THE MISERY INSIDE 1-3

1257 - The Misery Inside_1

"Insolent! What are you! How dare you be so brazen to our Holy Lord!" The Temple of Shadows Hall Master immediately stepped forward and berated Luo Qufeng coldly.

It was the first time that Ye Qingtang found this ghostly-looking Hall Master adorable.

Luo Qufeng cast the Temple of Shadows Hall Master a cold look and snickered. "I am not talking to you."

Afterward, Luo Qufeng's eyes landed on Ye Qingtang, and he smiled. "Are you unwilling to give me this honor, Holy Lord? Since you're unwilling to make a move, don't blame me for being impolite then."

Luo Qufeng took a step forward immediately as a red gleam floated around his body.

"How audacious!" The Temple of Shadows Hall Master's eyes sharpened, and his ash skeleton hand violently punched at Luo Qufeng.

Unfazed, Luo Qufeng struck his palm out, which met with the Hall Master's.

An explosive sound rang the moment both palms crashed into each other.

Ye Qingtang almost waved a banner and cheered for the Temple of Shadows Hall Master.

However...

In the next second, the Temple of Shadows Hall Master was staggered backward, and his expression changed.

"..." Ye Qingtang was silent.

Her heart shattered once again.

Although the Temple of Shadows Hall Master was powerful, Luo Qufeng was even more formidable.

They could not win against him!!

"How dare you clamor before me? I am not interested in wasting my time with you." Luo Qufeng shot a belittling look at the Hall Master and scoffed.

"Holy Lord, this person is disrespectful, and I am ashamed that I am not powerful enough. Please do make a move." Knowing that he was not Luo Qufeng's opponent, the Hall Master suddenly turned to look at Ye Qingtang and kneeled down on one knee.

Ye Qingtang's heart was in crumbles, but she still maintained a composed expression.

Amongst the Undead Clan which she brought, the Hall Master was the most powerful one, but he still could not defeat Luo Qufeng...

Luo Qufeng did not sense Ye Qingtang's thoughts at all. A sneer hung on his lips as he looked at Ye Qingtang's indifferent behavior as though she had never paid any attention to him.

"Holy Lord, your dog is nothing much."

"You!" The Hall Master shouted furiously.

At this instant, the attention of all the guests was focused on Ye Qingtang.

In the ambush that the Luo Family laid today, Suo Mu and Hong Zhong were already defeated, and the only person who could control Luo Qufeng now was only the Holy Lord of Shadows!

As everyone looked at Ye Qingtang's collected behavior, hope seemed to arise in their hearts.

The Holy Lord of Shadows was extremely powerful, and perhaps she could conquer Luo Qufeng!

Everyone's eyes were burning with excitement. Luo Qufeng was just right in the corner. If Ye Qingtang was not wearing layers right now, the cold sweat on her back would already have seeped through.

Fleeing meant death, and so did fighting as well... The difference was only in the speed of death.

Seeing that it was hard to get out of the situation, Ye Qingtang faked a casual chuckle immediately and finally stood up from that chair.

She did not utter a word and merely smiled while standing at where she was, but her detached aura was extraordinary.

The guests were brimming with hope when they saw that Ye Qingtang finally moved.

"Is the Holy Lord of Shadows finally going to make a move?" People asked expectantly.

The extraordinary skills that the Holy Lord of Shadows displayed in the war against the Second Domain was still fresh in one's mind. Even if she disappeared for thousands of years, no one dared to doubt her skills.

Currently, Ye Qingtang was the center of attention and the hope of everyone present.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

1258 - The Misery Inside_2

However...

Kill Luo Qufeng?

Haha...

That was thinking too much.

If possible, Ye Qingtang would definitely be the one who fled the fastest.

Unfortunately...

She had no choice.

However indignant she was deep down, she still had to pretend to be elegant and calm on the outside; Ye Qingtang was truly in misery.

"Are you willing to enlighten me now, Holy Lord?" A look of deviousness darted across Luo Qufeng's eyes. He could no longer wait to absorb the strong powers of the Holy Lord of Shadows for his own use.

Ye Qingtang looked at the ambitious Luo Qufeng indifferently and said casually, "There's no need for any flashy moves. Show me your most powerful move. I'll just play with you."

Ye Qingtang's calm tone and words astonished many.

The Holy Lord of Shadows actually told Luo Qufeng to directly use his most powerful move. What kind of confidence was this?!

The guests were so exhilarated that they wanted to cheer her on.

Even more so, Luo Qufeng clearly felt the belittlement from the "Holy Lord of Shadows".

"Since Holy Lord has already said so, I will not dampen your spirits." A cold glint flashed across Luo Qufeng's eyes, and the red gleam around him intensified by more than ten times. The scarlet gleam exuded a suffocating aura such that even the surrounding air seemed to be distorted by his powers.

Ye Qingtang secretly held her breath and concentrated. Her heart reached her throat when she saw that Luo Qufeng's powers skyrocketed suddenly. Her hand that was hidden in her sleeves moved slightly, and no one discovered her subtle actions with the concealment of her wide sleeves.

