138: You've been tricked.

Deng Zhong was no ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator; he had received Deng Qingyang's true 傳, making him almost invincible among Cultivators of the same stage in Sanxian City.

After entering the Mu Hua Spiritual Vein, his Divine Sense spread out, rapidly surging into the intricate network of mine tunnels and locking onto the most severely damaged part of the Spiritual Vein.

[Remember this site's domain name: Read good Taiwanese books on Chao Sheng Xin]

And that place was directly above where Fang Huai was undergoing his Foundation Establishment Breakthrough.

"Everyone, follow me!"

Deng Zhong roared, heading straight for Fang Huai's hiding spot.

Sensing Deng Zhong's approach, Wang Teng released surging Devilish Qi, filling the nearby tunnels in an attempt to mislead Deng Zhong.

At the same time, he burrowed underground.

Wang Teng saw Fang Huai's appearance and exclaimed in surprise, "What happened to Father?"

Li Zhu explained, "It's nothing, just absorbed too much earth Qi; he needs time to slowly digest it."

Wang Teng became anxious, "A formidable fellow has arrived. With our combined strength, we can't possibly defeat him. How should we deal with this?"

Li Zhu gritted her teeth, "Let's go, we'll go up and lure this guy away. We can't let him harm Brother."

...Deng Zhong stopped abruptly halfway through his journey.

The Cultivator behind him, seeing him halt, tentatively asked, "Immortal Master, is there something wrong?"

Deng Zhong didn't speak; he suddenly grabbed the man and threw him forward.

"Immortal Master!"

The man cried out, wanting to stop, but he couldn't control his body due to Deng Zhong's method.

"Whoosh—"

Surging Devilish Qi burst from the narrow tunnel, instantly engulfing the man.

Immediately, the man's screams and gruesome chewing sounds emerged from within the Devilish Qi.

The other Cultivator following Deng Zhong was alarmed by this and quietly retreated, but then heard Deng Zhong say, "If you dare to run, I'll kill you right now."

Deng Zhong formed hand seals, and his fierce Protective Aura dispersed most of the Devilish Qi. Looking at Wang Teng, who was gradually revealing himself, he sneered:

"What a Foundation Establishment Devil Head. Where is your master, and why are you forcibly taking the earth Qi here?"

Wang Teng laughed maniacally, "You? You're not worthy of knowing my master's name. Why don't you go take a piss and look at yourself?"

With that, he spat out violent poisonous fiendish energy, surging directly towards Deng Zhong.

"Spirit Light Shield!"

Deng Zhong manifested a Spirit Light Shield with his right hand. The poisonous fiendish energy sprayed onto it, causing the spiritual light to sizzle and corrode.

"Adamantite Sword Art!"

He summoned a spirit sword with his left hand, its sword light transforming into a cold gleam, shooting directly at Wang Teng.

Sensing the power contained within the sword light, Wang Teng immediately dodged.

"Bang—"

The sword light grazed his head, collapsing the tunnel behind him.

And because he was tainted by the Protective Aura on the sword light, the skin on his head sizzled and burned.

Wang Teng immediately turned around and fled into a tunnel opposite Fang Huai's location.

As he fled, he cursed, "You useless piece of trash, a Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, yet your Spell's power is so low. Your immortal Dao must have gone to the dogs."

Although he was in great pain, his objective had been achieved.

Deng Zhong's sword light had collapsed the tunnel leading to Fang Huai's location, and his current task was to lure Deng Zhong away.

Deng Zhong did not pursue, sneering, "What a loyal dog protecting its master, but your little cleverness can't fool me."

With that, he flicked his finger again, instantly blasting open the collapsed tunnel.

Upon entering the tunnel, he found that the path ahead split into three forks, and deep within each fork, there was the aura of a Yao Beast.

Spreading his Divine Thought, he discovered that the Spiritual Veins in all three forks were damaged to varying degrees.

Deep within the most severely damaged fork, there was a small Formation leading directly underground.

Deng Zhong sneered and proceeded down another tunnel. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and returned to the bifurcation.

This time, he headed in the direction of the tunnel where the Spiritual Vein was most severely damaged.

Just then, he sensed a pair of malicious demonic eyes quietly approaching; it was none other than Demon Lord Wang Teng.

"Devil Head, you've exposed your master's location!"

Deng Zhong said, and several sword lights cleaved towards Wang Teng's location.

