The Myriad Blood Evil Body!

This was, in itself, a forbidden technique among forbidden techniques!

The Myriad Blood Evil Body was an altogether too bizarre thing; it required the concentrated blood of ten thousand cultivators. This art had long been sealed away because of how utterly malevolent it was, and no one had ever been known to practice it. If one managed to master even a small fraction of the Myriad Blood Evil Body, someone would inevitably notice, as numerous cultivators would simply vanish.

Venerable Yuan Ling chuckled, looking toward Venerable Yuan Yuan. “You might not understand why no one discovered I was mastering the Myriad Blood Evil Body. Because I traveled across various nations, hunting a few hundred low-level cultivators in each country—naturally, I wouldn’t be discovered.”

Once the Myriad Blood Evil Body was fully cultivated, ten thousand types of evil blood would swirl around the practitioner, granting incredible vitality. One could not be killed by thrusts to the heart or the throat; this person could only perish once all ten thousand streams of evil blood were utterly depleted.

Venerable Yuan Yuan’s heart and throat were simultaneously pierced, and an evil force invaded his body, severing his life force. “In the battles over the past six months, didn’t you sustain injuries too? Logically, the Myriad Blood Evil Body should have used the evil blood to replenish and instantly seal any wounds.”

“Because I needed to deceive you,” Venerable Yuan Ling stated. “You waited for over half a year, waiting until this final moment to unveil your trump card, the Cloud Dragon’s Tail Whip, to strike me down. I was acting for the entire past half-year. Those myriad superb techniques were never what I truly intended to use to kill you; they were all meant to confuse you. Who asked my senior brother to be so strong?”

“You used the Cloud Dragon’s Tail Whip, believing you had killed me. In that instant, your irresistible momentum dropped, and then you were slain by me,” Venerable Yuan Ling gasped, clearly indicating that while he had defeated Venerable Yuan Yuan, it had not been easy. Yet, despite his exhaustion, he was immensely satisfied, having finally eliminated his adversary of five centuries, Venerable Yuan Yuan.

“Senior Brother Yuan Yuan, you have lost. May your journey on the path to the Yellow Springs be smooth,” Venerable Yuan Ling laughed heartily. “Of course, I will meticulously study your corpse. The body of a Dao Realm figure holds immense research value.”

Smash!

At that moment, the barrier shattered.

And at that very instant, two figures materialized just a short distance behind Lu Yuan.

Qu Qingchen, Wan Qingqie.

As the barrier disintegrated, those inside and outside could suddenly see each other.

Inside the barrier, Venerable Yuan Yuan lay upon the ground. Though not entirely deceased, his life force was clearly extinguished.

When the barrier dissolved, Venerable Yuan Ling saw Qu Qingchen and Wan Qingwang, which momentarily left him speechless.

“Yuan Ling,” Qu Qingchen’s rage soared.

“Yuan Ling,” Wan Qingwang’s hand rested upon his sword hilt.

This moment presented a clear opportunity to dispatch Venerable Yuan Ling easily, yet Yuan Ling merely smiled faintly. “It seems it is Martial Uncle Qu, Master, and Martial Nephew Lu Yuan who have honored my North Ling Mountain with a visit. I suppose this outpost is finished.” He smiled without concern, and just before his own master, Wan Qingwang, could act, Yuan Ling’s figure stepped onto a teleportation array.

This array had been prepared long ago. When he dragged Venerable Yuan Yuan here using the bidirectional transport, he had feared any unforeseen complications, thus he had spent a fortune installing this two-way portal, ensuring an immediate escape route if matters took a turn for the worse. Venerable Yuan Ling always maintained countless fallback plans.

This was a bidirectional teleportation array. Once activated, it would isolate both parties into separate spaces.

Venerable Yuan Ling smiled. “Martial Uncle Qu, what misfortune that your disciple, Senior Brother Yuan Yuan, met his end by my hand. Martial Uncle Qu, your decision years ago with my master to pass the Peak Lord position to Yuan Yuan was profoundly wrong. I am the best, the most suitable choice for Peak Lord. Do you see that clearly now?”

Qu Qingchen snorted coldly. “Yuan Yuan is ten thousand times more suited to be Peak Lord than you.”

Venerable Yuan Ling turned to Wan Qingwang. “Master, your name contains the character ‘Wang’ (King), and your nickname is ‘King of the Sword.’ Alas, your loyalty is ultimately subservient to everything within Mount Hua. You cannot be a true King. Your destiny, your nature, your devotion to Mount Hua—it is truly laughable. Master, you will surely be recorded in history, because I, your disciple, will become the King of Jin, and even the King of the entire continent. My future ambitions will even challenge the Central Celestial Court.”

Wan Qingwang scoffed. “Having a disciple like you is the greatest misfortune of my life.”

Venerable Yuan Ling then looked toward Lu Yuan. “Martial Nephew Lu Yuan, you are the most naturally gifted person I have ever encountered. In terms of talent, you surpass me. Alas, talent alone is insufficient in this world. My research will place me above you. Martial Nephew Lu Yuan, if you ever have the chance, become my experimental subject.”

“I will kill you, Yuan Ling. You are destined to die by my hand,” Lu Yuan stated with absolute seriousness. “Because it is my duty to slay demons and eradicate evil.” At this moment, Lu Yuan radiated an aura entirely different from his usual demeanor. His former aura was one of indolence, but this new aura was one of righteous resolve!

Righteousness. The two words were simple to speak.

But difficult to enact.

Lu Yuan had always been lazy and indifferent to many things.