A wild wind stirred up. The scarlet gleam around Luo Qufeng swayed like a raging blaze.

"In the war with the Second Domain thousands of years ago, I discovered a cultivation technique which could increase one's cultivation base greatly and even absorb the powers of others for their own use. Today, you shall try this cultivation technique that I cultivated for thousands of years!"

Luo Qufeng's face became twisted gradually, and his words stunned the guests.

No wonder Luo Qufeng's skills skyrocketed! It was because he obtained fragments of the Second Domain's cultivation technique thousands of years ago!

The might of the powerful figures in the Second Domain was truly astonishing.

In the next second, Luo Qufeng suddenly shouted coldly, and the red light around him instantly turned into an endless torrent that shot towards Ye Qingtang.

Every place that the red light passed by saw the ground shatter and slates crumble. Deafening roars pierced eardrums.

Under such a powerful might, everyone turned white. No one expected Luo Qufeng's killing move would be as frightening as such mass destruction!

However...

Ye Qingtang did not move an inch and remained at the same spot. The smile on her exquisite face remained, and there was no sign of panic.

The moment the torrent reached her, she suddenly raised her hand and waved slightly. Her wide sleeves moved like the flutter of a butterfly and swept at that devouring energy instantly!

Greed filled Luo Qufeng's eyes as though he could absorb the Holy Lord of Shadows's formidable powers immediately.

However, in his eagerness, the flap of Ye Qingtang's sleeves actually turned that destructive torrent into a stream of water before everyone's eyes!

Right before it could touch Ye Qingtang's sleeves, ripples of water could be heard, and glistening water spread across the ground.

Everyone was muddled for a moment.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

1259 - The Misery Inside_3

"What... What is going on? Why did Luo Qufeng's killing move... become a pool of water?"

Had they not witnessed it for themselves, no one would believe what just happened.

Everyone was aware of how frightening that move from Luo Qufeng was. Even powerful figures like Suo Mu and Hong Zhong would be shot dead instantly if they were hit.

However...

Ye Qingtang actually resolved this move so easily by just waving her sleeves gently?

Everyone was astounded.

While they were already very reverent towards the powers of the Holy Lord of Shadows, they were in full admiration of her skills after witnessing this unbelievable sight right now!

"What kind of skill is this, Holy Lord of Shadows? Why have I not heard of any skill that can produce such an effect?"

"Holy Lord of Shadows is indeed amazing. I wish to see what Luo Qufeng can still do now."

The guests almost cheered for Ye Qingtang.

Even the Temple of Shadows Hall Master was stunned by Ye Qingtang's godlike move.

Everyone was extremely delighted and respectful.

While Ye Qingtang who received the blow was drenched in a cold sweat.

What a freaking skill!

She had already secretly concealed the Mirror of Illusions in her sleeves earlier on. The Mirror of Illusions could resolve any attacks, and she had made this preparation when she provoked Luo Qufeng to execute his killing move.

No one smelled a rat since that Mirror of Illusions was hidden in her sleeves. Everyone only felt that the Holy Lord's move was unexplainable and that her skills were unfathomable.

Ye Qingtang knew that she was not Luo Qufeng's opponent; thus, she wanted to take a gamble using the Mirror of Illusions.

Suppressing her emotion, she looked at Luo Qufeng indifferently, and the smile on her face seemed to symbolize her disinterest.

Little did they know that...

She was really exhausted of abilities and only hoped that Luo Qufeng would be deceived by her move and not dare to act so brazenly.

Shock filled Luo Qufeng's face, but he returned to his normal expression moments later.

He was shocked by Ye Qingtang's move, but that did not eliminate his greed to absorb the powers of the Holy Lord of Shadows.

"Holy Lord is indeed amazing. I have truly broadened my horizons. However... I still wish to try again."

If not for the fact that she could not defeat Luo Qufeng, Ye Qingtang really wished to smash Luo Qufeng's head on the ground.

Had this fellow lost his mind from cultivating evil techniques?

He still dared to come again after her pretentious act just now?

Did he really think he was second to the Heavens?!

"Holy Lord, don't be courteous to this person! Kill him!" The oblivious guests cheered for Ye Qingtang to quickly deal with Luo Qufeng.

Ye Qingtang was filled with misery on the inside.

The use of the Mirror of Illusions was limited. It could no longer be used again after using it just now, and Ye Qingtang would not have the ability to receive Luo Qufeng's next move.

However, without giving Ye Qingtang any time to react, Luo Qufeng suddenly flashed across and bolted straight towards her. His fist, which contained all his strength, hurled at Ye Qingtang's chest.

All Ye Qingtang felt was a chill around her, and she instinctively raised her hand to meet with Luo Qufeng's palm!

The instant the two palms hit each other, Ye Qingtang felt an enormous force enter her palm and rush into her body rapidly.

There was a huge gap between her skills and Luo Qufeng's, and Luo Qufeng's full-force strike was simply not what she could bear.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

WHAT WAS GOING ON 1-3

1260 - What Was Going On?_1

This had already exceeded the limit that she could bear!

Death seemed to be befalling in the next second.

Yet, just as Ye Qingtang was completely disheartened, the enormous force injected into her palm seemed to be devoured by some energy.

