109: Chapter 19 Wait for me to come back

Jiang Xun wanted to ask something more.

But Li Chenqian suddenly looked toward a certain spot. "He's here."

Jiang Xun followed his gaze.

A plume of black mist surged upward.

The mist solidified at the edge of the square, taking on a human form.

It was Black Demon.

He still wore those same oversized black robes, with a hood covering most of his face, leaving only thick black mist visible inside.

The first person he saw was Jiang Xun.

Then, Black Demon stumbled forward, his knees nearly buckling to the ground.

He braced himself with a hand against the ground to barely steady his body, but his posture was already akin to kneeling.

Seeing this from not far away, Li Chenqian immediately stepped forward, cupping his hands and bowing respectfully.

"Greetings, Exalted One."

Black Demon only gave him a faint glance and hummed an acknowledgment, not even pausing his stride.

He walked straight toward Jiang Xun.

Li Chenqian was stunned, staring blankly at Black Demon's back.

Was he not here to receive me?

Black Demon stopped in front of Jiang Xun and then knelt down.

With both knees touching the ground and his forehead pressed against the cold stone tiles, his entire body was prostrated like a devout pilgrim.

"Disciple Black Demon pays respects to the Old Ancestor."

Jiang Xun was startled internally, but his face remained perfectly still.

He looked down at the prostrate Black Demon, and after two breaths of silence, he finally spoke slowly in a flat voice.

"How did you recognize me?"

Black Demon remained prostrate, not daring to look up.

"Portraits of the Old Ancestor are preserved in the Sect's Library. This Disciple once had the honor of admiring them, and thus recognized you."

Jiang Xun's hands were behind his back, and he couldn't help but clench them.

Portraits?

Doesn't that mean his enemies could easily recognize him?

"I see," he said, his eyes turning deep. "Rise."

"Thank you, Old Ancestor."

Black Demon stood up, but his waist remained slightly bowed, not daring to straighten up completely.

One must realize that the person before him was an existence who once made the entire Cultivation World tremble in fear—the pinnacle of Demonic Path Cultivators, the Dao Seeking Demon Venerable.

A legendary figure at the Peak of the Ascension Realm.

He had suppressed an entire era; no one could rival him, and no one dared to.

With him around, the various Sects of the Immortal Path could only linger on in the gutters.

Jiang Xun remained calm on the surface, but his thoughts were churning.

He had forgotten one thing—something very important.

How many people in the Cultivation World still remembered him?

In the game, the time he had held the title of 'Dao Seeking Demon Venerable' was actually quite short.

But he was ultimately a figure whose name was etched in history, and his portrait and records were left in the Sect's archives.

And the time... only a thousand years had passed.

To a Mortal, that was ten lifetimes.

But to a Cultivator at the Soul Transformation Stage or above, a thousand years was merely a slightly long seclusion, nothing more than waking up from a grand dream.

Furthermore, after over a thousand years of the Immortal-Martial Demon Extermination, there were actually very few high-level Cultivators who had survived to this era.

Before, he had been mingling at the bottom of the Cultivation World, and no one would care about a masked Loose Cultivator.

But now, he was exposed.

Captured by Jiang Hongyuan, brought to the Blood Fiend Sect, and recognized.

Jiang Xun felt a mix of regret and remorse; he shouldn't have made his game character's face identical to his own just for the sake of immersion.

Moreover, he had originally only been eighty percent similar to the game model, but after Yan Qingning replaced his bones, even his face had been reshaped, making him a hundred percent match.

Once he entered the field of vision of those top-tier Cultivators, trouble wouldn't come one by one; it would swarm in.

The news of the Dao Seeking Demon Venerable's Rebirth must never get out!

Jiang Xun looked at Black Demon, his tone becoming even flatter.

"Do not speak a word of my affairs to the outside world. Otherwise, you won't need to speak for the rest of your life."

Black Demon immediately bowed. "Yes. This Disciple will never speak of it to the outside, nor will I let anyone know of the Old Ancestor's resurrection."

