This strange feeling made his ears burn and his chest feel tight.
Han Tao thought he was terribly scared, so after thinking about it, he didn't ask any more questions, but instead hugged him even tighter.
Only when their feet touched solid ground and Long Yan floated in front of them did Fu Mingxu whisper, "You can let me go now."
Han Tao paused for a moment, then released him as instructed, but restrainedly grabbed his wrist, his voice deep: "This place feels dangerous to me, it's safer to hold your hand."
A chilling feeling enveloped Fu Mingxu from the moment they landed, and upon hearing this, he no longer refused.
A surge of joy flashed through Han Tao's heart, but he suppressed it and tried his best to say in the calmest tone, "I'll be gentle."
He still remembered the first time he grabbed Fu Mingxu's wrist until it turned red.
Fu Mingxu felt that something was off about what he said, but he didn't want to delve into it. He simply nodded slightly, which was taken as tacit agreement.
Bathed in golden light, his cheeks flushed a light red, like a camellia in the early morning before it blooms, making one yearn to witness its beauty in full bloom.
Han Tao's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, but the safety of the two of them forced him to put aside these inappropriate thoughts.
"Where are we going?" Fu Mingxu peered into the darkness, trying to ignore the heat on his wrist. "Aren't we going to look for an exit?"
The surroundings were empty, and his voice occasionally echoed, which made him lower his voice.
Han Tao pulled him closer and whispered, "Go find the source."
The two stood head to head, as if they were whispering secrets.
Fu Mingxu's face flushed, feeling that the distance between them was too close, but when he glanced at Han Tao's calm face, he thought he was just overthinking it.
Han Tao resisted the urge to take another look at the lustrous, rosy skin, and slowly tightened his grip on her wrist with his other hand.
Fu Mingxu didn't know where the source was, but a chilling sense of crisis kept him on his guard, and he didn't shake off the other person's hand.
Using the light of the dragon's flame, the two continued on their way.
Fortunately, there was no spiritual energy here, and the quietness of the demon bone chain around his ankle relieved him.
After walking for about half an hour, a faint red light shone from ahead, which reminded Fu Mingxu of the blood-red light that had diffused in the palace earlier.
The two stopped at the same time, and the unspoken understanding between them led them to exchange a glance before slowly walking toward the dim light.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from above, and a large swarm of bats flew in like a dark cloud.
Han Tao gripped his wrist tightly with one hand, and a golden sword appeared in his other hand. He slashed backhand, and as the golden light exploded, the bats turned into dust before they could even get close to the two of them.
The golden sword gleamed brilliantly under the light of the dragon flames. Fu Mingxu watched with envy and muttered, "When I get out of here, I'll buy a sharp weapon for myself too."
It's easier said than done; he doesn't even have his own alchemy furnace yet.
Hearing him sigh softly, Han Tao sheathed his sword and asked, looking down, "What's wrong?"
Fu Mingxu glanced enviously at his golden sword, then shook his head, composed himself, and said, "It's nothing, I just want to get back as soon as possible."
Han Tao met his eyes and said softly, "I'll be there soon."
Fu Mingxu nodded happily: "Okay, then hurry up."
Although he found the conversation between the two a bit strange, Han Tao didn't have time to think too much about it, because he sensed a direct, pure, and extremely powerful demonic energy.
This feeling was so intense that a terrible guess flashed through his mind.
Enma.
The demonic array in the Dragon and Phoenix Palace has indeed awakened the demon that had been sealed away for a thousand years.
Sure enough, after passing through the bat ash, the two found several corpses lying haphazardly not far away.
To be precise, it should be a mummified corpse.
The corpses were dressed in the robes of disciples of the Medicine Sect, but their bodies had been drained of blood, leaving only withered flesh. Their faces still bore the marks of unspeakable pain, making them appear particularly sinister and terrifying when placed in the shadows.
Fu Mingxu recognized one of the mummified corpses as the first cultivator to obtain the treasure, because he was still clutching the magical artifact that shone with a precious light.
Han Tao's gaze was deep and somber. With a flick of his wrist, Long Yan and the dried corpses turned to dust, just like the bats before them.
"Do you think those disciples of the Medicine Sect were originally intended to be used as backup sacrifices?" Fu Mingxu asked, his mind seemingly blocked, after a moment of silence. "Did they know what they were going to suffer?"
The dragon flame returned to its master's hand, and Han Tao's jawline grew even colder: "They don't know, but the people behind them do."
His words were as cruel as Fu Mingxu had guessed. A hint of pity flashed in Fu Mingxu's eyes: "What benefit can awakening Yama bring them? They don't even care about the lives of so many cultivators and disciples."
Han Tao could not answer his question. The life of a cultivator is long and lonely. Without any hope of ascension, the long time can change the character of many people and make them do more.
Some mortals live for no more than a hundred years, yet the things they do are enough to shake the heavens and the earth.
For cultivators, time is but a fleeting moment, which only makes them want more.
They are less easily satisfied than ordinary people.
Fu Mingxu hadn't expected his answer; he had merely sighed a few times.
The two remained silent and continued forward, eventually spotting Shi Guiyuan and Shen Changting amidst the soaring blood-red light.
Behind them, Yama, shrouded in demonic energy, was bound within the formation.
"The Demon-Summoning Array." Han Tao calmly called out the name of the array. "The demonic energy on Yama's body was released by you through this array."
The Yama, who was sealed here a thousand years ago, seems to have been eroded by time, and his strength is much weaker than before. He didn't even raise his head when Fu Mingxu and the other person came in.
Upon hearing this, Shi Guiyuan smiled and said, "If it weren't for that, how could we have forced Lord Han to this place?"
Shen Changting stood silently to one side, but the long sword in his hand was ready to be drawn at any moment, its cold tip sending chills down one's spine.
"Even if it means sacrificing disciples of the Medicine Sect?" Han Tao didn't let go of his hand, looking at the two of them. "Sect Leader Shi, you really are willing to go to such lengths."
"A thousand years have passed, and the Heavenly Ladder remains broken." Shi Guiyuan said slowly with a smile. He stood before Yama, his posture upright, yet his words sent chills down one's spine. "We are both Mahayana cultivators, yet do you not know that those below the Nascent Soul stage are no different from straw dogs?"
"I have a grand plan that can help us ascend to immortality. Would you be interested in joining us?"
He glanced at Fu Mingxu and said, “Of course, Lord Han may be a little different from us. For example, you still think about romance and tender feelings.”
A note from the author:
Han Tao: You guys don't understand, having a wife to hug is the best thing ever.
...
Chapter 53
When Shi Guiyuan mentioned the words "affection for children and tender feelings," his eyes were so obvious that he was practically saying that Fu Mingxu was the one who delayed Han Tao's ascension.
Fu Mingxu's heart skipped a beat, realizing that this was a threat they were using to drag Han Tao into the mess.
His gaze swept past the two men and landed on the thick, pure demonic energy emanating from Yanmo. He figured that if Hantao agreed, he was probably not far from falling into demonic possession.
Wouldn't that be like trying to steal someone from him?
Fu Mingxu chuckled and stepped forward, saying, "Could it be that Sect Leader Shi cultivates the Path of Ruthlessness?"
"Or did Sect Master Shi already visit the Immortal Realm and know that the people there have no romantic feelings or tender emotions?"
He met Shi Guiyuan's gaze without fear, stood directly in front of Han Tao, and asked skeptically, "Besides, how can Sect Master Shi guarantee that Han Tao will achieve immortality and ascend to heaven by cooperating with you?"
The speaker pointed out the flaws in Shi Guiyuan's words with every single word. Shi Guiyuan had never been so humiliated before, and his face turned ashen before he could even finish speaking.
"Is this also Lord Han's intention?" Shi Guiyuan refused to give up and raised his voice, "We only need the demonic seed within Lord Han. As long as you allow us to extract it, you will receive a share when you ascend to the Immortal Realm one day."
