Chapter 1436: If Only Junior Brother Ling Were Here

After leaving the cave, Ling Feng considered the situation for a moment and set up an array around the cave to prevent any reckless demonic beasts from wandering inside.

Of course, once night fell, the effectiveness of this array would probably decline. However, after a full day of recovery, Saint Lady Hui Yue should regain enough strength to protect herself.

Someone as formidable as Saint Lady Hui Yue would likely survive without much difficulty now that she had awakened.

In any case, Ling Feng had great confidence in his

Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion

.

"Jiang girl, I have already done everything I could for your mother. If not for your sake, I would never have bothered about her life or death."

Ling Feng took a deep breath. In a single night his cultivation had surged to the ninth level of the Spiritual Sea Realm. Such an opportunity was rare.

However, the extreme yin cold qi within Saint Lady Hui Yue was not something just anyone could refine. Ling Feng succeeded partly because of his Chaotic Body and partly because the Dead Soul Devil Abyss suppressed many forms of power. These conditions together created the opportunity for his breakthrough.

No matter how it happened, the result remained the same. Ling Feng survived and his cultivation improved significantly.

Under normal circumstances, it might have taken him half a year to reach the ninth level of the Spiritual Sea Realm.

"I lost another day because of Saint Lady Hui Yue. I wonder how Senior Sister Li Fei and the others are doing. It would be best to reunite with them as soon as possible."

Ling Feng recalled the final corpse puppet and immediately activated his movement art. He sprinted forward at full speed and rushed toward the direction that led out of the Dead Soul Devil Abyss.

With his current strength, the Strength of Ten Dragons combined with his greatly increased cultivation gave him considerable confidence. Once he left the Dead Soul Devil Abyss and returned to the outside world, he believed he could surpass even an Extreme third-stage Human Emperor expert like Feng Shaoan.

As for how much distance still remained between him and the so-called Ten Young Emperors, only a real battle would reveal the truth.

...

In the blink of an eye, two more days passed.

Elsewhere, the main group led by Yin Jian continued retreating toward the Hall of War. Their journey had gone terribly.

The barbarian remnants had ambushed them inside the volcanic lava cave, which severely damaged the group's strength and morale. Losses continued even after they began their retreat.

The original team of thirty had now dwindled to only about twelve survivors.

Within Chu Tiange's group, Fairy Qingping and Xu Xinghe both suffered serious injuries. They nearly lost their lives during the beast tide the previous night.

"Who would have thought that coming here would be easy while leaving would be this difficult. The road out of the Dead Soul Devil Abyss is even more dangerous than the path we took coming in."

Xu Xinghe coughed violently and spat out several mouthfuls of blood. A monstrous creature covered in tentacles had swallowed him whole earlier. Fortunately Fairy Qingping killed the monster in time and cut open its stomach to rescue him, allowing him to survive.

However, Xu Xinghe had inhaled a large amount of demonic poison during the ordeal. His complexion had turned dark green and black, and he looked as if he might collapse at any moment.

Fairy Qingping possessed profound cultivation, yet the continuous battles had also left her seriously injured. She had suffered a demonic poison backlash while rescuing Xu Xinghe. Her once stunning face was now twisted with pain. Cold sweat streamed down her temples and her condition looked grim.

Even Yin Jian, the leader of the team, was covered with wounds from head to toe. Feng Shaoan, the other Extreme third-stage expert, had a pale expression and his body was drenched in blood. He could barely keep a grip on the sword in his hand.

If this continued, their entire group might perish before they even escaped the Dead Soul Devil Abyss.

Meanwhile, the saying that good people die young while villains live long seemed painfully true. Yuwen Changkong had hidden behind the others throughout the journey and used his fellow disciples as shields. Kang Huailie, the original leader of his group, had already died, yet this coward had managed to survive.

"Everyone hold on a little longer. Once we cross this swamp, the regions ahead will be far less dangerous."

Yin Jian forced himself to remain alert as he tried to raise the group's morale.

He understood the danger clearly. Once night fell, the threats would multiply several times over. If they failed to cross this swamp before dusk, they might never leave the Dead Soul Devil Abyss.

"But Senior Brother Yin, your left eye..."

One disciple clenched his fists as he stared at Yin Jian. His voice trembled.

A long wound stretched across the left side of Yin Jian's face. The gash cut straight across his left eye and formed a hideous scar.

His left eye remained tightly shut. It was blind!

The eye that once allowed Yin Jian to perceive vitality was gone!

Inside the Dead Soul Devil Abyss, spiritual consciousness was heavily suppressed. Without Yin Jian's special eye, navigating the path ahead had become extremely difficult.

No one could say with certainty whether they would leave the swamp before dusk.

Moving forward might only lead them to their deaths more quickly.

"No matter what happens, we cannot sit here and wait for death."

Yin Jian clenched his fists and spoke through gritted teeth.

"Junior Brother Feng, this time the two of us will lead the way!"

Among everyone present, only Yin Jian and Feng Shaoan possessed Extreme third-stage cultivation. If they did not step forward now, no one else would dare take the first step.

Feng Shaoan nodded without expression. He had already prepared himself for death.

However...

One regret still lingered in his mind.

The image of Ling Feng flashed through Feng Shaoan's thoughts.

He regretted that he had never fought Ling Feng with his full strength in the outside world!

Inside the Dead Soul Devil Abyss, Feng Shaoan had been defeated by Ling Feng. It was the first time he had suffered such a crushing defeat against an opponent whose cultivation was far below his own.

He had always been the genius who fought above his level. Yet fate had reversed their roles and he had become the opponent someone else challenged across realms.

If he could not defeat Ling Feng even once, he would never accept it even in death!

"

Sigh...

If only Junior Brother Ling were here right now."

Li Fei sighed softly while supporting Fairy Qingping beside her. Fairy Qingping's condition had deteriorated badly and it was unclear whether she could survive the journey back to the Hall of War.

"Yes. If Junior Brother Ling were here, crossing this swamp would not be difficult at all."

Chu Tiange remembered Ling Feng's domineering fighting style. Ling Feng had once charged straight into the swamp and fought the demonic beasts head-on beneath the surface. No one else present could accomplish such a feat.

If Ling Feng were leading the way, he would be more useful than ten of Yin Jian's special eyes!

Unfortunately, none of them knew whether Ling Feng was still alive.

After all, four full days had passed since they left the volcanic lava cave.

"Let us move! We cannot delay any longer!"

Yin Jian drew a deep breath and stared at the swamp ahead. It resembled a massive abyssal mouth waiting to swallow them whole.

If they did not enter now and night fell, this might become the final night for every one of them.

At this point they had no choice but to grit their teeth and press forward into the swamp.

Perhaps there was still a faint chance of survival.