Chapter 278: An Unexpected Meeting
Chapter 278: An Unexpected Meeting
The situation for the Shanhua Alliance turned dire. Five Spirit Masters fled in disarray, while two of their three Blood Martial experts exploded into nothingness—utterly annihilated. The third escaped with grave injuries.
A shadow shot upward, roaring at the sky as though unleashing centuries of pent-up resentment.
From afar, it appeared as a black-furred monkey dark as charcoal, wielding a golden staff. Dark crimson rings coiled around its body, filling the heavens and suppressing everything around it.
This terrifying entity, seemingly imprisoned for ages, erupted with fury upon release. Nearby time and space fractured, mountains crumbled, and life withered under its wrath.
Qiu Yu observed silently from a hundred miles away, concealing her aura. Wan Fang’s playful demeanor vanished, replaced by grim caution. Feixue, Fang Mu, and Tian Yi wore tense expressions, while Zhang Bin paled, breath held.
Among the Shanhua Alliance, the Charming Pen Spirit Master seethed with regret. Moving that pillar out of curiosity had proven disastrous—two Blood Martial experts dead, one crippled.
Chang Yun stared at the domineering monkey in mid-air. “How has such a being remained unknown?”
Chu Qiao answered, “It resembles the legendary Black Desire Monkey—an eerie, fearsome creature.”
“The Black Desire Monkey?” The Charming Pen Spirit Master blanched. “A taboo from ancient tales! How does it live?”
“Let’s retreat,” Chang Yun urged calmly. “If it turns violent, survival becomes unlikely.”
Nodding stiffly, the Spirit Master ordered, “We leave.” The six fled without hesitation.
The monkey kept roaring skyward, venting rage rather than chasing prey. Eventually, it calmed. Mist coalesced around it as it groomed its fur, black strands glinting with purple-tinged dark aura.
Shaking off water droplets, the monkey glared toward the Blood Moon Wasteland’s heart. With earth-shaking evil energy in its violet eyes, it ripped through time and space and vanished.
Wan Fang emerged from hiding, brow furrowed. “It’s heading where we go. This complicates things.”
Feixue frowned. “What’s its cultivation level?”
“Between late Spirit Martial and early Sacred Martial Realm,” Tian Yi estimated.
Qiu Yu materialized nearby. “It was Sacred Martial level before being sealed. Now weakened to late Spirit Martial—it’ll need time to regain peak strength.”
Fang Mu grimaced. “Still beyond our reach. Its malice could doom anyone provoking it.”
Wan Fang shrugged. “Such legends scorn ordinary folk. No need for excessive worry.”
Half a day later, they collided with Divine Martial Sect experts.
“Fate delivers you to us!” The Sect members burned with fervor.
Tian Yi, Fang Mu, and Zhang Bin tensed. Feixue remained aloof, Wan Fang silent, Qiu Yu distractedly gazing elsewhere as tension crackled between the groups.
The eight experts from the Divine Martial Sect stood composed and confident. Having prepared thoroughly, they aimed to eliminate all six experts from Lou Ri City to avenge their disciples slain outside Xuan Star Palace and restore their sect’s honor.
Tian Yi gazed at them and said gravely, “Can’t you wait until we reach the Blood Moon’s rising site?”
“Our main task is your annihilation. The Blood Moon comes second,” Liang Wei replied with a chilling grin, killing intent flashing in his eyes.
As the mission leader personally appointed by Tianye Spirit Master, his orders were clear – no survivors from Lou Ri City.
Fang Mu snorted. “Annihilate us? Big words.”
“Starting a fight here would be foolish,” Tian Yi countered. “Even if you succeed, few of you would survive to reach the Blood Moon.”
Liang Wei waved dismissively. “Crushing you will be effortless.”
Wan Fang scoffed. “Effortless? We’ll see about that.”
“Test me then,” Liang Wei retorted arrogantly. His experts swiftly closed in, each targeting one of the six from Lou Ri City.
Tian Yi and Fang Mu exchanged worried glances. Their numerical disadvantage was bad enough, but Zhang Bin’s situation looked dire – a fifth-level Blood Martial cultivator being targeted by sixth-level Blood Martial expert. Once battle commenced, the outnumbered Lou Ri group couldn’t protect him.
Feixue tilted her chin defiantly. “Test it is. We’re not backing down.”
With no alternatives, Tian Yi and Fang Mu hardened their stances.
“Begin.” Liang Wei’s casual tone treated this as child’s play, so certain was he of victory.
Wan Fang warned Zhang Bin, “Focus on evasion, not confrontation.” The young man nodded grimly.
As tension peaked, Divine Martial experts exploded into motion with blinding speed, leaving only Liang Wei and another sixth-level Blood Martial expert unengaged.
Zhang Bin immediately found himself overwhelmed. Tian Yi and Fang Mu, despite their local fame, faced opponents specifically chosen to counter them.
The wildcards were Wan Fang and Feixue. Rarely seen outside Lou Ri City, their capabilities surprised the attackers. Feixue’s Second Stage Spirit Martial opponent found himself evenly matched in their earth-shaking duel. Wan Fang similarly held his own against another Second Stage expert specializing in offensive techniques.
Liang Wei’s brows furrowed. These unknown fighters outshone even Fang Mu’s late First Stage Spirit Martial prowess – an unexpected complication.
Most perplexing was Qiu Yu’s match against the Divine Martial Sect’s sole female expert – the infamous Fire Scorpion Sorceress. The crimson-clad woman unleashed curses and venomous arts, yet every strike missed its evasive target. Qiu Yu danced through attacks like mist, offering no counterblows despite her Second Stage Spirit Martial cultivation.
The Divine Martial force comprised six Spirit Martial experts (one First Stage, four Second Stage, plus Liang Wei’s Third Stage) and two peak Sixth Level Blood Martial fighters – overwhelming on paper. Yet reality proved different.
Feixue’s cold fury fueled the fiercest clash, while Zhang Bin teetered on disaster. Qiu Yu’s eerie evasion game continued unexplained.
Liang Wei’s frown deepened. This costly stalemate wasn’t part of the plan. He prepared to intervene decisively when…
A faint ripple disturbed the air.
“Someone’s here?” Liang Wei scanned surroundings finding nothing, yet the disturbance persisted – something lurking in the void.
Before he could ponder further, Zhang Bin screamed. A bloody gash opened on his arm, spraying crimson droplets that vanished mid-air as if swallowed by invisible jaws.
Liang Wei’s face darkened. Blood-drinking void creatures?
“Beware hidden threats in the void!” Wan Fang shouted.
Both sides now faced dual dangers – each other, and something unseen hungering in the emptiness between.