ILDV Chapter 45

The thunderous roar continued endlessly. Even standing outside the lightning domain, their feet went numb from the trembling ground.

This was the first time Zhao Hejing had witnessed true heavenly might since transmigrating into this book. His hands desperately clutched Xu Rong’s belt, trembling so badly he nearly wanted to burrow into the ground. “Senior Brother Xu, wh-what do we do now?”

Xu Rong had long been completely bewildered by these successive developments. His mind was in complete chaos—one moment thinking about when his cheap master had followed them here, the next wondering where the treasure map had flown off to. Even so, hearing Zhao Hejing’s voice still reflexively made him frown. He tried to shake him off with a flick of his hand. “How should I know! Surnamed Zhao, if you’re scared, go back to your daddy and suckle at his teat. I’m not your father or your mother—why do you always cling to me!”

The lightning domain was truly too ferocious. The lightning bolts were so densely packed they merged into one mass. Electric light flashed, occasionally mixed with bursting sparks. The spiritual energy across this entire area had been completely disrupted, making it impossible to detect the specific situation inside.

No one dared rush into the tribulation cloud’s range. Even the several Tribulation stage cultivators present didn’t dare guarantee they could enter and exit alive.

“For Daojun to advance at precisely this moment…” The Jietian Dao Sect’s Saintess wore a thin veil over her face. She glanced lightly in their direction, pondered briefly, then said to the two, “You two need not worry. Daojun possesses perfect righteousness and will surely emerge unscathed.”

Qin Xun’s expression remained calm. “Thank you, Saintess. We are unharmed.”

The Saintess took another step forward. “This tribulation lightning will likely not cease for some time. Why don’t you two come wait with us temporarily?”

Qin Xun was about to decline when someone interjected from the side. These three had originally been brought out under the old monk’s protection. With a heavy cough, he smoothly positioned himself between them, saying slowly, “Young one, aren’t you taking advantage of the fire a bit?”

The Saintess’s eyes didn’t move. “What does the Arhat mean?”

The old monk lowered his gaze without speaking. The young monk supporting his junior monk senior brother spoke indignantly, “What do you mean? When the lightning domain appeared earlier, you didn’t see fit to protect the two senior brothers from the Immortal Sect. Now that it’s safe, you suddenly come out playing the good person? You probably think that treasure map is on Senior Shen and want to take them hostage for leverage, don’t you?”

The speaker meant nothing by it, but the listeners took note.

Cultivators from other sects who hadn’t gone far pricked up their ears and inconspicuously moved closer. Qin Xun and Xu Rong became the target of everyone’s attention.

Xu Rong’s expression grew even uglier. He pressed both hands to his waist, forcibly restraining himself. But the wretched Zhao Hejing behind him jumped out again, pulling on his belt and urgently whispering in his ear, “Senior Brother Xu, Senior Brother Xu, let’s go with the Saintess! She’s so beautiful, she definitely won’t harm anyone!”

That was the male lead’s precious imperial concubine! Although the plot had changed, such a beautiful woman must be following the harem-collecting storyline!

He touched the paper scroll in his breast, thinking gleefully—once the male lead conquered his harem, he’d find an opportunity to gift him the treasure map. Then his position as number one lackey would be firmly unshakeable!

Hehe, a bunch of idiots who only know how to charge in mindlessly never expected the treasure would end up in this young master’s hands, did they?

He was happily fantasizing about his future life of luxury under the male lead when suddenly a violent sensation of weightlessness hit him. Pain shot through his leg as a great force sent him flying upward, tumbling through the air.

Zhao Hejing instantly lost all color. In his spinning, disoriented vision, he could only see the ‘male lead’ in snow-white inner robes, face iron-blue, clutching something green, eyes coldly fixed on him as spiritual energy surged around five outstretched fingers reaching right for him.

Holy shit shit shit shit—

At this life-or-death moment, a rich fragrance washed over him. A pale white arm reached across, grabbing his collar and pulling him to safety.

The Saintess’s voice remained calm. “The young city lord is merely overly tense. Why such anger?”

Only then did Zhao Hejing recover, realizing he now held something extra in his hand.

—A mangled belt and an irregular piece of torn fabric.

Looking at Xu Rong, he clutched the outer robe that had been pulled down with him, with a large piece missing from the sleeve that matched perfectly.

