Chapter 309: An Unexpected Ending
Chapter 309: An Unexpected Ending
At this moment, Chang Yun, the Carefree Fairy of the Shanhua Alliance, arrived at the exit first, drawing the attention of thousands of experts gathered there.
Changhe Spirit Master of the Shanhua Alliance was surprised to see her emerge alone. He asked, “Why are you the first one out? Where are the others?”
Chang Yun had returned alone, while the Charming Pen Spirit Master remained behind with Xiang San Shao and the disciples.
“I moved ahead. The others are following. The Blood Moon Wasteland journey has ended.”
Her gaze swept the crowd, lingering on the experts from Lou Ri City with a complicated expression.
“What happened inside?” Changhe Spirit Master pressed, as everyone leaned in anxiously.
“It was deadly. Over a hundred and eighty entered, but fewer than a third survived.”
Her somber tone turned the faces of the crowd pale. Such a high death toll was shocking.
“How many remain from your group of eight?”
“Chu Qiao is missing. The Charming Pen Spirit Master, Xiang San Shao, and the disciples are still behind. The other five… perished.”
Changhe Spirit Master stiffened. “What? Two Spirit Masters dead, one missing… this is…”
Red Feather Spirit Master of Jiu Yang Sacred Palace cut in, “What of the other factions?”
Chang Yun sighed. “None fared well. Spirit Masters from the Three Saints and Four Peerless sects died there. Among them—”
“Among them what? Out with it!”
She offered a bitter smile, her eyes locking onto the Lou Ri City group.
Luo Feng Spirit Master’s chest tightened with dread. Mu Bai, too, sensed something amiss from her troubled look.
“Tell us! What of Lou Ri City?”
“Fang Mu and Tian Yi are dead. Qiu Yu, Feixue, and Wan Fang survived.”
Mu Hua blurted, “And Cheng Lingyu?”
“He nearly died… but lives.”
Mu Hua exhaled in relief. Nie Jiaolong, Tian Feng, and Pan Hong brightened at the news.
Luo Feng Spirit Master’s face darkened with grief. Fang Mu and Tian Yi—his loyal followers for years—gone. The Blood Moon Wasteland had claimed them, a blow he never foresaw.
Chang Yun’s eyes shifted to the Jiu Yang Sacred Palace, Tianlei Sacred Church, and Heavenly Fire Sect representatives. “The blood lake took many. From your three factions… only two or three Spirit Masters per group remain.”
Binghuo Spirit Master of the Heavenly Fire Sect demanded, “You mean each of our factions lost all but two or three Spirit Masters?”
“Of the eight who entered each faction, only two or three survived.”
Tianye Spirit Master of the Divine Martial Sect barked, “What of the Divine Martial Sect?”
Miaoshu Spirit Master of the Heavenly Palace added, “And the Heavenly Palace?”
Chang Yun hesitated, her silence thickening the tension.
“Speak!” someone shouted. “Don’t keep us waiting!”
Chang Yun turned to gaze into the depths of the Blood Moon Wasteland and softly said, “All eight members of the Divine Martial Sect perished…”
“What! Impossible!”
A Divine Martial Sect expert roared furiously, refusing to accept this outcome.
“The eight from Heavenly Palace also fell.”
“Why? How could this happen?”
Heavenly Palace experts shouted hoarsely, stunned by Chang Yun’s news.
Wearing a strange expression, Chang Yun swept her complicated gaze across the crowd. “Because they all made the same choice.”
Miaoshu Spirit Master growled, “What choice? Explain!”
Chang Yun whispered, “After entering the Blood Moon Wasteland, the Divine Martial Sect’s eight focused solely on destroying Lou Ri City’s six. Their deadly clash left the Divine Martial Sect severely battered…”
“Lies! Our eight warriors couldn’t lose to six from Lou Ri City!”
Ignoring the outburst, Chang Yun continued, “Though unclear on details, I know Fang Mu and Tian Yi jointly killed a Divine Martial expert, only to be slain by Heavenly Palace. In the blood lake, Liang Wei of Divine Martial Sect ambushed Cheng Lingyu. Heavenly Palace seized the chance – Yu Feilong and Li Moru attacked alongside Cold Xiu Spirit Master and Divine Xiu Spirit Master, driving Cheng Lingyu to the brink…”
Mu Hua spat, “Cowards!”
“What happened next?” someone demanded.
“At Cheng Lingyu’s last breath,” Chang Yun said, “Qiu Yu of Lou Ri City arrived enraged, slaughtering all five Heavenly Palace Spirit Masters and Liang Wei. Yu Feilong and Li Moru fell to Cheng Lingyu’s hands. Only Hua Yuehong survived.”
The revelation sent shockwaves through the crowd. Heavenly Palace members roared wildly.
Divine Martial Sect’s Tianye Spirit Master turned ashen. His assured victory had crumbled.
Lou Ri City’s experts exulted, though Luo Feng Spirit Master and Mu Bai remained grave. Annihilating so many Spirit Masters from both factions meant irrevocable blood feud.
For one Cheng Lingyu, Heavenly Palace lost two holy sons and five Spirit Masters, while Divine Martial Sect’s eight elites perished. Unthinkable.
