“Lingyu Changqing, Shūhū Second Level.”
“Junior Luo Hongyan, 4th Tier of the Moment Realm Cultivator, greets Senior Venerable of the Other Shore.”
Compared to Changqing’s casualness, Luo Hongyan was much more respectful.
Although she was no longer as surprised as when she first met the Venerable, Changqing could still tell that she was very reverent and cautious when facing such a powerful being.
She had already speculated that the Blood Arts cultivator must have been at least of the instant realm, but seeing the legendary Venerable with her own eyes, shock was still inevitable.
Even if it was a fallen Evil Lord.
Because her Face had been cast with molten iron and pierced by those threads, Dan Ji couldn't make any movements or expressions, so she responded.
“How did you two little baby get here?”
“The two of us are…” Luo Hongyan was about to speak when Changqing patted her shoulder, interrupting her, and then said.
“Senior, why don’t you first explain why you fabricated a false Soul Exchange and Body Seizure method? You really tricked Liu Lu terribly.”
Hearing Changqing’s words, Dan Ji burst out laughing.
“Is that so? When that little snake came not long ago, this Venerable noticed her Divine Soul was unstable, her spirit was erratic, almost insane. It seems you two played a part in that?”
“Doesn’t that just suit Senior’s intentions?”
It was a pity Dan Ji couldn’t make any expressions, otherwise the two would have surely exchanged a knowing smile like two old foxes.
“That so-called Soul Exchange and Body Seizure method was indeed fabricated by this Venerable to deceive that little snake, for no particular reason. This Venerable also knows that I am destined to be trapped here for many years, so I just used her for some fun.”
“Whenever she was helpless before the writing, wanting to believe but not daring to, and desperately questioning this Venerable to no avail, this Venerable found it extremely amusing.”
Changqing considered it for a moment, feeling that Dan Ji’s words were half-truths.
“Perhaps that Soul Exchange and Body Seizure method is indeed false, but for a Venerable of her status, she wouldn’t have such low-level tastes.”
“More likely, it was to preserve her life from Liu Lu’s hands. After all, she gave Liu Lu the method for Soul Exchange and Body Seizure, so Liu Lu wouldn’t easily kill her.”
The reason Changqing negotiated with Dan Ji instead of Luo Hongyan was that he worried Luo Hongyan’s overly honest answers would completely surrender the initiative in the negotiation to Dan Ji.
So he continued to ask.
“Does Senior know what that strange snake-like mass outside is?”
“You mean that Ling Embryo?”
Dan Ji’s tone carried disdain.
“That little snake went mad long ago, attempting to defy Heaven and change her fate, to rewrite her Bloodline, wanting to use Blood Law to create a new body for herself.”
“What a joke. With her Blood Law attainments, she could only create a Ling Embryo that is neither human nor ghost.”
“That Ling Embryo constantly produces offspring daily, but what it gives birth to are all abominations rejected by Heaven. I doubt any of them succeeded.”
Changqing recalled the placenta he saw being born from the snake mass when he first entered the cave, and the dead infant that was neither human nor snake within it, and he understood.
“However, if Liu Lu didn’t rely on any Imperial Spirit and only on herself, she wouldn’t have been able to create that Ling Embryo, right?”
Dan Ji didn’t hide it, “That’s right. She took a Blood Demon Spirit from this Venerable back then. She used that Blood Demon Spirit and this Venerable’s flesh and blood to create that Ling Embryo.”
His speculation confirmed, Changqing felt relieved.
Everything had gone smoothly so far. Liu Lu’s resurrection was indeed due to the Blood Demon Spirit, the Soul Exchange and Body Seizure method originated from Dan Ji and was her fabrication, and Dan Ji was powerful and could be utilized.
Everything was consistent with his predictions.
Now, what he needed to do was to use Dan Ji to obtain a method to counteract the Blood Demon Spirit.
“May I ask Senior if you can tell us how to restrain the Blood Demon Spirit?”
“Oh? It seems you already have a way to deal with Liu Lu? You’re just worried about her Blood Demon Spirit?”
Dan Ji chuckled.
“Dealing with Liu Lu isn’t that troublesome. If you release this Venerable, I can crush her as easily as an ant. Then, this Venerable will take you both out of here. How about it?”
Changqing and Luo Hongyan exchanged glances, both shaking their heads at each other.
If Liu Lu’s danger level was a wolf, Dan Ji was practically a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
All three were intelligent. Although Luo Hongyan was kind and straightforward, her thinking was sharp. Changqing was gloomy and cunning, with a meticulous mind. Dan Ji was an old monster who had lived for who knows how many years, wise from age.
So, they tacitly avoided mentioning their respective goals, because everyone knew that the other party also wanted to escape from the Hundred Flowers Cave.
Now, both sides’ demands were clear. Changqing and his companion had their own way to deal with Liu Lu. To reduce risk, they only needed to get a method to counteract the Blood Demon Spirit from Dan Ji.
Dan Ji’s demand was for the two of them to release her. In return, she would eliminate Liu Lu and take them both away.
It sounded like an enticing, all-at-once condition.
But this was akin to playing with fire.
Not to mention whether releasing her was an easy task or what price it would require, the main question was, what then, after she was released?
Luo Hongyan had said before that Blood Arts cultivators must be on the Evil Path.
Dan Ji’s hands were surely stained with countless blood, bearing innumerable lives.
How could such a person be expected to keep her promise? If Liu Lu was an ant to her, then he and Luo Hongyan would be even less than ants.
In other words, only when Dan Ji was imprisoned here did they have the right to negotiate with her. Once she regained her freedom, this transaction would collapse due to the immense disparity in their strength.
“Senior, you jest. If you regain your freedom, that would truly be a tiger entering the deep mountains, a dragon returning to the vast sea. Our small agreement, Senior might easily forget, I’m afraid. How about we cooperate in a different way?”
Dan Ji suddenly grinned.
“Boy, do you think you’re very clever?”
“I have roamed the world for hundreds of years, with plenty of time and means. Do you think that just because I’m trapped here now, and can’t do anything to you, you have the right to speak to me as an equal?”
“Do you think a small Liu Lu can live for many years? How long can she imprison me?”
“Even if you don’t help me, I will get out sooner or later. When that time comes, no matter if you flee to the ends of the earth, I have ways to find you through your Bloodline. I will kill this little girl first, then kill you.”
“If you’re lucky, and you’re already dead by then, I will kill your entire family, kill your relatives and friends, kill your descendants, kill the descendants of your relatives and friends, leaving no one.”
“Release me, and in my great mercy, I might even take you with me to escape from here.”
“If you don’t release me, you are destined to die. Even if you escape, it will be the same, understand?”
Her words were filled with a sense of oppression. She had expected Changqing to be scared stiff, or to put on a brave Face and then subtly negotiate with her for a promise.
But Changqing ignored her and turned to leave with Luo Hongyan.
“Boy, have you thought this through?”
Dan Ji’s voice came from behind.
Luo Hongyan also pulled Changqing’s sleeve.
“A Venerable’s methods are beyond ordinary imagination. It’s not just an empty threat. Shouldn’t we reconsider?”
Changqing stopped after hearing her.
“To get out, Senior must agree to one condition of mine.”