Chapter 735: Suppressing the Demonic Sword
Not to mention the green-robed venerable, even Lin Feng was stunned. He had no idea that someone had placed a seal on him, let alone that such a powerful figure was protecting him.
Meng Qing and Tang Youyou were both frozen in place, then a glimmer of hope blossomed on their faces. He wasn't dead. Lin Feng wasn't dead. He was still alive and well. There was actually a terrifyingly powerful being guarding him.
The old man's illusory figure lunged forward, instantly appearing before the green-robed venerable. A terrifying pressure bore down on the opponent, causing the green-robed venerable's soul to tremble violently. He felt dazed, as if he could barely breathe, as though the illusory figure was suffocating him, crushing him toward death.
"Scram!" The old man spat out a fearsome sound. The green-robed venerable's body was hurled back a thousand meters. He gasped for air, staring at the phantom in horror.
How terrifying. Far too terrifying. Even among venerables, at this level, every single rank gap was enormous. And this opponent was far stronger than him—not just by one rank. He was at the First Layer of the Honored Martial Realm, while the other was completely unfathomable. Even a mere soul phantom made him feel suffocated, as if it could snuff out his soul entirely.
"Senior." Facing such a powerhouse, the green-robed man had no choice but to concede. He bowed slightly to the phantom and said, "This junior did not know he was connected to you, senior. I beg your forgiveness. Once I retrieve my belongings, I will leave immediately."
The phantom raised an eyebrow, and another wave of terrifying pressure crashed down on the green-robed venerable. "I'll say it one more time. Scram!"
The green-robed expert's expression stiffened. He swallowed his saliva, forcing his anger down along with it. The other party wanted to take his Demon Sealing Stele, but he was powerless to stop it.
If Lin Feng were weak, he could kill him and take the demonic sword and Xue Linglong. But now, he was the weaker one. The other party wanted his Demon Sealing Stele, and he couldn't resist. This was the law of the jungle—the strong prey on the weak.
"This junior takes his leave." The green-robed venerable apologized, then stepped forward and turned away without hesitation. He was decisive. When faced with someone he couldn't afford to provoke, the only option was to flee.
As he left, he reached out and grabbed the cat demon by the tail, causing it to let out a yelp. The cat demon felt nothing but humiliation. It was a proud celestial demon, yet it was being treated like this. But now that its master had been humiliated, it could only serve as an outlet for his anger.
What infuriated it even more was that Lin Feng hadn't died. There was a powerful being protecting him.
Soon, the green-robed expert's figure vanished into the distance. Seeing him leave, Meng Qing and Tang Youyou finally let out the breath they had been holding. Earlier, they had thought Lin Feng was doomed. The terror of that fear was unbearable.
The old man slowly turned around. Staring at this imposing figure, Lin Feng's heart could not calm down for a long time.
Even now, he couldn't reconcile the stooped, hunched figure in his memory with the terrifying phantom standing before him. Their auras were worlds apart—separated by millions of miles.
Although Lin Feng had known the old man was extraordinary after he left, he never imagined he would be this powerful. He had even left a soul seal on Lin Feng, which activated when his life was in danger. A mere soul phantom had driven away an invincible venerable.
One word—"Scram"—and even a venerable had to obey.
"Old Man Xiao," Lin Feng called out. It was hard for him to imagine that the alchemy elder who had once spent time with him, the stooped old man who had helped heal his injuries, could be so powerful that a single word could drive away a venerable. It felt surreal.
Xue Linglong jumped back onto Lin Feng's shoulder. Tang Youyou also came up behind him. They were both shocked. Lin Feng actually knew such a powerful figure, and he hadn't even known that this expert had placed a seal on him to protect him.
Old Man Xiao nodded slightly at Lin Feng and sighed. "Lin Feng, your courage is truly remarkable."
Lin Feng smiled bitterly. It wasn't that he was brave. He hadn't wanted to fall into the demonic path either, but circumstances had left him no choice. He had to let the demonic sword control him.
