Chapter 96: The Ancestor's Anxiety

The dark sky held a high crescent moon, its cold light, like a sharp blade, cut through the earth, stirring up a howling wind.

This wind lifted scattered snow from the ground, merging with the blade-like moonlight falling from the sky, sweeping in all directions and causing the red plain's grass to bend slightly.

Hot blood splattered from the desperadoes around Xu Qing with his every step, as his figure advanced like a ghostly phantom and the cold glint of his dagger flashed in the night, falling onto the red grass bent low by the wind.

However, the evil contained in this blood was unworthy of melting the cold, unable to warm the wind and snow on this winter night. Even the red grass seemed to despise it, bending with the wind to shake the blood off its blades, drop by drop.

One body after another fell in the cold wind, never to rise again.

The dagger in Xu Qing's hand became the last light in their lives, a kill with every step.

As the dagger blade glinted, the neck of the last scavenger here was slit open by Xu Qing. In their terrified and fading gaze, Xu Qing stood amidst a field of corpses.

All were killed with a single strike. All wounds were to the neck, as slitting the throat was the most convenient and quickest method, though the splattering blood was messy and stained his robes, causing Xu Qing to frown slightly.

However, the murderous intent in his eyes did not diminish due to the blood on his clothes. Since he had acted, he would not fail to root out all threats, even if these desperadoes might not have the ability to retaliate.

Xu Qing disliked carelessness and any potential hidden dangers. Especially since he was now going to address a threat, if he hadn't acted, it would be one thing, but since he had, he wanted to leave no trace.

Raising his head, Xu Qing, dagger in hand, walked towards the distant commotion that had arisen due to the killings here.

Ahead, where the residual warmth of cooking drifted from, seven or eight desperadoes were gathered around a large pot, originally drinking soup. Upon realizing the killings, they stood up in horror, each cautiously and fearfully looking at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing looked at them in turn. Between them, the snow on the ground bore traces of dragged bodies, but where these desperadoes stood, there were no corpses, only some discarded clothes.

Where the bodies had gone... Xu Qing knew perfectly well. The scent of meat carried on the wind was not unfamiliar to him; he had smelled it from afar in the slums. His very first kill had been someone who intended to eat him.

Xu Qing's gaze swept over the large pot beside the seven or eight desperadoes, and he continued to walk.

In an instant, those seven or eight desperadoes retreated rapidly, their faces changing, wanting to flee. But the fastest one, before taking more than a few steps, was struck by a black iron skewer that arrived like lightning, piercing through their skull from the back.

The next moment, Xu Qing's steps quickened, and he suddenly charged forward, his dagger gleaming with moonlight, even colder in the wind and snow. It slit the neck of one scavenger, then he pursued and caught up with a second.

“Friend, don’t be rash...”A head flew off!

“It’s our fault, we were blind, we are willing to apologize!!”Blood stained a neck!

“I’ll fight you to the death!!”A skull shattered!

The entire slaughter lasted only five breaths. The whole world instantly fell silent; the moonlight was solitary, and the wind and snow drifted down. The corpses littering the ground thoroughly dyed the earth red, turning it into a true Red Plain.

After surveying the surrounding corpses, Xu Qing wiped his dagger on one of them and began to dispose of the bodies.

Soon, the bodies here turned into blood and dissolved into the ground. Xu Qing glanced at the large pot and silently extinguished the fire beneath it.

He suddenly understood better why, despite needing to pay expensive contribution points daily to reside in the main city of the Seven Blood Eyes Sect, there was still a continuous stream of people wanting to stay there every day.

In troubled times, human lives were worthless.

Xu Qing turned and continued on his way.

That night, the wind and snow intensified. Snowflakes descended from the sky, rapidly drifting past Xu Qing as he ran. The cold wind lifted his long hair, trying to penetrate his clothes.

Xu Qing frowned slightly, tightened his collar, breathed out a puff of white mist from his mouth, lowered his head slightly, and continued forward.

Thus, the night passed.

When the second morning arrived, Xu Qing, who had traveled all night, finally saw a mountain appear in the distance.

The Red Plain, being a flat area, had few mountains, and even those were mostly short and didn't resemble true mountains. Only the one before him was somewhat acceptable, but it was vastly different from the former Mountain Gate of the Vajra Sect.

Neither in terms of luxury nor solemnity was it on the same level.

Looking up at the mountaintop, one could see some newly built halls, but they were clearly desolate, and there seemed to be few sect disciples. The entire sect seemed to exude an air of desolation.

“Vajra Sect?” Xu Qing mused.

According to the clues he had found, this mountain was the new location for the Vajra Sect, which had relocated here.

It was clear that not everyone could adapt to the change in environment, especially moving to the Red Plain, which was harsher and more barren than their previous location. Naturally, fewer people could accept it.

Coupled with the fact that they hadn't been here long, the Vajra Sect's desolate atmosphere was understandable.

But Xu Qing was very cautious. He would not let down his guard just because the Vajra Sect appeared to be in decline on the surface. He was not clear about the sect's internal situation now, nor did he know if it was truly as it seemed.

Therefore, Xu Qing did not intend to rush in and act immediately. He needed to observe first.

Like a hunter, he could not be impatient.

