After surviving my ordeal, I learned that the school beauty had given birth to twins for me.

The crimson runes on the altar lit up once more.

Moreover, it was brighter and more eerie than before.

The smell of blood in the air grew stronger and stronger.

"What is the patriarch trying to do?"

"I don't know... Something feels off..."

The disciples discussed among themselves, a sense of unease rising in their hearts.

Jiuju Daoxuan also sensed that something was wrong.

This incantation... this formation...

This doesn't seem to be the formation for the return of the patriarch.

This is……

Suddenly, Jiuju Daoxuan seemed to realize something, and his expression changed drastically.

Blood Sacrifice Array!

This is a blood sacrifice formation!

Patriarch... Patriarch, could it be that you...?

"Master! What... what are you going to do?" Jiuju Daoxuan asked, trembling.

Daoist Jiuju ignored him.

The chanting grew faster and faster.

Blood-red light shot up from the altar into the sky.

A terrifying suction force emanated from the direction of the altar.

"ah--!"

A scream rang out.

One of the disciples who was closer to the altar suddenly shriveled up.

Its essence, blood, and soul were all drawn out and flew towards the altar.

"No... please don't!"

"Help!"

"Master! Save me!"

One disciple after another was drawn in by the suction force.

The body shriveled up at a visible rate, eventually turning into a dried-up corpse and collapsing to the ground.

Their essence, blood, and souls were all absorbed into the altar.

Chaos erupted throughout the venue.

"What happened?"

"Why are you sucking our blood?"

"Master! What are you doing?!"

The disciples scattered in terror and fled.

But the suction was too strong; they couldn't escape at all.

Jiuju Daoxuan was also pulled in by the suction force, his face turning pale.

"Grandmaster! Why?" Jiuju Daoxuan roared, "We are all your disciples!"

"Disciples?" Daoist Jiuju sneered, his eyes devoid of any emotion. "Your lives were all given to you by me."

"Now, it's time to return it to me."

"Use your blood and souls to help me regain my strength."

"It is your honor."

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured on everyone's hearts.

pleasure?

Will we trade our lives for your restoration of strength?

Is this what you call an honor?

The disciples were utterly desperate.

The patriarch they've worshipped for so long is now going to be sacrificed with their blood.

Is this the god they believe in?

They're absolutely demonic!

Byron and Vera's expressions also changed.

They were both enveloped by the suction force.

"Nine Chrysanthemum Taoist! What are you doing!" Byron roared. "We are messengers of the Dark Council!"

"The Dark Council?" Daoist Jiuju glanced at them and sneered, "So what if it's the Dark Council?"

"The blood offerings delivered to our doorstep are perfect for a sacrifice."

"It is your good fortune to be able to contribute to my recovery of strength."

"You..." Byron was both angry and afraid.

He never expected that this Daoist Jiuju would be so crazy.

They even dared to touch the people of the Dark Council.

The crimson altar shone ever brighter.

Streams of essence and soul converged from all directions and poured into the altar.

In just a few minutes, hundreds of disciples turned into dried corpses and fell to the ground.

The air was thick with the stench of blood and resentment, so pungent it was nauseating.

The remnant soul of Daoist Jiuju hovered above the altar, frantically absorbing the essence and soul.

His body solidified at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Its aura was also rapidly increasing.

Three layers of Qi Refining.

The fourth level of Qi Refining.

Five layers of Qi Refining.

He quickly recovered to his peak level.

But this is not enough.

The blood sacrifice continues.

The remaining disciples are still being drained dry.

The aura of Daoist Jiuju was still rising.

……

"No... please don't..."

"Master... please spare my life..."

"I don't want to die..."

The disciples cried out and struggled in despair.

But the suction was too strong, and they couldn't break free at all.

They could only watch helplessly as their life force was slowly drained away.

They couldn't understand it until they died.

Why would I personally send my revered masters to their doom after worshipping them for so long?

Why?

Jiuju Daoxuan was also among the people being absorbed.

He was the sect leader, with the highest cultivation level, and lasted the longest.

But it only prolongs the time.

He watched as his disciples fell one by one, and watched his own body grow increasingly withered.

My heart is filled with regret.

He was wrong.

He was completely wrong.

What kind of patriarch, what kind of terrestrial immortal?

He is nothing but a selfish and self-serving demon.

In the eyes of their patriarch, these disciples were nothing more than nourishment to restore their strength.

"Why..." Jiuju Daoxuan murmured to himself, his eyes vacant, "Why did this happen..."

He did so many heinous things for the sake of the Nine Chrysanthemums Sect and for the return of the founder.

They collect the souls of the wronged in China and harm the innocent.

He thought he was bringing glory to the Jiuju School and making contributions to the founder.

In the end, he himself was just one of the sacrifices offered by the patriarch.

How ironic.

"puff."

Jiuju Daoxuan's body completely withered away.

He collapsed to the ground and became a dried-up corpse.

His eyes were still open; he died with his eyes wide open, unable to rest in peace.

On the other side, Byron and Vera were also struggling desperately.

Byron is a vampire with a strong physique and high regenerative ability.

Vera is a witch, protected by all sorts of strange witchcraft.

The two of them worked together and barely managed to resist the suction.

But it was only barely acceptable.

They definitely won't be able to hold on for long.

"Damn it!" Byron cursed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "That old madman! He's gone mad!"

"He dares to touch even us! Isn't he afraid of retaliation from the Dark Council?"

"What's the use of saying all this now!" Vera's face was deathly pale; the little snake in her hand had been sucked dry by the suction. "Hurry up and think of a way to escape!"

"Run? How can we run?" Byron gritted his teeth and said, "This great formation has sealed off the entire mountainside; we can't get out at all!"

The two were both anxious and afraid.

They came here to observe the initiation ceremony of Daoist Jiuju and to discuss cooperation.

Unexpectedly, he ended up getting himself involved.

This Daoist Jiuju is a complete madman!

"Hahaha!" Daoist Jiuju laughed wildly, his voice echoing throughout the entire mountain.

"Inhale! Inhale it all!"

"With all of you providing nourishment, I'm sure I'll be able to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage!"

"At that time, the entirety of Japan, the entirety of East Asia, will be my domain!"

His aura has already broken through the fifth level of Qi Refining and is moving towards the sixth level.

And the speed is still increasing.

Of the remaining two hundred or so disciples, more than half have died.

Shen Yu stood at the edge of the square, quietly watching everything.

His eyes were cold.

Most of these disciples of the Nine Chrysanthemums Sect are not good people.

Over the years, following the Nine Chrysanthemums Sect, I've done many heinous things.

They deserved to die.