As I see the monstrosity rising in the battlefield, I can't believe my eyes. My mouth trembles as I stammer, "W-What is that…?"
Yu Meixian's face turns grave. "That is... a Blood Spirit Deity."
I blink, stunned. "Again… what is a Blood Spirit Deity?!"
Yu Meixian starts to answer, then suddenly pauses, her lips curling into a sly, wicked smile.
"What…? What's with that look?" I ask warily, desperation in my voice.
She tilts her head and replies with a teasing smirk, "Why should I give away my valuable knowledge for free? We made a deal, remember? Advance payment first." Her expression darkens with a perverted glint in her eyes.
I groan in frustration. "You lustful, perverted woman…"
Reluctantly, with a shaking hand and a face full of shame, I take out my brother's male bra and thrust it toward her. "Here! Take this and tell me already!"
She snatches it with gleeful delight, her expression twisted with desire. "Is it the old one or a new one?" she whispers while sniffing it lightly.
I glare at her in disgust. "Just tell me the information or I'll scream out that the Righteous Sword Heroine is right here!"
She coughs dramatically and quickly composes herself. "Fine, fine…"
Her tone becomes serious. "Do you know anything about dokkaebi, spiritual beings, cursed spirits, yokai, mythical beasts, or divine entities?"
"I've heard of them, sure, but they're just legends or fairy tales."
Yu Meixian scoffs. "You greenhorn. They're not just stories. Those beings exist."
I stare at her, wide-eyed. "So... those fantasy monsters are real?"
She nods firmly. "Yes."
"Then what is this Blood Spirit Deity…?"
Yu Meixian glances toward the battlefield and speaks, her tone solemn.
"Long ago, during the mythical era, there was a terrifying cult in the central plains called the Blood Cult. They were powerful… their strength came from sacrificial rituals. By manipulating the energies of heaven and earth and sacrificing thousands of lives, they summoned beings like this—Blood Spirit Deities. But the cult was destroyed. The knowledge of their rituals lost… forbidden… eradicated from the world."
"Then how…?" I ask in disbelief. "How can Blood Moon Sect summon one now?"
Yu narrows her eyes. "They didn't perform the ritual. That would've alerted the entire Murim Alliance. This… this was done using a past relic. Look closely at that massive black talisman in Blood Talisman Eccentric's hands."
I squint. "Yeah, I see it…"
"That's a relic from the mythical era—crafted by the Blood Cult itself. Some sects and clans with 'blood' in their name were originally offshoots or betrayers of the Blood Cult. They were spared and hid many of its artifacts. Blood Moon Sect must've preserved this relic and used it now."
I mutter, still in disbelief, "Even so… this deity was formed from the blood of the fallen. Isn't that just... wrong?"
Yu Meixian's face hardens. "In unorthodox Murim, anything is acceptable—as long as it doesn't involve the Demonic Cult. This is normal for them. As twisted as it sounds, by their standards… this is righteous."
We continue watching.
The Blood Spirit Deity roars with all six of its skeletal, flaming-red arms. One of its claws slams down toward a group of bandits, crushing them like insects. The battlefield trembles under its scream.
Rin swallows hard. "I think… the Bandit Union is finished. How can anyone fight that…?"
Yu Meixian smirks faintly. "Greenhorn. You really think martial artists can't cut through spiritual beings?"
Rin stares. "Is it… possible?"
She nods. "With proper martial art mastery, weapon qi, and martial essence—yes, it's possible."
She points. "Watch her. Watch Blade Tigress."
On the field, one of the Blood Spirit Deity's giant arms swings down like a hammer toward Blade Tigress.
With a roar, she twists and parries the strike with her massive blade. "Fifth form of Dark Steel Blade Technique—Darkness Blade!"
A chilling black aura explodes from her blade. Her weapon's qi merges with that dark essence, growing into the size of a giant war blade.
With a single leap, she launches into the air, bringing the massive black sword down in a wide arc.
SLASH!
The two arms of the Blood Spirit Deity are severed clean off. Its roar shakes the sky, and the fallen limbs instantly liquefy into blood, splattering across the battlefield.
Yu Meixian narrows her eyes. "See that? Her blade qi is dense enough to cut through even spiritual beings."
As the Blood Spirit Deity howls, nearly 10% of Blood Moon Sect's warriors collapse to the ground. Their faces pale and lifeless.
A stream of blood leaks from Blood Talisman Eccentric's mouth, but she clenches her teeth and chants even faster. The formation's glow intensifies.
Then—sickeningly—the Blood Spirit Deity regrows its arms.
"Impossible…" I whisper.
"She's using the formation to channel blood and qi into the deity," Yu Meixian explains grimly.
Blood Talisman Eccentric shouts, "Are the warriors of Blood Moon Sect ready to give their lives for the sect?!"
In unison, the chanting warriors respond: "READY!"
A deeper chant echoes from Blood Talisman Eccentric as another 15% of her warriors collapse. Their souls visibly rise from their bodies—wraith-like wisps of light—funneling toward the deity.
The deity's six flaming eyes glow brighter as its head flame surges. A flaming sword begins to take shape, forged from the very fire that burns in its skull.
With a screech, the Blood Spirit Deity wields the sword.
Blade Tigress snarls and charges again. "Darkness Blade!"
Their weapons collide midair—an earth-shaking BOOM erupts, sending shockwaves across the battlefield. Sand and rock blast out in all directions as the impact creates a massive crater.
When the dust settles, Blade Tigress is pushed back, panting, sweat running down her face.
She clenches her teeth and shouts, "Left Guardian! Right Guardian! To me!"
Two masked women—both Grandmaster-level warriors—step forward. "Yes, Lord."
"Target their formation. That's the source of the summoning!"
"As you command."
They race toward the formation, but the Three Eccentrics intercept.
"To reach the formation," Poison Eccentric sneers, "you'll have to defeat us."
Left Guardian spins her sword. "Very well…"
Meanwhile, a tremendous surge of qi erupts from Blade Tigress's body. She leaps into the sky, her presence immense.
From her soul and martial essence, a colossal, translucent figure begins to take form—a towering 40-foot-tall image resembling Blade Tigress, wielding a spectral blade.
Rin stares, with curious emotion he asked. "W-What is that…?"
Yu Meixian's look surprise. "She's mastered her spirit form… Incredible…"
She explains quickly, "When you merge martial essence and soul with complete mastery of a martial art, you can form a Spirit Form. But it's a gamble—if that form is destroyed, you can lose half of your martial arts, become crippled… or worse die."
We watch, breath held, as Blade Tigress descends in her spectral form, preparing for another colossal clash.