In the next second, a black air of death shot out of Ye Qingtang's wrist and into Luo Qufeng's palm directly.

Boom!

Luo Qufeng was hurled out suddenly. Black streaks of an air of death interlaced with his red gleam. Luo Qufeng fell on the ground suddenly and spat a mouthful of blood!

"..." Ye Qingtang was completely unaware of what happened.

She initially thought that she would die without a doubt.

Unexpectedly...

The person who flung out was actually Luo Qufeng?!

What was going on?!

Luo Qufeng was ghastly pale as he collapsed on the ground. Streaks of black blood rapidly crept around him.

When he and Ye Qingtang exchanged blows just now, he felt a rush of an air of death surging into his body suddenly, and he was hurled away in an instant. At this moment, his body temperature was dropping continuously, and a piercing cold was being injected into his whole body.

"Luo Qufeng also has this day!"

"The Holy Lord of Shadows' skills are so frightening, yet Luo Qufeng dared to offend her. How ridiculous."

"I'm afraid he really is dead this time!"

Everyone grew excited after seeing Luo Qufeng being severely injured by Ye Qingtang's blow.

Ye Qingtang waved a hand to resolve the enormous force and dealt a serious injury to Luo Qufeng with a blow-all of this made everyone worship her skills greatly.

However, Ye Qingtang did not understand what was going on herself and felt that it was a little unreal as she watched Luo Qufeng crawl up from the ground.

How did she hurl Luo Qufeng away with one move?

Blood seeped out of Luo Qufeng's mouth continuously. His eyes were filled with malice, and the coldness around his body brought him much pain.

"Holy Lord of Shadows... is indeed formidable..." Luo Qufeng puked a mouthful of blood.

Although Ye Qingtang did not know what was happening, the outcome was positive. She had an indifferent expression, and no one could tell her emotions. She had a manner like that of a supreme powerful figure, and no one dared to offend her at all.

However, this was only a delusion...

Ye Qingtang mumbled in her heart secretly.

He is seriously injured already. Hurry up and stop!!!!

Why was he still staring at her and not letting her go!

It had been two moves already. Were they not enough!

Everyone wanted Ye Qingtang to kill Luo Qufeng but...

At this instant, Ye Qingtang only hoped that Luo Qufeng would back down a little and hurry and let her off.

Luo Feng and the other Luo Family members were shocked to see that Luo Qufeng was heavily injured.

Luo Qufeng's skills were extremely powerful to them, and they were very confident of his skills; thus, they were never worried even when they saw the Holy Lord of Shadows.

But now...

"Brother! Great Grandfather..." Luo Qi had an uneasy look.

Yet, Luo Feng frowned slightly and said coldly, "Don't panic. Great Grandfather has not displayed his skills completely. Don't forget what cultivation technique Great Grandfather cultivates. There are so many powerful figures here, and Great Grandfather's powers will only continue to increase."

Just as Luo Feng spoke, Luo Qufeng's eyes turned cold suddenly.

Out of a sudden, he took a step forward and leaped up. He spread his arms out like an eagle would spread its wings as he flew right into the crowd and grabbed two powerful figures who were fighting with the Luo Family members.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

1261 - What Was Going On?_2

In just a moment, a red gleam enveloped the two powerful figures, and they were ghastly pale after their cultivation bases were completely absorbed by Luo Qufeng.

"This is bad! Luo Qufeng must feel that he cannot defeat the Holy Lord of Shadows and wants to absorb other people's power to strengthen himself!"

Everyone's expression changed.

Luo Qufeng was like a hurricane that whirled into the crowd. In no time, he had absorbed the powers of dozens of powerful figures, and his originally-pale face slowly returned to its original complexion.

"Luo Qufeng! You are going too far!"

"Don't let him absorb our powers! Quickly spread out!"

"Leave quickly! Don't give him the chance to absorb even more power!"

After finding out Luo Qufeng's intentions, everyone hurriedly shouted and dispersed, not daring to continue the fight with the Luo Family.

Almost instinctively, everyone bolted towards Ye Qingtang's location.

In their hearts, they would be safe as long as they hid behind the Holy Lord of Shadows.

After all, the Holy Lord of Shadows was that formidable.

Even those from the Giant Clan were hidden behind Ye Qingtang right now.

When Ye Qingtang witnessed that the people who were initially fighting the Luo Family members with their lives suddenly ran behind her, she almost kicked them to death.

All of them are more skilled than her, but they freaking ran to her for protection?!

While they dispersed quickly, there were still quite a few who were caught by Luo Qufeng and had their cultivation base sucked away.

Luo Qufeng had absorbed the cultivation base of hundreds of powerful figures; thus, his injuries were mostly recovered, and his skills improved further.

"Holy Lord, Luo Qufeng absorbed the powers of others and increased his powers. Please make a move to stop him or else his skills will just continue to increase." Seeing that Ye Qingtang did not have any intentions to take action, everyone quickly pleaded her to help.

"Holy Lord, Luo Qufeng offended you time and again. You cannot let him off just like that." A group of powerful figures requested successively.

