Chapter 1683: Chapter 829: Blood God?
“General Yuan, you stand guard outside to prevent anyone from escaping,” Luo Chen said to Yuan Lie.
Yuan Lie nodded, understanding his task was to ensure that no members of the Blood Ghost Sect could escape the cave.
He quickly commanded the soldiers to fortify the cave entrance, forming a tight encirclement.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang cautiously ventured deeper into the cave.
The cave interior was dark and damp, its walls covered in moss, with occasional droplets falling from the ceiling, sounding crisp.
They followed a narrow passage, which ended at a massive Stone Gate.
“This should be the core area of the Blood Ghost Sect,” Qing Shuang said softly.
Luo Chen nodded, reaching out to gently push the Stone Gate, which slowly opened to reveal a spacious Underground Palace.
In the center of the hall, a gigantic blood-colored altar stood, upon which various strange Magic Artifacts and Blood-colored Crystal Stones were placed, similar to items found outside.
Around the altar, dozens of Blood Ghost Sect members were busily engaged in some kind of ritual.
Above the members, a huge blood sphere hovered.
The sphere was black-red in color, emitting a distinctly foul smell.
Even by merely approaching it slightly, Luo Chen felt himself being profoundly affected.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang swiftly hid on either side of the Stone Gate, observing the activity on the altar.
The Blood Ghost Sect members seemingly hadn’t noticed their arrival, continuing the ritual intently.
The blood sphere on the altar slowly rotated, releasing a nauseating stench, as if absorbing some dark power.
“We must stop them quickly,” Luo Chen whispered determinedly, his eyes gleaming with resolve.
Qing Shuang nodded, taking a talisman from her bosom, ready to launch an attack.
Just then, the blood sphere on the altar suddenly emitted a violent glow, engulfing the entire hall in a blood-colored light.
“Not good, they seem to have completed the ritual!” Luo Chen was alarmed, realizing they couldn’t delay any longer.
Both acted simultaneously, Luo Chen swinging the Jade Pendant to release a powerful wave of True Qi toward the center of the altar.
Qing Shuang threw the talisman into the air, which transformed into a beam of golden light, instantly striking the blood sphere.
Under the attack of True Qi and the talisman, the blood sphere exploded with a loud bang, and the blood-colored light quickly dissipated.
Blood Ghost Sect members were caught off guard by the sudden attack, collapsing onto the ground.
“Quick, capture them!” Luo Chen shouted, he and Qing Shuang rushed into the hall, began to subdue the Blood Ghost Sect members.
Yuan Lie and the soldiers, hearing Luo Chen’s command, immediately charged into the hall to assist Luo Chen and Qing Shuang in subduing the Blood Ghost Sect members one by one.
The hall was instantly thrown into chaos, as the Blood Ghost Sect members, panicked and frantic, attempted to counterattack, but their resistance was insignificant against the trained soldiers and two powerful cultivators.
During the battle, Luo Chen discovered that although these Blood Ghost Sect members were subdued, their eyes still revealed a sense of madness and despair.
He realized that these people might not have joined the Blood Ghost Sect voluntarily, but were controlled by some evil force.
Luo Chen secretly resolved to find a way to break this control.
After the battle, Luo Chen and Qing Shuang began interrogating the captured Blood Ghost Sect members.
They found that most members came from nearby villages, lured or coerced by the Blood Ghost Sect into joining.
One seemingly older member, named Li Ergou, appeared to have some knowledge of the Blood Ghost Sect’s internal affairs.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang took Li Ergou aside, attempting to gather more useful information from him.
“Li Ergou, since you know so much, why did you partake in such evil deeds?” Qing Shuang asked with a hint of reproach.
Li Ergou sighed, a trace of helplessness in his eyes: “I was originally a hunter from a nearby village. The Blood Ghost Sect found me and threatened to kill my family if I didn’t join them, forcing me to comply to protect my loved ones.”
Luo Chen’s heart softened upon hearing this, understanding Li Ergou was also a victim.
“Li Ergou, rest assured, we will protect your family. Now we need you to tell us more secrets of the Blood Ghost Sect.”
Li Ergou nodded and began to detail the internal structure and plans of the Blood Ghost Sect.
He mentioned that the true leader of the Blood Ghost Sect was a mysterious figure known as the “Blood God,” whose power was unfathomable and actions extremely cruel. Most Blood Ghost Sect members were merely executors; only a few high-ranking members held core secrets.
After listening to Li Ergou’s account, Luo Chen and Qing Shuang felt even more burdened.
They realized that to completely destroy the Blood Ghost Sect, they must find this so-called “Blood God.”
“Li Ergou, do you know where the Blood God usually operates?” Luo Chen asked urgently.
Li Ergou shook his head: “The Blood God’s whereabouts are elusive; I’ve never seen him, but I know the Blood Ghost Sect has a secret Underground Palace, which is their core area. The Blood God should be there.”
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang exchanged glances, knowing this might be their only clue to finding the Blood God.
Yet, how to find the mysterious Underground Palace.
This too was a significant challenge.
“Do you know where that Underground Palace is?”
Luo Chen asked softly.