Chapter-14 BloodSlade Hunt

As soon as Tian Mo stepped off the arched bridge of the Eternal Soul Sect, an unfamiliar weight lifted from his shoulders. Yet, the feeling was far from liberating. The oppressive air of the Dark Demon Realm greeted him like an old enemy, suffocating yet ever-present

He gazed across the dark plains stretching endlessly before him. The land was bleak and unforgiving, broken only by jagged mountains and dense, shadow-laden forests. Even in the faint light of the crimson moon overhead, the world seemed cloaked in perpetual night.

Tian Mo's shoulders sagged, a breath escaped his lips, visible in the cold, stagnant air. "I'm finally free…but it doesn't feel like it." he whispered.

A bitter smile crept across his face, only to wither into a deep frown. His fists clenched, nails biting into his palms, he realized that, no matter where he went, he would remain trapped in the Dark Demon Realm. Still he was determined.

'Yet I can't run away... there's so much I can do in the sect to benefit me.' He mused, clenching his fists.

In fact he knew of the trouble he's going encounter in the sect, he realized that it will be the same outside. His lips pressed into a thin line, his hands flexed at his sides. Without a doubt he won't be able to doing anything without strenght from what he already saw inside. So why should I chose the most dangerous option?

Despite it he felt apprehensive. With how many enemies he graining gaining than outside, he questioned. What if the outside world is worse? What if there are more monsters like Zhao Kang waiting for me?

"Strength... it's the only thing that matters right now. Revenge?" He laughed bitterly, shaking his head. "I can't even think about that yet. Rushing toward it would only end in my death. Mom wouldn't want that. She'd call me a fool for throwing my life away so recklessly."

He felt desolated. His memory of his mother's gentle yet firm voice echoed in his mind, calming him.

Pushing those thought to back of his mind, he used the sect jade to lead him toward the BloodSlade Valley. Still glancing at the forest in the distance. The shadows between the trees seemed alive, writhing and watching him. For a brief moment, he swore he saw something moving a faint figure, humanoid but not human. He shook his head, convincing himself it was his imagination. Yet, deep down, he felt the Realm had eyes.

The BloodSlade Valley was protected by seals, accessible only with a sect jade. Tian Mo didn't know why but had no choice but to trust there a reason. But he had never imagined stepping foot into it himself.

Still, a nagging question lingered in the back of his mind. Why would anyone willingly enter such a cursed place?

He knew the answer. His mission. It was his first sign foward between a human cultivator vs demonic cultivator. He knew which side he was on...currently.

The five entrances to the valley were heavily guarded, only to be opened when something significant occurred. Elders stood at each threshold, ensuring that only those with proper sect jades could pass. Normally, they remained locked only accessible to the most trusted disciples or when a special event called for it. But today, something changed.

At that moment, all five entrances swung open. Tian Mo watched as disciples from both the outer and inner courts, flooded into the valley from every direction. The vast number of them was overwhelming. Nearly a hundred thousand disciples poured in.

"This BloodSlade Valley…trully vile."

Tian Mo wandered around in the BloodSlade Valley. His gaze was attracted to the huge, sky covering trees and the dense bushes. Mostly by the valley being enveloped in blood-red fog there should no reason it's unless it special.

It was also the first time that he saw such evil plants. Even the fragrances of the flowers were very dense and the otherworldly scene intoxicated him. Some had thorns, long like swords.

"What's this type of grass?"

Tian Mo's gaze locked onto something new. The grass height of five inches, have an otherworldly deep crimson hue with black streaks running through it's blades like leaves, as if veins course with qi. Because the forest was bit darker, than outside, the tips of the grass emit a faint, eerie red glow.

As his hand reached out, the grass reacted violently. The leaves extended like blades of a sword, slashing through the air toward him. Tian Mo barely managed to leap back, the tips of the blades grazing the air where he had been a split second before. The plant's attack was swift, deadly even.

He was puzzled by the plant. "These things… they have a qi nature." he muttered, dry laughter escaping him. He scanned around with his gaze. While also questioning. Are all thing's in the dark demon realm evil?

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind, deep and powerful.

'That's a Demon's Whisper.'

'The Demon Whisper is a rare and potent plant,' the Soul Emperor's voice continued, explaining its value. 'It is highly sought after for its ability to boost cultivation by corrupting qi and refining blood essence.'

A qi plant or herb is a plant which has absorbed qi from the natural world and is highly sought after by both cultivators and alchemists alike. Usually either eaten to absorb the spiritual energy it contains or refined into medicines.

Tian Mo's eyes widened. He had heard of such herbs, but he never thought he would encounter one so soon.

