He ignored the Grey Robe Guardian and the other battered Blood Puppet, shooting straight for the altar. He unleashed a waterfall of saber light, aiming for the blood flowing in the grooves of the altar and the nine black banners!
"You dare!"
The Grey Robe Guardian’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets. He clawed at Liang Cheng’s back with all his might, trying to force him to defend himself and abandon his attack on the altar.
Liang Cheng didn’t even turn his head. The faint golden glow on his back simply flared, growing much more intense.
"CLANG—!"
The Blood-Eroding Claw Force struck his back with the clang of metal on metal. Liang Cheng staggered slightly, a trickle of blood escaping his lips, but his forward momentum only increased!
At the Great Success stage of the Golden Armor Realm, he could withstand the blow and use its force to propel himself forward!
"Cut!"
With a furious roar, the saber light swept across the altar!
"PFFT! PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!—!"
Six of the Black Banners snapped in two!
The grooves on the altar’s edge were torn asunder by the Sword Qi, sending blood splashing everywhere!
The Blood Evil Array was broken!
The mountain-like pile of Blood Marrow Jade Raw Stones at the center of the altar trembled violently. The blood-red filaments on their surfaces writhed manically, growing wild and unstable.
The bloody light stopped converging and instead began to erupt outward in every direction.
"No—!"
The Grey Robe Guardian let out a despairing howl. The Blood Evil Array had been broken and the blood sacrifice interrupted. The still-forming Blood Marrow Jade Seeds were now out of control; the violent Qi and Blood Energy they contained could explode at any second!
Liang Cheng landed and stood with his saber in hand, his chest rising and falling slightly.
Even with the power of the Golden Armor Realm, taking a full-force blow from the Grey Robe Guardian had shaken him. But his gaze was ice-cold, locked on his foe.
"Now, it’s time to settle our score."
...
「Dongshan Mine, Guardian Station.」
Wu Zhenshan sat in his chair, fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest. Every so often, his gaze would drift to the sky outside the window.
Zhou Jin sat across from him, leisurely sipping his tea. "Treasurer Wu," he said suddenly, "you seem a bit on edge."
Wu Zhenshan’s heart skipped a beat. He didn’t deny it, instead seizing the opening. "Forgive my lack of composure, Steward Zhou. Town Guardian Liang went into the mountains to pursue the villains, and we haven’t heard a single word back. The mountains are dangerous and the bandits are ruthless. Wu is simply overcome with worry."
Zhou Jin set down his teacup. "Treasurer Wu," he said in a gentle voice, "you and Town Guardian Liang may have had your misunderstandings, but your concern for him now shows that you grasp the bigger picture. The City Lord would be most gratified to know of it."
Wu Zhenshan gave a bitter smile. "You flatter me, Steward Zhou. Before, Wu was deceived by others. Thinking back on it now, I am deeply ashamed. I only hope that Town Guardian Liang can return safely and capture the criminals. Only then will this weight be lifted from Wu’s mind."
He spoke with such sincerity that Zhou Jin’s gaze flickered, though his expression remained unreadable. "Speaking of which," Zhou Jin said suddenly, "did you discover anything on your tour of the mine shafts today, Treasurer Wu?"
Wu Zhenshan’s heart clenched, but his expression remained neutral. "Sigh. The miners are terrified. They all say these recent disappearances are just too bizarre.
Wu did what he could to calm them and has increased the patrols, but I can’t shake the feeling that the mine is quieter than usual. I’ve hardly seen anyone from the Lin Family, either."
Zhou Jin nodded. "It’s only natural for morale to be low after so many incidents at the mine. By the way, Treasurer Wu, have you seen Patriarch Lin? His wounds have yet to heal; we mustn’t let this turmoil disturb his recovery."
Wu Zhenshan shook his head. "I haven’t. I assume he’s recuperating at his residence. I’ve already given orders that no one is to disturb the Lin Mansion."
The two continued to make small talk, mostly about trivial matters concerning the mine. Wu Zhenshan tried to find an excuse to leave several times, but Zhou Jin always managed to raise a new topic at the perfect moment.
Time trickled away, drop by drop, amidst their seemingly peaceful conversation.
Wu Zhenshan grew increasingly agitated.
’By my calculations, the blood sacrifice should have already started. It might even be nearing its end.’
’And this old fox, Zhou Jin... is he just making small talk, or is he deliberately keeping me here?’
He glanced at Zhou Jin’s calm, gentle face, and the seed of unease in his heart began to sprout.
...
「The Altar Grotto.」
The Blood Evil Array was broken, the bloody light in disarray.
The Grey Robe Guardian stared at Liang Cheng, his bloodshot eyes filled with madness and venomous hatred. He slowly raised a hand and tore the mask from his face, revealing a pale, gaunt visage covered in dark red markings.
"Liang Cheng! You’ve ruined the Holy Sect’s grand undertaking and destroyed my path! Today, even if it means the utter annihilation of my Divine Soul, I will drag you to hell with me!"
He suddenly bit the tip of his tongue and spat a mouthful of Essence Blood onto his chest.
As if alive, the Essence Blood swiftly seeped into his skin and merged with the dark red markings on his body. An aura, many times more violent than before, exploded from him!
The veins beneath his skin bulged, writhing like worms. His eyes turned completely crimson. He was burning his life force to forcibly augment his power!
"Attack together! Kill him!"
The Grey Robe Guardian roared hoarsely and lunged. He was now far stronger than before. The other Blood Puppet charged forward as well, heedless of its own destruction.
Liang Cheng took a deep breath, calming the churning Qi Blood in his chest.
He tightened his grip on the Zhenxian Saber, its blade humming softly. The True Qi of his Broken Wave Technique surged through him, and the nine True Qi Seeds in his Dantian flared with brilliant light.
A pale blue True Qi emanated from his body, forming a hazy halo around him. As the light swirled, one could faintly hear the sound of crashing waves.
Facing the two figures rushing madly toward him, Liang Cheng advanced instead of retreating, taking a single step forward.
The rock beneath his feet shattered.
He raised the Zhenxian Saber. The pale blue light of the blade condensed until it seemed solid. Gone were the phantom images of wind and thunder that filled the sky; all that remained was a single, impossibly fast Sword Aura.
This single slash seemed to cleave the very air, to cleave the bloody light, and to cleave through every obstacle before it.
Its name was Zhenxian!
Men strive for an advantage; the saber strives for the first strike!
The savage sneer on the Grey Robe Guardian’s face froze in the path of the Sword Aura. The power he’d gained by burning his own life force seemed utterly insignificant before this one slash that could seemingly cut through anything.
The Blood-Eroding Claw Shadow he unleashed with all his strength crashed against the Sword Aura. For a fleeting instant, the two attacks were deadlocked. But in the end, the superior foundation of Liang Cheng’s more condensed True Qi crushed his opponent’s defense. The Claw Shadow shattered like a soap bubble.
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