Chapter 82: Bloodsucking
A faint, dark aura drifted from the cave entrance, flickering with the breeze. The area was eerily silent, devoid of any animals—proof of how deeply the demonic energy had affected the surroundings.
The Bloodvine led the way, its entire body trembling. "What are you doing?" Mu Lichuan questioned in the spiritual sea. Even if they were outmatched, they hadn’t even started yet—why was it shaking like this? If this were someone more cunning, who knew what kind of trouble they’d stir up?
"I... This is my first time facing a demon! Even though I’m an ancient cursed vine, I’m still a little nervous," Xiao Xue explained, its voice trembling.
Mu Lichuan scoffed. "Isn’t this just fear?" It had spoken so confidently before, yet now, at the critical moment, it couldn’t help but cower.
"Master, do you have to call me out like that?" This was a demon, not some random cat, pig, or dog. It hadn’t been alive for long, wasn’t it normal to be scared?
Mu Lichuan didn’t respond, focusing intently on the scene ahead.
The cave was much deeper than he had expected. With each step forward, the demonic energy grew stronger, sending chills down his spine.
There was no sunlight inside, and the dampness was overwhelming, but it didn’t hinder Mu Lichuan’s vision, he could see everything clearly.
The sound of "Crack... crack..." was unmistakable. Even without looking, Mu Lichuan knew what was happening.
Sure enough, after a few more steps, he saw a hunched figure gnawing on a bone. Whether it was human or animal, Mu Lichuan couldn’t tell, but the thick scent of blood in the air made his stomach churn.
Sensing his presence, the figure raised its head. Blood dripped from its lips, and its crimson eyes gleamed with malice. "Hehe... more food..."
Mi Rong had completely lost his mind, reduced to nothing but the instinct to eat. Low-level demons were inherently mindless, acting purely on impulse. He no longer recognized anyone.
Without wasting words, Mu Lichuan drew his sword and thrust it toward the demon.
Mi Rong was caught off guard. His body was still that of an ordinary human, his demonic transformation had only happened by chance. Otherwise, someone without any cultivation would never have become a demon.
"Grrr—!" The sword pierced one of Mi Rong’s eyes, and dark purple blood gushed out - a sign of an incomplete demonic transformation.
Mu Lichuan’s spiritual energy surged within him. Just as the Bloodvine had said, he seemed to possess an innate resistance to demonic energy. Even as the black aura coiled around him, he barely felt it. Instead, he swung again, severing one of Mi Rong’s arms.
Mi Rong let out guttural growls, his bloody maw gaping as he tried to devour his prey. But instinct told him this "food" was dangerous, his entire body was in agony.
"Master! He’s trying to escape!" Seizing the opportunity, the Bloodvine stabbed straight into Mi Rong’s heart. Instantly, his body began to shrivel.
Mu Lichuan paused, his sword still in hand. He had expected a prolonged battle, but now, watching Xiao Xue’s veins bulge as it absorbed even the black energy, he couldn’t help but wonder: Isn't it worried about indigestion?
What felt like a long time to Mu Lichuan was, in reality, mere moments. Mi Rong’s body withered at a visible rate until nothing but a dried husk remained.
"Who are you?! I’ll kill you!" A black soul erupted from Mi Rong’s remains, snarling as it lunged for Mu Lichuan.
Without hesitation, Mu Lichuan flicked out a talisman with his free hand. "Bang—!" The sound of the explosion was followed by Mi Rong’s agonized scream before silence reclaimed the cave.
The Bloodvine glowed a vivid red. "Master, I... I can’t control myself. The resentment is too strong, I can’t suppress it!" Xiao Xue’s voice trembled with panic.
It had assumed that, as an ancient cursed vine, digesting a newly formed demon wouldn’t be an issue. But it hadn’t expected the sheer depth of the demon’s hatred. Now, it couldn’t expel the corrosive energy.
"What do we do?" Mu Lichuan frowned, sensing the turmoil in his own spiritual sea.
As a human, he naturally despised resentment energy, it could easily corrupt one’s nature. Even with his Yin-Yang Eyes and ability to traverse the spirit realm, absorbing too much of it could lead to self-destruction.
