Chapter Sixteen: The Thousand Demons' Blood Curse Unraveled

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Second chapter update!

Seeing that the fierce battle on Lin Tian's side was still raging, Lei Xiang quickly put away his Chrysanthemum Thorn and strode over. He did not rush to join the fray; instead, he watched and waited, embodying the patience and composure unique to a sniper, holding out for the perfect moment to strike, to deliver a killing blow with a single shot.

Just then, the counterfeit Gao Tianchan's Eight-foot Serpent Spear had just parried Lei Xiang's Thunder Palm. Suddenly, he straightened the shaft of his spear, which extended to a length of thirty feet, accompanied by a flurry of spear shadows that whistled through the air as he thrust forward.

A perfect opportunity! With Gao Tianchan fully committed to his counterattack, his defenses were at their weakest. Lei Xiang chose this very moment to make his move.

Imprison!

He released the spiritual incantation he had prepared, sending a jet-black point of light into Gao Tianchan’s sea of qi, which instantly coursed through his veins. In that moment, Gao Tianchan’s spiritual power was sealed, rendering him no different from a mortal.

Lei Xiang’s fingers cut through the air like blades, unleashing a blue spiral of light that cleanly severed Gao Tianchan’s head. He also took the opportunity to seize his storage pouch and Eight-foot Serpent Spear.

Wiping the blood splattered across his face, Lin Tian exclaimed loudly, “This time, the Grand Sect of Ten Thousand Talismans has achieved a resounding victory, all thanks to the remarkable emergence of Young Master Lei! If not for your ingenious moves, none of us would have survived. Your cultivation is unfathomable, and your future is limitless.”

Lei Xiang clasped his hands in salute. “Sect Master Lin, you exaggerate. I merely happened to see through their true nature and fortunately devised a way to break their formation. The Tianchan Gang was indeed difficult to deal with, but now their leader, elders, and elite members have all been annihilated. They should no longer have the strength to retaliate against the Grand Sect of Ten Thousand Talismans.”

“You are too modest, Young Master Lei. Even the common folk here will owe you their gratitude, for they no longer need to fear that man named Gao…” Suddenly, Lin Tian fell silent, his gaze fixed upon his own hand—the one that had just wiped his face.

The hand showed no change, save for a smear of blood—black blood.

After a long moment, Lin Tian’s voice trembled, “Too ruthless… Gao Tianchan was truly ruthless. That perverse bastard…”

Lei Xiang was bewildered; he could not understand why this kindly old man had suddenly become so furious, even cursing outright.

Lin Tian then shouted, “Anyone who touched Gao Tianchan’s black blood, step forward!” Seeing over three hundred people rise in a rush, he was utterly speechless.

Noticing Lin Tian’s grave expression, Lei Xiang dared not ask openly but instead sent a message, “Elder Lin, does Gao Tianchan’s black blood have some hidden danger?”

Lin Tian sighed softly and waved his hand. “Today, the Grand Sect of Ten Thousand Talismans has triumphed. Everyone, tidy up the battlefield and then go rest.” Once he had arranged matters, he transmitted his reply, “That wretched Gao Tianchan set a trap before his death, using a secret technique to self-destruct and cast the Blood Curse of Ten Thousand Demons. There is no way to break this curse.”

Blood Curse of Ten Thousand Demons?

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“Yes, the Blood Curse of Ten Thousand Demons is no trivial matter. It is a secret forbidden to outsiders by the Blood Fiend Alliance. Legend has it that it requires a sacrifice of life to cast, and after self-detonation, anyone who comes into contact with even the slightest trace of his black blood will be hunted by the countless affiliated factions of the Blood Fiend Alliance. Compared to the Tianchan Gang’s Death Talisman, its level is far higher.”

Lei Xiang’s heart tightened, for he too had been splashed with some black blood earlier. “Elder Lin, is there no way to break it in the cultivation world?”

Lin Tian shook his head helplessly. “Once the Blood Curse of Ten Thousand Demons is locked onto you, there is no escape for life. The worst part is that there’s no time limit. The Blood Fiend Alliance is in no hurry to kill you; they will notify all members, and anyone who senses the curse can hunt you at their own discretion. Think about it—the Blood Fiend Alliance’s influence spans the entire Eastern Yue Kingdom. Unless you isolate yourself from everyone, you will eventually be discovered. Yet you won’t know who is a member of the Blood Fiend Alliance—you can only wait for someone to come for you, dying without ever knowing how it happened.”

Lei Xiang nodded thoughtfully. “The pursuit itself isn’t the most terrifying part. What’s truly dreadful is the constant anticipation of being hunted; that torment is beyond what ordinary people can bear.”

Lin Tian continued, “That’s why I plan to lead the Grand Sect of Ten Thousand Talismans into hiding somewhere unreachable, so that I can teach the disciples to cultivate diligently. When our strength is sufficient, we will no longer fear the Blood Fiend Alliance.”

“Everyone says the Blood Fiend Alliance is fearsome. Are they really that formidable?”

Lin Tian frowned. “Young Master Lei, it seems you know little about the Blood Fiend Alliance. In Eastern Yue, among both righteous and evil sects, the Blood Fiend Alliance is the largest and most powerful. Legend has it they have six hundred thousand members. Even if you waited for them to kill you, you’d be exhausted before you finished them off.”

