Chapter Seven: Journey Across the Sea of Blood

Gradually, as time passed, the Old Ancestor of Heaven and Earth revealed a look as if their relationship had become so close that he felt embarrassed not to speak. After a slight hesitation, he finally told the Three Purities that he had obtained some of Pangu’s essence blood within the mountain cave, and took out a fist-sized clump of Pangu’s essence blood for them to see.

Upon seeing the essence blood, the Three Purities could not help but feel a measure of disappointment in their hearts. Though Pangu’s essence blood was indeed a treasure, it did little to aid them in their pursuit of the Dao. After all, unlike the Wu tribe, who valued physical strength, what the Three Purities sought was insight into the Dao itself—this alone was the key to their future attainment.

Sensing sharply the attitude of the Three Purities toward the essence blood, the Old Ancestor of Heaven and Earth secretly sneered, “These three short-sighted fellows, they likely still cannot comprehend the wonders of a powerful physical body. Well, that suits me just fine, saves me from worrying about their scheming.”

“However, having obtained Pangu’s essence blood and so much of his vital energy, the Three Purities, being the true heirs of Pangu, should be guided. I might as well advise them to grasp the Eight-Nine Profound Arts sooner—a gesture of gratitude for the fortune Pangu left me. Perhaps, too, I can use this essence blood to foster goodwill with the Wu tribe in the future,” he mused. With that, the Old Ancestor of Heaven and Earth proceeded to show off his own quasi-saintly physical prowess before the Three Purities, subtly reminding them that Pangu had walked the path of proving the Dao through strength, and suggesting they too might explore ways to strengthen their bodies.

Although the Three Purities were not particularly interested in the pursuit of brute force, the Old Ancestor’s words nonetheless stirred their hearts.

Before departing, the Old Ancestor even feigned reluctance as he divided a small amount of Pangu’s essence blood among the Three Purities, making them think him honest and forthright, and causing them to feel a hint of guilt for their earlier attempts to outmaneuver him.

Little did they know, once he left, the Old Ancestor laughed inwardly at how easy it was to dupe these three fools!

No sooner had the Old Ancestor taken leave of the Three Purities than the voice of the Primal Dao System sounded again: “Master has obtained Pangu’s legacy, gaining greatly and earning ten thousand system points. By guiding the Three Purities toward physical cultivation and gifting them some essence blood, you have dissolved any latent suspicion or conflict, and so are awarded a further thousand points. Please continue your efforts to earn more rewards.”

“Wow! When did the system become so generous?” The Old Ancestor of Heaven and Earth’s eyes widened in surprise, delight flooding his heart. “Still, gaining Pangu’s legacy is indeed a substantial harvest. To have such fortune again will not be easy.”

Satisfied with his gains, the Old Ancestor descended from Buzhou Mountain and soon found Bai Ze, giving him brief instructions before heading alone toward the Sea of Blood in the Netherworld.

This journey to the Sea of Blood was certain to stir up trouble. Besides, as the saying goes, a master leads you to the door but cultivation depends on the individual. The Old Ancestor preferred a hands-off approach to discipleship and never considered bringing along Bai Ze, that burdensome tagalong.

The Old Ancestor of Heaven and Earth hurried along his way, seldom stopping, and after little more than a month arrived in the southwest of the Primal World.

There, in the southwest, where the most ferocious and baleful energies of the Primal World converge, lies an enormous sinkhole, unfathomably deep, stretching down into the earth, its space expanding the deeper one goes. At the bottom of this abyss is the vast Netherworld, within which sprawls the Sea of Blood, transformed from Pangu’s navel, spanning tens of thousands of miles. Its waves surge ceaselessly, and no fish or shrimp thrive, nor do birds or insects come near. All the world’s baleful energies are gathered here, and all beings of the Primal World call it the Netherworld Sea of Blood.

