Chapter 455: Pulling a Tooth from the Tigers Mouth
Long Ye said slowly, "The Golden Roc Grand Sage rewards loyalty. He will protect anyone who works for him and he definitely won’t sacrifice them."
"If that’s the case, then what would he do?" Lin Feng looked at Yan Mingyue. Including Lin Feng, there were 5 human cultivators in the Cloud Forest World.
3 Demonic Saints came to the Cloud Forest World with Long Ye. Including the Virtuous Zen Master, there were just 9 people.
According to Long Ye, the Golden Roc Grand Sage had to sacrifice 9 Immortal Soul stage cultivators and Undying Demon Soul stage cultivators to obtain the Hades’ Dark Mantra.
Here, there was a hole for each carrot. They could not afford to have one fewer person. If the Golden Roc Grand Sage spared the Parasol Fairy, then who would fill the missing slot?
Furthermore, that was according to the most optimistic prediction where everyone was captured by the Golden Roc Grand Sage. If anyone managed to escape, then the shortfall would be greater.
Lin Feng thought for a while as the outline of an idea came to his mind. "The Golden Roc Grand Sage cannot predict the number of people who came into the Cloud Forest World. By sealing off the Cloud Forest World and then releasing the hound, he could at best secure the first batch of victims."
"Luck determines how many victims came in the first batch. Subsequently, he had to seal off the Cloud Forest World. If not, Long Ye and Yan Mingyue would be able to summon the Heavenly Charms Grand Sage and the Great Void Sect over."
The only exception was the Virtuous Zen Master. However, he was the exception rather than the norm.
In one aspect, he was tricked into coming by the monk Yuan Xiang. They could not trick another Immortal Soul stage cultivator into entering the world in such a short time.
On another hand, after the Golden Roc Grand Sage managed to take over the Middle World, Lin Feng clearly felt that in a split instant the white light tree canopy was weakened. That was probably when the Golden Roc Grand Sage opened a tiny path to allow the Virtuous Zen Master in.
With many power cultivators eyeing for an opening to break into the world, such an act was extremely risky and the chances of a screw-up were very high. The Golden Roc Grand Sage could not ensure that he would be able to stabilize the world each time without a break-in by the other cultivators.
"Hence, including the old monk, we have nine people exactly. For the Golden Grand Sage, that should be a cause for celebration," thought Lin Feng. "If that’s the case, then he should have made plans since the very beginning in case he could not get enough people."
Lin Feng even suspected that the Golden Roc Grand Sage could produce the Hades’ Dark Mantra even without a single person. However, it would be vastly more difficult and he must expend a huge amount of time and effort.
Hence, the entrance of the many cultivators and demons into the Cloud Forest World was a huge help to him.
Lin Feng and Yan Mingyue exchanged a glance. He saw Yan Mingyue’s eyes flashed and realized that they must have reached the same conclusion.
Long Ye looked at them and smiled slightly, "Guys, let us split from here. I’ve received word from my uncle. I’ll be going off to meet him."
Lin Feng’s pupils dilated. Strictly speaking, Long Ye was a demon. There was another level of separation between him and her as compared to him and Yan Mingyue.
However, everyone was in the same boat right now. Why was she so anxious to get off the boat?
Yan Mingyue tucked her hair behind her ears, looked at Long Ye and said smiling, "Is the Sirius Grand Sage near? Will you mind if we tag along too? The common enemy now is the Golden Roc Grand Sage. Together we stand, divided we fall."
Long Ye smiled, "That won’t be very wise. Sister Yan is so pretty. My uncle may want to devour you."
Lin Feng could not control his laughter. He just realized that the Sirius Grand Sage was infamous throughout both the Divine Lands and the Barren Expanses for one more thing.
The Sirius Grand Sage was the top ’sex wolf’ (Translator’s Note: This is a Chinese pun on the word ’pervert’, which can literally be translated into ’sex’ (色, sè) and ’wolf’ (狼, láng). The pun lies in the Sirius Grand Sage being a wolf-type demon) in the entire Grand Celestial World.) His lust was as infamous as his bloodlust.
Yan Mingyue looked at Long Ye, shook her head, and said, "Aren’t you fine?"
"That’s because my master protects me. If not, my uncle would have devoured me too a long time ago," Long Ye said as she plucked her eyebrows. "This time, I’m not even sure if I could return ’intact’ after this expedition with uncle."
Lin Feng’s smile disappeared off his face. He quietly looked at Long Ye and said suddenly, "if you die, then you don’t have to worry."
"Perhaps the Golden Roc Grand Sage has a plan to make up for the shortfall in manpower. However, the fewer people there are, the more difficult it will be," Lin Feng said calmly. "The old wolf said something that I agreed with. Since the Golden Roc needs us alive, a death on our side means that he will lose a potential sacrifice."
Lin Feng looked on calmly and without any expression. However, both Long Ye and Yan Mingyue could feel an ice-cold killing aura from him.
Lin Feng was not joking. This time, he actually considered murder because Long Ye’s behavior was abnormal.
Just as what Yan Mingyue had said, this was the time for the two sides to join forces to fight the common enemy, the Golden Roc Grand Sage. If they had any disagreements, they ought to settle them after settling the Golden Roc Grand Sage.
Earlier on, the Parasol Fairy appeared to have surrendered a little too easily. Lin Feng worried that Long Ye and the rest were plotting some devious trick that they did not want to share.
