Chapter 371 - The Mantis Catches The Cicada

“Is that so?” Long Chen asked solemnly.

He did not intend to kill Yang Jun, as he only wanted to get the Demon Seed Planting Technique. Since the Third Demon Elder was backing Yang Jun, it was not necessary to worsen the enmity between them. He had come to the Heavenly Demon Palace only to strengthen himself until he was strong enough to storm the Biyang Imperial Capital.

When Yang Jun saw that Long Chen had no intention to kill him, he stopped running and said in exasperation, “Just tell me if there’s something you want.” He had completely admitted defeat.

“Give me the Frost Soul Essence’s map. It’s a waste for it to end up in your hands anyway,” said Long Chen.

“You heard our conversation?” Yang Jun gasped, looking at him in shock.

“Less of that nonsense. Hand the map over,” demanded Long Chen sternly.

Yang Jun was hesitant. The Frost Soul Essence was something the three Demon Elders let their first disciples compete for, and they wanted to keep it from Zhao Qingyun. However, if Long Chen got his hands on it, Yang Jun was going to be beaten to death by the Demon Elders.

However, he had another idea, which made him feel better.

Yang Danfeng and Murong Yu had the same map. Four days had passed, and perhaps they had already found the Frost Soul Essence. Even if they hadn’t, how could Long Chen beat them if they all met? They had cultivated Traceless Demon Shadow as well, plus they had studied it for a longer time. They both had the first stage of the Demon Seed Planting Technique too, so if he met them, he would just be abused. He would never get the Frost Soul Essence.

“This is the map. Can I leave now?” Yang Jun took out a golden scroll from his Universe Pouch, and Long Chen quickly took it. Upon closer inspection, he saw that it was indeed the map that Yang Jun was previously looking at.

Very satisfied, he said, “You may leave.”

With Long Chen’s permission, Yang Jun immediately shot off as fast as he could. After running about a kilometer, Yang Jun finally laughed. “Long Chen is an idiot! Although the Frost Soul Essence is important, the Demon Seed Planting Technique is equally important! I can’t believe he only cares about the Frost Soul Essence, and he didn’t take my Fire Essences! Haha! What an idiot! I have three hundred Fire Essences!

“Even Senior Yang Danfeng might not have as many as me! So won’t the Demon Seed Planting Technique be mine? As for the Frost Soul Essence, that originally belonged to Senior Yang Danfeng and Senior Murong anyway! It’s fine that I lost the map; it doesn’t affect me at all.”

With that thought, Yang Jun happily found a place to hide, waiting for the next day to arrive. On the next day, Zhao Qingyun and the three Demon Elders would enter the Pyro Passageways and personally collect them. Then they would stop fighting too.

That would be the moment of Yang Jun’s victory.

***

After obtaining the map, Long Chen and Xiaolang found a spot to focus on studying it. Because he had the Soul Swallowing Gaze and he had been to more places, he was more familiar with the terrain of the riverbed than them.

“I recognize this. This shape should be the Divine Ember Beast cave. This is probably a map that the Demon Elders drew on their own. This patch is blurry, so it shows that they never discovered the cave,” he suddenly said in great surprise.

After reverse engineering the map, he could confirm one landmark. As long as he could confirm that location, then it would be much easier to find the destination.

“The Frost Soul Essence doesn’t seem to be far from the Divine Ember Beast cave. Let’s go to the cave first, then head in this direction for about fifteen minutes, then we’ll reach our destination!” Long Chen said excitedly.

“Brother Chen, you’re so smart! There were eight of them and they studied the map for two days, yet they couldn’t figure it out! You succeeded in just a short while!” Ling Xi praised in admiration.

“Hehe, that’s because it’s me. Xiaolang, let’s go. I can’t beat Yang Danfeng and Murong Yu, so it’s up to you this time. And if they haven’t found it yet, we'll surprise them!”

After that, Long Chen led Xiaolang towards the Divine Ember Beast cave. They had just come from that place, so returning was very easy as Long Chen had a good sense of direction.

They traveled quickly, and soon they arrived in front of the cave. Everything was quiet now. Long Chen confirmed his location on the map once more. After he realized that his guesses were correct, he put the map down and hurried on once more.

At this point, if they engaged in a serious battle, Long Chen was probably no match for Xiaolang. The Category Eight Earth-tier Nine Devils Ancestral Fire was too powerful, plus every divine fire clone possessed Category Seven Earth-tier combat abilities. If Long Chen were to fight him, it would end in tragedy.

