Chapter 1106: Birds of a Feather

The Wind-Burial Plains stretched endlessly, barren and lifeless. To search for the Blood God Cult’s hidden lair in such a wasteland would normally have been like seeking a needle in a haystack.

But Ling Feng had already torn the memory from one cultist’s mind, and so he knew the exact way.

He traveled northwest for more than a hundred li until he reached a secluded hollow at the base of a mountain. There, a narrow cave mouth open. Within it lay the den of the Blood God Cult.

Ling Feng did not try to hide himself. Instead, he stood openly before the entrance and called out, “Lin Canglang, I am here. Whatever tricks you have prepared, bring it on!”

A massive boulder shifted aside with a grinding roar. From the cave surged more than a dozen evil cultivators, and at their head strode two men whose auras carried the weight of king-tier strength.

Lin Xian’er instinctively drew close behind Ling Feng. Several of the men let their gazes crawl over her like vermin. Their eyes alone threatened to strip her bare.

On the left stood a burly man with a large sword strapped across his back. He glared at Ling Feng and barked, “Brat, how dare you speak the lord’s name aloud. You must be courting death!”

He swung his arm, intent on striking Ling Feng across the face and humiliating him at the very first exchange.

But as his eyes met Ling Feng’s, it felt as if a golden needle pierced directly into his mind. His body froze for the briefest instant.

That instant was enough. Ling Feng’s palm snapped out in a sharp backhand.

Boom!

With a resounding crash, the burly man slammed into the rock wall and was left completely dizzy and disoriented.

The surrounding evil dao cultivators swallowed hard. That man had been a third-level Spiritual Sea Realm cultivator, yet Ling Feng had crushed him with a single blow.

This intruder was far more dangerous than they had imagined!

Ling Feng swept them with a cold gaze. “What now? Am I forbidden to speak the name of that old geezer Lin Canglang?”

One of the king-tier leaders smiled faintly, his composure unshaken. With a courteous gesture, he said, “Mr. Ling, the Master has long awaited you.”

“Lead the way!”

Ling Feng took Lin Xian’er’s arm and moved forward. She had refused the safety of the Five Elements Heavenly Palace and insisted on accompanying him, so he could only remain vigilant. He would never allow her to fall into Lin Canglang’s hands again.

They followed their guide through the twisting passage.

After more than a hundred meters, the tunnel opened into a vast cavern far broader than the narrow entrance suggested.

At its heart lay a stone chamber. Within, Lin Canglang sat waiting. Beside him, the Blood Sword Heavenly Lord, Li Qingling, sipped his wine with a faint smile.

The banquet table set before them revealed the truth. This was a trap laid long in advance.

Even so, Ling Feng showed no fear. He drew Lin Xian’er to his side, stepped into the chamber, and sneered. “A nest of snakes and rats. Two degenerates, and now you’ve even crawled together.”

“Ling Feng, your tongue is as sharp as ever,” Demon-Masked Lord replied. He betrayed no anger. From behind the ghostly mask, his venomous gaze first fixed on Ling Feng, then slid toward Lin Xian’er.

Lin Canglang gave a low laugh. “My good daughter, have you come to see your father?”

“

Bah!

Who is your daughter, you monster?” Lin Xian’er’s fists clenched until her knuckles turned white. Rage quivered in her voice. “Release my father at once!”

“So eager to be reunited?” Lin Canglang sighed theatrically. “How pitiful. I raised you for more than ten years, yet still I cannot compare to the bond of blood!”

“

Bah!

You devil, you have no right to speak of such things.” Lin Xian’er glared at Lin Canglang with hatred. In her heart she had already severed all ties.

To her, Lin Canglang was nothing more than a demon clothed in human skin, incapable of true feeling.

“Lin Canglang, enough with the bullshit. Hand over my master!”

Sword-light flickered in Ling Feng’s hand. His patience was gone.

With demons such as these, words meant nothing.

Lin Canglang only smiled. “Duanmu Qingshan holds no value to me. He has no use. You, however, are different. Give me one thing, and I will return him.”

Ling Feng’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”

“The

Sword Scripture

! The

Flower-Transposing Jade-Burying Sword

manual!”

Ling Feng frowned. With Lin Canglang’s cultivation at such a height, why covet a manual?

Unless the scripture concealed something far greater.

Lin Canglang’s grin widened. “There’s no need to guess. Yes, the scripture holds a great secret. Did you really think I teamed up with my senior brothers to attack Duanmu Qingshan just for a mystical-tier sword technique? How ridiculous. Duanmu has been sitting on a mountain of treasure without even realizing it. The Sword Scripture is the key to the ancient ruins of Yi Hua Palace.”

His voice grew fevered, his smile savage. “Do you understand now? That scripture unlocks the treasure vault of an ancient sect. Will you trade it for your master’s life? Refuse if you wish. With your ability, perhaps no one here could stop you from leaving.”

The Blood Sword Heavenly Lord frowned. “Demon Lord, why reveal this?”

Lin Canglang chuckled. “It matters little. I only wish to see what weight the bond of master and disciple holds in the heart of this so-called Young Hero Ling.”

He looked at him with mocking eyes.

Ling Feng did not hesitate. He drew the Sword Scripture from his spirit ring and tossed it onto the table.

“Here is the manual. Now return my master!”

“Good. Very good!“

Yet poisonous hatred coiled within Lin Canglang. Ling Feng’s decisiveness struck him like a thorn in the heart.

So this boy valued his master’s life above the treasure of an ancient sect?

Fool! Utter fool!

Lin Canglang flipped open the

Sword Scripture

, glanced at a few pages, and burst into wild laughter. “Excellent. Truly excellent. After more than ten years, the scripture has finally come into my hands!”

“The manual is yours,” Ling Feng said coldly. His eyes narrowed. “Now, where is my master?”