Chapter 17: Web of Schemes

Region Number 23, Within a certain Cave

Li Yuxong could feel the energy of this bloody pool is nearly drained away. When this energy was in huge amount, he couldn't feel anything, but as the Spiritual Essence drained, he started feeling it's flow towards a certain direction. 

'Why is the Spiritual Essence sucked in that direction? Is there some sort of treasure?'

As this question aroused in his mind, Li Yuxong started swimming in that direction. He has already learnt Swimming when he arrived in this Small World with the help of Li Cheng, because it was very crucial for survival here.

Li Yuxong was excited while getting closer and closer to the destination, but he also started feeling hotter from inside. It was not because of hot bloody streams, but something else. He started feeling hotter and hotter, and his mind also started getting irrational thoughts.

'What's happening? Why I am feeling so hot?'

Li Yuxong gritted his teeth, and suppressed all the irrational thoughts and kept moving forward. Soon, he reached the source, but what was in front of him shocked his eyes.

A very beautiful woman was cultivating withing the pool, absorbing it's essence. She was struggling to remain in the pool, and her whole body was exuding sweat. Feeling the sudden change, she opened her eyes. But, her eyes were hazy, all she could see was someone there.

Seeing her, Li Yuxong was dazed. "So beautiful!"

She had black hair, died red with the blood, her face has splashes of blood, and her eyes was hazy. Her willow brows, her cheeks, her chin, her body, everything was perfect. Li Yuxong felt a great danger from her, but still drawn towards her ironically.

She was struggling, as if trying to suppress something. Li Yuxong also felt something wrong. She was completely naked, without any clothes. But looking at her struggling face, he still asked. 

"Are you alright?"

At that moment, as if all her perseverance broke, and she pounced at him, hugging him with her both arms. Li Yuxong's mind also went blank, all his suppressed emotions poured out like a volcano and his both hands grabbed her waist.

Next Day, Noon

Li Yuxong's eyes opened, he was no longer in the bloodfiend stream, but near a rock. He could feel a lot of leaves under his body, as if someone carefully put them here so that he won't feel uncomfortable.

As he looked at the side, a young woman was sitting there, with her blank eyes looking at the Bloodfiend Spring.

Li Yuxong immediately remembered what happened and stood up. He moved towards her and as he was about to say something, she interjected.

"Are you awake?"

Li Yuxong looked at her nervously, and forgot to react for a while. As if coming to his senses. He replied. "Yes..." He paused for a moment and then continued "about what happened..."

"Don't mention about it again." She again interfered and this time her voice was much colder.

"I repeat, don't mention that to anyone." Huang Ling repeated.

Li Yuxong looked at her and said stubbornly. "I will tell my parents. I will take the responsibility for what happened."

Huang Ling's face turned cold. But just as she was about to say something, she felt changes, and looked at the side.

A young man was running over here, gasping for his breath without stopping.

When Li Yuxong saw the person running, his face changed. He immediately shouted. "Brother Ren."

Ren Ying, as if finding his saviour ran immediately to Li Yuxong and grabbed his legs as he spoke tremblingly. "Br-Bro-ther L-Li, th-they kil-killed"

Li Yuxong immediately patted his shoulders and helped him stand and said in a deep voice. "Brother Ren calm down first, tell me what happened? Who killed whom?"

Ren Ying immediately wiped his tears but his voice was still trembling. "Th-they brutally mur-murder-ed them."

Li Yuxong slowly stroked his back and comforted him, then asked in a polite tone. "Calm down Brother Ren, calm down first."

Ren Ying soon calmed down. Then he revealed the news. "That Shadow Phoenix Sect's Huang Shu. He killed Jin Lei and Cao Wei."

Li Yuxong's face changed. "What did you say?"

Ren Ying nodded while quivering. "Those shadow phoenix sect bastards killed Jin Lei and Cao Wei."

Li Yuxong's face turned red with hatred. He gritted his teeth and spoke slowly. "Those son of b*tch, I will kill them. This hatred is irreconcilable. First they killed my brother, now my friends. I swear to heavens that I will eradicate... mphh"

As he was continuing, Huang Ling blocked his mouth with her hands and stopped him from speaking. 

"You better control yourself, and don't do something that you can't afford it."

But at this time, Ren Ying dropped another bomb. "I also heard them saying, they used you as a tool, and they have already spread the aphrodisiac..."

Huang Ling's face changed. "What did you say?" She shouted in a loud voice, and a murderous aura spread around her.

Ren Ying looked at her and quivered. "I heard Huang Shu speaking. He was doing this as per the instruction of someone named Weimin." Ren Ying spoke timidly.

Li Yuxong looked at her coldly and said. "Don't scare him." Huang Ling finally realized, and immediately retrieved her murderous aura.

Suddenly, many Shadow Phoenix Sect's disciples entered the cave. 

"There he is, he dares to betray us. Kill him." 

"Kill him" 

Those disciples shouted and attacked Ren Ying.

Li Yuxong immediately came forward, and a very strong aura, beyond rank 3 spread around him. He released Poplar Resilience, took out his sword from his Space Ring, and slashed at them. He skillfully used Sword Step and Sword Slash, to dodge and counter them. He single handedly suppressed 4 rank 3 early stage Warriors.

Looking at the intense battle, and her fellow disciples being suppressed, Huang Ling didn't even bat her eyes. Soon, Li Yuxong's Spiritual Imprint was exhausted, and those rank 3 Warriors started gaining upper hand again, but Li Yuxong fought bravely utilizing his skills to the fullest.

