Fantasy, starting with a treasure bowl

"I finally made it...!"

Seeing that Zhong Lingyu had finally returned to normal, Xia Xihai also breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the Soul-Soothing Talisman in his hand had no inherent lethality, it was a genuine eight-star Xuan-grade talisman. It could not only significantly weaken the soul power of the person afflicted by the talisman, but also cause them to faint, thus losing their ability to move.

However, the Soul-Soothing Talisman itself is not cheap, costing several million spirit stones for just one, and it is a mid-grade spirit stone!

Therefore, Xia Xihai went to great lengths to calm Zhong Lingyu down!

"Dean Chu, what exactly is going on...?"

Seeing that the chaos at Gaoxingfeng had finally subsided and that Zhong Lingyu herself was unharmed, Lu Feng didn't waste any words and once again cast a questioning glance at Chu Tianhong beside him.

Because, judging from Chu Tianhong's words just now, the other party seems to know some inside information, as well as the reason why Zhong Lingyu suddenly went mad and became possessed by demons.

"Hey! Yu'er has been a loner since she was little, not good at talking, and doesn't like to interact with outsiders, so she doesn't have many friends, only a group of harmless little animals for company..."

Faced with Lu Feng's question, Chu Tianhong also sighed, then said with a slightly sad tone, "Originally, I thought this matter was not a big deal and would not affect Yu'er's future cultivation. However, since that incident fifteen years ago, Yu'er has been suffering from 'hemophobia', and this symptom has not improved at all to this day..."

"Hemophobia?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Feng became even more confused, looking utterly bewildered. "Is there really such a strange disease in this world? How come I've never heard of it before...?"

"Alright, Lao Chu! Let me explain now."

Seemingly finding Chu Tianhong's words too sentimental and verbose, Xia Xihai interjected again, adding, "Little Lu, you probably don't know, do you? The Ice Spirit Tiger clan's innate brutality, and the true difference between half-demons and humans..."

"Vice Dean Xia, what do you mean by this?" Lu Feng frowned slightly.

"It's very simple, it means exactly what it says."

Xia Xihai crossed his arms and then explained unhurriedly, "Because Yu'er is not a true human, but a half-demon, and possesses a wisp of Ice Spirit Tiger bloodline, whenever she is subjected to great stimulation, she will reveal her Ice Spirit Tiger form, and at the same time, she will become brutal and bloodthirsty, losing all reason..."

"As for the incident that Old Chu mentioned fifteen years ago, it was a tragedy that happened when Yu'er was a child."

"Due to an accidental stain of blood, Yu'er's Ice Tiger bloodline awakened and was exposed, causing her to unleash her bestial nature and kill almost all living creatures around her, including many of the small animals she had taken in..."

"Ever since that incident, Yu'er has developed hemophobia, because she doesn't want to hurt anyone around her, even just a group of harmless little animals..."

At this point, Xia Xihai shook his head slightly, his face showing some emotion.

"Stained with blood, their bestial nature is unleashed..."

"So Miss Zhong was hiding such a secret..."

At this moment, Lu Feng understood more or less.

Why did Zhong Lingyu become so fearful and even give up the competition after accidentally getting a trace of blood on her during the final four battles of the Four Kingdoms Martial Arts Tournament? It turns out that the other party simply did not want to expose the brutal and bloodthirsty primal nature of the Ice Spirit Tiger clan.

"Uh...cough cough cough!"

Just as everyone present was preparing to treat the wounded, Zhong Lingyu, who had been unconscious, slowly opened her eyes. Then, she coughed up blood from the corner of her mouth and her face became even paler.

"Yu'er...!"

Seeing that Zhong Lingyu had finally woken up, Chu Tianhong quickly came over and gently helped her up, his face full of worry.

Although the other party was only his adopted daughter and they were not related by blood, after so many years of getting along, the two had long developed a deep father-daughter bond, and Chu Tianhong had long regarded Zhong Lingyu as his own daughter.

"Righteousness, godfather?"

Seeing the worried look on Chu Tianhong's face, Zhong Lingyu's eyes welled up with tears. She then bit her lip lightly and said, "I...I...it's all my fault! I'm sorry...!"

"Yu'er, your godfather doesn't blame you. Everything is alright..."

"No, it's all my fault! I injured those innocent Falling Star disciples, and I also killed Little White and the others. I... I deserve to die! Waaaaah...!"

At this point, Zhong Lingyu couldn't help but sob. Her pretty face was full of pain and self-blame, and her body trembled slightly, as if her emotions were somewhat unstable.

"Those corpses are...?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Tianhong's gaze shifted, and the next moment he couldn't help but frown slightly.

At the scene at Gao Xingfeng, besides the remains of some Wusheng Sect members and Luoxing disciples, there were also many animal remains. Among them, a pure white Scottish Fold cat, covered in blood and lifeless, lay quietly on the ground next to Zhong Lingyu.

Clearly, due to the massive invasion of the Wusheng Cult, these small animals had nowhere to escape and were caught in the crossfire, ultimately dying one after another.

"noob...."

"I see..."

Upon seeing this, Chu Tianhong's heart tightened, and he immediately understood why Zhong Lingyu had suddenly gone mad and become possessed by a demon.

After all, the animals that the other party cherishes most are these little creatures, especially the pure white Scottish Fold cat named "Xiaobai," which is Zhong Lingyu's beloved pet that she has raised for more than ten years and is almost like a partner in life and death.

Seeing all the small animals around her die tragically, Zhong Lingyu was naturally greatly shocked and could no longer control the beastly nature of the Ice Spirit Tiger within her, eventually going mad and becoming a demon on the spot.

"Girl, keep it!"

At this moment, Xia Xihai suddenly stepped forward and then threw a strange magical artifact, about the size of a palm and shaped like a kettle, at Zhong Lingyu.

"Uncle Xia? What's wrong...!"

Subconsciously raising her hand to take the strange kettle, Zhong Lingyu was stunned for a moment, and doubt appeared in her eyes.

"This item is called the Soul-Sealing Pot. It's a support-type magical artifact that I crafted myself. Although it can't help you revive those little animals, it can temporarily seal their dead souls. If you find a method of reincarnation in the future, it might come in handy. Keep it..."

Xia Xihai continued unhurriedly.

After all, he was once known as "Master Craftsman of a Hundred Refinements" and was a master craftsman in his own right. For him, creating a temporary auxiliary magic artifact to store a soul was naturally not a problem.

"Uncle Xia, thank you so much...!"

Faced with Xia Xihai's care, Zhong Lingyu was also deeply moved. She quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and then knelt down to express her gratitude.

"Lu Feng, Miss Zhong looks so pitiful. Not only does she not have a single friend, but now even her beloved pet, which she's kept for over ten years, is gone..."

Seeing this, Ren Xuanfei quietly moved closer, then nudged the silent Lu Feng beside her with her elbow, her tone tinged with sadness, as if triggering a woman's unique emotional talent.

"Well, after this battle, all the remnants of the Wusheng Sect who originally invaded Falling Star Academy have been defeated and retreated, and Miss Zhong herself is unharmed. This can be considered a stroke of luck amidst misfortune... uh!"

Before Lu Feng could finish speaking, he suddenly felt a fatal pain coming from his dantian. His face turned pale and blood flowed from his seven orifices, making him look horribly terrifying!

"Wow...!"

Another glob of thick, black blood spurted from the corner of his mouth. Lu Feng's eyelids drooped, his body staggered and swayed, and the next moment he collapsed to the ground, his life hanging in the balance!