Chapter 156 : A Pact Forged in Shadow

"It seems that in the hearts of the Chen Clan people, this Spirit Isle Lake is considered far more important than the Yuyang Market."

Only then did the figure in white robes reveal himself. This man had hair and beard as white as snow, his face deeply lined with wrinkles. It was none other than the Clan Patriarch of the Lin Immortal Clan, Lin Mordred.

The other man was shrouded in an aura of baleful energy. It was Hong Morgrim, who had been missing for many years. Back then, Hong Morgrim had performed a blood sacrifice upon the Zuo Immortal Clan to forge the Blood-Transmuting Demon Blade, and was later severely wounded by Xu Darius.

Who would have thought that over these years, not only had Hong Morgrim's injuries fully healed, but his cultivation had advanced a step further, having pierced through three of his Purple Mansion Dao Meridian [the spiritual channels within the Purple Mansion cultivation realm].

"Heh heh heh!"

With a few sinister chuckles from Hong Morgrim, he sneered coldly, "Since that girl is holed up inside and won't come out, let's head to Yu County's Pingyang City. There are a full four to five hundred thousand human 'blood meals' there."

"If we devour all their flesh and blood, this old man will most likely be able to break through to the Purple Mansion [a major cultivation realm where one forms a spiritual mansion within the dantian] realm."

Hearing Hong Morgrim's deranged words, Lin Mordred's expression remained as calm and placid as still water. Instead, he spoke with icy detachment.

"According to our agreement, you help me capture the Spirit Isle Lake, and I assist you in taking Pingyang City."

"Do you intend to go back on your word?" Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel.com (official site).

"Hmph!" Hong Morgrim let out a cold snort, then sneered, "That Spirit Isle Lake possesses a Second Rank High Grade Spirit Vein [a high-quality spiritual energy source] and is guarded by a Second Rank High Grade grand formation [a powerful defensive array]."

"Even if we could breach it with our strength, we'd likely be left half-dead. Where would we find the remaining power to assault Pingyang City then?"

"Let me be frank. Right now, Yang Province is teeming with... offerings. The only reason I'm willing to cooperate with you is my old grudge against the Chen Clan. If you refuse to attack Pingyang City, I'll turn and leave this very instant."

Upon hearing this, Lin Mordred's expression shifted several times before finally settling into a cold glare. "Fine. A blood sacrifice of Pingyang City would indeed be the most devastating blow to the Chen Clan."

Seeing his agreement, Hong Morgrim let out a derisive chuckle, his gaze turning icy. "You help me eradicate the Chen Clan, yet you truly aren't worried about those two from their clan seeking vengeance later?"

Lin Mordred was momentarily taken aback, then sneered. "Eldrin Chen slaughtered four of my Lin Clan's Foundation Establishment [core cultivators]. This is a feud of blood and fire. Besides, the blood sacrifice will be your doing."

"As for future reckoning, my lifespan is nearing its end. Once I'm dead, let the floods rage—what do I care? Would he dare commit genocide, slaughtering the hundreds of thousands of mortals in my Lin Clan?"

As he spoke, he shot a wary glance at Hong Morgrim.

Compared to the righteous immortal clan, the Chen Clan, it was actually Zhang Vorgath who was more likely to massacre common folk.

The thought brought a flicker of worry, but he quickly suppressed it. "I've given explicit orders for Lin Morwen to guard Lin City. Even if something befalls me, that should be enough to hold off this Hong Morgrim."

After suppressing his thoughts, the crimson light in Lin Mordred's gaze grew even more intense, a shadow of madness flooding his pupils.

"The Chen Immortal Clan, I will make you pay the price," the old man vowed.

Not long after, Meng Aethelstan in Pingyang City sensed that something was amiss.

He saw through the arrangements left by Lin Mordred, discovering that Lin Mordred had been missing for quite some time.

Upon receiving this news, he immediately relayed it to Celestial Ruins Mountain, then used a Communication Talisman [a talisman used for instant long-distance messaging] to pass the information to Spirit Isle Lake and Pingyang City.

Having done this, he gathered the Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one builds their foundational core] cultivators from within Yuyang Market in Yu County and spoke with a grave expression.

"At this critical juncture, Lin Mordred has suddenly vanished. I suspect he may have lost his reason and gone to seek revenge against the Chen Clan."

"How dare he?"

The other several Foundation Establishment Cultivator present, upon hearing this, all had their expressions change abruptly and could not help but exclaim.

"I have already sent the message to the Chen Clan," Meng Aethelstan said, his face still grave. "I suspect Lin Mordred might head for Pingyang City, but I cannot be certain."

"Very well. I shall first journey to Pingyang City to assess the situation. You all shall await news within the city walls."

"We have sworn a covenant of mutual defense and assistance. Should the Spirit Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated spiritual energy] of the Chen Clan come under attack, I must implore you all to render aid without fail."

