Gu Shentong was soaked in a pool of water, which was as red as blood and emitted a foul, fishy smell.
Around the pool, there were numerous corpses, all drained of their blood.
Each face bore expressions of either horror or anger, but now they were all frozen in place.
The sound of a heartbeat abruptly emerged, growing from soft to loud, making the scene even more eerie and terrifying.
Beneath the skin of Gu Shentong, it seemed as if worms were wriggling. From behind him, a grotesque and sinister figure was taking form, spreading a chilling and dreadful aura.
This aura enveloped the entire Tianyang Sword Sect. All the Cultivators felt as though a terrifying presence had fixed its gaze upon them, instinctively feeling a shiver run down their spines.
Suddenly, the world turned dark.
When everyone looked up, they saw an eerie shadow towering over the Tianyang Sword Sect, as if it were overshadowing the sun.
Upon seeing this scene, a Sect Elder showed not fear but an uncontrollable joy on his face.
"Evil Spirit Shadow!"
"Transformation of All Things!"
This was a sign of breaking through to the Transformation Realm.
A being at this level had further shed their mortal body, transforming towards a higher existence.
Transformation of All Things!
Another term for it was Feather Transformation Ascension.
Among Magicians around the world, the Transformation Realm was known as a ladder to eternal and undying existence; anyone who stepped into this level was considered partially removed from the mortal world.
Such an extraordinary phenomenon appeared.
It signified that the Tianyang Sword Sect was about to produce another powerful being of the Transformation Realm.
The true legacy of an Immortal Sect depended on whether it had a Transformation Realm powerhouse presiding over it.
Since the ancient Gu Yutian fell, the Tianyang Sword Sect, strictly speaking, had already lost its status as an Immortal Sect.
It was only because the current world was in chaos, with various forces converging in the Central Plains, that no power had dared to act rashly against the Tianyang Sword Sect.
But once the overall situation in the world stabilized, or when other Sect forces freed up their hands, the Tianyang Sword Sect would likely be doomed.
After all, the heritage of an Immortal Sect was coveted even by other Immortal Sects.
The Tianyang Sword Sect needed to produce a powerhouse from the Transformation Realm to safeguard its inheritance.
The extraordinary phenomenon disappeared.
Then, Gu Shentong, dressed in a blood robe, appeared in the Sect's grand hall, seemingly out of nowhere.
Compared to before, Gu Shentong's aura was now colder, and a strong oppressive force spread from him, causing all the Sect Elders to instinctively feel their hearts tremble.
"Congratulations, Sect Master, on your breakthrough into the Transformation Realm!"
Immediately, someone began to offer congratulations, and others hurriedly followed suit with bowed hands.
Gu Shentong gave a slight smile, but it looked somewhat ferocious and strange.
"This breakthrough to the Transformation Realm was also thanks to everyone's efforts. Without sacrificing the populace of the three cities, it wouldn't have been so easy for me to achieve this breakthrough."
The populace of the three cities.
Hundreds of thousands of people.
This news, if spread, could cause shock across all quarters.
However, upon hearing this, the high-ranking members of the Tianyang Sword Sect appeared indifferent, as though the hundreds of thousands from the three cities were no more than ants.
"As long as the Sect Master can break through, everything we do is worthwhile."
"Let alone the populace of three cities, even if it were thirty cities or three hundred cities, it would be their great honor to be the nourishment for the Sect Master's ascension!"
The smile on Gu Shentong's face grew even more pronounced.
He seemed to think of something, and his smile receded slightly.
"Although I have already broken through to the Transformation Realm, that Guangyang Prince is not easy to deal with. Relying solely on myself to confront the Guangyang Prince is still insufficient."
Gu Shentong spoke in a deep voice.
After breaking into the Transformation Realm, he naturally understood the power of this realm.
Even just entering the Transformation Realm was several times stronger than being at the half-step Transformation Realm.
But precisely because he understood the strength of the Transformation Realm, Gu Shentong was clear about how large the gap was between himself and Gu Qingfeng.
Gu Shentong was not afraid.
However, it was the Domineering Blade Martial Saint behind the Guangyang Prince that Gu Shentong truly dreaded.
He was only in the early stages of the Transformation Realm, while Gu Yutian was at the peak of the Transformation Realm, even half a step into the Divinity Realm.
Even so, he was slain by Gu Qingfeng with a single strike.
Regarding Gu Qingfeng's strength, Gu Shentong was extremely wary.
To contend with such a powerhouse, one would need at least the power of the Divinity Realm.
Gu Shentong said, "Inform the Pei Family to accelerate the blood sacrifice. If necessary, the entire Blood Mountain Mansion can be sacrificed to awaken that Evil Spirit, which is the only true possibility to confront that Martial Saint.
In the past, if that Evil Spirit hadn't been wounded, my Tianyang Sword Sect would not have suppressed it so easily.
If we could truly awaken it and fully recover its strength, perhaps even those in the Divinity Realm might not be able to suppress it!"
Was Gu Shentong's real confidence in dealing with Gu Qingfeng.
Since Gu Yang wanted to seize Nanyang County, then he would unleash the Evil Spirit of Blood Mountain Mansion to ensure both parties suffer.
Even if Gu Yang retreated from Nanyang County at a critical time, it would be useless.
The Evil Spirit is greedy.
Particularly for Martial Artist blood, which is greatly tempting to it.
Additionally, since Nanyang County is connected to Taishan County, once the Evil Spirit of Blood Mountain Mansion emerges, if it slaughters the entirety of Nanyang County, then the next target would definitely be Taishan County.
At that time, both sides would still have a battle.
If the Evil Spirit of Blood Mountain Mansion emerges, in Gu Shentong's view, Gu Qingfeng wouldn't just stand by.
After all, once the Evil Spirit devours a large number of people's lives and its strength transforms and grows again, the difficulty of confronting it would only increase.
This is plainly a scheme.
The Evil Spirit emerges.
Gu Yang, that Guangyang Prince, would be the primary target.
The Tianyang Sword Sect would inevitably be implicated.
But Gu Shentong had already prepared to lead the entire Tianyang Sword Sect out of Nanyang County.
As long as he abandoned the sect's foundation, even if the Nanyang County were thrown into chaos by the Evil Spirit, it would have nothing to do with him.
The Tianyang Sword Sect had no other choice.
The remaining elders, hearing this, exchanged glances, each seeing determination and ruthlessness in each other's eyes.
"The Sect Master has commanded, and we shall follow. I'm just afraid the Pei Family might not be willing to go to such lengths."
"Don't worry, the Pei Family has no way out. Either they release the Evil Spirit of Blood Mountain Mansion for a desperate battle, or they wait to be directly annihilated by that Guangyang Prince.
Pei Sheng is a clever man; he surely understands how to act!"
Gu Shentong gave a cold laugh, in his heart not worried at all that the Pei Family would refuse.
The Pei Family had long run out of options.