Chapter 139: Curtains Fall!
"Bastard! He actually dares speak to the young miss like this..."
The young experts from the Gu clan within the Black Annihilation Army immediately blazed with fury. One after another, powerful auras erupted from them as they stared deathly at Yun Yi. If gazes could kill, Yun Yi would have already been hacked to pieces.
"The Gu clan indeed has bloodiness and courage!" Yun Yi surveyed the indignant, outraged Gu clan crowd, a faint, mocking smile playing on his lips.
"Jie jie jie—Young Hall Master, since these people don't cherish the opportunity you've given them, let them witness the methods of my Soul Hall!"
The Blood River Honored Venerable looked at Yun Yi at this moment and spoke. Gazing at the Gu clan crowd, his eyes were exceptionally dark and sinister.
Boom!
As his voice fell, a sea of blood abruptly materialized across heaven and earth. A nauseatingly thick stench of blood also surged violently from within, blotting out the sky. Faintly, along with it, utterly miserable, piercing shrieks echoed out.
"Hmph! Do all the people of the Soul Hall so enjoy spouting arrogant nonsense?"
At this moment, Gu Xu let out a cold snort. The pressure of an eight-star Dou Zun erupted with a boom, carrying a terrifying vortex of energy, hurtling straight toward the Blood River Honored Venerable.
"Heh heh, a mere eight-star Dou Zun like you—truly not worth looking at."
Toward Gu Xu's words, the Blood River Heavenly Venerable actually laughed, then shook his head. With a light sigh, he said, "They all say my Soul Hall is arrogantly conceited and looks down on everyone, but in truth, your Gu clan surpasses even the Soul Hall in that regard. Since that's the case, let this old man teach you Gu clan lot a lasting lesson. This place is not within your clan."
As these words of the Fourth Heavenly Venerable fell, the sea of blood that permeated the abyss abruptly erupted with enormous pillars of blood. Blood mist permeated the air. A sinister, chilling aura that froze one to the very marrow slowly swept out from within the Fourth Heavenly Venerable in overwhelming waves!
The dark, cold, and strange, eerie aura swept out from within the Fourth Heavenly Venerable, Blood River, like a storm. Everywhere that aura touched—whether the people of the Jia Ma Empire or the Black Annihilation Army—the blood within their bodies abruptly began boiling and seething at this moment.
"Not good! Quickly activate your bloodline power to resist!" Sensing the anomaly within him, Gu Zhen urgently roared.
Hearing Gu Zhen's words, the numerous Gu clan members hurriedly stirred the bloodline power within them to resist the Blood River Heavenly Venerable's methods.
However, a few were still too slow to react. Along with some of the Jia Ma Empire's people, they exploded with a boom. Pool after pool of blood plasma stained this stretch of ground a horrifying, gory red.
"Bastard!"
Watching the Black Annihilation Army suffer losses, Gu Xu was instantly enraged. Simultaneously, the Gu clan Honored Elder in the distance who was protecting Xiao Yan also burst forth in fury. Both men shot toward the Blood River Honored Venerable at the same time.
"Imperial Seal Art: Heaven-Annihilating Seal!"
Two furious roars rang out. On withered, desiccated palms, dazzling, brilliant green crystalline lights abruptly burst forth. Strange, profound hand seals transformed and took form!
"Heh, the Imperial Seal Art?" Sensing the two men's fierce, sharp attacks, a terribly unsightly smile surfaced on the Blood River Heavenly Venerable's face. "Two eight-star Dou Zuns can't stop me!"
"Blood Transformation Art—Lesser Blood Devouring Technique!"
A dark, sinister low roar, like a sudden thunderclap, resounded across heaven and earth. And as this roar fell, the blood within the Blood River Heavenly Venerable's body abruptly boiled over. His aura, which had already reached the peak of nine-star Dou Zun, began slowly climbing and swelling...
"Absorbing two eight-star Dou Zuns should let my Blood Transformation Art advance another step!"
The sea of blood spread. The very color of the sky changed. The sinister, icy cold voice, carrying a terrifying oppressive might, spread across this stretch of sky!
