Chapter 123.1: You'll Never Kill Anyone Fighting Like That. Let Me Show You How.

White Supreme Palace.

A snow-white robed man gently set a white chess piece on the board. His lips subtly moved as he murmured, "Born sacred... Blood Master... sermon... Supreme..."

"Senior Brother, this matter is of great importance. Should we report it to Master?" asked a young girl with a doll-like face. She was the second disciple of the White Supreme Palace.

Yun He shook his head. "Some time ago, Master fought with the Supreme One and suffered grievous wounds. He's now in seclusion, recuperating. He won't be seeing anyone for a while."

Worry filled the doll-faced girl's eyes. "Master is injured?"

"

Ah...

" A shadow crossed Yun He's gaze. "The Supreme One presses harder with every move. The North South Pact... truly, it's a bitter struggle."

If the North South Pact conflict ended with the South’s defeat, no one could imagine what would become of the Flowing Wind World. Demon spawns would run rampant, and ordinary folks would have no place to live.

“If not for the Supreme One’s Slate of Fate, Master would have no reason to fear her!" the girl said angrily.

The White Supreme and the Supreme One had always been evenly matched. However, the balance shifted the moment the Slate of Fate appeared. After it fell into the Supreme One's hands, the North began to utterly overwhelm the South. Although the South had originally been at a disadvantage, it wasn't a hopeless one.

"Slate of Fate..." Yun He's eyes suddenly flashed. "Tell me, could that Blood Master also have one?"

There is more than one Slate of Fate!

The girl's eyes widened as realization struck. "If it's the Slate of Fate, then yes, it's possible. But Master once said the Slate of Fate is a cursed relic. If the Blood Master uses it to mass-produce Supremes, wouldn't that make things even harder for us in the South?"

She had already assumed the Blood Master was an enemy. The slate was unlikely to create hundred of thousands of Supremes, but a few dozens or even a hundred should be feasible.

As things stood, if the North gained a hundred more Supremes, their victory would be all but certain death. The final battle would also come much sooner, and their master's preparations wouldn’t be enough.

"No," Yun He said at last, eyes deep and complicated. "I must go to the City of No Return at once, and meet this Blood Master myself. If Master emerges from seclusion, tell him everything."

"Alright." The doll-faced girl stared anxiously at him. "Senior Brother... please, be careful. If things get dangerous, return to the White Supreme Palace immediately."

She couldn't shake the feeling this was a trap meant to ensnare her senior brother.

Yun He smiled faintly. "I know.”

Like the White Supreme, Yun He carried the world’s burdens and didn’t fear death.

***

Six years later, at the City of No Return.

Yuan Qi had grown old. When he first came to the city, he’d been a spirited youth. Now, he stood bent with age. Although his cultivation had grown over the years, no power could halt time.

In the bustling City of No Return, he served as a gatekeeper. Watching the endless flow of people, a faint smile touched his lips as he coughed lightly. "At last... Master doesn't have to guard a city alone anymore."

Much had changed in six years, most of all the people. The City of No Return now held a population of over two hundred thousand, among which were three hundred Supremes.

Three hundred in just five years! The Blood Palace's growth had been nothing short of terrifying. If word got out, it would shake the entire realm.

However, due to the war between North and South, the 108,000 Cities had become isolated, each a lonely island. Many still had no idea what was happening, and some who did only scoffed in disbelief. Still, many Mythwalkers set out for the City of No Return, and not all lived to reach it.

Now, countless of them had gathered here. In half a month, the legendary Sermon Assembly would begin. This time, a full thousand peak Mythwalkers had gathered. Even those who hadn’t reached their peak came to listen, learn, and grow stronger. When the appointed time arrived, the Blood Master himself would appear to preach the dao.

"It's getting dark. It is time to close the gates," Yuan Qi murmured.

He didn't know if he'd live to see the end of the North South Pact. Yet he believed that as long as the Blood Master lived, that day would come—and the victor would be the Blood Master

***

Outside the City of No Return, in a newly built underground palace.

Qi Yuan reclined in a grand chair, a satisfied grin tugging at his lips. "

Aah

yes, having so many underlings feels good..."

