Chapter 150: Behind the Blood Demon, There is Another Blood Demon

For access to 10 chapter daily, subscribe my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/caleredhair

Although the Blood Demon had been slain in the morning, the disciples of the Spirit Field Valley were kept confined to their rooms for the entire morning. It wasn’t until the afternoon that the sect announced that the Blood Demon had been killed and the lockdown was lifted.

The released disciples all breathed a sigh of relief and returned to their own residences, finally able to cultivate in peace. Although Qin Haoxuan couldn’t figure out why the sect had delayed the announcement for a whole morning, he didn’t want to dwell on the issue. With the Blood Demon dead and the lockdown lifted, he could finally go treasure-hunting in the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley at night.

But strangely, the five special seed disciples who had been taken away two days ago had still not been sent back by the four great halls. The sect’s official explanation was that they were undergoing intensive training and their return would be delayed.

Not long after he returned to his room, Ye Yiming arrived. Seeing that Qin Haoxuan was safe, he also breathed a sigh of relief, though a look of guilt flashed across his face. “Junior Brother Qin, I’m sorry. I wasn’t able to take you with me, and I left you in a dangerous situation.”

Qin Haoxuan smiled. “What are you talking about, Senior Brother? It was Elder Sun who wouldn’t let anyone leave. Otherwise, wouldn’t you have taken me to the Nature Hall?”

Qin Haoxuan then noticed that Xing still had a grim expression and couldn’t help but ask, “Hey, why the long face? You look dissatisfied. Do you think I treated you unfairly?”

Xing rolled his eyes. “I am a noble of the Netherworld, a genius among geniuses, my heart as vast as the nether sea. How could I be so petty… although you were indeed a bit stingy.”

“Cut the boasting. The Blood Demon matter is resolved, and your identity hasn’t been exposed. Why are you still so gloomy, as if someone owes you tens of thousands of spirit stones?”

Xing looked at Qin Haoxuan, then at Ye Yiming, and said with shocking gravity, “The Blood Demon isn’t dead. This isn’t over.”

Hearing his words, Qin Haoxuan and Ye Yiming were both stunned. Qin Haoxuan’s heart, in particular, turned cold. If the Blood Demon isn’t dead, doesn’t that mean I still can’t go to the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley?

“Nonsense. The sect has already lifted the lockdown. How could the Blood Demon not be dead?”

Xing said irritably, “The two I killed last night were not the same one that had been drinking blood the past few days.” He then deliberately paused for dramatic effect.

Qin Haoxuan snorted impatiently. “Spit it out. Stop being so mysterious.”

“Although the two I killed last night were Blood Demons, after I inspected their bodies and their Blood Pearls, I discovered that they had only just been turned yesterday. They had never drunk the life-source blood of a cultivator.

Did you notice that when they were talking about how the blood of Rooting stage disciples tasted bad, a hint of a lie flashed in their eyes, and even a bit of nervousness? From this, it can be judged that they had never drunk blood at all. They were saying that on purpose to scare us and to build up their own courage.”

After his long explanation, Qin Haoxuan asked doubtfully, “Then why did the sect announce that the lockdown was lifted today?”

“I went out this afternoon to take a look. Nominally, the two corpses were burned, but I saw no trace of a fire outside. They must have been taken, along with the Blood Pearls, back to your Sect Master and elders for inspection. Those two were not the real culprits. Even I can see that, so it’s highly likely your sect’s higher-ups can see it too. Otherwise, why would they delay lifting the lockdown until the afternoon?”

The more Qin Haoxuan and Ye Yiming thought about it, the more sense it made. He was right. Logically, the lockdown should have been lifted in the morning at the latest. Even though Emperor Peak was a hundred li away, it was only a short trip by Immortal Cloud Cart.

Qin Haoxuan stared at Xing with a hint of surprise. “I didn’t realize your eye for detail was so sharp.”

Being stared at by Qin Haoxuan made his skin crawl. He tilted his head back and stared proudly at the ceiling. “But of course. This demon is the most outstanding genius of the Nether-race. I am learned and knowledgeable. A single glance is all it takes for me to see the truth of any trickery.”

“Give you an inch and you take a mile,” Qin Haoxuan said, rolling his eyes. But in his heart, he had to admit that Xing’s insight was a hundred times sharper than his own. He still couldn’t understand, however, why the sect would hide the truth. “Then why would the sect announce that the Blood Demon was caught? Aren’t they afraid of it killing again?”

