At the edge of the Wanyue Mountain Range, in a small valley, over a hundred high-level cultivators dressed in various attires were gathered together, jointly performing an unknown grand formation.
Nearby, a burly and imposing man in brocade robes watched expressionlessly.
……
In a bizarre swamp teeming with countless poisonous insects, atop a pale-blue stone platform, a small cauldron emitting a faint cyan glow was enshrined.
Around the stone platform, three extremely ugly old men sat cross-legged in different directions, their expressions grave as they meditated on something.
……
“The nations of Yuguang, Chuanyun, and the other six countries near the Qiyun Mountain Range have all been annihilated. How is this possible?”
In a massive city countless miles away from Blood Crane City, an elderly man in green robes shouted furiously at a yellow-robed man before him, disbelief evident in his voice.
“Lord Biying, I dare not speak even half a lie. From top to bottom—whether rulers, officials, or commoners—everyone in those eight nations vanished mysteriously a month ago. Not a single survivor has been found,” the yellow-robed man replied nervously.
The green-robed elder was none other than Biying, who had once crossed paths with Han Li.
“What about the sects within the Qiyun Mountain Range? With such a shocking event, surely the cultivators in those sects wouldn’t have remained completely unaware?” Biying asked, his face dark as water.
“This subordinate has also investigated. Among the nineteen sects of varying sizes in the Qiyun Mountain Range, not a single person remains. It seems they met the same fate as the people of those eight nations,” the yellow-robed man replied with a bitter smile.
“Vanished the same way? Though these nineteen sects are insignificant on the Blood Sky Continent, combined, they still form a force not to be underestimated. Even if our alliance were to act, we couldn’t have erased them all without a trace. This matter is so bizarre—have you found any clues?” Biying’s eyes flickered slightly before he spoke slowly.
“There are some traces. After discovering this, our alliance immediately dispatched people to investigate the eight nations and the sects. We found no signs of violent resistance in either the cities or the sects. This suggests that either these people were taken willingly, or the opposing force was so overwhelmingly powerful that the eight nations and the sects had no chance to resist,” the yellow-robed man replied, bowing slightly.
“Which possibility do you think it is?” Biying countered.
“This subordinate believes it is most likely the second scenario,” the yellow-robed man answered without hesitation.
“Why?”
“Because while the mortals of the eight nations may not have resisted, the cultivators of the nineteen sects would never have willingly abandoned their sects. Our investigators found traces of blood-path energy lingering in the Qiyun Mountain Range. As you know, Lord Biying, only blood-path techniques involve large-scale blood sacrifices to rapidly enhance cultivation. If these people were indeed captured for such a purpose, a blood sacrifice of this scale is exceedingly rare even on the Blood Sky Continent.
“The residual blood-path energy in the Qiyun Mountain Range is terrifyingly potent—undoubtedly left by a blood-path powerhouse at the Mahayana level. Only such a ruthless figure would dare commit such atrocities without restraint,” the yellow-robed man analyzed methodically.
“Your reasoning holds merit. It’s highly likely the work of the master behind that blood-path energy. This matter is grave, but our alliance is currently focused on preparing for the upcoming war of powerhouses and cannot divert too much attention elsewhere. However, two of the eight nations belong to our alliance, so we cannot simply ignore this.
“Here’s what we’ll do: report the findings to the Tixue Sect and the Wind Serpent Clan—the two largest forces nearest to the Qiyun Mountain Range. Both have Mahayana ancestors overseeing them and significant interests in the region, so they won’t ignore this matter. I will also request the Rainmist Sage to visit and collaborate with their ancestors in further investigation,” Biying finally decided.
“Yes, this subordinate understands and will ensure everything is arranged properly,” the yellow-robed man replied, bowing in compliance.
……
To the north of the Qiyun Mountain Range, a massive lake shimmered emerald under the spring breeze, its surface rippling gently as fish and shrimp darted beneath. Everything appeared perfectly normal.
Yet deep beneath the lake, above an unfathomable underwater canyon, layers of intricate restrictions sealed off the entire length of the gorge.
Beneath these restrictions, dense clusters of blood mist hung motionless, dyeing the entire canyon crimson and obscuring all visibility.