While Lin Feng believed that their trick was aimed at the Golden Roc Grand Sage, Lin Feng believed 100% that after their trick had succeeded, they would direct their energy to Lin Feng and company.
Yan Mingyue looked at Lin Feng without saying anything. She then stood by his side as the two of them faced Long Ye.
Long Ye appeared unworried. Instead, she smiled slightly and said, "Master Lin, I almost forgot to tell you something."
"Sister Yan is most proficient in the art of swordplay. Her swordplay could be counted as the one of the top few in the entire Great Void Sect. Even the legendary Lin Daohan could not match her."
Lin Feng’s killing intent disappeared almost immediately. In the end, he still chose to avoid an internal disagreement.
Long Ye’s words contained too much information. If what she said was true, Lin Feng could not afford to kill her.
"Master Lin, take care. Sister Yan, take care too. We’ll meet again soon." Laughing slightly, Long Ye slowly stepped back as her body turned into a ball of blue light and disappeared.
When Lin Feng decided to not kill her, Yan Mingyue followed naturally. She knew the extent of Long Ye’s powers. If she really wanted to go, no one could stop her.
Yan Mingyue turned to look at Lin Feng and said with a smile, "Long Ye was too kind. My mastery in the art of swordplay is superficial. Master Lin Daohan is the true swordplay master. He helped me out with my techniques when he had time."
Hearing that, Lin Feng said, "You are too modest."
Here, from the center of the white light tree canopy, another massive golden light shot up into the sky. The gold then gave way to a spectrum of colors.
A fire burned in the center of the pillar.
"That’s the third one," Lin Feng exchanged a glace with Yan Mingyue. He then said slowly, "I hope to make a trip to the center of the canopy. If you wish, you can leave."
Yan Mingyue’s eyes flashed and a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. "Would you mind if I tag along?"
Lin Feng said in a neutral tone, "That’s up to you." He made his move first as he flew towards the center of the white light tree canopy with the three light pillars. Yan Mingyue followed closely behind.
As Lin Feng flew, he felt his soul connecting with Mount Yujing.
The sudden change in the Cloud Forest World after the Golden Roc Grand Sage took over it prompted Lin Feng to sever his mental connection with Mount Yujing. Hence, no one on Mount Yujing knew what was going on.
Zhu Yi pacified the second-generation disciples before sending back to do their own cultivation. However, the few immediate disciples remained on the mountaintop.
Lin Feng’s soul appeared as a shadow on the mountain. Xiao Yan, Shi Tianhao, Zhu Yi and Yue Hongyan rushed forward immediately and greeted him, "Master."
"Today is your lucky day," Lin Feng smiled as he faced them. Xiao Yan and the rest could not help but look at each other with a stunned expression.
Lin Feng did not explain anything as he clapped his two hands together. The spell formation for the Two Elements of Creation Formation, the Kun Peng Pavilion, the Flame Dragon Celestial Armor and the Parasol Tree Wood Essence flew out separately.
The spell formation for the Two Elements of Creation Formation turned into a small ball of light as it flew into Zhu Yi’s forehead. Without saying anything, Zhu Yi stood unmovingly as he tried to understand the full formation. As he had similar experiences before, he was a lot more relaxed at that moment. However, the Two Elements of Creation Formation was too complicated and he needed to devote all his time to understand it.
The Kun Peng Pavilion shrunk in mid-air before it became a regular, human-sized pavilion. It landed before Shi Tianhao.
Shi Tianhao ascended the pavilion and he pushed its gates open. Within the pavilion, Lin Feng’s Steel Tree Avatar stood smiling at him.
The Flame Dragon Celestial Armor and the Parasol Tree Wood Essence flew before Yue Hongyan and Xiao Yan respectively. Lin Feng said, "One of you is still weak in mastery while the other one is severely injured. These two treasures are meant for your self-protection."
The Flame Dragon Celestial Armor strapped itself onto Yue Hongyan’s body. Its form changed immediately as it turned into a soft armor fit for female wearers. It made Yue Hongyan appear more awe-inspiring and martial.
Yue Hongyan had yet to form her Aurous Core. With her current mastery, she could not activate the Flame Dragon Celestial Armor. She depended mainly on Lin Feng’s Avatar of Ares to activate it.
Xiao Yan received the Parasol Tree Wood Essence. Immediately, he could feel it brimming with vitality and life. He felt a fire burning within it, which then caused the three primordial fires within him to stir.
He did not dare to test it out with his mana but instead, he lifted his head to look at Lin Feng. Lin Feng smiled and said, "Keep it and don’t be rash. It’ll help you."
"The two of you, follow Tianhao into the Kun Peng Pavilion. At the right time, the Kun Peng Pavilion will send you to the right place. There, remember to hunt for treasure separately."
Lin Feng looked at Shi Tianhao and Zhu Yi and said, "When the time is right, I’ll send the both of you off Mount Yujing. Then, you must make the most out of the situation."
After they had heard Lin Feng’s instructions, they nodded their heads in unison and said, "Yes, master."
Shi Tianhao smiled and asked, "Master, what goodie are we getting this time?"
Xiao Yan too asked curiously, "Master, you mentioned earlier that all the cultivators in the Cloud Forest World are in the Immortal Soul stage. Even if we have a few treasures with us, how do we pull the tooth from the tiger’s mouth?"
Lin Feng smiled, "Soon, you’ll know."