Chapter 189

Blood Curved Blade headquarters.

Blood Curved Blade headquarters.

Inside a stone stronghold, the scent of wine and meat lingered as the Blood Curved Blade's senior leaders assembled for a lavish feast celebrating Old Dao Feng and his companions' spoils from the ruins.

Translation: "In a Shibao, meat and wine fragrance filled the air, the core high-level members of the Blood Curved Blade gathered together, holding a grand celebration for Lao Dao Feng and others' gains in the ruins." Need to keep meaning. Let's produce: "In a Shibao, meat and wine fragrance filled the air, the core high-level members of the Blood Curved Blade gathered together, holding a grand celebration for Lao Dao Feng and others' gains in the ruins." Ensure no extra.

Unsure what Osiris had done, the ruins had disappeared without a trace, and Old Dao Feng, the six Life Pool Realm masters, Duo Li Ya, and the others could only recall hazily what had transpired inside.

Not knowing what Osiris had done, the ruins had vanished without a trace; Lao Dao Feng, six Life Pool Realm experts, Duo Li Ya, and others also had vague memories of what happened after entering the ruins.

They couldn't even describe what they had faced inside, yet each walked away with bountiful spoils.

Translation: "They could not say what they had encountered inside, but each of them had gained abundantly."

Witch Iron had the smallest haul.

Translation: "Wu Tie's gains were the least."

He even allowed Old Dao Feng and his companions to calmly examine the bracer on his wrist, which held only a few gold ingots, jewels, and primal herbs—nothing more.

Translation: "He even openly let Lao Dao Feng and others inspect the bracers he wore; his bracers contained only some gold ingots, jewels, and yuan grass—nothing else besides these."

Thus, his visible spoils consisted merely of a suit of black armor and a pair of black boots.

Translation: "Thus his outward gains were merely a set of black armor and a pair of black boots."

Such a paltry haul immediately drained Old Dao Feng and his companions' curiosity to look deeper.

Translation: "Such gains were pitiful, immediately causing Lao Dao Feng and them to lose interest in investigating."

As for Old Dao Feng and his companions…

Translation: "As for Lao Dao Feng and them……"

Each of them glittered with pearls and jewels, at the very least equipped with a full set of armor and matching ancient weapons like swords.

Translation: "Each person was covered in jewels and riches, at least obtaining a full set of complete armor, along with matching ancient treasure weapons."

Old Dao Feng, who reaped the most, acquired thirty‑six complete sets of armor and weapons, several immensely powerful ancient treasures, and even a barracks capable of summoning tomb guardians.

Translation: "And the one with the most gains, Lao Dao Feng, obtained thirty-six sets of armor and weapons, several extremely powerful ancient treasures, and even a Tomb Guardians summoning barracks."

These were the same indestructible, unbreakable jackal‑headed warriors that Witch Iron and his group had faced.

Translation: "This is the kind of indestructible, unbreakable Hyena-headed Warriors that Wu Tie and them encountered."

Old Dao Feng acquired a palm‑sized black pyramid; by constantly loading it with rare materials and primal crystals brimming with immense primordial energy, he could endlessly summon those jackal‑headed warriors.

Translation: "Lao Dao Feng obtained a palm-sized black pyramid; as long as various rare materials and origin crystals storing vast primordial energy continually filled it, it could continuously summon those Hyena-headed Warriors."

Upon returning to the Blood Curved Blade's headquarters, Old Dao Feng filled the pyramid with nearly all the rare materials and primal crystals from the armory, instantly summoning three thousand jackal‑headed warriors, each over three meters tall and completely black.

Translation: "Having just returned to the Blood Curved Blade headquarters, Lao Dao Feng stuffed almost all of the rare materials and origin crystals from the sect's treasury into it, immediately summoning three thousand Hyena-headed Warriors over three meters tall, pitch-black all over."

The jackal‑headed warriors are robust and possess limitless strength; as long as the small pyramid remains intact, they suffer virtually no damage.

Translation: "These Hyena-headed Warriors have sturdy bodies and infinite strength; as long as this small black pyramid is not destroyed, they will hardly ever be damaged."

Though their fighting ability is only on par with the first or second level of the Heavy Tower Realm, their indestructibility makes them extraordinarily difficult to deal with.

Translation: "Although their combat power is only at the first or second layer of the Chonglou Realm, their indestructible nature has made them extremely troublesome."

What's worse, they can join together in formation, conjuring black sand‑like mist that ensnares foes, slowing them and gradually sapping their magic and blood essence until they become desiccated mummies.

