Xiaoxiao.

Chapter 128 Zhu Fu Emerges from Seclusion

Since returning to Noguchi Pass, Zhu Lu has been in a deep state of unease.

In these days, no matter how hard he tried to get rid of that fleeting image in his mind, it was like a ghost that not only did not gradually disappear with the passage of time, but became more and more vivid.

In particular, the unbearable "nonsense" of the Old Ancestor of Traces, even though more than a year has passed, has not faded with time, but has become clearer.

"Would the ancestor really consume his own kind?"

Once this terrible thought arose, it spread wildly in his heart like weeds, and he could not stop it.

"Am I really just a dispensable pawn in the hands of the Ancestor?"

This question struck his heart like a heavy hammer.

Every time Zhu Lu thought of this, he felt a chill rise up his spine, making him tremble involuntarily.

Countless such questions swirled and intertwined in his mind, making him increasingly fearful the more he thought about them.

A series of discoveries and more inexplicable doubts made him increasingly believe that Wu Ren was not entirely a sowing discord.

This discovery was undoubtedly a heavy blow to him.

You should know that Zhu Xian has always been his most admired idol!

However, at this moment, all the evidence is relentlessly pointing to a cruel truth—his revered ancestor may very well be the kind of person he despises and scorns the most.

The shock of this conjecture nearly crushed him.

He wanted to confide his suspicions to someone, but looking across the entire Noguchi Pass, he sadly discovered that there wasn't a single suitable listener.

Just then, he looked at his second brother, Zhu Shou, who had come with him to welcome his eldest brother out of the pass.

Several times, Zhu Lu mustered up his courage and wanted to confide his troubles to his second brother.

But whenever the words were about to come out, they would get stuck in his throat and be swallowed back down.

Zhu Lu's every move had long been observed by Zhu Shou.

To be honest, Zhu Shou looked down on his indecisive younger brother to some extent.

In his view, a real man should be bold and responsible, and why can't he speak his mind directly?

Why be so hesitant and indecisive?

Despite possessing enviable talent, he relied on his ancestor's favor and idled away his days.

The ancestor bestowed upon him the most superior conditions for cultivation, but he did not cherish this rare opportunity at all.

Logically speaking, with his talent and resources, if he could diligently cultivate, he would surely become the strongest of the three brothers.

However, due to his overly ambitious nature, he is now far inferior to himself.

Even more tragically, he was completely unaware of this, blindly believing that he was unparalleled and invincible.

During this outing, he got into a fight with a human.

Upon his return, he began to boast wildly, claiming that he had encountered an extraordinary genius.

Hmph! That's utter nonsense!

In Zhu Shou's eyes, this guy was nothing but a clueless liar who just talked nonsense and boasted.

Despite looking down on his good-for-nothing brother from the bottom of his heart, they were still bound by the same blood, and their kinship was ultimately hard to sever.

Looking at his younger brother, whose face was full of confusion, Zhu Shou finally couldn't suppress his concern and asked, "Xiao Lu, what's wrong with you?"

Zhu Lu, who was completely absorbed in his own thoughts, was startled by Zhu Shou's sudden words and trembled all over.

He suddenly snapped out of his daze and asked blankly, "Huh?"

Faced with Zhu Lu's reaction, Zhu Shou couldn't help but feel helpless and speechless.

After a brief pause, he patiently asked again, "What are you standing there for?"

Only then did Zhu Lu come to his senses as if waking from a dream.

I wanted to voice all my doubts without hesitation, but when the words reached my lips, I suddenly hesitated...

The thought of her second brother's straightforward and guileless nature meant that he knew he would relay everything she had just said to the ancestor verbatim.

If things really develop that way, it will cause a huge mess, and the consequences will be unimaginable!

So, the words that were already on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down: "N-nothing! I was just wondering why my elder brother hasn't come out of seclusion yet."

Seeing this, Zhu Shou raised his hand helplessly, pointing towards the rising sun that had just peeked out from behind the clouds, and muttered an explanation: "Didn't the ancestor say before that the earliest we should wait is noon? Look at the current situation, what time is it?"

Zhu Lu looked in the direction Zhu Shou was pointing and was slightly taken aback when he saw the dazzling sunrise. He exclaimed in surprise, "What? It's only early morning! I thought the sun had already set!"

