Chapter Sixty-One: Blood Warriors of the Human Body

“Dingling, dingling…” The clear ringing of the bell was like a mountain spring, echoing through the air, accompanied by ripples of noble violet light that seemed to calm the entire world, leaving only the bell’s melody lingering. In the sky floated a bell, small enough to fit in the palm, its body lustrous as amethyst jade, adorned with intricate markings resembling violet divine dragons engraved upon its surface. The violet radiance dazzled without seeming eerie, instead exuding a sense of majesty and royal grandeur. The rippling light appeared to possess a mysterious power, irresistibly drawing the gaze of all who beheld it.

Suspended in midair, the palm-sized violet-gold bell quivered gently; with each tremor, a ripple spread out, scattering the dust across the heavens. The onlookers’ eyes sharpened, witnessing the regal violet glow drape down like a celestial canopy, within which the silhouette of Yang Li became clear. He stood, breathing lightly, unscathed yet his face was grim and ashen, his cold, snake-like eyes fixed upon the humanoid crater left by Luo Hao.

At the moment when their spiritual powers exploded, it was truly a matter of life and death. Yang Li could never have imagined that Luo Hao, merely a martial artist in the Qi Spirit Realm, possessed such defiant power—a feat both shocking and unprecedented. Had he not summoned the bell above his head in the final moment, his fate would likely have been no better than Luo Hao’s.

Yang Li’s venomous gaze swept over the crowd, sending chills down their spines; many martial artists instinctively avoided his eyes. Within the mountain crater, Luo Hao stared intently at the violet-gold bell hovering above Yang Li’s head, his eyes filled with rare astonishment. The terrifying spiritual explosion had left Yang Li unscathed at its epicenter, a testament to the bell’s protective power.

“I feel as though I’ve seen this violet-gold bell in an ancient tome, but I cannot recall where,” murmured an elderly martial artist among the spectators, frowning as he gazed at the violet light emanating from the bell.

“It’s the Ten Thousand Demon Bell, the Ten Thousand Demon Bell…” As the elder finished speaking, a middle-aged man in yellow from the Western Ridge Hills spoke again, his voice trembling, his eyes vacant as if possessed.

“What? The legendary Ten Thousand Demon Bell!”
“You’re saying this violet-gold bell is the ancient slaughter weapon, the Ten Thousand Demon Bell?”

A wave of horror swept through the surrounding martial artists at the man’s words. As they looked again at the bell above Yang Li’s head, their souls shuddered, terror filling their eyes as their bodies involuntarily retreated.

It was hardly surprising—the Ten Thousand Demon Bell commanded the allegiance of all demon clans, its ringing could make ten thousand demons prostrate themselves. It was a mighty weapon from antiquity, of heavenly treasure rank, perhaps even beyond. In days past, the bell’s awakening stained the skies with blood; under its palm-sized form, countless heroes fell, legends met their end.

“No, that’s not the Ten Thousand Demon Bell—it’s a Blood Soldier formed from the human body!” Amidst the uproar, Xue Yue of the Infinite Sword Sect, his eyes gleaming with sword-light, suddenly spoke in a deep voice, staring at Yang Li’s bell.

“So it’s a Blood Soldier!”
Many martial artists breathed a sigh of relief at Xue Yue’s words. The legendary Ten Thousand Demon Bell could subdue ten thousand demons and slaughter the heavens; even its boundless murderous aura was far beyond what any Blood Condensing Realm warrior could withstand. Even so, Yang Li’s power remained daunting; on the Ancient Sky Continent, only peak Blood Condensing Realm experts could form a Blood Soldier, indicating that Yang Li’s cultivation was likely unmatched below the Heavenly Firmament Realm.

The Infinite Sword Sect and the Western Ridge Hills fell silent, surprised at the depth of Yang Li’s concealment. From him, one could glimpse the foundation of the Ten Thousand Demon Sect—perhaps they truly possessed the actual Ten Thousand Demon Bell, for Yang Li could not have engraved its divine image and condensed a Blood Soldier otherwise.

