Chapter 45 - Arc 4: The Affairs of Chenghuang Kingdom | Chapter 45: Good vs Evil
Translator: Lynn
The blood demon’s anxiety overwhelmed him, causing him to lose control of his actions. While he grew increasingly ruthless, Su Xin remained composed, allowing him to continue his onslaught and ensnare the blood demon, preventing his escape.
The two engaged in a fierce battle, one enveloped in a black aura and the other radiating red light, refusing to relent as they fought for victory.
Su Xin appeared confident on the surface, but internally, he grew calmer. Having battled the blood demon for some time, he sensed that the demon was preoccupied. With a taunting tone, Su Xin chuckled, “Devil, your esteemed general’s body is on the verge of collapse!”
The blood demon’s eyes turned red, feeling a throbbing headache. He retorted, “Little boy! Don’t speak recklessly, or you’ll suffer the consequences!”
Unable to resist examining his own condition, the blood demon discovered that the meridians in his flesh had suffered damage, and his body was torn open, bleeding due to the overwhelming spiritual power. If he continued to indulge in using his body in such a reckless manner, it wouldn’t be long before his body was destroyed, rendering his previous efforts futile.
Furious, yet helpless, the blood demon roared, “You insolent child! Our paths have no connection, why are you pursuing me?”
With a raised eyebrow and a surge of ruthlessness, Su Xin replied, “No connection? Blood demon, you have a selective memory. It has only been a few dozen years, yet you have forgotten all the bloodshed you’ve caused!”
Hearing this, the blood demon’s heart trembled.
At that moment, he still failed to comprehend that this young man sought revenge against him. It was pointless to say anything more; he had underestimated his opponent.
Without uttering another word, the blood demon harbored a trace of hostility. He thought, “They say one must eliminate the roots to eradicate the grass. I can’t let this kid go today, or else the younger generations will seek vengeance, and their families will follow. That would be troublesome.”
With this determination, the blood demon summoned two Blood Bees, one in each hand, and squeezed them into two blobs of blood.
The blood droplets fell to the ground, forming a blood puddle, which then rose and transformed into a mist. The mist exhibited a spiritual essence, morphing into several finger-length blood snakes, indistinct and concealed.
Before completing the spell, the blood demon laughed and shouted, “Blood Mist Life Snatching Spell!”
The blood mist emerged from all directions, dyeing the sky red, swiftly converging into the illusory blood snakes, solidifying rapidly.
Su Xin, realizing the truth, was incensed. He gazed at the blood demon with fiery eyes and exclaimed, “You slaughtered all those people from the south!”
Although Su Xin held a monk’s status and didn’t pay much attention to mortal beings, he wasn’t heartless. Hence, despite causing trouble for the eunuchs and soldiers earlier, he had not taken any lives. Now, witnessing the situation, he couldn’t ignore the fact that the blood demon had magically slain the eunuchs guarding the East Palace, using their blood to nourish the blood snakes.
“What a heartless maniac!” Su Xin cursed, remembering his own blood feud. “This devil deserves to die, to be tortured a thousandfold and annihilated in spirit!”
The blood demon’s face bore a thin layer of blood as he laughed maniacally. “I shall suck you dry first, then devour your accomplices, and finally, you shall join my belly…”
Before he could finish his words, Su Xin swiftly swung his sword, aiming for a lethal strike.
The blood demon howled, the pupils of the blood snakes gleaming, their numerous fangs glistening, all converging on Su Xin at once!
Upon discovering the trail of the blood demon’s flesh, Xu Ziqing swiftly followed the rapidly floating Yun Lie toward the Prince’s East Palace.
Even from a distance, they could sense that something was amiss.
Above the East Palace, where Su Xin and the blood demon engaged in combat, two intertwined colors of light illuminated the sky. Yet, an eerie silence enveloped the surroundings, accompanied by the overpowering stench of fresh blood.
A foreboding feeling gripped Xu Ziqing’s heart as he hastened his pace. As soon as he landed on the ground, his pupils contracted.
The entrance to the East Palace, previously guarded by a dozen eunuchs and hundreds of soldiers, now displayed scattered skeletons. Only remnants of human skin, a few strands of hair, and discarded clothing littered the ground.
That blood demon had once again taken innocent lives!
Yun Lie’s body exuded an intense coldness, causing his sword energy to crackle and hiss, almost piercing through the sky.
Witnessing this, Xu Ziqing suppressed his anger and hurriedly approached his friend, saying, “Brother Yun, let us join forces to eliminate this demon once and for all!”
Yun Lie responded, “I shall slay this demon.”
