Chapter 375: Counter Ambush

The Human Realm

Faced with a pincer attack from two sides, the cultivator surnamed Bao was quickly overwhelmed. With nowhere left to run, he tried to commit suicide, but it was too late; he was captured alive.

Kong Xin's eyes gleamed green as he pounced like a ravenous wolf. Under the terrified gaze of the cultivator, he bit into his neck. A strange gurgling sound emanated from the cultivator's throat, and warm blood flowed from the corner of Kong Xin's mouth, dripping onto the ground in a crimson pool.

The blood red was blinding.

The cultivator surnamed Bao's pupils gradually dilated, eventually losing their light. The vital essence in his body had been completely drained by Kong Xin, leaving behind a desiccated corpse.

Seeing Kong Xin sprawled on the cultivator's corpse, frenziedly sucking blood in large gulps, the black-robed man felt a surge of horror and secretly grew wary.

Kong Xin lifted his head, extended his scarlet tongue, and licked the blood clean from around his mouth. An unfulfilled expression lingered on his face as the malevolence in his eyes receded, and his pale complexion regained some color.

He then touched his forehead, and all the demonic energy within him fully retracted, making him appear harmless to humans and animals once more.

The black-robed man clicked his tongue in admiration. "Fellow Daoist Kong, you've hidden your true nature quite well! I've been in Endless Valley for so many years and only knew that Fellow Daoist Kong had an excellent reputation, the best among those who guide others, universally praised. If I hadn't witnessed it myself, I would never have thought, even if I racked my brain, that Fellow Daoist Kong cultivates a demonic art that devours the vital blood of others."

"Hmph!" Kong Xin said disdainfully. "Ordinarily, I only need the blood of demonic beasts. If I hadn't been severely injured this time and urgently needed the vital blood of a Foundation Establishment cultivator to heal, why would I stoop to working with a demon like you?"

The black-robed man retorted sarcastically, "I merely kill a few people. How could I compare to Fellow Daoist Kong, who devours the vital blood of living people? If others saw Fellow Daoist Kong gulping down blood just now, I doubt anyone would think I'm more of a demon than you, right? Since Fellow Daoist Kong is also one of us in the Demonic Dao, why don't we continue to cooperate in the future and do a few more deals?"

"Impossible!"

Kong Xin shook his head decisively. "This situation is exceptional. Firstly, I was injured and needed vital blood. Then, I discovered the Cold Gold ore vein. It was literally killing two birds with one stone. That's why I risked damaging my reputation and lured a few rogue cultivators here to be scapegoats! This coincides with the initial calming of the chaos in Endless Valley, so an accident in the valley is still excusable. If this sort of thing happens too often, it can't be passed off as an accident every time; it certainly won't escape the eyes of those old foxes in the trade guilds. This is a one-time thing, never again!"

The black-robed man said indifferently, "With your abilities, Fellow Daoist Kong, why do you need to curry favor with those old geezers? What if you're exposed? At worst, you can follow me and retreat into Endless Valley and live happily as a true demon, wouldn't that be better?"

"You don't know a damn thing!"

Kong Xin, with an expression that scorned association with him, kicked the desiccated corpse. He drew the mustard seed pouch into his palm, and without even looking at it, threw it to the black-robed man.

He then conjured a spiritual flame and burned all traces clean.

"By the rules, the next person's mustard seed pouch is mine," Kong Xin said, glancing around. "Let's go quickly! We must destroy the Tiger-Winged Eagle's nest and lure the eagles there before the two Daoists arrive. That woman is alone, so there's no rush with her. Those two Daoists are not easy targets; if we miss our chance, it will be difficult to take them down without any harm."

The black-robed man clutched the mustard seed pouch tightly but did not put it away. He looked at Kong Xin with an amused gaze. "I suddenly feel that the rules we set earlier were a bit hasty."

Kong Xin's expression suddenly darkened. He questioned, "What do you mean?"