Then, he raised his broken sword. Demon spawns were lined up like products on a conveyor belt, each one sliced apart by “Qi Yuan Machine.”

Best of all, he barely had to lift a finger. Every day, his Supremes would capture hordes of demon spawns and deliver them here to be executed. After all, every hundred Mythwalker demon spawns captured earned them another opportunity to attend a sermon. How could the Supremes not work hard? They hunted day and night, dragging back demon spawns for Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan didn’t do it inside the city because it was too risky. After all, if the demon spawns broke through the walls, he would fail his mission of guarding the city. Hence, he'd built his own demon factory outside the city for daily mass slaughter.

Suddenly, Qi Yuan froze. "Wait a minute... don't I look like a factory worker screwing in bolts?"

With every surge of EXP, he really did feel that way. The demon spawns were products, and he was on the assembly line. The only difference? He worked from a grand master's chair, not a stool.

"So... I'm basically working for the Flowing Wind World?" The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He looked up at the sky. "Hey, brat. You’d better give me some kind of benefit for this, or I swear I’ll turn you into a Golden Core.”

He crossed his legs, lazily extending his sword. Demon spawns streamed past, sliced into fragments one after another. His Demonic Origin was growing wildly, and his Inner Demon Lure’s power was stockpiling endlessly, as though he held an inexhaustible reservoir.

The Great Forgetfulness Sutra was another matter entirely. He couldn't bear to waste it against opponents of the same level. Suddenly, a chime sounded from the bronze bell outside.

"Come in," Qi Yuan said lazily.

The door opened, and Chen Huan, clad in red robes, entered. He’d changed in five years, his aura radiating immense power.

Chen Huan said solemnly, "Big Brother. A new batch of Supremes has arrived in the region of Bloodfall Thousand Cities. There are quite a number of them, and they seem to be plotting something."

As the Blood Palace's Grand Steward, he oversaw almost everything.

"How many?" Qi Yuan asked casually.

"Over twenty. Some are mid-stage Supremes," Chen Huan replied.

Since there were mid-stage Supremes, they couldn't investigate too deeply, lest they be discovered.

Qi Yuan's eyes lit up. "No Great Supremes among them?"

Others would probably find mid-stage Supremes dangerous, but not him. Unless one's Origin Divine Technique was flawless and complete, his Inner Demon Lure could crush them all.

In theory, a Great Supreme could be cornered and defeated with so many Supremes gathered. After all, Great Supreme's strength lay in single combat. Faced with dozens of Origin Divine Techniques, even they would struggle to hold their ground.

For Qi Yuan, however, that wasn't much of a concern. What he truly feared were the Great Supremes themselves. They were troublesome foes, who often required long talks before blades were even drawn. Even then, words didn't always work.

Chen Huan replied, shaking his head, "No. Great Supremes are rare. Someone like the Purple Daoist wouldn't easily go to a place like the Bloodfall Thousand Cities. Should I lead a hundred Supremes and surround them myself?"

There was a restless gleam in Chen Huan’s eyes. He no longer saw Supremes as awe-inspiring beings, but as common and as easily discarded as carrots in a field.

Then, he said almost casually, "According to Supreme Yang Hun, they seem to be wrapping up some big affair. Once that's done, they plan to wipe out our city."

Supreme Yang Hun was one of the Supremes sent later to the Bloodfall Thousand Cities. He was a curious one. Before anyone even noticed his arrival, he'd shown up at the City of No Return to surrender.

Now, he was a planted chess piece, a Blood Palace’s spy in the northern lands. He’d leaked the locations of many demon dens, allowing the Blood Palace’s Supremes to hunt and capture with terrifying efficiency.

Qi Yuan's gaze became steep, a cold edge flashing within them.

"The City of No Return has always kept to itself," he said, voice low but brimming with killing intent. "Yet they dare to come for us? Courting death! No need for you to lead them, I’ll do it myself and wipe them out. Choose a hundred Supremes worth grooming, and have them come with me."

Qi Yuan wasn't afraid of betrayal. What he sought was people who could truly serve, who could stand by him not out of loyalty, but out of fear and respect. A display of power was necessary, as it’d serve as a reminder of who they followed. After all, most people feared strength, not virtue.

"Understood," Chen Huan said quickly.