Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 721: The Return of the Blood God

While Zhao Changhe might be able to impersonate Snow Owl to deceive novices, but when facing a true master, such disguise was useless. His Vicious Blood Art was as conspicuous as a firefly in the dark—he might as well pretend to be Xue Canghai instead.

So, when he set out to find the “Lich King,” Zhao Changhe discarded his disguise. Better not expose this “Snow Owl” identity—it might come in handy later.

The “Lich King” was not called Ner’zhul[1] or Arthas Menethil[2]; his name was Underworld Guide, a name Zhao Changhe had heard from his “subordinates” before. This was why Zhao Changhe had been able to realize what was happening before Sisi or the Thief Saint did—just hearing the name made things clear. And as he had expected, coming here was the right choice.

Though Underworld Guide was a so-called “Lich King,” his appearance was far more human than that of Desolate Calamity and the other desiccated corpses that had managed to survive from the previous era. He already had flesh, albeit a bit pale, indicating that Underworld Guide’s recovery might be the furthest along of any ancient demon god Zhao had encountered. He was nearly entirely at the Profound Control Realm, far surpassing Desolate Calamity and the others in terms of strength!

Thankfully, Zhao Changhe found him in time. If Underworld Guide had been able to exploit the chaos and unearth the corpses of the top-tier experts of the Ancient Spirit Tribe buried even deeper within the burial ground, the situation would have been far worse...

The skeletons rising now were not the most powerful; they were still of a level that could be stopped!

Zhao Changhe’s broad saber clashed with Underworld Guide’s white banner. From the single exchange, Zhao Changhe was immediately able to discern that the other party was not one that specialized in brute force, struggling to take the force of Dragon Bird and being forced to drift backward like a ghost.

Zhao Changhe believed his strike was powerful enough, yet his opponent seemed just intrigued.

“Eh...?” Underworld Guide murmured, his tone curious. “Lie...”

Zhao Changhe’s heart skipped a beat. He actually knows Lie! To the people of this era, Zhao Changhe’s saber art appeared to be his own, but in the eyes of those of the previous era, it would indeed be fairly easy to see its connections with that of Lie.

Zhao Changhe had no time to dwell on the thought, however, as he sent out two more strikes, deliberately avoiding using his newly-developed Milky Way Saber Art. Instead, he opted to use Hell on Earth. Underworld Guide dodged swiftly, surrounded by shadows as he did.

“Bloodied Mountain and Rivers!”

“Good, good, good... Hell on Earth, Bloodied Mountains and Rivers... the ultimate techniques of the Blood Asura Body...” Underworld Guide deflected each strike, his eyes gleaming with pleasant surprise. “Your No Man’s Land has already become one with your will, imbued within every single one of your moves, and the same is true for your Scattering the Gods and Buddhas... Every single one of your slashes incites fear, every slash unsettles blood qi, every slash draws vicious qi and muddles the mind... This is your saber art, the might of a single slash carrying the styles of three simultaneously. Victory to be achieved in several moves. Relentless, unstoppable...”

Despite taking the time to compose his flowery praise, Underworld Guide’s moves remained calm and composed. It truly seemed as though he was admiring an exquisite piece of art rather than engaged in a dangerous battle.

Zhao Changhe’s eyes narrowed. He had considered using his sword, but changed his mind, continuing to use only his saber. He incorporated elements from the Sword of Primal Slaughter and the Underworld River Surges, no longer solely using the Vicious Blood Saber Art.

“Hmm... Something’s off... Why are you only using those four moves? Why only up to Bloodied Mountain and Rivers? And what is this other stuff... The Sword Emperor’s moves? Something from his early years? How pointless and gaudy. What are you doing? A northern saber art? A desert intent? Spirit fox intent...? Are you playing around?” Underworld Guide’s voice grew angry. “Your Vicious Blood Saber Art... Why are you only using the moves until the first layer of the Profound Mysteries? Where are the other techniques, the final form?”

“...” Zhao Changhe could not help but feel a small sense of yearning.

The journey Zhao Changhe once embarked on, tracing in the footsteps of Lie to explore the progression of the Vicious Blood Art, was an intriguing one. If it were written as a book, it would read like a classic cultivation story—each step clear and purposeful, a textbook progression of power.

But Lie, for all his greatness as a hero, was also undeniably a demon. From his very first saber move, he rebelled against and raged at the “Gods and Buddhas.” With every subsequent slash, he carved out his own heaven and earth, constructed his hell, and painted it in blood. Each strike was drenched in slaughter and violence. Initially, this resonated with Zhao Changhe, matching his defiance and irreverence as he emerged from the mountain stronghold to face powerful foes—an ethos of being “beyond law and heaven.”

Yet that path was not one Zhao Changhe could continue to follow.

Since deciding to abandon Lie’s path and seek his own, Zhao Changhe’s journey had become less defined. He experimented here and there, lacking a clear direction. It was not until Vermillion Bird suggested pursuing the image of the Milky Way before his departure from the capital that he began to explore this new path.

Zhao Changhe still knew the latter contents of Lie’s saber art but chose not to practice them. He could use them if he wanted to, but their essence no longer aligned with his own.

