Primordial Era: Starting with slaughtering all the gods and Buddhas in the sky

As dusk settled over the mountain ridge, smoke was still rising from the northern foothills.

Outside the sheltered stone valley, pale black, cold water seeped continuously from the cracks in the rocks, hissing and steaming as it fell to the ground. The air was filled with the stench of blood, burnt flesh, and a damp, rotten smell, like a recently burned sacrificial site that had been soaked in ice water; smelling it for too long made one's throat feel dry and parched.

Huang Chen leaned against the stone wall and slowly exhaled a breath that smelled of rust.

The old wound on his chest hadn't healed yet, and the tearing pain from enduring the backlash under the altar was still there. With each deep breath, it felt like a dull knife was scraping his ribs back and forth.

He looked down at his palm; the blood was no longer as glaring as before, but a faint blackish-red stain still lingered between his fingers.

We can't push it any further in.

Not at least not now.

He turned around and looked at the dozen or so remaining sacrificial humans who had been brought out at the other end of the stone valley.

Those people had ashen faces, chapped lips, and were still wrapped in ropes and sacrificial cloths that hadn't been completely removed. They huddled in the wind like frozen grass roots.

Lan Gu was squatting next to a woman, whittling a wooden staff with a broken stone shard, his movements quick and steady.

Upon seeing Huang Chen approach, the young man immediately stood up, his voice low.

"Sir, I've checked the entrance to the cave. It's not deep inside, and it provides shelter from the wind. There's also a narrow crevice at the back, which allows you to crawl to the other side of the mountain."

'

Huang Chen nodded.

Is there any water?

'

"Yes." Lan Gu wiped the dust off his face. "Twenty steps or so in, there's a crack in the rock that's dripping. You'll have enough to drink in a little while."

'

Huang Chen didn't say much, but pointed to three places.

"Pile stones on the left side of the cave entrance to create a low barrier."

Hang scraps of cloth on the right side; they will rustle in the wind, serving as a warning. Do not light any open fires at the innermost part; use hot stones for warmth instead.

'

Lan Gu listened very attentively and nodded repeatedly.

"Sir, I understand."

'

Huang Chen then looked at the survivors, his voice not loud, but it commanded respect.

"Go downhill south from here, and there's a collapsed ditch about 200 steps away. Follow the ditch to bypass the main road on the north side."

If pursuers come, don't run to higher ground. Find a gap in the path, spread out, and form groups of three.

Those who were still able to stand quickly responded.

Even with their voices hoarse, some people still managed to say "benefactor".

Huang Chen waved his hand, ignoring the comment.

He set up a very basic cover outside the cave entrance, dragging along rubble, broken bones, and charred sacrificial wood to deliberately create a chaotic scene resembling a collapsed building. He then took out several old talisman papers from his pocket, tore them into thin strips, and buried them in the vent. As soon as someone stepped near, the change in airflow would immediately alert him.

After finishing these tasks, he squatted down, took a stone bowl, filled it halfway with clean water, and handed it to the weakest old man.

The old man's hands trembled, and he almost dropped the cup.

Huang Chen held the edge of the stone bowl and waited for the other person to drink before letting go.

The wind swept in from outside the valley, carrying ash and snowflakes that stung my face.

The last vestiges of crimson on the horizon were slowly sinking, while the cracked mountain patterns on the northern slopes appeared even more menacing in the twilight, as if the earth had been forcibly torn open.

Lan Gu took a step closer, her voice even lower.

"Sir, are you going out again?"

"Um.

'

"More people will come from outside."

"I know.

'

Lan Gu gritted her teeth, gripping the freshly whittled wooden staff in her hand until it turned white.

"Then I'll go with you—"

"Need not.

'

Huang Chen glanced at him.

"You're more useful staying here than following me."

'

Lan Gu's lips moved, but in the end she lowered her head.

"Don't worry, sir, I'll keep watch over them."

'

Huang Chen raised his hand and pressed on the boy's shoulder. Lan Gu's body stiffened, as if he hadn't expected this, and then he tensed up even more.

"Don't be reckless at night. If something really happens, take your people and get out of here first."

'

"Yes, sir."

Huang Chen turned around, and after taking two steps, he suddenly stopped.

An unusual, fishy smell wafted through the mountain breeze.

It is not stagnant water, nor is it the remnant of a sacrificial canal.

It was alive, carrying immense pressure and a disciplined, murderous aura, like the undercurrents before a deep river crashes against the shore, first lying low, then pressing in inch by inch.

Huang Chen's eyes turned cold, and he immediately concealed his aura, climbing onto a cracked rock at the mouth of the valley.

