Chapter 358: The Shushan Sect

"Is the situation this bad?"

Mu Yi looked at the disciples on the open ground, whose fatigue was evident, and nodded.

Although his first impression wasn't good, seeing the Shushan Sect disciples bravely counterattacking in this desperate situation made Mu Yi couldn't help but nod.

He could sense from these Shushan Sect disciples a resilience and unyielding courage, which Military Strategist regarded as a highly valuable quality.

"Hahaha, Changmei, Jingwei, are you just going to be spineless turtles, hypocritically pushing these disciples out to die?"

Accompanied by the endless blood light of the hysterical laughter, the sky, thick with dark clouds, was painted into a terrifying crimson.

Mu Yi looked up; amidst the howling dark wind, countless skulls flew out from somewhere, slowly converging and merging, and within moments formed a gigantic skull dozens of zhang tall hovering above the formation.

In just a few instants, the sky was shrouded in blood clouds. Endless murderous aura and blood light rained down, and the world seemed, in an instant, reduced to a sea of crimson!

"Blood Demon… the Blood Demon has arrived!"

The disciples who had been seated on the ground maintaining the formation hurriedly rose, drew their long swords from their backs, and with strange footwork made the Yin‑Yang Bagua Great Formation emit an even stronger radiance.

In the next instant, everyone felt a flash before their eyes.

A blood‑colored pillar of light, covering the entire mountain peak, descended from the heavens.

The nauseating scent of blood made the sword‑wielding disciples feel repeated discomfort.

"Hehehe! Ants struggling in the mortal world, life is meaningless; only death can let you comprehend the true meaning of existence!"

"Draw swords! Form the sword formation!"

A commanding voice echoed within the formation, instantly dispelling the disciples' discomfort; they hurriedly wielded their swords, and in a moment a subtle array materialized.

Countless flying swords, like meteors streaking across the sky, poured down fiercely toward the Blood Demon.

"Hahaha, Changmei, Jingwei, why not come out and fight me! Let those stinky kids whose hair hasn't even grown fully be your sacrificial lambs."

The Blood Demon cackled; from the massive skull, countless skulls shot into the sky, howling in unison, and a swath of blood shadows surged toward the flying swords.

In just a moment, the blood shadows silently corroded the flying swords cleanly!

"You dare to show off petty tricks at the master's gate! Since you want to be sacrificial lambs, then all of you go die!"

Speaking, a surging momentum suddenly erupted; the howling dark wind, bearing a massive amount of blood shadows, rushed toward the formation.

The Tai Chi Bagua Great Formation radiated light, vaporizing the blood shadows one by one, but its own radiance grew ever weaker.

"Hahaha, I wonder how much longer you can hold on! The sea of blood is boundless!"

A wave of bloody aura surged like a massive tide toward the formation, and the Blood Demon's gigantic skull bore a cruel expression.

At that moment, within the formation, an elderly man in a white robe, exuding an ethereal aura, brandished a long sword and surged forward, his whole being like an invisible keen blade, his razor‑sharp momentum soaring straight to the heavens!

The Blood Demon's pressing momentum faltered; the inexplicably rolling countless skulls were instantly dispersed into the air by the razor‑sharp momentum.

"Hahaha, Jingwei, you spineless turtle, finally couldn't resist coming out to die?"

The Blood Demon laughed up at the sky, mocking fully, when suddenly a shaft of dawn light pierced the clouds, bright, holy, dignified, and solemn, as if possessing a miraculous power to purify hearts.

The Blood Demon, caught off guard, was suddenly enveloped by the dawn light; its brazen laughter was abruptly stifled, and it stood frozen like a wooden chicken, as if struck by a binding spell!

Boom!

A brilliant sword beam sliced through the sky toward the Blood Demon, piercing its massive skull before shooting into the clouds.

The layered blood clouds were instantly cleaved apart with devastating force, spreading outward on both sides, vast and mighty until they reached the horizon, then finally vanished.

"Changmei, Jingwei, see how much longer you can hold on!"

The Blood Demon's skull began to dissipate, but the dark clouds above the sky reassembled, leaving only the Blood Demon's arrogant laughter and the omnipresent blood aura.

Everything fell into silence.

The white‑robed old man, still holding his long sword, fell to the ground, spitting a mouthful of foul blood.

Although he pierced the Blood Demon's manifestation, the Blood Demon's manifestation, while being destroyed, also struck him hard; his already somewhat hollow body now became unbearably burdened.

"The Blood Demon has grown stronger again!"

Another elderly man, also exuding an ethereal aura, with snow‑white eyebrows and beard, appeared beside him, his complexion equally grim.

"Even the Haotian Mirror can only hold it for a moment; if this continues, we are likely doomed!"

"Since that's the case, why not request assistance from the Upper Realm? Aren't you quite adept at this?" A strange voice sounded beside the two, and their faces instantly changed.

"Who are you!"

A uniquely shaped flying knife transformed into a cold flash and shot straight toward Mu Yi's position.

Mu Yi reached out, caught the flying knife, and curiously looked at the figure who threw it; a teenage boy with iron wings made of flapping flying knives rushed toward him.