“Fair enough.” Xu Rong said coldly, “As long as the Saintess can tolerate someone climbing over walls to steal her clothes while bathing, please feel free to take the young city lord. Rong will have no objections. But my martial brother and I fear we lack the capability to enjoy such esteemed guest treatment from the Dao Sect.”

The Saintess’s elegant, noble posture froze for an instant.

Zhao Hejing, receiving attention from all directions, finally understood despite his slow brain. “No, no, no, I’m not a cut-sleeve! I just—” He got stuck halfway through.

How—how could he explain this? He couldn’t possibly tell everyone that Xu Rong was the Child of Destiny and he was a transmigrator trying to cling to his coattails!

He could only desperately make eyes at Xu Rong—‘Bro, I have the treasure map’ ‘Don’t you want the treasure map anymore?’… Little did he know his supposedly subtle winking only further solidified their ‘ambiguous relationship.’

The old monk coughed lightly. “The two youngsters’ reluctance to leave out of concern for Daojun is understandable, but the matter of the treasure map cannot be delayed any further. This place is not suitable for lingering. Why don’t we temporarily move to a quieter location to properly discuss this? Finding out where the treasure map flew to should be our immediate priority.”

These words drew nods of agreement from everyone as they prepared to leave.

Qin Xun gave a cold smile, lowered his head without a word. Xu Rong temporarily wore his outer robe hanging open and closely followed his martial brother without making any objections.

Zhao Hejing’s eyes widened. “Wait, you’re just leaving like that? Tianji Daojun is still in there! He passively triggered his tribulation to buy you time, and you’re just abandoning him?”

Grabbing people’s sleeves seemed to be his habitual action when emotionally agitated. The Saintess was caught off guard and swept her sleeve, sending him flying. Brilliant golden light erupted from Zhao Hejing’s chest as his protective artifact blocked the strike for him, shattering into five, six, seven, eight pieces on the spot.

Zhao Hejing drew in a sharp breath as fear slowly surfaced. This treasure he’d worn since childhood could block a full-strength strike from a Spirit Transformation stage cultivator!

Yet no one spared him another glance. Everyone consoled the Saintess whose expression had darkened, while simultaneously condemning Zhao Hejing.

“This young city lord is truly too ill-mannered. How can he be so discourteous to a female cultivator!”

“Hah, from a minor clan, not raised by a proper sect—naturally his upbringing would be lacking.”

“Is the Saintess alright?”

“…”

The Saintess’s expression beneath her veil was unclear. She simply removed her outer coat, casually shook it into powder, looked at Zhao Hejing without emotion, turned and left.

Hey… I almost died just now…

Zhao Hejing stood dazed, clutching the shattered protective artifact. Suddenly his entire body went cold. A fainter yellow glow beneath the protective artifact’s light slowly retracted, unnoticed by anyone.

“Senior Hu, Senior Hua, why aren’t you two leaving together with everyone?”

Most of the group had dispersed. Hua Tinglan, ostensibly affiliated with Tiantai Buddhist Sect, and Hu Yunu from Jietian Dao Sect remained motionless in place.

The fox demon glanced over sideways. Even his casual look was alluringly vivid. He said stubbornly, “Hmph, haven’t you heard of not putting all your eggs in one basket?”

Hua Tinglan’s expression remained unchanged. “At the very least, he saved disciples of my sect. This humble one lacks the courage to force through tribulation lightning, but I can at least wait a bit.”

The Immortal Sect members who hadn’t fully left twisted their expressions. Qin Xun smiled slightly, his demeanor warming by two degrees.

Someone snorted coldly with a wave of their sleeve. “Putting on airs!”

Before finishing his words, his expression changed drastically. A small section of gleaming sword tip emerged from his waist and abdomen before retracting. Blood gushed out in great sprays as he collapsed to the ground. Soon a small pool of blood spread beneath him.

The smell of blood rapidly permeated the air. Everyone went on high alert, forming a circle and releasing spiritual energy and divine sense in chaotic sweeps. “Who’s there! Come out!”

No one answered.

Heaven and earth fell into silence, leaving only the thunderous roar.

That cold sword appeared twice more. Though no figure was visible, the rolling heads proved someone had been there.

This left everyone even more panicked. Someone suggested they join forces to bombard the area. The light of spell techniques and weapons merged into one mass of brilliant colors—quite spectacular, but unfortunately all for nothing.

