Chapter 126: He is Not Feigning Madness, He is Truly Mad

Chapter 126: He Is Not Feigning Madness—He Is Truly Mad

Over two thousand Terrestrial Myths and several hundred Supremes were gathered within the barbican.

Qi Yuan, clad in a blood-red robe, sat atop the city wall.

His gaze was divine, his voice ethereal, like the sound of immortals.

As he preached, everyone present was utterly entranced.

Even Miluo the Supreme, harboring treacherous intent, felt as though he were drifting between a celestial realm and a hellish abyss, shifting endlessly.

The crowd was lost in rapture, and time slipped silently through their fingers.

Outside No Return City, three terrifying auras lay in hiding.

At their head was Miluo the Supreme’s father, Mikong the Great Supreme.

A peculiar expression crossed his face: “Even with the aid of the Fate Tablet, this Blood Lord’s talent is still astonishing enough.”

“The path of the human demon is the path of human nature—it requires profound understanding of humanity, or a fixation on a single thought, to grasp the origin.

And to preach it, one must at least be... worldly-wise, seeing through the true nature of all things.

Unfortunately, this also means... confusion.” Another Great Supreme sighed. “The Blood Lord’s madness is not a pretense. To be so deeply attuned to the power of the human demon, even a Great Supreme cannot bear it. His insanity is only natural.”

All three present were Great Supremes.

They had already inscribed their origin divine abilities onto their bodies and souls.

They also had a deeper understanding of the path of the human demon.

This path was truly frenzied and chaotic—the deeper the realm, the greater the influence.

Not a single supreme being like the White Emperor or the Lord, who still lingered in the present world, had escaped this fate.

Otherwise, no one could say whether they might suddenly go mad.

With the help of the Fate Tablet, the Blood Lord could clearly expound the chaotic path of the human demon, allowing Terrestrial Myths to directly touch the origin. It could be said that the Blood Lord had already sunk too deep into the human demon path, on the verge of collapse and madness at any moment.

Even a Great Supreme could not bear it, let alone... the Blood Lord.

“Once we obtain the Fate Tablet, we must not emulate the Blood Lord and become too entangled with it.

Each of us shall hold the Fate Tablet for seven years, taking turns.” A Great Supreme with yellow brows proposed; he hailed from the Northern Lands.

This proposal had been agreed upon among them earlier.

“No objections.” A woman with blue hair spoke, her voice icy. “I am most fond of studying strange things. Two-thirds of the Blood Lord’s body must be left to me—I wish to examine it thoroughly.”

Mikong the Great Supreme chuckled. “When we strike later, we must not be too fierce. If we smash the Blood Lord to pieces, Ice and Snow the Great Supreme will have nothing to study.”

The Yellow-Brow Great Supreme smiled, but his eyes held worry. “My brow keeps twitching. I cannot tell if it bodes good or ill.”

“What? Do you still have concerns?” Mikong the Great Supreme asked.

“The disappearance of Purple Daoist in the Land of a Thousand Blood-Dropped Cities is truly suspicious.” The Yellow-Brow Great Supreme was uneasy.

Hearing this, Mikong the Great Supreme felt nothing but contempt for him.

They had discussed this matter many times, yet this old yellow-browed man still fretted.

“Even if the Blood Lord used the Fate Tablet to slay Purple Daoist, we have... over a thousand Supremes at our command.

Even if the White Emperor came, he would have to tread carefully, let alone the Blood Lord!” Mikong the Great Supreme said, trying to soothe him.

His lifespan was nearly spent; he had to succeed.

Over the years, the three Great Supremes had worked together to slowly send peak Terrestrial Myths into No Return City.

Including those attending this sermon, there were a total of one thousand five hundred.

One could say that the prosperity of No Return City was inseparable from their contributions.

Ice and Snow the Great Supreme spoke flatly, “If we delay any longer, we will not be the only ones coveting the Blood Lord.”

The Yellow-Brow Great Supreme pressed his twitching brow. “Very well!”

Mikong the Great Supreme laughed heartily. “Let us discuss once more how to divide the spoils.”

Such discussions were always exciting and joyful.

After all, this opportunity was even greater than when they had become Great Supremes.

...

On the city wall, the sermon ended.

Those below sat in meditation, some frowning, some pondering.

Qi Yuan stood on the wall and murmured to himself, “This time, I put far more effort into my sermon than before. Do not disappoint me.”

As Qi Yuan’s words fell,

a man in the barbican suddenly rose, the power of origin bursting forth from him.

His eyes were tightly shut, but the barely suppressed joy on his face was unmistakable.

A Supreme!

Some Supremes awoke from their contemplation and looked at the newly ascended Supreme, their expressions complex.

