Chapter 1027: Bitter Blood of the Human Race

"Blood-blooded Human Race!" A shocked cry erupted from a member of the Blood Race. Immediately, several auras of the Divine Sea Realm surged. Under the cover of night, numerous Divine Sea Realm Blood Race members quickly reacted, transforming into streaks of blood light and lunging towards the woman.

The scene instantly became grand, filled with chaotic auras.

Suddenly, a clear, ringing sword hum pierced the air. A single point of cold light blossomed in mid-air, splitting into thousands of streaks that slashed down from above.

Within the dense Blood Race camp, casualties were instantaneous and devastating. Large numbers of Blood Race members were sliced into bloody pieces by the fierce sword qi before they could even react to what was happening. Even some Divine Sea Realm Blood Race members shrieked as they plummeted from the sky.

Countless sword lights raged through the Blood Race camp, bringing boundless slaughter.

Under the cloak of night, a figure stood suspended in mid-air, wreathed in sword qi, radiating an awe-inspiring presence like a deity descended from the heavens.

Lu Ye scrambled to his feet, shaking his head. He turned to look, only to find that within a thousand-foot radius of his position, not a single living creature remained. All the Blood Race members in this area had been utterly annihilated by a single spell cast by the mysterious woman.

Even Dao Thirteen's back was a gruesome mess of flesh and blood.

It's important to note that Dao Thirteen was a Divine Sea Realm body cultivator with an exceptionally powerful physique. The woman's spell wasn't even aimed at him; he sustained such injuries merely from being caught in its periphery, which demonstrated the terrifying might of her magic. If they were to clash head-on, Dao Thirteen would be no match for this woman. Looking up again, he spotted an old man with white hair and beard in mid-air, slaughtering enemies with his sword. This was unmistakably a sword cultivator, whose formidable sword intent, even just by looking, caused eyeballs to ache and souls to prickle, as if a sharp blade could descend upon one's head at any moment.

The woman and the old man were clearly allies; after she initiated the attack, he also joined the fray.

And they weren't the only ones.

Although many Divine Sea Realm Blood Race members had been slain by the old man's sword, their sheer numbers were overwhelming. By now, a considerable number had already lunged at the woman. Though powerful, the woman was ultimately a spell caster. In this situation, she was bound to be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

Just then, another figure descended from the sky like a meteor, plummeting directly in front of the woman and cracking the very ground beneath her. The colossal impact kicked up a cloud of dust that billowed outwards. Lu Ye instinctively squinted, and as his vision, enhanced by the Insight Spirit Pattern, focused, his pupils involuntarily constricted.

The third figure, who had appeared so suddenly, wasn't exceptionally large or tall, but its vitality and blood essence surged with such immense power that even Dao Thirteen would have to concede defeat. With a single raised hand, he seized a Blood Race member who had rushed too close. No matter how fiercely the Divine Sea Realm Blood Race member struggled, they couldn't break free. With a forceful squeeze, he crushed the Blood Race member's head.

Immediately afterward, his form shifted. He moved with what seemed like clumsy punches and kicks, yet each blow contained terrifying power. Any Blood Race member who came within thirty feet of him and the woman, without exception, exploded into a mist of blood.

Meanwhile, the sword cultivator old man in mid-air precisely targeted and slew enemies with his flying sword. For a time, none of the numerous Divine Sea Realm Blood Race members who had lunged at the mysterious woman managed to make any progress.

Protected by the body cultivator and sword cultivator, the woman was able to unleash her full power. One devastating spell after another unfolded, and wherever they struck, Blood Race members fell in swathes. The Blood Race camp became a river of blood, with corpses strewn across the ground.

Even more formidable auras began to rise from the peak of the mountain. Such a large disturbance naturally alarmed the highest-ranking Blood Race experts gathered there. These surging auras were far more potent than those of the Divine Sea Realm Blood Race members at the base and mid-slope.

However, at that very moment, an enraged cry echoed from the mountaintop: "Audacious!"

The instant the words faded, a streak of light shot forth from the mountaintop, swift as lightning. From within that light, a voice cried out, "We failed! Retreat!"

"Useless!" The sword cultivator old man shot a dismissive glance towards the mountaintop, then turned and barked at the woman and the body cultivator, "Let's go!"

The woman smiled subtly, brought her hands together, and pushed them gently forward. A vast expanse of starlight streamed out, instantly engulfing a thousand-foot radius.

Explosions roared and light flared dazzlingly as the woman and the body cultivator soared into the sky.

In mid-air, the sword cultivator old man retracted his flying sword, preparing to make his escape. In a flash, Lu Ye shot skyward, darting towards the old man. Seeing this, Dao Thirteen swiftly followed.

Lu Ye's unusual actions naturally didn't escape the sword cultivator old man's notice. Indeed, the old man had been aware of him ever since he first appeared; after all, with the mysterious woman's spell having wiped out every single Blood Race member, Lu Ye and Dao Thirteen's unscathed survival naturally drew attention. The old man hesitated briefly, then activated his sword light, enveloping the rapidly approaching Lu Ye and Dao Thirteen, and followed in the direction the woman and body cultivator had departed.

Lu Ye exhaled slowly.

Although he was enveloped by the old man's sword light and escaping alongside him, Lu Ye could clearly sense a wisp of pure sword intent coiling around him. He knew that any untoward movement on his part would instantly invite the old man's deadly assault.

