Chapter Twenty-Three: Bloodbath in the Underground Palace, Slaughter Across the Realm

Inside the Serpent Clan's underground palace, in the main hall, Bai Ming appeared in a flurry, having just transformed into human form. He grabbed the first person he saw and asked urgently, "Where is Han Mo?"

"Ninth Prince?" Han Ling of the Serpent Clan bowed hastily. "Greetings, Ninth Prince. The King is in his inner chamber, in the midst of cultivation."

"Take me to him at once." He had urgent matters to discuss with Han Mo.

Han Ling was taken aback and asked, "Has something happened?"

"Don't ask, just take me there..." Before he could finish, Bai Ming rushed headlong toward the inner chamber.

"Yes, this way, Ninth Prince—"

Han Ling led him inside. However, no sooner had they left than a large group of the Dragon Clan appeared outside the palace.

Leading them was none other than the Dragon Clan's Third Prince, Long Kong, a man renowned for his ferocity and prowess in battle.

Long Kong glanced at the celestial anomalies in the sky—thick, dark clouds pressing down as if signaling a cataclysmic event. Since the strange, ominous light converged directly upon this Serpent Clan territory, he suspected this was the source of the upheaval.

"Heh," he scoffed, his pale forehead furrowed beneath two sharp, upright dragon horns, an aura of immense oppression radiating from him. "So, he is indeed consuming the Blood Spirit Pearl."

Truly, the heavens were aiding him!

The serpent servants outside the palace saw them and cried out in terror, "Quick! Go notify the King! The Dragon Clan is here!"

Long Kong’s eyes turned cold. He raised a hand, signaling his command: "Kill. Slaughter your way in. Find the Everlasting Flower."

"Yes, we obey!"

...

Inner Chamber

"Han Mo!"

"Han Mo!!"

Bai Ming burst in, frantic. "It’s bad! Everything is falling apart! The Third Prince has brought his clansmen to slaughter us. You must flee!"

Han Mo sat cross-legged on the bed, surrounded by a ring of crimson blood-light. Directly before him hovered the Blood Spirit Pearl flower, exuding a thick, medicinal fragrance.

At this moment, he was absorbing the spiritual power of the flower. He had already absorbed more than half; only a little remained.

"Han Mo!" Bai Ming stared at the scene, his heart sinking to the depths of despair.

This... this was a catastrophe.

Han Mo was in the process of absorbing the spiritual energy; his mind was entirely focused on the cultivation. He might not even hear him. Moreover, once the absorption of the Blood Spirit flower began, it could not be interrupted. If the practitioner stopped midway, they would suffer the flower's backlash, likely resulting in broken veins and unbearable agony.

Furthermore, he was currently attempting a breakthrough of 2.3 million years of spiritual power—far beyond what his heart-source could withstand. How could he possibly stop?

"Ninth Prince, what are we to do?!" Han Ling glanced at his master, then at Bai Ming, his heart racing with panic. "Why has the Third Prince come? Does he not know that trespassing on Serpent Clan territory violates the Immortal Laws of the Demon Realm?"

"Is he not afraid of the punishment from Immortal Lord Yuheng, the wrath of the Fox King, or the condemnation of the world?"

"Are you truly as foolish as you sound?" Bai Ming turned sharply to face Han Ling, his face pale with urgency. "The Dragon Clan has always been on good terms with my Father King, and they are offshoots of the Demon race. Need I list for you how formidable they are? Why would my Father King antagonize the entire Dragon Clan for the sake of a minor Serpent Clan?"

"What?!" Han Ling turned pale with fright, glancing back at the man absorbing the flower, his voice trembling. "Then what should we do? Must we allow them to trample over our people and do as they please?"

Bai Ming’s expression darkened. He waved his hand. "Enough. Go, gather all the members of the Serpent Clan. We must guard Han Mo while he absorbs the power!"

The immediate priority was to prevent the Third Prince and his men from harming Han Mo. He had to protect him while he absorbed the flower, ensuring his power surged and his cultivation ascended.

