Chapter 004: Blood-Stained Annihilation of the Clan

How interesting, truly interesting! Hahahaha

The low, sinister laughter of the men in black was like thousands of heart-eating ants burrowing into Zhu Yuncong's body

Thank you both. The grace of saving my life is something I will never forget! Zhu Yuncong bows in gratitude, yet no matter how he moves, it always seems amusing and endearing. He then turns serious and asks, "Are you two heading to the Hongmeng Valley, the Hundred Spirits Tribe?"

Flames and the acrid stench of burning, accompanied by rising black smoke spreading and permeating, blood stains the earth with death, peace shattered by the sword's aura and magical arts, fragmented and irreparable, the entire Lark tribe, at this moment, plunged into an unprecedented disaster

I cannot predict where this sword will fall; it is already a stroke of luck that you were not struck dead by it" said the man in black with a smile

"You... what do you mean..." Zhu Yun Cang took a few steps back, staring in shock at the man before him

"Monsters, do not harm others!" Suddenly, a clear and resounding shout echoed from the sky

"What I mean is for you to visit the Hundred Spirits Department yourself, and you will understand." The demon sword in the hands of the man in black emitted a chilling black light, instilling fear. This flickering illusion made Zhu Yuncong extremely uneasy—he realized he had to set aside his so-called dignity and stubbornness. He must return to the Hundred Spirits Department in the Hongmeng Valley to investigate, as it was, after all, the place where he had lived for ten years

However, those few Taoists showed no compassion; with a wave of their hands, a glimmer of the blue blade shone, and a streak of crimson blood light emerged, killing both Miss Liu and the infant in the swaddling cloth.

"Who are you?" The man before me certainly does not resemble a practitioner of the Dao.

As for the one dressed entirely in black, he is Duanmu Yaoxian, the master of the Baicao Palace at the Shennong Peak of Mount Huashan. With a pair of hands capable of refining the world's rare poisons, he is already an exceptionally formidable figure even without any magical artifacts. Moreover, he possesses the 'Yanjing Shennong Yujing Ping,' which can contain the powers of the five elements, refine them into elixirs, and enhance his own cultivation.

As thoughts began to stir, Zhu Yuncang started to look back and run wildly.

The two middle-aged Taoists could not help but chuckle. One of them then clasped his hands and said, "This young master... I forgot to introduce ourselves. We are disciples of the Kunlun Yujue Peak, on our way to the Hongmeng Valley to handle matters for the Hundred Spirits Department. We happened to pass by here and, upon seeing the Gu Diao harming people, decided to lend a hand."

"Am I really going to die here?" Zhu Yuncong tightly held his head, bent down, and an overwhelming sense of unwillingness swept through his entire body

Prepare yourself mentally!" The man in black let out a cold laugh

The master of the sword is not faring well either; his hand has been severed, and the white robe is stained red in large part. He is sitting at the base of a small house not far away, on the verge of death.

After taking a few steps, suddenly, unsettling and strange noises began to emerge from above my head

As Zhu Yuncang looked on, a woman from the Bailing tribe rushed out of her house, cradling a child who had not yet reached one month of age. He recognized her as the sixth daughter, who lived next door to the clan leader and had just given birth to a son last month. At that moment, her husband lay on the ground in front of the door, facing the sky, as if accusing the world of its injustices, and she had no time to glance back, only running frantically. However, three men in white soon appeared before her. The three seemed to be inquiring about something, while the sixth daughter continuously shook her head in desperation, even kneeling down.

"Calculating against you? Hahaha... You are but a mere child, why would I need to scheme against you?" said the man in black, then turning serious, he looked at Zhu Yuncong, "However, you, young one, truly pique my interest and are to my taste!"

Is it coming again? The fear of Yun Cang has already mixed with a hint of helplessness, can't it just appear all at once? What does this continuous appearance mean?

"Why not let me take you along for a while!" Without waiting for a response, the man in black took a swift step forward, grasped Zhu Yuncong's hand, and leaped into the air, navigating through the branches above the dense forest.

Above the dense forest, two Daoists hovering in mid-air slowly descended. They did not hold onto their dust brushes; instead, they sheathed their swords and approached, addressing Zhu Yuncong: "Little brother, are you alright?"

