Chapter 666 - 113: The Blood Demon in Action (2)

’After all, several days have passed. They’ve probably already left Xiang Province.’

’The only thing I can do now is spread the news. Lu Tianchou is well-liked; once people hear he’s in trouble, they’ll definitely try to find him. With so many people searching, some clues are bound to turn up.’

After returning to Vast Mist Peak, Song Changsheng took the Space Transmission Array to Luoxia City. He then had Zhan Tianxia disseminate the news in the city’s name.

He then spoke for a while with the comatose Zhuang Yuechan before finally returning to Vast Mist Peak.

As he had expected, the news of Lu Tianchou being attacked and abducted by unknown Cultivators caused quite a stir throughout the Daqi Cultivation World as soon as it spread.

Many people began to search of their own accord.

It was one thing to not investigate, but once they did, they were horrified by what they found.

They soon discovered that it wasn’t just Lu Tianchou. Of the eight known Tier Two Heavenly Craft Masters in the Daqi Cultivation World, two others were also missing.

These three who had disappeared all had one thing in common: they were Loose Cultivators, and they had all vanished within the last three months.

It was no wonder their disappearances had gone unnoticed for so long; all three lived in seclusion on remote Spirit Mountains, and few people ever dared to disturb them.

If Song Changsheng hadn’t decided to visit Lu Tianchou on a whim, the truth would have likely remained buried.

In an instant, the entire Daqi Cultivation World was in an uproar.

The reaction from Cultivators accomplished in the Hundred Skills of Cultivation was particularly intense.

Their status had always been highly respected, and few dared to move against them. Even grudges were settled through honorable duels. But now, someone was openly abducting people—this was completely unacceptable!

’Today it’s the Celestial Artisans; tomorrow it could be the Alchemists and Artifact Refiners.’

’If they stood by and did nothing today, who would speak up for them when they were the ones in trouble?’

Thus, in a rare display of unity, the various masters joined forces to pressure all the major powers.

The collective influence of this group far surpassed that of a single Golden Core Cultivator. Under this immense pressure, even factions that had previously been indifferent were forced to launch their own investigations.

Even the Celestial Vein Sect and the Golden Crow Sect took notice, dispatching personnel specifically to handle the matter.

Although the full might of the Righteous Dao in the Daqi Cultivation World had been mobilized, Song Changsheng remained pessimistic. ’So much time has passed, and with no clues to go on, finding them would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.’

Just when he thought the matter would come to nothing, an unexpected arrival brought a new turn of events.

"Clan Leader, there’s a Foundation Establishment Cultivator at the gate requesting an audience. He claims to be a disciple of Master Lu Tianchou."

Inside the Minor Affairs Hall, a Steward walked up to Song Changsheng and whispered.

A sharp glint flashed in Song Changsheng’s eyes. He shot to his feet and asked, "What’s his name?"

"The visitor’s name is Li Anmin," the Steward replied respectfully. But when he looked up, Song Changsheng was already gone.

When Song Changsheng reached the base of the mountain, he immediately saw a figure standing at the bottom of the stone steps.

Compared to twelve years ago, Li Anmin had shed his youthful immaturity. He was no longer the naive boy he once was.

"Fellow Daoist Li."

"Elder Song, I beg you to save my master."

The moment he saw Song Changsheng, Li Anmin immediately dropped into a deep, formal bow.

Song Changsheng quickly helped him up and asked urgently, "Where is Lu? What do you know?"

"Elder Song, do you remember what happened to my junior sister all those years ago?"

"Of course, I remember." Song Changsheng nodded grimly. It was because of Lu Yuxiu’s trouble that he had been able to meet Lu Tianchou in the first place.

At the time, Lu Yuxiu had been possessed by a strange Demon. Song Changsheng had used his Eye of Truth to extract it, successfully healing her.

To thank Song Changsheng, Lu Tianchou had gifted him the Black Star Ship.

’Although twelve years had passed, the memory was still fresh in his mind. He just wasn’t sure why Li Anmin was bringing it up now.’

