Beneath the ornamental rockery in the Qian Family head's private courtyard.
A Secret Chamber unknown even to the Qian Family's core members.
The air was saturated with a nauseating stench of blood, so thick it seemed impossible to dispel.
In the darkness, the gurgling sound of flowing water gathered toward the center, finally spilling into a pool about a yard wide.
The bean-sized flame of an Ever-Bright Lamp flickered, illuminating the pool's true nature.
It was actually a pool of thick, flowing blood!
Qian Family head Qian Yue hurried to the Blood Pool and dropped to his knees on the cold stone floor. Like a devout servant, he had none of the dignity of a family patriarch.
The center of the Blood Pool churned and gurgled.
Soon, a blood shadow, formed entirely of blood, slowly rose from it.
Though the shadow had a human shape, a sinister single horn grew from its forehead.
"Honored Envoy..." Qian Yue bowed his head low. Fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and he dared not look directly at the blood shadow.
"The mission failed?"
The blood shadow's voice was hoarse and dry, like deadwood scraping together. It revealed no joy or anger.
"That Shangguan Hongyue somehow managed to win over an esteemed granduncle from the Xuanyun Sword Sect. The old man is extremely senior in the sect, and even Deacon Huang, stationed outside, obeys his every word."
Qian Yue tremblingly recounted the broken engagement in full. "That old man pressured us today and forcibly annulled the marriage contract. I didn't dare to force her to stay, lest Lei Qingyang catch wind of it."
"Useless!"
"I ordered you to find a way to infiltrate the Xuanyun Sword Sect's Inner Sect. Shangguan Hongyue was the perfect pawn, and now she's gone. How do you intend to make up for it?"
The blood shadow snorted. The blood in the pool instantly boiled, and the stench in the Secret Chamber surged, nearly suffocating Qian Yue.
"Please calm your anger, Honored Envoy. I'm willing to offer you another hundred virgins..."
Qian Yue trembled like a leaf and begged, prostrate on the ground.
Only after the Blood Pool settled and the stench gradually subsided did he speak in a low voice. "Next, I plan to start with Deacon Huang. Word is, that fellow is greedy and lustful. With the right methods, I may be able to bring him under my control."
"Hmph. I hope you make good on your words this time."
The one-horned blood shadow gave him one final chance.
Qian Yue felt a little relieved. He raised his head toward the blood shadow and mustered the courage to ask:
"Honored Envoy... could you increase the supply of Shou'er Tea to my Qian Family? The city's influential families are very fond of it, and sales are excellent. I need more tea to win the trust of those old men at the Mortal Elder Pavilion."
"Heh heh heh..."
The blood shadow let out a shrill, mocking laugh. "Qian Yue, do you think Shou'er Tea is roadside grass? The tea must be watered with fresh blood for a hundred consecutive days before a single harvest can be gathered. If you still can't complete the Holy Sect's orders, then you won't get so much as a single leaf of Shou'er Tea!"
"Understood. I'll definitely carry out your orders, Honored Envoy."
Qian Yue shuddered, drenched in sweat.
With a splash, the blood shadow burst apart, raining blood back into the pool.
Qian Yue braced himself against the cold stone floor and rose. His eyes were icy as he gave a careless bow. "Farewell, Honored Envoy!"
Xuanyun Sword Sect, Sect Master Peak.
After Chen Xian returned to the sect, the first thing he did was request a private meeting with Lei Qingyang.
Tea steam curled through the meeting hall.
The two had already been talking for some time.
Lei Qingyang stood with his hands behind his back, his heroic brows furrowed into a deep crease. "Uncle-Master, are you saying the Qian Family head is secretly practicing the Blood Demon Sect's three great evil arts?"
Chen Xian sat leisurely, blowing the floating tea leaves aside. "Though my cultivation has faded, I still have a little insight. Qian Yue is nearly sixty, yet his blood and qi are exceptionally vigorous. That's completely abnormal."
"After a brief encounter, I noticed signs of a Blood-Irrigated Body in him. There's a ninety-nine percent chance I'm right."
Chen Xian took a sip of tea, careful not to state it too absolutely.
He could never let anyone know about his system.
"If that's true, it's certainly troublesome."
Lei Qingyang paced back and forth across the hall. His decisive bearing had taken on a hint of gravity. "Cultivation sects must not interfere lightly in the affairs of the mortal world. Without hard evidence, if the sect arrests anyone by force, the Mortal Elder Pavilion may report us to the Saint Hall."
Lei Qingyang didn't doubt Chen Xian's judgment, and his brow furrowed even deeper.
Ask-Dao City lay right at the foot of the Sword Sect. The Blood Demon Sect had reached its claws into the area, so it must be plotting something big.