Below the blood mist flowed a foul-smelling river of black-red blood, a hundred zhang wide and stretching endlessly along the canyon into the distance.
On the surface of this gurgling blood river sat a shadowy figure.
With one hand forming a seal and the other holding a glowing object, thick streams of blood continuously rose from the river and merged into it.
……
Half a month later, while meditating in his courtyard, Han Li suddenly heard faint chimes emanating from his body.
His expression shifted as he opened his eyes. With a flick of his sleeve, a golden talisman shot out.
After scrutinizing it for a moment, Han Li tapped it lightly, storing it away. Then, his figure blurred as he vanished from the room.
Several hours later, Han Li, accompanied by the Flowerstone Ancestor and Xue Po, departed Blood Crane City, transforming into streaks of light as they sped toward the nearby Wanyue Mountain Range.
Not long after, in the central palace of Blood Crane City, the masked man exclaimed in shock:
“What? That human Mahayana has left the city and is heading toward the Wanyue Mountain Range?”
“Indeed. As per the Elder’s instructions, I reported immediately upon detecting Senior Han’s departure,” a Body Integration cultivator replied respectfully before Xiao Ming.
“Good work. You may leave,” Xiao Ming said after a moment of contemplation, waving his hand with a faint smile.
The Body Integration cultivator promptly withdrew.
“Han Li is heading to the Wanyue Mountain Range? Given his abilities, this complicates matters,” a fluctuation appeared beside Xiao Ming as two faint shadows materialized—Lady Wanhua and Qingping Daoist.
The speaker was Lady Wanhua, her tone laced with apprehension toward Han Li, clearly still shaken from their previous encounter.
“Could it be a coincidence? Fellow Daoist Han mentioned earlier that he had other business in the region. Moreover, the Heavenly Tripod Palace hasn’t yet manifested. If he’s truly targeting it, his departure seems premature,” Xiao Ming finally remarked.
“At this time, entering the Wanyue Mountain Range can hardly be dismissed as mere coincidence. As for the timing, many have already gone to wait in the mountains before the palace’s appearance. By now, the range is likely teeming with opportunists. One more is hardly surprising,” Qingping Daoist said calmly.
“So, you both believe Fellow Daoist Han is also after the Heavenly Tripod Palace?” Xiao Ming mused thoughtfully.
“Not with absolute certainty, but the likelihood is high. With such a formidable adversary now involved, Brother Xiao, do you have a strategy?” Qingping Daoist countered.
“What strategy is needed? No matter how strong he is, without a key, he cannot enter the Heavenly Tripod Palace. Even if he somehow seizes one from others, the palace is riddled with restrictions. With your inherited knowledge from the Heavenly Tripod lineage and my mastery of formations, need we truly fear him?” Xiao Ming chuckled darkly.
“True enough. This Daoist was overthinking. No matter how powerful he is, once we locate the palace’s core formation, even if all other enemies unite, they’ll be of no concern,” Qingping Daoist laughed, realization dawning.
Beside him, Lady Wanhua also relaxed.
Yet Xiao Ming stroked his chin, his eyes glinting with an inscrutable light.
……
Seven days later, within a temporary cave dwelling carved into a towering peak of the Wanyue Mountain Range, Han Li sat calmly on a stone chair in the main hall, listening as Xue Po recounted events.
“…And so, to prepare for the worst, my main body left this clone and the Void Heaven Cauldron outside before entering the Heavenly Tripod Palace with the true key. If she failed to return within a set time, this clone would awaken, though most related memories were sealed. According to her calculations, the palace is due to reappear soon. To rescue her, we must enter again.
“The Void Heaven Cauldron is a replica key forged using techniques from the Golden Jade Tome. Though its efficacy is only a fraction of the original, my main body discovered a flaw in the palace’s grand formation. Even with this imitation, we stand a chance of infiltrating…”
Xue Po spoke for nearly an hour before summarizing Ice Soul’s past ordeal.
“So, Fellow Daoist Xue Po has fully regained her memories. A cause for celebration indeed. When you traded the Void Heaven Cauldron with me, due to your sealed memories, you knew only that it was a key to a treasure even Mahayana cultivators would covet—not that it was a replica. This deviates somewhat from our original agreement,” Han Li remarked impassively.
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