"Slaughtered Moon Divine Blood Sect…" Han Yu whispered, his voice barely audible.
The words sent a strange tremor through his chest. He repeated them again, tasting the syllables, the weight they carried.
"Divine Blood… Slaughtered Moon…"
Every part of that name exuded menace.
It was no wonder their disciples were so ruthless. A sect that bore such a name could not have been righteous in nature. Whether they were demonic cultivators, ancient bloodline warriors, or something else entirely, Han Yu didn't know.
But he could feel it in his bones... this sect had once been powerful beyond comprehension. Far beyond even the standards of a top sect like the Twin Leaf Peak Sect.
He folded the scroll again with care and placed it beside him, then stared up at the dark canopy above.
The night sky shimmered faintly, still strange in its alignment. The moon overhead cast an ethereal glow over the land, and for a moment Han Yu thought it looked exactly like the symbol, bright yet scarred, its light tinged faintly crimson.
He clenched his fists, the cool night wind brushing against his new skin. His borrowed face reflected faintly in the sword beside him, that of Ju Fan.
He whispered softly to himself, "So, Ju Fan of the Slaughtered Moon Divine Blood Sect… from now on, I am you."
A quiet resolve formed within him. He would play the role if it kept him alive. And through it, perhaps he would learn more about this forgotten sect and the secret of why its dead disciples still walked this earth.
Han Yu took a slow, steady breath, letting the night swallow his words.
For now, survival was enough.
But in his heart, he knew that this was only the beginning of something far larger.
Han Yu sat quietly, the dim blue light of the moon and stars illuminating his pale face as he stared down at the storage ring that had once belonged to Ju Fan. The longer he thought about it, the more tangled his thoughts became.
While he could easily pretend to be Ju Fan using the token and perhaps even deceive others from the Slaughtered Moon Divine Blood Sect for a short time, there was a greater problem. He did not know how to contact them, nor did he know where they might be.
He could not risk openly searching for them, either.
One mistake, one wrong word, and he would expose himself. The mission scroll had clearly stated that all "invaders" were to be eliminated, and he was certain that the sect would not show mercy to captives.
"Damn it!" Han Yu clenched his fists.
That order meant one thing: the sects who had come here, including the Twin Leaf Peak disciples, were all being hunted. His friends, his seniors, even the elders who had guided him... every single one of them was in mortal danger.
His chest tightened as the thought struck him that they might already be dead.
He shook his head violently, unwilling to believe it.
They had to be alive.
They were strong, cautious, and capable of retreating if needed. But still, even if they had survived the initial chaos, what could they do against a sect that had hidden itself within this strange tomb world for who knew how long?
Han Yu could not save them now. He knew that much.
Trying to find them or help them would only doom him to the same fate. The Slaughtered Moon Divine Blood Sect clearly controlled this realm, or at least the part of it he was in. To act recklessly would not just be foolish, it would be suicidal.
For several moments, he just sat there, motionless, the soft murmur of the forest seeming to fade into nothingness.
He wished there was something... anything he could do. But his current power was insignificant before such a terrifying force. He had no choice but to survive and grow stronger.
"I'll avenge them all," Han Yu murmured softly, his tone cold and resolute. "I'll make sure the name of the Slaughtered Moon Divine Blood Sect is erased from every stone, every whisper, every memory in this world."
The words came out as a vow, quiet but filled with burning conviction. Yet right now, he was far too weak to even dream of carrying it out. He needed time. He needed power. And most of all, he needed to understand his enemy.
Han Yu crossed his legs and sat on the moist forest floor. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by nοvelfire.net
The air smelled of damp leaves and old wood, heavy with the faint, metallic tang of blood seeping the ground. A thin mist curled around his body as he closed his eyes and began to meditate.
He focused on steadying his breathing, letting the thoughts that churned in his mind slowly fade into calm focus. The scent of wet earth and the faint rustle of unseen trees helped him anchor himself to the present.
After a few minutes, he opened his eyes again and turned his gaze back to the ring. There was still much inside it he had not checked. Perhaps there was something that could help him survive.
He reached out with his spirit sense and began to sift through the items that remained.
Among them, one in particular caught his attention. It was a jade slip, but not just any jade slip. Its surface shimmered faintly with runes, and carved into the center was the same crescent moon insignia dripping with blood that he had seen on Ju Fan's token.
"A High Grade Communication slip," Han Yu muttered, feeling a trace of unease.
Such items were rare and valuable.
Han Yu had one too, but the quality of the two were still incomparable despite being the same grade. In fact, it felt like his own 'high grade' jade slip was a fake version.
The fact that an Outer Court disciple possessed one meant that communication within the sect was heavily reliant on these rather than standard methods. He hesitated briefly, but curiosity got the better of him.