"Good!" Xiao Hua swept Zhu Cheng up with a wave of his hand. "So long as this Xiao remains unharmed, I will keep you unharmed as well! As for Zhu Xiang... sigh, it is inconvenient for this Xiao to say much at present! Let's go..."
As he spoke, Xiao Hua took Zhu Cheng with him and transformed into a rainbow streak, descending toward the first ghost cave.
The grief in Zhu Cheng's heart had not faded much. He paid little heed to Xiao Hua's words, taking them merely as consolation. As he flew along within Xiao Hua's rainbow light, fresh scarlet drops of blood appeared upon his tightly bitten lips.
Though they were still far from the ghost cave, a foul stench mixed with a faint smell of blood rushed at them. Within the Heavenly Eye, the Netherworld Wind was exceptionally thick and viscous. It not only filled the night sky, but also settled upon the mountains, trees, and rivers. The Netherworld Blood threads on the ground naturally differed from those in midair, forming the bizarre patterns Xiao Hua had seen during the day.
"Eh? Why are there other cultivators here?" Xiao Hua's Heavenly Eye swept over the Netherworld Blood threads before falling upon the mountain ridge. An old man who looked like a farmer stood there with his back bent, his gaze fixed upon the location of the Netherworld energy pillar.
Naturally, Xiao Hua's approach with Zhu Cheng alarmed the old man as well. Faint yellow cloud-filaments flickered in the old man's eyes as he turned around.
"Master Zhu?" The old man was slightly surprised upon seeing Zhu Cheng, then bowed to Xiao Hua. "May I ask who this immortal friend is...?"
"This one is Daoist Xiao Hua!" Xiao Hua replied, landing with Zhu Cheng and returning the salute