C12 Blood Ritual

"That jade bead? Could it be the Glimmering Soul Orb?" Chu Haoyun's heart leapt with joy at the sight of the ethereal sphere. For the first time, he could truly feel the presence of the Glimmering Soul Orb. The memory of the information he'd received when the orb merged with his body sent ripples of excitement through his mind.

Unbeknownst to him, as he connected with the Glimmering Soul Orb, the cave was alive with the sound of rustling. Countless grey-black Mountain Moving Ants swarmed around him, Flamemaw Ants clustered together, rolling into balls, and Poison Bees danced chaotically, filling the cave to the brim.

Time ticked away. Chu Haoyun endeavored to communicate with the Glimmering Soul Orb, seeking to unlock the secret to its control, but to no avail. Instead, this attempt triggered a different reaction; the purple elementary force, which had taken the shape of a hollow sphere, slowly formed a delicate filament, eventually encircling the Glimmering Soul Orb like a spinning ring.

Though he couldn't gain mastery over the elusive Glimmering Soul Orb, the emergence of the elementary force thrilled Chu Haoyun, especially considering he had only reached the eighth level of Body Forging. Upon emerging from his meditative state, he was greeted by the sight of the ant horde receding like an ebbing tide.

"What's happening? Is it because of the Glimmering Soul Orb?" Chu Haoyun wondered, his confusion swiftly replaced by the emptying of the cave.

With a focused thought, he began to probe the faint strand of elementary force within his Qi Sea. Intent sharp as frost, energy crackling like thunder, his palm struck the cave wall, unleashing a sweeping gust of wind, cool and penetrating.

"Just as I suspected, it works, but the force is disappointingly weak," Chu Haoyun muttered, frowning. The Glacial Touch had indeed allowed him to wield the elementary force in an outward strike, yet its impact was no more formidable than a refreshing summer breeze—utterly ineffective.

Rubbing his temples, Chu Haoyun paced back and forth, contemplating the issue at hand. Then, an epiphany struck. He smacked his forehead, chastising himself, "Of course, the arrangement and conversion of the elementary force—even with the same energy state—can greatly influence its effect and potency."

Chu Haoyun had pondered this issue during his encounter with a member of the Order of the Skyfeather. Putting thought into action, he began experimenting with altering the arrangement of the elementary force with each technique he executed. The task was arduous, given that he had reached only the eighth level of Body Forging. Merely producing a sliver of elementary force was already an act that defied the natural order.

As the golden rays of the setting sun filtered into the cave, Chu Haoyun tirelessly tested his Glacial Touch technique. Occasionally, he would switch to practicing Flash and Thunderbolt Swordsmanship to gain new insights and compensate for any shortcomings.

After seven days, a crisp sound accompanied each movement of Chu Haoyun's palm, and a cold mist began to form on the stone walls. Flash became swifter, and with the addition of a trace of elementary force, his attack range extended to fifteen steps. His mastery of Thunderbolt Swordsmanship had reached a level comparable to that of Chen Yiming's performance on that memorable day. With each turn of his sword, multiple shadows emerged, accompanied by the faint echo of thunder.

On this particular day, Chu Haoyun sensed he had reached the limit of his ability to manipulate the elementary force and decided to seek guidance from Lan Canghai atop Cloud-Veiled Peak. However, his tranquil routine was disrupted by an unexpected visitor.

As Chu Haoyun was about to step out, he was confronted at the doorway by Chen Hu, the man who had fled from Sunset Ridge. Clutching a snake-skin bag, Chen Hu tossed it at Chu Haoyun's feet with a cold smirk, taunting, "You've been quite the challenge to find, kid. This is a 'gift' from Boss Ning Chen. If you're feeling grateful, take this Celestial Key to Embercrest at Sunset Ridge. Haha!"

With those words, Chen Hu turned on his heel and departed, vanishing into Cloud-Veiled Peak before Chu Haoyun could react. Clearly, despite his bravado, the harrowing fate of Chen Seng still haunted him.

Chu Haoyun's brow furrowed as he detected a faint scent of blood. The bottom of the snake-skin bag was soaked with a deep red stain—the source of the blood's odor.

The instant Chu Haoyun opened the snake-skin bag, his gaze turned icy, and a wave of unmatched killing intent unfurled around him.

