Chapter 219: Blood River True Inheritance

Chapter 219 -161: Blood River True Inheritance

He had seen the other Demon Path disciples die, so he certainly wouldn’t underestimate… the genius before him whose foundation was utterly destroyed.

“What a thankless job.”

The person in black shook his head and sighed. He had been assigned this mission because he specialized in stealth and assassination, and his Illusion and Reality Transformation ability allowed him to escape even if he failed.

“SWISH.”

His rest over, he once again vanished into the rift between illusion and reality, his figure slowly fading from the two women’s sight.

‘I need to be more careful.’

Not far away, Zhao Zuo was rushing toward the battlefield. After Meng Xudao’s sudden departure, the Loose Cultivator forces had disbanded on the spot.

They even started fighting amongst themselves, scrambling for the Storage Bags on the corpses of the Demon Path disciples. No wonder Meng Xudao had called them a disorganized mob.

When Zhao Zuo got within a thousand meters, he sensed the energy radiating from Shen Yunjiao and immediately guessed that she was facing a powerful enemy.

Although nervous, he activated his Breath-Concealing Ring to diminish his presence.

No matter what kind of enemy Shen Yunjiao was facing, there would only be one opportunity for a surprise attack. He had to seize it and inflict as much damage as possible.

Zhao Zuo suppressed his breathing and controlled the flow of Mana in his body as he slowly approached the battle. Yet, he couldn’t see anyone.

Only when a blood shadow bypassed Shen Yunjiao and appeared near Chen Xiaorong to attack did he finally identify the enemy’s ability.

‘Invisibility, no presence…’

Zhao Zuo didn’t realize the enemy was using a Secret Technique to enter the rift between illusion and reality. He just assumed it was some peculiar Escape Technique and continued to inch closer, ever so cautiously.

“Winter’s Blizzard.”

Chen Xiaorong chanted softly. The surrounding temperature plummeted at a visible rate, and crystalline snowflakes began to fill the air. Even the black-clad figure’s speed was slightly affected.

The person in black simply vanished in the face of this attack.

A few seconds later, he materialized in a different spot, but the moment he stepped into the snow, his speed was hindered again.

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Yunjiao also attacked. Blood-red shadows crashed down like mountains, and a dense net of sword projections sealed off all avenues of escape.

The person in black once again escaped into the void and vanished.

When he reappeared, it was in yet another location. By sheer coincidence, this spot was extremely close to Zhao Zuo, as if the assassin had delivered himself right into attack range.

“SWISH.”

The wild grass was about half a meter tall and interspersed with shrubs, hiding Zhao Zuo’s body well. The shadows cast by a nearby ancient tree made his position even harder to detect. This was the perfect opportunity.

Zhao Zuo shot out like a pouncing tiger, moving with the terrifying speed of an Evil Beast on the hunt. He left deep craters in the ground with each step as the Qi Blood and Mana in his body erupted in an instant.

He didn’t hesitate for a second, nor did he hold anything back.

He knew this was his one and only chance to ambush his target; if he missed it, he would never get another.

The Black Flame Saber struck with a searing, fire-like heat. The Sky-Breaking Saber shot into the air, letting out a sharp shriek as it tore through the atmosphere. Simultaneously, his body erupted with an intensely blinding Golden Light, its brilliance instantly capturing the attention of everyone nearby.

Zhao Zuo’s saber strikes were fierce and swift, carrying the might of a tsunami. Every move was filled with grim resolve, accompanied by the excruciating pain of his arm muscles tearing. The Black Flame Saber seemed to have a life of its own as dense Black Flames erupted to sheathe the blade, radiating a desire to burn all creation to ash.

The Soul-Shaking Bell hovered high in the sky, looking down upon the battlefield before it erupted with a thunderous crash that echoed everywhere. The boom was like the heavens themselves caving in, spreading for miles around and making one’s very soul tremble.

An invisible wave spread out, stirring a tempest in the depths of the mind and striking at everyone’s soul. The primary target of this energy, of course, was the person in black.

The energy struck deep into the soul, causing a strange tremor, a sensation like ice and fire intertwined.

The assassin’s soul was remarkably resilient and was only affected for a fleeting moment. But by the time he reacted, he saw a figure that looked like a demon descending upon the world, wreathed in Black Flames. And yet, the Golden Light radiating from that same figure gave off a holy, peaceful aura.

