While Lu Fan was busy refining True Sunfire and advancing his cultivation, the Mo Family was plotting in secret.
The Crisis of Mo Shentong
Mo Shentong, the Foundation Building Realm expert and pillar of the Mo Family, was nearing the end of his lifespan.
Without him, the Mo Family would lose its control over Lianhua City and become prey for rival forces.
"If Shentong falls, we will be reduced to nothing more than an ordinary merchant clan!"
The Mo elders convened a secret meeting, discussing every possible solution. They sought out pills, formation methods, and forbidden arts to extend his life—but none of them were sufficient.
Finally, they arrived at a desperate conclusion.
"There is only one way left—the Thousand Blood Sacrifice Art."
The Sinister Ritual
The Thousand Blood Sacrifice Art was an ancient and forbidden technique that allowed a cultivator to prolong their life by sacrificing the blood essence of a thousand cultivators.
The greater the cultivation level of the sacrifices, the more lifespan could be absorbed.
Once this decision was made, the Mo Family immediately put their plan into action.
They started kidnapping lone cultivators, targeting mainly independent Qi Refinement and Body Tempering practitioners.
To avoid suspicion, they justified their actions by claiming they were hunting down calamity cultivators—rogue cultivators who practiced demonic arts.
"No one will question us if we claim to be eliminating a threat to the city."
Under this pretense, they silently captured, imprisoned, and prepared their victims for sacrifice.
As Mo Shentong's lifespan dwindled, the Mo Family grew more ruthless in their pursuit of blood.
And soon, their shadow loomed over Lianhua City.
As days passed, rumors of missing cultivators began spreading through Lianhua City.
At first, no one paid much attention—wandering cultivators often disappeared due to beast attacks, rival conflicts, or failed adventures.
But soon, the number of disappearances grew too large to ignore.
"Did you hear? Another independent cultivator vanished near the western district!"
"That makes five this week! Someone is targeting rogue cultivators."
"It must be the calamity cultivators! Who else would commit such acts?"
The Mo Family's cover-up was working perfectly.
By blaming the disappearances on calamity cultivators, they ensured no one investigated too deeply.
A City on Edge
The tension in Lianhua City grew thick with paranoia.
Cultivators stopped traveling alone.
Inns raised their security.
Merchants refused to do business after dark.
Even sect-affiliated disciples started to leave the city, sensing that something was wrong.
Yet, despite the growing unease, no one suspected the true culprits—the Mo Family themselves.
A Dangerous Atmosphere
Meanwhile, Lu Fan, unaware of the dark schemes unfolding, was focused on his own cultivation and forging.
However, he couldn't ignore the unsettling changes around him.
"Why is the city so tense? Did something happen?"
Little did he know, the Mo Family's ritual deadline was approaching, and soon, they would set their sights on stronger prey.
Lu Fan noticed the atmosphere in Lianhua City had changed. The once-bustling streets were quieter, and cultivators moved with caution, glancing over their shoulders.
At the weapon shop, he overheard hushed whispers.
"Another one disappeared last night... A Qi Condensation cultivator from the Moonlight Traders."
"It's those calamity cultivators! They're getting bolder."
"No... something isn't right. The city guards haven't made a single arrest."
Lu Fan frowned. Calamity cultivators were ruthless, but they weren't this subtle.
If they were responsible, there would be signs—clues left behind, bodies drained of Qi, lingering resentful energy.
But nothing.
He decided to investigate.
A Strange Encounter
That evening, Lu Fan left his residence under the cover of darkness, using his concealment technique to move undetected.
He followed the pattern of disappearances toward the city's western district, an area where many independent cultivators stayed.
As he passed an alleyway, he felt a strange fluctuation of spiritual energy.
A hooded figure was speaking with a guard wearing the Mo Family's insignia.
"We need five more before the full moon."
"Understood. We'll handle it."
Lu Fan's eyes narrowed. The Mo Family was involved.
The realization sent a chill down his spine.
"If they're behind the disappearances… then what are they planning?"
A dangerous scheme was unfolding in Lianhua City, and now, Lu Fan had stepped right into the middle of it.
Lu Fan's heart raced as he realized he had overstayed his welcome in Lianhua City. The Mo Family's influence ran deeper than he had ever imagined. He didn't know the specifics of their dark rituals, but the fact that they had been kidnapping cultivators meant they were up to something dangerous. His time in the city had come to an end, and he needed to leave before they found out about his growing strength.
He quickly gathered his belongings and used his savings to purchase supplies and materials for escape, including fertilizer bombs and escape route maps he'd meticulously prepared. Everything was set. Lu Fan thought he could slip out unnoticed, but fate had other plans.
As he ventured out of his hiding place, he was suddenly surrounded. A group of Mo Family cultivators appeared, their aura thick with malice. Lu Fan's breath hitched as he realized they had anticipated his escape.
"You're not leaving so easily," one of the cultivators sneered, stepping forward, his sword gleaming with bloodlust.
Lu Fan's eyes narrowed. He had been prepared for this. The Mo Family was too powerful, and if they caught him, it wouldn't end well. He gripped his Thunder Flame Sword tightly. "I'm not going to make it easy for you," Lu Fan muttered under his breath.
The cultivators closed in, their eyes sharp, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Without warning, Lu Fan launched himself forward. He focused on Fire Qi in his palms, sending blazing fireballs hurtling toward the nearest opponent. The explosion of heat caught the cultivator off guard, forcing him to retreat, but it wasn't enough to end the fight.
A second cultivator lunged at him with a long spear, aiming directly for his chest. Lu Fan sidestepped with a swift roll, narrowly avoiding the strike. His Thunderbody-tempering art flared as the electricity coursed through his veins. He reached out, grabbing the spear mid-air, using the force to twist it out of the cultivator's hands and sending him sprawling onto the ground.
"Not bad." Another cultivator, a tall man with a scowl etched across his face, stepped forward, wielding a crimson dagger. The air around him pulsed with intent to kill. He didn't hesitate, charging with frightening speed. Lu Fan could feel the pressure building as the dagger sliced toward him. He deflected the blow with his sword, sparks flying from the impact. The force of the attack nearly threw him off balance, but Lu Fan's agility kept him steady.
Seeing an opening, Lu Fan quickly activated his escape route—a series of bombs he had planted beforehand. The sudden explosion rocked the ground beneath them, sending shockwaves through the air. Dust and debris clouded the area, causing confusion. Lu Fan didn't waste a second. He grabbed the trophies from the fallen cultivators—**their storage rings and weapons—**and dashed into the smoke.
Behind him, the surviving cultivators howled in rage, but it was too late. The damage had been done. As the smoke cleared, Lu Fan had already disappeared, leaving the city of Lianhua behind.