Crippling Blow

The Yin Clan was a lineage that the Eastern Cultivation World could not tolerate, while the Western Dark Forces feared and ostracized it, yet could do nothing about it.

The Yin Clan's founding ancestor, Yin Tianjue, had been an insignificant figure in the Eastern Cultivation World before the Era of Dharma Decline arrived—back when Immortals and Buddhas filled the Eastern skies, and the Deities and Demons of the West were still locked in their endless war between Gods and Devils.

So insignificant that his status in the East had been even more awkward and miserable than Yin Xuege's current position within the Yin Clan.

But when the Era of Dharma Decline descended, the spiritual veins of the Eastern world collapsed and the path between heaven and man was severed; in the Western world, Gods and Devils vanished without a trace, while the divine mountains and demon abysses of old sealed themselves completely. With unimaginable courage, Yin Tianjue staked everything on a single desperate gamble. He led the Yin Family elders across the seas in a surprise assault on the Blood Demon Clan Sanctum in the West, seized the Blood Demon Saint Blood, and transformed himself into a Blood Demon Physique!

As for the so-called Blood Demons, legend said they were the mixed-blood offspring of some powerful Eastern demon and a Western Bat Demon! Such aberrations were not acknowledged by heaven and earth. Their yin and yang attributes were reversed; after death, they did not enter reincarnation and were not contained within the Five Elements. They were monsters through and through. In the Western world, they were simply called "vampires," cruel and terrifying creatures!

Yet when the Era of Dharma Decline arrived and spiritual energy dissipated from heaven and earth, all those orthodox cultivators turned to ash as their lifespans ran dry. Yin Tianjue, however, relied on the Blood Demon Clan's evil instinct to devour human essence blood, allowing himself and the Yin Family elders to survive the calamity of the Era of Dharma Decline!

Therefore, every member of the Yin Clan was a Blood Demon!

They fed on blood, strengthened their bodies with blood, used the vigorous life force within blood to dispel the chilling yin energy in moonlight essence, then employed strange secret arts to make themselves ever stronger!

The Yin Clan's children were weaker even than strong ordinary humans. Any qualified human soldier could easily kill several times their number. But once Yin Clan children absorbed enough blood, acquired enough moonlight essence, and accumulated enough evolved blood within their bodies, they could evolve into official "warriors"!

Powerful "warriors" beyond the imagination of ordinary people!

All of the Yin Clan's strength came from their blood. They lived by blood, and their power was hidden within their blood as well.

The blood of ordinary children was lighter in color than that of normal people, a gorgeous pale pink.

The power contained within such blood was extraordinarily weak, even far weaker than that of ordinary humans. But as the children continuously devoured the essence of foreign blood and absorbed the hidden energy within moonlight, their strength gradually increased.

As their strength steadily grew, the color of their blood gradually deepened, its viscosity increased, and energy continuously gathered and condensed within it. When the first drop of azure blood successfully condensed inside their bodies, it meant they had broken beyond the level of children and advanced into powerful "Star" Warriors!

That extraordinary drop of blood was the greatest difference between a proper Yin Clan Warrior and a child!

Though it was only a single drop, it contained immense blood essence and powerful moonlight energy. It was the aggregate of all the power in a Yin Clan Warrior's body! As the quantity of this blood, called "Blood Demon Essence Blood," steadily increased, the strength of these Yin Clan Warriors steadily grew as well!

Yin Xuejiao's successful breakthrough on the full-moon night before had come because this very Blood Demon Essence Blood had finally condensed within his body, allowing him to rise from an ordinary weak child into an official Yin Clan Warrior!

According to Yin Clan rules, every newly advanced warrior had to remain in the Children's Hall for a period of continued training, constantly battling children who had yet to break through! First, this tempered the power in the newly advanced warriors' bodies; second, it allowed those who had not yet broken through to witness the strength possessed by a true warrior, showing them the road ahead!

Within the Children's Hall, twelve head-sized clusters of Blood Flame floated in the air, casting a gentle bloody glow that illuminated everything in the hall.

