Chapter 296: The Strange Sight of the Blood Lake

The beautiful jade coffin above Hua Yuehong emitted sacred light, as though an unparalleled beauty emerged from the coffin, preparing to trample the heavens and earth beneath her feet.

Four Holy Artifacts unleashed their power together, conjuring terrifying phenomena.

The killing formation at the cave entrance flashed relentlessly, straining to hold its ground and creating a deadlock.

Deep within the Blood Moon Wasteland, experts from various sects raced toward the blood lake.

Wan Fang and Feixue traveled through great hardships before finally reaching the blood river’s end.

Of the 180 experts originally sent into the Blood Moon Wasteland, most now lay dead.

The Three Saints and Four Peerless seven major forces suffered heavy losses—only Liang Wei remained from the Divine Martial Sect, while Lou Ri City retained three survivors from their original group.

The other five major forces also lost many experts, though their situations varied.

Jiu Yang Sacred Palace arrived first at the blood river’s end, their group reduced from eight to four Spirit Master experts.

The Heavenly Fire Sect followed closely, also left with four Spirit Master experts.

When Wan Fang and Feixue arrived, Xiao Lingfeng, Han Zhen, and Chen Song were waiting anxiously. The atmosphere shifted with the arrival of Jiu Yang Sacred Palace and Heavenly Fire Sect’s experts.

“Elder brother Wan!” Chen Song spotted them immediately.

Xiao Lingfeng and Han Zhen hurried forward to greet the newcomers, their tension easing slightly.

In speed, Lou Ri City ranked third behind Jiu Yang Sacred Palace and Heavenly Fire Sect, outpacing other factions.

“What’s the situation here?” Wan Fang scanned the blood lake’s perimeter while asking for updates.

Xiao Lingfeng and Han Zhen took turns summarizing events in the ancient ruins.

“How many came from Lou Ri City?”

Wan Fang sighed. “Six. Three died in the wasteland. Qiu Yu remains missing.”

Han Zhen gave a bitter laugh. “Half lost. Heavy toll.”

Feixue added, “Jiu Yang Sacred Palace and Heavenly Fire Sect fared similarly. We eliminated most of Divine Martial Sect—only Liang Wei survives.”

Xiao Lingfeng grinned fiercely. “Good! Wipe out those motherless curs!”

Chen Song asked, “Zuo Yi?”

Feixue lowered her eyes. “Dead. In the wasteland…”

The three men’s faces twisted with grief.

“What now? Cheng junior apprentice entered ten days ago—no word since.” Han Zhen’s voice tightened.

Feixue studied the blood lake. “Even Jiu Yang Sacred Palace hesitates. They don’t understand this place.”

New footsteps echoed through the cavern.

“Heavenly Palace experts have arrived.”

Wan Fang stared at the newcomers with cold eyes.

Tian Yi and Fang Mu had been killed, and the murderer remained unfound. Yet according to Wan Fang’s deduction, the Heavenly Palace held the greatest suspicion.

The four Heavenly Palace experts who arrived were all Spirit Master-level cultivators, with two bearing injuries.

Feixue studied the Heavenly Palace quartet and murmured, “Could they be the ones?”

Wan Fang answered cautiously, “Uncertain for now. We’ll investigate thoroughly when opportunity arises.”

As more Spirit Masters gathered, the tension thickened.

All eyes watched the blood lake while voices analyzed its situation.

At dusk, experts from Shanhua Alliance and Tianlei Sacred Church arrived.

Tianlei Sacred Church’s remaining four members were led by Thunder Rider Spirit Master – two injured, one gravely.

Shanhua Alliance had lost two Spirit Masters, leaving only Charming Pen Spirit Master, Chang Yun, and Chu Qiao.

Divine Martial Sect’s Liang Wei remained missing. Wan Fang and Feixue suspected he lurked nearby, secretly observing.

Besides Three Saints and Four Peerless experts, other sect members reached the blood lake – mostly Blood Martial Realm cultivators fortunate enough to survive the journey.

Nightfall brought three blood beasts emerging at the blood rivers’ entrances, each bearing a Blood River True Monarch radiating majestic might.

Twenty-one Spirit Masters from six major forces watched the True Monarchs with restless anticipation.

A Blood Moon ascended from the blood lake, its oppressive power making everyone gasp for air, muscles taut.

“Truly worthy of Blood Moon Wasteland. This blood lake’s eeriness surpasses tales.”

Heavenly Fire Sect’s Silver Feather Spirit Master commented, eyes blazing with fervor.

“We didn’t come all this way to leave empty-handed.”

Tianlei Sacred Church’s Thunder Rider Spirit Master strode to a blood river’s edge, approaching a True Monarch.

