136: Chapter 136 Blood Lotus Blade

Thirty miles outside the city, the Black Lotus Cult army stopped.

Three hundred Cultivators stood in Formation, their black robes fluttering, their aura sinister like a ghost domain.

Leading them was a red-robed old man whose face was withered like a corpse, but whose eyes were scarlet like blood—it was Blood Lotus Venerable.

He stood in front of the Formation with his hands behind his back, his gaze passing over the three thousand War Department Cultivators and landing directly on Lin Yue atop the city wall.

"You are Lin Yue?"

His voice was hoarse, like iron and stone grinding together:

"Killing two Lotus Venerables of my Black Lotus Cult, destroying my foundation in the Southern Territory, and seizing my Burial Dragon Abyss altar—what audacity."

Lin Yue stood on the city wall, his expression calm:

"Blood Lotus Venerable has traveled so far just to say this nonsense?"

"Heh."

Blood Lotus Venerable grinned, revealing a mouth full of black teeth:

"Young man, arrogance is a good thing. But too much arrogance... will lead to a quick death."

He raised his withered, thin palm and gently clenched it.

The three hundred Black-robed Cultivators behind him simultaneously stepped forward, their auras erupting instantly!

Three hundred Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators, among whom were also more than fifty Golden Core Cultivators!

Even more terrifying was that the auras of these three hundred people were connected, forming an ominous, blood-red grand Formation.

Inside the Formation, blood mist churned, and countless vengeful spirits could vaguely be seen wailing. The bloody stench permeated for miles, staining even the sky dark red.

"Ten Thousand Blood Lotus Soul Array!"

Mo Chen's expression drastically changed:

"This Formation requires the Essence Blood of ten thousand people as a guide, condensed over a hundred days! Once deployed, the Cultivators within the Formation can share Blood Qi, making them fearless in battle, and their combat power increases by thirty percent! This Blood Lotus Old Devil... he's truly insane!"

"He's not insane."

Mysterious Yang Master's gaze was solemn:

"He wants to establish his might. He will use the blood of Luoxia City's three thousand Cultivators to restore the Black Lotus Cult's prestige in the Southern Territory."

He looked at Lin Yue:

"City Lord Lin, this Formation is dangerous. Why don't we let my Seven Star Alliance..."

"No need."

Lin Yue interrupted him, a cold light flashing in his eyes:

"Luoxia City's troubles will be solved by Luoxia City itself."

He took a deep breath and declared loudly:

"Lin Hu."

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Seven Star Grand Formation, change Formation—Tianshu Vanguard!"

"Understood!"

Below the city, Lin Hu waved the command flag in his hand.

The three thousand War Department Cultivators moved in response.

The originally neat square formation instantly scattered, transforming into seven teams, each with over four hundred people, occupying seven different positions.

The auras of the seven teams connected, and astral projections appeared above their heads—Tianshu, Tianxuan, celestial pivot star, Tianquan, Yuheng, big dipper star: mizar, and Yaoguang.

This was precisely the "Seven Star Battle Formation" that Lin Yue had modified from the Star Lord Inheritance!

"Attack!"

Lin Hu gave the command.

The team at the Tianshu position took the lead in attacking.

Four hundred Cultivators shot out like arrows, directly piercing the left flank of the Ten Thousand Blood Lotus Soul Array.

At the same time, the Tianxuan and celestial pivot star teams flanked from both sides, the Tianquan team formed a shield in place, the Yuheng team released long-range spells, the big dipper star: mizar team waited for an opportunity, and the Yaoguang team moved around in support.

The seven teams coordinated perfectly, integrating offense and defense.

Blood Lotus Venerable sneered:

"Trifling skill."

He pressed his palm downward.

Inside the Ten Thousand Blood Lotus Soul Array, the blood mist suddenly surged, condensing into hundreds of blood-red tentacles that wrapped around the Tianshu team like venomous snakes.

Wherever the tentacles passed, the ground was corroded into deep ravines, and the air itself emitted a "sizzling" corrosive sound.

"Break!"

In the Tianshu team, a Foundation Establishment Peak Centurion shouted sternly, and the thunder pattern armor-piercing crossbow in his hand shone brightly.

A bolt of thunder light, as thick as a child's arm, shot out, instantly piercing three blood-red tentacles.

But there were simply too many tentacles.

Moreover, after being pierced, they were able to heal rapidly, and their power increased rather than decreased!

"Battle Formation empowerment!"

Lin Hu's voice resonated across the battlefield via a transmission talisman.

The astral projection of the Tianshu Star above the Tianshu team suddenly lit up, showering down rays of starlight.

Covered by the starlight, the auras of all the War Department Cultivators rose significantly, and the power of the thunder pattern armor-piercing crossbows in their hands surged by thirty percent.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!"

Hundreds of thunder light arrows fired in unison, forcefully tearing open a gap in the encirclement of blood-red tentacles.

"Charge through!"

The Tianshu team seized the opportunity to advance, now less than a hundred zhang away from the Ten Thousand Blood Lotus Soul Array.

