79: Chapter 79 Return to the Holy Land

Liuyun Peak Immortal Cave, late night.

Bai Yunzhou sat cross-legged in the center of the training room, three nirvana sword talismans suspended before him.

The sword Talismans were pitch-black throughout, with fine gray patterns flowing across their surfaces, resembling tiny whirlpools that continuously devoured the surrounding light.

Merely approaching them was enough to evoke a palpitating sense of nirvana.

"Methods of a Soul Transformation Cultivator..." Bai Yunzhou sighed softly, carefully putting the sword Talismans away into the deepest hidden compartment of his storage ring.

These three sword Talismans were one of his trump cards.

But more importantly, the changes within his body.

He closed his eyes, and his Divine Sense sank into his Dantian.

The Golden Core, which was originally covered in cracks, was now enveloped by a pale yellow halo. That was the Origin of Xuanhuang slowly repairing it—every wisp of Xuanhuang Qi flowed past, the cracks healed by a fraction, and the luster of the Golden Core became even more mellow.

And on the surface of the Golden Core, the phantom of a green lotus faintly emerged.

The lotus petals had nine layers, overlapping layer upon layer. The outermost layer was pale green, which was the manifestation of the Sword Law; the next layer inward glowed with purple lightning, which was the imprint of the Lightning Law; further inward was a faint, elusive blood-colored pattern, representing the newly acquired fragment of the Blood Law.

The three Laws, harmonized by the Origin of Xuanhuang, actually achieved a delicate balance.

[Chaos Green Lotus Body (Rudiment)]

[Awakening Degree: 48% → 49%]

[Characteristics: Chaos Perception (Elementary), Law Affinity (Sword / Lightning / Blood)]

[New Ability: Law Harmonization (Elementary) — Can preliminarily harmonize the Law powers of different attributes, reducing the risk of conflict]

Bai Yunzhou opened his eyes, cyan, purple, and red lights flashing in the depths of his pupils.

He raised his hand, and a fist-sized ball of light emerged in his palm.

Inside the ball of light, three differently colored wisps of silk slowly intertwined—the cyan Sword Intent was incomparably sharp, the purple lightning raged violently, and the blood-colored Evil Qi was cold and bizarre. Normally, if these three powers collided, they would inevitably produce a fierce conflict.

But now, they coexisted peacefully within the ball of light.

"Is this... the power of the Chaos Green Lotus Body?" Bai Yunzhou muttered to himself.

With a thought from him, the ball of light disintegrated, and the three Law silk threads returned into his body.

Standing up, he walked to the Immortal Cave window.

The night was already deep, but the Outer Sect of the Holy Land was not quiet.

Spiritual power fluctuations faintly came from several distant Peaks, occasionally mixed with the sound of clashing metal—that was Disciples sparring, or... settling personal grudges.

"Senior Brother Bai."

Song Xinghe's voice came from outside the Immortal Cave.

Bai Yunzhou opened the Restriction, and Song Xinghe and Deng Mufeng walked in side by side. Both of their expressions were somewhat solemn.

"We found out." Song Xinghe went straight to the point, "Of the thirteen Disciples who recently disappeared, the last known locations of nine were near the Black Wind Mountain Range. That place is only three hundred miles away from Wanmo Cave."

Deng Mufeng added, "Moreover, the time of these Disciples' disappearance is very regular—every three days, one person definitely disappears. Today... happens to be the third day."

Bai Yunzhou's gaze turned cold.

"Also," Song Xinghe lowered his voice, "Through my Family's connections, I heard a piece of news: within the Law Enforcement Hall, someone suppressed the investigation of these disappearance cases."

"Who?"

"Outer Sect Merit Transmission Elder, Xuanmingzi."

Xuanmingzi.

Bai Yunzhou had an impression of this name. He was an emaciated old man who always wore a black robe, usually kept to himself, but had high prestige among the Outer Sect Disciples, rumored to have lived for more than two hundred years, with his cultivation reaching the Late Stage Nascent Soul.

"Why would he suppress the investigation?" Bai Yunzhou asked.

"Unclear." Song Xinghe shook his head, "But Elder Xuanmingzi is very close to Youquan Valley, which is an open secret. During that great battle fifty years ago, he once spoke for Youquan Valley and was almost expelled from the Holy Land."

Bai Yunzhou fell into deep contemplation.

Merit Transmission Elder... Late Stage Nascent Soul... close ties with Youquan Valley...

Connecting these clues pointed to an unsettling possibility.

"What about Han Qiu?" He suddenly asked.

"He left the Holy Land this afternoon." Deng Mufeng said, "Someone saw him heading towards the direction of the Nether Swamp. That is one of the activity areas of the Blood God Cult."

"Nether Swamp..." A cold light flashed in Bai Yunzhou's eyes.

Wanmo Cave, Black Wind Mountain Range, Nether Swamp.

These three places happened to form a triangle, shrouding a large area on the west side of the Holy Land's Outer Sect.

