NCCnovel Chapter 579
Chapter 579
Dongfang Wan'er bit her tongue, spitting out her blood essence. The red silk instantly transformed into a blood-red whip, binding the skeletons at the edge of the blood array. Yun Yi's jade flute was soaked in blood, and the melody he played was no longer ethereal, but filled with a murderous aura. With the combined efforts of the three, the suction force of the blood array finally weakened, and the six-pointed star at the array's core began to disintegrate.
"Run!" Yun Yi ripped off the sleeve bound by the blood array, revealing hideous runes on his forearm. At that moment, the glass bridge began to crack, and countless black tentacles stretched out from the cracks. The group dared not hesitate and ran frantically across the collapsing bridge surface. When the last person leaped across the bridgehead, the entire glass bridge collapsed with a deafening roar, plunging into the deep pool below, churning with blood and foam.
The morning mist had turned crimson, and the gates of Cloud Wave Valley were faintly visible through it. Yun Yi wiped the blood from his forehead, revealing a meaningful smile. Behind him, Dongfang Wan'er gripped her blood-stained whip tightly, while Ying Yi's hand remained firmly on his sword hilt—they both knew that the real trial had only just begun. Was the collapsed glass bridge and the prematurely activated blood array merely part of the valley's trial, or the prelude to some earth-shattering conspiracy?
The darkness before dawn was thick as ink, and the morning mist in the mountains had quietly turned crimson, wisps of it entwining around the ancient gate of Yunlan Valley. The blue stone archway, weathered by hundreds of years of wind and rain, was now faintly visible in the mist, its mottled carvings seemingly twisted and deformed in the crimson fog, exuding an eerie aura.
Yun Yi knelt on one knee, pressing his fingertip heavily onto the bluestone, using the leverage to slowly stand up. He raised his hand to wipe away the blood that trickled down his forehead, the blood dripping down his chin and spreading into dark red flowers on his clothes. Gazing at the crimson mist before him, he suddenly revealed a meaningful smile, a smile that carried a hint of relief, a touch of amusement, and a deeper meaning that was difficult for others to fathom.
Behind him, Dongfang Wan'er's pretty face was as pale as paper, yet her posture remained upright. Her slender fingers gripped the blood-stained whip tightly, blood still dripping from its tip, forming small pools on the ground. Her once bright almond-shaped eyes were now filled with vigilance, cautiously scanning her surroundings. Ying Yi, on the other hand, stood like a silent statue, his black outfit stained with dust and blood. His hand remained firmly on the hilt of his sword, his knuckles slightly white from the pressure, radiating a chilling aura. All three knew that what they had experienced before was merely an appetizer; the real trial had only just begun.
Not far away, the once crystal-clear, dazzling glass bridge had collapsed with a deafening roar. Shards of broken glass littered the ground, gleaming coldly under the crimson mist. Even more chilling was the fact that the blood array, which was supposed to activate only in the final stage, had begun operating ahead of schedule. Dark red runes slowly flowed across the ground, releasing waves of sweet, metallic scents. Was this merely part of the valley's trial, or the prelude to some earth-shattering conspiracy? No one could answer. But one thing was certain: a far more dangerous challenge awaited them than they had imagined.
The crimson mist suddenly surged violently, like a sea of blood being stirred up by an invisible giant hand. Just as the three were locked in a wary standoff, a deep, rumbling roar ripped through the silence. The sound seemed to emanate from the depths of the underworld, carrying a metallic, grating quality. As the roar drew closer, the ground began to tremble slightly, withered leaves and pebbles rustling and vibrating under the heavy footsteps, as if some ancient beast were awakening.
The moment the mist parted like a tide, a ferocious beast, its body dripping with blackish-red slime, burst from the earth. It was as tall as two men, its dark purple scales studded with broken human blades and bones, and a stench of rotting flesh filled the air. Its blood-red vertical pupils churned with madness and killing intent, and venom dripping from its sharp fangs corroded the ground, creating hissing craters. Yun Yi's pupils constricted sharply—this was no ordinary trial beast, but a Netherworld Blood Rhinoceros capable of tearing apart Golden Core cultivators!
Almost simultaneously, Shadow One drew his sword, its cold light piercing the air like a bolt of lightning. He lightly touched the ground with his toes and flew backward, the blade aimed directly at the soft flesh of the beast's jaw. The Blood Rhino reacted with lightning speed, its giant claws sweeping across the air with a sharp whistling sound, colliding with the longsword and sparks flying. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Dongfang Wan'er lashed out with her soft whip, the tip wrapping around the Blood Rhino's hind leg, and pulled hard with all her might. As the massive beast staggered, Yun Yi's jade flute glowed with a blue light, and the talisman on his lips suddenly illuminated: "Nine Heavens Phoenix Cry!" The sharp sound waves materialized, exploding into wisps of blue smoke on the Blood Rhino's scales.
