Chapter 40: Clash in the Crimson Pines

The morning fog hung low over the valley, veiling the Blood Origin Sect in a mystic silence. Birds chirped warily, and even the spirit beasts in the pens were strangely still. Something was in the air.

Jin Zhen stood atop the northern watchtower, his crimson robes billowing like a banner of war. His eyes narrowed as he gazed toward the forest pass—Crimson Pines, a cursed region known for its twisted beasts and hidden sect trails.

Behind him stood Elder Mo and ten elite disciples, all clad in formation armor, their weapons humming with low spiritual resonance.

"Still no sign of them?" Jin Zhen asked.

Elder Mo shook his head. "No, Sect Master. But the scouts never returned. And the Blood-Scent Compass is spinning wildly."

Jin Zhen turned his gaze back toward the trees. "They're here. They want to test our strength."

He smiled, a predator's grin.

"Then let them bleed."

Suddenly, the pines shook—first a whisper, then a roar.

Dark figures surged from the treeline, wearing bone-white masks marked with crimson fangs.

Crimson Fang Cult.

Over a hundred of them.

Their leader, a cloaked man with six skeletal arms, hovered midair, voice echoing unnaturally.

"Jin Zhen of the Blood Origin Sect! You've expanded too quickly. This region belongs to the Crimson Fang. Hand over your spirit mines and your Sect Token, and we may spare your head!"

Jin Zhen chuckled.

"Spare my head?" He stepped forward into the sky, walking on condensed spiritual clouds. "You should worry about keeping your limbs."

[Battle Detected: Initiating Combat Mode.]

[+10 Combat Presence.]

Jin Zhen waved his hand.

[Activating Formation: Dragon-Fang Convergence.]

The ten elite disciples fell into perfect triangular formation below. A glowing dragon-shaped aura emerged, coiling around them, pulsing with strength.

The enemy laughed. "A child's game! Break their formation!"

The masked cultists surged.

Jin Zhen snapped his fingers.

[BLOOD VORTEX – ACTIVATE.]

A red rune exploded beneath the lead cultists—dozens were sucked upward into a twisting crimson cyclone, bones snapping midair.

He raised a single hand.

"Let me show you what a real sect master fights like."

He vanished—reappearing in front of the six-armed leader.

[Void Step Acquired.]

[+1 Movement Skill: Phase Transference.]

The leader swung three weapons in perfect synchronicity.

Jin Zhen blocked one blade with his forearm—his skin flashing with runic blood-gold.

[BODY TYPE: Blood Reversal Physique – Partial Activation.]

The other two blades sliced through air—Jin Zhen had already moved, appearing behind the enemy with a smirk.

He whispered, "Checkmate."

[Skill Used: Crimson Palm of Annihilation.]

His palm struck the enemy's back—and erupted into crimson fire.

The six-armed man screamed, spinning with unnatural speed, throwing dark poison daggers toward Jin Zhen's heart.

The system flickered.

[Warning: Lethal Attack Detected.]

[Consume 10 SP to auto-deflect with passive qi barrier?]

"Yes."

A dome of red light snapped into place just as the daggers struck—shattering into harmless fragments.

[-10 SP Used.]

Jin Zhen's eyes glowed. "You think I'm done?"

[Skill Chain Activated.]

[Skill: Shadow Laceration.]

[Skill: Flame Step.]

He teleported through the battlefield, slashing with shadow energy, leaving trails of severed cultists behind him.

The elite disciples held firm—the Dragon-Fang Formation ripping through enemy ranks with clinical precision.

Screams, flashes of spirit light, and the sickening crunch of bone filled the air.

From his high vantage, Elder Mo barked commands while firing off wind blades, dismembering two cultists mid-charge.

After ten minutes of intense combat, the cultists began to break.

Jin Zhen rose high above the battlefield and extended both hands.

"Now... kneel."

[BLOOD DOMAIN: OPEN.]

A crimson field spread across the entire clearing—crushing enemy morale, paralyzing movement, and choking hostile qi.

Cultists fell to their knees, unable to breathe.

Their leader tried to resist—but Jin Zhen appeared before him again.

"You challenged an overlord," he said coldly.

[Skill: Soul-Fire Finger.]

A glowing, blood-red finger pierced the man's forehead.

The body turned to ash.

[Victory.]

[+4 Sect Reputation.]

[+8,200 Spirit Stones Looted.]

[+2 Mid-Tier Artifacts Acquired.]

[+1 Rare Cultivation Technique: Heart of Silent Flame.]

[+37 Cultist Cores stored.]

Jin Zhen floated back down as the remaining enemies scattered.

He didn't bother chasing them.

Instead, he turned to his disciples, blood still fresh on his robe.

"This is what it means to protect your sect."

They bowed deeply.

"Sect Master!"

Behind him, the system pulsed.

[Your fame has spread to three nearby regions.]

[Would you like to rename your faction grade?]

He smirked.

"No. I'll wait until the world calls me Emperor."