Chapter 148: Successfully Subdued

Chapter 148: Successfully Subdued

That scar-faced boy was restraining Ling Meng in a bizarre way.

Wounds were opening all over his body, blood spewing wildly.

It must have hurt a lot, but this boy remained completely calm, showing no sign of pain whatsoever.

In contrast, Daoist Wu Hui felt utterly outclassed.

Looking back, the three of them had initially insisted he was a Demon Disciple, but in truth, they had no evidence he was a villain.

Instead, they had attacked him right away, yet he had countered their Spirit Techniques in a strange manner, leaving them unharmed.

They didn’t understand why Ling Meng had suddenly become so powerful. With their current strengths, they were no match for her. However, this scar-faced boy was able to hold her back, suggesting he was above them in power.

So it was clear he had been holding back before, just capable enough to neutralize their attacks; otherwise, he could have taken their lives.

Logically, the boy should have been able to escape, yet he chose to stay and restrain Ling Meng.

Thus, he might not actually be an evil person. He had explained himself initially, but they ignored him, leading to this misunderstanding.

Feeling ashamed for misjudging the situation and for their recklessness, which resulted in the deaths of two comrades.

Despite his reluctance, Wu Hui deeply realized his own incompetence. Now that boy was buying Ling Meng time to escape, and by staying, he would only be a hindrance, ultimately leading to his own demise.

With no other option, he had to retreat, feeling guilty toward his fallen teammates.

“Thank you for the rescue, we shall meet again in the martial world to repay this kindness.”

Wu Hui stood up, bowing respectfully, and then swiftly left the scene.

The bald guy fleeing was good news for Lin Nuo. After all, maintaining the Dark Soul Vortex required focus, and if this pesky bald head rushed in, everything might go wrong, leading them both to the netherworld as companions.

Ling Meng was like a caged beast, grinding her teeth, her long black hair flying as she yearned to clash with the Dark Soul Vortex.

But Lin Nuo would never let her succeed! He couldn’t risk his dignity as the top villain. Being unable to handle an explosive Su Kexin was excusable, but he couldn’t lose control against a Demon Power cultivator and still be considered a great villain.

Let the Master have some peace!

Lin Nuo coughed out more blood, staining the grass below, reminiscent of battles fought on the battlefield.

Ling Meng’s strength surged wildly, and the Dark Soul Vortex was rapidly absorbing the power she unleashed; however, it was unable to keep pace with her growing strength.

If this continued, she would surely break free from the Dark Soul Vortex, and Lin Nuo’s situation would turn dire.

The dark cyclone expanded swiftly, and in an instant, it enveloped Lin Nuo as well.

Now both of them were caught within the dark vortex, like hunters and prey trapped together in a beastly cage.

Ling Meng’s furious expression morphed back to one of sickly delight as she felt capable of lifting Lin Nuo up again, ready to toy with him.

“Heh.”

Lin Nuo chuckled coldly. Though being enveloped by the Dark Soul Vortex seemed like a disadvantage, it was actually a massive advantage.

Inside the Dark Soul Vortex surged a significant amount of Demon Qi and Demon Soul Power. In this enclosed environment, he could unleash Demon Techniques with incredible ease.

Final blow.

Lin Nuo concentrated deeply, reciting an ancient incantation, and a purple light appeared at his fingertips.

He hurled the light into the Dark Soul Vortex beneath him, and just as it was about to hit the ground, he dashed out of the vortex’s swirling area.

The light fell into the Dark Soul Vortex, causing it to dramatically shrink in range, ultimately focusing entirely on Ling Meng.

Boom!

The vortex compressed around Ling Meng, resulting in an explosion. While her outer body remained unharmed, the Demon Qi and Demon Soul Power within her were nearly consumed completely.

Her long hair fell, and the purple glow in her eyes dissipated, ultimately causing Ling Meng to collapse onto the ground.

Phew.

Lin Nuo finally sighed in relief. Battling an explosive Ling Meng had been quite the ordeal; he came dangerously close to losing himself.

But now, at least he had managed to control her.

He approached, checking her breathing and pulse. Although weak, she was not dead.

As long as there was nearby Demon Qi and Demon Soul Power, she would automatically recover. After all, someone with the same qualities as Su Kexin wasn’t going to die from just a little injury.

Lin Nuo picked up the Demon Artifact, which still emitted a hint of Demon Soul Power.

There wasn’t much left, but at least it could give Ling Meng some respite.

He propped Ling Meng against a rocky wall, positioning the artifact to direct the emerging Demon Soul Power into her body.

Her breathing began to steady, and regaining consciousness was just a matter of time.

Lin Nuo didn’t leave; instead, he stayed to keep watch. If any Daoist or cultivator stumbled upon them, she might end up meeting her end prematurely.

Having just experienced a thrilling battle with an eruptive Ling Meng, Lin Nuo made his analysis.

Ling Meng’s power, boosted by the Demon Soul Power of the artifact, was indeed formidable. Had it not been for his advanced Demon Technique, the Dark Soul Vortex, he might have perished at her hands.

Currently, she was still in a developmental stage; her ability to control herself during an eruption was lacking, much like Su Kexin.

However, Su Kexin had eventually learned to handle her explosive powers, whereas Ling Meng might end up heading to the afterlife before she ever had that chance.

A promising talent; with proper training, she could potentially become a counterbalance to Su Kexin.

But he didn’t want Ling Meng to rely solely on her explosive powers. After all, the script stated that she died at the hands of the Sword Saint after her eruption, indicating her explosive nature had limits, unlike Su Kexin’s smooth journey.

To increase her strength, she needed a proper path. Relying on explosive power was a crooked method; only through scientific cultivation could one reach the heights.

Lin Nuo stayed vigilant for a long time. The mountain was devoid of anyone else, only some oblivious wild beasts wandering by, like wolves and tigers, as well as fierce hawks seeking to catch a tasty meal.

And they ended up becoming Lin Nuo’s meals.

Stomach growling and with no Meat Floss Cake in sight, he had no choice but to roast beast meat to satisfy his hunger, reminiscing about the harsh wilderness days of his past—a tumultuous time only for the sake of a bright future.

Tears welling up.

The flames burned the branches, thick black smoke swirling into the heavens, and the aroma wafted in every direction.

After a while, Ling Meng, leaning against the rocky wall, slowly opened her eyes.

Where is this?

She felt incredibly weak, and various wounds caused her immense pain; even the slightest movement was uncomfortable.

Recalling the earlier events, she remembered being attacked by three Daoists with no power to retaliate, and everything afterward remained a blur.

“I’m not dead?”

She looked around, noticing the bodies of two Daoists on the ground and the boy roasting meat ahead.