Chapter 388 - 21: Shenyu, Sea of Blood, Secrets
Profound Celestial Demon City.
City Lord’s Mansion.
Inside a resplendent hall.
"Senluo is dead."
Madam Qi’s face was pale, and black mist coiled around her. Behind her, the phantom of a Demon Snake was faintly visible as her cold gaze swept over everyone in the hall.
Upon hearing this, Ling Yan, a handsome youth, and an old man with wings sprouting from his back all reacted differently.
The old man had white hair and wrinkled skin, his face etched with age. His grayish-white wings and bright, spirited eyes gave him an air of great wisdom.
Ling Yan remained cold and distant. Her stunningly beautiful face was expressionless, though her gaze flickered slightly.
"So he didn’t manage to escape after all?" The handsome youth’s face showed undisguised schadenfreude.
Of the four Dharma Level experts summoned by the Black Jade Demon City’s Lord that day, three had pursued Madam Qi in an attempt to reclaim the Demon Suppression Stele.
In the end, however, Madam Qi had managed to fight them off and return to Xuanchen, though she was grievously injured in the process.
Ling Yan and the handsome youth had escaped their pursuers with ease.
Only Senluo had yet to return. Now, hearing Madam Qi’s words, it seemed his Soul Fire had been extinguished.
The most likely possibility was that the Lord of Black Jade Demon City and the remaining Dharma Master had joined forces to kill Senluo.
After all, Senluo had been the one to start the trouble, so it was only natural for the Lord of Black Jade Demon City to hold a grudge against him.
Madam Qi glanced at the handsome youth and frowned. "There’s something strange about this. If Senluo had been ambushed, it’s impossible he wouldn’t even have had time to send a distress signal... And in a one-on-one fight, none of them were necessarily strong enough to keep him from escaping."
The handsome youth’s expression changed. "Could it have been a Tier Five Celestial Demon?"
Madam Qi fell into a contemplative silence.
The handsome youth chuckled. "All the better. It’s preferable for the Feather Divine Soldiers to end up in the belly of a Tier Five Celestial Demon than in the hands of Marquis Yan."
"My lady has lost her adopted son. Please accept my condolences."
But the expression on the youth’s exquisitely handsome face was anything but consoling.
Dressed in white robes with a jade coronet, two strands of black hair fell past his jade-like cheeks to his shoulders. He had the air of a banished immortal, yet with an inexplicable hint of irreverent playfulness.
Madam Qi seemed unable to do anything about him. She turned to the old man of the Feather Race and said, "Master Shengyu, now that we have gathered all four Demon Suppression Steles, we can forge the Tier Five Feather Divine Soldiers, correct?"
The old man from the Feather Race replied in a deep voice, "That is correct. However, the Five Spirits Array is missing a core. We will need to invite another Demon Marshal from either Profound City or Xuanming City."
After speaking, he glanced at the Void Demon Snake behind Madam Qi and frowned. "And then there is the matter of your injuries, my lady..."
Madam Qi said, "It is no matter. I can still suppress the Demon Soul for now."
Years ago, with the help of Marquis Li, she had refined the origin of a Tier Four Void Demon Snake to successfully break through to the Dharma Realm.
Although this method was fast enough to be considered defying fate and changing one’s destiny, the conditions were extremely demanding.
The risks and side effects were also considerable!
Now that Madam Qi was injured, the Demon Soul within her was stirring, on the verge of devouring its host.
Madam Qi’s gaze shifted to the handsome youth. "Lingyi, why don’t you go in my stead..."
Before she could finish, the usually taciturn Ling Yan spoke up. "Isn’t there still a Feather Divine Soldier in the Mysterious Secret Realm? I have a subordinate who should be able to pilot it."
The handsome youth, Lingyi, asked curiously, "You mean that Cultivator who snuck over from the Li Hen Dojo in the Mo Luo Realm? As I recall, he’s only at the Early-Life Soul Stage. Can his divine soul and Magical Power withstand the tempering of the Feather Divine Soldiers’ Thunder Pool?"
Ling Yan said flatly, "I have observed him for many days. It shouldn’t be a problem."
