39: Jungle Blockade and Bloody Slaughter Madness

Deep in the dense forest, towering ancient trees blocked out the sun, vines intertwined, and the ground was covered with thick fallen leaves, making every step silent.

Liu Shan, leading over thirty elite Cultivators, had already set up an ambush.

The Iron Sword Sect Master, with ten Cultivators, had set up the “Profound Iron Thorn Array” at the narrow valley entrance ahead—countless profound iron spikes imbued with spiritual energy were buried underground, and extremely tough spiritual vines were wrapped around the surrounding tree trunks. Once triggered, it could trap enemies in place.

Liu Zhi, with ten Cultivators, was ambushed in the tree canopies on both sides of the valley entrance. Each of them held several high-grade Exploding Flame Talismans and “tripwires,” ready to catch the enemy off guard.

Liu Shan and Mochu, along with the remaining Cultivators, were hidden behind large rocks at the back of the valley entrance, serving as the final killing move, awaiting Blood Butcher’s arrival.

Mochu’s Spirit Vision extended ten li behind him, clearly seeing Blood Butcher leading over a hundred Soul Devouring Sect Cultivators, chasing like mad dogs. Their speed was extremely fast, clearly driven by anger.

“They’re here,” Mochu nudged Liu Shan with his tail, indicating that the enemy was still three li from the valley entrance.

Liu Shan took a deep breath and made a “prepare” gesture to the Cultivators beside him.

Everyone immediately held their breath, gripped their weapons, and stared intently in the direction of the valley entrance.

The air was thick with tension; even the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves seemed exceptionally clear.

“Thump-thump-thump—!”

Heavy footsteps approached from a distance, and Blood Butcher, leading the Soul Devouring Sect Cultivators, appeared at the valley entrance.

He was still wearing his blood-stained cloak, and although the charred wound on his chest had scabbed over, his aura was even more violent than before. Bloodshot veins spread like a spiderweb in his eyes, clearly indicating he had used a secret art that overdrawn his cultivation.

“Speed up! They can’t run far!” Blood Butcher roared, completely oblivious to the abnormality around him, focused only on catching Liu Shan and getting his revenge.

Over a hundred Soul Devouring Sect Cultivators followed closely, pouring into the valley entrance.

“Now!” Liu Shan whispered.

“Fire!” Liu Zhi shouted from the tree canopy.

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!”

Dozens of tripwires dropped from the tree canopy, accurately ensnaring the ankles of the dozen or so Soul Devouring Sect Cultivators charging at the front!

“Thud! Thud!”

Over a dozen people fell,Just right triggering the Profound Iron Thorn Array buried underground!

“Ah—!”

Screams rose one after another as sharp profound iron spikes sprang from the ground, piercing their bodies, and the surrounding spiritual vines shot out like venomous snakes, tightly coiling around them. The more they struggled, the tighter they were bound!

“Not good! It’s an ambush!” The Soul Devouring Sect Cultivators finally reacted, stopping in their tracks and cautiously looking around.

“Explode!” Liu Zhi shouted again.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Hundreds of Exploding Flame Talismans detonated simultaneously, their fiery light instantly illuminating the narrow valley entrance, engulfing the Soul Devouring Sect Cultivators entangled by spiritual vines!

The first round of ambush dealt a significant blow to the Soul Devouring Sect, costing them nearly thirty lives!

“Bastard!” Blood Butcher roared, his killing intent almost solidifying. “Liu Shan! I know you’re here! Get out here and die!”

His body surged with blood-colored mist, and he slammed a palm towards the surrounding spiritual vines and profound iron spikes!

“Bang!”

The spiritual vines and spikes were instantly shattered, and the obstruction at the valley entrance was cleared!

“Kill! Charge for me! Find Liu Shan and tear him to shreds!” Blood Butcher roared, leading the charge into the valley.

“Iron Sword Sect Master, hold the line!” Liu Shan shouted.

“Understood!” The Iron Sword Sect Master, wielding a profound iron shield, led the Cultivators in a shield formation, blocking the valley like an indestructible boulder!

“Clang! Clang! Clang!”

The Soul Devouring Sect Cultivators attacked the shield formation like a tide. The Profound Iron Shield Formation shook violently, but under the leadership of the Iron Sword Sect Master, it never broke!

