Chapter 2166.3: Human Demon

“What makes you think that this old man is Bloodbath?” The corner of the elder’s eyes twitched as he made one final struggle.

Lu Yun chuckled, “As marvelous as the Transformation Jade is, it does not pull the wool over my eyes.”

The elder’s—Bloodbath’s—expression shifted.

“Indeed, I am Bloodbath. Do you want to bring me to a ninth rank cultivation empire to collect the bounty now?” A bloody light flashed through the depths of his eyes when he raised his head.

“Even the Ouyangs know to treat you as an honored guest for their own use. I am no fool.”

Although Lu Yun didn’t know what the Ouyang Clan had done to make Bloodbath bow his head, it marked the start of many more submissions. Having dictated their terms to Bloodbath once, it wouldn’t be hard for the Ouyangs to do so again.

Those behind Lu Yun widened their eyes. This was the human demon Bloodbath! He was a name that parents used to scare their children into not crying, and he was sitting right in front of them!

“You want to recruit me as your subordinate?” Bloodbath’s voice changed from hoarse and wizened to that of a young man’s. Somehow, it was also tinged with a trace of unnatural entrancement.

“What else? Am I supposed to invite you to be my ancestor?” Lu Yun chortled.

“Hahaha! Even Ouyang Baitian doesn’t dare invite me home—he’s terrified that I’ll recover through the aid of fresh blood. How does a kid wet behind the ears like you dare bring me home?” Bloodbath sneered. “Your grandfather may be the strongest of Darklake, but he’s nothing but an ant to me.”

“Recover through the aid of fresh blood? Do the Ouyangs really believe that bullshit?” Lu Yun snorted. “As uncanny as the Method of Blood Shadows is, it’s not to those levels.”

“You..” Bloodbath paused, startled that the young man knew what his cultivation method was.

The Method of Blood Shadows was a cultivation method from a demonic sect that existed ten thousand years ago—the Blood Demons. Bloodbath had obtained it by accident and it was the reason why his cultivation had taken a massive leap forward.

The Method of Blood Shadows required irrigation of fresh blood throughout the process of cultivation and constant slaughter. That was how Bloodbath earned his nickname of “human demon”.

However, training with the method was an exceedingly painful process that twisted one’s personality. Bloodbath was rumored to be an eccentric with wild mood swings, someone who slaughtered entire cities at the drop of a hat. This was due to his practice of the Method of Blood Shadows.

This cultivation method had been infamous ten thousand years ago, leading to its progenitor—the dominant Blood Shadows—being jointly eliminated by the three ninth rank cultivation empires. To this day, the Method of Blood Shadows was still forbidden.

“The Method of Blood Shadows?” Bloodbath blinked, then sneered. “Would I be in these straits if that was what I practiced?”

Lu Yun nodded. “That’s true, even the Blood Shadows ten thousand years ago didn’t own the full Method of Blood Shadows. They only possessed fragments, and what you practice is likely pieces of fragments.”

Bloodbath’s expression stilled.

“Don’t be in a rush to refute me. Being wanted by the ninth rank empires, it’s not like your reputation is any better than the Blood Shadows of old,” Lu Yun chuckled. “I happen to have the complete Method of Blood Shadows.”

The old man trembled.

“As for the injuries on senior’s body—the wounds inflicted by others? Just mere scratches. The worst of them is from a cultivation deviation.” Lu Yun looked straight into Bloodbath’s eyes. The old man narrowed his eyes in return and didn’t say a word.

Those next to Lu Yun gaped and stared incredulously as the young man.

Was this the legendary good-for-nothing who didn’t know anything? If he was a bumbling fool, then what did that make Ouyang Shengtian? Or the three gentlemen of Dark City? Who in the capital had possessed knowledge like Lu Yun’s?

At the same time, Yu Qianhua and his men exchanged rueful smiles. Lu Yun was talking of this so openly in front of them and keeping nothing from them. It would be one thing if young master Lu was an ordinary prodigal and spent his days in a hazy daze of debauchery, but this fellow had plainly fooled everyone.

“This young master is able to heal your injuries,” Lu Yun said.

“You are but ninth level qi refinement. You haven’t even reached foundation establishment, so how can you heal my injuries?” Bloodbath had lived for hundreds of years, after all. He’d fully recovered his composure.

