jdhmnovel Chapter 577
Chapter 577
"What a loyal pair." The black-robed man's voice was like sandpaper scraping, with a metallic echo. "Three hundred years have passed, and finally someone has made it this far. This Blood Moon Festival is in dire need of sacrifices like you, bearing royal blood." He raised his hand and pointed, causing the crystal pillar to shatter violently. Countless crimson threads coiled towards the two like serpents. Shadow One's soft sword severed the threads, but the cuts immediately regenerated. Dongfang Wan'er's silver needle struck the black-robed man, only to be swallowed whole by the Gu worms that emerged from beneath his skin.
The blood moon's light suddenly intensified, turning the entire valley into a hellish landscape. Dongfang Wan'er gripped her sword hilt tightly; the dragon pattern left by her father on the blade warmed. She recalled the prophecy on the stone wall deep within the underground palace: "When the blood moon hangs in the sky, the dragon's blood will ignite the dawn." Turning to look at Ying Yi, who was also bathed in blood, a tacit understanding flashed in their eyes—in this decisive battle that staked the survival of the dynasty, they had no way to retreat.
Night fell like thick ink, enveloping the entire valley. A blood moon hung high in the sky, emitting an eerie red light that stained the earth crimson. In this strange atmosphere, the fierce battle intensified.
Yingyi stood in the center of the battlefield, his cold face appearing even more resolute under the blood moonlight. He took a deep breath, his inner energy surging like a turbulent tide. Suddenly, he roared, his voice booming like a bell, shaking the surrounding air. The soft sword in his hand moved like a serpent emerging from its hole, dancing rapidly under his exquisite swordsmanship. The blade drew graceful and sharp arcs, transforming into layers of sword shadows, like a dazzling galaxy cascading down. The crimson threads that had been coiling around him hissed under the impact of this dense, rain-like sword shadow, and were forced to retreat temporarily.
Taking advantage of this brief moment, Dongfang Wan'er frowned, a resolute glint in her eyes. She parted her red lips, biting her tongue without hesitation, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the longsword in her hand. Instantly, the dragon patterns on the sword seemed to come alive, shining with dazzling light. The light, like a small sun, illuminated the entire battlefield. Dongfang Wan'er moved with graceful ease, like a fairy dancing, swinging her sword towards the black-robed man. Wherever the dazzling light touched, the blood-red threads vanished into thin air like snow meeting the blazing sun. The black-robed man was forced back by the light, staggering, a look of surprise on his face.
Just as the tense situation seemed to be turning around, the blood moon in the sky suddenly dimmed, as if shrouded in an invisible shadow. The black-robed man's face turned deathly pale, his eyes wide with disbelief. He hissed, "You actually broke my Blood Moon Sacrifice Array!" However, the black-robed man was no ordinary person. After a brief moment of astonishment, he quickly regained his composure. He rapidly formed hand seals, chanting incantations, and strange runes flew from his fingertips. As the runes flashed, even more powerful crimson Gu worms emerged from the ground, densely packed, surging towards Ying Yi and Dongfang Wan'er like a tidal wave.
Yingyi and Dongfang Wan'er quickly stood back to back, their eyes meeting, their understanding unspoken. They each unleashed their full power, their weapons flashing in a relentless, impenetrable flurry as they desperately defended against the crimson Gu worms' attacks. The Gu worms' piercing hiss and the sounds of weapons clashing against them mingled and echoed through the valley.
In the heat of battle, Dongfang Wan'er suddenly felt a strange and powerful force surging within her, like a volcanic eruption. This force was full of vitality and majesty, reminding her of the mysterious prophecy of "Dragon Blood Dawn." A thought flashed through her mind—could the long-awaited opportunity have truly arrived? She gritted her teeth, a resolute glint in her eyes, and without hesitation, drew her short blade and slit her wrist. Crimson dragon blood flowed out like a trickle, forming a strange bloodline in the air.
In an instant, a golden light shot into the sky, dazzling and even more powerful than the previous light from the dragon pattern. This light seemed to contain boundless power, causing the temperature to rise sharply wherever it touched. Under the golden light, the blood-red Gu worms let out shrill screams, instantly incinerated, turning into wisps of smoke that dissipated into the air. The black-robed man was not spared either; the golden light, like a sharp sword, pierced his body. He let out a deafening scream as his body gradually dissipated under the light's corrosive influence, eventually turning into specks of black mist that drifted away with the wind.
