539: Heaven did not forsake me

The shock and suspicion in Black Impermanence's eyes were gradually replaced by rage.

He had spent two thousand years planning this and had poured countless efforts into it; he would absolutely not abandon his plan just because of the threat of a junior.

"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!" Black Impermanence roared angrily. Demonic power surged wildly around his body, and a massive blood-colored orb of light condensed in his hand. Inside the orb, countless departed souls were screaming frantically, emitting destructive power. "Hand over the Blood Pearl, and I can let you die quickly! Otherwise, I will make your Divine Soul dissipate, and you will never be reincarnated for all eternity!"

Before his voice had even faded, Black Impermanence abruptly raised his hand and smashed the blood-colored orb of light in his hand fiercely towards Murong Gu.

The blood-colored orb of light tore through the air with a shrill whistling sound. Wherever it passed, the space slightly distorted, and the dense demonic power nearly engulfed the entire Snow God Hall.

Murong Gu had been prepared. "Aunt Xue, hide well!"

He shouted at Murong Xue, and immediately, three Divine-Grade Cultivation Techniques—the Golden Spirit Art, the Azure Origin Art, and the Divine Illumination Seamless Record—exploded within him with full force. Golden light surged around his body, wrapping him completely like a golden Dragon.

"Boom!"

With a deafening roar, the golden light and blood-colored light collided violently in the center of the Snow God Hall, forming a massive shockwave that instantly swept through the entire Snow God Hall.

The stone walls of the Snow God Hall trembled violently, countless rocks fell, and the tiles from the hall's roof rained down. The crevices splitting the ground grew deeper, and the pool of blood within the Formation churned violently, causing the rotation speed of the seven Blood Pearls to slightly slow down.

Murong Gu felt a heaven-destroying power sweeping towards him. His chest felt as if it had been smashed by a thousand-jin boulder. His throat tasted sweet, and a mouthful of blood gushed out, splashing onto the ground in front of him and staining it red.

He was forced back repeatedly by the shockwave, the stone slabs under his feet shattered, his internal True Qi was instantly thrown into chaos, and his Meridians felt as if they were being burned by raging fire, causing intense pain; they were almost shattered.

He knew in his heart that the gap between the Soul Transformation Stage and the Nascent Soul Stage was like an unbridgeable chasm.

Even though he possessed three Divine-Grade Cultivation Techniques, even though he had achieved a Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Early Stage, and even though he could suppress the Blood Pearls, he was simply no match for Black Impermanence.

Black Impermanence hovered in mid-air, watching Murong Gu, who was retreating repeatedly and coughing up blood. A trace of surprise flashed in his eyes. "Although I only used ten percent of my energy, you were actually able to block it. I have underestimated you." He paused, and the demonic power around his body surged again, his tone full of impatience. "However, I no longer have the patience to keep playing with you! Today, whether it is the Blood Pearl or your life, I am determined to have them!"

Before his voice had even faded, the demonic power around Black Impermanence stacked layer by layer, and the dark red demonic mist surged like a tsunami, wrapping him completely.

His aura soared at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the trembling of the Snow God Hall became increasingly violent, as if it would completely collapse the next moment—clearly, Black Impermanence had developed a murderous intent and was preparing for an all-out strike to completely kill Murong Gu and take back the Blood Pearl.

At the same time, the seven Blood Pearls in the center of the Formation seemed to sense Black Impermanence's anger and determination; their rotation speed accelerated again, and the demonic power they emitted grew stronger and stronger.

The outline of the ninth Blood Pearl became increasingly clear in the empty position, faintly forming, and the originally broken blood lines began to condense again, sweeping towards the remaining Disciples of the Falling Snow Pavilion and Murong Xue.

"There's no time!" Murong Gu leaned against the stone wall and stood up with difficulty, blood continuously overflowing from the corners of his mouth, yet his eyes were full of determination.

He knew that he could not stop Black Impermanence's all-out strike, but he knew even better that once the ninth Blood Pearl formed, the blood sacrifice ritual could no longer be interrupted.

By then, not only would the Falling Snow Pavilion be completely destroyed and Murong Xue suffer a miserable death, but Black Impermanence would also open up the Blood Realm, bringing a catastrophe to the entire Cultivator world, and his wish to resurrect Young Master Murong Xuan would also come to nothing.

Murong Gu slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on Murong Xue not far away, a trace of guilt flashing in his eyes. Then he lowered his head and affectionately caressed the flowing cloud sword in his hand; the blade transmitted a faint warmth, as if it were comforting him.

He muttered to himself, his voice weak yet firm: "Young Master, I'm sorry. I might not be able to fulfill your entrustment. I cannot resurrect you, and I cannot avenge you. I'm sorry..."