"It seems that the Blood God Cult's net has already been cast." Bai Yunzhou took a deep breath, "We don't have much time left."

"Senior Brother, when are we setting off?" Song Xinghe asked.

"Tomorrow morning." Bai Yunzhou paused, "Tonight, we must make the final preparations."

Medicinal Pill Hall.

Bai Yunzhou stood in front of the counter, placing an identity jade token on the counter surface.

The dispatcher Disciple took the jade token, swept it with his Divine Sense, and immediately widened his eyes: "Four, forty-three thousand contribution points?!"

The surrounding Disciples cast sidelong glances one after another.

Bai Yunzhou's expression was calm: "Exchange for three bottles of 'Creation Pill of Genesis', two bottles of 'Heavenly Thunder Evil-Breaking Powder', ten sheets of 'Vajra Protective Talisman', and twenty pieces of 'Spirit-Returning Jade Essence'."

"This... This requires thirty-eight thousand contribution points..." The dispatcher Disciple's voice trembled.

"Exchange."

The dispatcher Disciple did not dare to be negligent, quickly retrieving the Medicinal Pills and Talismans from the storehouse.

Creation Pill of Genesis, a Grade 3 High Grade healing Medicinal Pill. Even if the Physical Body is mostly destroyed, as long as there is still a breath left, it can hold onto one's life.

Heavenly Thunder Evil-Breaking Powder, specially counters yin and evil Evil Qi, having miraculous effects against the Blood God Cult's Cultivation Techniques.

Vajra Protective Talisman, can withstand a full-force blow from an Early Stage Nascent Soul.

Spirit-Returning Jade Essence, can instantly restore fifty percent of a Core Formation Cultivator's spiritual power.

These were all trump cards for preserving one's life.

Bai Yunzhou put the Medicinal Pills and Talismans into his storage ring and turned to leave.

Just as he stepped out of the Medicinal Pill Hall, he saw a familiar figure standing under the moonlight.

A set of white robes, with a cold and aloof expression, it was precisely Ling Shuang.

"Girl Ling?" Bai Yunzhou was somewhat surprised.

"Junior Martial Uncle Hanbing asked me to help you." Ling Shuang said indifferently, "I will go with you all to Wanmo Cave."

"But..."

"My cultivation has already reached Core Formation Perfection, and the ice soul sword Guide》 has a restraining effect on blood evil." Ling Shuang interrupted him, "More importantly, Sword Valley needs to obtain something in Wanmo Cave."

Bai Yunzhou raised an eyebrow: "What thing?"

"The Blood Soul Core of the Blood God Cult." Ling Shuang explained, "That is one of the key Materials for refining the ice soul marrow-washing pill. If Junior Sister Zhiting's Battle Blood Sacred Body wants to awaken perfectly, it requires a complete Blood Soul Core."

Bai Yunzhou was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Alright. Tomorrow morning, gather at Liuyun Peak."

"Mhm."

Ling Shuang turned and left, her white robes fluttering like snow in the moonlight.

Bai Yunzhou watched her receding back, deep in thought.

Ice Soul Sword Valley... seemed to attach extraordinary importance to this operation.

He shook his head, thought no more, and continued walking towards the Artifact Refining workshop.

He still needed to prepare a defensive Magic Treasure for Zhou Zhiting.

At the same time, deep within the Holy Land, inside a secluded Immortal Cave.

Xuanmingzi sat cross-legged on a futon, a blood-colored bronze mirror suspended before him.

The mirror surface rippled with a bizarre red light, reflecting a blurred face—that was a figure shrouded in blood mist, with only a pair of scarlet eyes visible.

"How is the plan proceeding?" The person in the mirror asked, their voice hoarse and unpleasant.

"Very smoothly." Xuanmingzi respectfully replied, "The thirteenth sacrifice is already in place, and the 'Blood Evil Transformation Array' of Wanmo Cave can complete its first phase tomorrow. As long as thirty-six more Core Formation Cultivators are sacrificed, Lord Blood God will be able to condense the first 'Blood God Puppet'."

"Very good." The person in the mirror said with satisfaction, "The upper echelon of the Holy Land side..."

"Everything has been arranged." A trace of coldness flashed in Xuanmingzi's eyes, "True Monarch Tianxing is currently in seclusion comprehending the Middle Stage Soul Transformation, and will not interfere with Outer Sect matters for the time being. The other Grand Elders are either traveling outside or have old ties with the Blood God Cult..."

"Remember, your task is only to hold them back." The person in the mirror said in a deep voice, "When Lord Blood God descends, the entire Northern Domain will submit under the sea of blood."

"Yes." Xuanmingzi lowered his head, but a flash of imperceptible oddness flickered in his eyes.

The light of the blood-colored bronze mirror gradually dimmed, and the image of the person in the mirror vanished along with it.

Silence returned to the Immortal Cave.

Xuanmingzi stood up and walked to a stone wall deep within the Immortal Cave.

