《Demon Sect Cultivation: I Can Disable Debuffs》 Chapter 1 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Inside a cave filled with a strong smell of blood. A young man sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. He was motionless like a stone statue. In front of him, there was an empty basin with red liquid residue at the bottom, which seemed to be the blood of some creature. After a while, the young man suddenly opened his eyes wide and looked around with a bewildered expression. ¡°Where am I?¡± Zhang Chen remembered he was playing games all night at home. It was a recently popular cultivation game with a very high difficulty level, and the techniques in the game all had serious side effects, which could lead to death at any time. He had played for an entire night without clearing a level, so he downloaded a modifier tool and prepared to cheat. But before he could use it, he lost consciousness. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in this place. Did I travel through time and space? he wondered. Looking at the unfamiliar environment and his own body, Zhang Chen had to accept the fact that he had indeed transmigrated. Immediately after, an unfamiliar memory appeared in his mind, causing Zhang Chen¡¯s expression to turn ugly. This was a cultivation world with gods, immortals, demons, and ghosts. The immortal cultivators were divided into two factions, the righteous and the demonic. The two of them attacked each other and fought over resources. The original owner of the body was also called Zhang Chen, and was an outer sect disciple of the Blood God Sect, which belonged to the demonic faction. The Blood God Sect¡¯s cultivation technique was called the Blood Nerve Technique, which required the consumption of blood to cultivate. At the highest level, one could be reborn by dripping blood and become immortal. In addition, the Blood Nerve Technique had a special effect. Cultivators could devour each other¡¯s blood and perfectly absorb the opponent¡¯s cultivation level. For Blood Nerve Technique cultivators, other cultivators were walking elixirs and magic pills. Although the Blood God Sect forbade disciples from killing each other, there were still many who took risks in secret. Since it was a demonic faction, their actions were naturally evil and deviated from established norms. Of course, the Blood God Sect was not only nurturing disciples, but also raising ¡®pigs¡¯. Disciples who were unable to break through their cultivation within the stipulated time frame would be deemed as having poor aptitude and not worth nurturing. They would be stripped of their disciple status and demoted to blood slaves. From then on, they were no longer in control of their own bodies, and their blood was drawn every day to be used by other disciples for cultivation. Outer sect disciples used blood from demon beasts for cultivation, inner sect disciples used blood from outer sect disciples, direct disciples used blood from inner sect disciples for cultivation, and sect elders used blood from direct disciples for cultivation. It was a never-ending cycle, with the top-level members being the ultimate beneficiaries. Survival of the fittest, that was how the demon sect worked. If one didn¡¯t want to become a blood slave, one had to constantly become stronger and demonstrate one¡¯s value to the sect. Everyone in the Blood God Sect was constantly cultivating, afraid of becoming food for others. The original owner of the body took risks and consumed large amounts of demon blood in order to break through their cultivation realm within the specified time. Unfortunately, he was unable to eliminate the ferocious aura in the demon blood, which caused his consciousness to dissipate due to the overwhelming ferocity. The practice of demonic cultivation techniques was fast and powerful, but came with endless troubles. Even a slight mistake could result in death. ¡°According to the memories of the original owner, I have one month left. If I don¡¯t break through to the fifth level of Qi cultivation within that time, my blood will be drained and I will become a resource for the inner sect disciples to practice.¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s expression changed indeterminately. It was sometimes fearful, sometimes regretful, and sometimes anxious. He had fantasized countless times about cultivating immortality, flying in the sky and burrowing into the ground, and living forever, but he would rather not have such a situation. Given the aptitude of this body, it was almost impossible to break through to the fifth level of Qi cultivation within a month. That was why the original owner took the risk of devouring a large amount of demon blood. He had also thought about running away, but the Blood God Sect was shrouded in a formation, and without a token, he couldn¡¯t leave. ¡°Unless I have a cheat.¡± Zhang Chen felt somewhat desperate. [Ding! Modifier activated.] As if responding to Zhang Chen¡¯s words, a mechanical voice rang in his mind. [Please wait a moment, the system is scanning¡­] ¡°Cheat, I really have a cheat!¡± Zhang Chen was extremely excited. He did not expect the modifier he downloaded to also transmigrate with him. [Detected cultivation technique ¡®Blood Nerve¡¯. Relies on devouring blood to cultivate.] [Side effect: Easily influenced by the mental effects contained in the blood, becoming bloodthirsty, murderous, insane, or even brain dead.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] ¡°Does this mean that I can freely devour demon blood for cultivation in the future without any side effects? ¡°This is amazing, truly amazing. The modifier is worthy of its name!¡± Zhang Chen was ecstatic. After a while, he calmed down and regained his composure. If it was really as the system said, then it wouldn¡¯t be difficult for him to break through to the fifth level of Qi cultivation as long as he had enough demon blood. However, he was not entirely convinced and couldn¡¯t trust everything the system said. In order to avoid ending up like the original owner, he needed to experiment and confirm if the modifier was really effective. Disciples of the Blood God Sect could receive a bowl of demon blood every day for cultivation, and he happened to have not received his share for the day. But, before that, he planned to get familiar with his body first. ¡°I feel like I can knock out an ox with just one punch!¡± Excitedly, Zhang Chen clenched his fist and swung it in the air. This body had a cultivation of the fourth level of Qi, which was considered weak in the memories of the previous owner. After all, there were many people in the sect who were stronger than him, so he belonged to the lowest level. But for Zhang Chen, who was just an ordinary person, it was like suddenly becoming a superhero. The power was incredibly strong! The physical enhancement was only incidental, the true ability came from the blood spiritual power cultivated through training. The spiritual power cultivated by the Blood Nerve Technique fused with the blood, and the blood in the body was both a means of attack and a means of cultivation. With some unfamiliarity, Zhang Chen began to operate his Blood Nerve Technique, mobilizing the blood spiritual power within his body. Instantly, the blood in his body surged and roiled as if it was filled with spirituality and coming to life. Then, a large amount of blood oozed out of his pores, rendering Zhang Chen into a bloody man. It could be said that it was indeed a demonic cultivation technique. It looked extremely evil and terrifying. Zhang Chen raised his hand, and the blood moved like jiggling jelly, quickly gathering in his palm to form a sphere. Miraculously, there was not a single drop of bloodstain on his clothes. With a thought, Zhang Chen made the blood in his hand constantly change shape. Sabers, spears, swords, halberds¡­ he was having a lot of fun. ¡°Let¡¯s test the power again.¡± Zhang Chen waved his hand, and a drop of blood shot towards the stone wall ahead. ¡°Bang!¡± A red light flashed, and a thumb-sized hole 10 centimeters deep appeared on the wall. ¡°This power is comparable to a bullet, isn¡¯t it? If it¡¯s this strong at the fourth level of Qi cultivation, how strong would it be at the Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul stages?¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s eyes shone with excitement and anticipation. Moreover, according to the original owner¡¯s memories, he had not yet learned any spells. This was only just the most basic use of blood spiritual power. If he used spells to attack, the power would be several times greater. In the Foundation Establishment stage, various attribute abilities could be added to the blood, the most common of which was highly toxic. Blood containing highly toxic substances would kill ordinary people upon contact. It was said that there was a Golden Core elder in the Blood God Sect who once poisoned an entire city with a drop of blood. ¡°From now on, I¡¯m also a cultivator. ¡°No, I should say, a demonic cultivator.¡± Looking at the crimson blood in his hand, Zhang Chen sighed softly. With a thought, the blood was reabsorbed into his body. He could clearly feel that he had lost some blood earlier, and that it had been consumed. Chapter 2 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After adjusting his state of mind, Zhang Chen stood up and walked outside, trying his best to act like the original owner of the body to avoid any trouble. The outer sect disciples of the Blood God Sect all lived in caves. Looking around, the densely packed caves on the mountains were quite spectacular. The entire sect was shrouded in a faint mist of blood, and the smell of blood permeated the air. He met several disciples on the way, but they were all very indifferent, ignoring and being cautious around one another. With the original owner¡¯s memories, Zhang Chen arrived at the Internal Affairs Hall to collect demon blood. There were many people in the hall, some of whom were here to collect demon blood, and some were here to receive sect missions. Whether they were outer or inner sect disciples, they had to complete a sect mission every year. Speaking of which, the original owner of the body had not yet completed this year¡¯s mission. But there was still time. The immediate priority was to break through the fifth level of Qi cultivation. If he couldn¡¯t do it within a month, he would be drained of blood and become food for the inner sect disciples. Although anxious in his heart, Zhang Chen still conscientiously queued up at the back of the line and waited quietly. As he watched the number of people in front of him dwindling, Zhang Chen couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous. What if the modifier doesn¡¯t work? he thought. An hour later, Zhang Chen returned to his residence with the demon blood he had received. ¡°Whether I can survive or not depends on whether the modifier really works!¡± Zhang Chen opened the water pouch containing the demon blood, took a gulp, and immediately started to convert and absorb the spiritual energy within it by activating his cultivation technique. Perhaps it was because he was trained in the Blood Nerve Technique, or perhaps it was because this body had already grown accustomed to the taste of blood. Zhang Chen didn¡¯t find the demon blood difficult to drink at all, and even found it to be very tasty. According to the original owner¡¯s memories, the ferocious aura in the demon blood would attack his consciousness at this time. Only by consuming his consciousness to suppress the ferocity could he fully transform and absorb the demon blood. Moreover, his consciousness would more or less be tainted with the fierce aura. Over time, he would be affected and become bloodthirsty, murderous, and insane. However, this time, he did not feel any ferocious aura at all. His consciousness was not exhausted at all. ¡°The modifier really works!¡± Zhang Chen was extremely excited. This meant that he could cultivate by swallowing and absorbing demon blood indefinitely. As long as he had enough demon blood, it would be easy for him to break through to the fifth level of Qi cultivation within a month. Soon, the bottle of demon blood was completely transformed and absorbed. Zhang Chen opened his eyes, feeling somewhat unsatisfied and said with a burning gaze, ¡°Next, I need to obtain a large amount of demon blood.¡± Besides the demon blood distributed by the sect, the only way to obtain it was to hunt and kill demon beasts outside, or to trade with others. The original host¡¯s strength was weak, and going out was very dangerous. In addition to demon beasts, he also had to beware of his fellow disciples. Therefore, trading with others was his only option. Some inner sect disciples would hunt demon beasts for blood, but they wouldn¡¯t use it to cultivate. Instead, they would sell it to outer sect disciples. Outer sect disciples were poor and destitute, so why would inner sect disciples have their sights set on them? Of course, it was the blood of the outer sect disciples! Due to the special nature of the Blood Nerve Technique, the blood between cultivators could be perfectly absorbed without any ferocious aura. The original owner had used his own blood to exchange for a pot of demon blood. Inner sect disciples would not personally sell demon blood. Instead, they would find an outer sect disciple to be their spokesperson. As this would harm the interests of the sect, it could only be done secretly. Not long after, Zhang Chen came to a cave abode and shouted in a deep voice, ¡°Is Senior Brother Chen here?¡± The Senior Brother Chen that Zhang Chen mentioned was called Chen Kongming. He was one of the spokespersons who sold demon blood on behalf of the inner sect disciples. Soon, a man at the sixth level of Qi cultivation walked out of the cave. Seeing that it was Zhang Chen, Chen Kongming was a little surprised and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you come yesterday?¡± ¡°I have a friend who¡¯s interested. I¡¯m wondering if Senior Brother Chen still has any more stock?¡± Zhang Chen asked softly. Chen Kongming looked around. After confirming that there was no one around, he nodded and said, ¡°Come in with me.¡± The two of them hurried into the cave abode like thieves. The cave abode was filled with a pungent smell of blood, and wooden buckets and pots were scattered all over the place. ¡°As usual, a bowl of blood essence in exchange for a pot of demon blood. How much do you want?¡± Chen Kongming went straight to the point. ¡°Just one pot for now,¡± Zhang Chen did not dare to exchange too much at once for fear of arousing suspicion. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start with your blood.¡± Chen Kongming picked up a wooden bowl and handed it to him. Without further ado, Zhang Chen¡¯s palm began to bleed, filling the bowl with blood. This bowl of blood was equivalent to a month of his cultivation. The blood of the Blood God Sect disciples was rather special. Their bodies were filled with blood essence infused with the power of spells. Cultivation advancement only increased the quantity of blood essence, not the quality. At the Golden Core stage, the quantity of blood essence in the body could even form a river of blood. Refining a bucket of demon blood could increase one¡¯s cultivation by half a year. It seemed like a lucrative deal. But those below the seventh level of Qi cultivation could not cultivate so much demon blood at once. Over time, the spiritual energy in the demon blood would dissipate, and the effects would weaken. Not to mention the consumption of mental energy and the influence of the ferocious aura. However, their blood could be quickly absorbed and transformed by other cultivators of the Blood Nerve Technique, which was why inner sect disciples used demon blood to exchange for blood essence. Chen Kongming looked at the sticky blood essence in the bowl. After confirming that there was no mistake, he handed a wooden pot filled with demon blood to Zhang Chen. ¡°Here you go, the demon blood you wanted.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother Chen. I won¡¯t disturb you any longer.¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t intend to linger after receiving the demon blood. ¡°Take care, Junior Brother. Remember to visit me for business more often in the future.¡± ¡°Definitely, definitely.¡± Back at his residence, Zhang Chen eagerly drank the demon blood in large gulps. ¡°Gulp, gulp, gulp¡­¡± As Zhang Chen drank the demon blood, he simultaneously operated his cultivation technique to refine it. It wasn¡¯t until late at night that he finished refining the entire pot of demon blood. He didn¡¯t feel any fatigue, but instead felt energized. ¡°At this rate, I will definitely break through to the fifth level of Qi cultivation within half a month.¡± Feeling the surging blood spiritual power in his body, Zhang Chen was filled with motivation. Many people had dreams of cultivating immortality, flying through the sky, and living forever. Zhang Chen was no exception. Although he was a demonic cultivator, he believed that with the modifier, he could make it to the end and become an immortal. There were many people selling demon blood in the outer sect. It shouldn¡¯t be a problem for each of them to exchange for it a few times. The next day, Zhang Chen went to exchange for demon blood again, but at a different place. Time passed quickly and 10 days went by. The cave abode was filled with blood mist that surged continuously, as if something was brewing. Suddenly, the blood mist rapidly shrank and was completely absorbed by a figure sitting cross-legged. ¡°I have finally reached the fifth level of Qi cultivation, a few days earlier than expected.¡± Zhang Chen smiled. Breaking through to the fifth level of Qi cultivation within the allotted time meant he didn¡¯t have to worry about becoming a blood slave for three years. Without any sense of urgency, Zhang Chen felt relaxed. For the past 10 days, he went to exchange for demon blood every day, but he would only exchange at most twice at the same place, and he always chose a distant location. For the next period of time, he planned to keep a low profile and only exchange for demon blood every few days. ¡°There¡¯s still a little over half a month until the assessment of cultivation, so I¡¯ll complete the sect mission first and then concentrate on cultivating.¡± After making up his mind, Zhang Chen did not delay and immediately headed to the Internal Affairs Hall. Although there were many people in the hall, most of them were there to collect demon blood and there were few who came to receive missions. Since the two were separate, he didn¡¯t have to wait in line for long. Chapter 3 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Senior Brother, I want to receive a sect mission.¡± Zhang Chen respectfully handed over his identity token. The internal affairs disciple took the identity token without expression and began to look for a mission. Zhang Chen did not rush him. He waited quietly to avoid annoying the other party and getting a difficult mission for himself. After a while, the internal affairs disciple said, ¡°Go to the beast garden to collect blood, for a period of one month.¡± The beast garden was where the Blood God Sect raised demon beasts, and the demon blood distributed to disciples all came from the garden. This mission had a certain degree of danger. If one was unlucky and assigned to a violent demon beast, it could go berserk and harm people, and even cause death as had happened before. However, Zhang Chen was overjoyed because many inner sect disciples would keep the demon beasts they captured and raise them in the beast garden. He needed a lot of demon blood for cultivation, and constantly exchanging with people would easily arouse suspicion and attention. If he could get involved with these inner sect disciples and become a demon blood spokesperson like Chen Kongming, he could directly obtain demon blood from the hands of the inner sect disciples. Not only could he avoid middlemen making profits, but it would also not raise too much suspicion. Whether there was a sale, to whom it was sold, how much was sold, it was all up to him. As long as the amount of blood essence was correct, inner sect disciples would not inquire further. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen took back his identity token and queued up next to collect his share of demon blood for the day. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, are you here to collect demon blood too?¡± Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded from behind. Zhang Chen turned around and saw that it was Chen Kongming. He quickly bowed. ¡°Senior Brother Chen, are you also here to collect demon blood?¡± Chen Kongming looked Zhang Chen up and down in surprise. ¡°You¡¯ve broken through to the fifth level of Qi cultivation?¡± ¡°Thanks to senior brother, I just broke through yesterday.¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t hide anything. He couldn¡¯t hide it from someone with a higher level of cultivation than himself. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang¡¯s breakthrough in the last half month was fortunate. But I¡¯m afraid it will be difficult for you to pass the next assessment.¡± Chen Kongming looked like he wanted to say something more but hesitated. Zhang Chen played along and frowned. ¡°Yes, I was lucky this time. I may not be so lucky next time.¡± Chen Kongming gritted his teeth and seemed to have made up his mind. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, it¡¯s not convenient to talk here. Let¡¯s go somewhere else. I have a huge opportunity to give to you.¡± Zhang Chen did not believe the other party would be so kind, but he did not know what the other party wanted to do. He stood on the spot in silence. Chen Kongming continued, ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, are you afraid that I will harm you within the sect? And we won¡¯t go far. We¡¯ll be near the Internal Affairs Hall.¡± Hearing this, Zhang Chen quickly explained, ¡°Why would Senior Brother Chen harm me? I was just surprised and didn¡¯t know how to answer.¡± Chen Kongming did not disclose anything and remained enthusiastic. ¡°Follow me, Junior Brother.¡± They stopped about 300 meters away from the Internal Affairs Hall. For immortal cultivators, this distance was indeed not far. After looking around to confirm that no one was nearby, Chen Kongming spoke up. ¡°Recently, I obtained a secret technique that can enhance one¡¯s aptitude and speed up cultivation. With this technique, Junior Brother will surely be able to pass the assessment.¡± ¡°Is it true that you have a secret technique to enhance aptitude, Senior Brother?¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t show any surprise but wore a skeptical expression. It was hard to believe that such a valuable technique would be given away so easily. ¡°Of course it¡¯s true.¡± Chen Kongming took out a book from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Chen. ¡°Junior Brother, please take a look.¡± Zhang Chen took the book with some skepticism and carefully examined it. Chen Kongming was telling the truth. The secret technique was called Lifespan Burning Technique, which could enhance one¡¯s aptitude at the cost of consuming one¡¯s lifespan. To upgrade an inferior spiritual root to a low-grade one, it would consume 60 years of lifespan. To upgrade a low-grade spiritual root to a medium-grade one, it would consume 120 years of lifespan. To upgrade a medium-grade spiritual root to a high-grade one, it would consume 240 years of lifespan. Upgrading a high-grade spiritual root to a top-grade one required consuming 500 years of lifespan. The average lifespan was 150 years for a Qi cultivator, 300 years for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, 500 years for a Golden Core cultivator, and 1,000 years for a Nascent Soul cultivator¡­ Using the Lifespan Burning Technique to change one¡¯s aptitude meant that one did not have many years left to live. It was completely useless, which was why Chen Kongming brought out the secret technique. Only demonic sects like the Blood God Sect, which would turn those who couldn¡¯t break through within the stipulated time into blood slaves, would have people who chose to take such a gamble to survive. It might be useless to others, but to Zhang Chen, who had the modifier, it was a divine technique. He had to obtain it! Although he was eager to get it, Zhang Chen remained calm. ¡°Senior Brother is right. This is indeed a secret technique that can enhance one¡¯s aptitude, but the price is too high.¡± Zhang Chen shook his head. ¡°I have an inferior spiritual root. I¡¯m 22 years old this year. After using the technique, I¡¯ll only have a few years to live. What¡¯s the point?¡± Chen Kongming quickly replied, ¡°Junior Brother, you were lucky enough to break through this time. You won¡¯t be so lucky next time. Compared to being turned into a blood slave, you can still live a few more years.¡± Zhang Chen seemed to have been persuaded but was a little hesitant. Chen Kongming saw a glimmer of hope and struck while the iron was hot. ¡°Just 10 bowls of blood essence, and I¡¯ll give you the secret technique.¡± At first, Zhang Chen wanted to bargain, but since he had just broken through and lost too much blood essence, his cultivation level would plummet, so he decided to negotiate another condition. ¡°I¡¯ve just made a breakthrough and my cultivation level is unstable. The sect is about to assess us, so I can¡¯t provide so much blood essence. Senior Brother, can you let me owe you for now?¡± ¡°Sure, you can give it to me after the sect assessment.¡± Chen Kongming agreed readily. After all, the Lifespan Burning Technique was rather useless. There were not many people who wanted it. Moreover, he was not the only person selling it. Others might also take it out to exchange. It was better to sell it now. Zhang Chen quietly put the secret technique in his pocket and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll write a note for Senior Brother.¡± ¡°No need. I trust you, Junior Brother.¡± Chen Kongming wasn¡¯t afraid that Zhang Chen would go back on his word, as he was a disciple of the inner sect. Zhang Chen was touched and said, ¡°Thank you for your trust, Senior Brother.¡± ¡°I have other matters to attend to, so I won¡¯t bother you.¡± Chen Kongming didn¡¯t want to waste any more time and turned around to walk towards the Internal Affairs Hall. Zhang Chen resisted the urge to read the Lifespan Burning Technique carefully. He pretended that nothing had happened and walked towards the Internal Affairs Hall. As soon as he entered the Internal Affairs Hall, he saw Chen Kongming and a fourth-level Qi cultivation disciple whispering to each other. He was most likely trying to sell the secret technique. Zhang Chen ignored them and continued to line up to collect demon blood. ¡­ Back in his cave, Zhang Chen carefully read the ¡®Lifespan Burning Technique¡¯. When he finished reading it, the voice of the modifier rang out. [Detected secret technique, Lifespan Burning Technique, can improve cultivation aptitude.] [Side effects: Overdraft body potential, burn lifespan, lifespan greatly reduced.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] ¡°Great!¡± Although Zhang Chen had already guessed it, he could not help but cheer when he saw the modified results. With this, he could elevate his spiritual root to the highest level, and his cultivation speed would increase several times over, making it almost certain that he could reach the Foundation Establishment stage. Thinking of this, Zhang Chen could not help but be fascinated. Using the Lifespan Burning Technique required seclusion, but now that he had an assigned sect mission, Zhang Chen planned to complete the mission first before using the technique. Chapter 4 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The beast garden, though called a garden, was actually a mountain that had been hollowed out and was used to house and imprison countless demon beasts. Looking at the beast garden that was constantly emitting the roars of demon beasts, Zhang Chen took a deep breath and walked to the entrance of the foot of the mountain. There were a dozen or so disciples guarding the entrance, and every one of them was at the sixth level of Qi cultivation. Occasionally, other disciples would come and go. They must have accepted the mission to collect demon blood. It was said that there was a Foundation Establishment stage elder in the beast garden, but Zhang Chen didn¡¯t see anyone. ¡°Senior Brother, I¡¯ve accepted a mission to collect demon blood and have come to report.¡± Zhang Chen took out his identity token and handed it to the guard in charge of registration. The guard took the token and after confirming it, he took out a token and a bottle and explained. ¡°This is the array formation token. After inputting spiritual power, you can control the beast garden¡¯s array formation, which will turn into chains to restrain the demon beasts. This bottle is a blood storage bottle. Injecting spiritual power can activate it to absorb demon blood. ¡°Your mission today is to go to Cave 29 to collect blood and fill the blood storage bottle. Be careful not to let the demon beasts die.