From his aura, he seemed to be a disciple of the elder Changmei, markedly different from the Shushan Sect disciples forming the sword array.

"I only thought the face seemed familiar before, but it's really you, Dan Chenzi?" This odd appearance instantly triggered Mu Yi's memory.

Mu Yi hadn't expected that one day he would actually see Dan Chenzi in person.

The other's flamboyantly cool outfit, and the continuously flapping iron wings behind him that glittered with a cold light, left an extremely deep impression on him.

"I originally thought it was just a namesake, but it turned out to be the Shushan Sect's Changmei and that Nether Blood Demon!"

Shushan Legend, a xianxia TV drama that's hard to forget once watched; Mu Yi hadn't imagined that one day he could see its very protagonist within a world under Jiuzhou.

"So, this Shushan Sect is the Immortal Sword Shushan Sect, then?"

Mu Yi hadn't considered this before, but now it seems this fate is wonderfully inexplicable.

"You petty bird demon! Do not be reckless!"

Dan Chenzi, seeing Mu Yi easily pinch the flying knife, grew even more sullen; the iron wings formed by the knives behind him instantly spread, whizzing toward Mu Yi.

"Hmph! Without discerning right from wrong, you act recklessly!"

Mu Yi felt Dan Chenzi's gaze land on his twin wings for a moment, and immediately launched an attack, his expression turning fierce.

From the recent clash, he realized that the Blood Demon, Changmei, and Jingwei were all high‑level Legends, and the Blood Demon was a notch stronger than Changmei and Jingwei; even its summoned manifestation left the two of them scrambling.

It wasn't that the two didn't want to fight the Blood Demon; their internal Qi was nearly depleted, making combat impossible. If not for the disciples forming the great formation to buy them time, they'd likely be swallowed whole by the Blood Demon.

As for the flamboyantly cool Dan Chenzi before him, he's merely at Legend level; his iron wings of flying knives, though impressive, still fall short of artifact caliber.

It was actually the Haotian Mirror that Changmei mentioned that caught Mu Yi's attention; it should be a replica of a demon‑revealing mirror, the genuine one belonging to the Heavenly Court, though Ling Mountain seems to have a demon‑revealing mirror as well.

Its effect is basically to see through disguises, immobilize and track; judging by the earlier result, this Haotian Mirror is at least a high‑grade counterfeit, with similar capabilities.

"Wu Jian!"

Mu Yi's figure vanished, and the next instant he appeared beside Danchenzi, striking him down with a single blow and casually tossing the unconscious Danchenzi onto the ground.

Mu Yi looked toward Changmei and Jingwei.

"Answer my question! Why didn't you invite the founding master of the sect to descend?"

Changmei and Jingwei exchanged a glance, confirming that Danchenzi was not in mortal danger, and inexplicably felt oppression emanating from Mu Yi.

After a brief silence, Jingwei slowly spoke.

"We are temporarily unable to contact the founding master of our Shu Shan Sect!"

"Even your Emei Sect can't get in touch?" Mu Yi felt a bit strange, then looked at Changmei.

Changmei shook his head, not saying explicitly, but his expression made it clear he felt the same as Jingwei.

Mu Yi furrowed his brows; how did he feel he was being drawn into another vortex?

Logically, this world should be large enough to accommodate deities and immortals descending among mortals.

Could it be that the founding master of Shu Shan was sent by the Heavenly Court on some mission?

"May I ask the name of the Upper Deity!" Changmei asked cautiously, sensing from Mu Yi the same aura as his own sect's founding master.

"I am the Demon‑Pursuing, Filth‑Sweeping Celestial Lord, originally commissioned by others to punish the members of the Shu Shan Sect, but I did not expect you to fall into such calamity; now it is indeed difficult to fulfill this commission!"

Mu Yi glanced at a Shu Shan disciple, then looked again at the Lock Demon Tower, which stands out prominently within Shu Shan.

"We have seen the Upper Deity!" Upon hearing this, Changmei and Jingwei silently calculated, their expressions instantly becoming more reverent, and they hurriedly bowed to Mu Yi.

"Tell me, what's your current situation?" Mu Yi waved his hand.

"The Blood Demon, for reasons unknown, has experienced a strange encounter, its power surging, recruiting countless Evil Demons and Heretics, and launched a massive assault on Shu Shan. My Emei Sect heard the news and came to assist, but being few against many, we are besieged and barely holding on!"

Changmei sighed; the Blood Demon was originally just an ordinary demonic cultivator, they hadn't paid much attention, but now its strength has skyrocketed, and no one knows what kind of encounter it had.

"I sent invitations far and wide across the righteous path of the world, asking for aid, but for some reason only Emei arrived!" Jingwei's face turned bitter as she spoke.

"Based on our speculation, the Blood Demon is heading straight for the Lock Demon Tower!"

"Some time ago, the Shu Shan Sect captured a Baxa and locked it inside the Lock Demon Tower; now thinking back, the Baxa was probably guarding something, but we unintentionally destroyed it, causing this disaster!"

When Jingwei said this, Mu Yi could only laugh in exasperation.

