Chapter 200: Appereance of Big Shots [2]

From the portal, a phantom slowly took shape — a silhouette of a man, blurred and indistinct, as though half-formed from smoke and blood. The battlefield, which had already been steeped in tension, fell utterly still.Yu Xuan narrowed his eyes. The phantom wasn’t tall; in fact, it appeared a full head shorter than the woman who had summoned it. The contrast struck him immediately. Their features did not align, their presence felt entirely different, yet the way she bowed her head made it obvious this was no stranger to her.

The phantom’s gaze swept across the ruined field. Its eyes, if they could be called that — flickered faintly with crimson light.

When they settled on the woman and the dragon kneeling behind her, the air shivered. A mental wave pulsed outward, threading directly into her mind.

The woman stiffened, then lowered her head further. Her lips curved into a solemn smile as she answered a silent call.

"Yes... it is me. The youngest, the one who had gone missing."

The phantom seemed to nod, its outline stabilizing slightly. Then its voice, muted yet heavy with authority, resonated only in her mind.

Child, your father has searched endlessly for you. To be captured... to be bound in such a place, it is unworthy of our bloodline. Truly Disappointing.

Her face twisted with irritation, though she quickly forced it back into composure. A shadow passed over her beauty as memories flickered.

Her red lips curled with fury as she replied, "Ancestor, it was not my fault. I was caught unprepared. Even my protectors... they were nothing before that man."

The phantom was quiet for a heartbeat, as though weighing her words. Then its blurry form tilted slightly, its indistinct gaze roaming the battlefield once more.

The restrictions here are strong.

It was not a statement, but a cold assessment. Even Yu Xuan could feel it, that the phantom’s presence, while terrifying in its very existence, was being suppressed, unable to fully manifest.

The phantom’s crimson gaze swept outward.

Then, unexpectedly, it caught on Yu Xuan. The young cultivator straightened instinctively as that pressure brushed against him. Though it wasn’t the full weight of a god, it was enough to remind him of the difference between mortal and monster.

Beside him, Lingluo lay unconscious, the mark of Tririri still glowing faintly on her wrist. The phantom’s gaze lingered there, its focus deepening.

The phantom was intrigued.

These children... are special.

With just a glance, the phantom had grown interested. More than their appereance, it was their blood. From it radiated a strange power.

The phantom’s gaze shifted back to the woman who had summoned him.

When we return, be ready for your punishment.

The woman stiffened, biting her lip. Then, as though she could not contain herself, she asked,

"Are we... really going back?" Her voice carried both relief and disbelief.

The phantom gave no outward gesture, but its silence confirmed the truth. She almost smiled, until a thought entered her mind. Her gaze snapped to Yu Xuan, her tone sharpening.

"Can I take him with me?"

At that, even Yu Xuan’s composure slipped. Take me? Without even asking? His lips twitched.

’This women seems to have water in her veins’ Yu Xuan thought.

The phantom’s voice was calm, detached.

You did summon my projection, but to exit this place I require permission. As for taking him... no. You cannot.

The woman’s face darkened.

"Why?"

Her nails dug into her palm, frustration boiling. She had never desired anything as much as she desired Yu Xuan in this moment.

Because we are unable to.

The phantom’s gaze was sharp.

Then the phantom’s head turned. Its voice cut across the battlefield.

Why don’t you show yourself? I can feel your intentional stare.

Yu Xuan was surprised. Someone else is here?

From the far side of the battlefield, the air twisted. An old woman stepped into view, her cane tapping lightly against the shattered earth. Her frail appearance was deceiving, Yu Xuan recognized her instantly. Lingluo’s master.

The one and only Peak Master of the Chaos Heaven Peak.

The phantom’s form flickered faintly.

The old women looked at the phantom.

"Tsk. Elder Blood, it’s you."

The old woman snorted, unimpressed.

"And I had hoped some other ghost would crawl out of the grave, rather than you, to save this girl."

The old woman walked forward with deliberate calm, each step tapping her cane against the cracked earth. Her frame looked fragile, but her eyes were clear.