The next moment, several figures emerged one after another from behind the rocky slope in the distance.

There are seven people in total.

The leader was extremely tall, clad in heavy, dark blue armor. The armor plates were neither iron nor bronze, but rather resembled the scales of some giant beast cast from its spine, with edges shimmering with a ghostly blue ripple. A long spear was slung diagonally across his shoulder, its blade narrow and long, its entire body dark and heavy, with a dark red leather cord wrapped around its end. With each step he took, the ice on the ground cracked silently.

Huang Chen narrowed his eyes.

This aura is different from that of Chenhe and Xuanjia Wujian.

It wasn't a ferocity built up by sacrificial rituals, locking veins, or external objects, but rather a more orthodox and substantial sense of blood pressure, like a cold tide that has been pressing down for thousands of years in the depths of the ocean, making one's chest feel tight before it even makes a sound.

The other six stood on either side, their steps in unison, bone knives and short halberds hanging from their waists, and circular water-patterned shields on their backs.

Their armor styles are similar, clearly indicating that they are a well-organized warrior unit, not a hastily assembled motley crew.

Huang Chen lay prone in the shadow of the high stone, his fingers lightly resting on the hilt of the Asura Blood Blade.

The tall man suddenly stopped, looked up at the direction of the altar ruins, and twitched his nostrils as if he were identifying the scent in the wind.

After a moment, he spoke coldly.

"Blood, fire, soul-binding ash, and the aura of foreign magical artifacts."

"The Beilu sacrificial site was destroyed here."

'

His voice wasn't loud, but it was as deep as a stone thrown into an icy river, with a metallic, cold tone at the end.

A soldier on the left whispered, "Commander Li, should we search the valley?"

'

Commander Li.

Huang Chen wrote the name down.

The tall man reached down and took out a long spear from his back, the tip pointing diagonally at the ground.

"search.

'

"Take them back alive. Anyone who resists, kill them."

'

As soon as he finished speaking, all seven of them moved at the same time.

There was no chaos, and no shouts of killing.

Two men circled around from behind, two clung to the cliff edge, and two pressed forward from the front. The tall man at the very front advanced in the center, their spears poised but their formation already complete. The Cold Water Spirit and the Subterranean Remnant Fire were drawn into two thin streams beneath their feet, intertwining and swirling like an invisible net.

Huang Chen's pupils contracted slightly.

Water and fire battle formation.

Moreover, it's not a crudely cobbled-together product like the Cold Soul Crossing technique; it's genuinely trained.

There's no point in hiding anymore.

Huang Chen pushed off with his feet, tumbling down from behind the cracked rock, smashing a pile of rubble with a bang, and blocking the valley entrance.

The six warriors stopped almost simultaneously, raised their shields, leveled their halberds, and shifted their steps, instantly tightening the array patterns.

The leading man saw Huang Chen, his gaze falling on the still-damp bloodstains on Huang Chen's chest and the blood-stained blade in his hand, and the murderous intent in his eyes immediately subsided.

"It's you?"

'

Huang Chen didn't answer, but first glanced at the other person.

Upon closer inspection, the man had very high brow bones, a pale complexion from years of immersion in cold water, and three dark red old scars on his left neck that had never been part of his armor.

What's most striking are his eyes; the pupils are deep black, but the outer edge is surrounded by a very light blue, like an undercurrent beneath ice.

"Who are you?

"Huang Chen asked in return.

The man raised his spear, aiming it directly at Huang Chen's throat.

"The main branch of the Gonggong tribe, Li Chenshuo."

"Did you bomb the sacrificial site on the northern slope?"

'

The sound of wind swirled between the two of them.

Huang Chen heard a very faint gasping sound coming from inside the stone cave.

Lan Gu and the others had obviously also noticed that something was wrong outside.

He didn't turn around, but simply said, "No."

'

Li Chenshuo sneered.

"The altar has collapsed, the Soul-Binding Fire has dissipated, and you are the only outsider cultivator left, covered in blood."

You say no?

Who would believe that?

'

Huang Chen raised his eyes.

"If you don't believe me, you can take a second look."

'

Li Chenshuo frowned.

The next instant, the ground beneath his feet cracked open, and he was like a ferocious beast unleashed, his long spear tearing through the cold wind and stabbing straight at Huang Chen's old chest wound.

That spear strike was too fast.

Huang Chen turned to the side, the spear blade grazing his ribs, leaving a trail of blood droplets.

