Invitation from the Blood Sea

"Boom!"

Taiyi smashed apart and clawed away the last basin-sized rock blocking his path with his mutated left arm.

A faint, slightly cool current of air, completely different from the scorching sulfurous fumes deep within the earth veins, brushed against his face from the opening, carrying a trace of stale earthy odor.

Taiyi stopped, lay prone at the edge of the opening, and cautiously poked half his head through.

Inside was a small natural stone chamber, roughly three or four zhang across, with a ceiling less than two zhang high at its tallest point. The stone walls were a dark bluish-gray, dry on the surface, with neither Earth Fire crystals nor obvious water stains. In one corner lay weathered rubble and unknown gray sediment. The light was dim, coming only from the faint glow filtering in through the passage he had just dug behind him, as well as an obscure gleam of unknown origin seeping through several hair-thin cracks in the stone wall on the other side of the chamber.

Most importantly, the energy environment here was indeed relatively "neutral," just as the system had said.

There was none of the violent heat from the Earth Fire tributaries, nor the filthy heaviness of the earth fiend core. The air was filled with an inert, near-dead aura of earth and stone that had settled for who knew how many tens of thousands of years, occasionally mixed with nearly imperceptible ripples of energy carried by the flow of distant earth veins.

For Taiyi, who desperately needed concealment and a stable place to recover, this was practically a luxury private room.

He laboriously squeezed through the narrow opening. When his body hit the ground, he staggered and nearly fell. His mutated left arm had become abnormally heavy, and he needed to readjust even his sense of balance.

Without bothering to inspect the surroundings, he first slid down the cold rock wall and sat against it, letting out a long, trembling breath of foul air.

Escaping Pangu Hall, being hunted through the earth veins by Xuan Ming, struggling at death's door, waking from unconsciousness, forcibly sorting out the conflicting forces within his body, then using this ruined arm to dig all the way here... How much time had passed? Two days? Three? Or even longer?

The Great Wilderness did not count years, and the depths underground were even more chaotic, without sun or moon. Taiyi only felt that every breath had stretched as long as an age. His body and mind were exhausted to the extreme.

Yet he was alive, after all, and had found a temporary place to shelter.

After resting for about the time it took an incense stick to burn, waiting for his pounding heart and disordered breathing to settle somewhat, Taiyi finally began carefully examining the stone chamber.

It was indeed enclosed. Apart from the entrance he had dug himself—which he had casually covered with loose rocks—there were only several cracks in the stone walls, barely thicker than hairs, extending who knew where. The air inside was stale, but it seemed to circulate at an extremely slow pace, enough to prevent suffocation.

He tried to circulate the pitiful amount of newly recovered mana within his body. The sluggishness remained intense, as though he were pushing a rusted millstone. The tiny flame of True Sun Fire origin was still weak, but it was brighter and more stable than before. The crude "three-zone division" in his dantian barely maintained its balance. Several forces stirred restlessly within their designated areas, but for the moment, there were no signs of them crossing the boundaries.

The "cement patches" in his meridians were holding for now, with no signs of rupturing again. Still, whenever he circulated mana, a dull stabbing pain and a sense of obstruction followed.

His injuries had not worsened. In fact, now that he was in a relatively stable environment, his body's instinctive recovery mechanisms seemed to be activating at an exceedingly slow pace. Though compared to the severity of his injuries, that recovery was little more than a drop in the bucket.

"At least... I'm safe for now," Taiyi muttered, his voice hoarse as sandpaper scraping stone.

He needed time—an enormous amount of time—to slowly recuperate, digest the insights from the Heaven-Opening Axe Imprint, further sort out the chaotic forces inside him, and consider where to go next.

The Witch Race would never let this go. Pangu Hall had been desecrated; this was a blood feud that struck at their very foundation. Xuan Ming might have been temporarily hindered by the turmoil in the earth veins and unable to pinpoint his location, but the Witch Race was immensely powerful, especially where earth veins were concerned. They might possess some special means. He could not remain here long, but at least this could serve as a temporary base for catching his breath, recovering, and making plans.

