Half a year later.
The Eight-Winged Purple Python was swimming out of the illusion array with Ding Hao. When they came, the Eight-Winged Purple Python had only two wings. But after absorbing the leaves of the Yin-Yuan Fruit, half a Yin-Yuan Fruit, and the inner cores and bodies of the Mysterious Yang Toad and the Yin-Lie Water Eel, the current Eight-Winged Purple Python had actually evolved again and now had four wings.
The Eight-Winged Purple Python seemed to be swimming above the swamp. But if one observed carefully, it would be found that the huge body of the Eight-Winged Purple Python was still a few inches away from the swamp. The Four-Winged Eight-Winged Purple Python had already acquired the ability to fly in the air.
Ding Hao, sitting cross-legged on the Eight-Winged Purple Python, was completely at ease. After absorbing so many rare treasures, Ding Hao had naturally advanced his cultivation to the late-Heart-Awakening stage. Moreover, with the help of the cold and hot inner cores of the Mysterious Yang Toad and the Yin-Lie Water Eel, he had mastered a supernatural power called "Mysterious Ice and Demonic Flame Art".
The "Mysterious Ice and Demonic Flame Art" was an extremely powerful demonic art recorded in the Limitless Demon Art. But it was not the technique of the Limitless Demon Sect. The conditions for cultivating this art were extremely peculiar. To cultivate this technique, one must rely on treasures with the most extreme cold and heat in the world. It was precisely because of this unique condition that although the "Mysterious Ice and Demonic Flame Art" was extremely powerful, very few people could actually succeed in cultivating it. But every one who mastered this art would surely become an outstanding master in the end.
Although Ding Hao was only at the late-Heart-Awakening stage now and could not fully display the peerless power of this art, even those with higher cultivation levels than Ding Hao, if they rashly fought with Ding Hao, Ding Hao believed that he could definitely make them suffer a great loss with the unique properties of the "Mysterious Ice and Demonic Flame Art".
The "Mysterious Ice and Demonic Flame Art" was a superb technique that could transform true qi into cold and hot attributes. It was similar to the way the Mysterious Yang Toad and the Yin-Lie Water Eel could emit intense fire and ice arrows, but there were also differences. The "Mysterious Ice and Demonic Flame Art" emitted cold and hot astral qi. The cold and hot astral qi were one red and one purple. But the astral qi could suddenly become extremely cold or extremely hot according to the caster's intention, injuring the enemy invisibly.
It was truly a heinous and extraordinary art.
If it weren't for accidentally obtaining the inner cores of the Mysterious Yang Toad and the Yin-Lie Water Eel this time, even if Ding Hao had the cultivation method of this demonic art, it would be useless. It seemed that Heaven had been really kind to him. If he couldn't achieve something great, how could he be worthy of Heaven's gift?
The Eight-Winged Purple Python had just evolved and was not yet proficient in flying. But after flying for not long, the Eight-Winged Purple Python had fallen in love with the feeling of flying. Its speed was also getting faster and faster. It was actually not much slower than a cultivator flying with a sword.
Not to mention how powerful the evolved Eight-Winged Purple Python was. Just this flying ability alone had increased its strength by more than one notch.
With the cultivation level of the late-Heart-Awakening stage, the newly mastered "Mysterious Ice and Demonic Flame Art", and the Eight-Winged Purple Python that could fly in the air. With his current strength, Ding Hao believed that even if he encountered a cultivator at the late-Yuan-Ying stage like Cheng Xiong, he would have the power to fight. Looking back at the illusion array area that was gradually getting farther away, a surge of heroic spirit suddenly filled his heart.
Holding the Infant-Locking Ring and playing with it in his hand, Ding Hao from time to time used his mental power to command the Eight-Winged Purple Python to fly towards the area where the Blood Demon Lie Shan was.
After half an hour, Ding Hao's mind moved. The Eight-Winged Purple Python had been put into the storage ring. Looking at the storage bag on his waist, Ding Hao smiled wryly. At this moment, he should have the strength to use a storage bracelet.
As his mind moved, a silver light flashed. The storage bag on his waist had disappeared, and there was a dark green storage bracelet on his left hand. It was exactly the one given by Feng Xingran that day.
Because of the Infant-Locking Ring, Ding Hao knew that the area where the Blood Demon Lie Shan was located was not far away. So he put away the Eight-Winged Purple Python. Hiding one's strength was always more practical than showing off.
After another half a quarter of an hour, suddenly a few human voices came into his ears. Ding Hao carefully concealed his figure and slowly approached. When the figures came into his sight, Ding Hao exclaimed inwardly that it was not good.
It turned out that all the people he saw were acquaintances. The Heavenly Demon Nie Tian, the two elders of Hating Heaven and Hating Earth, the palace-dressed woman from the Sword Demon Sect, and He Zhizhang from the Luofu Sect and other members of the orthodox sects who he had seen on the Juqu Mountain were all here.
In front of these people, Ding Hao's careful concealment was just laughable.
Dozens of inquiring gazes fell on Ding Hao one after another. Seeing that he could not avoid it, Ding Hao stopped hiding. His figure flashed and he appeared in everyone's view.