"The one who abducted Master and my junior sister is the same person who planted the Demon Seed in her all those years ago! He’s a Blood Demon Remnant!

Half a month ago, after my junior sister returned from a training excursion, she fell into a coma just as she had before. Then, a black-robed man showed up at our door, demanding that Master go with them and serve them.

Master refused, of course, but the man threatened him with my junior sister’s life. Master had no choice but to yield for the time being, and they took him away." Li Anmin’s voice was filled with grief and indignation, the feeling of powerlessness from that day still haunting him.

"To think that’s what happened!" Song Changsheng’s face paled in shock. He had always wondered why someone would be so cruel to a child; he never imagined it was all premeditated.

But after his anger, a doubt surfaced.

"Fellow Daoist Li, if that’s the case, how did you escape?" A trace of suspicion arose in Song Changsheng’s mind. ’Although Li Anmin had reached the early-stage of Foundation Establishment, escaping from a Purple Mansion Cultivator was practically impossible.’

"To be honest, it was Master who threatened them with his own life to make them let me go. I suppose they figured I was useless anyway," Li Anmin said, his expression forlorn.

"If that’s the case, why didn’t you seek help? With Master Lu’s reputation, it would have been easy to ask a Purple Mansion Cultivator for assistance."

"I did think about seeking help, but most of Master’s close contacts are Loose Cultivators—elusive and hard to track down. I went to two of their last known locations but found nothing.

As for the Rong Clan and the Lieyang Sect..." At this, Li Anmin glanced cautiously at Song Changsheng. Seeing that his expression remained unchanged, he found the courage to continue, "They can’t be counted on either. That’s why I took the liberty of coming to Ling Province to ask for your help, Elder Song."

"I see. In that case, do you know where they took Master Lu?"

Li Anmin shook his head. "Purple Mansion Cultivators are too fast; I couldn’t keep up. But I can find them."

"Oh?" Song Changsheng was intrigued.

Li Anmin gave a bitter smile. "My junior sister and I have had feelings for each other for a long time. We’re very close. When she was about to leave for her training, I wanted to follow and protect her in secret, but Master wouldn’t allow it. So, on a whim, I made a small trinket for her to carry, one that would allow me to sense her location at all times.

I crafted it into a pair of earrings. After my junior sister and Master were taken, that fiend didn’t notice them, so I can still sense their position."

"I see!" Song Changsheng was overjoyed. He had almost forgotten that the man before him was also a Celestial Artisan. Though not yet Tier Two, he was known for his ingenious ideas; it was no surprise he could create such a device.

’Now that he knew where Lu Tianchou and the others were, things would be much easier.’

"You might not be aware, but two other Celestial Artisans have also been abducted, most likely by the same Blood Demon Remnants.

You must have heard of the Blood Demon Sect’s power. Although the Song Clan has gained some strength, we are still a long way from being able to confront them."

"Elder Song..." Li Anmin’s face fell.

"Hear me out." Song Changsheng gestured for him to remain calm. "Things have progressed to a point where this is no longer a matter for a single clan or sect. I will take you to see the Second City Lord of Luoxia City. We’ll have him contact the major sects so we can all act together."

Hearing this, Li Anmin’s worry turned to joy. If the major sects acted together, the chances of rescuing Lu Tianchou would be much higher. He quickly bowed to Song Changsheng and said, "Then I must ask you to make the introduction, Elder."

Without another word, Song Changsheng immediately took him to Celestial Sound Mountain to meet with Zhan Tianxia.

Upon learning that Li Anmin had a way to find Lu Tianchou and the others, Zhan Tianxia was ecstatic. Luoxia City had been under considerable pressure, and now there was finally hope of breaking the stalemate.

Zhan Tianxia immediately and secretly contacted the Golden Crow Sect, the Celestial Vein Sect, the Celestial Sword Sect, the Huansha Sect, and the Demon Suppression Hall, telling them to dispatch personnel for a joint operation.

In that moment, a storm began to brew in the Daqi Cultivation World. The gazes of all the major powers turned toward an unremarkable spot on the map—Blazing Flame Mountain.

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