After Escaping From Death, He Went Even Crazier By Criticizing Black Lotus Chapter 15
byChapter 15 Heading to the Spirit Nurturing Immortal Palace… Perhaps he truly isn’t suited for it…
Su Huan remained noncommittal. After successfully restraining the youth, he breathed a sigh of relief, immediately summoning his sword and pressing it against the boy’s throat. He shouted, “Your commander is in my hands! Everyone stop fighting!”
The surrounding area was a chaotic slaughter, but not a single soldier ceased their movements. Even more alarmingly, some raised their blades and charged straight at him.
Su Huan hurriedly flashed away, his eyes wide with shock.
How could this be?!
The youth, covered in spiritual chains, chuckled softly, bending over with laughter.
“It’s useless. The only command they listen to—”
“Is to kill every single immortal sect disciple.”
The youth’s eyes were curved in a smile, showing none of the ferocity or greed typical of the demonic race. Instead, he looked like an innocent young master raised in an immortal family.
Su Huan’s eyelashes trembled slightly: “Shut up.”
His fingertip moved slightly, and the chains on the youth’s body writhed like swimming dragons, locking him even tighter.
The demonic youth grunted, then laughed even harder.
Suddenly, a demonic blade materialized from the side and stabbed towards Su Huan!
Su Huan narrowly avoided it, only for another blade to appear from a low angle and thrust at him!
Su Huan raised his sword to parry and looked up, seeing a girl dressed in black.
The girl had a round face, bright, spirited eyes, a small, upturned nose, and cherry-red lips that naturally curved into a smile. She controlled a flying knife with one hand and held a red flute in the other, looking nothing like a demon.
Her voice was clear and crisp like an oriole: “You immortal sect vermin, let my brother go!”
Su Huan was startled. He felt that if the situation weren’t so dire, no one would ever suspect this brother and sister pair were members of the demonic race.
The girl opened her red lips and blew the red flute in her hand.
In an instant, the demonic music pierced their ears, disturbing their minds.
Su Huan and the others staggered, immediately covering their ears.
Jiang Fei was fighting three demonic soldiers and generals. Hearing the sound, a look of pain crossed her face. Unable to dodge in time, she was slashed in the shoulder by a demon’s blade. Fortunately, Nangong Yi was nearby and rescued her in time.
Qi Zi was driven frantic by the sound. He thrust his spear, scattering dozens of demonic foes, then quickly turned the spearhead towards the girl!
The flute music stopped. Su Huan took a breath and looked around. A plan formed in his mind, and he transmitted a message to Nangong Yi: Fellow Daoist Nangong, I have a way to trap these demons. Please assist me.
Nangong Yi nodded slightly towards him and handed the injured Jiang Fei over to Yue Jiusi for care.
Su Huan then tied the demonic youth to a tree. With Nangong Yi’s help, he dodged the demonic attacks, his figure flitting across the battlefield, robes fluttering as if dancing in the air.
Although Meng Qinghui was blind, his movements were completely unimpeded. He used a sword in each hand to kill two demons. Sensing the peculiar positions where Su Huan paused during his movements, he smiled and said to Hua Wuyou, “Wuyou, go help him!”
Hua Wuyou fanned away several demons with his fan, the flying feathers striking the demons’ hearts, killing them instantly. Hearing the command, he cheerfully replied, “Got it!”
Yue Jiusi looked confused, but while tending to Jiang Fei, he occasionally blocked attacks for Su Huan.
Before long, a massive formation suddenly appeared in the air, trapping all the demons!
Yue Jiusi’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Su Huan’s face was pale, and he couldn’t help but brace himself on the ground.
Although the demons were restricted to the Golden Core stage due to the limitations of the secret realm, forcing the creation of a formation with only half a Golden Core was still too taxing.
Su Huan closed his eyes, suppressing the metallic taste of blood in his throat. He plunged his spiritual sword into the formation’s core: “Seal!”
In the blink of an eye, all the demons vanished.
Su Huan finally let out a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, a voice came from not far away: “A Demon Sealing Formation? It seems I truly underestimated you.”
Su Huan looked over abruptly, realizing with shock that the demonic youth was still securely tied to the tree, positioned just outside the edge of the formation.
The youth smiled at his astonished expression, his face full of unrestrained glee.
Yue Jiusi exclaimed, “There’s still one more!”
