signs of waking up, Qin Luo couldn't help but reach out and touch her nose with his finger again.
Unexpectedly, Xia Zihan's phoenix eyebrows twitched, and she slowly opened her eyes to see Qin Luo extending his finger towards her.
A loud snap echoed in the empty temple.
What are you trying to do?!
Xia Zihan narrowed her eyes and looked at him with a cold expression.
"I just wanted to check if you were still breathing. Why are you making such a fuss?"
Qin Luo rubbed his slightly sore fingers and looked at her with a helpless expression.
Upon hearing this, Xia Zihan checked her robes, facial decorations, and Adam's apple, and only relaxed her guard after confirming that everything was normal. However, all her cultivation had long since dissipated, and she was now no different from an ordinary mortal.
"I don't even know your name yet, and what's the deal with those men in black?"
Seeing that the wariness in her eyes had lessened considerably, Qin Luo quickly asked. Although he already knew her real name, he couldn't just say it directly, could he? He knew that if he did, she would attack him without hesitation.
"Zhao Jiu".
Xia Zihan said coldly.
Qin Luo's lips twitched. He was still at five in the evening! You like to pretend, huh? Then I'll play along.
"So it's Fellow Daoist Zhao Jiu. I am Wang Wu." Qin Luo also told her his name with great courtesy.
Xia Zihan didn't say anything about this, but after a pause, she continued:
"With the fall of the Xia Emperor and the rebellion of the four major sects, the Central Plains have fallen into chaos. Those men in black are a band of thugs who have spontaneously organized themselves to capture the fleeing members of the royal family, in response to the call of the four major sects. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Upon hearing her story, four words immediately came to Qin Luo's mind.
"A disastrous start!"
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