Chapter 70

*Giggle, giggle, giggle!*

A series of shrill laughs drifted from above. Hundreds of vampire succubi, their bat wings spread wide, glided through the sky. The scene was spectacular, but for the martial artists participating in the Immortal Path assessment, it was far from good news.

"Hundreds of vampire succubi are moving together!"

"Given this scale, none of us will be able to complete the task. We’ll die if we encounter them."

Lin Xi and Shangguan Yaoxue, watching the group of vampire succubi fly overhead, had grim expressions on their faces.

"Yaoxue, you know a lot about the Immortal Path world. Do you think this is normal? The Immortal Path world shouldn’t have assessments that are certain death. But if we can’t escape back to the trial gate and return to Shenxiao Mountain in time, we’ll be dead for sure."

Lin Xi turned to look at the hidden Shangguan Yaoxue.

Shangguan Yaoxue also had a puzzled look, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed.

"I’m not sure. Vampire succubi usually act alone. Sometimes they gather in groups of seven or eight, but I’ve never seen hundreds of them move together. This is a very rare situation."

The two thought for a moment, at a loss, and were about to step out of their hiding place when suddenly—

*Screech!—*

A sharp, long cry, like an arrow, came from the horizon behind them. In the blink of an eye, a fiery red figure flew over their heads. Its elegant posture and powerful aura were similar to the vampire succubi, but distinctly different.

"My children, go and feed with peace of mind!"

A voice echoed across the land, resounding through countless mountains. In the blink of an eye, the fiery red figure had already flown past.

"Vampire Queen!"

Shangguan Yaoxue was greatly alarmed.

"What? Vampire Queen?"

Lin Xi looked at Shangguan Yaoxue in surprise.

Shangguan Yaoxue’s expression was extremely uneasy. However, knowing that Lin Xi was a novice in Immortal Path knowledge, she quickly explained:

"Vampire succubi are a special race. Although they belong to the demon race, they are not accepted by the demons of Xuan Kong Mountain. They mostly live separately and govern themselves. The Vampire Queen is the leader of these vampire succubi. However, she is rarely seen. Only a few vampire succubi tribes produce a Vampire Queen. We are just participating in a regular Immortal Path assessment, so how could there be a Vampire Queen? This kind of demon can only be dealt with by a Qi Condensation realm expert!"

"For us, martial artists at the tenth level of the Martial Dao, the difference between us and the Qi Condensation realm is like the difference between heaven and earth. Even if this Vampire Queen is only at the first level of the Qi Condensation realm, she could easily kill us. We can’t deal with her at all."

Shangguan Yaoxue said urgently.

After hearing this, Lin Xi also realized the severity of the situation. He thought for a moment and immediately said:

"The large-scale movement of the vampire succubi is probably due to the Shenxiao Sect sending too many martial artists in. The large number of vampire succubi being killed has alarmed this Vampire Queen. Judging by their behavior, they are likely to sweep through the entire space, eliminating all the martial artists participating in the assessment. My suggestion is that we must consider retreating to the vicinity of the trial gate. This way, if anything happens, we can quickly return to Shenxiao Mountain through the teleportation gate."

"That’s the only option."

Shangguan Yaoxue looked worried.

Hundreds of vampire succubi, plus a Vampire Queen, this was a massacre. Even with a magical artifact for protection, Shangguan Yaoxue couldn’t resist.

The two leaped out from behind the mountain and headed towards the trial gate.

"Giggle, I’ve found the human boy’s trail!"

High in the sky, thousands of feet away from Lin Xi and Shangguan Yaoxue, a vampire succubus revealed her sharp fangs excitedly. She didn’t get closer, but instead drew a curve in the air and quickly flew in another direction.

"Hmm?"

About a few miles away from Lin Xi and Shangguan Yaoxue, a Qi Condensation realm man with a cold expression looked up and glanced in their direction.

"I’ve found them."

His black robe fluttered, and he immediately headed towards Lin Xi and Shangguan Yaoxue.

...

"I have a bad feeling."

Shangguan Yaoxue wrinkled her nose and looked up at the sky, faintly seeing a black dot disappear in the distance.

"This place is full of danger. It’s normal to feel bad. Feeling good would be a problem."

Lin Xi smiled and said:

"However, being cautious is always right."

The two continued towards the trial gate. On the way, they encountered three lone vampire succubi. Working together, they immediately and mercilessly killed them.

This added three more task items to their collection.

"Ah, help me. Help me..."

A moan came from nearby.

"Let’s go. Check it out."

The two felt a sense of urgency and immediately rushed over. They saw a martial artist lying on the ground behind a low hill, covered in blood, his right leg mangled.

His complexion was ashen, and his face was pale. He looked seriously injured.

"He was attacked by vampire succubi. He looks seriously injured."

Shangguan Yaoxue frowned.

