Chapter 1044: Chapter 1044

Chi Gui spat out blood again and again, writhing on the ground like a dying dog. His eyes were blind, one arm hung useless, and all his sharp teeth had been knocked loose. He had been nailed to the pillar of shame, a disgrace he would carry for the rest of his life.

The onlookers trembled. Ling Feng's methods were cruel and brutal beyond reason!

Chi Gui had not even managed a proper counterattack. He had been crushed like an insect!

Ling Feng tossed him aside without a second glance, then turned his gaze toward the Red Dragon Hall disciples.

"Does anyone else feel like insulting Purple Dragon Hall?"

The Red Dragon Hall disciples swallowed hard. Their strongest fighter had been beaten like a dog. Unless someone from the seventy-two Earth Fiend Demon King Rankings stepped forward, who among them would dare challenge Ling Feng?

No one answered. The crowd stood frozen, not daring to breathe too loudly. The arrogance and swagger from before had vanished.

"You dare to hurt me?" Chi Gui growled through his broken teeth. Though his body lay in ruins, his voice remained clear.

"Do you know who I'm close with? The Young Lord and I are like brothers. You break my arm, and he'll tear you apart limb by limb."

His tone grew more frenzied, and though he was covered in blood and clearly defeated, his body still held strong. He was not close to death.

The Young Lord he mentioned was none other than Han You, grandson of the Canglong demon ruler. Ling Feng had heard of him back during the beginner trials. (See Chapter 1017: Netherworld Spirit Cat.)

Ling Feng's voice remained calm. "Trying to use the Young Lord to scare me? Whether he kills me or not is something for later. But you? Say one more word and I'll kill you here and now!"

His tone held no rage, but everyone watching felt it clearly. He meant what he said. If he wanted Chi Gui dead, he would already be gone.

Even blind, Chi Gui could feel the killing intent pressing in. His entire body trembled, and he truly did not dare speak again.

A faint smile played across Ling Feng's lips. "You can leave now. But if anyone runs too slowly, I don't mind making another one-armed hero."

The disciples of Red Dragon Hall scattered at once. Not one dared linger, not even Chi Gui. Fear had already crushed his will to resist.

In just moments, the proud warriors of Red Dragon Hall had vanished without a trace.

Ling Feng chuckled softly, glanced at Bai Linger, then turned to head back to his tent.

Bai Linger quickly followed. After witnessing Ling Feng standing up for Purple Dragon Hall and beating Chi Gui senseless, her admiration for him grew even deeper.

From that day forward, the name "Long Fei" began to spread like wildfire.

Purple Dragon Hall had produced a monster. A man with early-tier demon lord cultivation had defeated an early-tier demon king. With this one feat, the Purple Dragon Hall's prestige had been raised. And all of it was because of "Long Fei".

It was easy to imagine that in tomorrow's match against the other two demon sanctums, Long Fei would bring great honor to the Canglong Sanctum.

Inside Ling Feng's tent, he glanced at Bai Linger as she stepped in after him, then smiled. "What is it now, young lady? I taught Chi Gui a lesson for you. Are you planning to offer yourself in gratitude?"

Bai Linger gave him a sharp look. "Long Fei, you might have defeated Chi Gui, but he wasn't lying. That Young Lord Han You really is close to him. I doubt he'll just let this go."

Ling Feng shrugged. He had never intended to stay long in the Canglong Sanctum anyway. Once he had a proper conversation with the demon ruler, he would look for a way to leave.

As for Han You, Ling Feng had no reason to worry. At worst, he still had Despicable Donkey, a demon emperor at his side.

All across the great demon clans, warriors gathered in secret, discussing the trials. Whispers filled the air. Everyone speculated on which of the three great sanctums would claim victory.

Bai Linger liked Ling Feng. She liked him more than she dared admit, but she was still a proud young woman. Her pride had not worn down enough to let her stay in a man's tent overnight.

Even if no one dared say a word, her reputation would suffer.

So, once darkness had fully settled, she quietly left Ling Feng's tent.

Ling Feng let out a sigh of relief.

"Looks like you're doomed, kid. You can try dodging all you want, but fate keeps throwing peach blossoms your way, hehehe..."

A flash of purple light appeared. Despicable Donkey strolled out of the Five Elements Heavenly Palace, his expression smug, one hoof crossed over the other, eyes gleaming with mischief.

Ling Feng rolled his eyes, then asked, "Hey, Despicable Donkey. When we first arrived at Cangyan Mountain, you said you sensed some strange evil qi from the southwest. What was that about?"

Despicable Donkey's face grew serious. He nodded slowly. "Yes. The evil qi was far away, and someone tried to suppress it, but it couldn't escape the senses of this divine beast."

Zifeng flew out of Ling Feng's body, turned into a small snake, and coiled around his shoulder. "Master, I sensed it too. That evil qi was thick and dense. But there was something odd about it. Deep inside, I caught a faint trace of sacred energy. It didn't feel right."

Despicable Donkey flicked his tail lazily. "That's clearly some evil dao cultivator using an evil altar to refine a heaven-defying treasure, hehe..."

As he spoke, his eyes gleamed green, and saliva dripped from his mouth.

He was already plotting.

"Go take a look. If there really is treasure over there, we won't let it slip away!"

Ling Feng made his decision.

He did want to check it out himself, but he also needed to participate in tomorrow's trial as one of Purple Dragon Hall's representatives. That battle was his only ticket to meet the Canglong demon ruler.

If he missed it, he had no idea how long he would have to wait for another chance.

"Relax, kid. With this divine beast around, any treasure already belongs to the donkey!"

Despicable Donkey wiped his mouth. When he saw Ling Feng's sharp look, he quickly corrected himself.

"This divine beast meant, it belongs to the one surnamed Ling! Of course. Hehehe..."

Ling Feng frowned. This donkey was loyal, but when it came to treasure, he had no shame and no bottom line.

If he sent the donkey alone, the odds of him keeping the goods for himself were dangerously high.

"No. We'll go together!"

He pointed with his chin. The trials would last around five days anyway. There was no need to show up on the first.

"You brat! You don't trust this divine beast at all, do you?" Despicable Donkey grumbled.

"If I trusted you, pigs would be climbing trees."

"You ungrateful little bastard! So much for our brotherhood! This divine beast is going to bite you, woof woof woof!"

"Wait a second. Are you a donkey or a dog?"

"Fool. This divine beast is a divine beast. A divine beast!"

After a round of playful bickering, Ling Feng made up his mind.

That night, he and Despicable Donkey set out together, heading southwest toward the strange and powerful source of evil qi.