Hours after the attack began, Wei Lian navigated through the ruined sections of the once-orderly clan compound. Smoke rose from several buildings in the outer valleys, and the perpetual crimson mist that normally shrouded their territory had thinned in places, allowing harsh sunlight to penetrate in broken shafts.
He paused behind a collapsed wall as a patrol of Yin Liu Sect members marched past, their indigo robes now splattered with blood. Unlike the chaos of the initial assault, their movements now showed disciplined purpose—systematically searching areas according to some predetermined plan.
"Second and third valleys secured," reported a lean woman with cultivation marks visible along her neck. "Most Blood Weaving members have been successfully teleported to the designated holding areas."
"Excellent," replied her commander, a heavyset man whose spatial ring gleamed with power. "Begin phase two immediately. Blood essence extraction must commence while their connection to this place remains active in their meridians."
Wei Lian's eyes narrowed at this confirmation of what he had suspected. The altered formation during yesterday's ritual hadn't been designed merely to teleport clan members away—it was specifically intended to separate them from the source of their power while maintaining a blood connection that could be exploited.
When the patrol moved on, Wei Lian continued deeper into the compound, using his intimate knowledge of servant passages and maintenance tunnels. The main pathways were heavily guarded, but these hidden routes—beneath the notice of higher-ranked clan members and thus unknown to Elder Feng's betrayal plans—remained largely unmonitored.
The devastation increased as he approached the ritual grounds. The Blood Hall itself had partially collapsed, its eastern wall shattered by what appeared to be a powerful explosion. Wei Lian carefully entered through a side entrance, avoiding the debris that littered the once-sacred space.
The central formation where yesterday's ritual had begun still pulsed with residual energy, its channels glowing with an unnatural mixture of blood path and space path dao marks. Wei Lian had witnessed the moment when Elder Feng activated the modified array, causing most participants to vanish in flashes of crimson light. Only those who had been positioned at the formation's periphery—including Wei Lian himself—had escaped the immediate teleportation effect.
What followed was calculated chaos. As the remaining clan members reacted in confusion, Yin Liu Sect forces had emerged from hidden positions throughout the compound, their attack coordinated with Elder Feng's betrayal. Wei Lian had barely escaped in the initial confusion, using his insignificance as a shield—no one bothered to pursue the clan's weakest member when more valuable targets remained.
Now, examining the ritual site more carefully, Wei Lian noticed something he had missed during the attack. Beneath the obvious modifications to the formation, a secondary pattern had activated—one that directed a portion of the gathered blood essence not outward through the teleportation matrix, but downward, toward whatever lay beneath the compound.
"They're creating access," he murmured to himself. "The teleportation was only part of their plan."
A noise from the hall entrance made Wei Lian quickly retreat behind a fallen column. Two Yin Liu Sect members entered, carefully examining the formation.
"The redirection worked perfectly," said one. "Elder Feng's modifications channeled exactly the right amount of essence to weaken the outer seal layers without disrupting the containment entirely."
"Good," replied the other. "We need controlled access to the Ancient Blood Lake, not a complete rupture. The last thing anyone wants is Red Thorn Immortal actually breaking free."
They moved to a section of the floor near the formation's center and activated a concealed mechanism. A portion of the stone slid away, revealing a narrow staircase descending into darkness.
"Elder Feng reports the primary extraction team is already at the first barrier. They should reach the lake within the hour."
"And the prisoners?"
"Being processed as planned. Their accumulated blood essence is remarkable—generations of exposure to Red Thorn's power has infused it with temporal qualities that normal cultivators simply don't possess."
After they descended the staircase, Wei Lian waited several minutes before approaching the opening. He had known the clan compound contained underground chambers—most clan members were aware of storage areas and emergency shelters beneath the main buildings. But this passage seemed to lead much deeper, perhaps to the true source of the clan's power—and to Red Thorn Immortal himself.
The risk of following was enormous, but so was the potential knowledge to be gained. If Wei Lian hoped to understand what was truly happening—and perhaps find some way to exploit the situation—he needed to see what lay beneath the compound firsthand.
Before descending, he touched the edge of the formation where fresh blood still glistened. Activating his Blood Memory Gu despite the cost, he pressed his palm against the blood and focused his reversed cultivation technique.
