Chapter 275

At the same time.

Wang Yu appeared above the assembled army. The troops he had raised and trained over many years were finally going to be of use, numbering three thousand in total.

Two thousand were from the City Guard, one thousand from the Patrol Army, with a few hundred left behind to garrison Jade Spirit.

Each detachment was commanded by Foundation Establishment cultivators, and their captains were all at the late stage of Qi Refining. Altogether, they possessed decent combat power. Their task was to plunder Sanmao City on a grand scale.

What they would do specifically needs no further elaboration.

“Entire army, hear my order—move out!”

A force of this size, composed entirely of cultivators, was already a magnificent sight even when standing still. Once they began to move, the scene became even more imposing.

Some flew through the skies, some rode spirit beasts, and others were carried by shadowy ghosts.

From a distance, it looked less like an army and more like a swarm of demons descending upon the world. Such chaos was far removed from the bearing of a proper military force. Watching this spectacle, Wang Yu could only feel a throbbing vein appear on his forehead.

“Qingyang, tell me—when disciples of the Ink Water Sect go to war, do they look like this?”

The Real Personage Qingyang stroked his beard and cautiously replied, “City Lord, the Ink Water Sect possesses a third-rank spirit ship passed down from the ancestors. If all disciples were mobilized…”

“Enough. Say no more.”

Wang Yu motioned for him to stop speaking and lightly patted the flank of Snowjade, his massive snow-white fox mount, signaling it to move forward. The fox had long been indulged with all manner of elixirs and pills, its bloodline perfectly compatible with Wang Yu’s own.

Even the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Bed could be shared between them.

Though it rarely saw combat and had no dazzling battle records, its strength had steadily increased over time. After undergoing the baptism of the Dragon Vein, its bloodline had been further enhanced.

Among upper bloodlines, it now stood at the very peak. Its cultivation advanced at an even greater pace, and it had already reached the peak of mid second-rank, on the verge of breaking through to the late stage.

Ordinary beasts that become demons usually possess low strength, ferocious tempers, and bloodthirsty natures. Many never even reach second rank, let alone gain intelligence. These are classified as lower bloodlines.

Those with inherited bloodlines, however, stand on a higher level. They are born with foundation and lineage, capable of cultivating techniques, demon arts, and even bloodline divine abilities. Such beings can contend with human cultivators of the same realm.

Upon breaking through to third rank, they gain the ability to speak human language, and their intelligence no longer lags behind the human race. These are classified as middle or upper bloodlines.

Lower, middle, and upper—the three classes of bloodline. Once they step onto the path of cultivation, their lifespan limits become equivalent to those of human cultivators.

After all, most wild beasts in nature have lifespans far shorter than humans. To absorb the essence of heaven and earth, become a demon, and gain an equal lifespan is already a divine blessing.

However, when a demon’s bloodline reaches earth-grade, it gains the potential to condense a Nascent Soul. If its ancestors once produced a shape-transforming great demon of the fourth rank, its bloodline essence is fundamentally different.

Within the same realm, such a demon enjoys about thirty percent longer lifespan than human cultivators. When its bloodline attains heaven-grade, it gains the qualification to reach the Spirit Transformation realm, and its lifespan doubles that of humans at the same level.

Beyond that lies the legendary true spirit bloodline, whose natural lifespan extends for ten thousand years, continuing to grow as cultivation advances.

True Dragon, Phoenix, Black Tortoise, and Qilin—all belong to the true spirit bloodlines, able to exist eternally in the world. Since the records of the Crimson Kite Demonic Domain began, only one true spirit has ever appeared: the Vermilion Bird.

Its nest lies within the southern Vermilion Bird Divine Mountain. Wang Yu’s powerful foe, Fu Xiao, was currently exploring the mountain in search of its nest, hoping to grasp a chance for Nascent Soul advancement.

As the army advanced, Wang Yu’s mind was already occupied with thoughts of what must be done upon returning to his sect.

Divine abilities and magic treasures were of utmost importance. Only with these could one possess the complete form of a Core Formation cultivator.