Before he even landed, warriors on both sides pressed forward simultaneously, their short halberds, bone knives, and water shields closing in at once. The cold water and embers on the ground were drawn by the battle formation, transforming into two rings of entangling light patterns that fiercely locked onto Huang Chen's legs.

"Take it down!"

'

Li Chenshuo shouted in a low voice.

Huang Chen's anger flared.

That's fucking direct.

His injuries had not yet healed, and he was unwilling to linger. With a sudden jolt, his Mountain and River Boots rose half a zhang higher, avoiding the lock pattern below.

In mid-air, the Asura Blood Blade slashed horizontally, causing a water-patterned shield to vibrate violently. The main warrior groaned and staggered back, his arm muscles bulging.

But the next moment, the second and third soldiers had already filled in.

The formation remained perfectly intact.

The moment Huang Chen landed, the wound on his chest reopened, and hot blood flowed down his clothes.

His breath hitched, and all he could hear was the deafening roar of water and fire clashing together. The ground beneath his feet began to turn red and black, as if trying to trap him in the center.

Li Chenshuo took a step closer, flipped the spear shaft, and swept away a thousand pounds.

"These foreign thieves dare to interfere with the sacrificial rites of my Gonggong tribe!"

boom!

Huang Chen crossed his arms and took the spear head-on. He was so shaken that he staggered back three steps, his heels leaving long furrows in the ground.

A sweet taste rose in my throat.

I almost vomited blood.

He raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, a fierce look appearing in his eyes.

Since these people refuse to listen, then beat them until they stop.

Huang Chen slapped his chest with his backhand, and the nascent, yet unrealized, power of his internal pulse fire suddenly exploded.

"open--"

boom!

The ground within a radius of several tens of feet suddenly sank.

It wasn't a collapse; it was that the inspiration was forcibly suppressed.

The lingering cold waters, the remaining flames of the altar that bound souls, and the lingering resentment and malevolent energy within the mountain's belly were all pulled out by an even more ferocious force, twisted together, and transformed into a vast, swirling, blood-red battle zone.

It was a deep, almost black red, yet translucent within its darkness, like the entire earth was ablaze, or like a dark river filled with scalding blood.

Li Chenshuo's expression changed for the first time.

"What is this?"

Huang Chen did not answer.

As soon as the Pulsefire Battle Domain was activated, his chest wound felt like it was being violently ripped open by a fire hook, the pain making his scalp tingle. But at the same time, the overwhelming force spread out, and the array patterns beneath the feet of the six main pulse warriors twisted one after another, causing the manipulation of cold water and residual fire to instantly become unbalanced.

One person's shield shattered.

One man bent his halberd.

Two others were so shocked that they knelt down, blood trickling from their mouths.

Huang Chen took a step forward, and the Blood Domain advanced accordingly. The Asura Blood Blade slashed at the shield of the nearest warrior, sending him and his shield flying with a bang, crashing into half of the stone slope.

Li Chenshuo roared, slamming his long spear into the ground, the red rope at the end of the spear flailing wildly, forcefully stabilizing the center of the formation.

"Condensing the pulse!"

Loop!

The remaining few gritted their teeth and changed formation, attempting to merge the water and fire streams once again.

Huang Chen, however, had already seen through it.

This group was much stronger than the group that was sunk in the river, but they arrived in a hurry and were not familiar with the terrain of the shattered sacrificial vein on the northern slope.

A formation relies on the terrain; if the terrain is disrupted, the formation will be rendered ineffective.

He suddenly flipped his palm, and the shattered seal of the Mirage Palace of the North Sea flew out from his sleeve.

This group was much stronger than the group that was sunk in the river, but they arrived in a hurry and were not familiar with the terrain of the shattered sacrificial vein on the northern slope.

A formation relies on the terrain; if the terrain is disrupted, the formation will be rendered ineffective.

He suddenly flipped his palm, and the shattered seal of the Mirage Palace of the North Sea flew out from his sleeve.

The fragmented seal swelled in the wind, its shattered edges swirling with a pale blue mirage, before slamming into the point where the formations converged. A series of crisp cracking sounds rang out, and the two water-fire rings that had just been erected on the ground instantly snapped.

The backlash surged back along the array patterns.

Both main warriors groaned simultaneously and staggered backward.

Li Chenshuo stared at the broken seal, his pupils shrinking.

"Things from the Mirage Palace in the North Sea?"

'

Huang Chen took a half step back, flicked his hand, and flung out the fragments of the Cold Nether Altar map and the Soul Ash Jade Box together, which hung in mid-air.

Each picture and letter carries the remnants of the sacrificial lineage.