As one Terrestrial Myth stepped into the realm of Supreme, one after another emerged like bamboo shoots after rain.

In just a few hours, the number of new Supremes in the barbican exceeded a thousand.

This rivaled the accumulation of a thousand years in Liufeng Realm.

Miluo the Supreme opened his eyes, astonishment filling them.

What he had heard was nothing compared to witnessing it himself.

He glanced at the Blood Lord on the wall of No Return City, a wildly audacious thought flashing through his mind.

Soon... he could take his place.

Wait... wait... wait until all the hidden seeds had stepped into the realm of Supreme.

Half a day had passed—for laborers, it was a day of torment; for those on holiday, it was far too short, ending before they had even fully awakened and played.

For those who had broken through to Supreme, time was short—so short it felt unreal.

But Miluo the Supreme felt that this afternoon was especially long.

Finally, after the last Terrestrial Myth ascended to Supreme,

all the over two thousand Terrestrial Myths present had entered the realm of Supreme.

These over two thousand Supremes, as usual, bowed in unison to Qi Yuan.

“We thank the Blood Lord for the grace of his teachings!”

Over a thousand Supremes shouted in unison, their voices carrying for dozens of li, echoing throughout No Return City.

At least in that roar, there was some genuine sincerity.

Qi Yuan stood on the city wall, a lazy expression on his face. “It’s finally over.”

An end—yet also a beginning.

He spoke, and seemed about to leave.

At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.

"This matter is not yet over." The speaker was none other than Miluo Zunzhe, who had been biding his time.

The voice was light and airy, yet it reached everyone's ears, including Qi Yuan's.

As he spoke, the gazes of thousands of Zunzhe on the field fell upon him.

Hundreds of Zunzhe looked at Mikong Zunzhe, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

Some wore expressions of surprise, others of fear, still others of confusion and trepidation.

Li Yunzhi, standing among the crowd, watched Miluo Zunzhe and muttered curses under his breath: "This guy is finally going to stir up trouble."

There was also worry in his eyes.

Anyone who wasn't a fool could see that many Zunzhe on the field were moving toward Mikong Zunzhe, as if choosing sides.

Among them were many veteran Zunzhe.

Qi Yuan looked at Miluo Zunzhe: "It's not over yet? Hurry up, I'm busy."

Miluo Zunzhe looked at the composed Qi Yuan, his heart trembling, but he knew that at this moment, the arrow had been nocked and had to be loosed.

He let out a great shout: "Today's affair is a grudge between me and the Blood Lord. All of you... just watch.

If you interfere and die here, don't blame me!"

Miluo Zunzhe issued his ultimatum.

With his words, more and more Zunzhe surged toward him.

Even the "veteran" Zunzhe of Wugui City hurried to Miluo Zunzhe's side.

In just a few dozen breaths, over a thousand Zunzhe had clustered around Miluo Zunzhe.

A thousand Zunzhe gathered together, their combined aura enough to shake everyone.

On the field, another thousand Zunzhe remained like scattered sand, their faces uncertain.

A tall, stalwart Zunzhe stepped forward, his expression agitated: "What are you doing? The Blood Lord granted us insights into the origin, helping us become Zunzhe.

Now that you've just become Zunzhe, you want to betray the Blood Lord?"

He cursed Miluo Zunzhe and the Zunzhe behind him.

After his tirade, he roared at those behind him: "Everyone, follow me to protect the lord!

They outnumber us; the Blood Lord needs us!"

Of the thousand Zunzhe behind him, only a few dozen stepped forward.

The rest had varied expressions—some hesitant, some anxious, some even wanting to join Miluo Zunzhe's side.

Miluo Zunzhe looked at the tall, stalwart Zunzhe with disdain in his eyes.

Human nature... is all selfish.

The occasional flash of brilliance is like the stars in the sky from ancient legends.

When the stars vanish, where is the brilliance?

However, Miluo Zunzhe still spoke with a smile: "Don't be fooled by the Blood Lord.

The Blood Lord was once a young prodigy, much admired by my father. In fact, my father, Mikong the Great Zunzhe, even wanted to betroth my little sister to him.

But who would have thought this man was crooked, seducing my sister, bewitching her, and stealing a precious treasure from my father, Mikong the Great Zunzhe.

It is by relying on that treasure that he achieved what he has today.

My grudge with the Blood Lord is long-standing; all of you, do not get involved!"

No matter the occasion, one must have some semblance of righteousness.

Sure enough, as soon as this news came out, some Zunzhe who had been fearful and dared not protect the lord spoke up.

"No wonder the Blood Lord could impart the Dao—he stole the treasure of Mikong the Great Zunzhe.

