Chapter 56: Ancestor Netherblood

The old man was completely shrouded in a dense aura of blood, clashing fiercely against the power of lightning.

The Supreme Elder’s brows furrowed deeply as he increased his spiritual power output, causing the bolts of lightning to grow even thicker.

Yet the old man grew increasingly frantic. The corpses beneath his feet rapidly withered as streams of blood continuously poured into his body.

Suddenly, the old man let out a heaven-shaking roar, bursting forth with an aura of pure darkness that somewhat scattered the surrounding lightning.

Taking advantage of this momentary gap, he lunged at the Supreme Elder with lightning speed. Before the Supreme Elder could fully dodge, a deep wound was slashed across his arm.

At that very moment, the Sect Master quietly slipped around behind the old man, conjuring a magical treasure that shot a cold beam of light straight toward the old man's heart.

Sensing the danger just as he began to turn, the old man was jointly restrained by five elders. The Sect Master’s treasure pierced directly into the old man's back, dealing him a severe blow and causing him to cough up a large mouthful of dark blood.

Yet his eyes remained fiercely ferocious. Breaking free from his restraints, he shockingly began to burn his own soul in exchange for even greater power.

In that exact instant, the sky was suddenly swallowed by thick, heavy dark clouds, as if an enormous black curtain had descended over the entire earth.

The light faded rapidly, and howling gales arose, making it difficult for people to even keep their eyes open.

Accompanied by rolling thunder and lightning tearing across the firmament, the atmosphere between heaven and earth instantly turned tense and oppressive, portending a battle of unprecedented scale and tragic brutality about to unfold.

An elder of the Myriad Ghost Sect stood upon a high vantage point, his black robes snapping violently in the wind. With a single wave of his arm, he issued a deep, low command.

"Feed the Netherblood Ancestor more flesh and blood! Kill!" the Myriad Ghost Sect elder bellowed furiously.

Following his lead, the disciples of the Myriad Ghost Sect echoed in unison.

At his command, numerous Myriad Ghost Sect disciples surged forward like phantoms emerging from a dark abyss, clad in black robes and moving at breakneck speed.

Clutched tightly in their hands were nether-ghost flames, whose eerie, flickering lights danced within the darkness, emanating a hair-raising aura.

Meanwhile, the opposing disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect showed no weakness whatsoever.

"Disciples, follow me and slaughter these demonic heretics!"

"We obey the Elder's command!"

They brandished their longswords one after another, flashing dazzling beams of sword light that resembled shooting stars streaking across the night sky.

Furthermore, numerous disciples unleashed all manner of powerful talismans and spells. Colorful runes danced and swirled through the air, echoing the sword light to form a scene both dazzlingly gorgeous and fraught with mortal danger.

The moment the two forces collided, it felt as though the very air was torn asunder.

The nether-ghost flames violently smashed against the sword lights and talismans of the Azure Cloud Sect, erupting in deafening concussions and the sharp, piercing shrieks of clashing metal.

Sparks flew in all directions, and volatile energy ripples surged outward. Nearby trees were uprooted, and massive boulders were blasted into dust, plunging the entire battlefield into utter chaos.

Amidst this chaotic melee, a Myriad Ghost Sect disciple wore a sinister, chilling sneer upon his face.

Abruptly, he condensed the nether-ghost flame in his hand into a gigantic razor-sharp claw, lunging with blinding speed straight toward a female disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect.

Faced with such a fierce and ruthless attack, the female disciple remained completely unfazed.

With sharp eyes and lightning-fast reflexes, she formed hand seals in a flash, summoning a talisman glowing with golden light that transformed into a sturdy barrier protecting her in the blink of an eye.

With a deafening crash, the giant claw formed by the nether-ghost flame slammed violently into the talismanic shield.

Where the two forces met, a blinding, dazzling burst of light exploded outward, sending intense shockwaves rippling in all directions.

The nearby flora instantly withered and died under the impact of this energy, while the ground was ruthlessly plowed open into deep, jagged trenches.

Yet, despite enduring such a violent impact, the female disciple stood firm and steady in her tracks, showing not the slightest intention of retreating.

At this very moment, the cries of battle and the chanting of spells echoed endlessly across the battlefield, weaving together into a heart-stopping symphony of death. Blood stained the earth crimson, and severed limbs lay scattered everywhere. Yet the disciples of both the Myriad Ghost Sect and the Azure Cloud Sect had been driven to a blood-crazed frenzy, utterly disregarding their own safety as they desperately sought to annihilate the enemy.

The common folk of North Han City hid within their homes, trembling in fear, while the garrison troops had long since retreated inside the city walls.

Liu Xiong'an, father of Liu An, gazed out at the chaotic clash of cultivators raging across the sky and earth outside the city, wearing an expression of deep sighing and helplessness.

Liu An clenched his fists tightly, his resolute gaze fixed upon the chaotic battlefield beyond the city where firelight and sword shadows intertwined like the arrival of doomsday.

His clothes fluttered without any wind, faintly radiating undulating spiritual power. Liu Xiong'an gently patted his son's shoulder, his eyes filled with profound worry and reluctance. "An'er, this journey is fraught with extreme peril. You must be careful."

Liu An took a deep breath, the spiritual power surging torrentially within his body as determination flashed in his eyes.

Beside him, Fatty Xu shook with all his fat, unexpectedly erupting with astonishing momentum. From nowhere, a heavy warhammer appeared in his hands, its surface shimmering with a faint green glow.

Xu Jing moved with lightness and agility, blooming fiery floral lotuses held in each of her hands.

Lin Luomei gently waved her slender hands, surrounded by floating shards of ice that emanated a bone-chilling, exquisite yet lethal frost.

Fang Yuan gripped his broadsword tightly, his muscles bulging as a violent, berserk aura radiated from his entire body.

The five of them moved almost simultaneously, streaking across the battlefield like five bolts of lightning.

Liu An flicked his sleeve, sending countless sword shadows roaring forth to transform into the sickers of death, mercilessly reaping the lives of the advancing Myriad Ghost Sect disciples.

Fatty Xu swung his bronze hammer, blasting a swathe of enemies into explosions of flesh and blood. Xu Jing's fiery floral lotuses detonated everywhere she passed, dropping enemies in their tracks. Lin Luomei projected bone-chilling frost, freezing her foes into ice sculptures. Fang Yuan charged like a wild beast, his blade aura proving entirely unstoppable.

On the battlefield, the Netherblood Ancestor's skeleton-like, withered body floated suspended mid-air, though he was currently trapped by four elders of the Azure Cloud Sect.

Rings of dark, murky blood light orbited his body. As the cultivators below continually perished, their flesh and blood seemed to transform into formless energy, which the Netherblood Ancestor frantically devoured.

Threads of blood shot forth from every corner of the battlefield, merging into the Netherblood Ancestor's body. His physique expanded at a visible rate; his withered skin gradually grew plump and full, and his muscle definition became increasingly distinct.

Within his sunken eye sockets, two scarlet points of light grew increasingly dazzling, exuding a chilling, wicked aura.

The corners of his mouth curled upward into a cruel, sadistic smile, as though he relished every moment of this, thoroughly enjoying his rebirth born of death.

Seeing the situation spiral entirely out of control, the Supreme Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect immediately shouted out, "All elders and disciples, cease this prolonged engagement! Fall back to the Realm-Breaking Vessel immediately! Meaningless sacrifices will only serve to pave the way for that old monster!"

Following the Supreme Elder's command, the elders and disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect stopped fighting and obediently followed the order.