Jiang Wang’s voice was clear and carrying without being grating, easily spreading across the square.

For a moment, all the Blood River Sect Disciples who were busy in a flurry turned their gazes over.

Jiang Wang swept his eyes around, his manner composed: "My Daqi stations an army of a hundred thousand elite troops to guard Changluo, ensuring that no accident befalls the Changluo Cavern. I, Marquis Wu’an Jiang Wang, have come ahead on behalf of Qi Country to support Saint Water. I wonder who is in charge here?"

The burly man who had spoken earlier stepped out from the crowd and offered a bow first: "I am Yu Xiaochen of the Blood River Sect, temporarily responsible for receiving aid from all sides."

Speaking of it, this Sect from which the Heart-devouring Demon Xiong Wen originated was one Jiang Wang was visiting for the first time.

Back then, the bizarre methods of the Heart-Devouring Demon had left him with no small shadow. Xiong Wen could be counted as the first Transcendent Cultivator to force him to the edge of life and death, and from then on began his "karmic tie" with Human Demons.

Just as he was about to exchange a few words with this Yu Xiaochen, Si Yu’an had already stepped forward behind him and directly asked: "Where is True Monarch Xuehe?"

If a Yan Dao Expert does not wish to be seen, then there is no possibility of seeing them.

Only when Si Yu’an came out at this time did Yu Xiaochen finally notice him.

Clearly he recognized this great figure of the Southern Territory, and hurriedly bowed: "To report to True Monarch Si, my Sect Master has already entered Saint Water."

Si Yu’an gave him a glance and immediately saw through his background: "You are a Disciple of Peng Chongjian?"

Left Protector Peng Chongjian of the Blood River Sect was the renowned Moving-Mountain True Man. Moving-Mountain Divine Power was one of the more common Divine Skills; throughout history, many experts had become famous by relying on it. Even among the Sea Clan now, there were experts who took Moving-Mountain Divine Power as their signature. But since ancient times, across all races, among those who developed the Moving-Mountain Divine Power, not one person’s attainments could match Peng Chongjian’s.

He could be called the First Under Heaven in Moving Mountains.

Yu Xiaochen replied respectfully: "The Moving-Mountain True Man is indeed my master... Are you going to enter Saint Water? I will lead the way for you."

"No need. I will enter Saint Water together with Marquis Wu’an of Qi Country; I am merely informing you here." Si Yu’an flicked his wide sleeve lightly, and then disappeared from this place with Jiang Wang.

From Tianmu Mountain to Bitter Sea Cliff, he could certainly have brought Jiang Wang to descend directly upon Saint Water. But he still had to make a stop in front of the Blood River Sect’s Mountain Gate; this was respect due to the Blood River Sect.

Because the Blood River Sect itself was the portal of Saint Water.

To pass through another’s dwelling, there is no reason not to call out a greeting.

...

Crash—! 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The roar of the tide howled.

When Jiang Wang’s mind cleared, he had already appeared with Si Yu’an in midair above a stretch of water.

Complex emotions poured in from all directions, endless negative perceptions attempting to taint his Spirit.

Jiang Wang thus understood that he had arrived at the legendary Saint Water. Si Yu’an had brought him, directly piercing through the portal, skipping the tedious procedures for entering Saint Water.

The sky was a black cloud formed from gathered negative emotions; every wisp of mist and cloud contained enough negativity to drive an Inner Mansion cultivator with a firm Taoist Heart into madness.

If you threw an Outer Tower Cultivator with a firm Tao Path into these "black clouds," they probably could not hold out for even a quarter of an hour.

But the Saint Water beneath his feet was somewhat different from what he had seen before.

Extreme hatred, irreconcilable resentment, Eternal jealousy... all the negative of the world converged here.

Saint Water ought to be extremely complex, fundamentally impossible to describe with any specific color. Yet the Saint Water here possessed a concrete hue—it was clearly visible, dark red like blood.

"This Saint Water..." Jiang Wang murmured.

Si Yu’an’s gaze was clear and bright as he surveyed all around, and he casually asked: "What is it?"

"Different from what I’ve seen." Jiang Wangdao.

"It shouldn’t be red, should it?" Si Yu’an said, "The Blood River Sect has a sect precept—’The crimson of Saint Water is the blood of our Human Race.’

When I put it that way, can you understand?"

Jiang Wang fell silent for a moment.

He had always felt that the name "Blood River" was somewhat sinister. Coupled with the preconceived impression brought by Xiong Wen, as well as the Blood River Sect’s unique Dao Techniques whose manifestations were rather vicious—such as ’Soul-Eating Blood Flame,’ ’Cuckoo Weeping Blood,’ and the like—though he knew the Blood River Sect was a Major Sect that guarded Saint Water, his impression had not been particularly good.

Only today did he learn why the Blood River Sect was called the ’Blood River Sect’!

Only now did he know the heavy weight carried by the two words "Blood River."

"Fifty-four thousand years ago, there was a great expert who united the strengths of Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism, and created a Sect at Bitter Sea Cliff, leaving behind a legacy. Three hundred years later, Saint Water was thrown into turmoil. This person stepped forward alone, single-handedly suppressing Saint Water, battling for one hundred and three days, and died of exhaustion. After death, all the essence blood of his body transformed into a Blood River, forever interposed before Saint Water."

"That expert’s original name is no longer known. The Sect he founded also changed its name thereafter to the Blood River Sect; its former name is remembered by no one... The Sect Masters of the Blood River Sect throughout the ages have all borne the title of True Monarch Xuehe, precisely to commemorate this great expert."

"Generation after generation of Blood River Sect Cultivators have advanced bravely, irrigating it with fresh blood. This Blood River gradually became the Boundary River that blocks Saint Water. Many of the Blood River Sect’s later Dao Techniques also originated from this Blood River."

Si Yu’an said: "The water region you see is precisely the Blood River. Strictly speaking, it still belongs to Saint Water, but its essence has already been altered to a certain degree. It is the first line of defense that blocks Saint Water."

He turned around and pointed, indicating a suspended gate of light in the distant firmament: "That is the Door of Mortal World, the third line of defense that blocks Saint Water. We just emerged from there."

Although he had arrived at Saint Water in a daze and had not been able to feel the process of passing through the Door of Mortal World, he supposed its nature should be similar to that of The gate of all demons.

"Then what is the second line of defense?" Jiang Wang asked.

Si Yu’an did not speak; he only patted the grass sword at his waist, then looked at him.