But Wang Yu differed from others—he prioritized the Dao of Techniques. All forms of might were drawn from within himself. His dependence on external treasures was minimal. Thus, he intended to test that renowned Little Talisman Master, the so-called “Little Talisman Lord.”

It was time to reveal the true power of the Asura Fist and Yellow Springs Great Hand Seal!

…

…

Sanmao City, City Lord’s Mansion.

Luo Chen sat grandly upon the main seat, one hand supporting his chin, watching with amusement the man kneeling before him—the Blood Saber Guest.

“How interesting. You say Wang Yu has gathered an army to attack Sanmao City? And what reason does he give for this? How did you find out?”

“My lord, the Blood Saber Gang originated in Jade Spirit City. I still have a few loyal men there. It was they who sent word to me.”

“If you doubt me, my lord, you may send someone to verify. With so many soldiers, they will not reach Sanmao City too soon.”

“Originated in Jade Spirit? When you defected to me, you claimed you were driven to desperation. And now you tell me you still have men stationed there?”

Luo Chen rose from his seat and walked toward him, his gaze dark and cold. “Do you take me for a fool, spy?”

The Blood Saber Guest trembled all over. Indeed, as Wang Yu had suspected, he had long entertained thoughts of defecting to Luo Chen. The benefits he had received in recent years far surpassed anything Wang Yu had ever given him.

He was not stupid. He knew he could not play both sides between two disciples of Exalted Sects—he lacked that qualification.

So when he discovered that Jade Spirit City’s army had mobilized without his prior knowledge, he immediately realized Wang Yu had abandoned him. Desperate, he rushed to Luo Chen and knelt.

As for the matter of the demonic seed, he dared not mention it at all.

Tears streamed down his face as he cried out.

“My lord, I… I am indeed the spy Wang Yu sent. I know nothing of your grievances with him. These years, I have only reported matters that you yourself instructed, nothing more.

“The rewards and favor you have granted me far surpass anything from that dog Wang Yu. I, Blood Saber, am a man who lives by the edge of the knife. Naturally, I would rather follow you, my lord.

“When I sensed something was amiss, I resolved to come clean. My loyalty to you shines as bright as the sun and moon, my lord!”

“Heh.”

Before Luo Chen could respond, a Core Formation cultivator from the Exalted Sect beside him sneered. “A mere rogue cultivator, daring to dream of serving under the Little Talisman Lord? You must have a death wish.”

“Hey, Zhou Tiedan, that’s not quite right,” another Core Formation cultivator from the same sect retorted deliberately.

“This man has been working with the Black Blood Bandits for years without any mishaps, and he never hid any major treasures. Why shouldn’t he be counted as someone who serves the Little Talisman Lord? Is that so hard to accept?”

“Zhang Pingping, what do you mean by that?!”

A loud bang echoed through the hall and the small tea table was smashed to pieces.

Luo Chen’s gaze turned sharply toward them, and the two Core Formation second-layer cultivators immediately fell silent. The two were rivals, constantly finding chances to undermine one another.

Each hoped to gain Luo Chen’s trust. If they could do so before the other advanced to Nascent Soul, their family would receive countless benefits. Both were essentially the results of their clans’ efforts to curry favor.

After all, although the lineage of the Black Heaven Talisman Lord belonged nominally to the Zhuo Clan of the Ghost Fang, there were not many people truly available for use. It was a typical master-disciple inheritance. When the master had matters to attend to, the disciples were responsible for carrying them out.

Those seeking to ingratiate themselves were therefore endless.

When Luo Chen grew angry, the hall fell silent. Only the old man at the fifth layer of Core Formation continued calmly sipping his tea.

“I never make use of traitors. Kill him.”

As soon as the words left Luo Chen’s mouth, the Blood Saber Cultivator’s eyes widened. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but a streak of sword light, swift as lightning, pierced from the back of his head through his brow.

All his thoughts turned to ashes.

The gray long sword quivered slightly, and the Blood Saber Cultivator’s entire cultivation and flesh were devoured completely. Only a sheet of bloodless skin was left piled on the floor.

The old man drew the demonic sword back into his Dantian’s Qi Sea. His face became noticeably more ruddy. “Not bad. He cultivated diligently.”

