Yuxing Lake.
“Take the man away.” Li Feng waved his hand, signalling Tian Lang to take the bespectacled middle-aged man downstairs. Then he said to Ge Feng and Ge Ying, “It seems that to get to the bottom of this matter, we need to go to Su City.”
“Yes, that box was transported from Su City. We can only investigate there. However, Li Feng, if we go to investigate, we might alert the enemy.” Ge Feng said.
“Alert the enemy?” Li Feng was taken aback.
“Exactly. Although the people from Hongmen do not know the secret of that ring, the jade alone is worth a fortune. With those items, Hongmen will be on high alert. If we openly investigate the ring’s origins in Su City, it could easily arouse their suspicion.” Ge Feng explained.
“It seems we can only investigate covertly.” Li Feng nodded, understanding Ge Feng’s point. The Hongmen people did not know the ring was a spatial ring, but if his group made a big fuss investigating in Su City, it would likely draw Hongmen’s attention. They would wonder why the sudden interest and might suspect something about the ring. That would outweigh the gains.
Moreover, after tonight’s events, he needed to guard against a second wave of retaliation from Hongmen. The Fist King Championship was approaching, so he probably would not have time to go to Su City before then.
“Tian Lang, what did you find at Yuxing Lake?” Li Feng asked the returning Tian Lang.
“Young Master Feng, we only found over twenty million in cash and some gold, silver, and jewellery in the safe.” Tian Lang replied.
“Distribute the cash among the brothers later.” Li Feng said, then addressed everyone, “We return to Tianya Pavilion now.”
“Yes.” Mu Jiajia, Ge Feng, Ge Ying, and the others responded.
“Young Master Feng, Young Master Feng…” At that moment, a Black Hawk Team member rushed out hurriedly.
“What is it?” Li Feng asked.
“Young Master Feng, we discovered a basement. There, there…” The Black Hawk Team member looked terrified.
“Let’s go see.” Li Feng exchanged glances with the others and said to the team member.
The group followed him to the rear courtyard of Yuxing Lake. Two Eagle Eye elites were already there, their expressions mirroring the team member’s fear.
“Where is the basement?” Li Feng asked gravely. Every member of his Black Hawk Team had been baptised in battle. For something to unnerve them, it could not be ordinary.
“Young Master Feng, over in that corner.” The team member pointed to a dark corner nearby.
Only then did Li Feng notice a small door in the pitch-black corner.
“I’ll go check what is in this basement.” Ge Ying said, walking towards the small door.
But before she reached it, Li Feng pulled her back. “Ge Ying, you cannot go.”
“Why? Is there danger in the basement?” Ge Ying looked at Li Feng puzzled.
“There is no danger, but the things inside are too disgusting. It is better you do not look.” Li Feng said, his face somewhat solemn. He had already scanned the basement with his divine sense and knew exactly what was there.
“Disgusting? I am not afraid of that.” Ge Ying smiled and ran towards the basement.
Li Feng tried to stop her but failed, shaking his head with a wry smile. Ge Ying was curious about everything. Soon she would regret it.
Sure enough, Ge Ying ran out pale-faced, squatting on the ground and vomiting.
“Li Feng, this…” Ge Feng looked at Ge Ying worriedly and asked Li Feng.
“Do not worry. Ge Ying just saw something revolting. She will be fine after vomiting.” Li Feng said.
“Really?” Ge Feng was puzzled. Ge Ying was now at the fifth level acquired stage. What had she not seen? How could she react like this?
“Ge Feng, come with me and you will understand.” Li Feng said to him.
“Alright.” Ge Feng nodded.
“Mu Jiajia, take care of Ge Ying.” Li Feng instructed Mu Jiajia, then led Ge Feng towards the basement.
Ge Feng followed curiously.
Entering the basement, Li Feng was prepared and remained composed. Ge Feng was different. Upon seeing the scene, he immediately dry-heaved.
“Ge Feng, are you alright?” Li Feng asked with concern.
“I am fine.” Ge Feng took a deep breath, looked up at the scene, and said in shock, “This is blood sacrifice. Who is so inhumane as to use blood sacrifice in Tianhai City?”
“Blood sacrifice?” Li Feng was stunned. The basement contained over a dozen grotesquely mutilated corpses. Corpses alone would be nothing. Everyone here, including the Black Hawk Team, had killed before, sometimes leaving no remains. But these corpses were different. Not only were they bizarrely deformed, their blood had been drained. The floor was covered in dried blood. Moreover, various venomous insects were gnawing at the bodies. The scene was as nauseating as it could be.
