A Compendium of One Hundred Demons: My Path to Immortality in a World of Demons and Monsters

"How many soldiers are left to defend the city?" Xu Yuan asked.

"We have less than six hundred fighters left," Shen Qingyi said in a low voice. "There are too many wounded, and the clinic's medicine reserves are almost empty."

Xu Yuan remained silent.

The Qingyang garrison's strength, morale, and supplies were almost all at their limit, while the Xiongnu were on high alert, brewing cruel witchcraft.

"Young Master Xu, you should rest well." Shen Qingyi stood up. "General Chen is reorganizing the city's defenses, and I need to go help draw talismans. On the day of the blood sacrifice, the Yin energy will surely soar to the sky. I need to set up the 'Mind-Cleansing Array' to at least keep the guards somewhat conscious."

"Wait," Xu Yuan called out to her, "My knife..."

"Here it is." Shen Qingyi nodded slightly and took out a long sword. "The blade is a bit damaged, but I have had the best blacksmith in the city repair it."

Xu Yuan took it, stroking the newly added cracks on the blade, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"Miss Shen, please take me to see General Chen."

"But your injury..."

"It's alright." Xu Yuan rolled out of bed, revealing the aura of the ninth level of Blood Refinement. His eyes were firm. "Time is running out. I need to know the details of the city's defenses."

A hint of surprise flashed in Shen Qingyi's beautiful eyes, but looking at his slightly pale yet incredibly resolute face, she finally nodded.

Half an hour later, on the city tower.

Chen Hanchuan was dressed in blood-stained armor, his face so solemn it was almost dripping with tears.

Upon seeing Xu Yuan, whose aura seemed even more concentrated than before he lost consciousness, he was initially taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes as well. However, this was quickly replaced by a deeper worry, and he strode forward:

"Brother Xu is awake? That's wonderful!" Chen Hanchuan clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice hoarse. "Your injuries..."

"General Chen, I am fine now. The military situation is urgent, and I can't worry about these things now." Xu Yuan waved his hand and looked up at the outside of the city.

In the Xiongnu camp, an altar exuding an evil aura stood up menacingly.

The altar was about three zhang tall, its surface covered with strange grassland runes, and nine black banners were stuck on top, fluttering in the wind.

Guza Shaman sat cross-legged in the center of the altar, his severed arm wrapped in thick bandages. He held his bone staff in one hand, and various strange ritual implements were placed in front of him. He was chanting incantations in front of a huge bronze cauldron.

Inside the bronze cauldron, dark red liquid churned, emitting a nauseating, bloody stench.

Xu Yuan's Yin Qi Perception clearly distinguished that it contained human blood!

Standing beneath the altar, Tuotuo Buhua looked at the pale face of the shaman Guza and couldn't help but remind him, "Shaman, the blood sacrifice technique is extremely taxing. Your injuries haven't healed yet, perhaps...?"

"Shut up!" The shaman Guza interrupted him mercilessly, his eyes flashing with a crazed light. "The grudge of losing an arm must be avenged in blood. Siege the city for three days. I will instill despair in the city's defenders and instill nightmares in the hearts of the people. When their fear reaches its peak, that will be the perfect time for the blood sacrifice!"

He coldly surveyed Qingyang County, a cruel smile spreading across his lips: "I will sacrifice all the lives of this city to summon the Eternal Heaven. At that time, not only will this small Qingyang County be reduced to dust, but even if reinforcements from Cangzhou Prefecture arrive, they will be reduced to ashes under the divine might of the Eternal Heaven!"

Tuotuo Buhua felt a chill in his heart. Changshengtian was the grassland god worshipped by the Xiongnu tribe. Legend has it that when blood sacrifice reaches a certain scale, the phantom of the god can be summoned, possessing the power to destroy cities and countries.

However, this technique is too cruel and goes against the natural order. No one would use it unless absolutely necessary. Unexpectedly, the ancient shaman Guza has gone mad by losing his arm and is now willing to use this forbidden technique at all costs.

