Chapter 72 (1/2)
After a short silence, Xiao Chen nodded. “Two months ago, Daofeng caught two friends of mine.”
Huangfu Xin’er’s eyes looked shocked. “You mean Elder Daofeng? They went back to Violet Manor a month ago.”
Xiao Chen frowned. “Xian’er and Senior Sister Luo, have they been taken to Violet Manor?” He asked, “Had you heard that they had brought some people back?”
Huangfu Xin’er shook her head. “Disciples have always been afraid to ask about the elders’ matters. Did Elder Daofeng really catch your friends? How is that possible?”
Xiao Chen clenched his fist. “I saw it with my own eyes. It can’t be wrong!”
A moment later, Huangfu Xin’er sighed. “Maybe it was not just me who found you last night. Don’t go there today, okay? My master set the formations. He will know when his formations are broken. He is about to end his seclusion, so I don’t want you to take risks again.”
“I’m sorry, Xin’er. Can I take you away from here?”
After last night’s incident, he felt more like it that there were something wrong going on in the Skygale Sect. It was not good for Huangfu Xin’er to stay here.
“I…” Huangfu Xin’er stopped her words and lowered her head. “Where can you take me to? Our engagement had been…”
At night, the cold wind blew through people’s skin, and a crescent moon hung above the vague sea. Xiao Chen stood on the top of the cliff, facing the sea. It seemed that the tide was rising tonight. When it ebbed tomorrow, the ship that sent goods to the island would come. In half a month, they had search through the entire Skygale Sect, and the only place that they hadn’t checked was that cave.
Just as he was lost in thought, two figures came quietly behind him. Shangguan Yan patted on his shoulder, trying to scare him. But unexpectedly, he turned and said calmly, “Are you ready?”
Shangguan Yan pursed her lips, saying, “Humph! Why haven’t I scared you!” Xiao Han said, “Time won’t wait. Let’s go.”
They came to the cave last night, and the eight huge swords were still hanging there, switching positions constantly. The talismans on them were shining dimly. Xiao Chen had already prepared everything. He took out eight yellow seals and threw them into the air. They then immediately stuck to the swords.
He then kept chanting and casting out prints, while the talismans on the yellow seals burst out lights. The switching speed of the eight swords gradually slowed down. Xiao Han saw this and immediately put his hand at Xiao Chen’s back, sending True Qi to Xiao Chen. So did Shangguan Yan. A few moments later, the eight huge swords stopped moving as the talismans on the swords disappeared.
“I can only temporarily stop the operation of this formation. We have to be fast.” They entered the cave and immediately smelled a pungent air of blood.
The further they proceeded, the heavier the smell. Xiao Chen held up a light curtain to shine the path. “Ah!” Shangguan Yan shouted. There were numerous blood ponds around, and each of them was connected by a ditch.
Xiao Chen was startled. This was not a sword grave, and he did not know what these blood pools were used for. But he was sure that it was human blood. The Skygale Sect did such things against reason and nature. It did not deserve to be a cultivators’ sect. He asked, “Do you know what these blood pools are used for?”
Xiao Han pondered for a while and said, “Last time in a night, I heard something like sending blood souls to the Skygale Sect in Violet Manor.”
Blood soul? Xiao Chen squinted. “Are these people going to open the blood soul formation to resurrect someone?” “Through hundreds of millions of human beings and the power of the ancient fierce formation, bring the dead to life… The Blood Soul Formation!” In the memories of his last life, it seemed that there was indeed such an evil formation.
The Skygale Sect built an Outer Gate in the Human World and recruit countless disciples. However, only a few disciples were able to enter Violet Manor. Where did the other disciples go? They might have become the blood souls in these ponds and were sent to the Skygale Sect in Violet Manor, turning into the spirit medium for opening the Blood Soul Formation.
Xiao Chen’s back started to chill. This Skygale Sect was really evil. Didn’t Huangfu Xin’er know about this? Senior Sister Luo and Xian’er…
While meditating, Xiao Han suddenly pulled him and pointed to the northwest, saying, “There seems to be a hidden path.”
Xiao Chen looked over and found the trace of being chiseled on the stone wall. They then walked over and found a hidden mechanism that opened the stone door. A rancid smell suddenly came to their faces. In front of the three was an artificially dug tunnel. It was dark inside, and there seemed to be many unknown creatures crawling and rustling.
Xiao Chen and Xiao Han looked at each other and asked Shangguan Yan in unison, “Are you waiting here or are you coming with us?” Shangguan Yan shivered, pinched her nose and said, “Of-of course I’ll go with you! I am not afraid!”
The tunnel was dark and damp. When the three men entered it, the rancid smell became heavier, making them want to puke. Shangguan Yan took out a handkerchief and covered her nose and mouth, while the two men held their breath. The further they went, the softer the soil became. They could even hear some creaking sound after they trod on the soil.