Chapter 37: To start accepting apprentices
Chapter 37: To start accepting apprentices
A few days later, Jiang Yun slowly opened his eyes as if waking from a long meditation. He gazed out at the cloudy sky, his deep eyes filled with calm serenity, and then summoned the Samsara Clones.
"You ten, divide into pairs and head to the five continents. Begin recruiting disciples according to the plan I've laid out," Jiang Yun commanded firmly.
The clones nodded before dissolving into flashes of light, dispersing in different directions. Suddenly, a powerful, majestic aura of an Emperor level surged into the sect's territory, causing the very atmosphere to tremble.
Jiang Yun smirked and turned toward the source of the aura. "Time to stretch a little..." He instructed three more Samsara Clones, "The three of you, start the recruitment while I'm away. I'll return in a few days."
With that, he soared into the sky, heading directly toward a large group of people gathered ahead. Among them were supreme emperors, many emperors, and saints, all standing together in the air, faces tense and ready for confrontation.
An elderly man in the group turned toward Jiang Yun, his face full of anger. "Finally, you show yourself! You destroyed the Green Wood Sacred Land, an ally..."
Before he could finish speaking, swoosh—the entire group was reduced to chunks of flesh in an instant. Blood splattered across the sky, leaving only the supreme emperor alive. But even his body was split in half, and as he fell from the sky, an invisible force held him suspended in mid-air, as if unseen hands were choking him.
A chilling voice, laden with terrifying menace, rang out, "Is this all you're capable of? What are you doing here, gathering mushrooms?" Jiang Yun smiled coldly, watching the old man struggle in the air. The elder tried to turn and face Jiang Yun, but as soon as he looked, his body was frozen in place, feeling a tremendous pressure crushing his very soul.
The supreme emperor felt death approaching as his soul was slowly torn from his body, the excruciating pain forcing a desperate scream from him. "Please... let me go... please..."
Jiang Yun merely sneered. "An ordinary emperor-level force... so boring." With a slight gesture of his hand, the supreme emperor's body dissipated into dust, scattered by the wind.
After disposing of his enemies, Jiang Yun flew straight to the Northern Realm. Peace returned to the land, and the once gloomy sky cleared as if nothing had ever happened.
Cries erupted throughout the Celestial Elephant Sacred Land, spreading chaos and panic in all directions. "Disaster! The life jade of the sect leader and the other elders has been shattered!" A messenger hurried to report to the Great Elder seated on a stone throne.
The Great Elder furrowed his brow in anger. "Who else knows of this besides you?"
"No one else, my lord," the messenger stammered.
The elder smiled coldly. "Good. Then you must die!" Before the messenger could respond, his body was cleaved by a powerful force from the elder's hand, and he collapsed instantly, blood oozing from his mouth and nose.
Jiang Yun stood atop a high peak, gazing out over the landscape below with sharp eyes, contemplating his plans.
"Initially, I was going to wipe out all their forces... but on second thought, I'll wait until this fragmented world merges with the true world. It will be more beneficial to gather more points in the future... but for now, I must claim my share from the Dark Forest."
Meanwhile, on the Western Continent, the Samsara Clones divided the continent into two halves for disciple recruitment. Upon reaching a major city, they released an overwhelming aura, drawing attention from all directions. People froze, staring in shock.
One of the Samsara Clones announced in a voice that shook the city, "The Fallen Heavenly Blood Sect is recruiting disciples! We care not about special bodies, cultivation, age, or race! Even if you are disabled or your dantian is shattered, it doesn't matter! For those who cannot make the journey, simply raise your hand and point to the sky, and I will transport you through space! Should any forces attempt to infiltrate spies, I will declare war on them! I will wait at the Lotus Pavilion outside the city for one day. Anyone interested can come for the test!"
The announcement echoed across nine other locations on the Tianyuan Continent, causing a stir among the people. Many rushed to join immediately, some urgently planning and calculating the cost of travel. Others waited, observing the situation, while a few raised their hands and pointed to the sky.
