In a dark corner of the city, figures cloaked in blood-red robes emerged one by one. They moved stealthily yet with precise coordination, fanning out in all directions of Luoxia City under the cover of night and chaos.
Each of them took out a crimson spear and, following an esoteric pattern, began planting them into designated spots around the city.
From a bird's-eye view above Luoxia City, one would see that the positions they occupied formed a massive formation so vast that it nearly covered the entire city.
"Who goes there?"
A patrol squad spotted their movements and immediately shouted out in warning.
But the blood-robed men seemed completely unfazed. Without acknowledging the call, they continued to drive their spears into the hard earth slowly but resolutely.
"Stop him!"
The patrol disciples surged forward and swiftly tore one of the intruders apart.
Yet from start to finish, the blood-robed man didn't fight back. He simply, silently, used all his strength to plunge the blood spear into the ground.
Blood flowed from his broken body, slowly gathering around the spear, emitting a strange, bubbling gudong sound. Amid the chaos of the night, it was unnervingly clear.
Once it absorbed the blood, the spear gleamed with a blinding, crimson light so intense it sent chills down the spine.
"What the hell is that?" One of the patrol disciples swallowed hard, his blood seeming to freeze in his veins under the spear's presence.
"Doesn't matter what it is, we must destroy it now!" the patrol leader barked.
Over a dozen cultivators launched a joint technique, aiming to obliterate the blood spear.
But to their horror, their spells didn't harm it at all. Instead, the spear absorbed their energy and radiated an even fiercer, blood-red glow.
The Luoxia disciples stood frozen in disbelief…
This same scene unfolded all over the city. Some of the blood-robed men escaped unharmed. Others sacrificed themselves to empower the blood spears.
But regardless of the outcome, the disciples of Luoxia were gripped by the same growing horror; they couldn't handle these cursed spears.
They couldn't be destroyed. They couldn't be removed. And anyone who touched one would, without exception, be drained into a desiccated corpse nourishment for the spear's unholy power.
Before long, a flurry of distress signals lit up the sky. All of Luoxia City was plunged into a state of panic. Some tried to flee, while others sought to take advantage of the chaos.
Hovering in the sky, Zhuang Yuchan watched the city descend into madness. Pain clouded her eyes. After so many tense days of walking on eggshells, they had still reached this point.
She glanced at her fellow disciples, then took a deep breath and commanded, "Pass down my order: anyone who tries to exploit this chaos is to be executed on the spot!"
"What about the zombie?"
"I'll handle the zombie myself. You must focus on stabilizing the city, use any means necessary!" Zhuang Yuchan's tone was sharp and unwavering.
"Yes, ma'am!"
As her companions scattered like shooting stars to carry out her orders, Zhuang Yuchan flew in the direction where Wu Luochuan had fled.
But Wu Luochuan, having completed his mission, no longer wished to tangle with her. His body melded into a patch of shadow and vanished without a trace…
When Xu Yunhe, who had lagged, finally caught up, he found only Zhuang Yuchan hovering in midair, her sword beneath her feet. He blinked in surprise. Had Wu Luochuan already been subdued?
"Daoist Zhuang?"
"Daoist Xu…" Zhuang Yuchan's expression was downcast. "I was incompetent… He got away again."
Her martial uncle had entrusted her with the critical task of maintaining Luoxia City's stability, yet she had failed his expectations.
Not only had the blood demon infiltrated the city, but she hadn't even been able to capture a single zombie. The weight of her failure filled her with frustration.
"That Wu Luochuan is no ordinary corpse. His methods are strange and unpredictable. Even when Luoxia City issued a bounty on him, and countless experts joined the hunt, he still managed to slip away. There's no need to blame yourself, Daoist Zhuang.
Right now, your responsibility lies in taking command, rallying the forces within the city, and quelling this unrest as soon as possible," Xu Yunhe said, trying to lift her spirits.
Of the four of them, Zhuang Yuchan was the youngest, with the most prestigious background. Yet her gentle nature made her lack the firmness required of a leader, and she had little real-world experience. This was her first major assignment, and some missteps were to be expected.
It was a lesson, not a failure. But if it planted seeds of self-doubt or left behind a mental demon, it could jeopardize her cultivation path.
Upon hearing this, light slowly returned to Zhuang Yuchan's eyes. It wasn't too late to fix the mistake. What was done was done, but she would not let it continue.
She bowed earnestly toward Xu Yunhe. "Thank you for your words, Daoist Xu. I was too caught up in self-blame."