The crater-pocked earth seemed to mock them. The cold light flashed again as two more heads rolled to the ground.

These weren’t ordinary immortal sect disciples. Those sent to participate in the auction were each sect’s most loyal core forces! The six or seven spiritual cultivators just lost all had at least Spirit Transformation stage cultivation—the weakest was at that level!

This meant the assassin had at least Dao Integration stage cultivation!

Lantian cultivation world had plenty of assassins, but ones of such high grade could only be trained by one place.

Someone knowledgeable had already identified their origin. “Eighteenth Hell!”

The crowd stirred.

“Is it the Seventh Venerable’s subordinate?”

“Does Yin Lang also want a hand in the treasure map?”

“The demonic path is too arrogant! One after another—do they think we righteous immortal sects are nobody?!”

“Hehehehe—” A sinister laugh came from all directions. The air had unknowingly turned cold and eerie. Demonic qi penetrated everywhere. Even spiritual energy couldn’t resist the plummeting temperature.

“You righteous immortal sects—aren’t you indeed nobody?”

A phantom took shape in midair, wearing a white smiling mask. Before fully forming, it was shattered by everyone’s combined attack, dissolving into bubbles.

“It’s Eighteenth Hell’s unique Mirror Image technique! The attacker is White Impermanence Li Sun!”

“Black and White Impermanence never act separately. If White Impermanence is here, Black Impermanence Qi Zheng must be nearby too. Everyone be careful!”

“Haven’t the Jietian Saintess and Wrathful Arhat noticed the anomaly yet?!”

“Where did Elder Hua and Elder Hu go?”

“So what if they know? A bunch of trash—can they even catch us?” Li Sun’s laughter drifted unpredictably, now left, now right, now east, now west.

Qi Zheng’s voice was deep and low. “Jietian Saintess, Wrathful Arhat? They won’t be coming!”

Their voices mixed together, making them sound even more gloomy and sinister. Black and white light flashed alternately. Amid screams and blood, the Mahayana stage cultivator who’d been acting as leader died with eyes wide open, collapsing to the ground.

Black and White Impermanence of Eighteenth Hell were originally Lantian realm’s most outstanding pair of assassins! The two shared one heart in different bodies. When working together, even Tribulation stage cultivators had to worry about keeping their heads!

The successive deaths had stretched many people’s nerves to breaking point. With even the Mahayana stage cultivator beheaded, someone’s spirit finally snapped.

“Ahhh—! The treasure map isn’t on us, don’t kill me—ahhh!!” The scream pierced the heavens before abruptly cutting off.

White Impermanence’s phantom appeared in the air, smilingly flicking his blood-stained dagger. “Just because you say it’s not doesn’t mean it’s not? Do I look that easy to fool?”

Black Impermanence’s figure materialized beside him, coldly saying, “Heart Demon Oath.”

“Right, Heart Demon Oath. Make one, and we’ll let one go.” Li Sun continued, tilting his head. “After all, with so many people, our hands would get quite sore killing you all while you just stand there. Right, Ah Zheng?”

Qi Zheng silently lifted his wrist and massaged it. Li Sun smiled even more happily.

“Heart Demon Oath? Are you joking!”

A long-bearded elder’s face turned red with rage. For spiritual cultivators, Heart Demon Oaths were the greatest humiliation. “I will never bow to you heterodox evildoers—”

A line of blood opened across his neck. His head fell, blood spurting. Li Sun moved so fast he left afterimages, as if he’d never moved from his original position.

“No problem.” He smiled. “If you don’t make the oath, you die. Killing one or two occasionally is quite relaxing.”

Finally someone raised their hand trembling. “I—I’ll make it—ah!”

A late-stage Integration cultivator drew his sword and stabbed through the man’s heart, coldly saying, “There are only two of them. Even if Yin Lang himself came, there’s nothing to fear! We have superior numbers—everyone, don’t be afraid! Attack together!”

That Integration cultivator commanded calmly. “Assassins hate crowds most. They can’t strike easily. Just now they merely took advantage of our panic. Everyone stay steady—the two seniors will surely notice the anomaly and return soon!”

The Jietian Saintess and Wrathful Arhat were currently fighting Chao Liang with combined forces, their battle raging intensely.

Half of Beiyu City had already been destroyed in the aftershocks of their battle. Surprisingly, all the destroyed buildings were completely empty—Beiyu City’s residents had been quietly evacuated during the auction!

