Chapter 74: Secrifice

Kane's body began to boil, his skin bursting open like overripe fruit. Guts spilled out, tangled in a mess of pulsing organs. Bones cracked and splintered, his skeleton rearranging itself in ways that defied human anatomy.

Flesh melted like wax, revealing muscle and sinew beneath. His face stretched into a macabre grin, eyes bulging from their sockets like ripe grapes. The cauldron's liquid churned with an otherworldly energy, as if feeding off Kane's agony.

Kane's screams were drowned out by the sound of his own body tearing apart. His mind shattered, consciousness fragmented like broken glass. The System's voice remained calm, "Host, your body is being remade."

Kane's body continued to mutate, flesh flowing like molten lava. Organs merged and twisted, forming grotesque, inhuman structures. Bones elongated, twisting into impossible shapes. His skin regrew, only to tear apart again, revealing the horror beneath.

As Kane's consciousness faded, he glimpsed a radiant stone hovering before him. His mind reeled, "What is that? No, how is that possible? It's a Soul Stone...and it's flying? That means it has its own will...then if it..."

Kane's thoughts trailed off as the stone plunged into the cauldron, merging with the crimson liquid. The mixture churned, releasing a maelstrom of energy. Kane's body began to feel a strange, creeping sensation, as if his skin was being enveloped by an unseen force.

The cauldron shattered, its contents spilling everywhere. The red liquid engulfed Kane's body, covering him in a thick, slimy substance. He felt his mind slipping away, his thoughts growing cloudy and disjointed.

As he fell into unconsciousness, Kane's mind thought, "What's happening to me? What's this substance... Ahhh!"

Meanwhile Lei Bai was leading his men towards the sect, his mind consumed by thoughts of Zhao Min. He had been searching for her for years, and finally, he had received a tip about her whereabouts.

As he climbed the mountain, he noticed that the sect was hidden from view, but he could sense its presence. He grinned to himself, eager to finally find Zhao Min.

After four days of traveling, they had lost 72 men to those bat-winged monsters, but Lei Bai remained focused on his goal.

And then, he saw the small building at the top of the mountain. He began to walk towards it, his men following closely behind.

As Lei Bai went to the sect's entrance and fist knocked on the sect's door, and a disciple opened it, only to face Lei Bai's cold gaze.

"Where is Zhao Min?" Lei Bai asked, his voice low and menacing.

The disciple trembled, "There is no disciple by that name in our sect."

Lei Bai's sword flashed, slicing the disciple's head in two. The upper half fell, brain exposed, with the cerebral fluid dripping like a macabre waterfall. The lower half remained attached to the face, the eyes frozen in a permanent scream.

Blood and gore splattered everywhere, the disciple's body collapsing like a puppet with severed strings. Lei Bai stepped over the corpse, entering the sect with a trail of death and destruction.

Lei Bai's voice echoed through the sect, "Do as you please, kill, rape, and ravage. Leave no one alive." His men surged forward, a horde of bloodthirsty beasts, leaving destruction in their wake.

Disciples scattered, some attempting to flee, but most met a grisly end. Others fought back, their cries of defiance echoing through the halls as they clashed with the Lei Clan's men.

Lei Bai's gaze scanned the chaos, his eyes locking onto Zhao Min. A cold smile spread across his face, "My sister, Zhao Min, your brother has come to take you back to the clan."

Zhao Min's expression remained blank, her eyes fixed on some distant point.

Suddenly, a figure emerged behind Lei Bai, "Isn't it too early to say that, Senior?" Ling Xiao's voice dripped with venom as he unleashed his Ice Sword Technique, First Form. Frosty aura enveloped his blade, aimed squarely at Lei Bai's hands.

Lei Bai's skin proved as hard as diamond, shattering Ling Xiao's sword upon impact. The younger man's eyes widened in shock as Lei Bai's grip closed around his throat, his face meeting Lei Bai's fist. Ling Xiao's skull crunched, his body crashing to the ground, teetering on the brink of death.

Ling Xiao's thoughts raced, "How can this be? My Ice Sword Technique...it's impossible for him to withstand it..."

Lei Bai's thoughts were equally turbulent, "This Ling Xiao...his technique is formidable, but his strength is still lacking. He dares to challenge me?"

