221 - We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?

**Chapter 221: If You Continue to Follow Me, You'll Be the Next to Be Slain (Two Chapters Combined, 4600 Words)** "Get lost!" Under the bleak and cold moonlight, Xiao Mo's eyes, tainted with an aura of deadly bloodlust, fixed on Wang Xin with a penetrating gaze that seemed capable of piercing one's soul. Wang Xin felt her heart suddenly race, a shiver involuntarily coursing through her body as a chill rose from her spine. The murderous intent radiating from him was almost tangible, suffocating her to the brink of breathlessness. She had no doubt that Xiao Mo would indeed swing his blade towards her. Yet, ultimately, Wang Xin slowly spread her arms wide, persistently shaking her head with undeterred resolve, her gaze clear and unwavering. Observing the steadfast girl before him, Xiao Mo offered no further words. Wang Xin only saw a sudden appearance of seven runic patterns in his eyes, swirling like living entities and exuding a breath-catching aura. Suddenly, her consciousness flickered, as if she had fallen into an invisible vortex. Upon regaining her senses, Xiao Mo's Tang blade had already descended. A fierce blade aura surged forth, instantly consuming the disciple of the Wangchuan Sect standing behind her. The person didn't even have time to scream before disintegrating into a mist of blood, leaving only a crimson stain on the ground. Without casting Wang Xin another glance, Xiao Mo sheathed his blade and strode decisively towards the Wangchuan Sect's direction. His voice, clear yet cold, echoed through the night, "You Buddhists always preach compassion... to me, it's laughable." As his words fell, his figure slowly melded with the moonlight, vanishing from sight. Wang Xin stood in place, staring at the glaring bloodstain on the ground, recalling the near tangible aura of bloodlust surrounding him. She lightly pressed her lips together, lowering her eyes as she murmured to herself, "But if this continues... you'll truly be lost to the demon path and perish..." ... As the dawn broke, the morning clouds painted the sky with hues like blood, draping layers upon layers of mist, staining the sprawling mountains with a cinnabar hue. At the foot of the highest peak in the range stood a massive stone tablet, boldly inscribed with three vigorous characters — Wangchuan Sect. Most of the sect's cultivators were still in their beds. A few early-rising disciples sat alone on the mountain rocks, meditating with closed eyes, breathing in sync with the rise of the morning sun. Deep within the confines of Wangchuan Sect, hundreds of captives were imprisoned. To the sect's cultivators, these captives had ceased to be regarded as "people," reduced instead to mere "resources." Despair was etched across every face, each gaze dulled like ash. They huddled like lambs awaiting slaughter in shadowy cages, uncertain of when they might be thrown into alchemical furnaces to be refined into pills. "Boom!" A sudden tremor jolted the sleeping sect cultivators up with a start, some even tumbling from their beds in shock. Meanwhile, the disciples previously meditating atop mountains, in fields, and by streams snapped their eyes open. In the sky, they saw a lone man wielding a long blade, walking as though treading on air. A bloodred aura shrouded him, denser than the blood-like morning clouds. With each swing of his blade, a torrent of blood-red aura descended like heaven's wrath! Mountains split apart, and palace halls crumbled into ruins, leaving nothing but flattened land as far as the eye could see. The Wangchuan Sect disciples could hardly believe their eyes. Who was this man? Daring to storm the Wangchuan Sect's gates alone? And more so... he was completely by himself! "Who goes there?!" The mountain range resonated with a deep, authoritative voice. Several elders and peak lords soared into the sky, following the sect master to block Xiao Mo's path. Sect Master Lü Dingxin, suppressing a surge of fury, furrowed his brows tightly and spoke in a deep tone, "For what reason have you come, without a word, to strike so mercilessly?" Despite assessing from the spirit energy radiating from the intruder, that he was merely at the Nascent Soul stage, while Lü himself was at the Jade Void stage, easily subduing him if desired. But the perplexing matter remained; why would a clear-minded Nascent Soul cultivator come to the Wangchuan Sect seeking death without reason? "Wan Dao Sect — Xiao Mo." Xiao Mo's voice was calm as still water, his recognition clear with every syllable. "Wan Dao Sect's Xiao Mo?" Gasps of disbelief spread amongst the gathered crowd. They had not been unfamiliar with the name. They simply found it unfathomable why the Wan Dao Sect's candidate for Holy Son would suddenly assault the Wangchuan Sect? "Does the Wangchuan Sect have grievances with your sect?" Lü Dingxin's tone softened slightly, speaking cautiously. Xiao Mo's identity demanded politeness. After all, Wan Dao Sect was one of the top ten demon sects, a reputation that required respect. Especially when considering Xiao Mo's master, the Blood Demon, notorious in the Western region for his madness. "It has nothing to do with Wan Dao Sect. I've come solely to annihilate the sect." With those final words, he ceased speaking. Abruptly swinging his blade upwards, a blood-red, fierce blade aura tore through the sky, crashing down! Lü Dingxin and his accompanying elders were seized by shock, hurriedly dispersing to evade. As the blade landed, the earth of Wangchuan Sect split open into a