When they approached, Long Chen heard the sound of fighting and said mildly, “What a coincidence. It looks like they’ve only just arrived, which is why they’re fighting over it. No one has been able to take the Frost Soul Essence away yet.”

Long Chen sighed in relief.

He traveled ahead, though he had to be cautious. As he approached, he saw that two people were fighting fiercely at the base of a basin of lava. Long Chen’s eyes were not first attracted to them, but to a blue, thumb-sized bead in the basin. The bead was clear and shiny, radiating a faint glow that created a three-meter-radius space around it.

“Is that the Frost Soul Essence? It’s the size of a thumb. It’s no wonder the three Demon Elders instructed their disciples to come retrieve it. However, Yang Danfeng and Murong Yu are at the Eighth River Stage, so it would be unfair no matter who they gave it to. That’s why they have to fight for it on their own.”

***

“Xiao Yu, don’t you know how true my love is for you? We’ve grown up together, and I’ve been meticulously caring for you throughout all these years. Have you not felt it all?” Yang Danfeng lamented with dramatic sorrow as he fought hard.

“Meticulously? By meticulously, do you mean fighting me for the Frost Soul Essence here? Is this what you mean by true love? I’m going to puke!” Murong Yu coldly replied.

“This is different! The Frost Soul Essence is related to my future! Don’t you like a man who works hard for his future? As long as I become strong, I will be able to protect you. Isn’t it going to be the same? Let me have the Frost Soul Essence, and I will protect you forever. Won’t that be wonderful?” Yang Danfeng said indignantly.

“Does your future entail stepping on the person you like in order to achieve greater heights? Yang Danfeng, why don’t you let me have the Frost Soul Essence? Then let me protect you? You said you liked me, and you said that you’ve meticulously cared for me. A girl like me doesn’t deserve your ‘meticulous care,’” Murong Yu responded coldly. She had zero hopes for Yang Danfeng.

“Xiao Yu, you aren’t listening to me! If you insist on fighting me, then don’t blame me for not holding back! I’ve never met a woman as stubborn as you!”

“And I’ve never met a man as disgusting as you!” yelled Murong Yu.

“Bitch!” Yang Danfeng had completely lost his cool in the face of Murong Yu’s rudeness. A person suddenly popped into his mind, then he yelled angrily, “Murong Yu! You’re so cruel to me! You haven’t fallen for Long Chen, have you?”

Murong Yu froze, and Long Chen’s face also popped into her mind. However, when she thought of Ling Xi, she immediately denied it and said coldly, “Stop with that nonsense. And I’m not wasting my time arguing with you. May the stronger cultivator get the Frost Soul Essence, then! There’s no use talking!”

Then her attacks intensified, sending a powerful blast of Qi at Yang Danfeng.

I guessed it right, and how dare she avoid the subject?! With that thought, Yang Danfeng almost fainted from anger. The woman who he had lusted after for almost twenty years had fallen into Long Chen’s arms. Hot blood rushed through him and clouded his eyes!

“Murong Yu, you bitch! Die!”

Blinded by rage, Yang Danfeng had completely gone mad. Qi exploded from him, and it was clear that he had been hiding a final trick up his sleeve. A demon shadow grew from his body, and thick, black smoke started to curl. Yang Danfeng’s aura grew stronger by the second, and in the blink of an eye, it doubled in strength!

“Do you think you’re the only one who knows the Demon Seed Planting Technique?” With a soft cry, black smoke also rose from her body, engulfing her in darkness. Her aura became fifty percent stronger.

“I know you know it, but I obtained this technique much earlier than you did. Can you use it as well as me? Let me tell you this, Murong Yu, the second stage of the Demon Seed Planting Technique will be mine today, as well as the Frost Soul Essence. The Demon Emperor Sword will also be mine! Once I reach the Ninth River Stage, I will be the ultimate prodigy who can go up against Lin Zichen, and Long Chen will die beneath my sword! As for you, you’ll soon become a slave lying beneath me!” Yang Danfeng sneered.

Murong Yu grew intensely uncomfortable seeing Yang Danfeng like that, but she mustered her courage and said coldly, “Wait till you defeat me before spouting such declarations.”

“As you wish!” Yang Danfeng laughed out loud like a madman. Then he turned into a black tornado and charged at Murong Yu. In that instant, his body turned into a blur of illusory images!

It was Traceless Demon Shadow!