The fighting at the 73rd Hanging Sword Array was at a stalemate, and most of the sect's attention was tied up there. If a fire broke out in the backyard, the consequences would be unthinkable.
One thing could set everything in motion; a single misstep could badly weaken their strength.
Chen Xian set down his teacup and added, "After discovering this, I already asked Deacon Huang, who's stationed outside, to secretly keep an eye on the Qian Family. If they show even the slightest sign of wrongdoing, he'll send word to the sect at once."
Lei Qingyang's face lit up. "Uncle-Master really has thought of everything." Now he wouldn't need to consider whom to send.
"However, Deacon Huang complained to me that his post is grueling. He's even willing to be demoted to an ordinary disciple if he can be transferred back to the sect."
Chen Xian relayed Huang Huanghuang's request.
Lei Qingyang waved a hand and replied firmly, "How could that be? The sect needs every person it can get right now. I won't approve Deacon Huang's request."
"However, if he really can root out the Blood Demon Sect's hidden agents in Ask-Dao City, I'll recommend him for elder status."
Chen Xian nodded, silently mourning Huang Huanghuang for a moment.
But since Lei Qingyang had offered to credit Huang Huanghuang with the achievement, Chen Xian wasn't exactly conning him.
Still, poor Deacon Huang would probably have to keep grinding away for quite a while.
Once they'd finished discussing business, Lei Qingyang's gaze suddenly fell on Chen Xian. His stern face shifted to one of surprise.
"Uncle-Master, your cultivation...?"
He stepped over to Chen Xian and quickly swept him with his spiritual sense. "You've reached the peak of the third level of the Dao Disciple Realm, and you're preparing to enter the Second Realm Heaven? You've only been back at the sect for half a month!"
"Haha, you saw through it."
Chen Xian proudly stroked his white beard. "Perhaps I spent too long stumbling through the mortal world. After returning to this ancestral home, rich with spiritual energy, decades of insights burst forth all at once. I've only just reached the third level. I'm an old man with old bones; it's nothing special."
"Only just reached the third level?" Lei Qingyang's mouth twitched.
It wasn't unusual for someone to make quick progress after rebuilding their cultivation, but he'd never heard of anyone as heaven-defying as his uncle-master.
Besides, at his uncle-master's age, his body's blood and qi should have long since dried up, while his meridians and dantian had also deteriorated. Even with a top-tier constitution like the Mystic Jade Sword Bone, merely drawing qi into his body again should have been a blessing from a Saint.
Judging by his aura, he was probably just one step away from the fourth level of the Dao Disciple Realm.
First, his uncle-master had discovered the Qian Family secretly practicing an evil art, and now he was rebuilding his cultivation at astonishing speed. He really had given Lei Qingyang one surprise after another!
Could his uncle-master truly return to the Dao Master Realm, or even the Dao Sect Realm?
Lei Qingyang began to doubt his earlier conclusion.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be off. The tea here isn't as good as what that girl Xiaoyue makes!"
Chen Xian rose and smacked his lips.
"Take care, Uncle-Master. I'll see you out."
Lei Qingyang hurried forward and personally escorted Chen Xian out. Before they parted, he slipped several bottles of premium pills that nourished the blood and protected the meridians into Chen Xian's arms.
Chen Xian had barely left when Elder Liu entered the hall carrying a roll of blueprints.
"Sect Master, reconstruction of Sword Suppression Peak has begun. It'll be ready to reopen in a month at most."
"Should we notify Uncle-Master ahead of time and have him prepare to take over as Sword Suppression Peak Master?"
Lei Qingyang watched Chen Xian's departing figure, rubbing the lightning between his fingers. He pondered for a moment before replying, "No rush. Uncle-Master's cultivation progress has exceeded my expectations. We should wait until he recovers to the Dao Master Realm before telling him."
"Sword Suppression Peak was one of the Nine Peaks, after all. Reopening its branch is no small matter. If Uncle-Master isn't strong enough, he may face criticism."
"Understood." Elder Liu nodded.
Lei Qingyang's eyes turned sharp, lightning and fire bursting from them. "There's something I need you to do. Secretly investigate whether there's a mole within the sect. The 73rd Hanging Sword Array's breach was far too suspicious."
Liu Yunshu paused, startled. "You mean...?"
"Mm. I thought the Blood Demon Sect had broken through the array by force. But Uncle-Master reminded me that the enemy has even reached its claws into Ask-Dao City. There may be another reason the Hanging Sword Formation was breached."
Lei Qingyang nodded, his thoughts racing. Then he added, "Start with those who have been in close contact with Ask-Dao City lately."
Liu Yunshu's expression turned grave. "Whether disciples or elders?"
Lei Qingyang clenched his fist, arcs of electricity crackling. "Whether disciples or elders!"