Yue Tinghai remained kneeling outside the city, suppressed by a giant handprint woven from lightning, the ground beneath him in ruins.
Nearly two hundred Great Saints from the ten tribes gathered in the city lord’s mansion of Yun City.
At the highest position were seven chairs, occupied in order by Yu Huang, Feng Hou, Dao Prison Emperor, Jin Kun Great Saint, Gu Chenzi, and Yihui Saint Lord.
Zhang Ruochen sat at the centre of the seven chairs, exuding the air of a supreme leader.
Yihui Saint Lord of the Motian Tribe was a hidden Great Saint of the perfect Hundred-Shackle Realm within the Immortal Vampires, only listed on the perfect Hundred-Shackle Realm ranking after entering the Huntian Battlefield.
However, the gazes of the Great Saints were more often fixed on the Great Senluo Emperor standing behind Zhang Ruochen.
They were all astonished: how could a top powerhouse of the Death Clan come to the Immortal Vampires’ home planet and stand behind Zhang Ruochen like a guard?
Zhang Ruochen radiated a powerful holy aura but spoke calmly, “I’ve gathered everyone here today to discuss one matter: uniting all the forces of the Immortal Vampires to seize victory in the Huntian War.”
“I believe the ten tribes must no longer be divided. Those with grudges, set them aside; those with conflicts, restrain yourselves. This Huntian War is a rare opportunity, a moment for the Immortal Vampires to shine in the Hell Realm. We must unite as one to claim the top spot among the ten tribes.”
First among the ten tribes?
The Great Saints present were composed, but many were still startled.
They had guessed Zhang Ruochen’s purpose in summoning the ten tribes’ cultivators, but who could have imagined his ambition was so grand?
A Great Saint stood up, his expression grave, “Claiming first among the ten tribes is no easy feat. The Yanluo Tribe and the Asura Tribe are both formidable. Our top-tier combat strength may not be inferior to theirs, but we still lag significantly in the number of Hundred-Shackle Realm Great Saints. That’s the first issue.”
“Secondly, if the Immortal Vampires shine too brightly, we may become a target, facing joint suppression.”
“We’re not afraid of any single tribe. But if two or three tribes unite, we’re definitely no match.”
“So, I’d like to know, how does Great Saint Ruochen plan to address these two points?”
Claiming first among the ten tribes wasn’t just a slogan. Pursuing it would mean facing immense challenges and resistance, and some of the Great Saints might die in the process.
Death wasn’t the fear.
If there was a chance to claim first among the ten tribes, they didn’t fear battle or death.
What they feared was blind fighting and dying in vain.
Zhang Ruochen had already thought and calculated meticulously, “First, our only true opponent is the Yanluo Tribe. The Asura Tribe is indeed powerful, but it’s divided among twenty-four temples. The grudges and conflicts between these temples run deep, making unity impossible.”
“An ununited Asura Tribe is no threat.”
“To defeat the Yanluo Tribe, we need two steps.”
“First, we must unite ourselves, combining all our forces to hunt celestial captives and earn higher points.”
“Most celestial captives are hiding in the star regions near the seven dark stars. Except for the third dark star, which Yu Huang and I have already swept once, we must conquer the other six dark stars.”
“Second, I will personally go to the Yanluo Tribe’s home planet and eliminate more than half of their clansmen. This is my promise to you all.”
The Great Saints were collectively moved.
Zhang Ruochen’s promise was no small matter. The Yanluo Tribe’s home planet was a dragon’s lair, far beyond what the Ghost Clan’s home planet could compare to.
Simply infiltrating the Yanluo Tribe’s home planet was nearly impossible.
The Yanluo Tribe didn’t just have a dozen or so perfect Hundred-Shackle Realm Great Saints; it also had powerful array masters, talisman masters, illusionists, spirit masters, and necromancers, all at the Earth Master level.
Some of these Earth Masters had the strength to rival perfect Hundred-Shackle Realm Great Saints.
The Immortal Vampires had Zhang Ruochen, Yu Huang, Dao Prison Emperor, and Feng Hou—four top-tier powerhouses who could each take on multiple perfect Hundred-Shackle Realm Great Saints. Only with them did they dare challenge the Yanluo Tribe’s supremacy; otherwise, it would be like throwing eggs at a rock.