But now he realized there were certain matters he could not evade. If he lacked the ability, that was one thing; but possessing the capacity to witness so much malevolence and fail to uphold justice was unacceptable.

Justice, while sounding lofty and abstract, was this very abstract concept that had saved countless people.

His justice was not for empty fame, nor for grand righteousness, nor for the greater picture.

It was solely for the purpose of saving others—this was his justice.

At this moment, his sword, Nourish My Sword, vibrated softly. This was the first time, since beginning his dedication to this blade, that he had achieved true, complete communion with the sword.

Lu Yuan’s temperament shifted at this moment. It bore some resemblance to the former Jie Yuan state, yet it was distinctly different.

Venerable Yuan Ling, who had been smiling wickedly, froze upon seeing Lu Yuan’s appearance. The aura radiating from Lu Yuan now was pure, unwavering righteousness—a chilling resolve that Yuan Ling, despite having met many practitioners from the orthodox sects, had never encountered.

Venerable Yuan Ling did not fear Martial Uncle Qu Qingchen, nor Master Wan Qingwang. Their combat prowess was not beneath his own, but their mental acuity lagged behind his, and furthermore, they were both old—so old that any trick they employed would be seen through by him.

But now, for some reason, Lu Yuan’s demeanor sent a sharp pang of dread through him. He shook his head. How could this be? If righteousness could truly deal with him, then he wouldn’t be a demonic cultist! “Very well, Lu Yuan, I await you!” Finally, a flash of white light enveloped the bidirectional array, and he vanished completely.

Qu Qingchen, Wan Qingwang, and Lu Yuan, seeing Venerable Yuan Ling disappear, immediately rushed to Venerable Yuan Yuan’s side.

Venerable Yuan Yuan was half-reclining near a pillar, offering a wry smile. “When Venerable Yuan Ling sought me out, I had indeed made my calculations. I deliberately engaged him in battle, set traps, and deliberately dragged things out for over half a year. But I never anticipated he possessed the trump card of the Myriad Blood Evil Body, a forbidden technique among forbidden techniques. Even my concealed ultimate sword skill, the Cloud Dragon’s Tail Whip, could not overcome him.”

“What is the current situation?” Venerable Yuan Yuan’s primary concern remained the North Peak.

Qu Qingchen reported, “Sima Changbai has been imprisoned on the Meditation Peak. He lost to Lu Yuan when contending for the Peak Lord position, and the letters detailing his collusion with Yuan Ling were coincidentally exposed during that battle.” Hearing Qu Qingchen’s words, Venerable Yuan Yuan’s eyes lit up. “That is good.” He glanced at Yuan Yuan with deep satisfaction.

“And who currently occupies the Peak Lord seat?”

Wan Qingwang replied, “It is Fang Ru.”

“Junior Brother Fang Ru. Although Junior Brother Fang Ru’s strength is slightly lesser, he handles matters justly. Sometimes his methods are a bit rigid, but he is unquestionably capable of maintaining stability. With him as Peak Lord, I can rest assured,” Venerable Yuan Yuan gasped, clearly finding even speaking quite difficult now.

“Master, I have failed your guidance; in the end, I could not eliminate Yuan Ling,” Venerable Yuan Yuan wheezed out a long breath.

Qu Qingchen shook his head. “Rest assured, we will definitely deal with Yuan Ling.”

Venerable Yuan Yuan shook his head. “Venerable Yuan Ling is utterly treacherous and cunning. Now, with the Heavenly Ascending Alliance as his backing, dealing with him will not be easy. Master and Martial Uncle Wan, you should return to Mount Hua and cultivate in seclusion. There are too many future changes, including the Chaos of the Three Sects and the impending battle with the subterranean demons. You must conserve your strength to secure a future lifeline for the North Peak.”

Having said this, Venerable Yuan Yuan coughed up a mouthful of blood. He looked at Lu Yuan. “Lu Yuan, the situation facing the North Peak now is dire.” He managed only one sentence before coughing up another mouthful of blood, his voice significantly weakening. Lu Yuan quickly leaned in close.

“Venerable Yuan Ling is full of schemes and stratagems; you are his inferior in cunning. However, your potential far exceeds his. You can defeat him when your strength is overwhelmingly superior to his. The principle of overwhelming force neutralizing complexity can also neutralize a hundred stratagems—that is how you will overcome him,” Venerable Yuan Yuan struggled to breathe. “In the future, during the Chaos of the Three Sects, the Sword Qi Sects already show signs of internal division. I estimate you will need to exert great effort then. If all else fails, you must flee to distant lands and preserve the last remnant of Mount Hua’s bloodline. Oh, and there is the Demon Lord from beneath the earth, Dongfang Yao. This person suffered a loss at the hands of our Patriarch Yan in the past and will surely seek retribution in the future. It seems you will have to bear the weight of all these matters.”

“Cough… cough… these burdens should not fall upon the shoulders of a youth like you, but there is truly no other way. I apologize,” Venerable Yuan Yuan looked at Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan saw the hopeful gaze in Venerable Yuan Yuan’s eyes and nodded heavily.

“I am truly sorry,” Venerable Yuan Yuan said, a smile touching his lips once Lu Yuan nodded.

This was Venerable Yuan Yuan’s last smile in the mortal realm.

A smile mixed with apology, yet seemingly relieved of a heavy burden.

Then, his eyes closed, his head tilted, and he fell toward the ground.

Venerable Yuan Yuan, perished!

Within North Ling Mountain,

Unbeknownst to anyone, the wind began to blow softly through the mountain valleys.