Chapter 58: The Unpredictable Human Heart

Jialan Academy.

Over a tenth of the academy’s buildings had collapsed. Wisps of black smoke rose from the countless ruins and broken walls. The roads were covered in deep cracks, and blood had seeped into the soil.

The smell of blood and burning fire permeated the air, acrid, suffocating, and foul.

Looking down from above, the entire Jialan Academy resembled a scarlet city, like a human purgatory.

In the academy’s square, Tang Haiyang directed his subordinates to set up a large, temporary tent.

The white curtain fluttered gently with the breeze, and sounds of sorrowful weeping echoed throughout the land.

Jia Tianyang stood proudly in the sky, his face filled with grief. He pointed at the tent and shouted sternly.

“Today marks the most tragic battle in our Jialan Academy’s hundred-year history. The laughable thing is that the person who caused this was originally a student of the academy!”

“From this day forward, all elders must be vigilant. If any subordinate shows signs of betrayal, no matter where they flee, they must be eliminated to prevent future trouble!”

“At the same time, I hope everyone remembers that Jialan Academy is not a place you can come and go as you please!”

Tang Haiyang said in a hoarse voice, “Reporting to the Sect Master, there is still a traitor hiding in Anjin City. Should this subordinate lead a team to eliminate him?”

Jia Tianyang squinted, a cunning and evil smile appearing in his eyes.

“Great Elder Tang, listen to my command. I order you to set out immediately, take ten Meridian Unblocking Realm masters, and the Vice Sect Master of the Soul Tomb Hall, Hun Tian, and head to Anjin City to execute the traitor!”

“This subordinate obeys!”

“All students of Jialan Academy, listen to my command! Kneel with me and mourn the fall of our Old Ancestor!”

…

Silent Ridge.

This place was as it always was, a gloomy and terrifying forbidden land.

The air was filled with a thick, sinister demonic aura. The pervasive demonic aura almost concealed the original deathly silence of the mountain forest. Layers of black mist lingered in the air, obscuring the demonic aura.

A hidden aura, like that of a heaven-defying evil god, quietly rippled out at this moment. Several figures sat around a cliff cave.

The Centipede Heavenly Daoist’s blood-red eyes showed endless pleasure. His long tongue licked across his entire face.

“So satisfying!”

“To think Jialan Academy holds such evil thoughts. I feel as if the world is already in my hands!”

Zhang Zhengyang gave a ferocious smile and knelt before the Centipede Heavenly Daoist.

“Congratulations, Master, on taking another step forward!”

The Centipede Heavenly Daoist raised his head slightly, his blood-red pupils piercing through the cave entrance to see the sky beyond. Behind the azure sky was the thing he had longed for his entire life.

“The day is not far off. Have you brought that person?”

Hearing this, Zhang Zhengyang’s gaze swept over the shadow behind him. A single glance was enough to make the other’s figure unsteady.

Wan Shaohui grunted and took three steps back, “Senior Brother Zhang… I have brought Lin Jintian back!”

“Since you’ve brought him, why haven’t you presented him to Master!”

At this moment, Lin Jintian was covered in wounds, blood gushing out, and his body exuded a deep evil intent.

The Centipede Heavenly Daoist opened his blood-red eyes. An invisible cold wind rustled his hair, making the strands dance.

“How interesting. A self-proclaimed man of justice actually hides so many evil thoughts within his body!”

The Centipede Heavenly Daoist gave an arrogant laugh and couldn’t help but sigh.

“The hearts of you humans are truly hard to see through!”

Although the Centipede Heavenly Daoist was called a Daoist, he was actually a centipede spirit who had eaten his master’s body to transform into a cultivator. In essence, he was still a ruthless centipede.

Zhang Zhengyang’s face turned pale, but then he was suddenly overjoyed.

“Master, what should we do with this person?”

The Centipede Heavenly Daoist closed his eyes in contentment, taking deep, rhythmic breaths.

“Absorb his evil thoughts. I still need him to do something big!”

With that, Zhang Zhengyang and Wan Shaohui imitated the Centipede Heavenly Daoist, devouring the endless stream of evil thoughts from Lin Jintian’s body.

……………

An hour ago.

Lin Jintian had found the Qingyang Black Ape alone. This ape was the culprit who had killed his parents twenty years ago.

Ever since his parents’ death, Lin Jintian had buried the belief of revenge deep in his heart.

One year, two years… a full twenty years passed. Everyone had forgotten that great battle of the past; only he remembered it in his heart.

Gradually, the desire for revenge nurtured a heart demon within him, giving birth to monstrous evil thoughts.

When Lin Jintian found the Qingyang Black Ape, the ape, which had only been at the first level of the Meridian Unblocking Realm, had actually broken through to the fifth level in these twenty years.

Lin Jintian had only just broken through to the first level of the Meridian Unblocking Realm.

He had thought that with the Immortal Fire Talisman Xu Lingqing had given him, it would be enough to destroy the Qingyang Black Ape and avenge his parents.

But… he had underestimated the Qingyang Black Ape’s defense.

Under normal circumstances, an Immortal Fire Talisman could indeed instantly kill a fifth-level Meridian Unblocking Realm ferocious beast.

However, his opponent was the Qingyang Black Ape. Having been nourished in the flame-wreathed mountains for years, it had developed a restraining antibody to fire-attribute attacks.

The Immortal Fire Talisman rained down dozens of immortal flames, almost burning the entire mountain to the ground. The Qingyang Black Ape was also burned all over, on the verge of death.

Suddenly, the Qingyang Black Ape’s eyes filled with pain and anger. With its last ounce of strength, it slammed its fist into Lin Jintian’s stomach.

The Qingyang Black Ape fainted on the spot. Lin Jintian, heavily injured, was taken away by Zhang Zhengyang and the others.

…

“Baby Lingqing, I’ve prepared new clothes for you!”

Chen Anping spent another ten thousand on the game, drawing several sets of Profound-grade armor.

He even forcefully interrogated the game system, making it repair the pair of violet-gold wings he had previously given to Xu Lingqing.

Since he was young, he had always had one dream: to hold his girlfriend and fly into the sky, overlooking this beautiful world.

[Do you want to spend ¥888 to repair the broken Violet-Gold Wings?]

“Yes! Charge it!”

[Repairing Violet-Gold Wings…]

Inside the cave, Xu Lingqing changed into a brand-new set of clothes. A pair of violet-gold wings were embedded in her back, and the Eternal Love necklace on her neck had a half-petal attached.

She pouted with a smile, a thought popping into her head.

Hee hee hee…

‘Senior’ must like seeing Lingqing dressed like this~

Xu Lingqing’s mind grew shy. She circulated her spiritual energy to control the Violet-Gold Wings, attempting to fly into the sky.

Because her strength had increased too quickly, she hadn’t had time to learn how to fly. She lost her balance and fell to the ground.

She scratched her head in embarrassment, “Senior, Lingqing is too clumsy, I’m not very good at flying…”

[Baby Lingqing is not clumsy!]

With that, she felt a pair of invisible hands brush past her cheeks, wiping away the dirt that stained them.

‘Senior’…

How could you secretly touch me…

Xu Lingqing tightly closed her eyes, her heart pounding like a frightened deer. She shyly lowered her gaze, but the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curve up slightly.

Chen Anping had no idea what she was thinking. If he knew, he would surely reply.

“Baby Lingqing, I’m doing it openly and honorably!”

Only when Xu Lingqing felt the hands disappear did she open her eyes and look at the sky.

“Senior, don’t worry. Lingqing will definitely learn to fly as soon as possible, and then fly up to the sky to find you!”

[End of Chapter]