Because of this, a scream in response to a pain never before heard echoed across these distant plains.

****

In the midst of a bustling town was an enormous sect. It was composed of hundreds of red buildings that were laid out in a bizarre fashion.

They were almost like veins running through the body. At the same time, there was a lively scene taking place outside the sect.

“Get in formation!”

A furious shout echoed out as countless soldiers wearing blood-red armour marched in unison.

There were easily thousands of them as commanders and colonels were barking orders to get them ready for their current expedition.

“What is happening with the Blood Crypt Sect lately?” a citizen of the town asked.

His friend quickly covered his mouth and dragged him off, “Do you wanna die!? Don’t implicate me, you idiot!”

Still, whispers were passed around in hushed tones of fear. “I heard rumours that the sect master is going to destroy a nameless sect that offended his son.”

“A nameless sect? Why offend a behemoth like the Blood Crypt Sect?” another asked.

The person who spoke before shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t know. They’re keeping the details under wraps.”

…

“Really, do we have to mobilize the entire Bloodletting Regiment to wipe out one insignificant sect?” a demon with numerous blood-red veins pulsating all over his body asked.

“Yes!” Another demon answered. His red-veined eyes stared darkly at the army before him.

If one listened closely, one could hear the blood rushing through his veins as they slithered like snakes under his skin.

Naturally, this was Xue Zhuang, Xue Zi’s father and the sect master of the Blood Crypt Sect.

Old Bai, the advisor of the sect, hobbled up behind him, “S-Sir, I do think we need to rethin-”

“Old Bai, leave before I kill you myself!” Xue Zhuang roared!

Boom!

His power exploded as he struggled to keep his rage under control.

The old demon fell back on his haunches under Xue Zhuang’s power before someone came and took him away.

Xue Zhuang gritted his teeth as he forced himself to call back in his cauldrons.

The demon beside him was the general of his army, the one responsible for leading the troops.

He asked nothing more as he espied the heaving chest of his sect master. He knew Xue Zhuang was furious at the moment.

For him to not kill Old Bai earlier was a testament to his self-control.

When Xue Zhuang got the news that his son had died to Long Di, he nearly fainted from anger and shock!

Xue Zhuang greatly loved his son and spoiled him as a result. No matter what his son did, it didn’t matter.

This resulted in Xue Zi growing unbridled and arrogant. Yet, his father didn’t stop him and indulged him more. Their sect and his background ensured that no one would offend him.

Thus, he raised him with the expectation that he would one day hand over the reins of the Blood Crypt Sect to him as well.

Not only that, his son had actually succeeded in learning the initiation stages of the Blood Course Map Body Technique!

It was then that he saw the untapped potential of his son when the latter was serious enough about it. How could he not be ecstatic!?

In addition, their growing relationship with the Iron Body Forge Sect set them on an upward trajectory. With Xue Zi following Full Metal Er Jinshu, their Blood Crypt Sect would rise on their coattails to reach new heights!

The future of Xue Zi and the Blood Crypt Sect was bright!

Everything was set in stone for their inevitable rise. Who in the future could possibly compare to them at that time?

Full Metal Er Jinshu could very well be the second coming of the legendary Dark Flame Tian!

However, all of this was ruined by one human brat that didn’t know who to offend!

“You’re able to lead us there no problem right!?” He turned his gaze to a demon at his other side.

Looking closely, it was actually Di Zhong, the third elder of the village, who had dealings with Zhen Paohui.

“Hehehe, that’s right. Uhm… you’re not going to destroy everything, right? I was told that I would be the leader there after all was said and done,” Di Zhong said while rubbing his palms together like the apex housefly.

Xue Zhuang sneered at Di Zhong. He hated people like this who would sell out their own for benefits, but he was given this rat by his accomplices to help him in carrying out his revenge so he didn’t complain much.

“We will slaughter everyone and everything,” Xue Zhuang declared. “Go to the Zhen family for the details on how everything after will be dealt with after.”

He couldn’t wait to wipe out that brat’s sect and then him, to let him know that there were some powers that you couldn’t offend!

Boom!

Suddenly, the void exploded above him to reveal a massive larger-than-life dragon flying in the air.

Xue Zhuang was nearly scared out of his wits! What was a dragon doing here!?

“What in the-”

Long Zhe snorted before announcing, “I’m only here to drop something off.”

Then, with a flick of his claws, he unceremoniously catapulted Long Di and Xiannu Liang with all the force necessary to get the stickiest and clingiest of boogers from one’s fingers before Xue Zhuang and his army.

“What are you doing, you stinking lizard!?” Pebbles cursed this old dragon and his heavy-handedness.

