Chapter 528: Chapter 528

Once, Han Yu's spirit core had been translucent white like that of most cultivators. Now, faint red streaks marred its surface, like veins running across a crystal sphere. The marks pulsed slowly with his heartbeat, expanding and contracting in rhythm.

Han Yu reached out with his spirit sense, tracing the flow of energy.

He could feel it shifting, transforming gradually. The red veins seemed to crawl further each day, covering more of the core as he continued refining. He estimated that about a tenth of it had already turned blood red.

"This thing really changes me," he whispered, almost to himself. "Not just my Qi, but everything within me…"

He could not deny the sense of power that came with it.

His Qi circulation was faster now, his recovery rate had improved, and even his physical strength seemed enhanced. Yet there was something eerie about the energy that now resided within him. It was unlike the normal attibuteless Qi he was used to.

Blood Qi, even in the orthodox sects, was considered rare.

There were a few sects in the Violet Eve World that practiced it, and while they were viewed with suspicion, they were not outright condemned. Their methods were focused on the refinement of blood vitality through pills, beast blood, or elixirs.

Such techniques emphasized harmony and control over the primal essence.

But the Moon Blood Qi was something else entirely. It was pure, untainted by vitality or beast essence. There was no trace of mortal energy in it. It was as if the energy came from a heavenly or inhuman source... something detached from the cycle of life and death.

Han Yu had the faint impression that this Qi did not belong to this world.

The more he cultivated, the clearer this feeling became.

Every time the Moon Blood Qi circulated through his body, he could feel the faint tug of coldness in his heart, a strange stillness that threatened to devour his emotions. It was like staring into the night sky for too long... beautiful and serene, but carrying a vast emptiness that could swallow everything.

Still, he pressed on.

He cultivated for two more days without rest, pushing his limits further. His control grew sharper, and his body adapted more easily to the alien energy. By the end of the sixth day, nearly five percent of his Qi had transformed into Blood Moon Qi, and a full tenth of his spiritual core was now covered in crimson.

The difference in strength was immense.

He could feel it in the way his Qi responded. Every movement of his hand carried the faint trace of power that made the air ripple. He was certain that if he were to fight Ju Fan again now, he could kill him in just a few exchanges.

But even as satisfaction filled his heart, a hint of unease remained.

The transformation was happening faster now. The first few hundred crystals had taken days to absorb, but now he could consume nearly two hundred per day. His pace was accelerating in ways that didn't feel natural.

"Maybe this is just how the body adjusts," he reasoned to himself, though the uncertainty lingered.

He was about to continue, reaching for another crystal, when a sudden vibration broke the silence. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net

The Communication jade slip lying beside him buzzed softly, releasing a faint hum of energy. Its surface flickered with red light, forming a glowing sigil of the Slaughtered Moon Divine Blood Sect.

Han Yu's heart tightened as he picked it up. A message was coming through.

He quickly infused a bit of Qi into the slip, and words appeared before his eyes, written in flowing red script.

"To all disciples in the field: Gather at the beacon. The mission has been completed. Report immediately."

The message was signed by Fourth Junior Elder, and from what Han Yu could tell, it was not addressed to him personally. It was a mass transmission sent to all members of the set involved in the operation.

Han Yu frowned deeply. "The mission… completed?" he whispered. "Does that mean…"

His stomach sank at the thought. If the mission had been to eliminate all invaders, then the meaning was clear.

The disciples of the Twin Leaf Peak Sect... his people... were gone.

He sat there for a moment, frozen, the jade slip trembling slightly in his hand. His thoughts turned heavy, tangled between guilt, sorrow, and fury. He had known from the beginning that he could not save them, but the finality of it struck him harder than he expected.

He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, forcing his racing thoughts into silence.

"I will avenge them," he said quietly, his voice hoarse but resolute. "Not now… but one day."

After a few moments, he steadied himself and looked up. The message had mentioned a beacon. Han Yu had no idea what that meant until a faint flash of light caught his attention.

Far in the distance, through the mist and trees, a pillar of red light had erupted into the sky.

It was bright, piercing the clouds like a spear, and its glow was disturbingly familiar. It looked just like the crimson pillars that had marked the tomb earlier, but this one was located in the opposite direction.

Han Yu clenched his jaw.

It seemed that his time of hiding was over. The real test had begun.

He rose to his feet, stretching his stiff limbs and brushing off the layer of dirt and mud that clung to his body. He changed into a spare set of robes that Ju Fan had in his robes, looking just like one of their blood sect's disciples.

His aura was calm now, his Qi steady but heavy with power. He looked toward the distant beacon, its bloody light pulsing like a heart in the darkness.

"Time to play my part," he muttered, his tone cold.

And with that, Han Yu began to move, his figure slipping into the mist as he made his way toward the pillar of red light... the gathering place of the Slaughtered Moon Divine Blood Sect.