The Jietian Saintess’s heart chilled. After carefully recalling, she realized that aside from Zhao Hejing tagging along after the Immortal Sect pair, the Beiyu City Lord himself and the forces he represented had sent no one to participate in the auction. At a time when the entire Lantian realm was focused on the treasure map, this reaction was completely abnormal.

Could he have already anticipated trouble at the auction? But Zhao Hejing… Could it be the Beiyu City Lord had already abandoned this son?

Chao Liang cursed angrily, “I’m telling you, smelly woman and bald donkey—how many times do I have to say it? This Venerable was just passing by and has zero interest in that worthless treasure map. Are you deaf or blind that you can’t hear or see?!”

He’d been peacefully watching the show and hoping to gain some small advantage when these two lunatics inexplicably found him and started pestering him. Who wanted that broken jade? Who looked up to some immortal sect eccentric’s legacy? Did they think just anyone wanted to ascend???

The Jietian Saintess calmly responded to Chao Liang’s attacks. “Perhaps the Venerable should first explain why you were sitting together with Eighteenth Hell’s two great assassins earlier?”

Screams continued from within the fog. Black and White Impermanence had already made their move. How could the Fourth Demon Venerable remain uninvolved and clean?

Chao Liang’s vision went dark. This was being framed and unable to clear his name! He’d been set up too, alright!

He’d been sitting there perfectly fine drinking tea when that white ghost suddenly sat across from him and immediately said, “Venerable Chao, our Venerable has a big deal he’d like to make with you.”

Upon first seeing someone from Eighteenth Hell, Chao Liang felt a bit guilty and repeatedly shook his head, unwilling to deal with these devious people at this time.

He’d thought Li Sun would pester him endlessly, but this fellow simply raised his teacup to toast him, drained it, then left straightforwardly, leaving Chao Liang completely baffled about what he’d come for.

—This scene fell perfectly into the eyes of the Jietian Saintess and Wrathful Arhat.

Damn it, surnamed Yin, why are you so vindictive! Just because I once incited Jiao Yuyu to trouble you, you had to frame me this badly?

“If this Venerable truly wanted to seize the treasure map, how could I possibly come alone! Rather than suspecting me, you should suspect Yin Lang who’s still in ‘closed-door cultivation’!”

The words had barely left his mouth when he was suddenly struck with alarm.

…That’s right—to seize a treasure map, how could it be a one-man operation?

Thinking this through, he truly had no desire to continue entangling. Caring nothing for face anymore, he hardened his resolve. “I’ll make a Heavenly Dao Oath, that should suffice!”

If he didn’t run now, he truly couldn’t escape!

He forced the two back with one palm strike and raised his hand to swear. “Chao Liang has absolutely no intention of competing for Daoist Tianxuan’s treasure map. If I violate this oath, may heaven strike me with lightning!”

After completing the oath, he immediately relaxed. “See, I told you I didn’t—”

Rumble—

A massive explosion sounded. The distant lightning domain burst open explosively, then rapidly separated into a section of tribulation cloud that flew this direction!

Chao Liang stared dumbfounded.

Chao Liang protested his innocence. “It wasn’t me! I didn’t!”

Near the lightning domain, battle raged fiercely. As that Integration stage cultivator said, Black and White Impermanence excelled at surprise assassination from shadows. As long as they weren’t given opportunities to strike, casualties were rapidly decreasing.

Under the bombardment of spell techniques and sword light, the two’s figures could no longer fully hide in the void. They flickered between substantial and insubstantial, wounds beginning to appear on their bodies.

Everyone’s morale greatly increased.

Li Sun took another sword strike. His white clothes were quickly soaked through with blood. Qi Zheng looked over worriedly. Li Sun shook his head.

It wasn’t yet time to retreat.

The next moment, the lightning domain exploded!

The enormous energy contained in the vast, dense lightning sea detonated instantly, encompassing nearly half the city! The high platform collapsed, trees toppled. Lightning charged forth like caged beasts breaking free. Qi Zheng’s pupils constricted sharply as he wrapped his arms around Li Sun and plunged into the void!

The entire surrounding battlefield was affected. Dozens of people closest to the lightning domain were instantly annihilated in the lightning sea. Others slightly farther away barely managed to circulate spiritual energy and deploy protective techniques, yet still nearly a third were swallowed by the lightning sea’s energy.