"That way, we won't have to take action, so as to avoid harming innocent people."
The demonic seed was within Han Tao's dragon soul. Fu Mingxu nearly exploded upon hearing this, pointing at Yama behind him and taunting, "What? Isn't the great demon behind you enough for you?"
Upon hearing this, the trapped Yama suddenly looked up, her blood-red eyes fixed on him, and a familiar yet eerie sense of being spied on arose instantly.
Fu Mingxu became slightly wary; he was certain that the pair of eyes that had been peering at him earlier belonged to Yama.
However, given that the opponent's divine sense was so powerful, and that he was once a great demon, why was he so easily bound by the two of them?
Is it simply because of the formation?
Shi Guiyuan and Shen Changting were unaware of Yanmo's change behind them. Shen Changting stood with his sword in hand, his voice firm and powerful: "Lord Han, I hope you will reconsider."
She is just a beautiful mortal. Even if she has some cultivation now, how can she make decisions on behalf of the lord of a city?
The two looked at Han Tao, clearly waiting for his answer.
Fu Mingxu noticed their gaze and suddenly leaned close to Han Tao's ear: "Hey, don't let them fool you."
A warm, gentle breath fell on his earlobe, and Han Tao's heart trembled slightly. When he looked at Shen Changting and the other person, his face was cold and icy: "What my partner said is what I mean."
Fu Mingxu blushed slightly, his fingers, which were hanging in his wide sleeves, twisted together involuntarily. Then he looked up and glared at the two people opposite him, with a rather smug look in his eyes.
Shi Guiyuan still refused to give up: "Lord Han, I know that the Demon Flower King and the Demon Source Pill formula have fallen into your hands, but you should know that in this Cangling Continent, apart from the people in the Demon Realm, only my Medicine Sect can refine seventh-grade pills."
When it comes to other things, Fu Mingxu might not be confident, but when it comes to alchemy, he is full of confidence and immediately smiles, showing no worries at all.
As expected, Han Tao's expression remained unchanged on his cold and indifferent face. "I don't need it."
"How arrogant and conceited!" Shen Changting seemed to remember something, his face darkened, and he looked like he wanted to draw his sword and strike.
After all, the opponents were two Mahayana cultivators, and Fu Mingxu was a little afraid that Han Tao wouldn't be able to defeat them. However, at present, cooperation was impossible, and there was no possibility of anything going on.
Han Tao clearly didn't have as many concerns as him. He scanned the blood-red space, his golden eyes showing a neutral emotion: "Dealing with a tiger for its skin has never been the right thing to do."
"If that's the case, then don't blame us for being impolite!" Shi Guiyuan glanced at the other party and shouted, "Sect Master Shen, aren't you going to make a move?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Changting indeed raised his longsword, and the sword energy of the Mahayana stage attacked.
Han Tao released Fu Mingxu's wrist, and a golden sword appeared in his hand as he stepped forward. Amidst the golden and white light, the two fought fiercely, locked in a close battle.
After a powerful attack, the two forces clashed violently, and with a dragon's roar, Shen Changting was forced to take two steps back.
The Tai'a sword carved a long gash in the ground due to the resistance, and Shen Changting, who barely managed to steady himself, turned ashen-faced.
Fu Mingxu felt relieved upon seeing this and clapped his hands, saying, "Impressive!"
He was naturally praising Hantao.
“Shi Guiyuan is controlling the magic array behind him.” Fu Mingxu narrowed his eyes, his eyelashes trembled, and he leaned closer to say, “I discovered that he is actually unable to make a move, and can only let Shen Changting fight against you.”
Even with the demonic seed's restraint, Shen Changting is no match for Han Tao now.
Shi Guiyuan's face showed obvious anxiety. He urged the group, "Aren't you a sword cultivator in the Mahayana stage? Can't you even do anything to a dragon that is restrained by the demonic seed?"
Fu Mingxu's brow twitched, but before he could finish speaking, he made a desperate move, suddenly turning his hand back and sending the boundless sword light flying backward.