"You're lucky. That guy tried to steal the chicken but lost the rice instead. He left the Demon Sealing Stele behind, which is perfect for suppressing the demonic sword on you. I'll remove the soul imprint on the stele, and then you can control it. That will temporarily seal the demonic sword. But this is only a temporary solution. In the long run, you need to grow stronger, take control of the demonic sword, and make it serve you. This disaster might just become your fortune."
Old Man Xiao spoke, and Lin Feng smiled wryly again. He really did seem lucky. But no matter how strong his luck was, without Old Man Xiao's appearance, he would have been dead for sure.
Old Man Xiao pressed his palm directly onto Lin Feng. Instantly, the Demon Sealing Stele shot out from Lin Feng's body, trying to flee into the distance.
The moment the stele appeared, a surge of demonic energy erupted from Lin Feng again. His eyes were filled with demonic light. The demonic sword was starting to lose control again, trying to dominate his will.
"Where do you think you're going?" Old Man Xiao roared. A terrifying soul force enveloped the Demon Sealing Stele. The stele trembled violently, and a ball of soul fire suddenly ignited, burning on its surface.
"Extinguish!"
Old Man Xiao spat out a cold word. A faint cracking sound echoed, as if something had shattered and been destroyed. The Demon Sealing Stele stopped trembling, floating calmly in place, radiating an aura of sealing power.
"Lin Feng, drip your blood onto the Demon Sealing Stele, then carve your soul imprint onto it. Claim it as your own."
Old Man Xiao shouted at Lin Feng. The sound struck Lin Feng like a thunderclap, jolting him awake. He cut his finger, letting blood drip onto the Demon Sealing Stele. Then, his soul force surged outward. In an instant, a brilliant light flowed across the stele. Lin Feng could clearly feel his connection to it.
"It really is a rare treasure." In that moment, Lin Feng sensed the stele's pulse. A fragment of memory inexplicably flooded into his mind—the knowledge of how to use the Demon Sealing Stele. This stele, like the demonic sword, had its own memory and life.
Without needing further instruction from Old Man Xiao, Lin Feng formed special hand seals and struck a force onto the Demon Sealing Stele. His eyes flashed with light as he roared, "Seal!"
"Boom!"
The Demon Sealing Stele trembled. A terrifying sealing power erupted. It was meant to seal demons. An illusory stele shadow flashed, and the Demon Sealing Stele directly plunged into Lin Feng's own body. It sealed the demonic sword, suppressing its demonic nature. Instantly, the demonic will on Lin Feng began to weaken. The demonic light in his eyes faded, growing clearer and clearer until clarity was restored.
"Hah..." Lin Feng exhaled a breath. He felt reborn. Inside his body now, there were two powerful treasures, but they were mutually restraining each other. If other experts found out, they would likely kill him to seize these two formidable artifacts.
"Alright. My time is almost up. Take care of yourself. Remember, true strength is always the foundation. Relying on external power is only temporary and could very well cost you your life." Old Man Xiao warned him, then added, "Remember to take good care of Xiao Ya for me."
"Old Man Xiao..." Lin Feng glanced at Meng Qing on his shoulder and called out. Old Man Xiao already knew what he wanted to ask. He said, "Of course your girlfriend can take human form again. I didn't tell you because your strength is too weak. If you knew and tried to do something beyond your ability, it would only harm you. If you want to save your girlfriend, grow stronger. Either that, or come find my true self in Holy City Central Continent. And remember, don't bring Xiao Ya with you."
With those words, Old Man Xiao's soul imprint gradually became illusory and finally vanished.
Lin Feng kept staring at the spot where Old Man Xiao's figure had disappeared, still finding it hard to believe. Xiao Ya's grandfather, Xiao Wutian—that stooped old alchemist—was this powerful. He had placed a seal on Lin Feng, probably worried that Lin Feng might encounter danger when he was with Xiao Ya. Xiao Ya herself likely had a soul imprint left by the old man as well.
"I didn't tell you because your strength is too weak." Lin Feng clenched his fists tightly. His strength was still too weak. At least compared to true experts, he was far too weak. He couldn't even protect himself, let alone his family and friends. He needed powerful strength. Only with strength could Meng Qing take human form again!
PS: Asking for support from brothers. Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. Brothers, finish reading and get some rest!