Zhao Min's gaze finally shifted, her eyes locking onto Lei Bai, a flicker of emotion dancing in their depths.

Lei Bai's voice dripped with mockery, "Ho Zhao Min, do you really want to see your juniors and seniors die like this? Just come with me, and we'll spare their lives."

He cut down disciples with ease, advancing towards Zhao Min but in a distance a shout echoed from the center, "Yin Yang Second Form!" Jang Ran, a fat disciple, emerged to defend his comrades.

Lei Bai thought, "This Jang Ran might be a problem later, but I'll deal with him after I take care of my sister."

Jang Ran unleashed Yin Yang Sword Third Form, summoning two black and golden Buddha illusions behind him. Lei Bai didn't notice Jang Ran's intense focus, "I'll show him the true power of Yin Yang..."

Jang Ran maintained the form, but blood seeped from his eyes, and he started stabbing randomly, blinded by his own blood. "No...I won't stop...I'll protect them..."

Lei Bai's thoughts turned to amusement, "This Jang Ran is interesting, but his technique is too reckless."

Jang Ran's eyes exploded, blood spraying everywhere, yet he continued to maintain the Third Form, his screams echoing through the hall.

Zhao Min's thoughts were a mix of horror and admiration, "Jang Ran's determination is admirable, but his technique is too extreme...My brother will stop at nothing..."

Lei Bai's gaze never wavered, his focus fixed on Zhao Min, "You see, sister, this is the price of defiance. Come with me, and I'll end this bloodshed."

 Jang Ran's vision blurred, his eyes bleeding profusely as he maintained the Yin Yang Third Form. A girl behind him begged, "Please stop, Senior! You're going to die!"

Jang Ran's voice cracked, "It's okay, junior sister...I must protect everyone until Elder Fang Lin arrives...He's our only hope...But I don't think I can hold on..."

The girl's tears fell like rain, "But senior, you can't give up! You have to stay alive!"

Jang Ran's thoughts raced, "I won't make it...I won't see Elder Fang Lin's return...But I must protect them...My juniors...My friends...I won't let them die..."

He looked at the girl beside him, his vision fading, "Now I understand...Elder Fang Lin's words...The heavens will only support the strongest...and ignore the weakest..."

With a final surge of strength, Jang Ran unleashed his ultimate skill, Vijrabodhi Buddha. The two Buddha illusions behind him merged into one, its body half-black, half-golden, radiating an aura of despair and determination.

The girl wailed, "Senior, no! Don't say that! You can't give up!"

Jang Ran's voice faded, "I'm sorry...I couldn't...protect...everyone...Tell Elder Fang Lin...I tried..."

As the Vijrabodhi Buddha shone brighter, Jang Ran's body began to disintegrate, his spirit pouring into the technique. The girl held him, her tears falling onto his face, "Senior, don't leave us! Please!"

As Jang Ran's body glowed brighter, his spirit poured into the Vijrabodhi Buddha, creating hundreds of hands that emerged from his being. The left side hands shone golden, healing the wounds of those on the brink of death, while the right side hands turned black, mercilessly killing those who stood in their way.

The junior disciple, once protected by Jang Ran, watched in horror as his body began to crack, his glowing form disintegrating into dust. She screamed, "Senior Brother Jang Ran! No! Don't leave us!"

Tears streamed down her face as she reached out to touch the dust that remained, but it slipped through her fingers, carried away by the wind. Her heart shattered into a million pieces, she wailed, "Senior Brother, why did you leave us? We need you!"

Just then, a man from the Lei clan appeared, his eyes gleaming with malice. He grabbed the girl's hand, tearing her clothes, and sneered, "Hey beauty, did your protector just die? How convenient for me."

The girl struggled, but he pinned her down, his hands roaming her body. She screamed, "No! Stop! Someone help!"

Zhao Min, unaware of Jang Ran's sacrifice, thought, "If Elder Fang Lin arrives soon, we can defeat these people. We just need to hold on."

But fate had other plans. The junior disciple's cries echoed through the hall, her body trembling beneath the Lei clan member's assault. Jang

Ran's dust, now a distant memory, seemed to whisper, "Protect them...Elder Fang Lin...only hope..."