¡± At this point, the guard¡¯s tone became fierce. ¡°If you pocket the demon blood, you will replace the demon beast.¡± ¡°Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother. I understand.¡± Zhang Chen took the token and bottle and bowed before walking towards the beast garden. Excessive politeness wouldn¡¯t offend anyone, especially in the demonic sect where everyone was influenced by their cultivation techniques and their mental state might not be normal. It was very likely that they would hold a grudge over a small matter. There were caves at intervals on the mountain in the beast garden, and each cave was labeled with a number, making it easy to identify. His mission was to go to Cave 29 and collect blood, so all he had to do was find the cave with the corresponding number. On the way, Zhang Chen studied the blood storage bottle in his hand. Although the bottle was only the size of his palm, his consciousness sank into it and he could sense a space the size of a water tank. Other than storing blood, the blood storage bottle could also prevent the loss of the spiritual energy in the demon blood. It was a must-have item for disciples of the Blood God Sect when going out on missions. ¡°This is good stuff. It¡¯s a pity that I have to return it after using it.¡± Zhang Chen played with the blood storage bottle lovingly, thinking that he should get one for himself in the future. Soon, Zhang Chen arrived at Cave 29. ¡°Roar! Roar! Roar!¡± ¡°Hiss, hiss, hiss~¡± There were constant angry roars and hisses of demon beasts coming from inside the cave, accompanied by a strong stench that assaulted the senses. The huge cave was like a giant mouth waiting to devour anyone who entered, making people feel afraid. Zhang Chen did not dare to be careless and walked cautiously into the cave. This was a wide tunnel with stone chambers on both sides that served as prisons for captive demon beasts. There were no fences. Instead, there was a transparent light film shimmering with blood light, also known as an array formation. The first stone chamber held a tiger demon with a cultivation level of around the fifth level of Qi cultivation. The tiger demon crouched, poised to attack, as it stared fiercely at Zhang Chen. The black demonic qi around its body seemed to be material as it bared its fangs and brandished its claws. Suddenly, the tiger demon moved. ¡°Roar!¡± The tiger demon let out a deafening roar and pounced on Zhang Chen. Its demonic qi swept around like a raging wind, chilling to the bone. Zhang Chen, seeing a demon for the first time, was frightened by its imposing manner and was momentarily stunned. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Ahh~¡± The tiger demon slammed into the light film and cried out in pain. Watching the tiger demon climb up again, Zhang Chen finally came to his senses. His face was full of lingering fear. ¡°Fortunately, there¡¯s a formation blocking it. Otherwise, I would have died in the tiger¡¯s mouth just now.¡± At this moment, Zhang Chen realized his shortcomings. As a time traveler, he had never faced a real tiger, let alone a tiger demon. The terrifying aura made his mind blank and his thoughts stagnant. In addition, he had not been in this world for long, and his mind had not yet adapted. Faced with unexpected situations, even with his strength, he didn¡¯t know how to use it. Perhaps this blood collection mission was a good opportunity for him to train. If he could not overcome the fear in his heart, hunting demons in the future would be more dangerous than beneficial. ¡°Phew~¡± Zhang Chen took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He looked directly into the tiger demon¡¯s eyes and faced his fear. The tiger demon felt the provocation and stirred up its ferocity. It pounced on Zhang Chen repeatedly, but it was blocked by the light film each time. As he watched the tiger demon howling helplessly, Zhang Chen¡¯s fear slowly disappeared, and he even felt like laughing. However, he kept reminding himself that this was because of the protection of the array formation and he must not underestimate the demon beasts. After calming down, Zhang Chen prepared to collect the demon blood. He infused spiritual power into the formation token, and with a thought, the light film turned into chains of blood, binding and restraining the tiger demon. ¡°Roar! Roar!¡± The tiger demon struggled with all its might, but it was in vain. Zhang Chen did not approach rashly. He raised his hand, and blood gushed out, condensing into a whip in his hand. ¡°Crack!¡± The blood whip struck the tiger demon¡¯s body fiercely, causing its flesh to split open. ¡°Roar!¡± The tiger demon roared in pain, its ferocity increasing instead of decreasing. Zhang Chen had no intention of abusing the tiger demon. He took out the blood storage bottle and infused it with spiritual energy. The blood storage bottle flashed with blood light, producing a suction force that caused fresh blood to continuously flow out of the tiger demon¡¯s wounds and into the bottle. As the blood flowed out, the tiger demon¡¯s breath became weaker and its cries grew quieter. Its struggling became weaker and weaker. After a while, Zhang Chen felt that it was enough and stopped transmitting spiritual energy to the blood storage bottle. Without spiritual energy, the suction force of the blood storage bottle disappeared, and the tiger demon¡¯s wounds stopped bleeding. Zhang Chen¡¯s consciousness sank into the bottle, which now contained about a bucket¡¯s worth of demon blood. ¡°Good, next one.¡± Everything went smoothly. Zhang Chen nodded in satisfaction as he walked towards the adjacent stone chamber. Imprisoned inside this chamber was a deer demon with beautiful yet dangerous white jade antlers. The deer demon lay on the ground, looking very weak. Its aura was around the third level of Qi cultivation. Its smooth fur was covered in scars. Clearly, it was frequently bled. Zhang Chen did not let down his guard because of this. He infused spiritual power into the formation token. ¡°Yoo, yoo, yoo¡­¡± The deer demon, bound by the blood chain, screamed in misery, flailing its hooves and struggling with all its might. ¡°Ah~¡± Zhang Chen sighed. He and these demons were so alike, except for the fact that they were kept in captivity in a different way. The only thing he could do was to become stronger, strong enough to control his own fate. Zhang Chen¡¯s hands did not stop moving. The blood in his hands condensed into a sword which he used to make a cut on the deer demon¡¯s hind leg. The rest of the blood collection went relatively smoothly, and with Zhang Chen¡¯s carefulness, there were no dangerous situations. Half a day later. ¡°The blood storage bottle is full. Senior Brother, please check it.¡± Zhang Chen respectfully handed over the blood storage bottle. The guard took the blood storage bottle and scanned it with his consciousness. After confirming that there was no mistake, he nodded. ¡°Return the array token to me and you can leave.¡± ¡°Yes, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen returned the array token. The guard disciple no longer paid attention to him, and Zhang Chen tactfully turned around to leave. Today¡¯s mission was completed, and he had overcome his fear of demon beasts. The only flaw was that he did not run into any inner sect disciples. Zhang Chen did not forget his other goal. He wanted to become the spokesperson for selling demon blood outside the sect as an inner sect disciple. But he couldn¡¯t stay near the beast garden all the time, for fear of being misunderstood as a spy or having ulterior motives. However, this was only the first day. The mission deadline was a month away. There was no need to hurry. Chapter 5 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios On the way back, Zhang Chen saw a woman walking towards him and instinctively planned to avoid her. ¡°Senior Brother, please wait,¡± the woman suddenly called out. Zhang Chen stopped in his tracks and looked at her with some surprise. She was a female disciple at the third level of Qi cultivation. She had a pretty face and had obviously dressed up meticulously. The white flowers on her chest were intentionally or unintentionally faintly visible, and full of temptation. Zhang Chen, who had seen the world, remained calm. He asked doubtfully, ¡°What can I do for you, Junior Sister?¡± ¡°Does Senior Brother think I¡¯m beautiful? As long as you give me a bowl of blood essence, I can accompany you for a night!¡± The woman even threw a seductive wink at Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen looked regretful. ¡°Junior Sister is naturally beautiful, but I just broke through and my realm is unstable. I don¡¯t have the fortune to enjoy such a favor.¡± The woman did not want to give up just like that. With tearful eyes, she looked at Zhang Chen pitifully. She said, ¡°Senior brother, you also know that the sect assessment is coming soon. I don¡¯t want to become a blood slave. I have no choice but to resort to this. Please have mercy on me.¡± ¡°I am just lucky to have a breakthrough. How can I pity you? Junior Sister, you should find someone else.¡± Zhang Chen shook his head, unmoved. ¡°Then I won¡¯t bother you anymore, Senior Brother.¡± Seeing that it was hopeless, the woman could only leave disappointed and look for her next target. Looking at the woman¡¯s back as she left, Zhang Chen sighed in his heart. This is the cruel world of the demonic sect! Female disciples could also use their bodies as capital to seek a chance of survival. As for male disciples, they could only devour a large amount of demon blood to fight, or use the Lifespan Burning Technique to improve their aptitude and die peacefully after a few years. Back at his residence, Zhang Chen began to familiarize himself with controlling his blood spiritual power. After being frightened by the tiger demon, he realized a problem. In the face of unexpected situations, he did not know how to control his blood to attack or defend. In other words, he lacked combat experience and his reaction ability was not enough. What if he encountered a sneak attack in the future? He must make controlling blood attacks or defense his instinctive response! In times of peace, he had to be vigilant. Being in the Demon Sect, he had to prepare for a rainy day. The blood surged and constantly changed around Zhang Chen. Occasionally, it became various weapons, shields, attacks, and defenses. The next day, on the way to the beast garden, Zhang Chen found many female disciples pestering the male disciples. There were even many female disciples surrounding a male disciple. Female disciples were also very competitive! Seeing the female disciples, Zhang Chen tried to avoid them as much as possible. Those female disciples who saw Zhang Chen avoiding them as if they were snakes and scorpions did not come forward to be rebuffed. ¡°Your mission today is to go to Cave 35 to collect blood.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen took the array token and the blood storage bottle and began his mission for the day. With the experience from the day before, he was very adept at drawing blood today, and the process was orderly and efficient. ¡°After drawing blood from this one, the blood storage bottle should be full.¡± Zhang Chen skillfully injected spiritual energy into the array formation token and controlled the light film to transform into a chain that bound a wolf demon. Just as Zhang Chen was about to coagulate the blood into a weapon and draw blood, a wind blade suddenly shot out from the wolf demon¡¯s mouth. ¡°Uh!¡± Zhang Chen was greatly alarmed and instinctively raised his hand, causing the blood weapon in his hand to transform into a blood shield. ¡°Bang!¡± The blood shield caved in and twisted, resisting the wind blades without any mishaps. ¡°That was close!¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of his chest. He had just felt the breath of death, so close to the edge! If he hadn¡¯t realized his own shortcomings the day before and spent the whole night practicing his attacks and defenses by controlling his blood, he might have really died earlier! He still had some muscle memory. He might really have died just now! He had thought he was being careful enough when taking blood, but it turned out that he was still almost in danger. When Zhang Chen regained his senses, he willed the formation to produce another blood chain that bound the wolf¡¯s mouth. ¡°Wu, wu, wu~¡± The wolf demon could not open its mouth and could only whimper continuously. Its ferocious eyes stared fiercely at Zhang Chen. ¡°In the future, when I take blood, I have to seal the mouth of the demon beast as well.¡± This crisis made Zhang Chen even more cautious. The next few days passed without incident, and the day of the sect assessment was getting closer and closer. The Blood God Sect was filled with a tense atmosphere. There were even people attacking their fellow sect disciples, knocking them out and drawing their blood. This made Zhang Chen even more careful. He practiced controlling his blood every day and was vigilant of the people around him. When he went to the Internal Affairs Hall to collect demon blood, he saw many people had turned into white-haired old men. Zhang Chen knew that these people had used the Lifespan Burning Technique. If not for the modifier, he would have been one of them. On this day, as usual, he came down from the beast garden mountain, and submitted his formation token and blood storage bottle. Just as he was about to leave, a man in a light red robe walked towards the beast garden. ¡°I finally met a fellow disciple!¡± Zhang Chen was nervous and anxious, thinking about how to strike up a conversation. In the Blood God Sect, the outer sect disciples were dressed in white and red, like blood-stained white clothes, while the inner sect disciples were dressed in pale red, like faded blood clothes. ¡°Senior Brother Li, you¡¯re here!¡± A disciple guarding the beast garden greeted him. With a proud expression, Senior Brother Li took out a cloth bag and handed it over. ¡°There are two demon beasts at the second level of Qi cultivation in the spiritual cultivation bag, one for submission to the sect. ¡°The other one is for me personally. Keep it in the beast garden and take care of it. I will reward you with some blood in the future.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother. Thank you, Senior Brother. I will definitely take good care of your demon beasts.¡± The guard disciple eagerly accepted the nurturing bag. Senior Brother Li did not say anything else. He turned around and prepared to leave. I can¡¯t miss this opportunity! Zhang Chen thought. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Senior Brother Li, please wait.¡± Senior Brother Li frowned and glanced at Zhang Chen coldly. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhang Chen took a deep breath. ¡°Senior Brother Li, do you have any intention of exchanging for blood essence in the outer sect? I would like to become your spokesperson. I can exchange for at least three bowls of blood essence a day. In the future, it will only be more, not less.¡± ¡°You?¡± Brother Li looked interested, scrutinizing Zhang Chen. At the fifth level of Qi cultivation, judging from his aura, he had just broken through. This meant that he could pass this year¡¯s assessment. In the future, he could at least help him exchange for three years of blood essence. Three bowls of blood essence weren¡¯t much, but it wasn¡¯t easy to achieve three bowls a day. Outer sect disciples couldn¡¯t refine a large amount of demon blood in one go, and they did not have a blood storage bottle. They could not store demon blood for a long time, so they could not exchange for too much. Coupled with the fact that there were many spokespersons of other inner sect disciples in the outer sect, it was already not bad if they could exchange for a bowl of blood essence a day. He needed blood essence for cultivation. As long as he could obtain blood essence, it didn¡¯t matter who became his spokesperson. ¡°Senior Brother, please give me a chance.¡± Zhang Chen bowed deeply. Senior Brother Li seemed to have seen something fun. He revealed an evil smile. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give you a chance. If you can¡¯t achieve three bowls of blood essence every day¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll make up for it with your blood!¡± The last few words were filled with strong threats and intimidation, like the roar of a fierce ghost. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen was not afraid. Instead, he was excited. He could devour demon blood without any side effects and could keep devouring and refining it. When he used the Lifespan Burning Technique to improve his aptitude, the speed of refining demon blood would also increase greatly. Three bowls of blood essence were very easy for him. ¡°Alright, from now on, you are my spokesperson in the outer sect.¡± As he spoke, Li Mumin took out a blood storage bottle and threw it to Zhang Chen. ¡°The demon blood inside is worth six bowls of blood essence. Come find me in Cave 14 in the inner sect in two days.¡± Zhang Chen quickly caught the blood storage bottle and bowed respectfully. ¡°I will definitely complete the task.¡± ¡°Hehe, I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡± Li Mumin laughed sinisterly and turned to leave. Chapter 6 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After Li Mumin left, Zhang Chen finally stood up straight, unable to conceal his excitement on his face. In this way, he had a fixed source of demon blood and didn¡¯t need to exchange with others, reducing the possibility of exposure. Otherwise, given his rate of consuming demon blood, frequently going to exchange blood would easily raise suspicion. ¡°Congratulations on making friends with Senior Brother Li. I hope that Junior Brother will take good care of me in the future.¡± The guard disciple beside him stepped forward to flatter him, trying to get closer. ¡°Of course, of course.¡± Although he had become the spokesperson, Zhang Chen definitely did not know this senior brother Li Mumin well, so he took the opportunity to ask. ¡°I wonder how much you know about Senior Brother Li Mumin?¡± The guard disciple enthusiastically introduced, ¡°I don¡¯t know Senior Brother Li very well either. But I heard that Senior Brother Li has a high-grade spiritual root and is currently at the ninth level of Qi cultivation. He¡¯s one of the candidates with the best chance of reaching the Foundation Establishment realm and becoming a direct disciple.¡± To become an inner sect disciple, one must first reach the seventh level of Qi cultivation before participating in the inner sect competition and obtain a ranking within the top 100. This was because the mission of the inner sect disciples was to go out and capture demon beasts. If they did not have the strength to go out, they would be courting death. For the Blood God Sect, these disciples were like mobile blood banks and couldn¡¯t be wasted. To become a direct disciple, one needed to reach the Foundation Establishment stage or be specially chosen by an elder to be taken in as a disciple. Having obtained the information he wanted, Zhang Chen continued to exchange pleasantries before making an excuse to leave. In the cave, Zhang Chen took out the blood storage bottle Li Mumin gave him and used his consciousness to examine it. The space inside the blood storage bottle was as big as the blood storage bottle in the beast garden. It was filled with demon blood, which was equivalent to 12 buckets of demon blood. ¡°I only need to exchange six bowls of blood essence for the demon blood in here?¡± Zhang Chen knew that the outer disciples who acted as spokespersons were making a profit, but he didn¡¯t expect it to be so much. One bowl of blood essence for one bucket. He was making a 50-50 profit! ¡°From now on, I can drink demon blood as much as I want!¡± Zhang Chen couldn¡¯t wait to pour out a bucket of demon blood from the storage bottle and start cultivating. For a moment, the cave was shrouded in a mist of blood, covering up Zhang Chen¡¯s figure. ¡°Dang, dang, dang¡­¡± The crisp sound of a bell echoed through the Blood God Sect. This was the morning bell, and its ringing signaled the start of daylight. ¡°Phew~¡± Zhang Chen exhaled a breath of air and slowly opened his eyes. ¡°This power is truly fascinating.¡± Although he had cultivated all night, he only felt that his spiritual energy was flourishing and full of strength, without a hint of fatigue. After swallowing a purifying pill, Zhang Chen got up and headed to the beast garden. Every disciple could receive 10 purifying pills every month, and taking one could stave off hunger for three days. Zhang Chen noticed that there were very few people on the road today, and those he encountered were all in a hurry. But he soon understood why, as a man at the sixth level of Qi cultivation blocked his way. ¡°Junior Brother, I need blood essence to break through my realm recently. How about lending me some blood essence first?¡± He said it was borrowing, but his tone was full of threats. ¡°I am Li Mumin¡¯s representative, a senior brother of the Inner Sect. Senior Brother, are you sure you still want to borrow it?¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t want to argue, so he immediately mentioned his backer. The man¡¯s expression changed and he revealed a fawning smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Junior Brother. I mistook you for someone else.¡± Zhang Chen smiled slightly. ¡°Then please move aside, Senior Brother.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes.¡± The man quickly stepped aside. Zhang Chen didn¡¯t pay any more attention to him and continued on towards the beast garden. He hadn¡¯t gone far when he heard an argument behind him. ¡°I don¡¯t know you well. Why should I lend you my blood essence?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not lending it to me? As a senior brother, I have an obligation to give you some pointers on cultivation!¡± Although fighting within the Blood God Sect was forbidden, injuring someone lightly was not a big deal. Zhang Chen shook his head and did not meddle in other people¡¯s business. As the date of the sect¡¯s assessment drew near, these disciples who were unable to meet the requirements had to resort to all means possible to improve their cultivation in order to avoid becoming blood slaves. Zhang Chen¡¯s current strength was weak and he just wanted to slowly develop without getting into trouble. Plus, with the protection of Li Mumin, an inner sect disciple, he was unlikely to encounter any trouble. Upon arriving at the beast garden, Zhang Chen did not immediately go to get blood. Instead, he conversed with the guard disciple in charge of assigning missions. ¡°Senior Brother, where can I get a blood storage bottle?¡± ¡°You want a blood storage bottle?¡± The guard disciple was surprised, but then realized something. ¡°Right, as Senior Brother Li¡¯s representative, you have extra demon blood and need a blood storage bottle to keep the demon blood¡¯s spiritual energy from dissipating.¡± Zhang Chen nodded. ¡°Senior Brother, do you have a way to obtain a blood storage bottle?¡± The guard disciple had an idea. He was responsible for distributing the blood storage bottles and as long as he arranged things properly, no one would know if one was missing. So he spoke softly. ¡°How about you give me 12 bowls of blood essence and I¡¯ll give you a blood storage bottle?¡± Zhang Chen looked hesitant. ¡°Senior brother, can you reduce the amount? 12 bowls of blood essence is too much!¡± The guard disciple thought for a moment. ¡°For Senior Brother Li¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll give you a good deal. 10 bowls of blood essence, no less.¡± Zhang Chen pretended to be conflicted for a moment and reluctantly nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go along with your offer. I¡¯ll bring the blood essence tomorrow and you can prepare the blood storage bottle.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Junior Brother.¡± After negotiating a deal, the guard disciple became even more enthusiastic. In particular, he was benefiting himself and paying nothing in return. These 10 bowls of blood essence could be considered a freebie. Zhang Chen did not want to store demon blood in the blood bottle, but his own blood. He was afraid that if he improved his cultivation too quickly, it would arouse suspicion from others. This was thanks to the special nature of the Blood Nerve Technique where blood was mana and could be perfectly absorbed by oneself. He only needed to store his blood in the blood storage bottle to conceal his cultivation and absorb it again when needed. With the blood storage bottle, he no longer had to worry about anything and could freely devour demon blood to cultivate. The next day, Zhang Chen obtained the blood storage bottle he desired by paying the price of 10 bowls of blood essence. After completing the mission in the beast garden that day, Zhang Chen brought the blood storage bottle containing six bowls of blood essence to the inner sect. The treatment of inner sect disciples was much better than that of the outer sect disciples. There were only 10 inner sect disciples on the huge mountain and the size of each cave abode was very large. By comparison, outer sect disciples had one-room apartments while inner sect disciples had their own detached villas. Each cave was numbered, and Zhang Chen easily found Cave 14. ¡°Is Senior Brother Li here? Outer disciple Zhang Chen requests an audience.¡± Zhang Chen stood respectfully outside the cave abode. After a moment, Li Mumin walked out of the cave with a cold expression. ¡°Did you complete the task?¡± ¡°This is the blood essence I obtained in exchange. Senior, please inspect it.¡± Zhang Chen handed over the blood storage bottle with both hands. Li Mumin picked up the blood storage bottle and scanned it with his consciousness. He showed a satisfied smile. ¡°Hmm, not bad.¡± Then he took out a blood storage bottle and threw it to Zhang Chen. ¡°Continue exchanging it for blood essence.¡± ¡°Yes, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen excitedly caught the blood storage bottle. ¡°Alright, you can leave.¡± Li Mumin had no intention of talking. He turned around and returned to the cave abode. In the following days, Zhang Chen led a very regular and peaceful life. He would go to the beast garden in the morning to obtain blood and pick up demon blood at the Internal Affairs Hall on the way. Then he would stay in the cave to cultivate and go to the inner sect to hand over blood essence to Li Mumin every other day. Soon, the day of the sect¡¯s assessment arrived. Chapter 7 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Dong, dong, dong¡­¡± The sound of the bell echoed throughout the Blood God Sect. Unlike the crisp morning bell, this bell was heavy and muffled. Zhang Chen knew that this was a notice for the sect assessment. When Zhang Chen arrived at the square, it was already filled with people. There were roughly 2,000 people. Even the inner sect disciples he rarely met were present, numbering in the hundreds. Their clothing was distinguishable from the outer disciples, as they wore a light red attire. There were those who were anxious, excited, and proud, each with their own expression. ¡°Senior Brother Wang, you¡¯ve broken through!¡± ¡°Haha, Junior Brother Liu, didn¡¯t you break through too?¡± ¡°Someone help me, someone help me, I don¡¯t want to become a blood slave, I don¡¯t want to become a blood slave.¡± Looking at the noisy crowd, Zhang Chen thought to himself, I wonder how many people will become blood slaves. Two hours later, the crowd suddenly quieted down as seven blood shadows descended from the sky. After landing on the ground, the blood shadows twisted and turned, transforming into five men and two women. One young man, two middle-aged and two elderly people, one teenage girl, and one old woman. Their expressions were varied, ranging from plain and indifferent, to mocking and playful. Some even licked their lips with a bloodthirsty look on their faces. The only thing that was the same was that they all wore crimson robes, exuding a strong aura, full of oppression. They were direct disciples at the Foundation Establishment stage! Suddenly, the bloody smell in the air became incredibly strong, and a river of blood appeared in the sky. The blood river surged and the blood boiled. The blood waves surged, covering the sky and blocking the sun, and in the blink of an eye, it appeared above everyone¡¯s heads. Under the imposing momentum of the blood river, everyone felt incredibly oppressed, and their blood was uncontrollable, wanting to break out of their bodies and join the blood river. Zhang Chen¡¯s face turned pale, trying hard to suppress his blood, and his heart was full of fear. This fear was like encountering a natural enemy coming from the bottom of his heart, and was completely uncontrollable. The seven direct disciples cupped their hands and bowed to the blood river respectfully. ¡°Greetings to Blood River Elder!