"Bro-bro... brother, I-I-I can hear you."
Soon, Wang Qiang's voice also reached Chu Feng's ears.
Hearing Wang Qiang's response, Chu Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The reason the two could communicate privately over such a distance was the pendant Chu Feng had given Wang Qiang.
That pendant had been forged using Chu Feng's barrier formations.
He had crafted it specifically after learning that the Blood Devouring Demon Venerable was not dead.
The item could enhance the privacy of their private communication, ensuring that their conversation would not be overheard by the Blood Devouring Demon Venerable lurking within Wang Qiang's body.
Of course, the item had its limitations.
Now that they were both at the Nine Heavens Summit and relatively close, it could still be used.
If they were too far apart, however, they naturally wouldn't be able to rely on it for private communication.
"Good that you can hear me. I'll keep it brief..."
Chu Feng informed Wang Qiang that the Demon Venerable's descent into the world had been deliberately orchestrated by the Blood Devouring Demon Venerable — that he had allowed himself to be placed inside Chu Feng's body.
He also told Wang Qiang that the Demon Venerable's descent could still sense the Blood Devouring Demon Venerable's aura, confirming that the Blood Devouring Demon Venerable remained inside Chu Feng.
"Bro-bro... brother, I-I know."
But Wang Qiang's response caught Chu Feng off guard.
Only after Wang Qiang explained did Chu Feng understand the full picture.
It turned out Wang Qiang had known all along that the Blood Devouring Demon Venerable had not been completely eradicated.
In fact, he had never had the means to truly destroy him. The Blood Devouring Demon Venerable had deliberately allowed himself to be defeated.
He had made Wang Qiang believe he had won, when in reality the Demon Venerable had used far more sinister means to continue hiding within Wang Qiang's body.
Wang Qiang didn't know the Blood Devouring Demon Venerable's exact plan, but the old creature certainly had no good intentions.
So Wang Qiang had deliberately pretended not to know that the Blood Devouring Demon Venerable was still alive, while diligently cultivating in secret.
He spent a massive amount of time each day cultivating, all to stabilize his divine soul and prevent the day when the Blood Devouring Demon Venerable might seize control of his body.
But he couldn't be too obvious about it, so he had fabricated certain excuses — excuses that outsiders would easily accept — so as not to arouse the Blood Devouring Demon Venerable's suspicion.
"Bro-bro... brother, don't worry."
"Even if that old old old... old geezer tries to take my body now, it won't be th-th-that easy." Wang Qiang reassured Chu Feng, not wanting him to worry.
"Brother, can you sense what level his cultivation is?"
Chu Feng asked. This was important — at the very least, they needed to determine how powerful their enemy truly was.
"I can't sense it, but he's v-v-very strong. Not something we can re-re... remove right now," Wang Qiang said.
After that, Chu Feng and Wang Qiang discussed the matter at length, trying to see if there was any way he could help Wang Qiang.
But in the end, they had to admit that they were truly powerless at this stage. In fact, Wang Qiang's approach was the best one available.
That is, pretending not to know the Blood Devouring Demon Venerable was still present, while simultaneously strengthening his own stability.
That way, if the day truly came when the Blood Devouring Demon Venerable attempted to seize Wang Qiang's body, at the very least Wang Qiang could maximize his chances of protecting himself.
"Brother, I'll find a way too," Chu Feng said.
"Aww, it's no-no... no big deal. What storms haven't we brothers weathered? A mere Blood Devouring Demon Venerable is nothing — just a stepping stone on my, Wang Qiang's, life path-p-p... path," Wang Qiang said with a confident grin.
"I believe you can handle it."
"While we're both at the Nine Heavens Summit and at this distance, you can reach me through the pendant at any time."
"If you need help, come find me," Chu Feng said.
"No problem. Don't worry about me — focus on your Nine Heavens Summit journey. You've got to w-w-win... win the strongest title."