"Your Shu Shan Sect is truly formidable—neglecting the proper demon‑slaying, yet you go after a Baxa?"

Mu Yi now understood; the Shu Shan Sect had committed too many sins and was being back‑fired upon.

But that's also the case—the Shu Shan Sect of the Sword Immortal even dares to imprison the descendants of Nüwa; there is nothing they wouldn't imprison.

"Is this how your founding master taught you? The demon‑slaying turned into hunting Baxa?"

"You dare capture such auspicious beasts; I heard the Lock Demon Tower also contains descendants of the sacred White Tiger. What else have you done? Speak, I want to hear!"

"Even an auspicious beast could threaten mortals; we are merely taking preemptive measures."

"'Demon‑slaying and demon‑purging'—your Shu Shan Sect only learned the first two characters; the latter two never entered your teachings!"

Mu Yi thought of the demonic cultivator who had previously slaughtered many lives, his face turning a displeasing hue as he scolded.

Changmei and Jingwei dared not retort, only bowing their heads in silence.

"You cannot distinguish good from evil, cannot see right from wrong, and have provoked this cataclysmic disaster today!"

"Tell me, what other divine beasts are inside?" Mu Yi, now understanding the Shu Shan Sect's nature, asked irritably.

"A phoenix descendant, a Pi Xiu, a Kui…" Jingwei listed them like treasured family heirlooms.

"Enough, no need to continue!" Mu Yi waved his hand, cutting Jingwei off.

"Do you know why you cannot contact your founding master?" Mu Yi sneered, looking at Jingwei and Changmei.

"With such a massive karmic cause, it's fortunate no one knows; looking at the current situation, this news is probably already leaking."

"Pi Xiu and Kui Bull aside, Baxa is a bona‑fide divine beast, even of the dragon lineage."

"The Four Seas Dragon Clan is indeed not very influential in Jiuzhou, but they are still the Earth Emperors of the Four Seas; they are not a mere Shu Shan Sect or a sixth‑rank deity to be trifled with."

"Moreover, in this matter, the Shu Shan Sect has no justification,"

"Even if it escalates, at most they'd each receive fifty blows of punishment."

"Furthermore, judging by the current stance, whether the Shu Shan Sect can endure until the Four Seas Dragon Clan holds them accountable is uncertain."

"The Four Seas Dragon Clan has probably only severed the Shu Shan Sect's connection to the Upper Realm."

"They themselves do not intervene in the karmic web, merely letting the Blood Demon deal with the Shu Shan Sect."

"However, even a single Blood Demon now could likely eradicate the Shu Shan Sect's doctrinal lineage."

"And this is a trouble the Shu Shan Sect caused themselves; when they die, it will be deserved."

"Pity the mortal civilians caught in the crossfire of the Four Seas Dragon Clan and the Shu Shan Sect."

"After sorting out the facts, Mu Yi gave Changmei and Jingwei a cold glance."

"Enough idle talk; where is the Blood Demon's lair? I'll go slay that Blood Demon first!"

"Regardless of any hidden hand behind it, this Blood Demon is the chief culprit; since I know this, I cannot ignore it."

"He intends to avenge these innocent mortal civilians."

"First, eliminate these Evil Demons and Heretics, then settle accounts with the Shu Shan Sect and the Four Seas Dragon Clan."

"Thank the Upper Deity for His mercy; this is the Haotian Mirror, which has already locked onto the Blood Demon's aura. The Blood Demon's body was heavily damaged by us before, and now only its manifestation remains, likely because the body hasn't healed yet."

Upon hearing this, Changmei let out a huge sigh of relief, quickly taking out a mirror and handing it to Mu Yi.

【Haotian Mirror】

Item Level: 30

Item Type: Artifact

Effect:

1、True Reflection: After activation, it can emit a radiance of tens of thousands of feet; units struck by the radiance will undergo a check, and if the check fails, all hidden units, invisibility effects, and disguise effects will be dispelled.

2、Light Immobilization: After activation, it can emit a beam of light to impose an immobilization effect; the duration of immobilization is related to the difference in strength—the lower the user's level, the longer the immobilization, and energy can be input to extend the immobilization time.

3、Breath Tracking: It can lock onto a designated target for tracking; during tracking, a check will be made—if successful, the exact location of the target can be sensed; if failed, only a rough direction can be sensed.

Unless the user dies or actively dispels the aura using the Vast Heaven Mirror, this effect is permanent.

ps: This is an imitation of the Demon-Revealing Mirror, possessing less than one-tenth of the power of the genuine article.

"Wait until I return to deal with you!"

Mu Yi's bird totem on his back lit up; he spread his wings and directly pierced the magic array, following the aura within the Vast Heaven Mirror to track the Blood Demon's true form.

"Bitterness, bitterness!" Jingwei's brows were furrowed with sorrow.

It is only natural that heaven has eyes when someone deals with the Blood Demon, but afterwards they must also face the punishment of a heavenly deity, which is also a bitter matter.

"Fellow Daoist, every sip and bite is predestined; that this heavenly lord could descend to the mortal realm is already our greatest fortune."

Changmei sighed; he also felt a bit uneasy, but since things have come to this, they can only let nature take its course.