Chapter 309: 309 Their retribution is me
The Blood Sect occupied a vast area, comparable in size to Zhen City.
Overlapping mountain ranges stretched far, and the air was saturated with the scent of blood.
The heart of the Blood Sect was the Sea of Blood. Here, thick, rolling crimson liquid filled the air with a sickly sweet stench of iron and death.
The peculiar sight gave the impression of having entered an alternate dimension.
Along the way, ruins were scattered everywhere. Countless low-level Cultivators had been killed by the sonic attacks. They lay unclothed, blood streaming from all seven orifices, their tragic deaths a shocking sight.
Wisps of blood qi continuously seeped from their bodies, rejoining the Sea of Blood, drawn out as long, crimson lines in the air.
Floating high above the Blood Sect, Lin Bai gazed down upon the mountains of corpses and the sea of blood, his face expressionless. He hadn’t spoken in a long time, appearing as a different person compared to his previous combative self.
The Little White Fox was terrified by this hellish scene, clutching tightly onto Hu He’s sleeve, not daring to let go.
Her un-transformed siblings also huddled at Hu He’s feet, covering their heads with their tails, trembling violently.
Most of the Players halted their discussions. The game didn’t use mosaics for censorship, nor did it block their five senses. Living in a peaceful era, when had they ever witnessed such a horrific sight? After all, this was not a zombie game viewed from behind a screen. The choking smell of blood and the ghastly countenances of death caused them severe psychological discomfort...
Some Players began to dry-heave, shielding their eyes, unable to bear the sight below.
Some Players with weaker mental fortitude even logged out, swearing never to return to the game.
Others logged off to complain on the game forums, demanding the game company rectify the inappropriate and overly stimulating gory scenes. For example, they suggested changing the blood to blue or green, or that NPC corpses should respawn...
Of course, there were Players with strong mental tolerance who were impressed by the artistic design and powerful special effects.
"Wars have always been this brutal since ancient times," Xu Longyun said, understanding Lin Bai’s thoughts. She approached him, gently taking his hand. Her face was pale and waxen, yet she tried to console her husband. "Ten thousand years ago, the population on the continent was extremely prosperous. There were countless countries, and the population numbered at least in the tens of billions. However, after several God and Demon Wars, nine out of ten homes were empty, civilizations withered, leading to the current situation where cities are far apart. To preserve the spark of humanity, basic cities are protected by Sects."
"Now, with the arrival of the Descended Ones, a great calamity is imminent. As you just said, it’s best to cut the Gordian knot and end this chaotic era for the greatest benefit of all living beings. So, why mourn for these dead and wounded Cultivators? If they had remained alive, and another God and Demon War were to ensue, the ones who would suffer would be the innocent civilians."
"I’m fine. I’m just a bit overwhelmed." Lin Bai forced a smile, holding Xu Longyun’s hand back, attempting to remain calm. "I had anticipated that the sonic attack would be powerful, but I didn’t expect it to be this devastating..."
"Master, one who is merciful cannot command an army. Your flaw has always been excessive compassion," Xu Longyun said, looking at Lin Bai, her gaze filled with pity. "I know you’re unwilling to kill, but constant compassion might make others perceive you as weak. They’ll think there’s nothing to lose in opposing you. Eventually, they’ll lose their reverence for you, which might lead them to harbor certain untoward notions. Throughout history, which Emperor didn’t rise to power through mountains of corpses and seas of blood? When news of this spreads, it will only benefit your reputation, with no harm at all."
Nearby, Ye Song and Xiao Yu exchanged a glance, visibly relaxing almost in unison.
Lin Bai was in his twenties. If his mentality were similar to that of an old demon who had crawled out of a mountain of corpses and sea of blood, they would have been worried about their future. His current behavior, however, seemed in line with that of a typical young man. Still, such a mentality might not be conducive to the impending great war.
Ye Song contemplated for a moment before asking, "Master, do you know how the Sea of Blood was formed?"