Wang Teng couldn't dodge in time and ultimately took a sword hit, immediately letting out a sorrowful wail.

But the heavily injured Wang Teng did not flee; instead, his eyes turned bloodshot, and he pounced towards Deng Zhong.

"Still protecting your master, huh? Chaotic Sword Dance!"

Five spirit swords rose from Deng Zhong's back. The spirit swords, as if alive, twisted and attacked Wang Teng.

"Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish!"

The already injured Wang Teng couldn't dodge in time, and five spirit swords simultaneously pierced his head.

"Father..."

Wang Teng fell to the ground, mumbling, his Devilish Qi gradually dissipating.

"The demonic Cultivator who stole the earth Qi is in this tunnel. Follow me!"

Deng Zhong grabbed the nearby Cultivator and quickly rushed into the depths of the tunnel.

The deeper they went, the more severe the tunnel collapse became. Deng Zhong had to use Spells to blast open the giant rocks blocking their way.

The more this happened, the more certain Deng Zhong became that the demonic Cultivator was indeed hidden here.

Finally, Deng Zhong reached the end of the tunnel.

"Are you coming out yourself, or should I invite you out?" Deng Zhong transmitted his voice underground.

Seeing no response, a cruel expression appeared on his face.

"Blazing Fire Sword!"

The spirit sword in Deng Zhong's hand plunged directly into the ground. Raging crimson flames rose from the spirit sword, instantly drilling into the earth.

The temperature in the tunnel instantly soared, showing the immense power of this Blazing Fire Sword.

"Get out here!"

Deng Zhong waited for a moment, and seeing no reaction from underground, he immediately panicked and used the Blazing Fire Sword again.

Could it be that he ran away?

Deng Zhong was alarmed. If this demonic Cultivator escaped, his standing in Deng Qingyang's heart would plummet.

"Earth-Splitting Fist!"

Deng Zhong gathered all his spiritual power into his right fist and struck the ground with all his might.

Violent spiritual power surged into the ground, causing the entire surface to crack into countless fissures. Then, dust flew up, creating a huge pit.

Just then, a huge Yao Beast body burning with spiritual flames leaped out of the pit, pouncing directly at him.

This Yao Beast body was Li Zhu. To impersonate Fang Huai, she endured the scorching pain of the spiritual flames, using her ability to conceal herself to desperately hold on underground.

Deng Zhong had just used a highly spiritual-power-consuming technique, so being ambushed by Li Zhu at such close range would surely injure him.

His eyes flickered. He drew the Cultivator next to him into his palm and threw him directly at Li Zhu.

"Rip—"

Li Zhu's sharp claws instantly tore the Cultivator's body apart. The Cultivator didn't even have time to scream before he died.

Li Zhu jumped to the side and roared into the depths of the pit, "The opponent is a Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator. I'll hold him off; Master, escape quickly!"

"Hold me off? You're not worthy!"

Deng Zhong flew forward. Seeing Li Zhu blocking him, he unleashed Sword Qi towards her.

Li Zhu dodged sideways, but how could her speed match that of a Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator?

Violent spiritual power, mixed with Protective Aura, directly pierced through her.

Li Zhu screamed, struggling with her last bit of strength, and fled towards the exit.

Deng Zhong did not waste time pursuing and immediately leaped into the pit.

Below the pit were several newly dug 岔道, each containing dozens of origami Yao Beasts burning with spiritual flames.

Although these Yao Beasts had low cultivation, their large numbers and fearless nature indeed caused him a lot of trouble.

After killing all the origami Yao Beasts, Deng Zhong finally realized that all the 岔路 were dead ends, and no demonic Cultivator was lurking within them.

"Damn fox demon, I'll kill you!"

Deng Zhong belatedly realized he had been played. His eyes turned bloodshot, and he furiously chased after Li Zhu's aura.

Finally, at the end of the 岔道, Deng Zhong found the dying Li Zhu.

Deng Zhong angrily said, "I'll give you one last chance. Where exactly is your master?"

Li Zhu's mouth foamed with blood, but her face held a defiant smile: "Do you think you're very clever? Do you think you've calculated every step?"

Hehehehe, what a clever fool, you've been played.

You want to know my master's whereabouts? In your next life!"

"Die!"

Deng Zhong raised his spirit sword, about to bring it down. Just then, a powerful Spiritual Pressure mixed with an eerie aura spread throughout the entire tunnel.

"Stop, and then commit suicide. I might consider granting you Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!"