Without further words, the two of them moved swiftly, their figures vanishing from sight.
The path ahead was strewn with white bones and desiccated corpses, a sight that weighed heavily on Xu Ziqing’s heart. He walked through without daring to look at them.
In no time, they reached the courtyard, where Su Xin and the blood demon fiercely clashed. One mounted on a blood-red horse, the other suspended in mid-air, their battle raged back and forth, each refusing to yield. The atmosphere was thick with tension.
As a fifth-level Qi refinement cultivator, Su Xin, no matter how gifted, was no match for the ancient demon. Moreover, the blood snakes, now saturated with blood, possessed ferocity, venom, and agility, making them difficult to contend with.
With no other choice, Su Xin expelled a blue flame, infusing it into his flying sword, causing the sword to radiate a one-foot-long blue flame.
The blood snakes slithered around, unable to come into contact with the fire, dissipating upon contact. However, the sheer number of blood snakes exhausted Su Xin as he struggled to keep them at bay, depleting his spiritual energy. Feeling his breath running short, Su Xin clenched his teeth, preparing to bite his tongue and spit out a mouthful of blood to activate his flying sword once more. But at that moment, he caught sight of a familiar figure appearing outside, bringing him a sense of relief.
Xu Ziqing had arrived!
The blood demon was taken aback by the sudden appearance of an unfamiliar immortal practitioner.
He had been preoccupied with the blood snakes, but now that he regained his composure, he realized something was amiss.
His body!
Despite his arduous efforts to nurture it, his spirit had lost its connection to his physical form.
His body had been taken away from him!
Understanding the situation, the blood demon directed a gaze filled with boundless hatred toward Su Xin.
He had fallen into a trap!
He should have retreated the moment the prohibition was triggered, but someone had obstructed him here, nearly foiling his plans. Now, he had to kill these individuals and reclaim his body before considering any further schemes!
At this moment, he no longer cared about Jiao Tu’s flesh. Abandoning any restraint on his spiritual power, he unleashed the full might carried by his spirit!
With his life hanging in balance after losing his physical form, the blood demon no longer cared about seizing the dynasty’s qi. Overcoming this immediate threat took precedence. Without his body and spirit intact, the acquisition of Jiao Tu’s body would be futile.
Presented with a choice, the blood demon slightly opened his arms, revealing a blood flag held between his palms. It resembled the one Xu Ziqing had witnessed in the Devil’s Cave, but it appeared to be made of unfamiliar material.
The blood flag possessed a weighty presence, and as the blood demon brandished it, it resembled a lance, exuding immense power. Saturated with blood and emitting a putrid odor, the flag exuded an aura of violence.
Upon seeing Su Xin being besieged by the blood serpents, Xu Ziqing summoned two blue leaves beneath his feet and ascended to assist him. However, the blood demon was quicker, already raising the blood flag before Xu Ziqing could intervene. The blood serpents underwent several transformations in response.
As the blood flag ascended, the blood serpents withdrew from Su Xin’s vicinity and, like moths drawn to a flame, they leaped into the blood flag.
Radiating a bright glow, the blood flag grew increasingly foul-smelling and wicked with each blood serpent it absorbed. The blood demon emitted a burst of strange laughter, occasionally releasing streams of blood qi that added to the flag’s radiance.
In the blink of an eye, the blood flag transformed into a vessel of malevolence, and the blood demon grasped it firmly, giving it a forceful shake…
“Swoosh!”
The blood flag moved, and a deluge of blood mist erupted, several times more intense than when the blood serpents first appeared. The vivid crimson hue grew increasingly vicious, relentlessly flooding into the mouths and noses of onlookers, inducing nausea and dizziness, even affecting their souls.
But this was not the end. Within the sea of blood mist, peculiar and eerie sounds began to emanate.
“Cackle…click, click!”
“Crackle, crackle, crackle…”
Xu Ziqing wiped off a handful of blood mist from his face, causing a faint green aura to flicker in his eyes, enabling him to discern the scene within the mist.
Only then did he realize that countless skeletons clad in blood-soaked skin were unsteadily rising to their feet, taking step by step towards the blood flag.
Initially sluggish, these skeletons gradually quickened their pace as the blood mist thickened. Their movements grew more agile, evolving from crawling to charging on all fours like ferocious beasts.
Standing at the highest point, Su Xin’s eyes blazed with two blue fires, enabling him to witness the spectacle below. Startled, he exclaimed, “What is this thing?”
