Chapter 596: Blood Sacrifice of Luofu Heaven
The vast landmass appearing in the sky caused Furi Luo's body to tremble, making him forget to maintain his divine technique. Within the demon camp, demon soldiers one after another raised their heads, staring blankly at the celestial anomaly above.
Not only them, but nearly every living being in the entire Grand Emperor Heaven—whether human or demon, slave or lofty god-demon, strange beasts dwelling in the mountains and seas, or even ants and insects—all raised their heads at that moment, gazing at the massive planets pressing down from the sky and that magnificent, boundless continent.
It was an anomaly so shocking it defied words, a magnificent spectacle they had never witnessed in their lives!
The enormous planets hung so low they seemed within reach, the mountains on the land like descending spikes, and the oceans within the continent like sapphire gems.
Strangely, though suspended above Grand Emperor Heaven, the waters of the sea did not fall, nor did they flow into Grand Emperor Heaven.
Furi Luo's body trembled, forgetting to capture the Butcher, Qin Mu, and the others.
Qin Mu looked closely. The beams of light connecting the continent to Grand Emperor Heaven emanated from towering altars, each as astonishing as a mountain, faintly visible even when looking up from Grand Emperor Heaven.
Qin Mu exclaimed, "That's... Luofu Heaven!"
His voice shattered the surrounding shock and silence. The Butcher, Granny Si, and the others were greatly shaken. Cripple quickly asked, "Mu'er, what kind of place is Luofu Heaven?"
"The world of the demons—the home of these demons invading Grand Emperor Heaven."
Qin Mu took out teleportation flags and quickly planted them around them, saying, "I fell victim to Furi Luo's eye technique, was captured by him, and in his illusion, I became him and saw Luofu Heaven. That world is nearly destroyed."
"The demons suddenly pulling their own Luofu Heaven here—what are they planning?"
Granny Si was puzzled and whispered, "Are they intending to have all demonkind invade Grand Emperor Heaven?"
Blind stared deeply and shook his head. "Granny, you can't see the details of Luofu Heaven. This Luofu Heaven wasn't moved here by the demons. There are over twenty god-demons on the altars, likely their doing. And they aren't moving Luofu Heaven to Grand Emperor Heaven; rather..."
His voice grew excited: "They are blood-sacrificing Luofu Heaven!"
"Blood sacrifice of Luofu Heaven!"
Everyone was shocked. Before they could examine further, Qin Mu activated the teleportation flags. The great banners spun with a roar, sending them into the divine city.
The moment Qin Mu activated the teleportation flags, chaos erupted in the demon camp. A true demon was ambushed!
It was a true dragon, flying out from a youth's waist, striking the moment all demons were staring blankly at the sky. The divine dragon severely wounded the true demon, while the "demon youth," with bizarre movements, flew behind the true demon.
His techniques were even stranger. After a dazzling series of attacks, the true demon was dismembered.
Pandemonium broke out in the demon camp. Before the many demon gods could react, the "demon youth" retrieved a box. The box opened automatically, swallowing the dismembered demon god.
The "demon youth," carrying the box and stepping on the divine dragon, soared into the air, pursued madly by a host of demon gods!
Meanwhile, light flickered in the divine city as the teleportation array appeared. Before the people in the array could recover, Qin Mu activated the teleportation flags again. The light hadn't even faded before it flared up once more, sending them out of the city.
He activated the teleportation array repeatedly, three or four times, finally escaping four or five hundred li.
Qin Mu's spiritual energy was exhausted. He waved his sleeve to retract the teleportation flags and said, "I can only teleport us this far."
Fox Ling'er said, "I know—it's because Fatty Dragon is too heavy!"
Dragon Qilin hung his head in shame.
Everyone hurried toward Li City, focusing their eyesight on the sky along the way, but they still couldn't see clearly.
However, in Blind's eyes, he could see the lands, mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas of Luofu Heaven collapsing. Mountains crumbled, seas evaporated, and the rivers in Luofu Heaven writhed like twisted snakes in midair!
The scene was absolutely terrifying.
Blood-sacrificing an entire world was both magnificent and desolate.
Then, they heard a sound from the sky, like the mournful cry of a great whale in the sea—profound and long, like the death wail of another dying world. Though it carried no human emotion, it moved them to tears.
Though that world belonged to the demons, every world is a mother to its inhabitants. Hearing the cry of a mother's death stirred empathy in their hearts.
"Luofu Heaven hasn't actually been pulled closer."
Granny Si suddenly realized, speaking softly as she hurried with the others toward Li City, "Luofu Heaven is still in its original place. The power of this blood sacrifice has pierced the space between Luofu Heaven and Grand Emperor Heaven, making it appear as if it's above our heads."
Furi Luo's heart was ice-cold as he looked up at the Luofu Heaven that had nurtured him. Even when Qin Mu escaped, even when Star Madman killed a true demon and caused chaos in the demon camp, he didn't spare a glance.
The demon Luofu Heaven, in the blood sacrifice, was transforming into pure energy, surging toward Grand Emperor Heaven.
The Woodcutter Saint had succeeded.
He was exceptionally intelligent and naturally knew who had done this.
The Woodcutter Saint had disappeared for a time after the gambling duel at Li City, not showing his face since. He had likely planned to strike at the root, entering the demon stronghold of Luofu Heaven to set up the altars needed for the blood sacrifice!
And now, the Woodcutter Saint had the capital to perform the blood sacrifice of Luofu!
