Chapter 959: Black Eating Black?

Thrown so violently from the sky by Bull Ba Tian, even with their profound cultivation, the two couldn't withstand it. They sustained serious injuries; without their protective treasures, they likely would have been crushed to death instantly.

"Cough, cough, cough... Bull Ba Tian, Lu Wu, listen to me. We are truly friends, not enemies. We know you are close to the Northern Demon and also know Fairy Lian. Doesn't that prove we are on the same side?"

Lu Min was already at the end of his tether, with very little magic power remaining. Even without encountering this demonic cloud, he wouldn't have lasted much longer, let alone now. Despair washed over him, realizing it was a certain death.

In the sky, demonic energy swirled, shrouding the old bull in darkness. To outsiders, he appeared as a colossal humanoid demon standing amidst the clouds, his eyes glowing crimson and two large, crescent moon-like horns on either side of his head.

'Not dead yet?'

He had expected to kill the two pursuers of Lu Min with a single blow, but to his surprise, they still had the strength to speak. However, the old bull's mind worked quickly. He immediately reined in his demonic aura and slowly descended from the clouds, questioning the two cultivators on the ground with a hint of doubt.

"Oh? Is that true?"

As the old bull descended, his face no longer bore its usual farmer-like simplicity; instead, it exuded a fierce aura. Although his body had shrunk, he was still over three *zhang* tall. A pair of sharp bull horns gleamed coldly, and his demonic energy was terrifying.

Seeing Bull Ba Tian's movements soften, the two cultivators noted that Lu Min was still trapped in the demonic cloud above. Although they were displeased by the initial attack, they didn't want to escalate the conflict. After all, these two demons were not to be trifled with. Bull Ba Tian, especially, had a savage temper and would even attack his allies if provoked. As for Lu Wu, though seemingly cultured and reasonable, he was actually more terrifying; one might not die from Bull Ba Tian's blows, but an enraged Lu Wu often simply devoured his victims, showing a particular preference for the strong and little interest in weak mortals.

"Everything we have said is true. You two can verify it with Fairy Lian at any time!"

"Knowing all this, it does sound genuine. So, do you want this old bull to help you capture that immortal cultivator?"

The old bull looked up at Lu Min in the sky, then suddenly turned and smiled just as the two cultivators were about to speak.

"However, this old bull is lazy. You'll have to do it yourselves. Stopping him for you is already doing enough."

The two cultivators reluctantly cupped their hands in salute.

"Thank you for your kindness, Fellow Daoist Bull. We will handle it ourselves."

The two adjusted their breathing, then ascended on the wind once more.

"Lu Min, you must be tired after fleeing for so long. What's the point? The entire cultivation world now knows you, Lu Min, are a traitor from the Mirror Xuanhai Pavilion who deceived your master and destroyed your ancestors. Wouldn't it be better to just end it?"

A magic cloud formed under Lu Min's feet, and he slumped onto it. He surveyed the dark demonic clouds surrounding him and looked at his two pursuers ascending again, a bitter smile on his face.

"Hahahaha... I, Lu Min, prided myself on my extraordinary talent, yet when my sect faced hardship, I couldn't contribute. Instead, I was framed by petty villains, and now I'm to die in a place like this. You, who collude with demons and bring disaster upon immortal sects, the heavens are just, and retribution will come to you sooner or later!"

The two cultivators had been chasing Lu Min for a long time and had just been badly shaken by Bull Ba Tian, so they were furious. At that moment, one of them sneered.

"Lu Min, when heavenly retribution comes, or if it comes at all, you won't be around to see it."

Lu Min suddenly looked up at them, an astonishing sword intent rising from his body. His magic power surged violently at that moment, and the surrounding spiritual energy also grew turbulent.

"I, Lu, have cultivated for hundreds of years and am hailed as the foremost Sword Immortal in combat. Even if I die, I will not kneel!"

This powerful sword intent caused the surrounding demonic clouds to disperse and made Lu Shan Jun, hidden in the clouds, and Bull Ba Tian, who was slowly rising again, feel a slight tingling sensation on their skin.

Lu Min was clearly risking hundreds of years of cultivation to fight to the death!

The sword intent born of this life-or-death struggle also made the two cultivators, who had been constantly pursuing Lu Min, feel as if a long sword was pointed at their foreheads, a chill rising within them. At that moment, they had a terrifying premonition: after one sword strike, Lu Min would undoubtedly die, but one of them would definitely perish with him, or perhaps even both.

"There is just one thing I, Lu, don't understand, and I hope 'you two fellow Daoists' can enlighten me!"

Lu Min emphasized the words "you two fellow Daoists" heavily, and in their fear, the two immortal cultivators dared not press him further.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, what troubles you? Just ask. There's no need to sacrifice your immortal foundation and cultivation. Even if you fall, we will ensure you die understanding. The book 'Yellow Springs' vaguely suggests there might be a path of reincarnation in the world; there might still be hope, after all!"