With her confidence restored, she immediately resumed her duties. Orders were issued rapidly as she mobilized law enforcement disciplines across the city to suppress the chaos in an organized manner.
She also dispatched a squad specifically to track down and capture the blood demon.
And just like that, Luoxia City plunged into a storm of blood and fire.
Seeing her swift turnaround, Xu Yunhe nodded in satisfaction and quietly returned to his lodging.
After both of them had left, a figure appeared at the very spot where they had just stood. He watched the fires of battle raging throughout the city and sighed.
"Second Senior Brother misjudged this one… Yuchan still lacks the necessary experience. If it had been Yinshang or any of the others today, things wouldn't have come to this.
Seems it's time I had a chat with First Senior Brother. Flowers raised in greenhouses simply can't survive in a world as cruel as this."
As he spoke, the man suddenly let out a silent laugh, shaking his head.
"But what am I even worrying about? The matter's not over yet. This farce… ends tonight."
And with that, his figure gradually faded from view, disappearing into the night.
At the foot of Tianyin Mountain, the chaos in the city seemed to have no effect here. Everything was as calm as usual.
A young man dressed in the uniform of the law enforcement disciplines sauntered over, swaying his hips with an alluring smile on his face. In his hand, he held a pitch-black spear.
With a wave of his hand, an illusory image materialized before him: a map of Luoxia City. Densely packed red dots were marked across it, forming a vaguely sinister pattern.
And the spot he currently stood, Tianyin Mountain, was marked by a large black dot.
If someone were to compare this map to the real city, they would find that every red dot corresponded exactly to where the blood-robed men had planted their blood-red spears.
From the start of the plan until now, all the red dots had been lit. Only this final black node remained.
"I thought it would be more of a challenge. Turns out Luoxia City isn't all that impressive after all," the young man said dully, twirling the spear in his hand.
"Oh? Let me guess what you're up to... Disabling the city's protective array? Or maybe sabotaging a fourth-rank spiritual vein? Wait, perhaps you're planning something even bolder, like a blood sacrifice of the entire Luoxia City?"
A mocking voice rang out behind him, sending chills down his spine.
He spun around instantly, eyes wide.
From the shadows stepped a moung, sunny-looking, wearing a cyan robe, arms crossed, and grinning at him with blatant amusement.
Strangely, the young man felt completely exposed under that gaze, as if there was nowhere to hide.
"Who are you?" he asked warily. The fact that this man had crept up behind him undetected, even though he, too, specialized in stealth, was alarming.
The newcomer smiled. "Disciple of Master Tianxia, ranked fifth under his tutelage."
The young man's pupils shrank. Master Tianxia... the former Grand Lord of Luoxia City... If he's the fifth disciple...
"You're Bai Zhengchun? But… you're supposed to be dead!" he blurted out in disbelief.
"I'm touched someone still remembers my name after all these years," Bai Zhengchun replied with a grin, revealing a row of pristine white teeth and a smile that made the young man's hair stand on end. "Who started that rumor anyway? I just went into seclusion a little longer than most people."
For cultivators born in the last century, the name Bai Zhengchun might not mean much. But over a hundred years ago, his title Blood-Robed Asura had struck terror into the hearts of many.
He had bathed in so much blood that even demonic cultivators feared him.
It was said he died under siege from a horde of spirit beasts, news that had prompted many to celebrate.
And now, after over a century of silence… he was back.
"I've introduced myself," Bai Zhengchun said, voice still lighthearted, "Now it's your turn. Wearing our Luoxia City disciple uniform to speak with me doesn't seem very appropriate, does it?"
"Hmph."
The youth snorted. A flash of blood-red light rippled through him, and in an instant, his appearance transformed into that of a voluptuous woman clad in crimson robes. Every movement radiated an enchanting charm.
"Since you've seen through the disguise, there's no point in keeping it. I am Blood Concubine, branch master of the Blood Demon Sect," she said coldly, though her mind was already racing for an escape plan.
Yes, she was already preparing to run.
She wasn't foolish. The name Blood-Robed Asura alone was enough to make her abandon any thoughts of a confrontation.
"Blood Concubine, huh? Seems the remnants of the Blood Demon Sect have a much stronger foothold in Great Qi's cultivation world than I expected," Bai Zhengchun mused. "I've already cut down two Purple Mansion cultivators recently, yet your lot still won't learn. You dared to plot against Luoxia City?"
He glanced at her spear and added, "Tell me, what's your plan? What exactly are you trying to achieve with over a thousand spears forged from Soul-Devouring Meteorite Iron?"
