Chapter 5 — The Beast King's Blood Seal

The resonant, furious bellow of my master reverberated across the peaks. The Mountain Guardian Array materialized instantly, a cascade of radiant light descending from the skies like a celestial net designed to ensnare us within the sect. Mo Yuan emitted a low, contemptuous roar, its massive jaws parting to draw in a deep, sudden breath. The barrier of light—a formation entirely capable of withstanding the full-force strike of a Nascent Soul cultivator—was ruthlessly devoured in a single massive chunk, tearing open a colossal breach. Seizing the momentum, we surged forward, an unstoppable force. Behind us echoed the enraged roars of my master and the elders, interwoven with the desperate, sobbing cries of Ling Xi. I did not look back. The Beast Taming Sect, a crucible of a decade of love and hatred in my mortal existence, was from this moment onward utterly severed from my destiny. I, Ling Ye, was reborn from the ashes.

Mo Yuan and I pressed northward, plunging deep into the legendary expanse of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. This untamed domain belonged solely to the beast clans, untouched by human presence. The ambient spiritual energy was sparse, yet the primal demonic aura hung so dense and heavy that mere respiration became an arduous task. For me, however, this was the ultimate sanctuary for cultivation. We discovered a secluded, hidden valley nestled within the towering peaks, establishing a temporary refuge. By day, I immersed myself in the Demonic Transformation Art while Mo Yuan stood sentinel or ventured into the deeper wilderness to hunt. When night fell, I would rest my head against its warm, steadfast belly, gazing up at the starlit firmament. Such days were quiet, profound, and whole.

It seemed Mo Yuan sought to atone for the transgressions of our past life, subjecting itself entirely to my will and tending to me with unwavering devotion. It would forage for the finest spirit fruits, use its colossal frame to shelter me from howling gales and driving rain, or lie silently by my side during my trances, meticulously regulating its own breath so as not to disturb my focus. Yet I understood all too well that between us, a return to the past was impossible. Certain fractures, once carved into the marrow of one's bones, can never be erased. I accepted its goodwill, accepted its steadfast protection, but I would never again bestow upon it the fragile affection I had once held. Between the two of us, only the purest pact remained. It was my sharpest blade, my most impenetrable shield. Nothing more.

On that particular day, as I was channeling my internal energy to breach the third tier of the Demonic Transformation Art, a sudden, violent palpitation struck my chest. An aura of peerless danger was hurtling toward us from afar at a terrifying velocity. I instantly halted the technique, my eyes snapping open. Mo Yuan sprang to its feet, a low, guttural warning rumbling in its throat as its piercing gaze locked onto the valley entrance. Within moments, three figures materialized in the distance. The one leading them was none other than my esteemed master. Flanking him were two Supreme Elders whose presences were as unfathomable as the abyss. It appeared they were still unwilling to let me go—or rather, they could never let Mo Yuan go.

"Rebellious disciple, you truly are hiding here!" Upon sighting me, a flicker of elation crossed my master's eyes, only to be instantly supplanted by a frost-bitten murderous intent. "Today, this old man shall execute justice on behalf of the heavens and purge the sect of your stain!"

Naturally, he believed victory was already within his grasp. And rightfully so—this time, he had brought along the sect's two most formidable Nascent Soul Supreme Elders, whereas I was merely a nascent Golden Core demonic cultivator. Even with Mo Yuan being a divine beast, its cultivation was only equivalent to the late Golden Core stage. By any calculation, we held no path to victory.

"Master, it has been a while. I trust you have been well," I said, rising to my feet and casually dusting off my robes with an expression as serene as if I were welcoming honored guests. "To mobilize two Supreme Elders merely to capture me, are you not afraid that the sect will be left utterly defenseless and destroyed by opportunistic outsiders?"

"Hmph! To deal with a demonic wench like you, there is no need for all three of us to dirty our hands!" An eagle-nosed elder standing beside him sneered coldly, stepping forward. "This old man alone will suffice!"

The moment the words left his lips, he flicked his wrist, releasing a vast, golden net that expanded rapidly upon catching the wind, shrouding the entire valley in the blink of an eye.

"The Heaven-Ensnaring Net! Rebellious wretch, let us see where you run now!"

This net was the foundational divine treasure of the Beast Taming Sect, specifically crafted to suppress the demonic race. Once completely enveloped, even those with boundless divine powers would find it nearly impossible to escape. Mo Yuan roared furiously, spewing a torrent of jet-black demonic energy in an attempt to tear the webbing apart. Yet the dark radiance simply collided with the golden mesh, producing nothing more than faint, shimmering ripples before dissolving like foam on water.

