Translator: CinderTL
A bone whip, stretching over a hundred miles, crashed violently into the churning blood sea.
The ghastly green corpse fire on the whip seemed capable of corroding bone and melting metal. In an instant, it tore a thousand-mile-long rift through the blood sea, revealing the Rongqi Giant Flying Ship hidden deep within.
Yet, in the next moment, the torn blood sea surged back together. Two blood walls collided with a thunderous roar, sending ten-thousand-zhang-high waves of blood surging into the air.
The rift vanished as if it had never existed, leaving no trace of its brief appearance.
Rong Luan's gaunt figure materialized above the blood sea.
She recalled the bone whip. Though her initial strike had failed, her deep-set eyes remained as still as an ancient well, devoid of any ripple of emotion.
That strike had been a mere casual gesture, barely tapping into even half of her true power.
However, having failed once, her next attack would undoubtedly be far more serious.
The ghastly green corpse fire on the bone whip flared to life with a whoosh, burning fiercely.
The entire whip transformed into a hundred-mile-long dragon of ghastly green flames, coiling above the blood sea and radiating an icy, deathly corpse qi.
Rong Luan's withered hand pointed forward with a gentle flick.
Instantly, the ghastly green fire dragon, carrying world-shattering might, crashed violently into the blood sea below!
This time, its power had increased more than tenfold!
Boom!
With a deafening roar, the ghastly green fire dragon struck the surging blood sea, sending countless crimson waves soaring skyward.
These blood-red waves were immediately incinerated by the dragon's flames, transforming into wisps of black smoke that vanished with the wind.
The entire blood sea churned violently under the impact, then shattered into dozens of fragments.
The Rongqi Giant Flying Ship reappeared.
Unlike before, the blood sea failed to immediately regenerate, giving the ship its chance to escape.
Huang Yangshu steered the ship upward, soaring out of the blood sea's reach.
Moments later, the shattered fragments of the blood sea abruptly contracted inward, merging back into a single entity.
"Hmm?"
Rong Luan's eyes flashed with surprise and suspicion at this sight.
How could a mere Body Integration Stage cultivator's natal magic treasure withstand seventy percent of her full power?
Before she could ponder further, the Rongqi Giant Flying Ship descended beneath her.
Huang Yangshu and Rong Shao leaped from the ship and landed beside her.
"Greetings, Madam," Huang Yangshu said, clasping his hands in a formal salute.
"Greetings, Grandmother," Rong Shao added.
Rong Luan ignored Rong Shao, her icy gaze fixed solely on Huang Yangshu.
Huang Yangshu was her husband.
Though their relationship lacked the intimacy of typical dao companions, their marital bond remained intact.
Yet, aboard the ship below were several courtesans from a brothel.
Huang Yangshu had not only been unfaithful but had also plunged himself into mortal danger, leaving his wife to clean up the mess.
A silent, icy rage radiated from her withered frame, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet.
Huang Yangshu stood frozen, his head bowed low, daring not to meet Rong Luan's gaze.
He had desperately wanted to keep Zhu Mei's existence hidden from Rong Luan, but Song Wen had cornered him into a life-or-death situation, forcing him to beg his wife for help.
Rong Shao, however, had no such reservations. He confronted her directly.
"Grandmother, I've cultivated the Longevity Technique since childhood, as the clan commanded. But is it true that the Divine Blood Gate possesses a secret art to devour the life force of those who cultivate this technique, thereby extending their own lifespan?"
Upon hearing this, a fleeting flicker of unease crossed Rong Luan's eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving her gaze as deep and still as an ancient well.
"Who has been spreading such nonsense?"
Rong Luan paused briefly, then, as if realizing her words lacked conviction, added, "The clan has poured countless resources and effort into nurturing you, all in the hope that one day you would reach the Great Ascension or even the Tribulation Crossing realm, repaying and protecting the clan. How could we ever harbor any ill intentions toward you?"
"Repay... protect the clan?" Rong Shao murmured, his eyes distant.
He had heard these words countless times.
For millennia, ever since he embarked on the path of cultivation, Rong Luan and the other clan members had constantly reminded him: "Cultivate diligently, and when your cultivation is complete, you must repay the clan."
This phrase had been etched into his very bones, becoming the lifelong ambition that drove him.
"But I could protect the clan by cultivating other techniques as well," Rong Shao persisted. "Why was the Longevity Technique specifically chosen?"
Rong Luan's expression stiffened slightly before hardening into a glacial glare.
"Are you questioning this venerable one?" Her voice rose sharply, carrying an undeniable air of authority. "From the moment you were a naive child, I guided you onto the path of cultivation and meticulously instructed you in your practice. The Longevity Technique is an ancient secret art that can greatly extend a cultivator's lifespan. I initially worried about your temperament, fearing you might become trapped by some bottleneck and fail to break through. Practicing the Longevity Technique would at least grant you more years to live. And now, you dare to doubt me?"
Over the years, Rong Luan's imposing presence had become deeply ingrained in Rong Shao's mind, forming an insurmountable barrier.
Faced with her rebuke, Rong Shao trembled slightly, his courage to question her vanishing instantly.
"This grandson dares not."
"You'd best not."
Rong Luan snorted dismissively, her expression softening slightly.
"Stop dwelling on such foolish thoughts. This old woman would never harm you." Her tone carried the genuine concern of an elder for a junior.
"Yes, grandson will remember," Rong Shao replied.
Huang Yangshu, standing nearby, watched this scene with amusement.
Rong Shao had successfully diverted Rong Luan's attention, sparing Huang Yangshu from being held accountable for his dalliances with courtesans.
As for any future reckoning, by then Rong Luan's anger would have subsided, and she wouldn't punish him too severely.
However, he still needed to further distract Rong Luan, ensuring she had no time to dwell on his indiscretions.
"Madam, Fellow Daoist Rong Shao is not to blame. He was merely bewitched by Gu Huang."
As he spoke, Huang Yangshu pointed toward the blood sea below, signaling to Rong Luan that Gu Huang was within it.
Just as Huang Yangshu had anticipated, Rong Luan erupted in fury. She channeled her cultivation technique to its fullest extent, manipulating her long whip to strike at the blood sea once more.
Huang Yangshu breathed a sigh of relief, having successfully diverted her attention.
Rong Shao truly was a lucky star for him.
In truth, Huang Yangshu and Rong Shao had little genuine friendship. Their shared visits to brothels were merely Huang Yangshu's attempts to curry favor.
Rong Shao was a man of upright character, though somewhat foolishly loyal. He obeyed every command from the Rong Clan without question, constantly striving to uphold the clan's prestige.
Huang Yangshu had no concern that Rong Shao would reveal his secret affair to Rong Luan.
This was because Rong Shao had promised to keep it secret.
Such men, who valued their word above all else, were easily manipulated and exploited.
Rong Shao is such a fool, Huang Yangshu thought to himself. To confront Rong Luan directly like that is practically suicidal. The best approach would have been to secretly gather information about the Longevity Technique, then decide on his next move after uncovering the true nature of the Rong Clan and the Divine Blood Gate. That way, whether he chose to stay or flee, he would have been in complete control.
(End of the Chapter)
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