"Heh heh, Blood Demon Lieshan, you are also counted among the top ten masters. Why do you utter such childish remarks? Pathetic, truly pathetic. One of the top ten masters is now skulking about like a forlorn cur!" Hendi sneered icily.
"Humph! It is an honor for me that you, the preeminent masters of the Taoist and Demon sects, would combine forces against me. I am right here in the Mitian Swamp. If you have the nerve, come and search for me independently. Heh heh, if any of you are left alone and slain by me, don't blame me!" Lieshan howled.
The voice of the Blood Demon Lieshan receded from near to afar and vanished just as everyone was about to commence their movement. With the extraordinary cultivation of the Blood Demon Lieshan, if he was bent on concealment, there was naught they could do about it.
Beholding such a transformation, all present regarded one another. After a protracted moment, Henti declared, "This has transpired several times already. It seems that only by encircling Lieshan can we compel him to engage in combat. Otherwise, we are merely squandering our efforts."
"Elder Henti speaks aright. But Lieshan's cultivation is a notch superior to ours. Even if his cultivation has waned somewhat, he is still not inferior to us. And we are ignorant of his hiding place. It is no easy feat to encircle him!" The woman attired in palace garb from the Sword Demon Palace jeered.
Perceiving that the two were on the verge of an altercation anew, Nie Tian stepped forward and said, "Everyone, be calm. I possess a means of discerning the whereabouts of the Blood Demon. However, if we desire to encircle him, we must act separately. And if we do so, our strength will be dispersed. If Lieshan detects us ere we encircle him and we confront him alone, then I fear you all must rely on your own good fortune."
As soon as Nie Tian uttered these words, both the elders of the Demon Sect and those of the Taoist Sect exhibited expressions of pleasure. Hendi said, "The Blood Demon Lieshan's cultivation has declined. Even if we face him singly, we shall not be at a disadvantage. If Elder Nie can truly ascertain the location of the Blood Demon Lieshan, this is indeed a felicitous method."
A blue radiance emanated from the Beast Taming Mirror in Nie Tian's hand. After the blue light, a diminutive purple-skinned rodent-like creature crouched in Nie Tian's right palm.
"The Scent-tracking Beast! I had nearly forgotten Elder Nie's prized possession. With the Scent-tracking Beast, it is not arduous to locate Lieshan. Since that is the case, Elder Nie, lead the way. This time, we must ensure that Lieshan has no means of escape!" Henti guffawed.
The Scent-tracking Beast is a curious creature with an acutely sharp sense of smell. It has scant offensive power but is highly proficient in tracking.
Gazing at the expectant looks of all, Nie Tian pointed ahead and said, "The lair of the Blood Demon Lieshan lies in that direction. Well, approximately a hundred miles hence. Everyone may act independently."
The direction Nie Tian indicated was precisely the same as that shown by Ding Hao's Infant Locking Ring, and the distance was also unerring without the slightest discrepancy.
Glancing back at Ding Hao, Nie Tian said in a solemn tone, "Young man Ding Hao, you shall be in my group. The two elders shall form another group. Any qualms?"
"Elder Nie's arrangement suits me well. In this manner, Lieshan is in a quandary. Since that is the case, my wife and I shall take the lead!"
Elder Qiu Menghao chuckled. Having said that, he and Zhou Yun soared aloft!
Observing that the Blazing Hell Demon Sect had already taken the initiative, all the others also ascended into the firmament and flew towards the region where the Blood Demon Lieshan was.
After a brief interval, they had all vanished from sight.
At this juncture, Nie Tian smiled at Ding Hao and said, "All have departed. Do you still expect me to convey you through the air? Heh heh, although I am unaware if you have attained the Nascent Soul stage, yet merely by the sword in your grasp, it already possesses the ability to cleave through the air. You have no need of my assistance, do you?"
"How could I dare to inconvenience Elder Nie. Heh heh, Elder Nie, do not reproach me for intruding into the Mitian Swamp without prior notice. I truly have no alternative." Ding Hao begged pardon.
Waving his hand, Nie Tian interjected Ding Hao and said, "Regardless of what you have, I have no prerogative to inquire. But since you have entered the Mitian Swamp, for the sake of our amity, I will assuredly safeguard your safety."
