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墨書 Inktalez
Human Sacrifice
Not long after I left Medicinal Valley, dark clouds surged behind me, and mysterious runes illuminated the sky. Two men in black robes descended from the clouds.
They landed beside Yang Yan, gazing at the lifeless body of Yang Yan. One of them said, "He was actually killed?"
The other man bent down to touch Yang Yan's abdomen. He snorted and said, "Ten years without building a foundation, willing to give his Dao Dan to others instead of our clan's elite. What a pity for his Dao Dan, that traitor!"
With that, he waved his hand, and Dao Fire blazed fiercely. Yang Yan was reduced to ashes amidst the flames. He looked at the corpses and blood scattered on the ground and remarked, "People from Azure Cloud Sect."
At this moment, Ma Yuan and Wang Xing had already reached the snowy mountains. Along the way, they saw corpses lying on the ground from time to time. Ma Yuan's lips turned pale as he said, "So many people have died; the sect leader will surely blame our master."
Wang Xing replied, "Should we notify our master and let him..."
"Stop right there, Wang Xing." Ma Yuan suddenly halted, his expression serious. "Defying the Sect is a death sentence; don't even think about it."
Wang Xing nodded but after a moment asked again, "Senior Brother, that Xiao Yan first pretended to want to kill me and then deliberately let you go. What does he mean by that?"
Ma Yuan frowned and said, "With his talent, he is not inferior to me. Ten years without building a foundation must have its reasons. He obtained the Dragon Abyss Sword; with his agility, killing Liang Yu in water should be no problem. Perhaps he refrained from attacking us out of concern for our master, or maybe he sent us away to meet someone."
Wang Xing scoffed at the mention of the Dragon Abyss Sword. "The Dragon Abyss Sword will eventually be ours. What is that Xiao Yan? Unless he betrays the Sect and doesn't return."
Wang Xing then stopped, looking back with a suspicious expression.
Ma Yuan ignored Wang Xing; his physical condition was poor after their long journey. Injured and exhausted, he felt drained.
"Senior Brother, I can't shake the feeling that someone is following us. I felt this way ever since we left the Hall of Hidden Swords."
"You have too much courage. Let's hurry and meet up with the others before dark," Ma Yuan said, striding ahead without looking back.
"Oh." Wang Xing's face was still filled with doubt. Just as he turned to leave, a large hand covered his mouth and nose.
"Master..." Wang Xing mumbled through my fingers. Ma Yuan turned around, saw no one behind him, and said, "Wang Xing, stop messing around. We need to get moving."
At that moment, I crouched in the ravine beside the snowy path, snow piled above me for cover, while the slender Wang Xing struggled desperately in my grasp, trying to break free.
Ma Yuan glanced at the footprints on the snowy path and searched in the direction we had come from.
"Hush—" I let out a long hiss to quiet Wang Xing. His hands and feet were restrained by me, and eventually, his body convulsed a few times before he went limp in my arms.
I retrieved the Dragon's Essence Flower from Wang Xing's possession and placed it into my Qi Sea.
"I have gathered two of the three main ingredients needed for the Dragon's Essence Flower, Blood Bodhi, and Taoist Sacred Body Forging Technique," I whispered. The thread in my hand pierced through Wang Xing's neck; with a flick of my fingers, he stood up expressionlessly and followed behind me.
Two hours later, when an anxious Ma Yuan reached the mountaintop, cold and injured, he saw me standing there and coldly remarked, "Do you think just because I'm injured that you're my match?"
Ma Yuan charged at me with his Dao Qi coalescing into a punch. I shifted my foot slightly to evade his attack, causing stones to shatter behind me and snow to scatter everywhere.
Ma Yuan's face turned extremely pale as he gasped for breath while staring at me before collapsing to the ground.
At twelve or thirteen years old, how could his stamina compare to that of an adult? I stepped forward to help him up and carried him on my back.
In a daze, Ma Yuan woke up on my back. His expression was strange, as if he had never expected me to save him.
When we reached the foot of the snow-capped mountain, everyone looked at me with suspicion as I carried Ma Yuan down from the mountain.
"Isn't Yang Hao at odds with Brother Ma? Why is he carrying him back now?"
"Who knows? Maybe he's scared. It looks like Brother Ma is seriously injured, and he wants to take this chance to mend their relationship."
Elder Hong's expression turned puzzled when he saw me carrying Ma Yuan. After all, it was he who had arranged for Xiong Wanjun and others to kill me, yet here I was, alive and bringing back his prized disciple.
"Did you injure my disciple?" Elder Hong asked darkly.
I was about to speak when Ma Yuan interjected, "Master, it was he who saved me."
Upon hearing Ma Yuan's words, Elder Hong's face filled with concern. "How did you get such serious injuries? What about your junior brother? Where are the others?"
