Chapter 283

What is the point of living a lifetime?

Chang'an stood atop a stone pillar, looking down at a vast expanse of twisted faces, like ghosts and demons, of Changsheng Sect disciples.

He grinned and nodded.

"High above, looking down upon all beings."

He spread his arms, Chang'an intoxicatedly lifted his head and took a deep breath.

He sought power, he sought authority, he became the Chosen One; ultimately, he wanted to stand above countless beings, enjoying the pleasure of life and death, of taking and seizing.

In the snap of a finger, hundreds of heads fell; in a thought, countless maidens' crimson...

With a sinister smile, Chang'an pointed to a corner of the stone cavern, where nearly fifty thousand men and women were surrounded by a great host of golden bovine warriors.

They were all tall, sturdy young men or lovely, beautiful young women. Around this stone cavern spanning five to six hundred li, over a hundred clans were utterly wiped out, the elders all slaughtered; these nearly fifty thousand youths were the elite of those clans.

"My disciples, the pride of Changsheng Sect, you are above others… these lowly men and women are yours." Chang'an waved his hand forcefully: "Go, enjoy them, indulge yourselves… and them as well!"

The Changsheng Sect disciples laughed hysterically, men and women alike like a pack of mad beasts.

They leapt and flew, or rose into the air, charging at the surrounded captives. Their eyes glowed with red light, flashing with ferocity, quickly picking their preferred targets in the crowd.

Miserable howls and angry roars continually came.

The Changsheng Sect disciples, men and women alike, were all wicked and ferocious.

Someone lit a specially prepared herb ball, throwing the burning ball into the crowd. A pink, sweet-smelling smoke sprayed from the herb ball; nearly fifty thousand young men and women inhaled this thick smoke, quickly losing their sense of self.

Their primal instincts took control.

They hysterically entwined with the Changsheng Sect disciples.

The sturdy youths quickly became skin and bone; the lovely young women turned into powdered skeletons.

The air reeked of blood; masses of faint blood energy swirled above the crowd, and the Changsheng Sect disciples each took on a ruddy glow, their skin becoming crystal clear and translucent, as if breakable by a breath.

Chang'an smiled as he watched the distant, chaotic crowd.

If this were the Changsheng Sect's stronghold in Qingmu Territory, facing the pressure of the Six Dao Palace, Chang'an would never dare to do this, no matter what.

No matter how evil the Changsheng Sect is, they know that the people of those small clans are their foundation; they could never possibly drain the lake and fish in Qingmu Territory.

But this is the territory of Sanlian City.

However many casualties among the populace here, it does no harm to his Changsheng Sect.

Especially, the esteemed divine envoy… no, the esteemed Lord Divine Xuan Zhu, has already issued a slaughter order.

"Such a person, god… goddess." Chang'an's body trembled slightly, his eyes flashing with a fierce and dangerous cold light. He gritted his teeth, secretly fantasizing that if he could subdue Xuan Zhu and then use Changsheng Sect's secret arts to mercilessly whip…

"Like being in a fairyland, wanting to die from ecstasy—heavens, how could there be such a stunningly exquisite person?" Chang'an muttered softly: "Power, still not enough… power, power… kill You Cang, dominate Xuan Zhu, hehe, I will surely manage."

The chaotic, wretched scene lasted for over two hours.

The few strongest young cultivators had their vital essence sucked dry by the Changsheng Sect's demonesses, each lying on the ground, breathless.

The Changsheng Sect disciples rose, faces flushed, swaying like drunks, with a hint of obsession, slowly walking out of the chaotic 'human pile' and leisurely arriving at the stone pillar where Chang'an stood.

"Sect Master!" Men and women alike, tens of thousands of Changsheng Sect disciples roared in unison, feeling awe yet willingly kneeling.

Only such a Sect Master is worthy of their following.

Once harming tens of thousands of able youths, with such a grand gesture and such resolve, Chang'an truly far surpasses those previous Sect Masters and Elders, leaving these twisted-natured Changsheng Sect disciples utterly convinced.

"Follow me, and you can gain more." Chang'an raised his hands high, shouting hoarsely: "This Sect Master is the Chosen One."

"Hu-ha!"

Tens of thousands of Changsheng Sect disciples knelt again in worship.

Chang'an smiled at the waves of kneeling disciples, waved his hand, and said calmly: 'Alright, let those little brats come up and finish the final step.'

