Time rushed by like flowing water, and three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Green Yang City had originally been divided among three great lineages-the Ye Lineage, the Zhao Lineage, and the Li Lineage-like the three legs of a tripod. When the Blood Refining Hall Master issued the Blood Refining Token ten thousand miles away, the commotion had been enormous. Every cultivator along its path had clearly felt the imperial might it contained.
The Crimson Flame Ancient Sect dared not provoke the Blood Refining Hall or the Hundred Refinements Devil Palace behind it and had immediately abandoned the Ye Lineage.
Seeing this, both the Zhao Lineage and the Li Lineage felt that the Ye Lineage's tide had turned against it and prepared to divide its assets after its destruction.
Early that morning, Zhao Wuji, head of the Zhao Lineage, and Li Canglan, head of the Li Lineage, arrived at Green Yang City's largest restaurant, the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
The two booked a lavish feast in the loft on the restaurant's highest floor. An ancient bronze mirror stood there, rippling with light and clearly reflecting the situation at the Ye Lineage. They wanted to witness its destruction with their own eyes.
Zhao Wuji rose and walked to the loft's railing. Leaning against it and gazing into the distance, he said with smug satisfaction, "The Blood Refining Hall Master has set his sights on the Ye Lineage, and even the Crimson Flame Ancient Sect has abandoned them. The Ye Lineage is truly finished this time!"
"When the time comes, all their vast holdings will fall into our hands!"
Li Canglan held his teacup in his left hand and gently skimmed its lid over the tea twice with his right. He took a small sip, leisurely savoring the refreshing fragrance, and said, "Don't celebrate too soon, Lineage Head Zhao. The Ye Lineage may yet have a thread of hope."
"Oh? Even the Crimson Flame Ancient Sect has abandoned them. Where would this thread of hope you speak of come from, Lineage Head Li?" Zhao Wuji turned to gaze at Li Canglan.
Li Canglan set down his teacup and looked toward the Ye Lineage, musing, "What the Blood Refining Hall Master covets is only the Desolate Ancient Waste Physique's heaven-surging blood and vitality. As long as the Ye Lineage hands over that waste physique, they might survive this calamity."
"After their lineage assembly three days ago, the members of the Ye Lineage stopped worrying and acting afraid. They went about their business as usual, but no one could get an explanation out of them."
"My guess is that Ye Cangqiong is preparing to hand over that Desolate Ancient Waste Physique."
Zhao Wuji shook his head and sneered. "Hand over the Desolate Ancient Waste Physique? That hardly fits the way the Ye Lineage protects its own like a beast shielding its young!"
"Besides, does the Ye Lineage really think handing over the Desolate Ancient Waste Physique will see them through this calamity?"
"For a thousand years, whenever the Blood Refining Token appeared, when has blood not flowed in rivers?"
"As I see it, their only chance was to split up and scatter during these past few days. They might have preserved a trace of their bloodline that way!"
"Now that they've dragged things out this long, they have no chance of fleeing even if they want to!"
Li Canglan said with interest, "Then by your reckoning, the Ye Lineage cannot escape this calamity no matter what?"
"Let's wait and see!"
Zhao Wuji's face was filled with anticipation.
The Crimson Flame Ancient Sect, Clear Heart Hall.
Ouyang Yuntian, the Crimson Flame Sect Master, stood before a simple, ancient mirror engraved with flame patterns. Streams of fiery divine power resembling dragons and phoenixes coiled around him. He raised a hand and pointed through the air, sending a fire dragon from his hand into the ancient mirror.
Hum!
A ripple spread across the ancient mirror, projecting a fiery red image into the air that clearly reflected the situation at the Ye Lineage in Qingyun City, eight thousand miles to the southeast.
The Ye Lineage had already summoned all its members back, and they were now gathered on its martial training grounds.
Judging by their expressions, they were all somewhat nervous.
Yet Ye Hao, the one who possessed the Ancient Desolate Sacred Body, did not appear in the mirror.
Could the Ye Lineage have secretly sent the Ancient Desolate Sacred Body away already?
Confusion appeared on the Crimson Flame Sect Master's face.
"Sect Master, the Ye Lineage is merely an insignificant little lineage. Even its head, Ye Cangqiong, is only an ordinary marquis."
"Once the Blood Refining Token is issued, the Ye Lineage's destruction is certain!"
