Sea of Blood Styx

Deep within the shattered mountain range, the Sha Qi thinned slightly.

Guiyuan set down the gravely wounded Xuanming and stepped back a few paces, maintaining distance.

Xuanming steadied herself, her icy gaze immediately locking onto Guiyuan, carrying scrutiny and undisguised vigilance.

Sha Qi swirled naturally around her; though her injuries were severe, her aura remained imposing.

"Who are you?" Her voice was cold, like the clash of ice.

Seeing her guarded stance, Guiyuan let out a light laugh and countered, "Before asking about another's Origin Foundation, shouldn't one first announce their own name?"

Xuanming's eyes narrowed, the chill deepening, but she still raised her head with the pride of her Origin Foundation and said solemnly, "I am born from Father God Pangu's essence blood, one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches of Mount Zhou—Xuanming!"

She declared her title, her gaze fixed on Guiyuan, as if expecting to see shock or reverence on his face.

"Twelve Ancestral Witches?"

Guiyuan's face showed a hint of well-timed confusion, as if searching his memory.

"Never heard of them. Are they... stronger than the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Three Clans?"

Xuanming fell silent at that, her expression turning even colder.

Guiyuan understood in his heart.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches had indeed been overbearing and roamed the land after the Dragon-Han Calamity.

But don't forget, this was still the era when the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin dominated the Primordial World. Even the nascent Wu Clan was forced to gather strength within Mount Zhou's bounds, their fame yet to spread.

His gaze fell on Xuanming, his thoughts racing.

If she were an ordinary Innate Sacred, with such severe injuries, he might consider slaying her to seize her origin. But she was one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches.

The karma was too great.

He had mastered the Great Destiny Technique, his spiritual sense far surpassing ordinary beings.

Looking at her now, her fortune blazed like a heavenly pillar, deeply connected to Pangu's legacy and the earth's veins—immensely heavy, not to be trifled with.

Even the future Dao Ancestor Hongjun had to deal with the Wu Clan through intricate schemes, letting them exhaust themselves internally until their fortune and merit were spent before they could be dismantled.

A direct clash? The cost outweighed the gain.

Guiyuan set aside his thoughts, smiled calmly, and said openly, "I am a Giant Turtle from the North Sea, transformed, with the Dao name Guiyuan."

He looked toward the direction of Changbai Mountain's Ancestral Vein and stated directly, "You were just fighting that Taowu King—were you trying to slay it?"

Xuanming snorted, her eyes flashing with extreme disgust for the Ferocious Beast: "It has entrenched itself in the Ancestral Vein formed from Father God's body, draining spiritual energy and spreading Sha Qi, defiling Father God's legacy! Of course I want to slay it!"

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

A flicker of hesitation crossed Xuanming's eyes.

She had never had much fondness for Innate Sacreds.

Especially facing a mysterious figure with strange methods.

As she weighed her options—

"Buzz!"

A sharp pressure, thick with blood and slaughter, approached rapidly from afar!

Guiyuan and Xuanming both turned to look at the source of that aura.

At the horizon, a dense cloud of blood rolled in, exuding Sha Qi.

On the cloud stood an Innate Sacred, his long hair like flowing blood, his face handsome to the point of allure, his pupils brimming with endless intent to kill.

Most striking were the two sword phantoms floating and circling behind him.

The blades hummed continuously.

They actively absorbed the lingering murderous Sha Qi and deathly intent from the northern skies, as if feeding on them.

That eerie figure rode the blood cloud closer, his gaze sweeping over Guiyuan and Xuanming, clear-eyed, and he cupped his hands: "This Humble One is Styx of the Sea of Blood. Restlessness stirred me to action, so I came north.

I found two fellow Daoists here, and in my excitement, I rushed over rashly. Please don't take offense!"

The red-haired Daoist who called himself "Styx" landed not far away.

His aura was fierce with killing intent, yet strangely free of any filth or resentment, carrying instead a sense of open righteousness.

Guiyuan's thoughts churned.

Styx?

He hadn't expected to run into him here.

This one's Origin Foundation was extremely high, likely among the top in the Primordial World.

Born from the Sea of Blood, an innate divine being, with the Karma Red Lotus and the twin swords Yuantu and Abhi as his companions—all formidable Innate Treasures. Especially Yuantu and Abhi, whose slaughter bore no karma, almost defying heaven.

But... Guiyuan recalled later legends. This one always moved a step too slow. He learned from Nüwa to create the Asura race but didn't become a sage. He learned from Laozi to establish the Asura teachings but still didn't become a sage.

Even his home base, the Sea of Blood, was later partially taken over by Houtu to form the cycle of reincarnation, forcibly demoting him from a regional hegemon to a famous "laughingstock" of the Primordial World.

But relying on the divine ability that "as long as the Sea of Blood does not dry up, Styx cannot die," he was still a renowned powerhouse throughout the Primordial World.

Looking at this Styx before him, however, though his aura was thick with murderous intent, his eyes were remarkably clear, even carrying a hint of... curiosity and innocence, as if fresh out of the gate?

This Dao of Slaughter was walked with integrity, slaying only those who deserved it, without staining himself with the karma of the innocent.

Interesting.

Seeing Guiyuan sizing him up, Styx was not annoyed. Instead, he cupped his hands again, his gaze shifting between Guiyuan and the cold-aired Xuanming, asking curiously, "Are you two fellow daoists here for that mountain-dwelling fiend?"

His eyes swept over Xuanming's injuries and the lingering Sha Qi tremors from the distant Changbai Mountain range, and he realized, "It seems the Taowu King is indeed ferocious, even causing this fellow daoist to suffer a loss."

Xuanming snorted coldly. Though she did not reply, the wariness around her eased slightly.

She could sense that although this Styx cultivated the path of slaughter, he was not a wicked person.

Fine. Besides, born from the Sea of Blood, he is somewhat connected to us. I'll set aside my pride for now.

Guiyuan smiled and took over the conversation: "Fellow daoist Styx has sharp eyes. Indeed, the two of us intend to eliminate this scourge and restore peace to the northern Ancestral Vein.

Did you come all the way from the Sea of Blood because you are also interested in this Ferocious Beast?"

Styx was straightforward, pointing at the buzzing phantom images of Yuantu and Abhi behind him: "These twin swords of mine need to be tempered with fierce Sha Qi to become sharper.

Ordinary Sha Qi is beneath notice; only the origin of a Ferocious Beast at the Daluo level is quality nourishment.

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

He looked at Guiyuan, his eyes carrying a hint of inquiry: "I sensed your attack from afar earlier, fellow daoist. Your divine ability is profound.

To save someone from under the Taowu King's claws and even set up a spiritual treasure formation to temporarily trap the beast—I, Styx, admire that. May I ask your name?"

"Guiyuan of the North Sea." Guiyuan gave his name, already forming a plan in his mind.

This Styx seemed simple and direct in nature, but his strength was undeniable. If he could recruit him to join forces, their chances against the injured Taowu King would undoubtedly increase greatly.

"So you are fellow daoist Guiyuan." Styx nodded, then turned his burning gaze toward Changbai Mountain.

"That Taowu King devoured the essence of its own kind to forcibly unleash Daluo-level power. This move is ferocious, but it cannot last long.

If the three of us join hands, there's no reason we can't cut it down with our swords!"

His words carried the sharpness of a fearless newcomer and a pure desire to enhance his own treasures.

Guiyuan exchanged a glance with Xuanming.

Though proud, Xuanming knew that she had barely escaped death just now. Alone, or even with just Guiyuan, they truly lacked full certainty.

This Styx was no weakling, and his goal was clear. Having him as a temporary ally would not be a problem.

She gave a slight nod, a tacit agreement.

Seeing this, Guiyuan felt reassured. He looked at Styx and smiled, "Good! In that case, let us join forces and face this Taowu King!

We'll take its origin, refine its ferocious soul—each getting what we need!"

Hearing this, Styx's face broke into a cheerful grin. The phantom images of Yuantu and Abhi behind him trembled even more violently, and a chilling murderous aura shot into the sky, forcing the surrounding Sha Qi to scatter.

"Exactly as it should be!"

Xuanming was silent for a moment. "Don't get too excited just yet. Let me recover my injuries first."