Chapter 172 - 171: Did It Just Pop Out of Nowhere?
Chapter 172: Chapter 171: Did It Just Pop Out of Nowhere?
News of the Blood Slaughter Sect’s annihilation at Purple Mist Mountain eventually reached the Blood Palace.
When the Blood Palace failed to receive its designated share of medicinal herbs and the expected report from the Blood Slaughter Sect after the secret realm closed, an Elder sensed something was amiss. He dispatched several envoys to Purple Mist Mountain to investigate.
STEP! STEP! STEP!
Three figures came to a halt at the mountain pass leading into the secret realm. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but scorched skeletons—the remains of corpses consumed by a great fire.
Thousands of skeletons were scattered everywhere in overlapping layers. It was a scene from the deepest pits of hell.
A mountain breeze swept through, carrying the putrid stench of incompletely burned corpses. The foul air washed over the three men outside the pass, and they all shivered in unison.
"HISS!"
Seeing this, the three envoys’ eyes went wide in disbelief.
They had undertaken this journey with anger in their hearts, but the sight before them extinguished all feelings save for terror and unease.
’Even *we*, who were lucky enough to pass the selection and enter the Blood Palace, couldn’t claim to have killed this many people!’
"Who did this?! Who did this?!"
One of them, his eyes wide with horror, shrieked, "Was it those four sects?!"
"’It’s been a while since we were last here. Have the four sects become this vicious?’"
"’I doubt it...’"
After the initial shock, they forced themselves to calm down. Their eyes scanned the surrounding wilderness, searching for any trace of the culprits who had annihilated their sect’s encampment.
The annihilation of an entire outpost—over ten thousand people slain, with no survivors—was no small matter.
This could be taken as a declaration of war against the Blood Palace!
Furthermore, this incident would have to be reported to the Elders. It might even alarm the Blood Palace’s Upper Envoys, and perhaps the Palace Master himself would take a personal interest.
Therefore, they had to find some clues from the scene. At the very least, they needed to have something concrete to report when they returned.
Failure to do so would undoubtedly result in them having their hearts and lungs torn out.
"’This doesn’t look like the work of the four sects.’"
One of them said, shaking his head after walking through the corpses,
"’The four sects hold themselves up as righteous, after all. They wouldn’t resort to total annihilation. This looks more like the work of another Demon Sect.’"
Hearing this, the other two nodded in agreement, sharing the sentiment.
After all, such ruthless methods didn’t fit the style of the so-called righteous sects.
Besides, if the four sects possessed such ruthless dispositions, the Blood Slaughter Sect of Purple Mist Mountain would have faced the threat of annihilation long ago.
Instead of waiting until now.
Moreover, a trip in and out of the secret realm yields precious treasures, medicinal herbs, and rare materials.
It would be perfectly normal for other Demon Sects to covet such a prize.
"’But it’s unlikely to be the work of another Demon Sect, either.’"
Another one chimed in, "’Our sects reached an agreement long ago. They wouldn’t do something so taboo.’"
"’Everyone knows the Palace Master negotiated that with them personally.’"
None of the likely answers seemed possible.
The three of them fell silent.
’This possibility is out, and that one is too. Don’t tell me a single person suddenly appeared and wiped out the entire ten-thousand-strong Blood Slaughter Sect?’
"’Actually, there’s an easy way to see if the four sects were involved.’"
After a long silence, their leader finally spoke.
"’After all, there were seventy Blood Evil Elders here, plus ten thousand others. A slaughter of this magnitude must have resulted in a pyrrhic victory for the attackers.’"
"’Even if the four sects joined forces to surround them, ensuring not a single Blood Evil Elder escaped, it would have been a devastating campaign for them as well.’"
Hearing their leader’s words, the other two’s eyes lit up. "Chief, are you saying we should investigate the current state of the four sects? If their morale is low and they’ve suffered heavy casualties among their elders, then we’ll know it was them?"
"’We don’t even need to ask around deliberately.’"
The leader shook his head. "’Something like this can’t be hidden. We just need to take a stroll around the territories of the four sects to get a general idea.’"
A few days later, the three envoys appeared in the territory of the four sects.
Gazing upon the peaceful scene, the three of them were lost in thought.
"’This doesn’t look like the aftermath of a pyrrhic victory!’"
One of the envoys looked at the bustling carriages and thriving business in Refining Valley. "’So it seems it wasn’t the four sects?’"
"’Does it matter if it was them?’"
Another one stepped forward. "’We’re already here. We should kill to our hearts’ content before we go.’"
As he spoke, his hand rested on the hilt of the saber at his waist.
"’Unwise.’"
The leader spoke softly, "’Don’t be reckless. Besides, this place is within sight of Mountain Mist City. Who knows what traps might be laid.’"
He looked down at Refining Valley, then toward the distant city, a sense of apprehension growing within him.
"’The three of us are only at the Organ Refining Realm. It’s best we proceed with caution.’"
All three were around thirty-five years old. To have reached such a level of strength at their age meant they possessed considerable natural talent, which was why they had been promoted to the rank of Envoy and tasked with traveling between the various branches of the Blood Slaughter Sect.