If he could stall them for even a moment, it would be worth it.

Han Ling bowed. "Yes, I understand."

"Report—!!"

"Report—Lord Han Ling!!"

Someone came running in, screaming, their voice filled with terror. Han Ling and Bai Ming exchanged a glance, dreading the worst, and bolted toward the outer hall. "What happened?"

The serpent servant collapsed to his knees, shivering uncontrollably. "It—it’s bad! The Third Prince of the Fox Clan has brought his people and forced his way in!"

"What did you say?!" Han Ling was stunned. He lunged forward, grabbing the servant by the shoulders. "Where is he? Where are our men?"

The servant shook his head, his eyes red. "Our men... they have all been slaughtered! They broke the barrier the King set outside the palace! They have already breached the main hall!"

"What..." Han Ling stared at him, his grip loosening until his arms fell limp at his sides. "How did it come to this? Why has it turned out this way?"

Bai Ming pushed him aside and strode toward the exit, his presence icy. "I will go meet him. Guard Han Mo. Do not let anything happen to him!"

Han Mo was the first true friend he had made in two million years, a man with the potential to surpass even his Father King and his older brothers. He could not let him die. Han Mo must not die.

"Yes, thank you, Ninth Prince." Han Ling steeled himself. There was no time for anything else; protecting the King was the only thing that mattered. "You! Go gather all the serpents in the palace. Guard the entrance to the main hall. Do not let anyone take a single step forward and harm the King."

"Yes, I understand! I’m going now!" The servant scrambled to his feet and ran to rally the others.

Han Ling clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the inner chamber. "King, please... you cannot let anything happen to you..."

Outside the Palace

A white, phantom-like figure suddenly appeared at the entrance of the underground palace, blocking the path of the approaching group.

Long Kong stopped in his tracks, and the group of Dragons behind him halted as well.

He looked at the newcomer with surprise. "You... are Bai Ming?"

Bai Ming looked at him coldly, his aura radiating a growing threat. "May I ask why the Third Dragon Prince has deigned to visit us?"

"I have my own reasons for being here. What, do you intend to stop me?"

Bai Ming gave a light, mocking laugh, his dark eyes filled with disdain. "This is the territory of the Serpent Clan. Should you not state your purpose and account for your actions?"

"Ridiculous! No one has ever dared to question me, Long Kong! You, the most disfavored Ninth Prince of the Fox Clan, think you have the right to challenge the Dragon Clan?"

Long Kong’s expression turned grim. In an instant, a pair of blood-red, dual-bladed knives materialized in his hands. He snarled, "Death to you!"

"Everyone, attack! Cleanse this palace in blood. Find the Everlasting Pearl Flower. Anyone who resists—execute them without mercy."

"Yes, we obey!" The warriors drew their weapons and, led by Long Kong, charged forward without hesitation.

"Kill!"

"Kill them all!!"

Bai Ming, enraged, manifested his silver-threaded fan and lunged forward, unleashing a fierce strike. "Third Prince, are you truly intent on becoming an enemy of the Serpent Clan—and an enemy of the Heavenly Path?"

Long Kong met the strike with his dual blades, shattering the attack as he snarled, "A pathetic creature disowned by his own family dares to interfere with me?"

Bai Ming’s face darkened instantly as the dual blades emanated a golden, ice-like glow, slashing toward him with lethal intent.

"Die."

"You are truly insane!" Bai Ming dodged swiftly, clutching his silver fan as he charged again. "You would bring slaughter and ruin upon the Demon Realm for the sake of one mortal woman?!"

Long Kong caught his strike, sneering. "What does the slaughter of the world matter, if it is for her? Besides, it is only for a trivial Everlasting Flower! If the Serpent Clan refuses to give it up, I shall kill Han Mo along with them!"

"You dare?!" Bai Ming, fueled by rage, exerted his full power, pressing down on him with a thunderous roar: "I will not allow it."