632 Cowards?
Three miles from the mountain, the forces of the three sects approached. They halted together, forming a barrier around the mountain while observing from a distance.

The tall scholar, Dian Qingchun, head of Jianchun Academy of the Confucian Sect, held a feather fan, his hair dancing with the wind. Behind him, several middle-aged men voiced their concerns.

“Headmaster, should we trust Zhang Youji from the True Path Sect? If we ignore this blood sea, who can predict the Sacred Heart Sect’s actions?” They were wary of the blood beasts, which mirrored the eight royal clans in both appearance and aura, making them formidable on the battlefield.

An elder, who commanded respect from the group, suggested, “We should join forces to fight our shared enemy, the Sacred Heart Sect.”

But Dian Qingchun was unwavering. “The three sects have deliberated this. The Dao Child’s words are trustworthy. Let’s be patient. Our sects stand firm on the outside. We can hold our ground regardless of the victor.” His conviction silenced the others.

It was known that the Dao Child, renowned in the True Path Sect for his concealment techniques, had hidden the blood sea’s orchestrator’s aura. A hidden force had also been aiding him, likely a prominent figure from the sect. Still, Dian Qingchun was sure the True Path Sect’s actions stemmed from evidence and confidence, though it wasn’t something to be openly discussed.

It wasn’t hard to deduce the six royal clans’ intentions. They had been chasing ancient powers for two millennia. The blood beasts embodied this ancient power, and possessing it would enhance the royal clans’ might significantly. However, they seemed to prioritize this power over other concerns.

…

Meanwhile, at the True Path Sect, Zhang Youji appeared drained, moving unsteadily to his stout martial uncle’s side.

The uncle scolded, “Next time, inform the sect of issues. Don’t risk yourself unnecessarily. This realm is dangerous.”

Uncle Master Fei voiced his concern, “If the six royal clans learn the secret of returning to their ancestors through these blood beasts, it won’t matter if we defeat the demons on the mountain. Their strength will be unmatched.” He paused, “This will shift the balance in Great You, to our detriment.”

“How sure are you about our chances?” Uncle Master Fei asked.

Zhang Youji replied with unwavering confidence, “A hundred percent.”

Uncle Master Fei sighed. “Perhaps we should take a risk.” He recognized that intervening directly at this point might provoke the six royal clans to attack either the Sacred Heart Sect or the three sects.

Historically, in terms of top combatants, the three sects had been at a disadvantage. A direct confrontation now could destabilize the entire Great You.

Despite his pessimistic view, Uncle Master Fei resolved that the six royal clans must not possess the secret of the blood beasts. He’d risk everything to prevent it.

As Uncle Master Fei settled on the ground, preparing to break a seal, Zhang Youji tried to reassure him. “Take your time, Uncle Master.” He looked to the mountain peak, filled with numerous figures, and felt a pang of anxiety.
“Junior Brother Li,” he called out, “use your eight trigrams pupil technique. Let’s see the situation on the mountain.”

A young man with youthful features approached. His eyes, normally black, transformed to resemble Yin-Yang fishes, emitting beams of white light. This illuminated the mountain’s events.

In the midst of the demons stood a blood-red corpse, the king corpse. Tall and eerily colored, it faced its adversaries with robotic indifference. The demons encircled it, but it wasn’t flustered. With powerful fists and kicks, powered by its king bones, it felled them with ease.

Watching this unfold from a safe distance were the seven clan elites and elders. They sought any vulnerability in the king corpse and hints about the blood beasts.

Third Young Master Qiong observed, “Its strength is purely physical. Its energy is like chaos, intangible.”

Young Master Qi of the Qilin clan added, “There’s a high chance he’s mastered the Sacred Heart Sect’s blood essence technique. That’s why he’s so fearless. These blood refinement realm cannon fodder probably won’t stop him.”

The group nodded in agreement, yet none stepped forward.