Chapter 75: On the Brink of Life and Death

“Clang! Clang!”
A continuous clatter of chains echoed from the shadowy depths of the blood pool, a sound so piercing that even the roaring waves of blood could not drown it out. Amidst the rattling, a deep and hoarse voice resounded from within the pool’s shadowed eye, whispering like a demonic incantation in the ears of the assembled martial artists. Instantly, the blood pool, which had only just begun to calm, surged into turmoil once more.

“Gurgle! Gurgle!”

The sound of swallowing rose from the shadowy eye, bubbling like boiling water. Wisps of blood-red smoke drifted upward, and in that instant, the pool’s delicate balance was shattered. The shaded eye at the heart of the Taiji diagram expanded, and around it, a massive vortex of blood began to form.

The bloody vortex spun like a colossal millstone, grinding relentlessly; at the same time, it resembled a demonic eye, pulsating with a crimson, unearthly glow. All the warriors atop Blood Spirit Mountain gazed into the depths with grave expressions, their hearts heavy as they beheld the swirling vortex—its uncanny power seemed to beckon and ensnare, tempting souls to lose themselves within.

Even Guo Tian and the others, experts at the peak of the Blood Gathering Realm, felt their minds waver as they watched, a seductive urge to drown themselves in the endless sea of blood rising within.

“Power, it’s all mine!”

“Endless wealth—all mine!”

“Eternal life, it’s all mine!”

Sinister voices whispered from within the vortex, stirring desire and madness. Many warriors on the shore flushed red, their bodies trembling. Before anyone could react, dozens of figures, eyes burning with frenzied longing, hurled themselves into the pool, vanishing into the swirling blood within the blink of an eye.

“No, do not gaze into the vortex in the blood pool. Do not let it beguile you.” Luo Hao, who had once clashed with the Blood Ancestor, realized instantly that many warriors’ eyes were losing their luster, replaced by a blank emptiness as they stared at the pool.

“Blood Ancestor, I know it’s you. Show yourself!” Luo Hao shouted, his voice thundering with draconic might, jolting many from their stupor. Even the proud and aloof Yue Jingfeng could not help but turn his gaze.

Though their wills were strong enough to resist the vortex for a time, even they would falter if exposed for too long.

“You again! Always foiling my plans. I will grind your bones to dust!” A voice, hoarse and venomous as a vengeful ghost, rose from the depths of the vortex.

“My friend Luo, you seem to know a great deal about these blood fiends?” Feng Wuhen, standing behind Luo Hao, spoke up.

At that moment, all eyes turned to Luo Hao. He glanced back at Feng Wuhen, who, though a prodigy of the Western Hills, carried none of the arrogance one might expect.

With a wry smile, Luo Hao replied, “To be honest, I once fought this blood fiend right here in the Blood Spirit Realm. I even destroyed one of its avatars. So yes, there is deep enmity between us.”

“What? You destroyed an avatar of the blood fiend?” Luo Hao’s voice was not loud, but all present were martial artists and keen of hearing. Judging from the bizarre power of the blood pool and the oppressive force emanating from below, it was obvious that a terrifying blood fiend lurked beneath.

Instantly, suspicious glances from the major factions fell upon Luo Hao. For a mere seventh-level Qi Spirit cultivator to slay an avatar of such a monster—surely he was boasting. But Luo Hao could not be bothered to explain himself.

“Clang! Clang!”

As Luo Hao spoke, a louder, more dreadful rattle of chains rang out from the base of the vortex. Suddenly, the vortex seethed, and a monstrous wave of blood surged skyward, blotting out the sun. From the very heart of the vortex, a dark crimson light howled into the heavens.

In a flash, this sinister light, like an eternal beam from some infernal abyss, made the mountaintop seem even more like a hell of blood. The blood churned and surged with wild abandon.

At that very moment, clouds of blood boiled across the secret realm’s sky, countless blood-red dragons of lightning roaring above. An apocalyptic pressure descended, painting the world in scarlet, dyeing even the people below with its hue.

“Hahahahaha!”

As the blood-red light pierced the heavens, a mad, domineering laugh rang out, echoing through the crimson radiance. All eyes widened, even Guo Tian and his peers shifting from solemnity to horror.