He checked the system space. The Witch Blood Powder was gone. The jade slip of the Breath Concealment Art remained, but he had already forcibly memorized the rudimentary method recorded within; the jade slip itself was merely a vessel. The Sun Crystal Shard had exhausted its final trace of origin power and become an ordinary, dull reddish-gold pebble. His Taboo Points were still at 234, untouched—during those life-or-death moments, he either had no chance to use them or had endured through sheer personal insight.

"I need to find something to heal my injuries, or something that can quickly restore mana..." Taiyi frowned in thought. Natural recovery was far too slow, and deep underground, spiritual energy was scarce while turbid energy was plentiful, doing his current body more harm than good.

Just as his thoughts turned—

The previously dead and oppressive air in the stone chamber suddenly stirred ever so slightly.

It was not a fluctuation in the airflow, but a disturbance on a deeper level—an interference in the sense of some presence.

Taiyi abruptly went on alert. His spine instantly tightened, and his remaining right arm instinctively assumed a defensive stance. The mutated fist of his left arm clenched slightly as well. His divine sense swept through every corner of the stone chamber like startled feelers.

He found no intruder, nor any abnormal concentration of energy.

Yet the sensation of being "watched" became increasingly distinct!

It was not the cold, vast gaze of Xuan Ming, carrying the pressure of laws. It was a... sticky, frigid "gaze," permeated with bloodlust so dense it could not dissolve, along with ancient resentment and hatred!

The feeling did not come from inside the stone chamber. It was more like it had crossed space through some unseen connection and projected itself directly onto his mind!

Immediately afterward, the air not far in front of Taiyi twisted without warning.

Threads of dark red, nearly black light seeped out of the void, as though condensed from countless foul bloodstains. They slowly wriggled and intertwined as if alive.

There was no powerful eruption of energy, nor any intimidating pressure.

Yet the instant those dark red threads appeared, the temperature in the entire stone chamber seemed to drop several degrees. A sickeningly sweet stench of blood spread through the air, as though he stood at the edge of a rotting blood pool piled high with hundreds of millions of corpses!

[System notification: Blood Sea aura detected. Blood Sea check-in triggered...]

Taiyi's pupils contracted sharply, and his heart gave a violent thump.

This aura... Though he had never encountered it in person, Eastern Emperor Taiyi's fragmented memories contained records of it!

The Blood Sea! Old Ancestor Styx!

The dark red threads swiftly gathered, forming a vague humanoid phantom about a foot tall. Its features were indistinct; only a pair of blood-red eyes like crimson gems could be seen, quietly "watching" Taiyi.

The phantom spoke. Its voice did not travel through the air, but rang directly in Taiyi's mind, hoarse and frigid, carrying an inhuman hollow echo:

"Eastern Emperor... Your Majesty?"

Though it was an honorific, there was not the slightest hint of respect in its tone—only cold scrutiny and... a faint trace of amusement.

Countless thoughts flashed through Taiyi's mind in an instant. Shock, suspicion, vigilance, and speculation surged forth. Old Ancestor Styx, lord of the Blood Sea, one of the ancient great powers who had heard the Dao in Zixiao Palace, master of the path of slaughter, creator of the Asura race—he was a notoriously difficult, morally ambiguous old monster of the Great Wilderness.

How had he found this place? How had he found him?

Was it because of the disturbance at Pangu Hall? Or the mournful cry of the Chaos Bell that had spread throughout the Great Wilderness? Or perhaps the massive movements of the Witch Race had drawn his attention?

No matter the reason, being watched by such an existence was absolutely not a good thing.

In that flash of lightning, Taiyi suppressed all his shock and doubt. His face showed no change whatsoever. Only his bloodshot eyes, strained by injury and exhaustion, stared coldly back at the blood-colored phantom.

The arrogance and majesty belonging to Eastern Emperor Taiyi, engraved into his bones, were forcibly awakened and amplified in that moment.

He raised his chin slightly. Though he was in a wretched posture, seated against the rock wall, covered in blood, with his left arm mutated and grotesque, the disdain and indifference in his gaze were utterly genuine.