But right at this moment—

"Heh."

Ten Golden Core Cultivators suddenly flew out from among the fifty Golden Core Cultivators behind Blood Lotus Venerable.

All ten of these individuals were Middle Golden Core Stage Cultivators, possessing sinister auras, and each held a blood-red banner.

As the banners waved, the blood mist condensed into ten Blood Demon phantoms, three zhang tall, roaring as they charged toward the Tianshu team.

Every single Blood Demon possessed the combat strength of a Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator!

"This is bad!"

On the city wall, Mo Chen's expression changed:

"It's the Black Lotus Cult's 'Blood Demon Banner'! City Lord Lin, quickly order them to retreat!"

Lin Yue shook his head instead:

"No need."

He looked at the battlefield, his eyes calm:

"Lin Hu, it's time to show our trump card."

"Yes!"

Lin Hu took a deep breath and fiercely swung down the command flag in his hand:

"dragon roar cannon—prepare!"

In the Tianquan team, fifty hideous-looking metal cannon platforms were pushed to the front line.

The body of the cannon was entirely forged from thunder pattern crystal, the muzzle was inlaid with a fist-sized dragon pattern jade core, and the cannon barrel was covered in densely inscribed Formation runes.

Fifty cannon platforms were neatly lined up.

Their muzzles were aimed at the ten Blood Demon phantoms.

"Fire!"

Boom—!!!!

Fifty crimson-gold beams of light, as thick as water buckets, tore through the air and shot straight out.

Within the light beams, Dragon shadows vaguely coiled, and Dragon might was immense.

The ten Blood Demon phantoms didn't even have time to react before they were completely submerged by the light beams.

Wherever the Dragon Roar light beams passed, the blood mist dissolved like melting ice and snow, and fifty charred ravines, several feet deep, were plowed into the ground.

When the light dissipated—

The ten Blood Demon phantoms were reduced to ashes.

The ten Golden Core Cultivators holding the banners simultaneously spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. The banners in their hands shattered inch by inch, and they collapsed, their auras weak.

A single strike severely injured ten Middle Golden Core Stage Cultivators!

The entire field fell silent.

Even Blood Lotus Venerable had a flicker of astonishment in his eyes.

"What is that thing?!"

He stared intently at the fifty dragon roar cannons, and a hint of solemnity finally entered his voice.

On the city wall, Mysterious Yang Master gasped:

"The power of a single cannon shot is comparable to the full-force strike of an Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator? No... the power of every cannon in that salvo just now reached the Late Golden Core Stage! Moreover..."

He stared intently at the Formation runes flowing across the cannon bodies:

"Those runes... are Ancient Dragon Clan script?! You can actually decipher Dragon script and integrate it into a Formation?!"

Lin Yue smiled faintly:

"Just luck."

Mysterious Yang Master knew, however, that this was absolutely not luck.

Ancient Dragon script has long been lost. Currently, fewer than ten people in the cultivation world can fully recognize Dragon script.

To be able to integrate it into a Formation and refine a war Magical Artifact of such power—Luoxia City's foundation was far deeper than he had imagined.

On the battlefield, Blood Lotus Venerable's face was as dark as ink.

He stared at the fifty dragon roar cannons, killing intent boiling in his eyes:

"Good... very good. It seems this old man must personally take action today."

He took a step, and his figure vanished from the spot like a phantom.

When he reappeared, he was already above the Tianshu team!

His withered, thin palm pressed down into the air.

A blood-red giant palm, a hundred zhang in size, descended with overwhelming might!

Before the giant palm arrived, the terrifying pressure already made it difficult for the four hundred-plus War Department Cultivators below to breathe. Those with slightly weaker cultivation bases directly spat blood and fell to the ground.

A Mid Nascent Soul Stage strike, fueled by rage!

"Lin Hu, retreat!"

Lin Yue's voice rang out.

At the same time, he stepped off the city wall, his figure shooting toward the battlefield like a meteor.

While still in mid-air, the starfall sword was already unsheathed.

"Slash—!"

The sword light was like a rolling river of stars, slashing toward the blood-red giant palm.

Boom—!!!

Sword and palm collided, and terrifying air waves swept in all directions.

The blood-red giant palm was shattered by the sword strike, but Lin Yue was also sent flying back dozens of zhang, his face slightly pale.

"Oh?"

Blood Lotus Venerable looked at Lin Yue, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes:

"To be able to take a strike from this old man without injury? You, an Early Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, are quite interesting."

"The interesting part is yet to come."

Lin Yue stabilized his body, took a deep breath, and the star dragon nascent soul inside him opened its eyes.

His left hand manifested stars, his right hand Dragon shadows, simultaneously releasing Origin power.

On the starfall sword, starlight and Dragon Qi intertwined, and the sword radiance surged up to a hundred zhang!

"Blood Lotus Old Devil, do you dare to fight me?"

Lin Yue pointed his sword at Blood Lotus Venerable, his voice spreading across the battlefield.

"Heh, why wouldn't I dare?"

