Chapter One Hundred Fifty: The Bloodstained Road

Above the heavens, the wind tore through the lingering clouds, while on the ground, the sword grass swayed gently. Born with inherent sharpness, this grass earned its name from its blade-like edges.

On this land thickly carpeted with sword grass, two earth dragon beasts fiercely battled for territory. Their fierce and murderous aura was palpable even from a great distance.

Suddenly, the two combatants’ expressions shifted abruptly. Without hesitation, they abandoned their fight and fled the area as if their lives depended on it.

After the earth dragon beasts had fled, a man clad in black robes and a dark cloak appeared on the scene.

“Truly worthy of being dragonkind—their spiritual senses are remarkably sharp. But am I really that terrifying?” the man said, stroking his chin with a somewhat cynical air. Yet, he quickly shed this demeanor, his face growing grave as he glanced down at the ground beneath his feet.

“Thank you for your guidance, Senior. Ro Hao will never forget the vow made on this day.”

With the aid of Elder Qian, Ro Hao had managed to escape the ruins of the Divine Demon. Yet his mind was heavy, haunted by the dying scene of the black-robed bone tribe warrior. The dying figure’s voice was full of bitterness and resentment, promising to await him in hell—words typical of a villain’s last curse.

Though the bone tribe’s will had been repelled by human resolve, and even the bone emperor’s scripture had been shattered, Ro Hao’s concern lay elsewhere.

“The Heavenly Emperor’s decree failed to intercept the Netherworld Soul Lock Pearl. I fear Tian Gu will face great turmoil from now on.”

From Elder Qian, he had learned that the ancient chaotic decree that held back the primordial soul-devouring spider was crafted by the supreme Heavenly Emperor of the human race. Over countless years, the emperor’s decree had blocked many formidable foes, but its power was now nearly depleted.

The Netherworld Soul Lock Pearl was an ancient artifact of utmost malevolence, aided by the primordial toxins and the lingering spirit of the ancient soul-devouring spider. If it truly wished to flee, the exhausted power of the emperor’s decree would be no match.

Though Ro Hao could forge a spear of slaughter and blood energy to strike down the black-robed bone tribesman by surprise, stopping the Netherworld Soul Lock Pearl was beyond his current capability. Such a force existed on an entirely different plane.

He sighed deeply and set his gaze resolutely forward. A faint aura of killing intent shimmered over his cloak—he was clearly headed to kill.

He was no saint. To those who wronged him, he would repay in kind. He could never forgive Wu Lie Tian or the so-called Shadow Studio assassins. Each time he thought of them, a chilling coldness gripped his heart, the murderous aura around him dropping the temperature to freezing.

“How did the demon race infiltrate this minor world? Are you not afraid of being trapped forever on human soil?”

“How cruel are you demon outcasts, daring to slay every human warrior passing through this ancient forest, and cruelly draining their flesh and blood power.”

Within a dense forest of towering ancient trees, several human warriors stood back to back, faces smeared with blood and grime, glaring with hatred at five figures who strode in from different directions.

“Hahaha! Humans, a feeble remnant of antiquity, to be the blood feast of the great demon race—that is your honor,” thundered a deep voice. A red-haired demon youth, muscular and rough-featured like a coiling dragon, sneered disdainfully.

“Chi Zhan, why waste words on these ants? Don’t forget the enormous price we paid to infiltrate Tian Gu. Kill them all!”

Suddenly, a cold voice hissed like a serpent in the dark. The others turned to see a demon woman draped in a translucent red veil.

Her lips were fiery red, her figure towering like a mountain range, and her long, slender legs moved with the grace of the wind.

What tormented the human warriors most was that the veil barely covered three points on her body, leaving her lily-white arms and jade-like legs fully exposed.

Her narrow, enticing eyes held a wild, feline charm that stirred the heart.

“Hm!”

Chi Zhan nodded slightly. In the next moment, a terrifying aura erupted skyward, like an ancient divine mountain pressing down upon the human warriors.

“Pft!”

Already wounded, the humans coughed up blood uncontrollably. Their eyes shimmered with defiance, but none begged for mercy.

One shouted hoarsely, “Despicable outsiders! One day you will die at the hands of human warriors. My battle blood will not flow to you for free!”

“I cannot choose my birth, but born human, I will die without regret! Brothers, I’m leaving first!”

A human warrior’s eyes bled tears as he roared, releasing his spiritual power explosively. Blood and shattered bones scattered across the ancient forest, filling the air with a pungent, iron-like stench, accompanied by his unwilling roar.