Especially the Soul Ash Jade Box; as soon as it appeared, the remaining Soul-Binding Ash around it seemed to have smelled it and all rushed towards it.

Huang Chen pointed the tip of his knife at the ground, his voice cold.

"Look carefully."

"I was dug out from under the altar, not pointed in from the outside."

'

Li Chenshuo did not immediately step forward.

He stared at the two items, his face gradually darkening.

A warrior from the main branch nearby couldn't help but say, "Commander, this thing looks real..."

"Shut up."

Li Chenshuo raised his hand to interrupt, turning his gaze to Huang Chen.

Where did you get these?

"Underneath the ice coffin."

'

Huang Chen's chest heaved violently. He had withdrawn his Pulse Fire Battle Domain, but the Crimson Domain still pressed down on the surroundings. He raised his sword and pointed it deep into the ruins of the northern foothills, each word striking the ground.

"I wasn't the one who actually started the fire."

"The core of the altar is the mirage's physical body, the cold water vein is the fuse, and the soul-binding flag is the clasp."

"Your system in the Northern Mountains isn't just the work of the Gonggong Department; it also incorporates methods from other schools."

Li Chenshuo frowned deeply.

"Other places?"

Huang Chen flipped his hand and took out the Demon-Subduing Golden Bowl.

The golden bowl had old cracks and burn marks on its surface, but the Buddhist patterns and soul-suppressing ring marks were still there. Huang Chen pushed it forward and said coldly, "Do you recognize the soul-binding and pressing patterns on this?"

'

Li Chenshuo focused his attention on it.

The more he looked, the uglier his expression became.

An older warrior from the main branch behind him whispered, "These patterns... are the same as the soul-sealing patterns on the inside of the flagpole made of human bones at the sacrificial site."

Huang Chen said, "It's the demon-subduing golden bowl left behind by a passing earth immortal."

I acquired it from elsewhere many years ago.

"Inside the flagpoles made of human bones at your sacrificial site, there are soul-binding patterns of the same origin."

It's not a coincidence.

The wind suddenly got colder.

Outside the stone valley, only the rustling sound of falling pebbles could be heard.

The veins on the back of Li Chenshuo's hand throbbed slightly. After a few breaths, he slowly asked, "What else did you see?"

'

Huang Chen withdrew half of his Pulse Fire Battle Domain, causing the surrounding crimson to fade slightly, and the oppressive aura that had been suffocating people to ease.

"The bloodline of the Ancestral Witch was used as a sacrificial offering."

'

"Some people are using the incident at the northern foot of the mountain to push your main lineage down a path of recklessness."

"The sinking river, the black armor witch's supervision, and the cold soul crossing black goods chain are just the outer layer."

'

As he said this, he coughed, and more blood appeared on his palm.

Lan Gu, who was listening anxiously inside the cave, couldn't help but call out, "My lord!"

'

Huang Chen waved his hand, indicating that nothing was wrong.

Li Chenshuo glanced in the direction of the stone cave following the sound, and then discovered that there were still surviving humans hidden inside.

The elderly, women, and children huddled in the shadows, their faces pale and thin, bearing the marks of sacrificial offerings.

The murderous intent in his eyes finally subsided.

"You saved him?"

Huang Chen was too lazy to explain further.

"These are the only ones left, salvaged from the sacrificial site and the ferry crossing."

Li Chenshuo remained silent for a moment, then suddenly lowered his long spear.

Seeing this, the six main warriors also put away their weapons, but remained on guard.

"My decision to act just now was a misjudgment on my part."

'

When Li Chenshuo said this, his voice was still hard, as if he was not used to bowing his head.

"After the explosion on the northern slope, the main ridge has been in chaos for two days."

The Ancestral Witch Blood Pool has indeed been acting strangely lately, surging three times at night, which even the elders guarding the pool couldn't suppress. We followed the aura of collapse all the way here, initially thinking that outsiders had deliberately detonated the sacrificial site to sever the foundation of our main lineage.

'

Huang Chen stared at him.

"And now?"

'

Li Chenshuo also stared at Huang Chen.

"I only believe half of it now."

'

"What you have and the clues you've given me are enough to make me stop, but not enough for me to reveal everything."

Huang Chen scoffed.

"What a coincidence, I wasn't planning to believe you completely anyway."

That short sentence actually eased the atmosphere a bit.

The soldiers behind Li Chenshuo exchanged glances. Some of them had strange expressions, as if it was the first time they had ever seen someone dare to contradict their commander like that.

Li Chenshuo didn't get angry; instead, he nodded.

"Okay. That's the easiest way to talk."

