Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Blood Nightmare Demon Cocoon

Xiao Ye walked in carrying a Sword Box. He paused for a moment when he saw Wen Qianqian, then scratched his head and smiled. "Brother Fang, my apologies. It seems I’ve come at a bad time..."

Fang Cheng waved his hand to show it was no bother and poured Xiao Ye a cup of tea in a white jade cup.

Xiao Ye offered the Sword Box, saying, "Brother Fang, I heard you’ll be leaving in a couple of days. I found a Flying Sword to give you as a parting gift. Thank you so much for your guidance during this time!"

"You’re willing to part with a sword?"

Fang Cheng had gotten along well with him lately and had grown accustomed to receiving various gifts from the Xiao Family. But he knew how much Xiao Ye loved Sword Techniques; logically, a Flying Sword would be the last thing he’d give away.

Curious, he didn’t stand on ceremony and took the Sword Box, opening it right away.

Inside the Sword Box, a dazzling Flying Sword that looked as if it were forged from purple lightning instantly caught his eye!

Beside him, Wen Qianqian gasped, "A First-grade top-quality flying sword!"

Xiao Ye nodded. "This sword is called Purple Brilliance. It was forged from Thunderfall Iron, and its power is comparable to an ordinary Tier Two Flying Sword..."

Fang Cheng took out the Purple Brilliance Flying Sword and examined it closely. Though he already possessed the Cold Wave Radiance Sword, this Purple Brilliance Sword was in no way inferior!

If this Flying Sword were sold at a market, it would likely fetch no less than seven or eight thousand Spirit Stones.

This parting gift from Xiao Ye was far too extravagant!

"Xiaoxiao, this sword is too valuable. I am unworthy of such a gift," Fang Cheng said, unable to put the Purple Brilliance Sword down as he admired it.

’Maybe I should use the time before I leave to give the boy some more pointers on his Sword Technique.’

Xiao Ye said with a serious expression, "Brother Fang, this sword is just a small token of my appreciation. We have a long road ahead of us. In the future, just don’t forget your little brother."

As they were talking, Fang Cheng noticed a faint, bloody glint flash across the Flying Sword.

He was just about to ask the young man about it when a deafening BOOM echoed from the valley!

A bloody light filled the sky. A crimson halo shone from the distance, casting a ghastly red glow on the faces of the three people inside the Cyan Bamboo Study.

Stunned, Fang Cheng felt a growing sense of unease.

Wen Qianqian’s beautiful eyes stared into the distance, her face paling in horror. "That’s the direction of the Sealing Array! Why has another Grand Array activated?!"

At that very moment, the youth from the Xiao Family made his move.

He formed a strange Seal Technique with his hands and chanted a bizarre incantation, instantly triggering the bloody glint on the Purple Brilliance Flying Sword!

The bloody light expanded in a flash, enveloping both him and Wen Qianqian without giving Fang Cheng the slightest chance to struggle or evade.

A small Array appeared beneath the bloody light, rotating slowly. It seemed to connect with a surging, boundless presence from within the valley.

The bloody light slowly contracted, taking the shape of a heart, or perhaps a blood cocoon, trapping Fang Cheng and Wen Qianqian inside.

The vital blood in Fang Cheng’s body began to rage, uncontrollably trying to surge out of him. He hurriedly circulated his Magical Power to suppress the unnatural disturbance.

The same was happening to Wen Qianqian. The delicate woman could barely fend for herself; her snow-white skin had turned a deep crimson. She had no choice but to sit cross-legged on the spot, desperately circulating her Magical Power to resist the strange force.

With a mere thought, Fang Cheng’s Cold Wave Radiance Sword shot out from his sleeve. It transformed into a brilliant flash of light and viciously slashed at the bloody barrier, but an immense force bound it, freezing it in place within the crimson glow.

The Purple Brilliance Sword in his hand, however, was not affected. With a simple gesture from the Xiao Family youth, it flew back into his grasp.

Then, they heard Xiao Ye laugh. "Brother Fang, I borrowed this Purple Brilliance Sword from my family’s Treasure Vault, so I can’t really give it to you. My true parting gift is this Blood Nightmare Demon Cocoon right here."

