Chapter Seventeen: Madness

Deep within the remote mountains, in a secluded cave, an underground stream flowed sluggishly beneath, its waters slipping away. The stone walls dripped moisture, each drop echoing with a pleasant chime. In the midst of the stream sat a stone platform, upon which Luo Longyu was bound by five chains, each etched with countless sigils. These chains wrapped around his neck and limbs, submerging him in the water. The sigils suppressed the corpse energy within him, leaving him weak and frail.

To one side of the cave stood an old man, bald and draped in black feathered wings. His face sagged with deep wrinkles, his hands gnarled like dead wood, radiating an uncanny, sinister aura.

"You old demon, what is it you want? The apocalypse is upon us, yet you still bother with such games?" Luo Longyu’s voice was faint, as if at any moment he might lose consciousness.

The old demon turned, his voice rasping and harsh, "The apocalypse? What has that to do with me?"

Luo Longyu was struck speechless, turning his head with effort. Nearby, Long Shaoxian hung suspended in midair, chains pierced through his dragon bones. His spiritual sea had suffered grievous injuries, and he had yet to awaken.

On the other side, the ghost woman’s paper umbrella was trapped within a Bagua array, unable to escape. Her ghostly aura was being eroded, and if things continued, she would soon be utterly obliterated.

At the center of the Xuan Yi Pavilion, Ju Feng steadied himself, gazing at Elder Xuan, who smiled at him. Rising, Ju Feng said, "Elder Xuan, though you lead the Pavilion, entering my chambers uninvited is improper. You nearly disrupted my meditation."

Elder Xuan chuckled, "My apologies, Ju Feng. The matter is urgent—I must ask you to contact your tribe."

Ju Feng nodded, "Of course. Our three teams will give their utmost. I’ve already dispatched Yao Chi and Hai to the tribe, asking the elders to issue a decree, mobilizing everyone to search for Luo Longyu and Long Shaoxian. Elder Xuan, rest assured."

"Very well, thank you. Forgive the disturbance," Elder Xuan replied, vanishing into thin air.

After Elder Xuan’s departure, Ju Feng’s expression hardened. He muttered through clenched teeth, "An external incarnation... I didn’t sense a thing. Just how powerful is this old man? Has he seen through me?"

With the Xuan Yi Pavilion fully mobilized, by the next day, all the monster tribes, Chinese intelligence departments, and hidden cultivators focused their attention on the matter. The winds of change stirred from every direction, tightening Ju Feng’s heart. He felt he had poked a hornet’s nest. At this rate, Luo Longyu’s whereabouts would soon be uncovered.

The trouble was not over. That night, Ju Feng’s spiritual consciousness was forcibly seized by a powerful force, transporting him to a snowy mountain summit. Amidst the swirling snow stood an old man in a gray robe, his aura towering, commanding such pressure that Ju Feng dared not even breathe.

"You... are from the Ancient Monster Tribe?" Ju Feng’s expression changed.

The old man turned, his eyes shining with divine light. The Ancient Monster Tribe traced its lineage to the Eastern Emperor Taiyi, who once commanded the heavens and earth, the legendary first generation deity.

"Ju Feng, what do you make of Luo Longyu and Long Shaoxian?" the elder asked, direct and unflinching.

Ju Feng frowned, rising to his feet. "Senior, may I know your identity?"

The old man narrowed his eyes; Ju Feng suddenly felt his three souls nearly crushed by an immense force, staggering to his knees, veins bulging on his forehead. Struggling, he said, "Senior, I am now Captain of Team Three of the Xuan Yi Pavilion. Treating me thus is tantamount to declaring war on the human nations and the Pavilion!"

"Hmph!" Clearly wary of the larger conflict between humans and monsters, the old man withdrew his power, his voice grave. "You younger monster tribes defy the will of heaven. Remember this: curb your impure ambitions. Whether the Xuanyuan Clan or the Imperial Dragon Clan, none of you can afford to provoke them. Beware, lest your entire tribe be destroyed."

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Ju Feng recovered for some time before rising again. "I don’t understand what senior means. I am devoted to the greater order of heaven and earth, harboring no impure motives. The Ancient Monster Tribe stands as royalty among monsters—I would not dare deceive you."

The elder swept his robe; a fierce wind surged, slamming Ju Feng’s spirit back into his body, overwhelmingly domineering.

"Cough… cough, cough!" As Ju Feng’s spirit returned, the old man began to cough violently. From the shadows, Kong Yuxuan hurried out to support him, his face full of concern. "Tribal Elder, are you all right?"

The elder waved his hand, signaling he was fine. Then he said, "Yuxuan, the world is changing greatly. Our ancient tribe is in decline; most monster clans disregard us. My time is nearly up—I can only do what little I can. This youth’s heart is crooked; this disturbance will provoke a reaction. Watch him closely."

Kong Yuxuan wished to speak, but the elder cut him off, his face gentle. "Yuxuan, I watched you grow up. Now, with great enemies at our door, I am powerless to fulfill my duty. It is hateful, yet I can only entrust it to you. Remember, if the Ancient Tribe perishes, it is the fate of heaven and earth—not something you or I can change. When the time comes, obey the will of heaven, do not forcibly alter destiny, and hold fast to the teachings of our ancestors. Alas, it is hateful!" With that, the elder transformed into a peacock and soared into the sky, leaving behind his bitter cry.

Watching the elder vanish, Kong Yuxuan stood in the snow, his expression dim, unmoving for a long time...

Ju Feng, his spirit returned to his body, felt more and more that the truth could not be hidden. If he withdrew now, perhaps it was not too late. With this thought, he swiftly left the Xuan Yi Pavilion.