A look of astonishment crossed Lingyi’s face. "The Li Hen Dojo is that impressive?"
Ling Yan remained as sparing with her words as ever.
Madam Qi came to her senses and said, "The fact that he could pick the Cang Ling Fruit proves he is not weak. I had originally thought he would need to cultivate for many more years and reach the Mid-Life Soul Stage before he could pilot the Feather Divine Soldiers. But since Ling Yan says so, it must be true."
"This person’s talent and aptitude are somewhat beyond my expectations."
Madam Qi’s delicate brows arched. "He came for the Feather Divine Soldiers in the first place. Now that Senluo has fallen, let him take his place guarding the Sea of Blood. It’s time he learned that there’s no such thing as a free lunch."
Ling Yan raised her eyes and nodded, indicating she understood.
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"Marquis Li has had countless wives and concubines in his life, and over a hundred children, but the one he doted on the most was Madam Qi."
"Madam Qi was originally a mere Loose Cultivator, but her talent was extraordinary. She possessed the rare Demon Path Sacred Body. With Marquis Li’s full support, she broke through to the Dharma Realm in just a hundred years. Her cultivation speed was unmatched in the entire Xuanyu Realm."
Mu Xueling explained leisurely.
Inside a beautiful pavilion, Fang Cheng sat opposite the curvaceous, mature beauty.
Between them sat an earthen stove, its flickering flames boiling a pot of Spirit Wine.
Mu Xueling sat gracefully, her demeanor alluring and full of charm.
News that Fang Cheng would soon be piloting a Feather Divine Soldier had already spread throughout Profound Celestial Demon City, and Mu Xueling was the first to come and offer her congratulations.
As the two chatted, Fang Cheng learned that Madam Qi and Yan Shutong had quite a few things in common.
Both possessed a Demon Path Sacred Body, and both had taken the path of refining a Celestial Demon Origin, using an external object to cultivate their Dharma Aspect.
"Madam Qi originally cultivated by Marquis Li’s side. Later, it’s said that something went wrong with her cultivation, which is why she came to the Mysterious Secret Realm to become the City Lord here. Before Marquis Li went into seclusion, he sent his two most outstanding children, Ling Yan and Lingyi, over, intending for Madam Qi to guide their cultivation as well."
Mu Xueling drank several cups of Spirit Wine. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks as she gave Fang Cheng a sidelong glance, revealing many secrets. Her intention to befriend him was very clear.
This Spirit Wine was a secret product of the Xuanyu Realm that Mu Xueling had brought. It was extremely potent and could even intoxicate one’s divine soul.
After a few cups, Fang Cheng also felt a slight tipsiness in his divine soul.
Mu Xueling’s Divine Soul Cultivation was far inferior to his, so it was only normal that she would feel a bit drunk.
Fang Cheng toyed with his wine cup and asked casually, "So what was Senluo’s background?"
Mu Xueling replied, "He was the descendant of one of Madam Qi’s sworn sisters. He was raised by Madam Qi as both a son and a disciple. It’s said that Senluo’s talent was astonishingly high, and even Marquis Li had a high opinion of him. It was once said that once he broke through to the Dharma Aspect, he would be allowed to take charge of Profound Celestial Demon City."
"Some of Marquis Li’s children were unconvinced and challenged Senluo to a spar, but unfortunately, they were all defeated. No one could best him."
Fang Cheng smiled. "No wonder he was so arrogant and looked down on everyone."
"It’s a shame he died... but if he hadn’t, where would your opportunity have come from?" Mu Xueling giggled, brazenly stretching out her long, shapely legs and kicking off her shoes and socks. Her jade-like feet were flawless and white, exquisitely formed.
Her movements were indescribably alluring, yet utterly natural.
Fang Cheng set down his cup, a faint smile playing on his lips as he looked at the beautiful woman. "Madam Mu, it seems the wine is too strong for you."
Mu Xueling sized up Fang Cheng, her pretty face growing even more flushed. "You saved me from danger many times on our last outing. I have no way to repay you... I once cultivated a Secret Technique that is of great benefit to one’s Dharma Body. Would you be willing to give it a try?"
...