Chapter 3247: Unexpected Incident

The Peak of the Azure Lotus

To protect the Profound Sky Bloodvine, the Bloodshadow Clan mobilized over thirty Soul Transformation cultivators to guard the Bloodcloud Mountain Range. With the addition of Wu Guang and ten others, more than forty Soul Transformation cultivators were gathered there.

Ye Qinglian knew the Bloodshadow Clan had heavily fortified the Bloodcloud Mountain Range. However, all the demonic cultivators were in the late Soul Transformation stage, and with rank-six talismans, the Bloodshadow Clan simply couldn't stop them. Ten individuals would be just enough to occupy the Bloodshadow Clan's Soul Transformation cultivators.

If too many Soul Transformation cultivators were brought, even if the Bloodshadow Clan's stronghold was easily taken, Wang Pinzhen might not have enough time to transplant the Profound Sky Bloodvine.

Too many people infiltrating the Bloodcloud Mountain Range would make secrecy impossible. If anyone were captured, the entire endeavor would be in vain, and Ye Haitang's connection with the Wang family would be exposed.

A thunderous roar came from within the valley. Wang Pinzhen frowned, looking at a young woman in a blood-red skirt not far away.

The young woman in the blood-red skirt was full of murderous intent; her aura indicated she was a mid-Soul Transformation cultivator.

Given the immense importance of the Profound Sky Bloodvine, the Bloodshadow Clan had naturally dispatched a Soul Transformation cultivator to guard it. For Wang Pinzhen to transplant it, he first needed to eliminate the young woman in the blood-red skirt.

Wang Pinzhen raised his right hand, and a red light shot out, revealing a square token glowing with red light. The front of the token was carved with a miniature phoenix, emanating astonishing spiritual energy.

It was the Fire Phoenix Token. Infused with the spirit of a rank-five fire phoenix, it could transform and attack.

He had brought many valuable treasures into the Bloodcloud Realm specifically to ensure he successfully obtained the Profound Sky Bloodvine.

He cast a spell, and a clear phoenix cry resonated. The Fire Phoenix Token glowed with dazzling red light, transforming into a gigantic crimson fire phoenix. With a powerful flap of its wings, hundreds of crimson fireballs materialized out of thin air, hurthing towards the young woman in the blood-red skirt.

The young woman in the blood-red skirt dared not be careless and quickly unleashed her artifact to defend herself.

A series of tremendous explosions echoed from within the valley. Xue Lang frowned, looking towards the location of the Profound Sky Bloodvine and commanded, "You all hold them back."

It seemed the demonic cultivators were targeting the Profound Sky Bloodvine, and these individuals were merely a feint. If the Profound Sky Bloodvine were destroyed or stolen, he would have no way to answer to the clan elders in the upper realm.

Two Bloodshadow Clan Soul Transformation cultivators acknowledged. They increased their attack intensity, allowing Xue Lang to disengage from the battle and rush to the valley where the Profound Sky Bloodvine was located.

A thunderous roar of lightning came from high above as hundreds of thick black lightning bolts tore through the sky, striking towards Xue Lang.

Xue Lang's expression changed, and he quickly unleashed an artifact to defend himself.

Ye Qinglian entangled Xue Yue, preventing the Bloodshadow Clan from interfering with Wang Pinzhen. As time passed, the Bloodshadow Clan's Soul Transformation cultivators were annihilated one by one.

Although the demonic cultivators were few in number, they all possessed late Soul Transformation stage cultivation, making the Bloodshadow Clan no match for them.

In the central part of the Bloodcloud Realm, on a vast, boundless blood-red grassland, the void vibrated and warped. A flying boat glowing with green light carried over fifty Soul Transformation cultivators. Leading them was a sturdy young man in a blue robe, his gaze stern. Wang Mengbin, Wang Qingjing, and over twenty other Wang family Soul Transformation cultivators were also among them.

The young man in the blue robe was a body controlled by Lin Tianlong's soul clone, which had descended to the lower realm; it could only exert cultivation at the Soul Transformation stage.

The green flying boat was a realm-crossing vessel, a low-grade Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure capable of breaking through realm barriers. It was a rare treasure belonging to a realm controlled by Zhenhai Palace, seldom used.

Zhenhai Palace sent twelve high-level cultivators whose soul clones descended to the lower realm. Xuan Qingzi took the Realm-Breaking Disk. The Soul Transformation cultivators from the Xuanyang Realm were unable to descend with their main bodies.

Chen Yueying wanted to send more cultivators, but their spellcasting failed, and all the stored Realm-Transforming Stones were used up.

"Finally, we've reached the Bloodcloud Realm," Lin Tianlong commanded. He cast a spell, and the realm-crossing vessel's spiritual light surged, flying towards the distant horizon and soon disappearing from sight.