"Why go out of your way to use the Luminous Fire Cloud Mirror to observe them?"
The elder in charge of the Luminous Fire Cloud Mirror spoke casually, giving the Ye Lineage no regard whatsoever.
The Crimson Flame Sect Master stood with his hands behind his back and shook his head gently, saying gravely, "Elder Chen, today is the deadline Old Devil Blood Nether gave the Ye Lineage." "But the Ancient Desolate Sacred Body has far-reaching implications, and in this golden age, there may yet be a thread of hope!"
"If he survives this calamity, he might transform into a dragon and soar!"
Elder Chen frowned and asked, "Since you still have concerns for that Ancient Desolate Sacred Body, Sect Master, why didn't you help him this time?"
The Crimson Flame Sect Master sighed softly. "As a subordinate power of our Crimson Flame Ancient Sect, the Ye Lineage should indeed have received our protection."
"Unfortunately, Old Devil Blood Nether is no weaker than I am!"
"What's more, I received word that the Hundred Refinements Devil Palace is also secretly involved in this matter!"
"Our Crimson Flame Ancient Sect cannot afford to gamble on offending the Hundred Refinements Devil Palace for an Ancient Desolate Sacred Body who may not even be able to cultivate!"
The Hundred Refinements Devil Palace was a demonic power presided over by a Devil God, with more than one venerable lord under its command. Its foundations were unimaginably deep.
To the Crimson Flame Ancient Sect, it was a behemoth they could not afford to provoke!
Elder Chen shook his head and scoffed. "You needn't worry so much, Sect Master!"
"The Ancient Desolate Sacred Body suffers the curse of heaven and earth and is bound by their shackles. Cultivating is fraught with countless hardships!"
"Even our Crimson Flame Ancient Sect couldn't help that Ancient Desolate Sacred Body of the Ye Lineage open his Wheel Sea. There is absolutely no way he can embark on cultivation!"
"And even if we take a step back and assume he can cultivate, his foundations are still far too shallow. What could he possibly use to fight the Blood Refining Hall?"
"Not to mention the Hundred Refinements Devil Palace behind it!"
The Crimson Flame Sect Master's brow remained furrowed as he mused, "That may be so, but I still feel uneasy..."
Suddenly, his pupils contracted slightly, and he exclaimed in a low voice, "The Blood Refining Hall's people have arrived!"
Green Yang City, the Ye Lineage.
Ye Cangqiong had summoned every member of the Ye Lineage back, gathering them all on the martial training grounds. Only Ye Hao and his master had yet to arrive.
The many members of the Ye Lineage already knew that Ye Hao had opened his Wheel Sea and had an expert protecting his path. Yet when they recalled the Blood Refining Hall's vicious brutality, they could not help feeling somewhat nervous.
Suddenly, Ye Cangqiong fixed his gaze on a patch of empty space overhead. A vast domain glittering with flames spread out around him, sheltering every member of the Ye Lineage on the training grounds. He warned gravely, "They're here!"
Hum!
Before his words had faded, a ripple spread through the space above the Ye Lineage, and a figure shrouded entirely in blood-red robes appeared out of thin air.
With the figure's arrival, an overwhelmingly thick stench of blood swept in every direction, making anyone who smelled it want to vomit.
"Heh, your Ye Lineage really has gathered everyone together. That saves this old man some effort!"
The newcomer slowly raised his head, revealing an aged, sinister face covered in wrinkles, with a chilling smile at the corners of his mouth.
The old man swept his gaze around, and his shrill voice carried far into the distance. "Li Wushang, enforcement elder of the Blood Refining Hall. By the Hall Master's command, I have come to take possession of the Ancient Desolate Sacred Body!"
"If you dare offer the slightest resistance, not even your chickens and dogs will be spared!"
Ye Cangqiong's expression shifted slightly. This man's presence was as deep as an abyss and as vast as the sea, far beyond anything he could compare to!
Though they were both marquises, even if he fought with his life on the line, he had no confidence he could last three moves against this man!
"Who the hell are you supposed to be?"
A languid voice drifted from a courtyard of the Ye Lineage, as though nothing in the world could stir the slightest interest in its owner.
Jiang Chen!
Beside Jiang Chen, Ye Hao stood tall and imposing, the blood and vitality within him surging ceaselessly like mighty rivers, his gaze blazing like gold.