txolops Chapter 132 Eliminating Hidden Dangers, The Hunt
Chapter 132 Eliminating Hidden Dangers, The Hunt
Inside Sunset Valley.
The collapse of the underground palace's core triggered a chain reaction in the earth's veins, making the already restless spiritual energy even more violent and chaotic.
The dark red sky pressed down three feet overhead, and several streaks of blood-red lightning flashed through the thick clouds, illuminating the devastated ruins below in a flickering light.
The air was thick with the smell of sulfur, charred earth, and rotting flesh.
Just one breath is enough to make your lungs feel like they're on fire.
On a high ground stood a tall, slender figure, draped in a dark red, wide-sleeved robe, with a bronze mask on his face that seemed to be both crying and laughing.
He wore a warm, lustrous blood jade thumb ring at his waist and carried a black iron sword without a scabbard in his hand.
The iron sword was rough, covered with layers of dark brown blood plasma that had not dried and emitted a foul odor.
This person is Gu Yan's avatar left here, the current sect leader of the Blood River Sect, the Blood Swordsman.
Unlike his true self, who had to pretend to be somewhat human and deliberately make himself look ugly, the Blood Swordsman at this moment had no vitality whatsoever.
He didn't need to breathe; his chest didn't rise or fall. Beneath that long robe lay a spirit body made of talisman paper, refined countless times, as hard as steel and as resilient as a reed.
He stood silently in the raging wind, letting the sparks-laden gale make his robes flutter, his whole being blending perfectly into this desolate ruin, a scene of carnage.
Through a faint connection deep within his soul, the Blood Swordsman received the final instructions.
The instruction was very simple, consisting of only eight words.
"I want to see him alive or dead."
The Blood Swordsman turned his head, and a strange red light flickered in his eyes beneath the bronze mask.
That was the spiritual pressure unique to the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection realm, combined with the Blood River Heart that had been refined by incense and vows, giving him an unparalleled advantage in perceiving blood.
Even amidst this chaotic magnetic field, he keenly detected a unique scent of blood.
It carried resentment, unwillingness, and the unique aroma of medicinal pills characteristic of disciples from prestigious sects.
It's located to the northwest, on the edge of the Firephosphorus Swamp.
Zhao Lingfeng, who was tricked by the original body and burdened with the name of a hero but whose fate is unknown, must die.
Only the dead can forever preserve the secret of the Crimson Flame Fruit.
Only the dead can perfectly fulfill the moving story woven by the original body in the main hall.
With a light tap of his toes, the Blood Swordsman's figure faded from place to place, transforming into a blood-red shadow flying close to the ground as he sped off towards the northwest.
Wherever he went, the withered grass that had been struggling to survive in the scorched earth beneath his feet withered and turned to ash in an instant.
That is the "Evergreen and Withering Technique" that reverses the cycle.
His technique was extremely domineering, plundering all life force from the surrounding area and turning it into the driving force that propelled him forward.
……
Firephosphorus Swamp.
This place used to be a treasure land where countless medicinal herbs grew, but now it has been completely transformed into a true fiery hell.
Subterranean fire erupted from beneath the swamp's silt, scalding the muddy water to a boiling point, bubbling with highly toxic gas.
In a relatively dry natural shelter surrounded by several boulders, a young man with tattered clothes and charred body leaned against a rock, breathing heavily.
One of his legs was twisted in a bizarre way, with the white bone piercing through the flesh and exposed, and a ring of scabbed ash around the wound.
He is Zhao Lingfeng, the only son of Zhao Wuji, the Grand Elder of the Liuyun Sect.
"Damn it... damn it..."
Zhao Lingfeng gritted his teeth and, with trembling hands, took out the last third-tier healing pill called the Rejuvenation Pill from his storage bag, then tilted his head back and swallowed it.
The medicine took effect, bringing a sharp pain that felt like his internal organs were being churned, making his already pale face even more contorted.
