Shi Lang flew through the void quickly. The information they had received from the young Vice-Captain gave birth to many doubts in his heart. It turned out that a Demonic cult had been operating in the region in a relatively low-key manner. The emperor overlooked them, thinking many people would not make any difference.
However, these people have recently increased drastically and have been raging under the shadows. The entire southern peak region was infected with the demonic air. Shi Lang could sense the tension in the air. At this moment, his mind was divided into two portions.
Those with strength held greater worries. Shi Lang was the strongest among the disciples. He was worried about Shi Ning, but that did not mean he could be free from the worry of his fellows. These were his principles from the lower realm. He was a leader and had to be careful for his troops.
Shi Lang flew quickly and soon arrived at the area where Shi Ning was supposed to be hiding. He converged his breath and looked down from above the clouds. His superior vision allowed him to scan the terrain below to the extent of his limits. Shi Lang was unsure where Shi Ning was, so this was the most efficient way to look for her.
Shi Lang ensured that nothing within his scope of spiritual vision should be left unchecked. Soon, he found something. The terran dove straight down and landed firmly on the ground. He picked up a hairpin from the ground. Looking around, he found no traces of blood, only shallow tracks formed on the ground.
He narrowed his gaze and followed the tracks. After half an hour, he found himself gazing at a dozen different tracks. One of them was particularly deep. His aura turned cold. He was smart enough to tell that these tracks were left after someone struggled to escape. The proximity of these tracks meant that the two parties fought.
Shi Lang was sure that the demonic cultivators had apprehended Shi Ning, and they all worked together to subdue her. His anger was churning inside his heart, and he wished to slay all the demonic cultivators in the surroundings and have their heads hung on a pike.
Shi Lang took a messaging talisman, relayed the situation to his seniors, and began following the tracks. He was fast, like a specter in the woods. He was fast but sure not to leave a trace. Even the leaves did not shiver in the places he passed through.
After an hour, he arrived near a cavern. He did not rush to enter, but he saw his seniors walking in the opposite direction. It turned out they were also guided to this place. They regrouped a kilometer from the cavern, and Bai Yan said, "This is the place, junior brother. What do you think?"
Shi Lang replied, "What is there to think? We go in and kill the demonic cultivators."
The people were shocked, and Liang Ping asked, "Junior Brother, what do you mean? If the actions caused the demonic cultivators to harm the hostages, then what?"
Shi Lang gazed at them and took out his sword. Then he cut his hand on the edge of the blade. The people were surprised and wanted to stop him, but then they saw that the blood from his hand was dripping on the ground and it was squirming.
They could not understand what was happening, but soon, their confusion turned into shock. The blood drops became clones of Shi Lang. The terran did not say anything much and waved his hand. The clones nodded and rushed toward the cave quickly. Shi Lang said, "Do not worry, nothing will happen to the hostages.
That said, he vanished from the spot. The five people were left standing on the spot, stunned, until they heard the loud, shivering screams. Xu Guang woke up first and said, "Let's go and see what he is doing. He has already gained attention. Leave the most of them for him."
They all knew that Shi Lang was not someone they could catch up to at this moment. He was far ahead of them in terms of cultivation realm. The people charged at the cave entrance and found the place to resemble a war field. Shi Lang was nowhere in sight, but the floor lingered with chopped-off limbs, and the walls were stained with blood.
The deeper they went, the more shocked they became. The length of the cave was something they did not expect, and the number of people who died was too much.
...
In the cave's depths sat a male with his legs crossed into a lotus position. Before him was a prison cell with hundreds of people locked in. The man said, "So, whom should I have today?"
The people shivered, and the man laughed. His gaze ran over to all the people, finally locked on a girl staring back at him without fear. He became curious and asked, "Are you not afraid of me?"
The girl replied, "I have never been afraid of a dog."
The demonic cultivator narrowed his gaze and asked, "Oh, is that so? What is your name?"
The girl hesitated briefly and then said, "Shi Ning."
This girl was Shi Ning, and the demonic cultivator asked, "Why did you call me a dog? Do you believe that I will make you moan and whine under my crotch like a bitch soon?"
Shi Ning looked at him with disdain and spat on the ground. She stood straight and said, "Maggot, even if you managed to get your hands on me, it will be my corpse. You demonic pieces of scum are not worth touching me, Shi Ning."
She reached out for her bracers and took out a concealed needle. The needle was as big as four inches. She smirked and said, "By the time you get close, I will puncture my lungs and throat with this needle. So that you know, this thing is laced with poison. If you tried to touch me, it would get to you, and by the time any one of you dimwits managed to find an antidote, you would be a puddle of molten flesh."
The demonic cultivator did not expect her to be so decisive and vicious. He asked, "Why are you revealing this to me now? You could have used it to kill me when I tried to get close to you, right?"
Shi Ning scoffed and said, "I disdain sharing the same air as you, let alone allowing you to come closer to me. My pride is much more valuable than your death."
She refused to cower in fear of the demonic cultivator, and her actions shocked the demonic cultivator and the inmates. They all have seen many people break and beg, but this was the first time they had seen a young lady standing in the face of darkness. They could not help but look at her with respect.
The demonic cultivator stood up from the ground and laughed eery. He said, "You stand behind a cage that I created. What makes you think you can defy me?"
Shi Ning chuckled and said condescendingly, "You had your pack of pets surround me, and then only did you manage to get me here. I dare you to fight me with your strength. Do not think I know about you being a demon general. You seem to be a hundred years old, and even after relying on these demonic methods, you have only managed to touch upon this realm. You are trash, and the demonic cultivators do not acknowledge you much, right?"
These words enraged the demonic cultivator, and the man heard an obscure roar. The cave trembled, and Shi Ning indifferently raised the needle in her hand. She pressed the needle against her throat and mumbled, "I hope they forgive me."
She was sure that her action would hurt her family, but she did not wish to suffer such humiliation and choose the path of death. When she was ready to stab the needle into her throat, a calm voice sounded, "They might forgive you, but I will not, Ning."
Shi Ning froze, and her heart almost collapsed when she heard this voice. The demonic cultivator turned around and yelled, "Who is it? Show yourself, you bastard."
Shi Lang left the shadow and said, "Let me talk to my sister first. Do not worry, I will kill you."
His voice was calm, and his gaze was firm. He ignored the demonic cultivator completely. The enraged demonic cultivator did not even have the time to react when Shi Lang had already appeared before the prison door. The Terran held the bars and channeled lighting spirit energy through them. The bars turned red hot before they gradually melted.
The demonic cultivator exclaimed, "Who the fuck are you?"
Shi Lang turned his head to look at the persona and slowly said, "The one who will send you to your rightful desitnation."
The demonic cultivator shivered slightly, and regained his cockiness, as he asked, "Oh, and what would that destination be?"