Chapter 1242: When Enemies Meet on a Narrow Road

The reef island where the group rested was fairly spacious. Everyone sat and entered meditation. Although they could not draw on the world’s spiritual energy to restore their elemental force, the pills Ling Feng had handed out were enough to sustain them for some time.

Night fell.

They suppressed their presence as much as possible. They were very close to Heavenly Pool Island, and no amount of caution felt excessive.

Suddenly, Ling Feng and Lou Qianzhong opened their eyes at the same moment.

Both had sensed several strong auras closing in fast.

“Ling Feng, did you sense that too?” Lou Qianzhong’s eyelid twitched. He frowned. “Are those the monsters from Heavenly Pool Island?”

“They shouldn’t be. I don’t sense that vile aura. They feel like cultivators, the same as us!”

Ling Feng narrowed his eyes. Apart from themselves and the island monsters, the only cultivators who might be inside the Sea of Miracles were those brought in by the Venerable of the Desolate Sea.

“What rotten timing!”

Ling Feng’s expression turned serious. Of all people to run into now, it had to be members of the Murong family!

...

A jet-black flying vessel surged toward them. The hull was badly torn, as if something had eaten away parts of it with terrifying ease. The sight chilled the onlookers.

Twelve cultivators stood on its deck, most in the early-stage of Human Emperor.

The one leading the group was a woman with a beautiful face and an elegant, graceful figure. At the moment, she looked a little haggard and worn. The cultivators behind her also appeared extremely exhausted, and one of them was even seriously injured, with an arm completely severed at the joint.

Beside the woman stood an elderly mid-tier Human Emperor, white hair and a long sword strapped to his back. His breathing was uneven, but he seemed in better condition than the others.

He frowned and said in a low voice, “Miss Murong, did your ancestor not claim the Venerable of the Desolate Sea could foresee space-time rifts? This does seem easy."

Several Human Emperors nearby scowled. They felt tricked.

They had thought following the Venerable of the Desolate Sea would carry them safely into the Sea of Miracles, yet before the treasure hunt even began, two companions had perished.

The venerable himself had been forced to hold back to fight a monster that had appeared without warning.

“Senior,” Murong Zining said, looking to calm the deck, “my ancestor warned us something different was happening this time. The density of space-time rifts has increased many times over compared with past years. So far, though, our losses remain within acceptable limits!”

Her words did little to soothe some of the more restless cultivators, but they reduced the immediate panic.

Yang Huanzhi still trembled. He was the weakest among them and the least valuable as an ally. Would he be the one to get abandoned once another crisis struck?

Regret gnawed at him. Had he known how things would turn out, he would never have joined this expedition!

Di Xuan kept his usual icy calm. He had only recently reached Human Emperor, but he had used his sword array to endure a space-time rift long enough for the others to survive. The cost had been high. Six of his nine Purple Sky Divine Sword had been swallowed by the rift, leaving his power greatly reduced.

Once the group had settled, Murong Zining continued, “My ancestor has done all he could to protect you through this journey. Neither the space-time rifts nor the strange demons we have met caused us heavy losses. Those who attempted to enter the Sea of Miracles without a Tianlan Sea Token were likely erased by the space-time rifts long ago.”

Jian Liang gave a cold nod and a murderous glint flashed across his face. “I only hope Ling Feng does not die too quickly. If he falls into my hands, I will let him know what it means to regret living!”

At that moment Jian Liang’s gaze fell on a reef island ahead. A cruel smile split his face. “Miss Murong, it seems some people managed to enter the Sea of Miracles without the Venerable of the Desolate Sea’s guidance. From the look of it, they arrived before we did!”

Murong Zining’s face went pale. “That is impossible!”

She followed Jian Liang’s line of sight and saw a group seated cross-legged on a large reef.

One face in particular made her blood boil!

Ling Feng!

He was the man who had first toyed with her on Heaven’s Illusion Island and who had deceived her under the name Long Fei!

As the saying goes, when enemies meet, their eyes burn with a distinct fury. Murong Zining felt her rage was about to burst right out of her chest.

In contrast to her rage, Yang Huanzhi instantly went wild with excitement, as if he'd just been jolted alive.

“Big Boss Ling!”

Yang Huanzhi nearly lost his balance with the urge to rush to him.

“I knew it. Big Boss Ling would not give up so easily. He’s already made his way into the Sea of Miracles.”

The sight of Ling Feng finally eased the anxiety in Yang Huanzhi's heart.

Yet, a very serious problem instantly occurred to him.

Both Jian Liang and Murong Zining held a hatred as vast as the sea for Ling Feng.

Behind Murong Zining stood the Venerable of the Desolate Sea. While the others were easy enough to handle, the Venerable of the Desolate Sea was a peak Human Emperor!

Even if the Venerable of the Desolate Sea had been delayed by a winged monster earlier, it would only be a matter of time before he caught up.

Could Ling Feng really handle such a lineup?

The flying vessel pushed forward. Jian Liang followed Murong Zining’s stare. When he too saw Ling Feng, a chilling, cruel arc immediately curved his lips.

“So, there you are. Heaven has ordained your death. Since you did not perish in the space-time rifts, then you will die by my hand!”

Jian Liang cursed. Beside him, Jian Xibai clenched his fists, teeth grinding with hatred. “Father, today we finally avenge Brother Chen.”

Back on Heaven’s Illusion Island, Ling Feng had killed Jian Chen. If not for the grand elder’s repeated interference, an attack would have come long ago.

They had chased him from Heaven’s Illusion Island to Tianhuang City and then into the Sea of Miracles. Now, at last, they had caught up!