Chapter 167

Thanks to the sword embryo, Ai Hui had long become accustomed to having control over the surrounding movements . His six senses were sharper and better than most master elementalists’ . Even the high-altitude, noiseless blood bats could not escape him .

But the voice behind him was like a ghost appearing from nowhere .

He detected nothing until he heard it .

He was shocked, but his real-life combat experience benefited him at such a time . Before his brain had time to process the situation, he had already launched his Dragonspine Inferno behind him out of instinct .

But it was empty . The Dragonspine Inferno caught nothing .

“So it’s you, One Thousand Yuan boy . ” A lady’s sweet, sticky voice sounded from before him .

Ai Hui raised his head . He knew not when, but a woman dressed in red smiled at him while standing on the branch that had entrapped the elementalist . She sat down easily, her red dress like a waterfall .

“It’s you!”

Ai Hui was utterly shocked . It was the same lady in red whom he had met in front of the noodle shop .

“Seeing an old friend makes me so happy . ” She looked Ai Hui up and down with excitement . “Those who came before were either old or ugly; you look the best . See, you didn’t pay me, but I said you’re pretty . ”

Ai Hui’s mental state was highly tense . The lady in red had unfathomable powers . Plus, it seemed . . .

His gaze fell on the branch below her . The tree roots which had been so wild before were now quiet and placid . But recalling how they had sucked that elementalist dry earlier, the sight before him frightened him still .

His throat dried up and his heart pounded increasingly fast, but he forced himself to remain calm . “Who are you?”

“I’m a beauty!” the lady answered matter-of-factly before blinking . “Didn’t you say that? Beautiful as a fairy . ”

She then shook her head, feigning sadness . “Men are heartless, forgetting what they’ve said just a few days prior? Indeed, if you want to trust a man’s words, you might as well believe that there’s a ghost in this world . Spending a thousand yuan is useless!”

Finishing her sentence, she was unable to restrain a smile .

Ai Hui did not relax in the slightest . The tree roots remained still and the surrounding forest was quiet, but the pretty and flirtatious lady before his eyes was immeasurably powerful . Her laughter tinkled like silver bells, reverberating around the woods .

“You planted the blood poison?” Ai Hui swallowed his saliva and kept his cool .

“I’m not that capable . ” The lady looked Ai Hui up and down again before continuing, “Blackie died in your hands, right? I smelled his scent on your body earlier . ”

“Blackie?” Ai Hui opened his eyes wide and dared not loosen up .

“The blood fiend baby that I’m keeping . It’s a very powerful bat . ” The lady was doubtful . “How strange . You’re not that strong, so how did you kill Blackie?”

Ai Hui’s scalp started to feel numb . He finally understood why he met her in front of the noodle shop . She was trying to track down that blood bat!

“Whatever!” The young lady stretched . “You killed Blackie, so you must be more powerful . I only like powerful things! Plus, how interesting—beautiful as a fairy! I feel so shy! Don’t worry, follow me in the future, and I’ll let you have a good life . ”

Interesting… it was his first time being called interesting .

Ai Hui was not happy at all . Instead, he was trying to find an opportunity to escape, but the situation was not in his favor .

Her power was unpredictable . He was unable to detect her presence even when she was close by . The same was true for when she flew up to the branches . Moreover, the surrounding roots and vines did not affect her, but they were fatal to him .

Then the dense weeds, thick like walls, were natural obstructions blocking his path .

On his way here, he had carefully avoided the weeds’ serrated edges when pushing through . The moment he got cut meant a dead end for him . There was absolutely no antidote for the blood poison at this point .

The hope for a direct and successful escape was very slim .

As for any regrets he had over his decision to risk his life like this, it was meaningless to think of it now .

He was thankful only that the lady did not attack him directly . Perhaps she had insufficient experience, perhaps it was deliberate, or perhaps it was a game to her . No matter the reason, stalling for time was a good option in his current situation .

There was no lack of strong elementalists this time . If they happened to pass by, he could take the chance to escape .

All right!

Ai Hui’s mind was turning rapidly, but his face showed no sign of it . Rapidly formulating a plan, he initiated, “Why are you guys doing this?”

“Why?” The lady in red asked naively, “Then why are you training?”

“To control my own destiny,” Ai Hui responded .

“Control your own destiny?” The lady in red gave a blank stare but soon started laughing happily . “I like this saying! Indeed, you’re worthy of being my subordinate . How interesting . ”

“And you guys—why?” Ai Hui asked in a low tone .

