Chapter 54: The Crimson Coast
Bai Yuan did not refute the claim—for it was the undeniable truth.
There existed a chasm that could not be bridged merely by effort; only a fundamental transformation could narrow the gap. Mo, Wen Star Ru, and those other chosen prodigies among the Ten Seals were the pinnacle of talent within their respective sects and factions. In a duel, they could easily suppress any mutated creature from Blue Star, let alone someone like Wang Jie.
Wang Jie mused, “Is there a chance that Armor One Sect is using these mutated creatures to buy time? Could they be waiting for reinforcements?”
Chu Yao pondered for a moment before nodding. “It’s possible, but unlikely. To me, it seems more like they want Blue Star and Shu Mu Night to perish together. If they themselves cannot build the bridge, then they will ensure Shu Mu Night cannot either.”
“Is that even possible?” Wang Jie asked, surprised.
Chu Yao chuckled. “As long as they can create a creature of truly monstrous proportions, something akin to a Whale Devourer, an entity that absorbs and explodes with a surge of Seal Power, then Blue Star will be annihilated. The impact would rival a Star-Breaking Realm attack. That alone would suffice.”
Ultimately, Blue Star was still doomed.
Bai Yuan left, ever vigilant, ensuring no Ten-Seal Beasts emerged outside the base.
It had been twenty days since the battle with Shu Mu Night.
Wang Jie resumed his calisthenics routine.
This time, it had been fifteen days since the last session—a considerable interval. Yet, during this round, his strength had increased to eighty-two times its original power. Previously, his last session had been for healing purposes, with no improvement in strength.
Yet now, his power had surged from seventy-seven times to eighty-two times—a leap that seemingly compensated for the previous stagnation.
Was this even possible?
Could it be related to the wrist guards or his previous grave injuries? This time, he distinctly felt a surge of warmth flowing through him, circulating through every fiber of his being.
Still, it was not enough. He had to continue.
Every day, Bai Yuan reported on the conditions of the Three Great Bases to Wang Jie.
The news was grim—the Southern Nation Base had been left to the mercy of Shu Mu Night. He had chosen its coastline as the foundation for his Bridge-Building Ritual, abandoning most of the land-dwelling creatures in favor of the oceanic and human populations.
On the second day after Wang Jie’s training, Shu Mu Night began building his bridge.
With a single slash of his blade, he split the sea apart, the depths revealed for all to see. A gargantuan mutated whale was cleaved in two, its remains becoming the foundation of his sacrificial altar. The creature’s blood coursed through the ocean, staining the waters as he embedded over a dozen Heaven Stones into the altar, drawing innumerable mutated marine beasts toward him.
From the sky, it would appear as though every living entity in the Blue Star Oceans was converging upon Shu Mu Night.
Even the land-dwelling creatures followed suit, for he possessed the greatest concentration of Heaven Stones—precious stones known to Trial Participants as Slaughter Stones, which released Seal Power, allowing creatures of Blue Star to evolve and cultivate.
For ten years since the apocalypse began, all major bases had studied Heaven Stones, but to no avail. Worse yet, their mere presence attracted an overwhelming tide of mutated beasts, forcing humans to discard them in remote regions.
Now, Shu Mu Night was using over a dozen such stones to lure creatures en masse.
He was driving the stakes into place.
Inside a secluded courtyard, Wang Jie silently watched the images projected onto the wall—footage captured by drones hovering over the Southern Nation Base’s coastline.
An unending tide of creatures gathered, bypassing the Southern Nation Base, surging toward Shu Mu Night.
The ocean, the land, the sky, and even the depths of the earth—all teemed with monsters converging toward him.
Just as he had done in Mountain City, Shu Mu Night stood alone, blade in hand, relying purely on brute force to carve through the masses.
For nine days, he slaughtered.
Nine days of carnage, and the altar had risen to a staggering nine hundred meters—far surpassing the Mountain City Altar.
For nine days, the slaughter painted the coastline’s sky in a permanent crimson hue, shrouding the sun itself. The ocean was dyed red, corpses floating endlessly upon the waves, so dense that no one could see the water beneath.
