Chapter 1029: Saint Lord

At the Spiritual Peak of the Central Island in the Scarlet Blood Holy Land, Jian Guhong and his companions returned to report, meticulously recounting everything they had done and witnessed during their journey.

After Jian Guhong finished speaking, the elderly Ghost Cultivator remarked, "It's truly a shame we couldn't kill the Star Moon Holy Venerable this time. I had an opportunity, but he was too vigilant. He reacted the instant I made my move, so I only managed to injure him. What a pity."

The Holy Lord shook his head. "Every Holy Seed in this realm is favored by heaven and earth; they are essentially the children of this world's destiny. How could they be so easily killed? It's already quite remarkable that Senior Wuchang managed to injure him."

Everyone present understood the formidable nature of the Holy Seeds. They were in no way comparable to ordinary Blood Tribe members. For example, Wuchang might have claimed he had an opportunity, but in truth, a missed opportunity is a missed opportunity. Even if he were given the same chance again, he would likely fail.

Jian Guhong had also directly confronted a Holy Seed in the past. Despite his formidable foundation as a sword cultivator, he could only manage a draw against one.

This demonstrated the power of the Seeds. It could be said that no Blood Tribe Holy Seed was weaker than any of the assembled experts.

Yet, despite their immense power, there was a precedent of such a Holy Seed being beaten to death.

And the one who had accomplished this was none other than the Holy Lord himself, standing right before them!

It was that very battle that compelled top experts like Jian Guhong and Wuchang to wholeheartedly acknowledge the middle-aged man's identity and status as the Holy Lord.

One must understand that Jian Guhong, Wuchang, the female Law Cultivator, and others were all once renowned across the realm, shaking all corners with their might. They were considered the peak combat power of the human race. Each of them was unruly and rebellious, capable of causing immense upheaval with a single burst of anger, and each had once dominated an era. To compel such individuals to submit was not something just anyone could achieve.

Before the middle-aged man's sudden emergence, Jian Guhong and the others were like scattered sand, dispersed throughout the Blood Refinement Realm and opposing the Blood Tribe. This was due to their individual strength and the fact that none would submit to another.

It was the middle-aged man's appearance that brought these scattered individuals together, leading to the creation of the Scarlet Blood Holy Land in the Divine Que Sea and establishing a pure land for the human race.

It had stood strong ever since.

However, the Scarlet Blood Holy Land now faced its most perilous moment.

"The Blood Tribe's forces this time are greater than ever before. It seems they intend to achieve victory in a single decisive battle," the Holy Lord slowly began. "News has also returned from the southeast and west. Several Holy Seeds are stationed on each front, with hundreds of thousands of troops. Across all four directions, the Blood Tribe's combined forces total at least 1.3 million, possibly even more."

Jian Guhong and the others furrowed their brows.

This number was significantly higher than before. Although the Blood Tribe had repeatedly launched invasions in the past, their forces had never exceeded one million, which allowed the Scarlet Blood Holy Land to repel them.

However, the Scarlet Blood Holy Land had paid an extremely heavy price.

When Lu Ye arrived this time, he saw the Scarlet Blood Holy Land as a central large island surrounded by scattered elliptical island chains. However, the original terrain here was not like that.

Originally, in the center of the Divine Que Sea, there were far more scattered islands, at least four times the current number.

Through successive major battles, the more outer islands had been shattered and submerged, leaving only the innermost layer of islands intact.

If even this innermost layer of islands could not be protected this time, then the Scarlet Blood Holy Land would be reduced to only the central large island, leaving no natural defenses.

Therefore, the Holy Land's main objective this time was to protect the outer islands and withstand the Blood Tribe's strong assault. If they could hold them back, all would be well. If they failed and the Blood Tribe landed on the islands, they would undoubtedly destroy them immediately, creating breaches in the Holy Land's defenses.

Judging solely from the forces the Blood Tribe had deployed, it would undoubtedly be very difficult for the Holy Land to repel them and keep the enemy at bay.

"At worst, we can just fight our way out. The Blood Blazing Realm is vast; we can kill Blood Tribe members anywhere," Wuchang said.

Jian Guhong shook his head. "It's easy for us to fight our way out, but what about the others on the island? They would surely face the Blood Tribe's wrath, and by then, I fear no one would survive."

The human population on the island was vast, consisting of people the Holy Land had migrated from within a hundred thousand *li* radius of the Divine Que Sea in earlier years. After decades of accumulation, the human population had settled and prospered, growing even larger. It was precisely this massive population that provided a continuous supply of cultivators to the Holy Land, forming its strength in resisting the Blood Tribe.

Cultivators and ordinary mortals have always been intertwined, sharing both prosperity and suffering. This was true whether in the Nine Provinces or the Blood Refinement Realm.

"We can't possibly let ourselves perish with them," Wuchang said. "That makes no sense."

Despite his words, if things truly came to that point, few of the human race's top experts would genuinely be willing to flee alone.

The female Law Cultivator, who had remained silent, finally spoke, "What can our homeland provide?"

These individuals were not rootless trees or water without a source; they all had a background.

The Blood Tribe had never understood how so many human experts inexplicably appeared under the prevailing circumstances of the Blood Refinement Realm. One or two would be understandable, as the human population is vast, and a lucky few might gain certain opportunities. However, there weren't just one or two such human experts; there were dozens, even hundreds.

