Chapter 26: Sacrifice Amidst Chaos

Seeing how another one of their friends had fallen—or so it seemed—the elders cried out in grief. Their voices echoed through the battlefield, raw with pain and sorrow. Though the female elder wasn't dead yet, her condition was dire. Blood pooled beneath her as she lay motionless, her breathing shallow and uneven. Each injury sustained by their comrades weighed heavily on the group, not just as a loss of strength but as a crushing blow to their morale.

"Sister Ling!" one of the elders shouted, his voice cracking under the strain of emotion. "Hold on! We'll get you help!"

Another elder clenched his fists tightly, tears welling up in his eyes before he quickly blinked them away. "We can't let this happen again! Not another one…"

However, the village chief didn't show much reaction. His expression remained cold and resolute as he barked orders at his grieving comrades. "Don't lose focus! Mourn later—we take revenge now!"

His words cut through their despair like a blade, snapping them back to reality. With renewed determination, they regrouped, forming a tighter defensive circle around Leng Mengli. This time, they coordinated their attacks more effectively, leveraging every ounce of strength they possessed.

One elder summoned a spectral tiger with his Grade 6 Phantom Tiger Martial Soul, sending it charging toward Leng Mengli. The ethereal feline moved with unnatural grace, its form flickering in and out of existence as if blending between dimensions. For brief moments, it became intangible, immune to physical harm. However, when it materialized fully to strike, its claws tore through the air with devastating force, leaving deep gashes across Leng Mengli's blood-infused barrier.

Another elder activated her Grade 6 Quicksand Martial Soul, manipulating the ground beneath Leng Mengli's feet. The earth softened into viscous quicksand, slowing his movements significantly. Though the effect was temporary—Leng Mengli managed to leap free after a few seconds—it gave the others precious moments to launch additional attacks.

A third elder unleashed a barrage of razor-sharp stones using his Grade 6 Stone Manipulation Martial Soul, while yet another conjured a whip from the ground that coiled tightly around the Blood Demon's limbs, attempting to immobilize it. Despite their combined efforts, none of these attacks could penetrate Leng Mengli's defenses entirely.

"Humph! Cheap tricks again," Leng Mengli sneered, clearly growing impatient. He raised both hands, preparing to teleport once more. But this time, something unexpected happened.

A couple of fiery arrows streaked through the air, striking him directly before he could complete his incantation. Interrupted mid-cast, Leng Mengli staggered backward, clutching his side where an arrow had grazed him.

"Perfect," the village chief muttered under his breath, nodding in approval. Of course, the source of the interruption was none other than Elder Zhou Xuan—the retired archer whose fiery arrows remained unmatched in the village. Hidden in the shadows until now, he revealed himself with impeccable timing, firing volleys of flaming projectiles with pinpoint accuracy.

Realizing the opportunity, the village chief seized the moment. Channeling half of his Qi into his blade, he activated a forbidden technique—the Final Moonshadow Slash. The runes etched along the sword's surface flared brilliantly, illuminating the entire battlefield.

If he'd wanted to, the village chief could have channeled even more energy into the attack. However, his sword—a lower-grade spiritual artifact—couldn't handle such an overwhelming surge without shattering. Although his physical body could as it was tempered by decades of cultivation in the Foundation Establishment realm and every meridian within him brimmed with spiritual energy, ready to unleash devastation upon his foe.

Simultaneously, Lin Jianhong joined the assault, channeling his own Qi similar to the village chief into his spear for a technique known as the Judgment Spear. Together, their combined strikes converged on Leng Mengli, who barely managed to put his Blood Demon ahead as a protective veil in the nick of time. Not only that, but he was also injecting as much Qi as he could into it to defend himself. 

Boom!

The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, obliterating everything within a hundred-meter radius. Trees were uprooted, buildings crumbled into dust, and the ground cracked violently beneath the force of the explosion. When the dust settled, the village chief and Lin Jianhong stood some distance away from the epicenter, visibly exhausted. Their robes were torn apart, sweat drenched their bodies, and their breathing came in ragged gasps.

Notably absent was the oppressive presence of the blood domain, which Leng Mengli had been forced to recall to defend himself.

But was Leng Mengli truly finished? That question lingered heavily in the air. While the immediate threat seemed neutralized, the ongoing beast tide—and the fact that marked beasts still roamed freely—kept everyone on edge.

"No!" A sharp cry pierced the silence.

Elder Zhou Xuan, whose eyesight rivaled that of a hawk, spotted a faint shadow flickering amidst the dissipating smoke. Squinting, he identified the figure sprinting toward a distant rock formation. It was unmistakably Leng Mengli.