deep, bottomless chasm. A distant mountain shattered as a cleaving force sliced through its midpoint, the exposed surface smooth as glass, rocks thundering down, dust filling the sky. "Arrogant fool! Do you think being backed by Wan Dao Sect allows you to act with impunity?!" Lü Dingxin, seething with rage. Had it been merely his disciples unintentionally provoking the intruder, reconciliation might still have been possible, showing deference to Wan Dao Sect. But the way Xiao Mo struck first, aiming for extermination, was utterly intolerable! "Kill him!" Without further hesitation, Lü Dingxin ordered the surrounding elders and peak lords. Even within the demon path, there were rules to follow. Not to mention, behind Wangchuan Sect stood the Beast Emperor Sect, another of the top ten demon sects! Should Xiao Mo fall today, his demise would be his own doing, with no one else to blame. In the aftermath, if Wan Dao Sect sought retribution, the Beast Emperor Sect would not stand idly by! Yet in the next moment, Lü Dingxin's pupils contracted— Despite being at the Nascent Soul stage, Xiao Mo's power exceeded his comprehension! The sect's several elders and peak lords of the Nascent Soul stage attempted to confront him, unable to withstand a single strike, slain within moments! Compared to him, their Nascent Soul ranks seemed as fragile as paper, entirely inadequate. "Fool! Face your death!" Unable to restrain himself any longer, Lü Dingxin feared that the Wangchuan Sect's peak lords and elders might be slaughtered without intervention! A skillful point in the air directed Xiao Mo— Instantly, multiple fiery dragons erupted from Lü's fingertips, roaring with a sky-burning might towards the foe. Xiao Mo, indifferent, swung his blade, its scarlet arc tearing through the inferno, emerging unscathed, striking once more at Lü Dingxin. Forced to dodge hurriedly, those behind him caught in the residual blade aura, unable to evade, met instantaneous death. Subsequently, Xiao Mo swept his horizontal blade, his formidable blood aura spreading like ripples, appearing to slice through the entire sky. Lü Dingxin found himself swallowing hard. Despite his reluctance to admit, from those two recent strikes... His post-Jade Void stage cultivation seemed insufficient to withstand against him! Retreating dozens of yards, Lü Dingxin held nothing back. He clutched the sect master's token, activating the protective sect barrier with all his might! Simultaneously, he summoned his life-bound magical weapon—a seal shaped like a mountainous sea, expanding to eclipse the sky, casting monumental mountain illusions crashing towards Xiao Mo! "Shriek!" With a keen phoenix cry, the barrier materialized a fiery phoenix, charging directly at Xiao Mo! Xiao Mo, single-handedly wielding his blade, cast a spell. Inside him, his blood boiled, coursing relentlessly, the blood aura raging through his sinews, threatening to tear his body apart! In an instant, the entire sky became bathed in blood-red, the rising sun appearing to melt into the horizon, dimmed of its brilliance. Houses, grasses, trees... everything was drenched in blood color. And suspended midair, Xiao Mo appeared like a sovereign of life and death, overseeing all. Blood Demon Blade Technique - Seventh Form: Crimson Illusion. Linking the blade technique to the great way of the universe, Xiao Mo absorbed the rampant blood aura around him into the world, transforming this segment into a domain of blades. This domain was akin to the sword realm of sword cultivators. However, the move "Crimson Illusion" is exceedingly perilous. When executing this technique, Xiao Mo cannot suppress the murderous aura within him. Instead, he must release all the bloodthirst, allowing his killing intent to surge like a flood. Xiao Mo must seek a thread of clarity amidst the madness, holding on to the last bit of reason. The more he kills, the denser the murderous aura he accumulates, and the more powerful the "Crimson Illusion" becomes. Yet equally, controlling the "Crimson Illusion" becomes more difficult. The Blood Demon once warned Xiao Mo that this technique should be avoided if possible, for each use allows the bloodthirst to invade his mind and bloodstream, inching him closer to complete madness. Throughout history, countless who practiced the Blood Demon's Blade Art have lost themselves in the "Crimson Illusion," transforming into mindless "Blood Demons" devoted solely to slaughter. But it is not just this move that holds such danger. From the seventh form of the Blood Demon's Blade onwards, each subsequent move directly gnaws at the soul, testing one's resolve and spirit. If not for this, how could the Blood Demon's Blade Art have gained its reputation as a demonic path? "Xiao Mo..." Arriving belatedly at the Wangchuan Sect, Wang Xin stood on the ground, staring dazedly at the figure suspended in the air, drenched in blood and exuding a demonic aura. She knew she could no longer stop him. Nor would he listen to her. With a single swing of the blade! Xiao Mo wielded the Na Ling Blade like a brush dipped in scarlet murderous aura, striking the first stroke across the world itself. The blazing phoenix formed by the Wangchuan Sect's protective barrier was decapitated with one slice, shattering with a mournful cry! Another slash followed! The blade drew a sweeping tide of blood, crashing down upon the mountain illusions bearing down from above. "Boom!!!" A tremendous roar rocked the air; the blood-bound colossal blade smashed the mountain illusion to fragments— The Shanhai Seal, summoned by