So, Xu Qing withdrew his gaze from the Vajra Sect, left the area, and, a hundred miles away, found the nearest scavenger camp to the Vajra Sect.

Compared to the Vajra Sect a hundred miles away, the camp was noticeably much livelier. Even from a distance, Xu Qing could hear the clamor within.

As he neared, he thought for a moment, took out his old leather jacket from his storage bag and put it on. Then he picked up some dirt and smeared it on his face. The wariness in his eyes and his attire instantly transformed him into a scavenger.

After checking himself and confirming he looked convincing, Xu Qing proceeded in a crouch, gradually reaching the edge of the scavenger camp. As he approached, the clamor grew louder, and though there were guards, they merely glanced at Xu Qing and paid him no mind, allowing him to enter.

Indeed, Xu Qing's disguise as a scavenger could no longer be described as merely 'like'; he was a scavenger by nature.

The same aura, the same gaze, the same ruthlessness.

As he entered the scavenger camp, Xu Qing's gaze swept away from the surrounding tents and looked into the distance, where hundreds of scavengers were gathered, shouting excitedly. The clamor he had heard from afar was coming from this crowd.

What they were excitedly gathered around and watching was a cruel sight.

A race was underway.

Like dog racing, seven or eight ragged, emaciated figures were running at full speed. Intense heteromorphic aura permeated their bodies, and their skin was mostly bruised and dark, clearly indicating a strong presence of heteromorphism, and they were not far from full mutation.

Their eyes held both despair and madness, and their race track was a path strewn with sharp stones and fragments of blades.

Stepping on it, the intense pain and blood could drive one insane.

At the end of their race track lay a spotted white pill.

For those with such severe mutation, one white pill might not save their lives, but it could extend their time somewhat, and this time might give them a chance to acquire other white pills.

Therefore, even as they ran, with blood splattering on the ground and their bodies trembling violently, their will to survive still drove them to run frantically. This was a dog race, and also a horse race.

Bursts of excited and cruel shouts came from the surrounding scavengers, who were clearly gambling.

Xu Qing watched all of this until he saw one of the rapidly mutating individuals, dragging blood, run to the end, grab the white pill, and swallow it whole. The remaining participants fell into despair and were then dragged back to the starting line. Once a new white pill was placed, the race continued.

The surrounding scavengers, some jubilant and others cursing incessantly, soon placed their bets again as the race restarted.

Xu Qing withdrew his gaze and looked up towards the Vajra Sect.

Meanwhile, inside the Vajra Sect, a hundred miles from the camp, the Vajra Sect's Old Ancestor sat in the great hall on the mountaintop with a grim expression. With a hint of anger, he waved away the Sect Master, who had seemed about to speak.

“Do you think I really wanted to come to this godforsaken place? But what else could I do if I didn't move here?!”

“That wicked woman from the Seventh Peak of the Seven Blood Eyes Sect was too malicious! To apologize to her, I had to give up most of my life’s savings!!” The Vajra Sect's Old Ancestor muttered in grief and indignation as he sat there.

“And that child, he's also risen in the Seven Blood Eyes Sect. If I didn’t move, was I supposed to wait for him to reach Foundation Establishment and then crush me?!”

“Based on my experience from reading countless ancient texts, this incident is my great life-or-death calamity...” The Vajra Sect's Old Ancestor felt even more grief and indignation in his heart; thinking of how miserable the Vajra Sect had become in such a short time, his heart ached.

The impact of the relocation was also enormous. After all, not everyone was willing to move, and many disciples secretly fled during the process. Although he killed some, he couldn't kill them all.

“It doesn't matter, my medicinal pill is almost ready. As soon as I swallow this pill, I can finally break through the thirtieth Dharma Aperture and form my first Life Flame. Once the Life Flame forms, I can activate the Foundation Establishment’s signature Profound Radiance state!

“In the Profound Radiance state, my combat power will instantly increase greatly. Then I won't be afraid of that child anymore...” The Vajra Sect's Old Ancestor gritted his teeth, but upon thinking of this, his expression suddenly changed.

“No, according to the ancient texts I've read, accidents often happen at such critical moments...” Thinking this, the Vajra Sect's Old Ancestor’s expression changed drastically until he pulled out a token from his person and held it, only then sighing in relief.

“That child couldn't possibly break through so quickly. Besides, I've now joined the Liturgy Cult and am considered a believer. The Liturgy Cult is a giant like the Seven Blood Eyes Sect, so with their backing, I should be relatively safe for a while. Furthermore, Fellow Daoist Tuyun has also been invited by me and is currently a guest in the sect...”

The Vajra Sect's Old Ancestor murmured, looking at the token, a bitter feeling rising in his heart. For this token, he had paid an immense price, practically selling himself, and was bound never to betray them in his lifetime.

At the same time, fearing danger, after relocating here, he would invite friends over as guests every few days, and each time he invited someone, he would give a gift.

To date, he had invited almost everyone he knew, and even those he didn't.

“One wrong step, and every step is wrong...” The Vajra Sect's Old Ancestor sighed deeply and looked up at the distant sky, gradually losing himself in thought.

The sunlight now fell upon him, and from afar, he appeared in the sunlight with an increasingly noticeable aura of decline.