Chapter 262: Gathering at the Blood Lake
Chapter 262: Gathering at the Blood Lake
Hu Yuer hesitated and said, “I’m still not sure, but if something rises from the blood lake after nightfall, my guess will be right.”
Cheng Lingyu’s face paled as he stammered, “Are you saying we might be…”
Hu Yuer nodded faintly, her expression turning bitter.
Han Zhen frowned. “Cheng junior apprentice, what’s this about?”
Cheng Lingyu’s voice grew heavy. “It’s too early to say. Let’s check first before causing panic.”
The six flew swiftly toward what seemed nearby but took two full hours to reach.
“This…”
Xiao Lingfeng gaped. Instead of a blood lake, a massive hole yawned before them.
Three blood rivers poured into the gaping sinkhole, their churning blood water veiling the pit in blood mist. Deafening roars echoed from below, hiding all details of the depths.
The hole spanned three miles, brimming with blood energy. Blades and sword runes whirled at its entrance, while blood-colored beasts and birds flitted through the mist. Hundreds of cultivators from Xuan Star Palace factions crowded the edges.
The three rivers split the area into zones. Shui Yingyue, Ye Anlan, and Yunxiu each stood in separate sections. Cheng Lingyu’s group entered Shui Yingyue’s zone, where Heavenly Palace experts also gathered.
Hu Yuer muttered, “The rivers flow endlessly here without overflowing. There must be an underground lake with another exit.”
Han Zhen agreed. “No other explanation.”
Xiao Lingfeng shuddered. “The blood energy here is ten times worse than the riverside. Getting closer is suicide.”
Chen Song pointed. “Shui Yingyue’s mirror repels the blood energy. See how close she stands?”
Zuo Yi added, “Ye Anlan and Yunxiu are similarly shielded. Those Three Saints Palace artifacts might be Holy Artifacts—ordinary spirit artifacts couldn’t withstand this.”
The three women glowed like beacons, their gazes piercing the blood mist to study the hole’s depths. Other cultivators kept wary distances, avoiding the thickest energy concentrations.
“Cheng Lingyu’s here!”
The shout drew dozens of stares. His fame from Xuan Star Palace preceded him, and now all watched for extraordinary phenomena around him.
Cheng Lingyu noted fewer faces than before—many experts had clearly perished here. His companions formed a protective circle while Hu Yuer smiled innocently at onlookers.
Yu Feilong of Heavenly Palace sneered. “That pest follows me everywhere.”
Nearby, Hua Yuehong studied Cheng Lingyu coldly. From Yunyang City’s Holy Emperor’s palace to Guishun Valley and now this ancient ruin, their paths kept crossing as rivals, though they’d never clashed directly.
Heavenly Palace’s other holy son, Li Moru, observed Cheng Lingyu with keen interest, clearly impressed despite himself.
“This Cheng Lingyu will be difficult to deal with if he survives to grow stronger,” Yu Feilong sneered. “Whether he’ll even live to leave this place remains uncertain.”
Shui Yingyue turned when she heard Cheng Lingyu had arrived. Her water-clear eyes behind the veil held an indecipherable glint.
The Three Saints Palace heir and Cheng Lingyu shared complicated ties. Though the four had cooperated to open Xuan Star Palace, their rivalry mirrored that between Hua Yuehong and Cheng Lingyu.
Cheng Lingyu’s group of six neared the massive hole where thick blood energy warped time and space, creating a dangerous supergravity field. The gravitational force multiplied alarmingly near the hole’s edge.
Cultivators with weaker cultivation kept their distance, not daring to approach.
“About 110 people here – far fewer than anticipated.”
The crowd in this zone was sparse, matching the other two main areas. Total numbers had halved compared to those at Xuan Star Palace.
Many bore spirit artifacts above their heads to block the blood energy, revealing previously hidden capabilities.
Xiao Lingfeng warned, “This cursed land kills the careless. Stay vigilant.”
Cheng Lingyu locked eyes with Shui Yingyue in silent communication before shifting focus to the mirror floating above her head. The restless artifact emitted peculiar vibrations, seeming almost agitated.
*Why’s the mirror excited?* Cheng Lingyu wondered. *Could Xuan Star Saint have left clues in this hole?*
Shui Yingyue studied him curiously. “Where’s the scroll? Why not summon it?”