“Stop calling me a stinky lizard, you identity-confused, braindead, chronic fetal alcohol syndrome-induced THING!” Long Zhe said the word ‘thing,’ with venom and violence!

“I’m telling mother you said that.”

“You IRK me!”

While they were complaining, Long Di and Xiannu Liang fell to the ground with a thud!

“Oooww!” Xiannu Liang sat up, rubbing her head, leading Long Di to wonder why that was the only thing hurting her.

“Long Di?”

Long Di looked up to see the third elder staring at him in shock.

“I know you… a-aren’t you the third elder?” Xiannu Liang asked, confused.

Long Di tapped her on the shoulder, “Don’t make it hard on him. He’s a traitor is all. Saw this from day one too. Kinda found it weird that no one else saw i-”

“L-Long Di!?” Xue Zhuang just registered the name that was called.

“Yeah, that’s me. Just gimme a minute, talking to one of my friends here,” Long Di said offhandedly. “As I was saying, so weird that no one else saw it. I mean, he’s got so many red flags that he’s a danger to himself and bulls everywhere. A misrepresentation of bulls and the colour red, mind you. But you smell what I’m stepping in, righ-”

“Long Di!”

D-Dum!

Xue Zhuang’s cauldrons emerged from the void, spinning to their limit in an instant!

All nine of them had blood-red star cores inlaid within them. Their glow cast the area around him in a scarlet light.

From his aura alone, Xue Zhuang stood at the peak of the core flame evocation realm!

He roared, “There is an open door to heaven, but you chose the closed path to hell!”

Long Di then looked at him, “You know what, that’s a cliched line, but it’s the first time I’m hearing it since I’ve been here. Kudos to you, man.”

There were some moments of fresh air in life that Long Di liked, and this was one of those moments.

“What’s your name?” asked Long Di.

“You killed my son!” Xue Zhuang barked.

“Now I know I’m not the best at holding a conversation. But that part’s really got me stumped,” Long Di commented.

Xue Zhuang was on the verge of going berserk! “I want to strip your skin, eat your flesh and drink your blood!”

“Ew…” Long Di was disgusted with Xue Zhuang. What was wrong with this guy? Who says something like that?

Was that a threat? Why was that a threat? That was disgusting more than anything else.

“I’m going to go,” Long Di turned around since this was not the kind of place for an eleven-year-old to be hanging around in.

Boom!

Suddenly, a group of people emerged from the void a fair distance from the massive dragon suspended above.

“C-Copper Seat Tong!”

Xue Zhuang was shocked to see one of the Metal Seats here in a matter such as this.

However, Copper Seat Tong didn’t say anything and only remained standing far behind the Grand Preceptor.

Xue Zhuang was no fool and realised that this person was someone who stood far above the likes of the Copper Seat.

However, Xue Zhuang didn’t know who this was and was duly confused for a while. Too many things were happening all at once.

A dragon dropped off his son’s killer. The Copper Seat of the iron Body Forge Sect arrived but was taking a back seat to an old man he didn’t recognise.

“Third elder?” Jia Yan was shocked to see the third Elder here of all places.

When the third elder saw Shen Ling, Jia Yan and so on, a blush coloured his cheeks.

“I-”

“For the love… he’s a traitor.” Long Di said matter-of-factly.

“Who are you?” Xue Zhuang asked the Grand Preceptor, cutting off that previous train of conversation.

He could see that the old man’s status was unusual all things considered.

Everyone that managed to travel through the rift in the void created by the Grand Preceptor widened their eyes in shock and could feel their breaths shorten at his question.

“Doesn’t matter.” the Grand Preceptor smiled. “An old man like me is above your station I’m afraid.”

Xue Zhuang was enraged by this. This person put himself down and then placed Xue Zhuang even below himself. Who did he think he was!?

“You-”

“Shut up!” Copper Seat Tong hissed.

Xue Zhuang bit his tongue at the swift chiding of the Copper Seat.

Who was this old man that not even the Copper Seat dared to anger him?

After all, not everyone was qualified to meet the Yaomu family, much less meet the right-hand man and practical advisor to the King herself.

“We are simply here to observe,” the Grand Preceptor advised.

“Observe what?” Xue Zhuang asked, this time with more wariness and reservedness in his voice.

The Grand Preceptor pointed at Long Di, “This child seeks to persuade y-”

“Ah ah ah…” with three quick ah’s, Long Di interjected.

The Grand Preceptor raised a brow, “Yeees?”

“Let me tell him. Don’t want you to mess it up and get him even angrier,” stated Long Di.

The Grand Preceptor metaphorically stepped back, allowing the spotlight to fall on Long Di once more.

“Right. I have been told that you wish to destroy the sect village thing where I’ve been for a while. I just wanna say… don’t.”