In the Bloodcloud Mountain Range, Ye Qinglian and the other ten demonic cultivators were still fighting the Bloodshadow Clan's Soul Transformation cultivators. Only twelve Bloodshadow Clan Soul Transformation cultivators remained, as Xue Jian had already been killed.

The demonic cultivators had captured several Bloodshadow Clan Nascent Soul cultivators. However, they were busy dealing with the Bloodshadow Clan's Soul Transformation cultivators and had no time to conduct soul searches.

"Fairy Ye, your efficiency is truly too low!" a dissatisfied male voice remarked. "After all this time, you still haven't taken the Bloodcloud Mountain Range?"

As soon as the voice fell, a black streak of light flew from afar. It stopped with a flash, revealing a black-glowing flying boat carrying five men and one woman. Leading them was a handsome young man in a black robe, whose aura indicated he was also a late Soul Transformation stage demonic cultivator.

"Gu Lin, why have you descended to the lower realm as well?" Ye Qinglian asked with a frown.

Gu Lin was an elder of the Heavenly Demon Palace and also an Integration cultivator. Ye Haitang had a poor relationship with him, as the internal competition within the Heavenly Demon Palace was considerable.

The young man in the black robe was not Gu Lin's main body, but merely a clone.

Gu Lin's appearance disrupted Ye Haitang's plan.

"I heard there might be Maha Bloodstone in the lower realm," Gu Lin said. "I sent a clone down to investigate, but you still haven't taken the Bloodcloud Mountain Range after all this time. If I hadn't come down, I'm afraid you wouldn't have been able to capture it."

As Gu Lin spoke, he flew towards the southwest corner, which was the location of the Bloodshadow Clan's treasury.

"You all wipe out the Bloodshadow Clan; don't let a single one escape," Ye Qinglian commanded, then quickly pursued him.

She didn't care about the Bloodshadow Clan's treasury; instead, she wanted to stall Gu Lin, as it would be very difficult for Wang Pinzhen to escape from him.

Not long after, they appeared at the entrance of a magnificent blood-red palace. On the plaque above the entrance were three large golden characters: "Bloodshadow Hall."

Black flames surged from Gu Lin's right hand. He slammed it towards the void, and a giant black palm flashed out, striking the main door.

With a loud bang, the main door shattered. Gu Lin strode inside, and Ye Qinglian quickly followed him.

The Bloodshadow Hall's restrictions couldn't stop them; all of them were broken through.

They searched carefully within the treasury. They couldn't find the Maha Bloodstone, but they did find many blood-attribute materials.

"How unlucky! There's actually no Maha Bloodstone here," Gu Lin sneered. "Fairy Ye, your information is completely inaccurate. Are your subordinates all useless?"

"Hmph, it's normal for information to be inaccurate," Ye Qinglian retorted. "Perhaps the Maha Bloodstone is on the Bloodshadow Clan's leader."

A deafening roar sounded. The two exchanged glances and flew out.

A green-glowing flying boat floated high in the sky, where a group of human cultivators were battling demonic cultivators.

"Humans!" Gu Lin wondered. "Are they also here to find the Maha Bloodstone?"

Just then, a joyful voice sounded in his ear: "Lord Gu, the Bloodshadow Clan has a Profound Sky Bloodvine right here in the Bloodcloud Mountain Range."

"What? A Profound Sky Bloodvine?" Gu Lin gasped, his gaze becoming solemn.

"It's in that valley," his subordinate pointed in a certain direction.

A clear, resonant phoenix cry rang out as a phoenix, entirely azure, flew out of the giant valley, soaring into the distance.

Gu Lin's expression darkened. He commanded, "Fairy Ye, you hold them back. I'll deal with this person; he might have the Maha Bloodstone."

He thought Ye Qinglian was unaware of the Profound Sky Bloodvine's existence and intended to claim the credit for himself.

Without waiting for Ye Qinglian's reply, Gu Lin transformed into a black streak of light and pursued.

Ye Qinglian was slightly stunned but quickly reacted. She said nothing and moved to deal with Lin Tianlong and his group.

If she pursued Wang Pinzhen and obtained the Profound Sky Bloodvine, she would only be able to hand it over. If she claimed she couldn't obtain it, the Heavenly Demon Palace might not believe her. However, if Gu Lin went and failed, she could shift the blame onto him.

Wang Pinzhen carried multiple rank-five talismans and valuable treasures, so escaping should not be an issue.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, you all hold them back," Lin Tianlong commanded. "The rest of you, follow me."

Lin Tianlong gave an order, then led over ten Soul Transformation cultivators in pursuit, while Wang Mengbin and the others remained to deal with Ye Haitang's group.