"’What’s there to fear? After we’re done killing, we can just disappear into the wilderness. Who could possibly stop us?’ one of the envoys said, thinking their leader was being overly cautious."
’We’ve all reached Perfection in the four stages of Skin, Flesh, Tendon, and Bone. We’re all forged from slaughter. Why has he become so afraid of everything since reaching the Organ Refining Realm?’
"’I heard that plan the Sacred Palace has been orchestrating is set to begin in a few months.’"
The lead envoy shot the speaker an indifferent glance.
"’Our most urgent task now is to return to the palace, report our findings clearly, and let the Elders and Upper Envoys of the Sacred Palace decide.’"
"’Even if they wanted to mobilize forces and retaliate against the four sects, it would take them over a month to prepare, and they won’t do that before the other matter is concluded.’"
"’So, if we act now and create complications, do you think you can bear the consequences?’"
Hearing mention of the palace’s rumored plan, the envoy who had been so eager to fight moments ago instantly deflated.
After all, their status was only slightly higher than that of the Blood Evil Elders. It was certainly not high enough to allow them to act with impunity.
"’Let’s go.’"
The leader flicked his sleeve and turned to leave. "’You just want to have your fun killing, don’t you?’ he said faintly."
"’It no longer matters whether the four sects were responsible for the destruction of the Blood Slaughter Sect at Purple Mist Mountain.’"
"’Given the way our palace’s Elders operate, once they have the time in a month or so, they’ll make sure not even a chicken or dog is left alive here. Not a single soul will survive!’"
"’That will be how they compensate for the loss of the Blood Slaughter Sect at Purple Mist Mountain.’"
"’You’ll have plenty of chances to kill then.’"
With that, the three figures vanished.
...
CLIP-CLOP-CLIP-CLOP!—
The thunder of hooves echoed as a magnificent, date-red steed galloped along the main road.
Gradually, ancient, towering city walls and a swelling crowd of people came into view.
"We’re here!" Wu Chen let out a long sigh and tossed a Qi Nourishing Pill—worth several hundred silver—into his mouth to replenish his Qi and Blood.
At his current level, ordinary food did little to improve his cultivation, and he still needed to spend time searching for new Martial Arts. So he resorted to the crude method of chugging pills, hoping he might be able to condense another drop of essence during this time.
’Never waste a moment to get stronger.’
After several days of hard travel, Cangwu City was finally in sight.
Wu Chen finally slowed his pace, ambling leisurely toward the majestic city.
"The walls are higher and the guards look more elite, but other than that, it doesn’t seem too different."
Wu Chen murmured to himself as he observed the surrounding hawkers, peddlers, and merchant caravans.
He then turned his gaze toward the city ahead. As he drew closer, he spotted a familiar figure and couldn’t help but laugh.
"’This guy was stuck guarding a wall in Mountain Mist City, and now he’s come all the way to Cangwu City just to do the same thing?’"
"’He must really love this job.’"
He was, of course, talking about Li Qi, who had passed the Demon Suppression Bureau’s selection in Mountain Mist City and left with his sister to take up a post in Cangwu City.
’I thought after we parted ways that day, we’d never see each other again.’
’I never expected to find him here in Cangwu City, still on duty next to the wanted posters by the city gate. He’s hard to miss.’
Li Qi stood ramrod straight. Compared to his time in Mountain Mist City, he seemed much more composed and steady.
In the several months since his arrival in Cangwu City, he had undertaken numerous dangerous missions. The close calls had imbued him with a subtle killing intent.
As a result, he had been assigned a lighter post for the month—guard duty by the wanted posters—to give him a chance to rest.
But as a figure entered his line of sight, a flicker of emotion crossed his steady face, and the sharp killing intent in his eyes vanished completely.
As the figure ambled closer on horseback, Li Qi’s breath caught in his throat for no apparent reason. Though the rider appeared to be just a youth, he carried the oppressive weight of a mountain.
"Young Master Wu!"
Li Qi greeted the youth on horseback respectfully, clasping his fist.
This drew the curious gazes of many merchants entering the city.
After all, Li Qi was in his official uniform. Although the embroidery on the brocade indicated he was just an ordinary Demon Suppression Guard, he was a Demon Suppression Guard nonetheless.
These guards spent their lives fighting villains and demons; they were an unruly and arrogant bunch at heart. Why would one of them be so polite to a mere youth?
All eyes turned to Wu Chen, but after a moment of scrutiny, no one could recognize him as a young master from any prominent family.
But Li Qi paid no mind to the onlookers, stepping forward with a familiar air to greet him.
"Young Master Wu, have you brought the head of another villain? The Demon Suppression Bureau is here in Cangwu City. I guarantee they won’t short you a single coin of the reward silver this time."
Looking at the enthusiastic Li Qi, Wu Chen waved his hand. "I didn’t run into any highwaymen on my way here."
Which meant he had no heads to turn in.
Wu Chen had no intention of making small talk with Li Qi. He dismounted and walked over to the bounty board, examining the portraits and reward amounts on the wanted posters.
Although the rewards of several thousand silver were insignificant to him now, he was far more interested in the Martial Arts and Cultivation Techniques these wanted criminals might possess.