Inside each cluster of Blood Flame floated a fist-sized Demon Talisman. These Demon Talismans possessed miraculous power, and the bloody light blanketing the hall gave the Yin Clan children formidable regenerative abilities. Even if their bones, tendons, arms, or legs were broken during practical combat lessons, as long as they bathed in the bloody light and had the help of the bowl of blood essence they had just consumed, their injuries would quickly heal.

One hundred children divided into two lines and stood on either side of the Children's Hall, leaving an open space a hundred meters long and wide in the center.

Yin Jiying stood between the two lines with a smile that did not reach his eyes. He glanced at the arrogant Yin Xuejiao, then nodded with a smile.

"Since Xuejiao has broken through, according to the rules of the Children's Hall, newly advanced children will remain here to cultivate in seclusion for three months. First, they must familiarize themselves with their suddenly increased power. Second, they will give practical combat instruction to children who have not yet broken through, allowing you to understand the power of a true warrior and showing you the path forward!"

With his hands behind his back, Yin Jiying paced back and forth a few times, then gave a heavy cough to display his authority in the Children's Hall before continuing, "Therefore, today's practical combat lesson will be for you to take turns sparring with Xuejiao. Who is willing to be proactive and accept instruction first?"

None of the children spoke. Their expressions turned strange, and almost at the same time, they turned to look at Yin Xuege. They knew that the first to receive instruction would definitely be Yin Xuege! Everyone knew it. Yin Xuejiao knew it, and Yin Jiying knew it even more clearly!

Yin Xuege looked expressionlessly at the children brimming with malice. He knew it would be this way as well. Yin Xuejiao would never let this chance pass him by. He would never miss this opportunity to beat him senseless and humiliate him before everyone in a perfectly justified manner, recovering the face he and his brothers had lost in the past!

But I do not regret it. And I am not afraid! Yin Xuege clenched his fists and slowly stepped out of the line.

What was coming would come eventually. He could not avoid this battle!

Ever since Yin Xuege could remember, he had known that in this Yin Clan City-State, a place filled everywhere with malice, he could only rely on himself if he wanted to survive!

Cowardice was useless. No one would help him!

Submission was useless. No one would spare him!

Crying was useless. No one would pity him!

As the greatest disgrace in Yin Clan history, the thorn in the eyes and flesh of every Yin Clan elder, existing almost like a hostage, Yin Xuege had known since childhood that no matter who wanted to deal with him, he could only clench his fists and smash back hard!

If his fists were useless, then he would use his feet, his teeth, his nails—or simply stake his life against theirs!

Yin Xuege's heart pounded rapidly. His body trembled faintly, and his face turned deathly pale!

Others might have mistaken Yin Xuege for being afraid, for feeling fear! But the people in the Children's Hall did not think so. When the children saw him like this, they almost instinctively took a step back at the same time—including Yin Xuejiao, who had broken through from a Yin Clan child to a Yin Clan Star Warrior the night before.

Yin Jiying frowned. He shot Yin Xuejiao a dissatisfied glare, then heavily called out his name.

Yin Xuejiao's body shuddered slightly. He suddenly came back to his senses, and his face flushed crimson in shame and anger. He muttered a curse, then strode toward Yin Xuege and shouted harshly.

"Yin Xuege! You want to challenge me first? Fine, you have guts! I admire your courage!"

"Then I am very willing to show you just how much power a true Yin Clan Warrior possesses!"

"You damned bastard, you lowborn wretch who has disgraced the entire Yin Clan—I will make you understand that you are nothing but a despicable piece of trash! You do not deserve the Yin Clan's noble surname, and you do not deserve your current name!"

Yin Jiying flashed away to the side in an instant and gave a dry snort.

"Then for the first practical battle: Yin Xuejiao versus Yin Xuege! This is to be treated as real combat. Neither side is permitted to hold back!"

Yin Xuege expressionlessly bent forward slightly. With a flick of his hand at his belt, a black Soft Sword, three feet long and only one finger wide, landed in his grasp. He breathed steadily and methodically. The chilling yin power hidden within his blood swiftly spread through his entire body, his presence became faint and elusive, and he felt his body fill with strength.

"Yin Xuejiao, let me see just how strong you have become after turning into an official warrior!"

"I am a bastard. I am the lowborn wretch you call me. But time and again, I have beaten you until your heads were split and your blood flowed! I want to see how much stronger you so-called noble direct descendants of the Yin Clan really are than me!"

"Even if you have broken through to become Star Warriors, how much stronger can you be than me?"

When Yin Xuejiao saw Yin Xuege suddenly draw the standard-issue Soft Sword distributed by the Children's Hall, he gave a cackling laugh. His handsome yet vicious face twitched violently as he stared venomously at Yin Xuege. With a sweep of both hands across his waist, he too gripped a Soft Sword.

"Yin Xuege! Yin Xuege!! Yin Xuege!!!"

After roaring Yin Xuege's name three times in succession, Yin Xuejiao's body suddenly left three afterimages as he lunged at Yin Xuege.

"You lowborn wretch, you do not deserve to live in this world!"

Yin Xuejiao's heart pounded violently. Inside it floated a thumb-sized drop of essence blood emitting a faint azure radiance. It was only one drop, yet it contained more than half the power in Yin Xuejiao's entire body. This drop of essence blood was the symbol of Yin Xuejiao's breakthrough into a Star Warrior!

The pale azure essence blood exchanged energy in a marvelous fashion with the ordinary blood in his body. Threads of pale azure power flowed with his ordinary blood throughout Yin Xuejiao's body, constantly strengthening his flesh and his five senses. As Yin Xuejiao charged forward, he instinctively sensed that he was more than twice as fast as usual, and the strength throughout his body had increased considerably.

Yin Xuege's vision went black. Before he could even see Yin Xuejiao clearly, intense pain erupted from his right shoulder.

Yin Xuejiao's Soft Sword pierced through Yin Xuege's shoulder, and an arrow of blood sprayed wildly forth. Before Yin Xuege could cry out in pain, Yin Xuejiao had already withdrawn his sword and retreated sharply. Yet even as he retreated, he kicked Yin Xuege beneath the chin. Yin Xuege gave a muffled groan, his head snapped back, and his lean body flew up like a fallen leaf in the wind, sailing more than ten meters away.

A muffled impact rang out. Agonizing pain shot through his back, and his internal organs shook violently. Yin Xuege's vision darkened. He opened his mouth blankly; the blow to his jaw had made his teeth bite through his tongue, and now his mouth was filled with the taste of blood!

With difficulty, Yin Xuege swallowed the blood in his mouth and shook his head. Then he suddenly gave a bitter smile.

His own blood seemed even richer and more delicious than the blood of those Blood Slaves! Of course, that was only natural. The blood plasma of those Blood Slaves had been mixed with too many medicinal herbs, so its flavor naturally could not compare with fresh blood!

The dull whistle of wind breaking sounded again. Before Yin Xuege could climb to his feet, Yin Xuejiao had charged before him once more and kicked him in the lower abdomen, sending him flying far away. Then the whistle of air rapidly receded as Yin Xuejiao once again withdrew at top speed.

This was a combat technique unique to Yin Clan Warriors! The Blood Demon Clan was incredibly swift, but compared to their astonishing speed and sharp reactions, their strength and physical toughness were not outstanding. Therefore, Blood Demon warriors were more skilled at hit-and-run attacks or long-range Blood Arts attacks.

Yin Xuege was blasted away again. Curled on the ground from the heavy blow to his lower abdomen, a mouthful of blood rose to his throat, but he forcibly swallowed it back down. The taste of blood in his mouth grew even stronger. The bowl of blood essence he had just consumed was now taking effect inside his body, continuously nourishing him and restoring a little of his strength.

The Demon Talismans within the twelve clusters of Blood Flame emitted warm bloody light, and Yin Xuege's injuries rapidly improved.

But before Yin Xuege could fully recover, Yin Xuejiao charged in again. Flashily showing off his speed, he trailed several afterimages as he circled the prone Yin Xuege more than a dozen times. With a flick of his Soft Sword, he silently left more than ten wounds so deep the bone showed on Yin Xuege's body.

Blood flowed from Yin Xuege's wounds, but he took a deep breath. The Yin Clan's special physique caused the blood flowing from his wounds to swiftly return to his body. Under the combined effects of the blood essence within him and the Blood Flame, Yin Xuege's injuries recovered at high speed.

