Chapter 115.1: Slate of Fate

White Snail described, according to her memory, "He was dashingly handsome, dressed in a blood-red robe."

The old man froze for a moment, then grunted. "

Hmph

, must be one of those old fools beyond the thousand ranks. Those geezers are far from the Blood Master's side. Hence, they often imitate his attire to appear close to him."

Black Feather suddenly recalled something. "He also said that he was the Blood Master."

"What?!" The old man's clouded eyes burst into light. His frail body erupted with frightening strength as he grabbed Black Feather by the collar. "He said he's the Blood Master?!"

Everyone who had once listened to the Blood Master's sermons revered him deeply, acknowledging him as both father and master. No one dared to impersonate him.

The old man pressed urgently, "What did he look like?"

White Snail and Black Feather had never seen their master so anxious before. White Snail waved her hand, conjuring a water curtain of water. An image began to form, then shattered just as it resurfaced. Some unknown power had prevented her from showing Qi Yuan's face.

The old man's eyes widened. "Could it be... could it truly be

my teacher

?"

The Blood Master was born sacred. No painting could capture his visage, and no spell could reproduce his appearance.

White Snail froze as well. She remembered as a child, she had admired the Blood Master deeply, and asked her master to show his image. It had been impossible back then as well.

"Is he really the Blood Master?" White Snail said, trembling with excitement. "But the Slate of Fate declared the Blood Master had fallen!"

As one of the supreme treasures, the Slate of Fate was absolute.

The old man bowed his head, deep in thought.

Then, White Snail suddenly remembered something. She stretched out her pale jade hand. "This is a small gift that the senior gave me."

A drop of blood red liquid appeared in her palm.

The old man's eyes locked onto it. He was now certain beyond doubt. "Master... It's Master! Blood Master!"

Then, he asked urgently, "Where did he go?!"

White Snail quickly recounted everything that had happened that day.

When she finished, the old man wept tears of joy. "It truly was my master..."

Then, as if struck by a thought, he gazed at White Snail expectantly. "Did Master mention anyone else besides the canary? What about me?"

White Snail. "..."

Black Feather, equally excited but curt, said coldly, "No."

The old man didn't seem disappointed. "Master has a poor memory. It's normal he didn't mention me, but I'm sure he still keeps me in his heart. Now that he's alive, he must be at the Ends of the Earth. I must get there quickly and spread the word!"

He began pacing back and forth, muttering how to send the message.

After some moments, the old man made up his mind. "Come, we're going to the Ends of the Earth!"

He would travel there to meet his master, and also to inform the rest of the Blood Palace that the Blood Master had returned to the world!

***

In the skies above, a streak of light flashed. Many cultivators looked up, awe in their eyes.

Some violet-robed figures appeared confused as countless messages flooded into the Violet Heaven Alliance.

That streak of light would pause every so often. Wherever it stopped, a crimson sword shadow would descend from the heavens, annihilating a Violet Heaven outpost.

Chaos spread throughout the Flowing Wind World. The same report poured into the Violet Heaven Alliance headquarters. "The Blood Master has revived and he's hunting the Violet Heaven Alliance!"

Inside the grand hall of the Alliance, a handsome man sat on a phoenix chair, showing a mocking smile. "The Blood Master has revived? What a ridiculous joke."

He was Lin Xuemei, the favored consort of the Violet Heaven Maiden, and the acting Grand Steward of the alliance.

A burly, three-meter-tall man said in a booming voice, "The Slate of Fate is the supreme treasure of the mortal world. It cannot be wrong. The Blood Master is long dead. That impostor must be one of the Blood Palace remnants! They know our armies are marching toward the Ends of the Earth. Unable to resist, they must’ve resorted to sabotage."

The others nodded in agreement.

Lin Xuemei smirked arrogantly. "Times are different now. Even if the Blood Master has returned, so what? The Thirteen Violet Reapers, I'm assigning that Blood Master to you!"

Thirteen formidable figures stepped forward in unison, their violet robes billowing. Each one of them was a Mythwalker.

"As you command!"

They vanished from the hall.

Lin Xuemei leaned back with a smile. "Tomorrow is my hundredth birthday. Is everything prepared?"

No consort of the Violet Heaven Maiden had ever lived to a hundred. Most were discarded or buried long before. But Lin Xuemei was different. He was her favorite, her pride. To him, the Blood Master mattered less than his centennial feast.

An old man said eagerly, "All is prepared, Steward!"

Everyone smiled fawningly toward Lin Xuemei, trying to curry favor. After all, reaching the Violet Heaven Maiden's bed was an accomplishment in itself.

***

Night fell. However, Tongtian City shone as bright as day. Lanterns hung everywhere. Tomorrow would be Lin Xuemei's grand birthday celebration.

Inside an inn, three men sat drinking, their auras carefully hidden.

The leader, a scar-faced man, slammed the table. "That bastard Lin Xuemei. I'll kill him tomorrow even if it's the last thing I do!"

The other two shared his hatred. All three had lost their families to Lin Xuemei's cruelty.

A man wearing a bamboo hat asked quietly, "Have you heard? A cultivator calling himself the Blood Master is cutting down the Violet Heaven Alliance."

"Blood Master's dead, this cultivator must be an imposter." the scarred man grunted. "Those thirteen Reapers have already gone after this impostor. He won't make it this far."

The man in the hat sighed. "If he does reach here, then we'll join him. To die alongside such a hero wouldn't be a bad end."

They were resolved. Even if tomorrow's assassination failed, they would not retreat.

The smallest of the three finally said, "I have a friend in the Blood Palace. He says this Blood Master might actually be real."

The scarred man frowned, but didn't dismiss it. "The real deal?"

Even if that was the case, what difference would it make? The Violet Heaven Alliance ruled the world. With a hundred Supremes under its banner, no one could oppose it.

They drank in heavy silence. Outside, fireworks burst above Tongtian City.

Suddenly, someone said in a vast and demonic voice that echoed across the heavens, "Violet Heaven Alliance. The Blood Master has come!"

The sound was deafening, like thunder in every ear. An endless tide of blood energy rolled across the city, forming crimson clouds that blotted out the moon.

Within the alliance stronghold, people's cries rang.

"Who dares trespass here!?"

"Invader! Kill without mercy!"

Sixty violet-robed figures soared into the sky, their auras earth-shaking.

"Mythwalkers." the scar-faced man whispered grimly.

Their number was enough to overwhelm several Supremes. Even if the Blood Master was a Supreme, he was done for. However, the Supremes here were different from Supremes that had realized Origin Divine Techniques. At most, they would be similar to Qi Yuan at level 120, and be considered half-step Supremes.

The hat man sighed. "This Blood Master imposter is foolish. He should have struck Lin Xuemei in secret. To face them head-on like this..."

****

Inside the Alliance hall, Lin Xuemei scowled. "Those Thirteen Violet Reapers are worthless, they can't even stop one Blood Master!"

"Perhaps the Blood Master planned something," someone muttered.

Another Supreme said smugly, "

Hmph

! Against our power, any plans are futile!"

Lin Xuemei glanced at the eleven Supremes beside him. "With you all here, what do I have to fear?"

They laughed confidently.