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墨書 Inktalez
Human Sacrifice
West of Qinling, in the depths of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, a group of young boys traveled together through Herb Valley, laughing and joking with one another.
Suddenly, one of the boys, who had a delicate appearance, stood still with a blank expression. The leader of the group noticed and asked, "Junior Brother, what are you doing?"
The others turned to look at the boy, whose gaze seemed unfocused, as if he were possessed.
"Junior Brother, what's wrong?" the young man asked, puzzled.
The boy lifted his head to look at him, opened his mouth as if to speak, and his fingers moved mechanically. Suddenly, he stumbled forward and fell.
The young man rushed to support him, but as the boy steadied himself, the young man collapsed to the ground. A nearly invisible Silver Thread had pierced through his heart, crushing it silently.
"Senior Brother!" the remaining boys shouted in anger and confusion. Why would their usually mischievous Junior Brother suddenly turn on his own Senior Brother?
Before those standing in front could react, they were pierced by the Silver Thread. One of the other boys shouted, "It's the Puppet Master from the Outer Sect Top Ten! Run!"
They fled in panic, but after just a few steps, their bodies were sliced in half by another Silver Thread that had been set up on either side of the mountain.
A Boy in a Gray Cloak stepped forward. His complexion was pale and his eyes bright and clear. Suddenly, he turned coldly toward a nearby rock and said, "Who’s there?"
The person behind the rock did not come out. The boy's fingers twitched slightly, and two Silver Threads shot out, slicing through the rock cleanly. Yet there was nothing behind it.
"Did I hear wrong?" the boy muttered to himself in confusion.
Suddenly, from above the mountainside beside him, nine Ink Blades shot forth, transforming into Black Blades that slashed towards the boy from all directions. The boy's eyes widened as he desperately tried to evade them, his body pressed against the mountain like an Agile Monkey climbing upward. When he reached the summit, I seized him by the neck with one hand and lifted him effortlessly.
The boy struggled, beating against my arm, and asked in a muffled voice, "Who are you?"
He reached out a hand to remove my mask, while his other hand stealthily flicked out a Silver Thread. I plunged a knife through his palm, causing him to convulse in pain. His face turned crimson, and before long, he died in my grasp.
I tossed the boy aside at the mountaintop and retrieved a manual from his chest. Then I collected the roll of Silver Thread wrapped around his waist and secured it at my own.
After severing the boy's head, I glided down the mountain and landed at the spot where they had been fighting. The Handsome Young Man still stood there; a Silver Thread pierced through the back of his neck, leading into the bushes behind him, where he had long since lost all signs of life.
"Ranked fourth among the Puppet Masters," I murmured to myself before moving forward.
This Mountain Valley was merely a peculiar area within Herb Valley, not its deepest part. However, according to my Zhou Compass, the Treasure was right here.
Navigating through a thicket of towering trees, I faintly heard a group of people arguing. I leaped atop a giant tree and stood at its peak, observing those below.
I saw a group of Azure Cloud Sect disciples surrounding a massive centipede, taking turns attacking it. The centipede was six or seven meters long; a group of youths was terrified, having never seen such a gigantic creature. Its mouth was filled with countless teeth arranged closely together, while its shell was covered in overlapping segments and countless legs that made one shudder.
Behind the centipede was a cave radiating rich Spirit Energy; it was clear that the Treasure lay within.
Among the Azure Cloud Disciples besieging the centipede were a pair of men and women leading the charge—Golden Boy Cao Xuan and Jade Maiden Yan Yang, ranked sixth and eighth respectively. They were known as Golden Boy and Jade Maiden but were actually skilled practitioners of Yin-Yang Harmonization Technique.
The Yin-Yang Harmonization Technique had been regarded as an evil art by Daoist Sect for centuries because its practice required dual cultivation between male and female partners before the age of twelve. This involved engaging in marital relations with other virgins and boys to supplement their pure Yin and pure Yang energies. The female would absorb pure Yang to replenish her Yin, while the male would absorb pure Yin to replenish his Yang. Often, this required sacrificing more than ten Child Sacrifices to create a pair of masters. Once these practitioners reached adulthood with sufficient Yang Qi and Yin Qi, they no longer needed to hunt for Child Sacrifices; however, if they did so, it would further enhance their cultivation.
At that moment, Jade Maiden Yan Yang struck the centipede on its head with her sword. The centipede roared, emitting a screeching sound, and charged forward. Golden Boy Cao Xuan, wielding a sword in one hand and a chain in the other, swiftly ensnared the centipede's head and yanked it out of the cave.
"Get ready!" Cao Xuan shouted. The youths surrounding them threw out a net woven from golden threads. The centipede became entangled in the net, struggling fiercely, but the more it fought, the tighter it became. Venom oozed from its body, splattering onto the ground with a hissing sound, causing the surrounding grass and plants to wither.
The youths stepped back, wary of the centipede's venom splashing onto them; even an Immortal would suffer from it.
Cao Xuan looked at the centipede with some pity and said, "It's a shame that this beast guarding the spirit item hasn't fully matured yet; it doesn't even have a demon core. What a waste of my Golden Silk Net; I fear it won't be usable anymore."
"Husband, let's hurry inside; delays could lead to trouble," Jade Maiden Yan Yang urged as she entered the cave first.
