In a remote town deep within the Western Wilderness, a stone-bricked training ground stood at its center, strewn with corpses. The stench of blood hung thick in the air—the aftermath of a brutal battle!
A black figure stomped down, crushing the skull of a middle-aged Taoist priest in gray robes. Spitting in disgust, he cursed, "Tch! Damn it—these Blood God Cult branch temples are everywhere. This is already the sixth one!"
This black figure was none other than the despicable donkey, who had stayed behind to search for the Blood God Cult's stronghold after discovering the "Blood Soul Pearl."
Nearly all the ordinary townsfolk had been transformed into what the Blood God Cult enforcers called "Blood Spirit Corpses"—mindless puppets that would attack tirelessly upon command.
Even as a demonic being, the sight of so many slaughtered humans and the carnage strewn about made the donkey's stomach churn with discomfort.
For now, the Blood God Cult targeted only small towns with few cultivators. But if their influence continued to grow, even major cities would fall victim. The devastation would be unimaginable.
Snatching a blood-red pearl from the dead enforcer, the donkey flicked blood from its hoof and muttered, "If only that brat Ling Feng were here. With his medical skills, he might've neutralized the toxins in these Blood Spirit Corpses."
"Whatever! I'll just kill their damn leader first!" The donkey's eyes flashed coldly. The cult's leader was the source of this plague—if he went back to fetch Ling Feng now, it'd be too late.
Though no saint itself, the donkey still retained some humanity. The Blood God Cult leader, however, had forsaken his entirely, sacrificing countless lives for personal gain.
Just then, a dark shadow appeared on the horizon. Storing the Blood Soul Pearl, the donkey looked up and frowned.
"Such evil energy... Five Ghosts Carrying a Coffin?"
His gaze sharpened. A massive black coffin floated midair, borne by five advanced-level Blood Spirit Corpses clad in white robes. Their eyes glowed crimson, and unlike the mindless corpses below, these radiated power at the Spiritual Element Realm.
The black coffin measured one zhang in length and three chi in width, its surface completely devoid of sheen, as if shrouded in darkness. It didn't seem to be made of wood but rather carved from a single massive slab of black stone—heavy, eerie, and foreboding. Any ordinary person who laid eyes on it would likely be so terrified that their soul would flee their body.
But as a Demon Emperor, the donkey felt no fear. Instead, it studied the coffin with interest. Clearly, this thing was connected to the Blood God Cult's atrocities!
"What the hell is this? Stop playing tricks!"
Despicable Donkey snorted coldly and shot into the air, sweeping out with a hoof. A surge of pitch-black demonic essence billowed forth, crashing toward the black coffin.
With an explosive sound, the coffin shattered into pieces, obliterating the five Blood Spirit Corpses nearby. A crimson sword light flashed from within, forcefully neutralizing Despicable Donkey's strike.
The next moment, accompanied by an eerie, sinister chuckle, a blood-red ghoul's hand stretched out from the coffin. Then, a figure shrouded in bloody light slowly emerged, draped in a black cloak. It hovered midair, fixing a cold stare on the Despicable Donkey.
An aura of wickedness, strangeness, and dread unfurled, engulfing the entire city as if hell itself had descended. The air grew so oppressive that not even a wisp of wind dared stir.
"Who... are you?" The voice was hoarse, as though two distinct tones overlapped, creating an unsettling dissonance. "To dare destroy six of this lord's altars!"
"Tch!" Despicable Donkey crossed its hooves over its chest, its cloak fluttering despite the absence of wind. With a disdainful smirk, it retorted, "So you're the so-called Blood Sword Heavenly Lord?"
"Ignorant insect. This lord may yet pardon your sins. Worship me, and you shall gain eternity!"
Blood Sword Heavenly Lord's pupils glowed like pools of blood, radiating a soul-shaking crimson light. Upon closer inspection, his right arm appeared bound by tentacle-like appendages, his entire body fused with an evil-reeking longsword.
The sword bore seven or eight cracks, as if it were steadily draining flesh and vital essence from its host to repair itself.
"Truly a cult leader to the bone—still preaching devotion even at death's door. This Divine Beast ain't buying your crap!"
Despicable Donkey's cloak billowed. "Hand over all the Blood Soul Pearls on you, and I might just leave your corpse intact!"
Blood Sword Heavenly Lord's eyes held not a flicker of emotion, his chilling gaze locked onto the Despicable Donkey as his sinister aura thickened.
"Hmph, you've got a death wish!"
Losing patience, Despicable Donkey surged forward, demonic essence erupting from its body.
Blood Sword Heavenly Lord swung his sword, and the two clashed.
As they clashed, Despicable Donkey swiftly gained the upper hand.
Blood Sword Heavenly Lord finally showed a hint of surprise, unable to comprehend why an emperor-level expert would appear in such a barren land.
"Take this from your Granddaddy Divine Donkey—Crow Riding a Dragon!"
Not letting up, Despicable Donkey shot skyward, then plummeted like a falling mountain, ruthlessly stomping toward Blood Sword Heavenly Lord's back.
Blood Sword Heavenly Lord raised his sword to block. A terrifying sword qi detonated, and the ground below erupted in a chain of explosions, carving out a massive crater amid flying debris and crumbling earth.
A violent gale tore through the battlefield, shredding both combatants' cloaks and revealing their true forms—a donkey, and a monster entwined with grotesque tentacles!
The tentacles sprouted from Blood Sword Heavenly Lord's hilt, burrowing into his meridians. His entire right arm was ensnared by the venomous vines, which pulsed like blood vessels, ceaselessly draining his flesh and vital essence before feeding him back a corrupted energy—the same eerie power used by Blood Soul Pearls to harvest human soul essence.
"So you're just a puppet."
Despicable Donkey sneered. With its sharp perception, it immediately saw the truth—the Blood Sword Heavenly Lord wasn't in control but had instead become a puppet of the demon sword in his grasp. Yet, he remained oblivious, thinking he had gained supreme power.
Once the demon sword is fully restored, it will likely betray its master, reducing the so-called Blood Sword Heavenly Lord to nothing more than a sword puppet.
Strangely, Blood Sword Heavenly Lord seemed to recognize Despicable Donkey. A flash of terror crossed his eyes before he abruptly vanished, fleeing for his life...