Upon hearing this, the assembled individuals nodded in unison. "Set your mind at ease. The moment we receive a plea for aid from the Chen Clan, we shall naturally lend our strength."

Meanwhile, after flying for the better part of a day, Lin Mordred and Hong Morgrim soon arrived before the walls of Pingyang City.

Seeing the two streaks of light hurtling towards them, Lior Chen, who had been forewarned, immediately activated the Solar Divine Flame Formation [a defensive array that harnesses the purifying power of solar fire]. His face was a mask of cold fury as he roared.

"Lin Mordred! You dare to collude with a Demonic Cultivator [a practitioner who uses malevolent and soul-corrupting methods]? Do you truly not fear that my Chen Clan will settle accounts with you when the time comes and wipe your Lin lineage from the earth?" Find thousands of chapters at http://www . audio-novel.com.

"Hmph."

Lin Mordred's gaze turned icy, his voice grating like sand. "This old man long ago relinquished his position as Patriarch of the Lin Clan. I am now but a mere Rogue Cultivator [an unaffiliated practitioner without sect or clan backing]."

"Today, I come to settle a personal grievance. What has that to do with the Lin Immortal Clan?"

"Hmph." Lior Chen did not believe a word of it. He let out a cold snort. "Save that tale for my nephew, Eldrin."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of both men shifted subtly. Since the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, devastating invasion by monstrous beasts], who in the Chu Kingdom did not know that Eldrin Chen was a figure of fearsome renown, a veritable star of slaughter?

He had felled several Purple Mansion Demonic Beast [powerful demonic beasts equivalent to the Purple Mansion cultivation realm] in succession. The sheer ferocity of Eldrin Chen's methods and the sharp edge of his temperament were tales destined to spread across the Chu Kingdom before long.

Hong Morgrim's face turned cold, murderous intent plain upon it. "Why waste words with him?" he said. "Let us join forces and shatter this formation first."

As he spoke, he summoned the infamous Blood-Transmuting Demon Blade [a vile magical treasure forged from the blood of countless victims]. It erupted with a wave of overwhelming blade-aura, cleaving downward to crash directly against the City Guardian Grand Formation [the primary defensive magical array protecting the city].

The Blood-Transmuting Demon Blade was a signature Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personally bonded and nurtured magical artifact] of the Demon Cave Cavern lineage. This Demon Cave Cavern, located in the southeastern borderlands of the Chu Kingdom, stood as one of the greatest adversaries within the Chu Kingdom Cultivation World.

Among the Three Great Sects of Chu Kingdom, the Violet Abyss Sect and the Green Sun Sect focused their main efforts on resisting the Demonic Tribe [a collective term for monstrous, sentient beast races] from the direction of the Vast and Boundless Marsh. The Firmament Sword Sect, the strongest sect in Chu Kingdom, bore the paramount responsibility of confronting the Demon Cave Cavern.

The fact that the Demon Cave Cavern required the Firmament Sword Sect to commit its full strength in defense was testament to their power—a force in no way inferior to the Three Great Sects of Chu Kingdom.

The Blood-Transmuting Demon Blade was one of the many Demonic Treasure [magical artifacts cultivated through dark, often sacrificial means] of the Demon Cave Cavern, and among the most potent in pure destructive force. The Demonic Cultivator's Demonic Treasure did not demand exceptionally rare materials for their forging. Instead, their creation required methods of profound and utter malevolence.

Take this Blood-Transmuting Demon Blade: to forge it required the devoured blood of one hundred thousand mortals. To advance it to the Purple Mansion Realm [a high stage of cultivation] demanded the sanguine essence of a million.

Though vile and drenched in blood, none could deny the formidable power of this blade. It surpassed even a peerless treasure like the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a sword imbued with the power of Separated Flame, channeling it into an abyssal return] by a significant margin.

That Hong Morgrim had now pierced through thirty percent of his Purple Mansion Dao Meridian [the spiritual channels leading to the Purple Mansion realm], and his True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by a Foundation Establishment cultivator] was already nearly on par with that of a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator like Varen Wei, who had broken through to the Purple Mansion [a major realm above Foundation Establishment] once before.

Driven by such profound True Essence, the Blood-Transmuting Demon Blade [a sinister blade that feeds on and transforms blood] unleashed a terrifying might, battering the Solar Divine Flame Formation [a defensive formation channeling solar fire] until its radiance grew dim and flickered dangerously.

"This is bad!"

Watching the Blood-Transmuting Demon Blade wreak havoc, Lior Chen's expression shifted abruptly as he instantly sensed the impending peril.

The destructive power of this Blood-Transmuting Demon Blade was horrifying, violently shaking the very light of the Solar Divine Flame Formation. Had it not been for the Old Patriarch enhancing the formation to Second Rank High Grade [a high-quality grade for second-rank artifacts] before the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic invasion by hordes of demonic beasts], the defensive barrier would likely have been shattered within a few more strikes. Join our community of readers at @udio-novel.com.