Demonic clouds shrouded Black Wind Valley year-round. At its entrance stood two Blood-Bone Banners over a hundred zhang tall, their surfaces embroidered with twisted human faces that whimpered in the wind as though weeping. Beneath them lay a deep trench, foul-smelling, dark-red blood flowing along its bottom-this was the Blood Fiend Cult's "welcoming gift" at its Northern Territory Branch Headquarters. The Blood-Bone Banners drained intruders' spiritual power, while the blood trench served as a natural trap to slow them down.
Now, in the mountain woods three li outside the valley, the allied forces of the Heavenly South Star Palace stood ready in formation. Han Li hovered in midair astride the Magnetic Essence Griffin, his Water-Magnetic Sword pointed obliquely toward the entrance. Grand Void spiritual power and star-magnetic power intertwined around him in a pale-gold barrier. Below, the Seven Mysteries Hall's Demon-Slaying Battalion, the External Affairs Hall's Assault Battalion, and the Surprise Attack Battalion formed three columns, their interconnected Magnetic Essence Shield walls forcing even the demonic clouds several zhang back.
"Palace Master." Wu Jiuzhi stepped forward, muscles taut beneath his old Daoist robe. "The Seven Mysteries disciples have prepared the Blood Vengeance Talismans. In this battle, we will slaughter every demonic bastard in the valley and avenge our entire sect!" The Seven Mysteries Sword hummed in his hand. Three hundred and seventy-two blood grooves had been carved into its blade-each represented a Seven Mysteries disciple murdered by the Blood Fiend Cult.
"Any movement on Wang Hu's side?" Han Li asked, referring to the vanguard battalion's mission to lure out the enemy.
"Reporting to the Palace Master." The communications steward, Li Qing, unfolded a Jade Slip. "The vanguard battalion is pretending to escort blood crystal ore through Devilfall Valley. Two Nascent Soul early-stage members of the Blood Shadow Guards have already