Several thousand Changsheng Sect disciples walked out of a passageway, driving forward large groups of children aged over five and under ten.

These Changsheng Sect disciples each had bloodshot eyes, staring with intense envy and hatred at those disciples who had just indulged their carnal desires. Amid such a feast, they had to guard over ten thousand children on the side, their innards burning.

"Go, give each of these brats a knife." Chang'an said calmly: "From today on, some rules of the Changsheng Sect will change… henceforth, new disciples of the Changsheng Sect shall begin with 'Severing Mortal Bonds'."

Chang'an said expressionlessly: 'The rules of 'Severing Mortal Bonds' were just drafted; this time we simplified them a bit. From now on, we must ensure that new disciples personally kill their direct blood relatives, only then can they truly be good disciples of my Changsheng Sect.'

"However, this isn't quite a perfect match… let them kill those people… among so many, there will surely be their brothers or sisters." Chang'an laughed with a twisted expression, whispering: "Let them kill, hehe, force them to kill."

The Changsheng Sect disciples laughed.

Such a heinous act, yet they felt… it was utterly amusing.

"Severing Mortal Bonds," what an ingenious idea! Truly, how did this new Sect Master think of it?

Using the method of slaying direct blood relatives to sever mortal bonds, one can imagine how twisted and cruel these children's dispositions will become. Only such twisted and cruel people are the good disciples the Changsheng Sect needs!

Chang'an also grinned.

He instinctively pulled from his sleeve a blood-red covered ancient text, its surface inscribed with twisted black characters spelling the three words 'Blood Demon Classic.'

This ancient text was bestowed upon him by Xuan Zhu.

This ancient text is a secret transmission of an ancient bloody demon sect, a profound and exquisite art a hundred times superior to Chang'an's God-Envoy-optimized 'Nine Tribulations Longevity Classic.'

Upon contact, Chang'an was drawn to the myriad strange, ruthless, yet immensely powerful demonic arts in the 'Blood Demon Classic.'

Especially the records of the ancient demon sect's regulations that exterminate humanity and annihilate morality, which deeply moved Chang'an's heart, resonating with the most twisted and cruel part of his nature.

Having obtained the 'Blood Demon Classic', after just a few days of cultivation, Chang'an had completely transformed into another person.

He went from human to demon.

He went from initially seeing Xuan Zhu, still holding nine-tenths reverence as a 'person,' to becoming fearless, daring to reach out claws at Xuan Zhu, even scheming to kill You Cang as a 'demon'!

"Demon, how wonderful… towering above all beings, looking down on these… ants, lowly scum." Chang'an's eyes turned blood-red, his gaze slowly sweeping over the tens of thousands of Changsheng Sect disciples below, and he suddenly laughed.

These Changsheng Sect disciples, in Chang'an's eyes now, are nothing more than the sheep he herds.

When they grow up, and when Chang'an lets go to reap them, what a relief that will be.

Once he reaps these tens of thousands of disciples, he will have enough strength to eliminate You Cang and dominate Xuan Zhu, right?

Thinking of the wonderful prospect, Chang'an's body trembled uncontrollably once again.

Strands of extremely fine blood lines appeared beneath his fair, semi-translucent skin, like tiny poisonous snakes swiftly moving about; he drew in deep breaths, each breath completely consumed by his body.

He only inhaled, exhaling nothing at all.

This is demon.

Greedy, cruel, madly plundering, never giving anything back.

Thousands of Changsheng Sect disciples drew their side swords and sabers, forcibly stuffing them into the hands of the terrified, limp children.

"Go, kill them."

"Kill them, and you will be my Changsheng Sect disciples."

"Changsheng Sect, have you heard of it?"

"Kill them, or we will kill you."

Not only those thousands of Changsheng Sect followers, but also the other Changsheng Sect disciples whose blood and qi surged all over their bodies swarmed forward, laughing and waving their arms like demons, urging the terrified, pallid children to kill those young men and women on their last breath.

Even if among those young men and women were the children's own close relatives.

"Pa!"

A girl with pearl‑round, jade‑smooth skin and about eighty‑percent beauty, but with a twisted, savage face, pulled off her sash and fiercely whipped an eight‑ or nine‑year‑old girl's face, nearly bursting the skin on half of her face.

"Slut, hurry up, go find someone to kill… otherwise… hehe…" The girl's gaze shifted, glancing at a male Changsheng Sect disciple standing beside her.

