The Bloodcloud Contract

Atop a great mountain peak stood an ancient tower.

A grey-robed figure transformed into a streak of light, rapidly approaching.

At the tower's entrance, two black-armored guards stood, blocking the path. One of them spoke in a low voice: “This is a forbidden ground. You may not enter.”

“I bear an important report from the Clan Leader for the Ancestor.” The grey-robed man respectfully offered a rolled beast-hide scroll.

“Mm.” One of the guards took the scroll and entered the tower directly.

The grey-robed man bowed and quietly retreated.

Within the tower’s first floor sat a tall, gaunt old man with narrow, slit-like eyes, cross-legged in silent meditation. He was Ancestor Xuanji, a Celestial Immortal of the Shaoyan clan.

“Ancestor.” The black-armored guard entered, saluted respectfully, and presented the beast-hide scroll with both hands.

Ancestor Xuanji opened his eyes. With a wave of his hand, the scroll flew into his grasp. “You may withdraw.”

“Yes.” The black-armored guard swiftly retreated, returning to stand silently at the tower entrance. He had stood guard at this tower entrance for over a hundred million years. Ever since he was created, the vast majority of his existence had been spent guarding this tower.

Whoosh.

Ancestor Xuanji unrolled the beast-hide scroll and read through the intelligence with a calm, cold gaze.

“Mm?” Xuanji’s brows furrowed. “That boy Ji Ning has returned? Not only that, but both of his spirit-beasts have reached the early Void (Earth Immortal) stage?”

No one doubted Ji Ning’s ability to reach the Void stage.

After all, before the Immortal Fortunes Assembly, his second true body, while at ‘Primal perfection’, had already slain a Loose Immortal. After more than thirty years, it was perfectly normal for Ji Ning to become an Earth Immortal. However, for both of his spirit-beasts to also reach the Void (Earth Immortal) stage was highly abnormal.

Human aptitude for understanding the Dao was far greater than that of beasts. For the two spirit-beasts to become Void-level Earth Immortals meant both had surpassed the threshold of Dao-comprehension required for that stage. Even though the Whitewater Hound and the Skygreen Serpent were Godbeasts, their cultivation speed should not have been this fast! The natural cultivation speed of demonic beasts was far slower. To be this fast… they must have encountered some extraordinary fortune!

“It seems that after disappearing for over thirty years, Ji Ning has indeed encountered some opportunities.” Ancestor Xuanji’s narrow eyes flickered with a cold light.

“Everyone.” Ancestor Xuanji suddenly spoke aloud.

His voice pierced through the void, reaching another dimension.

“Everyone!”

His voice echoed within that other space.

Whoosh!

A black misty gate appeared beside Ancestor Xuanji. From within the black misty gate, four figures walked out one after another. There was a handsome youth, a weathered old man, a burly man holding a golden bell in one hand, and an ancient, withered figure with closed eyes and flowing white hair.

The four of them walked over and sat down in a cross-legged position.

“Xuanji, what matter do you have for us?” The handsome youth spoke calmly.

“What major event has occurred that requires the four of us to emerge?” The man holding the golden bell spoke in a low voice.

The other two remained silent.

They were all Celestial Immortal Ancestors, the true pillars of the Shaoyan clan! With the entire Grand Xia world currently seething with hidden currents and dangers, they, as Celestial Immortal Ancestors, dared not let down their guard. Including Xuanji, a full five Celestial Immortal Ancestors were stationed at this divine tower.

“Everyone, take a look.” Ancestor Xuanji waved his hand. The beast-hide scroll unfurled and floated in mid-air.

The four Celestial Immortal Ancestors all read it. The closed-eyed, withered Ancestor also swept it with his divine sense.

“Ji Ning?”

“That Ji Ning has returned?”

Each of the Celestial Immortal Ancestors frowned.

Of course they knew the name Ji Ning. When the Immortal Fortunes Assembly was held, they were unaware of that particular assembly’s special nature. But after it concluded, hidden currents surged within the Grand Xia world, and even the entire Three Realms felt like a storm was brewing… They understood that a great upheaval in the Three Realms was about to begin.

