novelraw Chapter 974: Invited By The Patriarch
Chapter 974: Invited By The Patriarch
Han Yu left the pavilion a few hours later with a faint sense of relief.
The dramatic version had only carried him so far.
Lady Rot Rose had eventually forced him to sit properly and give a detailed account without the embellishments. Once he had done that, the atmosphere had changed entirely.
The moment he showed the recordings of the ritual circle and explained the existence of the Eternal Smiling Ancestor, the amusement disappeared from her face.
Han Yu still remembered that look.
Lady Rot Rose had gone completely still.
Her fingers stopped moving.
Even the smoke from her pipe seemed to linger motionlessly in the air.
She had listened to every word after that without interruption.
The ancient deity.
The longevity rituals.
The hidden worship.
The Frost Bat.
The attempted revival.
The massive ritual circle spanning the region.
By the time Han Yu finished, the woman who usually carried herself with playful confidence had become entirely serious.
"I never expected something like this to be hidden within the Blood Continent..." she had muttered quietly.
Han Yu had nodded.
"Neither did I."
The matter had clearly surpassed her authority.
In the end she simply exhaled softly and looked toward the distant sky.
"I will report this to the Patriarch."
Han Yu had no objections.
"That’s fine." He had stood up then. "You can tell me later what happens. For now I have mountains of work waiting."
Lady Rot Rose had smiled faintly hearing that.
Though before leaving Han Yu had stopped.
"Actually..." he had coughed lightly. "I think this mission deserves hazard pay."
She had stared at him.
Han Yu remained perfectly serious.
"That mission almost killed me several times."
Lady Rot Rose laughed.
"I’ll think of something."
Only then had Han Yu finally left.
The next month passed smoothly.
Or as smoothly as life in the Blood Sect could ever be.
Han Yu buried himself back into routine.
Jiangshi production.
Maintenance contracts.
Cultivation.
Research.
Paperwork.
Meetings.
Peak management.
He had genuinely forgotten how much work had piled onto his shoulders over the years. The reduction in sales helped greatly though. Complaints still arrived exactly as expected but Meng Jueyan’s prepared notices dealt with most of them.
Some disciples grumbled.
Others protested.
A few tried bribing attendants.
Han Yu ignored them all.
At the same time he continued cultivating. The breakthrough in Soul Cultivation had changed him significantly. His soul had become fully corporeal now. T
he difference was obvious.
His perception had sharpened.
Memory Echo became easier and stronger, along with all of his Soul Skills. Even his control over the Eight Emotions Lotus improved. And Han Yu could tell there was more things about his new Soul Cultivation Stage that he had not uncovered yet.
Though he kept all of it hidden.
The greatest changes however happened outside the sect.
Qing Luan and Madam Cold Fang had already met.
Han Yu only intended for coordination.
What he did not expect was for the two women to apparently get along absurdly well. When he spoke with Qing Luan through their communication tools she sounded unusually enthusiastic.
"Lady Cold Fang is amazing."
Han Yu blinked.
"You already call her that?"
"She’s very knowledgeable."
Han Yu frowned.
That happened quickly.
When he later contacted Madam Cold Fang expecting the usual cold attitude, he instead heard something unexpected.
"Qing Luan is competent."
Han Yu nearly dropped the communication tool.
Competent.
That was basically praise from her.
He leaned back wondering if this was Qing Luan’s terrifying social ability or if Madam Cold Fang simply reserved all her coldness exclusively for him.
Either way things were progressing well.
Then the month ended.
And trouble arrived.
The summons came directly from the sect elders.
Han Yu opened the scroll slowly.
Summoned to the Grand Hall.
Attendance mandatory.
Patriarch present.
Multiple elders gathering.
Han Yu narrowed his eyes.
That alone already spoke volumes. A gathering of this level was not common. He immediately thought about the mission.
Lady Rot Rose had clearly reported it and the Patriarch had probably become involved.
Han Yu could only hope this was not something dangerous.
Still, refusing was impossible.
He changed robes and departed.
His destination was the Heart Peak.
The true center of the sect.
The seat of power.
The place where Patriarch Hong Tianyue resided.
Even after becoming a Legacy Disciple, Han Yu never stopped feeling impressed whenever he came here.
The entire peak towered over the others.
Above it hung the Bleeding Moon.
Closer than anywhere else.
Its crimson light washed over the peak endlessly.
Blood Qi filled the air.
Dense.
Heavy.
Almost tangible.
Clouds of crimson mist drifted around the mountain slopes.
Cultivating here would probably advance ordinary disciples rapidly.
Even Han Yu could feel his techniques stirring faintly.
The Grand Palace sat atop the peak.
Ancient.
Vast.
Built from dark crimson stone.
Massive pillars rose toward the sky while countless arrays pulsed beneath its foundations. Han Yu knew there were terrifying protections hidden here. Enough to suppress entire peaks if needed.
He entered without delay.
Disciples bowed as he passed.
Guards moved aside.
Soon he arrived before the Grand Hall.
The doors stood open.
Han Yu stepped inside and immediately understood why this matter felt serious.
Patriarch Hong Tianyue sat at the center.
His presence alone dominated the hall.
He wore dark robes embroidered with blood moons and his expression remained unreadable.
Several High Elders sat nearby.
Han Yu recognized many of them.
Mission Department elders.
Administration elders.
Combat elders.
Then his eyes moved further.
His master was present.
The Second Kidney Peak Head sat calmly among them.
Several other Peak Heads were here too.
Even older figures Han Yu rarely ever saw appeared.
The atmosphere was heavy.
No one spoke casually.
The moment Han Yu entered many gazes landed on him.
Some curious.
Some measuring.
Some thoughtful.
Han Yu greeted them respectfully.
"This disciple Ju Fan greets the Patriarch and elders."
Patriarch Hong Tianyue looked at him quietly.
"Rise."
Han Yu stood.
Then he noticed something.
Lady Rot Rose was present too.