As the man in black robes vanished, the blood moon in the sky returned to normal, and its bright light shone upon the earth once more. The eerie scenes in the valley also disappeared like bubbles. The surrounding air seemed to become fresher, and the oppressive and terrifying atmosphere of the past vanished completely.
Yingyi and Dongfang Wan'er slowly lowered their weapons, exchanging a smile, their eyes filled with the joy and relief of surviving a calamity. This smile embodied their mutual trust and support during the battle, and signified that the perilous crisis was temporarily averted. However, they both knew that in this world of unknowns and dangers, many more challenges awaited them in the future.
A mountain wind, carrying damp mist, swept across the battlefield, ruffling the stray hairs on Ying Yi's forehead, which were soaked with cold sweat. The jewels adorning Dongfang Wan'er's temples had long since been scattered during the fierce battle, and a few strands of her black hair fell beside her pale cheeks, swaying gently with the wind. Ying Yi lowered his gaze to the soft sword in his hand; the blade was still slightly warm, and the remaining dark red bloodstains, like thin snow melting in the sunlight, faded at a visible speed, turning into specks of golden light that disappeared into the patterns of the dragon motif, as if the breathtaking battle that had just taken place had never existed.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that the wound on Dongfang Wan'er's wrist was still bleeding, the crimson blood trickling down her white sleeve and spreading into small blood flowers on the ground. His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and Ying Yi's slender fingers twitched before he finally reached into his robes and pulled out a neatly folded piece of white cloth. The edges of the cloth still carried a faint scent of soap, suggesting it had been a cherished possession for a long time.
"Bandage it first." He handed over the white cloth, his voice hoarse like sandpaper, yet unusually soft. Having fought amidst swords and shadows for years, he was used to a cold demeanor, and his words of concern sounded somewhat stiff at this moment.
As Dongfang Wan'er took the white cloth, her fingertips inadvertently brushed against the calluses on his palm. The rough texture stirred something within her—these hands had wielded swords and killed countless times, yet now they carefully offered her a cloth. She bent down, focused on bandaging the wound, then suddenly chuckled softly, her voice as clear as a forest spring: "Yingyi, look at this valley."
Following her pointing finger, they saw that the valley, once a blood-red inferno resembling a purgatory, was undergoing an astonishing transformation. Tender green shoots were eagerly sprouting from the charred, withered vines; wildflowers timidly peeked out from the cracks in the rocks, their petals still glistening with morning dew. Dawn quietly descended after the blood moon had vanished, and the first rays of sunlight pierced through the thick clouds, pouring down golden light that cast long, overlapping shadows of the two figures on the ground.
Ying Yi stared at the strange sight for a long time before slowly speaking, "The Blood Moon Sacrifice Array has existed for twenty years, leaving the surrounding area barren for miles. To restore life overnight..." His gaze returned to Dongfang Wan'er's blood-stained sleeve, "...all thanks to your dragon blood."
“Perhaps it was just a coincidence.” Dongfang Wan’er shook her head, pressing her bandaged wrist against her heart, feeling the faint warmth in her veins. Her expression suddenly turned serious. “But I always feel that the ‘Blood Moon Sacrifice Array’ mentioned by the black-robed man wasn’t his doing alone. Do you remember the hand seals he formed when summoning the Gu worms?” As she spoke, she raised her slender hand and slowly gestured in the air. The traces of those runes left a faint golden light in the air, like fleeting shooting stars in the night sky.
"This is the 'Thousand Spider Spell,' a long-lost technique of the Southern Frontier's witchcraft lineage." Her voice was low, tinged with a chill. "This technique requires the essence of a living person as a catalyst, and must be performed in conjunction with specific celestial phenomena. Without someone guiding you, ordinary martial artists simply cannot learn it."
Shadow One's pupils contracted sharply, his right hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his sword. Memories flooded back: the eerie smile on the face of the black-robed man before he vanished, not the resentment of defeat, but rather the release of some kind of ritual. A chill ran down his spine to the back of his neck. Just as he was about to speak, the rapid sound of hooves approached from afar, the clattering sound startling a flock of birds in the forest.
Three swift horses galloped like arrows, breaking through the morning mist. The leader, clad in a dark, close-fitting outfit, had a jade pendant at his waist engraved with the Big Dipper, its pattern shimmering in the sunlight. Ying Yi's expression changed drastically, and he whispered, "It's the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion." The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, that mysterious organization rumored to hold all the secrets of the martial world, its sudden appearance was no accident.
