Chapter 29: Blood Demon

Pan Yang noticed Li Moxuan’s gaze shift and followed his lead.

From the pitch-black mountain forest, where one could not even see their own hand, a dark shadow slowly emerged. It appeared as silently as a ghost. Without a single sound of footsteps, it crossed a hundred meters in an instant, reaching the edge of the construction site. Everyone present felt their hearts leap into their throats. They had experienced so many bizarre events recently that they were all currently as timid as birds startled by the mere twang of a bowstring.

As the shadow slowly stepped out of the darkness, everyone finally saw its full appearance. It was a face as withered as rotting wood, covered in thousands of deep furrows, with eyes emitting a faint, spectral glow. Sparse white hair hung loosely, making him look like an old, vengeful spirit appearing in the dead of night. His skin was dry and wrinkled, and he radiated a thick aura of gloom and death, no different from a corpse that had just crawled out of an ancient tomb.

Seeing this sight, Pan Yang, Lin Xuan, Xiang Peng, and the others felt their souls leave their bodies, a chill creeping up their spines all the way to their necks. This creature was surely not a living person. Was it yet another terrifying, filthy thing?

Pan Yang knew that nine times out of ten, this thing was targeting their Lin family. Gathering his courage, he asked, "Who are you?"

However, the old man did not react to Pan Yang’s inquiry. He simply turned his murky, deathly eyes toward Li Moxuan, slowly curling his lips to reveal a few remaining black teeth.

"Kid, you have some skill. Seeing your strength, I assume you have reached the Xiantian realm. Only someone at the Xiantian realm could so easily slaughter my yellow weasels. You are truly a talent for your age."

"Xiantian realm?" Li Moxuan’s expression turned peculiar. What kind of eyes did this guy have?

The old man, thinking Li Moxuan was playing dumb, waved his hand dismissively. "Don't pretend. The yellow weasels I raised died by your hand; you ruined my walking corpse and scattered those demons—it was all you! If you weren't in the Xiantian realm, you could never have done this. I just wonder, what sect or school are you from?"

He acted as if he had seen right through Li Moxuan, curiously probing for his background. Li Moxuan curled his lip in annoyance. Was this old man’s brain broken? Why would he abandon proper Daoist arts to practice martial arts? He was merely at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, yet he possessed power strong enough to kill a Xiantian martial artist in seconds. What kind of sane person would practice martial arts?

Li Moxuan did not respond, but Pan Yang was filled with shock, muttering in a daze, "Is he actually a Xiantian martial artist? My god..."

Pan Yang knew full well the difference between the two; though they were only a thin line apart, the gap in power and means was worlds apart. Pan Yang looked at Li Moxuan; but he was clearly so young—was this really possible?

Xiang Peng and Liu Hua were frozen in place, utterly terrified. So, Li Moxuan was a genuine hidden master. Their previous suspicions were now confirmed. A Xiantian expert? Li Moxuan really was a Xiantian expert.

Li Moxuan remained silent, watching indifferently. The withered old man sneered, "Fine. Out of respect for the sect behind you, I will let slide the fact that you destroyed my demons and ruined my plans several times. But if you continue to interfere, I won't be so polite!"

Li Moxuan gave a cold hum. "I am merely taking someone’s money to resolve their troubles. Unless what you are doing has something to do with my task, do you think I have nothing better to do?"

The old man raised an eyebrow. He really had nothing to say about Li Moxuan’s style of conduct. However, as long as Li Moxuan wouldn't act without pay, the old man felt much more at ease. He had observed Li Moxuan for a long time and could not discern his true depth. To ensure his mission was completed, he preferred not to provoke such an unpredictable factor. After all, his target was the Lin family, not Xiang Peng. As for why he had been tormenting Xiang Peng’s site, it was merely because the construction disturbed his peace, and he was issuing a small warning. Otherwise, Xiang Peng and the others would have been dead long ago.

The old man turned his gaze to Pan Yang and Lin Xuan. Pan Yang’s heart sank. He tried his best to remain calm, speaking in a polite tone, "Senior, has the Lin family offended you in any way? If so, I can apologize on behalf of the family. Please show mercy. May I ask your name?"

The old man did not hide it, saying ominously, "Xue Ming. Heard of me?"

Once those words were spoken, Pan Yang’s face contorted. He exclaimed in shock, "The Blood Demon, Xue Ming?"

The old man let out a weird, cackling laugh. "Correct, I am the one nicknamed the Blood Demon, Xue Ming."

