"What a criminal waste of a treasure!"
Anger simmered in Old Ancestor Cangwu's voice as he strode up to the weathered mural, his finger almost jabbing the crude, blood-colored formation patterns.
As a sword cultivator, he valued the Dao heart and the passing down of legacies above all else.
Even after ten thousand years, the law-infused Dao rhyme flowing across this mural remained pure and ancient. Every stroke held the grandeur and spirit of the Immortal Court at its height.
Now, this painting, a treasure by any measure, had been defiled by those blood-colored formation patterns.
Their aura was sinister and domineering, utterly at odds with the Immortal Court law of the entire hall, reeking of corruption and brutality.
Someone had taken a bucket of foul blood and scrawled wantonly over a masterpiece meant to endure through the ages, with primitive, savage malice.
"Those bastards!" Old Ancestor Cangwu cursed under his breath.
He extended two fingers together, a strand of sharp sword qi infused with Immortal Court law coiling around their tips.
Rather than attack directly, he tried to use that strand of sword qi to carefully peel away a corner of the blood-colored formation patterns.
The instant his sword qi touched them—
Hum!
The entire expanse of blood-colored formation patterns activated, blazing with red light. A cold, intensely corrosive power surged back along Old Ancestor Cangwu's sword qi!
His expression changed, and he swiftly withdrew his fingers. That strand of sword qi was completely corroded away.
He grunted, and a faint wisp of black qi actually appeared on his palm. Fortunately, he reacted quickly enough, immediately circulating his Longevity Realm origin power to force the sinister energy out of his body.
"What domineering corruption power!"
Old Ancestor Cangwu stared at his blackened fingertips, his gaze growing darker.
"These formation