Crimson Sky Cry

A thunderous roar echoed through Green Parasol City.

The golden light barrier of the Demon-Trapping Array gradually faded.

Lin Yu stared at the sky in disbelief—the dissipation of the Demon-Trapping Array meant that Green Scab Spider had already been slain.

In all of Green Parasol City, the only one capable of such a feat was Fang Huai, carried in a sedan chair by mortals.

Sensing Lin Yu's gaze, Fang Huai thought to himself that this brief moment of heroism should come to an end.

He immediately flew out from the sedan and landed steadily before Lin Yu.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, this Crimson Sky Cry—is it yours?"

Shouting "Catch," he tossed Crimson Sky Cry back into Lin Yu's hands.

Lin Yu's fingertips traced the mottled beast bloodstains on Crimson Sky Cry, his heart shaken.

Heroes emerge from youth; Fang Huai, at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, had slain a Green Scab Spider that had fallen from Foundation Establishment—truly unheard of.

Seeing Lin Yu staring fixedly at him, Fang Huai spoke: "Fellow Daoist Lin, has This Humble One caught your attention with some valuable treasure on my person?"

"Did you kill that Green Scab Spider?" Lin Yu asked again for confirmation.

"Yes and no."

Fang Huai said: "That Green Scab Spider had already had its vital essence drained by the Demon-Trapping Array, and after your relentless attacks along with my fellow disciples, it was already at its last gasp.

I merely led it around a few circles, and it collapsed and died on its own."

Lin Yu naturally didn't believe this, but it wasn't convenient to probe further into Fang Huai's background, so he asked:

"Fellow Daoist Fang, how do you plan to handle the mortals of Green Parasol Town?"

Fang Huai's eyes flickered—finally, the moment to fleece him had arrived: "Fellow Daoist Lin, what do you think would be the proper way to handle this?"

"Fellow Daoist Fang mentioned before that if Lin offered eight hundred Spirit Stones, you would hand these mortals over to me."

"If Fellow Daoist Lin can produce eight hundred Spirit Stones, you may naturally take them away."

"I can't afford it. I only have three hundred Spirit Stones."

Lin Yu looked at Fang Huai: "But today, I must take them with me!"

Fang Huai's heart skipped a beat, sensing trouble.

Pu Ren'an and the others were already dead; the Corpse Sha Sect was left with only him alone. Lin Yu was about to go back on his word!

Thinking this, he hardened his tone: "Fellow Daoist Lin, those who cultivate immortality value integrity above all. If you break your promise, cracks will surely form in your Dao heart in the future."

Lin Yu shook his head and sighed lightly: "Fellow Daoist Fang misunderstands. You risked your life to save so many common folk—how could Lin do something to chill your heart?"

With that, he tossed Crimson Sky Cry toward Fang Huai and cupped his hands: "Back then, the Supreme Elder bestowed Crimson Sky Cry upon me, saying my pure heart was worthy of this sword.

But in my eyes, Fellow Daoist Fang is more suited to this blade!"

Fang Huai caught Crimson Sky Cry, his heart shaken, and spoke: "Fellow Daoist Lin, this Crimson Sky Cry is worth far more than eight hundred Spirit Stones!"

Lin Yu smiled: "No matter how precious Crimson Sky Cry is, it cannot compare to Fellow Daoist Fang's righteous heart.

Fellow Daoist Fang, I have already dissolved the blood pact with this sword. As long as you inject your essence blood into it, you can become its new master."

Fang Huai had long harbored a question: why, when Lin Yu infused spiritual power into Crimson Sky Cry, the blade was wreathed in violent lightning energy.

Yet when it came into his own hands, no matter how much spiritual power he poured in, the Spirit Sword remained silent as a dead thing.

Now he finally understood—this Spirit Sword required recognition of its master to unleash its true power.

"Fellow Daoist Lin," Fang Huai said with a solemn tone, "once the Spirit Sword recognizes its master, I cannot return it to you. Do you truly have no regrets?"

Lin Yu laughed heartily: "A precious sword has always matched a hero. Fellow Daoist Fang is worthy of this blade—Lin will never regret it!"