¡± ¡°Greetings to Blood River Elder!¡± Everyone also quickly bowed and saluted towards the blood river. A vortex appeared out of nowhere in the center of the blood river. In just a few breaths, it absorbed all the blood in the sky, condensing into an old man wearing a red robe. It was none other than the famous Golden Core Elder of the Blood God Sect, the Blood River Patriarch. The Blood River Patriarch exuded an aura like an abyss and a mountain, saying emotionlessly, ¡°The sect assessment starts now. Anyone who hasn¡¯t arrived will be demoted to a blood slave.¡± ¡°Respect the Elder¡¯s decree. Any disciple who has not yet arrived from both inside and outside the sect will be demoted to a blood slave!¡± The seven direct disciples used their magical powers to repeat the words of the Golden Core Elder. With the blessing of their magical powers, their voices thundered like explosions, causing the crowd to ring in their ears. Some disciples who wanted to hide because their cultivation levels did not meet the requirements turned ashen when they heard this. ¡°Let the assessment begin,¡± the Blood River Patriarch announced in a low voice. His voice was not loud, but there was a demonic power that stirred the hearts and minds of the people. ¡°Respect the Elder¡¯s decree!¡± The seven direct disciples first bowed to the Blood River Patriarch, then turned to face the crowd and each spoke in turn. ¡°Those who have been in the sect for three years, stand in front of me.¡± ¡°Those who have been in the sect for six years, stand in front of me.¡± ¡°Those who have been in the sect for nine years, stand in front of me.¡± ¡­ Each direct disciple corresponded to a length of time in the sect, allowing the disciples of the inner and outer sect to line up on their own. The Blood God Sect recruited disciples once every three years. Those who had just joined the sect became miscellaneous disciples and did some odd jobs. They were required to successfully absorb spiritual energy within three years and advance to the first level of Qi cultivation to become outer sect disciples. After six years in the sect, they were required to reach the third level of Qi cultivation. After nine years in the sect, they were required to reach the fifth level of Qi cultivation, and then every three years, they were required to advance one level of cultivation. In other words, within 21 years, they must reach the ninth level of Qi cultivation, and then they have nine years to strive for the Foundation Establishment stage. Anyone who failed to meet the standards at any stage would only have one fate¡ªdemotion to blood slaves and having their blood drained. The original owner had been in the sect for nine years, so Zhang Chen stood in front of the direct disciple who represented the nine-year mark. This direct disciple was a middle-aged man, towering above everyone else, with a look of disdain, and looking down on these outer sect disciples as if they were ants. Zhang Chen didn¡¯t like this kind of gaze, but he dared not show it. He could only think to himself, Soon, I will surpass you and become the one you look up to! With that thought in mind, Zhang Chen glanced at the Blood River Patriarch, who was as powerful as a god or a demon. I can be like that in the future! There were 200 disciples in Zhang Chen¡¯s group. The higher up the ladder, the fewer people there were. Seeing that everyone had lined up, the direct disciples spoke again, ¡°Take out your identity tokens and infuse them with spiritual Qi.¡± Upon hearing these words, Zhang Chen obediently took out his identity token and infused it with spiritual power. As the spiritual energy was injected, the identity token emitted a blood-red light and displayed the holder¡¯s information in mid-air. [Name: Zhang Chen] [Entered the sect 320 years ago during the Kuiyuan era] All of the other identity tokens were the same, except for the name and the year they entered the sect. Foundation Establishment cultivators had divine sense which could confirm the information and current cultivation level of all disciples with a sweep. ¡°Six years since entering the sect, and you disguise yourself as three years to stand in front of me?¡± A direct disciple suddenly sneered, and blood gushed out from his body, wrapping up one person. The disciple shouted in fear, ¡°Senior Brother, spare me. I just misheard and stood in the wrong place.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± The direct disciple sneered, and grabbed at the void. ¡°Ah~¡± The disciple let out a miserable scream, and a large amount of blood gushed out of his body, which was instantly drained. ¡°Pa!¡± A shriveled corpse fell to the ground. Immediately after, the other direct disciples also took action. The blood on their bodies extended like tentacles, entangling the outer sect disciples one by one. One of the blood tentacles even reached towards Zhang Chen¡¯s direction, causing him to break out in a cold sweat, almost losing control of his blood to resist. However, the target of the blood tentacle was not Zhang Chen, but the disciple next to him. Even so, watching a healthy living person beside him being drained of blood still made his heart race. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Instantly, screams rose and fell in the square. Whether it was at the first level of Qi cultivation or the eighth level, they were all unable to resist and were instantly drained of blood. With the Blood River Patriarch at the Golden Core stage presiding over everything, they dared not resist even if they wanted to. In a moment, the ground was littered with hundreds of dried corpses. All of them were withered and dried up, with gaping mouths and terrifying expressions. A small number of them were trying to pass off as someone else by using secret techniques to temporarily boost their cultivation level, or by using someone else¡¯s identity token and year of entering the sect. The vast majority, however, simply did not meet the cultivation standard. Even among the inner sect disciples, more than a dozen people had their blood drained. The Blood River Patriarch remained expressionless, as if those who fell weren¡¯t humans, but weeds by the roadside. The faces of the seven direct disciples were flushed red. They looked comfortable and intoxicated as if they had not had enough. Although he knew how cruel the Demon Sect was, Zhang Chen still felt chills all over his body when he saw this scene. If he could, he would not want to stay in this demonic sect where danger lurked everywhere, but he had no choice. And this was only what was visible; there were countless others who risked their lives to break through, just like the original owner of his body. The seven direct disciples glanced at the remaining people and suppressed their desire to drain them all. They announced, ¡°You guys have passed.¡± ¡°Phew~¡± All the disciples heaved a sigh of relief. Chapter 8 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios At this moment, the Blood River Patriarch said, ¡°My Blood God Sect doesn¡¯t raise trash. If you don¡¯t work hard to cultivate, then the corpses on the ground will be your fate.¡± Although it sounded more like a threat than a reminder, everyone still bowed gratefully and said, ¡°Thank you for your guidance, Elder.¡± The Blood River Patriarch ignored everyone and turned into a blood light before disappearing. ¡°Farewell, Elder!¡± Everyone bowed again. Although the Blood River Patriarch had left, the seven direct disciples were still present. Everyone remained standing in their original positions, afraid to even breathe loudly. The seven direct disciples ignored everyone and began to talk amongst themselves. ¡°How are we going to distribute those who are hiding and didn¡¯t participate in the sect assessment?¡± ¡°How about we each choose a direction and rely on luck?¡± ¡°Okay, I choose east.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go southeast.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll choose west.¡± After the seven direct disciples had made their choices, they turned into blood lights and flew in all directions. ¡°It¡¯s finally over!¡± Only then did everyone dare to straighten their backs and talk to each other. The inner sect disciples returned to their haughty demeanor and looked down upon the outer sect disciples. Zhang Chen had no intention of chatting and turned to walk towards his cave dwelling. Back in his cave dwelling, Zhang Chen began to ponder about how to proceed in the future. First, he had to complete the sect¡¯s mission, then use the Lifespan Burning Technique to improve his aptitude. By improving his aptitude, his cultivation speed would increase. Coupled with Li Mumin providing him with demon blood, he should be able to break through to the seventh level of Qi cultivation within six months and qualify to compete with the inner sect disciples. However, advancing too quickly could easily arouse suspicion. Originally a disciple with low aptitude and barely meeting the standard in cultivation, suddenly making rapid progress would make it hard for people not to get suspicious. The spear hit the bird that stuck out, so it was still better to keep a low profile. Perhaps, I can try practicing a few more techniques¡­ ¡°Is Junior Brother Zhang here?¡± A question from outside the cave interrupted Zhang Chen¡¯s thoughts. Hearing the voice, Zhang Chen knew that Chen Kongming had come. Previously, he had exchanged for the Lifespan Burning Technique and owed 10 bowls of blood essence, promising to give it back after the sect assessment. The last thing he lacked now was blood essence, so he responded and walked out. ¡°Yes.¡± Upon hearing his reply, Chen Kongming knew that Zhang Chen had no intention of delaying and reneging on his debt. A smile appeared on his face. Outside the cave dwelling, Zhang Chen cupped his hands and bowed. ¡°Senior Brother Chen, you¡¯re here for the blood essence, right? I was just planning to go to your cave dwelling in a while, but I didn¡¯t expect you to come personally.¡± ¡°I happened to pass by your cave, so I came to visit. If it¡¯s convenient for you now, please give me the blood essence.¡± Chen Kongming didn¡¯t beat around the bush and went straight to the point. ¡°Alright, please wait a moment, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen turned around and entered the cave abode. He found a pot and started to draw blood. Although he had stored a lot of blood essence in the blood storage bottle, he still chose to use his own blood because it was more suitable for his situation. How could a disciple who had only broken through half a month before the assessment save up 10 bowls of blood essence? One bowl of blood essence was equivalent to a month of cultivation. After losing 10 bowls of blood essence, Zhang Chen looked weak, and his cultivation level dropped to the fourth level of Qi cultivation. ¡°Senior Brother Chen, this is the blood essence.¡± Zhang Chen handed over the wooden pot containing the blood essence. Chen Kongming received the pot with a smile on his face, ¡°Junior Brother is indeed trustworthy. If you need demon blood in the future, just come to me, and I¡¯ll give you more.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen did not mention that he had already become the spokesperson for the inner sect. ¡°Junior Brother, rest well. I won¡¯t disturb you anymore.¡± ¡°Take care, Senior Brother.¡± After sending Chen Kongming off, Zhang Chen returned to the cave abode. He took out a blood storage bottle containing blood essence and prepared to return to the fifth level of Qi cultivation. The feeling of lowered cultivation and weakened body was too uncomfortable. Other people were unaware of his deal with Chen Kongming, so returning to the fifth level of Qi cultivation was not an issue. One bucket of demon blood could increase cultivation for half a year, and Zhang Chen could now refine three buckets of demon blood in one day. After being appointed as the spokesperson for 10 days, he had gained a total of 15 years of cultivation. After deducting the three bowls of blood essence that he gave Li Mumin every day, he exchanged them for 10 bowls of blood essence from the blood storage bottle and the 10 bowls of blood essence that he had just given Chen Kongming. He still had enough blood essence to last him another 10 years! If he were to absorb all of it, he could immediately break through to the sixth level of Qi cultivation. To others, this was simply unimaginable. While others were trying their best to increase their cultivation, Zhang Chen was trying to hide his cultivation because of his unique bloodline. Thanks to his special bloodline and the fact that it was his own blood essence, he was able to absorb 10 bowls of blood essence in the time it took for half an incense stick to burn and return to the fifth level of Qi cultivation. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the beast garden to complete today¡¯s tasks first. Then I¡¯ll go to the Technique Exchange Pavilion to see if there are any spells suitable for me.¡± After making up his mind, Zhang Chen stood up and walked out. Two hours later, Zhang Chen arrived at the Technique Exchange Pavilion. The Technique Exchange Pavilion had four levels and was presided over by a Foundation Establishment elder. The first level contained Qi cultivation techniques, the second level contained Foundation Establishment techniques, the third level contained Golden Core techniques, and the fourth level contained Nascent Soul techniques. It was said that even the sect leader only had Nascent Soul cultivation, and Zhang Chen didn¡¯t know if there were any spells beyond that in the Blood God Sect. Perhaps there were, but they weren¡¯t kept in the Technique Exchange Pavilion. However, for Zhang Chen, that was still too far away. These techniques were not obtained for free but required the exchange of blood essence, so there weren¡¯t many people who came to exchange techniques. Most people only came to learn techniques when they reached the seventh level of Qi cultivation and were preparing to participate in the inner sect competition. After all, the Blood God Sect had a time rule. Everyone was trying their best to improve their cultivation. Who had the time to practice techniques? ¡°Senior Brother, I want to choose a technique.¡± Zhang Chen handed his identity token to the disciple in charge of imparting techniques. After showing his identity token to the transmission hall disciple in charge, Zhang Chen was given a book containing a catalog and introduction of Qi cultivation spells to choose from. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen picked up the book and flipped through it. One technique after another came into view. The Blood Light Technique could emit a blood light that blinded people. It required three bowls of blood essence in exchange. The Blood Absorption Technique could remotely absorb the blood of others from afar. Its success depended on the strengths of both parties. It required 10 bowls of blood essence in exchange. The Blood Arrow Technique could condense blood arrows that could penetrate through gold and stone within a thousand feet. It required 15 bowls of blood essence in exchange. ¡­ In addition to these exclusive techniques of the Blood God Sect, there were also other demonic techniques and ordinary techniques. For example, Ghost Control Technique, Corpse Control Technique, Fire Condensation Technique, Wind Mastery Technique, Light Body Technique, and so on. Zhang Chen was dazzled. If possible, he wanted to copy all the techniques. However, that was unrealistic. Not to mention the blood essence required, even if he trained hard, he wouldn¡¯t be able to master them all. After thinking it over, Zhang Chen decided to choose five techniques. One melee technique, one long-range technique, one defensive technique, one escape technique, and one explosive technique. He wanted to cover all areas of attack, defense, and escape. Chapter 9 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Senior Brother, I choose to exchange for the Mad Blood Demon Saber, Ice Soul Slash, Blood Armor Technique, Blood Burst Technique, and Blood Ignition Technique.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Hearing Zhang Chen¡¯s words, the disciple at the Technique Exchange Pavilion was stunned. Since he was in charge, he naturally knew about these five techniques. Mad Blood Demon Saber contained a shocking demonic intent in the blade that seized the souls of those with weak willpower. 10 bowls of blood essence were needed to exchange for it. Those who learned this saber technique would be tormented by demonic intent and would eventually fall into madness after a long time. Ice Soul Slash absorbed the Yin energy to transform it into extremely cold energy, which was stored in the body and could freeze the enemy¡¯s blood and body. It required 10 bowls of blood essence to exchange for it. Those who learned this technique would be eroded by the Yin energy and poisoned by the cold. Blood Armor Technique coagulated blood to form armor that adhered to the skin¡¯s surface and was impervious to water and fire, and couldn¡¯t be penetrated by swords and spears. It required 10 bowls of blood essence to exchange for it. Those who learned this technique would suffer from the pain of being devoured by 10,000 ants, which was worse than death. Blood Burst Technique used spiritual power to attack the acupoints and meridians of the hands and feet, instantly increasing speed tenfold. It required 10 bowls of blood essence to exchange for it. Using this technique would damage the acupoints and meridians, and one might become a cripple. The Blood Ignition Technique burned the blood to temporarily enhance the cultivation base, requiring 10 bowls of blood essence to exchange for it. Once this method was used, it couldn¡¯t be stopped until the blood was burned out, resulting in death. These five techniques were all very powerful, but they shared the same characteristic of having severe costs and negative effects. Due to the severe costs, the blood essence required to exchange for these five techniques was not much. For Zhang Chen, who had the modifier, these techniques were the most suitable. In fact, many other techniques from unorthodox sources were also suitable, but the Blood God Sect did not have the resources to practice those techniques. ¡°Confirmed.¡± Zhang Chen nodded in affirmation. The two of them were neither relatives nor friends. The disciple of the Technique Exchange Pavilion did not say anything else. He looked at Zhang Chen as if he was looking at a dead person. Then he handed the paper with the name of the cultivation techniques to the Technique Exchange Pavilion. Before long, a disciple came with five books in his hands. Putting the books on the table, the disciple in charge of the Technique Exchange Pavilion took out the equipment for storing blood and said, ¡°Draw blood, one book for 10 bowls of blood essence, and 50 bowls in total for all five books.¡± Zhang Chen simply raised his hand and drew blood. As blood continuously flowed out, Zhang Chen¡¯s cultivation realm quickly dropped to the third level of Qi cultivation, his face turning pale, and his footsteps becoming unsteady. After confirming that there were no mistakes, the disciple of the Technique Exchange Pavilion handed five books to Zhang Chen. ¡°The techniques obtained from the exchange can¡¯t be taught privately, and anyone who violates this rule will be demoted to a blood slave.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen received the technique books, bowed, and left. Looking at Zhang Chen¡¯s departing figure, the disciple of the Technique Exchange Pavilion sneered. ¡°You really don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you.¡± Back in his cave, Zhang Chen first replenished the blood he had lost and reached the fifth level of Qi cultivation before starting to read the techniques. He flipped open the Mad Blood Demon Saber book. The words in it were oppressive, distorted, and strange. They were filled with crazy concepts. Kill! Kill! Kill everyone! It was as if a lunatic was constantly telling him about his madness, wanting to turn him into a lunatic as well. Just by looking at it, he had the urge to slash around before he even started practicing. Zhang Chen read very slowly, and it took a long time for him to turn a page. His expression was painful, he was sweating profusely, and his body trembled slightly. It wasn¡¯t that Mad Blood Demon Saber was profound and difficult to understand, but it was about resisting the madness in it. Mad Blood Demon Saber only had a few thousand words, but Zhang Chen spent six full hours reading it! ¡°Phew~¡± After closing the Mad Blood Demon Saber book, Zhang Chen breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed on the ground, feeling a bit exhausted. The moves of Mad Blood Demon Saber were very ordinary. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it was just random slashing. The main point was that it contained a crazy intent. Every slash was aimed at attacking the opponent¡¯s consciousness with the user¡¯s own crazy thoughts. The crazier the user was, the greater the power. Most people faced with these sudden crazy thoughts would be trapped in a mental battle. They would stand still and be at the mercy of others. ¡°As expected of a demonic technique. If not for the modifier, I really wouldn¡¯t dare to cultivate it.¡± [Detected spell, Mad Blood Demon Saber. Kills everything with a crazy intent.] [Side effect: You will be invaded and tormented by the demonic intent, turning into a lunatic.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] Hearing the system¡¯s sound, Zhang Chen frowned. ¡°The power of Mad Blood Demon Saber relies entirely on the madness intent. Without the madness intent, I don¡¯t know if the power is still there.¡± After all, it was exchanged for 10 bowls of blood essence. Without the power, it would be a big loss. With this in mind, the blood condensed into a blade in Zhang Chen¡¯s hand, and he began to practice Mad Blood Demon Saber. Kill! Kill! Kill! One slash after another. There were no moves, only continuous slashes. As he became more familiar with it, Zhang Chen¡¯s slashing speed became faster and more chaotic. He was like a lunatic, a lunatic who only knew how to hack and slash! He seemed crazy, but his mind was clear. There was no madness in his eyes, which formed a stark contrast to his actions. Although there was no madness in his mind, Zhang Chen still felt that every stroke he made carried with it a sense of madness. It seemed that the madness in his consciousness had been transformed into the madness in his swordsmanship, and the desired effect was achieved without fail. ¡°Take the essence, discard the dross. As expected of a modifier!¡± Zhang Chen was overjoyed. He kept practicing Mad Demon Blood Saber until he ran out of energy and had no choice but to stop and rest. While resting, Zhang Chen flipped through the pages of the Ice Soul Slash book again. The reason he chose Ice Soul Slash was that the introduction said it could freeze the enemy¡¯s blood. As the Blood God Sect mainly used blood as an attack method, it would be very useful for dealing with fellow disciples. Freezing the opponent¡¯s blood was equivalent to weakening their magic power. Ice Soul Slash wasn¡¯t as evil as Mad Blood Demon Saber, so he didn¡¯t encounter any problems reading it. [Detected technique ¡®Ice Soul Slash¡¯. Absorbs cold air and converts it into extremely cold air to store in the body, released when using sword Qi.] [Side effects: You will be corroded and your body will be poisoned by the cold air. Your body will be weak and susceptible to the cold. Your lifespan will be shortened.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] ¡°Alright, I can cultivate Ice Soul Slash now!¡± Zhang Chen sat cross-legged and began to absorb the cold air. Two hours later, Zhang Chen reluctantly opened his eyes. ¡°There is too little cold air in the cave. It took an hour to absorb enough and convert it into a wisp of extremely cold air. ¡°Only 10 wisps can be combined into one. It seems that I have to put aside Ice Soul Slash first and cultivate it in the future.¡± With this time, whether it was cultivating the demon blood or practicing other techniques, the improvement would be much faster than Ice Soul Slash. In particular, Ice Soul Slash was also physically exhausting. After using it, he had to absorb and convert the cold air again. If he cultivated in a cold place like an ice cave, he could accumulate extremely cold air first. Zhang Chen then took out the Blood Armor Technique book. [Detected Blood Armor Technique, which condenses blood into armor.] [Side effect: You will suffer the pain of 10,000 ants biting your skin every day.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] Chapter 10 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Following the technique in the book, Zhang Chen manipulated his spiritual energy and a large amount of blood seeped out of his pores, forming a terrifying bloody person. Immediately, the blood began to move and slowly solidified, forming a thin blood-red bodysuit on the surface of his body. Zhang Chen stood up and examined the blood armor on his body. The blood armor was covered in intricate patterns that seemed to have been created by the heavens themselves. The flow of spiritual energy could still be vaguely seen, and a red light flickered It was grand, mysterious, eye-catching, and dazzling, as if it had just been bathed in blood. Zhang Chen moved his limbs again and realized that he did not feel any inconvenience. He nodded in satisfaction. ¡°I wonder how strong the defense is.¡± Appearance was secondary, and the most important thing was defense. ¡°Dang!¡± Zhang Chen struck the blood armor with his hand, and it made a sound like the collision of gold and iron. ¡°Not bad, it was worth consuming a year of cultivation to condense this blood armor.¡± Zhang Chen was quite satisfied. Even with just a thin layer of blood armor, it was comparable to iron and stone, and with a few more layers, it could resist general techniques. According to the description of the Blood Armor Technique, this blood armor could continuously condense and thicken. Once it reached its peak, it could withstand attacks from the Foundation Establishment stage. This Blood Armor Technique had a total of 10 levels. Just condensing one level consumed a year¡¯s worth of cultivation blood, and more layers required even more consumption. If he wanted to master it and condense 10 layers of blood armor, it would take at least 50 years of cultivation. However, this wasn¡¯t difficult for Zhang Chen, as he could easily refine demon blood and increase his cultivation level rapidly. ¡°Dang, dang, dang¡­¡± Upon hearing the morning bell, Zhang Chen knew that it was dawn and time for the beast garden. With a thought, the blood armor on his body softened and disappeared into his skin as if it had been absorbed. After practicing techniques all night, Zhang Chen was a bit tired, so he washed his face to refresh himself.. If it was just a matter of not sleeping, it was fine for cultivators at the Qi cultivation stage like them to go for several days and nights without sleeping. However, practicing spells also consumed one¡¯s energy and spirit, especially the Mad Blood Demon Saber, which consumed a lot of Zhang Chen¡¯s energy. After passing the sect assessment, the Blood God Sect had returned to calmness, and there were clearly more disciples on the road. As usual, Zhang Chen received the array token and blood storage bottle before heading to the cave he was assigned to. In the beast garden, there were many others like Zhang Chen who came to collect blood. They often ran into each other, but rarely talked. However, today, a fellow disciple greeted Zhang Chen, ¡°Junior Brother, are you here to collect demon blood too?¡± Zhang Chen looked over and realized that the other party was actually at the seventh level of Qi cultivation. However, he was still wearing outer sect clothes and was not an inner sect disciple. He should have just reached the seventh level of Qi cultivation not long ago. Although he did not know what the other person wanted, Zhang Chen still politely responded, ¡°Yes, Senior Brother.¡± The disciple approached and asked, ¡°My name is Lu Wenyu. How should I address you, Junior Brother?¡± ¡°Greetings, Senior Brother Lu. My name is Zhang Chen,¡± Zhang Chen replied, cupping his hands. Lu Wenyu smiled and said, ¡°Zhang junior brother, here¡¯s the thing. I need some demon blood lately. Could you collect more than you need and sell it to me? ¡°As long as you don¡¯t take too much, those demons won¡¯t do anything. It¡¯s a risk-free deal for you. I can buy it from you at the price of one bowl of blood essence for two buckets of demon blood.