"How was it formed?" Lin Bai inquired.
"When the Blood Sect was first established, the Sea of Blood was merely the size of a lake. The founding ancestor of the Blood Sect found a Cultivation Technique here to refine himself using blood qi, achieving the Great Cheng realm. However, the Sea of Blood was insufficient to establish a Sect, so he resorted to refining the blood qi of mortals to expand the Blood Pool."
"The third God and Demon War was incited by the Blood Sect. The blood qi of billions of mortals and Cultivators was channeled into the Blood Pool, leading to the current scale of the Sea of Blood. The Soul Tomb in the Valley of Thousand Souls is much like the Sea of Blood. The second God and Demon War, for example, was incited by the Valley of Thousand Souls..."
Ye Song gazed towards the Sea of Blood, taking in the monstrous blood qi, and said, "Currently, all Sects have established their power and no longer need to engage in mass slaughter as before. However, to maintain the scale of the Sea of Blood and the Soul Tomb, the Blood Sect and the Valley of Thousand Souls occasionally incite wars in the Mortal World to collect blood qi and souls. This has become an unspoken rule among all Sects. ’Justice Weekly’ has never exposed these matters. I imagine you are unaware of the details, Master. Cultivators are rarely good people. You absolutely do not need to let the deaths of these individuals affect your state of mind."
Lin Bai turned to look at Xiao Yu, who originated from the Valley of Thousand Souls.
Xiao Yu glared at Ye Song, displeased with his exposure of such secrets, and explained dryly, "Alliance Hierarch, the God and Demon War happened tens of thousands of years ago and has little to do with current Cultivators. The Sea of Blood and Soul Valley have already been formed; we can’t just leave them unused."
"As for instigating wars to collect blood qi and souls, it has indeed become a widely accepted practice. Cultivators possess exceptional abilities and hold the power of life and death over ordinary people. They naturally wouldn’t care about their lives. This is human nature, and no one can escape it. Over the years, the Sects’ plundering of the Mortal World has notably decreased."
Clearly hearing these secrets for the first time, Xu Longyun’s eyes filled with undisguised disgust. She snorted derisively, "Is it that the number of mortals is no longer enough for you to torment? What ’basic cities’? It’s nothing more than raising mortals like pigs in a sty!"
Ye Song and the others exchanged glances, at a loss for words. It was the truth, and there was nothing to refute.
"Xiao Yun, the natural world is all about the survival of the fittest; you don’t need to get angry over it," Lin Bai said, gently patting Xu Longyun’s shoulder, comforting her instead.
It had to be said, Ye Song’s indirect consolation had greatly eased his mood. Killing too many people would cause him guilt, but if the victims were evildoers, his subconscious would make him feel as though he were doing good deeds, and that they deserved their gruesome fate. Lin Bai knew that at this point, there was no turning back. If he took even one step back, the favorable situation might crumble in an instant. Furthermore, he now possessed enough strength to suppress the world, so why should he retreat?
"I can understand the survival of the fittest, but they blocked the paths for the lower classes to revolt..." Xu Longyun said with bitterness.
"So, here I am. I bring the Dao of Cultivation Law to reorganize this world." Lin Bai gave a faint smile. At this moment, it seemed as though he was released from shackles; his previous despondency completely disappeared. His eyes radiated an unusual luminescence as he declared proudly, "Every cause has its effect. Their retribution is me."
Xu Longyun wore a faint smile, her eyes suddenly brightening, and her grip on Lin Bai’s hand tightened. At this moment, she had found her pillar of strength.
The people around them broke into smiles, their eyes involuntarily focusing on Lin Bai.
Lin Bai was still the same Lin Bai, but in their hearts, the Lin Bai of this moment had already transformed into a true king.
"They died because of me, but if they cultivate the Dao of Cultivation Law, I shall give them a chance at rebirth." Lin Bai looked down at the bodies below and then used the skill—Butterfly Transformation.