"Gu Changsheng... that bastard... that good-for-nothing..."
The resentment in Zhao Lingfeng's eyes solidified into a tangible form.
He never imagined that he would be outmaneuvered by a good-for-nothing he would normally not even bother to look at.
At the time, he originally intended to use the Crimson Flame Fruit to divert trouble, but that kid used the same method against him.
He fought with all his might to escape from the siege of the wolf pack and the two-headed fire serpent, but accidentally fell into the fiery fissure.
If it weren't for the substitute puppet given to him by his father to shield him from disaster, he would have been reduced to ashes long ago.
Even if he survived, he would be crippled.
His meridians are damaged and his foundation is shaken. If he cannot return to the sect in time to ask his father to use the sect's resources to save him, his path to immortality will be ruined.
"I am a chosen one of heaven! I still want to form my Golden Core and become a Nascent Soul! I cannot die in this godforsaken place!"
Zhao Lingfeng gripped the top-grade magic sword with a chipped edge tightly in his hand.
Suddenly, the wind around us stopped.
The bubbling lava bubbles that were previously rolling around have also quieted down.
A chilling sensation, sending shivers down his spine, enveloped his entire body without warning.
"Who?!"
Zhao Lingfeng suddenly looked up, his hand gripping a black iron ball—the Thunderfire Pearl, a one-time-use weapon given to him by his father.
"Slap, slap, slap."
A slow, deliberate clapping sound came from the poisonous fog ahead.
"Brilliant, truly brilliant. Young Master Zhao's will to survive is indeed admirable."
The poisonous fog surged and automatically parted to both sides.
The Blood Swordsman, wearing a bronze mask and carrying a dripping iron sword, strolled out leisurely.
His steps were light, making no sound as he stepped on the scorching gravel. His dark red robe looked particularly eerie in the firelight.
"Who are you?!"
Zhao Lingfeng shouted sharply, his body tense to the extreme, and for a moment he did not recognize the Blood Swordsman.
He couldn't see through the cultivation level of the person in front of him.
The aura emanating from the other party was as obscure as an abyss, without any outward fluctuations of spiritual power, but it carried a bloodthirsty aura that made his very soul tremble.
"People from the Demonic Sect?"
Zhao Lingfeng's mind raced, and he immediately shouted, his voice trembling with fear, "I am the only son of Zhao Wuji, the Grand Elder of the Flowing Cloud Sect! No matter who you are, if you dare to touch me, my father will hunt you down to the ends of the earth! If you are willing to escort me back to the sect, I will guarantee you a lifetime of glory and grant you the opportunity to form your Core!"
Coercion and enticement are Zhao Lingfeng's usual methods.
The Blood Swordsman stopped ten feet away, not in a hurry to make a move.
He tilted his head, the expression on his mask somewhat comical, his voice hoarse yet calm: "A chance to form the Core? Heh, truly..." .
He raised his hand and lightly flicked the blade, producing a crisp hum: "Too bad, I'm a businessman. Someone has already paid for your life."
Zhao Lingfeng's pupils contracted: "Who?!"
The Blood Swordsman did not answer directly, but slowly took out a finely cut red paper crane from his sleeve.
He blew on the paper crane, and the paper crane flapped its wings and flew up, circling Zhao Lingfeng once.
"That person asked me to pass on a message to you."
The Blood Swordsman's voice turned somewhat mocking, mimicking Gu Yan's honest and simple tone: "He said he would remember Senior Brother Zhao's righteousness and the kindness of the Crimson Flame Fruit for the rest of his life. In return, your heroic sacrifice will be remembered for generations to come."
Zhao Lingfeng's mind went blank, and then a surge of blood rushed straight to the top of his head.
That sentence! That tone!
"Gu Changsheng! It's you! You sent someone?!"
Zhao Lingfeng roared hysterically, his features contorted like a demon: "I knew it! That treacherous villain! He actually colluded with the Demonic Sect! I'll kill him! I'll tear him to pieces!"