¡± Zhang Chen suddenly realized why he didn¡¯t buy from the outer sect spokespersons. It turned out that he wanted to buy two buckets of demon blood with a bowl of blood essence. If he controlled each demon beast well and only drew a little more blood, it was indeed feasible. The risk was not high. However, with his current cultivation speed and the demon blood provided by Li Mumin, he did not lack blood essence. There was no need to do anything unnecessary for a little blood essence. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Senior Brother Lu. I¡¯m not interested.¡± Zhang Chen shook his head and declined. Lu Wenyu did not give up and continued, ¡°To be frank, I need the demon blood to cultivate techniques and compete for the position of inner sect disciple. If I become an inner sect disciple, you will gain my friendship.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Lu, I suggest you find someone else. I wish you success in your cultivation and becoming an inner sect disciple.¡± Zhang Chen bowed and left. Lu Wenyu was a little stunned. He didn¡¯t expect the other person to reject him so bluntly. He had asked many people in the beast garden and had heard that most people would agree to the deal of buying demon blood at a low price. Even if they initially disagreed, they would eventually agree when they heard he wanted to compete for the position of inner sect disciple. After all, who wouldn¡¯t want to gain the friendship and favors of an inner sect disciple¡¯? Lu Wenyu looked at Zhang Chen¡¯s back, his expression changing. Asking people to collect demon blood was stealing resources from the sect. Even if the sect didn¡¯t care about such a trivial matter, it would offend those inner sect disciples who sold demon blood if the news got out. If everyone behaved like Lu Wenyu and directly bought demon blood from the beast garden at a low price, how would the inner sect disciples who sold demon blood make a living? Therefore, the inner sect disciples who sold demon blood would definitely suppress such behavior. A moment later, Lu Wenyu turned around and walked down the mountain. At the foot of the mountain, the disciple in charge of registration in the beast garden saw Lu Wenyu and greeted him warmly, ¡°Senior Brother Lu, I heard that you¡¯re going to compete for the position of inner sect disciple. Don¡¯t forget me in the future.¡± ¡°Of course, of course,¡± Lu Wenyu replied politely. Then he revealed his purpose. ¡°By the way, I have something to ask you.¡± ¡°As long as I know, I¡¯ll definitely tell Senior Brother Lu,¡± the beast garden disciple readily agreed. ¡°In the beast garden¡¯s blood collection mission, there¡¯s a disciple at the fifth level of Qi cultivation called Zhang Chen. Do you know him?¡± Lu Wenyu asked. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang! I know him. Senior Brother Lu, what do you want to know about him?¡± The beast garden disciple appeared to be familiar with Zhang Chen. ¡°I wonder how much Junior Brother knows about him?¡± Lu Wenyu responded with a question. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by his fifth-level Qi cultivation. Junior Brother Zhang is fearless!¡± The beast garden disciple gave a thumbs up and began to recount Zhang Chen¡¯s deeds. ¡°Half a month ago, Senior Brother Li Mumin from the inner sect came to deliver a task. When the outer sect disciples saw Senior Brother Li, they were afraid of offending him. But Junior Brother Zhang actually stepped forward and recommended himself to be Senior Brother Li¡¯s spokesperson¡­¡± After listening to the disciple from the beast garden, Lu Wenyu felt uneasy. No wonder he refused. This was like asking the authorities to buy smuggled salt! He knew Li Mumin¡¯s reputation as one of the most promising inner sect disciples to reach the Foundation Establishment realm. He could not afford to offend him. No, I can¡¯t buy demon blood in the beast garden anymore. I have to think of a way to remedy this! he thought. At this point, the beast garden disciple said, ¡°I wonder what Senior Brother Lu wants to know about Junior Brother Zhang? I can introduce him to you.¡± Lu Wenyu came back to his senses and quickly said, ¡°Thank you, Junior Brother. There¡¯s no need. I just met Junior Brother Zhang in the beast garden and had a good chat with him. I wanted to befriend him, but I didn¡¯t know what Junior Brother Zhang was like, so I came to ask around.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Lu, let me tell you, Junior Brother Zhang is a good person!¡± The beast garden disciples started praising Zhang Chen enthusiastically. ¡°Yes, yes¡­¡± Wenyu¡¯s mind was preoccupied with finding a solution and he was not really listening. After drawing his blood and handing over the array token and blood storage bottle, Zhang Chen quickly walked towards his cave abode. He had yet to read the Blood Burst Technique and the Blood Ignition Technique books. He had to master them as soon as possible. Chapter 11 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Junior Brother Zhang.¡± Looking at Lu Wenyu who had appeared in front of him, Zhang Chen couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brows. Didn¡¯t I already refuse him? Why is he still looking for me? But he still stopped in his tracks and bowed, asking, ¡°Senior Brother Lu, is there something you need?¡± Lu Wenyu showed an ingratiating and humble expression. ¡°I heard that Junior Brother Zhang is Senior Brother Li¡¯s spokesperson, so I want to exchange for demon blood with you. ¡°I can exchange a bowl of blood essence for half a pot of demon blood. I hope you can help me. If I become an inner sect disciple, I won¡¯t forget your kindness.¡± With that, Lu Wenyu bowed deeply. In order to prevent Zhang Chen from spreading the news about him exchanging blood in the beast garden, he specially waited outside and lowered his posture, giving enough benefits. Zhang Chen was momentarily stunned and didn¡¯t react. Why exchange one bowl of blood essence for only half a pot of demon blood? Why not find another spokesperson to exchange with? And why is he so humble, like he¡¯s begging? But he quickly figured out the reason. After thinking for a moment, Zhang Chen decided to agree. Not agreeing would offend the other party and make him uneasy. He just wanted to quietly cultivate and didn¡¯t want to stir up trouble. Besides, he needed to practice his techniques recently and didn¡¯t have much time to refine demon blood, so exchanging with Lu Wenyu wasn¡¯t a big deal. ¡°Since Senior Brother Lu needs it, then I¡¯ll exchange with you,¡± said Zhang Chen. ¡°Thank you, Junior Brother Zhang.¡± Although Lu Wenyu was seething with anger inside, he still had a grateful smile on his face. I wanted to exchange for more demon blood, but I didn¡¯t expect to lose so much. I¡¯m at the seventh level of Qi cultivation and am about to become an inner sect disciple. To lower myself like this in front of someone at the fifth level of Qi cultivation is simply a great humiliation. I¡¯ll remember this grudge. Zhang Chen, who had done nothing, did not know that he had offended Lu Wenyu. After putting away the blood essence he had exchanged, Zhang Chen returned to his cave abode and took out the Blood Burst Technique book. [Detected ¡®Blood Burst Technique¡¯. It can instantly increase cultivation speed tenfold] [Side effects: Damage to acupoints and meridians, may become disabled] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] ¡°Let¡¯s try the effects next!¡± Zhang Chen followed the method of the Blood Burst Technique and used his spiritual power to attack the acupoints and meridians on his feet. Then he took a step forward. ¡°Bang!¡± The moment his foot landed, dust flew everywhere. Zhang Chen felt a reaction force, as if there was a catapult in his leg. By the time he reacted, he was already 30 feet away. ¡°One step is 30 feet. It¡¯s not bad.¡± Zhang Chen revealed a satisfied smile. There was no risk of damaging his acupoints and meridians and turning himself into a cripple. As long as he had enough spiritual power, he could theoretically use it continuously. What he had to do was familiarize himself with this speed. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± It was as if Zhang Chen had found a novel toy. He took one step after another, and his figure kept flickering in the cave abode. Like a ghost, he disappeared and appeared. This was mainly because he was not familiar with it yet. Every time he took a step, he had to pause to avoid hitting the wall. After a while, Zhang Chen suddenly stopped. He pulled up his pants with a pained expression, revealing his swollen legs. ¡°Ouch! It hurts!¡± Although there were no side effects of damaging acupoints and meridians, the force of the collision between his legs and the ground was still there. His legs would still hurt. If he wanted to keep using Blood Burst Technique, he still needed to increase his physical strength. ¡°Looks like Blood Burst Technique can¡¯t be used to travel for a long time.¡± Zhang Chen was a little disappointed and used his spiritual Qi to eliminate the swelling. However, Blood Burst Technique was indeed fast. Moreover, apart from increasing the speed of one¡¯s feet, Blood Burst could also increase the speed of one¡¯s attacks. Zhang Chen used the Blood Burst Technique to punch again. ¡°Boom!¡± Because it was too fast, it produced a sonic boom and stirred up a violent wind in the cave abode. ¡°So strong, so fast!¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s face was full of surprise. If he held a weapon, the enemy would probably be killed by him before they could react. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Zhang Chen kept punching. His hands seemed to have disappeared. The sonic booms were continuous like firecrackers. However, it did not last long. Soon he stopped punching because his arms were also red and swollen. They looked like braised pork trotters. After using his spiritual power to reduce the swelling, Zhang Chen prepared to see the effects of the Blood Ignition Technique. [Detected cultivation technique, ¡®Blood Ignition Technique¡¯. Burns blood and temporarily increases cultivation.] [Side effects: Once you use this method, you won¡¯t be able to stop until your blood burns out and you die.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] After understanding the operation method of the Blood Ignition Technique, Zhang Chen¡¯s mind moved and blood flames rose from his body. The blood in his body began to boil and evaporate. Zhang Chen¡¯s aura and cultivation also began to increase rapidly. From the sixth level of Qi cultivation to the seventh level, and all the way up to the eighth level before stopping! ¡°I can actually increase my cultivation level by three small realms. This is truly a secret technique that can be used as a last resort!¡± Feeling the immense power that filled his body, Zhang Chen was somewhat intoxicated. At the rate of blood evaporation in his body, he could maintain it for up to half an hour without using any techniques. If he used techniques, it would depend on the technique consumption. But right now, what was burning was his cultivation! After feeling it for a while, Zhang Chen quickly stopped the Blood Ignition Technique. Once others used the Blood Ignition Technique, they would not be able to stop and would almost certainly die. Only Zhang Chen, who had the modifier, did not have such a drawback and could stop at any time. The blood flames were extinguished, and Zhang Chen¡¯s cultivation levels quickly decreased. From the seventh level of Qi cultivation to the sixth level, all the way down to the fourth level before stopping. After maintaining it for just over 10 breaths, it cost him three years of cultivation. The weakened Zhang Chen quickly took out a blood storage bottle and absorbed the blood essence to replenish what was consumed. Looking at the small amount of blood essence left in the bottle, Zhang Chen could not help but sigh. ¡°This blood essence is being consumed too quickly!¡± These techniques still needed to be practiced every day until they could be used proficiently and instinctively. ¡°I thought I was practicing the demon blood transformation fast enough, but it turns out it¡¯s not fast enough to keep up with the consumption of practicing techniques. After the sect mission is over, I¡¯ll have to immediately improve my aptitude.¡± In the following days, Zhang Chen became extremely busy. In the morning, he went to the beast garden to collect blood. On the way back, he queued up at the Internal Affairs Hall to get demon blood. In the afternoon, he practiced techniques, and in the evening, he practiced demon blood transformation. Every two days, he also had to go to the inner sect to hand over blood essence to Li Mumin and bring back a bottle of demon blood. Time passed quickly, and half a month had passed in cultivation. ¡°Senior brother, here are the formation token and blood storage bottle.¡± Zhang Chen handed the items to the beast garden disciple. The beast garden disciple checked them and nodded in confirmation, ¡°Congratulations, Junior Brother Zhang, you have completed your sect mission this year.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Senior Brother¡¯s care and guidance that I was able to successfully complete the mission,¡± Zhang Chen said gratefully. ¡°No, no. This is my job.¡± ¡­ After exchanging a few polite compliments, Zhang Chen left the beast garden and hurried back to his cave. ¡°Finally, I can use the Lifespan Burning Technique and improve my cultivation aptitude!¡± Chapter 12 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Outside the cave, a ¡®Meditation in Progress¡¯ sign was hung. Zhang Chen sat cross-legged and began to operate his spiritual power according to the Lifespan Burning Technique. The way this Lifespan Burning Technique operated was very peculiar. It seemed to build a formation within the body, with acupoints as points and meridians as connections. Zhang Chen knew nothing about the principles behind it, but he had some experience with formations from his time in the beast garden, and it felt somewhat similar. After a day of work, he finally built the formation inside his body as required. Next, he activated the formation with his dantian as the eye of the formation. ¡°Boom!¡± There was a loud rumble inside his body, and something seemed to be ignited in the depths of his being. His life force quickly flowed away, his skin sagged, his blood stagnated, his bones aged, and his organs rotted. Zhang Chen realized that he was burning his lifespan! At that moment, an indescribable power suddenly appeared and reset his life force, restoring his body. The burning sensation disappeared. Everything that had just happened seemed like an illusion, and nothing had really happened. Zhang Chen knew that this was the power of the modifier. Although the fuel was gone, the Lifespan Burning Technique did not stop. The spiritual power in his body operated in a way that he could not understand. It consolidated his acupoints, enlarged his meridians, and transformed his dantian. Zhang Chen watched the changes in his body like a spectator, as his spiritual power transformed him little by little. This process lasted a full day and night. Zhang Chen opened his eyes with joy. ¡°My aptitude has really improved!¡± He had gone from having a low-grade spiritual root to a medium-grade one. He could feel that he was even closer to the spiritual energy in the air. ¡°Let¡¯s see how much faster I can cultivate with medium-grade spiritual root.¡± Zhang Chen took out a blood storage bottle, poured out the demon blood, and drank it in one gulp. Then he immediately activated his blood nerves to refine the demon blood in his stomach. A moment later, he felt a huge difference. His cultivation speed was twice as fast as before! This was not to be underestimated. If he had previously trained for a hundred years, it was now equivalent to training for two hundred years. The gap would only grow larger over time. And there was the limitation of lifespan. If his aptitude was low, he would train slowly and wouldn¡¯t live long enough to catch up. ¡°If I advance to high-level or top-level, how much will my cultivation speed increase?¡± Zhang Chen was eager to give it a try, but he had other things to do. This time, it took him two days to improve his aptitude. It was time to give Li Mumin the blood essence he promised. He did not want to lose his source of demon blood. After taking a shower and getting dressed, Zhang Chen left his cave. Inner Sect, Cave 14. ¡°Is Senior Brother Li here?¡± ¡°Give it to me.¡± Li Mumin did not waste any words and demanded it as soon as he came out of the cave. ¡°Yes.¡± Zhang Chen respectfully handed him the blood storage bottle. ¡°Not bad.¡± Li Mumin put away the blood essence and took out a new blood storage bottle filled with demon blood, ready to throw it to Zhang Chen. Seeing this, Zhang Chen said, ¡°Senior Brother Li, I have some personal matters to attend to. Can I serve you again at a later time?¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Li Mumin sneered and said in an unquestionable tone, ¡°I don¡¯t care what your business is. You must exchange three bowls of demon blood for me every day. ¡°You said before that you would exchange at least three bowls of blood essence for me every day before I accepted you as my spokesperson. Now, do you think you can just decide not to do it?¡± As expected, it was easy to invite the gods, but it was hard to send them away! ¡°You¡¯re right, Senior Brother Li.¡± Zhang Chen admitted his mistake and continued, ¡°Senior Brother Li, coming here every two days is too frequent. Can we change it to once every seven days?¡± Li Mumin thought about it and realized that coming every two days was indeed troublesome. Sometimes he also needed to cultivate or handle things. As long as the amount of blood essence didn¡¯t decrease, it was fine for him. ¡°Okay, come every seven days from now on.¡± Li Mumin took out two more blood storage bottles and threw them to Zhang Chen. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen quickly caught them and bowed to thank him. Li Mumin ignored him and turned around to go back into his cave. Watching Li Mumin¡¯s back, Zhang Chen thought to himself, In the eyes of this inner sect disciple, I¡¯m just a tool. But I have a modifier, and I will soon become incredibly powerful. I just need to be patient, develop slowly, and wait for that day to come. After settling the matter of blood exchange, Zhang Chen returned to his cave abode and prepared to continue improving his aptitude. He activated the Lifespan Burning Technique for the second time, and because of his experience, he was able to build the formation array in his body in half a day. Upgrading a medium-grade spiritual root to a high-grade spiritual root required 240 years of lifespan. However, Zhang Chen, who was in the Qi cultivation stage, only had 150 years of lifespan, which was already far beyond his lifespan. The moment the formation was activated, his body aged visibly to the naked eye. Although he trusted the modifier, the feeling of death filled his heart. Zhang Chen could not help but feel panic and helplessness, like a drowning person. But at this moment, the modifier¡¯s power appeared again, resetting his vitality and restoring his appearance. It was as if the previous scene was just a mirage. Under the effect of the Blood Ignition Technique, his acupoints became thicker, his meridians became wider, and his dantian became more adapted to spiritual power. The upgrading process this time took three full days. ¡°So, this is a high-grade spiritual root?¡± Zhang Chen, wrapped in spiritual energy, felt comfortable all over his body. He did not even need to breathe. The surrounding spiritual energy naturally gathered around him. Carefully feeling it, it seemed like his body was emitting an inexplicable charm that attracted the spiritual energy. ¡°Let¡¯s see how much faster I can refine demon blood now.¡± Zhang Chen took out the blood storage bottle, drank the demon blood, and ran the blood nerves to refine it. ¡°It¡¯s twice as fast as a medium-grade spiritual root and four times as fast as a low-level spiritual root.¡± With the cultivation speed of a high-grade spiritual root, even without the modifier, he could break through to the Foundation Establishment stage within the time limit set by the Blood God Sect. ¡°Great, keep going and reach the top-grade spiritual root in one go!¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s face was full of excitement as he operated the Lifespan Burning Technique once more to construct a formation within his body. Upgrading a high-grade spiritual root to a top-grade spiritual root required 500 years of lifespan, something only Golden Core stage cultivators could possess! The moment he activated the formation in his body, Zhang Chen turned into a withered old man with white hair. But the next second, he was restored to his original state under the effect of the modifier. Four days later, Zhang Chen¡¯s face was full of excitement. He opened his eyes with a bright gleam: ¡°From now on, I am also a top-grade genius!¡± After successfully upgrading to a top-grade spiritual root, he did not need to absorb it himself. The surrounding spiritual Qi naturally flowed into his body. This also made him understand why those top geniuses were different from ordinary people even when they were just children. Their bodies were nourished by spiritual energy from a young age, making them naturally different from ordinary people. However, what he cultivated was the Blood Nerve Technique. It mainly depended on the speed at which he refined demon blood. As expected, his speed of refining demon blood doubled again, eight times faster than before with a low-grade spiritual root. In the following days, Zhang Chen lived a very peaceful life. He spent all day in his cave abode practicing the demon blood refining technique and other techniques. Apart from delivering blood essence to Li Mumin, he rarely went out. With a top-grade spiritual root and the ability to devour demon blood indefinitely, his cultivation speed was unimaginably fast. Time passed quickly, and soon half a year had passed, ushering in a new year, as well as the day of the inner sect competition. Chapter 13 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Although Li Mumin provided him with demon blood and a top-grade spiritual root, Zhang Chen was still at the fifth level of Qi cultivation. This was mainly to conceal himself and avoid suspicion. The blood essence that was cultivated was either stored or used as a consumption for practicing spells. After half a year of cultivation, he had made some progress in several spells. The only thing he lacked was practical combat experience. Therefore, he planned to observe the inner sect competition and learn from the techniques of other disciples. People who practiced cultivation did not celebrate the New Year like ordinary people, but some sect activities were held on that day for the sake of festivity. For example, the inner sect competition! The inner sect competition was a way for the Blood God Sect to select inner sect disciples. Outer sect disciples at the seventh level of Qi cultivation could participate. Those who ranked in the top 100 could become inner sect disciples. ¡°The inner sect competition is about to begin. Let¡¯s hurry over!¡± Many disciples were rushing towards the square in groups of two or three or alone. Zhang Chen followed the crowd and arrived at the square. This place was already packed with people full of anticipation and excitement. It was like a bustling marketplace, filled with noisy conversations. Due to his late arrival, Zhang Chen could only stand a distance away from the arena. However, cultivators had sharp eyes and ears, so he could still see clearly. He had too many secrets and had no intention of making friends. His gaze casually swept across the crowd and then he looked at the center of the square. A magnificent and broad arena built entirely of blood jade came into view. From time to time, the arena would flicker with light. It was obvious that it was enhanced by spells. There was also an array outside the arena, similar to the beast garden, to prevent nearby spectators from being affected by the fighting. Beyond the arena was a stand with a bloodwood chair with evil ghosts and fiendish celestials carved on it. Coupled with the blood-red color of the bloodwood chair, these evil and demonic figures seemed to be struggling in a sea of blood. They were especially vivid. 10 direct disciples in red robes stood below the spectator stand, maintaining order. Zhang Chen had never seen any of them before. They were not the ones from the previous sect assessment. Right at this moment, the 10 direct disciples suddenly turned around and bowed to the empty seat. ¡°Welcome, Elder!¡± The disciples suddenly quietened down and quickly bowed towards the spectator stand. ¡°Greetings, Elder!¡± Blood kept seeping out of the empty bloodwood chair like a blood spring. It was very terrifying. The blood did not flow onto the ground. Instead, it condensed and squirmed as if it was alive. Then, a person completely composed of blood appeared before everyone, with feet, body, arms, and head all made of blood. Immediately after, the blood solidified and transformed into a skinny and hunchbacked old man with skin and bones. However, no one dared to underestimate the old man because he was the Golden Core elder of the Blood God Sect, Patriarch Withered Blood. Patriarch Withered Blood scanned the crowd and said with a dry and hoarse voice, ¡°Let the inner sect competition begin.¡± ¡°Respected Elder, the inner sect competition begins!¡± The 10 direct disciples used their magic power to spread their voices throughout the sect. ¡°Dang, dang, dang¡­¡± The loud sound of the bell rang out, signaling the official start of the inner sect competition. A direct disciple lightly leapt onto the stage and said in a deep voice, ¡°There are a total of 300 outer sect disciples who are at the seventh level of Qi cultivation or higher participating in this sect-wide competition. ¡°The top three winners will be rewarded with a bucket of blood essence as encouragement. ¡°The top 10 winners will be rewarded with a pot of blood essence as encouragement. ¡°The participants who rank within the top 100 will be promoted to inner sect disciples and rewarded with a bowl of blood essence as encouragement. ¡°The first match, Song Junfeng versus Lu Tianyu.¡± With these words, two figures leaped onto the stage. Zhang Chen realized that one of them was at the eighth level of Qi cultivation. Actually, this was very common. Some people would participate after reaching the eighth level of Qi cultivation in order to ensure their success. There were also some who had failed to advance in the past, but after some time, their cultivation had improved and they were able to participate again. ¡°Outer sect disciple Song Junfeng (Lu Tianyu) greets the elders and fellow disciples.¡± After the two of them went up to the stage, they bowed to the elders and the crowd. From the tone of voice, Zhang Chen could tell that Lu Tianyu was the one at the eighth level of Qi cultivation. ¡°The competition officially begins!¡± After the direct disciple announced this, he left the arena and activated the array formation. Without further ado, the two on the stage began to fight. In an instant, blood splattered in all directions and a fierce wind arose. Lu Tianyu condensed his blood into a long spear and charged at Song Junfeng at lightning speed. With a shake of his spear, countless blood-red spear sparks flew out. The spear sparks were like poisonous dragons as they swept towards Song Junfeng. The tip of the spear emitted a pungent smell of blood that made people nauseous. This was a set of techniques called the ¡®Blood Killing Spear¡¯. When cultivated to the extreme, it could transform into a blood dragon that could devour everything. ¡°Ha!¡± Song Junfeng roared, his blood enveloping his arms. He swung his palms, creating countless fist prints that turned into a dense cluster of palm shadows. Their attacks collided, setting off tempestuous waves. Their Qi energy swept across, shattering the arena. Song Junfeng was using the Blood Battle Eight Directions Fist. When practiced to a high level, it could condense numerous blood fists that could shatter mountains with a single punch. ¡°Bang!