txolops Chapter 74 Lei Peng
Chapter 74 Lei Peng
Life returned to its mundane rhythm—either listening to music at the Miaoyinmen branch on Kuixing Island or watching football. Life was simple and unpretentious, even a little boring.
On this day, Han Xiaoliu finally received the materials he had ordered, and a smile immediately spread across his face as he hurried home with light steps.
When he left Miaoyin Pavilion, he didn't look back. His back was clean and decisive, just like a scumbag who had just dumped his ex-girlfriend, without the slightest bit of lingering affection.
Back at his lodgings, he eagerly opened his storage bag and took out several deep-sea blood fish: their bodies were translucent and crimson, their scales refracting a faint light like glass, and their bodies were wriggling slightly, as if they were still alive.
This fish is a rare monster from the outer seas of the Chaotic Star Realm. It is skilled at camouflage and can hide in the seawater. Its flesh is extremely delicious, and even Nascent Soul stage monsters drool over it.
A slight smile played on his lips as he whispered, "Senior, are you ready to explode with gold coins?"
Before the words were even finished, his figure suddenly blurred—the Netherworld Earth Escape was activated!
The earth was like water, and he silently sank into the ground, disappearing in an instant.
When they reappeared, they were in a vast underground space deep within the heart of Kui Xing Island.
This place is over a hundred feet high, with the dome hidden in the darkness. The four walls are covered with layers of ancient array patterns—spirit-absorbing patterns, sealing talismans, soul-suppressing spells... densely packed, weaving together a net of restrictions that covers the entire cave.
The air was thick with the aura of thunder and evil, and with each breath it felt as if an electric current was coursing through one's meridians.
In the center of the space, a colossal shadow floated silently.
It was a demonic body tens of feet tall—a human-faced bird with an aged yet majestic appearance, its eyes as calm as an ancient well. Though its pair of tattered giant wings were pierced by iron chains, they still faintly crackled with silvery-white lightning.
Several giant iron chains, formed from the power of the array, pierced through his shoulder blades, spine, and the base of his wings, embedding themselves deeply into the rock wall. Like living conduits, they continuously drew upon the remaining demonic power within him, transforming it into energy to maintain the protective array of Kui Xing Island.
This demonic beast was none other than Lei Peng, the former king of demonic beasts who had been sealed away by the Twin Saints of the Heavenly Stars for hundreds of years.
Han Xiaoliu stood on the outer safety line of the formation and laughed loudly, "Senior, did you miss me?"
Lei Peng slowly turned his head, and a faint, yet genuine, tenderness flickered in his empty, lifeless eyes.
It's been hundreds of years.
Since being suppressed here, he had long resigned himself to his fate, thinking that the rest of his life would be spent in this dark and sunless place, being drained of his last bit of spiritual power like a battery, until he turned into a skeleton.
Unexpectedly, a few months ago, I encountered this strange young man.
At that time, Han Xiaoliu was using earth escape to rush downhill. When he passed the sealed land, Lei Peng thought it was a spy sent by the Star Palace to monitor him.
But the boy didn't even glance at it, and plunged straight into the deeper ley lines—Lei Peng sighed inwardly at the time, "This silly boy, burrowing so deep, he'll probably run out of spiritual energy before he even escapes Kui Xing Island."
Who would have thought that half a day later, that guy would actually escape back to the surface from underground by the same route!
Lei Peng then realized with a start: this boy's escape technique was extraordinary.
Even more bizarrely, in the days that followed, Han Xiaoliu traveled back and forth underground as if walking in his own backyard.
Once, twice... Lei Peng's curiosity was finally completely piqued.
On one of Han Xiaoliu's return journeys, Lei Peng secretly activated a wisp of his remaining supernatural power to "lure" him into this place.
That's how the two met.
Now, upon seeing him again, Lei Peng's voice was deep and resonant, like thunder rumbling from the earth, yet it carried a hint of familiar teasing:
"Young man, did you bring any wine with you today?"
Seeing that Lei Peng was in a good mood, Han Xiaoliu took the opportunity to rub his hands together and asked with a grin, "Senior, I've been studying the 'Blood Demon Body Tempering Technique' you gave me last time—can humans cultivate this technique?"
Lei Peng was slowly licking the bloody fish juice remaining on his fingertips when he heard this. He paused, slowly raised his eyelids, and a flash of lightning appeared in his eyes.
"That is an ancient secret method of the demon race," he said in a deep voice, with a hint of solemnity. "By refining the essence blood of demon beasts, one can not only temper one's physical body, but also seize their original talents—speed, poison resistance, stealth, regeneration... and even some bloodline supernatural abilities can be inherited through blood."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across Han Xiaoliu like lightning: "But the price is enormous. Every drop of demon blood refined accumulates a portion of malevolent energy. As one cultivates to a deeper level, one gradually loses their mind, eventually becoming a bloodthirsty beast, unable even to recognize their own kin. Countless proud demon kings have ultimately gone mad and self-destructed, leaving no trace of their bodies."
Han Xiaoliu's eyes lit up upon hearing this, but he quickly frowned again: "But the problem is... this is a demon race technique! Mortals' meridians are too weak, can they even practice it? What if they turn themselves into a dried-up corpse before they even cultivate their bloodline supernatural powers?"
