Blood Essence Trafficking

"Do you think I'm stupid? I know what kind of sect you two belong to. The Feather Beast Mountain was deemed as a righteous force 300 years ago. But after that generation's sect leader died, the sect's morals and values were ignored and then turned into an evil sect. Furthermore, the current sect master of your little evil sect, Xue Li is currently being detained by the Heavens for trafficking Blood Essence within your realm cluster. Hmph! I think that the Heavens are being too lenient with your master's punishment. If it were me, I wouldn't just capture and detain him...No, I would first extract all of the Blood Essence from your Sect and your clients. Why? Why not! I think that it would be appropriate for everyone involved in the trafficking to be punished! And then I..." [Horu]

"Alright Horu, are you just going to tell your bullshit to your friends or are you gonna introduce them to me?" A voice interjected.

"Blake, do you know how wicked and insane it is to extract Blood Essence from living beings?? And then sell it??" Horu asked Blake solemnly.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I? Kidnapping and trafficking living beings in itself is considered a sinful action in the first place. I've also annihilated countries that involved themselves within these crimes back in my world. I know it's wrong but at least let them go. Look, their faces have paled incredibly while their auras are getting thinner. It'll leave me a bad aftertaste if they just outright die from fear," [Blake]

"Tch, fine!" Horu gave in but upon releasing his prey, he couldn't help but give them another warning. "But just so you know, if we ever catch wind of you guys doing any of the aforementioned crimes, I will personally come to you and burn your twisted souls in the Nether Flames for a hundred thousand years!"

"Yes sir, of course sir! Then without further ado, me and my subordinate will leave immedia...immediately!" Albolg and Bhorg flew away immediately after giving Horu and Blake a slight bow.

As the Feather Beast duo flew towards the sunset, Blake shook his head a couple of times before letting out a sigh and Horu just shrugged.

"Haiz, are those the two that's gonna accompany us until I return to my own realm?? This is gonna suck." [Blake]

"It already sucked, their added presence makes this journey even worse." [Horu]

After that, the two went back home.

4 years later...

In Blake's room

"BREEEEAAAAK!!!!!!!"

A pillar of light suddenly erupted from Blake's body as soon as Blake shouted. This pillar of light represented a successful breakthrough!

Blake had successfully broken through and reached rank 30, Magic Grandmaster realm!

'Haiz...after cultivating like mad for 4 years straight, I've only managed to reach Magic Grandmaster realm. When can I ever go home?' Blake wondered.

But, just before Blake could consolidate his new cultivation, Horu barged into his room unexpectedly. "Blake! Blake! Have you heard?! Something big is gonna happen soon!"

"Was that the reason you came in without knocking? Really? Don't you have anything else to tell me??" [Blake]

"Oh, uh...Congrats on breaking through to Magic Grandmaster realm, Blake." [Horu]

"Thank you, so what's this about something big happening soon? Care to share the details??" [Blake]

"Oh right! What I wanted to tell you was that the Labyrinth of Fallen Rings has opened up." [Horu]

"Labyrinth of Fallen Rings? As in that shitty labyrinth that managed to trap a thousand top grade cultivators after the opening of Malkai's Tomb?? I thought we already declared that place as a forbidden zone??" [Blake]

"Yeah, that one." [Horu]

"And what do you mean by it opening??" [Blake]

"Well...let's just say that, even though it was considered as a forbidden zone...it doesn't stop those humans, beastmen and demon kin from trying their luck and initiating dungeon dives from time to time. Hahaha...the allure of heavenly treasures, high grade secret arts and elixirs hidden within the labyrinth will make anyone be filled with greed." [Horu]

"Sigh, I should have expected that...And so?" [Blake]

"And so, during a dungeon dive yesterday, a group of mixed folk encountered a horde of undead wearing high grade armor and equipping high grade weapons coming out from one of the labyrinth's entrances. They suspect that the Labyrinth of Fallen Rings has opened up thanks to the continuous spawn of undead hammering the barrier for a good 300 years." [Horu]

"I see. Then, how many people already know of the Labyrinth's opening??" [Blake]

"At least 100 forces by now...Maybe even more, I'm not sure." [Horu]

"Cheh, if it were only this much...We can still fill up our Storage Spaces then. C'mon, let's go treasure hunting!' [Blake]

"Eh? Ehhhh??" [Horu]

Horu was stunned speechless. He thought Blake might reject his invitation immediately after knowing how many people are going as well...Yet, he did not expect Blake to accept so quickly. By the time Horu shook himself out of a daze, Blake was already done preparing his gear for this treasure hunt.

A floating island somewhere in the void

"Damn, it's been years since I last came here! I'm getting pumped!" [Blake]

"Hahaha, same. After 300 years, Malkai's Tomb is still considered a treasure paradise." [Horu]

"Yeah, a treasure paradise of dead people. Hahaha~!" [Blake]

Malkai's Tomb, the final resting place of the Undead Shadow God, Malkai. The tomb consists of 200 floors, each floor houses a retainer or a general of the Immortal Shadow Army. Defeat any one of them and you will get treasures that will set you for life. Up until now, adventurers and cultivators have only cleared 20 or so floors of the original 200 floors, letting people know that the Immortal Shadow Army was not to be looked down upon.

One more thing, this tomb functions like a dungeon, you can kill the floor bosses 1000 times and they will still revive after a set amount of time...Meaning that unless someone were to clear all floor bosses in one go, those defeated floor bosses will never disappear completely.

Malkai's Tomb Entrance

"Wow Horu, look! There's not many people here yet! Thank god, I decided we should come earlier." [Blake]

"Yes, yes...You're always right, Blake." [Horu]

Looking around some more, Blake deduced that information about the labyrinth's opening was only given to a set number of high grade forces of the Multiverse. There wasn't anyone here that Blake didn't know...Which also means that the competition from now on was going to be very, very fierce.