Chapter 2878: Angry Blood Master

A breeze rises across the Nine Provinces.

If Xuejiu could be trusted, this endeavor would naturally hold great promise. But if Xuejiu were untrustworthy, Lu Ye’s action would undoubtedly be digging his own grave.

“Don’t worry, Elder Tree, Xuejiu has a request,” Lu Ye said.

The Primordial Parasol Tree nodded upon hearing this. “That is for the best.”

Since he had a request, there was no need to worry about trust. In this world, only relationships based on shared interests were truly reliable.

Branches spread and converged, gradually forming a portal before Lu Ye.

Somewhere in the Star Abyss, a magnificent grand city stood. Cities of such scale were rare in the entire Star Abyss, with only a handful existing.

This city was none other than Ten-Step City, one of the Ten Great Dao Integration Cities.

Outside the grand city, numerous Dao Integration Cities were scattered like stars surrounding the moon, forming a defensive perimeter. Further out, even more Dao Integration Cities were loosely dispersed.

At first glance, it seemed as if all the Dao Integration Cities within Ten-Step City’s domain had gathered in this vast area, establishing strict defenses.

Previously, such a sight would have been utterly impossible.

But the Star Abyss was currently in turmoil. First, Zong Shenliang, the Lord of Senluo City, was powerfully slain by the human Lu Ye in the Hehe Realm. Afterward, the Dragon and Phoenix clans jointly broke through Senluo City.

Such a massive city, one of the Ten Great Dao Integration Cities, disintegrated in a short period, with its subordinate Dao Integration Cities and cultivators suffering heavy casualties.

Counting Blood Drink City, which had previously been annihilated by the combined forces of the Dragon and Phoenix clans, this was already the second of the Ten Great Dao Integration Cities to be destroyed recently.

Such upheaval had not occurred in hundreds of thousands of years.

Xuan Wu Zong, Hong Tu, and Gu Mingyue were all on edge.

Moreover, having been injured themselves, they became even more cautious. Fearing that the Dragon and Phoenix clans would launch a strong assault, capitalizing on their great victory, they immediately ordered their subordinate Dao Integration Cities to consolidate their forces upon returning to their respective cities, to be fully prepared.

This was why such a large number of Dao Integration Cities had gathered in one area around Ten-Step City.

It was nothing more than a precaution against the Dragon and Phoenix clans.

Amidst these strict defenses, a faint, almost imperceptible blood-red light streaked through, heading straight for Ten-Step City.

The blood-red light was extremely covert, with almost no discernible aura. Even when passing near a Dao Integration City, it went completely undetected. This phenomenon occurred precisely because of the immense power disparity.

Only when the blood-red light approached Ten-Step City did it slow down.

After a moment, the blood-red light suddenly veered, darting towards a certain direction within Ten-Step City.

Moments later, a Blood Clan member rushed out of Ten-Step City in that direction. The blood-red light, which had been waiting there, instantly swept into his body and vanished.

The Blood Clan member trembled slightly, then revealed expressions of excitement and pleasant surprise before turning and re-entering Ten-Step City.

He walked discreetly through the city. On the way, he encountered several Wing Clan cultivators who were together. The Blood Clan member originally intended to avoid them but failed to do so in time and was called out by the leading Wing Clan member.

“Where are you off to, fellow Daoist Xue Kuang?”

A harsh glint flashed in the eyes of the Blood Clan member, who was called Xue Kuang, but it quickly faded. He then smiled and said, “Ah, fellow Daoist Gray Qi. Long time no see.”

Although they were both in Ten-Step City, this major Dao Integration City was so vast that even cultivators within the same city could not often meet. After all, everyone had their own duties, and it was hard to run into each other unless their functional areas were adjacent.

“Indeed, it has been some time,” Gray Qi said with a smile, yet there was a profound meaning in that smile. “Our last drink together, fellow Daoist Xue Kuang, was quite enjoyable. I wonder when we can have another good long drink?”

Xue Kuang felt annoyed but had no choice but to respond, “Whenever fellow Daoist Gray Qi is free, you are most welcome to find me! My place is always open!”

Gray Qi chuckled, raising a hand to pat Xue Kuang’s shoulder. “Then it’s settled. Tomorrow, I’ll come find you for a good chat.”

“Sure, sure,” Xue Kuang nodded, then suddenly changed the subject, lowering his voice. “Fellow Daoist Gray Qi, is the city’s current tight defense in preparation for something?”

Gray Qi narrowed his eyes slightly. “Have you heard any news, fellow Daoist Xue Kuang?”

Xue Kuang glanced left and right, then lowered his voice even further. “There are indeed quite a few rumors outside, saying that when the City Lord returned last time, he seemed to be injured…”

“Silence!” Before Xue Kuang could finish, Gray Qi unceremoniously rebuked him. “Are the City Lord’s affairs something you can casually comment on?”

Xue Kuang’s expression instantly showed timidity, and he quickly said, “You are right, fellow Daoist. I was just asking casually.”

Gray Qi looked at him meaningfully. “Don’t go prying into things that don’t concern you. Just do what you’re supposed to do.”

“You are right, fellow Daoist…”

“You may go about your business. Don’t forget about tomorrow,” Gray Qi waved his hand.

“I certainly won’t forget,” Xue Kuang nodded repeatedly and then proceeded in his designated direction.

Only after he had gone far away did Gray Qi snort coldly, a look of disdain on his face. Another Wing Clan member beside him asked, “Brother Gray Qi, I heard that these Blood Clan and Insect Clan members have quite substantial family fortunes?”

