Chapter 86: Night Ling Blood

The moment Huang Tian heard Xu Yang’s words, he disappeared from the spot and gave chase.

“And you, Zhao Peng, hurry and follow! If you catch up, I guarantee I’ll save your wife!”

The next second, Zhao Peng also vanished from his spot.

Xu Yang slowly pursued, following the lingering aura of those people.

***

In a secluded corner of the Eastern Sea lay a massive island. It was called Sea Demon Island, named after the sect that stood upon it, the Sea Demon Sect.

Huang Tian and Zhao Peng pursued them all the way to the Sea Demon Sect.

Then, they discovered that something seemed amiss: dozens of cultivators at the Cavern Heaven realm had completely surrounded them.

“Hmph,” scoffed a cultivator at the Cavern Heaven realm, spitting fiercely onto the ground, “weren’t you all quite arrogant just now? What’s wrong? Not so arrogant anymore?”

In front of him stood another cultivator at the late Cavern Heaven realm. With blood-red hair and eyes turned white, small, crimson, rice-grain-sized insects oozed from the corners of his eyes. The man’s appearance was so repulsive it made one want to vomit at first glance.

He was Ye Lingxue, the sect master of the Sea Demon Sect.

“Heh heh,” Ye Lingxue rasped, “daring to seize something the Sea Demon Sect has set its eyes on, you don’t even know your own capabilities.” His hoarse voice sounded like a cat scratching glass with sharp claws, making one’s scalp tingle and causing extreme discomfort.

Zhao Peng swallowed hard and whispered to Huang Tian, “What should we do now?”

Although Huang Tian was also inwardly fearful, he appeared remarkably calm and boasted, “What’s there to fear? If one comes, I’ll kill one; if two come, I’ll kill two.”

“But there are dozens of them here…” Zhao Peng said with a bitter smile. It wouldn’t matter if he died, but if he died, who would care for his Dao companion?

Suddenly, he remembered that Xu Yang was also following them, just not as quickly. It was at this moment that Zhao Peng finally saw through Xu Yang’s malicious intent. Xu Yang had deliberately walked slowly behind them, effectively using him and Huang Tian as bait to test the waters ahead. Now that they had successfully entered the minefield, and Xu Yang had realized it was a minefield, he certainly wouldn’t foolishly charge in. He must have taken the Deep Sea Blue Heart and left.

As for Xu Yang’s unlucky disciple, a bitter smile touched Zhao Peng’s lips. To a cultivator at the Cavern Heaven realm, a Golden Core disciple was nothing. Zhao Peng was seething with hatred.

Just then, Ye Lingxue slowly approached and said, “Who has the Deep Sea Blue Heart? Hand it over obediently, and I can ensure you a swift death. Otherwise, I won’t mind turning you into ashes in my Sea Demon Sect’s Soul Cleansing Pool.”

“The Deep Sea Blue Heart is with Xu Yang, not with us,” Zhao Peng replied.

“Who is Xu Yang? Where is he?” Ye Lingxue asked with some confusion.

Zhao Peng’s face showed a resentful expression as he gritted his teeth and replied, “Xu Yang is behind us. He used us to scout ahead, hiding behind. He’s probably already run off by now.”

Zhao Peng’s words were affirmed by the four Cavern Heaven cultivators. The Sea Demon Sect master pondered for a moment upon hearing this, then said, "In that case, you two will lead the way for me. Lead us to Xu Yang. If your performance is satisfactory, I might spare your lives."

Zhao Peng was now blinded by anger. He stubbornly believed that Xu Yang had used him and tricked him like a fool. So he nodded without hesitation and said, “Alright, follow me.”

Huang Tian, standing beside him, was much calmer and whispered, “Young friend Zhao Peng, you might be mistaken. I believe young friend Xu Yang is a righteous person, not as you imagine him to be.”

Although Ling Qingshu was tightly held by two Cavern Heaven realm cultivators, she also heard the conversation between Zhao Peng and Ye Lingxue. Ling Qingshu shook her head vigorously and winked at Zhao Peng. She knew, of course, that Ancestor Xu would never abandon her, and she wanted Zhao Peng to calm down. Unfortunately, Zhao Peng didn't see Ling Qingshu at all.

“Alright, I’ll take you to Xu Yang! The Deep Sea Blue Heart is in his hands!” Zhao Peng said resentfully.

Just then, surprisingly, a black speck appeared on the horizon. From afar, it slowly drifted closer, settling into the middle of the crowd.

Everyone was stunned, their mouths agape, wide enough to fit an egg. Everyone had thought Xu Yang had run off with the Deep Sea Blue Heart, but to their surprise, he hadn't. This greatly exceeded everyone's expectations. What was even more crucial was, couldn't Xu Yang see so many Cavern Heaven cultivators? How could he still calmly charge in? Everyone's gaze converged on Xu Yang, wondering what he was up to.

“Ahem,” a light cough echoed, and the dilapidated spirit boat stopped beside Huang Tian. Xu Yang carefully poked his head out from the spirit boat, then looked at Huang Tian with an ingratiating expression and said, “Huang Tian, catch me! I can’t fly. It would be embarrassing if I fell.”

Huang Tian’s mouth twitched, and he cooperatively lifted Xu Yang. With his feet on the spirit boat and his hand on Huang Tian, Xu Yang complained with a mournful expression: “I say, you guys, can’t we just talk on the ground? I can’t fly, you know.”

Ye Lingxue watched Xu Yang, who seemed like a living clown, and slightly frowned. He asked the nearby Cavern Heaven cultivators: “Is that Xu Yang?”

“That’s him,” the Cavern Heaven cultivators said, wiping cold sweat from their foreheads.

“Are you fools?” Ye Lingxue fumed. “How did you let him get the Deep Sea Blue Heart?”

Hearing the confirmation from the four Cavern Heaven cultivators, Ye Lingxue nearly choked to death. The four Cavern Heaven realm cultivators also felt incredibly frustrated, wondering how Xu Yang had managed to obtain the Deep Sea Blue Heart.

“Xu Yang is not to be feared,” the four Cavern Heaven cultivators explained, pointing at Huang Tian. “We weren’t defeated by Xu Yang; it was that old man over there.”

Ye Lingxue looked at Huang Tian, slowly walked over, and said, “So you’re Huang Tian? Have you decided how you want to die?”

Although Huang Tian’s heart pounded with trepidation, feeling that this might be his end, he showed no weakness outwardly. “I’ve heard those words countless times,” Huang Tian retorted, “and I’m still alive and well. On the contrary, all those who said them to me have died. I wonder if you’ll be the next.”

Xu Yang had no mind to listen to their bickering now. His gaze darted around until he finally spotted Ling Qingshu. Ling Qingshu was being held by several people, unable to move, her face contorted in pain.