Chapter 25: The Blood Demon Ascends!

A pair of eyes glowing with dark energy advanced steadily toward Elder Jian. They grew closer and faster than before.

Elder Jian’s gaze remained steadfast. He transformed his right hand into energy and delivered a palm strike with calculated precision—a strike that felt like ocean waves crashing against a stone wall. He struck at the unknown entity.

"Bang!" The mass of dark energy and the eyes vanished into thin air. Remaining in its place was a spirit beast standing before Elder Jian. The creature was bleeding, its ferocious incisors bared from time to time. Its tail was formed from shifting air, colored black with a hint of red.

Elder Jian’s gaze was piercing as he stared at the strangely formed beast. Sword aura swirled around him instinctively, creating tiny sparks as it brushed against the surrounding air.

The spirit beast’s blood-red eyes flickered with resentment and madness. It let out a low growl, and its illusory tail lashed out, producing a sharp whistling sound that seemed to slice through space itself.

At this critical moment, Elder Jian flickered, appearing to merge with the surrounding sword intent, leaving behind only a faint afterimage. In the next instant, he appeared at the beast’s flank. His left hand formed a sword gesture, and a brilliant gleam of sword light condensed at his fingertips, shining like the brightest star in the night sky. With a sharp whistle, the light pierced the air, striking accurately into the beast’s flank—the weakest point where its power converged.

The beast’s roar echoed through the valley. Its body trembled violently from the intense pain, and its black-and-red tail thrashed wildly, each movement accompanied by a low, thunderous rumble that made space itself seem to tremble.

Blood poured from the wound, staining the grass red and inciting the beast to even more frantic resistance. Its eyes burned like fire, fixed on Elder Jian. That resentment and fury turned into an invisible force, distorting the air around them.

Elder Jian stood his ground, his robes fluttering in the wind. His expression was calm, his deep eyes reflecting only composure and resolve. He did not rush to pursue; instead, he slowly raised his left hand. The sword light at his fingertips shimmered in the sunlight, as if containing the very laws of heaven and earth.

With a light wave, the sword light traced a graceful arc in the air, instantly transforming into thousands of sword shadows that enveloped the beast. Each shadow was sharp enough to slice through the air with a shrill whistle, forcing the beast to retreat step by step. It was a spectacular and tragic sight, like a shower of falling stars.

Yufan stood firm before Elder Jian. Though slightly nervous, his eyes were exceptionally determined, as if he could peer through the dense sword shadows to look directly at the beast. He took a deep breath and shifted his stance, seemingly resonating with the air around him. A sense of steadiness, unbefitting his current cultivation level, quietly permeated the space. "Elder Jian! This is a spirit beast; can you let me, Yufan, practice against it?" Yufan hid behind the Elder, his eyes fixed ahead.

"This is a Sixth-Realm spirit beast, Yufan. Are you sure you can handle it?" Elder Jian asked with a faint smile.

Fang Yu scolded him, "Don't go and make a fool of yourself!"

Yufan stumbled forward, turning to face Elder Jian. "Don't worry, with me here, it'll be fine," he said, his eyes hard and resolute.

"Elder Jian, please allow me to use every ounce of strength I have learned to challenge this Sixth-Realm spirit beast." Yufan’s voice was not loud, but every word was clear, filled with unquestionable determination.

He slowly drew the longsword from his waist. The blade was plain and unadorned, yet it cast a faint, cold glint in the sunlight, echoing the tenacity in his eyes.

Yufan lunged like a leopard, swift and graceful. He did not rush to close the distance, but instead moved slowly around the beast, searching for the perfect opening. His sword tip tapped the air, each movement accompanied by a subtle hum that resonated with the surrounding sword shadows, weaving an invisible web that slowly tightened around the beast.

The spirit beast suddenly opened its massive maw, like a black hole capable of swallowing all things. The surrounding sword aura was sucked into it one by one, the shadows dissipated, and an oppressive silence filled the air.

Its form began to blur, gradually shifting into the shape of a man in a black robe with a cold, stern face. He was surrounded by dense, blood-colored spirit rings that rotated like a vortex stained with blood, releasing a heart-palpitating aura.