Lü Dingxin, cracked with a jagged fissure. "Urgh—" The Sect Master of Wangchuan spewed a mouthful of blood. His life-bound artifact damaged, his soul endured a massive blow. "I must flee!" Abandoning all thoughts of battle, Lü Dingxin turned to escape. But he had barely flown ten yards when Xiao Mo vanished ghostlike from his position. Reappearing, the Na Ling Blade had already pierced Lü Dingxin's chest, pinning him straight to the ground like a meteor. "Boom—" Dust billowed, the ground splitting into a crater. As the dust settled slightly, Lü Dingxin lay skewered in the pit, blood spilling from his mouth as he pleaded in anguish: "Spare... spare me... I'll give you anything..." Xiao Mo's blood-red eyes gleamed as he looked down at him like an ant: "What I want are your lives." Before his words had fully resonated, the sword drew a fierce slash upward, exploding with murderous aura. Lü Dingxin burst into a cloud of blood mist, utterly obliterated. With the Sect Master's death, fear gripped everyone's hearts, extinguishing any will to resist Xiao Mo, and they all sought to flee. Yet Wangchuan Sect was already ensnared within the "Crimson Illusion," forming a barrier confining them with no escape. Xiao Mo seemed to dominate this domain. He could appear at any corner at will, his movements eerie and elusive. Under Wang Xin's watch, cultivators in the sky burst into clouds of scarlet mist, as dazzling as fireworks. In Xiao Mo's hands, their lives crumbled like straw, extinguished with ease, their struggles futile. The bloodthirst clinging to Xiao Mo grew ever denser, his eyes glowed even redder. "Boom!" With a dull thud, Xiao Mo's sword shattered through an artifact, driving it into the chest of a Peak Master, lifting him high. The jade plaque hanging at his waist bore the clear inscription of "Baigui Peak Master." Staring at him, Xiao Mo's voice was unsettlingly calm: "Do you know Qian Zhenhao?" Baigui Peak Master coughed violently, blood pouring from his mouth: "Cough... I do, he's my disciple... did he offend you? Rest assured... I'll make his life worse than death... just spare mine." Xiao Mo ignored his plea, merely asking: "Do you know someone named 'Tang Kuang'?" "Tang Kuang?" Baigui Peak Master fought against the pain ravaging his lungs, struggling to recall, "Tang Kuang... who is that?" "A simple, honest man. He was my third brother." Before Xiao Mo's voice faded, the blade flicked upwards, instantly reducing the man to a swirl of blood mist, vanishing into the air. Xiao Mo then turned his gaze upon the Wangchuan Sect disciples, pinned and unable to move by the oppressive blood aura, his eyes devoid of emotion. He swung his blade again, the fierce blood aura washed over them like a tide, and in an instant, everyone's cultivation was shattered. Later, Xiao Mo picked up the Sect Master's jade token and interrogated two cultivators to learn the location of the dungeons. He then herded all the cultivators to the plains outside the dungeon, unlocked its gates with the token, and severed all the chains within with a single slash. The ordinary people held captive within initially hesitated, unsure if they dared to move. They were unaware of the events outside. Until the first brave soul staggered out. Followed by a second, third... More and more followed suit. An hour later, when all had escaped the dungeon, standing on the plain, they lifted their eyes to behold. They saw the land marred with cracks, mountains cleaved, houses reduced to ruins, and not far off, the silhouette of a man. At that moment, Xiao Mo swung his blade once more. In an instant, cries of pain erupted, the disciples of Wangchuan Sect found their tendons severed, legs rooted to the ground by the aura, unable to move an inch. Xiao Mo’s voice reached every ordinary person's ears: "The Wangchuan Sect is no more. If you have vengeance to seek, now is the time." At first, they exchanged unsure glances, hesitation rooted in them by long oppression and fear. Then, a ragged girl shakily stepped forth. She picked up a fallen longsword, clutching it in both hands, and screamed a heart-wrenching cry, thrusting it into a Wangchuan Sect disciple's chest— "Give me back my brother! Give me back my mother! Give me back my innocence!!!" As she cried and shouted, she stabbed furiously. Blood splattered across her face and clothes. The disciple quickly perished. Yet she continued relentlessly, again and again, venting all her pent-up hatred and grief. Gradually, more people gathered weapons from the ground, charging at those who had once oppressed and tormented them. Those without weapons picked up stones to hurl with force. When even stones were exhausted, they resorted to biting and tearing. Some exacted their revenge, collapsing to wail in heartbreak. Others laughed in madness, the sound echoing across the plains relentlessly. As the earth soaked in blood, not a single Wangchuan Sect cultivator remained alive. Wang Xin stared in stunned silence at everything before her, her eyes quivering, a tangle of emotions spreading in her heart as she clutched her chest. The plain before her resembled a living hell. Xiao Mo, the bloodstained Na Ling Blade in hand, walked step by step to Wang Xin, his voice cutting through the thick scent of blood like a blade: "You Buddhists speak of compassion, but who shows it to them?" His words fell as he brushed past her, leaving only his parting message in the young girl's ears: "Return to your temple and recite your sutras devoutly. If you follow me again, you'll be the next to be slain." (End of Chapter)