He naturally dared not make any inappropriate moves, even cautioning Dao Thirteen: "Don't fidget."

Dao Thirteen immediately settled down.

The old man glanced at him, a thoughtful expression flickering in his eyes. They continued their rapid flight.

Initially, a large number of Blood Race powerhouses pursued them, but the sword cultivator's escape speed was astonishingly fast, far beyond even the Blood Race's Blood Escape Technique. Moreover, facing a powerful sword cultivator like the old man, a meager number of pursuers would be ineffective. Thus, after a short while, those Blood Race members who had given chase halted, watching helplessly as the old man's sword light vanished from their sight.

An hour later, the old man brought his sword light down, landing on a high peak, where he waited in silence.

He paid no mind to Lu Ye and Dao Thirteen, instead sitting cross-legged by himself to focus on regulating his breath. Lu Ye had many questions, but seeing the old man's demeanor, he didn't dare to speak and disturb him. He could only resign himself to the situation for now.

The reason he had rushed towards the old man at the last moment was to depart with him. If his assumptions were correct, these human powerhouses who had appeared in the Blood Race camp tonight all hailed from the Crimson Blood Sacred Land.

The Blood Race's earlier enraged cry had, without a doubt, confirmed Lu Ye's suspicions.

His original intention for this journey was to reach the Crimson Blood Sacred Land. However, with the Blood Race mobilizing their armies and the path ahead fraught with danger, he had no choice but to infiltrate their ranks with Dao Thirteen, posing as blood slaves.

Now that an opportunity to escape had presented itself, he naturally couldn't let it slip by.

Otherwise, once the Blood Race truly began their assault on the Crimson Blood Sacred Land, escaping would become far more difficult.

Dao Thirteen shifted uncomfortably beside him, likely due to the injuries on his back. Lu Ye examined him, finding them to be mere flesh wounds, nothing serious, and thus paid him no further attention. Given Dao Thirteen's physique, such injuries would heal within a few days.

In the silent night, the space nearby briefly warped, and then a figure materialized. It was another old man with white hair and beard, short and lean, but with exceptionally sharp eyes. Lu Ye's heart tensed. He knew this person was a ghost cultivator—and unequivocally the most powerful one he had ever encountered.

Before the man deliberately revealed himself, Lu Ye had detected nothing at all, and even Dao Thirteen hadn't noticed a single anomaly. Recalling the recent events, Lu Ye surmised that this ghost cultivator was likely the one who had shouted from the mountaintop.

For a human ghost cultivator to infiltrate the mountaintop, a place swarming with Blood Race powerhouses, his objective was clear: he evidently intended to assassinate the Star-Moon Saint.

For years, the Blood Race had launched major assaults on the Crimson Blood Sacred Land, with the Star-Moon Sacred Land consistently responsible for the northern front. If the Star-Moon Saint could be eliminated before the grand battle, it would undoubtedly strike immense fear into the Blood Race's hundreds of thousands of troops, potentially even causing their morale to shatter.

This would significantly alleviate pressure on the Crimson Blood Sacred Land in the impending conflict.

But he had clearly failed, which was why he had cried out, "We failed!"

Saint Seeds are far more powerful than ordinary Blood Race members. The Star-Moon Saint was not a newly born Saint Seed like Lan Qiyue; he had long cultivated to the pinnacle of this realm, making him hardly an easy target. Although the spell-casting woman, the sword cultivator old man, and the body cultivator had caused chaos in the Blood Race camp and diverted the attention of Blood Race powerhouses, the ghost cultivator had still failed to achieve his objective.

This must have been the designated rendezvous point for the human powerhouses. The sword cultivator old man, even with Lu Ye and Dao Thirteen in tow, had arrived first, followed by the ghost cultivator.

No sooner had he materialized than two streaks of light rapidly approached from nearby, swiftly landing before them and revealing the figures of the woman and the body cultivator.

Several pairs of eyes turned towards Lu Ye and Dao Thirteen.

The ghost cultivator then spoke: "Jian Guhong, why did you bring these two blood slaves here?"

The woman smiled subtly. "These two aren't ordinary blood slaves. The stronger one possesses Divine Sea Realm cultivation, and though the other is slightly weaker, he's already at the True Lake Realm."

She had clearly sensed it when Dao Thirteen activated his spiritual power. However, at the time, she was preoccupied with slaying Blood Race members, and Dao Thirteen was merely protecting Lu Ye without any intention of attacking her, so she hadn't paid him any mind.

The ghost cultivator old man looked surprised. "A Divine Sea Realm blood slave? That's quite uncommon." He then shifted the topic. "But a blood slave is a blood slave. Unless a Saint Seed personally removes the blood mark within them, their status won't change, even if their original master dies. They'll forever grovel before the Blood Race. What good is it to bring them here?"

The body cultivator remained silent, merely standing by and observing with a cold gaze. Lu Ye quickly clasped his fists and performed a deep, respectful bow. "Greetings, Seniors. Please be aware that neither of us are blood slaves, nor have we ever been subjected to the Blood Race's blood mark."

This matter had to be clarified immediately; otherwise, being casually slain by these incredibly powerful Divine Sea Realm cultivators would be a grave injustice.

The ghost cultivator grinned. "Of course you wouldn't admit to being a blood slave." As he spoke, a dagger suddenly materialized in his hand.

"Come, I'll send you on your way. I promise it won't be painful."