Chapter 107 — The Demon Formation

You Si drew her gaze back from Mr. Ghost's blurred silhouette and looked at the two spirit beasts in the blood pool. Though surrounded by bloody water, the Yellow Bird, whose years of life none could guess, was plainly unwilling; every so often it let out a clear, furious cry and beat its wings, at once churning up huge waves in the blood around it.

But the blood in the pool seemed to have some strange restraining effect upon it; the Yellow Bird's spiritual power and strength were clearly far from what they had once been, especially with the dark red light from the Coiling Dragon Cauldron shining down upon its head. At the slightest movement of the Yellow Bird, the red light flared bright, and the Bird beneath it was at once pressed down as if by Mount Tai; its just-raised body was forced back down by an irresistible weight.

After several such rounds, the Yellow Bird's movements gradually slowed; though it still struggled, it grew weaker and weaker. And at the other end of the blood pool, the one-legged, gigantic Kui Ox lay wholly immersed in the blood, motionless, only occasionally casting a glance toward the Yellow Bird—whether because it had been trapped here so long that it had wholly given up resistance, none could say.

Watching these two spirit beasts, once so overweening, come to such an end, You Si could not help frowning slightly beneath her black gauze, a nameless revulsion rising in her heart.

The Nether King at her side seemed to sense something and turned to look at her. Suddenly he asked, "What are you thinking?"

You Si was startled, then composed herself and said coolly, "Nothing, Sect Master."

The Nether King regarded her, then shifted his gaze to the blood pool, and after a long while said slowly, "The Four Spirits Blood Formation is now half complete. Once we find the other two spirit beasts to serve as catalysts, the day our Nether King Sect reigns supreme over the world will not be far off."

You Si was silent a moment, then said softly, "Yes."

The Nether King stood with hands behind his back, his gaze still fixed on the two spirit beasts in the blood pool, but suddenly he changed the subject. "You reached the Death Marsh before I did. I instructed you to secretly observe Ming Li. Is there anything you have to tell me?"

The black gauze on You Si's face stirred slightly, and after a moment she said, "In the Death Marsh, he led his subordinates in maneuvering among the Ten Thousand Venoms Sect, the Soul-Luring Sect, and the righteous sects. Amid such complex, treacherous, and deadly circumstances, he still advanced and retreated with sound judgment, and in the end joined with others to destroy the Longevity Hall. He truly has the makings of a great general. And moreover..."

Here she suddenly paused. The Nether King, somewhat surprised, asked, "What?"

You Si hesitated a moment, then said, "In the inner marsh, he suddenly launched a sneak attack and gravely wounded Qin Wujiu of the Ten Thousand Venoms Sect. His mind is resolute and ruthless—not to be underestimated." As she spoke, a sudden daze came over her: was this person she was discussing really the Zhang Qingyue of those years?

The one Bi Li truly loved—was it really him?

The Nether King seemed rather pleased. He nodded and said, "The boy's temper is resolute and unyielding; he is indeed a talent hard to come by. These years he has cultivated our Holy Sect's arts, and with that peerless evil artifact on his person day and night, it is only natural that he should be somewhat savage and fond of killing."

You Si raised her head and looked at the Nether King. At the corner of his mouth there was a faint smile, yet against that face, awe-inspiring even in repose, it gave off a chill.

"However," the Nether King said suddenly, "I have heard that in the Death Marsh, when Ming Li met those of the righteous sects—especially when he encountered a Qingyun disciple named Lu Xueling—his behavior became somewhat peculiar. Is this true?"

You Si's body gave a start. She saw that the Nether King's expression was placid, revealing nothing of his thoughts, yet somehow a sudden turmoil rose in her heart. She and Azure Dragon had secretly slipped into the Death Marsh, and she had seen most of the subtle, unspoken something between Ming Li and Lu Xueling. Yet thinking of it now, she felt a strange, nameless ache.

Like a sharp needle piercing her heart.

"What is it?" The Nether King turned his head and looked at You Si.

You Si slowly lowered her head; because her face was veiled in black gauze, none could see her expression. After a moment, her voice, somehow hoarse, still answered the Nether King clearly and coldly:

"Yes. There is indeed something ambiguous between him and Lu Xueling of the Canglan Sect. With my own eyes I saw him, outside the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault, face the Blackwater Mystic Serpent and risk death to save that woman's life!"

The Nether King said no more, but within moments the smell of blood around them suddenly grew tenfold, a hundredfold thicker. The man still stood with hands behind his back, but whether lit by the red glow from below the cavern or not, the red light in his eyes blazed up fiercely.

You Si slowly bowed to the Nether King, then turned and walked back, slowly leaving that cavern which seemed to stifle the breath.

But she had no sooner reached the stone door than she suddenly froze. Azure Dragon stood quietly outside the door, gazing at her calmly.

You Si met his gaze, and the two stood looking at each other thus, saying nothing for a long while.

After a time, Azure Dragon slowly stepped forward, brushed past her, and walked deep into the cavern, leaving You Si alone, standing blankly in the tunnel.

From first to last, he did not say a single word to You Si.

Over the southern border, a hidden moon hung alone in the western sky.

In the deep mountains, at an ancient temple, insects chirped mournfully—a scene of desolate, somber gloom.

"Whoosh!"

With a whistle and a flash of light, Lü Shun came flying on his sword and alighted in the courtyard of the ancient temple. His eyes gleamed sharply as he scanned the temple hall inch by inch.

He had just searched the surrounding ten li by sword and found nothing—not a single soul. Thinking it over, he had suddenly realized that this ancient temple was the very place he had overlooked.

The night wind was cold; the abandoned hall had lost even its doors, though not long before, Lü Shun had been inside talking with someone. But now it looked suddenly grim and eerie, as if something in the darkness were watching him.

A cold sweat suddenly broke out on his palms.

The monster with the fish head and human body that had just died was the chief of the southern barbarian Fish-Man tribe. To have been assassinated at the very moment he was meeting with Lü Shun—Lü Shun could hardly escape responsibility. He knew well that the southern barbarian tribes had secret dealings with his own sect, and better still how terrible and cruel those barbarians could be. If he did not give the barbarians an accounting this time, he feared he would have much to suffer.

But from what he knew of the southern barbarians, these fish-men were formidable fighters. Though they were still no match for cultivators of his own profound attainment, to kill one in a single stroke—the assassin's arts must be no less than his own.

Lü Shun drew a deep breath and suddenly called out loudly, "Which master is it? Come out and speak."

"Speak... speak..."

The night wind carried the echo of his words drifting softly through the temple, but the hall remained utterly silent, without a sound.