“My cultivation?” Lu Yun cocked his head. “Lan’er, tell him what this young master was at two days ago.”

Lan’er was goggling at her young master. Ninth level qi refinement? Hadn’t the young master always been at seventh level? She blinked and asked blearily, “Young master, you were at seven levels two days ago. When did you break through to nine levels?”

“Eh..” Her baffled answer dealt a heavy blow to the hearts of everyone present. Seven levels two days ago? This..

“So now, you have two options available.” Lu Yun wagged a finger in front of the elder. “First, this young master will kill you and trade your head for the bounty from the ninth rank empires. Second, follow this young master’s banner. After I help you recover from your injuries, I will teach you the complete Method of Blood Shadows.”

A talisman appeared in his hand. Lightning sparkled over it as it emanated ponderous energy ripples.

Bloodbath’s eyes darted around. “The Method of Blood Shadows requires human blood. Is young master Lu proposing to supply me with the blood that I need?”

“Human blood?” Lu Yun burst out laughing. “The Method of Blood Shadows is the foundational method of the Canon of the Blood God. What does the Canon of the Blood God want with human blood?”

The Blood God.. Lu Yun paused briefly. He’d known someone like this during his three thousand reincarnations. As evil as that person’s cultivation method had been, he didn’t make use of mortal blood.

Bloodbath reeled from the response.

“In that case, I, Bloodbath, will follow you. Answering to Lu Yun’s banner is better than being grounded by the Ouyangs,” Bloodbath made up his mind.

“Swear on your blood demon,” Lu Yun turned into a picture of seriousness.

“Very well, upon my blood demon,” Bloodbath sighed.

A blood demon oath for a demonic dao cultivator was the equivalent of a heavenly dao oath for an immortal cultivator. If it was violated, it altered one’s tribulation and made success nigh impossible.

Swearing upon a blood demon or heavenly dao was a joke in a small place like Darklake. It was enough for cultivators to reach nascent soul. Undergo one’s tribulation? That was the stuff of myths and legends.

But for Bloodbath, he wouldn’t dare break a promise made with his blood demon. He’d reached the combination cultivation level when he slaughtered the fifth rank cultivation empire hundreds of years ago—his tribulation was close at hand.

Lu Yun was well aware of that as well. Additionally, someone as proud as Bloodbath would never renege on his word after bowing his head to Lu Yun and deciding to follow the young man.

Making the elder swear on his blood demon was just a precaution. Lu Yun had one hundred ways to control a mere combination cultivator, ways that would ensure the cultivator offered up his full devotion.

He didn’t care about Bloodbath’s past. So he’d exterminated an empire? So what? All Lu Yun knew was that he was very weak and urgently needed to strengthen himself.

Bloodbath was like a blade left by the side of the road, one already covered in blood. All the young man was doing was picking it up and using it to protect himself and those around him.

And to finish what his sealed self needed to do.

“Those who are smart will always meet with a good end,” Lu Yun chuckled.

“This subordinate swears fealty to young master Lu. You have our undying loyalty!” Yu Qianhua and his men immediately sank to their knees when they heard the young man. They were all shrewd people who knew how to assess the situation, seeing as they’d been able to survive the battlefield and join the city guards.

Lu Yun had just recruited a heavily wanted criminal right in front of their eyes. These six men would either become the young master’s direct subordinates, or they would be silenced in death. There was no other outcome.

Lu Yun nodded with satisfaction.

“You six take Senior Blood and follow me back to the residence,” he commanded after momentary thought.

“Understood!” the six chorused.

....

Although endless experience and knowledge filled Lu Yun’s mind, he was far too weak himself. The Lu Clan also swayed and teetered in the wind. Despite sensing that his family wasn’t all that it appeared on the surface, that his grandfather was hiding many secrets, it also seemed that his family had to face something that was many times more frightening than imagination might indicate.

Lu Yun had experienced three thousand lifetimes and had the heavenly dao as his master, but he was a puny ant at the moment and had to do everything he could to strengthen himself.

Although he’d forgotten everything of the past, a sense of urgency and danger existed deep within his heart. He needed to face something that was much more terrifying and bigger than all of this. The addition of a personage like Bloodbath was most timely assistance.