Chapter 845: Extraterritorial clearance |
If you want to be saved, you must first save yourself.
Bai Qiushui had become a blood corpse, which by all accounts meant certain death. Yet, as long as there was a sliver of hope, Xu Hei was willing to give him a chance to save himself.
"The Nine Turns Blood Demon Technique is a cultivation technique for blood corpses. If successful, the blood corpse can develop intelligence and cultivate on its own."
"This technique was something I found in the storage ring of the Flame Demon Ancestor. Whether it works or not depends on your fortune!"
Xu Hei placed the jade slip on Bai Qiushui's forehead and then tossed him into the blood pool.
The gap between their levels was too vast. Even if Bai Qiushui survived, they would likely have little interaction in the future. It was a small gesture from Xu Hei for an old companion.
…………
After dealing with matters in the Central Plains.
Xu Hei set his sights on other regions of the outer battlefield, initiating a clearing operation.
Once you step onto the path of immortality, there are no innocents. You can kill, and others can kill you!
Simply because they stood on opposing sides.
…………
Outside the Divine Puppet Sect on the Divine Continent Star.
After three years of absorption by the Spirit Absorption Formation, there was no trace of Spiritual Qi left within the entire Divine Puppet Sect.
From now on, the cultivators of the Divine Puppet Sect could no longer draw Spiritual Qi from the heavens and earth, nor could they cultivate.
Their only source of Spiritual Qi would be Spirit Stones.
This was a major breakthrough!
In time, once even the Spirit Stones were exhausted, the Divine Puppet Sect would truly be on the path to ruin. Even if they had a divine artifact like the Heavenly Mechanism Formation, they couldn't withstand so many experts without consuming Spiritual Qi.
"Hahaha! Without Spiritual Qi, let's see how the Divine Puppet Sect struggles in its death throes!"
On a crimson mountain outside the Divine Puppet Sect, a man carrying a blade laughed wildly to the sky.
This man was the current number one of the Blood Refining Sect, the Blood Knife Patriarch!
At the Great Perfection of the Divine Transformation Stage, he was just half a step away from Void Shattering, known as the half-step Void Shattering.
Alongside him in cultivation level were Lady White Bone and the Old Monster with Human Skin, together known as the three giants of the Blood Refining Sect.
Compared to the Flame Demon Ancestor, their combat power was no weaker, each possessing Magical Treasures gifted by Spirit Realm cultivators.
"Next, we just need to keep attacking and engage them in a war of attrition. Eventually, their Spirit Stones will run out!" The Old Monster with Human Skin licked his lips excitedly.
"No rush."
A trace of malice flashed in Lady White Bone's eyes as she said, "In their final moments, they will surely fight desperately. With Daoist Sparrow's skills, he might even take one of us down with him."
They had all witnessed the power of the Heavenly Mechanism Formation. If Daoist Sparrow were to detonate it in desperation, none of the three could guarantee they would escape unscathed.
Blood Knife Patriarch already had a plan for this, sneering, "Isn't it simple? Let the Tianhen Sword Sect go first. At this point, if they don't show their worth, they'll be the next to be dealt with!"
The Yan Dao Sect had already proven its value.
Now, only the Tianhen Sword Sect remained.
Joining their alliance wasn't enough! They had to make significant contributions, severely damaging the Divine Puppet Sect to be recognized by them.
"That's exactly what I was thinking!" The Old Monster with Human Skin laughed.
"I'll inform Li Changge. He's already benefited and his cultivation is no weaker than ours. If he doesn't go, who will? Let him test the waters." Lady White Bone smiled.
…………
Three days later, the first wave of attacks from the Tianhen Sword Sect began swiftly.
Led by Li Changge, along with two late-stage Divine Transformation Grand Elders and a thousand Elemental Infant sword cultivators, they attacked the main gate.
The battle lasted for three full days.
In the end, the Tianhen Sword Sect retreated, but they killed twelve elites of the Divine Puppet Sect and severely injured their Grand Elder, Night Owl.
A month later, the Tianhen Sword Sect launched a second attack.
This time, they only killed three people, but it was clear that the resistance of the Heavenly Mechanism Formation was weakening.
…………
Time flew by, year after year.
The outer battlefield had been completely cleared by Xu Hei, most of the time spent hunting down remnants.
Among those killed were some rational members of the sects. They all understood the Blood Refining Sect's wolfish ambitions. Now they only attacked the Divine Puppet Sect, but once it was destroyed, they would likely turn their attention to them.
These people knew this well but were helpless. They wished for someone like Xu Hei to appear and change the situation.
However, Xu Hei continued to kill without hesitation.
Who knew if what these people said was true or false? What if they were just trying to deceive Xu Hei to save their lives?
Xu Hei couldn't be bothered to distinguish, nor did he care to. He wasn't there to reason; he was there to kill!
Killing these people weakened the future of the three sects, benefiting his own sect.
Since that was the case, he would be the villain!
Soon, three years passed.
The potential threats in the outer battlefield had been completely eradicated.
Those who could enter the outer battlefield for training were mostly the elites of the Four Great Sects. From now on, even if the Four Great Sects had some Divine Transformation seeds outside, the birth rate of strong individuals would be greatly reduced.
Eradicating all cities and strongholds in the outer battlefield was unprecedented in history, possibly never to be repeated!
Aside from special cases like Xu Hei, no one else had such ability.
Of course, there were quite a few cultivators who survived Xu Hei's hands.
They were either rogue cultivators, prisoners, or... some Divine Continent Star cultivators who left their sects and joined neutral factions.
Xu Hei learned from them that Daoist Sparrow allowed them to leave and choose their own paths.
These people chose to join neutral sects like the Yan Dao Sect and Tianhen Sword Sect purely for survival, never having done anything against the Divine Continent Star.
Some even planned to help their sects, though Xu Hei didn't believe such claims.
Xu Hei didn't exterminate them completely. Instead, he planted soul marks in them and sealed them in an underground stone cave, sparing their lives.
The reason for sparing them wasn't because Xu Hei was merciful, but because the Divine Puppet Sect after the war needed new blood to quickly restore its strength.
And these people were potential targets for acceptance.
"If this time, the Divine Puppet Sect can be saved, let Daoist Sparrow decide whether they return."
"And if the Divine Puppet Sect is defeated..."
Various thoughts flashed through Xu Hei's mind, and finally, he shook his head.
If the Divine Puppet Sect truly perished, these people would be doomed!
…………
At the edge of the vast universe.
In a region far from the Seven Stars, there was an endless void connected to a massive continent filled with light.
This continent was boundless, endless, and beyond the sight of any cultivator, with a concentration of Spiritual Qi far surpassing any star in the mortal realm.
This was the Spirit Realm!
The place of ascension that mortal realm cultivators dreamed of.
And today, at the edge of the Spirit Realm, in an unremarkable corner, a crack appeared.