Chapter 42: A Single Sword Kill

Li Weiyi knew very well that Li Ling must have come after him with a purpose, but so far, there seemed to be no obvious malice.

It was as if she was checking if any of his companions were newly transformed Pure Immortal Bodies.

However, her performance truly caught Li Weiyi off guard, making it difficult for him to cope. It was like... a sword of profound affection, both lethal and surprisingly effective.

But what was the point of such a victory?

Didn't she know that those who love to act, when they portray emotions too genuinely, often get lost in their own performance?

"What you're piecing together is definitely not the truth. Li Ling, shall we talk privately?"

Li Weiyi knew that as long as they were under everyone's watchful eyes, she would continue her serious act. Therefore, he was the first to walk towards the distant fog.

After politely bidding farewell to the others, Li Ling followed him.

Li Weiyi maintained a safe distance, not daring to go too far. If they completely disappeared from the others' sight, people would likely start imagining all sorts of scenarios again.

"What exactly are you trying to do? What benefit does putting on such a grand performance bring you?"

Knowing that the others couldn't hear, Li Ling moved closer to him, revealing a mischievous, triumphant smile. "Who told you to leave me alone at Coffin Dock Ferry, without saying a word before you left?"

Li Weiyi didn't beat around the bush; he spoke frankly. "Although you've shown almost no malice, you're too deliberate. It gives me a... false impression. I can't see through your intentions, so I can only keep my distance."

"Should I be more sincere from now on?" Li Ling's eyes widened, looking very innocent.

"Or perhaps you could be more direct?"

Li Weiyi truly had a headache. He immediately added, "Didn't we agree that once we leave the Spirit Mist Domain, our past grievances would be wiped clean? If you don't tell me why you approached me, how can I trust your sincerity?"

Li Ling replied, "I just wanted to see if you actually possess the precious medicine for transforming into a Pure Immortal Body. You can understand my longing for a Pure Immortal Body, right? But looking at your companions, they are either mutated humans or ordinary mortals, so that almost obsessive desire in my heart has faded."

"It had better be."

Li Weiyi said, "Come back with me and clarify things with everyone. Stop causing trouble. In the future, we'll at least have a chance to get along as friends."

"All right, but I need to discuss something serious with you first."

Li Ling's expression turned serious, resuming the noble and aloof demeanor she had when they first met. She said, "Three disciples from Shijiuzhai have pursued us! You know, that dog-like mutated human woman has an extremely keen sense of smell. She tracked our scent through the Spirit Mist Domain."

"While you were fetching your companions, luckily I kept them going in circles, holding them back. Otherwise, you would have been their first target, because all the magical artifacts are on you, and you were the most likely one to have taken the Immortal Art Star."

"Now that we've reunited, it won't be long before they track us down."

When fleeing, Li Weiyi had called out the name "Shijiuzhai," and later, they discussed the matter in the Spirit Mist Domain.

Shijiuzhai, a figure mentioned in the *Jiazi Scroll*, was a name well-known throughout the Southern Realm. Thus, Li Ling already knew that the attackers of the Cangli tribe might not have been the Buddhist Bandits, but very likely the Earth Wolf King's Army.

"I don't really mind; I can escape quickly anyway. But your scent has also been detected by her. If they track you, what will happen to them?"

Li Ling pointed towards Zhao Meng and the others in the distance, saying earnestly, "Lend me a hand. Let's eliminate them. At the very least, we must kill that dog-like mutated human."

One hundred thousand Buddhist Bandits, ten directions of Earth Wolf Banners.

Both of these forces were notoriously vicious, with brutal methods and a multitude of powerful experts within their ranks.

This matter was too significant, potentially involving the safety of the entire Lizhou.

Therefore, Li Ling needed to capture one of them alive and bring them back.

At the very least, she had to bring back the head of someone important enough from the Earth Wolf King's Army.

Li Weiyi knew Li Ling's objective, but her coming to him clearly indicated she was certain he would cooperate. And indeed, he had to resolve this hidden danger before they were tracked down.

Li Weiyi said, "We can cooperate again! But you must first tell me how you found me so precisely."

"The enemy is at hand; don't dither. Haven't I already said that from now on we'll be sincere with each other, and I'll tell you after we deal with the enemy?" As Zhao Meng and the others looked over from a distance, Li Ling punched him lightly on the chest.

Li Weiyi's biggest problem currently was his inability to accurately gauge his own strength. However, he thought that with his Four Springs cultivation and a few magical artifacts, escaping shouldn't be a major issue.

When he was at Three Springs, with the blessing of the Scripture Belt, his speed was already faster than Xing Wanxing, who had six springs open.

Li Weiyi said, "With my cultivation, I might not be of much help. I'll try my best to hold back that fat man with six open springs."

"If you use your blood sacrifice summoning technique here, I imagine it would be even more spectacular than in Buried Immortal Town," Li Ling said.

Li Weiyi recalled the scene in Buried Immortal Town, then looked at the countless floating coffins before him, still feeling a lingering fear. He said, "I truly don't know any blood sacrifice summoning techniques."

"Alright, just try not to hold back anymore. We have to overcome this difficult hurdle together. I'll also reveal my true trump card. Actually, my martial arts cultivation is quite high; you're the only one who knows this secret right now. I'm telling you because I trust you." Li Ling said this to appear more sincere.

In reality, the martial arts cultivation she spoke of originated from the Zen Sea Mist within her body.

Li Weiyi showed a strange expression. She cultivated both spirit and martial arts, and she still had such a hidden ability?

Remembering the Zen Sea Mist's instructions, Li Ling asked, "After this cooperation, will we be considered friends?"