Blood Lotus Venerable sneered, and his figure vanished again.

The next moment, he appeared behind Lin Yue, his withered claw aiming straight for the back of the heart!

The claw wind was fierce; wherever it passed, space subtly distorted.

If this claw strike landed solidly, even a Nascent Soul Cultivator would be severely injured!

But Lin Yue seemed to have anticipated it.

Without turning his head, he stabbed out with a backhanded sword strike.

The sword tip landed precisely on the center of the claw.

Ding—!

The sound of metal clashing echoed across the sky.

Blood Lotus Venerable was forced back three steps, and the surprise and suspicion in his eyes deepened:

"You can actually see through my 'Blood Shadow Escape'?"

"Trifling skill."

Lin Yue turned around, his sword light like a waterfall:

"It's my turn."

As his voice fell, his figure suddenly blurred.

He didn't vanish, but transformed into... nine Clones!

The nine Clones had identical auras, all wielding the starfall sword, attacking Blood Lotus Venerable simultaneously from nine directions.

This was precisely the Astral Divine Ability recorded in the star lord secret record—Nine Star Illusory Body!

"Illusion technique?"

Blood Lotus Venerable sneered, and his scarlet eyes emitted a burst of light:

"Break for me!"

The blood light swept past, and eight of the nine Clones shattered instantly.

But the last one—was real!

The starfall sword pierced through the blood light, aiming straight for Blood Lotus Venerable's throat!

"What?!"

Blood Lotus Venerable's expression finally changed.

His figure retreated rapidly, and at the same time, he opened his mouth and spat out a mass of blood mist.

The blood mist condensed into a blood-red shield, blocking him.

Clang—!

The sword tip stabbed the shield, producing a deafening crash.

The shield shattered instantly, but Blood Lotus Venerable also took the opportunity to widen the distance.

He stared at Lin Yue, a look of solemnity appearing in his eyes for the first time:

"You are not an ordinary Early Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator."

"Nor are you an ordinary Mid Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator."

Lin Yue sheathed his sword and stood, his tone calm:

"Do you want to continue fighting?"

Blood Lotus Venerable fell silent.

He looked at the battlefield below.

The three thousand War Department Cultivators, relying on the Seven Star Grand Formation and supported by the dragon roar cannons, had completely suppressed the three hundred Black Lotus Cult followers.

Although the Black Lotus Cult followers fought fearlessly, they were steadily retreating when faced with the fifty dragon roar cannons capable of killing Golden Core Cultivators.

Moreover, the Qinglan Sect and the Seven Star Alliance forces were watching menacingly from the city wall.

Today, it seemed they would not gain any advantage.

"Good... very good."

Blood Lotus Venerable took a deep breath, but the killing intent in his eyes grew even stronger:

"Lin Yue, this old man has noted today's events. When the main force of my Black Lotus Cult moves south, I will surely leave Luoxia City... without even a chicken or dog remaining!"

He flicked his sleeve:

"Retreat!"

The three hundred Black Lotus Cult followers retreated one after another, as if granted a great pardon.

Blood Lotus Venerable took a deep look at Lin Yue, his figure transforming into a streak of blood light and vanishing into the horizon.

On the battlefield, only dozens of Black Lotus Cult followers' corpses remained, along with bloodstains covering the ground.

"We won?"

On the city wall, the Clan Chief of a small Southern Territory Family watching the battle muttered.

"We won!"

"Luoxia City won!"

"City Lord Lin repelled Blood Lotus Venerable!"

Cheers erupted like a mountain torrent and a tsunami.

Everyone who looked at Lin Yue was filled with awe.

Using Early Nascent Soul Stage cultivation to directly repel the Mid Nascent Soul Stage Blood Lotus Old Devil—such a feat was enough to shake the entire Southern Territory!

Perhaps even... shake the Central Territory!

Lin Yue sheathed his sword and returned to the city wall.

His face was slightly pale, but his aura remained steady.

"City Lord Lin, are you alright?"

Mysterious Yang Master stepped forward, his tone carrying genuine concern for the first time.

"I'm fine."

Lin Yue waved his hand:

"Just a bit exhausted."

He looked at Mysterious Yang Master and smiled faintly:

"Elder Xuan Yangzi, now do you feel... that my Luoxia City is qualified to 'cooperate equally' with the Seven Star Alliance?"

Mysterious Yang Master was silent for a long time, finally nodding slowly:

"Yes."

He paused, then stated solemnly:

"From today onward, the Tianshu Department of the Seven Star Alliance acknowledges Luoxia City's independent status. The defense of the Southern Territory will be led by Luoxia City. My Seven Star Alliance... will give its full support."

"Thank you."

Lin Yue clasped his fists.

He turned and looked outside the city, his gaze profound.

This battle was won.

But the resentful look in Blood Lotus Venerable's eyes as he left made him realize—a greater trouble was still coming.

The main force of the Black Lotus Cult moving south... what kind of scene would that be?

He gripped the sword hilt, a look of determination flashing in his eyes.

No matter who comes.