308: Should I avoid his sharp edge?

"Something's wrong!"

Just an instant before Hu Hai's body collided with the wave of mana, Teng Qianjue's pupils suddenly constricted!

His powerful Divine Sense instantly captured the extraordinary flow of mana within Hu Hai's body.

It wasn't the chaotic and violent gathering of energy typical of a normal self-detonation, but rather a rapid construction of runes carrying a bizarre imagery!

This wasn't meant to harm anyone; it was meant to... *Pfft—*

However, in the next second, blood splattered!

The moment Hu Hai's body came into contact with the Golden Core Spiritual Pressure, it was like a blood bag crushed by a giant force, exploding into a sky full of crimson mist!

But it didn't end there!

The blood mist did not dissipate or fall; instead, it hovered eerily in mid-air.

From within it came a raspy voice full of endless resentment, sounding as if it came from the depths of Hell, echoing directly in everyone's hearts with a chill that made their Divine Souls tremble.

"Remnant body becomes the rune, burning soul draws the spirit, resentment as the ink, essence as the brush, blood curse transmits to the nether, message reaches the heavens!"

Following this chant that sounded like a curse from Hell, the blood mist in the sky contracted wildly inward, condensing in the blink of an eye into a crimson rune several meters in diameter, so complex it was dizzying!

The rune was outlined by countless fine threads of blood, writhing slowly like a living thing and emitting heart-palpitating waves of evil. There was also an indescribable pulling force, seemingly connecting to some distant existence in the unknown!

"This is... the Blood Sacrifice Message Technique!"

At this moment, a well-traveled Teng Family Elder suddenly cried out in shock, his voice changing pitch.

"This is a forbidden technique that uses the burning of the caster's entire flesh and soul as a price to forcibly transmit information to a pre-set Divine Soul mark!"

Upon hearing this, Teng Qianjue's expression finally changed completely, no longer maintaining his initial indifferent posture.

He understood what Hu Hai was trying to do!

With such endurance, his target had never been himself, nor was he truly sacrificing himself for his Family. Instead, he was using this most extreme method to forcibly transmit the news that 'the Teng Family is swallowing the Hu Family' to someone!

"Liu Wusheng!!!"

Teng Qianjue gritted his teeth as he uttered the name.

Yes, it had to be Liu Wusheng. After all, this man was a pawn supported by Liu Wusheng!!

The motivation was there, but Teng Qianjue still couldn't understand why Hu Hai would go to such great lengths to sacrifice himself instead of sending a message secretly.

That would have been more discreet, and he wouldn't have had to die!

But now he had no time to think; alarm bells were ringing in Teng Qianjue's heart.

Since he understood the function of that curse seal instantly, he wouldn't just sit idly by.

He let out a violent shout and thrust his right hand forward. A giant azure palm condensed from pure Golden Core mana appeared out of thin air, carrying the sound of wind and thunder as it slammed ruthlessly toward the nearly complete crimson blood rune!

It seemed he intended to snuff out this damned secret transmission technique directly.

However, it was too late!

The light of the blood rune reached its peak just before the giant palm struck, completing the final stroke of its outline!

*Wring—*

The Void Realm trembled!

The crimson blood rune suddenly shrank, then transformed into a blood-colored beam of light moving at extreme speed. It ignored the Hu Family's grand array light screen below, ignored Teng Qianjue's descending giant palm of mana, and even seemed to ignore space itself, piercing through all obstacles in an inconceivable manner.

With a "whoosh," it shot toward the direction of the Liu Family's ancestral lands in the Black Sha Marsh!

It left behind only a fading blood-colored trail and a thick, lingering aura of bloody resentment.

The entire scene fell into dead silence.

*Thud!*

Hu Li and Du Sanniang collapsed to the ground, their faces ashen, their bodies shaking like sieves as if the sky had fallen.

The faces of the Teng Family Elders were also grim. As they looked at each other, their eyes were filled with shock and unease.

Meanwhile, Shadow knelt on one knee, his head buried deep, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Teng Qianjue slowly withdrew his palm, hovering amidst the thin blood mist that had yet to dissipate.

His face was as cold as water, and a cold light flickered in his eyes.

He then slowly looked up toward the horizon where the blood light had vanished, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of gray mist and distance to see the Liu Family's direction.

After a moment of suffocating silence, Teng Qianjue's voice, cold and devoid of any emotion, rang out across the field.

"Hear my command."

"From this moment on, purge the Hu Family and inventory their resources!"

He didn't plan to wait anymore. Initially, he had intended to slowly incorporate the Hu Family to achieve a peaceful transition.

After all, the Hu Family had once been a Golden Core Family. Aside from their resources and foundations, talent was also a resource that should be put to good use.

However, he had changed his mind now!

No, it was that plans couldn't keep up with changes.

Since the Liu Family had been alerted, he would abandon the original 'peaceful takeover' plan and switch to plunder!

He would seize all of the Hu Family's foundations at the fastest speed and bring them back to the Teng Family.

By securing the benefits first, even if the Liu Family found out by then, the overall situation would already be decided!

At this point, an Elder couldn't help but ask, "Old Ancestor, the Liu Family is likely to take action. Should we temporarily avoid their edge and retreat to our ancestral lands first..."

"Me, avoid his edge?" Teng Qianjue turned around abruptly, his cold gaze making the Elder tremble. "Are you saying I should spit out the fat meat already in my mouth?"

"No... I wouldn't dare!"

The Elder immediately lowered his head and admitted his mistake, not daring to say another word.

Teng Qianjue ignored him and looked toward the Liu Family's ancestral lands, a cruel curve slowly forming at the corner of his mouth.

"Liu Wusheng—he will definitely come!"

"But that's fine; it saves me the trouble of looking for him."

"Anyway, this battle must be fought sooner or later. We might as well settle the fate of the world today!"

...Meanwhile.

The Liu Family Ancestral Lands, core secret chamber.

Liu Wusheng was sitting cross-legged on a cold jade prayer mat, surrounded by pale golden Pill Fire, refining a crimson bead floating in front of him.

This bead was called the 'Flame Dragon Bead.' It was the prototype of the Lifebound Treasure he had been nurturing for years. If he could finish refining it, its power would reach a higher level.

Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat for some reason, and his cultivation was forcibly interrupted.

Immediately after, a blood-colored jade pendant enshrined in the corner of the secret chamber began to vibrate violently without warning. Fine cracks appeared on its surface, and it emitted a blinding blood-red light!

"Hu Hai's Lifebound Blood Guide?!"

Liu Wusheng was stunned at first. Hu Hai was an important pawn he had planted in the Hu Family. Unless it was a life-or-death crisis or extremely important intelligence, he would never use this costly method of transmission.

He immediately reached out and grabbed the air. The blood-colored jade pendant shattered with a 'crack,' and a highly condensed stream of blood-colored information shot out, sinking into his brow.

In an instant, scene after scene rushed into his Sea of Consciousness like a flood.

A moment later, a violent Golden Core pressure carrying sky-high rage and killing intent erupted, sweeping in all directions and causing the gray miasma for dozens of miles around to surge wildly!

"Teng Qianjue!!"