Chapter 127: Contradiction

If he hadn’t misseen just now, he had always believed Lin Hao possessed only a fire elemental root. Yet, the Golden Bell Shield Lin Hao had just deployed clearly contained a metal elemental root.

What on earth was going on with Lin Hao?

Could he be a mixed elemental root?

Impossible! Those with mixed roots simply wouldn’t have such power, he thought, struggling with his own conflicting thoughts.

Fortunately, he had no idea that Lin Hao actually had five elemental roots; otherwise, he would have been utterly astonished.

Taking advantage of the moment the man was stunned, Lin Hao withdrew the Golden Bell Shield and shouted, “Earth Escape!”

He spun his feet rapidly, and a pit formed in the ground.

Together with Cao Yi, they both fell into the pit, which immediately sealed up behind them.

By the time the man and his companions reacted, Lin Hao had already escaped underground with Cao Yi.

“Ah! He’s escaped! Quick!”

Everyone rushed to where Lin Hao had vanished and stomped the ground furiously.

One subordinate shouted, “Boss, he’s a monster! How can he possess so many elemental roots?”

The boss’s face turned ashen, clearly in a foul mood. He hadn’t expected Lin Hao to escape through the earth.

Moreover, his bad mood gave way to shock when he realized Lin Hao had used three different elemental roots during their fight.

What did this mean?

If he recalled correctly, back in the cultivation world, those with mixed elemental roots could never truly advance their strength.

The more elemental roots one had, the more useless they were considered.

Yet here Lin Hao was, with such profound power and three elemental roots.

Had this world undergone some great change?

Thinking this over, he felt he might have misunderstood something crucial.

He immediately dispatched men to pursue Lin Hao while hurrying back to report this news to the Elder Hei.

He believed this was truly important information. If his suspicions were correct, their grand plan would surely be affected.

Seeing the elder leave hurriedly, the others exchanged uneasy glances and began a thorough search for Lin Hao and Cao Yi.

Meanwhile, on Lin Hao and Cao Yi’s side, the Earth Escape technique had come to Lin Hao on a sudden inspiration.

He seized the moment when their opponent was stunned and fled.

Though escaping in battle was generally frowned upon as cowardly, Lin Hao had no choice—survival was paramount, especially with Cao Yi in tow.

A wise man adapts to the times; if he insisted on fighting to the death, Lin Hao knew he would be overwhelmed.

But once underground, Lin Hao realized something: he could breathe in the soil, but Cao Yi could not.

After running about five or six hundred meters, Lin Hao sensed Cao Yi’s breathing growing faint until it was barely perceptible.

Cao Yi’s limbs began to grow cold again.

Worried, Lin Hao’s expression darkened. “This is bad!”

He had no choice but to break through the earth’s surface, bringing Cao Yi back to the air.

Once above ground, Lin Hao saw Cao Yi’s face flushed deep red—clearly struggling for breath.

Quickly, Lin Hao infused some spiritual energy, guiding his breathing, and Cao Yi’s color gradually improved.

Then Lin Hao surveyed their surroundings: they were in a forest, but scanning around, he saw their pursuers had not yet arrived.

He propped Cao Yi against a tree and checked his pulse.

Feeling the irregular rhythm, Lin Hao’s brow furrowed deeply in confusion.

Why was Cao Yi’s pulse so chaotic? His vital energy seemed to be running rampant.

Staring at Cao Yi’s face, Lin Hao probed further with his spiritual energy and discovered a black mass clinging to Cao Yi’s heart meridian, like a swirling mist.

When Lin Hao’s energy touched it, the black mass immediately absorbed the energy and began to grow.

Startled, Lin Hao withdrew his hand at once.

At that moment, Cao Yi’s eyes snapped open.

Lin Hao was shocked speechless—Cao Yi’s eyes had turned a dark green with vertical pupils.

As Cao Yi stared blankly at him, Lin Hao felt an eerie sensation, as if he were prey being eyed by a hunter.

Before Lin Hao could react, Cao Yi’s cold gaze fixed on him like a predator eyeing its target.

Then, suddenly, Cao Yi raised his hand and grabbed Lin Hao’s neck.

Sensing danger, Lin Hao reacted instantly, slapping Cao Yi’s hand away and stepping back several paces.