Just as his words fell, Black Impermanence sensed his intention, and a trace of terror flashed in his eyes—he knew the power of the Blood Pearls too well. Once a Blood Pearl was crushed, the massive resentment and demonic power it contained would instantly destroy the entire blood sacrifice Formation, and his two thousand years of planning would be completely wasted!

"No!" Black Impermanence let out a terrified roar, rushing towards Murong Gu like a madman, the demonic power around his body surging wildly. "Stop! That is the life's work of my Black Wind Stockade for two thousand years! If you dare to crush the Blood Pearl, I will make you be buried with me! I will make you never be reincarnated for all eternity!"

But it was already too late.

Murong Gu did not hesitate in the slightest; his hands exerted force abruptly, gripping the Blood Pearl in his palm tightly.

"Crack!"

With a loud noise, the Blood Pearl exploded instantly, and countless dark red blood mists diffused from his palm, carrying dense resentment and demonic power, spreading towards the surroundings like a tide.

This Blood Pearl contained the essence blood and Divine Soul of thousands of villagers from Chen Family Village.

Wherever the blood mist passed, the operation of the blood-colored Formation instantly stalled, and the blood-colored patterns of the nine-pointed star Formation gradually dimmed and disappeared. The ninth Blood Pearl, which was in the process of forming, lost its energy nourishment and instantly disintegrated, turning into countless tiny blood spots that dissipated into the air.

The seven Blood Pearls floating in the center of the Formation lost their balance and, like kites with broken strings, fell to the ground one after another. The light on their surfaces dimmed completely, and there was no longer any fluctuation of demonic power.

"No!" Black Impermanence let out a heart-wrenching roar, his voice filled with madness and despair. He abruptly stopped his figure, looking at the Blood Pearls scattered all over the ground, looking at the completely collapsed blood sacrifice Formation, his whole body trembling violently. "Two thousand years! My Black Wind Stockade's plan, planned for two thousand years! Destroying eight villages, sacrificing countless Cultivators, and it was actually destroyed by you, this brat! I will kill you! I will make you be buried with me!"

His demonic power completely spiraled out of control, his form becoming twisted and hideous. His originally sinister face was covered with blood-colored patterns. He abruptly raised his hand and took out a long blade of dark red from his bosom. The blade was entwined with countless departed souls, emitting bone-chilling coldness and a destructive aura. On the blade, sticky blood was flowing—the Blood Soul Blade, containing the resentment of countless departed souls, possessed infinite power and was Black Impermanence's natal Demonic Weapon.

Black Impermanence gripped the Blood Soul Blade with both hands and slashed fiercely towards Murong Gu. A massive blood-colored Saber Qi erupted from the blade, carrying destructive power. Wherever it passed, space trembled, and it swept towards Murong Gu, vowing to tear him into ten thousand pieces to vent the hatred in his heart.

Murong Gu stood where he was, covered in blood, his True Qi exhausted, his Meridians broken; he no longer had the strength to resist. He watched the blood-colored Saber Qi slashing towards him, without a trace of fear in his eyes, only a hint of relief—he had, after all, stopped Black Impermanence's plan, protected Murong Xue, protected the Falling Snow Pavilion, and also protected the entire Cultivator world. It was just that he would never be able to resurrect the Young Master, and never be able to fulfill his vow.

Murong Gu resisted with all his might, but how could a mere Nascent Soul Early Stage possibly resist a powerhouse of the Spirit Transformation Late Stage?

If not for the three Divine-Grade Cultivation Techniques, his body would have been almost cut in half. But even though he did not die, his body was already cracked, his skin was completely corroded, revealing bloody bones, his Meridians were completely ruined, and he had become a cripple.

"No!!" Murong Xue cried out, wanting to come up to protect Murong Gu, but was kicked a hundred meters away by Black Impermanence with a casual kick. "Get lost."

Huh?

Just as Black Impermanence was preparing his final strike to kill Murong Gu, he was surprised to discover that Murong Gu's body was actually emitting demonic power and an aura just like the Blood Pearl.

He discovered in shock that Murong Gu was a human-shaped Blood Pearl.

"Hahaha... Heaven does not forsake me! Heaven does not forsake me!" Black Impermanence laughed wildly, his eyes full of madness and distortion. "You crushed the Blood Pearl, but the Origin power of the Blood Pearl has already attached itself to you. Your body has been permeated by the power of the Blood Pearl and has become a natural 'Blood Pearl Container'! As long as I use you as the ninth Blood Pearl for the sacrifice, I can still gather the power of nine Blood Pearls and refine the blood god pearl! My plan can still continue!"