354: The Rise of the Red Heart Society

Chi Yao paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone:

"All who are ambitious can apply to join the Red Heart Society! But —"

"We must be an iron-blooded army, an army of faith!"

"Therefore, every member must pass three tests: will, loyalty, and combat power!"

"Those who do not pass, do not be disheartened! Because — the existence of the Red Heart Society is not for a few to hold power! It is for the freedom of all! As long as you are in the Seventh Mining District, you are a member of the Chi Clan!"

"You will no longer be a slave! You will have food to eat, clothes to wear, and a home to live in! Your children will no longer be branded with numbers!"

"The elderly will no longer die in the mines! The Red Heart Society will protect every single one of you!"

Her voice was like a prairie fire, igniting every sleeping heart.

In an instant —

Tens of thousands of bare feet trampled the scorched earth, all stepping forward in unison!

The earth trembled, roaring like thunder!

"We are willing to join the Red Heart Society! For freedom! For faith!"

On the seventh day after Lei Liao's demise, the Seventh Mining District underwent earth-shattering changes.

The ruins of Soul-Severing Cliff were cleared, the Overseer's camp was burned down, and all torture instruments, branding irons, and slave Jade Slips were publicly smashed.

In their place, a Scarlet Flame Banner was raised high, its flag sewn overnight by a hundred Chi Clan elderly women, dyed with the blood and fire of the Red Slaves, with a burning heart embroidered in the center —

That was the emblem of the Red Heart Society, and also the symbol of the new order.

Under Chi Yao's personal leadership, an unprecedented organizational reconstruction officially began.

She personally led the Iron Lady, Red Tiger, Crimson Thorn, and eight other core founding members to rigorously select new blood from tens of thousands of Chi Clan members.

"The Red Heart Society is not a disorganized mob; we don't want a group of followers who only know how to shout slogans. What we want are — warriors who can die for freedom, and pillars who can bear the banner for their beliefs!"

The selection criteria were extremely strict:

First, a Red Heart — they must have personally experienced the atrocities of the Overseers, or had relatives die in mining accidents, and harbor deep hatred for the Immortal Court;

Second, Courage — daring to stand up to the Overseers, daring to raise their fists in despair;

Third, Talent — Meridians capable of opening the "Red Pulse," and able to Cultivate the first stage of the "Crimson Flame Art," "Blood Ignition and Meridian Unblocking."

Every morning, thousands of young Chi Clan members gathered at the foot of Soul-Severing Cliff, bare-chested, to undergo "Red Pulse Detection" — the Iron Lady personally used Scarlet Flame to burn their Meridians, and only those who could endure it for three breaths without fainting were qualified for the initial selection.

Those who passed entered the "Scarlet Flame Camp" — a brutal training ground presided over by Red Tiger.

Every day they climbed rocks with heavy loads, crushed ore with bare hands, traveled a hundred li at night, and simulated battles; the slightest slackness resulted in elimination.

There was even a "Life-and-Death Trial" — groups of ten would delve into abandoned mine shafts to fight against remaining poisonous puppets and ground fire beasts.

In just one month, tens of thousands signed up, but ultimately only 2,300 passed the initial selection, becoming "Red Heart Society Assessment Members."

They wore crimson copper armbands, enjoyed basic rations, housing, and Cultivation resources, and could participate in patrols, construction, and intelligence gathering, forming the outer strength of the Red Heart Society.

But —

The true core members still numbered only nine.

Chi Yao established an iron rule:

"Only those who make contributions, achieve actual results, and earn military merits on the battlefield are qualified to wear the Crimson Gold Heart Ring and become official members of the Red Heart Society."

As soon as this order was issued, countless assessment members were filled with passion.

They were even eager to fight, to fight for the highest honor!

Some trained daily, their fist winds tearing through rock walls;

Some voluntarily volunteered to infiltrate enemy camps to gather intelligence;

Even dozens formed a "Vanguard Daredevil Squad," voluntarily stationed at the edge of the mining district to guard against counterattacks from other mining districts.

The Iron Lady sighed: "Before, we were slaves, only hoping to avoid one less whip."

"Now... they're actually vying to die?"

Chi Yao stood on the high cliff, looking at the bustling training ground below, and said softly:

"They're not vying to die."

"They're vying to — live like human beings."

The Red Heart Society, which began as an uprising at Soul-Severing Cliff,

had grown into —

a Scarlet Flame Army with faith, discipline, and a future... The First Mining District was the largest and most stringent city of enslavement in the Ninth Heaven.

This was no longer just simple mines and prisons, but a colossal city-state spanning three dormant volcanoes and extending for a thousand li — Li City.

Obsidian city walls, towering into the clouds, were founded on the bones of a million Red Slaves. Nine towering pagodas within the city pierced the sky, each suppressing an ancient fierce soul, roaring day and night, deterring all directions.

This was the only city in the Nine Heavens, and also the center of power for the First Seat, Li Qianhai.

The entire city, from its city guards to its merchant markets, from its law enforcement cavalry to its Artifact Refining Sects, were all his vassals.

