Bloodlight Divine Shadow Escape

Duan Rong withdrew from the Luminous Consciousness Sea. After letting out a long breath of stale air, he prepared to refine that strange mass of red light.

Just then, a mournful xiao flute melody drifted over from the other end of the Deep Valley.

Duan Rong's gaze shifted. He turned to look into the darkness and vaguely saw a figure sitting atop a large rock.

Lü Zhongtang asked, "Who is playing the xiao over there?"

"Li Ruojian," Duan Rong said.

Lü Zhongtang said in surprise, "That hostage from the Heavenly Evolution Sect?"

"Yes." Duan Rong spat out the single word coldly, then turned away and stopped looking in Li Ruojian's direction.

After the alliance between the two sects had become an empty shell in name alone, Li Ruojian's situation had grown even more awkward. Over the past month, the Heavenly Evolution Sect had repeatedly demanded his return from the Taiyi Sect, offering all manner of arguments, yet the Taiyi Sect had ignored them all.

Once a chess piece was in their hand, why would they return it for no reason at all?

Duan Rong had no desire to pay Li Ruojian any heed. When they had previously plotted together to rescue Lü Qingzhu, Li Ruojian's thoughts had already been vicious. Not only had he wanted to use the opportunity to kill his own elder brother, he had also intended to pin the blame on Lü Qingzhu.

Moreover, Li Ruojian had accurately calculated that Lü Qingzhu would not wish to implicate him and therefore would not reveal the truth, choosing instead to bear the blame herself.

The ruthlessness and venom in his heart made Duan Rong keep his distance in wary respect.

Li Ruojian's xiao melody was lonely and desolate, but Duan Rong acted as though he had not heard it.