The guests did not have any connections with the Temple of Shadows and thus were aware that it was a little disrespectful to ask the Holy Lord of Shadows to save them. However, they did not have any choice left...

Obviously, Ye Qingtang knew what these people were thinking. If she had that ability, she would have struck even without them saying.

But the issue was...

She did not have that ability...

Even those powerful figures who were behind her were much more powerful than her.

"Insolent. What is your identity? You don't have the qualifications to order our Holy Lord!" The Temple of Shadows Hall Master shouted coldly in dissatisfaction.

Everyone was slightly shaken and said hurriedly, "We do not mean to order the Holy Lord. We are just requesting the Holy Lord to make a move."

"Right, right, right. The Holy Lord is very esteemed, and inferior people like us dare not be disrespectful to the Holy Lord."

The people were afraid that Ye Qingtang would be displeased and leave immediately. Thus, they hurriedly explained themselves.

"Holy Lord knows what to do and doesn't need you all to tell her what to do," the Hall Master said coldly.

Instantly, everyone kept their mouth shut in fear that their last savior would leave out of annoyance.

At this instant, Luo Qufeng, who continuously sucked the cultivation base of others, was hit with a rush of pleasure after feeling the powers that he absorbed. His eyes were red, and his desire to gain even stronger powers grew.

Luo Qufeng's eyes landed on Ye Qingtang once again, and his bloodshot eyes resembled that of a vicious wolf.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

1262 - What Was Going On?_3

"Not enough... This is far from enough. I still need... more... more power..."

Luo Qufeng inched closer towards Ye Qingtang, and the thirst in his eyes was increasingly insatiable.

"Holy Lord of Shadows, you're indeed the most powerful... Give me your powers. I can become even more powerful..." Red speckles of light flickered in his eyes as he lunged at Ye Qingtang violently.

Has he had enough!

Ye Qingtang wailed in her heart as she watched Luo Qufeng lunging towards him once again.

She did not even know how she severely wounded Luo Qufeng earlier on. Now that his skills multiplied once again, how was she going to contend against him?

She could not pray for a miracle to happen again, could she?

Ye Qingtang finally realized that the 'Holy Lord of Shadows' title was simply the source of a huge disaster if one did not possess the skills to suppress millions like the original Holy Lord did!

Now that Luo Qufeng's skills soared, his speed was even more shocking. Given Ye Qingtang's skills, she could not even see Luo Qufeng's figure clearly and could only feel a killing intent approaching her continuously.

With Luo Qufeng's current enhanced skills, anyone behind Ye Qingtang would simply be banished to death once they were caught by Luo Qufeng, much less herself, an impersonator of the Holy Lord of Shadows.

At this instant, even if Ye Qingtang wished to escape, she was firmly blocked by the powerful figures behind her, and she could not move anywhere.

All she felt was a surging killing intent rushing towards her.

Luo Qufeng's figure appeared beside Ye Qingtang all of a sudden.

He was smart this time. He did not confront Ye Qingtang with force and instead directly executed the technique to absorb others' cultivation base by slamming his palm on Ye Qingtang's shoulder and injecting endless red gleam from his palm into Ye Qingtang's body.

Perhaps he was unable to defeat her by brute force, but as long as he used this cultivation technique, he could completely suck Ye Qingtang dry of her cultivation base in an instant!

By then, he would possess absolute power that surpassed everyone else!

Without even seeing clearly how Luo Qufeng approached her, Ye Qingtang felt Luo Qufeng's hand on her shoulder, and she knew she was in trouble.

Luo Qufeng's technique was activated immediately, and an endless red gleam rushed out as though it wanted to completely infiltrate into her body and absorb all her cultivation base.

Ye Qingtang's heart was completely cold.

She was really dead this time.

However...

Just as she was overwhelmed with despair, a force in her body was suddenly stimulated.

The Mutated Heavenly Demon Bloodline that was buried deep in her body felt an external force attempting to suck her cultivation base and flared up abruptly!

The Mutated Heavenly Demon Bloodline was stimulated instantly, and the power of the Devouring Bloodline directly counter-attacked through the force that Luo Qufeng injected into Ye Qingtang's body!

Luo Qufeng, who initially wished to absorb all of Ye Qingtang's cultivation base, felt that his technique to absorb cultivation bases was executed successfully, but before he could absorb a tiny bit of cultivation base, he suddenly felt an overwhelming force reflecting back at him through his own technique!

In just a moment, an insurmountable force directly invaded Luo Qufeng's body.

The greed on Luo Qufeng's face turned into astonishment immediately!

What was going on?!

Not only did he fail to absorb Ye Qingtang's cultivation base, but his own cultivation base was beginning to be absorbed away by a force instead!!

_______________________________________________________________________________________

TO TRY TO GAIN AN ADVANTAGE ONKY TO END UP WORST OFF 1-3

1263 - To Try To Gain An Advantage Only To End Up Worse Off_1

The technique that Luo Qufeng used to absorb Ye Qingtang's cultivation base was completely dispersed by that huge force, which rushed into his body instead and absorbed his own cultivation base continuously.

