Chapter 299: Assassination of Cheng Lingyu
Chapter 299: Assassination of Cheng Lingyu
The man in splendid attire emitted brilliant light from his forehead bone, revealing intricate spiritual diagrams that unleashed horrifying disturbances.
Shui Yingyue, Ye Anlan, and Yunxiu stared at the man with bewildered expressions, puzzling the surrounding experts.
These three women had risked everything to come here and activated the Holy Artifacts with full force to break his seal. Why did they appear confused upon seeing him?
“Could this man be the Xuan Star Saint?”
“He doesn’t seem old enough.”
“Appearances can be deceptive.”
The crowd murmured theories, their confusion growing.
Daoist of the Three Suns observed, “Legends say the Xuan Star Saint was dashing and peerlessly handsome, but should appear more mature than this man. Moreover, the saintly energy pulsing from his forehead bone suggests he’s inherited the Xuan Star Saint’s Sacred Bone legacy without fully merging it.”
Cold Xiu Spirit Master countered, “Then why would he be sealed here? Can anyone determine the seal’s age?”
Silver Feather Spirit Master interjected, “Difficult to confirm, but the merging process does show in his forehead’s glow. This differs from the Xuan Star Saint himself.”
Charming Pen Spirit Master added, “The three women’s confusion is telling. Though inheriting three female saints’ legacies, their Holy Artifacts should contain historical images. If they don’t recognize him, he’s likely not the Xuan Star Saint. This raises questions about why the artifacts prioritize him. Conclusion: he’s not the saint but holds his Sacred Bone legacy.”
Thunder Rider Spirit Master snorted, “So the Xuan Star Saint journeyed from his palace to this blood lake, left his legacy, only to have it stolen? What mockery!”
Divine Xiu Spirit Master pondered, “How did he obtain the legacy? Why sealed here? What’s the red light’s meaning? These mysteries remain unsolved.”
All eyes turned to the crimson orb as debates erupted.
“Could another be sealed within?”
This possibility drew crowds toward the glowing sphere.
“Why did the Xuan Star Saint come? Might greater experts lurk in this blood lake, leaving their own legacies?”
Hu Yuer’s words rippled through minds, sparking unrest.
Spirit Masters surged toward the orb only to confront blood-red spiritual patterns weaving a protective net in the void.
As they approached, space twisted violently. A blood thread curved into a hook that ripped through time and space, shredding defenses and forcing desperate retreats. Survivors halted, faces ashen.
The red orb and splendidly-dressed man were bound together by ordered divine chains – dual seals restricting both prisoner and protector.
Shui Yingyue’s trio strained to operate Holy Artifacts against the binding force, but progress stalled. The blood-colored world’s calm surface hid dangerous currents focused on the orb’s secret.
The twelve Spirit Masters from six major sects quickly grasped the situation.
Hu Yuer muttered, “This place reeks of strangeness. Ten days since entering the blood lake, nothing’s gone smoothly.”
Dongfang Hong wondered aloud, “Why would the Xuan Star Saint create such abnormal arrangements? Even his closest companions never learned his purpose here.”
Many contemplated this. Given the saint’s past cultivation level and fame, his blood lake journey must have held profound meaning. Yet beyond the orb’s mystery, no clues emerged.
At that moment, the island at the center of the lake trembled slightly due to violent disturbances in the blood lake.
“How strange. Why is the island shaking? Could it be…?”
Except for Hu Yuer, everyone was astonished, unaware this was a floating island.
“The tremors are intensifying. We should send someone to investigate.”
With no progress inside and changes occurring outside, many grew eager to explore.
Wan Fang and Feixue exchanged glances before flying out of the cave, followed closely by Hu Yuer.
The five major forces also dispatched Spirit Masters and Blood Martial Realm disciples to survey the situation.
In the blood lake, the vortex shrank while pillars of blood water erupted skyward, churning the lake violently.
At the lakebed, Cheng Lingyu’s eight-layer gathering formation collapsed. He absorbed all divine materials as corpses, beast’s bones, divine weapons, and spirit artifacts crumbled around him.
Energies and essences flooded Cheng Lingyu’s body, forming layers of spiritual patterns and runes across his skin. These coalesced into a complete spiritual diagram, further strengthening his physical body.
Cheng Lingyu sat cross-legged at the bottom, radiant light enveloping him. Blood-colored pillars coiled around his form like water-seeking dragons, agitating the surroundings.
The blood lake’s viscosity diminished, its crimson hue fading.
Though Cheng Lingyu remained meditative and hyper-aware, he failed to notice a pair of lantern-sized, translucent crimson eyes observing him from the depths.
Those eyes lingered before retreating silently, brimming with unreadable emotions Cheng Lingyu never glimpsed.
As the lake’s energy dwindled, turbulent new changes emerged. Cheng Lingyu opened his eyes, his body now covered in blood patterns resembling a coiled dragon.
He surveyed his surroundings and roared skyward. Churning blood water morphed into a colossal dragon that surged upward.
This spectacle stunned the island’s experts, who watched with mixed expressions.
The blood dragon soared magnificently, its head bearing a radiant blood shadow.
“That’s Cheng Lingyu! He’s alive!” Hu Yuer shouted, spotting him first.
Wan Fang and Feixue confirmed the blood-shadowed figure was indeed Cheng Lingyu, his body shimmering with blood patterns and spiritual light.
“Wasn’t he dead?” Yu Feilong, Dongfang Hong, Xiang San Shao, and Azure Sky Dragon exclaimed. Having seen no trace of him earlier, they’d assumed he perished in the lake.
Cheng Lingyu rode the dragon-like water pillar skyward, his brilliance eclipsing all other talents present.
“Such arrogance will get him killed here.”
“If not now, soon.”
Many resented Cheng Lingyu’s theatrics. Throughout this ancient ruin expedition, he’d stolen glory meant for others.
The disgraced Divine Martial Sect harbored grudges, as did Yu Feilong of the Heavenly Palace. Disciples from various factions openly wished for Cheng Lingyu’s death.
Wan Fang’s gaze turned icy as he scanned the crowd, issuing silent warnings.
Mid-air, the blood dragon’s ascent slowed. As Cheng Lingyu prepared to descend, sudden danger prickled his senses.
He instinctively unleashed his scroll, releasing protective golden light.
“Watch out!” Hu Yuer screamed while Feixue roared, both lunging upward.
An ethereal figure materialized mid-air, striking Cheng Lingyu with a palm strike that fractured the sky itself.
The void splintered, lightning crackling through fissures as destructive force engulfed Cheng Lingyu.
The blow sent him flying, but the scroll’s defense absorbed most impact, sparing his life.
The figure reappeared instantly, massive palm outstretched to crush Cheng Lingyu.
Feixue intercepted with a kick that collided with the giant hand mid-air.
“Liang Wei! You coward!” Wan Fang bellowed, shooting upward.
The attacker was Liang Wei of the Divine Martial Sect, who’d hidden near the blood lake to ambush Lou Ri City’s rising star and avenge his sect.
A loud bang echoed as Feixue deflected Liang Wei’s second strike. Wan Fang joined the battle, their combined assault warping time and space.
Pale but furious, Cheng Lingyu radiated an icy chill from Liang Wei’s strike.
Yu Feilong exchanged whispers with Divine Xiu Spirit Master and Li Moru before soaring upward, sneering.
“Surviving the blood lake was lucky, Cheng Lingyu. Let me rectify that.”
Hu Yuer instantly shielded Cheng Lingyu, taunting, “The Heavenly Palace’s holy son only knows how to attack the vulnerable—no wonder you were humiliated before!”