75: Besiege without attacking

Deep within Qingyun Mountain in Prefecture City, lies the Blood Fiend Immortal Cave.

Eerie green ghost fires silently flickered on the stone walls, casting grotesque shadows that made the jagged rocks within the cave resemble monstrous, clawing demons.

As the firelight wavered, a ferocious wolf face appeared and disappeared, its fangs gleaming with a chilling light in the shadows.

Blood Fiend leaned lazily on his throne, his distinctly jointed fingers rhythmically tapping the black iron armrest. Each crisp sound made Hou Liu, kneeling below, tremble.

“So… you secretly went to Chang Sheng Village?”

Blood Fiend’s voice was like sandpaper, raspy and bone-chilling.

“Y-yes, Your Excellency, we certainly did…”

Hou Liu’s forehead was pressed to the ground, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

Blood Fiend suddenly straightened up, his crimson eyes glowing in the darkness: “Tell me, what’s the situation there?”

He licked his sharp canines, “Speak well, and this Lord might show some leniency.”

Since setting up the Spirit-奪取 Array, Blood Fiend’s Cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds.

Though the Formation was effective, it was a bottomless pit for blood sacrifices; even strong Martial Artists couldn’t last a month.

But the thrill of rapidly increasing power had ensnared Blood Fiend, making it impossible for him to extricate himself.

Even the death of his arch-nemesis, Naked Ghost, had become irrelevant in the face of his growing strength.

His current power, compared to Naked Ghost’s back then, was not just a little stronger.

Blood Fiend decided it was time for a test.

“Your Excellency!”

The emaciated Hou Liu knelt on the ground, trembling, dragging his half-charred body.

“This subordinate risked his life to bring back crucial intelligence!”

He coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of black blood.

“Chang Sheng Village has Mortals as numerous as ants, and their Qi is far more vigorous than Prefecture City in its prime. The village harbors a large number of low-level Martial Artists, as for that expert…”

A flicker of fear crossed Hou Liu’s single eye, “The other party didn’t even show his face; with just one strike, Zhu San… instantly turned into a mist of blood!”

“Useless!”

Blood Fiend roared in fury, kicking Hou Liu several feet away.

Hou Liu crashed against the stone wall, then fell heavily, but still struggled to crawl back to his original spot.

Blood Fiend paced anxiously in the cave.

“Truly, he can’t accomplish anything, but he’s great at messing things up!”

Hou Liu endured the intense pain, his forehead pressed to the ground: “Y-Your Excellency, this subordinate has a plan to break Chang Sheng Village!”

“Speak!”

Blood Fiend suddenly turned around, seemingly very interested.

That kick just now had dislodged Hou Liu’s internal organs, and his vision was darkening in waves.

He bit his tongue to stay conscious: “Although that expert is stationed in the village, he doesn’t seem to care about the outside world, which is why this subordinate was able to escape with his life.”

“This subordinate boldly speculates that if this expert isn’t indifferent to the outside world, then he’s controlled by Chang Sheng Village and can’t leave. Either way, it’s our opportunity.”

“Opportunity?”

Blood Fiend narrowed his eyes.

“Your Excellency’s Divine Might is unmatched, so you naturally wouldn’t understand the way of survival for ants.”

Hou Liu fawned, “Chang Sheng Village and Nan Shu Village are densely populated. If we surround them without attacking, cutting off their supply lines…”

“Enough nonsense, this Lord wants fresh blood sacrifices!”

Blood Fiend interrupted sharply.

Perhaps it was due to his rapid increase in power, but Blood Fiend felt his temper becoming increasingly volatile, as if an uncontrollable rage was building within him.

Hou Liu hastily explained: “Mortals cannot endure hunger and thirst; someone is bound to risk leaving the village. At that time, we will wait for them, striking them dead with one blow! This will both weaken the village and avoid startling that… person.”

A sudden silence fell over the cave, broken only by the crackling of ghost fires.

Blood Fiend suddenly threw his head back and laughed wildly, the sound waves shaking loose碎 stones from the cave ceiling like rain.

“Excellent! What a brilliant strategy of boiling a frog slowly!”

Blood Fiend waved his large hand, his black iron gauntlets clashing with a metallic sound, “Give the order! Assemble all divisions, and surround Chang Sheng Village and Nan Shu Village like an iron barrel for this Lord!”

* * *

At this moment, besides Hou Liu, the trembling ones also included Rat Spirit and Rat Li Er.

“Lord Chuping, all mistakes are ours.”

“That dead monkey is too cunning; he even set up a Clone.”

“Lord Chuping, we are willing to atone for our sins by rendering meritorious service, and go all out to hunt down that stinking monkey.”

“…”

Seeing these two little rats so anxious they were about to cry, Lin Chuping slowly emerged from the Divine statue after finishing his Cultivation.

Yesterday, during his Cultivation, he had casually unleashed a bolt of Thunder Punishment, unaware that a demon cultivator had escaped afterward.

“Clone Technique?”

Lin Chuping felt a pang of envy.

Just a monkey demon that had only recently taken human form could possess the Divine Ability of a Clone, yet look at these human Martial Artists.

It was fine not to compare, but comparing them truly made him feel inferior.

Lin Chuping closed his eyes, then raised his hand towards the rat demon couple, and two points of incense value entered the two demons’ bodies respectively.

“This god already knows of this matter. You may go and rest.”

Rat Spirit and Rat Li felt as if they had received a great pardon, and retreated with profuse thanks.

After the two demons left, Lin Chuping stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the deep night outside the Immortal Cave, pondering inwardly.

Hou Liu’s escape from the Thunder Punishment greatly surprised Lin Chuping; it was the first time this Divine Ability had failed.

Well, mainly because he knew too little about the power system of this world.

Demons could actually Awaken Divine Abilities, so the question was: had the Four Demons under him Awakened, and what were their Divine Abilities?

Surely they didn’t have none, Lin Chuping felt a bit awkward at this thought.

Never mind, he had accepted snakes, insects, rats, and ants; if they were useless, then so be it. At worst, he would always carry them!

As for Blood Fiend, Lin Chuping didn’t have many thoughts; if Blood Fiend wanted to come, then he would fight!