“Yes, blood sacrifice. This is an evil technique, a method used by the demonic path to advance cultivation. I never expected someone at Yuxing Lake to use the blood sacrifice array. Since when has Hongmen been connected to those demonic cultivators?” Ge Feng said with some apprehension.
Li Feng’s heart tightened. He thought of Du Wu’s blood refining array in Kunyang Town. Perhaps that was also a form of blood sacrifice. Though different from this one, Li Feng felt there must be a connection.
But who in Tianhai City’s Hongmen was using blood sacrifice for cultivation? He would have to ask Blood Shadow later. Perhaps he knew.
Wait.
At this thought, Li Feng frowned. He recalled fighting Blood Shadow at Tianfu Tower. Though Blood Shadow was an innate expert, his aura had been unstable.
Could Blood Shadow have used the blood sacrifice method to elevate his strength? If so, he had only recently broken through to the innate realm.
Li Feng recalled the Shadow Tower intelligence. It stated Blood Shadow was at half-step innate. If he had just advanced, the intelligence was accurate. Even the omnipotent Shadow Tower could not know instantly.
Thus, it was highly likely Blood Shadow had used blood sacrifice to reach the innate realm.
Thinking this, Li Feng somewhat regretted using the divine control technique on Blood Shadow. After all, blood sacrifice was an inhumane evil art. Using it meant Blood Shadow’s future achievements would be limited.
But on second thought, Li Feng felt he was overthinking. At Tianfu Tower, controlling Blood Shadow with the divine technique was probably the only way to handle him. Moreover, so what if Blood Shadow used blood sacrifice to break through, or if it was an evil art? He could simply stop using it.
For now, Blood Shadow was an innate expert, very useful to him. Even if blood sacrifice affected his future cultivation, it was no big deal. He could decide later.
“Li Feng, Li Feng…”
Ge Feng’s voice roused Li Feng from his thoughts.
“Ge Feng, what is it?” Li Feng asked.
“What were you thinking about?” Ge Feng asked.
“I was wondering who is using this blood sacrifice method. Also, Ge Feng, who are these demonic path people you mentioned?” Li Feng asked.
“Demonic path…” Ge Feng shook his head. “I do not know much about them, but because they have inhumane methods like blood sacrifice to advance cultivation, the demonic path has many experts.”
“Let us go. We have never dealt with demonic path people. There is no need to offend them over this blood sacrifice.” Li Feng said, turning to leave the basement. He was almost certain Blood Shadow was using it. To learn the origins of Blood Shadow’s method, he could simply ask him later.
But as he told Ge Feng, he truly did not want any involvement with the so-called demonic path.
Leaving the basement, Li Feng said to a nearby Black Hawk Team member, “Handle the basement situation. Remember, let no one know. Do not mention the basement to anyone.”
“Yes.”
Li Feng went to Ge Ying and asked, “Ge Ying, how are you feeling? Any better?”
Ge Ying shook her head. Her face was still pale. She was, after all, a girl. Even though she had trained in forbidden places like the Hundred Thousand Mountains and killed before, this was her first time seeing such a horrific scene.
“I told you not to go in, but you insisted.” Li Feng did not know how to comfort her. She would have to adapt on her own.
Half an hour later, Li Feng returned to Tianya Pavilion with Mu Jiajia, Ge Feng, and Ge Ying.
Though Zhu Yuanyang had occupied Tianya Pavilion, he had not stationed anyone there. When his men went to the back door of Tianfu Tower to intercept Li Feng’s breakout, no one was left guarding Tianya Pavilion. Naturally, it reverted to Li Feng’s control.
“Ge Feng, Ge Ying, go back and treat your injuries.” Li Feng said to them.
Ge Feng and Ge Ying nodded and returned to their rooms. Their injuries were severe and needed urgent treatment. Without their high strength and the vital blood pills, they might not have held on.
Li Feng took Mu Jiajia to a conference room.
“Young Master.” Zhong Shuhui stood up upon seeing Li Feng enter.
“Has everyone returned now?” Li Feng asked.
“They have all returned.” Zhong Shuhui nodded.
“How were our casualties tonight?” Li Feng asked gravely.
“Three Black Hawk Team members and five Eagle Eye elites died. Almost everyone else is injured. Six with serious wounds have been sent to hospital.” Zhong Shuhui replied.
Li Feng’s expression darkened. He had not expected such heavy losses, especially three Black Hawk Team members. Those were three martial artists. Losing even one pained him, let alone three.
“Where is Song Zhiyuan now?” Li Feng asked.
