C13 The Bloodstained Long Sword

In life, the two most dreaded things are misunderstanding cause and effect and spoiling one's chances. Sometimes, what one might consider a source of pride could be seen as utterly inconsequential to others. It's the seemingly insignificant details that can ultimately determine everything about a person.

Ding Yuhuan was exactly that kind of person. The Ancient Martial Arts she once despised had become her lifeline in this altered world, as well as a lethal weapon.

The skirmish at Dragon Tiger Mountain today was a minor conflict in the grand scheme of things, centering on the ownership of a treasure. It was largely contained thanks to the older generation of Evolvers who balanced each other out, resulting in a gathering of mostly younger individuals. Among these youths, Ding Yuhuan stood out as unmatched and invincible.

Yang Xiaoyan might have been the only one capable of challenging her, yet at that moment, she appeared deep in thought, her brow furrowed, showing no inclination to engage in combat.

Ding Yuhuan conjured purple orbs in her hands, which released a thick purple mist. This mist, as if guided by a navigation system, swiftly penetrated the pores of the Evolvers. Those touched by the mist lost consciousness and collapsed.

The most chilling aspect was that the fallen Evolvers vanished without a trace, leaving no evidence behind.

The remaining Evolvers were shocked to realize that despite the numerous casualties since Ding Yuhuan's arrival, not a single Evolver's body could be found at the scene.

For Ding Yuhuan, these details were trivial. The survivors amounted to less than one-tenth of the original number. Glancing around, there were hardly any outsiders left in Chen Village. She was responsible for the demise of nearly two hundred Evolvers.

"Ding Yuhuan, I don't understand why you've chosen this path, but I assure you, you won't leave here unscathed today," Yang Xiaoyan declared, having approached Ding Yuhuan.

"I haven't chosen a path of degradation. On the contrary, I've discovered an absolutely righteous path. I intend to follow it to the very end," Ding Yuhuan retorted, tossing her striking red hair as she crossed her arms, accentuating her chest.

"Today, I will demonstrate just how far off the mark you are!" Yang Xiaoyan declared, smoke already swirling around her hands. As her words trailed off, her arms transformed into billowing green smoke. The smoke coalesced, seemingly alive with its own spirit.

In no time at all, Yang Xiaoyan's entire body became a cloud of green smoke, which then split into ten separate tendrils, each striking out in different directions.

Meanwhile, the bald brute behind her unleashed his full might, his raw physical power erupting with unimaginable speed. Like a juggernaut tearing through the air, he barreled straight for Ding Yuhuan.

Boom!

The bald man reached Ding Yuhuan before the green smoke, his body like a speeding war chariot, instantly flattening her.

A gory mist burst forth, with blood, flesh, bone fragments, and shattered organs scattering in all directions. The stench of blood in Chen Village intensified dramatically.

As Ding Yuhuan was pulverized by the bald man's impact, a sudden and eerie transformation befell Chen Village. A sinister, blood-red aura surged from the earth, blanketing the entire village. The scent of blood was now a hundredfold more potent than before.

The surviving Evolvers were baffled. Was Ding Yuhuan's wrongdoing so grave that she was now facing Celestial Wrath? Yet, there wasn't even a whole body of hers to be found.

Yang Xiaoyan's face was etched with deep concern. A foreboding feeling gnawed at her, and while she had her suspicions, she dared not confirm them.

Little did she know, the emergence of this bloody aura was just the beginning. The sky above Chen Village was soon engulfed by a mass of crimson energy, drawing in a vast expanse of deathly essence. The chilling screams and howls that followed were enough to strike terror into the bravest of hearts.

The villagers of Chen Village, unable to stay indoors, rushed outside to gaze up at the ominous sky.

Yang Huang and Chen Min also stepped out of their home. Confronted with this bizarre phenomenon, Yang Huang's initial shock quickly gave way to a furrowed brow, signaling the wheels of thought turning in his mind.

The atmosphere in the area grew increasingly heavy with an aura of death, becoming so oppressive it was almost suffocating. Then, the environment began to transform once more.

The deathly aura thickened into a tangible presence, conjuring an array of skeletons across the sky. There were skeletons of animals, humans, and even some creatures that had never been seen before. These skeletal forms solidified, becoming more and more substantial.

In no time, the sky was blanketed with innumerable skeletons, from which a trembling power burst forth. At the epicenter, this power coalesced into a small, dark red dot.

Unbeknownst to the onlookers, this dark red dot was precisely aligned with Ding Yuhuan's shattered remains.

The corpse was barely recognizable as human, having lost much of its flesh and bones. The head was somewhat intact, though half the face was stripped of skin and muscle, exposing the fractured bones beneath.

With a swift whoosh, the red dot shot down and, in the blink of an eye, penetrated the ravaged body.

Once the red dot entered, the thick mass of skeletons in the sky vanished at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the deathly aura that filled the air dissipated as well.

As the skeletons and deathly aura faded away, Chen Village was restored to its former state. Yet, some noticed a battered female body, above which floated an unassuming long sword. The sword, with its simple and ancient design, was wrapped in a faint dark red Energy Body, and its blade was smeared with blood.

On the bloodstained long sword was a modest talisman, its dark yellow paper frayed at the edges, adorned with bright red runes.

This talisman, affixed to the sword's tip, went largely unnoticed.

"Could this be the opportunity our elders spoke of?" murmured the Evolvers, transfixed by the Blood Sword hovering over Ding Yuhuan's corpse. Few were concerned with the body below, for the Blood Sword was clearly no ordinary weapon—it emanated an aura of unspeakable terror.

The talisman at the sword's tip escaped everyone's attention, as there were hardly any cultivators present. Even those who were cultivators paid it little mind. The Dao Sect of modern times had long since lost the Dao Arts of talisman-making, a craft forgotten and unknown to the younger generation.

More than ten Evolvers were gathered, each one eager to lay their hands on the Blood Sword. However, with only a single blade to claim, it was impossible to divide it equally among them.

Yang Xiaoyan was there too, yet her demeanor was notably solemn. She sensed that the situation was far from straightforward.

Firstly, there was the matter of Ding Yuhuan's death. Upon her arrival in Chen Village, the woman had demonstrated formidable strength, nearly annihilating the hundreds of Evolvers lurking there. It was clear that her abilities surpassed the Injury Level. Yet, this same powerful Ding Yuhuan had failed to withstand even the most basic strike from the bald man, which was utterly inconceivable.

Next, there was the disappearance of the corpses of the Evolvers slain by Ding Yuhuan. Where had they gone? Did she possess some skill that allowed her to conceal the bodies flawlessly? If so, what did she want with them? What was her motive for killing?

The final and most crucial point was the timing of the events. Chen Village had been tranquil for many days, but the moment Ding Yuhuan began her frenzied killing, the world itself seemed to shift. Could this really be mere coincidence?

Yang Xiaoyan couldn't explain why, but a chilling thought suddenly crossed her mind. As she inadvertently glanced over and caught sight of Yang Huang standing close to a young girl, a jolt of alarm sent a shiver down her spine, leaving her covered in a cold sweat.