Before the incredulous eyes of the crowd, many corpses disappeared, transforming into butterflies that found their mates and danced in pairs amidst the blood qi.
There were swallowtail butterflies, pierid butterflies, monarch butterflies...
They flew in swarms, breathtakingly beautiful, instantly diluting the oppressive feeling brought about by the mountains of corpses and sea of blood.
"Master, what is this?" Xu Longyun asked, her eyes wide.
"I felt pity for so many lives lost and newly comprehended a Divine Skill—Butterfly Transformation. Lovers who die can transform into butterflies and live once more," Lin Bai explained with a smile, describing the strange scene below.
There were countless low-level Cultivators in the Sect. The promotion of the Dao of Cultivation Law had long been deeply ingrained in their hearts, especially the Way of Love, which was the simplest and easiest to understand—just find a partner to begin cultivation. He didn’t believe that in such a large Sect, no one would cultivate the Way of Love. And indeed, his attempt proved him right again.
"Butterfly Transformation, what a romantic name," Xu Longyun murmured with a smile, watching the butterflies dance in the blood qi.
The Players, who had just been terrified by the mountains of corpses and sea of blood, suddenly relaxed. The horrific, hellish scene had become so beautiful. The game company really did take their psychological well-being into consideration!
"Resurrection after death!" Ye Song exclaimed in surprise.
"Resurrection after death!" The Blood Sect Cultivators, still singing and dancing around Cen Qing, all exclaimed in unison, utterly shocked by the Dao of Cultivation Law.
A Cultivator has only one life. Sky Demon Mountain’s Cultivation Techniques boasted the strongest recovery abilities. However, if a vital point was struck and Spiritual Power was lost, one had to become a Ghost Cultivator or rely on a powerful Divine Soul to perform Body Snatching to continue living.
However, both becoming a Ghost Cultivator and Body Snatching carry enormous risks. If the Divine Soul is forced out of the body, one is definitely in an extremely perilous situation.
Unless the circumstances were special, the Divine Soul would usually suffer severe trauma, damage, or memory loss. The longer it remained separated from the body, the greater the damage.
Throughout history, the success rate of Body Snatching has been very low. Unless faced with desperate circumstances, no Cultivator would willingly choose these two paths.
But Lin Bai’s Dao of Cultivation Law had somehow forcefully broken the boundary between life and death, directly resurrecting pairs of butterflies from corpses—it simply defied all reason!
The butterflies resurrected from the corpses seemed to retain their memories from before death. Their comprehension, which had allowed them to be inducted into the Blood Sect, was naturally not poor.
After many butterflies had fluttered in the air for a while, they actually began to attract the blood qi in the air and started a new round of cultivation...
This scene once again stunned everyone.
"Master, they can cultivate! The original Cultivation Technique can actually be used on butterflies! Is this true resurrection?" Ye Song asked in disbelief. The Monster Race exists in this world, and members of the Monster Race possess Spirit Intelligence and can transform. If these butterflies could cultivate, then it was hardly different from true resurrection.
"Yes, true resurrection. All living beings who cultivate the Love Principle can enjoy this benefit." Lin Bai had expected the butterflies to retain their memories, but he hadn’t thought they would be able to cultivate immediately. However, he maintained his composure, looked down, and said calmly, "Cultivators who have transformed into butterflies, the Dao of Cultivation Law has given you new life. This is your fortune. I hope you cherish this opportunity to live, join the Justice League and the Demon’s Country. Continue to cultivate the Dao of Cultivation Law and propagate the Dao of Cultivation Law. What do you say?"
The multitude of butterflies fluttered up and down, as if in thanks to Lin Bai.
Lin Bai nodded, then turned to the members of the Justice League and said, "Members of the Justice League, you can also practice the Way of Love among yourselves. More than a thousand members from Zhen City died tragically, and future wars may be even more brutal. Butterfly Transformation may turn you into demonic beasts, but it can give you a chance to start over. Why not embrace it?"
"As you command, Alliance Hierarch!"
