Chapter 401

After the Red Lotus battle ended, Lu Yuan and the others discussed presenting the heavenly scripture to the cultivation world.

"This heavenly scripture gathers many powerful secret arts; we cannot control it, so it would be better to hand it over to the cultivation world for safekeeping," Lu Yuan said.

"What you say is reasonable; our urgent priority is cultivation, we should not be greedy for the heavenly scripture's secret arts," Su Liyan nodded.

Thus, everyone came to the Purple Forbidden City, the capital of the cultivation world, to request an audience with the Supreme Dao Ancestor.

"Supreme Dao Ancestor, we juniors have come this time to present the heavenly scripture obtained from the Red Lotus battle," Lu Yuan respectfully offered the heavenly scripture.

"Excellent!" The Supreme Dao Ancestor picked up the heavenly scripture and flipped through it, unable to help praising repeatedly, "The heavenly scripture is a supreme treasure of the world; that you all could retrieve it safely is a blessing to our immortal realm!"

"Thank you, Ancestor, for your discernment!" everyone said in unison.

"Since that is the case, I will now convene a court assembly to bestow rewards upon you all," the Supreme Dao Ancestor said with a beaming smile.

The next day, the Supreme Dao Ancestor held a grand court assembly in the Golden Throne Hall, elaborating on the achievements of Lu Yuan and the others, and bestowing rewards upon them one by one.

"Lu Yuan, you have defended the righteous path with great merit; I now bestow upon you a Heavenly Gang Thunder Fire Sword."

Heavenly Gang Thunder Fire Sword:

【"This sword is forged from ten thousand years of heavenly thunder and earth fire, infused with a strand of my primordial spirit's aura, its power boundless, aiding you in achieving success in the Dao."】

Lu Yuan knelt to receive the Heavenly Gang Thunder Fire Sword, feeling that the sword's body was entirely blood-red, with electric light and sparks flickering along the blade,

truly a divine weapon forged by heaven and earth, making his heart surge with excitement, he bowed three times to the Supreme Dao Ancestor in gratitude.

"Su Liyan, your ice soul true qi has reached the pinnacle, I now bestow upon you a pair of Jade Ice Crystals,"

Jade Ice Crystals:

【"This item comes from the Jade Rabbit Palace; it can help you comprehend the ultimate truth of heavenly cold, making your ice soul even more formidable."】

Su Liyan shyly knelt and bowed, holding up with both hands two pieces of crystal-clear, translucent jade ice,

feeling the intense chill contained within, she was both delighted and awestruck.

The power of this pair of Jade Ice Crystals will help her cultivation advance to a higher level.

"Gu Qingwan, seeing your lifelong purity of heart and few desires, I specially bestow upon you"

Phoenix Fire Lotus Basin:

【"This basin gathers the power of a hundred spirits; thereafter, you will hardly find an opponent in your martial arts."】

Gu Qingwan was also overjoyed, repeatedly thanking the Supreme Dao Ancestor for the gift.

This Phoenix Fire Lotus Basin is a supreme treasure of the heavenly realm; it will multiply her mana many times over, greatly aiding her future cultivation.

"King Qi, although you are fond of grand achievements, you are truly a talent of a gentleman; I now bestow upon you the Demon-Breaking Golden Wheel:"

Demon-Breaking Golden Wheel:

【"This Demon-Breaking Golden Wheel is entirely gold-yellow, hollow, with exquisite porcelain tiles inlaid around it; it is said that the wheel contains secret texts for breaking a hundred kinds of evil demons and heretical paths, its power boundless."】

King Qi received the golden wheel, kowtowed and said, "Thank you, Ancestor, for your grace; I will surely use this to temper my cultivation, eradicate wickedness and quell violence!"

This wheel will help King Qi double his combat strength, make his primordial spirit more tenacious, and greatly aid his cultivation and defense of the righteous path.

King Qi repeatedly expressed gratitude to the Supreme Dao, resolved to take this golden wheel as his treasure, diligently practice, and soon achieve the golden body's gang qi to uphold the righteous path.

Everyone received the treasures with great joy; these supreme treasures can protect home and nation, and will also greatly benefit their future cultivation.

Lu Yuan and the others, carrying the various treasures bestowed by the Supreme Dao Ancestor, prepared to return to the mortal world to continue safeguarding the righteousness of the martial world.

But as soon as they stepped out of the immortal mountain, they encountered an attack from an evil organization calling itself the Blood Moon Sect.

This organization's eyes are filled with bloodshot veins, clad in red robes, wielding a skull staff, appearing extremely sinister and terrifying.