This was the fundamental reason why the Scarlet Blood Holy Land could stand firm against repeated fierce assaults from the Blood Tribe armies: the sheer number of top experts on the Holy Land's side was sufficient to repeatedly repel their attacks, inflicting heavy losses.

The Holy Lord shook his head. "This is precisely where my confusion lies. The day before yesterday, I found a way to contact our homeland, and the feedback I received was that they had already provided us with aid."

Yet, he hadn't seen any aid.

"Already provided?" The female Law Cultivator frowned, suddenly looking thoughtful. "Could it be..."

Jian Guhong undoubtedly realized something as well and was about to speak, but the Holy Lord suddenly lowered his head and looked down the mountain, a perplexed expression on his face. Immediately after, he flashed and instantly vanished.

When he reappeared, he was already at the foot of the mountain, in front of a stone tablet.

Lu Ye stood before the stone tablet, gazing at a line of characters carved into it, and softly read, "Scarlet blood flows through the ages..."

This astonished him greatly, because there was also such a stone tablet, bearing the same line of characters, below the mountain gate of the Scarlet Blood Sect.

However, the Scarlet Blood Sect's tablet was only half a tablet; the other half was with the Danxin Sect. Only when the two halves were combined did they form a complete tablet.

It was said that decades ago, the Sect Master of the Danxin Sect had personally carved it, then divided it into two, giving one piece to the Scarlet Blood Sect and keeping the other at the Danxin Sect, symbolizing the friendship between the two sects.

Yet, in just a few decades, the friendship between the two sects had, like the original complete tablet, been divided, which was quite lamentable.

Lu Ye had not expected to find something similar to his sect's tablet here.

After finishing one line, he involuntarily began to read the next.

"Loyal heart shines for ten thousand years."

He couldn't help but frown. His sect was the Scarlet Blood Sect, there was a Scarlet Blood Holy Land here, and a stone tablet similar to the one at his sect's mountain gate. This was too great a coincidence.

Dao Thirteen's aura suddenly fluctuated, and the oppressive spiritual pressure of the Divine Sea Realm permeated the air.

Lu Ye was startled, his thoughts interrupted. He instinctively pressed his hand against the Mountain-Shattering Blade at his waist. Turning his head, he saw a middle-aged man standing not far from him, hands clasped behind his back.

He had no idea when the other party had arrived. If not for Dao Thirteen's reaction, he might not have noticed at all.

*Swish, swish, swish*. Several figures swept over, standing in front of the middle-aged man. It was Jian Guhong and the others.

At the same time, Lu Ye clearly sensed powerful spiritual senses emanating from various parts of the central island, focusing on this area. They had clearly noticed the commotion.

However, these spiritual senses quickly retracted.

Lu Ye broke out in a cold sweat. Only then did he realize he had always underestimated the Scarlet Blood Holy Land's true power. Judging solely from the surge of spiritual senses he had just felt, there were likely dozens of Divine Sea Realm cultivators gathered on the island.

And these were only the ones who had revealed their presence. What about those who hadn't?

He composed himself and looked at the middle-aged man. At first glance, he inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity, as if he had vaguely seen him somewhere before.

Yet, Lu Ye knew he had never met this person.

As for the newcomer's identity... just from the way Jian Guhong and the others stood, it was clear this must be the Holy Lord of the Scarlet Blood Holy Land.

"A Dao Soldier," the middle-aged man murmured, not immediately observing Lu Ye but instead looking at Dao Thirteen. Powerful spiritual senses surged, thoroughly examining Dao Thirteen's nature.

The somewhat unintelligent Dao Thirteen was clearly enraged by his audacity. With a roar, he charged forward, delivering a punch toward the middle-aged man.

Lu Ye's expression changed, and he quickly shouted, "Stop!"

But ultimately, his warning came too late.

With a boom, the middle-aged man remained completely still. He simply raised a hand and effortlessly blocked Dao Thirteen's full-force strike. Visible waves of air burst forth, making his hair and clothes ripple around him.

He suddenly raised his other hand and pointed a finger at a spot on Dao Thirteen's chest.

His movements weren't fast; even Lu Ye could see them clearly, yet there was an indescribable rhythm to them.

What astonished Lu Ye was that Dao Thirteen did not evade the strike.

As the finger landed, Dao Thirteen stiffened as if struck by lightning. Immediately after, his head slumped, and he collapsed to the ground.

Lu Ye's pupils contracted to pinpricks, and boundless coldness surged through his body. His hand rested on the Mountain-Shattering Blade, unsure whether to draw it or not.

He knew Dao Thirteen's strength. While not top-tier among Divine Sea Realm cultivators, he was certainly not weak. Yet, he had been subdued so effortlessly by the person before him.

Lu Ye didn't even know what he had done.

This person... possessed truly terrifying cultivation.

"Don't worry, he's just asleep," the middle-aged man said, seemingly noticing Lu Ye's concern.

Lu Ye quickly looked at Dao Thirteen and found that he did indeed seem to be only asleep, even snoring. For a moment, he was speechless.

"The refinement method for this type of Dao Soldier has flaws, which is why Dao Soldiers do not possess high intelligence." The middle-aged man looked up at Lu Ye. "Is Taishan well?"