Chapter 239: Shadows of Blood and Vengeance

In a hidden chamber, unknown to the world, two factions faced each other, the air thick with tension and silence.

One side consisted of bald monks draped in saffron robes, their bodies shimmering with golden light. At their head was a frail old man in plain robes, his wrinkled face unreadable. The other side radiated icy cold, frost particles drifting around them, led by a middle-aged man with a commanding presence, lightning flickering in his eyes.

These were none other than Fan Yin Temple and the Luo Clan.

Each face was etched with fury, endless rage, and a trace of doubt as they stared across the divide.

After a long pause, an old man in a yellow robe spoke, his voice low and heavy. "The Luo Clan has lost three elders and one is missing—all core forces of our clan. Can anyone tell me why?"

The speaker was the Luo Clan's Great Elder, Luo Qing Lie.

Silence greeted his words. Luo Po Lei, seated beside him, seethed, his face contorted with rage. His gaze swept the room, but no one answered.

Void Refinement cultivators were lofty existences, commanding wind and cloud. Most seventh-grade forces lacked even one, and in eighth-grade clans like theirs, they were vital. Losing four at once was a wound to the bone. How could they not be furious?

"Amitabha. Fan Yin Temple has also lost two elders. How do you expect us to explain?" a burly monk, over two meters tall, rumbled.

He was Fan Hu, Fan Yin Temple's Great Elder, a Late Void Refinement powerhouse.

"Why did Fan Yin Temple send only two elders? If you'd sent more, this disaster might have been avoided," the Luo Clan's Third Elder accused.

"Ridiculous. Who could've imagined six Void Refinement experts hunting a youth would meet such a fate?" Fan Yin Temple's Second Elder snapped.

Silence fell again. At the outset, deploying such a force was like using a butcher's cleaver to kill a chicken. Yet the chicken lived, and the cleaver shattered.

"Why? Reports confirm Yan Yue Qi never left the Ice Sky Continent. Who aided that little beast?" the Luo Clan's Third Elder demanded.

No one answered. They had proof Yan Yue Qi hadn't assisted Lan An. So how could an ant-like youth wield such power?

"Could they have clashed with another force in the Sea Continent?" a Fan Yin Temple elder ventured.

"Impossible. I and the Clan Leader explicitly ordered them to act discreetly, focusing solely on hunting that brat," Luo Qing Lie countered.

The group sank into contemplation. The situation was baffling. They couldn't believe Lan An had the strength to kill Void Refinement experts—that was absurd. The unknown bred fear, especially when six Void Refinement cultivators vanished without a trace. If not for their shattered soul tablets, they'd assume the hunt was ongoing.

"Clan Leader, the Sea Continent saw the Eye of the Heavenly Dao descend last time. Could it be related to that brat?" Luo Qing Lie asked Luo Po Lei quietly.

Luo Po Lei's expression flickered. Deep down, he couldn't believe Lan An was linked to the Eye of the Heavenly Dao. Even he, a seasoned cultivator, couldn't summon such a phenomenon or survive its tribulation lightning.

"What do you think?" Luo Po Lei turned to the calm middle-aged man who'd remained silent throughout.

All eyes shifted expectantly to him—Luo Liang, the Luo Clan's sharpest mind.

Luo Liang pondered, then addressed Fan Yin Temple's elders. "Luo Wu held the Clan Leader's token, able to summon aid if in danger. Did your two elders have similar tokens?"

Fan Hu nodded without hesitation. "Of course. I gave one to Fan Shi myself."

Luo Liang's brows furrowed, tapping the table. "That's strange. If that brat triggered a tribulation to counter Luo Wu's group, they should've had time to shatter their tokens for help."

The group nodded. Tribulations struck slowly, locking onto targets without allowing escape. For six experts to die without signaling for aid was illogical.

Seeing their agreement, Luo Liang continued, "To kill five and make one vanish, there are only two possibilities. First, the one aiding the brat is overwhelmingly powerful, striking with a single, instantaneous blow, leaving Luo Wu's group no time to signal."

A chill ran through the room. Such a feat required at least a Body Integration expert, as even a Peak Void Refinement cultivator couldn't slay five Void Refinement experts instantly.

"Impossible. If that brat had a Body Integration backer, he'd have attacked us already. Why wait for us to hunt him?" a Fan Yin Temple elder protested.

"Exactly," Luo Si agreed.

They struggled to accept Lan An having a Body Integration ally. It would mean the Luo Clan had provoked their deadliest foe yet.

"Then there's only one other explanation: the brat possesses something capable of sealing space, preventing the Clan Leader and Elder Fan Hu from receiving distress signals—perhaps a high-grade treasure," Luo Liang concluded.

His deduction was eerily close to the truth, though he'd never guess the "treasure" was a Tribulation Crossing powerhouse.

"Elder Luo Liang makes sense, but even with a space-sealing treasure, who helped the brat kill Luo Liu's group?" Luo Qing Lie pressed.

With Yan Yue Qi absent, who could've aided Lan An? Him acting alone was unthinkable.

Luo Liang shook his head bitterly. "I can't guess who."

The group's faces darkened, their theories hitting a dead end.

"What's our next move? Continue hunting the brat?" the old monk from Fan Yin Temple finally spoke.