With a smile, Cheng Lingyu produced the scroll – now eerily inert despite faint golden light shimmering across its surface. Unlike its active revival at Xuan Star Palace, it lay dormant here.
Shui Yingyue sighed deeply. “After all… it remains an unattainable dream.”
“What do you mean?” Cheng Lingyu pressed.
She turned away without answering, her silhouette blurring into the haze.
When Cheng Lingyu moved to follow, Hu Yuer pulled him back. “Wait. Not yet.”
He stared intently until her cheeks pinkened. “Must you stare so boldly?”
Her rippling gaze effortlessly deflected his mental probe.
“Fox Immortal tribe’s innate skills prove remarkable,” Cheng Lingyu observed, catching on.
Hu Yuer deflected by gesturing at three converging blood rivers. “This terrain’s odd – three rivers forming a blood lake.”
Cheng Lingyu eyed the dragon-like rivers spewing blood energy. “The hidden hole’s stranger. Why bury it underground beneath blood mist?”
“Heavenly Palace experts likely know.” Hu Yuer’s eyes sparkled. “Ask them.”
“Sly fox,” Cheng Lingyu grumbled. “Sending me instead.”
She giggled. “Your charm surpasses mine. Else I’d have gone.”
“It turns out my charm surpasses yours? How come I never noticed? Have I bewitched you into losing your senses?”
Hu Yuer responded, “More than losing my senses—I’ve nearly forgotten my own name.”
Cheng Lingyu said with a wicked grin, “That potent? Let me verify if you’ve regressed to ancient times.”
He extended his hands, attempting to remove Hu Yuer’s clothes to expose her in front of everyone.
Hu Yuer dodged swiftly, shouting, “You scoundrel! What are you doing?”
Cheng Lingyu frowned. “Seems you’re perfectly alert—my charm hasn’t clouded your mind.”
“You’re insufferable!”
Hu Yuer glared coquettishly at Cheng Lingyu, her demeanor utterly mesmerizing.
Xiao Lingfeng and Han Zhen shook their heads in disbelief. While others solemnly observed the massive hole and the blood-red phenomenon, Cheng Lingyu and Hu Yuer flirted shamelessly, utterly unconcerned.
Yu Feilong witnessed this and spat, “Disgusting.”
Cheng Lingyu overheard and retorted, “The holy son claims to be refined. After chasing Hua Yuehong all this time, have you even touched her hand?”
Yu Feilong sneered, “What right do you have to ask me?”
Cheng Lingyu smirked. “Too embarrassed to answer? If people learn you’ve pursued her this long without even brushing fingers, will they praise your elegance or mock your incompetence?”
Yu Feilong’s face darkened. “Cheng Lingyu—you seek death?”
Cheng Lingyu chuckled. “Why so defensive? Just wild guesses… unless I struck a nerve?”
Hu Yuer tittered mockingly.
Han Zhen remarked, “In courting women, Cheng junior apprentice clearly excels. Heavenly Palace’s holy sons are such gentlemen—‘ignore impropriety, avoid impropriety, shun impropriety’…”
Yu Feilong snapped, “Impropriety your head! Shut your mouth!”
Xiao Lingfeng clapped slowly. “Heavenly Palace’s elegance is truly… enlightening.”
Yu Feilong growled through gritted teeth, “Mock me now, fools, and you’ll regret it.”
Cheng Lingyu shrugged. “Clever men die young. Occasional foolishness keeps things interesting.”
Hua Yuehong’s icy voice cut in. “What’s your game, Cheng Lingyu?”
“Nothing sinister. I’m new here. Since we’re old acquaintances, why not brief me?”
“We’re not acquainted!” Hua Yuehong hissed. “Watch your tongue.”
Cheng Lingyu grinned. “Life and Death Evaporate. Holy Emperor’s underground palace. Surely you recall?”
Yu Feilong’s brow furrowed. “Hua junior sister—what’s he implying?”
Hua Yuehong glared frostily. “Explain yourself.”
Cheng Lingyu spread his hands. “My Senior Sister once likened Life and Death Evaporate to four people: Life as Bai Ruomei, Death as me, Illusion as you, Evaporation as the silver-haired man. You’re separated from Bai Ruomei by me, while she’s divided from the silver-haired man by both of us. Between me and him stands you. If this tangled web isn’t ‘old acquaintances,’ what is?”