Chapter 348: 350: Predator in the Dark
Zhu Minglang remembered this sect, isn’t it the one that served King An like a dog, wanting to take control of him in Monument City?
Black Palm Hall, Blade Sect?
Are they all engaged in shady dealings?
Zhu Minglang didn’t know what Black Palm Hall was all about, but he noticed that each of these people had the mark of the Purple Sect Clan on their adornments.
Were they from the Purple Sect Clan or Black Palm Hall?
Or could it be that Black Palm Hall has always been a part of the Purple Sect Clan? The Purple Sect Clan, under the guise of an upright sect, was secretly cultivating a group of assassins to undertake the deeds they were inconvenient to handle themselves?
“Wouldn’t that be perfect,” Pu Shiming smiled, “After getting rid of Zhu Minglang, we could even connect with King An.” He had not anticipated this unexpected gain.
“Indeed, King An has always wanted to suppress Zhu Gate, and I presume he has always wanted to join hands with you, the Pu Family. It’s just a pity there was no opportunity. If you, Shiming, take care of Zhu Minglang for him, King An will certainly let go of all his guard against the Pu Clan and treat you with sincerity,” said the Hall Master of Black Palm Hall.
“Isn’t King An in Snow Peak City?” asked Pu Shiming.
“Yes, shall I introduce you?” The Hall Master of Black Palm Hall smiled.
“That would be perfect, of course we need to prepare the gifts first,” Pu Shiming said.
“Heh, for a little Dragon Shepherd like him, our Black Palm Hall has a hundred ways to make him wish he were dead. Offending our young master Pu is tantamount to opposing the entire authority of the Supreme Court Court Empire!” The smile of the Hall Master of Black Palm Hall turned sinister and terrifying.
Pu Shiming finally revealed a smile as well.
Ever since he walked out of that forest, he had felt like exploding with frustration, but thinking of Zhu Minglang’s impending doom, Pu Shiming suddenly felt the air amongst the bamboo trees became sweet again.
“It’s getting dark earlier than usual today, which is good. The heavens are helping us, our Black Palm Hall excels in nighttime operations,” said a flattering deacon cozying up behind the Hall Master, his face full of obsequiousness.
Pu Shiming, the future head of the Pu Clan and the most promising successor to the Purple Sect Clan, if the leading clan of the Six Great Clans and the foremost of the Four Great Sects were to unite, even the Royal Family would have to hold them in awe!
Naturally, Black Palm Hall couldn’t wait to tie themselves to Pu Shiming, especially when engaging in such dirty work, which would solidify their relationship even more.
“Has it gotten dark already?” Pu Shiming was somewhat surprised.
He remembered that it had only been nearing evening when he arrived at this bamboo forest; it should have taken at least one more time unit for it to be completely dark. How come after only a short chat with the people from Black Palm Hall, it had already become completely dark!
The dimness shrouded the bamboo forest, with tall bamboos standing eerily in this desolate scene, exuding an air of gloom and cold.
In the not too distant town, which should have been brightly lit by now, for some reason, the view through the bamboo forest showed nothing, as though they were enveloped in darkness, locked in by a thick fog of night.
At first, Pu Shiming didn’t find this altogether frightening. After all, this land is now full of all sorts of immortals and ghosts, so it wasn’t impossible for the weather to change abruptly.
But soon, Pu Shiming realized that it seemed only their part of the bamboo forest was engulfed in the dark.
Using the spiritual sense of a Dragon Shepherd to penetrate these layers of darkness, one would find that the small town outside was still just entering evening, and there was no need even to light the lamps.
Something was wrong!
The day hadn’t darkened, only their location had!
The breath of darkness grew denser, even surging like a tide around them. With such intense fluctuations of atmosphere, the bamboo forest should have been shaking violently, but those bamboo trees and leaves remained eerily still.
In the deep darkness, a brilliant light like a meteor shower appeared mysteriously among the bamboo forest, followed closely by a pair of enormous black wings that eerily swept over their heads.
Pu Shiming and the members of the Black Palm Hall looked up in horror, but they saw nothing, as if it were just a gust of black wind.
But the next moment, the sound of the wings flapping came again, so close it seemed to be right beside their ears, like bats, like poison moths, both enormous and terrifying!
When they turned their heads again, they still saw nothing.
They even heard the sound of teeth grinding, how could there be nothing at all!
Pu Shiming summoned his Holy Lion Purple Dragon and also called forth his other pride, the Silver Tail Purple Dragon.
Both dragons were of high cultivation base and were Pu Shiming’s greatest reliance.
Yet neither the Holy Lion Purple Dragon nor the Silver Tail Purple Dragon brought Pu Shiming any sense of security. Instead, the two dragons were toyed with by the creature in the darkness like helpless deer or rabbits!
“Ah!!!!”
Suddenly, a dreadful scream rose as the previously sycophantic deacon from the Black Palm Hall was dragged into the air!
His feet left the ground as he was whisked away at high speed, and the others did not even catch a glimpse of the dark creature.
Within their limited field of vision, the screams of the deacon being carried away still echoed in their ears. Then a large pool of blood flowed from the groves of the bamboo forest, its striking red sending shock and deeper fear across the faces of Pu Shiming and the hall master.
“Boom!!!!”
Another noise erupted, and the hall master of the Black Palm Hall seemed to be slapped away by something, violently flying towards the thick bamboo.
The bamboo was crushed, and the Black Palm Hall Master lay on the ground like a puppet severed from its strings, limbs twisted, joints dislocated, head tilted at an unbelievable angle.
Upon seeing this, Pu Shiming was nearly scared out of his wits!
After all, he was a hall master, with high cultivation and exceptional strength, how could he be beaten out of human shape in an instant??
What on earth was the thing in the darkness??
Could it be an Immortal Ghost!!
How could they be this unlucky!!
Soon, the other deacons from the Black Palm Hall also perished violently.
Their screams of agony reverberated in Pu Shiming’s ears, and the two dragons at his side still could not perceive the monster in the darkness, let alone confront it.
“Hyah!!!!”
Finally, it was Pu Shiming’s turn. The Holy Lion Purple Dragon at his side was covered in armor that resembled purple crystals, indeed the toughest of dragon fighters. But then a tail appeared in the gloom, smacking the Holy Lion Purple Dragon directly into the ground, shattering its solid purple crystal armor.
The Silver Tail Purple Dragon attempted to attack; it dove into the darkness and summoned the Azure Dragon Mystics, releasing countless purple thunderbolts into the void. However, it seemed as though the void absorbed all the thunderbolts.
What followed was a vast array of star patterns lighting up, with dense, deadly rays piercing harshly through the Silver Tail Purple Dragon. Its body was riddled with holes, and dragon blood gushed out like fountains…
Seeing this, Pu Shiming was dumbstruck.
His two proud Purple Dragons were being brutally ravaged by that creature in the dark, like mere chicks!