C24 Bloody Skeleton

"Master, what's our next move?" Jiaang Xue inquired.

Relieved to have escaped the clutches of the Bloody Skeleton, Jiaang Xue was unaware that her master didn't know her escape was facilitated by Zhang Bofeng.

"Stay at the sect for now. I need to step out for a bit," Elder Ma instructed before departing.

As he hurried on, Elder Ma pondered, "When we besieged the Yellow Spring Sect, I never imagined any of its members survived. Could they still possess the Nine Winding Yellow Spring Technique?"

Years ago, the Yellow Spring Sect had rapidly expanded, quickly becoming one of the mightiest sects across the Ancient Sword Continent. Yet, as an evil organization, it was jointly eradicated by all forces on the continent, leading to the death of its sect master and disciples.

The Yellow Spring Sect's dominance was largely due to the Nine Winding Yellow Spring Technique—a fearsome technique that struck terror into the hearts of warriors far and wide. Rumor had it that mastery of this technique could dramatically boost one's power, potentially elevating them to the pinnacle of the Ancient Sword Continent.

Despite its power, the technique was malevolent, often corrupting the minds of those who practiced it—except for the disciples of the Yellow Spring Sect, who seemed immune to such effects.

Time had passed since the sect's downfall, and Elder Ma had only heard tales of the Yellow Spring Sect. Now, with the possibility of its disciples resurfacing, Elder Ma felt a stirring of ambition.

He had kept Jiaang Xue from disclosing the Yellow Spring Sect's affairs because Elder Ma intended to venture alone to the tomb, eliminate any remaining disciples, and possibly seize the Nine Winding Yellow Spring Technique for himself.

"With the Nine Winding Yellow Spring Technique in my grasp, I could become the most formidable force within the Azure Edge Sword Sect, perhaps even the unrivaled power of Azure Cloud County."

A flicker of intense fervor passed through Elder Ma's gaze.

Two days on, Elder Ma found himself within the Liang Yun Mountain Range, a hundred miles from Liang Yun City. Guided by the directions provided by Jiaang Xue, he made his way to the specified mountain peak.

A brief moment of sensing was all it took for Elder Ma to locate the underground tomb. "This is the place."

Upon entering the tomb, Elder Ma was met with a labyrinth. "Child's play," he muttered with a cold snort. With a sweep of his hand, a surge of powerful spiritual energy transformed into a forceful blast, shattering the maze's walls.

The destruction revealed a coffin, and Elder Ma could feel an evil aura seeping from it. A smirk crept onto his face. "The unmistakable presence of the Yellow Spring Sect." He strode confidently toward the coffin.

But to his surprise, the coffin was empty. "What's happened here? Could my actions have tipped off the enemy? Has the Bloody Skeleton fled?" Elder Ma pondered, puzzled.

Just then, a raspy voice reached his ears. "Looking for me?"

No sooner had the voice dissipated than the Bloody Skeleton materialized in the tomb, flanked by three figures: Sunn Yunjun, the Seventh Heaven, and Hua Hsing.

"So, it's just a minor player from the Yellow Spring Sect. And it looks like you've ensnared these three in your control, haven't you?" Elder Ma said with a derisive laugh upon seeing the Bloody Skeleton.

As a fellow practitioner at the Qi Transforming Stage, Elder Ma faced the Bloody Skeleton without an ounce of fear. "You're seeking your own demise."

With a contemptuous snort, the Bloody Skeleton commanded his companions to launch an assault. They unleashed a formidable attack, converging on Elder Ma.

"Trivial," Elder Ma scoffed, brandishing his sword. The blade danced, emitting beams of light that shook the very foundation of the tomb.

Each beam found its mark, piercing the bodies of Sunn Yunjun and the others, sending them flying. Hua Hsing crashed against the tomb's wall, coughing up blood, his complexion deathly pale.

"Worthless," the Bloody Skeleton uttered with disdain as he watched the scene unfold before stepping into the fray himself.

As soon as the Bloody Skeleton made his move, he unleashed a force of unparalleled might. His fists clenched, bones crackling, a majestic aura of fist light burst forth.

Elder Ma and the Bloody Skeleton were locked in intense combat, while Sunn Yunjun and Seventh Heaven stood by silently, their gazes vacant.

At that moment, Hua Hsing, having just risen to his feet and coughed up blood, had a slightly vacant look in his eyes as he prepared to approach Sunn Yunjun. That's when the Golden Heart within him began to beat furiously, followed by the emergence of a purifying stream. Instead of flowing through his limbs, this stream surged directly into his mind.

Inside Hua Hsing's mind, the stream launched an assault on the dark speck known as Xiaohei.

Hua Hsing's face was etched with struggle, though it went unnoticed by the others.

In the blink of an eye, his body shuddered violently, and then his eyes shone with renewed clarity.