“Only God can control his own destiny . ” The lady in red looked Ai Hui over again, her gaze flickering . “How can ordinary beings struggle free from fate’s stocks and chains? Of course, they can choose a better lock . For example, becoming my underling will ensure a bright future . Think about it? I like it when people act according to their wishes!”

“And then I’ll be sucked dry like him?” Ai Hui replied coldly while pointing at the desiccated corpse on the ground .

“You killed him . ” The lady’s smiling face was like a flower . Seeing Ai Hui’s look of disbelief, she continued unhurriedly, “Although he was trapped, it was actually his good fortune . Do not look down on these bloods . They are the spiritual essence of countless blood insects and beasts, and maybe a thousand or ten thousand of them entered his body . Don’t you think that’s good fortune? If he had survived, his strength would have increased exponentially, much faster than your training . Are you moved? Do you want to control your own destiny? How can you do it without power? I can give you power—much more than what you have now! How about it? Are you moved?”

Hearing this, it was as if raging waves had hit his chest . He was no longer able to remain calm . “You guys swallowed all of the blood insects, treating them as nutrients, and gather them into a human body… . ”

“A human body? No no no!” The lady in red shook her head like a rattle-drum . “No one can endure the power of so many blood insects . Even God can’t do it . Humans mustn’t be so greedy!

“Maybe you have the gift!” She sized Ai Hui up before continuing, “I’ll let you try later, don’t worry . I’m very generous . If you want it, I’ll give it to you . ”

The lady gave a charming expression and winked at Ai Hui .

Ai Hui finally understood why the forest was so deathly still and silent . He felt a chill in his body, an incorporeal hand firmly strangling his throat .

The events currently unfolding completely subverted all of his knowledge .

Clap!

A sound like that of a watermelon splitting suddenly rang out from deep within the forest .

“Hey, these people have such weak essence . ” The lady was clearly displeased . “They can’t even endure such little blood spiritual force? Useless . God wouldn’t even want such rubbish . The greatest contribution trash can make is to become nutrition for a genius . Sigh, there’s enough nutrients but not enough talents . Hey, are you a genius?”

Ai Hui sharply inhaled in an attempt to restrain the throbbing of his heart .

That exploding sound couldn’t have been an elementalist who had failed to endure the infusion of blood spiritual force… .

Wait!

Blood spiritual force!

Ai Hui soon grasped the crux of the matter . Blood spiritual force—spiritual force! Having disappeared for over a thousand years, the once-resplendent and magnificent spiritual force had actually reappeared… .

This isn’t real… .

“Spiritual force, you said?” Ai Hui asked hoarsely . His state of mind was utterly unguarded at this point . He even forgot about escaping .

Because of spiritual force .

He knew what its reappearance meant .

His sword techniques and secrets could be of use . The countless sword manuals he had read that were covered in grime and regarded as rubbish could be useful again . Their dust-covered brilliance, scattered into years of legends and folklores, would reemerge on this land .

The extinct cultivators would reclaim their world . Be it the Avalon of Five Elements or the Wilderness, neither were worth mentioning in front of them . No one would be able to stop the cultivators .

Impossible…

“Yes . ” The lady smiled . “Looking forward to it? Cultivation is becoming a long-forgotten term . Look, we’re finally able to recover our legacy . How about it? Are you all fired up? Probably getting impatient… . ”

All of a sudden, with great strength, Ai Hui charged towards Central Pine City like a launched arrow .

“Men are full of empty words!”

The indistinct voice travelled from behind Ai Hui . Her breath was fragrant and stuck close to his body .

A cold ray flashed past Ai Hui’s eyes . Without a sound, the Dragonspine Inferno struck backward from his left underarm .

Fell through again!

Damn it!

Things were not looking good . Without waiting for Ai Hui to turn around, the voice sounded once again from the back of his neck .

“Know why I’m talking to you for so long? So much trash is bothersome enough, so I’m just waiting for these trees to recover, and I can prepare a big meal for you . Am I not especially nice to you?”

Without warning, Ai Hui braked and with the power of both legs, lunged himself backwards with all his might .

[Arching Fish Back]!

But it was once again fruitless . Ai Hui’s heart dropped .

The voice came from behind his neck again . The lady stuck onto him, her puffs of breath landing just above his ears .

“Although I like it when people act according to their wishes, if they can’t do it, I find it tasteful to force myself upon them too . One Thousand Yuan boy, I will make you comfortable . ”

Ai Hui’s body tensed as suddenly, his body was bound by the root-like objects . The immense force made his body lose all control, and with how tightly he was wrapped, he felt himself losing consciousness .

.

Was he going to die?

Or become a monster?

Ai Hui’s limbs were ice-cold .