The man in black stood upon the blood rings, his feet tapping lightly, causing the rings to vibrate. Each tremor sent a slight shudder through the ground, as if he had complete control over the space around him.

His eyes were as deep as the night sky, flashing with a bloodthirsty glint. A cruel smile curled his lips: "Are you done playing? Mortal, the real battle is only just beginning."

Yufan lay on the cold grass, the surrounding air seemingly frozen. He could feel the heavy pressure radiating from beneath the black-robed man’s feet, as well as the contempt in his icy gaze. Pain and fear were intertwined, but he did not stop struggling. He clenched his fists, trying to push away the mountain-like pressure. The man in black wore a cruel smile, and the pressure increased. Yufan’s face twisted in pain, veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes opened wide—filled with both despair and defiance.

The man in black looked down at Yufan and mocked, "Kid, weren't you being very arrogant earlier?"

Fang Yu watched Yufan and prepared to step forward to enter combat mode, but Elder Jian stopped her. "I will handle this. It won't be easy for you. Stay back."

At this life-or-death moment, Elder Jian’s figure flickered like a ghost, his speed exceeding the limits of the naked eye. He flashed to the side of the black-robed man, and with a light wave of his right hand, a longsword formed from pure sword intent materialized from thin air, its tip pointing directly at the man’s wrist.

The man in black reacted with incredible speed. He tilted his body, and his blood rings instantly enveloped him, forming a crimson barrier that forcibly blocked the lethal strike.

The man in black spoke in a low, chilling voice. He clenched his fists, and the rotation of the blood rings intensified, like an ancient demon being awakened, releasing an even stronger scent of blood. The space around them seemed to distort; the grass swayed without wind, emitting a harsh rustling sound. The man in black flickered, leaving a faint crimson afterimage behind as his true form closed in on Elder Jian like a specter. His blood-stained hand turned into a claw, tearing through space as it aimed for the Elder’s vitals.

Elder Jian narrowed his eyes, his sword aura instantly condensing as if piercing the void, forming tangible sword nets that neutralized the man’s attacks one by one. Where they clashed, sword light and blood-red energy intertwined, erupting in a dazzling display, accompanied by deafening roars that seemed to shake the very heavens. Elder Jian left trails of afterimages in the air, each strike precise and aimed at the man’s openings. The man in black relied on his bizarre movement and the protection of his blood rings to dodge. The battle reached a fever pitch, the air thick with blood and sword intent, suffocatingly intense.

The man in black said gloomily, "Interesting. My turn." With that, he stomped the ground, and the blood rings surged like an angry, raging sea, transforming into countless blood-red tentacles that swept toward Elder Jian, blotting out the sky.

These tentacles carried the terrifying power to rend space, and everywhere they passed, the air was shattered, emitting sharp whistles.

Elder Jian retreated rapidly, his sword light weaving a defense. Each strike severed the tentacles, but they seemed endless, coming in such numbers that it was dizzying.

The man in black twisted in the air, as if merging with the blood-red energy. Every movement caused a slight distortion in space, making his true position impossible to track. Suddenly, he appeared above Elder Jian, his bloody hand transforming into a massive crimson scythe that swung down with destructive force.

Elder Jian sidestepped, tapped his sword tip on the ground, and vaulted into the air. His sword light surged, turning into a brilliant galaxy that collided violently with the blood scythe, erupting in light that illuminated the entire battlefield.

Neither side gave an inch. The surrounding space began to crack under the pressure, the wind stood still, and only the deafening roars of their collision remained.

The man in black let out a chilling, echoing laugh: "Not bad, not bad."

As his gloomy words faded, the blood-red spirit rings around him boiled like a furnace, releasing even thicker blood-red mist that dyed the surrounding space crimson. His eyes turned blood-red, as if they could see into the deepest fears of the human heart.

With a low roar, his black robe tore apart, transforming into countless shards. Each piece held terrifying power, and they shot toward Elder Jian like a volley of arrows.

