Chapter Sixty-Nine: Negotiating With Demons

The general was slain, yet not a single soul dared utter a word. The atmosphere was so oppressive it pressed heavily upon their chests, the scent of blood mingling with the rain and spreading relentlessly.

"Those who block the way, die!"

After the second furious roar, many soldiers' hands trembled, and their spears and swords clattered to the ground. Amid the chaotic sound of horse hooves, a broad path was forcibly cleared through the crowded stone road.

"You go first!" Lin Feng, fearing someone might seize the chaos to launch a surprise attack, stood firm with his spear on the avenue, allowing Zuo Qingcheng, Ye Ziyin, and the others to pass ahead.

Thousands of troops and horses, not one dared make a sound. On the city wall, the archers and crossbowmen, under Lin Feng's pointed spear, obediently laid down their weapons.

Galloping through the rain, five riders and one wolf sped toward Changhao City, entering under the first ray of dawn.

"Ziyin, now is the time for us to part ways. This Purple Dragon Imperial Seal was originally the founding legacy of your Qiuchi. Entrusted to me by a senior, I now hand it to you, fulfilling this great duty. One day, when I have mastered cultivation, I shall return to Qiuchi and meet you all again." Lin Feng placed the seal in Ye Ziyin's hand, letting out a long breath as if released from a heavy burden.

"Brother Lin, you are leaving already?" Ye Ziyin held the seal, but his gaze was fixed on Lin Feng, his expression somewhat agitated.

"There are meetings and partings, Ziyin. That sword technique of yours should not be neglected. If you master it, even without magical arts or spiritual power, you can stand against martial experts."

"Brother Zuo, Brother Liu, Brother Liao, we shall meet again someday!" Lin Feng cupped his hands to them, turned resolutely, and with a long, piercing cry, Red Wind Horse broke into a gallop, heading toward the distant road.

The ancient road was desolate, the morning wind gentle. After a night of light rain, the mountains were fresh and green. Bathed in warm sunlight, all the gloom of the past was swept away. Lin Feng rode swiftly, laughing aloud, "Black Steed, we're going home!"

Black Steed, running like the wind, tongue lolling, its lively eyes rolling with excitement and anticipation.

In Rongshan Town, the gate guards saw this god of slaughter returning alone, and their faces turned pale, wholly lost in indecision.

"Open the gate!"

With a thunderous roar, the red horse shone against the western wind, charging toward the deadly wasteland.

"Big brother, why take this road again?" Black Steed asked, puzzled.

"There must be secrets on this barren plain. Since we've come, how can we miss it? Who knows when we'll pass here again." Lin Feng smiled. "If we gain some immortal fortune, it'll be our luck. Let's hurry—after two days and nights of riding, the horses are tired. Once we leave this wasteland, we'll rest well for a night."

"Oh, I'll follow your lead." Black Steed leapt like an arrow, soaring over ten yards in one bound.

"Incredible! Black Steed can jump so far now. Go!"

The wasteland was as gloomy and terrifying as ever, now shrouded in an additional faint mist compared to yesterday. Approaching this mist, Lin Feng detected a subtle crimson hue, tinged with a sickly odor wafting into his nostrils.

Blood mist! Lin Feng frowned, recalling the hundred men and horses lost yesterday, his heart chilled.

There was no life here; only humans and horses could create such blood mist.

Although the mist was thin, he could see the stones beneath his feet. He hung the glass Buddhist beads on his wrist, gripped the Demon Flood Dragon Bow, and searched the eerie wasteland. This time, Red Wind, his thousand-mile horse, was much quieter. Black Steed's eyes darted, leading the way into the mist.

Beneath the blood mist lay a chilling silence.

Heading south, the blood mist thickened, a sticky feeling coating his skin. The overwhelming stench induced a dreamlike sensation, as if imprisoned in a hell of blood, far from the mortal world! Looking up, the slanting sun was a deep, bloody red.

In this increasingly sinister atmosphere, Lin Feng and Black Steed suddenly halted.

Amidst the blood mist ahead, a mound appeared—skins!

Human skin, horse skin! Piled corpses reduced to pale, fiery skins, a faint blood vapor seeping out with a stench. Nearby, a jumble of armor and weapons lay discarded.

Lin Feng gazed impassively at the two "hills," his eyes twitching, and slowly drew a Sky-Splitting Arrow.

"Big brother!" Black Steed leapt past the mound, stopping several yards ahead.

"Hmm?" Lin Feng sensed something, leapt from his horse, bow in hand, darting forward.

Behind the mound of skins and bones, a massive, tangled tuber rooted deep in the earth. Humanoid in shape, entirely blood-red, leafless, a full yard in size.

"Yin Blood Ginseng! How is this possible!" Yin Blood Ginseng grows in places of extreme darkness, feeding on the essence of dead insects, birds, and beasts. To grow to palm size takes a hundred years, but this one, by normal measure, must have existed tens of thousands! Yet such a heaven-defying spiritual material shouldn't have survived unnoticed in this wasteland.