Before the words were finished, the leading man dismounted and bowed respectfully: "Young Master Yingyi, Miss Dongfang, the Pavilion Master requests your presence. Last night's Blood Moon anomaly has spread rumors throughout the martial world, and various forces are stirring." His voice was neither humble nor arrogant, yet it carried an undercurrent of undeniable authority.
Dongfang Wan'er and Yingyi exchanged a glance, both eyes filled with wariness. This organization, which always manipulated situations from the shadows, had suddenly appeared and precisely tracked their movements; it was truly unsettling. She stepped forward, her tone cold: "Your organization's intelligence network is indeed impressive. However, we two have just gone through a fierce battle, and I'm afraid..."
"The Pavilion Master was well-prepared." The man calmly took out two jade tablets from his robes. Fine runes flowed across the surface of the tablets, gleaming with a faint blue light in the sunlight. "These are specially crafted healing jade slips from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, containing the essence of a thirty-year-old ginseng, which can help you two recover your strength. The Pavilion Master also said that if you wish to know the truth behind the 'Dragon Blood Dawn' prophecy, and the reason for the resurgence of witchcraft in the Southern Frontier, please come to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion for a discussion."
A morning breeze carried the man's words through the mountains and forests. Suddenly, Dongfang Wan'er felt the dragon blood within her surge violently; a burning pain shot through the wound on her wrist, as if countless tiny needles were pricking her veins. She knew this was the dragon blood's instinctive warning of danger.
Yingyi seemed to sense the anomaly as well, subtly shielding her behind him and quietly grasping her wrist with his left hand. The warmth from his palm seeped through the white cloth, carrying a reassuring strength. He raised his eyes to look at the Tianji Pavilion members, his gaze sharp as a hawk's: "We can go." He paused, glancing at the red rope wrapped around the sword tassel behind the man—the color of which was identical to the runes used by the black-robed man to summon the Gu worms—"But we'll have to trouble you all to wait a moment. There are some things we need to prepare in advance."
The morning mist had once again spread through the valley, enveloping everything like a thin veil. Dongfang Wan'er looked down at her hands; dragon blood had stained the white cloth, forming tiny blood flowers, like blooming red plum blossoms. She suddenly recalled the ancient prophecy she had seen in the library as a child: "When the dragon blood breaks the dawn, it will also be the day when bloodshed and chaos reign in the martial world." Although the sun had risen, the true dawn might still be far ahead. And what conspiracies and challenges awaited them ahead?
Yingyi's fingers gripped Dongfang Wan'er's wrist tightly, leading her behind a charred ancient cypress. Morning mist swirled around them, enveloping their figures in a hazy veil. His gaze warily swept over the Tianji Pavilion members not far away, and he lowered his voice, saying, "The Tianji Pavilion has always acted unpredictably. Their sudden appearance, carrying this jade slip of unknown origin, is definitely suspicious." As he spoke, his thumb unconsciously rubbed the hilt of the soft sword hidden in his sleeve; years of experience in the martial world had allowed him to sense a strong aura of danger.
Dongfang Wan'er frowned slightly, her beautiful eyes filled with worry. She subconsciously pressed her wrist, which was still throbbing slightly, and nodded, saying, "I also find it suspicious. But the 'Dragon Blood Dawn' prophecy has far-reaching implications, and the resurgence of witchcraft in the Southern Frontier is a matter of great importance to the safety of the martial arts world. Since they dare to be so certain, perhaps they really do possess important clues." Before she finished speaking, a mountain wind howled past, swirling up the withered leaves on the ground and making a rustling sound, as if it too was sighing for this unknown situation.
Ying Yi was silent for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Here's what we'll do, I'll go test them, you find a chance to hide and observe. If anything changes, leave immediately, don't worry about me." His tone was unquestionable, but his voice softened unconsciously at the end. Dongfang Wan'er was about to object when she saw him step out of the shadows and walk towards the Tianji Pavilion group.
Ying Yi's face instantly softened into a grateful expression. He strode up to the leader and took the jade slip, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Pavilion Master. I'll take it now." He placed the jade slip to his lips, his eyes fixed intently on the other man's eyes. Just as everyone thought he was about to swallow the jade slip, he suddenly flashed forward, his soft sword darting out like a venomous snake, aiming straight for the leader's throat. The man was clearly a seasoned warrior, reacting with lightning speed, leaning back to narrowly avoid the fatal blow. At the same time, the members of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion drew their swords, the clanging of blades echoing through the valley amidst the flashing cold light.