¡± Lu Tianyu raised his long spear, and the blade of the spear swept towards Song Junfeng¡¯s neck like a sharp knife. This spear strike had a bloodthirsty aura. It was so fast that it was impossible to guard against. Moreover, it was extremely powerful. Song Junfeng did not dare to take it head-on and quickly dodged. But Lu Tianyu was not willing to give up. He continued to pursue Song Junfeng. The tip of his spear turned into afterimages and kept stabbing at Song Junfeng¡¯s vital points, trying to severely injure him. Song Junfeng retreated several steps, evading the attacks while also looking for an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The two of them moved extremely quickly. In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged more than 10 moves. The tip of Lu Tianyu¡¯s long spear glowed with blood, like a blood dragon circling and roaring. Its power was not to be underestimated. Song Junfeng was not to be outdone. His fists and palms collided with the spear. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Explosions sounded one after another, and the entire arena shook, with dust flying everywhere. Song Junfeng¡¯s body trembled and he took several steps back. Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth. Not to mention the strength of their techniques, his cultivation level was lower than the opponent¡¯s, putting him at a disadvantage. Lu Tianyu smiled arrogantly and took advantage of the situation to pursue him. His long spear pointed out, turning into a rain of blood that filled the sky, sweeping towards Song Junfeng as if to engulf him. ¡°Great!¡± ¡°Senior Brother Lu Tianyu is so powerful!¡± ¡°Senior Brother Song Junfeng is not bad either, but unfortunately, he met Senior Brother Lu Tianyu.¡± The audience cheered loudly as they watched with excitement and admiration. On the other hand, Song Junfeng¡¯s expression changed drastically. He hurriedly displayed all his skills, punching out countless blood-colored shadows in an attempt to resist Lu Tianyu¡¯s attacks. But with one move, Lu Tianyu immediately followed up with two consecutive blood spear attacks. The blood spear was like a rainbow, carrying a fierce force. It seemed to be able to penetrate the world, directly passing through the fist shadows. ¡°Thud¡­¡± A muffled groan sounded. Song Junfeng¡¯s shoulder was pierced through. Blood splattered and poured out like a waterfall. A shocking wound appeared on his shoulder blade. Blood gushed out of the wound like a fountain. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Song Junfeng screamed in pain. He was pale and trembling all over. His eyes were full of fear, and his body fell backwards uncontrollably. Lu Tianyu¡¯s attacks did not slow down. Instead, they became even more ferocious. The blood spear continued to pierce through Song Junfeng¡¯s body. ¡°I concede, I concede!¡± Song Junfeng shouted in a panic. If this continued, he would undoubtedly die. With Patriarch Withered Blood and many other disciples watching, Lu Tianyu did not dare to kill him. The blood spear softened and turned back into blood, returning to his body. He cupped his hands and said, ¡°Junior Brother Song, thank you for your concession.¡± Song Junfeng smiled bitterly. ¡°Senior Brother Lu, your cultivation is profound and your skills are extraordinary. I am no match for you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Junior Brother Song, you flatter me too much.¡± Lu Tianyu sounded humble, but his face was full of pride. Chapter 14 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The direct disciple returned to the arena and announced, ¡°Lu Tianyu wins! ¡°For the second match, Zhang Chunzhu versus Hu Yuwang.¡± ¡­ The battle on the stage was still intense, with dangers and various techniques that made Zhang Chen¡¯s eyes widen. From time to time, he would imagine himself in the midst of the fight, thinking about how he would handle such situations. Although the participants in the inner sect competition were all disciples at the seventh or even eighth level of Qi cultivation, Zhang Chen felt that none of the current contestants on the stage were his match. Because these people seemed to only know one or two techniques and didn¡¯t have many other means. He could totally rely on the Blood Armor Technique to resist a blow, then use the Blood Burst Technique to burst forward and finish off his opponent with the Mad Blood Demon Saber. After all, not everyone had so much time to practice techniques, especially in the Blood God Sect, a demonic sect where they had to break through realms within a set time. So I¡¯m already this strong! Zhang Chen couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit proud. Now it was already the fifth match, with one named Wang Zhiyao and the other Wu Tieming, both at the seventh level of Qi cultivation, evenly matched. The battle was exceptionally intense. Zhang Chen was also guessing who would win based on his own judgment. Looks like Wu Tieming is going to lose. Not only Zhang Chen thought so, but everyone else did too. In the arena, Wu Tieming began to fall into a disadvantageous position. It was a little difficult for him to resist, and he was in danger. However, at this moment, something unexpected happened. ¡°Bang!¡± Wu Tieming¡¯s face contorted in pain. He stepped away and instantly escaped from Wang Zhiyao¡¯s attack range. Wang Zhiyao¡¯s strike missed, and he tried to continue his assault. Wu Tieming¡¯s expression grew even more pained. He stepped away again, leaving behind a residual image like a ghostly phantom, which suddenly appeared next to Wang Zhiyao and punched him. And this punch was also as fast as lightning, and difficult to catch with the naked eye. ¡°What!¡± ¡°Spurt~¡± Wang Zhiyao was shocked and horrified. He was unable to defend himself in time, and took a punch to his chest, spewing blood from his mouth as he flew backwards. ¡°This seems to be the Blood Burst Technique.¡± Zhang Chen had been practicing Blood Burst Technique for half a year and was very familiar with it. He noticed that Wu Tieming had become so fast because he had used the Blood Burst Technique. This was the first time he had seen someone else use Blood Burst Technique, and he became interested, watching carefully. Wu Tieming took another step forward, intending to completely finish off Wang Zhiyao. ¡°Bang!¡± However, at the moment his foot touched the ground, a meridian point on his calf suddenly exploded without warning, leaving a bloody hole. This was a side effect of the Blood Burst Technique. The meridian points on the foot couldn¡¯t withstand multiple impacts of spiritual power and burst. Seeing this scene, Zhang Chen couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Without the modifier removing the side effects, he was unable to bear it after just three uses?¡± Although it was not a serious injury for just one meridian point exploding, Wu Tieming endured the immense pain and appeared beside Wang Zhiyao, striking him with a punch. ¡°Spurt~¡± Wang Zhiyao spat out blood once again, heavily crashing to the ground and losing consciousness. ¡°Wu Tieming wins!¡± As the direct disciple announced on stage, the victory and defeat were officially decided. ¡°Senior Brother Wu actually won!¡± Everyone looked at this scene in shock. From Wu Tieming using the Blood Burst Technique to turning the tables, it was only a few breaths of time. Many people had not yet reacted when it was already over. Looking at Wu Tieming limping off the stage, Zhang Chen was thinking of something else. He thought Wang Zhiyao had the upper hand, so he had assumed that he would win, but he never expected the situation to suddenly reverse. This made him realize that he couldn¡¯t let his guard down until the very end. After all, no one knew if the other side had any means to make a comeback. ¡°The sixth match, Lu Wenyu versus Liang Shiguang.¡± Zhang Chen snapped out of his thoughts and heard a familiar name. He looked at the arena. As expected, it was Lu Wenyu, who had exchanged demon blood with him previously. Zhang Chen¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°Lu Wenyu said that he needs demon blood to practice techniques. I wonder what kind of techniques they are.¡± The competition began! Lu Wenyu took the lead and reached out his hand towards the empty space in front of him. The opponent¡¯s expression changed, and the blood soldier he had condensed in his hand suddenly disintegrated into blood, no longer under his control. ¡°Is this the Blood Absorption Technique?¡± Zhang Chen frowned and was a little uncertain. The Blood Absorption Technique could suck blood from others even if they were far away, let alone blood that was outside of the body. Blood weapons were originally condensed from blood, so they were naturally affected. Lu Wenyu indeed used the Blood Absorption Technique, but he didn¡¯t expect to be able to suck the blood of his opponent, who also had a Qi cultivation level of seven levels like him. Absorbing blood outside the body is simpler than sucking blood inside the body. His strategy was to restrict the opponent¡¯s use of blood soldiers and other means of separating blood from the body. Others might not be able to use such methods but he could. This gave him an advantage. As expected, Lu Wenyu won. As long as he did not encounter a disciple at the eighth level of Qi cultivation and won another round, he would be able to fulfill his wish and become an inner sect disciple. After watching for a day, Zhang Chen could be said to have benefited greatly. He had gained a lot of knowledge, but he felt a little disappointed. He originally wanted to see if there were any disciples who could use techniques like him so that he could learn how to use them from them. However, other than Blood Burst Technique, he did not see any other techniques he knew. The next day, Zhang Chen arrived at the square early in the morning to secure a good spot. The competition among 300 outer disciples would take five days to determine the winners. After that, Zhang Chen did not miss a single day and watched every match. While cultivation was important, the means of protecting oneself in battle were also essential. He couldn¡¯t leave the Blood God Sect right now, and watching the inner sect disciples¡¯ competition was the only way to gain combat experience. Although he could not fight personally, watching others fight could still teach him something. Soon, five days passed, and 100 people were promoted to inner sect disciples. Lu Wenyu was lucky and became an inner sect disciple, even though he only came in 92nd. Zhang Chen didn¡¯t care about these things and returned to his usual life. He cultivated the demon blood and practiced techniques every day. Other than sending blood essence to Li Mumin and collecting demon blood, he rarely left the cave abode. It wasn¡¯t until half a year later that Zhang Chen broke this routine because he needed to complete this year¡¯s sect mission. This time, he was assigned to practice alchemy. In fact, he was just a laborer, constantly supplying spiritual power to maintain the furnace fire, while someone else was actually practicing alchemy. The sect missions were supposed to be randomly assigned, but there were also some behind-the-scenes manipulations. If one did not have a background or didn¡¯t bribe the internal affairs disciples with blood essence, one would be assigned difficult and dangerous missions. The alchemy room was extremely hot, and the furnace fire burned fiercely. When one person¡¯s spiritual power was depleted, another person would immediately take his place until the pill was made. Although it was tough and tiring, it was also beneficial. Everyone could receive a blood pill that would restore their spiritual power. It was said that this blood pill was refined from the blood of a Foundation Establishment demon beast. The fierce energy within it had been greatly weakened. As long as one did not eat too many at once, the side effects would be minimal. As a top-grade spiritual root, Zhang Chen¡¯s spiritual power recovered much faster than others, so he didn¡¯t take the blood pill but saved it for later. Chapter 15 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In the Alchemy House, dozens of pill furnaces were lined up side by side. Beside each pill furnace, there was a person delivering spiritual power to maintain the furnace fire. True alchemy disciples would patrol the Alchemy House and check the situation inside the various pill furnaces from time to time, or add medicinal herbs to them. In front of one of the pill furnaces, Zhang Chen sat cross-legged, his forehead covered in sweat. He endured the heat and sent spiritual energy to the bottom of the furnace to maintain the burning of the blood flames. After a while, an alchemy disciple walked over, took out a blood storage bottle, and poured demon blood into the furnace. Smelling the sweet and bloody scent, Zhang Chen felt uneasy and swallowed his saliva. He could sense that the spiritual energy contained in the demon blood was much richer than what he usually drank. It should be the blood of a Foundation Establishment demon beast. He had never drunk the demon blood of a Foundation Establishment cultivator before, so he did not know how it tasted. When the demon blood in the pill furnace began to boil, the alchemy disciple took out many unknown medicinal herbs and threw them into the furnace. The sweet and bloody scent in the air became even stronger. It had been 10 days since Zhang Chen came to the Alchemy House. At first, he had the idea of secretly learning alchemy. But in the absence of any guidance, he didn¡¯t even know the names of those herbs, and could only reluctantly give up the unrealistic idea of stealing knowledge. An hour later, Zhang Chen¡¯s spiritual power was exhausted, indicating that he had completed his task for the day. After handing the furnace over to someone else, he weakly walked out. ¡°Ah! So comfortable!¡± After leaving the scorching hot Alchemy House, Zhang Chen felt extremely refreshed and comfortable. Then he walked to the nearby Pill Pavilion, ready to collect the blood pill that would restore his spiritual power and go back. The Pill Pavilion was a strange building shaped like a treasure pagoda, where alchemy pills were stored and exchanged. ¡°Junior Brother, are you going to the Pill Pavilion to collect the blood pill?¡± A man at the sixth level of Qi Refinement greeted Zhang Chen with a smile. When there¡¯s nothing to gain, no one will come to greet you, except for those with ulterior motives, Zhang Chen thought. He was wary in his heart but politely replied, ¡°Yes, Senior Brother.¡± ¡°Although the blood pill can supplement some spiritual power, it cannot completely restore it. Daily restoration of spiritual power requires a lot of time and energy. How can you still have the energy to refine demon blood and improve your cultivation?¡± The man sighed. ¡°Senior Brother is right.¡± Zhang Chen did not know what the other party was up to and just went along with it. ¡°Junior Brother, it¡¯s your luck that you met me today. I have a few medicinal pills that can help you cultivate.¡± The man looked smug. It turned out that he was here to sell medicinal pills. Zhang Chen was enlightened. There were always people who took advantage of their positions to enrich themselves, fleece the sect, and it was nothing new. ¡°I wonder what pills Senior Brother has?¡± Zhang Chen knew very little about pills and wanted to learn more. The man took out a porcelain bottle and introduced, ¡°This is the Blood Transforming Pill. After taking it, it can accelerate the speed of refining demon blood. Many inner sect senior brothers will exchange it to have enough time to practice techniques. ¡°In the Pill Pavilion, one bowl of blood essence can only be exchanged for 30 pills. I can give 35 pills to you. ¡°This is a Violence Dispelling Pill, which can weaken the ferocious aura in demon blood when added. One pill can weaken the ferocious aura in a bucket of demon blood. ¡°In the Pill Pavilion, one bowl of blood essence could only be exchanged for one pill. I can give you three for two bowls of blood essence. ¡°In addition, there are also some medicinal pills for healing and combat. Usually, only inner sect senior brothers can exchange for them. If you are interested, I can introduce them to you.¡± The Blood Transformation Pill and the Violence Dispelling Pill were indeed not bad. They had great appeal to ordinary disciples. However, Zhang Chen had a top-grade spiritual root and was not affected by the ferocious aura in the demon blood at all. He had no use for them. Instead, he could prepare some healing pills for battle. ¡°Senior Brother, do you have any healing and combat pills?¡± Hearing Zhang Chen¡¯s question, the man was stunned. Outer sect disciples were not allowed to go out, and killing each other was not allowed in the sect. Medicinal pills for healing and combat were basically useless. The reason he said that he had healing and combat pills was to show how powerful his pills were. He didn¡¯t think that Zhang Chen would buy them. However, he still introduced them enthusiastically, ¡°This is a Blood Generating Pill. Use it when there is excessive blood loss. It can speed up the regeneration of one¡¯s blood. In the Pill Pavilion, a bowl of blood essence is worth 10 pills. I¡¯ll give you 15. ¡°This is the Wound Healing Pill, used for treating external injuries¡­ This is the Blood Nourishing Pill, used for treating internal injuries¡­ ¡°This is a Qi Explosion Pill. After consuming it, you can temporarily increase your cultivation level by one level. It can last for an hour. After that, you will drop a level. A bowl of blood essence can only be exchanged for one pill. I can give you two. ¡°This is the Blood Craving Pill, which can speed up the recovery of spiritual power tenfold. It can last for an hour. After that, the meridians and dantian will be damaged, and one will not be able to absorb spiritual energy for 10 days¡­ ¡°This is the Mighty Pill¡­ This is the Light Body Pill¡­ This is the Iron Body Pill¡­¡± After hearing this, Zhang Chen was quite tempted. Although he didn¡¯t need them now, it was better to be prepared. However, he still had some concerns since they were not sold by the sect. He wondered if the effects were really as the man had said, and he needed to verify it. ¡°Can Senior Brother guarantee the efficacy of the pills?¡± The man looked confident, ¡°My name is Feng Wensheng. You can inquire about me. I definitely won¡¯t deceive anyone.¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t want to be a fool. Without confirming the authenticity, he wouldn¡¯t buy any pills from Feng Wensheng. Although he did not buy the pills, he had another idea. ¡°Senior Brother Feng, we¡¯ll talk about the medicinal pills later. I have another deal to discuss with you.¡± ¡°What deal?¡± Feng Wensheng looked puzzled. Zhang Chen asked, ¡°Since Senior Brother can sell medicinal pills, you should have connections in the Pill Pavilion or Alchemy House, right?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Feng Wensheng narrowed his eyes. Zhang Chen did not beat around the bush and said directly, ¡°I see that most of the pills are refined with the demon blood of the Foundation Establishment realm. I want to use my blood essence to exchange for some demon blood of the Foundation Establishment stage. I wonder if Senior Brother Feng has any connections?¡± ¡°Do you want the demon blood of the Foundation Establishment stage?¡± Feng Wensheng was extremely surprised. ¡°The ferocious aura in the demon blood of the Foundation Establishment stage is extremely fierce. Even the direct disciples of the Foundation Establishment stage don¡¯t dare to drink too much. You¡¯re only at the fifth level of Qi Refinement¡­¡± ¡°Senior Brother, you don¡¯t have to worry about this. If Senior Brother has any connections, just tell me the ratio of blood essence exchange.¡± Zhang Chen naturally wouldn¡¯t say that he could ignore the ferocious aura. Although he was not sure if his current cultivation level could ignore the ferocious aura of the Foundation Establishment demon blood, he wanted to give it a try. After his spiritual root was upgraded to the top-grade, the demon blood he obtained from Li Mumin was no longer enough for him to consume. Furthermore, as his cultivation level continued to improve in the future, his demand for demon blood would only increase, and the huge quantity of demon blood would not be provided by just one or two inner sect disciples. If he could exchange for Foundation Establishment demon blood with 10 times the concentration of spiritual energy, the quantity would not be so conspicuous. Even if he could not absorb the Foundation Establishment demon blood now, he would need such a channel to exchange for it in the future. After thinking for a moment, Feng Wensheng said, ¡°There is naturally a way. If Junior Brother really needs it, one bowl of blood essence can be exchanged for five bowls of Foundational Establishment stage demon blood.¡± ¡°Okay, exchange one bowl of blood essence first.¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t bargain: ¡°Senior Brother, bring the demon blood tomorrow and wait for me here, or come to my cave abode. I live in Cave 518.¡± Chapter 16 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After the discussion, Zhang Chen entered the alchemy pavilion and handed over his identity token. ¡°Senior Brother, I¡¯m here to collect the Blood Pills.¡± After the Pill Pavilion disciple confirmed that there was no mistake, he poured out a scarlet medicinal pill from the bottle. ¡°Take it.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen put away the Blood Pill but did not leave. Instead, he said, ¡°Senior Brother, I want to see what pills can be exchanged.¡± The Pill Pavilion disciple pointed at the book on the table. ¡°Read it yourself.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen thanked him before picking up the book. The book was called ¡®Pill Records¡¯. The words were bright red, as if they were written in blood. After flipping it open, each page was written with the name of the medicinal pill, as well as its effect, how to use it, what to take note of, and how much blood essence was needed to exchange for it. Soon, Zhang Chen saw the few medicinal pills that Feng Wensheng had mentioned. The effects and exchange for the required blood essence were indeed as he had said. However, this could not guarantee that there was nothing wrong with the pills in Feng Wensheng¡¯s hands. If Feng Wensheng¡¯s pills were fine, the price he exchanged for them would indeed be much cheaper. Although he could refine demon blood at a fast speed, who would complain about having too much blood essence? Maybe I can ask someone. Zhang Chen thought of someone, Wang Zhengang, who was in charge of the registration of the beast park. The other party knew that he was the spokesperson of Li Mumin and wanted to befriend him. He had also exchanged for the blood storage bottle on him. Now that he was about to obtain the Foundation Establishment demon blood, one blood storage bottle was clearly not enough. He could go over and see if he could change another one. Thinking of this, Zhang Chen closed the Pill Records and returned it to its original position. ¡°Sorry to disturb you, Senior Brother. Wait for me to save some blood essence. I¡¯ll come back and change it in the future.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± The Pill Pavilion disciple replied casually and did not say anything. After leaving the Pill Pavilion, Zhang Chen walked towards the direction of the beast garden. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, it¡¯s been a long time since we last met. Did you get assigned to collect blood again?¡± When he saw Zhang Chen, Wang Zhengang greeted him warmly. ¡°No, I was assigned to the Alchemy House. I came specially to look for Senior Brother Wang today,¡± Zhang Chen said with a smile. ¡°The Alchemy House? That¡¯s a tough job. Junior Brother, you obtained blood for Junior Brother Li in the outer sect. Why not spend blood essence to choose a better job? ¡°I see that you¡¯re still at the fifth level of Qi Refinement. It doesn¡¯t seem like you¡¯ve been constantly taking blood!¡± Wang Zhengang was a little puzzled. Zhang Chen smiled and didn¡¯t answer. ¡°I have two things to ask Senior Brother Wang. One is to exchange another blood storage bottle with Senior Brother, and the other is to inquire about some things.¡± Being responsible for registration was not ordinary. At the very least, it required connections. Being responsible for registration allowed one to obtain many people¡¯s information, make many connections, and gain benefits from them. For example, Wang Zhengang was responsible for distributing blood storage bottles and arranging people to go to which cave to collect blood. He could sell the blood storage bottles privately and also manipulate the arrangement of caves. Of course, there weren¡¯t many places with as many benefits as the beast garden. Once someone got this position, he usually occupied it for a long time, until he became an inner sect disciple. After all, with so many benefits, how could he give this position to others? There were even people who deliberately did not advance to the inner sect for this position. Wang Zhengang looked troubled and said, ¡°We only have a limited number of blood storage bottles allocated to the beast garden, and I can¡¯t sell too many privately.¡± Zhang Chen was a little disappointed and asked, ¡°Does that mean we can¡¯t make a trade?¡± Wang Zhengang shook his head and said seriously, ¡°No, what I mean is that I need more blood essence.¡± Zhang Chen was stunned and asked, ¡°How much blood essence do you need, Senior Brother Wang?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t ask for too much from my junior brother. Just 12 bowls of blood essence, no less.¡± Wang Zhenggang acted as if they were brothers. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do as you say, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen readily agreed. ¡°Hahaha, I¡¯ll get you the blood storage bottle right away, Junior Brother.¡± Wang Zhengang¡¯s enthusiasm returned. After receiving the refined blood from Zhang Chen, Wang Zhengang asked, ¡°Junior Brother, what do you want to know?¡± Zhang Chen told him the main purpose of his visit. ¡°I met a senior brother named Feng Wensheng in the Pill Pavilion. He tried to sell me some pills privately. I¡¯m not sure if his pills are different from the ones in the alchemy tower, so I came to ask you, Senior Brother, since you have broad knowledge and information.¡± Wang Zhengang came to a realization. ¡°Feng Wensheng! I know this person. After the disciples in the Alchemy House hand over the stipulated medicinal pills, they will sell the excess pills. ¡°But they are afraid of being held accountable, so they let Feng Wensheng sell them on their behalf. Junior Brother, you can rest assured that the pills he sells are no different from the ones in the Pill Pavilion.¡± ¡°I see. Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen bowed and thanked him. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Zhang Chen took his leave. He spent the night cultivating. The next day, after completing his task and leaving the Alchemy House, Zhang Chen saw Feng Wensheng. ¡°Junior Brother, this is the Foundation Establishment demon blood you wanted.¡± Feng Wensheng handed him a water bag containing the demon blood. Zhang Chen opened the water bag. After sensing the rich spiritual energy contained in the demon blood, he took out another water bag containing blood essence. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother. This is the blood essence.¡± Feng Wensheng inspected and confirmed it, revealing a smile. ¡°Junior Brother, is there anything else you need?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll reserve a portion of the Wound Healing Pill. I¡¯ll be waiting for you here at this time tomorrow, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t ask for too many pills at once. ¡°Great!¡± After making the appointment, the two bid farewell. Back in the cave, Zhang Chen took out a water bag containing the Foundation Establishment demon blood and prepared to try refining it. However, Zhang Chen did not drink it rashly. Instead, he took out the blood storage bottle containing the blood essence. To be safe, he planned to increase his cultivation first before drinking the Foundation Establishment demon blood. Even if there was a problem, his resistance would be stronger. ¡°Gulp, gulp, gulp¡­¡± After cultivating all the stored blood essence, Zhang Chen¡¯s cultivation level had advanced to the eighth layer of Qi Refinement. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that practicing spells required a large amount of blood essence, he might have been able to reach the Foundation Establishment realm. ¡°Okay, now it¡¯s okay.¡± Zhang Chen opened the water bag and took a sip of the Foundation Establishment demon blood. He immediately circulated the Blood Nerve Technique to refine it. ¡°Roar!¡± An extremely ferocious demon beast appeared in Zhang Chen¡¯s mind. This was the ferocious aura contained in the Foundation Establishment demon blood. Only by using his consciousness to erase it could he transform the demon blood into his own blood essence. ¡°Looks like I can¡¯t eliminate the ferocious aura of the Foundation Establishment demon blood. Fortunately, I was careful enough to raise my cultivation level and only drink a small amount.