Chapter 157: Chapter 157
The lights at the banquet were suddenly turned on.
Hurried footsteps echoed in the hall.
A group of several dozen people coldly surrounded the room from all directions.
Leading them was none other than John Sharo.
Looking at the hall where over two hundred people lay unconscious, John Sharo’s face broke into a cold smirk.
With a stern face, he walked over to where Zhang Xiaohao was.
Seeing Zhang Xiaohao and Cheng Qingsu both unconscious, the smile on John Sharo’s face grew even wider.
"Someone, take them away and execute Plan A."
"Yes, Young Master Three!" The black-clad bodyguards respectfully responded, dragging these people by the feet, one in each hand, like dragging trash, towards the lower floor.
"You two, take these two to my room," John Sharo ordered, pointing at Zhang Xiaohao and Cheng Qingsu.
"Yes, Young Master Three!" Two black-clad bodyguards responded respectfully, lifting Zhang Xiaohao and Cheng Qingsu off the floor and heading downward.
Seeing that the banquet hall was almost cleared of people.
John Sharo sneered, made a hand gesture signaling to execute Plan A.
After he left, countless black-clad bodyguards sprang from around, throwing the already prepared bodies of young men and women into the banquet hall.
Then, another group scattered prepared oil and odor-masking powders around the hall.
A torch was thrown down.
The flame leapt, burning vigorously, and in less than a breath, the entire hall was engulfed in roaring flames...
Meanwhile, on another side.
Zhang Xiaohao, although his eyes were closed, his Soul Power was constantly aware of his surroundings.
He and Cheng Qingsu received somewhat better treatment.
At least they weren’t dragged by their feet but were instead seated in an elevator plummeting downward.
When the elevator hit the first floor, it didn’t stop immediately but continued to descend.
"It seems my earlier guess was right, there must be some unspeakable secrets hidden here!" Zhang Xiaohao thought to himself.
About five minutes later, the elevator had plunged a hundred meters underground.
The elevator doors opened, and the two black-clad bodyguards led Zhang Xiaohao and Cheng Qingsu down another hallway, while the others were dragged like dead dogs down a different corridor.
After walking for a while, Zhang Xiaohao and Cheng Qingsu were brought into a splendidly decorated palace.
The man threw Cheng Qingsu onto the bed, activated a mechanism, and four handcuffs sprung from the bed, automatically locking onto her wrists and ankles.
Then, they tied Zhang Xiaohao to a gold pillar in the room with iron chains, wrapping him three whole times.
After completing all this, the two black-suited bodyguards finally left, closing the palace doors behind them.
After they left, Zhang Xiaohao did not rush to open his eyes. He swept with his Soul Power, carefully checking the entire palace, and ensured there were no surveillance devices before he finally opened his eyes.
"What place is this really? There exists such a massive and luxurious golden palace that even the ancient imperial palaces can’t compare with this place," Zhang Xiaohao muttered.
With a motion of his Soul Power, he probed the outside.
As for Cheng Qingsu, Zhang Xiaohao had already checked her thoroughly with his Soul Power earlier. She seemed to be quite convincing, apparently having cultivated a martial arts technique similar to the "Turtle Breath Technique."
"Huh? There is actually an Array placed here by a high-level expert, designed to block Soul Power. No wonder I, with my Earth Rank Peak Soul Power, can’t extend my Divine Thought beyond three hundred meters in this place when normally I can easily see everything within two miles. That explains it," Zhang Xiaohao said.
If the person who had placed the Array knew that someone could still investigate a three hundred meter radius within their grand Array with Soul Power, they would definitely be astounded.
It was only because Zhang Xiaohao cultivated the exceptional Three Pure Daoist Skill that his Soul Power was so pure and robust. If it were anyone else, let them just enjoy the feeling of their Soul Power being suppressed within their body!
"Fully armed, all of them high-level experts, their defenses are truly strict! Just this force alone is enough to rank them among the top tier! Moreover, there are mechanisms everywhere. If it were not for the investigation with Soul Power, ordinary people would truly fall into their trap! Strange, how have I never heard of such a powerful force before?" Zhang Xiaohao thought puzzledly.
Scuffle, scuffle, scuffle...
A series of hurried footsteps arose from outside.
Zhang Xiaohao’s mouth curled up, and under the perception of his Soul Power, John Sharo approached with four black-suited bodyguards, walking coldly toward him.
As they drew nearer, Zhang Xiaohao closed his eyes, feigning unconsciousness while keeping an eye on every movement outside with his Soul Power.
"Both of you stay here. Without my orders, no one is allowed to enter! Come and call me after an hour for the blood sacrifice!" John Sharo ordered.
"Yes, young master!" The four black-suited bodyguards responded respectfully, their menace palpable as they stood guard outside the door.
"Cheng Qingsu, you little wretch, your young master is here," John Sharo thought excitedly, pushing open the palace door and walking in.
He entered the inner chamber to see Cheng Qingsu lying handcuffed on the bed and Zhang Xiaohao bound to the golden pillar with iron chains.
John Sharo’s face broke into a cold smirk, laughing unrestrainedly.
"Haha... what goes around comes around, didn’t expect this day, did you? Yellow-skinned monkey, daring to compete with your young master over a woman, I’ll make you watch as your beloved woman is ridden right in front of your eyes, and die in despair!" John Sharo sneered viciously.
Approaching Zhang Xiaohao, he fished a small green bottle out of his pocket, popped the cap, and placed it under Zhang Xiaohao’s nose.
"Achoo! What the hell is this? It stinks!" Zhang Xiaohao, pretending to have just woken up, cursed faintly.
"Yellow-skinned monkey, you’re awake! Bet you didn’t expect to end up in my hands one day, huh? I’m really curious to see what expression you’ll have when I play with your woman later!" John Sharo said boastfully.
"You have already angered me. Daring to lust after my woman is courting death, no matter who he is. Even just thinking about it is unacceptable!" Zhang Xiaohao said murderously.
"Haha... Yellow-skinned monkey, you must still be dreaming. Haven’t you realized your current situation? Once you fall into my hands, can you really do anything about it? Moreover, the chains wrapped around you are not ordinary iron chains. They are high-tech products, made from a new generation of space-aluminum alloy, meticulously processed. But just one of these chains costs no less than one million US Dollars!" John Sharo laughed proudly.
"With my power, do you really think a mere broken chain can hold me?" Zhang Xiaohao scoffed. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩~𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖~𝙣𝙚𝙩
"I know you’re strong! You’ve moved beyond the ordinary, reaching the Body Tempering Realm. But this chain is specifically prepared for cultivators who think too highly of themselves! Even if you were not just a minor presence in the Body Tempering Realm, but even a top expert in the Foundation Establishment Realm, bound with this high-tech iron chain, you would still be powerless!" John Sharo said.
(PS: Thanks to the brother [天南地北徐静最美若殇] for the continuous three 300-book coin reward! Thanks to the brother [小幸运] for the continuous two 200-book coin reward, thanks to the brother [凉夏不凉] for the 100-book coin reward, thanks to the brother [一连串句号无语] for the 100-book coin reward! And thanks to the brothers and sisters who voted for recommendations, thank you all, Old Hu bows in gratitude!!)