Chapter 200 - 174: Dao Foundation, Spiritual Inspiration

Chapter 200: Chapter 174: Dao Foundation, Spiritual Inspiration

THUMP! A dull thud echoed.

Feng Bai Mei’s chest caved in. She was sent flying backward, slamming onto the ground and tumbling pathetically for over ten meters.

Pfft...

She spat out a large mouthful of blood, her aura plummeting. For a moment, she couldn’t even get up.

And that was only because Tong Zuo had held back out of respect for Luan Jian. Otherwise, that single blow would have killed Feng Bai Mei.

Tong Zuo shot her a cold glance. His figure blurred for an instant and reappeared at the entrance of the grand hall.

"All of you, get in here. Tell me what happened after I left."

Jin Fang, Ma Rong, and Ke Jing glanced at Feng Bai Mei, composed themselves, and stepped into the grand hall.

「Two hours later.」

A vast Spiritual Pressure erupted from within the grand hall. Shortly after, Tong Zuo walked out, his face grim.

He glanced at the bloodstain not far ahead, then his body turned, transforming into a billow of purplish-black smoke that shot into the sky and vanished.

"We respectfully see you off, Steward Tong."

Jin Fang, Ma Rong, and Ke Jing bowed respectfully, watching the purplish-black smoke leave the Spiritual Land.

"Dao Foundation... Spirit Vein Fruit."

A vicious glint appeared in Jin Fang’s eyes. He nodded to Ma Rong and Ke Jing, then turned and strode away.

Ma Rong and Ke Jing didn’t linger either, each returning to their own homes.

「The next day.」

The weather grew colder, and the veins of the forest leaves began to yellow.

Fortunately, the Spirit Farmers and Loose Cultivators all had cultivation bases, so the slight chill felt no different than usual.

「Ten Thousand Snake Lake Island, in a small courtyard at the center of the summit.」

Li Changsheng lay on a recliner. He took out the Blood Spirit Escape technique, which he had not paid much attention to before, and began to study and ponder it in detail.

He had always been immersed in his cultivation.

As this Magic was quite dangerous to cultivate, he had set it aside.

Now, he only needed to polish his Spiritual Power each day, leaving him time to start researching this Magic.

However, to avoid becoming a sickly wreck, he was determined not to practice it until he had made thorough preparations.

Time passed, day by day.

Tens of thousands of miles from Ring Mountain Spiritual Land.

「Nanfeng Country.」

In the heart of a cold, damp, and muddy region bordering the Mist Marsh.

Hundreds of soldiers in tattered armor, wielding dull blades and cracked spears, were slaughtering one another.

Most of them were emaciated, their faces sickly. Often, they would swing with all their might, miss their enemy, and the force of the blow would send them tumbling into the mud.

The lucky ones managed to get back up, but most were immediately met with several weapons thrust from all directions, pinning them viciously to the ground.

Wretched screams were accompanied by gushing sprays of dark red blood, yet the killers’ faces showed no reaction. They quickly withdrew their weapons and stabbed forward once more.

This continued until the low wail of a beast horn sounded.

The soldiers tacitly sought out the enemies they had slain. They sliced the scalps from their foreheads and hung them from their waists. If they found a foe killed by several people at once, they didn’t fight over it. Instead, whoever wanted the prize would compensate the others with some Silver Coins or other goods before taking the scalp.

After clearing the battlefield, they glanced up at the Flying Ship in the sky, then silently turned and headed back.

「Not long after they left.」

The Flying Ship slowly descended into the center of the area.

Tan Hu, dressed in a tight-fitting Profound Robe, strode off the Flying Ship.

His face was slightly pale and his aura was in disarray, as if he had just been through a great battle.

A spiritual light flickered in Tan Hu’s eyes as he gazed down below.

Underground, atop a brass pillar covered in runes, an ethereal Profound Red Banner floated quietly, surrounded by a faint black-and-red smoke.

"Top-grade. My hard work wasn’t in vain!"

A look of joy appeared in Tan Hu’s eyes. With a flip of his hand, he took out a jade flask forged from Yin Jade and began to form hand seals for a Technique.

RUMBLE... The ground trembled as a brass pillar covered in runes slowly rose up.

Instantly, a grim and chilling aura spread out.

A thin layer of frost instantly formed on the damp, muddy ground.

Tan Hu strode forward, placed a hand on the brass pillar, and aimed the mouth of the Yin Jade flask at the Profound Red Banner.

As one of the runes on the brass pillar lit up...

The Profound Red Banner trembled and, in the next instant, transformed into a streak of black-and-red light that shot into the Yin Jade flask.

Tan Hu quickly sealed the flask, took out a Sealing Spirit Talisman and stuck it on, then placed the flask in a jade box and put it into his storage pouch.

"Phew..."

Tan Hu breathed a sigh of relief and, with a wave of his hand, put away the brass pillar.

Just then, from various directions, a dozen or so outer sect disciples of the Cyan Yang Sect hurried over, quickly arriving before him.