In their eyes, during such a great upheaval, True Gods and Daofathers might survive it with ease, but for them, Celestial Immortals, the danger was immense. Which great upheaval did not result in the deaths of vast numbers of Celestial Immortals?

“Now that the Three Realms are in turmoil, the Immortal Fortunes Assembly will likely produce the future powerhouses of the Three Realms. That assembly had two individuals taken as disciples by Daofathers.” Ancestor Xuanji spoke in a low voice. “And Ji Ning was the champion of that assembly. He mysteriously disappeared for over thirty years and did not become a disciple of any Immortal or Fiend from Daofather Crimsonbright’s lineage. And now, both of his spirit-beasts have become Earth Immortals. Without a doubt… in those thirty-plus years, Ji Ning has encountered a great opportunity!”

“Yes.”

“Correct.”

“He has likely pledged himself to a powerful force within the Three Realms.”

The other four Ancestors all agreed.

“He is the last remnant of the Yuchi clan. Our Shaoyan clan exterminated the entire Yuchi clan. His mother was ‘Yuchi Snow’. Every one of Yuchi Snow’s relatives died at the hands of our Shaoyan clan. How could this Ji Ning not hate our Shaoyan clan?” Ancestor Xuanji said heavily. “Furthermore, our Shaoyan clan has already sent Loose Immortal deathseekers to assassinate him. This hatred is likely beyond resolution.”

“I had thought he would take a True Immortal or Empyrean God of Daofather Crimsonbright’s lineage as his master. Who would have guessed he did not take a single one?” Xuanji said with growing agitation. “If he had become a disciple of Evergreen Sword Immortal, we would have had to act with restraint out of respect for his face. But now, we have no such concerns. Even if he has taken a master among the mighty figures of the Three Realms, that master is not of Daofather Crimsonbright’s lineage! He has no authority over us!”

“Therefore, I believe… we should eliminate him as soon as possible! Strike while he is merely a Void-level Earth Immortal! Destroy him without delay!” Ancestor Xuanji was extremely resolute.

“Reasonable!”

“Yes.”

“But we do not yet know who his master is.”

“Who cares who his master is? As long as he isn’t of Daofather Crimsonbright’s lineage, what is there to fear?”

Within the Three Realms, the great powers were like overlords, each dominating their own territory. The struggles and battles between the Immortals and Fiends under their command were far too common… The great powers rarely interfered. So long as other great powers did not personally intervene to ‘bully the weak with their seniority’, the senior experts would remain calm regarding the fights of their juniors.

Even if a disciple died, it could only be blamed on their inadequate skill.

Within the Three Realms, all sorts of conflicts and killings were far too routine. Thus, for Ancestor Xuanji and the others, if Ji Ning had joined Daofather Crimsonbright’s lineage, that would have been a headache. They all belonged to the same faction, and Ji Ning’s master could have used subtle methods to deal with them.

But since Ji Ning had not joined Daofather Crimsonbright’s lineage, Ancestor Xuanji and his fellows naturally felt relieved.

“That may be true, but to be cautious, I believe we should investigate who his master is. Within the Three Realms, there are certain madmen, quite a few who have even fought their way into the Heavenly Courts. Some are fiercely protective maniacs. For the sake of their disciples, they might seek revenge against us.” The handsome youth spoke up.

“Yes.”

“Jingyu speaks sense.”

“Given that someone dared to defy Daofather Crimsonbright’s lineage and take Ji Ning away, his master is likely a person of great audacity.”

Ancestor Xuanji listened to the others and could not help but frown. “What is there to fear? First, among the other powers of the Three Realms, there are only a handful of maniacs who would truly dare to act within our Daofather Crimsonbright lineage’s territory. I don’t believe we would be that unlucky. Second, even if we were, the Three Realms are currently in turmoil. Madmen may cause trouble normally, but who would dare to act recklessly at a time like this?”

“Xuanji has a point. However, in my opinion, we should hire the Bloodcloud Hall.” The ever-closed-eyed, withered-looking old man finally spoke.