"For now, don't stir the snake. Focus on finding Luo Wu. His soul tablet remains intact; he's likely recovering somewhere," Luo Po Lei ordered grimly.

The group nodded. Finding Luo Wu might unravel the mystery.

"What then? I propose targeting the Liu Clan to lure the brat out," a Fan Yin Temple elder growled, his teeth clenched. Fan Wu and Fan Shi were his brothers, their deaths fueling his anguish.

The Liu Clan was Lan An's maternal family. Surely he'd show himself.

"Foolish. Do you want to offend Saint Spirit Academy?" Luo Liang frowned, inwardly cursing the elder's recklessness.

Saint Spirit Academy's rules were clear: grievances between students and external forces were settled with the student alone. The academy wouldn't interfere with their fate. But targeting a student's family triggered the academy's wrath. The Liu Clan, home to Liu Shi Qin—a Saint Spirit Ranking genius—was under its protection.

The Luo Clan could target Lan An or even Liu Shi Qin, but not the Liu Clan itself. Likewise, their own clan was shielded by their academy-affiliated geniuses, like Luo Chang, from external retaliation unless the entire clan provoked a force like Heavenly Mountain Immortal Realm.

The Liu Clan had stayed neutral, earning Saint Spirit Academy's silent protection, as did the Li Clan of Li Zhu Luan. Personal grudges were settled individually, sparing families—an unwritten rule of the Four Great Academies.

This was why Lan An hadn't razed the Chen Clan, as his feud was with Chen Jue and Chen Zhi alone. The Chen Clan, uninvolved, was protected by Hundred Spirits Academy. Only if Chen Zhi mobilized the clan against Lan An could he retaliate fully.

Until Lan An's strength surpassed the academies, he was bound by their rules. The Luo Clan and Fan Yin Temple, weaker than Saint Spirit Academy, dismissed the elder's vengeful proposal.

The Fan Yin Temple elder, embarrassed by the silence, changed the subject. "Hmph, what's with the Blood Spirit Sect? If they'd joined us, the outcome might've differed."

"Indeed, it's odd. They should hate that brat as much as we do. Why the silence?" another wondered.

The group grew puzzled. Was the Blood Spirit Sect content to watch their enemy grow stronger?

"Reports indicate the Blood Spirit Sect has grown secretive, no longer as brazen as before, even sealing their gates," Luo Liang said, stroking his beard. "But a shocking rumor claims three nearby cities vanished without a trace, not even a hair left behind."

"Such a thing?" several elders gasped, unaware of the news.

Vanishing cities were no small matter.

"Could the Blood Spirit Sect be behind it?" one asked.

Luo Liang shook his head. "No evidence points to them. The sites lack the sect's signature blood stench. The cities and their people vanished into thin air, utterly baffling."

"Did Hundred Spirits Academy investigate?" a Fan Yin Temple elder inquired.

"They sent two elders, even searched the Blood Spirit Sect, but found nothing," Luo Qing Lie replied gravely.

The group's expressions darkened. The Luo Clan's Second Elder frowned. "I've heard children have been mysteriously disappearing on the Yellow Sand Continent, with resentment soaring. Something's amiss."

The atmosphere grew heavier.

"Ignore these distractions. Focus on finding Luo Wu and monitoring the Yan Clan," Luo Po Lei commanded coldly.

The group nodded solemnly.

Blood Spirit Sect

Deep beneath the sect, in a chamber ten thousand zhang underground, a scene unfolded that could terrify even the bravest souls.

A colossal cauldron, dozens of zhang wide, spun fiercely, filled with a seething sea of blood, resembling the ninth layer of hell. Layers of impregnable barriers sealed the chamber, not a wisp of aura escaping. Even a Tribulation Crossing expert, without utmost scrutiny, would detect nothing.

Blood Spirit Sect disciples, faces pale as death, passed through arrays, tossing human bodies into the cauldron. The victims dissolved into blood mist instantly, without a sound.

The eerie, crimson silence could shatter any mind.

Hovering above the cauldron, a figure in a blood-red cloak stood, their aura utterly concealed, not a finger exposed. Beside them knelt two figures, gazing at the cloaked figure with fanatical devotion, as if they'd gladly serve as beasts of burden.

If any continental powerhouse witnessed this, their eyes would drop. These were none other than Blood Elder Yin, the Blood Spirit Sect's Great Elder, and Hua Leng, the Sect Master—both Late Void Refinement experts, groveling like dogs.

"Still far from enough. The grand plan will take longer," the Blood Envoy said, gazing at the churning blood.

Blood Yin and Hua Leng a glance, bowing deeply. "Lord Blood Envoy, despite our efforts and the covert Teleportation Arrays you instructed us to set up, transferring entire cities here, progress remains slow."

Any eavesdropper would be stunned. Teleporting entire cities was heaven-defying.

"No rush. Proceed with utmost secrecy to avoid meddlers," the Blood Envoy said dismissively.

"Yes, my lord. When can we return?" Blood Yin and Hua Leng asked, eyes blazing with fervor and longing.

From beneath the crimson cloak, a calm voice replied, "Rest assured, the Blood Spirit Sect's contributions as a major branch will be recognized."

Blood Yin and Hua Leng trembled with joy, pressing their foreheads to the ground.