Chapter 761: An Unexpected Encounter

"Don't even think about escaping!"

Despicable Donkey couldn't care less who this so-called Blood Sword Heavenly Lord was. Once someone fell into its grasp, they had to die.

In an instant, the Despicable Donkey's demonic essence surged, condensing into a massive black handprint that blotted out the sky. It came crashing down toward the fleeing Blood Sword Heavenly Lord with crushing force.

Boom!

The black handprint solidified in midair before expanding violently, descending like a mountain. The earth trembled as the terrifying force struck. The Blood Sword Heavenly Lord, unable to react in time, spat out a mouthful of blood as half his body was pulverized into paste.

Yet, even in such a state, he refused to die. In an instant, he vanished without a trace, slipping past even Despicable Donkey's demon emperor-level perception.

"

Hmph,

you got away fast this time!"

The Despicable Donkey snorted, thinking to itself that the Blood Sword Heavenly Lord had been severely injured and would need at least a month to recover. With most of the surrounding branch temple already destroyed, the best course of action was to return to Ling Feng and properly resolve the Blood Spirit Corpse infestation in the area.

Still, the Despicable Donkey found it strange—the Blood Sword Heavenly Lord seemed to recognize it, yet it had no memory of him.

"Just who the hell is that guy?"

The donkey frowned, but no matter how hard it thought, nothing came to mind.

This wasn't surprising. The Blood Sword Heavenly Lord was none other than Li Qingling, the unlucky fool who had stumbled upon that ancient demonic sword in the tomb of Great Emperor Tiance.

Even Great Emperor Tiance had nearly fallen under the ancient demon sword's influence. Li Qingling, a mere Daoist physician, was nowhere close to possessing even a fraction of Great Emperor Tiance's willpower. With no resistance whatsoever, he was instantly enslaved by the sword.

The Blood God Cult was nothing more than a tool to repair the demon sword.

The Despicable Donkey had met Li Qingling a few times before, but compared to the once-refined "Lay Practitioner Qingling," the current Blood Sword Heavenly Lord was a grotesque monster. Moreover, the donkey knew nothing about the events in Great Emperor Tiance's tomb or the existence of the demon sword, so failing to recognize Li Qingling was only natural.

Had Ling Feng been present and seen that sword, he would have understood everything immediately.

"Whatever, not my problem! Time to find that brat Ling Feng!"

Despicable Donkey curled its lip, glanced at the ravaged land, and shook its head before leaping into the clouds. Summoning a black demonic cloud, it shot toward the imperial capital.

After all, it still had its eyes on the treasures Ling Feng had obtained from the Battlefield of the Gods and Demons. If it returned too late, there might be nothing left for it.

...

"

Cough...

"

Deep in a forest, the "Blood Sword Heavenly Lord," Li Qingling, lay sprawled across the canopy of an ancient tree, blood oozing from his wounds as he gasped for air.

Though he had narrowly escaped the Despicable Donkey's clutches, his injuries were severe. It would take time before he could move again.

Even the ancient demon sword dared not drain more of Li Qingling 's vital essence now. It still needed him to fully restore itself—killing the goose that laid the golden eggs would be foolish.

"Damn it... Why did that black donkey come here?"

Li Qingling forced himself upright, his face deathly pale, his body trembling. The tentacles extending from the demon sword writhed, slowly repairing his mangled flesh, though the sword's bloody glow dimmed further.

"Don't worry, this was just an accident! Once you restore the demon sword, I will grant you even greater power. By then, not just a demon emperor—even a demon ruler—will be forced to kneel at your feet!"

A dark illusion materialized above the sword—the spirit of the demon sword.

"I understand." Li Qingling grinned, his blood-red eyes burning with fervor. "With the power of this sword... I shall rule over all!"

...

At Western Wilderness.

Though sparsely populated and remote, the battle between the Despicable Donkey and the Blood Sword Heavenly Lord had finally drawn the attention of nearby sects and the military.

It also revealed the extent of the Blood God Cult's infiltration in the region.

The cult's followers moved like soulless puppets, their hollow eyes and eerie auras radiating palpable malice.

Though they showed no overt aggression yet, the military and local sects chose to quarantine the affected towns as a precaution, preventing these "walking corpses" from spreading.

If the followers regained their senses—or proved harmless—the lockdown would be lifted. But if they turned violent... more extreme measures would be necessary.

...

While the Western Wilderness was shrouded in fear and unrest, the imperial capital, thousands of miles away, remained vibrant and thriving.

Three days passed in a flash. The final rounds of the Five Courts' Sword Team Grand Competition would begin the next morning.

As night deepened...

Ling Feng and Tuoba Yan left the auction hall and returned to Tianwei Academy.

At Master Jing Xuan's invitation, Ling Feng had attended tonight's grand auction, where the highlight was the sale of ten sky-tier arts he had entrusted to the Tianmeng Chamber of Commerce.

The night's profits were substantial—his Supreme VIP card was even upgraded to a Supreme Black Diamond Card, matching Yan Cangtian's status. He also acquired several rare herbs for alchemy.

Back at the academy, out of habit, Ling Feng found himself wandering near the yellow-tier students' living quarters, by the small river where he often went to clear his mind.

"

Huh?

Isn't that the fool?"

A familiar voice called out from a distance. Ling Feng looked up and saw Yue Yunlan and her maid, Qiao Qiao.

"It's her (him)..."

Their eyes met at the same moment, and faint smiles crossed their lips.

This path held many shared memories.

Tuoba Yan bit her lip and silently retreated behind a nearby tree.

"Miss Yue, Qiao Qiao." Ling Feng approached and greeted them. "I didn't expect to meet you here tonight."

"Was it unexpected... or fate?" Qiao Qiao giggled, squinting mischievously.

"Enough, Qiao Qiao." Yue Yunlan shot her a reproachful glance. "Go take a walk nearby."

"Fine, I know when I'm not wanted." Qiao Qiao smirked, giving Yue Yunlan an encouraging look before darting behind a tree to peek at them.