“Hahaha, brother, let’s go together!” another human warrior laughed before exploding in a similar fashion. Even in death, he would not yield to the demons—this was his final thought.

“Hmph, though base, they still have some fighting spirit,” the veiled demon woman sneered coldly, joined by the cold smiles of the other four demon warriors.

“Boring. Just a bunch of trash,” Chi Zhan said as he regarded the remaining human warriors with contempt.

The few humans left burned with fury but were no match. Chi Zhan did not even consider them worthy of attention.

“Enough! Die!”

Growing bored, Chi Zhan swung his broad palm fiercely. Wherever it passed, the void shattered completely. The terrified humans stumbled backward, but the palm was like a relentless parasite.

“The Demon Clan’s Heavenly Tablet Palm!” one human warrior cried out as his pupils dilated in horror.

The Demon Clan’s Heavenly Tablet Palm was a legendary technique from the mid-ancient era, discovered by a demon warrior who had studied a stone tablet fallen from the heavens.

Its fearsome reputation during the ancient wars sent shivers through the flesh of countless tribes; many human warriors had perished beneath its might.

“Not bad eyesight,” Chi Zhan chuckled coldly, but his strikes grew even more massive. Clearly, he had no intention of wasting time on these few humans.

“Could it be that heaven truly forsakes us? I’m unwilling!” The retreating humans were soon engulfed by a shadow of death, their voices filled with helpless resentment.

Suddenly—

Outside the ancient forest, the sound of footsteps crashed like thunder in everyone’s ears. Chi Zhan’s expression changed, his hand slowing. The humans seized the moment to flee, glancing toward the forest’s edge with suspicion.

“Who goes there?”

The demon woman furrowed her brows in cold disdain, her gaze sharp as a blade directed outside the forest. There, a figure cloaked in black slowly approached through waist-high sword grass. His steps were deliberate, imbued with a certain profound Dao resonance.

His face was stern and delicate, eyes deep and icy, lips curling into a faint, sinister smile. Yet when he saw the glaring red stains within the forest, a ripple stirred in his abyssal eyes, a flicker of savage intent surfacing amid the cold.

“Who are you?” Chi Zhan stepped forward, voice icy.

The black-cloaked figure glanced at Chi Zhan, “Demons, how detestable that your scent should appear in this minor world.”

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the few surviving human warriors, scarcely acknowledging the five demons opposite him.

“Brother, go quickly. The demons are many. Warn our kin. We will hold them off to the last breath,” the remaining human warriors wiped blood from their lips, resolute.

They were badly wounded and destined to be trapped. If they could delay the demons long enough for their kin to escape safely and alert the tribe to this infiltration, their death would be meaningful and worthy of their warrior blood.

“No matter,” the black-cloaked figure replied calmly, sensing their resolve but showing no intention of leaving. Instead, his gaze fixed once more on Chi Zhan.

“Who exactly are you?” Chi Zhan’s body trembled, feeling as though a wild beast had locked its gaze upon him. The chilling sensation was unprecedented—a human’s gaze could wield such intimidation?

“A member of the countless human race,” the figure replied.

His cloak billowed as his icy gaze deepened, his voice laced with fierce killing intent. The few humans present were shaken by his words.

Once, their ancestors had bled and fought fiercely against countless enemies, carving out a place for their race—how hopeful that was!

No matter who the black-cloaked figure truly was, so long as he was a human warrior, that was enough. So long as he fought for the human race, that was enough.

“Oh? Then, human brother, what is it you want?”

The demon woman in the red veil smiled alluringly, stepping forward with her long, graceful legs. Her voice was soft and honeyed, her gaze hypnotic. As she moved, she revealed breathtaking beauty that captivated all who looked.

But as she reached the black-cloaked figure, her expression suddenly stiffened, all allure vanishing. Her heart pounded wildly—not from attraction.

Danger!

Death was near!

Her spiritual senses warned her that a single wrong move would mean blood spilled on the spot. The figure before her exuded overwhelming pressure.

He was like an ancient divine mountain, untouchable, or a deep abyss, unfathomable—she could not fathom him, but her instincts never erred.

The black-cloaked figure glanced at the demon woman, shaking his head.

“I originally intended only to pass through, but this ground, soaked with blood and bone, demands a ritual. The blood of our kind must not be shed in vain.”

His voice was calm yet resolute. At that moment, not only the human warriors but even the five demon warriors were struck silent.

The demon woman gritted her silver teeth, realizing why humans had held Tian Gu for so long. It was no coincidence.

Despite long eras of peace, generations of human warriors had never let the battle blood within their chests fade.

(End of Chapter)