Ever since he had met the Xiao Family youth, Fang Cheng had never heard him speak in such a tone. It was as if he were a completely different person.

The youth’s still-immature face twisted into a sinister sneer that was utterly at odds with his age.

Fang Cheng’s voice was grave. "Aren’t you afraid the Yinluo Sect’s Elders will find out?"

The youth curled his lip in a sneer. "Right now, everyone from the Yinluo Sect in this valley is trapped in a Blood Nightmare Demon Cocoon. You tell me, should I be afraid?"

Fang Cheng was naturally skeptical. "I doubt that. You might be able to trap four Outer Elders, but can you really trap Elder Feng and Senior Brother Gao Chong?"

A mocking expression appeared on the youth’s face as he sneered, "The Xiao Family, on its own, certainly could not. But what if we were to add that Nightmare Demon to the equation?"

Fang Cheng’s expression darkened.

The youth seemed to have been acting for so long that, upon reverting to his true self, he was in a talkative mood. He continued, "It’s a shame I couldn’t get all of your insights on Sword Technique... In less time than it takes an incense stick to burn, this Blood Nightmare Demon Cocoon will refine you both into Blood Bodhis. Once I refine those two Blood Bodhis, my strength will soar, and reaching the Life Talisman realm in the future will be a real possibility."

"With the Xiao Family’s power, how could you have orchestrated such a scheme?" Fang Cheng asked coldly, a quiet fury burning in his eyes.

The youth shrugged. "That’s not something you need to worry about. And don’t hold out any hope. Every single Blood Nightmare Demon Cocoon in this valley is linked to your Sealing Array. By borrowing the Nightmare Demon’s power, the Array has been reversed. No matter how strong Elder Feng and Gao Chong are, they won’t be able to break free. Besides, *that person’s* cultivation is hardly inferior to theirs."

Fang Cheng asked, "What is it you’re really after?"

The youth looked at Fang Cheng with amusement, remarking with surprise, "On the verge of death, and you show no fear? You truly live up to your reputation as a master who has achieved Sword Heart Clarity!"

Perhaps because he was certain Fang Cheng would die today, he confessed openly, "There’s no harm in telling you. The Xiao Family is going to use all of you as fodder to cultivate a new generation of Life Talisman Masters and bolster our family’s foundation. By the time the Yinluo Sect realizes something is wrong here, we will have already escaped through the subterranean river."

"This time, we’re taking back what the Yinluo Sect owes the Xiao Family—with interest."

"Soon enough, all the Yinluo Sect will find is an escaped Third-stage Nightmare Demon!"

’Someone is plotting against the Yinluo Sect!’

After hearing the youth’s explanation, a horrifying thought surfaced in Fang Cheng’s mind.

’Within Yun Country, someone actually dares to scheme against the Yinluo Sect?!’

’Who could be so audacious?’

’And who could possess such power?’

He sighed to himself, sensing that something monumental was about to happen.

’Right now, I need to focus on escaping!’

With but a thought, sixteen layers of the Li Hen Demon Light materialized around him.

The layers of Demonic Light, ethereal as flames, bloomed silently and made contact with the Blood Nightmare Demon Cocoon.

The bizarre force that had been pulling at his vital blood instantly vanished.

The next moment!

A faint golden light appeared on the surface of his body, and a golden rune resembling a flame pattern materialized on his chest.

His body suddenly swelled, and his frame shot up three feet out of nowhere. His robes were instantly torn apart, revealing hard, chiseled muscles that looked as if they were forged from steel.

His muscles bulged and knotted, his arms now a size thicker than before, outlining a physique that radiated an unparalleled, explosive power!

At this moment, his skin had taken on a pale golden hue. On his chest, over thirty flame-like Talismans converged into a pattern resembling a roaring blaze. As the Celestial Fire True Talisman pulsed, it devoured the unseen celestial fire that fell from the void.

A vast, mighty power surged through his body, his to command at will. Fang Cheng couldn’t resist clenching his fist and throwing a punch.

BOOM!

Ripples spread across the surface of the Blood Nightmare Demon Cocoon, and countless bizarre runes flickered into view upon it.

...