Xu Ziqing wasn’t certain of its nature, but he understood it posed a formidable challenge. He swiftly responded, “Brother Yun, I’ll go and assist Su Xin.” With a swift movement propelled by the blue leaves beneath his feet, he flew towards Su Xin’s location.
As the blue leaves emerged beneath his feet, Xu Ziqing’s ethereal wood energy permeated the surroundings, emitting a green glow akin to a lantern, guiding his path through the blood mist.
The blood mist clung stubbornly, impervious to movement. However, upon contact with the green light, it dispersed like water, exhibiting a peculiar phenomenon.
Without hesitation, Xu Ziqing swiftly reached Su Xin’s side, stating, “Allow me to aid you.”
Observing Xu Ziqing’s body enveloped in the green light, Su Xin couldn’t help but rejoice. “Are you a wood cultivator?”
Xu Ziqing nodded affirmatively. “Indeed, why do you ask?”
Realizing the reason behind the movement of the blood mist, Su Xin chimed in. “It’s probably due to the blood demon’s technique. But…”
Xu Ziqing interjected, understanding the underlying concept. “But since it is an entity of death, it must possess a deathly aura.”
Su Xin concurred, saying, “And the dead energy is precisely what is countered by the vitality of wood cultivation.”
No wonder Su Xin felt relieved. The blood mist and the bone corpses were undeniably strange but ultimately composed of dead energy, which could be restrained to some extent by a wood cultivator.
The blood demon below clearly sensed it as well, but he remained confident in his technique. What did it matter if there was a wood practitioner present? Even if there were wood cultivators, their limited cultivation and experience might not be enough to match his power.
He lamented the fact that his current cultivation was restricted. If he were still at the peak of the Yuan Transformation stage, he wouldn’t have resorted to creating such lowly corpse demons!
Before the two young cultivators could react, the blood demon opened his mouth and let out a piercing whistle.
Suddenly, the corpse demons howled in unison, their blood-soaked skins trembling and their bones rattling. Bones protruded from their backs, producing a series of cracking sounds akin to firecrackers. After the crackling ceased, the bones swiftly fused together, forming a pair of bone wings that soared into the air with a single flap!
Xu Ziqing and Su Xin prepared to draw their swords and strike down the demons when dozens of corpse demons abruptly appeared before them. Their speed was as fast as light and only a brief glimmer revealed their sharp fangs.
Almost instinctively, Xu Ziqing summoned a thousand-year-old steel wood in his palm and swung it…
“Snap!”
The skeleton shattered upon impact, scattering to the ground.
As Xu Ziqing surveyed his surroundings, he realized he was surrounded by corpse demons. Countless other corpse demons sprouted bone wings behind him, competing to be the first to take flight.
Without hesitation, he raised the thousand-year-old steel wood and slashed horizontally and vertically!
Meanwhile, a figure in white floated silently amidst the deep blood fog. No corpse demons approached him within a few feet, and he remained motionless, seemingly uninterested in joining the fray.
However, as Xu Ziqing made his move, a barely noticeable frown appeared on the figure’s face.
His sword was tinged with red and covered with a layer of turquoise blue. With each swing, waves of fire swirled around him, and his swordplay stirred up long-lasting flames.
His movements exuded immense power, executed with precision and devoid of confusion. The sword technique seemed perfectly attuned to his attributes, reducing any demon it struck to charred ashes.
Having fought alongside each other before, the two cultivators now found themselves gradually coming together, back to back, as the horde of corpse demons closed in. The fire energy burned fiercely, while the wood energy remained calm, stimulating the fire and showcasing their formidable strength in battling the corpse demons.
The relentless onslaught of the corpse demons continued, with each fallen demon quickly replaced by another. If this persisted, they would eventually be drained of their spiritual power. If the demons attacked again, escape would be impossible.
Recognizing the unfavorable situation, Xu Ziqing, drawing upon his combat experience, spoke up first. “I’ll divert the attention of the corpse demons. You find the right opportunity to kill the blood demon!”
Naturally, Su Xin had no objections. He understood that Xu Ziqing’s wood energy gave him a greater chance of survival. He agreed, “I’ll hold on for as long as I can. You create a path for me. Can you do that?”
Xu Ziqing replied, “I’ll give it a try.”
The two quickly reached a consensus. With a swift motion, Su Xin swung his long sword, instantly clearing the area around Xu Ziqing.
The corpse demon behind him was about to approach, but Xu Ziqing had already raised his arm, forming a fist with his left hand and then violently opening it!
In an instant, numerous green dots of light burst forth from his hand, resembling waves or gentle rain, enveloping a three-foot radius.
