Chapter 1542: Master and Servant Reunite
Rumble—
A thunderous roar shook the high skies behind them, as if the earth itself were trembling.
Song Wen and Rong Shao, too far away to pinpoint the source with their divine sense, knew without a doubt that the Ghost-Faced Demonic Python had broken through the thick rock and was pursuing them into the cave.
“Fellow Daoist Gu Huang, what should we do now?” Rong Shao asked, his expression grave.
A murderous intent began to stir in Song Wen’s heart.
Being constantly harassed by this beast was no solution. Moreover, now that they had likely found the Yin Spring’s location, the python’s interference threatened to complicate matters.
Should I let Shadow Void handle this and eliminate the nuisance once and for all?
Just as Song Wen resolved to act, Shadow Void’s voice suddenly echoed in his sea of consciousness:
“Master, someone is approaching from directly ahead.”
Before Shadow Void’s words faded, a furious shout erupted from the darkness ahead:
“Who are you? Why are you still in Fallen Demon Valley when the entrance has been sealed? How dare you trespass into Yin Spring Cave? Do you not know the sect’s prohibitions?”
Song Wen and Rong Shao exchanged glances, the same thought flashing through their minds:
Are there still living people in Fallen Demon Valley?
And judging by the speaker’s tone, they seemed to assume the intruders were fellow disciples.
Furthermore, the other party had mentioned a “sect.” Which sect could it be?
Could it be… the Divine Blood Gate?
And how had they been discovered? Had the intruder overheard their conversation, or was their divine sense realm far superior to theirs?
Unable to gauge the opponent’s strength, Song Wen and Rong Shao immediately halted their escape light and stood their ground.
At that moment, the newcomer arrived ten zhang ahead of them, entering the range of their divine sense perception.
He was a middle-aged male cultivator, appearing to be in his forties or fifties, with a mid body integration stage cultivation. His entire being radiated an intense aura of corpse qi.
The two sized up the newcomer, while he, in turn, scrutinized Song Wen and Rong Shao.
When he clearly saw their faces and sensed their cultivation auras, his expression instantly changed.
“You’re not members of the Divine Blood Gate…”
“Tu You! It’s you!” the Giant Rat Ghost suddenly exclaimed.
To avoid being left behind, the rat had coiled its tail around Song Wen’s right leg. To protect itself from the lingering force of the battle, it had curled into a ball.
Hearing Tu You’s voice, the rat unfurled, its eyes burning with furious rage as it glared in Tu You’s direction.
“Shadow Rat! You’re still here! I never imagined you’d not only avoid soul scattering and spirit vanishing but even transform into a ghost body,” Tu You remarked.
“Tu You, I was utterly loyal to you, yet you’d sacrifice me to save your own skin!” the Giant Rat Ghost shrieked in accusation.
Tu You cast a deep glance at the Giant Rat Ghost, then ignored it and turned to leave, but not before warning Song Wen and Rong Shao, though his tone betrayed more bluster than genuine threat.
“You two dare trespass in Fallen Demon Valley and even enter Yin Spring Cave? Lord Lü Ling will not let this go unpunished!”
Seeing Tu You about to flee, Rong Shao hastily summoned his natal flying sword, ready to strike.
“Fellow Daoist Rong Shao, let him go,” Song Wen transmitted via divine sense, careful to avoid Tu You overhearing.
“Why?” Rong Shao asked, puzzled, but he recalled his flying sword, which had already streaked several meters forward. “He has that ‘Lord Lü Ling’ backing him. Letting him escape will expose our presence here!”
“Shadow Rat, do you recognize this Lord Lü Ling?” Song Wen ignored Rong Shao’s question and instead turned to the Shadow Rat.
“I do. He’s a core disciple of the Divine Blood Gate, with cultivation at the peak of the Body Integration Stage. His strength is formidable, and he enjoys the full trust of Vice Sect Leader Wu Xing, making him highly influential within the gate. He’s considered the foremost expert in the Body Integration Stage,” the Shadow Rat replied.
Hearing this, Song Wen couldn’t help but smile.
“Fellow Daoist Gu Huang, if we don’t leave now, the Ghost-Faced Demonic Python will catch up!” Rong Shao suddenly interjected, his voice urgent.
“Let’s go. Keep up,” Song Wen said, taking the lead and flying forward.
Rong Shao hurried after him. “Fellow Daoist Gu Huang, do you have a plan?”
Song Wen replied, “Since Lord Lü Ling claims to be the strongest Body Integration Stage cultivator in the Divine Blood Gate, wouldn’t it be perfect to let him deal with the Ghost-Faced Demonic Python?”
“You’re suggesting we redirect the danger?” Rong Shao asked, his expression puzzled. “But… Tu You has already fled far away. With our divine sense limited, finding him now will be difficult.”
“Don’t worry, fellow daoist. I have my ways.”
A crimson glint flashed in Song Wen’s eyes.
Through his vision, a faint trail left by Tu You’s departure became visible amidst the thick, pitch-black ghost qi ahead.
He was currently activating the Dreamfloat True Eye, one of its abilities being to perceive the flow and fluctuations of natural energies such as Yin Energy, miasma, corpse qi, and Spiritual Qi.
The two cultivators fled at full speed, their pace matching that of the pursuing Ghost-Faced Demonic Python.
Because Tu You, who was ahead, had a weaker cultivation base, his speed was significantly slower, preventing Song Wen from escaping at full speed. As a result, the Ghost-Faced Demonic Python behind them was closing in rapidly.
“Master, that beast is now only forty zhang behind you,” the shadow void in Song Wen’s sea of consciousness suddenly warned.
As if he had anticipated this, Song Wen immediately reduced his escape speed.
“Fellow Daoist Gu Huang, what are you doing?” Rong Shao quickly slowed down as well, his voice filled with surprise and confusion.
“I’m going to teach that beast a lesson and curb its arrogance,” Song Wen replied, already turning to face the pursuing python.
In the next instant, the Ghost-Faced Demonic Python’s massive, ferocious head burst into Song Wen’s perception.
The distance between them was now less than fifteen zhang. Song Wen could even feel the python’s foul, fishy breath surging from its nostrils.
At this close range, for a creature the size of a mountain, it was practically face-to-face.
Seeing its “blood food” no longer fleeing, the Ghost-Faced Demonic Python locked its vertical pupils onto Song Wen, the burning malice in its eyes almost solidifying into a tangible force.
Song Wen, however, remained calm and composed.
Between his brows, nine transparent blades, already charged with power, shot forth in an instant, hurtling straight toward the Ghost-Faced Demonic Python.
“Lii—!”
The demonic python was struck again, its mouth erupting in a piercing shriek.
Its massive body stiffened abruptly, its speed plummeting.
Instead of pressing his advantage, Song Wen flapped his Thunder Kui Wings, propelling himself backward to widen the distance between them.
After a brief pause, the Ghost-Faced Demonic Python’s thick, serpentine body began thrashing wildly, posing a danger to anyone nearby.
Song Wen retreated to Rong Shao’s side and swiftly turned.
“Let’s go! We can’t let Tu You escape.”
(End of the Chapter)