Despite his grievous injuries—his upper body bare, ribs exposed, and deep gouges carved into his flesh from earlier clashes—his movements showed no signs of slowing down. Blood dripped steadily from his wounds, painting a trail behind him as he fled.

"Damn! Chase him!" the village chief shouted, realizing too late that they were positioned on the opposite side of the battlefield relative to Elder Zhou Xuan.

Rather than retreating or seeking safety, Elder Zhou Xuan made a decision that would haunt everyone present forever. Instead of running, he advanced toward Leng Mengli, firing volley after volley of fiery arrows. Though each shot missed narrowly due to Leng Mengli's erratic dodging, the barrage succeeded in slowing him down slightly.

Then Elder Zhou Xuan stopped moving altogether, planting his feet firmly on the ground. Closing his eyes briefly, he summoned his martial soul—the Flame Spirit , a Grade 5 manifestation of pure fire. As the spirit enveloped his body, turbulent heat waves radiated outward, scorching the surrounding area. Flames danced wildly around him, growing brighter and hotter with each passing second.

"Old man..you…!" Lin Jianhong whispered hoarsely, his jaw tightening as slight tears glistened at the corners of his eyes—but only for a moment.

He forced himself to remain composed, knowing that breaking down now would serve no purpose. He tried to rush forward, but the village chief held him back firmly.

"It's too late," the village chief murmured, his voice heavy with sorrow. "He's chosen his path."

"Stop! We can find another way." Lin Jianhong yelled, recognizing the grim resolve in his mentor's stance as he realized what was about to happen. Yes, this was the same old man who had taught him the way of martial arts and led him to what he was today. He was both a student and friend during his early years in the hunting squad.

"What are you doing, old man?" When Leng Mengli reached near him, he finally noticed something was wrong. Seeing the inferno building ahead of him, panic flashed across his face as he realized the magnitude of what was unfolding. But he was too late.

From within the inferno, a volcanic eruption exploded outward. A massive sphere of fire expanded outward with unimaginable force, consuming everything within a 500-meter radius—including Elder Zhou Xuan himself. The elder's body disintegrated instantly, reduced to ashes alongside the surrounding terrain.

When the explosion subsided, nothing remained except scorched earth and smoldering ruins.

Lin Jianhong collapsed to his knees in disbelief. "Why…was this necessary, Old man?"

The village chief knelt beside him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "He gave us a chance—a fighting chance. We must honor his sacrifice."

Others bowed their heads in silent respect, mourning the loss of a dear friend, mentor, and hero.

***

After defeating the Frost Serpent, Lin Feng didn't waste any time. His body ached from the intense battle, but his mind was sharp and focused. He glanced back briefly at Li Wei and Mei Ling as they sprinted toward the main battlefield, their figures disappearing into the chaos of the village. Their trust in him weighed heavily on his shoulders, yet he knew that staying behind to recover wasn't an option—not when there was something far more critical he needed to accomplish.

The lie about returning after recovering had been necessary. While his peers fought valiantly against overwhelming odds, Lin Feng understood one undeniable truth: without sufficient strength, his contributions would remain limited. To truly make an impact in this battle—and protect those who mattered most—he needed to grow stronger. And now, amidst the chaos consuming the village, was the perfect opportunity.

With determination burning in his chest, Lin Feng turned away from the battlefield and headed toward the woods where the river flowed. Following its winding path, he moved swiftly, his senses alert for any signs of danger. The forest was eerily silent, save for the gentle rustling of leaves and the occasional splash of water against rocks. It felt surreal—like stepping into a world untouched by the horrors unfolding mere kilometers away.

As he reached the end of the river, Lin Feng finally spotted what he'd been searching for: a mine carved into the side of a hill. Its entrance was partially obscured by overgrown vines and moss, making it almost blend into the natural surroundings. From what little sunlight filtered through the dense canopy above, the wooden beams supporting the structure appeared weathered and aged, evidence of years—or perhaps decades—of use. A faint glimmer of energy emanated from within, hinting at the presence of spiritual stones buried deep inside.

"Yes, it is indeed here," Lin Feng muttered under his breath, his lips curling into a small, determined smile. Over the past couple of days, he'd gathered fragments of information by observing the villagers and eavesdropping on conversations. Rumors whispered of a hidden mine near the river's end—a place rich with spiritual stones used to fuel cultivation and enhance martial souls. Though rarely spoken of openly, Lin Feng had pieced together enough clues to locate it.