"Second-Transition Dou Zun!"
Gazing at the Fourth Heavenly Venerable, whose aura had skyrocketed in that instant, a look of solemn gravity also flickered through the eyes of Gu Xu and the other man. That this fellow could carve out such a ferocious, resounding reputation in the Central Plains—he truly did have some skill.
To actually possess a secret method that could raise one's strength by an entire Transition!
The span from Dou Zun to Dou Sheng was simply far too vast. That was precisely why there existed the distinctions of Half-Saint and the Nine-Transition Dou Zun.
Cultivating from a one-star Dou Zun to a nine-star Dou Zun completed one Transition. After that, the cycle repeated itself, over and over, for a full nine times. Only after nine Transitions was it considered Great Perfection!
Only upon reaching the realm of Nine-Transition Dou Zun was there a sliver of a chance to break through to Half-Saint.
Such a high degree of cultivation difficulty also created a situation where, between each Transition of the Nine-Transition Dou Zun realm, the gap in strength was nearly insurmountable.
Amplification secret methods that usually worked well became utterly useless at the Nine-Transition Dou Zun realm. That the Blood River Heavenly Venerable possessed a secret method that could amplify his strength by an entire Transition—that was why the two were so utterly shocked.
"Heh heh..."
"Blood Demon Heavenly Demon Palm!"
Watching the shocked, horrified expressions on Gu Xu and the other's faces, the Blood River Heavenly Venerable let out a bizarre cackle. Wave after terrifying wave of blood-colored mist surged out from within him in overwhelming waves, rapidly coalescing in the sky into roiling, foul, reeking clouds of blood.
The blood clouds churned. A blood-colored palm seal nearly a thousand zhang wide directly shot violently out from within the blood clouds under countless horrified gazes. Then, with ruthless ferocity, it slammed straight toward Gu Xu and his companion.
The might of that blood palm was exceedingly terrifying. Still a thousand zhang high in the sky, yet on the distant ground, the contour of a super-massive palm print had already appeared upon the earth!
Sensing the Blood River Honored Venerable's fearsome attack, Gu Xu and the other man paled one after another. Frantically, they formed one strange, peculiar seal after another. And as their seals took form, at the center of both their brows, a strange clan marking also slowly materialized.
"Clan Marking—Activate!"
"The Gu clan's clan marking?" Seeing the clan markings at the center of Gu Xu and the other's brows, the Blood River Honored Venerable was abruptly jolted. If one were to speak of the greatest variable when people like them battled members of the ancient clans—it was precisely these clan markings.
The secret methods of ordinary people all had severe side effects. The greater the secret method's power, the greater the side effects!
But the ancient clans' clan markings—these were thoroughly unreasonable things. They could raise one's strength with absolutely no side effects whatsoever!
"Only to this extent, is it?"
However, upon sensing that the two had only raised their cultivation by a single star, an icy, sinister smile rose on the Blood River Honored Venerable's face. With a savage laugh, he brought his full-force palm strike crashing down upon the two.
"Imperial Seal Art!"
Two crystalline hand seals and that colossal blood palm tore through the void, colliding with violent ferocity.
"Boom!"
The three forces met, instantly exploding apart in the sky. The fearsome energy, under gaze after shocked gaze, swept outward from the horizon. At this very instant, even the clouds in the sky were forcibly shattered into sheer nothingness!
"Pfft—"
Gu Xu and the other man ultimately fell a step short against a Second-Transition Dou Zun. They coughed out a mouthful of blood. Watching the terrifying energy hurricane taking shape on the horizon, suddenly—a chill came from behind them.
Whirling around abruptly, they saw the Blood River Heavenly Venerable's face, brimming with dark, icy mirth, appear within their pupils.
Raising his fist, streams of blood-red Dou Qi flowed out from within him, converging into a thick, heavy layer of blood scab. Finally, with violent force, he smashed it toward the two men's backs!
"Die!"
As the foul, reeking fist wind arrived, Gu Xu and the other man's faces changed drastically. No time to react. With a boom, the Blood River Heavenly Venerable's attack landed solidly, heavily, on their chests.
