Chapter 116: Capturing the Shadow Demon

Outside Wind Orchid Island, fifteen experts from the human and demon races, all at the Profound Entry stage, surrounded the four people—Li Tianzheng, Chen Yu, and the others—who had been preparing to leave one after another. From their formation, it was clear that they intended to capture them.

A cold glint flickered through Li Tianzheng’s eyes as he surveyed the experts surrounding them. In a deep voice, he asked, “Gentlemen, what exactly do you intend by surrounding us so aggressively?”

Among the crowd, a deeply wrinkled old man studied the four of them for a moment before speaking in a harsh, hoarse voice. “We are elders representing the various forces of the seventy-two islands under the rule of the Three Sages of the Azure Sea and Jade Heaven. We have stopped you here today to confirm one matter. Have you seen this human martial artist?”

As he spoke, the old man took a scroll from an associate beside him and unfurled it, revealing the image to Li Tianzheng and the others.

“Have you ever seen this man? He is a wanted criminal being hunted throughout the Azure Sea and Jade Heaven. He is exceedingly dangerous. According to reliable information, he is actually a manifestation of the Soulless Shadow Demon from beyond the realm. Several powerful experts have already had their souls devoured by him. If any of you know his whereabouts, we hope you will tell us truthfully.”

The old man’s sharp gaze swept over the four of them as he waited for their answer. Meanwhile, the experts of both races circulated their inner power, ready to prevent the four from escaping.

Chen Yu’s expression was ugly, though inwardly he continued to sneer. Just moments ago, Zhuang Jinlian had secretly transmitted a message to him, telling him that the man in the portrait was named Leng Tian. He had entered the Ancient World together with her and had a close relationship with Li Tianzheng and the others.

Thus, Chen Yu was waiting to see how Li Tianzheng and his companion would respond. If they denied knowing Leng Tian, he would expose them and reveal that they had obtained the divine spring. Since he could not have it, no one else would get it either.

Wang Mang wore his usual smile. His brows twitched as he glanced at Chen Yu and Zhuang Jinlian, especially the latter. Killing intent had already arisen in his heart.

As the steward of Barbarian City, Wang Mang knew all too well what Zhuang Jinlian had done in the past. In the Ancient World, she had nearly ruined his great plan. Now she had become entangled with Chen Yu, and had clearly fallen out with Tyrant Dragon. Had Tyrant Dragon not intervened, she might well have destroyed the entire operation.

Wang Mang had already decided that once they left the Ancient World, he would kill her no matter what. Yet the killing intent spreading through his heart did not show on his face. Instead, he smiled and spoke before Li Tianzheng could answer.

“We do know this man, but we have not seen him since entering this realm. As for where he is now, we have no idea.”

“According to you, he came from the outside world together with you?” asked a blue-robed middle-aged man suspiciously.

“That is correct. We have some acquaintance with him, but we never discovered that he was a Soulless Shadow Demon. You must have been deceived. I can guarantee that he absolutely is not a manifestation of a shadow demon.”

Wang Mang’s tone was firm. Although he had only met Leng Tian a few times, he would never believe that Leng Tian was a manifestation of a Soulless Shadow Demon from beyond the realm. He had personally witnessed Leng Tian act twice, and what he had seen was simply beyond the ability of a shadow demon. Inwardly, he felt nothing but contempt for these people’s blind pursuit.

“He is telling the truth. I can guarantee that this man is not disguised as a shadow demon. You have certainly been misled by someone. Investigate the matter thoroughly before making a decision. Acting recklessly will only make you a laughingstock.”

Li Tianzheng’s face was gloomy, and his calm voice was filled with disdain. He found it hard to believe that these people could be so foolish. They had never even met Leng Tian, yet they had rashly declared him a shadow demon. Had their leaders damaged their brains through cultivation?

“What are you, to dare question our island master? There is no need to waste words with them. Capture all four of them at once. Once they are in our hands, they will have no choice but to reveal this man’s whereabouts.”

The blue-robed middle-aged man was speaking again. He was one of the leaders representing Flame Island in this operation. Hearing Li Tianzheng question the reliability of Flame Island’s information, he flew into a rage and was about to order everyone to attack.

“Go!”

The instant the word left Li Tianzheng’s mouth, the great spear in his hand swept outward. An unrivaled crescent-shaped blade of light instantly forced back the people before him. He and Wang Mang then mounted beams of escaping light and shot away, covering a hundred yards in only a few flashes.

“Jinlian, follow me!”

Chen Yu’s sword danced, forming a vast web of sword light that swept toward the several people in front of him. At the same time, Zhuang Jinlian waved her hand and released a cloud of smoke.

“What is this?”

Chen Yu did not understand why Zhuang Jinlian had released the smoke. It obstructed his vision, and it also carried an indescribable scent.

“Brother Yu, this is my specially formulated Essence-Slowing Powder. It can temporarily slow the circulation and release of true essence. In consideration of the way I have served you these past few days, please stay behind and cover my retreat!”

Zhuang Jinlian giggled coquettishly. A jade palm flashed like lightning and struck Chen Yu in the chest, sending him flying backward. Using the force of the blow, she shot out of the encirclement herself. Her speed was so astonishing that she was no slower than Li Tianzheng and Wang Mang.

“You shameless wretch! How dare you ambush me?”

Chen Yu’s face twisted viciously as he retreated. The true essence within his body had already begun circulating sluggishly, making escape virtually impossible.

