“A low-level spirit ape?”
An unintelligent spirit ape was no different from an ordinary ape, save that it possessed a little spiritual energy within its body, allowing it to leap farther and higher.
It did not even understand what they were doing or saying, so naturally, it posed no threat to them.
The tension left Lu Guichen’s expression, and he was just about to signal for the shadow to leave.
Then he seemed to think of something. His footsteps halted, and he abruptly turned around, staring fixedly at the place where the spirit ape had emerged.
How could there be such a coincidence? He had only just heard a disturbance when a low-level spirit beast appeared.
Lu Guichen had always been cautious.
Otherwise, he would never have been able to hide the fact that he was half-demon within the Fallen Immortal Sect for so many years without being discovered.
Nor would he have absorbed the essence of so many disciples without anyone tracing it back to him.
Once he grew suspicious, he had to see for himself before he could rest easy.
Li Zheng had already relaxed, but when he turned and saw Lu Guichen’s grim expression, he froze for a moment.
In the next instant, Lu Guichen had already swept behind the tree and was looking back coldly.
Within the dense undergrowth, a figure curled up behind branches and vines came into view.
Hearing the disturbance, she cautiously raised her head—and immediately met Lu Guichen’s icy, sinister gaze.
“Su. Ling. Xi!”
Lu Guichen’s expression was cold as he spat out the name one word at a time.
Su Lingxi was so frightened that she fell to her knees with a thump and stammered, “M-Master…”
“You saw everything?”
Lu Guichen’s voice was cold and calm, almost devoid of emotion.
His gaze fell upon Su Lingxi’s half-kneeling knees.
A deep footprint was already pressed into them. Clearly, Su Lingxi had been hiding there for quite some time.
Su Lingxi’s body trembled. She knew that Lu Guichen was asking about what she had just witnessed—the way he had absorbed the flesh and spiritual power of those two fellow disciples.
Even though she had seen everything, she did not dare admit it.
“M-Master, I… I just fell asleep. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She had seen it all—the way her master had used demonic energy, and how he had absorbed the blood, flesh, and spiritual power of his fellow disciples.
But she could neither speak of it nor dare to speak of it!
She had merely been looking for someone to dual cultivate with for so long without making any progress. In her frustration, she had been forced by the nature of the Withered Wood Energy-Absorption Art to engage in that act with a spirit ape.
She had only wanted to find a deserted place to complete this disgusting side effect of the technique.
She had never expected to run into her master here.
Much less had she expected to witness him using such a brutal method to devour his fellow disciples!
Li Zheng watched the woman blatantly lie through her teeth, completely at ease, and let out a soft laugh.
“Lu Guichen, you don’t actually believe her, do you?”
Lu Guichen cast him an indifferent glance. When he looked back at Su Lingxi, his gaze had already become that of someone looking at a corpse.
He was no fool. How could he possibly believe such an obvious lie?
If Su Lingxi had not seen everything and been frightened into action, why else would she have sent that spirit ape out to draw his attention away?
She had probably witnessed the entire affair!
Su Lingxi’s heart clenched. She looked up and met Lu Guichen’s cold, merciless gaze, and panic instantly seized her.
“Master, I—I really didn’t see anything. I didn’t see anything at all. I really didn’t—ugh!”
Before Su Lingxi could finish defending herself, Lu Guichen raised a hand and controlled her in midair from a distance.
She was only at the Core Formation realm, and had only recently advanced.
Unable to dual cultivate with the several personal disciples of Azurecloud Peak, she had been forced to settle for other inner disciples.
Yet, for some unknown reason, her strength had never improved.
How could she possibly be Lu Guichen’s match now?
With Lu Guichen choking her in midair, Su Lingxi had almost no power to resist.
“M-Master, spare me! Master, please spare my life!”
Su Lingxi struggled desperately, trying to break free of Lu Guichen’s hold, but it was useless.
A cultivator at the Deity Transformation realm could deal with a Core Formation cultivator as easily as turning over a hand!
“Skree! Skree!”
A sharp cry rang out. A brown-red shadow shot out from the woods, moving with astonishing speed.
Its sharp claws suddenly raked toward Lu Guichen’s face. Caught off guard, he could only turn his head aside to avoid it.
A bloody scratch appeared across his cheek.
“It’s that brown-red spirit ape from before! That little thing really is on your disciple’s side. The moment it saw you were going to kill her, it couldn’t wait to jump out!”
Li Zheng’s gaze swept over Lu Guichen’s disfigured cheek, and he laughed gleefully.
A dignified Deity Transformation expert had actually been scratched across the face by a low-level spirit beast?
Anger surged between Lu Guichen’s brows. He turned and glared murderously at the brown-red spirit ape, which was still baring its teeth at him.
In the next instant, his immense divine sense burst forth and surged violently over Su Lingxi and the spirit ape.
Su Lingxi shuddered violently. Her divine sense was shattered on the spot by Lu Guichen, dissolving into countless wisps of fragments that scattered away.
The spirit ape fared little better.
Its eyes rolled back, its entire body went rigid, and it toppled straight to the ground as though struck by lightning.
Lu Guichen waved his hand and directly gathered Su Lingxi’s divine-sense power with his demonic energy, absorbing it into himself.
At the end, he seemed to think of something else. His gaze shifted toward the transparent black shadow, Li Zheng, and became contemplative.
“Why are you looking at me?” Li Zheng asked, his brows furrowing as Lu Guichen’s stare made his heart prickle with unease.
Lu Guichen suddenly curved his lips into a smile and held out what remained of Su Lingxi’s body toward Li Zheng.
“W-What do you mean?” Li Zheng’s expression changed slightly. He had a faint premonition that something bad was about to happen.
Lu Guichen sneered. “Didn’t you want a physical body? Su Lingxi once nourished immortal qi within her body.”
“She also possesses the rare dual spiritual roots of light and darkness, and has already reached the mid-stage of the Core Formation realm.”
“Now that her soul has been shattered, her body is ownerless. If you seize it, wouldn’t you have a physical body?”
Li Zheng’s expression changed. He asked coldly, “You want me to possess her?”
“What? You’re unwilling?” Lu Guichen sneered in return. “This is your only chance. Think carefully. Once we pass this village, there won’t be another shop.”
Li Zheng’s face shifted between green and purple. Anger surged in his dark eyes, but he merely floated to one side in silence.
He was the Demon Prince. Even though he had lost the struggle against his brothers and been thrown into the Blood Pool, even with his physical body destroyed, he was still the Demon Prince.
And now, he was being asked to possess the body of a woman?
Li Zheng was unwilling.
But Lu Guichen always kept his word.
If he said there would be no second chance, then he absolutely would not help him find another body.
That damned bastard!
A bloodthirsty, vicious glint welled up in his lowered dark eyes. When he raised them again, the malice had already been completely concealed.
“Fine. I’ll take her.”
He spoke coldly. “Peak Lord Lu, protect me while I do it.”
“Don’t worry. No one will disturb you.” Lu Guichen chuckled and tossed Su Lingxi’s corpse toward Li Zheng.
He then turned and walked more than ten meters away, waving his hand to erect a barrier around Li Zheng.
Naturally, he had chosen Su Lingxi for a reason.
There was a soul imprint he had left within her body. If Li Zheng ever disobeyed him or turned against him in the future…
Destroying him would be that much easier.
Lu Guichen never did anything that brought him trouble without benefit. Everything he did came with a safeguard!