Ma Yuan replied, "Junior brother suddenly went missing on the way back for some reason. Also, our Outer Sect elite disciples found the location of Herb Valley, but they were completely wiped out."
Elder Hong gasped and spat out a mouthful of blood. Trembling, he asked, "How could it be past the agreed date and so many people still haven't returned? What on earth happened? How could so many die?"
"We discovered the Dragon's Essence Flower deep within Herb Valley, but we didn't expect it to attract a Coiling Dragon that had been imprisoned in a volcano. The person controlling the Coiling Dragon was dressed like a Serpent Cult member. The leader ordered the Coiling Dragon to slaughter everyone, leaving only a handful of survivors," Ma Yuan recounted everything that had happened in Medicinal Valley. Everyone turned pale, relieved they hadn't ventured deeper into Herb Valley.
Elder Hong was numb with shock; eight thousand Outer Sect disciples had suddenly lost many elite members capable of delving into Herb Valley's depths. This was a devastating blow to the sect's future development.
At that moment, another figure approached from a distance. When everyone looked over, they realized it was Wang Xing.
Wang Xing's expression was blank as he dragged a blood-soaked bag behind him, which bulged ominously and left faint bloodstains on the snow.
"Wang Xing!" Ma Yuan shouted, but Wang Xing did not respond. Instead, he threw the bag he was holding towards the crowd.
The contents of the bag rolled out, revealing seven or eight severed heads, each bearing a look of terror.
"Isn't that Xiong Wanjun?" someone cried out in horror, pointing at the head of Xiong Wanjun.
"This one is Qing Shi, the Drawing Technique master, and there's Ghost Wuchang. He wasn't killed either! They're all experts from the Outer Sect Top Ten!"
Elder Hong looked at the heads scattered on the ground, all familiar faces. These were people he had recommended for entry into the Inner Sect. He couldn't help but feel a surge of blood rise in his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood, his body swaying slightly.
The other managers rushed to support Elder Hong, but he waved them off, saying, "I'm fine."
Ma Yuan stepped in front of Wang Xing and asked, "Wang Xing, what on earth happened?"
Wang Xing turned his head mechanically to look at Ma Yuan. Suddenly, a long knife slipped from his sleeve and lunged toward Ma Yuan's abdomen.
However, before the knife could reach Ma Yuan, Elder Hong struck Wang Xing with a palm, sending him flying back. Wang Xing lay motionless on the ground, his body stiff.
Elder Hong pulled Ma Yuan aside and said, "He has been dead for quite some time. He was controlled by someone using Puppet Technique."
"But the head of the Puppet Master is here too. I've never heard of anyone else in the Outer Sect who could use such obscure Daoist Arts," someone remarked.
"It must be someone from another sect; it could also be members of the Serpent Cult," another added.
Ma Yuan gazed at Wang Xing's corpse while Elder Hong glanced at me knowingly before shaking his head as if to dismiss his own speculation.
After Elder Hong led the Outer Sect Disciples back to the Azure Cloud Sect, the upper echelons of the sect were furious. The death of a disciple from Yang Sanqian was a significant loss, even if it was just a conflict between two sects.
In front of the Outer Hall stood several solemn-faced elders. At the center was a middle-aged man in a purple brocade robe, appearing to be in his forties. His hair was streaked with gray, giving him a weathered yet imposing presence.
Beside the middle-aged man stood a Red-Clad Woman. I recognized her as the distinguished figure from the Water Storage Room, where everyone had been laboring just to accommodate her desire to view the waterfall.
The middle-aged man looked down at the trembling Outer Sect Stewards kneeling at the steps of the grand hall, his expression darkening.
"How did a disciple of Yang Sanqian die right under your nose? Why are you still alive?" he demanded.
Elder Hong replied, "Reporting to the Sect Leader, it is my failure to supervise. The Serpent Cult has been raising a Coiling Dragon in Medicinal Valley and lured our disciples into a blood sacrifice. I ask for your punishment!"
Before the Azure Cloud Sect Leader could respond, the Red-Clad Woman coldly interjected, "I warned you last time to manage Outer Sect affairs properly. Who would have thought such an incident would occur again? Do you think you can escape responsibility by shifting blame onto the Serpent Cult? I will first strip you of your cultivation as punishment!"
"Junior Sister!" an elderly man with white whiskers beside the Azure Cloud Sect Leader spoke up. "Please show mercy. Although Elder Hong holds a low position, he has diligently overseen the Outer Sect for decades. Now that this evil cult has slaughtered our disciples, you wish to punish Elder Hong who is powerless in this matter? That would surely chill people's hearts."
"Indeed, Yunxi," said the Azure Cloud Sect Leader. "While Elder Hong may have failed in his duties, we must thoroughly investigate the resurgence of the Serpent Cult."
