Chapter 2781: Captured Zhao Ming

This vast sea of blood was originally a strategic advantage created by the Bloodkin for the Featherkin. But now, within the sea of blood, there seemed to be an invisible beast, opening its blood-soaked maw, silently devouring the lives of many Bloodkin and Featherkin.

Zhaoming hastily called out the names of several other Bloodkin cultivators, but without exception, there was no response.

Within this sea of blood, it was as if all the Bloodkin had perished!

But this was impossible. If all the Bloodkin had truly died, the sea of blood should have collapsed. Yet, the sea of blood remained, indicating that Bloodkin were still activating blood arts and maintaining it.

But why was there no response?

Zhaoming's heart and body turned cold. She vaguely realized that some unknown change must have occurred in this short span of time.

At this moment, over a dozen human cultivators were darting and weaving through the sea of blood, acting unrestrainedly. Wherever they went, cries of agony and surprise continuously erupted.

The sea of blood had always been exclusive to the Bloodkin, a powerful weapon used against human cultivators. So, no one had expected that when this weapon was one day turned to their own use, it would be so sharp.

The Featherkin enemies, within the sea of blood, were like headless flies. They often only became suddenly aware when their attackers were upon them, but by then, it was too late.

The dozen or so surviving human cultivators had never experienced such an exhilarating battle. They didn't need to make many independent judgments; they only needed to follow Lu Ye's guidance, reach the enemies, and reap their lives.

For them, it was as simple as eating and drinking.

It must be said that Changyun had, by chance, done something good this time. Because the human cultivators drawn out were all high-level Dao Integration realm, each possessing considerable abilities. Now, with Lu Ye's assistance and within this vast sea of blood, slaying enemies was like slaughtering chickens and dogs.

Everyone achieved significant battle results.

Within the sea of blood, lives continuously withered away.

Zhaoming retreated backward. A strong sense of crisis clung to her, impossible to shake off. From earlier, she had vaguely felt a pair of eyes secretly watching her within the sea of blood. Though she didn't know who it was, the invisible pressure was almost unbearable.

Instinctively, she wanted to leave this place.

Although the sea of blood was vast, with her speed, she could escape in just a few breaths.

However, a killing intent suddenly struck from behind. Zhaoming immediately let out a sharp cry. Her wings vibrated like saws, cutting in all directions. At the same time, she launched her long-prepared Sky-Weaving Needle towards the source of the danger.

With a soft clang, Zhaoming's pupils abruptly constricted.

Because at that instant, she clearly perceived that the attack from her Sky-Weaving Needle had been completely blocked, failing to cause any trouble for the enemy.

This undoubtedly showed that the enemy's strength was far superior to hers!

Who was it?

Was it Chu Li?

As far as she knew, Chu Li's strength was indeed formidable, but at most, it was comparable to hers. A full-power strike from her activated artifact should not have been blocked so easily by Chu Li.

The next moment, she knew who it was.

Because within her vision, a figure emerged from obscurity into clarity. A flash of blade light swept past her eyes, striking her front.

It was that human, Lu Ye!

Zhaoming let out a fierce cry. Dao power surged around her, forming a protective barrier. At the same time, she rapidly pulled back, trying to evade the strike.

But this blade seemed to ignore the spatial barrier, striking her body with extreme precision.

Zhaoming's pupils instantly contracted to pinpricks. She clearly perceived that under the blade's attack, her protective Dao power shattered instantly. Immediately afterward, an endlessly sharp energy surged into her flesh.

This human's strength… how formidable!

The next moment, something even more terrifying occurred. Because after that sharp energy cut into her flesh, it showed no sign of weakening, directly severing the Dao bones within her body.

Zhaoming was utterly terrified. She could hardly believe such a sharp Dao artifact existed in this world.

She was also a high-level Dao Integration realm cultivator. Having cultivated until now, she had participated in countless battles, big and small, and faced numerous life-or-death crises. But never before had she felt so helpless as she did today.

She would die!

Under the intense threat of death, Zhaoming's face showed despair.

She had led the team here this time, originally intending to capture alive the two culprits who had killed her and Fei Heng's offspring. But she never imagined that she, too, would perish here.

Just as she was thinking this, Lu Ye suddenly withdrew his blade.

A living Zhaoming had value. A dead person was merely a broken corpse.

Having walked before the gates of hell, Zhaoming was drenched in cold sweat. Before she could recover, another flash of blade light sliced down, followed by a piercing scream that echoed through the sky.

Within the sea of blood, the lives of many Featherkin continued to wither. It wasn't that no Featherkin saw the dire situation and wanted to flee. However, what was originally a geographical advantage created for them had now become a bog hindering them.

Within the sea of blood, blood arts continuously spawned, forming layer after layer of obstacles that hindered their movements.

Moreover, they had come this time following Zhaoming. If they fled, but Zhaoming suffered misfortune, they would have no way to account to Fei Heng.