Lu Yuan and company, carrying the Heavenly Gang Thunder Fire Sword, cold jade ice slice, Phoenix Fire Lotus Basin, and Golden Nine Yang Treasure Shield bestowed by the Supreme Dao Ancestor, were preparing to return to the mortal realm, intending to use these divine artifacts' power to protect all living beings.

But just as they had left the immortal mountain and not yet set foot in the mortal world, a vicious killing intent suddenly descended from the heavens!

"I don't know which exalted one; if we have offended, please forgive." Lu Yuan held his sword to protect the group, always ready for battle.

From the air stepped a middle-aged man clad in crimson monk's robes, wearing a skull on his head, his visage ferocious, wielding a skull staff ablaze with ghostfire, followed by dozens of similarly attired underlings with equally ruthless eyes.

"I am the Sect Leader of the Blood Moon Sect, Yin Hai Dao Ren. I have come today especially to pay my respects to you exalted ones and request a few Fobao."

The man sneered, "If you refuse, we will have no choice but to resort to force."

It turned out that this evil organization was called the Blood Moon Sect, its current Sect Leader being Yin Hai Dao Ren. The sect's eyes are filled with bloodshot veins, they wear crimson monk's robes, wield skull staffs—one glance reveals they are heretical and evil.

Yin Hai Dao Ren is cruel in character and highly skilled in martial arts; for years he has continually bullied the populace and committed wicked deeds. The Blood Moon Sect has established branches such as the "Blood Sand Hall" and "Ghost Shadow Peak", specifically to nurture ruthless followers, turning the martial world into a terrifying purgatory.

Its second-in-command, the Bloodsucking Demon Lord, is addicted to killing and adept at the Bloodsucking Great Art, draining enemies' blood to the last drop. Its third-in-command, the Slaughtering Evil Old Devil, is habitually brutal, gathering countless wicked bandits under him who loot, burn, and pillage everywhere. It is precisely these evildoers' machinations that have cast a shadow over the martial world.

Now the Blood Moon Sect has set its sights on Lu Yuan and company's Fobao, determined to seize them for themselves.

"Yin Hai Dao Ren, you have long brought calamity to the martial world; today we shall certainly bring you to justice!" Lu Yuan's heroic brows locked tight, he thrust the Heavenly Gang Thunder Fire Sword straight at Yin Hai Dao Ren.

"Heaven's Sword, Dragon Slaying!" Su Liyan also unleashed the ultimate technique of the Ice Crystal Long Whip, guarding Lu Yuan's flank.

"Yin Spirit Annihilated!" "Ghost Shadow Exhausted!" Gu Qingwan and King Qi joined forces, attacking from left and right at Yin Hai Dao Ren.

"How dare mere insects dare to affront me?" Yin Hai Dao Ren sneered, swinging his skull staff with all his might, hoping to smash Lu Yuan and company's offensive in one blow.

The two sides clashed fiercely in mid‑air, exchanging blows with all their might, the momentum astonishing.

Only a thunderous "Boom—" rang out as the Heavenly Gang Thunder Fire Sword and the skull staff collided in mid‑air, releasing a blaze of light that shattered the surrounding air.

"Not bad, Yin Hai Dao Ren truly possesses formidable martial skill!" Lu Yuan furrowed his brows, stepped forward, and twelve strands of azure light gathered at his sword tip like thunderbolts.

"Heavenly Gang Converge Thunder!" he shouted, and twelve bolts of lightning shot forth like living things, instantly appearing before Yin Hai Dao Ren in a flash.

"Hmph, do you think mere lightning can harm me?" Yin Hai Dao Ren snorted, waving his skull staff; instantly wails of ghosts and howls of wolves rose, and countless blood shadows coalesced, rushing toward the twelve bolts of lightning.

"Oh no, this is the Blood Devil's Great Art!" Lu Yuan's expression shifted slightly. Only heard a "Boom—" as the blood shadows and lightning collided, becoming impossible to distinguish.

"I'll help you!" Su Liyan leapt up; the ice jade in her hand had transformed into an Ice Crystal Long Whip. She shook the whip in mid‑air, only hearing a "Whoosh—" as countless rays of cold light lashed toward Yin Hai Dao Ren.

"You too shall die!" Yin Hai Dao Ren swung his staff fiercely; even more blood shadows surged forth, actually matching Su Liyan's ice whip in a stalemate.

"Everyone, attack together!"

King Qi gripped the Demon‑Breaking Golden Wheel, hurled it with force; the Demon‑Breaking Golden Wheel traced a dazzling arc in mid‑air, locking onto Yin Hai Dao Ren's chest and striking. (End of chapter)