He looked up at Jiang Xun, the black mist rolling.

Although Jiang Xun couldn't see the other's face clearly, he could feel that those eyes hidden within the hooded black mist were currently filled with fanaticism and awe.

Black Demon suddenly turned toward Li Chenqian.

Not far away, Li Chenqian was standing in place with his head lowered, maintaining a respectful posture.

But when Black Demon's gaze swept over him, his whole body trembled. It felt as if he were being stared at by a venomous snake.

Killing intent.

Though it was only a fleeting flash, he felt it.

Li Chenqian pondered inwardly.

He was in a cooperative relationship with the Blood Fiend Sect.

Therefore, Black Demon would never release killing intent toward him, nor did he have a reason to.

The only variable was that youth named Jiang Xun. His identity was likely far beyond his imagination, definitely not as simple as a plaything under the Jiang Hongyuan's skirt.

Li Chenqian had also seen Black Demon kneeling just now.

That was not a posture one would take for an ordinary person.

He intentionally tried to listen to what they were saying, but he heard nothing.

There seemed to be an invisible barrier between the two; all conversation was filtered into blurred static, making the content impossible to hear.

At this moment, Jiang Xun also looked at Li Chenqian.

Seeing both of them looking at him, Li Chenqian took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Although he didn't know what they had said, he was certain the Blood Fiend Sect wouldn't dare kill him.

He left the two armored soldiers in place.

With a smile on his face, he cupped his hands and said, "Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am a member of the Xian Tang Imperial Clan, Prince Cheng, Li Chenqian."

These words were meant for Jiang Xun, and also for Black Demon.

He wanted to tell them that if they intended to make a move, they had better weigh the consequences.

Your demonic Sects are no longer as glorious as they were a thousand years ago.

Jiang Xun did not respond.

He just stood there, with no intention of engaging in conversation.

The black mist under Black Demon's hood churned a few times, as if he were thinking.

To kill or not to kill?

Li Chenqian was a vital part of the Sect Master's plan; he couldn't be killed yet.

Then he spoke, his voice dry.

"Let's go. I will take you to see the person you are looking for."

Li Chenqian tactfully stopped looking at Jiang Xun and only cupped his hands to Black Demon. "Then I shall trouble the Exalted One."

Jiang Xun suddenly spoke. "The person you're looking for is Li Chenguang, right?"

Black Demon turned to look at him. "Yes, My Lord."

"Take me to see him."

Black Demon didn't ask further, only nodding. "Yes."

He didn't dare guess the Old Ancestor's thoughts; whatever Jiang Xun said, he would do.

The three left the hall and arrived before a massive tower.

The tower was about a hundred zhang tall, entirely pitch black and octagonal in shape.

Countless small windows were opened on every side, with dark red light leaking through. Above the tower hung a massive plaque with two blood-colored characters written on it.

Alchemy Tower.

Jiang Xun followed Black Demon inside the tower.

The door closed silently behind them.

The space inside the tower was enormous, with the dome so high the top was invisible.

The most eye-catching feature was a massive bronze cauldron in the center, three zhang high, its surface densely carved with runes, with ghostly blue flames burning beneath it.

And above the cauldron...

Hung tens of thousands of small iron cages.

The cages were layered upon each other, extending from directly above the cauldron all the way to the top of the tower, like strings of suspended curtains.

However, only the hundred or so cages at the bottom level held people—men and women, some already motionless, others still feebly struggling.

Black Demon walked to the wall and pulled an iron chain.

"Clack, clack."

The sound of gears turning rang out.

An iron cage slowly descended from mid-air, finally hitting the ground with a loud 'thud'.

The person locked inside was indeed Li Chenguang.

Li Chenguang's breath was as thin as a thread.

He was covered in blood, his purple dharma robes shredded into rags clinging to his body, revealing skin underneath that barely had a single uninjured patch.

