NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 329
CHAPTER 329: Blood Demon Gate
In an all-out war, where the conflict would not cease until one side was annihilated, any concept of morality or code of conduct became laughable—naive at best. The sole objective of the warring factions was the complete and utter destruction of their enemies.
In such a scenario, the possibility of a rear assault became a viable and strategic option. And Xuanshui City presented itself as an excellent target.
The Hundred Schools of Philosophy were by no means weak in strength, and their influence stretched far and wide. If the Three Elements Academy, the most prominent institution within the Hundred Schools, could be eliminated in a single blow, it would undoubtedly deal a significant blow to the entire Eternal Clan.
The timing, too, was ideal. Jiu Han remained preoccupied at the front lines. Furthermore, he had siphoned off much of the power from Boshi Tower to support the war effort.
Although Boshi Tower was still a divine artifact, and its Semi-Divine realm experts stood resolute, the situation had changed. Jeros was already here.
With a god present, a divine artifact that had been deprived of most of its energy could no longer pose much of a threat.
"Now that we have identified the target, all that remains are the finer details," Jeros remarked.
He then turned to Blood-Eye Venerable, who stood nearby. "Among them, who possesses the strongest abilities?"
The Blood-Eye Venerable smiled and directed his gaze toward Lin Feng.
"This is my disciple, a figure of exceptional ability. His public identity is that of an in-name disciple of Jiu Han himself, and he resides within Boshi Tower. He has also studied the Dao of Array Formations under Jiu Han’s tutelage. I believe he will prove invaluable to this operation."
Blood-Eye Venerable’s words were not merely a compliment; they were clearly intended to pave the way for Lin Feng’s rise in this mission.
Lin Feng stepped forward, bowing deeply to Blood-Eye Venerable, before turning his respectful gaze toward Jeros.
"Not bad," Jeros said with a smile. "Not bad at all. Having someone inside Boshi Tower will certainly make things more manageable."
Jeros continued, "I have a task for you. Organize information on the personnel within Xuanshui City—their approximate strength, status, and positions. Prepare a preliminary plan as soon as possible."
"Speed is of the essence," Jeros added. "Within a week, I want to see Xuanshui City reduced to a frozen wasteland."
Lin Feng immediately nodded. "I will not disappoint you, Venerable."
Xuanshui City had been thrown into disarray in recent days. The three frontlines had been breached, and the Aeonians were being assaulted from multiple sides. As a result, many residents began relocating to the safer heartlands of the province.
Xuanshui City, with the Three Elements Academy and Jiu Han overseeing its defense, was widely regarded as safe from the flames of war. Most believed the city was too well-protected to be touched by the ongoing conflict.
However, this sense of security came with its own complications. The influx of outsiders had caused a severe breakdown in the city’s internal order.
The city’s land area was limited, as were its buildings and infrastructure. Even though, in this supernatural world, skyscrapers could be constructed overnight, the supporting facilities, public services, and supply chains were far more challenging to manage.
Outside the city walls, what had once been fertile agricultural land had transformed into a sprawling slum. The farmlands were ruined, and a multitude of illegal structures had sprung up, creating a maze of haphazard dwellings.
Guan Chao and Gan Song navigated their way through this urban labyrinth, both men frowning as they surveyed the filth and depravity surrounding them. Guan Chao, a police lieutenant, and Gan Song, a student of the Three Elements Academy, found themselves unnerved by the scene.
Trash littered the streets. Beggars, dirty and disheveled, roamed aimlessly. Children in ragged clothing dashed through the alleyways, their keen eyes betraying a talent for thievery.
Even more troubling were the women who stood on street corners, their silver-white hair marking them as members of the Eternal Clan. Once a proud and noble people, these women had been driven to desperate measures by the hardships of war.
Having evaded both the begging children and the seductive women, Guan Chao and Gan Song finally arrived at a secluded street corner. The two men lit cigarettes, smoking in silence. Eventually, Gan Song stubbed his out and muttered, "Damn this war."
Turning to Guan Chao, he added, "So, Brother Chao, you didn’t bring me here just for a lesson in social reality, did you?"
Guan Chao let out a bitter smile and shook his head. "Of course not. I didn’t expect things to be this bad here myself..."
His expression then grew more serious. "Actually, I brought you here because I need your expertise. If I remember correctly, you studied Demonic Mysteries at the academy, didn’t you?"
At the mention of this, Gan Song’s demeanor changed. His expression became more focused as he nodded. "Yes, I did. Why?"
"I’m not sure yet," Guan Chao replied, "but I need you to take a look."
With that, Guan Chao led the way deeper into the maze-like slum. The illegal constructions cast long shadows over the narrow alleyways, giving the area an eerie, oppressive atmosphere.
As they walked, Guan Chao explained, "A while ago, there was a missing person report. Most of the missing individuals were newcomers to the city, and all of them disappeared within this slum."
"You know the situation in the police department. We’ve been severely understaffed, and there are too many unregistered refugees to get an accurate count of the missing. Originally, we thought it was just an ordinary case. But when I came here on official business two days ago, I saw something strange."
At this, Guan Chao abruptly stopped and pointed ahead. Gan Song moved past him to see what he was indicating.
On the filthy wall ahead was a palm-sized, blood-red rune, flickering faintly with an ominous glow. The intricate patterns of the rune were densely packed, and it radiated a strange, unsettling energy.
As Gan Song, who had reached the Spirit Realm, gazed upon the rune, he felt a strange sound fill his ears, as though something was whispering to him. His vision blurred, and a sense of confusion washed over his mind.
Suddenly, Guan Chao slapped the back of Gan Song’s head, jolting him back to awareness.
Gan Song spun around, his face pale with fear and disbelief.
"It’s... it’s the Blood Demon Gate!" he exclaimed. "This is the Blood Demon Gate!!"
In the Black Mist Zone, the Demon Clan had long been regarded as the masters of teleportation. In ancient times, they had brought untold devastation upon the world, appearing in every corner with their mastery of spatial manipulation.
For centuries, their combat prowess had stood unrivaled in the Black Mist Zone. However, many years ago, the Demon Clan had been defeated—absorbed, in fact, by the Ancient Demon Clan.
The Ancient Demons had taken their knowledge, their armies, and even their territories, becoming the overlords of the Black Mist Zone. They, too, had been driven back by the Eternal Clan, and forced into exile in the frozen lands of the far west.
Since then, the Ancient Demon Clan has faded into obscurity, and their once-legendary teleportation mastery has been simplified into the modern systems used today.
Yet here, in the heart of Xuanshui City, Gan Song had encountered a remnant of that dark past: the Blood Demon Gate Rune.
End of Chapter 329