Region Number 23 — Within a Cave
Li Yuxong could feel the energy of the bloody pool was nearly drained. When that energy had been abundant he couldn't sense anything, but as the Spiritual Essence ebbed he began to feel its flow toward a particular direction.
Why is the Spiritual Essence being drawn that way? Is there some sort of treasure?
As the question rose in his mind, Li Yuxong swam toward the source. He had already learned to swim after arriving in this Small World with Li Cheng's help—crucial for survival here.
He grew excited as he neared the destination, but an uncomfortable heat also began to rise within him. It was not from the bloody streams; something else was wrong. He felt hotter and hotter, and irrational thoughts began to intrude.
What's happening? Why do I feel so hot?
Li Yuxong gritted his teeth, suppressed the thoughts, and kept moving. Soon he reached the source — and what he saw shocked him.
A very beautiful woman was cultivating within the pool, absorbing its essence. She was struggling to remain in the water; sweat clung to her body. Startled by the sudden presence, she opened her eyes, though they were hazy and could only make out a figure.
Li Yuxong was dazed. So beautiful.
Her hair was black, dyed red with blood; her face bore splashes of it and her eyes were blurred. Her willow brows, her cheeks, her chin, her body — everything was perfect. Li Yuxong sensed danger from her, yet he felt oddly drawn.
She writhed, as if suppressing something. Li Yuxong felt it too. She was completely naked. Seeing her distressed face, he still asked, hesitant:
"Are you all right?"
At that moment, as if her remaining strength broke, she leapt at him and embraced him with both arms. Li Yuxong's mind went blank; his held-back emotions poured out like a volcano and his hands closed around her waist.
Next day, noon
Li Yuxong opened his eyes. He was no longer in the blood-filled stream but near a rock, lying on a bed of leaves someone had carefully placed beneath him.
Beside him, the young woman sat with blank eyes fixed on the Bloodfiend Spring.
He remembered what had happened and sat up. He moved toward her, about to speak, but she cut him off.
"Are you awake?"
Li Yuxong stared at her, stunned into silence for a moment. Then, coming to himself, he answered, "Yes… about what happened—"
"Don't mention it again." She interrupted, voice cold.
"I repeat: don't tell anyone." Huang Ling repeated.
Li Yuxong looked at her stubbornly. "I will tell my parents. I will take responsibility for what happened."
Huang Ling's face turned cold. Just as she was about to say more, she stiffened and glanced to the side.
A young man came running toward them, breathless.
Li Yuxong's expression shifted. He called out, "Brother Ren!"
Ren Ying, as if finding his savior, rushed to Li Yuxong and grabbed his legs, speaking with a trembling voice. "Br-Bro-ther Li… th-they kil-killed—"
Li Yuxong patted his shoulder, helped him to his feet, and spoke in a steady voice. "Brother Ren, calm down. Tell me what happened. Who was killed?"
Ren Ying wiped his tears, voice still shaking. "Th-they brutally mur-dered them."
Li Yuxong stroked his back to comfort him. "Calm down, Brother Ren. Tell me clearly."
Ren Ying steadied himself and revealed the news. "That Shadow Phoenix Sect's Huang Shu. He killed Jin Lei and Cao Wei."
Li Yuxong's face hardened. "What did you say?"
Ren Ying nodded, quivering. "Those Shadow Phoenix Sect bastards killed Jin Lei and Cao Wei."
Hatred flushed Li Yuxong's face. He ground his teeth and spoke slowly, "Those sons of bitches… I will kill them. This hatred cannot be settled. First they killed my brother, now my friends. I swear to Heaven I will eradicate—" He choked on the last word.
Huang Ling clamped a hand over his mouth to stop him. "You better control yourself. Don't do something you can't afford."
At that moment Ren Ying dropped another bombshell. "I heard them say they used you as a tool, and they spread an aphrodisiac…"
Huang Ling's face changed. "What did you say?" she demanded, voice loud; a murderous aura flared around her.
Ren Ying trembled. "I heard Huang Shu say it. He was acting on orders from someone named Weimin."
Li Yuxong glared at him. "Don't frighten him." Huang Ling finally realized and withdrew her murderous aura.
Suddenly, many Shadow Phoenix Sect disciples stormed into the cave.
"There he is—he dares betray us! Kill him!" they yelled.
They attacked Ren Ying. Li Yuxong stepped forward and a fierce aura, beyond rank 3, spread around him. He released Poplar Resilience, drew his sword from his Space Ring, and slashed. He used Sword Step and Sword Slash with practiced skill, dodging and countering; he single-handedly suppressed four rank-3 early-stage Warriors.
Huang Ling watched without expression as her fellow sect disciples were driven back. Soon Li Yuxong's Spiritual Imprint began to waver and those rank-3 Warriors gained the upper hand again, but he fought on, using every skill.