"Disciples greet you, Lord Steward."

"Rise." Tan Hu was in an excellent mood. He grinned. "This job was well done. When we get back, the mission rewards will be doubled." Then, with a great wave of his hand, jade flasks flew from his sleeve and landed in everyone’s hands.

"This is an extra reward for all of you."

"Thank you, Lord Steward."

Everyone took the jade flasks. Seeing the characters carved on them, they were overjoyed and hurriedly bowed in thanks.

Tan Hu waved his hand, led them onto the Jade Ship, and slowly ascended high into the sky.

He looked down at the Mire Marsh below, where only a faint yin energy and a rampant plague remained.

With a flip of his hand, Tan Hu took out a talisman and activated it. He then piloted the Flying Ship, which turned into a streak of rainbow light and vanished.

The talisman fluttered down, then suddenly exploded in mid-air, turning into tiny sparks of fire that rained down.

The moment the sparks touched the ground...

BOOM... Crimson flames shot toward the sky, instantly igniting the Mire Marsh.

Billowing black smoke rose to the heavens, like a wartime signal fire.

「Outside Mire Marsh.」

The soldiers, who had collapsed weakly on the ground, heard the commotion and staggered out of their camps. They stared at the raging crimson flames ahead, completely stunned.

A few breaths later, a roar of cheers erupted.

"Hahaha! It’s over!"

"I made it to the end! Hahaha..."

"Hahaha..."

"Ten times the Silver Coins! I’ll be set for several lifetimes!"

The emaciated soldiers gathered before the crimson flames, celebrating wildly. The intense heat baked their sickly faces, giving them a blood-red flush.

「Inside the military camp, in a luxurious tent.」

An old man with a wizened face and opulent clothes slowly walked out. He gazed at the raging crimson flames, a look of excitement in his eyes, and muttered, "Ten disciple positions... My Liufeng City will get at least one!"

In the various camps surrounding Mire Marsh, hundreds of others—soldiers and figures like the old man—were just as excited.

「Meanwhile, in Huifeng Valley, deep within Qingyuan Country.」

A pungent, bloody stench rose to the heavens, hanging in the air and refusing to dissipate.

High in the sky floated a solemn grand hall.

CREAK...

The heavy doors slowly swung open, and a woman with a dignified, beautiful face and a dazed expression walked out.

She ambled to the edge of the platform and, without hesitation, leaped off.

「Inside the grand hall.」

A beautiful woman stared at the Square Prism in the center of the hall, her expression a mixture of terror and excited anticipation.

When the flower of blood bloomed below...

She could no longer suppress the smile on her face. She shot to her feet, but perhaps from sitting too long, her legs gave way, and she collapsed back to her knees with a thud.

Yet her face showed no pain. She simply rolled to one side and began to whimper softly.

In that moment between life and death, she had leaped in status above millions. How many could possibly maintain their composure?

At the head of the hall.

Steward Bai didn’t even glance at her as he maneuvered the grand hall to descend slowly into the valley.

He gave a few instructions to a woman beside him, then stepped off the high platform and left the grand hall in a few strides.

After he left, the woman walked over to the Princess—the future Empress of Qingyuan Country—with an indifferent expression. She grabbed her by the shoulder and began walking toward the entrance.

「Outside the grand hall.」

As far as the eye could see, the ground was littered with bodies, broken armor, and shattered blades.

"Gag..."

The thick, foul stench of the valley washed over them, causing the Princess’s face to turn pale as she dry-heaved.

Just then, several dozen soldiers in black armor slowly approached. The banners they carried were stained a blackish-red with blood, dried and wrinkled.

Before the soldiers even reached them, a tangible aura of Blood Evil washed over them.

A hint of surprise appeared in the woman’s eyes, and a bright smile touched her lips. She turned and whispered in the Princess’s ear, "Could you give these men to me?"

Hearing this, the Princess trembled slightly. Just as the soldiers were about to arrive, she gave a small nod.

The smile in the woman’s eyes deepened. Watching the dozens of soldiers escorting the Princess away, she said softly, "What fine assets... I’m afraid it’s more than I can handle alone."

「A moment later.」

Steward Bai returned to the grand hall, beaming. The outer sect disciples who had been monitoring the area around Huifeng Valley also began to arrive one after another.

Everyone entered the hall. Just as Steward Bai was preparing to pilot the hall away...

A pavilion-like vessel, several hundred meters long and covered in runic wards, arrived high above Huifeng Valley.

A vast Spiritual Pressure descended, blanketing everything. A voice like the might of heaven boomed, echoing in the ears of everyone inside the hall.

"Who presided over this blood sacrifice?"

「Meanwhile.」

「Within the Cyan Yang Sect.」

A lustrous white Flying Ship slowly flew toward a thousand-foot-tall mountain peak adorned with pavilions, towers, mountain springs, and streams.

It landed slowly in a magnificent courtyard on the mountainside.