Chapter 964: Blood Demon
The blood-colored skull, dozens of meters long, had fangs as sharp as spears and ghostly flames burning in its eye sockets.
If its original owner were still alive, how massive would its body have been?
What kind of existence was this?
Zhang Ruochen did not recklessly pursue it. Not only was he severely injured, but even if he were unharmed, confronting the blood-colored skull would likely be a dangerous endeavor.
Shengshu Cainü’s face carried a hint of gravity. “That skull is very likely the Blood Demon from a thousand years ago.”
“Blood Demon?”
Zhang Ruochen felt a sense of familiarity. Not only had Xianlan King called out its name earlier, but he seemed to have heard of it elsewhere as well.
The blood-colored skull flew farther and farther away, now hundreds of miles off. With Zhang Ruochen and Shengshu Cainü’s eyesight, they could only see it as a small orb, like a dark red star in the darkness.
The surrounding space turned cold again.
Only then did Zhang Ruochen notice that Xianlan King’s corpse lying on the ground was quite shriveled. All the blood energy within had been drained, leaving only a dark brown, dried-up husk.
Shengshu Cainü glanced at Xianlan King’s corpse as well and continued, “About a thousand years ago, the Blood Demon was the leader of the Demon Heaven Tribe within the Undying Blood Clan. He once fought with Xue Hou for the imperial throne of the Undying Blood Clan’s ten major tribes.”
At Shengshu Cainü’s mention, Zhang Ruochen suddenly remembered.
Eight hundred years ago, he had indeed heard his father, the Ming Emperor, and the Azure Emperor mention the Blood Demon’s name. It seemed the two of them had some interactions with the Blood Demon in their youth.
However, Zhang Ruochen was too young at the time to remember clearly. Moreover, he had never deliberately looked into historical records about the Blood Demon, so he knew very little.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Eight hundred years ago, the Nine Emperors and Three Empresses stood side by side, making them the twelve most powerful figures of that era. Among them, Xue Hou’s strength was definitely in the top three. Only the oldest, Dao Emperor and Wu Emperor, could contend with her. Later, the Sword Emperor Xue Hongchen might have also matched her. What made the Blood Demon worthy of competing with Xue Hou for the imperial throne?”
Shengshu Cainü shook her head. “Actually, according to many ancient records, the Blood Demon always had the upper hand in his struggle with Xue Hou. If not for some later accidents, the Blood Demon should have been the emperor of the Undying Blood Clan.”
“How is that possible?” Zhang Ruochen found it hard to believe.
After all, at her peak, Xue Hou had defeated the combined forces of the Ming Emperor and the Azure Emperor. Even Dao Emperor, who was called the number one under heaven at the time, might not have been able to do that.
“That’s how it was.”
Shengshu Cainü added, “The Blood Demon was indeed an unprecedented genius. He caused panic at the time, with many fearing that if he fully matured, he would become a second Nether King. Do you know about the ‘Heavenly Demon Stone Inscription,’ one of the six great scriptures of the Kunlun Realm?”
Zhang Ruochen nodded. “The ‘Heavenly Demon Stone Inscription’ consists of thirty-six carved diagrams, said to have been left by an ancient great god, containing thirty-six supreme demonic cultivation methods. An ordinary cultivator who achieves some success in just one diagram can become a top-tier expert of the era.”
Shengshu Cainü said, “The Blood Demon simultaneously cultivated nine of the Heavenly Demon Stone Inscriptions and, based on those nine diagrams, created nine sacred arts that could be passed down through generations.”
Zhang Ruochen sucked in a cold breath, his heart unable to calm. “That’s astonishing. No one has ever been able to cultivate nine Heavenly Demon Stone Inscriptions at once. Even cultivators who practice two diagrams simultaneously are extremely rare.”
Even the young master of the Black Market First Class Hall, Di Yi, hailed as a peerless genius, had only cultivated one of the diagrams.
Because mastering a single diagram to its peak could allow one to become a Great Saint.
“The Blood Demon in his youth was indeed terrifying. His talent was so high that even Xue Hou was overshadowed,” Shengshu Cainü said.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Since the Blood Demon was so powerful, why did he die? And how did Xue Hou become the ruler of the Undying Blood Clan’s ten major tribes?”
Shengshu Cainü sighed softly. “I’m not sure what exactly happened back then. However, there are rumors that a major figure from the human race intervened, joining forces with Xue Hou to eliminate the Blood Demon. In the end, the Blood Demon failed to become a Great Saint. If he had, the fate of the human race in the Kunlun Realm would have been dire.”
Zhang Ruochen was still puzzled. “If that major figure could intervene to eliminate the Blood Demon, why didn’t they get rid of Xue Hou as well? Killing her before she grew strong would have saved a lot of trouble.”
“I don’t know. Those are just rumors, and it’s hard to say if they’re true.”
Shengshu Cainü continued, “Everyone thought the Blood Demon was dead, but isn’t one of his skulls still left? It’s very possible that the Blood Demon didn’t completely die.”
