NOVEL WEB Chapter 102:
Chapter 102:
Deep beneath Black Wind City lay a blood pool, exuding a nauseating stench of blood. Suspended above the pool were Qin Fei, Jiang Ting, and the others who had been captured, including Law Enforcement Elder Lei Lie, who was not spared.
The Blade Demon, Li Kuang, had broken into this place and now stood on a large stone beside the blood pool. His expression was cold as he gazed at the tranquil surface of the pool.
“Blood Demon, if you don’t show yourself, I will destroy your Blood River Spirit-Devouring Formation and sever your path to sanctification,” Li Kuang said, his voice calm but menacing.
Holding his demonic blade, his presence was imposing, like an immovable mountain. At his words, ripples spread across the surface of the blood pool. Moments later, a figure emerged from the pool and floated in mid-air above it.
Li Kuang scrutinized the figure. It was a tall, humanoid Blood Demon with unnaturally pale, almost deathly white skin, as though it hadn’t seen sunlight for ages. Its blood-red eyes locked onto Li Kuang, and long fangs jutted from its upper jaw. A pair of bat-like wings extended from its back, glimmering with streaks of crimson light.
A gaping wound in its chest revealed mangled flesh, radiating traces of destructive energy. Any ordinary demon would have perished from such an injury.
“Are you from the demonic path?” the Blood Demon asked warily, its gaze fixed on Li Kuang.
“How does it feel to have your body pierced by the True Thunder Sword?” Li Kuang replied, ignoring the question.
“You’re with him?” The Blood Demon grabbed Lei Lie, who was hanging in mid-air, by the neck. Its sharp claws glimmered with blood-red light.
“This man’s name is Lei Lie, an elder of the Qingyang Sword Sect. I belong to the Holy Sect and am his mortal enemy,” Li Kuang explained.
“Then why are you here?” The Blood Demon released Lei Lie, sensing the immense danger emanating from Li Kuang. Unlike Lei Lie, this man posed a real threat, especially since the Blood Demon was still injured from its previous battle.
Suspended above the pool, the unconscious disciples of the Qingyang Sword Sect, including Jiang Ting and Qin Fei, were moments away from becoming nutrients for the Blood Demon. Among them were also other human cultivators who had been captured, their fate sealed unless something changed.
Li Kuang opened his mouth to speak, but at that moment, a figure burst through the entrance of the blood pool chamber. It was none other than Hu Xian’er.
“Master, we have intruders!” she exclaimed.
“Annoying!” Li Kuang waved his hand, sending a blade light that pierced through Hu Xian’er’s body. The force hurled her backward, pinning her to the stone wall outside the chamber.
Hu Xian’er could scarcely believe she would meet her end here. As her life faded, she caught sight of a figure standing silently at the entrance—it was Xiao Yang.
Hu Xian’er opened her mouth, trying to warn her master. “Mas…ter…” But before she could finish, her head drooped lifelessly. In death, she reverted to her true form: a blood-red fox.
Xiao Yang remained at the entrance, unnoticed by the Blood Demon and Li Kuang. He had completely concealed his presence using the Hidden Sky Concealment Technique.
“You dare kill my subordinate?” the Blood Demon roared in fury from above the pool.
“It was just a fox demon. Killing it was nothing,” Li Kuang replied indifferently.
“You…” The Blood Demon seethed with anger.
Li Kuang extended his hand toward the demonic blade embedded in the stone wall. “Clang!” The blade flew into his grasp.
“You think I won’t fight you just because I’m injured?” The Blood Demon gritted its teeth.
“I can help you achieve sanctification,” Li Kuang said calmly, sheathing his blade.
“What?” The Blood Demon froze. “You can help me achieve sanctification?”
Its eyes widened in disbelief, and even Xiao Yang, standing outside, was taken aback. What was Li Kuang planning?
Li Kuang flipped his hand, revealing a crimson bead. A surge of immense blood energy emanated from it, causing the blood within the pool to surge toward the bead.
“A Blood Pill? You have a Blood Pill?” The Blood Demon’s excitement was palpable. The bead in Li Kuang’s hand contained a staggering amount of blood energy. With it, and by repairing the Blood Pool Formation, it could once again attempt to break into the Demon Saint Realm.
“If you put on a little act for me, this Blood Pill will be yours,” Li Kuang said, putting the bead away.
“Deal!” The Blood Demon agreed without hesitation. Nothing was more important than achieving sanctification. It had been hunted relentlessly by the great forces of the Northern Region for centuries, forced to live in hiding. If it could become a Demon Saint, it would no longer have to endure such humiliation.
Li Kuang laid out his plan. Outside the chamber, Xiao Yang’s expression grew grim. As expected, Li Kuang intended to stage a performance, making Qin Fei the hero who saved everyone. This would allow Qin Fei to gain Jiang Ting’s gratitude and admiration, securing his position in the sect.
In Xiao Yang’s previous life, this was exactly how Qin Fei rose to prominence, using every opportunity to paint himself as a hero while tarnishing Xiao Yang’s reputation. Eventually, Qin Fei succeeded, turning the entire sect against Xiao Yang.
But this time, Xiao Yang wouldn’t let history repeat itself.
The Blood Demon released Qin Fei, who quickly regained consciousness. Upon seeing Li Kuang, Qin Fei was astonished. “Uncle, why are you here?”
“Uncle?” Xiao Yang, still hidden outside, was stunned. He hadn’t known that Qin Fei and Li Kuang were related. No wonder Li Kuang had gone to such lengths to protect Qin Fei in their previous life, even sacrificing himself to save him.
Qin Fei was equally shocked by the sight of Jiang Ting, Lei Lie, and others hanging above the blood pool. When Li Kuang explained the plan, Qin Fei became elated. If he could save everyone, it would be an unparalleled achievement. He would be hailed as the hero who ensured the sect’s participation in the grand competition.
Overwhelmed with excitement, Qin Fei failed to notice when the Blood Demon injected a parasitic worm into his body.
“What’s this? What did you do to me?” Qin Fei panicked.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Li Kuang glared at the Blood Demon.
“This is a Blood Gu worm. Our agreement is just words, and I can’t trust you not to go back on your word,” the Blood Demon said coldly. “With this worm, I’ll hold you accountable. If you betray me, this nephew of yours will have his blood drained, his organs devoured, and die in agony.”
“You…” Li Kuang was furious but could do nothing.
Outside the chamber, Xiao Yang heard everything. Fine, if they wanted to act, he would play along. But this time, it would be on his terms.