The vision formed immediately—more vivid than usual, perhaps due to the potent mixture of blood essence and formation energy still active in the ritual site. He saw the ceremony begin as planned, clan members taking their assigned positions while Elder Feng led the ritual invocation. The blood essence collection proceeded normally until precisely three minutes into the ceremony, when Yan Fei—positioned at a crucial junction point—activated a concealed trigger.
The formation's energy flow suddenly reversed, the carefully gathered blood essence spinning into new patterns as space path components flared to life. Most participants vanished instantly, their expressions changing from reverence to shock in the final moment before teleportation.
What the vision revealed next shocked even Wei Lian. As the teleportation activated, a secondary effect rippled through the remaining formation—a pulse of energy that traveled downward, weakening successive layers of what appeared to be a massive, multi-tiered sealing array beneath the compound. The visualization in the blood memory showed concentric circles of containment, each glowing with ancient power, each now partially dimmed by the redirected energy from the ritual.
The vision ended abruptly, leaving Wei Lian gasping from both the information overload and the physical toll of using his technique. This glimpse cost him perhaps another day of his lifespan, but confirmed his suspicions—Elder Feng and the Yin Liu Sect were systematically weakening the seal that contained Red Thorn Immortal, not to release him completely, but to gain access to something called the Ancient Blood Lake that apparently existed in proximity to his containment.
With renewed determination, Wei Lian began descending the hidden staircase. The passage was narrow but well-maintained, its walls inscribed with faded blood path formations that grew more complex as he moved deeper. These were ancient scripts, different from the modern techniques taught to clan disciples—more primal in their construction but also more powerful in their implied effects.
After descending for what seemed like hundreds of steps, the staircase opened into a broader tunnel illuminated by patches of luminescent moss that grew in carefully maintained patterns along the walls. Wei Lian recognized it as Bloodtide Vine, a hybrid resource cultivated by the clan for its ability to harmonize blood and temporal energies. Its presence here, so far beneath the surface, suggested deliberate cultivation over centuries.
The tunnel branched several times, but Wei Lian followed the freshest footprints visible in the thin layer of dust covering the floor. These deeper reaches would normally be accessible only to the highest-ranked clan members, perhaps explaining why Elder Feng had needed to create special access during the ritual disruption.
As he moved deeper, Wei Lian began to notice changes in the ambient energy. The air grew thicker with blood and time path dao marks, creating a tangible pressure that even his weak cultivation could perceive. More surprisingly, he felt his own meager blood essence responding to this environment, flowing more smoothly through his meridians than it ever had on the surface.
"This is why clan members are stronger within the compound," he whispered to himself. "And why the effect intensifies deeper inside our territory."
The tunnel eventually opened into a vast underground chamber that took Wei Lian's breath away. The ceiling arched high overhead, supported by massive columns carved with intricate blood path formations. The walls depicted scenes of ancient battle—clearly showing the legendary conflict between Blood Weaver Immortal and Red Thorn Immortal that clan history described as the foundation of their sacred duty.
But the historical narrative painted on these walls differed subtly from the version taught to disciples. Rather than a purely sacrificial battle to protect the world, these images showed Blood Weaver Immortal using complex formations to capture Red Thorn Immortal's essence during their confrontation, deliberately channeling it into specially prepared vessels. The final panel showed not just a sealed enemy, but a carefully constructed system designed to harvest power from the imprisoned immortal while maintaining his containment.
Wei Lian had little time to absorb these revelations, as voices echoed from an adjoining chamber. He quickly concealed himself behind one of the massive columns, peering cautiously around its edge.
A group of Yin Liu Sect members had gathered before an enormous set of doors inscribed with blood-red seals. Elder Feng stood among them, directing their efforts as they worked to disable the protective formations without triggering defensive measures.
"Carefully now," Elder Feng instructed. "These seals were designed by Blood Weaver Immortal himself. Disrupt the wrong sequence, and the backlash could kill everyone in this chamber."
"How much longer?" asked one of the hooded figures Wei Lian had seen during the formation modifications—clearly a high-ranking member of the Yin Liu Sect.
"Minutes only," Elder Feng replied. "The blood essence redirected from the ritual has already weakened the outer layers. Once we pass this final barrier, we'll reach the Ancient Blood Lake—and through it, access to Red Thorn's sealed essence."