Translation: "What's more frightening is that they can form battle arrays, summoning black mist quicksand to entangle enemies, slowing their movements and even gradually draining their mana and essence blood, ultimately turning them into desiccated mummies."

When the three thousand jackal‑headed warriors array themselves for battle, even a newcomer to the Life Pool Realm cannot resist them, much less ordinary Heavy Tower or Mystic Perception cultivators.

Translation: "A battle array formed by three thousand Hyena-headed Warriors is impossible to resist even for experts who have just entered the Life Pool Realm, let alone ordinary Chonglou Realm or Sensing Mystery Realm cultivators."

Old Dao Feng and his companions raised their cups, talking and laughing loudly, gulping down wine in big mouthfuls until their faces turned bright red.

Translation: "Lao Dao Feng and the others raised their cups, speaking and laughing loudly, gulping down wine in big mouthfuls until their faces flushed red."

Witch Iron knew full well that Osiris had told him the external spoils Old Dao Feng and his companions had acquired were of little account, and that Osiris had further granted them several 'inheritance seeds' as rewards through the Way of the Dead.

Translation: "Wu Tie clearly knew that Osiris had told him that the external gains Lao Dao Feng and them had obtained were fine, but Osiris had also given them some 'Inheritance Seeds' as rewards via the Path of the Dead."

The so‑called inheritance seeds are cultivation methods, divine abilities and secret arts.

Translation: "So-called Inheritance Seeds are cultivation arts, divine abilities and secret techniques."

The inheritance Osiris bestowed upon them is vastly superior to the cultivation techniques Old Dao Feng and his companions currently practice.

Translation: "The inheritance Osiris gave is far superior to the cultivation arts Lao Dao Feng and them currently practice, by an unknown degree."

Yet when we look at Old Dao Feng, the six Heavy Tower Realm cultivators at his side, and Duo Li Ya—the pale‑faced one—we see them merely bragging wildly about the armor, divine weapons, and assorted treasures they gained from the Way of the Dead, while none mention the inheritance they received.

Translation: "But look at Lao Dao Feng, then look at his six Chonglou Realm cultivators beside him, and Duo Li Ya this pretty boy; they merely boast wildly about the armor, divine weapons, and various treasures they obtained from the Path of the Dead, with not a single one mentioning the inheritance they received."

This, after all, is just human nature!

Translation: "This is humanity!"

Especially, observe Old Dao Feng and those six Life Pool Realm masters acting like sworn brothers, each ready to plunge a dagger into his own side for the other's sake—a fierce, blood‑brother bond—while Witch Iron sat nearby, laughing loudly and gulping down wine in big mouthfuls.

Translation: "Especially, look at Lao Dao Feng and those six Life Pool Realm experts sworn brothers; each shows a fervent brotherhood ready to stab their ribs for the other…… Wu Tie sat aside, laughing loudly and gulping down wine."

The wine is of poor quality, brewed by the slaves kept by the Blood Curved Blade.

Translation: "The wine's quality is not great; it is brewed by the slaves raised by the Blood Curved Blade."

The Blood Curved Blade is skilled at raiding and looting, but they have no aptitude for organized production.

Translation: "The Blood Curved Blade excels at raiding homes; they utterly lack the talent for organized production."

Thus the wine is barely palatable—bitter, astringent, sour and spicy with an awful mouthfeel—but its alcohol content is fairly high, making it suitable for these rough‑and‑tumble fighters to quench their thirst.

Translation: "So the wine is barely drinkable—bitter, astringent, sour, and spicy, with a terrible mouthfeel, but its alcohol content is fairly high, making it suitable for these rough fighters to quench their thirst."

Suddenly, the Tree of Abundance, which had already fused with Witch Iron, stirred.

Translation: "Suddenly, the Harvest Tree, already fused with Wu Tie, twitched."

Witch Iron had a sudden insight; he slipped a finger into the wine jug he was cradling, and a faint green light flashed from his fingertip, causing an emerald‑made fruit on the Tree of Abundance to glow briefly.

Translation: "Wu Tie had a flash of inspiration; he inserted a finger into the wine jug he was holding, a faint green light flickered at his fingertip, and a fruit made of emerald on the Harvest Tree glowed briefly."

A peculiar energy streamed from Witch Iron's finger into the wine jug.

Translation: "A strange energy flowed from Wu Tie's finger into the wine jug."

A faint fragrance wafted from the wine jug, and Witch Iron quickly sealed the surrounding air to keep the scent from drifting away.

Translation: "A faint fragrance drifted from the wine jug; Wu Tie hastily sealed the surrounding air to prevent the scent from escaping."

He lifted the jug, took a sip of the now‑fine wine, sensing only its mellow smoothness; the previously inferior wine inside had miraculously become top‑grade aged vintage… The Tree of Abundance, with merely a flick of a finger, had turned such poor wine into something comparable to a century‑old vintage.

Translation: "He raised the wine jug, took a sip of fine wine, feeling only mellow and smooth; the inferior wine inside the jug had actually turned into top-grade aged vintage…… The Harvest Tree, in just a snap of the fingers, turned such awful inferior wine into a supreme quality comparable to century-old aged wine!"

Tree of Abundance

Translation: "'Harvest Tree'!"

Witch Iron, seeming to have understood, nodded, seized the jug and gulped down the fine wine in one go, then casually shattered the empty jug that still exhaled a faint fragrance on the ground.

Translation: "Wu Tie, seeming to have realized something, nodded, grabbed the wine jug and gulped down the fine wine, then casually smashed the empty jug emitting a faint fragrance onto the ground."

He then picked up another jug of inferior wine.

Translation: "He then grabbed another jug of inferior wine."

This time he did not employ the Tree of Abundance to turn the bad wine into good; laughing 'haha,' he poured the inferior wine from the jug all over himself, the harsh alcoholic liquid spilling onto the ground and completely overwhelming the fragrance from the shattered jug shards.

Translation: "This time, he did not use the Harvest Tree's power to turn the inferior wine into fine wine; instead, laughing 'haha', he poured the inferior wine from the jug all over himself, the pungent alcohol-smelling inferior wine splashed onto the ground, completely covering the fragrance on the shards of the empty wine jug."

Laughing, he upended a jug of wine over himself, then smashed the jug on the ground, rose to his feet, and bellowed: 'Chief, we have gained so much treasure this time, plus those indestructible, unbreakable dog‑head soldiers to aid us… Let's just directly wipe out the Golden Dead Spirits!'

Translation: "Laughing, he dumped a jug of wine over himself, smashed the jug on the ground, stood up, and roared loudly: 'Great Chieftain, we have gained so many treasures this time, plus those indestructible, unbreakable Dog-headed Soldiers aiding us…… We might as well directly annihilate the Golden Dead Spirits!'"

The boisterous, drinking‑and‑merrymaking Blood Curved Blade leaders abruptly fell silent.

Translation: "The noisy, feasting Blood Curved Blade high-ranking members suddenly fell silent."

Old Dao Feng had already distributed the armor and ancient weapons he'd taken from the ruins; dozens of Blood Curved Blade leaders now wore gleaming, jewel‑bright armor, with oddly shaped divine weapons hanging at their waists, each brimming with vigor as if injected with chicken blood.

Translation: "Lao Dao Feng had already distributed the armor and ancient weapons he obtained from the ruins; dozens of Blood Curved Blade high-ranking members wore shining gold and jewel-bright armor, with strange-shaped divine weapons hanging at their waists, each full of vigor as if injected with chicken blood."

Their hearts also churned with the same thought as Witch Iron.

Translation: "Their hearts also churned with the same thought as Wu Tie."

Witch Iron bluntly voiced what they were thinking; immediately many rose to their feet, staring fixedly at Old Dao Feng.

Translation: "Wu Tie bluntly voiced what they were thinking; at once many people stood up, staring fixedly at Lao Dao Feng."

Old Dao Feng wiped his gaunt cheek and said solemnly: 'Those are tomb guardians, jackal‑human warriors, jackal‑people—not dog‑heads… Well, although they look somewhat alike.'

Translation: "Lao Dao Feng wiped his thin cheek, solemnly saying: 'Those are Tomb Guardians, Hyena-headed Warriors, Hyena People—not Dog-headed People…… Well, although they look similar.'"

The small black pyramid hovered beside Old Dao Feng; he turned with a smile and looked at Duo Li Ya sitting next to him.

Translation: "The small black pyramid hovered beside Lao Dao Feng; smiling, he turned and looked at Duo Li Ya sitting beside him."

'Duo Li Ya… do you think I still need to ally with the Gold‑Silver‑Copper Three Ghosts?' Old Dao Feng flicked his finger, and several strands of black qi shot from the small black pyramid, rolling on the ground and turning into a dozen jackal‑human warriors.

Translation: "\"Duo Li Ya… do you think I still need to join forces with the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Three Ghosts? \" Lao Dao Feng flicked his finger; a dozen black vapors shot from the small black pyramid, rolling on the ground and turning into a dozen Hyena-headed Warriors."

These jackal‑human warriors had dark‑green phosphorescent glints in their eyes, wielded oddly shaped spears, and stared grimly at Duo Li Ya.

Translation: "These Hyena-headed Warriors' eyes flickered with dark green ghostly light, holding oddly shaped spears, their gazes gloomily fixed on Duo Li Ya."

Duo Li Ya's hand, holding the wine cup, trembled slightly.

Translation: "Duo Li Ya's hand holding the wine cup trembled slightly."

He gritted his teeth, his mind in turmoil.

Translation: "He gritted his teeth, his mind in turmoil."

To be frank, he had paid a tremendous price to forge this prophecy against the Blood Curved Blade, and only then did he come in person, full of confidence, to persuade Old Dao Feng.

Translation: "To be frank, he had paid a great price to make this prophecy against the Blood Curved Blade, and thus came full of confidence to personally persuade Lao Dao Feng."

But he never imagined that the ancient ruin beneath the Blood Curved Blade's headquarters would be so… miraculous.

Translation: "But he never dreamed that the Primeval Relics beneath the Blood Curved Blade headquarters would be so…… miraculous."

He cannot recall exactly what transpired in that ruin.

Translation: "He cannot recall what exactly happened in those ruins."

But the armor he wears and the ancient divine weapons he obtained are quite real.

Translation: "But the armor on his body and the ancient divine weapons he obtained are truly real."

Moreover, his mind now holds an additional cultivation method called the Dark True Classic.

Translation: "Especially, in his mind there is additionally a cultivation art called the 'Dark True Classic'."

The Dark True Classic is mysterious and evil, darkness pushed to the utmost; after a little practice in the ruin he realized it is a fearsomely powerful cultivation technique, far superior to the one he currently practices, by an unknown degree.

Translation: "This 'Dark True Classic' is crafty and evil, darkness to the extreme; after a little practice in the ruins, he knows it is a fearsomely powerful cultivation art, far surpassing the art he currently mainly practices, by an unknown degree."

Having such fortune, Old Dao Feng's haul must be even greater than his.

Translation: "Having such fortune, Lao Dao Feng's gains are even greater than his."

Even using the simplest line of reasoning.

Translation: "Even if we calculate with the simplest approach."

He received only three sets of armor, while Old Dao Feng brought thirty‑six sets of armor, a large cache of divine weapons, and even a barracks for summoning tomb guardians… Thus Old Dao Feng must have acquired a comparable cultivation method, one that is at least as strong as the Dark True Classic, not weaker.

Translation: "He only obtained three sets of armor, while Lao Dao Feng brought thirty-six sets of armor, a large number of divine weapons, and even a Tomb Guardians summoning barracks…… Therefore, Lao Dao Feng surely also obtained a similar cultivation art, which is only stronger, not weaker, than the Dark True Classic."

Witch Iron stood aside laughing loudly: 'Hahaha, this pale‑faced fellow probably never expected we could reap such great benefits from that ruin!'

Translation: "Wu Tie stood aside laughing loudly: 'Hahaha, this pretty boy, he probably didn't expect us to obtain such great benefits from those ruins!'"

After laughing loudly, Witch Iron stamped his foot hard.

Translation: "After a loud laugh, Wu Tie stomped his foot hard."

A low, deep roar came from behind him; amidst the roiling black mist, a huge bull's head silently emerged within the black mist; the bull's head's large eyes flashed Blood Light, as if alive, staring fixedly at Duoliya.

Wu Tie laughed loudly: "Spear Grandfather, in that relic, aside from a suit of armor and a pair of boots, Spear Grandfather, I also gained a ___."

Old Knife Wind gave a heavy cough, lifted his eyelids, and glanced askance at Wu Tie.

Wu Tie obediently shut his mouth; behind him, a bull head several zhang in diameter stared fixedly at Doliya, its two huge eyeballs emitting Blood Light that solidified the air around Doliya, making it as hard as steel.

The six masters of the Meridian Pool realm who had entered the relic together and emerged with treasures exchanged a quick glance.

Their faces remained unmoving, but in the flicker of their gazes, as old comrades who had long worked together, they instantly understood—apparently, aside from armor, each of them had gained something good inside…

Everyone also made up their minds: the techniques obtained from that relic would surely be their own secret, bottom-of-the-trump card skills.

