19: Blood sacrifices to demons, human lives as worthless as grass
Stepping past that frozen Monster, the group entered the ruined temple that looked like the maw of a giant beast.
The light inside the temple was dim, and the air was thick with a nauseating, stale scent mixed with a heavy stench of blood that pierced straight to the skull.
There was no solemn divine statue like one might imagine.
What met their eyes was a "Demon Idol" of an extremely twisted and bizarre form.
It was carved entirely from an unknown black Ore, neither human nor beast, possessing nine heads. Each head bore a different expression—greed, rage, despair, wailing... They were tangled together, collectively holding up a massive object in the center of the temple.
It was a bowl-shaped stone basin, a full three zhang in diameter.
As the group approached with torches to look, they all gasped. Many Guards with weaker constitutions vomited on the spot.
The stone basin was filled not with holy water or incense ash.
Instead, it was more than half-full of black, dark-red blood.
On the surface of the thick blood floated countless severed limbs, organ fragments, and some human face skins that hadn't yet rotted.
"Ugh..."
"This... what kind of ghostly place is this..."
Witnessing this scene, everyone felt a chill rush from the soles of their feet to their heads.
How was this a temple? It was clearly a massive feeding plate!
Recalling the Monster at the entrance just now, a scene couldn't help but emerge in everyone's minds: the creature dragging its hunted prey here and, by this stone basin, tearing them apart like roast chicken before throwing the flesh and blood inside... "Is this the handiwork of the Nine Nether Heavens..."
The Zhao Family Head pinched his nose, looking at the ancient runes on the edge of the stone basin as a sharp light flashed in his eyes: "A Blood-Gathering Basin to sacrifice to the Demon Idol. It seems the entrance to the underground is Sealed by some kind of Formation."
"It requires a blood sacrifice."
The Li Family Head fanned his folding fan, his tone as flat as if he were discussing what to have for dinner.
"Looking at the markings in this stone basin, although that Monster was diligent, it's still a bit short of the mark."
He extended a finger, gesturing toward a dark-red scale line on the inner wall of the stone basin: "It's still missing about... five people."
Five people.
As soon as those words were spoken, the hearts of every Guard present skipped a beat.
They looked at their respective family heads in terror, subconsciously tightening their grip on their weapons.
However, in this world of strict Rank, the struggles of the weak were pale and powerless.
"Five people? Simple."
The Commander from the City Lord’s Mansion sneered. He didn't even look back, simply reaching out behind him.
Bang!
Before a personal Guard standing behind him could react, his skull was directly gripped by the Commander's large hand.
"Commander?! This subordinate..."
"For the City Lord's great cause, sacrifice yourself."
The Commander was expressionless as he applied force with his palm.
Crack!
The personal Guard didn't even have time to scream before his head was crushed. The Commander casually tossed the corpse into the massive stone basin like throwing away trash.
Splash!
Blood splattered everywhere.
"That's one."
The Commander clapped his hands as if he had just swatted a mosquito.
This scene seemed to flip a switch.
The Zhao Family Head drew his saber and swung it back.
Squelch!
A Guard behind him collapsed clutching his throat and was kicked into the stone basin.
The Li Family Head closed his folding fan, a sharp blade popping out from the tip of the fan's frame as he elegantly sliced through the neck of a confidant.
The Wang Family Head, meanwhile, shattered a subordinate's chest with a single punch.
In the blink of an eye.
Four lives had become nourishment for the stone basin.
The entire process took less than three breaths. There was no arguing, no resistance, only a one-sided slaughter.
Still one short.
Everyone's gaze focused on the remaining Su Family.
Or rather, focused on Su Tianhe.
Su Tianhe stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent.
His gaze slowly swept across the Su Family's Ranks.
In that moment, the Su Family Guards felt as if they were being watched by the God of Death. One by one, they lowered their heads, trembling all over, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Lin Que stood at the back of the group, his hand quietly pressing onto the Refined Iron Staff on his back.
If Su Tianhe chose him, he would absolutely erupt and kill in the first instant.