Within the mountain, Luo Hao sensed danger. Late-stage Blood Condensing Realm warriors were already his limit—he could only contend after using the Blood Burning Art at great cost. Yet his opponent had formed a Blood Soldier, at least a peak Blood Condensing Realm warrior.

Blood Soldiers are nurtured within the twelve heavenly meridians of the body; as the warrior grows stronger, the Blood Soldier embodies their martial will, rivaling any peer of the same realm.

“Ding ding ding ding ding.”

The crisp ringing echoed once more from the bell atop Yang Li’s head, but to Luo Hao, it was now a deadly melody.

“You arrogant, ignorant brat, I told you your life is mine!” Yang Li’s voice was nearly a roar, his anger unmistakable.

Majestic violet light flashed, dyeing the entire sky in regal hues. Wind swept the clouds, sand and stone howled; the Ten Thousand Demon Bell trembled, sending forth a violet soundwave that tore through the void with unimaginable speed, causing Luo Hao’s pupils to constrict in alarm.

“Kill!”

Luo Hao shook off the stones with a roar, unleashing the Blood Burning Art. Ancient and noble golden dragon cries poured forth, his body radiating pure gold like a young dragon, golden fists blazing with a solar radiance, the fierce dragon fire melting the rocks. The crowd watched in awe as the dragon fire consumed everything.

“Hmph, a futile struggle.” Yang Li sneered cruelly as another violet blade-like soundwave slashed down, splitting the firmament as if a peerless ancient demon were cleaving the heavens.

“Ah… help!”

Thunderous blasts left the spectators screaming, deafened, blood streaming from their ears. A blinding light erupted between Luo Hao and Yang Li, gold and violet clashing fiercely in the void. Divine light exploded, the golden sun faltering under the violet blade. With each strike, Luo Hao grew paler, his arms torn and bloody.

“Blood Burning Art!” Seeing his golden radiance dim and about to be cut down, Luo Hao growled inwardly, his blood boiling anew, golden energy surging skyward like a vast sea, repelling the blade.

“Bang!”

The blade deflected, severing a distant mountain peak. Yang Li’s eyes flickered with shock at the golden blood energy—how could a seventh-stage Qi Spirit warrior possess such vast power?

The watching martial artists stared in disbelief; their astonishment surpassed even that caused by Yang Li’s Blood Soldier. At this moment, Luo Hao’s terrifying golden blood energy alone made him the equal of a Blood Condensing Realm warrior. A hundred miles away, Xue Yue of the Infinite Sword Sect’s grip turned pale as he watched the oceanic surge of golden energy.

“Whoosh!”

Another violet blade, domineering and peerless like a great demon’s strike, cleaved forth. A new solar radiance blossomed amidst the golden blood, dragon shadows faintly visible within.

“Die!”

Yang Li’s eyes held shock but more so cruelty and murderous intent. If one blade was not enough, he unleashed ten, a hundred at once. He saw Luo Hao’s immense potential—if he ever advanced to the Blood Condensing Realm, he would be even harder to defeat. Such a threat, Yang Li would surely eliminate before it could grow.

“Shhh!”

The violet blade burst forth, dazzling with peerless brilliance. In that radiant glow, the spectators thought they glimpsed a majestic man with flying violet hair, holding the violet-gold bell, standing alone against the world. The aura of defiance and supremacy made all feel their breath grow heavy.

“Great Demon Purple Galaxy!”

Those who recognized the Ten Thousand Demon Bell shivered, uttering trembling voices as if its master had returned to the world. “Great Demon” was the title granted by the demon clans to those of extraordinary power.

“Ahhh…”

Unlike the frightened crowd, Luo Hao’s eyes burned red as he fought, roaring with dragon-like cries, his golden fists striking fiercely against the descending violet blades.

“Shhh!”

The violet blade, unstoppable, sent blood spraying as Luo Hao’s body was struck and hurled into the mountain behind him. The golden sun was cleaved, dissolving into a rain of light, leaving only dignified, regal violet radiance shining beneath the heavens.