“That’s where you’re ignorant. The higher-ups in your sect want to capture the Blood Demon alive.”

“Capture it alive?” Qin Haoxuan was slightly surprised. He couldn’t see the value in that. Was the sect willing to let more people die just to capture one alive?

Sensing his doubt, Xing sneered. “You cultivators are heartless. For your own benefit, what’s the big deal about the deaths of a few weak seed disciples? If they can capture a Blood Demon alive and extract its Blood Pearl, they will have another method of extending their lifespan.”

He continued in a world-weary tone, “Don’t think that just because your ancestors have lived for hundreds of years and have reached the Dao Fruit Realm, they are safe. If they can’t continue to break through and gain more lifespan, they will still die. For your sect, the death of a Dao Fruit Realm ancestor is like losing a pillar of support. If they can obtain a Blood Pearl and become a Blood Demon, they can get another one or two hundred years of life. Who knows, in that time, they might be able to achieve a breakthrough.”

Qin Haoxuan gently shook his head. Although there was ruthlessness within the sect, there were still bottom lines. The leadership, in particular, had its principles. Capturing it alive was likely just for research, to deduce a method of extending life from it. As for actually turning an ancestor into a Blood Demon, that was absolutely impossible.

“But if you become a Blood Demon, are you still human? Can you still become an immortal?” Qin Haoxuan shuddered, recalling the pale faces and sharp fangs of the two he had seen.

Xing put on a knowledgeable air. “A Blood Demon is transformed from a cultivator. Although no one knows if they can become an immortal, who’s to say they can’t? How could those old guys of yours pass up a chance for an extra hundred or two hundred years of life? As for lifting the lockdown, that’s just a trap within a trap.”

“That Blood Demon is extremely clever,” Xing explained. “He knew to find two scapegoats to divert the attention of your sect’s leadership. So, your leaders are playing along. They’re pretending they didn’t see through the trick and are deliberately lifting the lockdown to lull the real demon into a false sense of security.

And they are using all of you ordinary disciples as bait to draw him out. After all, the few special seeds they care about have already been taken away. The lives of the rest of you are of no consequence.”

Hearing this, Qin Haoxuan instantly felt a deep chill. Compared to the warmth of the Nature Hall, the sect’s leadership treated the lives of ordinary disciples as if they were grass. For a moment, the thought of leaving the sect entered his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. He still needed the sect’s higher-level orthodox arts to continue his cultivation.

Just as Xing finished speaking, as if to confirm his words, a powerful male voice echoed through the air, sounding as if it were right next to their ears and yet a thousand miles away.

“All disciples of the Taichu Sect, listen well. Our sect’s great mountain array has been in operation for several hundred years and has developed flaws in many places. For the safety and long-term security of the sect, the Sect Master and the Elder’s Council have unanimously decided to repair the great array tonight.

All disciples are to remain in their rooms tonight and are strictly forbidden from going out. Anyone who does so and is injured by the array will have only themselves to blame. If anyone is found wandering outside by the patrolling elders, even if they are lucky enough to avoid the array, they will be punished for treason.”

The voice boomed like spring thunder, leaving the three of them dazed.

After a long moment, Xing said in a critical tone, “So this is an expert of your Taichu Sect. Not as good as the demons in the Netherworld, but not bad.”

Seeing the lingering fear on Xing’s face, Qin Haoxuan said, “Putting on a brave face.”

Xing chuckled. He was indeed bluffing. He had been terrified, realizing that an expert of that level could see through his disguise with a single glance. The desire to escape grew even stronger in his heart.

Qin Haoxuan sighed softly. “Repairing the array is just a pretext. The real purpose is to lure out the Blood Demon. For a single Blood Pearl, they are willing to go to such lengths.”

The Blood Demon, as clever as he was, would surely see through the trap. But he had no choice. The “repair” of the array was his only chance to escape. Even knowing it was dangerous, he had to take it.

Xing suddenly stood up and stretched. “I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m a bit tired. I’m going back to my room to sleep.”

After he left, Qin Haoxuan turned to Ye Yiming. “Did you notice that Xing was strange just now? When he heard about the array repair, a glint flashed in his eyes, as if he’s made some kind of plan.”