Chapter 84: Black Blade Li Yang

With a thunderous roar, two blade auras—one blue, one black—clashed in the heart of the demonic forest like a pair of heavenly thunders colliding. The deafening explosion echoed through the woods as both attacks shattered upon impact, releasing a terrifying wave of primordial energy that swept across the region. At the site of the collision, the earth caved in several yards, and two deep gashes, each spanning dozens of feet, scarred the ruined ground—startling to behold.

The sudden appearance of the black blade aura had destroyed the attack that was meant to slay the prodigy of the Ye family and the eldest daughter of the Nangong family. Luo Long's face darkened with displeasure as he fixed his gaze on the direction from which the black blade aura had been unleashed.

“I wonder which friend is present here. Might you show yourself?” Luo Long’s voice was cold, yet carried a distinct courtesy. Judging by the blade aura just now, its wielder’s strength was surely on par with his own. As a high-ranking member of the Luo family, years of experience had taught Luo Long to be calculating and smooth; it would be most unwise to offend such a formidable figure before discerning their true motives.

The sudden black blade aura had saved Ye Cheng and Nangong Xue from certain death, yet both wore expressions of confusion. Ye Cheng turned to Nangong Xue. “Is someone from your family here?”

“No,” Nangong Xue replied, shaking her head, a thoughtful look flickering across her beautiful features. Of this party, only Elder Wu possessed mastery at the peak of the Yuan Realm, but she knew for certain that Elder Wu never used a blade, let alone one so dazzling and fearsome as the one just displayed. Besides Elder Wu, no one else from the Nangong family knew of her secret journey—her departure had been kept hidden from most of the family elders.

“Then who could it be?” Ye Cheng frowned, seeing Nangong Xue’s denial.

Judging from the aura’s resonance, only someone who had immersed themselves in the way of the blade for many years could have unleashed it—much like the formidable adversary before them, Luo Long, known as the “Mad Blade,” whose name was famous throughout Luoyang Town.

A soft chuckle drifted from the forest. “I never expected the renowned Mad Blade Luo Long, Third Elder of the Luo family, to be here ambushing a prodigy. I once had some respect for you, Elder Luo, but your actions today are beneath contempt.”

From the shadows emerged a middle-aged man in black robes, his long hair unbound. Strapped across his back was a pitch-black blade, its surface absorbing the light, with a faint black gleam rippling across it—a clear sign that this was no ordinary weapon.

His laughter echoed through the forest, drawing the eyes of Luo Long, Ye Cheng, and the others to him. As Ye Cheng beheld this familiar figure emerging from the trees, his eyes brightened. A memory flashed in his mind: months ago, when he had first entered the demonic forest to hunt the Iron-armored Lizard, it was a black-robed figure who had slain the blood python that ambushed him, thus granting him the chance to kill the lizard.

Now, the silhouette of the black-robed man overlapped with the figure before him—same black robe, same black blade strapped across the back. It was clearly the same man who had once saved him.

“Senior!” Ye Cheng exclaimed in astonishment at the realization.

Nangong Xue, observing Ye Cheng’s reaction, couldn’t hide the joy that flashed across her own face. Clearly, Ye Cheng recognized this man with the black blade, and with such a powerful ally present, their lives were finally safe.

Upon hearing Ye Cheng’s respectful address, the black-robed man smiled at him. After scrutinizing Ye Cheng for a moment, he suddenly asked, “Young man, you must be only seventeen this year?”

Ye Cheng was taken aback but nodded. He had no idea why the man would ask such a question—or how he even knew his age.

The man laughed. “The Ye family is truly blessed. At seventeen, you stand at the peak of the Blood Qi Realm. Such talent is rare, not just in Luoyang Town but throughout the entire Nanyang Prefecture.”

“You flatter me, senior. My abilities are nothing much,” Ye Cheng replied modestly, though in his heart he was proud of his own progress. From the awakening of his Devouring Constitution to now, less than a year had passed, and yet his cultivation had reached this level—a speed that was indeed worthy of pride.

“No need for false modesty. I’ve heard of your exploits. Your cultivation speed is nothing short of monstrous. It’s no wonder the Luo family, who stand opposed to the Ye family, are so envious.”

“Senior, you know me?” Ye Cheng picked up the hint in the mysterious man’s words—this was the second time he’d helped him, and he clearly knew who Ye Cheng was.

But before the black-robed man could answer, a voice laced with speculation interrupted their exchange.

“Black Blade, Li Yang?” Since the appearance of the black-robed man, Luo Long’s gaze had never left him—especially the black blade on his back, which made Luo Long’s eyes narrow in recognition.

“Black Blade, Li Yang?” Ye Cheng mused to himself. “So this senior is called Li Yang, and the black blade is his signature… But why has he helped me twice already?” He was no longer naïve enough to believe the help he’d received months ago was mere coincidence; it was likely the blood python’s target had been himself, and Li Yang had intervened purposefully. Yet the name Li Yang was unfamiliar—he had never heard of it before.

Nangong Xue, quietly watching from the side, could sense that this man with the black blade was quite renowned.

“I must say, Elder Luo, you have a sharp eye to recognize me at a glance. I, Li Yang, am honored indeed,” the black-robed man remarked with a cold smirk, turning his gaze from Ye Cheng to Luo Long. Clearly, he held little regard for Luo Long.

“Is that so?” Luo Long replied coldly. “Brother Li, you’re a famous figure in Poison Dragon Town—always seen with your black blade, impossible to mistake. Besides you, I can’t think of anyone else with such strength.”

“But what puzzles me is this: Brother Li, you’ve long resided in Poison Dragon City and rarely concern yourself with the affairs of Luoyang Town’s sects. Yet today you intervene to rescue these two from my hands. Do you intend to meddle in the affairs of Luoyang Town?”