He immediately prepared to stab the youth with his sword, but Nangong Yi stopped him: “Don’t.”
“He is the Demon Lord’s second son. He is connected to the demonic race by blood. Killing him will alert the Demon Lord and expose our location.”
Qi Zi walked over: “Then how should we deal with him?”
Meng Qinghui tilted his head slightly: “Take him with us, as a hostage.”
Su Huan shook his head and said, “I just tried that; it didn’t work.”
Meng Qinghui smiled and said, “The demonic race respects strength. The only reason he could command those demonic soldiers was through his father’s prestige. Once he falls into danger, those soldiers who don’t respect him naturally won’t save him. However, the Demon Lord’s lineage is difficult to maintain, so he won’t abandon his son.”
“His usefulness is immense.”
The bonfire was lit again.
After some discussion, the group decided to head towards the largest source of opportunity in the secret realm: the ruins of the Spirit Nurturing Immortal Palace.
Legend said that the greatest secret of the entire secret realm was hidden there, guarded by the fiercest protective spirits, and anyone who entered never returned. It was also rumored to have been the residence of the secret realm’s owner during his lifetime. Although the secret realm key was already controlled by the Xuanji Sect elders, perhaps there were other ways to leave hidden there.
Rather than waiting here for death, it was better to risk their lives there.
The group, taking the captured youth with them, traveled eastward, rescuing many disciples along the way. Their team expanded to over twenty people.
These disciples had been relentlessly hunted by the demonic race. Some had watched their companions being devoured by demons, while others had barely escaped the demonic claws. They all hated the demonic race intensely. Upon learning that the youth was the Demon Lord’s second son, their eyes filled with hatred. They couldn’t help but rush forward to kill him, but Su Huan stopped them.
The crowd was indignant, not taking Su Huan seriously, and insisted on using the youth to vent their anger. However, when they saw Nangong Yi approach, followed by Yue Jiusi, who looked ready to argue fiercely, they paused.
Nangong Yi said, “Abusing prisoners of war is an immoral act. Do you fellow Daoists wish to become immoral people?”
Nangong Yi had a noble status, backed by the two major powers of the Jianqing Sect and the Nangong family. The disciples did not dare offend him, so they relented.
The demonic youth snorted and closed his eyes, remaining silent.
Su Huan breathed a sigh of relief and nodded slightly towards Nangong Yi: “Thank you.”
Nangong Yi smiled at him: “Fellow Daoist Su, there is no need for thanks. I know you have kindness in your heart, and that is a good thing.”
Su Huan was touched. He thought that if he survived and managed to rescue Su Chao, he must visit the Jianqing Sect.
After the commotion subsided, everyone gathered around the bonfire to rest.
The moon reached its zenith, casting faint, scattered light through the gaps in the trees.
The firelight flickered. Su Huan couldn’t sleep. He poked the weakening bonfire and added more wood.
As he looked up, he suddenly met the eyes of the demonic youth.
Su Huan paused, then lowered his head to watch the wood slowly catch fire.
“I don’t understand.”
The surroundings were quiet. The disciples, unwilling to stay near the demon, slept further away near the roots of large trees.
The demonic youth suddenly spoke. Only when he successfully captured Su Huan’s attention did he continue: “Immortal cultivators are mostly sword cultivators. I originally thought you were one too, but after you abandoned your sword, you actually became stronger.”
The firelight dispelled the darkness, illuminating his beautiful face and reflecting his puzzled expression. He said, “Why would you give up what you are good at and instead use a weapon you are not skilled with?”
Su Huan’s eyelashes trembled slightly. He subconsciously pulled out his spiritual sword and rubbed the blade, but he could no longer feel the broken mark.
After a moment of confusion, he realized he was holding his new sword. The sword he was accustomed to had already been used as the core of the Demon Sealing Formation.
He couldn’t help but mock himself. Sword cultivators always cherished their swords like their lives, yet he had abandoned his sword time and time again. Perhaps he truly wasn’t suited to using a sword.
“I know!” The demon wasn’t annoyed by the lack of response and pondered to himself. “You must have done it to make the enemy think you were weak, so you could easily defeat them, right?”
After speaking, he lowered his head and grumbled softly, “Next time, I won’t fall for it…”
Su Huan remained noncommittal. He glanced at the youth and said, “Your royal father must love you very much.”
