Styx and the Sea of Blood

Deep in the broken mountain range, the baleful aura was somewhat thinner.

Guiyuan set down the badly wounded Xuanming, then stepped back a few paces to keep his distance.

Xuanming steadied herself. Her icy gaze immediately fixed on Guiyuan, full of scrutiny and undisguised wariness.

Baleful aura swirled naturally around her. Though her injuries were severe, her imposing presence remained undiminished.

"Who are you?" she asked coldly, her voice like ice striking stone.

Seeing how guarded she was, Guiyuan chuckled softly and asked in return, "Before asking about someone else's origin and background, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"

Xuanming narrowed her eyes, her chill growing more intense. Still, she held her head high, pride born of her origin evident in her bearing. "I am Xuanming, one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches of Mount Buzhou, born from the essence-blood of Father God Pangu!"

After giving her name, she stared at Guiyuan, as if expecting to see shock or reverence on his face.

"The Twelve Ancestral Witches?"

Guiyuan let a suitable trace of confusion show on his face, as if searching his memory.

"Never heard of them. Are you more powerful than the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans?"

At his words, Xuanming fell silent, her expression turning colder still.

Guiyuan understood.

After the Dragon-Han Calamity, the Twelve Ancestral Witches would indeed become extraordinarily domineering, striding across the land.

But this was still the era in which the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans ruled the Primordial World. Even the Wu Clan, whose strength was only beginning to take shape, had no choice but to remain confined to the region around Mount Buzhou and build its power. It was not yet widely known.

His gaze settled on Xuanming as his thoughts raced.

If she were an ordinary Innate Sacred, he might have considered killing her while she was so badly wounded and taking her essence. But she was one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches.

The karmic consequences would be far too great.

He wielded the Great Destiny Technique, and his spiritual perception far surpassed that of ordinary beings.

As he looked at her, Xuanming's fate blazed behind her like a heavenly pillar, tightly connected to Pangu's Legacy and the veins of the earth. It was so weighty that no one could meddle with it lightly.

Even the future Dao Ancestor Hongjun would have to lay plans upon plans to deal with the Wu Clan, making them exhaust themselves through infighting and squander their fortune and merit before he could bring them down.

A head-on clash? It wouldn't be worth the cost.

Guiyuan put the thought aside and smiled openly. "I'm a Giant Turtle from the North Sea, transformed into human form. My Daoist name is Guiyuan."

He looked toward the Ancestral Vein of Changbai Mountain and got straight to the point. "You were fighting the Taowu King just now. Were you trying to kill it?"

Xuanming snorted, her eyes flashing with utter loathing for the Ferocious Beast. "It occupies the Ancestral Vein formed from Father God's body, siphons its spiritual energy, spreads baleful aura, and desecrates Father God's Legacy! Of course I intend to kill it!"

"Perfect." Guiyuan clapped his hands. "I want to kill it too. How about we join forces?"

A trace of hesitation passed through Xuanming's eyes.

She had never thought much of Innate Sacred beings.

Especially not some stranger of unknown origins with bizarre methods.

As she weighed the matter—

"Vmmmm!"

A fierce pressure, thick with the stench of blood and the aura of slaughter, rushed toward them from afar!

Guiyuan and Xuanming turned at the same time, looking toward its source.

A dense mass of blood-red clouds rolled toward them across the horizon, radiating baleful energy.

An Innate Sacred stood atop the clouds. His long hair flowed like blood, and his face was so handsome it was almost bewitching. His pupils held an endless intent to kill.

Most striking of all were the illusory images of two long swords floating behind him.

The swords hummed continuously.

They were actively absorbing the ferocious killing aura and endless deathly intent left in the northern lands, as if feeding on them.

The strange figure rode in on the blood clouds. His gaze passed over Guiyuan and Xuanming, clear and bright. He cupped his hands and said, "I am Styx of the Sea of Blood. Having spent too long in seclusion, I grew restless and came to the north.

"I discovered two fellow Daoists here and was overjoyed, so I came over without invitation. I hope you won't take offense!"

The red-haired Daoist who had introduced himself as "Styx" landed some distance away.

His killing intent was chilling, yet he bore not a trace of foulness or resentment. Instead, there was something open and upright about him.

Guiyuan's thoughts raced.

Ancestor Minghe?

He hadn't expected to run into him here.

Minghe's Origin Foundation was extraordinarily high; he could probably rank among the top in the Primordial World.

Nurtured by the Sea of Blood, he was a natural-born sacred being. His accompanying Karma Red Lotus and Yuantu Abi Twin Swords were all extraordinary Innate Treasures. The Yuantu and Abhi, in particular, could kill without incurring karma—a truly heaven-defying ability.

Unfortunately... Guiyuan recalled the tales told in later generations. Minghe was always one step behind others in what he did. He imitated Nuwa Creates Humans and created the Asura, but failed to become a saint.

He imitated Laozi by founding a sect and established the Asura Sect, but still failed to become a saint.

Even part of his Sea of Blood lair was later taken by Houtu when she transformed into the cycle of reincarnation. Minghe had gone from a mighty figure to a well-known "laughingstock" of the Primordial World.

Still, thanks to his divine ability, "As long as the Sea of Blood remains, Minghe cannot die," he was a renowned powerhouse throughout the Primordial World.

But the Minghe before him, though his aura seethed with killing intent, had remarkably clear eyes. There was even a hint of... the curiosity and innocence of someone just starting out in the world?

His Dao of Slaughter was so open and upright. He killed only those who deserved it and incurred no karma against the innocent.

How interesting.

Minghe noticed Guiyuan sizing him up but didn't take offense. Instead, he cupped his hands again. His gaze shifted between Guiyuan and the cold-aura Xuanming, and he asked curiously, "Are you two fellow Daoists here because of the vicious creature in the mountains?"

His eyes swept over Xuanming's injuries and the still-unsettled waves of baleful aura around the distant Changbai Mountain range. Understanding dawned on him. "It seems the Taowu King is indeed fierce. Even you were bested by it, fellow Daoist."

Xuanming snorted without replying, but the tension around her eased a little.

She could tell that although Minghe practiced the Dao of Slaughter, he wasn't wicked.

Very well. Besides, born of the Sea of Blood, he had some connection to them. For now, she set aside her pride.

Guiyuan smiled and picked up the conversation. "You have a sharp eye, Daoist Minghe. That's right. The two of us intend to rid the Ancestral Vein of the north of this scourge.

"You've come all the way from the Sea of Blood. Are you interested in this Ferocious Beast too?"

Minghe answered frankly, pointing to the illusory Yuantu and Abi behind him, which hummed incessantly. "My twin swords need to be tempered with ferocious killing aura to grow sharper.

"Ordinary baleful aura isn't good enough. Only the essence of a Ferocious Beast at the Daluo level is worthy nourishment.

"I heard the north was once a battlefield of the Ferocious Beasts, so I came to try my luck. I didn't expect to run into such a tough opponent."

He looked at Guiyuan, a trace of curiosity in his eyes. "I sensed your move from afar just now, fellow Daoist. Your divine abilities are wondrous.

"You even managed to rescue someone from the Taowu King's claws and then trapped the beast with a magic treasure formation. Minghe is impressed.

"May I ask your name?"

"Guiyuan of the North Sea." Guiyuan gave his name, already having made up his mind.

Minghe seemed straightforward, almost naive, but there was no doubt about his strength. If Guiyuan could enlist him to fight the wounded Taowu King, their chances would surely improve.

"So you're Daoist Guiyuan." Minghe nodded, then gazed intently toward Changbai Mountain.

"The Taowu King devoured the essence of its own kind to forcibly unleash Daluo-level power. This technique is fierce, but it can't last.

"If the three of us join forces, we may well be able to slay it with our swords!"

His words carried the boldness of a young calf unafraid of a tiger, along with a pure desire to strengthen his magic treasures.

Guiyuan and Xuanming exchanged a glance.

Xuanming was proud, but she knew how close she had come to death just now. On her own, or even with only Guiyuan, they had no guarantee of victory.

Minghe was powerful, and his goal was clear. There was no harm in accepting him as a temporary ally.

She gave a slight nod of assent.

Seeing this, Guiyuan felt reassured. He looked at Minghe and smiled. "Excellent! Then let's join forces and see what this Taowu King can do!

"We'll take its essence and refine its vicious soul. That way, we each get what we need!"

At his words, Minghe broke into a hearty smile. The illusory Yuantu and Abi Twin Swords behind him trembled ever more violently, their fierce killing intent soaring skyward and driving the surrounding baleful aura away.

"That's exactly what we should do!"

Xuanming was silent for a moment. "Don't get carried away yet. Wait until I've recovered from my injuries first."