Time was pressing, so Li Weiyi couldn't explain further. He said to Zhao Meng, "Senior Brother, I need to go with her to handle an urgent matter. I'll definitely be back before dawn. I'm leaving this place in your hands!"

Watching their retreating figures, Zhao Meng said, "One moment they're fighting to the death, the next they're flying off together like a pair of lovebirds. What's going on?"

"Love, I don't understand. But for a woman to be so distraught, one of those two must be a master."

After Master Guan uttered that profound remark, he immediately began hopping up and down. "Cultivate! Cultivate! Everyone, practice the Breathing Technique!"

"Zhao Meng, you've drunk a large amount of Golden Crow blood and Black Dragon blood. Your physique and physical strength, even without opening springs, are stronger than ordinary Four Springs cultivators of martial arts. But you need to cultivate magical power to be able to withstand the blood of a third ancient immortal beast in the future. With each type you drink, you'll gain another beastly characteristic. Those ancient legends of becoming a dragon require drinking nine types of blood; that is the lifelong pursuit of every mutated human!"

Li Weiyi and Li Ling, like two afterimages, moved swiftly across the endless, layered floating coffins.

One's legs trailed streaks of blue mist, while the other's feet emanated silver magical power. They advanced one after another without a moment of pause.

"How strange. The Blood Sea Coffin Dock used to be anything but peaceful. Corpse ghouls howled, coffins rattled, and all sorts of humanoid and aberrant evil creatures were everywhere. What happened during this time?" she muttered to herself.

Li Weiyi strongly suspected that the bronze warship had suppressed the entire Blood Sea Coffin Dock into silence. But now that the bronze warship had left, only its lingering might remained. It probably wouldn't be long before this place returned to its original dangerous and terrifying state.

Li Ling's senses were exceptionally sharp. Realizing that the three disciples of Shijiuzhai were very close, she immediately slowed down with Li Weiyi, trying to avoid making any subtle sounds.

She was decisive, hiding in the murky, foul-smelling blood sea to conceal all her presence.

Li Weiyi secretly admired her. At merely fifteen or sixteen years old, and of noble birth, yet she was utterly unpretentious. She was definitely someone capable of great things.

Covering his face, Li Weiyi also held his breath and hid in the bloody seawater.

Gradually, three figures rapidly emerged from the ominous fog, each radiating dense magical power.

"We've been chasing all day. What is that girl thinking? Even if she's escaping, she should be heading towards the Lingxiao Living Realm. Legend says the Blood Sea Coffin Dock is extremely dangerous," Xing Wanxing complained indignantly, bringing up the rear.

He was utterly exhausted and desperately wanted to return to the living realms. The Spirit Mist Domain, Blood Sea Coffin Dock, and Underworld of the Deceased were not places for the living; staying there for too long was incredibly oppressive.

Fang Tong had been observing their surroundings. He said, "Perhaps she's afraid that Master is still in Buried Immortal Town, so she doesn't dare to return there."

Yan Qingqing stopped, sensing something. She then focused magical power into her nose, greatly enhancing her sense of smell. Amidst the strong, foul, and decaying scents, she searched for the faint human scent that belonged only to Li Ling.

This was a rare innate ability possessed by only a few mutated humans; even if someone had left an hour ago or was dozens of miles away, she could still detect their faint scent.

A moment later, she said, "Strange, the scent of that mysterious man who disappeared has reappeared here..."

Fang Tong instantly became alert, his seven internal springs surged, and a powerful magical force enveloped his entire body.

"Swish! Swish! Swish..."

Seven ten-zhang-long bright streaks of light shot out from the water, like seven winding and sharp whip-swords, striking the three individuals simultaneously.

The area within ten zhang became a perilous zone.

Except for Fang Tong, the other two hastily met the attack, sustaining bloody sword wounds.

Xing Wanxing, in particular, suffered a foot-long sword wound on his back. The wound was scorched black and bleeding, narrowly missing the bone. He immediately activated his movement technique and fled ten zhang away.

"Splash!"

Li Weiyi, sword in hand, leaped out of the water. As water droplets splashed from his body, he intercepted Xing Wanxing's path, simultaneously activating his four internal springs and channeling magical power into the Yellow Dragon Sword.

With a clang, a dazzling yellow light, like a majestic dragon, shot forth swiftly.

He had to restrain Xing Wanxing at all costs to buy Li Ling time, so he had to go all out.

Too fast!

The brilliance of the Yellow Dragon Sword was so blinding that Xing Wanxing couldn't open his eyes. By the time he did, his throat had already been pierced.

The sword tip emerged from the back of his thick, fleshy neck.

Killed with a single strike!

Li Weiyi was slightly surprised. He withdrew the sword, and Xing Wanxing's body fell to the ground with a thud, blood gushing from his mouth and neck.

Fang Tong and Yan Qingqing, who were dealing with the seven streaks of light in the distance, noticed what had happened. Although startled, they only thought that Li Weiyi had succeeded with a sneak attack, especially since Xing Wanxing was already severely injured.

"Leave Li Ling to me. You go deal with him. Be careful!"

Fang Tong hoisted a seven to eight hundred jin iron-plated coffin. His muscles and bones groaned as he hurled it towards the bloody waters where the seven streaks of light had emerged.

Li Ling burst out of the water first, blue mist swirling around her long, pale legs. She struck with her palm, hitting the oncoming iron-plated coffin.

"Boom!"

The iron-plated coffin flew back, crashing onto the "land" of floating coffins.

Fang Tong quickly dodged, utterly astonished. "You also cultivate martial arts?!"