¡± Zhang Chen was a little disappointed, but he had already expected this. The modifier modified the side effects of the technique, not immunity to ferocity. The side effect of the Blood Nerve Technique was that the cultivator could easily be affected by the mental energy contained in the blood and become bloodthirsty, murderous, insane, and even brain dead. The brutality of the Foundation Establishment demon blood had exceeded the range that his current level could bear, so he would still be affected. After all, the demon blood that he was devouring in the Qi Refinement stage is beyond his own realm, and Zhang Chen was taking shortcuts, trying to jump levels. An hour later, Zhang Chen finally erased the demon beast formed by the ferocious aura in his mind. He opened his eyes wearily. The moment he opened his eyes, a fierce red light flashed and disappeared. This was the normal manifestation after an ordinary person cultivates demon blood. ¡°Looks like I can only devour Foundation Establishment demon blood at will after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm.¡± Zhang Chen helplessly poured the Foundation Establishment demon blood in the water bag into the newly obtained blood storage bottle to prevent the loss of the spiritual energy in the demon blood. Chapter 17 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Next, he separated a large amount of blood essence from his body and loaded it into a blood storage bottle. His cultivation realm returned to the fifth level of Qi Refinement. He did this to make himself inconspicuous and better hide his secrets. An outer sect disciple who had barely passed the test would certainly be scrutinized if his cultivation suddenly advanced by leaps and bounds. ¡°It¡¯s been seven days since the last blood delivery. It¡¯s time to send some to Li Mumin again.¡± After some preparation, Zhang Chen left the cave with the blood essence. Inner Sect, outside Cave 14. ¡°Is Senior Brother Li here? Zhang Chen is here to deliver some blood essence.¡± After a while, Li Mumin walked out of the cave abode expressionlessly. ¡°Give it to me.¡± ¡°Yes, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen respectfully handed over the blood storage bottle. After taking the bottle, Li Mumin said, ¡°I¡¯m preparing to reach the Foundation Establishment realm and need a large amount of blood essence. Over the next seven days, do your best to exchange for blood essence. The more, the better.¡± With that, Li Mumin took out several blood storage bottles. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely do my best.¡± Zhang Chen cupped his hands and took the blood storage bottle. ¡°When I successfully reach the Foundation Establishment realm, I will definitely reward you,¡± Li Mumin promised. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother. I¡¯ll go back and exchange blood essence for you now.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± Zhang Chen knew that the reason why Li Mumin could reach the Foundation Establishment realm so quickly was because he kept providing blood essence. If Li Mumin successfully reached the Foundation Establishment realm, it would be a good thing for him to have a personal disciple as his backer. He could also be bolder. The next day, after completing the task, Zhang Chen came out of the Alchemy House and found Feng Wensheng. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, this is the Wound Healing Pill you wanted.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother Feng. This is the blood essence.¡± Zhang Chen handed over the water pouch containing the blood essence. After completing another transaction, the smile on Feng Wensheng¡¯s face widened. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, do you need anything else?¡± ¡°Senior Brother Feng, please forgive me. I plan to go back and test the effect of the Wound Healing Pill before making a decision.¡± Although there was no problem with Feng Wensheng¡¯s reputation, the cautious Zhang Chen still had to see the effect for himself. ¡°It¡¯s my duty.¡± Feng Wensheng nodded confidently. ¡°If I need any more pills, where should I go to find you?¡± ¡°I am often near the Alchemy House. If I¡¯m not there, look for me in Cave 260.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take my leave first.¡± ¡°Take care, Junior Brother Zhang.¡± After saying goodbye to Feng Wensheng, Zhang Chen took the blood pill and returned to his cave. ¡°Let¡¯s see if the Wound Healing Pill is really effective.¡± Zhang Chen condensed a blood saber in his hand and cut a moderately deep wound on his arm. Then he swallowed a Wound Healing Pill. The Wound Healing Pill dissolved in his stomach, and a gentle medicinal power spread throughout his body, making him feel warm and comfortable. The flesh on the wound grew and healed at a visible speed. In no time, it was completely healed without a scar. Touching his arm with no trace of the wound left, Zhang Chen nodded with satisfaction. ¡°If I meet Feng Wensheng tomorrow, I can try another pill.¡± Putting away the pills, Zhang Chen took out a blood storage bottle and began practicing demon blood refinement. He calculated in his mind how much blood essence he should give Li Mumin after seven days. He wanted to show off his abilities and earn trust, but he couldn¡¯t give too much, so as not to arouse suspicion. Time passed day by day. Soon, seven days had passed. ¡°Senior Brother Li, I have tried my best to exchange for this much blood essence. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s enough.¡± Zhang Chen handed over the blood storage bottle. Li Mumin took the blood storage bottle and scanned it with his mind. His expressionless face showed surprise. ¡°So much, it¡¯s enough for 14 days!¡± Three bowls of blood essence a day meant that there would be 42 bowls in total for 14 days. One bowl of blood essence was equivalent to one month¡¯s cultivation in the Refinement Stage. 42 bowls were equivalent to three and a half years¡¯ cultivation. This was the amount of blood essence Zhang Chen had decided to give after careful consideration. Doubling the amount under his best efforts showed that he had strong abilities, was serious about the task, but not overly excessive. ¡°Not bad, you did well. I didn¡¯t expect you to exchange for so much blood essence in just seven days.¡± Li Mumin praised him generously, clearly very pleased. ¡°As long as Senior Brother is satisfied.¡± Zhang Chen modestly lowered his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely reward you after I reach the Foundation Establishment realm.¡± Li Mumin patted Zhang Chen¡¯s shoulder and promised once again. ¡°With your talent, you will definitely be able to successfully reach the Foundation Establishment realm!¡± Zhang Chen flattered. ¡°Alright, I can¡¯t wait to reach the Foundation Establishment realm. Don¡¯t come to disturb me afterwards. I¡¯ll naturally get someone to inform you to come after I reach the Foundation Establishment realm.¡± Li Mumin waved his hand. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Zhang Chen bowed and left. In the following days, Zhang Chen resumed his daily life. However, after Li Mumin went into seclusion to break through, he lost his source of demon blood and had to exchange with other outer sect spokespersons. Moreover, in order not to arouse suspicion, he couldn¡¯t exchange too much in one place and had to run to several different places. He had basically contacted all the spokespersons in the outer sect. More importantly, he would be exploited by middlemen. A bowl of blood essence could only be exchanged for a pot of demon blood. This made Zhang Chen often miss the days before Li Mumin went into seclusion. Three months passed just like that. One day, when Zhang Chen returned from the Internal Affairs Hall with demon blood, he found a seventh level Qi Refinement inner sect disciple standing outside his cave. What¡¯s going on? Why is there an inner sect disciple outside my cave? Zhang Chen¡¯s heart suddenly tightened, and he kept recalling his actions during this period of time. He had always kept a low profile and tried his best to hide himself. Even if he was exchanging demon blood, he was very careful and wouldn¡¯t exchange with the same spokesperson consecutively. No matter how much Zhang Chen thought about it, he could not think of a reason why an inner sect disciple would come to find him. Good fortune could turn into misfortune, and misfortune couldn¡¯t be avoided. If he kept avoiding, it would only arouse suspicion from others. Zhang Chen adjusted his mentality and approached the inner sect disciple calmly, ¡°Is there anything I can help you with, Senior Brother?¡± ¡°You¡¯re Zhang Chen?¡± The inner sect disciple looked Zhang Chen up and down. He was indeed looking for him! Zhang Chen¡¯s heart trembled, but he remained calm on the surface, ¡°Yes, my name is Zhang Chen.¡± ¡°My name is Dong Delang. I was entrusted by Senior Brother Li Mumin to invite you to his cave dwelling.¡± Dong Delang did not have the airs of an inner sect disciple and was very polite. ¡°Has Senior Brother Li come out of seclusion?¡± Zhang Chen was delighted at first, and then asked cautiously, ¡°I wonder if Senior Brother Li has successfully reached the Foundation Establishment realm?¡± Dong Delang nodded. ¡°Senior Brother Li reached the Foundation Establishment realm yesterday and became a direct disciple.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Zhang Chen was genuinely happy. Finally, he wouldn¡¯t have to find those spokespersons to exchange demon blood anymore. ¡°The first thing Senior Brother Li asked me to do after advancing was to look for Junior Brother. It seems that Junior Brother is very trusted by Senior Brother Li!¡± The reason why Dong Delang did not put on airs was obviously because of Zhang Chen¡¯s relationship with Li Mumin. ¡°I don¡¯t deserve it. I¡¯m just doing my best for Senior Brother Li,¡± Zhang Chen replied humbly. ¡°Zhang Junior Brother, let me take you to Senior Brother Li Mumin¡¯s new cave dwelling. Don¡¯t keep him waiting.¡± ¡°Alright, please lead the way, Senior Brother Dong.¡± Zhang Chen followed Dong Delang to the place where the direct disciples lived. Each direct disciple could choose a mountain as their private cave dwelling. In the entire Blood God Sect, there were only more than one hundred direct disciples. Only after reaching the Foundation Establishment realm could one be considered a true disciple of the Blood God Sect. These outer and inner sect disciples were just pigs raised by the sect to extract blood. Chapter 18 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios As he walked along, Zhang Chen clearly felt that the spiritual energy here was much denser than elsewhere. Some of the mountains where the direct disciples were located even had spiritual plants and demon beasts. It was like a paradise. Dong Delang stopped in front of a mountain peak and shouted, ¡°Senior Brother Li, I¡¯ve brought Junior Brother Zhang here.¡± ¡°Zhang Chen, come up here.¡± Li Mumin¡¯s voice came from the mountain. His voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it was clearly audible. Li Mumin only mentioned Zhang Chen¡¯s name, so Dong Delang naturally couldn¡¯t go up. ¡°Senior Brother Dong, I¡¯m going.¡± Zhang Chen arched his hand towards Dong Delang. ¡°Go ahead, Junior Brother.¡± Dong Delang didn¡¯t show the slightest displeasure. In fact, he wasn¡¯t familiar with Li Mumin. Li Mumin was a prestigious direct disciple and wouldn¡¯t lower his status to go to the outer door to find Zhang Chen. It just so happened that he saw Dong Delang at the inner door and ordered him to bring Zhang Chen. When Zhang Chen hesitated about whether to go into the cave in front of the mountain peak, Li Mumin¡¯s voice rang out again. ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Entering the cave, Zhang Chen finally saw Li Mumin. Perhaps because he had just broken through and his realm was unstable, some parts of Li Mumin¡¯s body would sometimes turn into blood flow. It looked very strange and terrifying, as if it was about to fall apart at any moment. Moreover, the Foundation Establishment stage aura he emitted could not be restrained. It was like a huge mountain was pressing down on Zhang Chen, making him unable to stand up straight. ¡°Congratulations, Senior Brother, on reaching the Foundation Establishment realm and becoming a direct disciple!¡± Zhang Chen bowed and congratulated him. Li Mumin smiled. ¡°Thanks to you for always exchanging blood essence for me.¡± ¡°Senior Brother¡¯s talent is outstanding. It¡¯s only a matter of time before you reach the Foundation Establishment realm. Zhang Chen doesn¡¯t dare to be presumptuous¡­¡± Zhang Chen said earnestly. ¡°Alright, I said I would reward you after reaching the Foundation Establishment realm,¡± Li Mumin said directly. ¡°A direct disciple can take in a servant to manage the cave abode on the mountain peak. ¡°After becoming a direct servant, you don¡¯t have to participate in the sect assessment anymore. I see that you¡¯re only at the fifth level of Qi Refinement. Clearly, your aptitude is not good. You can manage the cave abode on the mountain for me in the future.¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s expression changed. He never expected such an outcome. ¡°Thank you for your good intentions, Senior Brother. I¡¯m confident that I can pass the assessment.¡± If his aptitude was really not good, becoming a direct servant would be a good life-saving method. However, how could Zhang Chen, who already had a top-grade spiritual root and a modifier, become a direct servant? If it weren¡¯t for the fear of exposing his secret, he might have already reached the Foundation Establishment realm. Li Muming frowned. ¡°Do you think being my servant is shameful? There are many outer disciples who want to be my servant!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a mutually beneficial deal for me to exchange the demon blood for you. There¡¯s no need for you to reward me,¡± Zhang Chen said neither arrogantly nor humbly. Li Mumin was somewhat displeased. ¡°So, do you want me to go back on my word? I, Li Mumin, have always kept my word! ¡°To tell you the truth, when I went to the sect¡¯s main hall to be promoted to direct disciple, I overheard a conversation between some elders. Elder Black Blood¡¯s grandson was born with poor aptitude and has no hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment realm. ¡°Therefore, the Black Blood Elder plans to use a large number of outer sect disciples as blood sacrifices to forcibly improve his grandson¡¯s aptitude and foundation. I¡¯m protecting your life by making you my servant!¡± Zhang Chen was a little shocked. Elder Black Blood was actually planning to sacrifice the lives of a large number of outer sect disciples to improve his grandson¡¯s aptitude. He was really treating outer sect disciples like livestock! Taking a deep breath, Zhang Chen solemnly bowed: ¡°I sincerely thank Senior Brother, but I still have to refuse. ¡°In the year and a half that I exchanged blood essence for my senior brother, I had also saved a lot of it. I just didn¡¯t swallow it for fear of attracting attention, so I am still at the fifth level of Qi Refinement. ¡°If I can refine all of it and reach the seventh level of Qi Refining, I should be able to compete in the next Inner Sect Competition and not have to worry about blood sacrifices.¡± Upon hearing Zhang Chen¡¯s words, Li Mumin was taken aback. Although he had given them a lot of demon blood, the competition for selling demon blood in the outer sect was intense. The sect could still collect demon blood every day. Ordinary disciples could not refine large amounts of demon blood. It was already difficult for them to exchange for three bowls of blood essence a day. He didn¡¯t expect Zhang Chen to still have so much demon blood left. And Zhang Chen has been at the fifth level of Qi Refinement all along. He thought Zhang Chen was just barely able to exchange for three bowls of blood essence, without any extra blood to consume. After a moment of silence, Li Mumin spoke again, ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t force you anymore, but since I said that I would reward you, I will definitely reward you. ¡°I have raised several Qi Refinement stage demon beasts in the beast garden. I¡¯ll reward you with one. You can use my token to go and collect it.¡± With that, Li Mumin threw out a token. This time, Zhang Chen did not refuse. He took the token and said, ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already at the Foundation Establishment stage, and I need more blood essence. I need at least five bowls a day. Can you manage that?¡± Li Mumin asked in a low voice. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Although Zhang Chen was eager to obtain more demon blood, he did not give an affirmative answer. Other people already found it hard to replace three bowls of refined blood in a day, let alone five. It would be abnormal to be too confident. ¡°Alright, I need to stabilize my cultivation level for the next half month. Come find me then,¡± Li Mumin valued Zhang Chen¡¯s ability, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have tried to persuade him with reasons when Zhang Chen refused earlier. ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb you anymore, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen bowed and took his leave. As he left the cave and walked down the mountain, Zhang Chen sighed in his heart. His original strategy was to hide himself and wait until he was strong enough, but now he had to attract attention. Luckily, he had Li Mumin as his senior brother to lean on. And thanks to Li Mumin¡¯s successful Foundation Establishment, he heard inside information. Otherwise, he could have really been used for blood sacrifice. In the future, he couldn¡¯t hide himself too much and still had to show some talent. ¡°Oh! Senior Brother Dong, you¡¯re still here?¡± Zhang Chen realized that Dong Delang was still at the foot of the mountain. ¡°Start to finish, since I brought Junior Brother here, I naturally have to bring Junior Brother back,¡± Dong Delang obviously wanted to befriend Zhang Chen and establish a relationship. ¡°Thank you so much, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen saw through but didn¡¯t expose it. ¡°I wonder what Senior Brother Li instructed Junior Brother to do. Perhaps I can help.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m just exchanging blood essence in the outer sect. You don¡¯t have to bother, Senior Brother.¡± ¡­ As they walked and talked, they seemed like old friends who had known each other for years. ¡°Senior Brother Dong, I¡¯ve arrived. Please go back now.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take my leave then.¡± After sending Dong Delang off, Zhang Chen returned to his cave abode and took out the blood storage bottle containing the blood essence. ¡°Let¡¯s raise my cultivation level to the seventh level of Qi Refinement first!¡± Zhang Chen poured out the blood essence and began refining it. His aura quickly soared. In just a dozen breaths, he had already raised his cultivation level to the seventh level of Qi refining. ¡°Next, I¡¯ll wait for the inner sect competition and become an inner sect disciple.¡± The fact that Elder Black Blood wanted to sacrifice an outer disciple to improve his grandson¡¯s aptitude weighed heavily on Zhang Chen¡¯s mind, like a giant boulder. Being cautious, he felt that only by becoming an inner sect disciple could he be safe. After all, with the modifier, he had a chance of becoming an immortal. As long as he could survive, he would definitely dominate the cultivation world. Chapter 19 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Now there is still time, why don¡¯t we go to the beast garden to choose a demon beast first?¡± After improving his cultivation, Zhang Chen thought of the demon beast that Li Mumin had given him, so he decided to go to the beast garden to choose one first. Not long after, they arrived at the beast garden. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang¡­¡± Seeing Zhang Chen, Wang Zhen was about to greet him when his eyes suddenly widened in surprise. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, you¡­ you¡¯re at the seventh level of Qi Refinement!¡± ¡°I just broke through.¡± Zhang Chen smiled slightly. ¡°The last time we met, you were still at the fifth level of Qi Refinement. It¡¯s only been just over three months, but you¡¯ve broken through two levels in a row?¡± Wang Zhengang felt like he was in a dream. ¡°It¡¯s because Senior Brother Li successfully reached the Foundation Establishment realm and became a direct disciple that he rewarded me with some blood essence. That¡¯s why I broke through two levels in a row.¡± Zhang Chen used Li Mumin as a shield. Ordinary people would not ask a direct disciple about this matter. ¡°Senior Brother Li has become a direct disciple?¡± Wang Zhengang suddenly realized and then exclaimed enviously, ¡°Congratulations, Junior Brother Zhang¡­ ah, no, I should call you Senior Brother Zhang from now on.¡± Wang Zhengang was deeply impressed. He still remembered the scene where Zhang Chen had actively spoken up to exchange blood essence for Li Mumin, but now he had soared to new heights. ¡°Senior Brother Wang joined the sect earlier than me, so it¡¯s better to continue calling me Junior Brother,¡± Zhang Chen said humbly. ¡°No, no, no. The sect has always ranked people according to their cultivation level. I¡¯m only at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, while you¡¯re at the seventh level. I should call you Senior Brother?¡± Hearing Wang Zhengang¡¯s words, Zhang Chen did not continue to be modest. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll call you Junior Brother Wang.¡± ¡°By the way, what instructions do you have for coming to the beast garden this time, Senior Brother?¡± Wang Zhengang asked eagerly, looking to please Zhang Chen. ¡°Senior Brother Li also rewarded me with a demon beast, and I came to choose one. Here¡¯s Senior Brother Li¡¯s token.¡± Zhang Chen took out the token and handed it over. Wang Zhengang took a look and saw that it was indeed Li Mumin¡¯s token. I knew that Senior Brother Li thought highly of Zhang Chen, but I didn¡¯t expect him to think so highly. Not only did he reward him with blood essence, but he also rewarded him with a demon beast! With this in mind, Wang Zhengang just became more enthusiastic, ¡°Brother Zhang, I¡¯ll personally take you to pick one.¡± ¡°Is this appropriate? You still have to be responsible for registration, what if someone comes?¡± Zhang Chen was a bit embarrassed. ¡°It¡¯s okay, let them wait for a while. They¡¯re afraid I¡¯ll arrange dangerous demon dens and won¡¯t dare to complain.¡± Wang Zhengang didn¡¯t care at all. In his opinion, Zhang Chen was already at the seventh level of Qi Refinement. With Li Mumin¡¯s support, it was almost certain that he would become an inner sect disciple. To curry favor with Zhang Chen was equivalent to currying favor with both inner sect disciples and direct disciples. As for those outer sect disciples who came to do missions, how could they be more important than currying favor with Zhang Chen? ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble Junior Brother Wang.¡± Although Zhang Chen felt it was inappropriate, he did not want to embarrass Wang Zhengang. After all, he still needed Wang Zhengang¡¯s help with many things. For example, the demon beast Li Mumin gave him still needed to be kept in the beast garden. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, follow me.¡± Led by Wang Zhengang, Zhang Chen came to a cave. ¡°The demon beasts here were all kept by the senior brothers in the inner sect, and these five are the ones kept by Brother Li.¡± Wang Zhen pointed to several interconnected stone cells ahead. Zhang Chen looked in that direction. A rabbit demon at the third level of Qi Refinement, a horse demon at the second level of Qi Refinement, a wolf demon at the fourth level of Qi Refinement, a bull demon at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, and a pig demon at the seventh level of Qi Refinement. Seeing someone coming, these demon beasts all bared their teeth and roared, their eyes full of hatred. ¡°Which one do you want to choose, Senior Brother Zhang?¡± Wang Zhengang asked. Zhang Chen thought for a moment and finally pointed at a horse demon at the second level of Qi Refinement. ¡°Let¡¯s go with this one.¡± Although Li Mumin said he could choose any, he couldn¡¯t let people think he was greedy. ¡°Okay, Brother Zhang, are you planning to take the horse away or continue to keep it in the beast garden?¡± Wang Zhen asked. ¡°Let¡¯s continue to keep it in the animal garden.¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s small cave had no place to keep it, and he didn¡¯t have a way to control demon beasts yet. ¡°When kept in the beast garden, a third of the demon blood will be collected every time it is taken. Is that okay with Brother Zhang?¡± This was the rule of the beast garden and not something Wang Zhengang could decide. ¡°No problem.¡± Zhang Chen nodded. ¡°Okay, I will transfer this horse demon to Brother Zhang¡¯s name. Is there anything else Brother Zhang needs?¡± Wang Zhen asked again. ¡°Then let¡¯s take the demon blood while we¡¯re at it.¡± Li Mumin had been in seclusion for three months and hadn¡¯t taken any blood. These demon beasts were all full of vitality, which made Zhang Chen very envious. When Wang Zhengang heard this, he immediately took out an array formation token and controlled the array formation to restrain the horse demon. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, you can draw blood now.¡± Zhang Chen nodded, and the blood condensed into a whip, lashing at the horse¡¯s hindquarters. ¡°Crack!¡± With a crisp sound, his flesh split open and demon blood gushed out. Zhang Chen skillfully took out the blood storage bottle and absorbed the demon blood into it. He stopped only when the horse demon became very weak. ¡°Thank you, Junior Brother Wang.¡± Zhang Chen put away the blood storage bottle and thanked him. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, Senior Brother Zhang,¡± replied Wang Zhengang. After giving one-third of the demon blood to Wang Zhengang and exchanging pleasantries, Zhang Chen left the beast garden. Two weeks passed quickly, and Zhang Chen arrived at the mountain peak where Li Mumin was. ¡°Is Senior Brother Li here? Zhang Chen requests an audience.¡± ¡°Come to my cave abode.¡± Li Mumin¡¯s voice came from the mountain. After entering the cave, Zhang Chen saw Li Mumin again. Li Mumin had clearly stabilized his realm and restrained his aura. He looked like an ordinary person. There were no symptoms of blood liquefaction in his body. ¡°Greetings, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen cupped his hands and bowed. Li Mumin nodded. ¡°Not bad, you have indeed reached the seventh layer of Qi Refinement.¡± ¡°I have benefited from Senior Brother¡¯s guidance,¡± Zhang Chen said respectfully. Li Mumin said calmly, ¡°The chance of being selected at the seventh layer of Qi Refinement is not high, but it is not impossible. There are still two months before the inner sect competition. During this time, it would be best for you to learn a technique and participate in the competition to become an inner sect disciple and try to be promoted.¡± ¡°Thank you for your advice, Senior Brother. I have the same intention.¡± Zhang Chen cupped his hands and thanked him. Li Mumin was usually not one for small talk and handed Zhang Chen a bag directly. ¡°This is a blood storage bag, which is 10 times the size of the blood storage bottle. It is one of the items awarded by the sect when I was promoted to a direct disciple. ¡°It is already filled with demon blood. I want you to exchange it for five bowls of blood essence every day. If you can¡¯t do it alone, you can ask others to help. Come back to me in half a month.¡± Zhang Chen took the blood storage bag and said, ¡°I won¡¯t disappoint you.¡± ¡°Okay, you can leave now.¡± Li Mumin ordered. He had just become a direct disciple, and there were still many things he needed to do. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Zhang Chen bowed and left. Back in his cave, Zhang Chen eagerly looked at the blood storage bag. It¡¯s really a good treasure, but it¡¯s a pity that I have to return it. I wonder if I can get one when I become a direct disciple. Forget about those things. What I need to do now is to practice hard and prepare for the inner sect competition in two months, Zhang Chen thought to himself. He put aside his distractions and started to absorb and refine the demon blood from the storage bag. Two months might seem long or short, but time flew by unnoticed. Chapter 20 - Participating in the Competition Chapter 20 Participating in the Competition ¡°Senior Brother, this is half a month¡¯s worth of blood essence.