In the cave, a chill wind whistled, silencing the chirping insects.

Within the bag lay a bloodied arm, carved with two words by a dagger's edge.

"Qin Bing!" The image of Qin Bing's forthright demeanor flashed through Chu Haoyun's mind. He hadn't imagined that after that day, Qin Bing would end up in the clutches of Ning Chen and his cohorts. His killing intent surged. Qin Bing was among the few in the Order of the Celestial Veil whom he held in high regard. It was unthinkable that Ning Chen would commit such a heinous act for the Celestial Key.

With no time to ponder, a furious Chu Haoyun seized the Azurewind Blade and set off towards Embercrest at Sunset Ridge.

The outskirts of Sunset Ridge were desolate, a wilderness of jumbled rocks where the last glimmers of twilight fell.

Two figures sat perched atop a massive stone, while three others stood by, respectfully on guard, alert to any movement in the rocky chaos. Among the stones lay a muscular man, unconscious, his right arm severed. Blood from his shoulder dripped, staining the greenish-brown rocks beneath.

"Ning Chen, has that kid returned yet?" The breeze stirred, carrying with it a cascade of falling leaves. The stern-browed youth seated on the boulder inquired.

With an ingratiating smile, Ning Chen replied, "Boss Hee, rest assured. If Chen Hu's invitation fails, I have a backup plan. He's bound to come."

"Hmm," Boss Hee acknowledged with a slight nod, a sharp gleam flickering in his eyes. "I trust you won't let me down."

"I won't, I assure you!" Ning Chen shuddered, hastily offering a placating smile. The man before him was the leader of their faction, Hee Zhanpeng, the seventh-ranked disciple of the Outer Sect, known for his icy demeanor. In the ranking battles of the Outer Sect disciples, those who faced him were invariably expelled.

Though Hee Zhanpeng was from the Outer Sect, he always aspired to be seen as part of the Inner Sect. In less than a year at the Order of the Celestial Veil, he had climbed from the ranks of a thousand disciples to become the seventh, earning the moniker of the cold-faced young master.

"Take the Celestial Key; his life belongs to me!" Another youth, seated cross-legged, spoke with a detached air. His voice carried an undertone of authority, causing Hee Zhanpeng's brow to furrow.

The young man maintained a serene facade, seemingly unaffected by the world around him. He methodically polished a short knife, its chilling gleam causing a shiver to run down Ning Chen's spine and those of his companions. This individual was Lin Beikong. Though an Outer Sect disciple like the others and unlisted in the rankings, he was a follower of Chen Yisheng. Unranked he may be, yet his strength was no less formidable than Hee Zhanpeng's, both at the pinnacle of the ninth level of Body Forging.

Hee Zhanpeng's eyes narrowed, and a cruel smile played at the corners of his mouth. "Suit yourself. That wild boy has crossed Junior Sister Xiaoqiong and slain Chen Yiming. Knowing you, you'll probably flay him slowly, won't you?"

Lin Beikong responded with a dispassionate tone, "My older brother is in seclusion, breaking through to a new level. He has no time to clean up this mess. I'll take my time torturing him, and once my brother emerges, I'll let him deliver the final blow."

Lin Beikong's words were as casual as if he were discussing the slaughter of a chicken. Yet Hee Zhanpeng and the rest were certain: Chu Haoyun would not meet his end before Chen Yisheng's return, but his suffering would be such that death might seem a mercy.

Ning Chen cast a quick glance around and alerted Hee Zhanpeng, "Big Brother, Chen Hu has returned."

Off in the distance, at the edge of the stony path, Chen Hu approached in a rush, his face alight with anticipation, as if he could already envision Chu Haoyun's tragic fate. Hee Zhanpeng had barely acknowledged Ning Chen's warning when his stoic expression transformed into one of alarm, and he bellowed, "You dare!"

As he rose to his feet, he caught sight of a figure swift as a startled swan. In a flash of steel, blood sprayed before Chen Hu, followed by a burst of searing heat.

Chen Hu, who had been eager to return and enjoy the spectacle, slowly looked down, his eyes wide with disbelief at the sword blade protruding from his chest. He tried to speak, but no words came out. His consciousness faded, and all that remained was darkness.