Chapter 1543: A Heaven-Sent Opportunity
The underground cave was vast. Song Wen and Rong Shao had pursued Tu You for over five hundred kilometers, yet still hadn’t reached its edge.
The Ghost-Faced Demonic Python continued its relentless pursuit from behind, though it hadn’t yet caught up.
Suddenly, Song Wen and Rong Shao simultaneously sensed a change in the surrounding nether ghost qi.
It had become significantly thinner.
Moreover, the ghost qi was converging toward the direction Tu You had fled.
The two exchanged glances, puzzled by the phenomenon. Yet any change suggested a hidden secret lay ahead.
After another fifty kilometers, the Yin Energy grew even sparser, expanding their divine sense range to about ten kilometers.
They could now directly sense Tu You fleeing ahead.
Tu You, in turn, detected their presence.
A flicker of panic flashed through Tu You’s eyes before they hardened into a sinister glare.
“You two fools! How dare you tail this venerable one? Lord Lu Ling is just ahead—he’ll make you wish you were dead!”
A cold glint flashed in Song Wen’s eyes, radiating undisguised killing intent.
This so-called Lord Lu Ling must be somewhere ahead, and the secrets of the Yin Spring Cave likely lay there as well.
Tu You had outlived his usefulness.
With a thought, Song Wen unleashed the Soul Cleaving Blade, which had remained dormant for far too long. It shot forth like a razor-sharp beam of light, hurtling straight toward Tu You.
Tu You immediately summoned a Corpse Coffin.
The coffin, roughly thirty feet long and lidless, contained a Corpse Puppet standing over eight feet tall.
The puppet’s entire body was crimson red, a Blood Corpse whose power had reached the early stages of the seventh-tier.
“Roar!”
The Blood Corpse roared furiously as it burst from the coffin, charging fearlessly toward the Soul Cleaving Blade.
With a flash of eerie light, the Soul Cleaving Blade pierced through the Blood Corpse’s skull as easily as slicing through rotten bamboo.
The Blood Corpse’s head exploded instantly.
The massive corpse qi contained within its remains, now uncontrolled, dispersed wildly in all directions.
The Soul Cleaving Blade’s strike had shattered the corpse core within its body.
A flicker of panic crossed Tu You’s face. He clearly hadn’t anticipated that his seventh-tier Blood Corpse would be slain with a single blow.
Fortunately, the Blood Corpse had managed to block the attack, giving him a moment to catch his breath.
He frantically activated the Corpse Coffin, sending it spinning rapidly around him.
The Soul Cleaving Blade arced through the air, regrouped, and once again hurtled toward Tu You.
A hundred feet behind the Soul Cleaving Blade, another cold light followed—Rong Shao’s natal flying sword.
Now that “Gu Huang” had made his move, Rong Shao had no intention of standing by idly.
Tu You’s face drained of color, turning as pale as paper.
He knew all too well that with both of them attacking together, he stood no chance of survival.
“Stop! You can’t kill me! Otherwise, Lord Lu Ling will never forgive you!”
A towering blood mist erupted around Tu You, clearly indicating he was performing some kind of blood sacrifice secret art.
By burning his blood essence, he was temporarily boosting his cultivation level in a desperate final struggle.
“Who dares to act so brazenly here?!”
A thunderous roar, amplified by overwhelming spiritual power, echoed from the distance ahead.
Hearing this, Tu You felt as if he had grasped a lifeline. His eyes suddenly blazed with the wild joy of a man snatched from the brink of death, and his escape speed surged.
“Lord Lu Ling, save me!” Tu You screamed hoarsely.
A crimson chain pierced through the nether ghost qi from directly in front of Tu You, narrowly missing his body.
Clang! Clang!
Two distinct metallic clashes rang out in quick succession.
At the chain’s end, a palm-sized spike struck both the Soul Cleaving Blade and the flying sword, sending them flying.
Tu You’s heart steadied instantly. He followed the chain, quickly reaching a middle-aged man who appeared to be around thirty years old.
“Greetings, Lord Lu Ling. Thank you for saving my life.”
The man, addressed as ‘Lord Lu Ling,’ ignored Tu You, his gaze fixed on the approaching Song Wen and Rong Shao.