"And the Timeless Demon Lord himself? His consciousness?"
Elder Feng's expression grew somber. "Still contained by the inner seal. We're not fools—fully releasing a Rank 8 Immortal of his destructive nature would doom us all. Our goal is controlled extraction of his time-infused blood essence, not liberation."
As they worked on the sealed doors, Wei Lian noticed movement from another entrance to the chamber. To his surprise, Yan Fei appeared, moving with careful stealth and apparently unnoticed by Elder Feng's group. Unlike during the ritual, Yan Fei now wore simple black robes without clan insignia, and his movements suggested he was operating independently rather than as part of either faction.
Wei Lian watched as Yan Fei observed the proceedings for several moments, then silently retreated down a different passage than the one he had entered from. Without fully understanding why, Wei Lian decided to follow him rather than continuing to observe Elder Feng's group. Something about Yan Fei's independent movement suggested he might be pursuing yet another agenda in this complex situation.
Maintaining a safe distance, Wei Lian tracked Yan Fei through a series of narrower tunnels that spiraled gradually downward. These passages showed signs of less frequent use than the main approach, with undisturbed dust in places and older maintenance of the light-providing moss.
Eventually, the passage opened into a smaller chamber dominated by an ancient stone pedestal. Upon it rested a weathered manuscript bound in what appeared to be human skin preserved through blood path techniques. Yan Fei approached it reverently, carefully examining the protective formations surrounding it before expertly disabling them one by one.
"The original containment records," Yan Fei murmured to himself as he opened the manuscript. "With this, I can understand exactly how Blood Weaver created the Three Chances Gu and its connection to both the seal and the Ancient Blood Lake."
Wei Lian remained hidden, struggling to understand Yan Fei's purpose. The talented disciple had clearly betrayed the clan alongside Elder Feng, yet now appeared to be operating according to his own plan rather than in coordination with either the clan elders or the Yin Liu Sect.
After studying the manuscript for several minutes, Yan Fei carefully replaced it and reactivated its protective formations. Instead of returning the way he had come, he continued deeper through another passage that led away from the chamber.
Wei Lian hesitated, torn between following Yan Fei further or returning to observe Elder Feng's progress with the sealed doors. The decision was made for him when a distant rumble shook the entire underground complex, followed by a flash of crimson light visible even from his position. The sealed doors had apparently been opened.
Moving cautiously back toward the main chamber, Wei Lian arrived in time to witness Elder Feng's group entering through the now-open doorway. He waited until they had all passed through before approaching the entrance himself, keeping to the shadows as he peered inside.
What he saw defied all expectations.
Beyond the doors stretched an enormous cavern, at least ten times larger than the previous chamber. The ceiling disappeared into darkness high overhead, while the floor descended in a series of broad steps toward a vast circular depression. And within that depression, glowing with unearthly crimson luminescence, was the Ancient Blood Lake itself.
The lake's surface rippled with patterns that seemed to follow no natural law, occasionally forming shapes that resembled symbols or faces before dissolving back into chaotic movement. The liquid was clearly not ordinary water—it had the thickness and gleam of blood essence, but amplified beyond anything Wei Lian had ever witnessed in the clan's rituals or storage facilities.
Most striking of all was what hovered above the center of the lake. Suspended in a complex web of glowing chains and formation arrays was a humanoid figure—massive in scale, at least three times the size of an ordinary person. Though largely obscured by the restraining formations, enough was visible to recognize the figure depicted in clan histories and warning tales: Red Thorn Immortal, the Timeless Demon Lord, sealed away by Blood Weaver Immortal centuries ago.
Even from this distance, the power radiating from the suspended figure was palpable. Each pulse sent ripples across the lake's surface, and Wei Lian could feel his own blood responding to the rhythm, his reversed flow momentarily synchronizing with the strange temporal fluctuations emanating from the sealed immortal.
Elder Feng and the Yin Liu Sect members had formed a circle near the lake's edge, activating what appeared to be specialized collection formations designed to extract essence from the lake without disturbing the greater seal. Their voices carried clearly in the cavern's perfect acoustics.