Elder Jian stumbled, pushed back several meters by the irresistible force. His heavy footsteps shattered the grass, sending mud and debris flying. He clutched his chest with his right hand, blood seeping through his fingers and staining his robes. Even so, his eyes remained resolute, filled with unwavering determination as he locked onto the churning mist. Elder Jian waved his sword to create a barrier, but since his sword had snapped, he could not withstand the endless barrage of attacks.

Fang Yu asked, "Elder Jian, are you alright?"

Elder Jian replied in a low voice, "I am fine. My sword is broken. This spirit beast is above the Sixth Realm. Be careful."

The surrounding air seemed to freeze, with only the man’s sinister laughter echoing in the void. The blood mist condensed into a massive, crimson hand, its veins clearly visible as if it were a living thing. It pressed slowly toward Elder Jian with destructive intent.

Elder Jian took a deep breath, the remaining sword intent within him surging. Though his sword was broken, he did not abandon the fight. He formed seals with his hands, condensing his sword aura once more to form a thin barrier, attempting to hold back the terrifying crimson hand.

Fang Yu lunged like a hunting leopard, instantly closing the distance to the man in black, her eyes shining with unyielding light. Just as the man turned to respond, Fang Yu’s sword traced a brilliant arc, aiming straight for his heart, the blade whistling like lightning.

However, the spirit ring behind the man seemed to have a mind of its own; it instantly condensed into a crimson shield, easily blocking Fang Yu’s attack with a crisp metallic "clang."

Fang Yu used the momentum to spin, landing lightly on the man’s flank. Her sword darted forward like a viper, thrusting toward his chest. But the man seemed to have anticipated her intent; he twisted his body at an impossible angle, and the blood rings layered into a defense, binding the tip of her sword so it could not advance an inch.

Yufan thought carefully, "This person is at the exit of the other world. Could he be a gatekeeper? Maybe the token in my bag will be of some use—that old man gave it to me, after all."

A thought struck Yufan. He quickly scanned his bag, his fingers trembling slightly as he undid the knot.

Yufan carefully retrieved the token.

His hands shook, but he held the ancient token firmly as he approached the man in black step by step. The setting sun shone through the clouds, casting a mottled, mysterious, and ancient glow upon the token. The moment the man in black saw it, his pupils contracted slightly, and the blood-red mist around him seemed to freeze for a moment.

"My friend," Yufan’s voice was soft but exceptionally clear, cutting through the chaos of the battlefield. "Do you recognize this token?" His tone was laced with tension and anticipation, his eyes locked on the man’s face, afraid to miss the slightest change in expression.

The man in black slowly reached out, his fingertips grazing the edge of the token as if confirming something. His gaze was complex, filled with both surprise and relief, eventually settling into deep confusion. "How do you have this token? It should have been..." He stopped mid-sentence, seemingly realizing something, and his voice trailed off. The aura around him receded.

Yufan stammered, "An old man gave it to me."

The man in black said, "Go! Leave this place."

Yufan replied, "Until we meet again."

The man’s voice was low and powerful, as if coming from the abyss, carrying an unquestionable majesty. He waved his hand, and the blood-red mist around them smoothed out as if by an invisible hand, quickly vanishing into nothingness. Even the oppressive and bloody scent in the air faded away.

Beneath the black robe, his figure gradually blurred, as if merging into the surrounding woods, leaving only a faint silhouette that lengthened in the glow of the sunset.

Yufan gripped the token, his heart filled with a mix of disbelief and relief. He walked slowly toward Elder Jian, his steps steady. "Elder Jian, are you alright?"

Seeing this, a flash of relief crossed the Elder’s eyes. He struggled to stand; despite his serious injuries, the pride of a swordsman remained. "It’s not enough to stop me," he said.

"Senior Sister, are you okay?" Yufan looked at Fang Yu, his eyes filled with concern.

"I’m not dead yet," Fang Yu replied.

As soon as Yufan finished speaking, the three of them moved quickly. Though Elder Jian was heavily wounded, his gait remained steady. He used the ancient trees as support, moving step by step toward the depths of the dense forest. Fang Yu followed closely, glancing back from time to time to ensure there were no lingering threats. Yufan walked in the lead.