"Thank goodness for the Golden Heart; otherwise, I'd have become a mere puppet to the Bloody Skeleton," Hua Hsing thought, shuddering at the close call.

Without the Golden Heart's timely intervention, he would have surely fallen under the Bloody Skeleton's control.

Casting a discreet glance at Sunn Yunjun and Seventh Heaven, Hua Hsing noted their continued vacant expressions. "It seems they haven't been as fortunate as me," he mused. Pretending to be under the spell, his eyes dulled once more, but his mind raced with plans for escape.

The clash within the tomb escalated to a fever pitch.

"Curse it, if I weren't still nursing these wounds, you'd already be dead," the Bloody Skeleton bellowed in rage.

"Scourge of the Yellow Spring Sect! Your end comes today," Elder Ma bellowed back, and the two warriors clashed anew.

As time ticked away, Hua Hsing's body inched toward the tomb's exit, undetected.

Finally, after a quarter of an hour, he seized the moment. In a swift motion, he dashed out of the tomb.

The moment Hua Hsing vanished, the Bloody Skeleton, mid-battle, realized the connection was severed and was struck with alarm.

"Retrieve him," commanded the Bloody Skeleton amidst the heat of battle.

"At once, Master."

Sunn Yunjun and Seventh Day swiftly exited the tomb in pursuit of Hua Hsing.

...

Upon leaving the tomb, Hua Hsing hastened towards the horizon, soon leaving the mountain peak behind. Breathing a sigh of relief, he arrived within the bounds of Liang Yun City.

After an extensive search, Sunn Yunjun and Seventh Day found no trace of Hua Hsing. Shaking their heads in resignation, they returned to the tomb.

Inside, the battle had concluded. The Bloody Skeleton sat cross-legged, nursing several wounds.

Elder Ma stood before him, his gaze vacant and devoid of emotion.

"Old fool, without this artifact, you might have been beyond my reach," the Bloody Skeleton remarked, brandishing a triangular iron shard. It was this very shard that had secured his victory over Elder Ma, allowing him to commandeer the elder.

Despite his injuries, the Bloody Skeleton reveled in his triumph, having acquired a Qi Transforming Stage puppet.

"The boy has fled; I mustn't linger here."

Thoughts of Hua Hsing gnawed at him, but ultimately, the Bloody Skeleton departed with his three puppets in tow.

...

Without delay, Hua Hsing returned to the Azure Edge Sword Sect and sought out his master.

"Hua Hsing, weren't you tasked with a mission? Is it already complete?" The Ninth Elder greeted him with evident joy.

"Master, during our tomb expedition, we unexpectedly encountered survivors from the Yellow Spring Sect," Hua Hsing reported.

"The Yellow Spring Sect's survivors?" The mention of the sect caused the Ninth Elder's face to darken.

"Yes, after we entered the tomb..."

Hua Hsing recounted the events within the tomb in detail to the Ninth Elder.

The Ninth Elder's expression shifted subtly upon hearing the tale. The Yellow Spring Sect had once sent shockwaves across the Ancient Sword Continent, only to be vanquished by a coalition of forces. It was unforeseen that, after so many years, their remnants would resurface.

"Hua Hsing, this issue is of critical importance. I must consult with the other senior members of our sect," the Ninth Elder stated gravely.

Hua Hsing nodded in understanding; this was beyond his ability to resolve.

"Concentrate on your cultivation," the Ninth Elder instructed before departing.

On his return, Hua Hsing encountered Jiaang Xue.

"Jiaang Xue?"

It dawned on him immediately—Jiaang Xue must have informed Elder Ma, who evidently hadn't shared the news with the sect's leadership.

"Is Elder Ma plotting something?" Hua Hsing wondered, perplexed.

Jiaang Xue noticed Hua Hsing as well, and upon seeing him, her pretty face registered clear surprise before she quickly approached.

"Hua Hsing, I never expected to see you return alive. What about the others?" Jiaang Xue inquired with a soft voice.

"Dead," Hua Hsing replied coolly.

"What? All of them?" Jiaang Xue feigned shock.

Hua Hsing gave a cold snort. Jiaang Xue was nothing but a heartless manipulator, always looking to use others, even willing to sacrifice Zhang Bofeng's life for her own ends.

As Hua Hsing turned to leave, Jiaang Xue blocked his path.

"Hua Hsing, I'm begging you, please keep this to yourself."

Jiaang Xue's plea was barely above a whisper.

She had assumed everyone else was gone, that no one would discover her role in Zhang Bofeng's death, but to her dismay, Hua Hsing had survived.

"I'll convince him to stay silent for now. Then, when the opportunity arises, I'll eliminate him, and no one will ever know," Jiaang Xue plotted silently.

"Hua Hsing, if you agree to keep this secret, I'll grant you any request. Even if you desire me, I will comply," Jiaang Xue offered softly.