"It makes me very happy to see Elder Nie here. I just came here to collect materials unconsciously. I hope Elder Nie won't blame me!" Ding Hao bowed to Nie Tian.
Before leaving the mountain, Ding Hao had said that he would stay away from the Boundless Swamp. Now that he suddenly appeared here, it was inevitable that Nie Tian would be suspicious. So he explained to avoid misunderstandings.
"Haha, young man, you're being too polite. I have no right to ask where you're going. But since we met here, it's safer for you to follow me. Hehe, to avoid being poisoned by others. If Xingran blames me later, I can't bear it."
Nie Tian laughed heartily without showing any emotion. After speaking, he looked around, as if warning the people of the Taoist sect not to act rashly.
Nie Tian was extremely shrewd. How could he not understand the meaning of Ding Hao's apology? Regardless of the friendship between Nie Tian and Ding Hao, just because of the Ice Soul Cold Crystal given by Ding Hao that day, plus the special relationship between Feng Xingran and Ding Hao, Nie Tian would not harm Ding Hao.
As soon as Nie Tian said this, Ding Hao felt relieved. He quickly walked towards Nie Tian, looking around all the way.
This look made him secretly astonished even more. Besides the few people he had seen on the Juqu Mountain last time, there were several unfamiliar faces. They all had the demeanor of masters. Their auras were not much weaker than Nie Tian and the two elders of Hating Heaven and Hating Earth. It seemed that the Taoist and Demon sects had really gone all out this time. They were determined to obtain the Immortal Sword Art in the hands of the Blood Demon Lie Shan.
But who could know that the thing these people were coveting was in the unremarkable storage bracelet on Ding Hao's hand?
Although these people were powerful, they didn't know that the cultivation level of the Blood Demon Lie Shan had not decreased at all. It must have even improved. If Lie Shan didn't fight head-on with these people and deliberately evaded, I'm afraid the Taoist and Demon sects would end up empty-handed again this time.
When Ding Hao came to the area where the Heavenly Demon Nie Tian was, he found that besides Nie Tian, there were two other people from the Purgatory Demon Sect. These two were a man and a woman. Looking at their intimate appearance, they seemed to be a dual-cultivation couple. But he hadn't seen them last time when he was in the Purgatory Demon Sect.
Seeing Ding Hao coming, Nie Tian introduced them, "These are the two elders, Qiu Meng and Zhou Yun. Young man, hurry up and pay your respects."
As soon as Ding Hao heard Nie Tian's words, he was shocked again. These two were also very famous on the Soul-Breaking Mountain. They were both elders of the Purgatory Demon Sect. And they were really a dual-cultivation couple. They were especially good at combination attacks. I'm afraid even Nie Tian wouldn't get any advantage against them.
"Ding Hao, a third-generation disciple of the Limitless Demon Sect, pays respects to the two elders. I have long heard of the great names of the two elders. It's a great honor to see you here today!" Ding Hao bowed.
"Oh, you're Ding Hao from the Limitless Demon Sect. Hehe, your name has been spreading very loudly on the Soul-Breaking Mountain recently. Well, it's really amazing that a disciple at the Fusion stage dared to venture into the Boundless Swamp alone." Qiu Meng said with a laugh.
"It's said that even Cheng Jiao suffered a small loss at your hands. I really don't know how you did it with your cultivation level at the Fusion stage. Truly, talents emerge in every generation. Don't worry. Since you're from the Soul-Breaking Mountain, I will surely protect your safety."
Zhou Yun said with a charming smile. After a pause, she continued, "I heard that you have some complicated relationship with Xingran. Hehe, Xingran is a child I watched grow up. Don't let her down. Otherwise, even if I have to tear down your Limitless Demon Sect, I won't let you go."
As soon as this woman said this, cold sweat broke out on Ding Hao's forehead. He didn't know whether his current relationship with Feng Xingran was right or wrong. Looking at the expressions of these people, Feng Xingran was obviously the apple of their eye. If he couldn't handle his relationship with Feng Xingran well, it would really bring disaster to the Limitless Demon Sect.
"The two elders are really overpraising me. I'm just a little luckier than others. I don't have any special talent." Ding Hao said humbly with his head down.
When he looked up, he just saw Nie Tian's expression that seemed to be smiling but not smiling. Ding Hao immediately knew that Nie Tian definitely didn't believe his lies. So he threw a playful smile at him.
As soon as Nie Tian saw Ding Hao's expression, he couldn't help laughing. "You know what you're capable of. I, Nie Tian, don't you think I don't know? Stop playing tricks in front of us."
Ding Hao was stunned. He didn't expect Nie Tian to expose his lies so easily.
He was a little embarrassed and said repeatedly, "You're overstating. You're overstating."
"Are you people from the Purgatory Demon Sect ever going to stop? He's just a disciple at the Fusion stage. Why are there so many things to say? It's more important to search for the Blood Demon Lie Shan quickly!" The elder Hating Earth from the Heaven-Slaying Demon Palace couldn't help speaking when he saw that Ding Hao and the others were talking non-stop.
"Hating Earth brat, the Blood Demon Lie Shan is here. Do you dare to fight him alone?"
At this moment, a ghostly cry that seemed like a human and a beast suddenly rang out in the swamp in front.
The faces of the people from the Taoist and Demon sects all changed.