So, when Zhaoming's mournful scream echoed, all surviving Featherkin converged tirelessly in that direction, intending to rescue her.

But the human figures continuously darting and weaving through the sea of blood now became their death warrants.

Half an hour later, as the last Featherkin was slain by Chu Li and the others, the vast sea of blood suddenly dissipated, and the sky and earth became clear.

The dozen or so surviving human cultivators, including Chu Li, were all wounded.

Although the battle just now was exhilarating and they slew enemies like cutting flax, even with Lu Ye's covert guidance and assistance, their side paid a certain price.

At first, killing the Bloodkin was easy. With Lu Ye's spiritual suppression, the Bloodkin had no power to resist whatsoever.

But killing the Featherkin later on was different. Not to mention that some Featherkin were indeed strong, their numbers were also considerable, well over a hundred.

With a mere dozen or so cultivators, to annihilate over a hundred enemies, and their side suffered no casualties, only injuries, was an astonishing achievement.

At this moment, when the sea of blood dissipated, Chu Li and the others all turned their heads, panting, to look around.

Their attention was immediately drawn to the situation with Lu Ye.

In fact, near this desolate island now, besides their dozen or so human cultivators, there were only Lu Ye and Zhaoming.

What astonished everyone was Zhaoming's current state.

The Featherkin Grand Elder's companion now looked utterly dishevelled. Her pristine white wings had been severed at the roots, blood flowing. Her entire body was covered in countless dense wounds, many so severe that her internal Dao bones were visible.

Her face was extremely pale. Staring at Lu Ye, who stood not far in front of her, her eyes held both fury and profound fear.

Chu Li was both shocked and delighted by what he saw.

He was shocked that Lu Ye, single-handedly, had managed to reduce someone of Zhaoming's strength to such a state!

Zhaoming looked miserable. But Lu Ye appeared unharmed, his clothes not even slightly rumpled.

It was known that in Changyun's assessment, Zhaoming's strength was comparable to his own. If Zhaoming was no match for Lu Ye, did that not mean he himself was utterly no match for Lu Ye either?

What was the true background of this clan member who had fled with Xia He?

Given such astonishing strength, why had his renown not been heard of before over the Cage Sea?

He was delighted that Lu Ye had actually captured Zhaoming.

This way, they would have leverage to negotiate with Fei Heng. Previously, when Lu Ye said he wanted to capture Zhaoming alive, Chu Li had considered it a wild fantasy. However, in that situation, it was indeed the only viable path. Because even if they escaped from here, they would have no place to stand in the Cage Sea. Only by capturing Zhaoming could they have a glimmer of hope for survival.

The dozen or so human cultivators exchanged glances. Then, led by Chu Li, they converged towards Lu Ye.

Here, except for Chu Li, most others had only met Lu Ye during this operation. They were not familiar with him, but at this moment, their gazes towards him were filled with deep respect and awe.

None of them were fools. They naturally knew whose contribution it was that they had achieved such battle results and reached this current situation.

It could be said that without Lu Ye today, even if they hadn't died, they wouldn't have lived much longer.

"Brother Lu," Chu Li greeted, stepping forward.

Lu Ye was examining the Sky-Weaving Needle artifact. Since Zhaoming had been captured, this artifact naturally fell into his hands. Even Zhaoming's storage ring became part of his spoils of war.

The Sky-Weaving Needle artifact had quite a reputation over the Cage Sea. Because this artifact specialized in breaking through protective Dao power, Zhaoming had used it over the years to ambush and kill countless human powerhouses. On the human side, it was notorious.

Lu Ye casually put the Sky-Weaving Needle into his storage. Counting the treasured armor artifact he had obtained earlier, he now had two such items.

However, Lu Ye did not plan to sell these two artifacts or let the Talent Tree devour them. Because compared to other artifacts, these two types were quite rare. Even if he didn't need them himself, they would be very useful when given to friends and family in the future.

Lu Ye tilted his head and gave a slight nod to Chu Li. His gaze went past him, then looked at the surviving human cultivators.

This time, twenty people had left the island. Now, fourteen were still alive, and six had died in battle.

Compared to their losses, they had slain numerous enemies. Those six could be considered to have died for a worthy cause.

"Should we place a restriction on her?" Chu Li asked, looking at Zhaoming, who stood not far away.

"No need for trouble," Lu Ye shook his head. "Do you think she dares to leave?"

This was also what perplexed Chu Li. Although Zhaoming looked miserable, there was no sign of a restriction being placed on her. In other words, she could still exert her own strength.

A person of her caliber, even if she wasn't trying to escape, shouldn't be standing here obediently.

Yet, ever since the sea of blood dissipated, Zhaoming had truly remained quietly standing there, without moving.

How could Zhaoming dare to move? She had just tasted the bitter consequences.

At this moment, an extremely strange power lingered around all her wounds. If there was any abnormality, that strange power would come alive, fiercely tearing at her wounds, causing her bone-deep pain and making her body and soul tremble.