"Hehehe, little one, are you surprised?" An unfamiliar, self-satisfied voice suddenly echoed. Lin Feng's expression changed; this voice, like Black Steed's, used voice transmission techniques. Had it, the Yin Blood Ginseng, gained sentience and intelligence?

"You prey on living beings, no matter what you are, after today you won't live any longer!" Thinking of the countless humans and animals it had drained, Lin Feng's anger surged. He drew the bow fully, and at close range, shot an arrow straight through the Yin Blood Ginseng, piercing into the hard earth below with a sharp crack.

A bowl-sized hole appeared in its body, visible through to the other side.

"Heh, you think you can kill me with that junk? If I hadn't intended to meet you, you'd be dead already!" The Yin Blood Ginseng's voice sounded in his mind, a flash of red light, then vanished.

"Earth Escape Technique!" Lin Feng was startled, frantically searching for its shadow. At that moment, Black Steed cried out, "Big brother, watch your feet!"

Boom! The ground suddenly collapsed, horses neighing, wolves howling, cries echoing.

Falling rapidly, surrounded by earth and darkness, after ten breaths, his feet landed softly, as if on cotton.

In the dim, crimson glow, beneath him appeared a thick layer of silk-like roots—the enormous root system of the Yin Blood Ginseng! Ahead, several yards distant, it emitted a ghostly red light.

"Black Steed!" Lin Feng called loudly.

"I'm here, big brother." A shadow darted out—Black Steed leaped before him.

"A fine relationship, stirring up my fond memories, hehehe..." The Yin Blood Ginseng's laughter grated on the ears. Deep underground, a humanoid, giant radish-like monster grinning at him—an unnerving sight.

"What do you want?" After a moment's silence, Lin Feng sensed there was much more here. A sentient being, capable of fond memories?

"A business deal." The Yin Blood Ginseng shook and shivered, its roots twitching, almost mimicking human gestures, lacking only nose and eyes. "You carry a Buddhist treasure, do you not? I'll trade this Yin Blood Ginseng for your Buddhist treasure."

"Buddhist treasure? You mean this strand of glass beads?" Lin Feng was surprised. "What do you want this for?" Suddenly, realization dawned, his face changing dramatically. "You're not the Yin Blood Ginseng—what kind of demon are you?"

"Who said I was? I'm Li Chi, and what I want is the Manjusha Flower you carry! That trinket is worthless." The tuber continued transmitting.

"What!" Lin Feng's heart jolted, then shook violently. Li Chi, this mysterious entity, actually knew he carried the Manjusha Flower! In that instant, his killing intent soared, and he drew another Sky-Splitting Arrow.

"Wait! If you attack, I'll kill the Howling Moon Wolf first and drain his essence! We'll die together if need be!" Countless roots wriggled, binding Black Steed's limbs tightly.

The nocked arrow slowly lowered. Lin Feng stared at the Yin Blood Ginseng coldly. "Why do you want the Manjusha Flower?"

"Why? Of course, to borrow its power and restore my true form. You can't use it anyway; if you refine this Yin Blood Ginseng, you'll advance a whole stage. Hurry and agree, hehehe." Li Chi coaxed, but did not loosen his grip on Black Steed.

Lin Feng observed carefully, gaining some insight into Li Chi, and answered firmly, "Impossible. The Manjusha Flower has fused into my meridians; even if you kill me, you can't extract it. Judging by your appearance, you've taken over the Yin Blood Ginseng's body and slaughtered countless lives. You wish to attain a human form? Dream on!"

The Yin Blood Ginseng paused, silent for a long while. The underground darkness grew unbearably tense. After a long time, its voice sounded again. "Hehehe, ten years ago I narrowly escaped death—I have ways to reshape my magic body. As I said, Li Chi offers you a deal. The Yin Blood Ginseng is yours; help me attain a flesh body, how about it?"

"How would I help you?"

"When you one day cultivate a spirit soul, I will show you how to extract the Manjusha Flower, refine it into a clone, and then you can give it to me." Seeing Lin Feng's tone soften, Li Chi was delighted, his voice becoming more amiable.

"Spirit soul cultivation!? I haven't even built my foundation yet, I'm a world away from the Golden Core and Infant Soul stage. If you're not afraid of dying of old age, then wait!" A deep, enigmatic smile appeared on Lin Feng's face.

"Deal! Give me the Buddhist beads, I'll attach my spirit to them!" Li Chi said decisively.

"Wait—how can I trust you? Swear a heavy oath!"

"Heh, that's easy. Nine Heavens, Starry Domain, Three Palace Demon Gods, in my name, I swear this pact. If I break it, let me fall forever into the Star Prison!"

"What kind of oath is that? You won't even say your name?" Lin Feng looked at him—no, at the humanoid, giant radish—strangely.

"Eh?" Li Chi was dumbfounded, then burst out laughing. "Why care about the oath? Enough, give me the beads, and the Yin Blood Ginseng is yours!"