Tuoba Yan watched in shock. Just as victory seemed within reach and the demonic statue was destroyed, a masked figure suddenly appeared.
Her heart jumped when the masked figure attacked Ling Feng, but before she could intervene, she realized the masked figure wasn't aiming to hurt Ling Feng—it was after the Blood Soul.
With a casual palm strike toward Ling Feng, the masked figure shot toward Li Qingling, who was currently being overwhelmed by Despicable Donkey's relentless assault.
A black shadow flashed as the Demon-Masked Lord appeared beside Li Qingling, his voice low but urgent:
"Follow me if you want the Blood Soul!"
Li Qingling's pupils contracted. This man obtained the Blood Soul, yet he's not keeping it for himself?
"Who are you?" Li Qingling demanded coldly, fists clenched.
The Demon-Masked Lord smirked, gripping Li Qingling's shoulder. Instantly, both their bodies began fading, becoming translucent as if vanishing into thin air.
"Bastards! You think you can escape again?"
Despicable Donkey roared, unleashing a devastating claw strike infused with demonic essence.
Five bloody arcs tore through space—but passed harmlessly through their fading forms.
"Heh. Enjoy your final days, Ling Feng," the Demon-Masked Lord's voice echoed mockingly. "Next time, you die!"
Then, they were gone—completely vanished. Not even Ling Feng's Boundless Vision could detect their presence within hundreds of li.
"Damn it!" Despicable Donkey cursed. "These demonic bastards are dogshit while fighting, but when it comes to running, they're unbeatable!"
With the danger passed, Tuoba Yan emerged from behind a boulder and rejoined Ling Feng—who stood deep in thought, brows furrowed.
"The Demon-Masked Lord Lin Canglang... The Blood Sword Heavenly Lord Li Qingling..." Ling Feng muttered to himself. My enemies are joining forces.
What disturbed him more was their unnatural growth in power. Such threats had been festering right under his nose.
Ling Feng clenched his fists. I need to grow stronger, and quickly!
Despicable Donkey trotted over, eyeing Ling Feng's dazed expression. "Hey brat, are you okay? Did that hit scramble your brains?"
"It's nothing." Ling Feng took a deep breath. "Despicable Donkey, do you recognize that masked man?"
"Probably that sword-spirit bastard's ally. Why?"
"No..." Ling Feng shook his head gravely. "That was Lin Canglang. Didn't you say he was dead?"
"What? Impossible!" Despicable Donkey's ears twitched violently. "This divine beast already shattered every tendon in his body before he fell into that bottomless frozen abyss! No way he survived!"
Ling Feng's frown deepened. "Truly, evil weeds never die. His cultivation may be weaker than Li Qingling's, but he's far more mysterious—as if someone's backing him."
"Tch!" Despicable Donkey flicked his tail dismissively. "Who cares? If he's not dead, this divine beast will just kill him again! As for that Blood Sword Heavenly Lord? Not worth losing sleep over!"
Ling Feng sighed. Overthinking wouldn't help. At least this battle had crippled Li Qingling's Blood God Cult in the Western Wilderness. With the garrisons' help, mass-producing the antidote would end the Blood Spirit Corpse plague.
"About that Blood Soul..." Despicable Donkey rubbed his hooves together eagerly.
"We'll discuss it later."
Ling Feng took a deep breath and activated Boundless Vision, locking onto the positions of Sun Gongming and the others. With Tuoba Yan and the Despicable Donkey by his side, he flew toward them without hesitation.
The battlefield had been chaotic just moments ago, but fortunately, their luck had held—all of them had managed to survive by the skin of their teeth.
Soon, he sensed another approaching group: Gu Tengfeng's team, coming to reinforce them after resolving the camp crisis.
The Demon-Masked Lord Lin Canglang had somehow transported Li Qingling to a dark cave, evading even Despicable Donkey's senses.
"Who are you? Where is this?"
Li Qingling remained wary despite the rescue. Among evil dao cultivators, trust was nonexistent—only mutual benefit mattered.
"I am the Demon-Masked Lord, Lin Canglang. This is my secluded cultivation site."
Lin Canglang casually tossed the Blood Soul to him.
Li Qingling caught it, stunned. "You know what this is, yet you're giving it to me?"
"A supreme evil artifact sealed with the life's cultivation and essence of the Evil Emperor himself—how could I possibly not know about it?" Lin Canglang shrugged. "But my cultivation art is... unique. It's useless to me."
"Then why save me?" Li Qingling's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. And Ling Feng is my mortal foe."
"Your presence at the oasis wasn't coincidence." Li Qingling's voice turned icy. "That Void Shift Curse you used to escape required prior array preparations."
"Hah! Sharp as ever." Lin Canglang chuckled. "Indeed, I knew you'd battle there—and that you'd die without my intervention!"
"What! You... can see the future?"
"I cannot. But someone can." A strange reverence entered Lin Canglang's tone. "Everything proceeds by that mysterious one's design. Even I am but his pawn."
Li Qingling's expression shifted. Though the mask hid Lin Canglang's face, the awe in his eyes was unmistakable.
Just who was this "mysterious one" he spoke of?