Upon closer observation, one can discern that these are not mere dots of light, but numerous shimmering leaves that possess a lovely crystalline quality. Each leaf carries the purest essence of ethereal wood energy, and upon contact with the blood, the blood energy retreats. If a corpse demon comes into contact with these blades, it quickly disintegrates, reducing to a skeleton and crumbling into powder.
Impressed, Su Xin exclaimed, “What a remarkable technique!”
Xu Ziqing smiled faintly, his heart feeling a sense of security. Once again, he released a green light, this time directing it toward the blood demon and pushing it along its path. The obedient green blades spread out like a rising tide, dispersing all the stagnant and lifeless energy in their wake.
As Xu Ziqing advanced, the dissipating blood mist revealed the blood demon in his sight.
Fully engrossed in manipulating the Blood Flag, the blood demon was heavily constrained by Jiao Tu’s physical body and unable to evade.
The spell, known as the “Corpse Devil Bone Eater Formation,” utilized the Blood Flag as its core. It was a seventh-grade formation that possessed insidious and poisonous properties. This formation complemented the “blood demon Great Technique” and could extract the bones of the corpses the blood demon had absorbed, regardless of his cultivation level.
During the battle between Golden Core Stage Supreme Elder and the blood demon, the blood demon summoned countless skeletons of slain cultivators, transforming the area into a formidable sea of corpses. Golden Core Stage Supreme Elder nearly fell into its trap and was unable to escape. That formation had been more than a hundred times stronger than the current one. While it had mildly restricted Golden Core Stage Supreme Elder, the immense disparity in their cultivation levels allowed him to break free and escape, albeit injured.
Now, filled with confidence, the blood demon believed that this current formation, which was several levels weaker, posed no threat. After all, his opponent was merely a child who had yet to establish their foundation.
However, he was taken aback when the blood mist within the formation suddenly began to thin, just as the corpse demons were about to crush the two young cultivators.
Narrowing his eyes, the blood demon looked up.
To his surprise, the slightly older teenager turned out to be a wood cultivator. Upon closer inspection, the blood demon’s expression turned horrified.
The blood demon, with his extensive knowledge, understood that just as wood qi restrained death qi and had a strong affinity for demonic qi, the reverse was also true. To his discerning eye, the purity of the wood qi emanating from the teenager was unparalleled, devoid of any impurities.
This was inconceivable!
Unless the teenager had undergone a complete transformation, achieving a firstborn state and reshaping their dao body, it was impossible for a low-level cultivator to possess such purity!
Or, there was another possibility—a Single Spiritual Root.
If this young cultivator possessed a Single Spiritual Root, even if their cultivation level was low, the spiritual energy within their body would be unmatched in its purity.
Having made this speculation, a tinge of greed flickered in the blood demon’s eyes.
Even if this person’s cultivation level was not remarkable, the spiritual energy contained within their flesh and blood was far superior to others!
Unconsciously, the blood demon licked his lips.
The desire to consume it overwhelmed him…
However, at that critical moment, the blood mist began to thin, gradually giving way to a refreshing scent of grass and wood, overpowering the lingering scent of blood.
Though the scent wasn’t dispersing rapidly, there was no denying that the blood mist within the formation was losing its potency.
The blood demon’s expression changed, momentarily suppressing his greed.
Just then, a blazing burst of light shot toward him with incredible speed!
Within the fiery radiance stood a handsome young man, his sword held firmly in his hand, its vibrant blue light shining brightly. He engaged the blood demon fearlessly, fighting with unwavering determination.
The blood demon sneered, refusing to panic. He swiftly grasped the blood flag and clashed it against the incoming sword.
“Clang, clang, clang…”
The blue flames on Su Xin’s longsword erupted, but they failed to inflict even the slightest damage on the blood flag.
The blood flag’s composition remained a mystery, as it had only caused the flying sword to darken by a few inches upon brief contact. Fortunately, the Amazing Blue Flame possessed extraordinary properties, easily dispelling the darkness with a single flick.
Nevertheless, Su Xin found himself outmatched.
The blood demon brandished the blood flag, repeatedly smashing it down…
“Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!”
Each blow grew heavier, each sound louder!
“Boom, boom, boom…”
Su Xin was sent airborne, propelled by the momentum of his dive. However, he endured a barrage of consecutive strikes, quickly losing his strength. After the last two blows, he was finally sent flying backward!
The blood demon did not seize the opportunity to pursue the attack. Instead, his gaze shifted towards the young man in the green shirt, who continued to expel and slay the demons from a higher vantage point.
His gaze no longer concealed his insatiable greed.
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