“I’ll kill you!”

His furious roar accompanied him as he plunged from the sky toward the sea below.

Several experts from the seventy-two islands had also been caught by the powder. Unable to maintain the circulation of their true essence, they fell from the air one after another.

“What a vicious woman. Go after the two in front. Leave these two to their fate!”

The wrinkled old man glanced at Chen Yu, who had crashed onto the ice, then looked at Zhuang Jinlian, who had already fled several hundred yards away. A mocking smile touched his face as he gave the order.

In truth, the old man had also inhaled the Essence-Slowing Powder, yet he remained unharmed. He possessed a similar medicine capable of temporarily slowing the circulation of a martial artist’s true essence, though its effects were far stronger than Zhuang Jinlian’s. A drug of this level could not make him lose control of his true essence. The moment he inhaled it, he had already taken an antidote of his own preparation.

“Elder Liu, are we really going to let them leave?”

A sallow-faced young man looked unwillingly at Chen Yu, who had already begun to recover.

“Only those two know the shadow demon’s whereabouts. Let them go. Come, capture the two men in front first. Obtaining the shadow demon’s location is what matters.”

With a sweep of his broad sleeve, the wrinkled old man mounted a beam of escaping light and sped after Li Tianzheng and Wang Mang, leaving Chen Yu below.

After a short while, Chen Yu, who had been lying on the ice, gradually recovered control of his true essence. Fury blazed in his eyes. He stared at Zhuang Jinlian, who had fled into the distance, and let out a series of enraged roars. His bellowing echoed far across the vast sea.

Zhuang Jinlian, flying at full speed, seemed to sense something and looked back. She saw a white figure wrapped in astonishing momentum. Its speed was so great that, in the blink of an eye, it had drawn close to her. Once she recognized him, her beautiful face changed drastically, and she turned in terror and fled.

She had never imagined that Chen Yu would escape capture and pursue her instead. She had assumed that he would be seized by the experts of this realm. How could she have expected such an outcome?

“What should I do?”

Zhuang Jinlian’s thoughts raced as she searched for a way to escape. After considering every possibility, she realized that her only option was to flee—to escape the Azure Sea and Jade Heaven, leave the Ancient World, and return to Barbarian City. If Chen Yu dared pursue her there, the city lord would support her. Even ten Chen Yus would be no threat then.

Chen Yu’s eyes were bloodshot, and his hair and beard stood on end. The power within his body surged violently. He had become like a blazing meteor, carrying a murderous aura that seemed to fill the heavens. With each flash, he crossed a hundred yards.

Chen Yu’s origins were mysterious. Even after spending so many days with him, Zhuang Jinlian still knew nothing of where he had come from. Whenever she touched upon the subject, Chen Yu would brush it aside vaguely without revealing the slightest information.

His cultivation was not much weaker than that of Li Tianzheng and Wang Mang, while his natural talent was even greater than theirs. Unfortunately, he was usually addicted to beautiful women and had neglected his cultivation badly. Had he cultivated diligently, his talent would likely have allowed him to step into the Transcendent Realm by now, and he would not have been suppressed by Li Tianzheng and Wang Mang.

Now that Zhuang Jinlian had deceived him, how could he let the matter go? He had sworn a vicious oath to skin her alive. Otherwise, there was no way to quell the fury in his heart.

One fled desperately ahead while the other pursued from behind with overwhelming killing intent. In the blink of an eye, both had vanished from sight.

More than a dozen experts from the sea region pursued Li Tianzheng and Wang Mang. Across the boundless sea and open sky, beams of escaping light in every color streaked across the heavens like meteors chasing one another, vanishing into the distance one after another.

In the sea region several dozen kilometers from Wind Orchid Island, the ice exploded with a thunderous roar. A white-gold figure shot out from beneath it and came to a halt in midair. Blinding white-gold energy surrounded his body, and his formidable aura was momentarily unrivaled.

Leng Tian hovered in the air and drew in a deep breath of the fresh, cold air. Gazing across the snow-covered sea, he felt incomparably at ease. His strength had finally entered the ranks of the powerful. Once he returned to the Scarlet Peak Continent, he would be able to lead Huo Wu and the others in carving out a place for themselves.

Just then, he sensed several powerful auras flying toward him. Before he could even turn around, a coarse voice rang out.

“Which force do you belong to? Turn around and let us verify your identity!”

Leng Tian was puzzled, but without thinking further, he turned around. Three extravagantly dressed young men stood before him. All three were at the mid-stage of the Profound Entry Realm. Their expressions were arrogant and haughty as they examined him warily.

The instant the three men saw Leng Tian’s face, they froze. Then their expressions changed drastically, and they retreated while crying out in alarm.

“It’s him—the Soulless Shadow Demon!”

“Notify everyone immediately! We’ve found the shadow demon. Tell them to come at once!”

“We have to hold him here. Don’t let him escape!”

After recognizing Leng Tian, the three men appeared flustered as they hurriedly made their decisions.

“Boss, when did I become famous? Why does everyone shout ‘shadow demon’ the moment they see me? What exactly is going on?”

Leng Tian was utterly bewildered. Not understanding why the three men were behaving this way, he asked, “Have the three of you mistaken me for someone else? I am not the so-called shadow demon you mentioned.”

Martial Dao’s Ultimate Edge, Volume 116: Chapter 116, The Capture of the Shadow Demon — Update Complete!