¡± In Li Mumin¡¯s cave, Zhang Chen handed over a blood storage bag with both hands. Li Mumin took it and scanned it with his spiritual sense. There was just enough blood essence for half a month. Initially, he was worried that Zhang Chen would not be able to exchange for five bowls of essence blood a day, but over the past two months, he had completed it without any shortage. Instead, it was Li Mumin¡¯s demon blood that was almost unable to keep up with the supply. If it weren¡¯t for the news of his promotion to the inner disciple had already spread, and many people had given him gifts and tried to curry favor with him, he would not have been able to obtain enough demon beasts and demon blood. After putting away the blood bag, Li Mumin asked, ¡°Tomorrow is the inner sect competition. Do you have confidence?¡± ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be a problem to advance to the inner sect.¡± Zhang Chen was very calm. If he wanted to, he had the confidence to take first place, but he didn¡¯t want to attract too much attention, and he also didn¡¯t care about the reward of a small amount of essence blood. ¡°Okay, I will also be there tomorrow. I hope it¡¯s as you said.¡± Li Mumin still had some doubts about Zhang Chen¡¯s refusal to become his servant. ¡°Senior brother will come to watch me compete?¡± Zhang Chen was surprised. He didn¡¯t think he held such a high position in Li Mumin¡¯s heart. After two years of contact, he knew that Li Mumin was very proud and indifferent. If someone could exchange for more blood essence for him, he wouldn¡¯t mind changing his spokesperson. Li Mumin shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not going to watch you, but the sect arranged for me to preside over the competition and show my face in front of the disciples of the inner and outer sects, letting them know that another direct disciple has been born in the sect.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Zhang Chen nodded. ¡°Alright, focus on the competition these few days. After the competition is over, exchange for demon blood for me.¡± Li Mumin had no intention of continuing the conversation. ¡°Then I won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡± Zhang Chen bowed and left. The next day at dawn, many disciples had already gathered in the square, surrounding the arena and occupying the best viewing positions. Not long after, 10 red figures landed on the stand. They were the direct disciples who had come to maintain order. Li Mumin was among them. He was wearing a red robe that symbolized his status as a direct disciple. His face was expressionless as he coldly scanned the crowd below, as if he was searching for something. Soon, his gaze stopped on Zhang Chen standing among the crowd. Zhang Chen was also looking at Li Mumin. The two of them exchanged glances. Then they looked away without any indication, like strangers. Meanwhile, the people around Zhang Chen started to discuss in a buzz. ¡°The person who looked over just now was Senior Brother Li Mumin, who had just broken through to the Foundation Establishment realm and became an inner sect disciple, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen him before. He¡¯s indeed Senior Brother Li Mumin.¡± ¡°I wonder when we will also be able to break through to the Foundation Establishment and become inner sect disciples!¡± Suddenly, everyone quieted down because a blood river appeared in the sky and in the blink of an eye, it was floating above everyone¡¯s heads. The smell of blood in the air was so strong that no one dared to take a breath. Zhang Chen recognized this scene. It was the same phenomenon that occurred when Patriarch Blood River appeared during the sect assessment. ¡°Welcome, Elder Blood River!¡± The 10 direct disciples bowed to Patriarch Blood River. It was indeed Patriarch Blood River. Like everyone else, Zhang Chen bowed to Patriarch Blood River in the sky. ¡°Welcome, Elder Blood River.¡± Patriarch Blood River gathered and condensed into a figure that landed on the stands. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± ¡°Under the command of the Elder, the Inner Sect Competition begins!¡± The 10 inner sect disciples announced loudly using their magical powers. ¡°Clang, clang, clang¡­¡± The sound of the bell echoed throughout the sect encampment. Li Mumin jumped into the center of the arena. ¡°A total of 280 outer sect disciples above the seventh level of Qi Refinement will participate in this inner sect competition.¡± ¡°To get into the top three¡­¡± ¡°¡­The first match, Lu Zhongping versus Liu Guangsheng.¡± After Li Mumin finished reading, two figures came to the arena. The two introduced themselves and exchanged greetings. Then, Li Mumin announced the start of the match and left the arena to activate the formation. The inner sect competition went on in an orderly manner. Some matches were extremely intense and exciting, while others were one-sided and extremely boring. Zhang Chen was both excited and nervous as he watched from the audience. Although he had cultivated six magical spells and had reached the level of completion, he was still a little nervous since it was his first time fighting against someone. While waiting nervously, Li Mumin finally read his name. ¡°The 32nd match, Zhang Chen versus Xu Zihua.¡± It¡¯s finally my turn! Zhang Chen took a deep breath, exerted force with his feet, and jumped onto the arena. Across from him was a man in his thirties, strong and fierce-looking with a muscular build, also at the seventh level of Qi cultivation. As Zhang Chen appraised the other man, the man also appraised him. ¡°Outer sect disciple Zhang Chen (Xu Zihua), greetings to the elders and fellow brothers and sisters.¡± ¡°The match begins!¡± Having witnessed many matches, Zhang Chen understood the principle of striking first to gain the upper hand. The moment he heard the signal to start, he took a step forward and charged towards the other man, gathering his blood into a blade in his hand. The other man¡¯s reaction was not slow either. He raised his hand and condensed a stream of blood into the shape of an arrow. ¡°Swoosh~¡± The blood arrow turned into a beam of light and shot towards Zhang Chen¡¯s face. Blood Arrow Technique? Seeing the blood arrow, Zhang Chen recalled the description of the Blood Arrow Technique he had seen in the Technique Exchange Pavilion. It condensed blood into arrows that could pierce through rocks and boulders within a hundred feet. I can¡¯t take it head-on! Zhang Chen shifted his body to the side and tilted his head. The blood arrow cut through his nose. He could even smell the blood from the blood arrow. ¡°Wow! He dodged it!¡± The people below the stage exclaimed. How is that possible! they wondered. Xu Zihua was also somewhat incredulous. With the speed of the blood arrow, an ordinary person would not be able to dodge it at such a close range. That was indeed the case, but the Blood Burst Technique was even faster. Zhang Chen, who often practiced the Blood Burst Technique, had greatly improved his reaction speed, which allowed him to dodge the arrow. Xu Zihua hurriedly retreated, while raising his hand to try to condense another blood arrow. At this moment, Zhang Chen was only two steps away from him. Therefore, Zhang Chen attacked. At the moment he raised his knife, an indescribable sense of madness and ferocity emanated from the blade. As Xu Zihua faced the madness head-on, he felt like a lunatic had barged into his mind, yelling and slashing madly. It made his head ache, and he was filled with murderous intent, wishing to smash his head and drag out the lunatic. ¡°Get out! Get out of my head!¡± To others, Xu Zihua suddenly held his head and yelled loudly, not dodging the blood knife that was about to fall. What happened? Why didn¡¯t he dodge? Everyone looked at this scene with puzzled expressions. ¡°Thud¡­¡± The blood saber landed on Xu Zihua¡¯s chest. ¡°Splurt!¡± The blood knife fell and slashed Xu Zihua¡¯s chest, sending him flying backwards, motionless, and with his life in the balance, with blood continuously flowing from his chest. As everyone looked, they saw Xu Zihua had been split open by the knife, and his organs were clearly visible. ¡°How ruthless!¡± The crowd couldn¡¯t help but gasp, but the air they breathed in was filled with the smell of blood, causing them to swallow their saliva. ¡°Is this the Mad Blood Saber Technique?¡± ¡°I never thought that there were still people practicing such a crazy technique.¡± In the stands, a direct disciple recognized Zhang Chen¡¯s saber technique. Chapter 21 - Another Victory Chapter 21 Another Victory Li Mumin had also seen the description of the Mad Blood Saber Technique in the Technique Exchange Pavilion. When he heard that Zhang Chen was using this saber technique, he could not help but frown. He could not understand why the bold and resourceful Zhang Chen would choose such a technique that would cause endless trouble in the future. The effect of the Mad Blood Blade Technique did not disappoint Zhang Chen. However, when he saw Xu Zihua¡¯s internal organs exposed in the air, he felt a little nauseous. Immortal cultivators had tenacious vitality. Even if their stomachs were cut open, they would not die easily. Xu Zihua was only seriously injured and unconscious. Li Mumin went on stage expressionlessly and announced, ¡°Zhang Chen wins!¡± Zhang Chen suppressed the nauseating feeling, saluted the crowd, and then jumped off the stage. As for Xu Zihua, he was fed a medicinal pill and carried away for treatment. ¡°The 33rd round¡­¡± The competition continued. ¡°Congratulations to Senior Brother Zhang for winning.¡± The outer sect disciples around him congratulated Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen, who had yet to recover from the nausea, could only force a smile in response. In the distance, Lu Wenyu looked at the cheerful Zhang Chen with an unpleasant expression. Previously, when he was exchanging for demon blood in the beast park, he had wanted to take advantage by exchanging a small amount of blood essence for a large amount of demon blood. He did not expect to meet Zhang Chen, the spokesperson for blood exchange. In order to prevent this matter from spreading, he had no choice but to lower himself and spend more blood essence to exchange for demon blood from Zhang Chen. After the whole process, he ended up spending more demon blood instead. He had been holding a grudge about this, but due to the rules of the sect and Li Muming behind Zhang Chen, he had not retaliated. Unexpectedly, in just two years, Zhang Chen was already at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, and Li Mumin was at the Foundation Establishment realm. Looking at the two of them, Lu Wenyu became even more resentful. The reason why your cultivation improved so quickly might be because you devoured my blood essence, he thought. However, it¡¯s good that he became an inner sect disciple. Inner sect disciples have to go out to capture demon beasts. Once he leaves the sect, I will have a chance to take revenge. Thinking of this, Lu Wenyu showed a sinister smile. After a while, Zhang Chen recovered and was no longer nauseous. He refocused his attention on the arena. One after another, the disciples went up to the stage, either advancing or being eliminated. Outer sect disciples had single techniques and did not have much battle experience. It basically depended on who attacked first and whose technique was more powerful. Some people were so nervous that they were at a loss and couldn¡¯t even activate their techniques. After the baptism of a battle, the more Zhang Chen looked at it, the more bored he felt. If it weren¡¯t for wanting to know oneself and the enemy, to understand more techniques, he would have wanted to go back to practice. The competition lasted until dusk and a total of 100 disciples were eliminated. The onlookers were still not satisfied and reluctantly went back. The next afternoon, it was Zhang Chen¡¯s turn again. ¡°210th match, Zhang Chen versus Kong Qingsen.¡± This time, Zhang Chen was not nervous. Instead, he was full of fighting spirit. As long as he won this round, he could be promoted to an inner sect disciple. However, when he saw his opponent, Zhang Chen¡¯s expression became somewhat serious. This was because the opponent was at the eighth level of Qi Refinement! Although Zhang Chen was still confident of winning, he might have to expose his other techniques. The other party had a confident smile on his face. Clearly, he did not take Zhang Chen seriously. ¡°The match begins!¡± As soon as Li Mumin finished speaking, Zhang Chen and his opponent moved almost simultaneously. Just like in the previous battle, Zhang Chen rushed towards the other party, his blood condensing into a saber in his hand. Kong Qingsen formed a hand seal, and a spiritual light flashed on his body as he quickly moved backwards. The speed at which he retreated was even faster than Zhang Chen¡¯s running speed. ¡°I know that Senior Brother Kong is using the Light Body Technique to make his body as light as a swallow. Although Zhang Chen¡¯s saber technique is strange, he will definitely lose if he can¡¯t get close!¡± ¡°Zhang Chen will definitely lose. Not only is Senior Brother Kong at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, but he has also participated in two inner sect competitions. He¡¯s very experienced.¡± ¡°By the way, I remember that Senior Brother Kong used the Fire Condensation Technique in last year¡¯s competition.¡± As the audience discussed below the stage, Kong Qingsen made another hand seal, and a fireball appeared out of thin air. The fireball was as big as a head and had a stunning momentum. Zhang Chen could feel the scorching heat emanating from the fireball even from afar. ¡°Go!¡± Kong Qingsen pointed, and the fireball flew towards Zhang Chen. The speed of the fireball was not fast, and Zhang Chen easily dodged it by sidestepping. ¡°Boom!¡± The fireball landed on the ground and exploded like a grenade, scattering flames everywhere. Zhang Chen did not expect the fireball to explode. His clothes were burned by the sputtering flames. Meanwhile, Kong Qingsen took the opportunity to widen the distance between them again. It was obvious that he intended to use long-range methods to wear down Zhang Chen. At this point, they were 30 meters apart. It seems I have to reveal my second spell, but I cannot reveal it directly. I need to choose a moment, Zhang Chen thought helplessly and continued to approach Kong Qingsen. Kong Qingsen was still standing on the same spot, making complicated hand seals. A smug smile appeared on his face, as if he felt that the outcome was already decided. As he finished the incantation, a large fire cloud appeared above his head, almost covering the arena and distorting the air due to its high temperature. ¡°Senior Brother Kong is going to use the most extensive range of the Fire Condensation Technique, Fire Rain. Zhang Chen can¡¯t possibly dodge it. He¡¯s doomed to lose!¡± The crowd watching exclaimed in amazement. At this point, Zhang Chen was only 20 meters away from Kong Qingsen. ¡°Fall!¡± As Kong Qingsen pointed at the sky, the fire cloud turned into a fire rain, and flames fell from the sky. In an instant, the entire arena was covered in flames, as if in a sea of fire. ¡°I can finally advance to the inner sect!¡± After using this move, Kong Qingsen¡¯s aura weakened significantly. It was obvious that he had consumed a lot of energy, but he was very calm and confident. Zhang Chen was only 10 meters away from him. Based on Zhang Chen¡¯s performance, he could only take one more step before being overwhelmed by the fire rain. ¡°Zhang Chen is going to lose!¡± Almost everyone could imagine the scene of Zhang Chen being engulfed by the fire rain. Li Mumin on the spectator stand was also sighing, Zhang Chen was very unlucky to encounter an eighth level Qi-training cultivator who had participated in several major competitions. Just as everyone thought that Zhang Chen was about to lose, he used the Blood Burst Technique! He stimulated the meridians in his feet with his spiritual energy, and his figure instantly increased tenfold, leaving a residual image in place. Then the residual image was engulfed by the fire rain. With a loud bang, flames soared into the sky. Kong Qingsen¡¯s smile was illuminated by the firelight, but it immediately turned stiff, and his eyes were full of shock, incomprehension, and panic. This was because Zhang Chen appeared in front of him and slashed down. Mad Blood Saber Technique! The frenzied and violent aura of the saber technique attacked Kong Qingsen¡¯s consciousness, giving him a splitting headache and making him unable to do anything. ¡°Thud¡­¡± ¡°Splurt!¡± ¡°Huh? What happened?¡± The crowd looked confused and didn¡¯t react at all. To their surprise, Zhang Chen, who should have been in the middle of the fire rain, was unscathed and appeared where Kong Qingsen was. Kong Qingsen lay in a pool of blood, barely breathing. ¡°Oh! Interesting. Not only did he cultivate the Mad Blood Saber Technique, but he also cultivated the Blood Burst Technique.¡± The direct disciples were amazed. Li Mumin smiled and appeared in the arena. ¡°Zhang Chen wins!¡± Chapter 22 - Advancing to the Inner Sect Chapter 22 Advancing to the Inner Sect After the Grand Competition, I will be an inner sect disciple! Zhang Chen was a little excited. He bowed to Elder Blood River and jumped off the arena. He had already achieved his goal of becoming an inner sect disciple. It did not matter if he won or lost the next match. If his opponent was still as strong as Kong Qingsen, he would just admit defeat. After all, the Blood Burst Technique had serious side effects. If he used it continuously, it was very easy to see that he was not affected. There were Golden Core elders and 10 Foundation Establishment disciples in the stands. He was not confident that he could hide it from them. He would try not to use it unless he had to. What Zhang Chen did not know was that he had already caught the attention of Patriarch Blood River. With Patriarch Blood River¡¯s Golden Core stage observation skills and hundreds of years of experience, he could tell that Zhang Chen was not affected by the madness of the Mad Blood Saber Technique. One had to know that the power of the Mad Blood Saber Technique completely depended on the user¡¯s level of madness. But Zhang Chen¡¯s technique was not mad, despite being called the Mad Blood Saber Technique. Does he have a special physique, a special mind, or a treasure that can resist madness? Patriarch Blood River looked at Zhang Chen in the crowd, deep in thought. On the third day of the inner sect competition. Only those who had won at least one match could enter the arena. This meant that they had some strength, and the intensity of the competition had increased significantly. On the fourth day, those who could enter the arena had won two rounds and were about to become inner sect disciples. The competition became exciting. On this day, Zhang Chen welcomed his third battle. This was another disciple at the eighth level of Qi Refinement who knew two techniques. Zhang Chen had watched his opponent¡¯s previous battles and couldn¡¯t defeat him when he only used the Mad Blood Saber Technique. It wasn¡¯t that the Mad Blood Saber Technique wasn¡¯t strong, but that it was difficult to get close to the opponent. The two techniques usually involved movement and attacks. Therefore, Zhang Chen admitted defeat as soon as he went up the stage. This made Li Mumin a little unhappy. He felt that with the strength Zhang Chen had displayed previously, he had a chance of winning. Zhang Chen was working for him. The stronger his subordinates were, the more face he would have. Although he only hoped that Zhang Chen could become an inner sect disciple at the beginning, after seeing Zhang Chen¡¯s strength, his expectations naturally increased. However, in front of so many people, Li Mumin did not say anything. The fifth day was the day to determine the final ranking of the competition. Zhang Chen had admitted defeat the day before, so he naturally had no intention of competing today. ¡°This year¡¯s inner sect competition has ended. The first place goes to¡­¡± Li Mumin announced the rankings. Zhang Chen¡¯s rank was 85th, and the next 15 ranks were unable to continue participating due to serious injuries, so they defaulted to lower rankings. Finally, Patriarch Blood River stood up and announced, ¡°In this competition, the top 100 will be promoted to inner sect disciples and will be rewarded with blood essence.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the 10 direct disciples began to distribute the blood essence according to the rankings. Zhang Chen was ranked 85th and only received a bowl of blood essence. ¡°Thank you for the reward, Elder!¡± The hundred disciples who had been promoted bowed excitedly. Patriarch Blood River spoke again, ¡°Distribute inner sect identity tokens and clothing.¡± The top 100 had already been announced the previous day, so they had been prepared in advance. The 10 direct disciples waved their hands, and their identity tokens and clothes landed in their hands. ¡°From now on, you are all inner sect disciples of the Blood River Sect. Contribute more to the sect. At the same time, don¡¯t slack off in your cultivation. Work hard to improve your cultivation level and reach the Foundation Establishment realm as soon as possible to become direct disciples.¡± ¡°We will remember Elder¡¯s teachings and not disappoint the sect¡¯s cultivation. We will work hard to cultivate.¡± ¡°Alright, you can all leave now.¡± Patriarch Blood River transformed into a blood river and disappeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. What Zhang Chen did not know was that Patriarch Blood River had glanced imperceptibly at him before leaving. ¡°Farewell, Elder Blood River!¡± Back in his cave, Zhang Chen changed into the attire of an inner sect disciple. White and red, like blood stained white clothes. Then he took out the bronze identity token and played with it with a smile on his face. ¡°I¡¯m an inner sect disciple now. I don¡¯t have to worry about the blood sacrifice of Elder Black Blood anymore. ¡°Furthermore, as an inner sect disciple, the daily amount of demon blood that can be obtained has increased from one bowl to 10 bowls. And there is also an inner sect disciple-exclusive cave. ¡°In addition to the benefits, the sect¡¯s tasks are different. Every year, inner sect disciples are required to go to the Demon Beast Mountain Range to capture demon beasts for the sect. ¡°Although it¡¯s dangerous, if I have the strength, I can capture a few more demon beasts and put them in the beast garden to collect blood. ¡°With my current strength, catching a few demon beasts shouldn¡¯t be a problem. The others will use demon blood to exchange for blood essence. I don¡¯t have to go through so much trouble. I can completely devour and refine them myself.¡± Early the next morning, Zhang Chen headed to the Internal Affairs Hall. On the way, he saw the outer sect disciples bowing and giving way to him, a treatment that was markedly different from before. When he arrived at the Internal Affairs Hall, Zhang Chen saw many inner sect disciples who had come to exchange their cave abodes. ¡°I¡¯m a newly-promoted inner sect disciple, and I¡¯m here to receive my inner sect cave abode,¡± Zhang Chen handed over his identity token. After the Internal Affairs disciple confirmed his identity, he asked, ¡°Brother, do you prefer the mountaintop, the mountainside, or the foot of the mountain?¡± When he was an outer disciple, he didn¡¯t have a choice. After thinking for a moment, Zhang Chen said, ¡°Give me the mountaintop.¡± Although it was inconvenient, it was quiet and no one came up except to find him. He had many secrets on him, so the mountaintop was more suitable for him. ¡°Alright, Senior Brother, please wait a moment.¡± The Internal Affairs disciple rummaged through the books and archives for a while before saying, ¡°The 330th cave abode on the mountaintop is unoccupied. Do you confirm that you want it?¡± Zhang Chen was not picky. As long as it was on the mountaintop, it was fine, so he nodded and said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll take Cave 330.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, I¡¯ve already recorded it for you. The 330th cave abode in the inner sect belongs to you from now on. You have three days to clean up the original cave abode in the outer sect. After three days, it will be registered as an unoccupied cave abode and allocated to other outer sect disciples.¡± The Internal Affairs disciple registered for a while and then respectfully handed back the identity token. ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhang Chen took back his identity token and sighed in his heart. When I was an outer disciple, these disciples responsible for registration ignored me and didn¡¯t even look at me properly. I had to be respectful to them and not offend them, and they assigned me difficult missions. Now that I¡¯m an inner sect disciple, everyone is respectful to me and fawns over me, afraid of offending me. Class distinctions are everywhere! Zhang Chen did not have many things. He quickly sorted out the useful items in the cave abode and headed to his new cave abode. Zhang Chen was in a good mood when he arrived at the inner sect¡¯s 330th cave abode on the mountaintop. ¡°From now on, this will be my cave abode. I don¡¯t know how long I will live here.¡± Entering the cave abode, he found a spacious area. Compared to the outer cave dwellings where more than 10 people crowded onto one mountain, this inner cave abode was like a villa. However, this cave abode was empty, and he needed to add some furniture and daily necessities. After tidying up the cave abode, Zhang Chen planned to visit his two neighbors who lived on the same mountain. After all, he had to pass their cave abodes to come and go, so it was essential to maintain good relations with them. When they arrived at the cave abode on the mountainside, Zhang Chen shouted, ¡°Senior Brother, are you there?¡± Soon, a thin man walked out of the cave abode and asked, ¡°Who are you? Do you have business with me?¡± Chapter 23 - Unexpected Calamity Chapter 23 Unexpected Calamity ¡°My name is Zhang Chen. I¡¯ve just moved into the cave at the top of the mountain and came to visit my senior.¡± Zhang Chen introduced himself. ¡°So you¡¯re a new inner sect disciple. Alright, I got it. Don¡¯t bother me if there¡¯s nothing important.¡± The thin man didn¡¯t even give his name, impatiently turned around and went into the cave. Zhang Chen did not mind and continued to visit another neighbor at the foot of the mountain. ¡°Senior Brother, are you there?¡± He waited outside the cave for a while, but there was no response. He didn¡¯t know if the person was ignoring him or just wasn¡¯t there. After waiting for a while longer with still no one coming out, Zhang Chen had to give up and went to the mountain where Li Mumin was located. In the direct disciple cave abode. ¡°Why did you choose the Mad Blood Saber Technique? Don¡¯t you know that this technique can drive people insane with its difficulty?¡± Li Mumin asked in a low voice. After all, Zhang Chen had good blood refining ability, and he didn¡¯t want his capable disciple to become insane because of this technique. Zhang Chen had already prepared an excuse. ¡°Junior knows, but I only have two months to practice techniques. In order to advance to the inner sect, I had to choose this technique. ¡°However, don¡¯t worry, Senior Brother.I have only practiced this technique for a short time and I won¡¯t use it in the future, so it won¡¯t have much of an impact on me.¡± Li Mumin had never practiced the Mad Blood Saber Technique, and very few people in the sect had ever practiced it. He did not know if it would still affect Zhang Chen after he stopped practicing it. After a moment of silence, he asked again, ¡°Why did you forfeit the match in the inner sect competition without even fighting?¡± Zhang Chen continued to explain, ¡°My goal was to become an inner disciple. Now that my goal has been achieved, there is no point in continuing to compete. ¡°Moreover, I¡¯m using the Mad Blood Saber Technique and the Blood Burst Technique. I¡¯ll try my best not to use these two techniques with severe side effects unless necessary.¡± Li Mumin did not dwell on these two matters any longer, but he was worried about something else. ¡°You¡¯re now an inner sect disciple. In the future, you can capture demon beasts yourself in the future. Can you still ensure that you will obtain enough blood essence for me?¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Senior Brother¡¯s support, I wouldn¡¯t be where I am today. Regardless of my future status, I will always obtain blood essence for Senior Brother,¡± Zhang Chen replied. He had a great demand for demon blood and the more he could obtain, the better. Li Mumin nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Very good. From now on, you will still exchange five bowls of blood essence for me every day. If you need to take on sect tasks, let me know in advance.