Fang Huai no longer declined. He cut his skin and urged his essence blood into Crimson Sky Cry.

In an instant, a vast amount of spiritual energy was stripped from his body, and he established a profound connection with Crimson Sky Cry.

Crimson Sky Cry immediately flashed with a fierce light of interwoven cyan and red, its edge wrapped in Sha Qi, like a demonic sword descending.

And Fang Huai, holding Crimson Sky Cry, seemed like a god of slaughter reborn.

Fang Huai said: "Fellow Daoist Lin, do I still look like a hero now?"

Lin Yu smiled: "I know Fellow Daoist Fang is steeped in Sha Qi, but walking the path of slaughter to prove the Dao—that too is a kind of hero!"

Fang Huai cupped his hands in thanks: "The kindness of gifting this sword, Fang will remember in his heart. You may take these mortals away."

Fang Huai had not expected Lin Yu to be such a pure-hearted person.

Originally, he thought his contribution points were only enough to exchange for two hundred Spirit Stones, and he had planned to extort Lin Yu's Spirit Stones as well.

But seeing Lin Yu act this way, he instead felt a bit embarrassed.

He thought to himself that if he continued to swindle Lin Yu, the other might renege, which would be bad. Better to return to the sect and find someone from the Ascension Society to borrow three hundred Spirit Stones to make up the difference.

No sooner had he finished speaking than the group of mortals became unhappy.

"Immortal Master Fang, we don't want to go with Immortal Master Lin. Please take us with you!"

"Right, the Mystic Sword Sect raised this kind of demon beast inside the city and killed so many of our kin—we're irreconcilable with the Mystic Sword Sect!"

"Fang the Immortal, you're the one who saves the suffering and relieves the distressed—you're a true hero!"

"..."

Praise poured forth without end. The people of Green Parasol City knelt as one before Fang Huai, begging him to take them to the Corpse Sha Sect.

Fang Huai was speechless. Though the Mystic Sword Sect had used their life force to suppress the Green Scab Spider demon, they had also protected these mortals for a hundred years.

Now, because of his own heroic deed, the demonic path had become the righteous path, and the righteous path had become the demonic.

The rights and wrongs of this world—black and white—had flipped so quickly.

If Pu Ren'an were still alive and saw mortals willingly following them away, he'd surely laugh until his stomach ached.

Fang Huai swung Crimson Sky Cry. A sword light formed of Sha Qi carved across the ground, letting out a piercing explosive roar:

"Since you're all willing to come with me, let me lay down my rules. Each of you will give me one bowl of vital blood every day to aid my cultivation. Can you all do that?"

The kneeling mortals stared wide-eyed at each other and fell silent.

Seeing this, Fang Huai used Nether Claw to grab the mortal who had shouted the loudest and said:

"Can't even manage such a small thing?"

That mortal's face flushed crimson. His lower body lost control from fear, and the stench of urine spread.

He trembled as he spoke: "No... spare me... Lin the Immortal, save me!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Fang Huai tossed the man down and laughed: "Now, is anyone still willing to come with me?"

No one answered. The scene was dead silent.

Crimson Sky Cry in hand, Fang Huai smiled at Lin Yu: "Brother Lin, it seems these people still want to go with you.

But you'd better hurry. My fellow disciples might arrive soon."

With that, he took out Paper Kite, leaped onto it, and soared into the sky, while transmitting his voice to Lin Yu:

"If you can't bring yourself to be rough with these mortals, then they will surely die here."

Lin Yu's gaze flickered. He looked at the bewildered people of Green Parasol City and pondered for a long time.

Seeing Fang Huai leave, the people of Green Parasol City stood up and loudly cursed the cruelty of demon cultivators, saying the Mystic Sword Sect was still the one to trust.

Lin Yu suddenly let out a soft laugh and took out another Spirit Sword.

The Spirit Sword slashed down abruptly. A scorching trail of flame struck straight into the ground.

He roared with fury, his voice ringing through all of Green Parasol City:

"Everyone listen! I give you one quarter-hour to gather at the city gate and evacuate Green Parasol City with me!

Anyone who fails to arrive in time will be killed without mercy!"