Lu Li, however, was long accustomed to such things. Destroying worlds was commonplace in her eyes. The Netherworld contained countless destroyed worlds, forming Earth Lord's nine-curved horn, with countless remnant souls wailing and howling in those dark realms.
"Catching that Qin kid is the priority!"
She made a swift decision and strode toward the direction where Qin Mu and the others had teleported. Just then, the blood sacrifice of Luofu Heaven, now in the throes of destruction, suddenly stopped. A voice came from the other world: "Furi Luo, do you want a truce, or do you want Luofu Heaven annihilated?"
Lu Li sensed trouble and turned to look at Furi Luo. His three faces were expressionless. One face lifted to face Luofu Heaven. After a moment, Furi Luo's thunderous voice rang out: "Heavenly Master, I will make a pact with you—a temporary truce! You and I will establish peace. My demons and the god-demons of Grand Emperor Heaven will split the world. The demons will occupy half of Grand Emperor Heaven's territory, and the other half is yours. You control Luofu Heaven, giving you leverage over my demons. You can rest assured."
"Good!"
The sky was torn open, revealing the Woodcutter Saint's massive face in the air—only a face, without even ears showing. This face appeared abruptly in the sky, looking down at Furi Luo below, its voice rolling like thunder: "Swear an oath to Earth Lord?"
Furi Luo solemnly replied, "Swear an oath to Earth Lord!"
The Butcher, Blind, and the others, racing toward Li City, also saw this and heard the Woodcutter Saint's and Furi Luo's words. Granny Si shook her head and said, "Who is this foolish old man? Daring to swear an oath to Earth Lord with the demon king? He'll be tricked by Furi Luo and lose everything, even his pants!"
The remnants of Cripple Village nodded in agreement.
Qin Mu cautiously said, "Granny, does this face in the sky look a bit like the Woodcutter Saint in the murals of Holy Spirit Mountain?"
Granny Si studied it, shivered, and realized it was indeed the Woodcutter Saint.
"So it's the Saint."
Granny Si's face brightened, becoming quite charming, and she smiled, "Then swearing an oath to Earth Lord with Furi Luo won't put him at a disadvantage. The Heavenly Saint Cult has so many cunning people, all learned from the Great Nurturing Demon Sutra's deceit and treachery. And when it comes to cunning, this Saint is the ancestor."
Everyone's mind went blank at her smile, and they involuntarily forgot that Granny Si had just called the Woodcutter Saint a foolish old man.
Lu Li's eyes flickered as she looked into the distance. Just as she was about to step forward to chase Qin Mu, Furi Luo said calmly, "This concerns the survival of my Luofu Heaven. Fellow Daoist Lu Li, it's best not to act rashly."
Lu Li frowned slightly. This was a rare opportunity. She wanted to capture Qin Mu and the others, but she was wary of the face in the sky. If she forced the issue, even Furi Luo, under duress, might attack her. She had to hold back for now.
"Rest assured, I said I would hand this kid over to you, and I won't break my word," Furi Luo said.
Lu Li giggled, "If you dare break your word, I might help Grand Emperor Heaven destroy your demons."
Furi Luo shook his head. "You won't. The Heavenly Master comes from the Kai Emperor Heavenly Court. Your deep hatred for them surpasses even your hatred for the demons. It's irreconcilable."
Lu Li glanced toward the direction Qin Mu and the others had fled and suppressed her impulse. She wasn't afraid of Furi Luo, nor of the Woodcutter Saint, but if both attacked her simultaneously, she wouldn't fare well.
"But I will keep my promise."
Furi Luo's main face was signing the Earth Lord pact with the face in the sky, while his left face said to Lu Li, "He has already fallen under my technique. Whether he looks into a mirror or a pool of water, he will fall into my control."
Lu Li finally relaxed and smiled, "I truly admire your spatial arts."
Qi Jiuyi frowned slightly and said, "Then, Military Governor, what about our agreement..."
Lu Li gave him a sweet smile, overflowing with charm, sickeningly sweet, and said in a rough voice, "Whether I lend Qin Mu to you depends on what you plan to do. Young Master Qi may be a noble of the Heavenly Court, but the sky is high and the emperor is far away. Even His Majesty finds it hard to control a military governor ruling a region, doesn't he?"
Qi Jiuyi remained expressionless. "I understand. Once Qin Mu is in hand, lend him to me, and I'll give you benefits."
Finally, Qin Mu and the others arrived at Li City, breathing a sigh of relief.
Li City was already packed with troops. Yan Kang National Teacher, Pang Yu True God, and others were holding the line. Seeing them arrive safely, they relaxed.
Medicine Master took out a mirror to tidy his appearance, lest he look disheveled.
Qin Mu glanced into it, his face changing drastically. His eyes stared fixedly at the mirror's surface. In the mirror, Furi Luo was walking toward him.
Medicine Master happened to put the mirror away and laughed, "Mu'er, you have no fewer mirrors than I do. Why borrow mine?"
Qin Mu shook his head and exclaimed, "Granny, I've fallen for it again!"
He recounted what he had seen and how he had been captured by Furi Luo before. The remnants of Cripple Village all showed contempt. Cripple sneered, "Mu'er, falling into the same trap twice—you've failed our teachings!"
Blind nodded. "I always said Mu'er is still young, too naive!"
Medicine Master sighed, "Exactly. That old village chief always muttered that Mu'er was naive and would suffer losses. Now it's come true—he's taken the same loss twice!"
Qin Mu's forehead dripped with cold sweat. "Stop with the sarcasm! What should I do?"