Su Tianhe's gaze moved.
Finally, it stopped on one person.
Old Han.
Old Han was currently being supported by a young Guard, his face as pale as paper.
When he felt the family head's gaze fall on him, his entire body instantly froze. His only remaining left hand gripped his clothes tightly, and his cloudy old eyes were filled with fear and pleading.
He knew that having lost an arm, his combat strength was greatly diminished. In the eyes of this family head who prioritized interests above all else, he was already a burden.
"Fam... Family Head..."
Old Han's lips trembled, wanting to say something, but no sound came out.
Su Tianhe looked at Old Han, his eyes deep, seemingly weighing something.
After a long time.
He shook his head.
"Old Han, you've followed me for twenty years. Even if there's no glory, there's the merit of your hard work."
Su Tianhe's voice was very soft, but it made Old Han feel as if he had received a great pardon, tears nearly falling from his eyes.
However, in the next second.
Su Tianhe's gaze shifted slightly, landing on the young Guard supporting Old Han.
That was an honest young lad named A'fu. He was usually the most obedient, and just now he had been the one to take the initiative to support the injured Old Han.
"A'fu."
Su Tianhe walked over, a gentle smile appearing on his face as he reached out to straighten A'fu's messy collar.
"Fam... Family Head?"
A'fu was overwhelmed by the favor. Not yet recovered from the slaughter just now, he was completely dazed by the family head's kind gesture.
"Don't be afraid."
Su Tianhe patted A'fu's shoulder, his voice gentle as if coaxing a child.
"The Su Family will take good care of your family. I will have someone send your newborn son to a private school to study."
"Wha... what?"
A'fu was stunned.
He hadn't yet reacted to the meaning of those words.
The Gray-robed Enshrined Expert standing behind Su Tianhe moved without any warning.
Pfft!
A hand as withered as a ghost's claw instantly pierced through A'fu's back and emerged from his chest, clutching a still-beating heart.
A'fu's eyes widened. He looked down at the hand in his chest, his mouth opening as if he wanted to ask why.
But he couldn't ask anything.
"Go on." Su Tianhe said indifferently.
The Enshrined Expert gave a casual toss.
A'fu's corpse traced an arc and slammed heavily into the stone basin.
Blood splattered onto Old Han's face.
Old Han stood frozen in place, watching the warm, living person who had just been supporting him now become a floating corpse in the stone basin.
At that moment, Old Han felt the blood in his entire body turn ice-cold.
Not because of his lucky escape. But because of the family head's "don't be afraid" just now.
Giving a word of hypocritical comfort before killing.
This kind of cold-bloodedness and hypocrisy etched into the bone was even more nauseating and terrifying than direct action.
With the fall of the fifth corpse.
The massive stone basin finally reacted.
Buzz—!!
The black Demon Idol statue suddenly began to vibrate.
The nine heads seemed to come alive, a strange red light glowing in their eyes. The blood within the stone basin began to boil and swirl, eventually forming a massive vortex that drained frantically through the holes at the bottom of the basin!
Clack, clack, clack—
A series of tooth-grating mechanical sounds rang out.
The Demon Idol statue slowly split open to both sides, revealing a deep, dark tunnel entrance. A staircase paved with white bones and green stone wound downward, leading to an unknown depth underground.
Whoosh—
A foul wind carrying a thick stench of rot and a frigid aura whistled out from the entrance, making everyone's clothes flutter loudly.
"It's open."
A hint of greed flashed in the Zhao Family Head's eyes.
"Let's go."
Su Tianhe didn't even glance at the stone basin, as if the person who just died was merely an ant. With a wave of his hand, he took the lead toward the entrance.
"Go down."
The leaders of each family shouted their orders.
Lin Que took a deep breath and tightened his grip on the Refined Iron Staff on his back.
He glanced at the stone basin still bubbling with blood, then at the imposing back of Su Tianhe walking ahead.
In this Guanglin Mountain.
The most terrifying thing was indeed not the Monsters.
But the human heart!