The stone wall was engraved with densely packed runes, with a fist-sized groove in the center. He took out a blood-red spar from his bosom and cautiously placed it into the groove.

Hum—

The stone wall vibrated, and the runes lit up one by one.

A secret door silently slid open, revealing a deep passage behind it.

Xuanmingzi walked into the passage, and the secret door slowly closed behind him.

The passage led all the way down, with phosphorus stones emitting eerie green light embedded in the walls. After walking for about half a quarter of an hour, the front suddenly opened up—

This was a huge underground space, a full hundred zhang in radius.

In the center of the space stood a nine-story blood-colored altar. At the top of the altar floated a head-sized blood-colored spar, continuously emitting and absorbing blood light.

Around the altar, thirteen figures knelt in prostration.

They wore the attire of Outer Sect Disciples of the Holy Land, but each had hollow eyes and numb expressions. Between the eyebrows of each person was branded a blood-colored rune, from which countless fine threads extended, connecting to the spar on the altar.

"The fourteenth..."

Xuanmingzi walked up to a young Disciple, extended his withered fingers, and touched the center of his brow.

That Disciple shook violently, pain flashing in his eyes, but quickly returned to numbness. The blood-colored rune between his eyebrows became even more vivid, and the extending fine threads also grew a bit thicker.

"Almost... It's almost time..."

Xuanmingzi muttered to himself, a trace of fanaticism flashing in his eyes.

"When Lord Blood God descends, this old man will be a founding minister. What Soul Transformation, what Sword Immortal... all will crawl beneath the sea of blood!"

He turned and left the underground space.

Without noticing, deep inside the blood-colored spar at the top of the altar, a pair of eyes faintly emerged.

Those eyes were cold and cruel, as if looking down upon all living beings.

Morning, Liuyun Peak.

Bai Yunzhou stood in front of the Immortal Cave, looking at the assembled team.

Song Xinghe was in white robes, with a sword hanging at his waist, his aura steady as a mountain.

Deng Mufeng was fluttering in green robes, holding three jade Talismans in his hand, his Talisman cultivation having improved once again.

Zhou Zhiting wore tight sportswear, wearing the leihuang gauntlets, Battle Intent burning in her eyes.

Ling Shuang remained in that set of white robes, but behind her was an extra ice-blue long sword. Before the sword was even unsheathed, chilliness was already permeating the air.

Ye Jinglan was hidden in the dark, but Bai Yunzhou could sense his aura—Middle Stage Nascent Soul, having recovered to his Peak.

"Before we set off, I have a few things to say."

Bai Yunzhou's gaze swept over the crowd.

"Our destination this time is Wanmo Cave, one of the Blood God Cult's strongholds. We have three tasks: first, investigate the Blood God Cult's conspiracy; second, destroy the array eye; third, rescue the trapped Disciples as much as possible."

"But most importantly—"

He paused, speaking word by word:

"Return alive."

Everyone's expressions turned stern.

"Let's go."

Five streams of light soared into the sky, speeding away toward the west.

Shortly after they left the Holy Land, a black figure quietly emerged above Liuyun Peak.

It was a figure shrouded in a black robe, whose face could not be seen, with only a pair of blood-red eyes flickering under the hood.

He gazed in the direction where Bai Yunzhou and the others left, the corners of his mouth splitting into a cruel arc.

"Go on... Go on..."

"Lord Blood God is waiting for your sacrifice..."

The black figure turned into a wisp of black smoke and dissipated in the air.

As if it had never existed.

Three hundred miles away, Black Wind Mountain Range.

Han Qiu stood atop a mountain Peak, overlooking the valley below.

In the valley, dozens of black-robed Cultivators were busy. They were carving complex runes on the ground, and with every stroke that fell, a flash of blood light flickered.

The air was filled with a rich stench of blood.

"Senior Brother Han."

An old man in a black robe stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "The 'Blood Evil Lost-Track Array' has been set up. As long as they step into the valley, they will be trapped in the illusion, and then—"

The old man made a gesture of slitting a throat.

Han Qiu's expression was expressionless: "Bai Yunzhou must die by my hand. The rest can be dealt with as you please."

"Yes." The old man retreated.

Han Qiu looked toward the east, blood light surging in his eyes.

He reached out, a blood-red Medicinal Pill appearing in his palm—it was the "Qi-Burning Realm-Breaking Pill" given to him by Qin Mo.

"Revered Master said that as long as I swallow this pill, I can break through to the Middle Stage Nascent Soul in a short time... The price is the consumption of three hundred years of Lifespan."

Han Qiu muttered to himself, a trace of madness in his tone.

"But so what? As long as I can kill Bai Yunzhou, as long as I can snatch his Chaos Green Lotus Body... Everything is worth it!"

He gripped the pill tightly, a resolute look flashing in his eyes.

The wind blew, his black robes snapping loudly.

In the distant horizon, five streams of light were rapidly approaching.