Gray Qi smiled. “When Blood Drink City was destroyed, they brought their whole families and all their assets when they fled here. Not to mention, Xue Kuang was a Cosmic-tier City Lord. In the past, his status was several levels higher than mine.”

But that was in the past. Now, living under someone else’s roof, he could only act according to others’ moods.

Otherwise, how would Gray Qi dare to speak to a Cosmic-tier City Lord in such a manner? And even have designs on his family fortune? The so-called invitation for a drink was merely an excuse. Those refugee Blood and Insect clans who wished to live comfortably in Ten-Step City had to curry favor with the Wing Clan.

Who made them like stray dogs after Blood Drink City was destroyed? Without the protection of Ten-Step City, there was no place for them in the vast Star Abyss.

Meanwhile, Xue Kuang arrived at his residence and activated numerous restrictions, sealing off the inside from the outside.

A blood-red light suddenly swept out from within him, instantly transforming into a human figure before him. It was none other than Xuejiu!

“Xue Kuang… greets City Lord!” Xue Kuang knelt on one knee, almost choked with sobs.

Xuejiu’s face was so dark it looked like water was about to drip from it. He had used a secret technique to possess Xue Kuang’s body earlier, so he had seen Xue Kuang’s humiliation clearly. He was practically exploding with rage. If he hadn’t considered Lu Ye’s subsequent plan, he would have appeared then and there to hack Gray Qi to pieces.

“Is this… how you’ve been living recently?” Xuejiu asked, suppressing his anger.

Kneeling before him was one of his Cosmic-tier City Lords! Although not quite a right-hand man, he was a capable general who had followed him since his rise and made great contributions.

Yet, such a renowned strong expert, famous throughout the Star Abyss, was now living so humbly in Ten-Step City.

“Where is your Dao Integration City?”

Xue Kuang’s head hung low, his voice trembling. “Lord, after Blood Drink City was destroyed, we scattered to flee for our lives, each seeking refuge with other Ten Great Cities. Your subordinate brought my Dao Integration City here. Initially, it was fine, but a few months later, Xuan Wu Zong transferred me here to take orders, claiming he would arrange a Deputy City Lord position for me. In reality, it was to take over my Dao Integration City. Your subordinate was powerless to resist and could only accept my fate.”

“And the Deputy City Lord position he promised?”

Xue Kuang remained silent…

“You useless fool!” Xuejiu was utterly enraged. He kicked Xue Kuang, sending him tumbling several times.

Xue Kuang quickly scrambled up and knelt again before Xuejiu.

“Xuan Wu Zong!” Xuejiu’s eyes were already blood-red, but now they became even more crimson. His fists clenched, murderous intent ran wild. Originally, when Lu Ye made the plan to attack Ten-Step City, Xuejiu was actually somewhat reluctant, as his relationship with Xuan Wu Zong in the Star Abyss had been quite good back then.

But now, that trace of reluctance had long vanished. He even wished he could kill Xuan Wu Zong right now and slap him to death!

It was in vain that he still remembered a shred of their past friendship. Yet, how had Xuan Wu Zong treated his subordinates?

If a Cosmic-tier City Lord like Xue Kuang had such an experience, it was not hard to imagine the plight of other Blood Clan and Insect Clan members in Ten-Step City.

It was no exaggeration to call them stray dogs.

The Blood and Insect clans who had sought refuge under Hong Tu and Gu Mingyue were probably not much better off.

“Lord… where have you been!” Xue Kuang looked up, a dignified Cosmic-tier City Lord, a high-ranking Dao Integration expert who had lived for countless years, now with eyes welling with tears, like a child lost for many years who finally sees his parents again, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Seeing him in such a state, Xuejiu felt both angry and stifled. He finally reached out and helped him up. “You have suffered!”

He also knew that if he hadn’t disappeared without a trace, Blood Drink City would not have been destroyed, and the Blood and Insect clans would not have fallen to this state. In the end, without him as their pillar of strength, and with the Dragon and Phoenix clans watching, the Blood and Insect clans had no way to survive except to seek refuge with others.

Xue Kuang sniffled, glanced at Xuejiu’s face, then cautiously began, “Lord, everyone outside said you were killed by that human Lu Ye, and even the Heaven Mirror was taken by him…”

“Baseless!” Xuejiu quickly denied. The Heaven Mirror was indeed in Lu Ye’s hands, but it wasn’t stolen; he had given it to Lu Ye, which was completely different from being stolen. “I merely encountered some accidents in recent years and was trapped in a certain place.”

“It’s all that Lu Ye’s fault!” Xue Kuang gritted his teeth. “If he hadn’t caused such a commotion in our clan’s territory back then, Lord, you wouldn’t have suffered this misfortune. Fortunately, Lord, you have returned safely now, and you will surely lead our Blood and Insect clans back to their peak! And that Lu Ye… if I ever see him, I will surely tear him to pieces to vent my lord’s anger!”

Xuejiu’s eye twitched. He raised a hand to stop him. “Do not speak such words. Lu Ye and I… let’s just say we’ve become friends after a fight. We will be working together in the future.”

Xue Kuang’s mouth hung open; his mind couldn’t quite process it for a moment.

Xuejiu didn’t dwell on that topic, turning instead to ask, “How many people can you contact in Ten-Step City right now?”

Xue Kuang replied, “Lord, your previous message told me not to alert anyone, so I haven’t contacted anyone. Furthermore, we haven’t dared to contact each other privately these past years, so I don’t know how the others are doing. However, if Lord needs them, I will go contact them now.”

“No need,” Xuejiu shook his head. This operation had already succeeded halfway. The rest was beyond what ordinary cultivators could participate in.