180: Chapter 180 Reencounter with Mo Yuan

The withered forest was heavy with Death Qi, and even the sound of the wind passing through the branches carried a hint of shrillness.

The black, withered trees were gnarled and twisted, like countless scorched bones reaching toward the sky, dividing the horizon into fragmented shades of gray and white.

Li Changqing was about to venture deeper when his Divine Sense suddenly caught a violent fluctuation of spiritual power, accompanied by several shrill beast roars rapidly approaching from several miles away.

He frowned slightly, immediately restraining his aura. His figure merged into the shadow of a massive withered tree like a withered leaf, his breathing suppressed until it was barely perceptible.

In just a few breaths, the withered forest ahead collapsed with a roar, and wood splinters flew everywhere.

A massive Golden-Winged Great Eagle, its wings shimmering with a metallic luster, crashed to the ground with a mournful cry, crushing a large area of withered wood into dust.

Several wounds deep enough to reveal bone were gushing blood on the eagle's body, and a short blade radiating black Qi was embedded at the base of its wing; it was clearly severely injured.

Behind the Golden-Winged Great Eagle, a figure shrouded in black Qi was fighting while retreating.

"Mo Yuan?" Li Changqing's gaze narrowed as he recognized the person.

It was Mo Yuan, the Demonic Path Cultivator who had explored an ancient Immortal Cave with him in the Secret Realm a few years ago.

After breaking the core Restriction of that ancient Immortal Cave back then, both sides had sworn a Heart Demon oath—within the Taixu Secret Realm, they were not to attack each other, nor were they to harbor malice toward one another.

Under the oath, even if Mo Yuan had sensed Li Changqing's aura, he would never dare to actively harm him.

Because of this, although Li Changqing did not reveal himself, he did not immediately retreat either.

"Fellow Daoist Li, since we have met, why not reveal yourself!"

Mo Yuan shouted in a deep voice toward the direction where Li Changqing was hiding, while controlling the Thousand Soul Banner to block the incoming fiery feathers.

His tone was hurried but not panicked; he was clearly certain that Li Changqing would not stand by idly—or rather, even if Li Changqing did not appear, he still had other methods.

Li Changqing's thoughts raced.

That Mo Yuan could detect him amidst such chaos meant that this person's Divine Sense was not only far sharper than an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator, but he must also possess methods he was unaware of. He was truly worthy of being a standout among the Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators of the Ghost Soul Sect, a Nascent Soul Sect of the Demonic Path.

Since the other party had initiated contact and was in a perilous situation, it meant he indeed intended to seek help.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Changqing flashed out from the shadow of the withered tree. With a slight flick of his robe, the qingming sword quietly hovered at his side, its cold edge hidden, yet ready to strike at any moment.

"Fellow Daoist Mo, I trust you have been well."

His expression was calm. His gaze swept over the fallen Golden-Winged Great Eagle and paused on Mo Yuan for a brief moment. "It seems you have had quite a harvest these past few years, Fellow Daoist."

Mo Yuan grinned, with half-dried blood still remaining at the corner of his mouth: "Fellow Daoist Li, you joke. This business is quite a hot potato. It is you, Fellow Daoist Li, who deceived me, hiding your true identity and impersonating a Chi Ling Valley Cultivator."

He glanced rapidly at the three escaping lights closing in behind him and lowered his voice. "This Golden-Winged Great Eagle possesses an Earth Rank Bloodline, and I snatched it forcibly from the hands of some Chi Ling Valley Cultivators."

"This eagle was controlled by them using forced methods. I don't know what happened midway, but it managed to escape from their hands and I happened to encounter it. How could I let go of an Opportunity that has fallen into my hands?"

Li Changqing raised his eyebrows slightly. When he first entered the Taixu Secret Realm, he had encountered a Chi Ling Valley Cultivator and knew that one of the core missions for the Chi Ling Valley Cultivators entering the Taixu Secret Realm this time was this Golden-Winged Great Eagle with an Earth Rank Bloodline. No wonder Chi Ling Valley was making such a big fuss.

His gaze swept toward the distance—three escaping lights had arrived, piercing the air. Two were Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and one was a Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivator, all fully equipped with Spirit Beasts; the formation was significant.