Cold sweat broke out on Pan Yang’s forehead. He despaired, wondering how he had encountered this scourge. Lin Xuan stood by, her fists clenched tightly in nervousness. "Uncle Pan, who is the Blood Demon Xue Ming?"

Pan Yang sighed gloomily. "Alas... ten years ago, he was the most notorious evil martial artist. Because he practiced the Blood Demon Arts, he was hunted by every martial artist in the world. The Blood Demon Arts are insane and extremely evil, relying on absorbing human blood to increase internal energy. In just two or three years, thousands died by his hand. Not only martial artists, but the elderly, weak, women, and children were not spared, including many Post-Xiantian martial artists. To eliminate him, the Martial Alliance even sent a Grandmaster to lead a siege, but he still escaped. He disappeared from the world, vanished into thin air. I never expected to meet him here today."

As Pan Yang spoke, his lips trembled. If the man could kill Post-Xiantian martial artists like dogs ten years ago, he was even more dangerous now. Xiang Peng and Lin Xuan were horrified. To think that in this day and age, they could still encounter a legendary old monster. Cultivating by sucking human blood? A cold-blooded murderer? Killing them would be as easy as eating bean sprouts.

Only Li Moxuan sat on a nearby stone, curiously examining the Blood Demon. Tsk, tsk, "Blood Demon"? He really dared to call himself that. It was just absorbing a bit of crude blood energy to boost his cultivation. And that made him a demon? Compared to Daoist arts, a martial artist of this caliber was not worth mentioning.

Upon learning the man's identity, Pan Yang hurriedly tried to negotiate. "No matter how the Lin family may have offended you in the past, please show mercy. Whatever conditions you have, we can discuss them!"

Xue Ming sneered coldly, "You haven't offended me!"

Pan Yang was confused. "Then, Senior, this is..."

Xue Ming said leisurely, "You haven't offended me, but that doesn't mean you haven't offended someone else."

Pan Yang’s face turned pale. Someone had actually managed to hire the Blood Demon to deal with the Lin family? Who was this powerful figure? Could it be the Wu family? Looking at the entire Martial City, the only ones who would dare to trouble the Lin family were their mortal enemies, the Wu family.

Pan Yang seized the chance to probe, "Could it be that the Wu family hired you?"

Xue Ming’s lips curled into a sinister, terrifying smile. "A dead man doesn't need to know so much!"

Though Xue Ming looked aged, like a skeleton ready to fall apart at any moment, his aura was vigorous and his power terrifying. In a flash, he reached out a withered, claw-like hand toward the top of Pan Yang’s head. With just a slight exertion, he could crack open his skull. Pan Yang, having lost his arms, was powerless to resist and could only stand there waiting for death.

"Insolent!"

A booming voice erupted from afar, sounding like a clap of thunder.

*Whoosh...*

A gust of wind swept in. An old man in a white robe arrived with incredible speed, landing in front of Pan Yang like a phantom. Before Xue Ming’s claw could touch Pan Yang, he struck out with a palm, blasting toward Xue Ming.

Seeing the opponent’s palm wind moving like thunder, full of vigor, Xue Ming’s figure flickered like a ghost, dodging several times to open up distance and avoid the attack.

"Second Elder?" Pan Yang felt a surge of joy upon seeing the figure.

Lin Xuan also waved her small hands excitedly. "Grand-uncle is here..."

The old man, with his white robes, white hair, and white beard, exuded an air of immortality. He looked at the two with a gentle smile. "I happened to be nearby and learned you were here, so I rushed over without stopping. I am a bit late. Are you alright?"

The Second Elder glanced at Pan Yang’s severed arms and sighed. Lin Xuan shook her head. "Grand-uncle, I am fine, but Uncle Pan..."

"If you hadn't arrived in time, Grand-uncle, Uncle Pan and I would be dead." Lin Xuan’s eyes were red.

The Second Elder looked at Xue Ming, his eyes burning with lethal intent. "Blood Demon, you were lucky ten years ago to escape. Instead of hiding and clinging to your pathetic life, you actually dared to show your face again. I think you are truly courting death!"

"How dare you strike at the members of my Lin family. You have quite the nerve."

Seeing Lin Yao, the Second Elder of the Lin family, arrive, Xue Ming felt a surge of irritation. Just when Li Moxuan was no longer an obstacle at the critical moment, another Lin family expert had popped up.

Xue Ming sneered, "Lin Yao, there is no need to be so arrogant. You don't actually think you can take me down, do you?"