Zhang Ruochen fell silent, staring at Xianlan King’s shriveled corpse on the ground, feeling a chill.
Had Xianlan King’s sacred soul voluntarily flown into the blood-colored skull?
Or was there a force inside the skull that absorbed his sacred soul and blood?
If it was the former, that would be best. Even if Xianlan King had taken control of the Blood Demon’s skull, he might not cause much trouble.
If it was the latter, that would be terrifying.
It would mean that a thousand years ago, the Blood Demon hadn’t fully died. At least one skull had survived, hidden inside Xianlan King’s body.
“Boom!”
Over a thousand miles away, a thunderous sound rang out.
Then, a blood-red beam of light shot into the sky, tearing through the darkness and piercing both earth and sky.
Zhang Ruochen was startled. He immediately used his movement technique, stepping on the cliff wall, and leaped to a height of a hundred zhang to look into the distance.
It was that same blood-red strange light again, dyeing the area for hundreds of miles in a dark red hue, appearing extremely eerie.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen spotted a dark red speck at the center of that strange light.
That was…
That was the blood-colored skull that had flown away earlier.
Had it re-triggered the blood-red strange light?
Over a thousand miles away, the blood-colored skull released a vast amount of blood mist, circling the strange light several times before finally plunging into a chasm.
Gradually, the blood-red strange light receded into the chasm, and the world returned to darkness.
Zhang Ruochen returned to the ground and told Shengshu Cainü what he had observed.
Shengshu Cainü pondered deeply, her expression growing heavier. “If I’m not mistaken, it’s very likely that the Blood Demon has truly come back to life. He must have sensed the residual blood energy from Xue Hou and immediately flew over there.”
“That’s a possibility,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Shengshu Cainü furrowed her delicate brows and said solemnly, “This matter is beyond our capabilities. We can’t go there anymore. There are likely extremely dangerous things in that area. Forcing an investigation will surely cost us our lives.”
Just the Blood Demon alone was beyond what Shengshu Cainü and Zhang Ruochen could handle. If they encountered other dangers, the consequences would be disastrous.
“Whether it’s the secrets of the Endless Abyss or the appearance of the Blood Demon, both are of great importance. I need to return to the Central Imperial City immediately to report to the Empress and urge the court to clear this threat as soon as possible.”
Shengshu Cainü looked up at Zhang Ruochen. “I will truthfully report to the Empress what you’ve done for the court. Combined with the stone talisman you brought back from the Underworld last time, which sealed the passage between the Kunlun Realm and the Underworld and stopped the undead from entering the Kunlun Realm, these merits should offset any crimes you’ve committed before, no matter how great.”
A cold expression appeared on Zhang Ruochen’s face. “I have never done anything for the court. I only do what I believe is right. You’d better not tell her about my affairs. Whether I do right or wrong, I don’t need her judgment.”
“Zhang Ruochen.”
Shengshu Cainü called out, paused, and seeing Zhang Ruochen’s stubborn demeanor, softened her tone. “Do you want to keep being hunted by the court, living as a criminal, hiding your identity, always on the brink of death, never able to reunite with your family? Is that what you want? Who are you? Lin Yue? Zhang Ruochen? Or your current identity in the Blood God Sect? Don’t you want to live openly and honestly?”
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes grew hazy, and he murmured softly, “I really want to…”
But soon, a sharp edge returned to his gaze, like a stone statue devoid of emotion. He shook his head. “You’d better not get involved in this. You can’t handle it either.”
With that, he turned and walked away resolutely.
Shengshu Cainü reached out, trying to pull him back. But Zhang Ruochen, lost in thought with bloodshot eyes, shook her off violently, pushing her away.
Shengshu Cainü fell to the ground, coughing incessantly, blood flowing from her mouth, her face as pale as paper.
Hearing the cough, Zhang Ruochen seemed to snap back to reality, realizing that Shengshu Cainü was severely injured. After all, her physical body was no different from an ordinary, frail woman.
“I’m sorry, I…”
He helped her up, wanting to explain but not knowing where to start.
Shengshu Cainü shook her head gently, a trace of sorrow in her eyes. “Everyone has their own choices. You can refuse my goodwill, but I can also insist on doing what I want to do. Even if I really can’t handle this matter, at least I’ve tried my best, and I have no regrets.”
Zhang Ruochen’s expression was complicated. “I’m afraid of dragging you down and ultimately harming you.”
“I told you, I have no regrets.”
Shengshu Cainü’s eyes locked onto Zhang Ruochen, firm and unwavering.
Zhang Ruochen gazed at Shengshu Cainü and clearly saw something in her eyes that shouldn’t exist between friends.
For some reason, Zhang Ruochen felt a bit flustered. He immediately averted his gaze, unable to meet her eyes. “Let’s leave the first gradient first and get back to the surface. As for other matters… let’s not discuss them for now!”