"Styx?" Taiyi spoke, his voice still hoarse, but he deliberately slowed his words and added a hint of lofty aloofness. "You old bat, your nose is sharp enough. You can smell me through Buzhou Mountain and endless earth veins?"

He neither confirmed nor denied his identity. Instead, with a slightly provocative tone, he exposed the other party's identity and unclear intentions. It was a test, and also a way to buy himself room to think and react.

The crimson eyes of the blood-colored phantom seemed to flicker slightly. It showed no reaction to the clearly derogatory term "old bat," and its voice remained hollow and cold.

"The bell's mournful cry resounded throughout the Great Wilderness. The Witch Race is in turmoil, and baleful energy pierces the heavens. The direction of Pangu Hall... is quite interesting." The phantom paused, as if observing Taiyi's reaction. "Even more interesting is that Eastern Emperor Your Majesty, who should be presiding over the Radiant Sun Palace on the Sun Star, is now barely clinging to life, hiding in this godforsaken crack between earth veins... And you carry the 'scent' of the Father God's ancient hall, along with the icy fragments of that little girl Xuan Ming's aura."

Those few sentences contained an enormous amount of information. Styx not only knew something had happened at Pangu Hall and guessed Taiyi might be involved, but could even vaguely sense the lingering aura of Pangu Hall and the traces of Xuan Ming's laws upon him! Such perception and grasp of the situation were alarming.

Taiyi's heart went cold, but he revealed nothing. Instead, he sneered. "Why should this emperor explain his actions to you? Styx, speak plainly or get to the point. You didn't sneak over here with this projection just to laugh at me, did you?"

He had to seize the initiative in the conversation. He could not let himself be led along by the other party's rhythm.

The blood-colored phantom fell silent for a moment. Those crimson eyes seemed to inspect Taiyi from head to toe, lingering briefly on his mutated left arm and the chaotic, conflicting aura around him that was somehow being forcibly held stable.

"Your Majesty certainly has courage and methods." Styx's voice revealed neither pleasure nor anger. "To leave words in Pangu Hall, escape from Xuan Ming's grasp, and even find another path in a desperate situation to stabilize injuries like these... Heh, heh. It reminds this ancestor of certain old acquaintances."

Those words carried deeper meaning. "Old acquaintances"? Whom was he referring to? Chaos Demon Gods? Or other beings who had dared defy the ordained course of Heaven?

Taiyi did not take the bait. He merely watched him coldly.

Styx did not seem to mind and continued in that hollow voice, "The Witch Race is enraged now. Though Your Majesty has found temporary safety here, it is not a long-term plan. The earth veins may be vast, but they have their limits. That girl Xuan Ming is relentless, and Di Jiang is furious beyond measure. It is only a matter of time before the Witch Race digs three feet into the ground."

"So?" Taiyi raised a brow.

"So, this ancestor is willing to point Your Majesty toward a clear road." The blood-colored phantom spoke slowly. "The Blood Sea is boundless, with turbid waves reaching the heavens. It is where the most yin and most foul energies of the Great Wilderness gather, and also where heavenly secrets are most chaotic and karma most difficult to discern. If Your Majesty is willing to travel to the Blood Sea, this ancestor can ensure your temporary safety. The Witch Race's hands cannot reach into the depths of my Blood Sea."

And the condition? Taiyi did not believe that this old monster Styx would suddenly act out of kindness.

"The condition?" he asked directly.

"Heh, heh." The blood-colored phantom gave several dry chuckles, like bones grinding together. "Your Majesty is refreshingly direct. The condition is simple. A great tribulation is about to begin, and heaven and earth will be overturned. This is the time for people like us to strive across the crossing. This ancestor sees that Your Majesty is no ordinary creature, and your way of acting is even less bound by common sense. Should opportunity arise someday, perhaps we may... support one another."

Support one another? It sounded pleasant, but he merely wanted to find an "ally" or pawn who could be used against each other and share risks in the coming tribulation. Moreover, Styx had specifically pointed out that Taiyi was "no ordinary creature" and "not bound by common sense." Clearly, he had noticed the "abnormality" around him, whether it was Taiyi's insight into the Heaven-Opening Axe Imprint or his actions that defied Heaven's script.