Ju Feng went directly to the cave deep within Mount Mang, where the Vulture Ancestor resided. At that moment, the old vulture was lowering Luo Longyu, attempting to take his blood.

"Stop!" Ju Feng’s shout echoed from behind.

The old vulture glanced at Ju Feng, but did not stop his actions. "What’s this? You’re anxious already? The three days aren’t up yet," he said, sending a demonic sigil toward Luo Longyu’s crown.

Ju Feng’s expression tightened; in an instant, he crossed dozens of meters and grabbed the vulture’s hand. "We’ve been exposed. You must leave now."

"Leave?" The old vulture frowned, his voice deep. "Leave now? I haven’t secured the dragon essence—where can I go?" With that, he slapped Ju Feng away.

Ju Feng was stunned by the blow, but after regaining his senses, he raged, "You damned old fool! You’ll be the death of me at this rate!" As the vulture sent another demonic sigil at Luo Longyu, Ju Feng’s face darkened. He formed a single seal, summoning a violent demon wind that swept the vulture away.

Caught unprepared, the vulture was hurled against the stone wall. Ju Feng pressed the attack, forging another seal, his hand imprinting the air like tempered iron, striking straight at the vulture’s vital spot.

The vulture, furious, spread his demonic sigils to resist the seal, roaring, "You wretched brat! Do you mean to kill your ancestor?"

"You ceased being my ancestor long ago. Do you realize that all the monster clans are hunting you now? If you’re caught, you know your fate. Besides, your path scars have damaged your foundation—do you think you can best me?" Ju Feng sneered, his seal piercing the vulture’s sigils and slamming into his chest.

The vulture screamed, blood spurting from his mouth, his body sent flying. Ju Feng strode through the air, repeatedly striking the vulture’s vitals, the cave echoing with thunderous blows.

"You want to kill me to cover your tracks, you despicable scoundrel!" The vulture, battered and retreating, his clothes torn, howled in anger.

Ju Feng did not answer. A feather appeared in his hand, transforming into a sharp ray that pierced the void, aimed straight at the vulture’s brow—clearly intending to kill him!

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"Even if it costs my life, I’ll see you turned to ashes, you wretch!" The old vulture raged, his face contorted. Gray wings unfurled from his back, his visage morphing into that of a bald vulture, his eyes glowing an eerie green, demonic energy swirling, making him terrifying to behold.

"Blood sacrifice to the enemy!" With the vulture’s roar, the vulture’s cry echoed through the cave, the surrounding space turned blood-red, dissolving all, as a bloody altar condensed and bore down on Ju Feng...

Outside the mountain, several helicopters detected the energy upheaval from Mount Mang, immediately reporting and turning toward the mountain. Monster clans searching nearby, human cultivators in hiding, and members of the Xuan Yi Pavilion all converged on Mount Mang.

"You decrepit fool! Even at death’s door you hope to drag me down with you!" Seeing the vulture’s reckless demon arts, Ju Feng cursed furiously. A feather flew forth, transforming into Ju Feng himself, who was instantly crushed to powder by the bloody altar. Ju Feng’s true body had already retreated outside the cave; his source incarnation destroyed, his body staggered, face pale, blood seeping from his lips—clearly suffering grave internal injuries.

"I cannot let him live. He must die!" Ju Feng was no fool; he knew the commotion could not be concealed. If the vulture was captured, everything would be revealed, and he would be doomed. With this in mind, Ju Feng suppressed his wounds, climbed to his feet, and plunged back into the cave...

As Ju Feng and the vulture fought fiercely, Luo Longyu, freed from the suppression of the chains and demonic sigils, regained some corpse energy. He hurriedly rose, broke the Bagua array to retrieve the paper umbrella, and severed the chains binding Long Shaoxian’s dragon bones.

Just as Luo Longyu prepared to rescue both dragon and ghost from the cave, the ghost woman’s weak voice emerged from the umbrella: "It was them. It was them..."

"What?" Ignoring his injuries, Luo Longyu chased after the vulture, running toward the cave exit as he asked.

The ghost woman, now exceedingly weak, forced herself to speak, "When I lost Lady Qianqian’s sacred body, it was stolen by a group of Westerners. Among them were two who looked like our kind—the same two monsters who just fought."

"! " Luo Longyu stopped dead in his tracks, murderous intent surging around him. His voice was icy, "You mean... this old monster and Ju Feng are the ones who stole my mother’s corpse?"

"Yes, it was them. I would not mistake them..." the ghost woman replied with certainty.

"Where do you think you’re going? You are mine! All mine! Ahahaha!" The vulture’s nearly deranged scream echoed from behind, demon winds twisting every inch of space, murderous energy annihilating all.

Seeing the blood-soaked, feathered vulture, and recalling his mother’s stolen corpse, boundless fury erupted within Luo Longyu.

"Roar!" Reason abandoned him. Twin silver rays flashed from his eyes, several feet long, their ferocious aura suppressing all demon energy.

Luo Longyu shot back like an arrow, and as his two dried, claw-like hands gripped the vulture’s chest, Luo Longyu was fully corpse-transformed—his visage gaunt and dark, skin stretched tightly over bone, mouth open with sharp fangs, corpse energy erupting, like a demon crawling out of hell, even more terrifying than the vulture.

"Boom!"

The vulture was utterly unable to resist the beastly assault. Luo Longyu launched him across the cave, smashing him hard against the stone wall. The cave trembled, fissures spread across the stone, dust billowed, and rocks fell from above. The cave, at last, could no longer withstand and was about to collapse!

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