"He's colluding with the Demonic Sect?"
The Blood Swordsman shook his head, a hint of regret in his voice: "No, no, no, Young Master Zhao is mistaken. In this story, you are a hero who sacrificed your life for righteousness, and he is a survivor who barely escaped death. As for me, I am merely a passing corpse collector."
"Die!"
Zhao Lingfeng knew that further discussion was pointless; since the other party had made their point clear, it was a fight to the death.
A madness flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly flung the Thunderfire Pearl in his hand.
"Boom!"
The Thunderfire Pearl exploded in the air, transforming into a violent lightning and fire net that enveloped an area of several dozen feet in radius. Its immense power was enough to instantly annihilate a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Taking advantage of the explosion's cover, Zhao Lingfeng unhesitatingly pulled out a golden talisman from his pocket—the Thousand Mile Travel Talisman.
This is his last trump card for survival; as long as he activates this talisman, he can immediately escape a hundred miles away.
A golden light suddenly appeared, enveloping his body, and it looked as if he was about to break through the air and disappear.
"Trying to leave?"
The Blood Swordsman stood in the center of the thunder and fire, letting the violent energy bombard his body.
His robe was torn, revealing pale skin with a jade-like texture underneath.
The lightning and fire, powerful enough to melt gold and shatter jade, struck his body but left no mark. Instead, they were swallowed up by the flowing blood light on his skin.
His physical body, having reached the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, combined with the almost pain-immune nature of his paper-crafted spirit body, made him unafraid of this level of energy impact.
"Stay!"
The Blood Swordsman took a step and vanished.
The next instant, he appeared directly in front of the golden light that was about to disappear.
A simple, unadorned downward slash.
This sword strike, imbued with the immense, malevolent energy of the Blood River Heart, weighed as heavy as a thousand pounds.
"clang!"
The iron sword struck the golden light, producing a metallic clang.
The golden light of the Divine Speed Talisman, which was capable of traveling a thousand miles a day, was actually shattered by this sword strike.
"what!"
Zhao Lingfeng screamed and fell from mid-air, crashing heavily onto the scorching rocks. His already broken leg bone was further injured, and the pain almost made him faint.
"What...what kind of monster are you?!"
Zhao Lingfeng was in despair.
Withstanding the lightning and fire bead with his bare body and severing the Divine Speed Talisman with a single sword strike—this is a combat power that a Foundation Establishment cultivator could never possess!
Unless... he's a half-step Golden Core cultivator!
"Don't come any closer! Don't come any closer!"
As Zhao Lingfeng retreated, he frantically threw magical artifacts out of his storage bag.
Golden Shield, Flying Cloud Shuttle, Demon-Slaying Needle...
Each item is a priceless masterpiece, enough to cause a frenzy among countless rogue cultivators if left out in the open. Yet, it is being thrown out like trash, just to stop that demon for even a moment.
The Blood Swordsman ignored the attacks.
With a wave of his left hand, countless palm-sized blood-red paper figures flew out from his sleeve.
These paper figures swelled in the wind, transforming into grinning little devils that pounced directly on the magical artifacts, biting them with their mouths.
"Click, click."
A chilling chewing sound rang out.
Those magical artifacts, shimmering with spiritual light, slowly lost their vitality as the paper figures gnawed at them, falling to the ground and turning into scrap metal.
Zhao Lingfeng retreated to the edge of the lava river, with nowhere left to go.
The Blood Swordsman approached step by step, his iron sword leaving a long trail of sparks on the ground.
He stopped three feet in front of Zhao Lingfeng, looking down at this once arrogant playboy.
"Your father?"
The Blood Swordsman's voice was eerily calm: "He should be back in his sect right now, proud of your earth-shattering sacrifice. If that's the case, how can you bear to disappoint him and go back alive to expose this beautiful lie?"