"Fellow Daoist Li," Mo Yuan suddenly turned serious, his tone losing some of its levity and gaining some earnestness. "You and I swore a Heart Demon oath back then that we would not attack each other within the Secret Realm; this is something we both know well."

"If Chi Ling Valley finds out that you have been impersonating their Sect's Cultivators to travel through the Secret Realm, they will never let it rest once you get out. How about we join forces, keep all of these people here, and split the loot fifty-fifty? What do you say?"

Li Changqing's gaze flickered. He did not answer immediately, but instead quickly weighed the pros and cons: The three Chi Ling Valley Cultivators were coming aggressively. Even if he did not provoke them, the Chi Ling Valley Cultivators might not necessarily let him go.

If he helped, fighting two against three, he had great confidence in leaving all three of these Chi Ling Valley Cultivators behind. With the Heart Demon oath as a guarantee, there was absolutely no possibility of Mo Yuan turning against him mid-battle.

Once his thoughts settled, Li Changqing's lips curled into a faint smile. He pinched a spell with his hand, and the qingming sword let out a clear, melodious chime. The sword light broke forth like autumn water, unsheathing with an imposing aura.

"Fellow Daoist Mo, you make me laugh. Since Chi Ling Valley does not acknowledge me, and you have so warmly invited me, I suppose I can do without this Chi Ling Valley identity. As for this 'generous gift' from Chi Ling Valley, I will accept it without declining."

As soon as he finished speaking, the three escaping lights arrived.

The two Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators landed first, each driving a Late Stage Second-Order Azure Water Flood Dragon and a Late Stage Second-Order Red Flame Python, sealing off Mo Yuan's retreat.

Immediately after, the aura of a Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivator crashed down with a boom.

This person was dressed in a red robe with a sinister face, stepping on a Peak Second-Order Blazing Fire Eagle. His eyes were like lightning, staring fixedly at Mo Yuan and the Golden-Winged Great Eagle lying on the ground.

"Demonic Path scoundrel, you killed my Chi Ling Valley Cultivator and stole my Sect's Spirit Beast. Today, you will not be able to escape even with wings!"

The red-robed old man's voice was like thunder. As his spiritual power surged, the Blazing Fire Eagle let out a piercing screech that could shatter metal and crack stone. With a flap of its wings, feathers of fire filled the sky, shooting toward Mo Yuan like a rainstorm.

"Hahaha, you Chi Ling brats, do you really think this seat is afraid of you! Now I will let you see this seat's true methods!"

Mo Yuan shouted sharply, and a pitch-black demonic bead spinning atop his head—a Low Grade Demonic Treasure, the Soul-Devouring Demonic Bead—emitted a heart-stopping suction force, swallowing all the scattered sparks of fire.

At his side, a giant wolf burning with ghostly blue demonic flames roared and charged out; it was his Peak Second-Order Spirit Beast, the Demon Flame Nether Wolf.

Its figure moved like lightning, ignoring the scorching fire feathers, and it pounced directly toward the Blazing Fire Eagle.

The red-robed old man was greatly alarmed upon seeing this and hurriedly urged the Blazing Fire Eagle to spit out flames to block it. For a time, eagle screeches and wolf howls mingled as they engaged in battle.

And at the very moment the two sides clashed head-on, Li Changqing moved.

He did not launch a frontal assault, but instead flicked his sleeve, and a purple light silently submerged into the shadow of the withered wood. The Flying Purple Nether Scorpion sped along the ground, using the broken wood and black smoke covering the ground to circle behind the middle-aged man driving the Azure Water Flood Dragon.

The middle-aged man was fully focused on controlling his Spirit Beast to block Mo Yuan's retreat when he suddenly felt a chill strike the back of his neck. He reacted extremely quickly; his protective spiritual light instantly surged, and he slashed back with a water blade.

However, the tail hook of the Flying Purple Nether Scorpion had long been primed and ready. It bent strangely in mid-air, dodging the water blade, and struck fiercely into the seven-inch spot of the Azure Water Flood Dragon.

As the potent poison entered its body, the Azure Water Flood Dragon let out a shrill hiss, the water spiritual power around its body suddenly dissipated, and its massive body crashed down with a boom.

"You are courting death!" The middle-aged man was furious and slapped his hand back toward the Flying Purple Nether Scorpion.