Chapter 17
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Chapter 17: Blood Sacrifice
"Even if these people were desperate to reach the other side, they wouldn’t act so rashly."
Ye Yun frowned, a sense of disbelief rising within him. At that moment, the black and white lights inside him flickered once more. He involuntarily sucked in a sharp breath and realized the truth.
The energy from the alchemy pill wasn’t just exerting mental pressure—it was creating illusions!
These people must have had their minds warped by the pill’s energy. Only the circulation of the black and white lights within him kept him unaffected.
A wave of danger flooded his heart, seeping through his veins.
In the span of a few breaths, he watched as several disciples were dragged into the whirlpools, their screams swallowed by the white clouds.
From the abyss below came the muffled thuds of bodies hitting the ground.
These disciples truly had no saviors—they’d fallen to their deaths.
The trial’s brutality reminded him: one mistake, one slip revealing the secret of the black and white lights, and his fate would be far grimmer.
Remembering how the elders treated servant disciples and trial participants, he knew mercy didn’t exist for those beneath them. If they discovered his hidden treasure, he’d be killed without hesitation.
Ye Yun steadied his breathing. His gaze caught a streak of light dancing through the whirlpools, untouched by the crushing forces as it advanced.
"Jun Ruolan!"
It was the girl with the purple bloodline talent. She walked downward effortlessly, the whirlpools bending like stone steps beneath her feet, her robes fluttering like petals.
"What monstrous spiritual vein talent those Heavenly Sword Peak true inheritors must have!"
Her figure vanished in an instant, leaving Ye Yun acutely aware of the chasm between their talents.
"Even supreme talent can’t surpass the golden-armored heavenly generals. So what?"
Yet instead of fear, fierce defiance burned in Ye Yun’s chest.
*Even if I’m a dirt-bound ant and you’re sky-hawks, I’ll make you bleed before you crush me!*
He slammed his hand-blade into the cliff. Unseen by him, the golden-lit stone tablet sensed his resolve. Instead of hostility, it released approving golden light into the walls.
*Thud!*
The stone resisted, leaving only a shallow dent. He struck again, blood smearing the mark.
Suddenly, the rock softened. His left hand sank wrist-deep into the wall.
"What’s happening?" He stared at his bloodied hand. Below, servant disciples stabbed swords and daggers at the stone, sparks flying without leaving scratches.
Ye Yun looked between his embedded hand and their useless weapons. Understanding dawned.
Testing his theory, he let blood spatter the stone. Where droplets fell, the rock turned soft as clay. He anchored himself against the whirlpool’s pull.
The cliff wall’s secret remained a mystery, but a glance confirmed—no one else had noticed.
The vast majority of disciples attempting the trial tried stabbing the hardest objects they carried into the stone walls to resist the fog’s pull, but few succeeded.
Ye Yun saw no difference between these trial-takers and himself. Without hesitation, he shouted, "Smear your blood on the stone wall! It’ll soften the rock!"
His voice echoed downward.
What worsened his expression was that nearly everyone ignored him.
If weapons couldn’t scratch the walls, how could flesh work? Softening stone with blood? This brat must want more servant disciples to fail so he’d have better chances himself.
Most servant disciples dismissed Ye Yun’s words.
Yet a few decided to try. They sliced their palms and slammed them against the stone.
To their astonishment, their hands sank deep into the softened rock, anchoring them securely.
"It’s true!" The disciples froze briefly before erupting in joy.
Looking upward, they glimpsed Ye Yun through the mist – the source of the lifesaving tip.
Their eyes shone with gratitude.
As they neared the mountain’s base, the pulling force intensified dangerously. Without Ye Yun’s discovery, none could’ve resisted it.
This was no mere kindness – it meant survival.
_Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!_
Three servant disciples above Ye Yun got torn away by the force, vanishing into whirling voids.
"Use your blood on the walls! It’s safe!" Ye Yun called again, brow furrowed.
"Enough lies, brat!" A sneering voice came from above. "You just want to thin our numbers!"
"Exactly!"
"Let’s kill him at the bottom!"
"Good! I’ll show you the difference between us!"
Ye Yun glanced pityingly at the speakers, then sped downward.
Within moments, two mockers got ripped away by the force, screaming into nothingness.
When Ye Yun’s boots finally touched ground, he exhaled in relief.
Ten zhang above, the deadly pull still raged. But here at the valley floor, calm reigned. Tornado-like vortices swirled upward like glittering galaxies, beautiful yet lethal.
The ground lay littered with gory remains – limbs and flesh scattered everywhere.
"Heavenly Sword Sect’s servant life breeds such selfishness. They wouldn’t trust even a lifesaver."
Ye Yun’s brief satisfaction froze into icy resignation.
"Thank you, senior brother!"
A blood-soaked disciple approached, palms raw but face radiant with gratitude.
"At least you listened."
Ye Yun nodded wearily.
"I’ll repay this debt! Let’s meet at the Hall of Refining the Heart’s exit!" The disciple gestured at the carnage, face grim, then hurried toward the cliff wall.
Watching him go, Ye Yun studied the opposite cliff. Halfway done – they still needed to climb up. What new dangers awaited on those stone walls?