This Sea of Blood is a veritable dead zone, so almost no living beings venture here, making it even more tranquil than Buzhou Mountain.

Above the rolling waves of the Sea of Blood, spatial ripples shimmered, and a figure materialized—it was the Old Ancestor of Heaven and Earth.

Almost as soon as he appeared over the Sea of Blood, not far away, the waters surged upward like a fountain, and from the churning waves emerged a blood-red figure, transforming into an old man robed in crimson, his face twisted with malice.

“A cultivator of the Metal element?” Sensing the aura on the blood-robed, sinister old man, the Old Ancestor of Heaven and Earth was mildly surprised. “The Ancestor of Minghe shouldn’t be so weak. Could it be...?”

The blood-robed, sinister old man glared coldly at him, his voice low and raspy: “Who are you, that you dare trespass in my Netherworld Sea of Blood?”

“I am the Old Ancestor of Heaven and Earth, here only to seek something,” replied the Old Ancestor.

“Seeking something?” The blood-robed, sinister elder was momentarily taken aback, then said coldly, “There is nothing here for you. Leave at once!”

The Old Ancestor smiled faintly at him. “Ancestor Minghe, the item I seek—you surely know it. It’s a small black flag called the Northern Mystical Water Control Banner.”

“Hm?” Ancestor Minghe’s eyes narrowed, his aura momentarily in disarray.

But soon, Ancestor Minghe regained his composure and sneered, “So you’ve come for the Northern Mystical Water Control Banner. But do you think I would simply hand over a supreme innate treasure to you? Old Ancestor of Heaven and Earth, I have heard your name and know your cultivation is profound, counted among the great powers of the Primal World. But this is the Netherworld Sea of Blood, my domain, and I will not tolerate your arrogance here. Leave now, or do not blame me for being rude.”

“I have no wish to fight you, Ancestor Minghe. That banner was never truly yours. You have no lack of supreme protective treasures—hand it over. Otherwise, if it comes to a fight, even with the Sea of Blood as your trump card, you cannot withstand me,” the Old Ancestor said coldly.

At this, Ancestor Minghe’s expression grew even darker. “Old Ancestor of Heaven and Earth, it seems you know much about me. Then you should know that it is impossible to wrest anything from my hands—unless you have the power to kill me.”

“Hmph, then let’s see just how strong you really are,” the Old Ancestor snorted, a flash of killing intent in his eyes. He reached out toward Ancestor Minghe, and with a twist in space, Minghe’s figure froze, then exploded into a cloud of blood mist, dissolving into the Sea of Blood.

A mere avatar with the cultivation of a Golden Immortal—the Old Ancestor of Heaven and Earth had never regarded it as a threat. In fact, he had anticipated that with Minghe’s irascible temperament, it would not be easy to wrest treasures from him. Reality proved that with such opponents, direct action was best.

The Old Ancestor’s purpose in coming was clear: to seize treasures. Not only the Northern Mystical Water Control Banner—if it came to a real fight, he even considered killing Minghe outright and taking the Twelve-Petal Karma Fire Red Lotus and the two supreme innate swords, Abyssal Slaughter and Hell Execution, for himself.

In the Primal World, the law of the jungle reigns—there is no room for morality or righteousness. Minghe is not a benevolent soul, and the Old Ancestor felt not the slightest psychological barrier to killing him. Since enmity was inevitable, it was best to be thorough and decisive. Even if the Sea of Blood never dries and Minghe never dies, deprived of all his treasures, what would he be? What waves could he still stir?

By obtaining the Northern Mystical Water Control Banner, the Twelve-Petal Karma Fire Red Lotus, and the Abyssal Slaughter and Hell Execution swords—these supreme innate treasures—and comprehending the profound Dao within them, the Old Ancestor of Heaven and Earth could rapidly elevate his understanding of the Dao.

If he did not strike while Minghe had yet to truly rise as one of the top powers of the Primal World, such an opportunity would be difficult to find again.