"Do not waste your futile efforts," the eagle-nosed elder laughed triumphantly. "This Heaven-Ensnaring Net can confine even a Soul Formation demonic king for a time, let alone two brutes like you."

He executed a hand seal, causing the golden net to shrink inch by inch, closing in relentlessly around Mo Yuan and me. The space around us constricted violently, our avenues of escape vanishing at a terrifying pace. The sensation of a desperate impasse descended upon us once more.

My master and the remaining elder stood at a distance, observing us with leisurely detachment as though they were watching wild beasts trapped within a cage. In their eyes, Mo Yuan and I were already fish in a barrel, merely awaiting the moment the drawstrings were pulled.

"Ling Ye, if you kneel now, beg for mercy, and cripple your own cultivation, I may spare a thought for our past master-disciple bond... and leave you with an intact corpse." My master's voice drifted in from the periphery, dripping with aloof condescension as though bestowing a supreme favor.

I gazed upon that hypocritical facade, then suddenly let out a soft laugh.

"Master, have you forgotten... I still possess this."

I raised my hand, and the pitch-black, ferocious demonic blade instantly materialized in my grip.

My master's pupils constricted violently. The eagle-nosed elder's expression shifted as well, though he quickly recovered into a cold sneer. "So what if it is a Demonic King Weapon? You are merely a Golden Core cultivator; how much of its true power can you possibly unleash? Beneath the Heaven-Ensnaring Net, everything is futile!"

As he spoke, he poured even more spiritual power into the artifact. The golden net constricted faster, carrying a terrifying suction force that threatened to drain the very blood and flesh from our bodies. Mo Yuan let out a cry of agony as its scales began to fracture under the pressure. I reached out, gently stroking its head, and whispered softly, "Do not be afraid."

Then, I raised the blade.

I was acutely aware that with my current cultivation, it was impossible to fully activate the Demonic King Weapon. But who said I intended to use it for a direct attack? I took a deep breath, channeling every ounce of demonic energy left within my body, holding nothing back, and drove it straight into the spine of the blade. Simultaneously, a crimson bead of primordial life-essence welled up from between my brows and fell onto the razor-sharp edge.

Buzz!

The demonic blade emitted a heaven-shaking, resonant hum, and an ancient, berserk aura—as though born from the primordial chaos—suddenly erupted! In that fleeting instant, every single demonic beast across the entire Ten Thousand Great Mountains dropped to the earth, trembling as they bowed toward this direction. Within the valley, gale-force winds whipped up the stones as the sky plunged into pitch darkness.

The Heaven-Ensnaring Net, previously arrogant and impervious to destruction, let out a sorrowful groan beneath this tidal wave of pressure. Its golden radiance dimmed instantly, and the intricate runes inscribed upon it began to shatter and fragment inch by inch.

"No! Impossible!" The eagle-nosed elder shrieked in shrill panic, his hands flying wildly through hand seals in a desperate bid to stabilize the artifact.

It was useless.

Boom!

An explosion shook the entire valley to its core. The Heaven-Ensnaring Net—a sect-suppressing treasure powerful enough to imprison a Soul Formation demonic king—was forcibly pulverized amidst the roar of the demonic blade! Bearing the full brunt of the backlash, the eagle-nosed elder coughed up a massive mouthful of blood, his aura withering away to nothingness in a single heartbeat.

Both my master and the remaining Supreme Elder turned deathly pale, their eyes fixed on me in utter horror... or more precisely, upon the demonic blade resting in my hand.

"You... you actually managed to rouse the Demonic King's True Intent!"

"Just what on earth are you?!"

I did not answer. To unleash that single strike, I had completely drained every drop of demonic energy from my physique. My vision darkened, my body swaying unsteadily as I nearly slipped from Mo Yuan's back. The beast immediately surged forward, using its massive head to catch me, its eyes brimming with frantic anxiety.

"Go!" I ground out each syllable, transmitting the final command directly into our soul contract.

Mo Yuan did not dare hesitate for a fraction of a second. It wheeled around instantly, transforming into a brilliant streak of black lightning that pierced straight toward the horizon.

My master and the remaining Supreme Elder watched the direction of our disappearance, then glanced back at their heavily wounded, dying companion. In the end, they did not give chase.

For terror had finally paralyzed their souls.