Luo Qufeng's expression changed drastically by this abrupt change. He hurriedly retracted his hand, but it was already too late.

As his cultivation base was absorbed by Ye Qingtang, his complexion turned white gradually.

Earlier on, everyone was alarmed when they realized that Luo Qufeng wanted to launch a sneak attack on Ye Qingtang and absorb her powers.

But at present...

They realized that there were no signs of discomfort on Ye Qingtang's exquisite face, and instead, Luo Qufeng appeared pale and drained.

"What's going on with Luo Qufeng?"

"I don't know. I did not see the Holy Lord of Shadows attack just now either."

"Could he be wounded by the impact of the Holy Lord of Shadows's internal energy?"

Confusion crowded their minds.

On the other hand, Ye Qingtang was overwhelmed with shock.

It was natural for her to know that she possessed the Devouring Bloodline of the Mutated Heavenly Demon Bloodline. However, she was also very clear that it was simply impossible for her to use the Devouring Bloodline to devour the powers of other cultivators with her current skills and that she could at most absorb a few plants here and there.

Ye Qingtang initially thought that she would definitely die this time, but Luo Qufeng's reaction surprised her.

What exactly was going on?!

Why did Luo Qufeng's complexion become so ugly?

Calming herself down, she faintly sensed that Luo Qufeng's powers were slowly absorbed by the Devouring Bloodline in her body, and the energy absorbed did not remain in her body but seemed to disappear into a void.

Ye Qingtang was filled with surprise, but she also sighed in relief secretly.

The Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline was the ancestor of many Devouring Bloodlines while Luo Qufeng's technique to absorb the cultivation base of others must have been defeated and stimulated the Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline; thus, there was a reflection of the effect.

However, Ye Qingtang was also very clear that even if Luo Qufeng's cultivation base was absorbed by the Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline, it had nothing to do with her. She did not initiate the bloodline to absorb his powers, and it was the Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline which acted by itself. Thus, no matter how much power was absorbed, she could not use any of it.

Currently, Luo Qufeng was not as arrogant as before. He could clearly feel that his cultivation base was being absorbed away continuously, but he had no means of stopping it.

In no time, Luo Qufeng seemed to have suffered a huge hit as his entire body was flung out, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Blood stains streaked all over his ashy face, highlighting his miserable state.

Luo Qufeng fell on the ground and clutched his chest that was almost exploding. He glared in disbelief at Ye Qingtang, who was completely unharmed.

In just a moment, all the cultivation base in his body was completely absorbed away by her!

Thousands of years of cultivation and his painstaking efforts to plot this scheme were utterly destroyed at this moment.

How could this be...

Never would Luo Qufeng have dreamed that he would actually lose all his cultivation base.

As Ye Qingtang looked at Luo Qufeng, who collapsed on the ground puking blood, there was somewhat sympathy in her eyes.

She could not be blamed for this...

He was the one who insisted on absorbing her cultivation base, which ended up infuriating the Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline in her body. Not only was Luo Qufeng unable to absorb anything, but his own cultivation base was completely absorbed away by the Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline, and he even suffered the reflection of the Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline...

_______________________________________________________________________________________

1264 - To Try To Gain An Advantage Only To End Up Worse Off_2

It was really...

Trying to gain an advantage only to end up worse off...

Ye Qingtang faintly felt that the restless Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline in her body had calmed down while Luo Qufeng's cultivation base, which the Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline absorbed previously, disappeared without a trace.

That was Luo Qufeng's cultivation of a lifetime...

While that energy was powerful, it could not be of any use to Ye Qingtang as all she could use was the energy she actively absorbed...

Despite this, Ye Qingtang was still very content.

If not for the stimulation of the Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline, she would have long been dead.

No one knew the reason behind the situation, but they could not hold back their astonishment when they saw that Ye Qingtang severely injured Luo Qufeng without doing anything.

Only the Temple of Shadows Hall Master frowned slightly after witnessing the sight.

"Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline..." The Temple of Shadows Hall Master mumbled softly.

Perhaps no one could tell, but he did. The reason why Luo Qufeng was seriously wounded that the Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline within Ye Qingtang was stimulated. Moreover... it was stimulated passively, and it was not Ye Qingtang who actively absorbed Luo Qufeng's cultivation base.

This... caused the Temple of Shadows Hall Master to become suspicious.

However, he did not show too much emotion and merely observed silently.

On the other hand, Ye Qingtang calmed herself down and looked at the miserable Luo Qufeng.

If she did not guess wrongly, Luo Qufeng was now a good-for-nothing with zero cultivation base after his cultivation base was all absorbed by the Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline.

Ye Qingtang moved her feet and walked straight towards Luo Qufeng.

She could not defeat Luo Qufeng at all previously, but now...

Luo Qufeng was completely unaware that this happened because of Ye Qingtang's Devouring Bloodline and merely thought that this Holy Lord of Shadows was so formidable that she actually also grasped such techniques to absorb the cultivation base of others.

As he, who had lost all cultivation base, watched Ye Qingtang inch closer, his face turned increasingly pale.

"Holy Lord of Shadows, you actually also..." Luo Qufeng's expression changed drastically and was about to mention that Ye Qingtang also knew techniques to absorb cultivation bases.

