Chapter 2069 - 2070: Elusive and Illusory

The previous battle had moved from outside into the canyon; outside, there were far too many bodies, scattered by the beasts. Those corpses are now in disarray.

Ling Zhenfei sighed deeply. Well-trained cultivators had ventured to the Foreign Land only to meet such tragic ends. Had they known the outcome, perhaps many would have abandoned the pursuit of the elusive Heavenly God Sword.

Ling Zhenfei looked around the canyon. The foreign races were gone, but Lan Yan and Sun Wei were nowhere to be found.

Initially, Ling Zhenfei wanted to search for them, but he was too exhausted now. If he encountered a Demon Hunter, who knew what might happen.

He took out the walkie-talkie to contact them, but reconsidering the loud sound it makes, realized it might alert any hiding foreign races. So he put it away.

Right now, the most important thing for Ling Zhenfei is to enhance his strength. Reaching the Pursue Heart State might heal his wounds.

The last time, when he ascended from the Zhiyi Boundary to the Dawen Realm, his injuries healed.

But with such dangers surrounding him now, where could he go to reach the Pursue Heart State?

Another major question is whether his current condition can withstand the intense pressure during the promotion to the Pursue Heart State. Ling Zhenfei wasn't sure, so it would be best to consult an experienced cultivator.

But who to ask? Thinking about it, he realized he didn't know anyone at the Pursue Heart State, until Song Yun came to mind.

Song Yun's strength is undoubtedly formidable, but despite having met twice, he wasn't sure Song Yun would treat him kindly.

That thought led Ling Zhenfei to venture deeper into the canyon, where it was teeming with other cultivators, making it relatively safer.

Ling Zhenfei slowly made his way inside, his body still frail and not suited for strenuous activity.

Walking, however, was feasible.

Entering the canyon, previously, due to panic, he hadn't taken in the surroundings.

The canyon's east, west, and south were gates.

They had entered from the East Gate and followed the crowd westward until they reached a junction where the east, west, and south intersect. From this junction, they could go north to where the Heavenly God Sword was discovered.

Ling Zhenfei proceeded, and the South Gate had indeed been breached. Like the East Gate, bodies lay scattered, with people scavenging through them.

Such is the cruel reality—comrades who once fought side by side now had their belongings claimed by others upon death. Often, the bodies weren't even buried, left exposed to be scavenged by wild beasts.

Ling Zhenfei did not head towards the West Gate but followed the crowd deeper into the valley.

The valley was already quite populated, filled with cultivators. With the battle over, it was time for harvest, drawing many toward the Heavenly God Sword's location.

Yet everyone halted here.

Ling Zhenfei asked someone why they didn't proceed, and he was told it's because the foreign races set many traps and restrictions ahead, making passage impossible. Major sects were working on dismantling them.

Nodding in understanding, Ling Zhenfei realized that the foreign races wouldn't easily let others acquire the Heavenly God Sword.

Finding a spot to sit, Ling Zhenfei began cultivating. This place was perhaps the safest now, perfect for cultivation, even offering potential for breakthroughs.

He had just started when suddenly a group entered from outside, approaching Ling Zhenfei and stopping beside him.

"Before you even see the Heavenly God Sword, you're already like this. I'm disappointed," a voice sneered.

Opening his eyes, Ling Zhenfei saw Blood Son and members of the Blood Oath Sect standing before him, with Blood Son mocking him.

Among the crowd, he spotted Ru Meng, exactly her usual stoic self, as if completely unfamiliar with Ling Zhenfei.

Blood Son noticed Ling Zhenfei had opened his eyes and chuckled, pulling Ru Meng into his embrace.

Ru Meng stayed expressionless in Blood Son's arms, not resisting.

Blood Son fiercely pulled Ru Meng closer, arrogantly saying, "What's the matter? I'm still pondering your words from Xianling Mountain, but seeing you now, it seems really challenging."

Ling Zhenfei looked from Ru Meng to Blood Son and said, "I will reclaim what's mine."

Blood Son laughed, "What will you reclaim? Do you have the capability, especially with your injuries now?"

Ling Zhenfei replied, "These wounds are from charging forward, not hiding at the rear."

Blood Son sneered, "Kid, let me be clear. If not for us taking the South Gate, do you think you would have defeated those foreign races so easily?"

Ling Zhenfei was taken aback, not expecting the South Gate to be conquered by the Blood Oath Sect. Given its strategic location opposite the canyon's back entrance, it held the best position.

With the finest location, the foreign races obviously understood, ensuring stringent defenses.

The strongest factions, Tianling Spirit Palace and the Cultivators Alliance, both avoided attacking here, leaving the Blood Oath Sect to assault it.

But it's not that the Blood Oath Sect was stronger than Tianling Spirit Palace or the Cultivators Alliance. The conquest of the South Gate was partly due to the break at the East Gate.

Once Tianling Spirit Palace breached the East Gate, it allowed them to move smoothly to the South Gate, encircling the foreign races at the South Gate. If one gate is breached, keeping the other two closed is unlikely.

Ling Zhenfei said, "Without the breach at the East Gate, you wouldn't have broken the South Gate."

Blood Son said, "Why am I telling you this? You're a dead man anyway. I repay scores; I will never forget what happened in Xianling Mountain's forest."

Ling Zhenfei knew Blood Son wouldn't spare him. Although so many were present, surely the Blood Oath Sect wouldn't act openly?

Ling Zhenfei said, "Cultivators have a rule against mutual slaughter. Do you intend to break it?"

Blood Son said, "Rules? I am the rule. For killing others, I might ponder, but for nameless whelps like you, there's no need for complications."

With that, Blood Son reached towards Ling Zhenfei.

At this moment, Blood Son had already attained the Pursue Heart State; Ling Zhenfei, unable to utilize Northern Spiritual Energy, was essentially powerless to stop Blood Son. Killing Ling Zhenfei now was as easy as eating.