Failure. The plan had completely failed!
In the underground chamber of the Yun family's ancestral city, Yun Hu stared at the once vibrant green glow that had now dimmed into a lifeless hue. His face was ashen, filled with despair.
"Even with the gift from the Lord, it's still impossible?" Yun Hu trembled as the green light before him dimmed further.
Whoosh...
A sudden gust of wind stirred the chamber, causing the remaining green glow to flicker. Yun Hu's face twisted in sheer terror as a dense black mist began to rise before him. Gradually, a vague, shadowy figure emerged from the smoke.
The figure, though human-shaped, remained shrouded in thick black fog. Its form was obscured, but behind it seemed to extend wings, and sharp horns jutted from its head. Two crimson glows shone like eyes on its smoky face.
Yet, this mysterious figure could not fully manifest, its form remaining hazy and indistinct, as if unable to solidify into a complete shape.
"Yun Hu, what happened?" the black mist figure's deep, abyss-like voice resonated as its glowing red eyes bore into Yun Hu's trembling form.
Swallowing hard, Yun Hu immediately began explaining. "My Lord, everything was about to succeed, but out of nowhere, a boy named Lin Qian appeared."
"Forty-eight of our Transcendent Realm elders have fallen, fourteen dead. We only have thirty-four left. With so many lost, I couldn't spread the curse formation as planned."
"I had no choice but to activate the curse prematurely, infecting all the living beings in the one hundred ninety provinces. In seven days, when the Heavenly Tide comes and the spiritual energy surges, under the full moon, the cursed creatures will spill into neighboring regions. By the time anyone notices the spread of the curse, it will be too late."
As Yun Hu hurriedly explained, the black mist figure listened coldly, its swirling form moving restlessly. After a while, it spoke, its voice filled with anger. "I can feel the presence of beings on the Soul Martial Continent who are infected with the Black Blood Curse."
"Indeed, the numbers increased rapidly at first. But now, those infected with the curse are being killed at an alarming rate," the figure continued, glaring at Yun Hu. "At this rate, everyone infected will be wiped out. The entire plan will fail."
"A thousand years of planning, all for nothing! How much longer must I wait?" The figure's voice was filled with fury. "You're worthless! All you do is ruin everything!"
"My Lord, I couldn't stop it! This Lin Qian—he's my adopted son's grandson. Somehow, he's obtained the legacy of an empire called the Huaxia Empire. He's led an army to attack, and their strength is overwhelming. The Yun family is being defeated at every turn." Yun Hu dropped to his knees, pleading desperately with the black mist figure. "My Lord, I will find a way to make up for this failure!"
The shadowy figure stared down at Yun Hu, shaking its head slowly. "Long ago, I saved your branch of the Yun family, promising to restore your clan's former glory in exchange for your help in my plan. But your bloodline has weakened after intermarrying with humans, and your branch has grown too feeble."
"And now, the plan has failed. You are of no further use to me," the figure said, its tone chilling but calm. "Fortunately, I didn't place all my hopes on you. I had a backup plan. Otherwise, this would have been a complete disaster."
At the mention of a backup plan, Yun Hu's face turned pale with dread.
Backup plan?
The figure's words did not inspire hope in Yun Hu. Instead, deep inside, a terrifying sense of unease began to grow.
Yun Hu knew better than to trust this so-called "Lord" standing before him. This figure was no benevolent being or kind ruler.
During the Ancient War, the Black Blood Clan, led by this very Lord, had been the hidden force pulling the strings behind the scenes. Even the Yun family had secretly aided the conflict between the humans and the alien races, pushing the war into an unprecedented scale.
However, the unexpected unity of humanity, along with the rise of many exceptional warriors, had turned the tide. The battle between the humans and alien races ended in a stalemate, thwarting the Lord's plans.
Now, the Lord's new scheme was on the brink of success, only to be foiled once again. Yun Hu was certain that he wouldn't escape the consequences.
Thump! Thump!
Suddenly, Yun Hu felt his heart begin to pound harder and faster. He could hear it beating loudly in his ears, an ominous rhythm.
Looking down in confusion, he saw thick black smoke seeping from his chest, right where his heart was.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
His heartbeats grew stronger with each pulse, and panic surged within Yun Hu.
"My Lord, what are you doing?" Yun Hu shouted as he scrambled to his feet, attempting to gather his soul power. But to his horror, he found that his power no longer obeyed him.
"What am I doing? You are my backup plan, of course," the black mist figure said, its voice dripping with malice. The smoky tendrils of its form twisted into a stream of black energy, surging toward Yun Hu's heart.
Frantic, Yun Hu clutched at his chest, but it was futile. The black smoke penetrated his body, flowing directly into his heart.
The dark mist engulfed Yun Hu's heart, turning it black, and quickly spread through his veins, infecting his entire body.
Elsewhere, in the ancestral city's main hall, a man hurriedly rushed inside. Upon entering the hall, he saw Yun Hu's figure standing there.
Relief washed over the man as he saw his father. "Father! You're here!"
He hurried forward, anxiety in his voice. "Father, I just found the Yunwu Elders—they've all been found dead in the rear courtyard! What happened—"
But as he spoke, his words trailed off, his face turning pale as he noticed his father's complexion. Yun Hu's skin had turned a sickly grayish-white, and his eyes glowed a sinister red.
From his seven orifices, dark black blood oozed, and a ghastly smile spread across Yun Hu's face, revealing rows of sharp, gleaming teeth.
The man tried to run, but it was too late. Yun Hu had already grabbed him, dragging him close. And then, with a ravenous snarl, Yun Hu lunged forward, sinking his teeth into his son's face.