"Yan'er, find cover!"
Ling Feng sucked in a sharp breath, urging Tuoba Yan to take shelter while he handled the demonic statue alone.
Knowing she'd only be a burden, Tuoba Yan quickly retreated to safety.
Everything happened in an instant. Before Ling Feng could even catch his breath, the statue's head twisted unnaturally, its dimming eyes flashing crimson once more as twin beams of bloody light lanced out.
This time, the beams crisscrossed, arriving almost instantly.
Ling Feng's eyelids twitched violently. Not daring to be careless, he twisted through the air with his Boundless Sword Steps, narrowly avoiding destruction as the beams obliterated distant rock formations.
Thankfully, his movement art specialized in unpredictability rather than raw speed. After obtaining its fragmented manual long ago, he'd perfected it by incorporating other elusive techniques, making himself nearly impossible to pin down.
Though the statue's attacks were devastating, the rigid, mechanical rhythm left openings between each blast. Ling Feng weaved forward unpredictably, gradually closing the gap—sometimes even using the beams to throw off the fight between Despicable Donkey and Li Qingling.
Despite both being Emperor-level experts, neither dared take those crimson beams lightly. One direct hit shattered Li Qingling's arm completely. Had it not been for the demon sword's regenerative properties, that strike would've crippled him.
Watching Ling Feng advance, Li Qingling gnashed his teeth, slashing wildly to break free from Despicable Donkey's onslaught. But repelling Despicable Donkey? Impossible in his current state.
Fury burned in Li Qingling's chest. Was he doomed to fail again?
After dodging over a dozen beams, Ling Feng finally landed on the ritual platform where the statue stood.
The grotesque effigy depicted a green-skinned demon with fangs, wielding a trident. Towering over three zhang tall, it radiated palpable malice.
While evading attacks, Ling Feng scanned the platform for mechanisms, simultaneously communicating with Despicable Donkey through their spirit pact.
"Donkey, what exactly is this Blood Soul you mentioned?"
"The statue's eyeballs!"
"You expect me to pluck them out? I'll get shredded before I get close!"
"Figure it out yourself!"
Despicable Donkey couldn't spare attention. Having underestimated Li Qingling last time, he wouldn't repeat that mistake.
Trapped in a deadly dance, Ling Feng realized conventional approaches wouldn't work. The statue's rotating head negated any flanking attempts.
Then inspiration struck.
"Wait... if the head turns..."
His figure suddenly split—left and right, both charging simultaneously.
Had Ye Nanfeng been present, he'd have recognized this instantly: Soaring Twin Phoenix, the movement art Ling Feng himself had retrieved from the Battlefield of the Gods and Demons' scripture depository and taught him.
Now, with clones multiplying—two, four, eight, sixteen—the statue's simple mind overloaded. Its attacks grew erratic, reducing the surroundings to rubble.
"Heh. Try keeping up now."
Seizing the chaos, Ling Feng circled behind the statue and unleashed the Scorching Sky Blaze. With a resounding crack, the demonic head shattered, its components raining down—including two glowing eyeballs.
Snatching one, Ling Feng hissed at its searing heat. Thankfully, his unique physique and third-phase Devouring Flame nullified the worst of it.
But as he reached for the second orb, a black shadow darted past, claiming it with effortless grace.
Ling Feng's eyes flashed coldly—then froze in shock.
The intruder wore a familiar ghostly mask.
This was the exact same mask Lin Canglang had worn!
"Ling Feng, my thanks for destroying the statue and delivering the Blood Soul. Hahaha..."
The masked man's rasping laugh confirmed it—this was indeed the Demon-Masked Lord himself.
"You... weren't you dead?"
Ling Feng stared in disbelief. That day at Xuanwu Village, Lin Canglang had been mortally wounded before plummeting into a bottomless icy abyss. Survival was impossible.
Yet here he stood, whole and unharmed.
"Hehe. Heaven wills my survival. Did you truly think you could kill me?"
Lin Canglang sneered, gathering swirling demonic qi into a crushing palm strike aimed at Ling Feng's chest.
The sheer pressure stunned Ling Feng. Back in Xuanwu Village, even enhanced by demonic arts, Lin Canglang hadn't been overwhelmingly powerful.
Despite Ling Feng's hundredfold growth since then, this attack carried terrifying weight.
What unholy power had this demon cultivated?
No time to ponder. Ling Feng barely twisted aside as the blast cratered the ground where he'd stood.
Lin Canglang shot skyward, killing intent flickering behind his mask.
"I'll spare your wretched life today, Ling Feng. Next we meet—you die."
Missing his strike, Lin Canglang didn't linger to engage Ling Feng. Instead, he shot into the air, heading straight for Li Qingling, who was locked in battle with the Despicable Donkey!