Amidst the blood-stained waters, Shu Mu Night stood tall, his blade gleaming, its edge flickering with an icy light.
Within the Southern Nation Base, despair spread like wildfire. The people gazed up at the blood-drenched sky, knowing their fate was no different from the beasts that had perished before them.
Even the wind, blowing from the south, carried the crimson taint of blood across all of Hua Xia.
Mutated creatures throughout the land trembled in fear.
Step by step, Shu Mu Night ascended to the highest point of the altar, gazing upon the earth below. Then, turning his gaze northward, he locked eyes with the Southern Nation Base. Raising his blade, he issued a decree:
“The last hundred meters—I will complete it with humans.”
These words, carried through the drones’ transmission, reverberated across the land.
The moment his deep, chilling gaze pierced through the screen, countless individuals broke down into sheer madness, their sanity shattering. Some screamed, others fell to their knees, unable to stand.
His was the gaze of a man-eating demon.
A gaze that fell upon the Southern Nation Base.
A gaze that fell upon all of Hua Xia’s people.
A gaze that fell upon Armor One Sect.
The disciples of Armor One Sect turned pale. They had all undergone trials, each having killed before. But standing before Shu Mu Night, it felt as though the world itself had been stained with blood. A terror beyond reason gripped their hearts.
An unsolvable nightmare.
The moment Shu Mu Night arrived on Blue Star, the world’s fate had been sealed. Bridge-Building had doomed Blue Star.
No one could save it.
Wen Star Ru and the others lowered their heads in silence, their bodies devoid of strength.
Just as Shu Mu Night was about to execute his judgment upon the Southern Nation Base, a lone aircraft descended upon the coast.
Shu Mu Night narrowed his eyes—someone dared to approach him at this moment?
The one who emerged was Bai Yuan.
Alone.
With great interest, Shu Mu Night observed him. To stand before this overwhelming sea of blood and still dare approach—such boldness was commendable.
Bai Yuan walked to the base of the altar, lifted his head to the sky, and met Shu Mu Night’s penetrating gaze. Then, he spoke:
“I wish to know… If our people were to willingly bury themselves within the altar, would that benefit your Bridge-Building Ritual even further?”
At those words, Shu Mu Night’s expression flickered with surprise.
Even the disciples of Armor One Sect were dumbfounded.
What did he mean by that?
Shu Mu Night’s voice carried across the blood-drenched winds.
“What… are you trying to say?”
Bai Yuan locked eyes with Shu Mu Night, their gazes meeting across the thick stench of blood that filled the air. His tone was solemn. “I will have my people step onto the Flesh and Blood Altar willingly. I will personally ensure that the final hundred meters are completed for you.”
Shu Mu Night’s lips curled into a cold, detached smile, void of any warmth or emotion. “Do you realize that once the altar is completed, Blue Star will be destroyed?”
Bai Yuan nodded, his expression unwavering. “Of course, I know.”
“And you still agree to this?”
“Absolutely,” Bai Yuan affirmed. “So long as you allow it. I will summon them.”
From Armor One Sect, Wen Si Yuan took a step forward, his eyes heavy with contemplation. This was a dire development. He had no concern for the fate of Blue Star’s people, but if they were truly willing to sacrifice themselves to complete the altar, it could aid Shu Mu Night in mastering the Bridging Technique.
No, they could not allow Shu Mu Night to succeed. If Blue Star perished, then no one should be able to build the bridge. This was merely Bai Yuan stalling for time, attempting to buy one last chance for Wang Jie.
Indeed, Bai Yuan was delaying.
And Shu Mu Night saw through it as well.
Whatever Wen Si Yuan perceived, Shu Mu Night understood it just the same. Yet, he agreed. “Native,” he said, amusement flickering in his gaze. “I admire your courage. If you wish to stall, I will allow it. But do not push your limits, or I will use the base itself to complete the altar.”
Bai Yuan exhaled lightly, relief flickering across his face. “Rest assured. The three great bases—Upper Capital City, Golden Hill, and Southern Nation—will send their people. They will arrive at a natural pace.”