"Senior brother, I'd be happy to serve the junior sister… but I'm afraid of the Sect Master… hehe." The Changsheng Sect male disciple laughed wickedly: "After all, we haven't even trained in the Changsheng Sect's cultivation method, so this little girl isn't worth much."

Changsheng Sect disciples from all directions simultaneously let out vicious laughter.

Far off, a sudden shout came from the entrance of a passage leading to this stone cavern: "Mercy, mercy… what… what sin are you committing?"

Strangely, the shout was filled with a tranquil yet vast power.

Tens of thousands of Changsheng Sect followers, like evil spirits, shuddered all over, their evil flames in the heart suddenly dying down by more than half.

They all lifted their heads and, without thinking, glanced toward the passage entrance a hundred li away.

A donkey with black fur, a white muzzle, and long ears brayed happily, shaking its hooves and calling "hee‑haw" as it charged out.

Behind this huge braying donkey, over three meters tall and more than five meters long, its whole body slick and shiny, a young woman with a spherical build, a face like a full moon, and a bald scalp gleaming with green light bounded after it, light on her feet.

The young woman wore a somewhat tattered gray robe, a string of shiny honey‑wax prayer beads hung from her neck, and on her back she carried a precept sword almost as tall as she is.

She stood about 2.5 meters tall, her waist around 2 meters, broad‑shouldered and round‑waisted, her arms at least as thick as an average man's torso.

With such a hulking, rotund build, one would expect her to give the impression of a ferocious beast.

Yet her face was kind and gentle; although her gray robe bore some mud and moss, her round face and palms showed no dirt, and her whole body exuded an inexplicable aura of kindness, harmony, tranquility, and calm.

But upon seeing the tens of thousands of young men and women lying sprawled in the stone cavern, skin and bones, their marrow nearly sucked dry, the young woman's expression suddenly changed.

The kind and harmonious aura vanished.

It was as if a clear, breezy sky had instantly turned into a terrifying scene of lightning, thunder, and an approaching hurricane.

"You…" a flash of cold light crossed the woman's eyes as she suddenly looked at the children surrounded by tens of thousands of Changsheng Sect followers.

"What do you want to do?" the woman's body trembled slightly.

"You see, we… are recruiting new followers." Chang'an laughed, looking at the woman; he stood atop a stone pillar hundreds of meters high, looking down on her: "We slaughtered their families, using their brothers and sisters as cauldrons, tormenting them near death."

"Now we make them sever worldly ties." Chang'an chuckled: "Severing worldly ties, exterminating emotions and desires—from now on they will be excellent disciples of my Changsheng Sect."

"Demon!" the woman's round eyes narrowed to a slit.

She looked at Chang'an and said seriously: "You are not human; you are a demon."

Chang'an fell silent for a moment, then laughed again: "That's right, I am a demon, and a demon among demons… but what can you do about it?"

The woman drew a deep breath, gripping the hilt of her long sword at her back: "I am the monk Zhu Yue; I love to eat, and above all, I love to subdue demons."

Chang'an also laughed, eyes narrowing: "You love to subdue demons? You want to subdue me? On what basis? Just because you're a pile of meat?"

"Damn!" The huge braying donkey, slick and shiny all over, suddenly bellowed, leapt up, and in an instant was like a black wind before Chang'an—*crack! *—its hoof slammed hard into his face.

Chang'an's handsome face was mostly caved in, a deep hoofprint sunk two inches into his visage.

Blood kept spurting from his nostrils, mouth, and ears.

He stared in terror at the huge braying donkey.

Even with Chang'an's current cultivation, he couldn't make out the huge braying donkey's movements.

This guy is actually an extremely formidable body cultivator.

Yet Chang'an is not skilled in close combat, so he was effectively ambushed by the huge braying donkey.

Chang'an let out a furious roar from his throat; the blood spraying from his mouth turned into a vast sheet of Blood Light, writhing as it engulfed the huge braying donkey.

The huge braying donkey gave a "ga‑ga" laugh.

Its scalp, clean and gleaming with green light just like Zhu Yue's, was suddenly showered with a patch of pure auspicious light.

The faint sandalwood‑scented auspicious light and the Blood Light collided; the Blood Light instantly ignited, turning into colorful smoke that slowly dissipated.

*Clang! *

Zhu Yue's long sword left its sheath.

She gripped the long sword with both hands and, from tens of li away, slowly swung it at Chang'an.