Blood Concubine smiled seductively, licking her crimson lips. "You take me for some naïve girl, hmm? You think I'll just spill everything because you're curious?"
She leaned closer, voice honeyed. "Still… if you're willing to spend a night with me, maybe I'll consider telling you…"
Her tone was playful, but behind her back, her hand was quietly gathering spiritual energy into the black spear.
Bai Zhengchun sighed softly, "Would it kill you to just cooperate?"
The moment his voice fell, his figure vanished like a blur in the wind.
Blood Concubine's eyes widened in shock. She instantly became alert, scanning all directions. Her divine sense spread like a flood, covering a thousand feet in every direction, crystal clear.
But she couldn't sense Bai Zhengchun's presence at all.
Then came a soft tearing sound "shhhlick."
A blood-red longsword suddenly appeared beside her.
The overwhelming aura of killing intent made Blood Concubine's hair stand on end. In a flash of blood light, she instantly teleported a hundred meters away. Even as she looked at the strand of hair drifting slowly to the ground, a lingering fear still gripped her heart.
Just now, the blade had been mere inches from her neck.
Bai Zhengchun appeared, gripping the blood saber in his hand, his entire body shrouded in a thick aura of blood and slaughter. His eyes had turned a deep crimson, making it hard to tell who the real Blood Demon was.
"This is your final chance. What is your plan? Where is your base?"
His blood blade pointed straight at her, his voice as cold as ice, completely devoid of emotion.
Blood Concubine clenched her silver teeth tightly. She knew Bai Zhengchun was strong, but not this strong. With just one strike, he had forced her into a life-or-death situation.
Looking up at his condescending posture, a wave of anger surged within her. She snapped, "You think you've got me cornered?"
Tilting her long neck, Blood Concubine let out a shrill howl that echoed throughout Luoxia City.
"More backup?" Bai Zhengchun muttered coldly. "Seems I'll have to clean house at the City Lord's Mansion. It's one thing for remnants of the Blood Demon Sect to sneak in, but to think even multiple Purple Mansion-level Blood Demons have infiltrated?"
With that, he vanished once more.
Blood Concubine summoned a blood-red parasol. As she opened it, a river of blood poured down, pooling beneath her feet and forming a vast sea of blood.
Swish!
The deadly blade reappeared, but this time it was blocked by the blood sea barrier.
"Retreat!"
Blood Concubine swung her parasol, and the blood sea surged toward Bai Zhengchun.
"Get lost!"
With a thunderous shout, Bai Zhengchun's voice exploded like spring thunder. The blood sea instantly recoiled, surging back with even greater force.
Boom!
The blood sea crashed into the parasol. Blood Concubine was sent flying, an unnatural flush coloring her face.
Just as Bai Zhengchun was about to press the attack, three figures in blood-red robes casually approached from different directions.
One was short and stout.
One had crimson eyes.
One had a ball of blood-colored liquid perched on his shoulder, emanating a majestic aura.
They were the branch masters of Yangzhou, Linzhou, and Xiangzhou.
To summon demonic beasts and bring down the city, the Blood Demon Sect had truly gone all in this time.
"Heh, what a grand spectacle. What an unexpected harvest."
Though now surrounded by four Purple Mansion Blood Demons, Bai Zhengchun showed no fear. Instead, he observed them with curiosity.
"Kill him. Complete the plan," said the Yangzhou branch master darkly.
"Kill!" The Linzhou branch master was even more succinct.
"My darling, you'll be having a real feast today," the Xiangzhou branch master cooed softly as he gently stroked the blood glob on his shoulder.
Knowing she couldn't afford to be entangled for long, Blood Concubine was the first to strike. The other three quickly followed, each unleashing their unique techniques with the clear intent to take him down.
"The snakes have all slithered out. Are you all still just going to watch?"
Bai Zhengchun looked into the empty void ahead as he spoke.
As his voice fell, the surrounding air froze. Four figures suddenly appeared high above the battlefield. Their vast spiritual pressure surged out, making them glow like four miniature suns in the night sky.
"Four more Purple Mansion cultivators?!"
Blood Concubine gasped. Outside the city, beasts were storming the gates, and Zhan Tianxia, along with the elusive Three City Lords and two other Purple Mansion cultivators, had already taken their positions on the city walls.
And now, even more powerful cultivators had suddenly emerged.
Where had Luoxia City gotten so many experts?
"Some people think Luoxia City has survived here for two thousand years just by luck."
An elder looked at them coldly and said flatly:
"Kill."
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