As he engaged one, the other three tried to flank and overwhelm him, forcing him onto the defensive.
Huang Ling regarded Li Yuxong with a complicated look and thought inwardly: My status as Saintess is likely lost. Huang Weimin must already know my identity and used this scheme to target me. He is innocent, but now that this has happened…
She sighed, then her eyes sharpened as if a vital decision had formed.
Her expression flickered; in an instant she moved. The leader of those rank-3s fell to the floor, dead, with no trace of blood.
Li Yuxong stared in shock and, before he could ask, she answered, "This is a personal grudge."
A few hours earlier, a few miles from the cave
Huang Shu was fighting several rank-4 Warriors and was being overwhelmed. He had already sent half his underlings back on Huang Weimin's orders.
"Ling Yun, do you wish to start a war between Moonlight Sect and our Shadow Phoenix Sect?" Huang Shu shouted.
Ling Yun laughed with disdain. "Don't be ridiculous. Your group should first handle the Spirit Dragon Clan before threatening us. You're not worth the trouble. The higher-ups won't attack us over someone like you."
Huang Shu's face darkened. He discarded his opponents with grit and fled.
As if expecting this, Ling Yun ordered his men to stop the pursuit. "Kill the remaining Shadow Phoenix Sect disciples and leave. We have intel that a dangerous character from Shadow Phoenix Sect is here."
A rank-3 Warrior asked, "What about Huang Shu? If he returns to his camp, won't he expose us in this Small World?"
Ling Yun smiled meaningfully and tossed a token to him. "That will only happen if he returns."
Huang Shu, who had fled ten miles in a minute, cursed as he searched his garments. "That bastard… I wondered about that smell. He's already set something on me. It's over—he's more dangerous than we thought. We assumed he was on our side, but he's a spy of Moonlight faction. I must inform Weimin."
His heart sank as he patted his pockets. "Where is my communication token?" He realized how deep Ren Ying's infiltration and scheme ran and felt despair as three rank-5 Beasts closed on him.
Present, inside the cave
Huang Ling looked at Li Yuxong. "Tell me what happened to your brother that made you hate the Shadow Phoenix Sect so deeply."
Li Yuxong sighed, eyes wet as he thought of Li Gang. Though he wanted to surpass his brother, after living with him for around ten years he had formed deep affection. Which siblings don't quarrel? But did they truly hate each other? No.
"He cut off my brother's head and sent it to the Spirit Dragon Sect's young master—for fifty Soul Stones," Li Yuxong said.
Huang Ling frowned. "Huang Weimin has a deep hatred for Long Yifan. He would never trade for something like this."
"You don't have to defend him—many people saw it with their own eyes," Li Yuxong retorted.
Huang Ling's expression turned serious. She knew Huang Weimin well: greedy and ruthless, yes, but unlikely to commit this for mere Soul Stones. Still, anything could happen in this world.
She changed the subject. "Don't suppress the Spiritual Essence within you. Continue meditating and try to breakthrough to rank 4. I will help you form the Heavenly Core."
Li Yuxong nodded and began circulating his Spiritual Essence according to his cultivation technique.
Suddenly a voice guided him: "Sense an emptiness in your abdomen. It should have the most Spiritual Essence around it, but not touching it directly."
He obeyed and focused on that space.
Huang Ling instructed: "Gather all the Spiritual Essence from your body into that empty place. Absorb from Spirit Stones or your environment if possible and concentrate it there."
Li Yuxong complied. He took out a thousand Spirit Stones and began absorbing them. Huang Ling used her abilities to crush the stones and forcefully transfer their essence into him.
Under her guidance his Spiritual Essence converged into the hollow in his abdomen. As it grew denser, a layered structure formed, enclosing the energy.
A few hours later Li Yuxong opened his eyes and breathed a long, relieved sigh; cold sweat still clung to him.
"Finally—rank 4," he murmured.
Huang Ling glanced at him. "How old are you?"
He answered warily, "Seventeen."
Huang Ling was surprised and inwardly thought of allying with him. He has great potential.
Ren Ying, watching, burst out, "Congrats, Brother Li, on reaching rank 4! I don't think I can help you much now."
Li Yuxong felt warmed by the remark. "What are you saying? We are brothers. Don't forget—I promised I would find a way to help you."
Ren Ying nodded and then said something that etched itself into Li Yuxong's heart. "If you ever hold a grudge and are strong enough to avenge it, don't use brute force. Make him feel despair. Give him a sliver of hope, let him believe he's won, then crush that hope—leave him in utter despair. To truly conquer an enemy is not to kill him, but to make him wish for death while he clings to the illusion of hope."
Huang Ling glanced at Ren Ying sharply as her eyes narrowed.