After hearing Luo Hongyan's analysis, Changqing's expression also grew serious.
He didn't have a particularly concrete concept of the Cultivator's strength in this world, after all, he was too weak, merely a low-level Shūhū Second Level.
Compared to Luo Hongyan, he was already an ant; the strength that could surprise Luo Hongyan so much, he felt that this Blood Arts cultivator's strength was likely stronger than Liu Lu's.
"What do you think is their approximate Realm? At least Instant, right? How many levels of Instant do you think they have?"
"Instant? Are you kidding me?"
Luo Hongyan rolled her eyes at Changqing, "Although I haven't seen a true Blood Arts cultivator and don't know how much stronger their vitality and Qi are compared to other Cultivators of the same Realm."
"But Instant, absolutely impossible. Even an Instant Ninth Level, even a Battle Method Cultivator who specializes in physical cultivation, would instantly turn into a dried corpse if that much Qi was extracted."
"Don't just because you've only seen one Liu Lu at the Instant Realm, think that Instant Cultivators are that powerful. Mere Instant Cultivators cannot possess such great power."
Luo Hongyan's confident tone and critical manner were like a homeroom teacher educating a student.
It made Changqing recall when he was in high school, busy doing problems, not eating well, and not sleeping well, Ye Qinghe would scold him in that tone.
"Don't think that just because you're young now, nothing will happen. If you ruin your stomach and eyes, you'll have time to cry later."
Changqing developed later than his peers; at that time, Ye Qinghe was even a little taller than him, truly feeling like an elder sister.
Thinking of this, Changqing couldn't help but curve his lips slightly upward.
Luo Hongyan, who didn't understand, was greatly speechless, "You're probably sick, why are you laughing now?"
"Nothing."
"Then next time, don't laugh so inexplicably, okay? You're so strange. Sometimes smart, sometimes foolish. In such a bizarre place, you suddenly laugh, and it makes my heart pound."
"Sorry, sorry, I'll pay attention next time."
"Speaking of which, I suggest we don't continue to investigate further. If Liu Lu has imprisoned such a powerful being, that's a trapped Dragon. Even if the two of us find him, what good would it do? To him, we're just ants."
Changqing, however, shook his head.
"Since the other party is in distress, his goal must also be to escape. Our goals are consistent, so there's a possibility of cooperation."
Luo Hongyan scoffed.
"Why would a powerful being of that level cooperate with you?"
"Even without cooperation, he can be utilized. It's the same."
His words made Luo Hongyan turn her head, only to see Changqing expressionless, his tone flat.
"Where there are difficulties, there are needs. With weaknesses, and both needs and weaknesses, one can be utilized."
"You're not utilizing me too, are you?"
"How could I?"
Changqing's expressionless face turned to Luo Hongyan, then a smile appeared, but suddenly remembering she didn't want him to smile abruptly, he quickly reined it in and said seriously.
"We are cooperating, not utilizing. I will never utilize you. Should any danger arise, I will protect you."
"You, you, you, you shut up! You don't know how to be ashamed when you speak."
Luo Hongyan, perhaps due to shyness, ignored Changqing, quickened her pace, and arrived in front of the fleshy, serpentine mass.
Fearing an accident, Changqing quickly followed.
"Mother."
Seeing Changqing approach, the serpentine mass seemed excited, its tentacles trembling.
"By the way, why does this Ling Embryo call me mother? Does it mistake me for Liu Lu?"
Luo Hongyan shook her head.
"Don't try to understand a Ling Embryo with our way of thinking. It's just a mass of living flesh and blood, not necessarily possessing normal consciousness, no internal organs, no six senses. Its way of perceiving the world is different from ours. Perhaps in its eyes, you and Liu Lu have something in common."
"Then what should I do? Can this thing really communicate? If I ask it where that Blood Arts cultivator is, can it tell me?"
Luo Hongyan spread her hands.
"I don't know either. We've searched the Immortal Cave and only found this strange place. And since Liu Lu used that Blood Arts cultivator to feed the Ling Embryo, I think the place where he's imprisoned must not be far from here. You can try asking this Ling Embryo; it doesn't seem to have any ill will towards you, anyway."
Changqing also agreed with Luo Hongyan's suggestion, so he tried to ask.
"Mother asks you, where is that Blood Arts cultivator?"
The serpentine mass didn't react, only its many eyes blinked in unison, seemingly expressing confusion.
"Its intelligence should not be high. You need to ask it something simple."
Luo Hongyan reminded him.
Before Changqing could ask again, the serpentine mass spoke first.
"Mother, hungry."
Changqing thought for a moment and asked, "If you're hungry, let Mother take you to find food. Tell Mother, where is the food?"
"Mother, hungry, eat."
The serpentine mass still dully repeated similar words.
Just as Changqing and Luo Hongyan were once again disappointed, the serpentine monster suddenly began to convulse again.
Immediately after, a strange sound of tearing muscles came.
The intertwined snakes slowly separated, and a huge opening appeared in the middle of the serpentine mass.
However, those peeled snakes seemed to have grown together, and this opening was almost forcefully torn open from the middle, which was why the strange sound had just occurred.
The serpentine monster seemed to be enduring immense pain, its surrounding tentacles twitching violently, looking very bizarre.
"Mother, hungry."
Its voice was a little weak, like the tender call of a sleepy child who had just woken up.
Changqing and Luo Hongyan looked at the huge opening torn in the middle of its body, exchanging glances.
Countless tiny flesh buds squirmed at the edge of the opening, a sight that made one hesitate.
"Is this its... mouth?"
Luo Hongyan said hesitantly.
"You mean... is it possible that the imprisoned Blood Law Cultivator is behind this opening?"
Changqing, however, leaned closer, peering into the opening.
But there was nothing inside, just pitch black. Nothing could be seen, only the squirming flesh buds nearby.
"There should be quite a bit of space inside. You wait here; I'll go in and take a look first."
With that, he had already poked his head in.
Luo Hongyan, however, went up and pulled him back.
"Are you crazy? You dare to crawl in there? What if the Ling Embryo directly swallows you as food?"
"It's alright. Someone has to go in. You're strong. If something happens to me, you can still save me from outside."
After hearing this, Luo Hongyan hesitated for a moment and could only nod in agreement.
"Then take the torch. If there's danger, you just wave the torch, and I'll find a way to save you when I see it."
"Okay, don't worry, it'll be fine."
He habitually rubbed Luo Hongyan's long hair, pried away her hand that was holding him, turned, and stepped into the darkness.