Such a despicable villain, I will not defend him!" Some Zunzhe found a reason not to protect the lord, feeling more at ease.

Then, a speculator asked: "Miluo Zunzhe, may we join you in killing this despicable villain?"

"You are most welcome," Miluo Zunzhe replied with a smile.

On the opposite side, there were also over a thousand Zunzhe, even more than their own number, but those thousand Zunzhe... could not be united into a single rope.

They were nothing to fear.

Immediately, nearly a hundred more Zunzhe joined Miluo Zunzhe's side.

The smugness on Miluo Zunzhe's face grew. "Blood Lord... hand over the treasure and commit suicide to atone for your crimes." Miluo Zunzhe, with a thousand Zunzhe, pressured the Blood Lord.

Qi Yuan stood on the city wall, excessively calm: "Is that all? No one else?"

"Heh heh, the Blood Lord is indeed the Blood Lord, truly bold and courageous!"

A hearty laugh rang out.

Three Great Zunzhe appeared, radiating powerful auras. They landed in Wugui City, shielding the thousand Zunzhe before them.

They were Great Zunzhe, with extraordinary strength.

As the three appeared, like iron pillars calming the sea, even the newly rebellious Zunzhe following Miluo Zunzhe felt greatly reassured.

These three Great Zunzhe, separated from Qi Yuan by a thousand Zunzhe, looked at him with fervent expressions.

At this moment, the Blood Lord was excessively calm.

This deepened their suspicion that the Blood Lord had long gone mad.

Otherwise, even if the White Emperor were in the Blood Lord's place, he would not be so composed.

Of course, even with their confidence, these three Great Zunzhe did not stand before the thousand Zunzhe but behind them.

Who knew if the Blood Lord had some terrifying means? If he somehow took them out, that would be too tragic.

"Blood Lord, we three Great Zunzhe and over seventeen hundred Zunzhe send you on your way. Are you satisfied?" Mikong the Great Zunzhe said, his face brimming with pride.

When had he ever commanded over a thousand Zunzhe?

As long as the Blood Lord was killed, everything of his... would belong to the three of them.

With the Fate Stone Tablet, they would be even stronger than the legendary White Emperor.

Even entering the battlefield of the Ten Thousand Demons Gate, they would have a place, and could even bargain with the legendary Sovereign.

Wasn't the Sovereign so powerful because he also had a Fate Stone Tablet?

On the field, Li Yunzhi was worried: "Old Gai, how can the Blood Lord turn this around? This is a full seventeen hundred Zunzhe!"

Seventeen hundred Zunzhe, like cabbages for the taking.

Such a terrifying force, led by three Great Zunzhe in a siege.

Even if the White Emperor himself came, he couldn't break this deadly trap.

"You... will know soon enough." Wang Gai touched his back, feeling the cold sensation; it would soon be his turn to take the stage.

At this moment, Qi Yuan stood atop the city wall, a smile spreading across his face. "You think I was unaware of your schemes, that I had no defenses prepared?"

At Qi Yuan's words, Great Supreme Mikong's heart skipped a beat.

The seventeen hundred Supremes also felt a flicker of unease.

Then Qi Yuan spoke: "I have prepared a grand gift for you as well."

As he spoke, he produced a cup from his hand and lightly tossed it down from the wall.

The thousand Supremes below instinctively stepped back half a pace.

Even the three Great Supremes recoiled several steps in alarm.

The cup fell from the wall, hitting the ground with a dull thud—and nothing else happened.

Wang Gai glanced at the unbroken cup, a strange expression crossing his face.

This wasn't quite what they had agreed upon?

The three thousand-plus Supremes on the field looked uneasy, all eyes fixed on Qi Yuan, wondering what trick he was playing.

Then they heard Qi Yuan say with a chuckle: "Ah, I used a silver cup as the signal to break, but it didn't shatter. Awkward.

Broken or not... come out, all of you—the gift I have for you!"

At Qi Yuan's voice, Great Supreme Mikong, Great Supreme Bingxue, and Great Supreme Huangmei felt a chill run through them.

Was there truly a hidden move?

If so... it seemed a battle to the death was at hand!

With Qi Yuan's words, a hundred Supremes from among the crowd below soared up to the city wall.

Among them, naturally, was Wang Gai.

These hundred were the ones who had witnessed Qi Yuan's power before.

Seeing these figures land on the wall, Qi Yuan's heart steadied. "With them here, what can you do against me?"

The three Great Supremes on the field exchanged glances.

A sense of absurdity washed over them.

It was normal for the Blood Lord to have a hundred Supremes sworn to his service.