“Who are you? And why are you here in the Yin Spring Cave of Fallen Demon Valley?”
Lu Ling’s tone was calm and indifferent, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority, as if he were the master of this place and all matters were his to decide.
“Lord Lu Ling, these two are not members of our Divine Blood Gate. They must have infiltrated Fallen Demon Valley in secret, intending to steal the treasures within,” Tu You interjected before Song Wen and Rong Shao could respond.
He hurried to stand behind Lu Ling, bowing deeply with an obsequious air.
“I didn’t ask you!” Lu Ling snapped at Tu You, then turned back to Song Wen and Rong Shao. “Report your names at once!”
Meanwhile, Rong Shao was secretly transmitting a message to Song Wen.
“Fellow Daoist Gu Huang, what’s our next move? Lu Ling seems like a formidable opponent.”
Earlier, their combined attack—though Rong Shao had used his full strength while Song Wen’s true power remained unknown—had been effortlessly blocked by Lu Ling, demonstrating his extraordinary prowess.
Yet Rong Shao felt no fear of Lu Ling. After all, “Gu Huang” had escaped unscathed from an encirclement by Rong Luan and Yu Bi; dealing with Lu Ling should be manageable, at least enough to ensure their survival.
His real concern lay with the Ghost-Faced Demonic Python lurking behind them. Even “Gu Huang” seemed at a loss against this creature.
If they were caught in a pincer attack between the python and Lu Ling, the consequences would be catastrophic.
“No problem!” Song Wen gradually reduced his escape speed. “You take a detour to the side and leave. I’ll find a way to get the Ghost-Faced Demonic Python and Lu Ling to fight each other.”
“Are you sure you can handle this?” Rong Shao asked.
“Ninety percent certain,” Song Wen replied.
“Then let’s do it.” Rong Shao didn’t hesitate any longer, veering sharply to the right and accelerating away.
Lu Ling noticed Rong Shao’s unusual movement, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“You… you cultivate the Longevity Technique? And you’ve reached the peak stage of body integration?”
“Hahaha…” Lu Ling burst into loud laughter. “Heaven has actually delivered such a precious medicinal treasure right to my doorstep! It seems I am truly destined for great fortune. Once I capture you alive and present you to Vice Sect Leader Wu Xing, the old man will surely reward me handsomely.”
The three present reacted differently to his words.
Behind Lu Ling, Tu You’s face immediately filled with confusion.
He clearly couldn’t understand why a Longevity Technique cultivator at the peak stage of body integration would be considered a “precious medicinal treasure” worthy of Vice Sect Leader Wu Xing’s attention.
Rong Shao’s expression, on the other hand, turned as dark as water.
Being treated as a “human-shaped great medicine” for longevity extension was the most loathed and infuriating thing in his entire life.
Song Wen remained utterly indifferent, as if he hadn’t heard a word.
To him, the fact that Longevity Technique cultivators were deliberately cultivated by the Divine Blood Gate as Longevity Spirit Herbs was no secret. Why would he be surprised?
Lu Ling paid no attention to the trio’s reactions.
It was as if a giant wouldn’t care about the joys and sorrows of ants.
One end of the crimson chain was clutched in his right hand.
With a slight flick of his wrist, the chain stirred like a venomous serpent awakening, silently yet swiftly striking at Rong Shao with lightning speed.
Even before the chain reached him, Rong Shao felt a bone-chilling, malevolent qi rush toward him.
He swiftly formed a sword incantation, and his natal flying sword let out a clear ring, transforming into a condensed, rainbow-like arc to meet the death-dealing blood chain.
Clang!
The sword tip collided with the chain’s spiked end.
The flying sword let out a mournful cry and was instantly sent flying.
Undaunted, the chain continued its relentless advance toward Rong Shao.
Just then, a silver thunderlight tore through the gloom, striking the chain’s midsection.
Boom!
Thunder roared.
The radiant heavenly might, embodying supreme yang and unyielding yang energy, instantly dispelled the corpse qi clinging to the chain.
The crimson chain shuddered violently as if struck by a massive force, its surface flickering wildly between crimson brilliance and fading darkness.
(End of the Chapter)