Devouring Soul Emperor

Upon hearing they had eight months, everyone nodded in understanding.

The Blood-soaked Land’s terrain was like a buffer zone between the Land of Hundred Dynasties and the sect territories. It was vast in breadth, but limited in depth.

Eight months should be enough to cross the Blood-soaked Land.

Seeing they had no further questions, the Outer Sect Steward from the Stone Spirit Sect continued, "The second important rule concerns the Sect Golden Orders in your possession. Upon arrival at Celestial Martial City, it is the order that is recognized, not the person holding it."

"Let me give you a word of warning: this rule is especially important. Many people in the Blood-soaked Land are eyeing your Sect Golden Orders. If they can seize one, they can take your place and become a Sect Disciple."

Upon hearing this second rule, the expressions of everyone present, including Lord Lan and his group, shifted slightly.

’This rule is practically encouraging the people of the Blood-soaked Land to ambush and kill the examiners from the Hundred Dynasties.’

The Blood-soaked Land was filled with chaos, blood, and slaughter. Besides true lunatics or madmen, no remotely normal person would willingly stay in a place like this.

The sects, on the other hand, were not only safe but also possessed the Northern Domain’s most premium cultivation resources. Compared to the Blood-soaked Land, they were a veritable paradise.

With such an opportunity before them, how many of the people in the Blood-soaked Land could resist the temptation?

This was likely a deliberate move by the sects. They weren’t just after talented individuals from the Hundred Dynasties; they wanted the gifted people from the Blood-soaked Land as well!

After a moment’s pause, one of the examiners raised his hand and asked, "Sir, it’s said that there are many Martial King Level experts in the Blood-soaked Land. If that’s the case, we don’t stand a chance..."

This question voiced what was on everyone’s mind.

The Blood-soaked Land wasn’t like a remote place such as the Great Xia kingdom, where a single commandery might only have two or three King Realm experts.

If they were unlucky, a single King Realm expert could easily wipe out all the examiners from an entire dynasty and take all of their Sect Golden Orders.

Even if the King Realm expert couldn’t use it themselves, they could bestow it upon their juniors, or simply sell it.

Steward Rong Yun, the Outer Sect Steward from the Stone Spirit Sect, looked at the questioner and nodded, as if he had expected this all along.

"The sects have taken this issue into consideration, which brings me to the third matter I need to discuss with you."

"The fifteen sects of the Northern Domain, led by the Three Major Sects—the Celestial Sword Sect, the Talisman Puppet Sect, and the Saint Extreme Sect—have jointly issued the ’Forbidden King Order’ to the Blood-soaked Land!"

"During the one-year period of the sect recruitment examinations, any expert at the Martial King Realm or higher within the Blood-soaked Land must enter a one-year seclusion. They are forbidden from making any public appearances or taking any action, no matter the reason."

"During this one year, each of the fifteen sects will dispatch a large number of disciples and even Elders to patrol all over the Blood-soaked Land to ensure the ’Forbidden King Order’ is strictly enforced."

"Anyone who violates the Forbidden King Order will be hunted down by all fifteen sects combined."

"The offender will be killed, and their entire clan will be exterminated!"

Hearing this, everyone from the Great Xia kingdom felt a chill in their hearts.

The Forbidden King Order.

The offender killed, their clan exterminated.

The power of the sects was truly worthy of their status as the rulers of the Northern Domain. To think they could issue such a decree to the entire Blood-soaked Land!

After the three matters were explained, Chu Qingyun and the other hundred-plus examiners from the Great Xia kingdom had no more questions.

"Alright, since there are no more questions, you may now depart."

"Cross this forest and keep going straight, and you will reach one of the outermost cities of the Blood-soaked Land, Black Blood City. As for whether or not to enter the city, that is entirely up to you."

"The Blood-soaked Land may not compare to the sects, but it is brimming with far more opportunities and resources than your Land of Hundred Dynasties."

"Having you cross the Blood-soaked Land this time is both a test and an opportunity. How you seize it is up to you."

Steward Rongyun finally pointed out the direction of Black Blood City to Chu Qingyun and the hundred-plus examiners, and then let them set off on their own.

Seeing Chu Qingyun and the others all enter the forest, Lord Lan and Prince Duan breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time, a faint worry grew in their hearts.

Everyone was delivered safely, so their mission could be considered successfully completed.

But ahead, after all, was the infamously dangerous Blood-soaked Land. Among these hundred-plus people, there wasn’t even a single one at the Celestial Spirit Realm. In the end, how many would make it to Celestial Martial City alive...

Upon first entering the forest, the hundred-plus examiners from the Great Xia kingdom temporarily stayed together.

"They say every inch of the Blood-soaked Land is soaked in blood, but I don’t see anything special here. Is it any different from the forests in our Great Xia?"

"This is just the outermost fringe, what did you expect? By the way, about that Black Blood City, are you guys going in? I’m not, anyway. I’ve decided I’m not going anywhere else; I’m heading straight for Celestial Martial City!"

"I think it’s better to go in and have a look. The outermost city should be the safest, right? It’s always good to gather more information inside."

After entering the forest, many people began discussing amongst themselves. The most debated topic was whether or not to enter Black Blood City.

Meanwhile, the Ninth Prince exchanged several glances with certain people in the group. A few of them began to subtly alter their positions, some deliberately walking a couple of steps faster, others a couple of steps slower.

A group of a dozen or so people slowly and subtly formed a circle around Chu Qingyun.

It was at this moment that Yin Feiyang, who had been sticking close to Princess Qingyou, left her side and walked over to the Ninth Prince.

Those dozen or so people were all followers the Ninth Prince had recruited on the Flying Ship, preparing to make a move against Chu Qingyun.

And Yin Feiyang had also been roped in by them to deal with Chu Qingyun together. However, what he wanted was the Secret Manual in Chu Qingyun’s possession, the one for cultivating Thunder Light Sword Qi.

The movements of the dozen or so people were quite covert at first.

But soon, they were noticed by some of the people around them.

Having entered a place like the Blood-soaked Land, naturally no one wanted to stir up extra trouble and provoke a powerful enemy for no reason. Thus, those who noticed simply walked away quietly, pretending they saw nothing.

Chu Qingyun, of course, noticed this as well.

But he acted as if nothing was wrong, continuing to walk forward at an unhurried pace.

There were more than ten people, which seemed like a lot, but there wasn’t even a single sixth-level Martial Spirit among them. With his strength, breaking out wouldn’t be difficult at all.

And as long as he could break away temporarily, with his endless array of methods, he had no reason to fear a pursuit from the Ninth Prince and his cronies.

Chu Qingyun even thought to himself, ’Should I deliberately lure them to another part of the forest and finish them off? I could fulfill my promise to Xia He right here.’