But Ye Qingtang would not give him the chance to speak now.

Before Luo Qufeng could speak finish, a black flame appeared in Ye Qingtang's hand suddenly, and it flew towards the ghastly Luo Qufeng with the slight flick of her finger.

Before Luo Qufeng could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by the excruciating burn from the blazing flame. The moment the flame touched his clothes, it spread all over his body like a wildfire.

In the dark night, Luo Qufeng was engulfed by the black flame as cries of misery escaped his mouth non-stop.

The silent night seemed extremely eerie and terrifying.

No one knew that Luo Qufeng had already lost his cultivation base and only saw that Luo Qufeng was unable to retaliate against Ye Qingtang's casual attack using a black flame. This sight drew much astonishment at Ye Qingtang's unfathomable powers.

Ye Qingtang stood at a side expressionlessly in a detached manner.

Unbeknownst to all, her heart had leaped to her throat just a moment ago.

Had Luo Qufeng not lost his cultivation base, she would definitely not attack Luo Qufeng no matter how bold she was.

But now...

Torturing someone without any cultivation base was an easy feat.

The Luo Family members watched the sight in disbelief.

"Why... why did it become like this?" Luo Qi watched with wide eyes as Luo Qufeng was engulfed by the black flame.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

1265 - To Try To Gain An Advantage Only To End Up Worse Off_3

The Luo Family members had absolute faith in Luo Qufeng's skills, and with his technique to absorb cultivation base, they were very certain that the plot today would succeed and that the Luo Family was going to ascend to a superior position in the Central Mainland.

But no one would have expected...

Things would turn out this way.

Luo Feng's expression was extremely ugly at this point.

He never thought that Luo Qufeng would be defeated, but now, Luo Qufeng was clearly not Ye Qingtang's opponent, and if Luo Qufeng was defeated...

The Luo Family would be in trouble...

The guests present today were from various influential forces, and they probably would not let the Luo Family off easily in the future.

"Go." Luo Feng gritted his teeth silently.

Luo Qi was slightly dumbfounded, but he realized the current situation very quickly.

Then, the senior members of the Luo Family hurriedly escaped without a sound just as everyone's gaze was focused on Luo Qufeng and Ye Qingtang.

Luo Qufeng screamed non-stop in the entrapment of the black flame. If it was in the past, Ye Qingtang's black flame would not be able to harm him at all, but now...

He was merely a useless person without any cultivation base.

In no time, Luo Qufeng's shrills faded from everyone's ears, and only a burnt, charred corpse was left in the blazing flame.

Luo Qufeng's scheme was destroyed eventually.

Everyone gasped as they looked at the burnt corpse.

"Thank you, Holy Lord of Shadows."

"We will never forget your grace, Holy Lord." The guests finally sighed in relief and hurriedly rushed forward to thank Ye Qingtang.

They never expected Luo Qufeng's skills to be so powerful. Had Ye Qingtang not made a move, all of them would probably lose their lives here.

With a faint smile, Ye Qingtang swept a look across everyone without saying anything.

If not for the Holy Lord of Shadows's image, she would already have dragged this group of people who hid behind her out and gave them a beating.

If the Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline was not stimulated, she would definitely be dead just now.

"Thank you for stepping up to help us today, senior." Hong Zhong immediately thanked Ye Qingtang respectfully after keeping his life with a stroke of luck.

"Senior, your skills are indeed no less than before. Hong and I admire you a lot. It is all thanks to you today. If I can be of help in any areas in the future, I, Suo Mu, am willing to be at your service." Suo Mu stepped forward to express his gratitude first.

It must be known that if Luo Qufeng did not court death by finding trouble for Ye Qingtang, he and Hong Zhong would have had their cultivation base sucked away completely.

If the cultivation base that they obtained after thousands of years of cultivation was lost, that feeling would be more terrible than death.

Ye Qingtang could not help but feel rather amused when she watched the two renowned figures of the Central Mainland thank her.

"Everyone, the Luo Family members took the opportunity to escape when we were not paying attention just now." Someone who wanted to come after the Luo Family after Luo Qufeng died realized suddenly.

The senior members of the Luo Family had already fled away without a trace, and only the small fries who did not really understand today's situation were left behind.

"Do they think that it is over once they run away? How can today's incident be over so easily?" The people were still in a state of shock over everything today. Now that they emerged safely out of danger, they naturally resented the entire Luo Family to the core.

Unable to find anyone to vent their anger, the masses simply set fire to the Luo Residence. It was only after watching the tall and lofty pavilions burn in flames did the flames in their heart quell slightly.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

WALKING ON THIN ICE 1-3

1266 - Walking on Thin Ice_1

"Thank you for stopping the Luo Family's devious scheme today, Holy Lord." Everyone thanked Ye Qingtang repeatedly.

Ye Qingtang put on a calm and composed front and wore a faint smile; her attitude was like that of a superior person.

"It's just a small matter."

A matter where she almost lost her life...

Everyone was overwhelmed with emotion at Ye Qingtang's composure and only left after thanking her repeatedly.

