The night upon Forbidden Mountain was deathly still and shrouded in gloom. The mountain winds shrieked through the crevices of the rocks, carrying a chilling mist and the rustling of leaves that sounded like the whispers of resentful wraiths. The ethereal moonlight was obscured by layers of dense clouds, making the mountain path even more eerie; only the most courageous hunters would dare to venture here.
But tonight, an uninvited guest had arrived.
Tran Kien, like a black panther, glided between the ancient trees without a sound. The Primordial Chaos Qi within his body was restrained to the absolute minimum, and his breath had nearly merged into the rhythm of the forest itself. He was no longer the Strategist who had to rely on his intellect to plot at Tran Bac City. He had returned to his most familiar identity: a hunter, a dagger concealed within the darkness.
He remained completely unaffected by the simple Soul-Beguiling Array on the outskirts. With his enlightenment regarding the Lac Viet Heavenly Cycle Array, these low-grade formations were nothing more than child's play in his eyes. He easily slipped through the weakest nodes of the array, approaching the clearing before the secret cave.
The two grey-robed protectors of the Sacred Gate stood there like stone statues, swords in hand, their cold gazes scanning the night. Their cultivation at the late-stage of the Qi Condensation Realm was enough to deter any magical beasts or hunters who might wander near.
Yet they could not discover that a shadow had already silently scaled the cliff above their heads.
Tran Kien lay motionless upon a crag, completely concealing his aura as he observed with patience. He was waiting. Waiting for the opportune moment to infiltrate the interior without drawing any attention.
After roughly one watch, one of the two guards grew weary and complained: "Dammit, why must we stand guard in this godforsaken place? Inside, the Senior Brothers are 'enjoying' the sacred medicine, while we are out here inhaling the cold wind."
"Shh! Lower your voice!" the other quickly interjected. "Do you wish to die? If the Protector hears you, you'll become one of those 'medicinal ingredients' yourself!"
Medicinal ingredients? Tran Kien's heart stirred upon hearing this. He knew that the true secret lay within this cave.
At that exact moment, two other disciples emerged from the cave, holding empty wooden buckets. "It is time to collect the 'Holy Water'."
The four guards exchanged positions. In that brief moment of transition, a gap appeared.
Tran Kien did not hesitate. His body was like a withered leaf, gently descending from the crag without a sound. He did not land on the ground; instead, he landed directly atop the cave's entrance, and like a gecko, he clung to the rock wall and slipped inside just before the new guards could settle into their positions.
The interior of the cave was not as dark as he had imagined. Along the tunnel walls, Night-Glow Pearls were embedded, emitting an eerie, emerald-green light. As he ventured deeper, the atmosphere became increasingly Yin-cold, and the sound of sutra chanting grew clearer.
Tran Kien moved along the walls, his footsteps silent. He passed several bends until finally, a vast space unfolded before his eyes.
It was a colossal natural hall. In the center of the hall stood an altar of black stone, engraved with ancient Shamanic Runes identical to those he had seen in the legacy of the Blood-Handed Demon General. Over thirty disciples of the Sacred Gate sat cross-legged around the altar, their eyes tightly shut as their mouths incessantly murmured unearthly sutras.
At the center of the altar, an old man with disheveled hair, clad in a grey robe, stood making strange hand-seals. He was the Protector mentioned by the guards, and his cultivation had already reached the mid-stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
But what caused Tran Kien to narrow his eyes was not these men.
It was the things atop the altar.
The five young hunters who were rumored to have gone missing were bound tightly to five wooden stakes, their eyes closed in what appeared to be a deep coma. Beneath each of them was a small groove; fresh blood was slowly trickling from their slit wrists, converging into a stone basin in the center.
And within that stone basin, a black stone egg the size of a human head was hovering, incessantly absorbing the blood-qi and life force of the five hunters.
This was no prayer session. This was a wicked Blood Sacrifice Ritual!
Sacred Gate? Mountain God? Tran Kien sneered inwardly. They were merely a pack of demons, using the name of deities to commit heartless atrocities!
He understood now. This so-called "Sacred Dynasty" was no orthodox path. They were a demonic faction far more terrifying and cunning than the Black Dragon Stronghold. They did not use brute force to conquer; they used faith and deep schemes to gnaw away at Dai Viet from within.
While Tran Kien was still observing, the Protector atop the altar suddenly snapped his eyes open. His eyes were not black, but an eerie emerald-green.
"WHO IS THERE?!" he roared, his gaze as sharp as a blade as it swept toward the dark corner where Tran Kien was concealed. "Daring to secretly spy upon the sacred grounds of my Sacred Gate!"
I have been discovered!
Tran Kien was startled. He had not expected the opponent's Divine Sense to be so keen. He knew that hiding was no longer an option.
He did not hesitate for a second. He did not rush out to attack. Instead, he did the opposite.
He turned around and, using his fastest speed, bolted back toward the exit!
"Trying to run?" The Protector sneered. "Since you have entered, then obediently become a part of the 'Sacred Object'!"
He did not give chase. He merely flicked his sleeve.
"BOOM! BOOM!"
The two colossal stone doors at either end of the tunnel, which Tran Kien had not noticed before, suddenly slammed shut, sealing all paths of escape.
Simultaneously, the thirty-plus Sacred Gate disciples opened their eyes in unison and drew their weapons, forming an encirclement. A chilling killing intent enveloped Tran Kien.
He had become a turtle in a jar.
Yet, within Tran Kien's eyes, there was no panic. There was only a fiercely burning battle-lust.
"With just you lot?" He drew the Army-Breaker Saber gifted to him by Mong Phong. The ancient blade, having been nurtured by his Primordial Chaos Qi for a long time, seemed to have awakened, letting out a bloodthirsty hum.
"You think you can keep me here?"
An unavoidable battle officially erupted within the heart of the demon's lair.