The phantom’s voice rumbled like a tide in the mind.

Why don’t we negotiate? It’s not as if we cannot, right? Otherwise, I would not even be allowed to appear here.

The old woman chuckled, dry and sharp.

"You’re right. And it’s not every day that my eldest disciple asks for a favor."

She appeared beside Yu Xuan in a blink, startling him.

Her cloudy eyes flicked to him, then she clicked her tongue.

"Tsk, tsk. You brat. I had high hopes. Can’t even handle a weakened dragon. Should I train you myself? No... forget it, that little girl would stomp my hut."

She raised her cane and smacked him lightly on the head.

Yu Xuan winced, rubbing the spot.

"I.." He opened his mouth, wanting to say something but stayed quite. His sixth sense screamed at him to shut up.

The old woman continued without missing a beat, her tone turning sharp.

"Brat, you lack ambition. When I was your age, people would bow just from sensing my presence. Entire clans trembled when I walked past their gates! And you, hmph you struggle against one sealed lizard and still dare to call yourself a cultivator? Listen..."

Her lecture went on, long and scalding. Yu Xuan stood straight, listening as if his life depended on it — he had a feeling that if he didn’t then something terrible would occur.

The phantom, for all its otherworldly majesty, looked strangely dazed, if such a blurred figure could even be said to have an expression. Still, it did not interrupt. Even it seemed to recognize that this old woman’s rambling was not to be trifled with.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the old woman stopped tapping her cane against the ground and sniffed.

"Anyways. What were you talking about again?"

The phantom’s voice lowered.

How about we negotiate?

The old woman’s smile vanished.

"Negotiate?" she repeated, her tone hard. Her gaze bored into the phantom.

"Why should I negotiate with the likes of you?"

The air froze.

The phantom’s blurred figure pulsed faintly.

Let us not waste time with jokes. Speak directly. State what you want, it will be easier for both of us.

The old woman smirked faintly, resting both hands on her cane.

"Straightforward. Good. Then let me be blunt too, I’ve heard some... interesting developments occurred in your territory."

The phantom did not respond, its form flickering in silence.

Her lips curled.

"Why don’t you hand over that cup of yours? My eldest disciple would be most pleased."

The phantom’s tone grew sharper.

I cannot. You know this. Who dares ask for the holy artifact of another clan? Speak your true goal. I am being patient only out of respect for your notoriety.

The old woman clicked her tongue.

"Tsk. This woman my disciple caught really is something for you to go this far... no fun at all."

She tapped her cane against the ground.

"Fine. If not the cup, then at least hand over some True Blood Essence from your clan’s ancestral pool. My disciple will make good use of it."

The phantom rippled, silence dragging until it finally answered, voice dark.

This is outrageous. And yet... perhaps this was your aim all along, No. I am even willing to listen, and if another ancestor had appeared, then what would you have done? Is this your scheme? What are you plotting?

The old woman’s expression didn’t change. Her voice was flat, almost casual.

"Plotting? Don’t be ridiculous. I simply want rare resources for my disciple. No hidden scheme, no grand plot. Just a little something for the next generation."

The phantom’s form wavered with suppressed agitation.

You expect me to believe that? Your notoriety is known far and wide. No one believes your words at face value.

The old woman’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Ancestor Elder Blood of the Blood Clan... are you mocking me?"

In that instant, the world itself seemed to vanish. An unbearable pressure descended, crushing, suffocating, It felt as though the trial itself might collapse under the weight of her killing intent.

The phantom flickered, nearly dispersing under the pressure, before quickly lowering itself.

How dare I mock you? Do you think I possess such courage? No... It is only that the thought of handing over such a precious resource makes me bleed. The pain of bleeding is not easily endured.

"Then are you suggesting we have a deal?" the old women said, pressure disappearing like it was never there to begin with.

Elder Blood only had one thought, ’What a level of shamelessness, I guess this is why she has so many fans.’

***

[A/N]: 200 Chapters, 1 million views, nearly four months of writing, a big Milestone!! Hope you are Enjoying it!!!