"Since that is the case, Ding Hao offers his gratitude to Elder Nie in advance!" Ding Hao bowed.
Having said that, he had already summoned the Against Heaven Demon Sword and flew towards the area where Lieshan was in the company of Nie Tian.
After they had flown for a space, Ding Hao said, "Elder Nie, are you also hither for the Immortal Sword Art? With the cultivation of the Blood Demon Lieshan, after forcibly cultivating this sword art, his puissance has actually diminished rather than augmented. Since we are both of the Demon Sect, does Elder Nie have the confidence to fathom the sword art? Do not end up like the Blood Demon Lieshan."
Because Ding Hao knew that the Heavenly Demon Nie Tian was an unrestrained and audacious individual, he spoke without restraint.
Shaking his head, Nie Tian said, "It is assuredly not so straightforward. For a renowned master like the Blood Demon Lieshan who has been extant for many years, even if he did not progress after cultivating the sword art, he should never have regressed. There must be some other factor. But this time I came, obtaining the treasure is but the optimal plan. As long as the sword art does not fall into the hands of the Taoist Sect, then my objective in coming hither is fulfilled."
Nie Tian truly lived up to the appellation of the Heavenly Demon. This person divined the greater part of the actual situation merely by speculation, which astonished Ding Hao. The falsehoods he recounted in the cave afore, Nie Tian surely did not believe them in their entirety. Fortunately, he had no evidence. Otherwise, Ding Hao could not have extricated himself.
Contemplating this, Ding Hao was again bemused and said, "Then according to what Elder Nie said, why did you disclose the location of Lieshan to the other sects?"
"Even if the Blood Demon Lieshan's cultivation has declined, a fallen camel is still larger than a horse. It is not facile for the other sects to wrest the sword art from him. What is more, is it truly so? Who can know with certainty? The Blood Demon Lieshan is a great malefactor in the Demon Sect. How could he lack stratagems?" Nie Tian said frigidly.
As soon as these words were spoken, Ding Hao knew what he was scheming. Owing to what had occurred in the cave previously, Nie Tian presumably knew the Blood Demon well. Revealing his location was precisely to test whether Lieshan was truly injured and his cultivation had waned. If that were the case, by virtue of the Scent-tracking Beast, Nie Tian could arrive promptly. When the Blood Demon Lieshan had battled with the other sects, he would then make a move to snatch the sword art, which was evidently far more advantageous to him. If the Blood Demon Lieshan was not injured at all, he could avail himself of the opportunity to depart first.
Nie Tian had a cunning plan indeed.
"So that is it. Elder Nie is truly sagacious." Ding Hao said pensively.
Just at this moment, a woeful shriek resounded from a hundred feet to the left - this was a sound that a person could only emit when he was on the brink of death and encountered something exceedingly dreadful and lost his self-possession.
As soon as this sound rang out, Nie Tian's countenance altered. Through the Infant Locking Ring, Ding Hao knew that the Blood Demon Lieshan was there and was incessantly advancing towards their location. Judging from the speed of the Blood Demon Lieshan, it would not be long ere he breached the encirclement laid by the Taoist and Demon sects.
With a mental flash, Ding Hao surmised that the Blood Demon Lieshan might have just availed himself of the opportunity to employ the Limitless Demon Art to devour a person. But perhaps he had detected that others were approaching and could only slay the person he was devouring halfway. Now he was hastening away, doubtless to seek a secure place to assimilate the essence of the true yuan he had devoured.
This thought flitted through Ding Hao's mind. Just as he was about to inquire, Nie Tian said urgently, "No! Lieshan will reach here anon. I know not if he is injured at present. Young man Ding Hao, quickly take flight with your sword. Otherwise, when Lieshan appears, I fear I shall be unable to protect you."
"Heh heh, I am truly overjoyed to behold the Heavenly Demon Nie Tian once more after such a brief interval. Oh, you impudent lad are here too. Good! Good! I was just seeking you. I did not anticipate that you would present yourself to me first!"
Just as Nie Tian's words subsided, the eerie cry of the Blood Demon Lieshan actually materialized above Ding Hao.
As soon as the voice faded, a figure enshrouded in a sanguine mist emerged within their field of vision.