Within the light floated a man garbed in a blood-red robe. His features were striking, almost otherworldly, with long, flowing hair streaked with blood that trailed down his face, and behind him, a pair of immense purple-gold wings, each over a hundred feet wide.

He hovered in the air, the whole secret realm quaking beneath him. A pillar of blood, drawn from the very pool below, upheld him. Hearts pounded with dread; it was as though a mighty fist had struck each chest. Many warriors could not withstand his gaze—blood spurted from their mouths in panic.

Behind the blood-robed man, a surging wave of blood threatened to engulf the world itself. This was a power that had far surpassed the peak of the Blood Gathering Realm—a being of unspeakable terror.

The mere pressure of his presence nearly suffocated all who beheld him. The six blood weapons that had earlier exhibited such might now quivered, while Feng Wuhen and the others broke out in cold sweat, their breathing labored.

“Look! That—”

A warrior cried out, pointing at the blood-robed man. All eyes followed his gesture, and saw that the man’s limbs were shackled by four iron chains, his purple-gold wings also pierced and bound.

Each chain was adorned with ancient, five-colored patterns, giving them the appearance not just of chains, but divine links of order and seal.

“So it’s true. This old fiend must have been suppressed here by the ancestors of our kind,” Luo Hao muttered as he beheld the five-colored chains and recalled the five-colored cauldron, the secret now clear to him. The other warriors nodded in understanding.

“Hahaha! Suppressed or not, blood fiend, for all your powers, you still fell to our race upon this land!” Some warriors, having realized the truth, laughed in the blood fiend’s face to dispel their own terror.

“Humph! Even imprisoned here, I can still take your lives!” The Blood Ancestor’s face twisted with rage, his eyes icy as he glared down upon the mortals who dared mock him. For one of his kind to be so humiliated by mere prey—his fury was boundless.

At his anger, a torrent of blood erupted. From within it, a massive bloody hand burst through the void, slamming downwards with crushing force.

Boom!

The handprint, lingering in the air, chilled all who beheld it. The warriors who had mocked him moments before now trembled with terror. If he possessed such power even while sealed, how much more fearsome would he be unbound?

“Blood Massacre Palm! Fall back!” Luo Hao shouted, dragging Ji Rou and her companions back hundreds of feet in an instant. The Blood Massacre Palm was a fearsome technique, forged from the blood of humans by the true body of the blood fiend and many times more potent than what any avatar could muster.

“Clang! The sword never yields!”

Yue Jingfeng, fearless before life or death, unleashed a thunderous sword cry. Sword qi soared to the heavens, and his Infinite Sword, gleaming with apocalyptic brilliance, met the descending bloody hand head-on.

“Beyond the ancient fiends, there are no kin; within humanity, we all share battle blood—kill!”

Inspired by Yue Jingfeng’s stand, the other five warriors joined him, each unleashing their blood weapons. United, the six weapons formed a barrier against the crushing hand, holding up the sky itself.

“Interesting. You can actually withstand me? Good. If I devour you all, I’ll finally be free of this cursed pool. Not even the Mountain and River King Cauldron will be able to stop me then.” The Blood Ancestor’s lips curled into a sinister smile, though none heard his muttered words.

“When foreign invaders trespass, the martial code of our people is clear—those who retreat without a fight must die!” Six blood weapons alone could not hope to withstand the Blood Ancestor. With a thunderous cry, Luo Hao unleashed a surge of golden dragon power against the descending hand. The others exchanged glances and followed suit, pouring every ounce of strength into the six weapons.

The colossal bloody hand was halted in midair, unable to descend. But none felt any relief. From behind the hand came the Blood Ancestor’s chilling voice: “Ants will always be ants. No matter how many, you cannot shake the dragon.”

Boom!

Suddenly, countless blood-red runes flared to life upon the palm. The warriors below felt an overwhelming force, as if a flood or a savage beast was about to devour them.

Splatter!

The Blood Massacre Palm crashed down. Many warriors were instantly pulverized, their bodies bursting into a spray of blood. The six blood weapons were knocked back, their wielders, including Guo Tian, coughing blood with ashen faces.

“Is this truly the end for us?” Luo Hao, one hand pressed to the ground, blood trickling from his lips tinged with gold, looked up defiantly at the Blood Ancestor looming above the pool. Against such absolute power, they were hopelessly frail.