Blood Sacrifice and the Effeminate Man

Chapter 259: Blood Sacrifice and the Effeminate Man

Yan Family Ancestor and the scholar waited for a while before the Ghost Spirit Sect Young Lord and Yan Ruyan walked into the议事堂.

“Since our Yan Family has already agreed to submit to your sect, does the Young Lord have any further instructions?” Yan Family Ancestor’s tone this time was noticeably milder than before, clearly mindful of the fact that the Yan Family was now part of the Ghost Spirit Sect.

“Senior Yan, why be so distant? Since I have exchanged a Life-Death Oath with Miss Ruyan, this can be considered a betrothal! Senior Yan may address me as Wang Chan from now on; there is no need to call me Young Lord!” Wang Chan said with elegant bearing, offering a slight bow.

“That won’t do. How can I, as an elder, be so disrespectful to the Young Lord before you and Yan’er are married? After all, the Yan Family is about to become a member of the Ghost Spirit Sect.” Yan Family Ancestor stroked his short beard with a blank expression and shook his head in refusal.

Hearing this, the Ghost Spirit Sect Young Lord knew the other party’s wariness had not yet been dispelled. He gave a faint, unforced smile and shifted the conversation:

“Actually, the reason Wang Chan asked Miss Ruyan to bring me here for another meeting is to inquire how the Patriarch intends to fulfill our agreement. After all, in five days, our Six Sects will officially attack the Yue Nation. If the Yan Family does not evacuate in time, it could become quite troublesome.”

“Rest assured on that point, Young Lord. Although our Yan Family may seem to have many clansmen, we will abandon those distant relatives by blood and mortals without magical power. It is unrealistic to relocate the entire clan in one move! The Yan Family is well aware of this!” The scholar spoke up first this time.

“It is good that the Yan Family can cut off its own limb. This junior is relieved. If too many Yan Family members move together, it would be impossible to hide it from the Seven Sect’s spies, and leaking the news would be disastrous. You must be the famed ‘Meticulous No Leak’ Xuan Ye of the Yan Family. I have long admired your reputation!” The Ghost Spirit Sect Young Lord’s eyes, hidden behind his mask, swept over the scholar, and he gave a light laugh.

The scholar felt a chill run down his spine at being identified by name and nickname with a single glance. But his expression remained composed as he smiled back at the other party.

“This junior did not come only to discuss this matter. I also wish to know how the Yan Family plans to deal with the two hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators currently in the fort. Many of them are core disciples of the Seven Sects! Since the Yan Family must relocate within two days, it would be highly improper if they were to encounter these people,” the Ghost Spirit Sect Young Lord said in a calm tone, but the implication made both Yan Family Ancestor and the scholar’s faces change.

“What does the Young Lord mean…?” Yan Family Ancestor’s voice turned dark.

“How about this: cultivating the Blood Spirit Great Art requires cultivator souls for a blood sacrifice before it can proceed smoothly. Why not use our Ghost Spirit Sect’s Netherfire Grand Array to refine the bodies of these cultivators in the fort into nothing, leaving only their souls for Miss Ruyan’s Foundation Establishment? With the condensed souls of so many Foundation Establishment cultivators, it should be easy for the young lady to complete the first layer of the Blood Spirit Great Art.” The Ghost Spirit Sect Young Lord made this extremely vicious suggestion casually, sending a chill through the scholar and Yan Family Ancestor.

“No, we can ignore the Seven Sect’s people! But these cultivators from other nations gathered here because they accepted our invitation to help select a Dao companion for Yan’er. The Yan Family absolutely cannot commit an act that would provoke public outrage!” The scholar spoke hastily, afraid that Yan Family Ancestor would actually agree to the suggestion.

“Xuan Ye, there is no need to be anxious. I have not grown so senile as to do such a thing!” Yan Family Ancestor said darkly, waving his hand at the scholar.

Then, his voice cold, he addressed the Ghost Spirit Sect Young Lord:

“The Young Lord’s advice is truly excellent! If we were to do this, I fear there would be no place left for the Yan Family under heaven. The Yan Family will not actively attack the cultivators invited to the fort. However, I can have the Seven Sect’s disciples gathered together. As for how to deal with them and whether you can take so many people, that will depend entirely on your sect’s capabilities.”

Upon hearing this, the scholar breathed a sigh of relief and agreed repeatedly.

The Ghost Spirit Sect Young Lord’s eyes flickered with displeasure. He spoke slowly, with a hint of dissatisfaction:

“But the souls of these cultivators are meant for Miss Ruyan’s blood sacrifice, which benefits the Yan Family. For the Yan Family to contribute nothing seems rather unreasonable, does it not?”