Zhang Ruochen continued, “If the Immortal Vampires go all out to claim first among the ten tribes, we will indeed face joint suppression, but only if we can first defeat the Yanluo Tribe.”
“Before we thoroughly defeat the Yanluo Tribe, the other tribes will only sit back and watch the tigers fight.”
“Here, I want to say that you are all the most outstanding powerhouses of the Immortal Vampires in the last thousand years. If we can defeat even the supreme tribe, why fear challenges from weaker ones?”
“Of course, we must be fully prepared. If we do face joint suppression from multiple tribes, we must be able to hold our ground.”
“Defence is paramount, and I entrust this to Yu Huang. She is one of the most powerful array Earth Masters in this Huntian War and wields the Supreme Saint Artifact, the Seven-Star Ghost Lotus. The defensive array she sets up can make our home planet impregnable.”
Yao Bing, the leader of the Fengtian Tribe, stood up, “Great Saint Ruochen, I have a question.”
“Speak,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yao Bing said, “Among the celestial captives is Chi Di, a Great Saint of the Thousand-Death-One-Life Realm. No one knows where he’s hiding. If we launch a large-scale campaign against the six dark stars and encounter him, we’ll surely suffer heavy losses. How do we guard against this?”
“Before launching a large-scale campaign against the six dark stars, I’ll scout ahead. If I find Chi Di, I’ll confront him first. I may not be able to defeat him, but restraining him shouldn’t be too difficult.”
Zhang Ruochen exuded powerful confidence.
This confidence, unshaken by any danger, subtly inspired the Immortal Vampire Great Saints in the mansion, instilling them with belief and easing their worries and concerns.
Yao Bing gazed into Zhang Ruochen’s eyes, nodded deeply, and said, “If Great Saint Ruochen truly leads by example, Yao Bing will lead the Fengtian Tribe to follow your steps closely.”
Several more Great Saints stood, voicing their concerns, and Zhang Ruochen answered fluently, showing that his decision to aim for first among the ten tribes wasn’t impulsive but carefully considered.
“The Qingtian Tribe will fully heed Great Saint Ruochen’s command.”
“The cultivators of the Butian Tribe will obey Great Saint Ruochen’s orders.”
…
Once all the cultivators had no further objections, Zhang Ruochen spoke again, “There’s one thing you’ve likely guessed: the home planets of the ten tribes are no ordinary planets.”
“The Ghost Clan’s home planet holds great opportunities within. The Immortal Vampires’ home planet should also contain something extraordinary. Has anyone explored the depths?”
News of the Ghost Clan’s home planet had long reached the Immortal Vampires’ home planet. No one who reached the Great Saint realm was a fool; they could surely deduce the significance of the ten tribes’ home planets.
The Temple of Fate and the gods wouldn’t play favourites.
A pale-faced Immortal Realm Great Saint shook his head, “I’ve explored the depths. I found that the entire home planet seems like a giant living entity.”
“What do you mean?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
The Immortal Realm Great Saint said, “Below a thousand metres, there are countless underground blood rivers, intricate and branching endlessly, like the blood vessels of a human body.”
“And the river channels are incredibly tough, nearly impossible to destroy with a Great Saint’s power.”
“I once followed a river channel downstream, trying to find where the blood river ultimately converges. But I encountered something eerie: my blood was draining unknowingly. Fortunately, I retreated quickly, or I’d have become a withered corpse.”
Several others who had ventured into the underground blood rivers also suffered significant blood loss.
The worst case saw half their body withered, skin like tree bark, with visible bone outlines. Even with their Great Saint cultivation, recovery was difficult.
“Could it be the Blood-Devouring Curse?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
The Great Saints who had ventured underground shook their heads, one saying, “No, definitely not. With the Blood-Devouring Curse, blood vanishes evenly.”
“But underground, the blood loss starts from the body’s surface or concentrates in one area.”
To silently drain the blood of Great Saints, especially the Immortal Vampires who were masters of blood, was truly shocking.
