https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-218-217-A-Second-Rank-Opportunity-the-Dark-Side-of-the-Celestial-Book-/12587014/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-220-Offending-a-Taoist-and-Trying-to-Escape-/12587016/
Chapter 219: The First Upper Third Heaven Cultivator to Fall by My Hand
Chapter 219: The First Upper Third Heaven Cultivator to Fall by My Hand
Yuan Shanji and Xiong Gang fled, leaving Sang Lu and Li Tianqing to pursue them relentlessly.
Elder Sun Li of the Reincarnation Abyss, on the other hand, temporarily remained beneath the earth veins in the Zhu Anjiang area.
Yang Tai knew that Sun Li was stealing and altering his ritual artifacts.
The original ritual artifacts were meant for Confucian cultivators.
There were some similarities between the Confucian Chanting Sect and the Wu Clan's Spirit Dance Sect, but they differed significantly from the Bone Curse Chanting Sect of the Reincarnation Abyss.
Yang Tai couldn't quite figure out Sun Li's motives, and he didn't have the heart to pursue the matter further. For now, he decided to leave this place and deal with it later.
Leijun glanced at the now dilapidated Zhu Anding and Zhu Anjiang basin before withdrawing his gaze. Without delving too much into it, he kept his focus on Yang Tai. Familiar with the path, he used the Wind and Thunder Talisman and the Bone of the Serpent Snake, along with the power of the Qi flag, to conceal his presence and quietly followed Yang Tai and the Sui clan members. His plan was to get even further away from Sang Lu, Yuan Shanji, and Sun Li to avoid any unnecessary complications.
However, as he trailed them, Leijun realized that Yang Tai had caught the attention of others besides himself.
After crossing a mountain ridge, they suddenly came upon a sea of red in the wilderness, as if the earth itself was bleeding.
Then, a surging river of blood erupted from underground, viciously swallowing up several of Yang Tai's entourage.
"Elder Tu, what are you up to?" Yang Tai remained calm and collected, his eyes flashing with a cold light, but he did not lose his temper.
The figure of a middle-aged man appeared in the river of blood, and it was none other than Tu Dong, the Blood River Sect Elder who had escaped from Zhu Anjiang earlier.
No one expected that after his hasty escape from the bottom of Zhu Anjiang, he would turn back and target Yang Tai, the direct descendant of the Sui clan.
"Regarding the ritual artifact used earlier in the earth veins of Zhu Anding, there are some things I'd like to discuss further with Young Master Yang," Tu Dong said with a smile.
In fact, Elder Tu Dong of the Blood River Sect was in a dire situation. Caught off guard, he had collided with Elder Sun Li of the Reincarnation Abyss, who possessed superior cultivation, and had been injured by him.
At this moment, Tu Dong's complexion was pale, and he looked rather weak.
Even the overwhelming sea of blood had disappeared, leaving only a few intersecting rivers of blood by his side.
However, his attacks were even more vicious. Since his appearance, the blood river seemed to be a voracious beast, selectively devouring the members of Yang Tai's entourage, even as Tu Dong spoke to Yang Tai.
As the blood river continuously devoured the vitality and blood essence of living humans, it nourished Tu Dong, and his pale face gradually regained some color.
"Elder Tu, your loyalty now lies solely with Sect Leader Wei," Yang Tai said calmly, his tone steady despite the surprise. His longsword was drawn, and the Confucian scholarly sword energy of the Confucian cultivators transformed into a river, cutting off the blood river that rushed towards him.
Tu Dong's injuries were not light, and his Blood River secret art was not as fierce as before, allowing Yang Tai, a Sixth Layer Heaven Realm cultivator, to confront the filthy blood river with his own sword energy.
However, he couldn't protect the people around him, and one by one, they were swallowed by the blood river.
"Young Master Yang, you jest. Whoever can bring blood and slaughter to the Blood River is the rightful master of the Blood River," Tu Dong said, waving his hand. Two blood rivers intertwined, forming an encirclement and trapping Yang Tai in the center. "Killing and bloodshed, the withering of life—this is the world we thrive in."
Yang Tai replied, "While we may have some disagreements, it doesn't make us enemies."
Surprisingly, Tu Dong nodded, "Sect Leader Wei has said the same, and I have no objections."
However, he quickly changed the subject, "But today, I'd like to ask Young Master Yang for some Dragon-Stimulating Eye Drops."
Before Yang Tai could respond, Tu Dong continued, "Although Sun Li got the first taste, my eyes are still sharp enough to see that you withdrew in time and still have some left.
The Dragon-Stimulating Eye Drops are indeed a treasured inheritance of your clan, but my cultivation in the Blood River tradition won't find them completely useless!"
Upon hearing this, Yang Tai's expression remained unchanged, but his heart sank.
When he realized that Tu Dong and Sun Li were up to no good, he didn't hesitate to leave immediately, showing no sign of hesitation.
Although Sun Li had taken advantage of the ritual artifacts beneath Zhu Anding's earth veins, Yang Tai's decisiveness in withdrawing had ensured the safety of the precious Dragon-Stimulating Eye Drops in his possession.
The ritual artifacts required rare and precious spiritual objects and resources. Missing this opportunity meant an unknown amount of time before another preparation, but the most valuable Dragon-Stimulating Eye Drops were still in his hands, leaving a glimmer of hope.
However, Tu Dong, despite his disheveled state from facing Sun Li, was still an Upper Third Heaven Great Shaman, and his insight and perception remained sharp. He immediately pursued Yang Tai.
While he had no intention of completely severing ties with the Sheng Kang direct lineage, the current chaotic and turbulent situation, with spiritual energy in disarray, meant that the usually unruly and ruthless Blood River Sect Elder naturally had no qualms about a little internal theft.
Unfortunately for him, the injuries inflicted by Sun Li had greatly diminished his strength, preventing him from immediately capturing Yang Tai.
Tu Dong was in no rush. He first used his Blood River secret art to slaughter Yang Tai's entourage and refine their essence to replenish himself.
Tu Dong's complexion turned a few shades redder, and the blood rivers swelled, once again converging into a vast sea of blood.
From a distance, Leijun watched this scene unfold with a calm gaze.
Elder Tu of the Blood River Sect was giving him a firsthand demonstration of the chaos and bloodshed within the Nanhuang Witch Clan.
The mention of the Dragon-Stimulating Eye Drops confirmed Leijun's earlier judgment.
Yang Tai's venture into the Zhu Anjiang area indeed had another purpose.
After several nodes that could shake the mountain and river veins were destroyed by Leijun, Shen Qubing, Xiao Xuelin, Yuan Mobai, and others, the direct descendants of the Sui family had no choice but to settle for a backup plan.
Unable to establish a new country with their own mountain and river veins, they planned to guide the earth vein's spiritual energy and perform a different ritual.
Apparently, Yang Tai himself did not intend to attempt to ascend to the Upper Third Heaven.
After all, the situation was rather awkward for the direct descendants of the Sui family.
Aside from the Great Tang Dynasty, which had replaced them as the rulers of the Central Plains, there was also the powerful rise of Wei Ancheng, a distant relative.
With strong branches and a weak trunk, the addition of Yang Tai, a Seventh Heaven cultivator, would not change the overall situation.
Facing the pressure from both the Great Tang Dynasty and Wei Ancheng, the key to breaking free from this predicament for the direct descendants of the Sui family still lay with Yang Tai's father, Yang Yuqi.
If Yang Yuqi could reach the Ninth Heaven realm, he might not be able to turn the tide single-handedly, but he could certainly change the situation.
However, achieving the Ninth Heaven realm was incredibly difficult. There were only a handful of people in the world who had attained such a level.
The current Empress.
The former head of the Ye Clan in Qingzhou.
The old leader of the Chu Clan in Suzhou.
The master of Pure Yang Palace, Huang Laozhenren.
And the newly emerged leader of the Blood River Sect, Wei Ancheng.
These were the few Ninth Heaven experts known to the world.
Strictly speaking, the Empress had only reached the Ninth Heaven realm with the help of her brother, the former Emperor Zhang Qilong, and the blessing of the country's fortune around the time of her ascension. So, her breakthrough was not much earlier than Wei Ancheng's.
Aside from them, the best-known top experts were mostly at the Eighth Heaven realm, with some having reached the peak of Eighth Heaven.
However, reaching the peak of Eighth Heaven and having the confidence to cross the tribulation between the Eighth and Ninth Heavens were two different matters.
With the current surge of spiritual energy in the world, favorable for cultivators' progress, there were indeed some top figures who were expected to have a chance to break through this tribulation and advance further.
But even such existences were limited.
The current head of the Ye Clan in Qingzhou, Ye Yan.
The lord of the Lin Clan in Youzhou, who used to be at odds with the Lin Clan in the northern lands of Youzhou, and the veteran Zhao Wang of the Great Tang Royal Family.
The contemporary leader of the White Lotus Sect, who remained relatively mysterious and rarely made direct appearances but was never underestimated.
These individuals were the most anticipated candidates to make the breakthrough from Eighth to Ninth Heaven.
If one were to broaden the scope a little further, two more people used to be part of this discussion.
The father of the Xiao Clan in Longwai, who was not the current clan head but the father of Xiao Hang, Xiao Chunhui, and Xiao Xuelin.
And the contemporary clan head of the Fang Clan in Jingxiang.
However, after the earth-shattering battle with the demon tribe in the Western Regions, these two individuals were rarely mentioned when discussing related topics.
There was no need to elaborate on the one from Longwai.
As for the contemporary clan head of the Fang Clan in Jingxiang, he had also been severely injured in that great battle and had kept a low profile in recent years, focusing on recuperation.
With the rise of a new generation of powerful individuals, the world's attention shifted towards the new generation of geniuses.
The Sui Crown Prince, Yang Yuqi, had hidden in the southern wilderness for many years, and despite the challenging environment, he had achieved the Eighth Heaven realm, demonstrating extraordinary talent and strength.
However, catching up to Zhang Wantong and Wei Ancheng, who had already reached the Ninth Heaven realm, was still no easy feat.
Even if Yang Tai's plan for today succeeded, it would still not guarantee his father's advancement to the next level.
But as the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Yang Yuqi and Yang Tai had no choice but to seize every opportunity and even create their own.
The Dragon-Stimulating Eye Drops were one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable.
Moreover, Yang Tai had no reason to give them up.
Facing the sea of blood that surrounded him, the Yang family's eldest son remained calm, only showing a hint of regret. "The Dragon-Stimulating Eye Drops are precious, and so is the stone of asterism. But now I have no choice but to use it!"
As he spoke, a brilliant light erupted from his body.
In the dazzling light, Yang Tai's figure suddenly vanished from where he stood.
Elder Tu, who had been confident in his plan, immediately changed his expression.
He quickly took action, using the sea of blood to engulf and devour the radiant light.
But along with Yang Tai's disappearance, the light had already faded significantly.
Elder Tu barely managed to capture a trace of the light, his expression ugly. "Careless! He used the earth vein's flow to shift through space?"
This Yang boy actually had such a treasure?
Yes, Yang Tai had previously used the Dragon-Stimulating Eye Drops and other spiritual objects in Zhu Anjiang to perform a ritual and refine a sacrificial artifact, taking advantage of the ghostly sacrificial array of several witch singers from Mount Gebo to distort the flow of space.
The direct descendants of the Sui dynasty indeed had some unique insights into the Dao of the Void, be it from their accumulation over the years or the legacy of the ancient Sui imperial dynasty.
Although it was evident that Yang Tai was also feeling the pain of losing such a valuable item, as such means were likely a one-time deal, but the fact that the duck that was within his grasp could still fly away left Tu Dong so furious that he felt like a Buddha ascending to heaven.
His expression was gloomy and uncertain as he stared at the faint light surrounded by foul blood in his hand.
Following that faint light, Tu Dong could try to continue tracking down Yang Tai.
However, given their special relationship, it was one thing to secretly look for opportunities to backstab each other, but it was another matter if they let their prey escape and turned it into an open confrontation. What would happen next would be hard to predict.
As ruthless and crazy as Tu Dong was, he hesitated at this moment...
"Boom!"
Tu Dong's body trembled.
He looked down at his chest in astonishment.
There was a huge hole in his chest, with bloody flesh and charred edges, and faint electrical snakes dancing around it.
And behind him was an even larger wound that was shocking to behold, with blood flowing like a river.
What was going on? Tu Dong was bewildered for a moment.
His injuries had diminished his strength, and his perception of danger had also decreased, but he was caught off guard and attacked without any warning. Who was the attacker?
Was it a Confucian divine archer with Upper Third Heaven cultivation?
The direct descendants of the Sui dynasty were quick to strike back. How could they let the escaped duck fly away so easily?
In the distance, Leijun held a tubular metal rail, extending it forward and pointing it at Tu Dong. The tip of the rail glowed with heat, and strands of yuan magnetic force flowed within it.
Now he understood why the sphere of light had excluded Yang Tai when it was seeking good fortune and avoiding disaster.
That spiritual stone, which could produce a void-shifting effect by borrowing the earth vein's spiritual energy, was indeed not something that could be easily blocked.
It seemed that he would have to wait for Yang Tai to exhaust the opportunity provided by his void-shifting escape before he could block his path next time.
In this situation, the portion of the radiant light intercepted by Tu Dong could serve as a clue for tracking.
Leijun had not interacted much with this Blood River Sect Elder.
However, given the elder's penchant for killing and warmongering, it would be best to send him on his way if the opportunity presented itself.
After all, he was the kind of person who would proactively cause trouble even if you didn't provoke him.
Since that was the case, Leijun was grateful to Sun Li of the Reincarnation Abyss for injuring Tu Dong beforehand... Leijun remained calm as he loaded the second Finegold Sword Pellet into the metal rail.
Using the metal rail to accelerate the pellet would significantly reduce the amount of spiritual energy he needed to expend.
However, the opponent he was about to face was no ordinary foe.
Leijun's Yin-Yang Sacred Body produced black and white qi, which complemented each other, with yin and yang intertwining and constantly evolving, allowing his spiritual energy to recover at an astonishing rate. Then, without hesitation, he converted all of it into yuan magnetic force.
In front of Leijun and Tu Dong, there seemed to be a faint electric light flashing in the air.
The powerful second yuan magnetic sword pellet, accelerated by the metal rail, whistled forth.
The violent force tore through the mountains and rivers between the two, reaching speeds unimaginable for a Middle Third Heaven cultivator, as if it ignored the distance in space and instantly arrived in front of Tu Dong.
The Blood River Elder was taken aback, but his spiritual energy flowed, and almost instantaneously, he transformed Tu Dong's body into a sea of blood.
However, the powerful Finegold Sword Pellet directly penetrated the sea of blood, and the surging force even created a ripping effect, tearing the sea of blood into four pieces.
A large amount of bloody rain fell from the sky, spreading in all directions, but it was incinerated by the exploding yuan magnetic lightning force before it could even reach the ground, leaving no trace.
At this moment, the void seemed to tremble.
In the distant mountains, within a hidden spot, a small vortex of blood suddenly appeared silently.
The blood swirled within the vortex, undulating endlessly, and a figure seemed to want to leap out but was struggling to do so.
Once again, the powerful Blood Sea Pantheon of the Blood River Sect came into play.
However, due to Tu Dong's consecutive serious injuries, it was much more difficult for him to successfully die and reincarnate at this moment than it had been in the past, and he almost died under the terrifying attack.
Fortunately, as long as he was given a little more time, he would still be able to reincarnate.
But...
In the sky, a pair of gigantic illusory eyes seemed to appear.
In the distance, Leijun calmly watched as the Heavenly Eye Mirror in his hand displayed the image of a small blood vortex struggling for life within a hidden forest.
He calmly loaded the Finegold Sword Pellet.
Then, he fired again.
With a deafening boom, the mountains and forests in the distance exploded and burned.
Amidst the explosion, there seemed to be a desperate and hopeless roar from the Blood River Elder!
Finally, the roar ceased.
Just like his life.
Tu Dong, the Blood River Sect Elder who had slaughtered countless lives and reigned terror across the realms for many years with his Seventh Heaven cultivation, met his end today under the "sword" of an enemy at the Middle Third Heaven level.
(End of Chapter)
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