The green mountains remain unchanged, and the flowing waters are everlasting! Zhu Hetu Shuyun Cang smiled, his eyes revealing a child's cunning. He thought that although he had already severed ties with the Hundred Spirits Tribe of Hongmeng Valley and would have no further relations with them, he at least could not push his people into the fire pit. These two would eventually find the Hundred Spirits Tribe, but by not guiding them, perhaps he could buy some time for the Hundred Spirits Tribe.

Who are they? Who exactly are they? Zhu Yuncong was almost about to shout and rush down the hillside, but his shoulders were firmly held down by the man in black.

Although there are lingering concerns, Yun Cang still does not look back, nor can he ever turn back.

Zhu Yun Cang trembled all over, gritting his teeth, and said in a hoarse voice: "Who on earth are they... who exactly are they..."

However, in just half a day, everything has changed; the tranquil and peaceful village of Bailing has long since ceased to exist

Ugh! Zhu Yuncong wanted to cry out, but his mouth was covered by a man in black who approached from behind. The man in black pulled him down beside a blue stone, hiding among the grass. At that moment, Zhu Yuncong saw the shaman who had been targeting him all along. The shaman was bound to a log supporting the tent, covered in wounds, with a sword about three feet long stabbed into his chest.

I... I wish to speak, but a wave of sorrow suddenly rises in my heart. Now, he should have no further connection with Hongmeng Valley. He cannot return; going back would only subject him to indifference, disdain, and ridicule. "I do know where it is, but I am not from here and cannot take you there."

"Steal? Why must you steal? Do you not know that this sword originally belongs to me!" said the man in black.

Since you, young master, are not in a position to assist, might you guide us instead

Zhu Yuncong, still shaken, seemed to have just crawled back from hell, fearfully raising his head to look upwards

In today's world, the four leaders of the strongest sects.

A dozen enormous monstrous birds screeched as they swooped down, yet within the dense forest, there was only Zhu Yuncong. He no longer held any weapons in his hands, not even the short sword he had for self-defense, which was currently embedded in the chest of a dead monstrous bird, leaving him no time to retrieve it

The three Taoists who had just ruthlessly attacked Miss Liu were now trembling due to several yellow-robed sorcerers, with the sounds of thunder, fierce flames, and collapsing earth and stones incessantly ringing in their ears

On the treetop, a tall man dressed in black flipped down and stood before Zhu Yuncang. He carried a sword sheath on his back, his expression aloof and slightly disdainful as he surveyed the child before him

The cold light of the sword sliced through the sky, followed by a crisp, long cry, resembling the rippling flow of water as it expanded in a circular motion. Immediately after, there came the tearing cacophony of anguished screams and sharp howls, accompanied by the sound of metal tearing through the air, resonating throughout the heavens, merging above the dense forest into a strange melody

Who? Zhi Yuncang looked around, and he suddenly recalled the shadow he had seen for the first time earlier. That shadow was not a Gu Diao, but rather resembled a person more closely

"So it is indeed you! What is your purpose? Why did you scheme against me?" Zhu Yun Cang shouted.

After half a day, Zhu Yuncong believed he had walked quite far in the forest. However, he did not realize that in just about the time it takes to brew half a cup of tea, he once again saw the stone tablet at the entrance of Hongmeng Valley. In reality, he had merely been going in circles within this dense forest.

Moments later, as if the dust had settled, all was silent, with only a few drifting blue feathers dancing gracefully in the air, completely indifferent to their owner's soul being scattered.

Clearing away the tall, ever-vibrant weeds that obstruct the entrance, before me lies a steep slope. At the foot of the slope stands a massive bluestone, from which one can overlook the entirety of the Lark tribe. Here, ... there would originally be two adult male tribesmen on guard, yet at this moment, there is not a single one present ...

"Indeed. " The speaker continued, "Could it be that you, young sir, know the way to Hongmeng Valley? If so, would you be so kind as to guide us?"

As for what it means, you will understand sooner or later. The man in black was not prepared to answer Zhu Yuncong's question

"Hey, kid, do you know how to get there?" shouted the man in black from behind.