Lei Peng chuckled, his tone slightly sarcastic: "You do have some self-awareness, at least."
Han Xiaoliu scratched his head, no longer dwelling on the matter, and instead took out a lively deep-sea blood fish from his storage bag. The fish's body was as red as blood jade, and there was a faint mist flowing under its scales. It was a fresh creature that had just been caught.
With a flick of his wrist, he gently tossed the blood fish into the sealing barrier.
The blood fish drew a red arc in the air, and before it landed, it was caught steadily by a giant claw covered with lightning patterns.
"Deep-sea bloodfish...good stuff!" A hint of surprise flashed in Lei Peng's eyes. He opened his mouth and swallowed the whole fish, chewing it with a crunching sound, bones and scales alike. He stuck out his long, scarlet tongue, licked the corner of his mouth with lingering satisfaction, and let out a deep, contented sound.
A moment later, he narrowed his eyes, glanced sideways at Han Xiaoliu, and his tone suddenly became playful: "Kid, you're quite the player. Last time I casually mentioned that 'it's been centuries since I've tasted fresh blood fish,' and today you've practically delivered yourself to my doorstep... So, tell me, what are you up to?"
Han Xiaoliu chuckled, rubbing his hands together with an "innocent" expression: "Senior, could you give me some of your essence blood? Just one drop! No more!"
The voice hasn't fallen
"roar--!!"
Lei Peng suddenly leaped up, his wings spread wide, and lightning crackled all around him like a thousand snakes dancing wildly! The iron chains piercing his body were pulled by tremendous force, emitting a piercing metallic wail. The entire underground space was instantly filled with violent lightning power, and the array patterns on the rock walls flickered wildly, almost collapsing!
"Kid! Are you looking for death?!"
His eyes were bloodshot, his fangs bared, and there was no trace of warmth left in them, only boundless rage and murderous intent.
It was a furious outburst of anger at having violated the most sacred taboo.
Han Xiaoliu was so startled that he almost fell to the ground. He quickly raised his hands and said, "Senior, please calm down! Please calm down! Why are you so angry? Do you think I'm the kind of person who would covet your essence blood to refine treasures?"
He glanced left and right to make sure no one was watching, then immediately lowered his voice and spoke quickly using a secret telepathic method:
"I have a treasure... capable of giving birth to life through blood! Not a puppet, but a true continuation of blood! I've seen you here all alone for hundreds of years, without even a descendant to talk to... so... I wanted to leave you a keepsake!"
Lei Peng's angry expression froze on his face.
The lightning slowly subsided, the iron chains drooped, and he slowly turned his head, his eyes shifting from rage to astonishment, then to unbelievable absurdity, and finally... he burst out laughing.
"Ha...hahaha!" He laughed so hard his shoulders shook, even the chains jingled. "You brat, you don't even bother to think before you start making up lies? I, Lei Peng, have roamed the chaotic star sea for three thousand years, I've seen all kinds of treasures, but I've never heard of any 'blood-nurturing' treasure!"
He turned his back, folded his wings, and said in a cold, hard tone: "No matter how eloquently you describe it, essence blood—absolutely impossible!"
Han Xiaoliu sighed, offering no argument, and simply shrugged: "Fine. Seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving. Next time I'll bring a 'sample' so you can see for yourself. That way you won't always think I'm trying to extract your heart's blood to refine pills."
After saying that, he sank his feet, activated the Netherworld Earth Escape Technique, and his figure vanished like smoke, quickly disappearing into the depths of the earth.
The underground space returned to silence.
Lei Peng remained motionless, like a stone statue.
Only after confirming that Han Xiaoliu's aura had completely disappeared at the end of the earth's veins did he slowly turn around and look at the empty ground.
There stood that audacious, glib-tongued boy, who inexplicably softened his heart.
His eyes were extremely complex: there was vigilance, there was suspicion, but also a hint of... an undisguised wavering.
"Offspring..." he murmured to himself, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible.
For cultivators, the higher their level, the harder it is to leave behind a bloodline.
Nascent Soul cultivators have a lifespan of a thousand years, but their Dao heart is stable and their primordial Yang/primordial Yin is as refined as gold, making it almost impossible for them to conceive when they intercourse with mortals.
Even dual cultivation among those of the same level requires a significant expenditure of one's primordial essence, and the slightest misstep can damage one's foundation. As for those above the Nascent Soul stage... going a thousand years without having children is already the norm.
The demon race is no exception.
The more powerful the ancient bloodline, the more difficult it is to reproduce. As a descendant of a true spirit, Lei Peng's bloodline was so pure that it was almost extinct. For thousands of years, he had not found a mate of the same kind, let alone left offspring.
If what that kid said is true...
Lei Peng closed his eyes, and the iron chains trembled slightly.
If such heaven-defying power were to be revealed, not only the Star Palace Saints, but even those old monsters who have long since "passed away" would probably crawl out of their coffins to snatch it!
He took a deep breath and whispered something like thunder rumbling underground:
"...You brat, you better...not be playing me."