All three of them hailed from the Evil Sword Peak, adept in demonic sword techniques.

This was the [Devouring Essence Dark Holy Sword], a well-known type of life-bound magic treasure among Evil Sword Peak cultivators. It could devour another’s lifetime cultivation to enhance its own quality, and in turn feed back a portion of that power to its sword master.

However, it was also prone to causing muddled spiritual energy, making breakthroughs more difficult. Some even risked being devoured by their own weapon. Once refined into a life-bound magic treasure, though, that flaw no longer needed to be feared.

This old man’s life-bound sword had already reached the high-grade tier, surpassing his own cultivation level, and was an especially formidable weapon for offense.

The atmosphere in the grand hall fell silent once again.

Luo Chen spoke coldly. “I ambushed that little wretch once before. He must be coming for revenge this time. Zhang Pingping, fetch me the recent intelligence from Jade Spirit City.”

“Zhou Tiedan, go gather the cultivators from Sanmao City. Prepare the talisman formation outside the city walls. I want to see what ability that commoner thinks he has to challenge me.”

“Yes, sir.”

“At once.”

After the two withdrew, Luo Chen took out a talisman and handed it to the old man who had drawn his sword.

“Elder Qiao, when our forces engage with those of Jade Spirit City, you do not need to show yourself. Keep this Black Heaven Talisman with you and watch Wang Yu closely. If anything unusual happens, kill him immediately.”

“Kill him?” Elder Qiao asked in confusion.

“That seems… a bit improper. Isn’t he under Young Master Zhuo?”

Luo Chen’s expression was full of disdain.

“My master's wife has more than just Zhuo Shouqing as a nephew. Young Master Shouyun is also her nephew. Killing one useless subordinate will not earn me her blame.”

“I understand,” Elder Qiao nodded and said nothing more.

The Black Heaven Talisman was a gift from Luo Chen’s master. It was both his guiding light in the Dao of Talismans and a powerful trump card capable of crushing even a peak Core Formation cultivator.

There were not many of them. He had already used one in the past.

Now only two remained. Giving one to Elder Qiao was also a precaution, in case Wang Yu truly had some means of restricting him, preventing any delay in response.

After issuing all his orders, Luo Chen said, “Let’s go. We’ll wait for him outside the city.”

“Yes, sir.”

At the same time, on the road to Sanmao City, Wang Yu was discussing matters with Qingyang. “Luo Chen is, after all, a disciple of a Nascent Soul cultivator. He must have trump cards bestowed by the Black Heaven Talisman Lord. At the crucial moment…”

“I understand.”

True Personage Qingyang lowered his head in thought for a moment, then took out an ancestral treasure and handed it to Wang Yu. It was the Heavenly Thunder Descent Diagram, a treasure for avoiding tribulation.

“This tribulation-avoiding item is of no more use to me. The connection between the Qingyang and the Ink-Water Sect has grown increasingly distant. Although the thunder tribulation power stored within the diagram has not yet reached its limit, it can still be torn apart to release it all in an instant.”

The Ink-Water Sect’s founder had lived more than a thousand years ago. Even before obtaining this diagram, he had already endured countless heavenly tribulations. After he acquired it, according to Qingyang’s account, the diagram accumulated at least the power of nine Core Formation tribulations, in addition to whatever it held before falling into his possession.

Tearing it apart and triggering its explosion should produce power not inferior to the boundless sea of lightning unleashed by Master Tianshui in Jade Spirit City, when he annihilated nine peak Core Formation death warriors.

Its might was immeasurable.

However, Qingyang’s decisiveness surprised Wang Yu somewhat. He had already been prepared to pay a heavy price in exchange for such an item.

Noticing his expression, Qingyang smiled.

“If not for City Lord risking his life to save me in the Thunderfall Abyss, I would have perished in that calamity. This diagram is merely a safeguard and may not even need to be used.”

“Surely, City Lord, you do not truly wish to kill that little Talisman Lord Luo Chen, do you?”

“Business is business,” Wang Yu replied firmly.

As he spoke, he took out a storage pouch and transferred 500,000 spirit stones to Qingyang before his eyes.

“If we truly end up using it, I will compensate you with another 500,000.”