"Brothers, help me. I am He Wei from the Ice Seal Dynasty’s Divine Sword Sect. My father is Helan Shan. Help me, and I will surely reward you generously when I get out."

The man, seeing Lin Xi and Shangguan Yaoxue from a distance, immediately shouted.

Shangguan Yaoxue and Lin Xi exchanged a glance and rushed over. Neither of them noticed that when He Wei saw them approach, a cunning look flashed in his lowered eyes.

"You look seriously injured. Do you want to exit the trial gate?"

Lin Xi glanced at him and said calmly.

"Passing the Immortal Path assessment is important, but life is more important. My current state is not suitable for staying here. Moreover, these vampire succubi seem to be sweeping through. Staying here is very dangerous."

He Wei said, his gaze seemingly unconsciously sweeping over the two’s waists, where the vampire succubi’s hearts were strung together, and a strange look flashed in his eyes.

"Brother, please take me with you. As long as I get out of the trial gate, I will definitely reward you generously."

He Wei said.

"Oh, it’s just that a Vampire Queen has appeared. We were planning to leave anyway. Taking you with us is a small matter, a mere formality."

Lin Xi waved his hand, not taking it seriously. He walked over, bent down, and extended his hand towards He Wei.

Ten inches, three inches, two inches...

*Swish!*

Just as Lin Xi, unaware, reached out to grab He Wei, a silver dagger, gleaming with a cold light, shot out from He Wei’s sleeve and stabbed towards Lin Xi’s heart in a flash.

This attack was fast, decisive, and ruthless, clearly aiming to kill Lin Xi in one strike.

At this moment, He Wei’s face was full of treachery, showing no sign of his previous injuries.

"Hmph!"

Lin Xi’s eyes flashed with a cold light, and the magical sword on his back transformed into a dragon, shooting towards He Wei.

"Looking for death!"

Almost simultaneously, a sharp cry came from beside him. Shangguan Yaoxue, who had been ready, chanted a spell, and a golden toad magical artifact slammed into He Wei with a *bang*.

*Pierce!*

The silver, sharp dagger stabbed into Lin Xi’s chest but was blocked by a soft yet resilient layer. He Wei’s heart sank, and before he could react, a massive force, like a mountain, slammed into his shoulder.

He Wei let out a loud cry, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and rolled away, crashing into a protruding rock and shattering it.

"You... You actually knew I was going to ambush you!"

He Wei, his mouth full of blood, eyes wide open, looked shocked.

"Hmph! I’ve seen all kinds of people. I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice. Do you really think I would believe you? Impossible!"

Shangguan Yaoxue, holding her magical artifact, laughed coldly, revealing her intelligence and quick thinking.

From the moment He Wei appeared, Shangguan Yaoxue had been wary of him. Even if one has no intention to harm a tiger, one must still be cautious. In the Immortal Path world, all kinds of people exist. Being cautious is always right.

"Then what about you? Why were you also on guard? I clearly felt that you had no suspicion."

He Wei gritted his teeth, glaring at Shangguan Yaoxue, then looked at Lin Xi.

Lin Xi smiled faintly but did not answer immediately. He glanced at Shangguan Yaoxue beside him, a strange emotion welling up in his heart.

He had thought his reaction was fast enough, but Shangguan Yaoxue’s was even faster. Clearly, she had been wary of He Wei from the start.

This girl, about his age, was lively and intelligent, truly impressive.

Shangguan Yaoxue, unaware of Lin Xi’s thoughts, felt a bit embarrassed under his gaze, her cheeks turning slightly red, and she glared at him.

He Wei was furious, cursing them in his heart. However, Lin Xi finally spoke, satisfying his curiosity.

"No one who is seriously injured can shout for help with such strength, nor can they have the presence of mind to examine the task items on my waist."

Lin Xi said calmly, revealing the truth.

He Wei’s face turned ashen, and he finally gave up:

"You two, you saw through it from the start. But you both pretended to know nothing. Truly devious. Hmph! You wait, I will avenge this today."

He Wei’s body flickered, about to leave. He hadn’t left yet because he was using the momentum from Shangguan Yaoxue’s attack to create distance. With his strength, He Wei was confident he could escape smoothly.

"Revenge? Hmph, do you think you can still leave?"

Lin Xi sneered.

"Hmph! You think you can stop me. As long as I get out of the trial gate, you won’t be able to touch me."

He Wei said disdainfully.

"You’re really stupid."

Even Shangguan Yaoxue shook her head, looking at him with pity, and pointed at his chest with a white, jade-like finger:

"Look at yourself."

He Wei instinctively looked down and his expression changed dramatically, screaming in terror:

"Ahh! Ahh! Ahh! My heart, my heart!!..."

A large hole had opened in He Wei’s chest, right where his heart should be, leaving an empty space. (To be continued)