The blood-red rhinoceros roared in pain, the sound waves making the three of them's eardrums ache. It suddenly abandoned the fight, turning and lunging towards the brightest point of the jade flute's light, its claws almost touching Yun Yi's throat. At the critical moment, Yun Yi spun away, dodging the attack, his sleeves torn with three deep gashes by the claws. "Flank from both sides!" he shouted, as Dongfang Wan'er's soft whip wrapped around the blood-red rhinoceros's neck, while Ying Yi's longsword pierced towards its vital point in the ribs.
However, the instant the Blood Rhinoceros crashed to the ground, roars echoed from the surrounding mist. Seven ferocious beasts of various shapes rushed out from all directions, including two identical Netherworld Blood Rhinoceroses! These demonic beasts exuded an evil aura, clearly having been modified by some kind of force. Yun Yi looked at the demonic glint in the beasts' eyes, and his back was instantly soaked with cold sweat—this was no trial at all; someone was clearly trying to exterminate them!
Dongfang Wan'er wrapped her whip twice around her palm, Ying Yi held his sword horizontally in front of his chest, and the three of them formed a defensive formation back to back. Yun Yi stared at the shadowy figures that were faintly visible deep within the crimson mist, his fingertips tracing the cold runes on his jade flute. He could sense that a pair of eyes were watching them from the shadows, and this seemingly life-or-death trial was merely the beginning of a much larger conspiracy.
Within the crimson mist, the ferocious beasts' bloodshot vertical pupils merged into a terrifying sea of light, the stench of rotting flesh and blood almost solidifying. Yun Yi swallowed the metallic taste rising in his throat, gripped the blood-stained jade flute tightly, his knuckles pressing bluish-white marks into the warm bamboo surface: "Everyone, back to back, do not separate!" His voice pierced through the rising and falling roars, carrying an undeniable calmness.
The three quickly formed a defensive formation, with Shadow One's Xuan Tie sword breaking the stalemate first. A cold glint wove an impenetrable silver net within the blood-red mist, and sparks from the clash between sword and beast claws splattered tiny scorch marks on the beast's scales. Dongfang Wan'er leaped into the air, her soft whip coiling around the neck of a ferocious beast like a serpent, using the momentum to spin in mid-air, the whip's tip sweeping across, leaving three deep, bone-revealing gashes. Yun Yi, his eyes half-closed, held his jade flute to his lips, playing an ethereal melody; the sound waves transformed into invisible blades, precisely piercing the beast's eye sockets and joints.
However, the ferocious beasts' attacks were relentless, like a relentless tide. Yingyi's swordplay gradually slowed, the blade riddled with nicks and chips; Dongfang Wan'er's whip techniques became chaotic, her silver ornaments scattered on the ground; Yunyi's music also became intermittent, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth onto his jade flute. The stench of blood thoroughly enraged the Netherworld Blood Rhinoceros, and the leading beast suddenly lowered its body, crashing into Dongfang Wan'er, the weakest point in their defenses, with the force of thunder.
Yun Yi's pupils constricted sharply. Ignoring the beastly claws attacking from all sides, he charged forward like an arrow released from a bow. The sharp fangs of the blood rhinoceros grazed his ear, and its claws tore open his left shoulder, leaving four bloody gashes that gushed forth instantly. The intense pain made his vision blur, but he still gripped the jade flute tightly, using his last bit of spiritual power to blow out a defensive sonic wave.
"Yun Yi!" Dongfang Wan'er's exclamation was drowned out by the beast's roar. Her soft whip lashed fiercely across the blood-red rhinoceros's nose, only eliciting an even more furious roar from the giant beast. Just as everyone was in dire straits, a clear phoenix cry ripped through the sky, and the entire crimson mist was suddenly dyed a dazzling golden-red.
A colossal fire phoenix, its wings billowing to blot out the sky, swooped down from the clouds. Where its tail feathers swept, demonic beasts let out shrill screams. Flames, as if alive, climbed onto the beasts' bodies. Amidst the stench of charred flesh, the white-clad woman on the phoenix's back gracefully landed. The longsword in her hand shimmered with starlight, the crimson phoenix mark on her forehead flickering with her breath. Her cold gaze swept across the battlefield: "When did Cloud Wave Valley stoop so low as to use forbidden techniques to raise ferocious beasts? Today, I will cleanse these evil creatures on behalf of Heaven!" Before her words had even finished, she lightly touched the ground with her toes, and the sword light transformed into a shower of fireflies, aiming straight for the Netherworld Blood Rhinoceros's vitals.
The woman in white lightly touched the ground with her toes, weaving through the beast horde like a fleeting shadow. Her longsword gleamed with a cold light, each swing creating a dazzling trail of light. Wherever the blade passed, the beasts' scales were easily sliced through as if they were paper, dark red blood splattering in eerie arcs through the air. The Netherworld Blood Rhino roared and swung its massive claws, but couldn't even touch the hem of her robes. Instead, the sword energy slashed three deep, bone-revealing wounds across its chest, forcing it to retreat.
