Chapter 38: Another Book Illustration?
The battle raged on fiercely. Ye Xingliu's flying sword and the blood cultivator's flying knife clashed incessantly. The blood cultivator's eyes were increasingly crimson, as if he had consumed some elixir, with seemingly endless spiritual energy.
This allowed him to withstand an equal-tier cultivator and a second-tier giant lizard, along with numerous Qi Cultivation practitioners and beasts.
The blood cultivator proved unexpectedly tenacious.
Ye Jingcheng watched anxiously. If Xu Xiuqing weren't present today, the Ye family might have handled things more efficiently.
However, the Ye family needed the spirit mines and had to meet Xu Xiuqing's requirements.
The delay caused by the blood cultivator was noticed by Ye Xingliu and the elders, prompted by Ye Jingcheng's reminder.
Normally, the blood cultivator would have fled by now.
"Xinghe, take three people below the lake!" Ye Xingliu ordered immediately.
Ye Xinghe nodded, and the blood cultivator's face turned ashen in response. Clearly, he had plans below the lake!
The blood cultivator took out a talisman, which spread out before him.
Three more blood-clad cultivators emerged from below the lake. These were controlled loose cultivators, but their strength was evidently at the eighth and ninth levels of Qi Cultivation, significantly more formidable than the previous cannon fodder.
Upon seeing one of them, Xu Xiuqing's eyes turned red.
"Father!" Xu Xiuqing rushed forward.
One of the cultivators among the three suddenly showed a moment of clarity in his eyes.
This scene made Ye Jingcheng and the others hesitate for a moment.
Ye Xinghe's Red-Crowned Snow Eagle, using its terrifying speed, was the first to charge, unleashing countless ice blades at the three Qi Cultivation cultivators.
Ye Xinghe recognized the elder Xu, but as he had already mentioned, they could not guarantee Old Xu's safety due to the Blood Heart Curse control.
They could not afford to let Xu Xiuqing sacrifice herself!
The Blood-Patterned Leopard roared and leapt towards one of the cultivators with its spiritual light.
The ice crystals kept falling, but the three cultivators continuously summoned shield artifacts and blood knives, dispersing the ice blades and even the flying swords and talismans cast by Ye Xinghe and others.
Countless spiritual lights fell into the lake, creating waves.
Even though Xu Xiuqing was in pain, she knew her father had lost his sanity. She could only attack from afar with her artifacts, her face a mix of conflict and anguish.
At this moment, Ye Jingcheng's Red Flame Fox cast four Fireball Techniques again. These consecutive fireballs overwhelmed even a mid-tier first-stage defensive shield, sending one of the cultivators flying back.
Then came the Ironwood Vines!
As the Ironwood Vines appeared, the blood-clad cultivators prepared to use Fireball Techniques, but Ye Jingyu waved two Wind Flags, releasing a stronger gale that blew the fireballs away.
The three cultivators were left in a dire situation.
[Translator: sauron]
The Ironwood Vines and Ye Jingyong's small seal artifact fell at some point as well.
The series of attacks were perfectly coordinated, but even though the three cultivators were controlled, they were experienced and combined to launch three flying knives!
However, in the next moment, a massive fireball appeared!
This fireball was faster and was the result of the Red Flame Fox expelling another enormous fireball after Ye Jingcheng pressed its head!
One cultivator was killed instantly, and the other two were severely injured. A huge bell appeared, covering Old Xu's head.
Ye Jingcheng used the enormous fireball to obscure the Sky Binding Bell.
The remaining cultivator couldn't hold on much longer, being struck by the Red-Crowned Snow Eagle's ice storm and torn apart by the Blood-Patterned Leopard!
Ye Xinghe plunged into the lake bottom!
Seeing this, the Foundation Establishment blood cultivator grew even more anxious, rushing into the lake and frantically casting spells.
Blood-red spiritual patterns appeared on the lake's surface.
These blood-red patterns began to spread like a line, seemingly forming a terrifying formation.
Suddenly, a golden light flashed, and a gigantic Green-Eyed Hanging Tiger appeared, pouncing on the blood cultivator!
The second-tier Hanging Tiger, glowing with brilliant golden spiritual light, shattered the indestructible spiritual shield with a single swipe!
The blood cultivator was stunned but could only awkwardly evade.
Ye Xingliu, having summoned the Green-Eyed Hanging Tiger, was relentless, combining it with the second-tier giant lizard's long tongue and countless earth spikes!
Ye Xingliu struck with his sword once more.
This time, the Foundation Establishment blood cultivator could not fend off the attacks. After several strikes, he was decapitated by a sword strike!
The blood formation, which had been spreading, abruptly ceased.
Ye Xinghe and Ye Xingyu used Water Escape Techniques to enter the ground.
Ye Jingcheng, Ye Jingyong, and Ye Jingyu began to clean up the corpses.
As juniors, this was their responsibility.
Only Xu Xiuqing went to the giant bell.
Inside was her father, Old Xu. But there was no movement under the bell, causing Xu Xiuqing to appear frantic and fearful!
Ye Jingcheng had not yet opened the Sky Binding Bell, and he knew that the blood cultivator's presence had triggered the Blood Heart Curse!
This resulted in Old Xu's tragic death on the spot, but the Sky Binding Bell preserved his body intact.
"Friend Ye, please reveal it!" Xu Xiuqing said, trembling but still speaking.
Ye Jingcheng retracted the Sky Binding Bell, revealing Old Xu's body. However, he was already dead, his eyes seemingly still open in death until he saw Xu Xiuqing, then closed gently.
His final spark of life had faded.
At this moment, Ye Xinghe and Ye Xingyu emerged.
With normal expressions, they said, "Uncle, below is a blood pool. This evil cultivator used it to practice. His Foundation Establishment cultivation likely came from blood cultivation. It's fortunate we eliminated him today!" Ye Xinghe said with a fearful expression.
Many blood cultivators used the blood of cultivators to speed up their cultivation.
Cultivators' blood is more nourishing than spiritual beasts' blood, making it more suitable for cultivation, though it's considered a vile act universally condemned.
Of course, while Ye Xinghe spoke, Ye Jingcheng was puzzled. He noticed his treasure book illustration had lit up again.
This time, a blood leech appeared, seemingly limp but capable of multiplying exponentially!
The book illustration became densely packed, covering the entire book world.
Eventually, it calmed down, resembling a blood leech egg and revealing a new pill formula!
Ye Jingcheng understood that the blood cultivator below was likely not practicing blood techniques but using cultivators' blood to hatch these blood leech eggs.
But Ye Xinghe did not want to reveal this in public, and the blood leech must involve many secrets.
Ye Jingcheng also knew he wasn't yet worthy of the family's full trust.
(End of Chapter)