"Let me drink some of your blood... and give me a bit of your soul energy," Xiao Xue pleaded weakly. It clearly had no way to handle the resentment on its own.
Mu Lichuan’s forehead twitched. "Are you sure you’re not just taking advantage of me?" He had just asked if it would suffer indigestion, and now the problem was affecting him too.
"Master, I wouldn’t dare!" The Bloodvine’s voice grew even weaker. Without enough strength to resist the resentment, it would lose control, or worse, do something irreversible.
Mu Lichuan extended his hand. "Go ahead."
If his spirit beast was in trouble, it would affect his own soul. Besides, losing a little blood was nothing.
Xiao Xue immediately pierced his skin, its thorn sinking in as Mu Lichuan channeled a sliver of his soul energy into it. The vine let out a satisfied hum, reveling in the nourishment.
Mu Lichuan’s face paled, his body swaying unsteadily. The Bloodvine had said it would "drink some blood," but this was heartblood, which was rich in spiritual energy and vital to his well-being. The loss was far from insignificant.
"Thank you, Master." Just as Mu Lichuan was on the verge of collapse, the Bloodvine withdrew. Its previously withered vines now brimmed with vitality.
"Thud—" Mu Lichuan slumped to his knees. Fighting Mi Rong hadn’t been this exhausting. The lingering resentment made him sick.
Purifying resentment required time and spiritual refinement. No wonder others feared demons so much, without the ability to cleanse their souls, killing a demon would only turn them into the next monster.
A ghost steeped in hatred, once fully cultivated, could surpass even the strongest human practitioners. But their path was far more treacherous.
It was often said that the Heavens favored humans, their cultivation was rarely met with tribulations. But for demons, ghosts, and corpse-refiners, success was rare. Those who did succeed, however, became beings even the Heavens acknowledged.
"M-Master..." Xiao Xue called hesitantly, guilt creeping into its voice. It knew it had taken three drops of his essence blood.
Mu Lichuan immediately sat in meditation, clearly intent on recovering. Whatever came next, he wanted no part in it for now.
____
Mi Shen’s expression was grim. Days had passed, yet Mu Lichuan still hadn’t rested. His gaze toward Gu Yongsheng and the others was full of displeasure.
"Young Master Mi, we only tracked him. As for the outcome... we don’t know," Zhao Decheng said helplessly. The two of them had nearly exhausted their qi reserves. Even if they wanted to help, they were powerless, they could only wait for Mu Lichuan’s return.
In their eyes, someone as young as Mu Lichuan, with such formidable strength, was undoubtedly extraordinary - favored by the heavens.
"You—!" Mi Shen knew he couldn’t force them, but they had risked their lives. "I’m just worried."
Mi Rong’s fall to demonhood had been unexpected. But upon reflection, it made sense. He had spent twenty years trying to siphon his father’s dragon energy. Mu Lichuan’s interference had ruined everything.
"Young Master, Young Master! Mu Lichuan is back!" A servant rushed into the villa, barely finishing his report before Mi Shen vanished like the wind.
Gu Yongsheng and the others exchanged relieved glances. If Mu Lichuan had returned safely, it meant the demon had been eradicated. They couldn’t help but marvel at his prowess.
They knew their own limits, even a newly formed demon was beyond them. They would’ve been nothing but fertilizer.
Mu Lichuan looked well. His cultivation had stabilized further, his previous rapid advancement had left his foundation shaky, so he intended to consolidate his strength for a while.
"Lichuan..." Mi Shen rushed to his side, his face a mix of hesitation and unspoken words.
Mu Lichuan studied him, sensing something off. "What’s wrong?" Then he noticed Mi Shen’s dragon energy. Why was there no golden light left?
"Your... father?" Mu Lichuan didn’t understand. If Mi Shen was no longer connected to the next leader, where had the golden energy gone?
Mi Shen frowned at the question. "What about my father?"
"Can you check on him immediately? This is urgent!" Mu Lichuan had thought Mi Rong was the mastermind, but now it seemed the true schemer had already taken irreversible action.
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