But to think a hundred could hold back a thousand?

Was he a fool?

The three Great Supremes concluded that the Blood Lord was indeed mad—not an act, and gravely so.

They had feared this madman for so long, devised countless plans and contingencies, and now it all seemed laughable.

Then the Blood Lord stood on the wall, facing the thousand Supremes before him, a smile on his lips.

"To deal with you, I formed a band—isn't that enough honor for you?"

Back in the Canglan Realm, Qi Yuan had often thought that in battle, some background music would add to the atmosphere.

But in those days, he lacked enough lackeys, so he had to use jade slips to play music, which lost much of its effect.

Now, as the Blood Lord, he had no shortage of people.

"A hundred Supremes playing music for you, a funeral march—isn't that classy enough?"

Qi Yuan snapped his fingers.

At once, the hundred Supremes in blood-red robes, their faces solemn, produced all manner of instruments.

Flutes, pipes, trumpets, gongs, drums, suonas, sheng, cymbals, erhus—everything imaginable.

The five at the front, including Wang Gai, held instruments resembling suonas.

The sight struck everyone on the field as utterly ridiculous.

"Strike up the music," Qi Yuan said, stepping forward.

Wang Gai raised his suona and blew hard.

Woo—

The suona's wail rose, like a lament.

Sustained and piercing, as if weeping and telling a tale.

The hundred Supremes, like musicians at a funeral, stood solemn.

In the dry desert, only that mournful sound could be heard.

Qi Yuan immediately fell into the rhythm.

"At first, you know not the suona's cry; next, you lie in a coffin, dead and dry.

Pity I didn't prepare coffins for you, so you can't even claim that title!"

As the music played, Qi Yuan stepped off the wall, walking through the air toward the thousand Supremes, step by step.

He felt a surge of emotion.

With a hundred Supremes playing the suona, his combat power was amplified.

A pity such a thing could never be replicated in the Canglan Realm.

Otherwise, he would have found a few hundred Supremes every day to play suonas outside the Bright Palace.

The thousand Supremes exchanged bewildered glances.

The suona's sound was indeed filled with sorrow, but it was also... utterly absurd.

Great Supreme Mikong's face darkened.

This Blood Lord was truly a madman!

"Kill!" Mikong commanded.

The thousand Supremes hesitated for a moment, then began to ready themselves for battle.

Just then, Qi Yuan stopped in his tracks.

"Have you ever seen... a thousand demons raging, blood raining down upon the world?"

Void Realm Sovereign's Heart Demon Summoning!

In that instant, Qi Yuan, clad in his blood-red robe, unleashed the source power he had long been brewing—like a flood bursting through a dam, surging endlessly.

Amid the suona's wail, blood rain fell, drifting down upon the thousand Supremes.

Seeing this, the Supremes instinctively tried to ward off the blood rain.

But the rain seemed formless, impossible to block or touch.

Yet... as it landed on them, something terrifying happened!

Qi Yuan, like a blood-red god of death, sat cross-legged in the void, a cruel smile in his eyes.

"Keep playing the music, keep killing!"

Void Realm Sovereign's Heart Demon Summoning!

Amid the sound of suonas, countless cries of terror arose; those supreme beings, once so mighty, now seemed to have glimpsed the most fearsome monster in this world.

Some howled incessantly, others wept without end.

Horrific demons crawled out from their bodies.

They were like the most helpless newborn infants, utterly unable to resist.

A thousand supremes, under Qiyuan's primordial divine ability, were overrun by inner demons.

The fierce onslaught of the supreme army collapsed in an instant.

A mournful melody rang out, embodying the longing of the living for the dead.

Within the barbican, over seventeen hundred supremes, their faces twisted, bit and devoured themselves.

On the field, only the music and the screams of those thousand supremes remained.

The scene was... eerily bizarre.

Li Yunzhi and the remaining thousand or so supremes watched in silence.

What... what was this?

The divine ability was unleashed.

A thousand supremes had their inner demons burst forth from their bodies!

Even Miluo Supreme, that old veteran not of Wugui City, suffered the same wretched fate.

This sight was truly... terrifying.

That Blood Lord... far from being a born saint, was unmistakably... a god of slaughter!

The surviving thousand supremes swallowed hard, their faces pale with fear.

Did this mean that if the Blood Lord wished, he could annihilate them all in an instant?

Everyone was stunned, watching the supremes die one after another, their eyes filled with sheer terror.

The three great supremes, upon seeing this, felt fear for the first time in their eyes.

"You... you... what are you?"

A thousand supremes marching to their doom together, like a demonic realm... was this a sight they were meant to witness?

Even a god could not do this!

(End of this chapter)