“A bunch of trash!” Seeing this, Blood Butcher roared and charged towards the shield formation. Blood-colored mist condensed into a giant hammer, smashing fiercely at the center of the shield formation!

“Bang!”

The giant hammer collided with the profound iron shield, creating a deafening roar. The shield formation severely dented, and the Iron Sword Sect Master coughed up blood, retreating repeatedly. Several Cultivators were even sent flying, and a crack appeared in the shield formation!

“Break!” Blood Butcher sneered, and the giant hammer fell again!

Just then, a golden saber light, like lightning, slashed from the side, accurately striking the giant hammer!

“Clang!”

The giant hammer was shattered to pieces, and Blood Butcher was forced back two steps, looking in surprise at the direction from which the saber light came—Liu Shan, holding the Thunderclap Saber, stood there, his eyes cold.

“Liu Shan! You finally decided to come out!” A trace of insane joy flashed in Blood Butcher’s eyes. “Today, I’ll let you taste what it’s like to be devoured!”

“If you want my life, let’s see if you have the ability!” Liu Shan snorted coldly, and the Thunderclap Saber swung out again, its saber light carrying golden flames, slashing towards Blood Butcher!

“Seeking death!” Blood Butcher neither dodged nor avoided. Blood-colored mist condensed into a shield, blocking the saber light, while his right hand formed a claw, bringing afishy wind, grabbing at Liu Shan’s throat!

The two instantly engaged in battle!

Golden saber light and blood-colored mist continuously collided, the air currents shaking the surrounding trees, sending fallen leaves flying!

Mochu, like a phantom, moved through the battlefield, his spiritual domain fully unleashed, suppressing the speed and spiritual energy circulation of the surrounding Soul Devouring Sect Cultivators. At the same time, he seized opportunities to launch sneak attacks with his venomous fangs and spiritual energy spears, each strike taking a life!

His venom had a special suppressive effect on Soul Devouring Sect Cultivators. Cultivators bitten by him would quickly have their internal blood-colored mist dissipate, their spiritual energy would become chaotic, and their combat power would significantly decrease!

“Father! I’ll help you!” Liu Zhi broke free from his enemies, his Wind Shadow Sword, carrying a stream of light, pierced towards Blood Butcher’s side waist!

“Get lost!” Blood Butcher roared, turning and striking Liu Zhi with a palm!

Liu Shan seized this opportunity, and the Thunderclap Saber, carrying the Cloud Cauldron True Fire, fiercely slashed at Blood Butcher’s back!

“Pfft!”

The saber light tore through the blood-colored mist, leaving a deep, bone-visible wound on Blood Butcher’s back. Golden flames adhered to the wound, sizzling and continuously burning his flesh!

“Ah—!” Blood Butcher let out a mournful scream, completely falling into madness. “I want you all to die! All of you will become my nourishment!”

He suddenly turned, no longer attacking Liu Shan and Liu Zhi, but instead spread his arms. The blood-colored mist around him instantly erupted, forming a giant blood-colored vortex!

“Soul Devouring Great Art—Blood Devouring Heaven and Earth!”

A terrifying suction force emanated from the vortex, not only pulling Liu Shan and the vanguard Cultivators, but also the surrounding trees, rocks, and even the corpses of the dead Soul Devouring Sect Cultivators, all in a rush towards the vortex!

Cultivators sucked into the vortex shriveled at a visible rate, their spiritual energy and life force being frantically devoured by Blood Butcher!

“Not good! He’s gone mad!” Liu Shan’s expression changed drastically. This was a forbidden art of the Soul Devouring Sect, exchanging the burning of one’s own vital blood and Soul for terrifying power for a short period!

Blood Butcher’s aura surged at a visible rate, even subtly touching the threshold of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection! But his hair rapidly turned white, and his skin developed wrinkles, clearly indicating the immense price he paid!

“Liu Shan! Feel despair!” Blood Butcher sneered. The suction force of the blood-colored vortex grew stronger and stronger, even Liu Shan felt his body uncontrollably drawn towards the vortex!

“Mochu!” Liu Shan shouted.

A look of determination flashed in Mochu’s eyes. He knew there was only one move left!