"No! I won't be a hero! I want to live!"
Zhao Lingfeng broke down, his face covered in snot and tears.
He saw the indifference in the Blood Swordsman's eyes, the kind of look one gives when looking at a dead object.
He didn't want to die. He had a bright future ahead of him. He wanted to become an immortal. He wanted to live forever. He wanted to trample everyone he didn't like under his feet!
"Pfft."
However, the only response he received was a crimson sword aura.
The sword energy was like a rainbow, piercing Zhao Lingfeng's heart in an instant.
Zhao Lingfeng's body stiffened, his open mouth unable to utter a sound, and the blood bubbles in his throat bursting.
He lowered his head and looked at the sword tip protruding from his chest. Blood gushed out from the scabbard, taking away his last bit of life force.
"I'm not reconciled..."
Zhao Lingfeng's eyes quickly dimmed.
His life should have been brilliant, but he died in this unknown mud pit, and no one even knows who the real killer was.
The Blood Swordsman drew his longsword and let the corpse fall limply to the ground.
He didn't leave immediately, but instead skillfully bent down and took the storage bag from Zhao Lingfeng's waist.
A quick scan with his divine sense revealed a dazzling array of items. There were thousands of mid-grade spirit stones alone, along with many rare pills and cultivation manuals on jade slips, and even a jade tablet bearing the inheritance of a core disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect.
"The eldest elder's son is indeed incredibly fat."
The Blood Swordsman satisfiedly put away his spoils, then formed a hand seal and pressed it onto Zhao Lingfeng's corpse.
"rise."
With a low shout, Zhao Lingfeng's essence blood was forcibly extracted, turning into a crimson blood bead that floated in mid-air.
This is the essence blood of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, a great tonic for demonic cultivators.
The Blood Swordsman opened his mouth and inhaled, swallowing the blood bead into his stomach, where it merged into the Blood River Heart at his heart.
A warm current flowed through his body, rapidly repairing the talismanic body that had been damaged while resisting the lightning and fire.
Without the support of his essence and blood, Zhao Lingfeng's body quickly shriveled up, turning into a withered corpse that looked like it had been dried up for a hundred years.
The Blood Swordsman did not stop there.
He turned and kicked a nearby rock, sending several boulders rolling down and breaking several bones in the corpse.
He then created claw marks and burn marks around the area, perfectly faking a scene where someone died from exhaustion and was drained of their life essence by a monster.
By the time all this was done, it was already dark.
The Blood Swordsman stood on the stone platform, gazing in the direction of the Flowing Cloud Sect in the distance.
In the next phase of the plan, the main entity will be in the open, while the other entity will remain hidden.
The real person is Gu Changsheng, the timid and cowardly commander of the Demon Suppression Division, who needs to put on an act in front of others.
And he, the ruthless sect leader who killed countless people and ruled the Demon Sect, was the shadow who did the dirty and tiring work for the real body.
A light and a shadow, a life with two sides.
"Phew~"
A gust of cold wind blew by, stirring up the ashes on the ground.
The Blood Swordsman turned around, his dark red robe fluttering in the wind.
The cleaning work in Sunset Valley has been completed, but this is only the beginning.
The Blood River Sect still has a lot of mess to clean up, and he needs to integrate the scattered demonic disciples.
Since the main body intends to play a grand game in Changning County, he must prepare enough pieces for this game here.
As long as the Blood River Sect still exists, Gu Changsheng's position as the commander of the Demon Suppression Division will be as secure as Mount Tai.
With a flicker, the Blood Swordsman transformed into countless crimson paper butterflies, scattering and disappearing into the vast night.
Only the withered corpse remained, lying quietly among the rubble, waiting for the body collector to arrive at some unknown time to verify that absurd yet perfect lie.
In the distance, a two-headed eagle swooped down and landed beside Zhao Lingfeng's corpse, letting out several greedy cries.