However, as the proclamation was still reverberating, a man approached with scorn in his eyes. "Aren't you being a bit arrogant?" he shouted loudly. He was an elder from the Sacred Thunder Realm on the Northern Continent.
The Samsara Clone merely glanced at him before releasing an emperor-level aura. Without a second thought, the elder's body was enveloped in a violent force and exploded into fragments. The crowd around him fell silent, stunned, with no one daring to move or speak.
"I have said what I needed to. If anyone dares challenge me, step forward!" The Samsara Clone's voice boomed, eyes filled with cold authority. The people around began to retreat, no one daring to defy him further.
"The Fallen Heavenly Blood Sect? What kind of sect is that? How do they have a supreme emperor?" one man asked in confusion as he stood among the crowd discussing the newly announced sect's disciple recruitment.
"You fool! Didn't you hear?" another man argued loudly. "The sect master of the Fallen Heavenly Blood Sect is the youngest emperor of this era—Jiang Yun! Don't you know?"
The confused man nodded in realization. "Of course! I've heard of him before..." But before he could finish, another man not far off began running wildly. "You idiot! Wait for me! I'm coming to take the test with you!" he shouted excitedly, chasing after his friend.
In the sacred land of mist, after hearing the proclamation, the Holy Lord contemplated in his heart. Four young women stood on a towering and serene mountaintop, listening to the news that drifted in the wind. The announcement of recruitment by the Fallen Blood Sect resonated within their hearts, yet they remained still, not moving at all. Their gazes lingered on the horizon, deep in thought.
In the southern continent, a man whose body was crippled in every way struggled to move. But his eyes were filled with determination. "I want to join the Fallen Blood Sect... I want revenge!" His voice was filled with resolve to change his fate, but he wept because he couldn't even lift his disabled arm. Suddenly, he was teleported across dimensions. Shocked by what had just happened, the first thing he did was bow his head in heartfelt gratitude.
At the Water Palace in the southern kingdom, Fang Qin loudly declared, "Anyone who participates in the trial of the Fallen Blood Sect will have their entire family executed!" The proclamation echoed, accompanied by the cheers of his followers. Yet, amid these threats, some people didn't care about Fang Qin's words at all. The opportunity lay before them, and Jiang Yun's name was a guarantee of great success. Even their families supported them in taking this chance.
In a bustling restaurant in the central region, the atmosphere buzzed with the chatter of patrons. A young woman in white sat calmly in a corner, elegant and relaxed as she enjoyed her meal. An elderly woman approached her with a smile, "My lady, would you be interested in taking the trial of the Fallen Blood Sect? It could be something to pass the time while waiting for this fragment of the world to join Tianyuan."
The young woman smiled slightly and raised her tea glass, "Interesting... why not? At the very least, it will be a way to stretch my legs a bit," she replied softly, her gaze drifting out the window, staring at the vast sky with a sense of mystery and boredom. She was none other than Shui Meng.
Within just one day, chaos unlike anything seen before erupted across all five continents of the world. Millions of people from all walks of life and every race headed toward the ten designated locations per the Fallen Blood Sect's announcement. These places became centers of hope, attracting warriors full of determination, children brought by their parents believing the sect would offer them a path to cultivation, elders hoping to regain their former strength, and the disabled whose eyes shone with hope. Even orphans under ten years old were drawn in.
Suddenly, a powerful voice resonated across the area, "Silence!" It was a voice filled with authority and decisiveness. Everyone stopped speaking, leaving an overwhelming silence in its wake.
"I will transport all of you to the western continent, where the Fallen Blood Sect is located!" The voice rang out once more, even louder than before. A massive formation appeared instantly beneath everyone's feet, glowing with crimson light like blood. It expanded rapidly, encompassing all present, and in an instant, they vanished from where they once stood.
High above, overlooking a valley in the western continent, a group of elderly men watching from afar spoke with concern. "Is it really wise to let them go like this? Are you sure we should remain idle?"
Another man responded with a tone of amusement mixed with ridicule, "Do you think we have the power to fight the Supreme Emperor? Wars are breaking out everywhere, and they could happen at any time. Our forces shouldn't be wasted on trivial matters like this."
"But we shouldn't just let them be taken so easily!" another man spoke angrily.
"The ones the Fallen Blood Sect is taking are the crippled, broken, the elderly nearing death, or eight-year-old children. Do you think they'll bring any power to that sect?" The elderly man laughed. "If the Fallen Blood Sect wants them, let them have them. Perhaps they'll turn them into medicine... It's none of our concern."
At the Fallen Blood Sect, the place was bustling with anticipation as hundreds of millions gathered. Many came from imperial-level forces, while others were common folk, here to watch over their descendants or relatives. All eyes were on the recruitment of new disciples by this mysterious sect.
Suddenly, billions of people from the various continents appeared in the vast courtyard of the sect. The crowd erupted into a frenzy of conversation, curiosity swirling about their future and the opportunities ahead. Yet amidst the chaos, silence fell again as a tremendous pressure blanketed the entire area.
A man dressed in black, his entire body shrouded in a heavy cloak, appeared. His deep, labored breathing caused everyone to freeze in place. The pressure emanating from his body was like a raging storm. This man was at the pinnacle of cultivation, an emperor of the highest order.
"I am the Elder Guardian of the Fallen Blood Sect!" His voice echoed powerfully across the space. Many people trembled in fear, but none could tear their eyes away from him.
Suddenly, a group of twelve individuals stepped forward. They were representatives of the strongest twelve lords among the three thousand peaks of the sect. A buzz of excitement spread again as people whispered to one another, "Each of them has at least a second-tier emperor's cultivation? And judging by the age of their bones, some of them aren't even old. This truly is the Fallen Blood Sect; Jiang Yun only gathers monsters!"
But then, attention shifted to a young man among the dragon tribe representatives. His face exuded strength and determination. One of the men from the dragon tribe standing among the crowd gasped in shock and shouted with seething anger, "That's... the former Saint Son of the Dragon Clan!"
Everyone turned to each other in confusion. "The former Saint Son of the Dragon Clan? Who?"
An elderly dragon stepped forward, his voice heavy, "The former Saint Son of the Dragon Clan, the strongest before Long Ping. It's Long Teng! That traitorous dragon! He dared to injure Lord Long Ping so severely and fled from the clan."
These words shocked everyone in the courtyard, and all eyes turned toward Long Teng, a young man who was once the Saint Son of the Dragon Clan, possessing abilities beyond ordinary men. Yet today, he stood as a member of the Fallen Blood Sect.
Long Teng stood there calmly. Despite the insults and harsh words thrown his way by the crowd, his face remained cold, his eyes shining with unwavering determination, unfazed by the accusations hurled at him.
Whispers echoed throughout the vast courtyard as many began to recognize the faces of the twelve individuals who had just appeared. Some murmured softly, as if fearing their words would be forbidden, but others could not hold back their astonishment.
"I recognize that man..." one man stammered, his voice trembling. "He's the Immortal Blood Demon, Mo Jun!"
"Are you saying... that man is the former Holy Son of the Blood Demon Sacred Land?"
"Yes!" the person beside him replied quickly. "But why is he with Jiang Yun? I thought they were enemies!"
"You know nothing!" A third person spoke in a deep voice. "The former Holy Son of the Blood Demon Sacred Land was hunted by his own land, and the former leader was imprisoned. Things are getting more and more complicated!"
At that moment, the people of the Wang family became anxious and fearful when they saw the former ranking son of their own family. Both of them exuded a terrifying aura that made those around them quickly retreat.
"Could it really be them, the former ranking sons of the Wang family?" an elder of the Wang family spoke with hatred in his voice and eyes filled with intent to kill.
Chui Meng, who was disguised among the crowd along with an old woman, glanced up and smiled faintly when she immediately recognized one of the men in the group of twelve. He had once ogled her with lustful eyes, sparking a slight interest within her.
"That's... Chen Wei, the former Holy Maiden of the Green Wood Sacred Land!" someone shouted in shock. "I heard her sacred body was destroyed, leaving her crippled, and she was exiled from both her family and her sacred land!"
People were shocked, and whispers spread throughout the area. "What is going on... Why is the Fallen Heaven Blood Sect gathering people who have been exiled or hunted down like this? What do they want?"
Gasps of astonishment filled the courtyard as someone noticed one of the elders standing among the ranks of the Fallen Heaven Blood Sect. Among them was an old man who appeared dignified and cold, but when someone recognized who he was, it left everyone even more shocked.
"That's... Gongsun Lei! The former second elder of the Misty Sacred Land!" someone exclaimed in a trembling voice.
As soon as Gongsun Lei's name was mentioned, chaos erupted within the crowd. Everyone knew his name well. He was notorious for his shamelessness and cruelty. It was said that he would do anything to achieve his goals, not caring who had to be trampled underfoot.
"Why is he here?" one man asked, his voice filled with fear.
"And that one! Mu Shuyuan, disciple of Lin Qingyi! How did they abandon the Misty Sacred Land and side with Jiang Yun?" another person added loudly, looking as if their head would explode from the influx of information.
"There's more!" someone pointed at a young man with blue hair, radiating a powerful aura. "Look at that! I recognize him—the man who nearly conquered the entire Southern Sea Territory, Fang Hai, the former crown prince of the Deep Water Dynasty! He's here too? This is like a gathering of all the hunted people across the continent!"
Voices were filled with confusion and fear. "What is Jiang Yun planning? Does he want to start a war with all the imperial-level forces?"
One man shook his head, letting out a derisive laugh. "Are you stupid? Jiang Yun commands more than ten supreme emperors under him. Do you really think anyone would dare challenge him?"
The atmosphere in the courtyard was thick with anxiety and excitement. Everyone's eyes searched for Jiang Yun, filled with curiosity about where he was and why he had not appeared yet.
As the traitors of their own families were seen, a secret communication began between the Wang family, the Dragon family, and the Deep Water Dynasty. The three sides exchanged meaningful smiles before the atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly shifted.
A heavy silence descended on the place. One man from the Wang family smiled meaningfully and nodded toward the Dragon family. But suddenly, his head was severed from his body and fell to the ground instantly.
"Hah!" A scream erupted from the crowd in the courtyard. Many fell to the ground in shock, utterly stunned by the scene unfolding before them.
A man from the Dragon family, stocky and filled with vengeance in his eyes, suffered the same fate—his head detached from his body and fell to the ground instantly. The same happened to a member of the Deep Water Dynasty. The crowd screamed, unable to believe their eyes.
The Guardian Elder smiled as he raised his hand to silence the area. He spoke with a voice that rang out, resonating through the quiet air. "I forgot to mention... it's forbidden to make too much noise here."
His voice echoed across the courtyard, his message further intensifying the already tense atmosphere. Everyone in attendance remained utterly silent. No one dared to move or utter a single word.
The elder's display of power did not only shock the audience but also sent a clear signal of his strength and determination to eliminate any interference in his proceedings.
"I ask the lords of the four peaks if you could kindly clean up this trash?" The Guardian Elder's chilling voice rang out as he floated above the courtyard, full of people watching with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
Long Teng laughed loudly. "With pleasure, Guardian Elder!" he said, raising his arm. The rising pressure made everyone around feel the shift. His arm slowly transformed into something resembling a dragon's claw. Suddenly, the ground trembled as his body morphed menacingly, and he smashed his hand down, slaughtering the members of the Dragon family.
Ming Hai smiled coldly and spoke slowly, "I'll clean it up right away, Guardian Elder!" He raised his hand into the air. A torrent of water from his power crashed into the crowd, creating a massive whirlpool that instantly dissolved the bodies of the Deep Water Dynasty's people.
Wang Bai shouted confidently, "With pleasure as well, Guardian Elder!" He smiled and pointed his finger at the Wang family's members. Light radiated from his power, filling the atmosphere with pure and overwhelming energy, reducing the Wang family's bodies to nothing but light.
Wang He squinted and spoke with suspicion, "Hmph! What's left for me to do now?"