Ye Qingtang smiled sweetly as she watched the powerful figures leave. She was really about to be drained from exhaustion.

It was truly a frightful night.

If possible, Ye Qingtang would have taken this opportunity to slip off.

However...

The Temple of Shadows Hall Master and others were still standing behind her.

"Holy Lord, do we return to the Temple?" The Hall Master asked.

No!

"Yes." Ye Qingtang held the tears in her eyes and forced out a happy smile.

Then, Ye Qingtang and the rest returned to the Temple of Shadows immediately.

Soon after they left, many Luo Family members appeared at the peak of a mountain behind the Luo Residence, and their moods were extremely low as they watched the blazing fire not far away.

A tall figure suddenly appeared in the sky and landed before them.

"What happened?" A low shout suddenly escaped from that person's mouth.

The Luo Family members looked up immediately and saw a handsome middle-aged man standing before them with a frown.

Luo Feng and Luo Qi's eyes brightened with just one look.

"Third brother?!"

The man who suddenly appeared in the sky was none other than Luo Feng and Luo Qi's younger brother, the third hand of the Luo Family, Luo Yuan!

"Third brother, you're finally back... It would have been great... if you came back earlier... today..." Luo Qi's repressed emotions erupted immediately once he saw Luo Qi.

"What happened exactly? Haven't you all already made all the preparations for Great Grandfather's birthday banquet today?" Luo Yuan had an ugly expression and frowned as he looked at the Luo Residence that had been engulfed in flames.

Luo Qi immediately recounted the whole incident to Luo Yuan.

After he listened for a while, a powerful aura rushed into the sky, and the mountain behind him was flattened to a field immediately in just a moment.

Even the ground that the Luo Family members were stepping on began to tremble.

Luo Qi and Luo Feng were slightly startled as they watched the enraged Luo Yuan.

Luo Yuan seemed to be even more powerful than before, and his aura was even stronger than Luo Qufeng's!

Everyone in the Luo Family only knew that the Grand Elder, Luo Qufeng, was very skilled, but people did not know that...

The true talent of the Luo Family was Luo Yuan.

Luo Yuan was extremely gifted since young, and even Luo Qufeng's endowment was inferior to Luo Yuan's. Luo Qufeng has always had high expectations for Luo Yuan and trained him attentively. Under Luo Qufeng's arrangements, Luo Yuan left the Luo Family a long time ago to cultivate, and his skills soared tremendously-not to the disappointment of the Luo Family and Luo Qufeng.

"Holy Lord of Shadows." Luo Yuan calmed his anger, but his eyes were extremely cold as he watched the blaze before him.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, don't worry. I, Luo Yuan, will definitely avenge the Luo Family!"

Luo Yuan's voice was sonorous and forceful. Right when he finished his sentence, he unsheathed his sword abruptly and swept across at the air, causing an enormous wave-like gush of air to extinguish the endless fire that engulfed the already burnt Luo Residence...

______________________________________________________________________________________

1267 - Walking on Thin Ice_2

Once Ye Qingtang returned to the Temple of Shadows, she headed back to her own living quarters.

The number of frights that she suffered from the two days of being in the Temple of Shadows was more than what she experienced in the past few years.

It felt like walking on thin ice, like her life was hanging on a bare thread.

After Ye Qingtang returned to her living quarters, the Hall Master who went to the Luo Residence with Ye Qingtang went to meet Ming Wang.

Ming Wang was discussing some matters with a few tribe leaders and immediately called the Hall Master in for a report after hearing that the Hall Master was back.

"Is the Holy Lord back?" Ming Wang asked in a low voice without looking up.

"Yes," replied the Hall Master.

Ming Wang looked up slightly and took a look at the Hall Master expressionlessly. "The Luo Residence must have been rather lively today."

The Demon Tribe Leader from aside heard a hidden meaning in Ming Wang's words and asked immediately, "Ming Wang, do you know something about the Luo Family's birthday banquet? Otherwise, given your personality, why would you let the Holy Lord go there?"

Just based on the Luo Family's skills itself, the Luo Family did not deserve their Holy Lord to head there personally.

Ming Wang's eyes had an aloof expression. "Luo Qufeng obtained a fragmented scroll of a cultivation technique previously and has been secretly cultivating it over the past years. This cultivation technique can absorb other people's cultivation base and use it themselves. He has been cultivating it for thousands of years, and it should be about done. The birthday celebration this year was publicized so widely, and it should be because they conspired something. How would the Luo Residence not be lively then?"

The tribe leaders immediately understood Ming Wang's intentions after what Ming Wang said.

"You knew it long ago? So... you sent the Holy Lord there intentionally to use this opportunity to test her identity?"

Ming Wang's expression was the same as before. "I knew it long ago? What do I know? I am not a member of the Luo Family and have no interest in what they want to do."

Although that was what Ming Wang said, the tribe leaders present were not fools and naturally understood what Ming Wang meant.

"Were there any interesting incidents during the birthday celebration?" Ming Wang turned to look at the Hall Master and asked.

The Hall Master immediately narrated the events to Ming Wang in full detail.

There was a subtle change in Ming Wang's expression.

