In a cave somewhere on a mountain not far from Li City, bloody water bubbled incessantly in a pot over a blazing fire. The stench of blood was overpowering, and severed human arms and other limbs occasionally bobbed to the surface.
Beside the pot, a sinister-looking old man kept stirring the flesh and blood inside, occasionally making sounds of intoxicated delight.
The demonic cultivator suddenly felt a pang of dread. A mouthful of blood immediately gushed from his lips, and vicious malice filled his eyes as he glared toward the Zhao household in Li City.
The old man could spare no thought for anything else. He abandoned what he was cooking at once and waved his hand, conjuring a cloud of demonic qi. In the blink of an eye, he vanished into it and sped straight toward the Zhao household, taking only the gourd at his waist.
Before long, he appeared before Zhao Yanhe.
Zhao Yanhe was counting the benefits he had received from the demonic cultivator, dreaming of striking it rich, when a cloud of black qi appeared before him. As it dispersed, the old man's figure emerged.
Zhao Yanhe eyed the old man with uncertainty and alarm. "Didn't you say you would come tonight? Why are you here in broad daylight? Did you watch your surroundings on the way here? Don't let anyone catch sight of you." If someone reported him to the Azure Tide Sect, he would be dead for certain.
The demonic cultivator ignored Zhao Yanhe's prattling. He wrapped him in demonic qi and prepared to drag him into the basement.
But before he could move, a young girl appeared before him.
The young girl hovered in midair on her flying sword, standing against the wind. Her hair and the hem of her clothes fluttered noisily,