He suddenly looked up, the golden horn on his forehead erupting with unprecedented brilliant light, his internal Yao Beast Core spinning wildly, and a terrifying aura began to permeate!

【Warning! Detecting that Host’s partner is about to use the “Yao Beast Core Self-Destruct” talent. This talent is a mutual destruction attack. Confirm?】

The System’s warning sounded, but Mochu didn’t hesitate at all. His spiritual energy condensed into a final thought, transmitting it to Liu Shan:

Take care of yourself.

Liu Shan instantly understood Mochu’s intention, his face changing drastically: “Mochu! Don’t!”

But it was already too late.

Mochu let out a sharp hiss, his body transforming into a black lightning bolt, carrying an aura of destruction, and charged towards the center of the blood-colored vortex—Blood Butcher’s location!

He intended to use his Yao Beast Core as a price to detonate Blood Butcher’s Blood Devouring Heaven and Earth!

“A mere spiritual-grade Yao Beast dares to overreach itself?” Blood Butcher sneered, and the suction force of the blood-colored vortex intensified again, attempting to devour Mochu as well.

But Mochu’s speed far exceeded his imagination. Just before being completely swallowed by the vortex, his body suddenly swelled!

“Explode!”

A deafening roar!

Mochu’s Yao Beast Core, at the center of the blood-colored vortex, exploded with a bang!

The black spiritual energy shockwave violently collided with the blood-colored vortex, unleashing world-destroying energy!

“Ah—!”

Blood Butcher let out an inhuman scream. The blood-colored vortex instantly collapsed, and his body, like a kite with a broken string, flew backwards. The blood-colored mist around him dispersed, his aura plummeted, and his injuries were a hundred times more severe than before. Even his right hand, which was about to Break through, was blasted into a bloody mess!

The explosion’s shockwave swept through the entire valley. Trees were uprooted, rocks cracked, and Liu Shan and Liu Zhi were sent flying by the shockwave, crashing heavily against the rock wall, spitting blood, and losing consciousness.

The vanguard and Soul Devouring Sect Cultivators suffered heavy casualties, with only a handful surviving.

In the valley, there was dead silence.

Only the wailing of the wind through the ruins and Blood Butcher’s faint, venomous gasps remained.

He lay on the ground, looking at his blasted right hand, feeling the spiritual energy in his body almost dissipate, his eyes filled with unwillingness and madness.

“Liu Shan… I won’t let you go…”

He struggled, trying to get up, but found it incredibly difficult to even move a finger.

In the distance, hurried footsteps approached.

It was Qian Tong, arriving with the Alliance reinforcements!

After receiving Liu Shan’s message talisman, they immediately organized their forces to return and provide support, finally arriving at the most crucial moment!

“Fellow Daoist Liu! Liu Zhi!” Qian Tong saw the unconscious Liu Shan and Liu Zhi, as well as the tragic scene in the valley, and his heart tightened. He rushed over to check on them.

“Quick! Save them!”

The vanguard Cultivators immediately took action, treating the wounded and subduing the dying Blood Butcher and the remaining Soul Devouring Sect Cultivators.

Qian Tong walked to Liu Shan’s side, checked his injuries, and breathed a sigh of relief—he was only severely injured and unconscious, with no life-threatening danger.

When his gaze swept across the valley, searching for Mochu’s figure, he only saw a ravaged ruin and a wisp of Mochu’s unique spiritual energy fluctuation dissipating in the air.

Qian Tong’s expression instantly became solemn.

He understood.

That world-destroying explosion just now was the black-scaled snake that had always followed Liu Shan, exchanged with his life.

To save Liu Shan, to stop Blood Butcher.

Qian Tong sighed softly and said to the Cultivators beside him: “Properly bury the fallen Fellow Daoists… and that snake.”

He walked to Liu Shan’s side, carried him on his back, and looked towards Wangyue City in the distance.

They had won this battle.

The main force of the Soul Devouring Sect was heavily damaged, Blood Butcher was captured, and the people of Black Rock City were safely rescued.

But the price was so heavy.

Liu Shan was still unconscious, his brows tightly furrowed, as if having a painful dream.

Qian Tong didn’t know how Liu Shan would react when he woke up and learned about Mochu’s fate.