While feeling terrified, Tuotuo Buhua couldn't help but think of the Blood Refining Realm youth who had driven them to this predicament step by step.

This is the first time the Xiongnu army has suffered a defeat since they marched south!

"Boy, dying under the divine might of the Eternal Heaven is an honor for you..."

Meanwhile, atop the city gate tower of Qingyang County.

Chen Hanchuan is recounting to Xu Yuan what happened during his coma:

"The scouts risked their lives to bring back news that the altar in the Xiongnu camp has been built in three tiers, constructed with animal bones and human skulls, its bloodthirsty aura reaching the heavens. And that shaman... has begun the human sacrifice!"

"A human sacrifice?" Shen Qingyi's face turned pale.

"This afternoon, they brutally murdered more than twenty border soldiers who had been captured earlier, using their heart's blood to water the altar." General Chen clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "Although the black-robed shaman was still weak, the more the blood light on the altar intensified, the more frenzied the eyes of the besieging Xiongnu soldiers became. Their morale rose instead of falling, exuding an evil aura."

Xu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly as he sensed the immense power of the Blood Refinement Ninth Level within his body. He asked in a deep voice, "What will happen after the blood sacrifice is complete?"

Shen Qingyi, her face pale, continued, "According to fragments of ancient texts, a blood sacrifice of this scale, if targeting all living beings in the city, could, once completed, incite the wrath of heaven… At that time, the city walls might collapse on their own, the defending troops might go mad, and even… a large-scale demonic transformation might occur!"

The entire city is transformed by demons!

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere inside the city gate instantly plummeted to freezing point.

"A message has arrived from the prefectural city that reinforcements are on their way, but they won't arrive for at least five days." General Chen took a deep breath. "In other words, we must endure at least two days... no, two and a half days of the blood sacrifice power's attack before we can possibly wait for reinforcements."

Five days later, and the blood sacrifice that will definitely be completed within three days, the gap of nearly two days is undoubtedly the distance between life and death, and it is also the dead end that the ancient shaman has calculated.

"The altar is the key!" Xu Yuan's gaze sharpened. "If we can destroy the altar, or kill the black-robed shaman presiding over the blood sacrifice..."

"It's as difficult as climbing to heaven." Chen Hanchuan shook his head bitterly. "The altar is located in the very heart of the Xiongnu camp, guarded by the most elite Xiongnu wolf guards led by Tuotuo Buhua. After last night's lesson, the enemy's defenses must be extremely tight."

"Moreover, although the black-robed shaman is injured, his strength is likely amplified within the altar's area. A forced attack would be certain death!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan also fell silent, knowing full well that what the other party said was true.

At the ninth level of Blood Refinement, he was already a fierce general on the battlefield, but facing thousands of Xiongnu cavalry who were already in full battle array, Tuotuo Buhua, who was in the mid-stage of Qi Condensation, and the unpredictable Guza Shaman, a head-on charge would be tantamount to suicide, and it was absolutely impossible to replicate last night's assassination.

Xu Yuan pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Perhaps... there is still a chance."

Everyone looked at him.

Xu Yuan did not explain, but simply looked out of the city.

In the [Yin Qi Perception], the evil aura emanating from the altar of the Xiongnu camp is gradually gathering and rising.

Xu Yuan knew that once the blood sacrifice of the Guza shaman was completed, all living beings in the entire Qingyang County would become sacrifices, with no chance of survival.

He must improve his strength and find a way to break the deadlock before that happens.

Xu Yuan's reliance, besides the Hundred Ghosts Picture in his mind, also includes... that mysterious black iron piece!

The reaction of the Guza shaman when he noticed the black iron pieces when he entered the city last night speaks volumes.

Funerary objects? What exactly are those?

The old ghost with golden eyes had recognized him before, but after transforming into a ghost, he lost that memory.

Xu Yuan gripped the black iron piece in his arms, the icy touch traveling through his palm.

Perhaps... the solution lies within this!