Ying Yi, leaning on his blood-stained longsword, breathed heavily and wiped the sweat from his brow; Dongfang Wan'er tightened her disheveled hair ribbon, her soft whip twirling deftly in her palm; Yun Yi, leaning against his jade flute, knelt on the ground, watching the white-clad woman's dragon-like figure, his heart filled with doubt. This woman was surrounded by a mysterious aura, her every move exuding a power incongruous with the trials of Yunlan Valley. Just who was she? And why had she appeared to help at this moment?
Just as the white-clad woman's sword was about to pierce the throat of the Netherworld Blood Rhino, the giant beast suddenly raised its head and let out a sharp, piercing roar, the sound waves causing everyone's eardrums to ache. The surrounding crimson mist seemed to come alive, instantly condensing into dozens of black tentacles covered in barbs, coiling towards the white-clad woman like ferocious giant pythons. The woman's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, her sword light surged, drawing a dazzling arc of light and severing the first tentacles that attacked. However, more tentacles surged in like a tide, weaving together in the air to form an impenetrable net.
At the same time, a sinister laugh echoed from the depths of the mist, and a figure clad in black robes slowly emerged. His face was hidden beneath a wide hood, revealing only a pair of eyes that gleamed with an eerie green light. The black-robed figure rapidly formed hand seals, chanting incantations that reverberated through the air. A shocking scene unfolded—the ferocious beasts that had previously fallen slowly rose, their wounds healing at a visible speed, their eyes gleaming with even greater ferocity than before, and they once again charged towards the group.
Yun Yi's expression turned extremely solemn. He gripped his jade flute tightly, struggled to his feet, and shouted, "Everyone, let's deal with these ferocious beasts first! We can't let the man in black robes continue casting spells!" Before he finished speaking, Ying Yi had already swung his sword to meet a charging beast. The sword blade clashed with the beast's claws, producing a deafening roar. Dongfang Wan'er lashed out with her soft whip, wrapping it around the hind legs of the Netherworld Blood Rhinoceros. Using the momentum, she leaped into the air, the whip tip striking the giant beast's eyes like a venomous snake. The woman in white swung her longsword, creating a wall of fire around herself, temporarily blocking the black tentacles' attack.
The battle intensified, with sword flashes, whip crackles, and sonic waves weaving together in the crimson mist. The black-robed figure stood at the edge of the battlefield, continuously casting eerie spells; his form flickered in and out of the mist, like the mastermind behind this life-or-death drama. Yun Yi knew that this seemingly ordinary trial had long since evolved into a conspiracy of life and death, and whether they could uncover the truth in this perilous battle remained to be seen.
Crimson mist surged and boiled around the black-robed man. In the midst of the chaos, Yun Yi caught a glimpse of the strange, trembling trajectory of the opponent's fingertips, and his pupils suddenly contracted. Those intertwined hand gestures were exactly the same as the "Blood Prison Asura Technique" recorded in the surviving scrolls of the Scripture Pavilion—a forbidden technique of Yunlan Valley that had been sealed three hundred years ago for devouring its master. Its practitioners needed to use the flesh and blood of living people as sacrifices in order to summon Netherworld demons.
The moment the beast's claws grazed his ear, Yun Yi spun around abruptly, the pressure of the jade flute against his lips increasing abruptly. The obscure melodies of his memory surged forth like a tide. He bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the flute's holes; crimson runes meandered along the bamboo. The ancient, forbidden melody, imbued with spiritual power, reverberated. Wherever the sound waves passed, the ferocious beasts that were about to rise suddenly froze in place, black blood slowly seeping from their seven orifices.
The black-robed man's incantation abruptly stopped, and his eerie green pupils under the hood contracted sharply: "You actually know the method to break the seal?" His withered fingers cracked, and the mist around him instantly condensed into countless tiny blood droplets, which floated and spun in mid-air. "It's nothing but a death throes!" Before he finished speaking, the black-robed man threw his head back and laughed, and twelve blood-red incantations burst forth from his palm, intertwining in the air to form hideous demonic patterns.
The entire valley suddenly trembled violently, and from the thick, inky fog, a blood demon puppet, three zhang tall, slowly took shape. It was pieced together from countless twisted human faces and limbs, each face frozen in the terror of death, its ten fingers gleaming with a cold light like steel hooks. The puppet stomped across the ground, instantly cracking the earth with spiderweb-like patterns, and a bone-chilling cold emanated from its path, even freezing the burning flames.
The woman in white gritted her teeth, and the phoenix pattern on her sword suddenly lit up. She transformed into a streak of fire and soared into the sky: "Burning Heaven Sword Formation!" The blazing flames condensed into nine enormous sword shadows around her, slashing down at the Blood Demon Puppet. Shadow One let out a low shout, and the Xuan Tie sword glowed with a ghostly blue light, its sword energy wrapping around the puppet's ankles like a bolt of lightning; Dongfang Wan'er lashed out with her soft whip, the tip of which was wrapped with three poisoned silver needles, aiming directly at the puppet's weakest point at its joints.