These words completely shattered He Tao's confidence, leaving him filled with terror and wishing he could immediately return home.
With a slap to He Tao's head, Chu Hao said, "Why aren't you talking? Go on, keep up your act."
He Tao felt a burning humiliation. No one had ever dared to slap him on the head before. But now, he truly didn't dare utter another word.
He Tao wasn't stupid, just a bit arrogant. His hand had been crippled and his ear sliced off. If he dared to say anything more, he feared his other ear wouldn't be spared either.
"Gone mute?" Chu Hao delivered another slap.
"Where's that arrogant swagger from before?"
He Tao was stunned and dizzy. The blows to his face were excruciatingly painful, and his handsome features were ruined.
The onlookers watched, speechless.
Chu Hao said with disdain, "Instead of this Taoist Master going to your He Family, it would be better for the He Family to come find me personally."
"Let me teach you something else. When you contact the He Family, tell them how evil I am, how detestable. Tell them the He Family is nothing but rat droppings in my eyes, a trashy clan, a pack of fawning dogs. Mhm... just say it exactly like that."
Everyone was dumbfounded. Had this guy gone mad? Actually provoking the He Family to come after him?
Chu Hao took out a Five Horses Dismemberment Talisman, saying, "Before that, here's a little punishment for you."
The Five Horses Dismemberment Talisman was a talisman that had dropped from a Five Horses Dismemberment Ghost and had a one-star rarity.
Chu Hao recited the incantation. The talisman transformed into a stream of Ghost Qi, a wailing Evil Spirit that entered He Tao's body.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, He Tao's body actually split apart.
His head, arms, and legs looked as if they had been severed. It was a horrifying spectacle, and those around him were petrified, feeling a chilling terror well up inside them.
Su Muyue's eyes also widened as she stared in disbelief.
"DING! Host has made a shocking display, obtaining 800 Pretentiousness Points."
Now that was shocking!
He Tao's body appeared to be dismembered, yet he felt nothing.
To others, the scene was terrifying beyond belief. Everyone was thoroughly frightened by Chu Hao's methods.
Having successfully put on another shocking display, Chu Hao was very satisfied. This trip hadn't been in vain.
Chu Hao boasted, "With a mere wave of this Taoist Master's hand, a petty figure like you is dismembered."
He Tao's eyes finally managed to flutter open.
Suddenly, he realized he couldn't move. "What's happened to me?" he cried out in terror.
The tall, thin man scrambled to his feet and said in horror, "S-Steward Director, sir! Y-your body... it's been split apart!"
He Tao clearly didn't believe him. "Are you joking?" he retorted.
The tall, thin man swallowed hard, then ran over and lifted He Tao's head so he could see his own body.
It was true! The moment He Tao saw his own body, seemingly dismembered, he nearly fainted.
What kind of technique was this? To survive dismemberment and still be alive... was this something a human could do? This was clearly divine power!
He Tao was terrified beyond measure and stammered, "Wh-what... what have you done to me?"
Chu Hao sneered, "You thought you could come looking for trouble with me and not pay a price?"
He Tao was in complete despair. He had been dismembered. How was he supposed to live ? And yet, he had somehow survived and didn't even feel his body being separated.
Chu Hao paid him no further attention and turned to leave.
After Chu Hao left, Su Muyue murmured to herself, So full of himself, arrogant and conceited. He has ability and strength, but... he's not my type.
As it turned out, Su Muyue had appeared there because she had divined that Su Changyu intended to introduce her to Chu Hao. So, she had come to see what kind of person he was. Now that she had, she found him remarkable but not her type. He also seemed far too young. She wondered what Su Changyu could have been thinking.
Su Muyue performed a quick divination, then frowned and murmured, His fate has become blurred. What's going on?
Chu Hao had learned the Three-Nine Qiankun Studies, which had greatly enhanced his divination abilities, naturally making it harder for her to perceive his fate.
Su Muyue also departed.
He Tao was utterly terrified. With a trembling voice, he said, "Quick... take me back home."
When He Tao was brought back to the He Family and they saw his detached head and limbs, everyone's eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
He Tao's father, a man in his fifties with angular features and salt-and-pepper hair, was enraged beyond measure upon seeing his son's gruesome state.
He Wenlong roared, "Who did this? I'll make them suffer a fate worse than death!"
An elder from the He Family, a man in his seventies, stepped forward and said in a solemn voice, "This is a Ghost Technique Curse, also known as the Five Horses Dismemberment Talisman. A person afflicted by this talisman won't die, but their life is effectively over."
"Second Granduncle, please save me!" He Tao pleaded, desperate.
The Second Granduncle's strength was among the top in the He Family. Don't be fooled by his age; becoming powerful in talismanic arts like these required extensive experience and many years of dedicated practice. Only an unparalleled genius could achieve such power otherwise.
The Second Granduncle frowned. "Put his body parts back together. I'll try something."
The others quickly reassembled He Tao's body. A yellow talisman appeared in the Second Granduncle's hands. Muttering an incantation, he pressed it onto He Tao's forehead.
However, a powerful force repelled the Second Granduncle, sending him flying backward, spitting blood.
That wasn't all. It seemed something malevolent inside He Tao had been provoked. Ghost Qi enveloped the Second Granduncle, causing him to shiver uncontrollably.
His eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
"Second Granduncle!!"
The members of the He Family cried out in alarm, quickly helping the Second Granduncle up and carrying him back inside.
When the Second Granduncle regained consciousness, most of the Ghost Qi had dissipated. However, he looked weak and said with lingering shock, "This is no ordinary Ghost Technique Curse. A terrifying Evil Spirit lurks within He Tao's body."
He Wenlong asked anxiously, "Then what should we do? Is Tao really doomed to spend his life ?"
The Second Granduncle pondered for a moment before saying, "Breaking this Ghost Curse requires paying a tremendous price. Even if it's broken, the Evil Spirit inside Tao will latch onto whoever breaks the curse."
In other words, whoever broke the curse would essentially have to sacrifice themselves to save him.
Who would be willing to do that?
Even if someone had the ability, would they save He Tao at the cost of their own life?
He Tao sank even deeper into despair.
The He Family's Second Granduncle snorted coldly. "The one who tied the bell must be the one to untie it. Tao was too rash. The Host recognized by the True Word Brush couldn't possibly be weak. However... the He Family is not to be trifled with either!"
The younger members of the He Family all wore cold, stern expressions, as if they were ready to march to Anli City and teach Chu Hao a lesson at the Second Granduncle's command.
The He Family's Second Granduncle said, "Regardless, don't be too impulsive. Right now, righteous sects, Evil Demons, and ghosts alike are all gathered in Anli City. We must investigate the situation first."
He Wenlong nodded and said to his son, "Tao, you'll have to endure this for some time."
He Tao gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with venomous hatred. "Dad, you must capture Chu Hao alive! I want to tear him limb from limb!" The most update n0vels are published on novelFirｅ.net