Darkness and light.

Evil and holiness.

Two contradictory auras merged perfectly in one person. When that Hell Blade, sheathed in Black Flames, descended, he could only manage to raise his blood-red dagger to block.

The impact was as heavy as a toppling mountain, the heat like being plunged into a Purgatory Fire Sea. He blocked the descending blade but couldn’t stop all the Black Flames.

Black serpents of flame spread out, igniting the black robe and incinerating it in an instant. The flames revealed a tight-fitting, blood-red combat suit. The waist was slender… their figure was surprisingly like a woman’s. Their face was covered by a silver mask, hiding their true appearance.

“Hah!”

Zhao Zuo let out a low shout, diverting some of his Mana to activate the Soul-Shaking Bell above him once more. At the same time, he put more force into his hands, masterfully channeling the One Slash technique and pushing it again and again, completely disregarding his body’s ability to withstand the strain.

A terrifying force traveled down the blade as it came crashing down.

“CLANG.”

The blood-red dagger was knocked aside by the Black Flame Saber, and the blade continued straight down.

“Blood God Body Protection.”

Before the blood-red barrier could even rise, Zhao Zuo sent the Sky-Breaking Saber descending from the sky. At the same time, the Soul-Shaking Bell was activated for the second time. The loud crash, mixed with a wave that affected the soul, spread out, and the enemy before him once again fell into a momentary daze.

Logically, the Sky-Breaking Saber should have hit its target, but something even faster than the blood-red barrier appeared: a golden wave of energy that formed a shield between the two of them.

The Sky-Breaking Saber slammed into the golden barrier but couldn’t break through. Even when Zhao Zuo hacked at the golden barrier with his own saber, he failed to break it.

As seconds ticked by, the assassin’s figure once again merged into the rift between illusion and reality. Zhao Zuo lost their trail and could only recall his two Magical Artifacts and take out a Pill Medicine to swallow.

Zhao Zuo quickly took a few steps to join the two women.

“That person can hide within the rift between illusion and reality, making them extremely difficult to deal with… But as long as they emerge from that state, I can sense their location,” said Shen Yunjiao.

“Their close-combat ability isn’t that strong. They mainly rely on their Escape Technique and ambushes to win. Blood Shadow Escape is taxing on stamina and Mana, while Nether Ghost Thorn consumes Soul Energy.”

Chen Xiaorong added, her words making it clear that she had dealt with users of Blood Shadow Escape before and had a deeper understanding of such an enemy.

They waited for several minutes, but the person did not launch another surprise attack.

“Shen Yunjiao and I can counter their Blood Shadow Escape, so they probably don’t intend to strike again,” Chen Xiaorong said, coughing a few times. Her face grew even paler before she continued.

“The plan of the three Demon Path sects has been accomplished. My Meridians are severed… my Lifebound Sword is destroyed, my Tao Foundation is shattered. I suppose I will have no chance at Foundation Establishment in this life,” Chen Xiaorong said faintly, her tone lacking any significant sorrow.

Zhao Zuo thought for a moment… then said.

“Yunjiao, take True Inheritor Chen and continue to retreat. I’ll guard you from the side. If you sense her appear, you two let me know.”

‘Waiting here won’t do us any good. It’s better to get closer to… the Moyun Sect’s territory.’

“Okay.”

Shen Yunjiao deactivated her Taotie Transformation, placed Chen Xiaorong on her back, and set off.

Meanwhile, Zhao Zuo looked at Shen Yunjiao’s pale face, then took out the Clear Heart Jade Pendant. He handed it to Chen Xiaorong and spoke in a low voice.

“Wear this on you. It can nourish your Meridians and protect your body. I hope it’s of some use to you.”

He wasn’t being wary of Shen Yunjiao, but was worried the Demon Path Cultivator hiding in the shadows might hear. The three of them set off, with Zhao Zuo and Shen Yunjiao walking side by side while Chen Xiaorong was in charge of watching their surroundings.

The Yunlan Mountain Range stretched for thousands of miles. They were still six days’ journey from the Moyun Sect’s territory. Over the next six days… the enemy could appear at any moment.

Perhaps it was because there was still an opportunity to strike that the assassin had chosen to retreat for the time being.