"If what Fellow Daoist Kong said isn't false, that Daoist Qingfeng's flying sword is extraordinary. Its value probably surpasses that of two or three top-tier magical artifacts."

"Originally, these people's possessions were all quite similar. I was willing to take a small loss."

"Who would have thought that a mere rogue cultivator could possess such a treasure?"

"I risked my life venturing deep into the caves to lure the ghoul leader. Although it wasn't useful, it still counts as effort, even if not merit."

"You directly took the best treasure. What if the remaining items, even combined, can't compare to that flying sword? And I'd still have to split them equally with you; wouldn't that be a huge loss for me?"

The black-robed man reasoned with him, finally saying, "The Cold Gold Ore Mother will still be 70% yours, Fellow Daoist Kong. As for the other items, they will be split equally between us. Otherwise, I'll be displeased, and if I accidentally 'slip up' during the fight and fail to leave a living target for you to devour vital blood from, you shouldn't blame me."

Kong Xin glared angrily. The black-robed man calmly met Kong Xin's furious gaze, unmoved.

"Fine!"

Kong Xin gritted his back teeth. "It will be as you say!"

The black-robed man laughed heartily, opened the cultivator Bao's mustard seed pouch, drew all the items out, and laid them on the ground. He generously said, "Fellow Daoist, you pick first!"

Kong Xin snorted coldly, glanced casually, took the lump of Cold Gold Ore Mother, conjured a streak of escape light, and flew away.

The black-robed man was not offended by Kong Xin's attitude. He put away the remaining items and followed closely behind.

The ground was cracked and dry, devoid of plants, and exceptionally desolate.

Exceptionally tall stone mountains lined the desolate plains. From the depths of the plains, a series of howling sounds emanated, like tiger roars, carrying an oppressive aura.

Deep within the mountains, dozens of giant birds circled the mountaintop. When these fierce birds spread their wings, they were over ten meters long, and the patterns on their feathers were remarkably similar to tiger stripes.

These howling sounds were not like bird calls; they were made by these creatures—demonic beasts, Tiger-Winged Eagles!

The black-robed man and Kong Xin arrived quietly, staring at the Tiger-Winged Eagle's nest and the towering mountain behind the nest, of which only a shadow could be seen. The Huanglong Grass grew there.

"Good, I left them a longer path," Kong Xin said. "Those two Daoists haven't arrived yet. Let's find a place to lie in ambush first..."

Kong Xin searched around. Seeing no abnormalities near the nest or on the high mountain, his expression slightly relaxed.

Unexpectedly, before Kong Xin had finished speaking, a voice suddenly rang out behind them.

"Are you looking for us, Fellow Daoist Kong?"

At this moment, the only ones who could be lying in wait here were Qin Sang and Yun Youzi.

Endless Valley was intricate and complex. It was unclear how many trackers there were, and they might provoke the forces of a major demonic sect. They did not want to meddle in others' affairs, but they were also worried that someone might intend them harm.

After parting ways with Kong Xin, the two discussed for a while and decided to first lie in ambush near the Tiger-Winged Eagle's nest.

Firstly, the path ahead was fraught with danger, making it difficult to find opportunities to rest, so they needed to restore their condition to its peak now.

Secondly, they harbored the intention of observing how things unfolded.

If the other party wasn't coming for them, it would be best if they could coexist peacefully.

However, if the other party was targeting them, there would be no escape. No matter who they were or what their strength, they had to be killed!

Although collecting Huanglong Grass was not their true objective, this place was not far from the second layer, so the other party might very well guess their movements.

What if the other party ambushed them while they were passing through the ancient restriction? That would be big trouble.

For this reason, after leaving Kong Xin and his group's sight, Yun Youzi took out his Spiritual Bamboo Flying Boat. The two hastened their journey by flying the boat, their speed far exceeding Kong Xin's imagination, arriving near the Tiger-Winged Eagle's nest much earlier.