Cao Xuan turned to the crowd waiting outside and said, "You all stay here. We'll go in and retrieve the Treasure before coming back."
A young man replied, "Treasure is for everyone; why should you two go in while we wait outside?"
"Exactly! We have so many people in our group. We should all attack the centipede together. Why should only you two go in? Who knows what you’re planning?" another youth chimed in, prompting laughter from everyone present.
Cao Xuan nodded with a smile, ignoring their comments as he walked into the cave. Half an hour later, Cao Xuan and Yan Yang emerged together from the cave, holding a blood-red herb in their hands. My eyes widened in excitement because this herb was one of the three main ingredients needed for the Taoist Sacred Body Forging Technique: Blood Bodhi Grass.
As I traveled along the way, I had already gathered most of the necessary herbs. Even though they were precious, within Herb Valley's tens of thousands of varieties, I could always find something if I looked carefully. If not, I could substitute with other herbs that had similar effects. However, main ingredients were different; they were not only rare but also unique in their efficacy.
The Blood Bodhi Grass was imbued with spiritual energy; it invigorated blood flow and healed fractures, significantly enhancing the vitality of whoever consumed it—similar to an Immortal's elixir—making it the king of herbs.
This particular Blood Bodhi was at least two hundred years old.
Cao Xuan raised his hand and said, "A hundred-year spirit herb is a king, a thousand-year spirit herb is a saint. This Blood Bodhi is said to be the medicine of immortals, and it is the finest among the Medicine Kings. I have decided to give this herb to you."
"This..." The young men were momentarily at a loss for words. One of them spoke up, "You aren't suggesting that we fight each other, and the winner gets the Blood Bodhi, are you?"
"Exactly! Don't come up with such foolish ideas. Even if it's the Medicine King or the Holy Medicine, I wouldn't care to even glance at it. What could be more important than life?" another boy added.
"Xuan Ge wouldn't let you all harm each other. My husband and I owe our success in subduing these fierce beasts to all of you. When you report back to your sects, just mention our names lightly; I would be eternally grateful," Yan Yang said, her demeanor enchanting.
"Sister-in-law, you make us feel embarrassed," one young man said as he gazed at Yan Yang's snow-like skin and the alluring curve of her neck, unable to resist swallowing hard and adjusting his Daoist robe.
Yan Yang smiled lightly and said, "Since you all have been so kind and helpful, how about I dance for you?"
"If we're going to watch, let's see a striptease! But I'm afraid your husband won't agree!" one boy teased.
Cao Xuan raised an eyebrow and replied, "Who would I disagree with? Brothers are like limbs; women are like clothes. Yan Yang, hurry up and take off your clothes to dance for the disciples."
Yan Yang did not refute him; instead, she complied. She began to sing softly, her voice melodious like a warbler's song. As she removed her outer garment, underneath was an enticing form-fitting dress. Everyone was mesmerized; in the Daoist Sect, where years passed in solitude and female disciples were extremely rare, they had endured years of thirst and had never witnessed such a stunning scene.
Yan Yang laughed lightly, her gaze teasing as she loosened her dress, revealing her body completely before everyone. The crowd was entranced, unable to tear their eyes away. Standing atop a giant tree, I suddenly felt something unusual as a faint fragrance wafted through the air.
Thanks to the Seven-Colored Elixir I had consumed, which made me immune to all poisons, I felt no abnormalities. However, those below were already dazed, lost in a haze of intoxication.
Cao Xuan smirked coldly as he drew his sword and swiftly slashed across the necks of these young men one by one, killing them all. In an instant, nearly a hundred people fell lifeless to the ground.
Yan Yang snorted and lifted her skirt, saying, "Xuan, it's a good thing I practiced the Bone-Devouring Incantation from the Yin-Yang Harmonization Technique. Otherwise, with so many people here, we might not even be able to get out."
"Yang, you've been wronged," Cao Xuan replied gently.
"I'm willing to do anything for you," Yan Yang said shyly.
"How shameless! I find it disgusting when someone in our sect engages in such behavior, but I never expected you all to be even worse," a figure jumped down from above the cave, looking down at them with disdain.
Dressed in the Daoist Robe of the Azure Cloud Sect, he wore a black veil over his head and had a chain hanging around his neck. His nails were frighteningly long, and he was one of the Outer Sect Top Ten, ranked fifth—Ghost Wuchang.
"Oh, I wondered who it was. Don't you look at your own conduct when you're judging others, Ghost Wuchang?" Yan Yang retorted.
Ghost Wuchang replied, "I don't want to waste my breath with you. Hand over the Blood Bodhi, and I'll let you go."
Cao Xuan couldn't help but burst into laughter at Ghost Wuchang's words. He pointed at him and said, "You ugly freak! Are you joking? You think you can take on both of us alone?"
Ghost Wuchang snorted. "If I don't show you some color, you'll never know what it means to be high and low."
With that, Ghost Wuchang lunged forward with a claw aimed at Cao Xuan. Cao Xuan stepped back and threw his sword. The chain of Ghost Wuchang clanged as it deflected the Iron Sword back into Cao Xuan's hand. Holding the sword firmly, Cao Xuan pushed off the mountain behind him, spinning as he thrust toward Ghost Wuchang. At the same time, Yan Yang's close-fitting skirt suddenly unfurled a strip of Crimson Silk that wrapped around Ghost Wuchang's body.
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