“Well said! We must see this through.”

Heavenly Palace’s Divine Xiu Spirit Master stepped forward toward another river.

This Divine Xiu Spirit Master appeared fortyish – handsome, elegant, exuding mesmerizing charisma.

Silver Feather Spirit Master boomed, “Let’s contest who first enters the blood lake!”

He leapt toward a True Monarch as the three leaders moved simultaneously, rivalry sparking.

Thunder Rider, Silver Feather, and Divine Xiu – all Third Stage of Spirit Martial experts – launched overwhelming assaults.

The Blood River True Monarchs stood impassive atop blood beasts, commencing world-shaking Battle.

None had witnessed the True Monarchs’ true power before. Speculations about the Battle’s outcome rippled through the crowd.

Heavenly Fire Sect, Tianlei Sacred Church, and Heavenly Palace members cheered while Jiu Yang Sacred Palace, Shanhua Alliance, and Lou Ri City observers gaped at the clashing powers.

The True Monarchs’ combat power proved terrifying – blood tides behind them forming a decaying blood-colored world.

Though Thunder Rider’s heavenly thunder, Silver Feather’s divine flames, and Divine Xiu’s holy light shone brilliantly, they couldn’t suppress the True Monarchs’ bloody radiance.

Blood mist swirled around the lake as crimson waves roared skyward, forming a blood ocean blotting out sky and time.

Spectators retreated hastily. Slower Blood Martial experts caught in blood spray screamed horribly.

The earth cracked, the void trembled, and vast blood mist enveloped the area, transforming into a realm of blood energy filled with killing light.

The fierce battle reached stalemate. Three Blood River True Monarchs stood imposingly, preventing three Spirit Masters from advancing even one step.

All experts from each faction stared in shock. None had expected Blood River True Monarchs to be this terrifying – brute force clearly wouldn’t work.

At midnight, Thunder Rider Spirit Master withdrew first, abandoning forced entry.

Silver Feather Spirit Master and Divine Xiu Spirit Master soon followed, ending the battle.

The three Blood River True Monarchs didn’t give chase, standing guard like three mighty gatekeepers.

A Jiu Yang Sacred Palace Spirit Master tried circling around them to charge blood lake, but got repelled by blood energy blades.

Suddenly, divine light erupted from blood lake, scattering blood mist and releasing dazzling brilliance.

Blood River True Monarchs first sensed change, turning toward lake center with peculiar expressions breaking their cold masks.

The underground blood lake lay hundreds of feet below surface.

Now divine light beams flew upward, transforming into ethereal figures of birds and beasts that bewildered viewers.

“What’s happening? Their reaction suggests Blood River True Monarchs didn’t know either.”

“The blood lake’s changing! Maybe ancient secrets will surface!”

This provocative speculation made many experts edge closer eagerly.

After bestial figures, runes and light shadows emerged in blood lake, revealing heavenly way’s mysteries that entranced all.

This lasted until translucent figures shot skyward like ancient saints ascending, leaving multiple legends.

“Is this Blood Realm Ascension?”

Wan Fang gaped. Blood Realm Ascension was legendary, yet matched this scene perfectly.

Divine Xiu Spirit Master’s face changed. “Resembles Blood Realm Ascension. Could immortal secrets be buried here?”

Silver Feather Spirit Master said, “If true, even saints would come investigating – enough to shake empire!”

Murmurs erupted. Secrets attracting saints must be extraordinary.

Feixue frowned. “Impossible. Immortals are ancient legends – truth unknown.”

Wan Fang countered, “Truth matters less. Blood lake birthed Blood Moon – definitely holds great secrets…”

Before he finished, experts rushed toward blood lake.

Three Blood River True Monarchs instantly blocked them, forming Powerful Defense against intruders.

Spirit Masters from Six Major Forces attacked repeatedly, launching joint assaults to breach defenses.

Wan Fang and Feixue teamed up, avoiding Blood River True Monarchs to force entry.

Night-shrouded blood lake radiated mystery, ethereal figures exuding heavenly way’s aura with deadly temptation.

Blood Martial experts watched from afar, too weak to approach despite burning curiosity.

The glowing blood lake showed strange Defensive Strength. Though avoiding guardians, Wan Fang and Feixue still couldn’t penetrate blood energy barrier.

Six Major Forces had twenty-one Spirit Masters – three Blood River True Monarchs should’ve been overwhelmed. Yet peculiar defenses repelled all attempts through the night.

“So strange! Why can’t we break through?”

Frustration grew. As empire’s peak combat power, being blocked was humiliating.

“Maybe timing’s wrong.”

This guess won many nods.