The surroundings immediately fell silent.

“Hire the Bloodcloud Hall?”

“The price will not be small.”

“The Bloodcloud Hall’s fees are likely very high.”

Ancestor Xuanji nodded. “Old Withered Tree is right. Since all of you are worried about this mysterious master behind Ji Ning, if we hire the Bloodcloud Hall, the assassins who accept the mission swear a Heavenly Dao Oath. They will absolutely not leak any information. No one will know it was us. Spending some treasures to eliminate a future threat is worth it, in my opinion.”

“Good. I agree.”

“Yes. Hiring the Bloodcloud Hall is fine. We’ll just spend a few more treasures. Consider it payment for Ji Ning’s life.”

“Then it is settled.”

“Xuanji, you handle this matter.”

Ancestor Xuanji nodded lightly. Of course, he would not decline. That very day, he quietly left the tower to travel to the Bloodcloud Hall.

Deep within mountains spanning hundreds of thousands of li.

Holding his token, Ancestor Xuanji arrived at a valley. The valley was shrouded in mist, but deep within stood a tall teleportation tower.

“Please.”

A member of the Bloodcloud Hall stood to the side, watching Ancestor Xuanji.

Ancestor Xuanji stepped directly into the teleportation formation. The tower flashed brightly, and with a swoosh, Ancestor Xuanji had vanished.

“Mm?” Ancestor Xuanji stood upon a cloudbank. On this cloudbank was also a towering teleportation formation.

Xuanji looked into the distance and saw, deep within the surging, endless sea of crimson blood-clouds, the indistinct outline of a pavilion.

“That is the Bloodcloud Hall?” Ancestor Xuanji felt a chill in his heart.

The Bloodcloud Hall…

A very mysterious power. It had emerged thirty years ago. The Bloodcloud Hall had sent tokens to all the major powers within the Grand Xia world. Only truly top-tier powers like the Anchan Northmont clan, the Shaoyan clan, and other similar entities were qualified to receive a token. Second-rate powers like the Black-White College were completely unaware of the Bloodcloud Hall’s existence.

With the token, one could travel to certain hidden locations and then be teleported to another world. The Bloodcloud Hall was located within this mysterious world.

No one knew the Bloodcloud Hall’s true location!

“So long as you are willing to pay a sufficient price, within the Grand Xia world, aside from the Xia Emperor himself, my Bloodcloud Hall can kill any Immortal or Fiend!” That was the bold declaration of the Bloodcloud Hall. And indeed, the Bloodcloud Hall possessed terrifying, unmatched strength. In just thirty short years, it had assassinated over ten Celestial Immortal Ancestors!

The Bloodcloud Hall was universally recognized by these top-tier powers as the ‘number one assassination organization of the Grand Xia’.

The Bloodcloud Hall also zealously protected the confidentiality of its clients. It even swore a Heavenly Dao Oath, vowing never to reveal the slightest information about its patrons.

“Whoosh.”

Ancestor Xuanji was quickly led to a secluded garden. Even after arriving at the garden, he could not clearly recall the path he had taken. “This Bloodcloud Hall must be a powerful cave-treasure. The internal space is chaotic; I cannot even determine the true layout.”

Within the garden.

A silver-robed girl sat opposite him.

Ancestor Xuanji sat on his side. On the stone table between them lay a scroll, which contained the terms of the contract.

“Kill Ji Ning?” The silver-robed girl’s voice was soft. “He is the champion of the Immortal Fortunes Assembly, vanished for over thirty years, and is very likely a disciple taken by a True Immortal or Empyrean God. There is even a slight chance he was taken as a disciple by a Daofather. A true genius. Years ago, his second true body could already defeat a Loose Immortal. His current strength is likely extremely, extremely high, perhaps even comparable to a million-year Loose Immortal.”

“Will you accept the contract or not?” Ancestor Xuanji asked in a low voice.

“We accept. Of course, we accept.” The silver-robed girl smiled faintly. “So long as you are willing to pay a sufficient price.”