Yan Family Ancestor was momentarily taken aback. But being an old, cunning fox, he quickly replied with an unchanged expression:

“But Yan’er will soon marry the Young Lord and become your young mistress. Since she will be yours, it seems only natural for you to exert yourself. Of course, once our Yan Family formally submits to the Ghost Spirit Sect, we will no longer show mercy to the Seven Sect’s people. But for now, these Seven Sect disciples were still invited by us. If the Yan Family were to act first, we would surely earn a terrible reputation in the eyes of cultivators from other nations. That said, letting them go would also be inappropriate. So it is best for the Young Lord’s men to make the move. This way, the Yan Family can explain the situation to the other cultivators. Besides, I imagine that with the two Core Formation cultivators by your side, capturing a few dozen Foundation Establishment disciples should be more than possible, no?”

The Ghost Spirit Sect Young Lord stared deeply at Yan Family Ancestor for a moment, then lowered his head in thought. After a long while, he looked up, glanced at the silent Yan Ruyan, and said flatly:

“Since the Patriarch puts it that way, our Ghost Spirit Sect will take on the role of the villain this time. Consider the souls of these cultivators as Wang Chan’s betrothal gift to Miss Ruyan.”

“Haha! This old man will accept the Young Lord’s betrothal gift on Yan’er’s behalf in the future. Yan’er, quickly pay your respects to the Young Lord. This is no small gift!” Yan Family Ancestor’s face showed a hint of a smile now that the Yan Family wouldn’t have to act against the cultivators in the fort.

“Thank you for your kindness, Young Lord. Ruyan will not forget it.” The stunningly beautiful young girl stepped forward gracefully, offered a light bow, and spoke in a sweet voice. The shy, blushing expression on her face caused the Ghost Spirit Sect Young Lord’s eyes to flicker with a peculiar light.

“It is also a good thing for me if Miss Ruyan can cultivate the Blood Spirit Great Art quickly. There is no need for such formalities.”

“I ask the Patriarch to decide on a location to gather the Seven Sect’s disciples and inform this junior. Then simply await good news. For now, Wang Chan will take his leave.” The Ghost Spirit Sect Young Lord exchanged a few courteous words with elegant poise, bowed to Yan Family Ancestor, and departed.

The Yan Family Ancestor and the scholar exchanged a meaningful glance in the hall…

Han Li had a headache. A very bad headache.

And all of it stemmed from the three acquaintances and one stranger currently facing off in front of him.

The acquaintances were Yan Yu, Senior Brother Feng, and Dong Xuan’er, who was practically lying in the arms of the stranger. The stranger was a man of extraordinary, almost effeminate beauty.

“Effeminate”

The moment Han Li took a clear look at this man, the word immediately attached itself to him.

This man was simply too beautiful and androgynous. There was no doubt his appeal was equally devastating to both men and women. If he hadn’t been wearing men’s clothing, people would have easily mistaken him for a stunning beauty. Yet what was even more astonishing was that, despite such an unusual appearance, every single one of his movements and gestures felt completely natural and harmonious, without the slightest hint of incongruity.

Under normal circumstances, Yan Yu and Senior Brother Feng probably wouldn’t have taken an immediate dislike to such a man. But now, their eyes were fixed on this purple-robed male cultivator, blazing with fury.

It wasn’t just because Dong Xuan’er was half-lying in his arms. The main reason was that Dong Xuan’er herself was staring at the stranger’s breathtakingly beautiful face with a completely enchanted, mesmerized expression.

Han Li looked left and right, frowning deeply, and cursed silently in his mind. He had only taken a shortcut back to the inn after the gathering. How was he supposed to know he’d stumble into such a drama of jealousy and rivalry in this remote little alley?

Now, there was no way to avoid it!

That Senior Uncle Red Robe had specifically instructed him before leaving to keep Dong Xuan’er in check. If he hadn’t seen this, he could have pretended ignorance of her reckless behavior. But since he had run into it face-to-face, it would be impossible to just walk away without saying anything.

What’s more, these two poor sods, who had fallen completely under Dong Xuan’er’s spell, were initially stunned to see him. Then, overjoyed, they rushed over and urgently begged him to take Dong Xuan’er away from that male cultivator.

In their eyes, Han Li’s threat level was negligible compared to that astonishingly beautiful man. They seemed to have latched onto him as their last shred of hope.

While listening to the complaints of these two men, who were practically drowning in jealousy, Han Li carefully observed the beautiful man and Dong Xuan’er’s infatuated expression.

According to the two of them, they had been accompanying Dong Xuan’er to several famous shops to buy raw materials and talismans that afternoon. Unexpectedly, they had run into this man at one of the stores.

The moment Dong Xuan’er laid eyes on him, it was as if she had been struck by a spell. She actively pestered him, and her actions grew increasingly improper, which infuriated the two witnesses. But what nearly made them vomit blood was that this man, seeing Dong Xuan’er cling to him, accepted her advances without the slightest hesitation and was even about to take her away.

Naturally, the two of them couldn’t allow this. They had cornered the man in this narrow alley, demanding he let Dong Xuan’er go.

But the man had merely sneered, saying that if Dong Xuan’er was willing to stay, he wouldn’t stop her. This left the two poor sods completely stumped. Because, from the look of it, Dong Xuan’er was the one actively throwing herself into his arms.