If he didn’t love him, how could he raise a youth with such a spoiled and willful nature? If his parents were still alive, Su Chao might have been spoiled like this too.
Unexpectedly, the demonic youth’s face paled upon hearing this. He turned his head away, looking even angrier.
After a long silence, he whispered, “You guessed wrong. He only likes my Eldest Brother…”
Su Huan was slightly surprised by this but didn’t know what to say.
Suddenly, a disciple cursed out loud: “Talking so much with a demon! So annoying! I need to sleep even if you don’t!”
Su Huan paused: “…My apologies.”
The next day.
After resting, excluding the disciples who chose not to go to the Immortal Palace ruins and instead sought other hiding spots, fifteen people remained.
Su Huan carried the demonic youth, whose three souls were sealed by the Soul Locking Chain, rendering him unable to use demonic power. Su Huan rode his sword behind Nangong Yi, Qi Zi, and the others, continuing eastward.
Senior Sister Meng Qinghui and Junior Brother Hua Wuyou were at the rear. Since fans were unsuitable for flying in the dense forest, they switched to spiritual swords and followed behind Su Huan, monitoring the demonic youth.
The demonic youth seemed not to know how to spell the word “silence.” Sitting behind Su Huan, he chattered incessantly along the way—
“Why are you so obedient? Last night, that disciple told you to stop talking, and you really didn’t say another word.”
“Is he your sect brother? Your clothes are the same style, but the patterns on your waistbands are different… His isn’t as good-looking as yours…”
“You don’t seem to like him very much. Should I kill him for you?”
Su Huan was thoroughly annoyed. He raised his hand and cast a spell to seal the youth’s mouth.
The silence behind him was finally achieved.
The tension in Su Huan’s veins finally relaxed, but the next second, he felt something was wrong.
It was too quiet.
Although Meng Qinghui didn’t talk much, Hua Wuyou was a chatterbox; it was impossible for him to remain silent.
Su Huan’s pupils contracted sharply.
Suddenly, a sound of rushing air came from behind!
Su Huan immediately jumped off his sword and recalled his spiritual sword to block, only to see the sword, unprotected by spiritual power, suddenly snap into two pieces. The inscription on the blade was eerily familiar… It was the sword he had used as the core of the Demon Sealing Formation!
Someone had broken his seal and pulled out the formation core!
At the same time, Su Huan was alarmed to see a sword mark slashed across the Soul Locking Chain on the demonic youth’s arm, almost severing the spiritual power that formed the chain.
Su Huan was shocked. The Soul Locking Chain was only effective when completely intact. Once damaged, it would lose its efficacy, yet only the caster could undo it!
That person had not only broken the Demon Sealing Formation but had also used the spiritual sword he left as the formation core to break the Soul Locking Chain, which was one of the hardest seals in the world to undo!
That broken sword carried his residual spiritual power and, having been worn for many years, was imbued with his aura, making it akin to its master. Using it to break the Soul Locking Chain was naturally effortless.
It turned out that the demonic youth’s constant noise along the way was meant to cover for his accomplice!
The youth looked down, then forcefully struggled with his hands. The golden chains on his body snapped apart and dissipated into the air.
He then picked up Su Huan’s spiritual sword, which had fallen at his feet, and violently attacked Su Huan.
The demonic youth wore a triumphant smile on his face. He said sweetly, “Remember my name, Yin Rong.”
“I will come looking for you again.”
Before his voice faded, Yin Rong suddenly retreated, and another flying sword shot out from the shadows towards Su Huan’s vital point!
Su Huan flashed away to avoid it. When he looked back, he was startled to find that Yin Rong’s figure had vanished.
The people leading the way rushed back: “What happened?”
Jiang Fei was the first to notice something amiss: “Where are Meng Qinghui and Hua Wuyou?!”
Qi Zi frowned, scanned the surroundings, and used his spear to push aside the tall grass: “They’re here.”
In the waist-high grass, the two missing people had spiritual talismans that induced unconsciousness stuck to their backs and were lying in a heap, knocked out.
A hint of anger appeared in Su Huan’s clear eyes. He gripped his sword tightly.
…It must be the internal traitor colluding with the demons!
Who could it be?
Su Huan recalled the two sneak attacks by the flying sword. An image flashed subconsciously in his mind, causing his heart to pound with fear!
No, it absolutely couldn’t be Eldest Senior Brother!