The one in the yellow robe is Ling Yunzi of the Chongyun Sect on Jiuding Mountain, who is said to be a practitioner at the Returning Origin stage. Once he overcomes the earthly tribulation, he can transform into an Earth Immortal. The sword he wields, Tian Chongyun, is unpredictable and elusive, combined with his exceptionally powerful Daoist techniques and swordsmanship, he is capable of standing unrivaled in the world

"Hahaha, a group of hypocritical beasts in human clothing, it has indeed come to blows." The man in black looked with great interest at everything happening down the steep slope in the Lark tribe, as if it were a game, a match of strategy. Meanwhile, Zhu Yuncong's face had long turned ashen; in the past ten years, he had never witnessed such a horrific scene, especially since this inhumane destruction was occurring in his hometown where he had lived for a decade.

In the grass, Zhu Yuncong quietly raised his head and unexpectedly discovered four individuals suspended in the air, gazing down at the earth. These four were clad in battle robes of yellow, red, black, and white, all with snow-white hair and flowing garments. Each of them held an extraordinary weapon in their hands, their feet floating in the void, clearly not ordinary practitioners of the Dao.

Hmph, you little brat, you actually have some skill when it comes to dealing with the Gu-diao. " A voice echoed above Zhu Yuncong's head, "It's just a pity that your cultivation is insufficient; you can only resort to tricks!

Zhu Yun Cang stepped swiftly to the side of the blue stone, looking down—once again returning to this place, the place of his birth

Zhu Yuncong pondered for a moment—over the years, there have been few outsiders visiting the Bai Ling tribe, especially since the recent incident with the demon sword. Zhu Yuncong suddenly became wary of the two Daoists before him, saying, "You two should find your own way. You are in the air, while I am on the ground; it should be much more convenient for you than for me." His expression turned somewhat indifferent; although it was a facade, it was enough to deter the two from further inquiries.

"It can be said so," said the man in black, taking a step forward and asking, "Are you really not planning to return to the Lark tribe to take a look?"

I no longer have any connection with the Lark Clan. " Zhu Yun Cang said, lowering his head with a melancholic expression

"This ... ... that day ... ..." Zhu Yun Cang was quickly contemplating, searching through fragments of the searcher's memory, "Could it be that day when you cast this sword down from the sky https://www.hetushu.com in front of me?"

"You... have been following me all along?" Zhu Yun Cang widened his eyes, increasingly perplexed by the man's intentions

Zhu Yun Cang felt as if struck by lightning, frozen in place, and said: "You... what do you mean by this?!"

As he settled before the stone tablet, Zhu Yuncong could already hear the rhythmic sounds of iron striking against iron and the chaotic shouts of battle, an ominous premonition suddenly enveloping his entire being

I... I... I..." Zhu Yun Cang hurriedly stopped in his tracks, standing still. At this moment, his face had turned bright red, and he was too embarrassed to say a word.

"Even if the entire Lark faction is slaughtered, with blood flooding the fields, it has nothing to do with you?" the man in black asked with a smile

The one in the white clothing is Dongfang Xiao, the master of the Qingming Sword Pavilion on Shaoshu Mountain. He is obsessed with swordsmanship, possessing no magical artifacts, and carries only a rusty sword. Yet, he has already reached the Return to Origin stage, with strength comparable to Ling Yunzi.

The figure in the red robe beside him is Li Tianjin, the leader of the Fire Refining Sect from Shu. Although his cultivation is not high, the magical artifact he possesses, the Sacred Fire Qilin Eye, can ignite the true fire of Samadhi in all directions, making it difficult for ordinary people to resist

"You wouldn't be interested in my name, but... I think you would be interested in it." The man in black unsheathed the sword from the scabbard on his back, and in an instant, he had the long sword, emanating a dark purple demonic light, in his hand—a strange smile playing at the corners of his mouth

You... did you steal this sword?! Zhu Yuncong certainly recognizes this sword; in just a fleeting moment, it changed the trajectory of his life

Once his shock subsided, Zhu Yuncong slowly stood up, brushed off the dust from his clothes, and said: "It's nothing... nothing at all... How could these little demons possibly harm me, the young master."

So... who is that person...

Then... the two Daoists exchanged glances and, cupping their hands towards Zhu Yuncong, said, "Thank you once again. We must continue on our journey and cannot delay any longer. Farewell."

The man in black remained calm and quietly gestured with his finger: "Look up there"

Do you not want to live? For these people, killing you is almost like squashing an ant!