The numerous members of the Justice League responded in unison. Finding a Dao companion was such a simple matter; no one could refuse an extra life, even if it meant becoming a butterfly.
Lin Bai’s eyes crinkled with a smile. Xu Longyun had been wrong about one thing. Slaughter might instill awe, but it came with many repercussions; control was different. Once his reputation for benevolence and righteousness spread, anyone wishing for an extra life must find a partner. And once they had a partner, they would be controlled by his Milky Way. In time, the entire world would become his followers, allowing him to subdue armies without fighting. One signature move was all he needed to dominate. The Three Heads Six Arms mission from the War God System was not yet complete, but Lin Bai no longer cared. His current abilities and skills were sufficient to let him steamroll the world. By then, the entire world would be mere tools for him to complete missions.
"Tong Lin, take the members of the Justice League to search for the Blood Sect’s resources and deal with the bodies that haven’t undergone Butterfly Transformation. The rest of you, follow me to discuss our future battle plan. Let’s aim to conquer the world in the shortest time possible," Lin Bai instructed, looking around at everyone.
Tong Lin acknowledged the order and departed.
Ye Song and the others gathered around Lin Bai.
Cen Qing also wanted to join the meeting. However, wherever she went, thousands of cultivators followed, singing and dancing, creating an immense commotion. Thus, she could only keep her distance, exchanging helpless glances with the Crossing Tribulation Realm elder.
"Silver, what news is there from the outside?" Lin Bai asked, looking at the Player first.
"Alliance Hierarch, since you conquered the Blood Sect, the Beggar Gang has been isolated. We are unable to receive any news from other Sects in the outside world," Silver said gloomily.
With the consortium’s power, cutting off Beggar Gang’s contact with the outside world was exceedingly easy. Simply stopping live broadcasts and ceasing any promotion of the Sect’s activities on the forums would suffice. Beggar Gang had reaped enough benefits. Even Players who hadn’t joined the consortium didn’t want Beggar Gang to remain the sole dominant power, as it was already affecting the normal gaming rights of other Players.
"First, they blocked the spread of ’Justice Weekly,’ then they blocked news about the Beggar Gang. These people are determined to oppose me!" Lin Bai said, shaking his head.
"They openly call Players a calamity; it would be strange if they didn’t oppose you," Wild Wolf said in the private chat channel.
Silver glanced at Wild Wolf and continued, "Alliance Hierarch, we can also cut off our connections to the outside. That way, they won’t know the Justice League’s movements either."
"No need for such trouble. There’s nothing we do that cannot be known by others," Lin Bai said with a smile. "Hiding our marching routes is sufficient. Battle scenes, however, should still be disseminated to intimidate them and make them hesitant to act rashly."
He paused, then said, "Alright, this is the current situation. We can’t ascertain the movements of the outside world, so everyone can discuss our future offensive strategy. We are all grasshoppers on the same rope now; I trust no one will hold anything back, right?"
"Master, news of the Blood Sect’s conquest has spread. Based on my understanding of the Holy Extreme Sect, they will likely abandon their sect, preserve their strength, and wait for an opportunity to counterattack the alliance," Ye Song said proactively. "If we go to the Holy Extreme Sect now, it’s highly probable we’ll find it empty, and we are very likely to be ambushed en route."
"No one will sit idly by and wait for death. Now that the Justice League is sufficiently powerful, the power dynamic has reversed; we’ve shifted from an offensive stance to a more reactive one. I believe we should do the opposite: abandon the Holy Extreme Sect for now and launch a surprise attack on the Valley of Thousand Souls or the Poison Sect. Or we could simply use the Magpie Bridge to jump back to Taiyi Country and attack the Seven Major Orthodox Sects first..."
Xiao Yu glanced at Xu Longyun and said, "Many people from the Five Demonic Sects are in Taihao Country. It’s highly possible they might resort to desperate measures, like taking Taiyi Country’s high officials hostage to threaten you, Alliance Hierarch. We must guard against this..."