Chapter 12: Blood Sacrifice
A man had read about blood sacrifices in the “Blood Fiend Art.” He happened to know of a place perfectly suited for such a ritual. He didn’t even need to capture children for the sacrifice; the victims were readily available at the scene. It was a pity, though, that there was no cultivator’s flesh and blood as an offering, which was insufficient for him to break through his realm. However, if he could at least recover from his injuries, that would be enough.
The man coughed, circulated his spiritual energy, and quickly burrowed into the earth, disappearing without a trace.
It wasn’t until close to dawn, as the sky began to lighten, that hurried, chaotic footsteps echoed through the residence once more. When the newcomers opened the door and witnessed the brutal scene before their eyes, their pupils widened like copper bells, on the verge of spewing fire.
The burly man slammed his fist heavily onto the door, producing a muffled, resounding thud. “Damn it!” “We’re a step too late,” he said grimly to the two people rushing up behind him.
A lean man frowned slightly. His gaze swept past the burly man blocking the doorway, peering inside, and his pupils contracted. “This evil cultivator is truly getting bolder and bolder…” he muttered, pulling out his phone to start taking pictures and documenting the crime scene.
The other person was a woman in a Taoist robe, standing quietly beside them, not speaking.
The first burly man fell silent for a moment before speaking to the woman, “Call the police station first. Have them send someone to clean this up.” With that, the burly man kicked the door again. “Damn it, those Taoists from Mount Qingcheng are really unreliable. They’ve taken readings so many times, and not once have we managed to catch him beforehand!”
The woman narrowed her eyes, not responding to his outburst. Instead, she turned and walked outside to make a phone call.
The lean man glanced at the burly man. “Zhang Yong, calm down. Raging here pointlessly won’t achieve anything.”
The lean man was named Huang Que, and the woman was Zheng Qing. The three of them were members of the first team in Qing City’s Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, and also rare cultivators in Qing City with the aptitude for cultivation. Although the highest in cultivation among them, Zheng Qing, was only at Qi Refining Level 1.
However, according to reliable sources, this evil cultivator had been severely injured by the elders of Mount Qingcheng when he trespassed there earlier. It was unlikely for him to recover anytime soon, and his current strength was less than ten percent of his full power. Coupled with the modern weapons and precious talismans that Huang Que and the others possessed, as long as they encountered the evil cultivator head-on, there was a high probability of capturing him. Moreover, they had extensive combat experience against this type of evil cultivator.
Evil cultivators committed crimes not just once or twice. Since the spiritual energy revival, a case occurred every one or two months. However, because Qing City was backed by Mount Qingcheng, powerful evil cultivators rarely came to Qing City to cause trouble. Most were petty criminals who hadn’t even formally entered the cultivation world; a few shots from a rifle were usually enough.
This time, the evil cultivator’s cultivation level was as high as the peak of Qi Cultivation Level 3. His appearance had immediately drawn the serious attention of the authorities. Not only were all members of the first team deployed, but they were also specially issued three “Palm Thunder” talismans, capable of instantly paralyzing nerves and counteracting the evil cultivator’s Earth Evasion Technique. They also coordinated with high-level cultivators from Mount Qingcheng for long-range assistance to determine his location.
However, it seemed they were in a bit of a deadlock. For the people on Mount Qingcheng to calculate the location, they had to wait for the evil cultivator to perform a spell, sense the spiritual energy fluctuations, and then use external tools for positioning. After that, they would inform Huang Que and the others who were on standby. But by the time Huang Que and the others arrived at the scene, it would often be an hour or two later. How could they possibly catch anyone?
Moreover, the evil cultivator was cunning and knew to burrow into the city, making them hesitant to use all their means. For instance, precise guidance or area-of-effect attacks were out of the question.
This was why Zhang Yong was so furious. He knew that if the old Taoists from Mount Qingcheng took action, this matter could be easily resolved. But those old Taoists were all the more protective of their spiritual energy. If this evil cultivator hadn’t been so reckless and actively sought trouble with Mount Qingcheng in the first place, they would probably be living more comfortably than anyone. Zhang Yong also resented his own insufficient cultivation, leaving him powerless to intervene. Otherwise, why would he have to watch one bloodbath after another unfold before his eyes when he had the will to kill the enemy but lacked the ability to bring them to justice?
As the team leader, Huang Que was naturally much calmer and considered more things. He sighed and walked over to pat Zhang Yong on the shoulder. “I know you’re anxious, but try to be patient. Zheng Qing won’t feel good hearing you say those things.” Zheng Qing was from Mount Qingcheng and was appointed to the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs a year ago after communication between Mount Qingcheng and the authorities as a goodwill gesture.
Zhang Yong snorted and glanced at the woman standing outside. “So what now? Do we just wait around? Cleaning up after that evil cultivator?!”
Huang Que pushed up his glasses, a cold glint in his eyes. “Let’s wait another two days. He’s very confident, even arrogant. He won’t just leave like this and will definitely want to retaliate.” “Be patient, and there will be a time when he makes a mistake.”
But Zhang Yong clearly couldn’t agree. He shouted, on the verge of spewing fire, “Are we just going to stand by and watch innocent people die for nothing?!”
“Those are necessary sacrifices,” Huang Que said, putting away his phone and turning around. His words floated gently. “If their deaths can lead to the downfall of that evil cultivator, and if it allows us to understand that inscrutable Earth Evasion Technique…” “Then it will be worth it.”
…
…
It was Friday today. School would be on holiday soon.
The peaceful morning passed quickly. Chen An lay on the sports field, hands behind his head, with a lazy expression. He was sunbathing. This was a habit he had developed in a past life. He vaguely remembered being ill during that time, though he didn’t know what it was. However, he felt much better whenever he basked in the sun.
After school, he would return to the orphanage in the countryside. He would give the bank card to the director, allowing him to find someone to repair the orphanage with the money. Chen An’s thoughts drifted, and he suddenly thought of the few mischievous brats who always followed him around, a smile appearing on his lips. Chen An’s grades were good, and he was sensible, often praised by the director as a role model. Plus, whenever he had free time and returned to the orphanage, he would always bring some small snacks. It didn’t cost much, but it made those children happy for a long time. Over time, the children also became fond of him.
Many children had left the orphanage, but not many remembered their past connections. Once they grew up and moved to big cities, they rarely returned. Perhaps they wanted to, but the pace of life in big cities was too fast, constantly urging them forward, leaving them with no time to spare. Gradually, Chen An became the oldest child at the orphanage for the past two years. Apart from him, the rest were only six or seven years old, with even younger ones, just like when Chen An was first found.
Times were progressing. But that small orphanage seemed to have been left behind by the times, stagnant.
(End of Chapter)