“So ends the Blood Moon Wasteland journey? What of Xuan Star Saint’s legacy?”
“You’ll learn soon,” Chang Yun deflected, withholding secrets.
Divine Martial Sect and Heavenly Palace glared at Lou Ri City with undying hatred.
Tianye Spirit Master and Miaoshu Spirit Master exchanged conspiratorial glances, plotting against Lou Ri City’s experts.
Jiu Yang Sacred Palace’s Red Feather Spirit Master stayed silent, avoiding trouble.
Those outside Three Saints and Four Peerless watched the wasteland’s heart, awaiting final outcomes.
Yang Yan emerged with Hua Yuehong and Bai Ruomei, drawing curious stares from Heavenly Palace and Heavenly Fire Sect.
Hua Yuehong hurried to Miaoshu Spirit Master’s side. Bai Ruomei returned to Binghuo Spirit Master, recounting events.
Yang Yan scanned the crowd, his silver-haired handsomeness mirroring Mu Bai’s – a striking coincidence.
Eavesdroppers found their sound waves blocked by faction barriers.
Thunder Rider Spirit Master’s return with Tianlei Sacred Church caused fresh commotion.
Many people at the scene inquired, and since Chang Yun had already disclosed some details, Thunder Rider Spirit Master didn’t conceal anything, thoroughly recounting all events within the blood lake.
Sensitive terms like the dragon-shaped jade hook, Black Desire Monkey, Cangling Blood Wing Bird, Wu Xuanbo, Yang Yan, and Cheng Lingyu gripped everyone’s attention, conveying massive amounts of information.
Events like the Blood River True Monarch, the rising Blood Moon, and the saint’s inheritance shocked the crowd, while the blood lake expedition’s final outcome left profound impressions.
The Divine Martial Sect was completely annihilated. The Heavenly Palace retained only a handful of disciples. Jiu Yang Sacred Palace grew closer to Wu Xuanbo, while the Heavenly Fire Sect and Heavenly Palace developed complex ties with Yang Yan through Bai Ruomei and Hua Yuehong. Only the Shanhua Alliance and Tianlei Sacred Church remained empty-handed and blameless.
Lou Ri City’s meteoric rise stemmed entirely from Cheng Lingyu – the eighteen-year-old with the lowest cultivation level yet most fortuitous encounters, envied by all, destined to etch his name in history.
Mu Hua, Pan Hong, Nie Jiaolong, and others burned with excitement, though the situation proved far more intricate than imagined.
When Lou Ri City’s eight-member group appeared, immediate commotion erupted.
“Look! Lou Ri City’s experts emerged! Cheng Lingyu still lives!”
Among the eight, Cheng Lingyu possessed the weakest cultivation yet commanded utmost attention.
Luo Feng Spirit Master exchanged glances with Mu Bai, swiftly gathering their members. Blood Martial Realm and Soul Martial Realm disciples were stored within magical artifacts embedded in their bodies for protection.
Lou Ri City’s numbers dwindled – only Luo Feng and Mu Bai remained at Spirit Martial Realm. With Qiu Yu’s recent emergence, they totaled five Spirit Masters, clearly the weakest among the Three Saints and Four Peerless.
“Cheng Lingyu! Prepare to die!”
A Divine Martial Sect expert advanced to execute Cheng Lingyu.
From Heavenly Palace, Miaoshu Spirit Master dispatched warriors, resolved to eliminate Cheng Lingyu.
Though many anticipated this development, spectators still buzzed with anticipation when it unfolded, eager to witness the outcome.
Cheng Lingyu’s acquisition of the Holy Artifact scroll and the unparalleled ultimate skill from the dragon-shaped jade hook alone sparked universal envy and greed.
While Divine Martial Sect and Heavenly Palace sought Cheng Lingyu’s death, their true aim was seizing the Holy Artifact and divine technique.
“Who dares act insolently?!”
Luo Feng Spirit Master roared, rushing to Cheng Lingyu’s side with Mu Bai.
Feixue and Wan Fang shielded Cheng Lingyu, barring outsiders.
Luo Feng Spirit Master stored Xiao Lingfeng, Han Cang, and Chen Song within artifacts for protection. When attempting to absorb Cheng Lingyu and Hu Yuer into his body, Cheng Lingyu refused.
Thus, Lou Ri City’s force stood at six members plus Hu Yuer – five Spirit Martial and two Blood Martial practitioners. Their strength wasn’t overwhelming, yet remained formidable.
“Surrender Cheng Lingyu or face annihilation today!”
Tianye Spirit Master radiated murderous aura, voice icy.
Miaoshu Spirit Master declared: “Kill Heavenly Palace’s holy son? Not even the Heavenly Sovereign could save you now.”
Both factions vowed Cheng Lingyu’s demise.
Jiu Yang Sacred Palace, Tianlei Sacred Church, Heavenly Fire Sect, and Shanhua Alliance maintained silence. Other forces watched cautiously, none daring to intervene.
Luo Feng Spirit Master stated: “All understand right and wrong here. Though Lou Ri City seldom ventures out, we fear no conflict. Forced to extremes, neither side gains advantage.”
Tianye Spirit Master laughed derisively: “You can’t threaten me. Cheng Lingyu dies today.”