But as he attacks one, the other three try to sneak attack on him, suppressing him and making him completely defensive. 

Huang Ling looked at Li Yuxong and she felt complicated. She murmured inwardly. 'My status as Saintess is no longer possible. It is likely that Huang Weimin was already aware of my identity and used this scheme to target me. He is innocent, but now that everything happened...'

She sighed and then her eyes turned sharp, as if she has taken a very important decision of her life.

Huang Ling's eyes fluctuated slightly, and she suddenly moved. The head of all those rank 3s fell at the floor, leaving no trace of blood on her.

Li Yuxong was shocked at this and just as he was about to ask, she answered. "This is about personal grudge."

Few hours ago, few miles away from the cave

Huang Shu was fighting few rank 4 Warriors, and was completely suppressed. He has already sent back half of his underlings under Huang Weimin's orders.

He shouted. "Ling Yun, do you wish to declare war between Moonlight Sect and our Shadow Phoenix Sect?"

The young man named Ling Yun laughed with disdain. "Don't take yourself too seriously, you group of chickens first deal with Spirit Dragon Clan, then declare war on us. Your value is not that high. Those higher ups will never attack us, just because of a minor character like you!"

Huang Shu face turned grim. He gritted his teeth and resolutely discarded his opponents, and fled away.

Ling Yun, as if expected this outcome, stopped everyone from chasing, and ordered: "Stop chasing, kill all those from Shadow Phoenix Sect disciples, and then leave this place as soon as you can. We have got an intel that a very dangerous character from that sect is present here."

A certain rank 3 Warrior asked. "What about Huang Shu? If he returns back the his camp, wouldn't it be dangerous for us in this small world?"

Ling Yun looked at him and said with a meaningful smile, while tossing a token in his hands. "That would only happen 'if' he returns back!"

At the same time, Huang Shu, who already fled 10 miles away within a minute. He cursed as he looked around him. "That b*stard, I was wondering what was that smell. It turns out he has already put something over me. It's over now, I never thought he was so dangerous. We all thought he was on our side, but he has already controlled our faction and Moonlight faction. He is very dangerous. I have to inform Weimin somehow."

But as he searched his clothes, his heart turned cold. "Where is my Communication token?" He finally realized how deep the Shadow Phoenix faction has fallen in this muddy water.

He felt deep despair as he looked at the three rank 5 Beasts surrounded him.

Current Time, Within the Cave

Huang Ling looked at Li Yuxong and asked. "Can you tell me what happened to your brother, that caused you to have such a deep hatred towards Shadow Phoenix Sect?"

Li Yuxong sighed and his eyes turned wet as he thought of Li Gang. Even though he wanted to surpass his brother, after living with him for around 10 years, he formed deep affection. Which siblings doesn't fight? But, do they truly hate each other? No!

Li Yuxong said. "He c-cut off my brother's head and send it to Spirit Dragon Sect's young master, just for 50 Soul Stones."

Huang Ling became suspicious. "Huang Weimin has deep hatred for Long Yifan. He would never trade with him."

Li Yuxong retorted without hesitation. "You don't have to defend him, many people saw with their own eyes."

Huang Ling's face turned serious. She knows Huang Weimin too well. Even though he is greedy and can do anything for benefits, he wouldn't do something like this for 50 soul stones.

But, she didn't think too much, as anything can happen in this world.

She changed the subject. "You don't have to suppress the Spiritual Essence within you. Continue meditating and try to breakthrough the rank 4. I will help you in forming the Heavenly Core."

Li Yuxong nodded. 

He started meditating and circulating the Spiritual Essence within him as per his cultivation technique.

Suddenly he heard a voice. "Try sensing an emptiness, present in your abdomen. It should have most Spiritual Essence around it, but not touching it at the same time."

Li Yuxong immediately started sensing that part. 

Huang Ling continued guiding him: "Circulate all the Spiritual Essence from all parts of your body to that empty place. Try to absorb Spiritual Essence from Spirit Stones or your environment if possible and concentrate them to that empty area."

Li Yuxong did as he was told. He took out 1000 Spirit stones and started absorbing them. Huang Ling, used her abilities to crush those Spirit Stones, and forcefully transferred them into Li Yuxong.

Under her guidance, Li Yuxong slowly converged all the Spiritual Essence into the empty space in his abdomen. As the Spiritual Essence became denser and denser, a layer like structure started forming, completely surrounding those Spiritual Essence.

Few hours later, Li Yuxong opened his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. There are still traces of cold sweat that can be seen on him.

He murmured. "Finally, reached rank 4!"

Huang Ling looked at him and asked. "How old are you?"

Li Yuxong looked at her suspiciously and answered. "17"

Huang Ling was surprised and suddenly thought of allying him. 'He has a great potential.'

Ren Ying who was watching all this suddenly said. "Congrats brother Li for reaching rank 4! I don't think I would be of any help to you now."

Li Yuxong looked at him and felt warm. "What are you saying? We are brothers, and don't forget, I promised you that I will definitely find a way to help you!"

Ren Ying nodded and suddenly said something that was engraved deep in Li Yuxong's heart. "If you ever have grudge with someone, and you are strong enough to avenge. Don't use force, instead, make him feel despair. Let him have some hope, and when he finally believes he won, crush all his hopes, leaving him in an ultimate despair!"