But his eyes were still open—eyes as cloudy as a dead fish's—yet they suddenly lit up the moment he saw the person outside the cage.

"Brother..."

He struggled to lunge toward the edge of the cage, his hands gripping the bars tightly.

"Brother! Have you come to save me?!"

Li Chenqian stood dozens of meters away from the cage.

Black Demon spoke flatly. "Shall we begin the refinement now?"

Li Chenqian was silent for a moment before raising a hand. "Let me say a few words to him."

Black Demon stepped back.

Li Chenqian walked to the iron cage and crouched down, meeting his brother's eyes.

"Why couldn't you just stay properly at the Ziyang Immortal Sect? Why did you insist on coming down the mountain to slay demons?" he said with a sigh.

Li Chenguang nodded desperately, tears and blood mixing together, his entire face distorted beyond recognition.

"I know I was wrong! Brother, I know I was wrong! Please, save me!"

Li Chenqian looked at him.

Then he stood up and turned toward Black Demon.

"Do it," he said.

Behind him, Li Chenguang's cries came to an abrupt halt.

He froze in the cage, his mouth agape, as if he hadn't understood the meaning of those two words.

The suspicion in Li Chenguang's heart was magnified infinitely. The Empress had issued a decree: any member of the Li clan who dared to associate with the Demonic Path...

...would be executed immediately without mercy.

And if Li Chenqian were here to save him, it wouldn't be in such a relaxed and leisurely manner.

The truth was already obvious.

"Li Chenqian, it's you!"

He began to scream hoarsely, "Why are you harming me? Are you not afraid of the clan finding out?"

Li Chenqian kept his back to him. "It is precisely because I am afraid that I cannot let you go."

Li Chenguang might be his brother, but he had over thirty more siblings below him; one more or one less didn't matter.

He would eliminate anything that posed a threat to his grand ambition without hesitation.

Black Demon was about to raise his hand.

"Wait."

Jiang Xun spoke up.

Black Demon's hand stopped in mid-air, and he turned to look at him.

Jiang Xun glanced at Li Chenguang in the cage and said in a flat tone.

"I know this man. Allow me to say a few words to him."

Black Demon immediately lowered his hand. "Yes."

He paused and asked, "Do you require us to withdraw?"

"Wait outside."

Black Demon didn't ask a single further question; he walked straight toward the tower door with quick steps.

After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at Li Chenqian.

His gaze was indifferent, but an invisible pressure instantly enveloped the prince.

"You..."

Li Chenqian's whole body stiffened.

He wanted to voice his objection, but his body was telling him not to speak.

He opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed his words.

He merely gave Jiang Xun a complex look before following Black Demon out of the Alchemy Tower.

The tower door closed.

Only Jiang Xun and Li Chenguang remained.

Jiang Xun walked to the iron cage.

Li Chenguang curled up in the cage, his eyes staring fixedly at him.

Those eyes were bloodshot and hidden within them was a near-maniacal hatred.

He recognized him.

It was this youth. Back in the forest, it was Jiang Xun who had helped him capture Chen Qing.

Jiang Xun wasn't dead and was standing perfectly fine with Li Chenqian; this could only mean he was also a person of the Demonic Path.

A demonic spy—it must have been him who sold him out.

Jiang Xun looked into those eyes and read their meaning.

"I am not a person of the Demonic Path," he said.

Li Chenguang didn't speak, still staring at him intensely.

Jiang Xun raised his hand and tugged at the iron chain around his neck.

"Clink!"

The chains collided, making a crisp metallic sound.

"I am currently nothing more than a prisoner myself," Jiang Xun's voice was helpless. "I only managed to keep my life because I was taken a fancy to by the Blood Fiend Sect's Jiang Hongyuan."

Li Chenguang's gaze shifted upward, landing on Jiang Xun's forehead.

There, three blood-red characters faintly appeared: Jiang Hongyuan.

The Jiang Hongyuan's mark.