Hearing this, Zhu Shou rolled his eyes and retorted irritably, "What on earth are you thinking about all day? We've only been here a short time!"

You haven't even had a chance to sit down properly yet. If you're really bored, why don't you just head home!

"I can keep watch here; anyway, the ancestor only instructed me to be the only one waiting here."

Faced with his brother, who had been acting strangely and erratically ever since he returned, Zhu Shou felt utterly helpless.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Lu scratched the back of his head somewhat awkwardly and replied with an embarrassed laugh, "How could that be! How could that be! Of course I'll wait with you. We're like family, hehehe."

Just as Zhu Shou was about to speak, suddenly, an extremely powerful force swept over him like a surging tide.

This power seemed capable of tearing through the void, sending chills down one's spine.

Under the impact of this force, Zhu Shou and the people around him felt their breath catch in their throats, and their bodies trembled involuntarily. For a moment, they felt an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing deep shock in each other's eyes.

They secretly wondered: Could this be the legendary fourth-level strength? It's so powerful, it's beyond imagination!

Fortunately, this pressure came and went quickly.

In the blink of an eye, this oppressive aura vanished without a trace, just as quickly as it had arrived.

Accompanied by a hearty and cheerful laugh, a burly man strode out with a swagger.

This man had a full beard, with each hair standing up like a steel needle, giving him a rugged and unrestrained appearance.

At this moment, his face was still beaming with excitement, as if he was still immersed in the joy of breaking through to the fourth level.

The burly man strode towards Zhu Shou and his companion, laughing loudly as he muttered, "Our ancestor is truly amazing! Choosing to cultivate in human form actually greatly accelerates the speed of his strength advancement. This feeling is simply indescribable! Hahahaha..."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Lu and Zhu Shou, who were standing to the side, quickly cupped their hands and congratulated the big man: "Congratulations, elder brother, on successfully entering the fourth level! You are truly a role model for us!"

Upon hearing this, the burly man's face instantly broke into a bright smile, and he exclaimed loudly, "Oh, so it's my second and third brothers! Do you know how much I've missed you these past few days! Hahahaha..."

Before he finished speaking, he had already opened his arms and, like a moving mountain, suddenly embraced Zhu Lu and Zhu Shou tightly.

Legend has it that Zhu Fu, after many days of seclusion, finally emerged today.

At this moment, Zhu Xian, who was watching from a distance, was secretly plotting some kind of conspiracy in his deep eyes.

He glanced at the three brothers who were catching up, then turned to an elderly man in a brocade robe standing beside him and said, "Lingyi, those three humans have actually reappeared here?"

The old man called "Lingyi" quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and replied, "Reporting to the lord, this is indeed the case. The Sky-Listening Beasts and Ironclad Eagles we sent out have successfully located the whereabouts of those three humans."

Upon hearing this news, Zhu Xian revealed a barely perceptible sneer, and then continued to instruct, "Very good! This time, Ling Qi will personally lead the team to capture them. Remember, you must bring those three back alive."

After saying that, his cold gaze was fixed on the front, as if he were thinking about something.

"Yes, my lord!" With a reply, the old man named Ling Qi stepped forward.

Surprisingly, this Ling Qi was also wearing the same brocade robe as Ling Tong, and the two even looked remarkably alike.

What's even more shocking is that there were as many as seven old men, who looked exactly like Ling Qi and Ling Yi, standing behind Zhu Xian!

These seven elders are the powerful beings renowned throughout Noguchi Ridge—the Seven Elders of Fruit Spirit!

Each of them possesses unfathomable strength and is the most elite fighting force under Zhu Xian's command.

Each of these seven individuals possessed terrifying strength at level five, making them second only to Zhu Xian in power.

Zhu Xian pointed at Zhu Lu and the other two, and ordered, "In this operation, make sure to bring all three brothers along!"

Upon hearing Zhu Xian's command, Ling Qi, who was standing to the side, dared not be negligent in the slightest. He quickly bowed and respectfully replied, "Yes, sir!"

A manhunt targeting Kuang Zheng and his two companions was thus launched.

Meanwhile, Kuang Zheng and his group, who were targeted, were completely unaware of the danger that was lurking nearby...