“Moreover, the Blood Fiend Alliance boasts nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators. Their Grandmaster is at the peak of late Foundation Establishment, already having one foot in the door of Core Formation.” Lin Tian glanced at Lei Xiang and added, “Although today’s battle proved your strength—even Foundation Establishment cultivators have trouble with you—more importantly, your wisdom, courage, and innate talent are remarkable. But compared to the Blood Fiend Alliance, you are still far behind. You should make plans early.”

Lei Xiang said nothing, and Lin Tian also fell silent.

The sun was setting, and dusk had arrived.

Lin Tian suddenly spoke, “Have you made up your mind? I know you were never meant to be confined to a small pond, but now it’s best to heed my advice: go to Mount Cuiwei to cultivate and raise your power as quickly as possible. I believe that in less than ten years you’ll be able to trample the Blood Fiend Alliance underfoot.”

Lei Xiang flashed a grin, revealing his tiger teeth. “I am indeed not a fish in a pond—I am a drink in a cup.”

“Why is that?”

Lei Xiang replied, “You praise me so much that I feel as if I’m drunk.”

Lin Tian stared at him in surprise. “I truly cannot see through you. Even at a time like this, you have the mood to joke. What kind of person are you, exactly?”

Lei Xiang smiled. “The kind of person I am doesn’t matter. What matters is maintaining a good state of mind. I always feel that living is about one’s mood—don’t suppress yourself too much. Let things take their course. Sect Master Lin, I have made up my mind. Let us part ways here.”

Lin Tian pondered for a moment. “Wait, let me give you some talismans from the Grand Sect of Ten Thousand Talismans, one of each type for self-defense. They may not be masterpieces, but at least their quantity can make up for their quality.”

Lei Xiang laughed. “One of each will suffice. Don’t forget, my Blue Lotus Plate has a treasure basin function that can duplicate them.”

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Lei Xiang did not go far. He sat calmly beneath an ancient tree halfway up the mountain in the rear hills, shaking out three beast-hide tents. With a spell, countless blue threads of light wrapped around the tents, slowly contracting until they were tightly bound, adding an extra layer of protection.

During yesterday’s fierce battle with Gao Tianchan, Lei Xiang’s spiritual power had surged, hinting at a breakthrough. Thus, his primary task was to advance his cultivation. Having fortified the tents with the Imprisonment technique, which also prevented spiritual energy from leaking out, Lei Xiang prepared to break through to the twelfth level. Safety came first, and he wished to avoid drawing attention; with the tents and the sealing spell, even if he performed Thunder God techniques within, no one would hear a thing.

Once everything was ready, Lei Xiang began his third rotation. Looking inward, he saw that his meridians now contained ten thousand threads of spiritual energy, entwined and forming several hundred clusters. When he circulated his power, these clusters traveled through his Eight Extraordinary Meridians, unlike before when the threads acted alone.

The accumulation of quantity was sufficient; now, only qualitative change remained. Lei Xiang guided these clusters to gather in his sea of qi, attempting to slowly merge them…

Time passed, and after three days, Lei Xiang suddenly felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. The clusters he had painstakingly gathered exploded. After enduring the agony, a melon-sized cloud of turbid energy surged out, and the clusters scattered.

Lei Xiang quickly focused his will, guiding the foul energy to slowly exit from below. The pain vanished, leaving him refreshed and invigorated.

Checking the clusters, he found their number had grown to over seven hundred. Lei Xiang laughed with satisfaction, knowing he had broken through to the twelfth level of Qi Refinement. He could now learn advanced techniques and study the sect’s talismans and the art of crafting them. As for refining artifacts, he was still limited to the lowest grade; only after achieving Foundation Establishment and gaining the base fire could he craft higher-level items. However, with his current strength, he could modify artifacts below the middle grade without issue.

Lei Xiang sat for three days and nights, consolidating his cultivation until he was confident that even if he faced a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he would not be defeated. Then he took out Gao Tianchan’s storage pouch to examine his spoils.

There were a pile of women’s items, a black Swift Carriage, a few middle-grade spirit stones, and a single premium spirit stone. As for artifacts, there was the Thunder Hammer, a brilliantly shining ring, a comb resembling a whole fishbone, and six small silver metal rods.

The Swift Carriage and spirit stones were quickly stored away, making Lei Xiang feel suddenly wealthy. He had seen the Thunder Hammer’s power—it was a formidable offensive lightning artifact. The ring was a premium upper-grade defensive artifact, which he wore on his index finger. The fishbone comb he tossed into his own storage pouch for later study. What intrigued Lei Xiang most were the six silver metal rods.

He did not recognize the material—perhaps some kind of alloy—but he could sense their resilience and hardness. Clutching them, Lei Xiang began to formulate a plan.

After tidying up, Lei Xiang tapped his temple with two fingers, releasing a green orb from his forehead that transformed instantly into a green curtain of light. On it, countless green dots twinkled; if he tapped twice in succession, a dot would enlarge, revealing the landscape in detail.

Lei Xiang searched the map for a long time before locking onto a location. Then he put away the map and took out his vehicle. He dared not use Gao Tianchan’s black Swift Carriage—it was too conspicuous. True to his modest nature, Lei Xiang chose a low-grade vehicle.

The vehicle expanded in the wind to the size of a normal horse. Lei Xiang fitted a spirit stone into its belly, cast a spell into its left eye, then mounted it. The vehicle spiraled upward and soared into the sky.

Suddenly, a faint sigh echoed from the depths of Lei Xiang’s consciousness.

ps: The third chapter will be posted tonight~