"Centuries of accumulated essence," said the female Yin Liu Sect leader, her voice reverent. "Every drop infused with both Red Thorn's power and the processed energy from generations of Blood Weaving Clan members. This is exactly what we need for Liu Mei's revival."
"Begin the extraction," Elder Feng commanded. "We have limited time before the clan's emergency protocols activate. Even with most members teleported away, the automated defensive formations will eventually respond to this level of seal disruption."
As they initiated their collection process, Wei Lian noticed something unexpected. At the far side of the lake, partially concealed behind a formation pillar, stood Yan Fei. He had apparently reached the chamber through another route and was observing the proceedings with intense focus, occasionally consulting a small jade slip that glowed with recorded information—likely details from the skin-bound manuscript he had examined earlier.
The situation was growing increasingly complex. Elder Feng had betrayed the clan to the Yin Liu Sect, apparently in exchange for promised position once someone named Liu Mei was revived using Red Thorn's essence. Yet Yan Fei, initially seeming to work with Elder Feng, was now clearly pursuing his own agenda involving something called the Three Chances Gu.
And beneath it all lay the truth about the Blood Weaving Clan itself—genuinely maintaining a seal that protected the world from Red Thorn Immortal's destructive power, yet simultaneously harvesting his essence for their own abilities, keeping most clan members ignorant of this dual purpose.
As Wei Lian contemplated his next move, a new tremor shook the cavern—stronger than the previous one. Cracks appeared in several of the formation pillars surrounding the lake, and the suspended figure of Red Thorn Immortal seemed to shift slightly within his bonds.
"What's happening?" demanded the Yin Liu Sect leader. "The extraction shouldn't cause this level of disturbance."
Elder Feng's expression showed alarm for the first time. "Something's wrong. The seal's response is stronger than anticipated. It's as if—"
He never finished the sentence. From multiple entrances to the cavern, new figures appeared—Blood Weaving Clan elders who had somehow escaped the teleportation effect, led by a stern woman Wei Lian recognized as Elder Mei.
"Traitor!" she called out, her voice echoing throughout the chamber. "Did you think we wouldn't recognize your tampering with the sacred formation? Some of us maintained suspicion enough to position ourselves beyond the teleportation effect."
Battle erupted immediately, blood path techniques clashing with space path attacks as the two factions engaged. The confined space and proximity to the Ancient Blood Lake made the conflict particularly dangerous—each powerful technique sent ripples across the lake's surface and created visible fluctuations in the sealing formations containing Red Thorn Immortal.
Wei Lian pressed himself into a shadowed alcove, recognizing that this chaos presented both danger and opportunity. The fighting would likely distract all parties, potentially allowing him to explore the chamber further without detection. Yet the risk to the seal itself seemed to be growing with each exchange of attacks.
A particularly powerful collision of techniques sent a shock wave across the cavern, causing one of the major formation pillars to crack completely. As it toppled into the Ancient Blood Lake, a visible surge of energy raced along the restraining chains holding Red Thorn Immortal. For a brief, terrifying moment, Wei Lian thought he saw the suspended figure's eyes open—ancient, malevolent, and aware.
In that same instant, Wei Lian felt a strange resonance within his own blood, his reversed flow somehow responding to the fluctuation in the seal. It was as if something within Red Thorn Immortal recognized and reached toward the counterclockwise circulation of Wei Lian's essence, creating a momentary connection that left him gasping.
The battle continued to rage, neither side gaining clear advantage as they fought around the lake's perimeter. Wei Lian noticed Yan Fei using the distraction to move with purpose toward a small structure at the far side of the cavern—some kind of shrine or storage area that seemed untouched by the current conflict.
Making his decision, Wei Lian began carefully circling the edge of the chamber, using the chaos of battle as cover while he made his way toward where Yan Fei had gone. Whatever the talented disciple sought, it clearly related to the Three Chances Gu mentioned in both ancient records and recent conversations. Understanding that artifact might be key to comprehending the entire situation.
As Wei Lian moved, he remained acutely aware of the suspended figure above the lake. With each exchange of powerful techniques, with each disruption to the formation pillars and sealing arrays, Red Thorn Immortal seemed to become more distinct—as if layers of containment were being inadvertently stripped away by the battle raging below.
"For once," Wei Lian whispered to himself as he navigated between shadows, "my worthlessness makes me invisible when it matters most."