"I can't believe I found something this valuable already..." Tian Mo whispered under his breath.

Although the Demon Whisper was considered a low-quality qi herb, it was still incredibly valuable. He knew it would be beneficial for his cultivation, even if only for a temporary boost. If he could collect more, he might be able to increase his strength significantly. It will bring him with triumphant.

He first mainly needed strength, before he could to anything outside the sect. Especially if he wants to escape the Dark Demon Realm in the future.

With that he had a plan first, he darted to the herb's left, narrowly dodging its blade-like leaves. It lashed out again, but he sidestepped and lunged, yanking it from the ground in one swift motion.

"I got you!" he said with a satisfied grin, but it was short-lived.

The Demon Whisper, suddenly came alive about to attack. With a concentrated breath, he activated his qi and poured it into the plant, locking its movements in place. Slowly, the plant's violent writhing came to a halt. Wrapping the leaves carefully, placing it inside his satchel.

'There must be more around here.' He thought.

Tian Mo felt grateful if he got multiple demon whisper he should be good, that he can leave so he decided to follow the same trail, he was previous walking.

He wandered further, picking his way carefully among the towering trees. His eyes scanned the ground for more herbs, but it wasn't long before something new caught his attention. A plant unlike any he had seen before its leaves shimmered with an eerie silvery-blue sheen, the dark veins that ran through it pulsating like blood in the moonlight.

He learned from The Soul Emperor it's a ghostroot having a profound effect on strengthening, repairing, and refining the soul. Despite, it not being a Demon Whisper he still went to pick it up this time cautiously.

However, as he approached, an unnatural tugging sensation assaulted his very soul. He resisted the pull, his heart hammering in his chest. Slowly, cautiously, he uprooted the Ghostroot, marveling at its strange yet powerful aura.

Tian Mo dusted off his hands."I can't use it currently, but maybe I can sell it." He muttered to himself. He smiled bitterly. The Ghost Root was another a low-quality qi herb, still the qi inside it was several times worse than the Demon Whisper. I need alot more Demon Whispers if I'm to breakthrough again.

The BloodSlade Valley was divided into three sections: the outer zone, middle zone, and the forbidden inner zone. Each zone held herbs of different potency, with the outer zone offering low-quality herbs and the middle containing medium-quality ones.

But it was the inner zone that held the true treasures. Few dared enter it due to the fierce dangers lurking there, and Tian Mo was no exception. He had no desire to venture that deep… not yet.

The medium quality qi herb was the Demon Whisper, is rumored to have sprouted from the spilled blood of a demon god, killed by the sect leader. Some say meditating near a patch of this grass under a blood moon, allows cultivators to hear whispers from the god, granting insights into forbidden techniques but at the cost of their sanity.

He also wanted to find out more about that, so he kept on going, and all the Demon Whisper that Tian Mo saw along the road were not able to escape his grasp. When it was noon, he finally reached the middle of the valley and he quickly found one Ghost Root.

Straight until the sun started setting in the west, Tian Mo saw at least a dozen of Ghost Roots, but he didn't even catch another Demon Whisper.

"Did someone already come through here and take everything?"

Although Tian Mo was still vigorous even after running for the entire day, he was helpless when his stomach started drumming so he could only stop to fill himself up.

At noon, the sound of his stomach growling broke through his thoughts. He stopped and pulled out some rations, chewing absently as his eyes flicked toward the dense trees. He was conflicted, so his thoughts drifted back to his earlier question. Did someone already passed here? I have five Demon Whisper, but my cultivation seem to need alot more qi refining. I even never encountered any Demonic Beast Yet.

At that moment, Tian Mo heard there voices of multiple people speaking, coming closer to him. Beads of sweat rolled down his temple. He knew in the bloodslade valley anything could happen like being beaten to near death or worst depending on the person.

"Miss, no need to rush. I've already grasped over fifteen Demon Whispers. Why don't you join us? We'll take care of you?" The voice was smooth, almost coaxing.

"If... if you keep bothering me, I-I'll... I'll kill you." The voice that responded was trembling.

A murmur of voices drifted through the valley, drawing Tian Mo's attention. He froze, his heart pounding. Were they allies or foes? He hesitant, still he crept closer, staying low, until the familiar voice of Kang Cao made his blood run cold.

He quickly put away his ration leaped onto a large nearby boulder, peeking over witnessing, Kang Cao and his fellow followers, who did anything he says. He was, the rest were following closely behind a woman.

A glint of clarity, he recognized the woman from before he came to the valley. Before he could react, a sudden, deafening roar shattered the tense silence. The ground beneath him trembled violently, and Tian Mo was sent sprawling off the rock.