He had heard of the meaning of this mark long ago; those who were marked were the property of the Jiang Hongyuan.

The hatred in Li Chenguang's eyes receded slightly, but his wariness remained.

"I can save you," Jiang Xun said.

Li Chenguang gave a cold laugh, his voice raspy.

"I've never heard of anyone marked by the Jiang Hongyuan surviving until the next day. You'd better think about how to save yourself first."

He leaned against the side of the cage, seemingly having given up.

"You don't need to worry about that." Jiang Xun didn't respond to his comment, only looking at him. "I'm just asking you, do you want to get out?"

Li Chenguang was silent for a long time.

He turned to stare into Jiang Xun's eyes. "What do you want?"

He certainly didn't believe Jiang Xun would do this without conditions.

Jiang Xun took out a Jade Slip from his sleeve and handed it through the bars.

"Go to Qinghe County, to the Su Family."

He said, "Help me pass a message to a child named Long Ninger."

Li Chenguang took the Jade Slip and gripped it in his hand.

"What message?"

Jiang Xun paused, then said firmly.

"Wait for my return."

Four words.

Very light, very faint, but they weighed heavily on the heart.

Li Chenguang clutched the Jade Slip, looking at this man with the Jiang Hongyuan's mark on his forehead.

He didn't want to die either; there were people in his Sect waiting for his return.

At this moment, the only person he could choose to believe was Jiang Xun.

"Fine!" he nodded in agreement.

Even if Jiang Xun had made some outrageous demand, Li Chenguang would have agreed, as long as he could get out.

Jiang Xun stood up and then let Black Demon back in.

He said very casually, "Let that man leave."

Black Demon hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands. "This might require the Sect Master's permission..."

He spoke these words with a great deal of courage.

Black Demon looked at the small blood-red characters on Jiang Xun's forehead, located an inch or two above his left eyebrow.

Even though Jiang Xun was the peerless devil who made everyone's blood run cold, the previous Sect Master of the Blood Fiend Sect, and possibly Sect Master Jiang's future Dao Companion...

Ultimately, the current Sect Master was still Jiang Hongyuan.

Furthermore, the act of letting someone leave directly could very well expose the Sect's location.

Jiang Xun's tone turned cold. "I will personally speak to Jiang Hongyuan about it. For now, you only need to do as I say."

Blood mist began to emerge from his body, and the vertical mark on his forehead appeared.

Although the blood mist on Jiang Xun was still very weak, Black Demon could feel an immense pressure.

The black mist inside his hood churned more and more violently.

Jiang Xun suddenly took a step forward. "Do I have to say it again?"

Black Demon was a Soul Transformation Cultivator, but facing Jiang Xun, a mere Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he actually felt a tremendous sense of oppression.

"Since the Old Ancestor has commanded it, this Disciple dares not disobey."

Black Demon finally compromised and brought Li Chenguang out of the iron cage.

Li Chenqian was extremely agitated, but he was ignored by Black Demon.

Once Jiang Xun regained his Peak cultivation and descended upon the Cultivation World again, your so-called Xian Tang would be something he could destroy with a single hand.

After learning that Jiang Xun was the Dao Seeking Demon Venerable, this thought had taken root in his mind.

The Demonic Path worshipped the strong, and Jiang Xun just happened to have the reputation of the strongest.

The three returned to the pitch-black hall atop the high steps.

Only this time, the one coming was Li Chenguang.

His five senses and Spiritual Sense were clouded by black mist, and he was led the entire way by Black Demon using the mist.

They entered the hall.

It turned out this was an altar, and the teleportation array was built within the hall.

Jiang Xun looked at the teleportation array in the center of the hall.

He could leave just by stepping onto it.

Black Demon sent Li Chenguang away.

It was very simple; with a flash of light, Li Chenguang disappeared.

As if possessed, Jiang Xun also wanted to step onto it, but just as one foot touched it, a blood-red gash deep enough to see the bone appeared on his heel.

Instantly, blood flowed like a fountain...