Chapter 21 - The War Era Begins

“When you signed the blood contract with Crimson Bloodlust, the ancient stone block opened and this plate raised from the inside. This is one of the reasons your involvement was accepted” the strongest elder, Evil Thunder, stated.

“The laws and runic patterns on the stone tablet are a formation, I’m certain about that. It seems something is lacking though, the formation is not complete. I have identified nine different slaying laws imprinted in the stone in a similar way used to apply Dao Imprints to weaponry. These imprints act as the foundation of the formation but the central spot is empty. I believe the formation will be solved when the right Dao Imprint is applied to the middle, that’s the other reason for us accepting your deal” The Architect explained.

Falven approached the tablet and loudly read the text on top “When the crimson sky will call for blood, a new era shall begin. No more peace, the incoming era will be an immortal bloodbath. If you have the qualifications solve the mysteries and prepare for war, if not hide… and hope”.

Each word was drenched in laws, reading it strained the mental energies of cultivators and projected them in a world where immortal armies and legendary creatures would rage and battle to death. The meaning was clear, a catastrophe was nearing if Crimson Bloodlust would recognise a master, and the sect had to prepare for that.

Falven was gloating inside, he wanted to wage war to the Heavens and to his past enemies, he needed an army for that, this was serendipity! Crimson Bloodlust had been created to fight and develop through killing, with the aim to slay immortal level beings. It was natural that the moment the saber recognised a master a bloody path would unfold. Probably his own raise was the catastrophe anticipated by the stone tablet, the weaklings would be stumped in the chaos of war, cruel times had no regard for the vulnerable ones.

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Finally the last piece of the puzzle was inserted. After having studied the stone plate and solved the Dao slaying mysteries, thanks to the help of the Dao Slaying Manual, Falven understood which were the missing laws.

In the end, after some days of work hecompleted the Slying Dao Imprint in the empty spot identified by the Architect. The plate flared up with crimson lights, a majestic aura spread in the room, forcing everyone to kneel.

“A God grade aura!” Falven exclaimed. The elders were silent, bowing to this superior force pushing on them.

The aura condensed above the plate, forming a blurry face “You have made your choice. Solving the formation required a profound comprehension of the Slaying Dao, the minimum requirement to walk this merciless path. Go forward, there’s no turning back now. The only outcomes can be victory or annihilation. This is my last will, giving my descendants the chance to raise once again. We avoided to fight a lost war just to pick the right time to come back. We have bowed to the Heavens to give you this opportunity… don’t waste it, humanity will find hope or sorrow in this generation. Let the War Era Begin… once more” a stern voice proclaimed.

The aura dispersed, the plate and the stone block broke, opening a secret path leading underground, hidden by an ancient formation.

The elders paled, deadly silent, a true bomb had just been delivered to their doorsteps. Falven sighed and declared “Please elders, hear the words of this junior, nobody can get to know what has happened here. Crimson Bloodlust has talked to me, it has affirmed that the sly Heavens are not what you think they are. They are our enemies, we need to raise the future heroes who’ll lead the war against the oppressors of humanity, reclaiming the outer word we have been prohibited to visit ever again”. Not waiting for an answer he entered the underground path, leaving the elders flabbergasted.

Steep steps lead way below the surface. After every ten steps another layer of protective formation concealed the underground path, making it utterly untraceable to any external expert, whatever his level would be.

At the end a small grotto welcomed the youth, inside which a glowing jade orb was floating, brightening the dark environment. With trepidation the youth touched the orb, under the questioning gaze of the elders.

“It’s the Slaying Dao Core Cultivation Art, its origin is… Immortal God Heavens Slayer!” Falven was jubilant, he was thanking Immortal God Heavens Slayer in his heart, this was just perfect.

“An Immortal God grade core cultivation art, something of this level was believed to exist only in legends” Fate Destroyed exclaimed.

Evil Thunder had a determined look, he gravely stated “The burden that lies on us is immense, we shall use this cultivation art to increase our future combat prowess in all secrecy. Nobody can get to know this information, least an all out war will overwhelm the sect even before humanity can identify its enemies”.

Such a grandiose core cultivation art would elicit the greed of every sect and cultivator on the planet, causing the destruction of the sect. Before the Heavens Punishment cultivators could reach the God stage, soaring in the universe and attaining a power similar to Gods. In the legends after reaching the Transcendent God stage, cultivators had the chance to reach the peak of the cultivation journey, the Immortal God stage, thanks to the benediction of the Heavens. The process through which this happened was now obscure and lost in the river of time, cultivators started deeming it just a legend.

“So Crimson Bloodlust is communicating with you, what else did it say?” elder Mountain Slayer questioned the junior with a skeptical attitude.

“Only what I’ve said, a war is coming. We need to raise God level disciples to face it, this core cultivation art can indeed help. It will improve by far the cultivation process, both in terms of speed and quality. My advice to you is to prepare versions of this art to give to the most talented inner disciples, only few of them, where all the most precious resources of the sect will be focused”.

“I agree with the judgement of our junior, with your help dear elders I’m confident in preparing a few jade orbs which disciples can study this art from. It will be a simplified version filtered by our understandings of it which allows to cultivate up to the Commander stage. Even if its effectiveness will be a less than the original art, we can’t let disciples study from it, furthermore we have only one orb which needs to remain secret. Additionally, nothing good would come from spreading a cultivation art to cultivate up to the God stages, let’s give out the following parts only to the worthy ones”.

All the elders agreed to elder Erudite Slayer proposal, he was the oldest among the elders and the more proficient one in studying and revising laws. His plan was the right compromise at the moment and Falven was glad to see things moving in this direction.

“Fate Destroyer, I sincerely thank you in the name of the entire Devil Slaying Sect for your enormous contribution. Your help has revealed to be extremely precious, I’ll personally visit the Shining Pillar Pavilion to secure the blood of a true dragon. This is the least I can do for you”. Elder Devil Destroyer sincerely promised.

“Fate Destroyer, your keen perception of the Dao and mastery of Dao Imprinting is the real deal. It’s our honour you are our core disciple. Besides, I need to make sure you understand nothing of what’s happened here can leave this room. Tragic consequences would ensue if others knew these events, outmost secrecy is necessary” elder Evil thunder sternly said, staring at the youth before him.

“I perfectly understand your worries, senior. Be reassured, I am the first who wants to keep the things here the secret, it’s also what Crimson Bloodlust told me”.

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A man wrapped in a black cloak was sitting on the peak of a mountain. A sad sigh left his mouth "My perception was blocked by a powerful formation, I can't trace him anymore. It seems he's decided to walk on that path... only death awaits this planet now. It's courage fighting when victory is unlikely, it's foolishness when victory is impossible". Nostalgic thoughts brought him back to the past, shrouded in his sorrow.