'

He turned around and waved.

"Azhuo, Wuling, bring the people out of the cave, examine their injuries first, and then give them water."

Don't touch the nail marks on their necks and backs, as they can easily rupture their veins.

The two main warriors responded immediately. Their movements were swift and efficient, and they didn't try to look fierce. They first untied their weapons and placed them far away before slowly approaching the cave.

Lan Gu instinctively stood in front of the cave entrance, holding his wooden staff horizontally, his face taut.

One of the soldiers stopped and tried to keep his voice down.

"Kid, we need to get them out of this collapsed area. In another hour, when the night tide rises, this place will be flooded with cold water again."

'

Lan Gu didn't move, only watching Huang Chen.

Huang Chen nodded.

"Let them pass."

Lan Gu slowly turned to the side, adding, "Don't touch them, they're all injured."

"You're badly injured."

Huang Chen pulled his clothes together.

"He won't die."

Li Chenshuo took a small, dark blue bottle from his waist and tossed it over.

"It stops bleeding from the main meridian. It's more potent than external elixirs, and the wound will hurt for a while."

'

Huang Chen caught it, but didn't use it immediately.

"Aren't you afraid I'll take it and run away?"

'

"If you wanted to run, you would have run already."

Li Chenshuo looked up into the depths of the northern foothills, where the mountain shadows overlapped in the twilight, like the skeleton of a giant beast submerged at the bottom of the sea.

"Besides, you want to go in too."

Huang Chen did not deny it.

The wind blew again, and the sky darkened completely. Suddenly, a deep, muffled thud came from the collapsed sacrificial site in the distance, as if something underground had turned over. The pebbles underfoot bounced slightly, and even the people in the cave gasped in surprise.

Li Chenshuo's face darkened, and he turned to shout, "Hurry up!"

Several mainline warriors immediately sped up, helping those who could walk to their feet, and hastily piecing together shields and spear shafts to make stretchers for those who couldn't.

Someone even took out a few warm black stones from their bag and gave them to the shivering old people to warm their hands.

Lan Gu helped a woman out and walked to Huang Chen's side, lowering her voice.

"Sir, should I go with them?"

Huang Chen looked at him, then at the survivors.

"Let's go first."

Lan Gu's eyes were a little red, but she still nodded emphatically.

"Then, sir—"

"Stop talking nonsense."

Huang Chen raised his hand and stuffed a small packet of water purification stone powder into his arms.

"Give them clean water along the way, but don't give them too much at once. Once you're in a safe place, tell them the evacuation route and what you know about the campsite."

'

Lan Gu hugged the things tightly, her Adam's apple bobbing.

"Yes, sir."

'

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly turned back, gave Huang Chen a deep bow, the movement stiff, but more earnest than anything else.

Huang Chen didn't accept the gift, but instead kicked him in the shin.

"Hurry up and go help them up."

Lan Gu sniffed, grabbed her things, and ran off.

Li Chenshuo saw this scene but remained silent, waiting for the team to be in order before looking at Huang Chen again.

"I can take you into the outer perimeter of the northern foothills."

'

"Once you reach the outer ring of the main vein, you need to explain everything you've seen and discovered today."

Huang Chen pinched open the small bluish-black bottle, applied the medicinal essence to his chest, and the wound instantly felt like it was being pierced by a red-hot iron needle, causing his eye to twitch in pain.

He didn't change his expression and simply put the bottle away.

"lead the way.

'

Li Chenshuo turned around, flicked his long spear, and the red rope at the end of the spear drew a dark arc in the night.

The warriors at the front had already escorted the humans to retreat to the collapsed ditch to the southwest, their armor plates lightly bumping against each other as they made steady steps.

Further north, in the deep mountains, layers of cold mist are rising, slowly swallowing up the breached mountain passes.

Li Chenshuo took a few steps, then suddenly turned his head to the side.

"There's one more thing."

Huang Chen looked at him.

"The soul-binding pattern from the golden bowl of the passing immortal you mentioned might be found in the old bone book in the main lineage's archives."

Huang Chen's eyes flickered slightly.

Li Chenshuo said nothing more, only raising his hand to press down on a dark blue domino embedded in the mountain wall. The domino immediately lit up with fine water ripples, and the seemingly sealed cliff face in front of him silently cracked open, creating a narrow opening that could only accommodate two people walking side by side, from which a colder and heavier damp air surged out.

Huang Chen drew his sword and followed him inside.

The night wind swept through the empty stone valley behind me, making the few pieces of cloth hanging at the cave entrance rustle loudly.