Li Qianhai controlled the Nine Heavens' prisons, mining, and conquests, wielding immense power, so much so that even Golden Immortals would address him as "First Seat Li."

At this moment, in the City Lord's Council Hall, deep within Li City —

Within a grand hall carved from a single piece of "Soul-Suppressing Profound Crystal," a chilling aura permeated, and runic light flowed.

Nine Dragon bone giant pillars in the hall encircled the central high seat, upon which sat Li Qianhai.

He was already four thousand years old, appearing like a man in his forties, with a stern face. A blood-red Pattern like a centipede coiled between his brows, and as his eyes opened and closed, a faint flash of thunder could be seen.

He wore a profound gold robe that draped to the ground, its sleeves embroidered with nine chains.

He did not Cultivate traditional Immortal Dao, but instead used the "Nine Hells Soul-Suppressing Art" to reverse-refine his Divine Soul, sealing the remnant souls of nine fallen True Immortal powerhouses within his body, using their Battle Intent and memories to temper himself.

His Cultivation had reached the Peak of True Immortal, and his combat power could cross realms to slay Golden Immortals! He was undoubtedly the number one person in the Ninth Heaven!!

He sat upright on the high seat, his fingertips gently tapping the armrest, his voice deep like thunder:

"Speak, what has disturbed this Seat's Cultivation?"

Below, a middle-aged man in iron-scale armor knelt on one knee. He was Mo Yuan, Li Qianhai's most capable intelligence commander, the Department Director of the Punishment Shadow Department.

His face was sinister, his left eye a mechanical spirit pupil capable of seeing through illusions, and his right arm a thunder-steel prosthetic, once tearing apart a Soul Transformation Yao Beast with his bare hands.

"First Seat, it's an emergency."

Mo Yuan's voice was low, "The Immortal Court has issued the 'Heavenly Conscription Order' — five departments each dispatching two thousand elite death warriors, a total of ten thousand, led by Zi Xuwu, who have already departed for the Spirit Realm!"

Li Qianhai's brow slightly raised, his gaze sharpening:

"Zi Xuwu? That old fox has also moved... It seems it's no small matter. What exactly happened to make the Immortal Emperor personally order the subjugation of the Spirit Realm?"

Mo Yuan took a deep breath, lowering his voice:

"The cause... is a Nascent Soul Cultivator named Lu Chen."

"Hmm?" Li Qianhai slowly sat up straight, "Nascent Soul? Continue."

"This person came from a shattered Small World under the jurisdiction of the Spirit Realm. His Cultivation was only at the Early Stage of Nascent Soul, yet in just three months, he consecutively slew five 'Meteor Star Envoys'!"

"Finally, he self-destructed his Golden Core, severely injuring the Five Great Heavenly Venerables!"

"What?!"

Li Qianhai suddenly stood up, slamming his palm down!

The entire hall hummed and vibrated, and the nine Dragon bone pillars all let out mournful wails!

"You said he — severely injured the Five Great Heavenly Venerables? Those five are all True Immortals! Their combat power is not beneath mine! Especially Taichu Heavenly Venerate, it is rumored he has long touched the threshold of Golden Immortal, just one step away from Ascending to Saint Immortal!"

A hint of solemnity flashed in Li Qianhai's eyes:

"A Nascent Soul... can injure a half-Immortal? Even force five Venerables to join forces to kill him? Unless... he mastered some Heaven-Defying method, or possessed a Chaos-grade Magic Treasure!"

Mo Yuan nodded: "According to reports from my spies in the First Heaven, when Lu Chen made his move, the laws of heaven and earth were in disarray, space itself collapsed, stirring the galaxy, and a single strike tore through the protective Immortal Qi of three Heavenly Venerables!"

Li Qianhai slowly sat down, his eyes gleaming:

"Interesting... too interesting. A Nascent Soul, able to force the Five Great Heavenly Venerables to join forces, and even self-destruct to inflict damage..."

"This is no longer a Prodigy, but a demon god."

Mo Yuan added in a deep voice:

"According to reports, Lu Chen has indeed been jointly slain by the Five Great Heavenly Venerables, his body and soul destroyed, but four other people closely related to him have been secretly taken away by the Five Great Heavenly Venerables, suspected of being interrogated for the Origin of his power."

Li Qianhai suddenly understood: "I see. The Immortal Emperor is not angry about the Spirit Realm's rebellion."

"He is — afraid. Think, if such a power that can stir the galaxy and alter rules were to spread... even if it's just a fraction, if mastered by a True Immortal, wouldn't it easily incinerate a Saint Immortal?"

"If someone were to decipher its runic mysteries, the Immortal Emperor... might not even be his match! No wonder the Immortal Emperor wants to conquer the Spirit Realm! Haha, interesting, this stagnant Immortal Realm has finally become interesting!!"

Report!!

A person ran in frantically.

Li Qianhai angrily said: "What is so urgent, making you so flustered, what kind of decorum is this!"

The person said in horror: "The Seventh... the Seventh Mining District, has rebelled!!"