"Hahahaha... You'll let my true spirit return to the heavens? You might, but will these two demons?"

"Lu Min, laugh all you want. How long can you maintain this state? If we simply retreat and don't advance, you will still die from exhaustion of your vital energy!"

Lu Min paid them no mind, merely smiling, without even a hint of mockery, his eyes filled with intensely insulting contempt.

As Lu Min laughed, his sword intent continued to intensify. Meanwhile, one of the two cultivators secretly transmitted a divine message into Bull Ba Tian's ear.

'Fellow Daoist Bull, we hope you and Fellow Daoist Lu can help us jointly kill Lu Min. Your demonic body is incredibly strong; the Sword Immortal's techniques surely cannot break through it!'

Bull Ba Tian slowly appeared behind the two cultivators, treading on the demonic wind. He stretched lazily, not bothering to avoid Lu Min's gaze, and spoke in a drawl.

"Helping you deal with Lu Min is no big deal, but that woman Lian Ping'er thoroughly tricked the Northern Demon earlier, which also makes fools of old Lu and me. How about you first compensate Lian Ping'er with some benefits, and then this old bull will make his move?"

This was clearly an opportunistic demand in an urgent situation, but at this point, the two could only satisfy the demon, as they truly didn't want to perish with Lu Min.

"Fellow Daoist Bull, just name your price. Anything we carry, except for our innate magic treasures, can be given to you."

Bull Ba Tian bared his teeth in a chilling grin.

"Good then... This old bull doesn't want any of your magic treasures. I just... want your lives!"

The latter half of the old bull's sentence was not loud but crystal clear, causing both Lu Min and the two cultivators to instinctively freeze for a moment.

"What?"

As the two cultivators turned, they saw Bull Ba Tian's leg sweeping towards them. The immense force tore through the air, and the intense pressure blurred their vision. Their innate magic treasures merely released a layer of spiritual light, utterly incapable of any other reaction.

"Bang!"

The two were sent flying like cannonballs once more by the old bull. Their spiritual lights flickered violently, and tearing pain shot through their bodies, their hearts filled with a mix of disbelief and rage.

But in the next instant, all their emotions seemed to freeze, as if their hearts had been seized by sharp claws. In their peripheral vision, the dark demonic cloud split open from top to bottom, revealing a pair of monstrous eyes gleaming with greenish-yellow light within the clouds. Within the gaping dark clouds, fangs wreathed in misty energy became visible.

"RROOAARR—"

Bull Ba Tian's kick wasn't meant to kill them instantly, but to send them straight into Lu Wu's mouth? Unfortunately for the two cultivators, they realized this far too late.

At that moment, Lu Wu's massive maw snapped shut, and the lives of the two cultivators were extinguished.

The old bull feigned shrinking his neck back.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk... Who could withstand a bite like that!"

Compared to the old bull and Lu Shan Jun, Lu Min, who had been preparing for his final desperate struggle, was utterly bewildered. Although he hadn't lowered his guard, he simply couldn't have imagined such a scene unfolding before his eyes. What was this? A double-cross?

But then, the surrounding demonic clouds rapidly dispersed, clearing the sky instantly. A refined man in a yellow robe slowly flew over on a white cloud, and Bull Ba Tian gradually moved closer to him.

"Hahahaha, old Lu, how did it taste?"

The old bull's voice held a teasing tone, while Lu Shan Jun frowned.

"Swallowed them whole."

"Oh, I thought you'd chew a bit. But now we've finally managed to disgust that woman Lian Ping'er a little, a small repayment on behalf of the Northern Demon, wouldn't you say?"

"Why would I chew on something so disgusting?"

With those words, the two slowly flew away together, leaving Lu Min standing dumbfounded.

"Uh, you two..."

The old bull immediately thought this guy wasn't very smart. If it were him, he definitely wouldn't say a word in such a situation, no matter how surprising it was; he'd just quietly wait for them to leave. Still, he turned to look at Lu Min.

"What? You don't mean you still don't want to let us go, do you? Just go wherever you need to go."

After saying this, without waiting for any reaction from Lu Min, the old bull and Lu Shan Jun ascended into the clouds and flew away. The latter seemed to glance back at Lu Min, making his heart clench, but ultimately, the two demons did not return.

Approximately a hundred *li* away, in the mountains, Lu Shan Jun and the old bull landed. After looking around and confirming their safety, Lu Shan Jun gently blew a breath, and a grayish mist flew from his mouth, solidifying before them into the two cultivators who had just been devoured.

At that moment, the two seemed somewhat disoriented. Then, they abruptly noticed Lu Shan Jun and Bull Ba Tian, and their bodies involuntarily trembled slightly.

"A *chang* ghost! I've become a *chang* ghost?" "Impossible! With my four hundred years of cultivation, even if my primordial spirit were to dissipate, I couldn't possibly become a *chang* ghost!"