Zhang Ruochen pondered, thinking, “The Ghost Clan’s home planet, while holding great opportunities, also has great dangers. If I didn’t have the Purple-Gold Gourd, hadn’t cultivated the Five-Element Chaos Immortal Saint Body, and didn’t have a powerful demigod physique, forcing my way in would’ve been more deadly than not.”
“The Immortal Vampires’ home planet likely holds great opportunities too, but passing the trials surely comes with immense danger.”
Having experienced the Ghost Clan’s home planet, Zhang Ruochen held a certain reverence for the interior of the Immortal Vampires’ home planet and didn’t dare hope too much for its opportunities.
Of course, not hoping didn’t mean not trying.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze turned to Feng Hou, seeking more information.
Feng Hou had stayed on the home planet and couldn’t have avoided exploring the depths. With her cultivation, she might have uncovered some clues.
As Feng Hou hesitated, Zhang Ruochen said, “The opportunities within our home planet belong to every Great Saint of the Immortal Vampires. As I said, we must unite and share information openly. There’s nothing to hide.”
Hearing this, the crowd nodded, their approval of Zhang Ruochen growing.
Feng Hou shook her head, “The depths are dangerous, extremely so. Great Saints below the Hundred-Shackle Realm who force their way in will surely die. Even those at the perfect Hundred-Shackle Realm face near-certain death.”
“I’ve made some discoveries. The blood loss may be related to the legendary Blood Shadow Ghost Seed.”
“Blood Shadow Ghost Seed?”
The Great Saints all looked puzzled, none having heard of it.
Some even suspected Feng Hou was fabricating it to conceal the truth.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t doubt her. After refining part of the Divine Wood Heart, he had inherited vast knowledge from the Heaven-Connecting Divine Tree and had a vague recollection of the “Blood Shadow Ghost Seed.”
The Temple of Fate’s library was unparalleled, collecting texts from countless great worlds. As a candidate for goddess, Feng Hou was well-read, knowledgeable about countless secrets and tales.
Feng Hou said, “The legend of the Blood Shadow Ghost Seed is ancient, dating back to the birth of the Immortal Vampires.”
“Some texts say it’s a tree; others, a humanoid creature; others, a soul or undead spirit. There are many accounts, but no consensus, not even on whether it truly exists.”
“The key legend is that the Blood Shadow Ghost Seed grew from the White Cang Blood Soil. With the disappearance of the White Cang Blood Soil, it supposedly went extinct.”
A cry rang out, “White Cang Blood Soil! Something grown from the White Cang Blood Soil—what kind of treasure is that?”
The other Immortal Vampire Great Saints were equally excited, eyes gleaming, unable to stay calm.
The White Cang Blood Soil was the Immortal Vampires’ foremost sacred relic.
The Immortal Vampires weren’t a naturally born race but originated from humans.
Their first ancestor, named “Yin,” was once human, buried in the White Cang Blood Soil after death. Countless years later, he revived from it, giving rise to the Immortal Vampires.
Yin’s era predated the ten ancestors who founded the ten tribes, belonging to myth. Even the gods of the Immortal Vampires weren’t sure if he truly existed.
Yin was also called the “Ancestor of Ancestors.”
The White Cang Blood Soil was known as the “Immortal Soil,” “Resurrection Soil,” or “Rebirth Soil,” with rumours linking it to the secret of eternal life.
Sadly, over endless ages, the White Cang Blood Soil had been depleted.
Many suspected the Immortal Temple still held some, used as a resting place for gods nearing the end of their lifespan, perhaps to awaken them one day.
Feng Hou said, “Don’t get your hopes too high. This is all just my speculation. The Blood Shadow Ghost Seed may have wondrous uses, but it also carries great danger. Great Saints below the perfect Hundred-Shackle Realm should avoid the depths.”
Linked to the White Cang Blood Soil, how could the Immortal Vampire Great Saints remain calm?
Even if it meant near-certain death, many were willing to take the risk.
Seeing the excitement in their eyes, Zhang Ruochen frowned, regretting letting Feng Hou reveal this secret publicly.
Those unable to control their desires would die faster the more they knew.
“Alright, Feng Hou, Dao Prison Emperor, and I will go explore first to better understand the home planet’s interior. If we can mitigate the dangers, then everyone can try for the opportunities,” Zhang Ruochen said.