No one should expect to glean any information from me, nor to extract any benefit from my hands.

Tsk… this foolish dragon-person, how did he just blurt out this matter?

The six individuals exchanged glances rapidly.

When they looked at the other high-ranking members of the Blood Saber in the hall, their eyes inevitably carried a hint of contempt and disdain.

It is destined that, after obtaining the inheritance from that relic, their strength will leap forward; those old brothers who did not enter the relic—such as Bull Savage and Tang Seven—will no longer be qualified to stand on equal footing with them.

Henceforth, the true core leadership of the Blood Saber will probably be just those few of them.

Of course, this matter need not be clarified now; we can wait until everyone's strength grows and the Blood Saber unites the Black Serpent Domain, then lay it out clearly.

Unifying the Black Serpent Domain, such a magnificent achievement…

Tang Seven, Bull Savage, and the like can just serve as cannon fodder for charging into battle; the final victory's fruits will have nothing to do with them.

Old Knife Wind's eyes flickered; he took everything in.

He also keenly noticed that the six old brothers who had entered the relic and those old comrades left outside seemed to have clearly split into two camps.

He felt a sudden relief in his heart…

This is good…

Wu Tie, however, revealed himself; he had obtained a formidable secret art from the relic—that bull head, suffused with killing aura, could also imprison the air around a person, turning void into shackles; this divine ability is powerful, but that's all.

As for the other six… who knows what they obtained?

If their inheritance surpasses Old Knife Wind's, then for him to secure his seat as chief of the Blood Saber, he may have to rely on those old brothers who did not enter the relic.

Old Knife Wind sighed in his heart.

He glanced at Wu Tie, his peripheral vision sweeping over the six old brothers, and couldn't help cursing inwardly: if those people all died in the relic, leaving only him alive, what a wonderful thing that would be…

Of course, there's no need to think about that now.

Old Knife Wind looked at the rigid, immobile Doliya with a faint smile, rose, walked slowly to Doliya's side, and, looking down at the seated Doliya, said with a smile: "Doliya, do you think we still need to join forces with the Gold Dead Spirits?"

Wu Tie gave a "ha-ha" laugh, and the phantom bull head behind him gradually faded.

That bull-head phantom is not a technique inherited from Osiris; it is the divine ability "Soul-Shattering Gaze" that Wu Tie himself comprehended while merging with the Tree of Abundance. Its appearance somewhat resembles Osiris's lineage, which is why he deliberately employed it.

White light flickered in Doliya's pupils, and he instantly thought of many things.

He let out a soft sigh, shook his head, and said: "To win the trust of the three leaders of the Gold Dead Spirits, I also expended tremendous energy, guiding them into a primeval relic; they too gained considerable spoils there."

With a bitter smile, Doliya whispered: "But I truly didn't expect… in my prophecy, the benefit this underground relic of the Blood Saber would bring you should be on par with that of the Gold Dead Spirits…"

"Where exactly went wrong… causing my prophecy to become…" Doliya sighed: "Fate is indeed not something we insignificant beings can easily touch."

Wu Tie touched the spider-shaped pendant hanging at his chest.

Old Iron's crystal brain lay still inside it.

He also glanced at the White Tiger Fissure set beside his seat.

If there is a variable, if fate truly exists, then the Blood Saber's underground relic must have changed due to Wu Tie's influence.

Osiris told Wu Tie that his sleeping tomb is a drifting, living entity.

It is likely that, when Doliya made his prophecy, the Blood Saber's underground primeval relic was merely an ordinary primeval relic.

But when Wu Tie arrived, and at the moment Doliya entered the Blood Saber's base, Osiris's sleeping tomb drifted here, replacing—or rather devouring—the original relic?

Who knows?

This is fate! Unfathomable fate, the fate that gives Doliya a headache.

Doliya drew a deep breath, then stood and earnestly regarded Old Knife Wind: "I think you are the true fortunate one blessed by fate. Why should I waste my energy on doomed losers?"

Doliya deeply bowed to Old Knife Wind: "I am willing to devote all my energy to assist you in becoming the supreme ruler of the Black Serpent Domain."

Wu Tie laughed loudly: "Kill all those bastards of the Gold Dead Spirits!"

Many high-ranking members of the Blood Saber laughed together, raising their cups and smiling brightly.

Yet their eyes flickered; no one knew what they were thinking.