Shu Mu Night nodded, then pointed at the ground beneath them. “Then, to prove your sincerity… you will be the first.”
Bai Yuan’s pupils constricted.
In the Southern Nation Base, Lian Qin and the others were equally stunned.
The live feed broadcasted the moment to Golden Hill and Upper Capital City alike. Across the entire planet, millions watched Bai Yuan. None could comprehend why he had chosen to send people willingly to the altar. And now, he himself was to be the first offering.
Bai Xiao’s face drained of color. “Father…”
Wang Jie clenched his fists tightly.
Behind him stood Older Sister Tang, who had come to deliver some final words.
Along the coastline, Shu Mu Night watched with great interest. This man who now represented all of Blue Star—would he truly be willing to die?
Bai Yuan turned toward the pilot of the aircraft hovering nearby and waved him away. It was a silent farewell.
Then, with calm composure, he straightened his clothes and strode toward the altar.
Step by step, he climbed higher, scaling the mountain of corpses and rivers of blood, until he stood face to face with Shu Mu Night. Without hesitation, he pulled a Mutated Beast Claw from the pile at his feet and aimed it at his own skull.
All eyes were fixed on him.
At the critical moment, Shu Mu Night stopped him.
“I did not say you could die yet.”
Bai Yuan frowned, confused, looking up at Shu Mu Night.
Raising a single hand, Shu Mu Night sent an immense force crashing down, pressing Bai Yuan flat against the pile of reeking mutated corpses. Their still-warm blood seeped into his clothes, staining him completely.
He remained pinned to the altar as Shu Mu Night gazed icily at the drone camera. “Bring them forth,” he commanded. “The last hundred meters must all be filled by people.”
In the Upper Capital City Base, within a quiet courtyard, the screen abruptly went dark.
Four Eyes and Liu Ying returned inside without a word.
Chu Yao whistled. “People are actually willing to sacrifice themselves for this? I’ve never seen a Bridging attempt with volunteers before. Does it truly make a difference whether the sacrifices are willing or not? That might be worth investigating.”
Wang Jie spoke, his voice level. “Where is Zuo Tian?”
Older Sister Tang’s voice was hoarse. She had yet to recover from what she had just witnessed. “I don’t know.”
“This was his idea, wasn’t it?” Wang Jie said.
Older Sister Tang did not deny it. “This was the only way to buy time. Otherwise, the hundreds of thousands in Southern Nation Base would already be dead, the last hundred meters completed, and Blue Star gone. Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after. But we would be finished.”
Wang Jie remained silent.
Yes. This was the most desperate yet effective method.
How else could they delay? Even if he stood before Shu Mu Night himself, he could not convince him to wait another month, let alone longer.
This ruthless but precise tactic was eerily similar to what Zuo Tian had done when he burned those orphans alive.
There was no doubt now. Zuo Tian still lived.
But now was not the time to dwell on him.
Older Sister Tang stepped closer, meeting Wang Jie’s eyes with unwavering intensity. “Wang Jie,” she asked, “can we trust you?”
Their gazes locked.
“Since days ago, people from Golden Hill and Upper Capital City have willingly stepped onto the altar. They did it for their parents. For their children. And to buy you one last chance.”
“So answer me, Wang Jie.”
“Can we trust you?”
Her voice trembled with emotion, her fingernails digging into her palms so hard that drops of blood fell to the ground.
That faint scent of blood, carried by the wind from the coastline, seemed to drift right to Wang Jie.
He met her gaze and, after a long silence, spoke slowly. “No.”
Older Sister Tang’s body stiffened, her face turning pale.
“But,” Wang Jie continued, “I will die before any of you do.”
Older Sister Tang laughed, a bitter and sorrowful sound. “Good,” she murmured. “That is enough.” Then, she turned and left.
Chu Yao sighed. “What a moving moment. Pity, though. Blue Star is doomed regardless. It’s better that you didn’t give her false hope.”
“When the time comes, I’ll take you and that girl away. We can always get revenge later.”
Wang Jie said nothing. He lifted his eyes and gazed at the Qi.
That night, he saw it.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation