Fearing the Blood Ancestor would deem him useless, the Blood Son hurriedly added, “Blood Ancestor, I also know the sacrificial, prayer, and summoning rituals for you! Out of all the candidate Blood Sons back then, this child learned them the best!”
He suddenly raised his head, his face filled with fanaticism. “Blood Ancestor, let us sacrifice ourselves for you! Use our blood to help you recover your strength as soon as possible!”
The others chimed in unison, “Blood Ancestor! Let us sacrifice ourselves for you!”
To sacrifice meant offering all of one's blood to the Blood Ancestor.
The Shengxue Cult believed that the Ancestor of Primordial Blood Creation was the source of all things, the Father God, and that all living creatures today were formed from His blood.
To sacrifice to the Blood Ancestor was to return to the Blood Ancestor's body and merge with him once more. It was a supremely glorious and beautiful thing.
Therefore, even if the end result of the sacrifice was their own death, these fanatical believers of the Blood Ancestor harbored no fear whatsoever. Instead, they looked forward to it with immense anticipation.
This actually startled Zhuang Xun a little.
The sight of a bunch of people clamoring with fanatical expressions to die for him was somewhat terrifying.
After a moment's thought, he offered a woodcutter's cleaver with a sinister smile, his voice low and raspy. “Is that so? Then prove your resolve to me.”
“Yes, Blood Ancestor!”
The Blood Son took the woodcutter's cleaver and, without the slightest hesitation, swung it toward his own neck.
But just as a thin line of blood appeared on his neck, the woodcutter's cleaver stopped.
The Blood Son raised his head upon feeling this. Looking at the Debt-Lending Bladesman, who was pressing a hand against the blade, he said joyfully, “Blood Ancestor, are you reluctant to part with this child? This child is also reluctant to leave you. In that case, during the time before the sacrifice, this child will accompany you well!”
Zhuang Xun truly hadn't expected that when the Blood Son took the woodcutter's cleaver, he wouldn't chop off a hand or a foot, but would instead go straight for his neck.
Judging by the force just now, if he hadn't stopped him, the man really intended to kill himself.
Hiss... Is this what a fanatic is like?
Meeting the eyes of his believers, which were filled with joy, Zhuang Xun thought for a moment and said, “Yes, my child.”
“I have already seen your resolve. Your years of arduous waiting are enough to prove your faith. As for the sacrifice, we shall put it aside for now.”
“Your Ancestor still has need of you.”
Hearing this, the believers immediately knelt down in excitement, weeping tears of gratitude. “Blood Ancestor! This child is willing to offer everything to you!”
Zhuang Xun raised his hand, gesturing for them to be quiet.
Instantly, the believers fell silent.
A few of them still had snot bubbles on their faces, yet they obediently looked up at the Debt-Lending Bladesman.
Zhuang Xun asked, “Your Ancestor has only just descended into the world. My memories and strength have not yet recovered, and I am not very familiar with anything. My children, how is your relationship with the major factions in Mount Dazhou?”
The Blood Son replied, “Blood Ancestor, there are three major factions within Mount Dazhou. Among them, we are mortal enemies with the Wanxing Martial Academy and the City Lord's Manor.”
“Especially the Wanxing Martial Academy...” He proceeded to recount to the Debt-Lending Bladesman how the Wanxing Martial Academy had been slaughtering the believers on a massive scale in recent days.
Hehehe...
As the perpetrator listening to the victim complain about his crimes, Zhuang Xun chuckled inwardly.
At the same time, he was somewhat surprised. The City Lord's Manor really hadn't colluded with the Shengxue Cult.
But on second thought, it made sense. Yang Gai was in this state precisely because of the Shengxue Cult's ambush—the former genius Yang Gai had now degenerated into a looked-down-upon waste.
“As for the last major faction, Qushe Ridge, we used to cooperate with them and could barely be considered allies in the past. However, our relationship has also deteriorated recently. Because our cult's strength was greatly reduced by the Wanxing Martial Academy's slaughter, Qushe Ridge developed wild ambitions. They actually thought of capturing us to mine for them! Fortunately, the Right Protector saw through their scheme in time and led the believers who had gone to Qushe Ridge to escape back to safety.”
Beside him, the Right Protector, who was leaning on a cane, puffed out his chest proudly and said in an aged voice, “Blood Ancestor, this child has a matter to report to you.”
Zhuang Xun nodded. “Speak, child.”
“I suspect that Qushe Ridge does not actually want to mine,” the Right Protector said in a deep voice. “A believer once discovered an abandoned mine cave of Qushe Ridge. I went to take a look, and there were absolutely no traces of minerals there. They seem more like... they want to dig through Mount Dazhou.”
Dig through Mount Dazhou?
Zhuang Xun grew curious and decided to find an opportunity to look through the ancient records regarding Mount Dazhou.
The Blood Son continued, “Blood Ancestor, there is also a powerful faction hidden within Mount Dazhou. They somehow picked up our Sacred Cult's inheritance from somewhere and refuse to return it to us. They even want our Sacred Cult to submit to them, completely turning the natural order upside down!”
By the end of his words, his voice was filled with gritted teeth.
Hearing this, Zhuang Xun's heart stirred. He thought of the mysterious faction in Zechuan City that killed anyone they saw.
The waters of Mount Dazhou were getting muddier and muddier—the City Lord's Manor wanting to resurrect his deceased wife, Qushe Ridge wanting to dig through Mount Dazhou, and a mysterious faction with unknown motives that had picked up the Shengxue Cult's inheritance.
Fortunately, my Wanxing Martial Academy is also not simple... Zhuang Xun thought of the mysterious Principal and Guan Ren'ai.
You guys are the most useless. I used to think you were the deepest hidden... Zhuang Xun looked at the experts among the believers. There were only two First Rank martial artists and two Second Rank martial artists.
Of the two First Rank martial artists, one was old and the other was sick; the two Second Rank martial artists were also up there in age, and their strength would likely decline in a few years.
How did the Shengxue Cult become so weak? Right now, they probably can't even compare to the top few of the seven great families... Oh, wait, I was the one who beat them down. Well, never mind then.
Zhuang Xun pondered for a moment and said, “Have someone contact that faction that picked up my inheritance. I want to have a talk with them.”
Zhuang Xun's original intention was that he was greedy for the Shengxue Cult inheritance in their hands and curious about what they wanted to do.
However, the Blood Son completely misunderstood his meaning.
“Yes, Blood Ancestor! This child will go and preach to them! We will convert them into your loyal believers as well!”
Uh, whatever, close enough... Zhuang Xun gave up on correcting him and simply said, “I am tired. Take me to rest.”
“Blood Ancestor, please follow me.” The Blood Son waved away several believers who wanted to steal the task, eagerly running to the front to lead the way.
Rate on N.U.
