Chapter 88: East Mountain City

"This is all a misunderstanding," Zhao stammered, his face contorted into a forced smile. His continuously trembling body, however, betrayed the fear in his heart.

Xu Yang sighed and waved his hand. "I understand you," he said. "There's no need to explain; I know nothing about it." As Xu Yang spoke, his gaze was sincere, betraying no hint of deception. Xu Yang genuinely had no intention of causing trouble for Zhao Peng. Although Zhao Peng had misunderstood him, he was still a good person, and his misunderstanding under those circumstances was understandable. Zhao Peng was so overwhelmed with joy that he nearly knelt in gratitude.

Xu Yang paid no attention to Zhao Peng, instead turning his gaze towards the Sea Demon Sect on the island. At this moment, the Sea Demon Sect was in complete disarray. Many of its disciples were scattered in chaos, fleeing in all directions like a startled swarm of ants. Just moments ago, all the disciples of the Heavenly Demon Star had witnessed their esteemed Elder, an almost invincible presence, being instantly killed by Xu Yang alone. The Sea Demon Sect was finished! Disciples unwilling to perish with it naturally fled with all their might, as if terrified that Xu Yang, the god of slaughter, would come for them.

***

Xu Yang, standing on his spirit boat, slowly descended onto the Sea Demon Sect's plaza. Instantly, the plaza, bustling just seconds before, became completely empty. The Sea Demon Sect disciples avoided Xu Yang as if he were a plague god.

Xu Yang ignored them. His gaze shifted, and he casually grabbed a Sea Demon Sect disciple, asking, "Where is the Sea Demon Sect's storage?" The disciple was so terrified he nearly wet himself. He pointed to a magnificent hall ahead, his lips trembling as he stammered, "It's in that hall straight ahead."

Xu Yang released the disciple and walked into the hall. Upon opening it, it was indeed a treasury, filled with many valuable items. "Adding what I got from those Grotto-heaven stage cultivators, the haul is quite substantial," Xu Yang murmured. He casually picked up a spirit sword, toying with it, a smile spreading across his face. Of course, these items were secondary; the main goal was obtaining the Deep Sea Blue Heart and finding Bai Lianxue's residual soul.

Xu Yang thoroughly searched the Sea Demon Sect, taking away all valuable items he could. Then, on the back mountain of the Sea Demon Sect, Xu Yang saw numerous spirit beasts being raised. "These should make for good ingredients," he thought aloud. A flash of spiritual energy passed through Xu Yang's hand, and all the spirit beasts were instantly slaughtered. He casually built a fire, roasted them a few times, and a rich aroma immediately filled the air.

Old Man Huang Tian, with his keen sense of smell, caught the scent and naturally rushed over anxiously. "Heh heh, so much!" he exclaimed, seeing the mountain of roasted spirit beasts before him, his drool immediately starting to flow.

"Eat as much as you like this time," Xu Yang said, now very happy and magnanimously inviting Huang Tian and Zhao Peng. Hearing this, Huang Tian's eyes lit up, and like a lustful hungry ghost seeing an unparalleled beauty, he couldn't hold back and pounced forward. Zhao Peng initially wanted to refuse, but then he shook his head with a bitter smile, dropping his guard. He imitated Huang Tian, eating heartily. Even if he remained wary, it would be useless if Xu Yang truly intended him harm. It was better to drop his guard and get to know Xu Yang better.

Although the food was delicious, Zhao Peng was still preoccupied, finding the taste like chewing wax.

"I naturally have a way to cure your wife."

"Senior, is what you say true?" Zhao Peng raised his eyes, looking at Xu Yang, his gaze filled with hope.

"Let me put it this way," Xu Yang explained, "a wisp of my disciple's residual soul resides within the Deep Sea Blue Heart. If the Deep Sea Blue Heart is damaged even slightly, my disciple will be utterly annihilated! So, don't even think about the Deep Sea Blue Heart. Now, whoever harms my disciple, I won't mind letting the entire world perish with them."

Upon hearing this, a wave of disappointment washed over Zhao Peng's eyes. Since the Deep Sea Blue Heart was so crucial to Xu Yang, his hope of using a single leaf from it to save his companion was naturally extinguished.

"I already said I have a way to revive your wife; you don't need to worry about that," Xu Yang said with a smile, seeing Zhao Peng's furrowed brow.

"Senior, why... why would you help me?" After much internal struggle, Zhao Peng finally gritted his teeth and asked with an uneasy expression. Indeed, Zhao Peng thought carefully about the two days he had known Xu Yang; he hadn't helped Xu Yang at all. He was now a bit confused why Xu Yang would help him.

"Haha, simply because when those three Nascent Soul stage cultivators tried to rob me, you were willing to set out and come here. That alone is enough. Not to mention, you provided the exact location of the Deep Sea Blue Heart; I haven't even properly thanked you for that," Xu Yang said with a laugh.

"It's just, Senior, my wife is critically injured; I'm afraid she won't be easy to heal." Zhao Peng's brows furrowed again. In fact, the true situation was even more severe than Zhao Peng let on. His wife wasn't just critically injured; she was dead, her body merely not yet cold. Only a wisp of her residual soul remained unexpectedly within her body.

"In that case, let's go quickly and see your wife," Xu Yang said after a moment of thoughtful silence. This time, Xu Yang refrained from confidently patting his chest and swearing he could certainly heal her. What if Zhao Peng was crazy and brought him a dead person, beyond resuscitation? Even Xu Yang couldn't revive someone who had already breathed their last.

Soon, the roasted spirit beasts prepared by Xu Yang were all eaten. Next, it was time to go and save Zhao Peng's wife.

As for Bai Lianxue, she remained within the Deep Sea Blue Heart for now, with no immediate issues. Moreover, even if Xu Yang wanted to save Bai Lianxue, now was not the time. Bai Lianxue currently only had a wisp of a residual soul; if Xu Yang acted rashly, she could very likely turn to ashes and completely dissipate into the world. Xu Yang had no physical vessel or spiritual medicine to nourish a soul. For now, he could only let Bai Lianxue remain within the Deep Sea Blue Heart. For now, he would first consider how to save Zhao Peng's wife.

"By the way, where is your wife now? How long will it take us to get there?" Xu Yang suddenly asked. This question was crucial; if it was too far, Zhao Peng's wife might have already passed away before they even arrived.

"Senior, it's not far. Just Dongshan Commandery, about three days' journey."

"Alright then..." Xu Yang nodded.

***

However, it took Xu Yang and Zhao Peng twenty days to reach Dongshan Commandery City... Because the "three days" Zhao Peng mentioned were calculated based on the flying speed of a Grotto-heaven stage cultivator.