Their faces like gold paper, they went flying sideways!
"Teacher, Xun Er's clansmen seem to be in danger!" Watching the rapidly shifting battle situation and the Gu clan falling into disadvantage, Xiao Yan looked at Yao Chen and couldn't help but ask with worry.
"That Blood River Honored Venerable is already an extremely famous expert in the Central Plains. Who knows how many first-rate powerhouses have perished at his hands back then? The two from the Gu clan hold no advantage in cultivation. This battle—it's going to be difficult!"
Yao Chen watched the situation and spoke. Yet his eyes held no worried expression. Gu Xun Er's status was laid out right there—who knew how many trump cards she carried on her person!
Just... they wouldn't summon those two again, would they?
At this thought, Yao Chen couldn't help but worry once more. If it happened again, they might not be as lucky as last time!
"Yun Yi! Do you truly intend to incite a war between the two clans?!" Watching the two elders being brutalized by the Blood River Heavenly Venerable, Gu Xun Er looked at Yun Yi and the Soul Hall crowd closing in. Her pretty face was icier than ever before.
"Why not?" Yun Yi countered with utter indifference. "Ever since the Xiao clan's defeat and destruction, hasn't your Gu clan called itself the foremost ancient clan? Afraid of starting a war with my Hun clan?"
"You—!" Choked by Yun Yi's words, Gu Xun Er found herself somewhat speechless. Ever since learning that the Hun clan also possessed a nine-star Dou Sheng in Nihility Devouring Flame, hearing this title of "foremost ancient clan" made Gu Xun Er feel rather embarrassed.
Moreover, she couldn't adopt the same carefree, indifferent attitude as Yun Yi, casually tossing around talk of war at every turn. Her father would absolutely never agree to it.
"Yun Yi, there's no need to provoke with words. You and I both know that war between the two clans is impossible. Nor is it something you or I can decide. This time, we admit defeat. Qingyang, on behalf of the young miss Xun Er, apologizes to you. Have the Fourth Heavenly Venerable stop. If anything happens to the two elders, Gu Xu and the other, it will be very difficult to clean up!"
At the critical moment, it was still Gu Qingyang who stepped forward. With a grave, solemn expression, he paid absolutely no heed to his own face. His words already carried an attitude of yielding and concession.
Seeing Gu Qingyang behave in such a manner, the surrounding Black Annihilation Army warriors looked at Gu Qingyang with eyes full of deep respect. This was respect that came from the heart—absolutely not like toward Gu Xun Er, where they respected her status, her bloodline!
"Gu Qingyang?" Looking at the blue-robed man before him, Yun Yi said with some pity, "What a shame..."
Without waiting for anyone to respond, Yun Yi looked at Gu Xun Er and said, "I told you—resolving this matter is very simple..."
Watching the relentlessly, aggressively pressing Yun Yi, fury also surged into Gu Qingyang's eyes.
Forced repeatedly by Yun Yi, Gu Xun Er's expression was equally unsightly. Her right hand quietly produced a pitch-black scroll. Tearing it would summon a Dou Sheng of the clan to descend. Then, everything would be resolved instantly.
But—raising her head, she met Yun Yi's faint, knowing, mocking smile. Gu Xun Er's heart trembled. Hesitation once again rose in her heart. If the Dou Shengs of both clans made a move, the situation could spiral beyond control.
"Young Miss Xun Er had best not act rashly. If Dou Shengs take the field... do you think Xiao Yan's body, at the mere Da Dou Shi level, could withstand the aftermath of the clash?" Seeing through Gu Xun Er's hesitation, Yun Yi immediately delivered the fatal blow—the killing blow aimed specifically at Gu Xun Er.
"No—!" Looking into the distance, on Yun Lan Mountain—at the black-robed youth whose bloodstains had yet to dry, the youth she yearned for day and night—Gu Xun Er's heart convulsed.
An urgent cry burst from Gu Xun Er's mouth. Beside her, Gu Qingyang and Gu Zhen stiffened, their bodies trembling faintly. They turned their heads away.