Yin Jiying's voice rang out lazily.

"Everyone, look carefully. Xuejiao's fighting style is the most effective tactic for Yin Clan Warriors before they master powerful Blood Arts!"

"If one strike fails, flee a thousand li away; never fight an enemy to the death!"

"If one strike succeeds, follow the momentum with a frenzied assault; fight the enemy until one side dies!"

Using the Yin Xuege lying on the ground as the center, Yin Xuejiao ran wildly while letting out shrill laughter. He left afterimages as he circled Yin Xuege, occasionally closing in and leaving one grievous wound after another on his body.

"Look at the points Xuejiao chose to attack!"

"When facing a powerful enemy and lacking enough strength to kill with a single strike, attack the opponent's joints and vital points, then use our speed to drag them down and wear them to death! This is the best choice for the Lineage's low-ranking warriors in battle!"

"What an exquisite strike. Look—the tendons in Yin Xuege's ankle have been severed. That was an extremely precise sword strike! An ordinary enemy who suffers such an injury will no longer be able to keep up with your speed! Thus, this is a crucial strike, a strike that lays the foundation for victory!"

The children standing at either side stared wide-eyed, listening to Yin Jiying's explanation while admiring the cruel injuries Yin Xuejiao inflicted on Yin Xuege.

The practical combat lessons in the Children's Hall also had strict prohibitions. Though everything was based on real combat, attacking a Yin Clan member's true fatal point—the heart—was forbidden! Thus, Yin Xuejiao did not deliver a fatal blow to Yin Xuege. He merely continued leaving one cruel wound after another upon him, making Yin Xuege suffer endless pain.

The children admired Yin Xuejiao's torture of Yin Xuege, while Yin Jiying leisurely analyzed each of Yin Xuejiao's attacks, judging whether they were aimed with purpose or merely a waste of strength.

No one cared about Yin Xuege lying motionless on the ground. No one cared about Yin Xuege, covered in blood with his eyes tightly shut. Everyone praised Yin Xuejiao's strength. The gulf between a newly advanced Star Warrior and an ordinary child was simply too vast.

Yin Xuege alone had not given up. He gripped his sword hilt tightly, letting Yin Xuejiao kick him rolling across the ground, letting grievous wounds appear on his body one after another. Under the protection of the bloody light, these injuries were nothing. He still possessed the strength to fight—or rather, he still retained the power for a single strike!

All his strength was concentrated in his right arm. Yin Xuege pressed his entire body against his right hand. Although the vital joint tendons in his left hand and both legs had been severed time and again, his right arm remained intact and still possessed great strength.

His right shoulder, pierced through at the start of the battle, had already recovered under the healing of the Blood Flame. At that moment, Yin Xuege's right arm still retained its full combat power!

Yin Xuejiao panted as he ran back and forth madly, dealing Yin Xuege grievous harm again and again.

"This is for the time you bit open Yin Xueao's throat!"

"This is for the time you broke my arm!"

"This is for the time you knocked out Yin Xueyou and Yin Xueku's teeth!"

"This is for the time you killed my Blood Servant!"

"You damned lowborn wretch! After all these years, so many brothers have failed to beat you down. Why will you not just die?"

Panting, Yin Xuejiao failed to notice that the azure essence blood in his heart had grown increasingly dim. He had only just advanced into a Star Warrior. Though his strength was far greater than that of an ordinary child, it had not reached an invulnerable degree.

At last, after another sword thrust pierced Yin Xuege's left chest and left a transparent hole through his chest, the light on Yin Xuejiao's azure essence blood suddenly went out completely. His body abruptly went limp, and he stumbled before falling directly to the ground—his strength had been exhausted!

Yin Xuege sprang up! With a roll of his body, his long-prepared right hand lashed viciously toward Yin Xuejiao, and the Soft Sword in his hand suddenly shot forth.

Accompanied by a miserable howl and Yin Jiying's furious roar, Yin Xuege's Soft Sword swept across Yin Xuejiao's neck like a crazed venomous serpent, cleanly slicing through half his neck.

A great spray of blood burst forth, and a frenzied roar suddenly came from outside the hall.

"You little beast! You are courting death!"

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