"That's all?" Taiyi's tone remained cold, with unmistakable suspicion. "I've long heard that the Blood Sea is dangerous. If I enter your territory, whether I live or die will be yours to decide. Mutual support? More likely a meat bun tossed to a dog."

"Your Majesty worries too much." Styx's voice remained calm. "If this ancestor wanted to harm you, why go to such lengths? While you are severely injured, I could directly cast a spell from afar. It would take some effort, but it might not be impossible. This invitation is sincere. Though the Blood Sea is dangerous, it may perhaps offer other benefits for Your Majesty's current condition. As for safety... Your Majesty bears the Chaos Bell. Even gravely wounded, if this ancestor wished to keep you, I would have to weigh the cost. Better to form a good bond and each take what we need."

These words were half true and half false, wielding both carrot and stick. He pointed out Taiyi's current predicament—severely wounded and pursued—offered a seemingly attractive solution—shelter in the Blood Sea, perhaps even benefits for his injuries—and subtly reminded Taiyi of his trump card, the Chaos Bell, as well as the possibility that they could restrain one another.

Taiyi fell silent, weighing matters rapidly.

Going to the Blood Sea was immensely risky. It was Styx's home ground, and that old devil's thoughts were unfathomable. His so-called "mutual support" could become a trap at any moment. Taiyi was currently in terrible condition. Entering the tiger's den meant that life and death were uncertain.

If he did not go and remained here? As Styx had said, it was not a long-term solution. The Witch Race's search net would only grow tighter. His recovery was too slow. If he were found, then in his current state, facing enraged Ancestral Witches would almost certainly mean death.

And... Styx had said the Blood Sea might offer "other benefits" for his injuries? The Blood Sea was the most yin and most foul place, while yin and yang were now in chaos inside him, clear and turbid energies intertwined, everything a complete mess. Perhaps... poison could fight poison? Or perhaps it could offer some chance to find balance?

There was another point. Styx was one of the foremost great powers in the Great Wilderness. He knew countless secrets and held the two supreme killing treasures, the Yuan Tu and Abi swords. He had created the Asura race, and his understanding of "creation," "life," "slaughter," and "karma" was exceptionally profound. Contact with him was dangerous, but perhaps Taiyi could gain access to higher-level knowledge and power. It might not be without benefit for understanding the Heaven-Opening Axe Imprint and seeking a path beyond transcendence.

Should he gamble or not?

Taiyi lowered his gaze to his mutated left arm, covered in dark red cracks, feeling the crudely maintained balance in his body and the faint strength slowly growing within it.

Several breaths later, he raised his head and looked toward the blood-colored phantom. All hesitation and struggle vanished from his eyes, which became sharp and profound once more.

"Time. Place." His words were concise. He neither agreed nor refused, merely asked for the details.

That itself was a form of assent.

The crimson eyes of the blood-colored phantom seemed to brighten for an instant.

"Three days from now, at midnight. Ninety thousand li west of Buzhou Mountain lies a forbidden place called Weeping Blood Valley. At the bottom of the valley are remnants of an ancient blood-sacrifice formation, which can produce a faint resonance with the Blood Sea. Once Your Majesty arrives, Jieyin will be there."

After speaking, the phantom began to fade slowly. The dark red threads forming its body melted away like bloody wax, gradually dispersing into the air. At last, only those crimson eyes remained, deeply "looking" at Taiyi.

"I shall await Your Majesty's... arrival."

As the words fell, the phantom vanished completely.

The sickeningly sweet bloody stench in the stone chamber also slowly dissipated, and the temperature gradually returned to normal.

Taiyi remained seated against the rock wall without moving. Only the faint rise and fall of his chest revealed the unrest in his heart.

Three days from now. Weeping Blood Valley. The Blood Sea...

The road ahead was uncertain, and fortune or disaster could not be known.

But he had no choice.

At the very least, it was a direction.

He closed his eyes and began making full use of these final three days, regulating his breathing with all his strength and recovering even the slightest bit more power possible, preparing for the even more unpredictable journey to the Blood Sea.

The stone chamber returned to silence. Only the eternal low rumble from deep within the earth veins could be faintly heard.