Yunxi snorted and cast a cold glance at the kneeling Elder Hong. "For the sake of the Sect Leader and Grand Elder, I will spare your life as a dog; however, while you may escape death, you cannot evade punishment."
As she spoke, an orange-yellow light flickered in her eyes, and Elder Hong's body was uncontrollably propelled toward Yunxi. She struck him with her palm against his chest, causing him to spit blood immediately as his chest caved in from the blow, all his ribs shattering. He fell to the ground, convulsing uncontrollably.
"Master!" Ma Yuan cried out as he knelt and lunged toward Elder Hong.
Everyone felt a chill run down their spines, unsure what kind of person this Yunxi was. After punishing Elder Hong, she turned and left the grand hall, followed by a group of Inner Sect Disciples trailing behind her.
"The Sect Leader, such a significant event has occurred in the Outer Sect. It is a misfortune for the Azure Cloud Sect, and the Serpent Cult will surely not let this go," said the Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect.
The Azure Cloud Sect Leader replied, "This matter still requires investigation. We cannot take the word of a single child at face value. The Serpent Cult is one of the Daoist Sects, one of the Five Supreme Sects. They have been lying low for many years, and now they disregard the rules of the Daoist Sect to kill our Azure Cloud Disciple. If this is true, how can our Azure Cloud Sect swallow this grievance?"
"What should be done about the Outer Sect Elder?" asked the Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect.
The Azure Cloud Sect Leader glanced at the severely injured Elder Hong and said, "Remove Hong Jiu from his position as Outer Sect Elder. From now on, Elder Jin will serve as the Grand Elder of the Outer Sect."
Elder Jin expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Sect Leader. However, I am merely a guest elder; holding such a position seems inappropriate."
The Azure Cloud Sect Leader responded, "The affairs of the Outer Sect are numerous, and others do not understand them. You will have to manage for now until I find someone suitable to take over your position."
"That would be excellent. Thank you, Sect Leader," Elder Jin replied respectfully.
After giving a few more instructions, the Azure Cloud Sect Leader led his group back to the main hall on the mountain.
Once everyone dispersed, Elder Jin approached me with a shadowed gaze and asked, "Did you kill all of the Top Ten disciples from the Outer Sect?"
I shook my head and said, "Elder Jin is mistaken; I do not possess such capability."
Elder Jin stroked the head of his Dao Child beside him and said, "Then why do you need to ask me for the list of the Top Ten disciples from the Outer Sect?"
I explained, "I do not wish to create conflict with the experts of the Top Ten in the Outer Sect. When gathering herbs in the Outer Sect, if I encounter valuable materials, disputes are inevitable. I merely wanted to familiarize myself with these individuals in advance. I just didn't expect that they would all be killed."
A look of confusion crossed Elder Jin's face as he said, "As long as it's not you. I thought I was mistaken about you. Elder Hong and his disciples forced your grandmother to her death; while I cannot seek revenge for that, if so many fellow disciples were killed because of it and it incites anger from above towards Elder Hong, then such a person's nature is truly terrifying."
I said, "Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't have the ability to do so. Elder Jin, you worry too much. I am very grateful for your protection during my time here."
"That's nothing. I've long disapproved of Hong's ways," Elder Jin replied, folding his hands behind his back as he walked up to Elder Hong and Ma Yuan. "Elder Hong, you are no longer an Outer Sect elder. You have half a day to move your things out; I need your house."
Ma Yuan looked up, his face filled with rage as he glared at Elder Jin. "What do you mean by that, Jin? My master and I are both severely injured, and you choose this moment to kick us while we're down!"
"Impudence!" shouted the Dao Child beside Elder Jin. "Ma Yuan, my master is now the Grand Elder of the Outer Sect. You'd better show some respect, or don't blame me for being rude!"
"I'd like to see how you can be rude!" Ma Yuan retorted angrily, wanting to rise and teach the Dao Child a lesson.
Elder Jin pressed down on Ma Yuan's shoulder, forcing him to kneel on the ground. The Dao Child slapped Ma Yuan across the face. As Ma Yuan prepared to retaliate, Elder Hong, lying on the ground, grabbed his pant leg and said, "Disciple, this is not the time for that. Help me back; we need to pack our things and move to the Disciples' Quarters."
Ma Yuan trembled with anger as he helped Elder Hong toward the Pavilion at the back of the main hall.
I also stepped back from the entrance of the hall. Thankfully, I hadn't gotten too involved with Elder Jin; from start to finish, he only wanted to use me to bring down Elder Hong.
A guest elder usually holds a title without real authority; how could one be allowed to manage Outer Sect affairs unless they aspired to become a true power? Elder Jin must have endured quite a bit under Elder Hong's leadership; otherwise, he wouldn't have mocked him so openly.
No one helps a stranger without a reason.
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