Heavy scents of blood and charred flesh spread together with the exploding lightning domain. Scorched flesh and severed limbs were visible everywhere. The instant the lightning domain calmed, a singed figure clutching something burst out, fleeing desperately. Everyone standing in his escape path was cleaved body and soul into oblivion by the massive sword in his hand!

“It’s the Second Venerable!” Someone quickly recognized his identity.

At this moment, the Second Venerable’s appearance could only be identified by his crimson greatsword. His hair and beard had been burned by the lightning sea into twisted, scorched masses stuck to his skin. Large patches of burn and lightning strike wounds covered him. His chest bore a fresh bowl-sized wound constantly oozing blood.

The person he carried was even more miserable. Not a single intact patch of flesh could be found on their body. If not for the faint life force still emanating from them, they might be mistaken for a roasted pig the Second Venerable had stolen from somewhere.

The Second Venerable charged outward carrying this person at high speed, eyes bloodshot. A small patch of undispersed tribulation cloud above his head was still chasing and striking him.

He wheezed heavily. The person he carried weakly reminded, “Run west… the people we brought… I arranged them all at… the hills outside the west city gate…”

Suddenly from behind, at the lightning domain’s core, golden light pierced the sun. A golden longsword, carrying incomparably sharp sword energy, swept down. The sky tore open countless narrow rifts. Golden qi waves surged forth. The overcast sky melted like snow at first thaw. The setting sun’s molten gold flowed as heaven’s light suddenly broke through.

The longsword’s phantom dissipated into countless golden light particles, then rapidly coalesced into a three-chi azure blade, falling into a pale, slender hand.

He stood atop collapsed ruins. The setting sun was blood-red, yet paler than that single crimson mark between his brows.

“Shen hasn’t yet fulfilled his duty as host—why are you two leaving already? Moreover…” His gaze slowly shifted, pausing at the wound on the Second Venerable’s chest. “The promised gift hasn’t been left behind yet.”

The Second Venerable felt his entire body go cold under that gaze, fear uncontrollably rising in his heart.

This was clearly just a mid-stage Tribulation cultivator, yet he could fight one against two, reducing both of them to this miserable state.

“Don’t tangle with him. We’re no match. Run quickly!” The black-robed figure was so weak his voice was barely audible. “Once we escape back… let the Venerable personally deal with this arrogant brat!”

“Laozi knows—”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Golden light split the heavens. The voice sounded right by his ear. The Second Venerable’s pupils suddenly contracted as he reflexively swung his sword!

It hit nothing.

Intense pain transmitted from behind. The Second Venerable frantically fled a hundred meters, vigilantly watching that snow-robed figure, no longer daring to expose his back to the opponent.

Terrifying speed, terrifying perception, terrifying swordsmanship… Recalling how in the lightning domain the opponent had nearly carved out his heart, the Second Venerable even felt despair about successfully escaping.

Others thought Shen Muxuan’s repeated misses showed the gap between a newly advanced Tribulation stage and an established one. The Second Venerable and his companion clearly knew the opponent was toying with them.

The fun of cat catching mouse lay precisely in watching the mouse panic and flee.

Golden light appeared again. Along with severe pain in his waist and abdomen, someone suddenly spoke in his ear.

—Doesn’t the Venerable wonder why you, an established late-stage Tribulation cultivator, cannot defeat me, a newly advanced mid-stage Tribulation cultivator?

The Second Venerable certainly minded this point. The bitter confusion in his eyes flashed briefly. He thought this was another of the opponent’s games, but received his answer upon the next strike.

—Before the Venerable rose to power, your cultivation was probably only early-stage Tribulation, yes? A Demon Venerable who advances by consuming lifespan and potential—such cultivation is like a castle in the air.

—Unable to withstand a single blow.

The First Demon Venerable Yan Yan, after the Demon Lord’s fall a thousand years ago, had exercised the Demon Lord’s authority in name of Demon Venerable for nearly a millennium.

The Supreme Palace occupied the heart of the Northern Demon Territory. Those who didn’t submit to him were eliminated one by one as he installed his own trusted followers. Those who submitted all signed master-servant contracts, their lives and deaths completely controlled thereafter.

Both Yin Jiuxuan and Yan Guihe belonged to the former category.