"You said that... Luo Qufeng's cultivation base was absorbed by the Holy Lord's Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline?"

"Yes." The Hall Master nodded and said subsequently. "But according to my observation, it was not the Holy Lord who actively absorbed it, and it seemed more like the Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline automatically absorbed Luo Qufeng's powers.

"She did not absorb it actively..." Tilting his head slightly, Ming Wang supported his head with one hand while gently tapping a chair with the other.

"I got it. You can leave first."

"Noted." The Hall Master received his order and retreated immediately.

The moment the Hall Master left, the other tribe leaders spoke.

"Ming Wang, although the Holy Lord has not really displayed her skills before us, we cannot be certain that she really possesses the Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline. However, it is indeed fishy that the Heavenly Demon Devouring Bloodline passively absorbed the cultivation base of others. Given the Holy Lord's skills, why is there a need for this? Furthermore, it was not instructed by her either..." The tribe leaders grew increasingly suspicious.

"Although that human did not tamper with the Nine Souls Ring, it does not say much either as she could have tempered with it herself if she intended to." The Goblin Tribal Leader commented subsequently.

The more they observed the Holy Lord, the more suspicious they became. However, her actions were extremely similar to that of the Holy Lord's, and they could not distinguish the difference at a moment.

"If anyone has any thoughts, you may just say it," Ming Wang said immediately.

"We don't have many thoughts, but our objective is the same. No one can impersonate the Holy Lord, and anyone who dares to do so will be a sinner for eternity," the Demon Tribe Leader said coldly.

Ming Wang narrowed his eyes slightly. His pitch-black eyes were filled with an eerie iciness.

"Of course, if anyone impersonates the Holy Lord, I will let them know what the cruelest torture in this world tastes like..."

"This promise of yours is sufficient." The few tribe leaders exchanged a look and made a decision in their hearts immediately.

______________________________________________________________________________________

1268 - Walking on Thin Ice_3

Ye Qingtang collapsed on the soft bed in her living quarters. The little white tiger took a peek at Ye Qingtang and knew that the birthday banquet tonight was not simple.

"This is still the beginning. If you don't leave the Temple of Shadows, you will suffer more in the future. Today's birthday banquet is most likely to test you, and there will be many more such incidents in the future. With these skills of yours, you might very well be exposed one day," said the little white tiger.

"Do you think I don't wish to go? I can't even go..." Ye Qingtang's headache intensified.

Other people were envious of the Holy Lord of Shadows' reputation and position, but anyone apart from the true owner of the position would go berserk if they were at the position.

Not mentioning how many enemies the Holy Lord of Shadows had outside, the suspicions that the internal members of the Temple of Shadows had over her identity were already extremely life-threatening.

Just as the little white tiger and Ye Qingtang were talking, the door to her room was suddenly opened.

Startled, Ye Qingtang hurriedly sat up and suddenly saw...

A tiny figure was hiding behind the door quietly, and he poked half his head out to look at her cautiously.

"Ming Gu?" Ye Qingtang's heart reached her throat when she saw the little fellow hiding behind the door.

She did not know whether Ming Gu heard her conversation with the little white tiger.

"Ah Yao... Can... I come in?" Seeing that he was "discovered", Ming Gu immediately moved his tiny legs and kept his hands behind him while looking at Ye Qingtang pitifully.

Looking at Ming Gu's reaction, Ye Qingtang reckoned that he did not hear the conversation and was slightly relieved. She then put on a doting expression and smiled.

"Why? You have not seen me for half a day, but you miss me so much already?"

There was a slight hint of shyness on Ming Gu's ash face. He lowered his head rather awkwardly, and he swayed his body. "Of course I miss you, but... I know that you hate those so-called banquets and that you have never liked human food. I thought that you must not have eaten much today so... I specially brought something for you..."

Just looking at Ming Gu's shy behavior and leaving aside his identity as the Temple of Shadows Holy Son and the current situation, Ye Qingtang's heart was about to melt.

Ming Gu always reminded her of Little You Yun whom the Ancient You Clan stole away; Little You Yun was also very shy and adorable like this then.

Without control, Ye Qingtang's smile became more natural, and her voice had a sincere teasing tone. "What delicacy did you bring? Let me see."

Ming Gu's eyes brightened slightly, and he broke out into a bright smile. He immediately stretched out his tiny hands that he kept behind him...

In his tiny hands was a black worm that was a whole ring bigger than his hands. Its round body wriggled around and gave off a rotten, decomposed smell.

With just a look, Ye Qingtang almost vomited.

"Ah Yao, this is a Black Flame Worm that I just caught today. I know that you like to eat this the most. Quickly eat it while it's hot. It is still well and alive now... Ming Wang wanted to eat it, but I could not even bear to give it to him." Ming Gu did not even realize that Ye Qingtang's lips were twisted, and he blinked his wide eyes as though he was offering a treasure.

The Undead Clan would not age nor die, and eating was not to sustain their life but to fulfill the stomach's desires.

Moreover, they had an extremely unique taste for food and usually consumed special species of dead creatures.

The Black Flame Worm was one of the best delicacies in the eyes of the Undead Clan...
____________________________________________________________________________________