Take, for example, the two moves following Bloodied Mountains and Rivers. The next was named “Annihilation of All Life,” and following that was “Shattering Heaven and Earth.”

Just hearing the names was enough—they were basically apocalyptic. How could he pursue and embrace that kind of intent? It would be absurd for him.

There was, however, something intriguing about the so-called final form, though incomplete even in Lie’s hands. Lie had to rely on an array engraved into an array plate for assistance. This final form, the final ultimate technique, was named Restarting Creation.

The move carried the implication that an entire era had been cleaved into existence by Lie’s blade. While Zhao Changhe knew this was not literally true, it certainly reflected Lie’s boundless ambition. In that sense, Zhao Changhe could appreciate the concept.

Zhao Changhe had a good sense of why Underworld Guide was so obsessed with his saber art. Testing the waters, he said, “I’ve never received Lie’s complete legacy, so naturally, I’m unfamiliar with the later ultimate techniques of his saber art. But since you seem so familiar with them, why not suppress my low-level moves with the so-called higher-level ones? Surely someone of your stature wouldn’t mind letting me witness the true might of an ancient blood demon.”

“Tsk... an incomplete inheritance...” Underworld Guide tutted, his tone filled with both regret and satisfaction. “Perhaps it’s for the best. If the inheritance were too complete, even I wouldn’t be your match now. The power of Lie’s Annihilation of All Life—tsk, tsk...”

Parrying another strike from Zhao Changhe, Underworld Guide smirked and asked, “Do you know the connection between the Spirit Tribe and Lie?”

“Lie’s birthplace.”

“Correct. He was a slave of the Spirit Tribe and later its traitor. All his ferocity, malevolence, bloodthirst, and essence as a blood demon were born and nurtured here. This is where the blood demon first emerged, and naturally, this is where it shall return.”

Zhao Changhe’s heart pounded, and he saw Underworld Guide’s eyes gleam, and then his mind felt as if it had been struck by a thunderous shock, as though something within him was about to shatter.

Underworld Guide’s laughter echoed in his ears, but it sounded as if it came from another dimension. “Though Lie is dead, his techniques are the key to his return... Originally, when you reached Restarting Creation, he would have come back. But you didn’t reach it. No matter, fate brought you to me, right here, in this very land where Lie’s saber art first came into being. It’s as if fate itself decreed it... Let me lend Lie a hand. The Blood God shall return!”

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From the start, Zhao Changhe had expected this. Ever since Underworld Guide began probing his Vicious Blood Saber Art, he had sensed this outcome. Why else would someone be so fixated on his Vicious Blood Saber Art?

This was a trap embedded in the very foundation of his cultivation—a time bomb he had always known he would have to face.

He had prepared for this moment. He silently activated the Diamond Sutra, attempting to stabilize his spiritual platform and clash the Buddhist essence against the blood demon’s will. At the same time, he feigned ignorance of the subsequent techniques, hoping this might weaken the ritual. Even if Lie’s presence could be invoked, the manifestation would ideally be incomplete—reduced to a level he could handle.

Sure enough, Underworld Guide’s laughter faltered, tinged with doubt. “The Diamond Sutra? Damn...”

Zhao Changhe felt a flicker of relief. If he were to lose himself in the struggle with Lie while Underworld Guide attacked him from the outside, it would be a death sentence. Thankfully, the Diamond Sutra had achieved its first purpose—forcing Underworld Guide to focus all his efforts on sustaining the summoning, leaving him unable to focus on anything else.

I’ll deal with Lie first, and then I’ll deal with you!

It would be great if someone could ambush Underworld Guide right now...

There was no time to think further. Zhao Changhe’s mind plunged deeper into his consciousness, and he found himself standing amidst an endless field of bones, rivers of blood flowing across the land. A burly man strode forward, emerging from the mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

The scene was eerily familiar—like a twisted VR vision—but this time it was not playing out in the Heavenly Tome. It unfolded in the deepest recesses of Zhao Changhe’s own mind.

The vicious blood qi, which had long been fully controlled and wielded without backlash, surged wildly, tearing through his body with brutal force. The pain was excruciating, as though thousands of blades were slicing him apart. His spiritual sea descended into chaos, leaving only rage and slaughter to dominate his soul and spirit. His eyes glowed a deep, blood-red.

This was the same state of vicious blood backlash he had experienced long ago—returning with a vengeance.

The burly man strode closer, his tone furious. “Who dared awaken me prematurely?! This one’s vicious blood intent is far from complete! Huh...?”

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Changhe, who was seemingly doubled over in agony, suddenly snapped his head up. Though his eyes remained blood-red, his expression was crazed and feral, a grin of defiance etched across his face.

“If scattering the Gods and Buddhas is the goal,” Zhao Changhe snarled, “then the first one to scatter will be you!”

Roar!

With a domineering shout, Zhao Changhe unleashed a devastating punch. It was a tidal wave of raw power, splitting the sky and parting the clouds for ten thousand li.

It was Zhao Changhe’s own version of My Fist!

The burly man’s expression shifted slightly, and a hint of respect appeared in his eyes. “Good!”

1. The Lich King of Shadowmoon Valley in the Warcraft series. ☜

2. Another character from the Warcraft series. ☜