The Second Venerable was late-stage Tribulation. The black-robed figure was early-stage Tribulation. If both had cultivated to these levels through their own efforts, Yan Yan would have far too many Tribulation stage subordinates.

Yin Lang slowly provoked:

“Has the Venerable’s temper been abnormally volatile since then, easily roused to fury?”

The Second Venerable’s gaze froze.

“Did the Venerable obtain that brash Dark Resentful cultivation method from Yan Yan? Do you know that with each attack, your body’s life force constantly depletes?”

The Second Venerable’s sword swing paused momentarily.

“Do you know how many wronged souls from unjust deaths coil around your entire body, just waiting for you to die so they can feast?”

The Second Venerable’s entire body stiffened.

The black-robed figure suddenly violently broke free from the Second Venerable’s hold. Surging blood-rage erupted from his body. Taking advantage of both men’s stunned lack of reaction, he suddenly lunged toward a direction. His entire form transformed into black smoke, sweeping something up before fleeing!

The swept-up Qin, Xu, and Zhao: …………

“Master save me—”

“Daojun save me—”

“…”

Shrill cries for help gradually faded into the distance.

“Shen Muxuan, if you still want these disciples’ lives, don’t pursue!” the black-robed figure shouted from afar.

Yin Lang: …

His expression gradually grew subtle.

The Second Venerable immediately erupted in a torrent of profanity, every vulgar curse imaginable spilling forth.

His eyes bloodshot, he gripped his greatsword with both hands and charged forward again. “You think Laozi will accept his fate? Dream on! Even in death, I’ll drag you down with me, you stinking brat!”

Yin Lang gave a cold laugh. The Tianji Sword in his palm flashed with golden light. The sword tip pointed forward as he enunciated each word: “With. Just. You?”

He said softly, “You two, don’t move. This person—this lord will personally deal with!”

Standing at the boundary between half-void and half-reality, just one step from crossing from the ghost realm into the mortal world, Qi and Li maintained solemn expressions and bowed in unison before retreating, once again concealing themselves in the void.

“A waste who could only climb to Tribulation stage by relying on Yan Yan.”

Li Sun had never seen their venerable like this—eyes so cold they seemed capable of freezing heaven and earth.

When he and Qi Zheng began following their venerable, he was already at Tribulation stage. Soon after, he overthrew the then-Seventh Demon Venerable Wu Mantuo in the demonic path’s Tribulation stage internal wars, establishing his Eighteenth Hell.

No matter how difficult the circumstances, their venerable always wore an expression of ‘how are you so useless,’ taking up the God-Slaying Spear and resolving everything in one trip, as if nothing had ever troubled him.

When he guessed their venerable’s other identity from the young venerable’s hints, even with Li Sun’s composure, he was stunned for quite some time. He became so distracted that he nearly botched tasks he could normally handle with his eyes closed, having to transfer them to Ah Zheng while he calmed himself down.

That was Tianji Daojun! The old adversary they’d fought to the death with for so many years. Even just speculating about any secret relationship between those two, Li Sun felt he’d lost his mind imagining too much.

One in snow-white robes, caring and protective with a smiling facade hiding darkness. One in blood-red robes, cold as ice, indifferent and cruel, darkness cutting through darkness.

Instead, Ah Zheng was exceptionally calm. Even after learning the truth, he maintained that cool, indifferent demeanor. While methodically issuing orders, he simply went ‘mm.’

Just ‘mm.’

Facing Li Sun’s astonishment, he calmly said, “No matter who he is, as long as he’s still the venerable we serve, that’s enough.”

Right. After all, he couldn’t possibly betray Eighteenth Hell.

Without their venerable, there would be no Black and White Impermanence renowned throughout Lantian.

Li Sun was just suddenly curious—in those days before he knew this person, what had he experienced to become as he was now?

Qi Zheng suddenly elbowed him hard.

Li Sun clutched his stomach and wailed, then obediently shut his mouth under Ah Zheng’s half-concerned, half-warning gaze.

Fine, fine. Serve blindly, be a capable subordinate, don’t meddle in idle affairs.

Red light slowly flowed from the sword hilt toward the tip, gradually covering the golden blade.

This red was extremely ominous—like slowly flowing thick blood, like what flowed when carving into his heart.

Even the Second Venerable’s scalp prickled.

He thought he was already fast, but that blood-red sword light was faster.