“Senior brother, what’s wrong with you?” Lin Hao shouted anxiously.

But Cao Yi seemed deaf to his words and lunged at him like a fierce tiger.

Realizing something was terribly wrong—perhaps poison or some mishap—Lin Hao dodged Cao Yi’s attacks without wanting to fight him, growing increasingly desperate.

Cao Yi’s rampage grew louder and more destructive. A punch missed Lin Hao but smashed into a tree, splitting it with a loud crack, or when it hit the ground, it left a crater.

“Senior brother, wake up! What’s wrong with you?” Lin Hao called out repeatedly.

No matter how he called, Cao Yi showed no sign of reason, and the disturbance grew louder.

Lin Hao’s face darkened grimly.

They had only just escaped and not traveled far; their pursuers would surely send natives after them.

Now, with Cao Yi causing such a commotion, others would soon be drawn to their location.

Cursing inwardly, Lin Hao immediately summoned the system.

“System, do you know what’s wrong with Cao Yi?”

But at this critical moment, the system remained silent, offering no hints.

While Lin Hao was momentarily distracted, Cao Yi let out a roar and, embracing Lin Hao tightly, pinned him to the ground, opening his mouth to bite Lin Hao’s neck and drink his blood.

Feeling the cold bite, Lin Hao quickly drew his Cloud-swallowing Sword to block Cao Yi’s mouth.

Cao Yi bit down hard on the blade, almost leaving teeth marks on it.

Unable to endure it any longer, Lin Hao kicked Cao Yi away.

At that instant, footsteps approached.

Lin Hao heard native voices shouting, “Over there! There’s movement! Follow me quickly!”

Realizing the danger, Lin Hao immediately stood beside Cao Yi, binding his hands with the Cloud-swallowing Sword and covering his mouth.

With a swift motion, he and Cao Yi hid in a tree.

No sooner had they concealed themselves than the natives arrived.

Surveying the chaotic scene, the natives ordered, “Search quickly! They can’t have gone far. Hurry and pursue!”

Lin Hao, holding Cao Yi, focused intently on the natives’ search, momentarily ignoring Cao Yi beside him.

But Cao Yi struggled fiercely, seemingly oblivious to pain.

Though the Cloud-swallowing Sword had mangled his hands, he still fought to break free.

Finally, he succeeded in removing the sword.

With a clang, the sword fell to the ground.

Lin Hao was jolted awake.

Yet, Cao Yi’s hands were free and he immediately grabbed Lin Hao’s neck.

Caught off guard, Lin Hao was pushed from the tree, falling beside his sword.

The noise startled the natives, who brightened at the sight and shouted, “Quick, over here! He’s right here! Capture him!”

Before Lin Hao could rise, he was surrounded.

Cao Yi jumped down and attacked Lin Hao.

Seeing this, Lin Hao cursed silently. Being besieged by natives was bad enough, but now Cao Yi was attacking him too.

The natives didn’t understand Cao Yi’s condition—only seeing that he had been unconscious on Lin Hao’s back moments ago but was now fighting alongside them.

Though puzzled, this didn’t stop them from trying to capture Lin Hao.

Suddenly, the air was filled with the clash of blows and Cao Yi’s furious roars.

Lin Hao was flustered. He did not hold back against the natives, but they used Cao Yi as a shield.

Whenever danger arose, they pushed Cao Yi forward, forcing Lin Hao to compromise.

He couldn’t bring himself to harm Cao Yi, which left him constrained.

Just as Lin Hao kicked one native away, they hurled Cao Yi at him.

Lin Hao caught him with both hands, but a black smoke suddenly appeared.

Alarmed, Lin Hao instinctively held his breath.

But it was too late. His vision blurred, and so did Cao Yi’s.

Then, with two sounds of collapse, both fell unconscious to the ground.

Seeing them captured, the group quickly bound them and took them back to the same stone cave.

When Lin Hao regained consciousness, he groaned softly, blinking with a moment of confusion.

He tried to massage his neck but realized his limbs were bound.

The clang of iron chains sounded whenever he moved.

Glancing around, Lin Hao’s eyes flashed with caution—he had been locked in an interrogation chamber.