"This time... it was Xun Er who was wrong." Her silver teeth bit down on her red lips. Gu Xun Er's expression was deeply unsightly. Yet in the end, she still uttered these words.
"Boom!"
The surrounding Black Annihilation Army warriors instantly felt as if thunderbolts from a clear sky had struck their heads. They looked at Gu Xun Er with utter disbelief. The faith in their hearts seemed, at this moment, to have collapsed entirely.
"Hahaha—!" And having obtained the outcome he desired, Yun Yi abruptly burst into wild, manic laughter. The surrounding Soul Hall crowd also let out eerie, "Jie jie jie" cackles.
"What a fine young miss of the Gu clan. In your heart, the Gu clan still doesn't weigh as heavily as your beloved!"
Watching the increasingly unsightly expressions on the Gu clan crowd, Yun Yi said to Qin Tian beside him, "Since the Gu clan's young miss has kept her word, we naturally cannot fall short in turn!"
Hearing this, Qin Tian's expression turned strange. He said, "Young Hall Master... it seems it's a bit too late..."
"Ah—"
On the distant battlefield, Gu Xu and his companion, ultimately unable to withstand the Blood River Heavenly Venerable's onslaught, had been blasted apart by a single palm strike from him. Even their blood had been drained completely dry.
"Yun Yi!"
Gu Xun Er, who had likewise witnessed the fall of the two elders, stared at Yun Yi with an eerily calm, pretty face. Within her eyes, golden flames flickered and danced.
"A step too late. Who told you to dawdle and drag your feet?" Within Yun Yi's eyes, black flames flickered. Staring at the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame within Gu Xun Er, they shuddered faintly.
"Hua la la!"
Right at that moment, within the distant sea of blood, wave after wave of ripples suddenly surged. Then, the Fourth Heavenly Venerable, stepping step by step, walked upon the void just like that, advancing toward the crowd one step at a time.
His scarlet-crimson eyes stared fixedly at the Gu clan crowd. A terribly unsightly smile rose on his face. "The bloodline of an ancient clan—truly extraordinary!"
Watching the somewhat greedy gaze in the Blood River Heavenly Venerable's eyes, Gu Xun Er drew several deep breaths. Calming herself, she said, "Yun Yi, your demands—I have already fulfilled them. Now please leave. Otherwise... even if it means mutual destruction, today, you will still be made to remain here."
Gazing at the utterly calm Gu Xun Er, Yun Yi knew she had reached the limit of her endurance. If he pressed any further, the situation would become difficult to clean up.
After all, he didn't know whether Nihility Devouring Flame would, for his sake, once again forcibly face off against Gu Yuan!
"Fourth Heavenly Venerable, let them go for today. There will be plenty of time in the future," Yun Yi said to the Blood River Heavenly Venerable beside him. Hearing this, the other nodded. The Soul Hall's hierarchy was strictly stratified. He dared not disobey the words of Yun Yi, this Young Hall Master.
"We're leaving!"
As his voice fell, Yun Yi turned and walked toward his personal war chariot!
The Blood River Heavenly Venerable tore with his palm. A pitch-black spatial passageway immediately materialized. Along with the ringing of bells, Yun Yi and his crowd swiftly sped toward the black hole.
With the Soul Hall's departure, the black clouds in the sky also, at this moment, slowly scattered into the distance.
"That fellow... will likely become a great enemy of ours in the future!"
Watching the Soul Hall crowd leave, the remaining Gu clan members finally let out a long sigh of relief. Gu Zhen watched Gu Qingyang beside him and spoke with focused gravity.
"He already is," Gu Qingyang said in a deep voice after a moment of silence and deliberation, making Gu Zhen's expression stir with emotion.
Then, recalling the events just moments ago, he sighed helplessly. "Yes... he already is."
The two men's gazes fell upon the graceful, slender figure ahead. At this moment, she was looking toward Yun Lan Mountain. A radiant smile blossomed on her face. A captivating, heart-stirring voice rang out.
"Brother Xiao Yan!"