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother. I understand.¡± Zhang Chen replied respectfully. ¡°This is demon blood. Take it.¡± Li Mumin said, tossing a storage bag to Zhang Chen. ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb you anymore.¡± Zhang Chen took the storage bag and left. What Zhang Chen didn¡¯t know was that obtaining blood essence for Li Mumin would cause him trouble. At the Blood God Sect¡¯s no. 1 inner sect cave, three inner sect disciples at the ninth level of Qi Refinement gathered. If Li Mumin was there, he would recognize the three of them as Xu Yixian, Jiang Xianghong, and Zhou Wenting, whom he had conflicts with before. ¡°Junior Brother Jiang, Junior Brother Zhou, do you know why I invited you here?¡± ¡°Is it about Li Mumin being promoted to direct disciple before us?¡± Jiang Xianghong guessed. ¡°Exactly. Li Mumin reached the ninth level of Qi cultivation later than us, but he reached the Foundation Establishment stage before us and became a direct disciple!¡± Xu Yixian¡¯s face darkened. Jiang Xianghong frowned. ¡°Logically speaking, Li Mumin¡¯s cultivation speed shouldn¡¯t be so fast. Unless he obtained a large amount of blood essence. But where did he get so much blood essence from?¡± Jiang Xianghong frowned. ¡°I heard that an outer sect disciple comes to Li Mumin¡¯s cave every few days. Could it be that this outer sect disciple exchanged blood essence for Li Mumin?¡± Zhou Wenting guessed. ¡°We have spokespersons in the outer sect. It¡¯s unlikely that an outer disciple can obtain so much blood essence for him.¡± Xu Yixian shook his head. ¡°In any case, we should investigate this outer disciple and see if he knows anything,¡± Jiang Xianghong suggested. ¡°I will arrange the investigation. The main concern is that we have conflicts with Li Mumin. Now that he has become a direct disciple, he may seek revenge against us. What should we do?¡± Zhou Wenting expressed his concerns. ¡°We won¡¯t leave the sect. Even if Li Mumin is a direct disciple, he can¡¯t do anything to us,¡± Jiang Xianghong said, feeling a bit rebellious. ¡°Although we can continue to stay in the sect by submitting the captured demon beasts as tasks to the sect, it¡¯s not a long-term solution,¡± Xu Yixian said, feeling heavy-hearted. ¡°Why don¡¯t we seek protection from Senior Brother Wen?¡± Zhou Wenting suggested. The ¡®Senior Brother Wen¡¯ he referred to was Wen Xiaosu, also a direct disciple. The three of them used to be his spokespersons in the outer sect. Xu Yixian shook his head. ¡°Senior Brother Ma won¡¯t offend another direct disciple for our sake.¡± ¡°So, there¡¯s no way out?¡± The group felt disheartened. After a moment of silence, Xu Yi spoke again, ¡°I have an idea, but I don¡¯t know if you guys are willing to do it.¡± ¡°What idea?¡± the two asked eagerly. ¡°If you lend me your blood essence first and let me reach the Foundation Establishment realm alone to become a direct disciple, then we won¡¯t have to fear Li Mumin anymore. After all, I have a higher cultivation level among the three of us, and there¡¯s a better chance of success,¡± Xu Yixian said, smiling. The other two looked at each other, realizing that Xu Yixian was using external threats to benefit himself. Maybe he had planned this all along when he invited them over. People were selfish, and they were afraid of lending out their blood essence and never getting it back. How could they ask a direct disciple for repayment? Xu Yixian didn¡¯t urge them and just looked at them. For a while, there was silence in the cave, with only the sound of their breathing. After a while, Jiang Xianghonglu forced a smile. ¡°We¡¯ll consider this and talk again in a while. First, let¡¯s investigate the outer sect disciple who had contact with Li Mumin. Maybe we can get some useful information.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s investigate this outer sect disciple first.¡± Xu Yixian didn¡¯t push them. He didn¡¯t think an outer sect disciple could have much influence. After becoming an inner sect disciple, Zhang Chen¡¯s life did not change much. He still practiced in the cave every day, occasionally went to the beast garden to take the blood of the horse demon, and went to Li Mumin¡¯s cave every few days to submit the blood essence and bring back the demon blood. A month later, Xu Yixian, Jiang Xianghong, and Zhou Wenting met again in the No. 1 cave of the inner sect. ¡°I¡¯ve already investigated that outer sect disciple. His name is Zhang Chen, and he¡¯s indeed the spokesperson for Li Mumin¡¯s blood essence exchange. However, he¡¯s now an inner sect disciple, not an outer sect disciple.¡± Zhou Wenting was the first to speak. Jiang Xianghong frowned. They could use their relationships with outer sect disciples and use sect tasks as a leverage, but it would be more difficult with inner sect disciples. Xu Yixian wasn¡¯t concerned. ¡°Even if this guy named Zhang Chen is Li Mumin¡¯s representative, he can¡¯t exchange for much blood essence with the situation in the outer sect. It¡¯s impossible for Li Mumin to reach the Foundation Establishment realm so quickly. Also, have you considered my proposal to let me reach the Foundation Establishment realm first?¡± Chapter 24 - Suspicion Chapter 24 Suspicion Zhou Wenting shook his head. ¡°This person named Zhang Chen is very suspicious, and he has gained the trust of Li Mumin.¡± ¡°Oh? Tell me more.¡± Xu Yixian still didn¡¯t pay attention, thinking that Zhou Wenting was intentionally avoiding the topic of helping him reach the Foundation Establishment realm. Zhou Wenting continued, ¡°Two years ago, Zhang Chen was only a fifth-level Qi practitioner, barely passing the ordinary outer sect assessment. While on a blood-taking mission in the beast garden, he met Li Mumin¡­ ¡°Then, a few months ago, after Li Mumin broke through to the Foundation Establishment realm, not only did he reward him with blood essence, but he also gave him a demon beast to break through to the seventh level of Qi Refinement.¡± ¡°It seems that Zhang Chen is really highly regarded by Li Mumin.¡± Jiang Xianghong nodded. But Xu Yixian¡¯s face changed, ¡°Li Mumin broke through himself, yet he still rewards his subordinate with blood essence?¡± ¡°That¡¯s indeed what I heard,¡± Zhou Wenting replied. ¡°Where did Li Mumin get so much blood essence?¡± Xu Yi could not believe it at first. ¡°Later, I also inquired about how much blood essence Zhang Chen can exchange in a day, but I found out that not many people know that he is Li Mumin¡¯s spokesperson, nor have they exchanged demon blood with him. ¡°If he¡¯s a representative, but not many people know, how does he exchange blood essence for Li Mumin? In order to figure this out, I got someone to keep an eye on his cave abode. During this period of time, he would go to Li Mumin¡¯s cave every few days, but never traded with anyone. ¡°Not only that, during the few months when Li Mumin was in seclusion, Zhang Chen exchanged demon blood with our spokesperson. ¡°Therefore, there¡¯s something very suspicious about Zhang Chen. Or perhaps Li Mumin has a huge secret. Zhang Chen is just a decoy.¡± Zhou Wenting¡¯s expression was solemn. ¡°Is what you¡¯re saying true?¡± Xu Yixian also became serious. Zhou Wenting nodded heavily. Could there be a treasure that transforms and produces blood essence? There was silence in the cave again. The three of them didn¡¯t know what the others were thinking. After a long time, Xu Yi spoke first, ¡°Why don¡¯t we get someone to contact this Zhang Chen and see if we can get any useful information out of him?¡± ¡°Great!¡± Two hours later, outside Cave 330. ¡°Is Junior Brother Zhang here? I¡¯m a neighbor who lives halfway up the mountain.¡± Why would a neighbor who lives halfway up the mountain be looking for me? Inside the cave, Zhang Chen was a bit puzzled but still went out to see. Outside the cave, he saw a thin man who lived halfway up the mountain and asked, ¡°Is there something you need from me, Senior Brother?¡± Unlike the last time when he was cold, the thin man was very enthusiastic this time. ¡°Hello Junior Brother Zhang, I¡¯m Sun Jian. I heard that you are Li Mumin¡¯s spokesperson and I want to exchange for some demon blood.¡± Zhang Chen did not think too much about it. ¡°That was true before, but after I became an inner sect disciple, I stopped being a spokesperson. However, if Senior Brother wants to exchange, I still have some demon blood that I can give to you.¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t even have enough demon blood to consume himself, so he naturally didn¡¯t want to exchange it with others, but he was giving face to his neighbor. ¡°Okay, what is the exchange ratio for this, Junior Brother?¡± Sun Jian asked. ¡°One bowl of blood essence and one pot of demon blood.¡± This was the exchange ratio for the outer sect. Very few people in the inner sect exchanged for demon blood. Zhang Chen had never exchanged it before, so he did not know what the ratio was for the inner sect. But he never intended to exchange with anyone, so it was even better if the other party didn¡¯t want to exchange. Sun Jian said, ¡°Junior Brother, can you make it cheaper?¡± ¡°How about you find someone else then, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen could obtain six bowls of blood essence by refining a pot of demon blood. He sold one bowl to someone else just to be like everyone else. How could he agree to exchange again and lose money? ¡°Well then, I won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡± Sun Jian arched his hands and turned to leave. ¡°Take care, Senior Brother Sun.¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t care. Sun Jian returned to his cave abode on the mountainside. There was another person in his cave abode. It was Zhou Wenting, who had come to gather information. Seeing Sun Jian come back, Zhou Wenting quickly asked, ¡°How did it go, Senior Brother Sun?¡± ¡°Senior Brother Zhou, Zhang Chen admits to being Li Mumin¡¯s spokesperson, and the exchange ratio is one bowl of blood essence for one pot of demon blood. He also said that he¡¯s now an inner sect disciple and no longer a spokesperson,¡± Sun Jian reported truthfully. The exchange ratio is not a problem, but he¡¯s no longer a representative? Zhou Wenting thought. Then what¡¯s the point of going to see Li Mumin every few days? Seeing that Zhou Wenting did not speak, Sun Jian asked carefully, ¡°Senior Brother Zhou, do you have any other instructions?¡± ¡°I hope Senior Brother Sun can watch Zhang Chen for me in the future. If Zhang Chen goes out or someone comes to find him, please let me know. This is your reward.¡± Zhou Wenting handed over a water bag containing blood essence. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother Zhou. I will definitely keep an eye on Zhang Chen for you.¡± Sun Jian happily accepted the water bag. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get going first.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send you off, Senior Brother.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± After leaving Sun Jian¡¯s cave abode, Zhou Wenting walked towards Cave 1. ¡°Zhang Chen said he¡¯s no longer a spokesperson, but he still goes to see Li Mumin every few days. Do you think there¡¯s a secret hidden there?¡± The other two shook their heads. Zhou Wenting asked, ¡°Then what should we do next?¡± Xu Yi thought for a moment. ¡°Send a few more people to test him in different ways.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be too risky? I¡¯ve inquired about Zhang Chen, and he rarely socialized. Frequent attempts to test him may raise suspicion.¡± Zhou rejected the idea. ¡°Then what do you suggest?¡± Xu Yi was impatient. He wanted the other two to support him in reaching the Foundation Establishment realm rather than being delayed by Zhang Chen. However, it was obvious that the other two would not agree easily. They would rather figure out the secrets of Zhang Chen. ¡°Why not make friends with Zhang Chen and gain his trust before probing him indirectly?¡± Zhou Wenting suggested. A few days later. ¡°Is Junior Brother Zhang here?¡± Hearing the voice outside the cave, Zhang Chen frowned. Sun Jian had been coming to see him every day, either for idle chat or to introduce him to new friends, which was becoming a nuisance. But he couldn¡¯t completely ignore him due to face-saving reasons. After calming himself down, Zhang Chen got up and walked out. ¡°Senior Brother Sun, is there something you need?¡± ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, it¡¯s great to meet you. Although we¡¯ve only known each other for a few days, I¡¯ve always regarded you as a close friend. I have a sworn sister that I want to introduce you to,¡± Sun Jian was unusually enthusiastic. Zhang Chen shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Senior Brother Sun. I need to practice my techniques and prepare for hunting demon beasts. I don¡¯t have the time.¡± Sun Jian did not give up just like that and continued to persuade him. ¡°It won¡¯t take long. My sworn sister is a beauty, and I guarantee she won¡¯t disappoint you. I¡¯ve talked to her about you, and she¡¯s interested in you. Maybe you can become Dao companions.¡± ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother Sun. I¡¯m not interested in Dao companions for the time being. If there¡¯s nothing else, please leave.¡± Zhang Chen was not interested in continuing the conversation. Sun Jian¡¯s smile froze. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll visit you next time.¡± As he turned away, Sun Jian¡¯s face looked unpleasant. If Zhou Wenting hadn¡¯t instructed him to think of a way to befriend Zhang Chen, he wouldn¡¯t have come here every day. There was no progress in their conversation over the past few days. If Zhou Wenting hadn¡¯t ordered him to find a way to befriend Zhang Chen, he wouldn¡¯t have come to bother him every day with no success. He wanted to see if women had any attraction to Zhang Chen, but he was firmly rejected. Chapter 25 - Blood Sacrifice Begins Chapter 25 Blood Sacrifice Begins Sun Jian turned around and looked at Zhang Chen¡¯s cave abode before muttering fiercely, ¡°I don¡¯t believe this kid can resist temptation!¡± Zhang Chen did not think too much about it. He assumed that Sun Jian wanted to use him to get close to Li Mumin. Unconsciously, it was time for the sect assessment again, and the atmosphere within the Blood God Sect became oppressive and tense. Zhang Chen rarely went out, and with his cultivation already surpassing the requirements for the assessment, he didn¡¯t need to worry about anything. The only thing he was thinking about was whether Patriarch Black Blood really intended to use the outer sect disciples as blood sacrifices. ¡°Senior Brother Sun, is what you said true?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s true. As long as you can charm that Zhang Chen, I¡¯ll give you some blood essence.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m experienced in this aspect.¡± ¡°Remember, you¡¯re my adopted sister now. Don¡¯t let anything slip.¡± ¡°Got it, got it.¡± At the foot of the mountain, Sun Jian led a seductive and attractive woman towards the mountaintop. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, are you there?¡± Inside his cave, Zhang Chen¡¯s face darkened. Sun Jian had disturbed him several times already, and he was beginning to get fed up with him. When he had visited before, Sun Jian had ignored him, and now he suddenly became overly enthusiastic. It was obvious that he had ulterior motives. If it was just a normal friendship, Zhang Chen wouldn¡¯t refuse, but Sun Jian clearly had a motive. Zhang Chen stood up and prepared to go out to casually deal with him and tell him not to come back again. Outside the cave, Zhang Chen saw not only Sun Jian, but also a woman who looked like a prostitute with a seductive air about her. The woman¡¯s clothes slid down her shoulders, half-revealing her cleavage, and her dress was torn, revealing her long legs. She was also throwing him seductive glances and showing off her tempting appearance. When Sun Jian saw Zhang Chen looking at the woman, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that any hot-blooded young man can resist the temptation of beauty.¡± ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, this is my adopted sister. You said that you didn¡¯t have time, so I brought her here. So, how is she? Beautiful, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Yang Xuanxuan. Greetings, Senior Brother Zhang.¡± The woman bowed to Zhang Chen, and from his perspective, he could see her ample cleavage. ¡°Ahem, ahem.¡± Zhang Chen coughed awkwardly twice. ¡°Junior Sister Yang is indeed beautiful.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, you can call me Xuanxuan from now on.¡± Yang Xuanxuan¡¯s charming eyes kept sizing up Zhang Chen, curious as to why Sun Jian would spend his blood essence on her to seduce Zhang Chen. ¡°However, Zhang Chen is quite handsome. He¡¯s already at the seventh level of Qi Refinement at such a young age. Even if I give my body, I won¡¯t lose out.¡± At the thought of this, Yang Xuanxuan couldn¡¯t help feeling a little hot. Why doesn¡¯t this despicable person treat me the same way? Seeing the look of longing in Yang Xiaoxuan¡¯s eyes, Sun Jian felt a bit jealous and unhappy, but he still smiled and said, ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, my younger sister admires you very much and has a lot to say to you. Why don¡¯t you two go inside the cave and talk? I won¡¯t disturb you.¡± After saying that, Sun Jian was secretly pleased with himself. A man and a woman alone. I don¡¯t believe you can resist. This kind of thing only happens once or countless times. Once you take the bait, I¡¯ll have control. Yang Xuanxuan next to him cooperated fully as she looked at Zhang Chen with admiration and anticipation. Zhang Chen, who had lived two lives, naturally would not fall for her easily. Moreover, a woman like Yang Xuanxuan was not his type. Not to mention, Sun Jian had a very strong sense of purpose, making him wary and unhappy. He did not want to interact too much with him. ¡°I¡¯m preparing to complete a sect mission in the near future and I need to practice my techniques diligently. This is a matter of life and death, so I dare not be careless. Please excuse me, both of you.¡± Zhang Chen turned around and entered the cave on his own. The blood essence in her hands was gone just like that, making Yang Xuanxuan a little anxious. ¡°Are you still a man!¡± she exclaimed. Sun Jian¡¯s expression was unpleasant as he gritted his teeth. Zhang Chen turned a deaf ear to them. ¡°Senior Brother Sun, what should I do now? You can¡¯t let me come here for nothing, right?¡± Yang Xiaoxuan looked at Sun Jian unwillingly. Sun Jian¡¯s face became gloomy, but he thought of something and looked at Yang Xiaoxuan with a lecherous smile. ¡°He¡¯s not a man, but I am! ¡°Go to my cave.¡± ¡°Okay, but the price has to be raised.¡± Yang Xuanxuan covered her mouth and chuckled. ¡°As long as I¡¯m comfortable, everything¡¯s negotiable.¡± Sun Jian hugged Yang Xuanxuan and walked towards his cave abode. A few days later. ¡°Dong, dong, dong¡­¡¯ A muffled and heavy bell rang, announcing the notice of the sect assessment. Zhang Chen arrived at the square with a calm expression. The last time he was here, he was an outer sect disciple, but now he was an inner sect disciple. The outer sect disciples made way for Zhang Chen. Faced with the assessment that would determine life and death, everyone¡¯s expressions were different, ranging from fear to pride and confidence. After a while, several direct disciples flew in from a distance. They looked down on the crowd with a gaze similar to that of looking at food. Suddenly, a foul smell filled the air, and a spring of blood erupted from the ground, continuously gushing out fresh blood. Strangely enough, the blood that spurted out was as black as ink, emitting an unbearable stench, like coagulated corpse blood. At the sight of the black blood, a figure came to Zhang Chen¡¯s mind, the Golden Core Elder of the Blood God Sect, Patriarch Black Blood. Li Mumin had said that Patriarch Black Blood wanted to use the blood of outer sect disciples to forcibly improve his grandson¡¯s aptitude. If the one who came was really Patriarch Black Blood, then the outer sect disciples present today¡­ Zhang Chen glanced at the nervous outer sect disciples and couldn¡¯t help but feel a little pity. The blood spring seemed to be infinite and never dried up, continuously gushing out fresh blood. In just a moment, black corpse blood covered the entire square. Feeling the stickiness under his feet, Zhang After Chen couldn¡¯t help but feel a little nervous. a while, a figure covered in corpse spots slowly emerged from the blood spring. ¡°Welcome, Elder Black Blood!¡± The direct disciples bowed respectfully. It was indeed Patriarch Black Blood! Zhang Chen¡¯s heart tightened, and he followed the others in bowing respectfully: ¡°Welcome, Elder Black Blood!¡± ¡°The assessment begins.¡± Patriarch Black Blood¡¯s voice was dry and hoarse, devoid of any emotion. ¡°Elder¡¯s decree.¡± After the direct disciples finished bowing, they began the assessment process. ¡°Those who have been in the sect for three years, stand in front of me.¡± ¡°Those who have been in the sect¡­¡¯ After arranging themselves in groups, the direct disciples spoke again, ¡°Take out your identity tokens and infuse them with spiritual power.¡± Everyone took out their identity tokens and infused them with spiritual power, displaying their identity information. However, this time, the direct disciples did not drain the spiritual power of those who did not meet the standards. ¡°Waa~ waa~ waa~ waa¡­¡¯ A baby¡¯s crying suddenly sounded in the square. Where did the sect get a baby from? Everyone was puzzled and looked towards the direction where the sound came from. Two figures had appeared beside the black-blooded old man. It was a man and a woman. They were both wearing direct disciple attire and carrying a baby. Many disciples were puzzled, not knowing what was going on. Only Zhang Chen knew that this was the beginning of a blood sacrifice. The baby was naturally the grandson of Patriarch Black Blood, and the man and woman holding the baby were likely the parents. ¡°Dad, can we start the blood sacrifice?¡± the man asked Patriarch Black Blood. Patriarch Black Blood nodded as he waved his hand. Chapter 26 - Blood Sacrifice of a Thousand People Chapter 26 Blood Sacrifice of a Thousand People Blood sacrifice? What kind of blood sacrifice? The crowd looked confused, not knowing what was happening. The black blood on the ground suddenly began to move, twisting and arranging into one strange and inexplicable symbol after another. Zhang Chen suddenly realized that the blood spring had been intentionally bleeding all along to set up the blood sacrifice formation on the ground! But he was also in the formation. Did that mean all the disciples were going to be sacrificed? Zhang Chen panicked, but he did not dare to move. In front of a Golden Core cultivator, he had no chance of escape. Trying to run would only make him die faster. No, it¡¯s impossible to sacrifice all the disciples. Don¡¯t panic, don¡¯t panic¡­ Zhang Chen kept consoling himself in his heart to calm himself down. After the formation was set up, the black blood on the ground changed again. It attached itself to some of the disciples, wrapping them up. ¡°Ah, no, don¡¯t, don¡¯t!¡± They screamed loudly, struggling continuously, but it was all in vain. Eventually, they were completely enveloped by the black blood. Many people breathed a sigh of relief because these were the ones who had failed the assessment. But they had obviously been happy too early. The black blood continued to move, attaching itself to some of the outer disciples. And these disciples had passed the sect assessment! ¡°Elder, you¡¯re wrong. I did pass the assessment, I did pass the assessment¡­¡± The cold voice of Patriarch Black Blood rang out. ¡°You only just passed the assessment, and you¡¯re not worth much cultivation. It¡¯s better to use your lives to help my grandson shed his mortal body and ascend to the immortal path. ¡°You should feel honored, you bunch of useless people!¡± Finally, everyone understood the meaning of the blood sacrifice, but it was too late. How could they resist the power of a Golden Core cultivator? Their eyes, filled with fear, despair, and pleading, were covered by the black blood and plunged into darkness. The remaining disciples trembled with fear, afraid of becoming one of them. In the end, out of the original 2,000 people, only less than 1,000 remained. A few hundred inner sect disciples and over a hundred outer sect disciples with cultivation levels surpassing the assessment were left. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s enough.¡± Patriarch Black Blood nodded in satisfaction, and waved his hand again. Invisible spiritual power lifted the baby and floated it to the center of the formation. Countless black threads stretched out from the formation and wrapped the baby, forming a black sphere. Meanwhile, the disciples wrapped in black blood began to quickly dissolve, turning into a pure energy that was injected through the black threads into the sphere wrapping the baby. It¡¯s safe! Zhang Chen and the remaining disciples felt lucky to have survived the ordeal. ¡°Splurt!¡± ¡°Splurt!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The black sphere began to contract and pulsate like a heart. It was also like an embryo that was nurturing a new life. The parents of the baby looked nervous and stared at the sphere, ¡°Dad, can it really work? Nothing bad will happen, right?¡± Patriarch Black Blood was very sure. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Hearing this, the couple felt somewhat relieved. They were deeply affectionate for their offspring and had defied the natural order, but everyone else was chilled to the bone. Because the cost of defying the natural order was the lives of over a thousand people, they didn¡¯t want to trade someone else¡¯s life for their own. ¡°Boom!¡± The originally clear sky suddenly became overcast with dark clouds, and thunder rumbled. Patriarch Black Blood looked up at the sky, his expression becoming somewhat solemn. ¡°Boom!¡± With another loud bang, a bolt of lightning struck directly at the black sphere. However, a blood-colored membrane appeared above the Blood God Sect, blocking the lightning. This was the Blood God Sect¡¯s protective array! Although it blocked the lightning, the brightness of the array dimmed significantly. ¡°Crack, crack, crack¡­¡± The black sphere also began to change, making a cracking sound. ¡°Whoosh!¡± The sphere then shattered, and a large amount of blood gushed out, revealing a peaceful sleeping baby. The baby was entirely blood-red, like a blood jade, and extremely beautiful and cute. But if it were known that this baby carried the burden of thousands of lives, it might not be considered so cute. ¡°Boom!¡± As the baby appeared, lightning struck again in the sky. ¡°Crack!¡± This time, Zhang¡¯s protective array failed to block the lightning and was damaged, leaving a large hole. However, it also significantly weakened the power of the lightning. The lightning, which had shrunk by half, was still not something an ordinary person could withstand and continued to fall towards the baby. ¡°Dad, save Long¡¯er quickly!¡± the baby¡¯s parents shouted anxiously. ¡°Hmph!¡± Patriarch Black Blood snorted coldly as he waved his hand. The black blood on the ground rose into the sky and met the lightning head-on. ¡°Boom!¡± With a loud bang, the two opponents clashed and large amounts of black blood evaporated, forming a strange black mist that filled the air with an unbearable stench. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Everyone couldn¡¯t help but vomit. Besides the stench, there was also poison, causing everyone to feel dizzy and breathless. ¡°Dad, how¡¯s Long¡¯er?¡± The baby¡¯s parents asked nervously. ¡°Waah¡­ waah¡­ waah¡­¡± Before Patriarch Black Blood could answer, the crying of the baby could be heard from within the black mist. Hearing the cry, the baby¡¯s parents finally felt relieved. Patriarch Black Blood opened his mouth and sucked in all the black mist, revealing the image of the baby. And the dark clouds above began to dissipate, as if acknowledging the baby¡¯s existence. With another gesture, Patriarch Black Blood took the baby into his hands. After examining the baby, Patriarch Black Blood smiled, ¡°Not bad. The inferior spiritual root has become an advanced spiritual root, and the body seems to have also become a Blood Jade Body, more suitable for our Blood God Sect¡¯s techniques, and not weaker than the top-tier spiritual roots.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± The baby¡¯s parents were ecstatic. ¡°Congratulations, Elder. You¡¯ve obtained a Qilin grandchild!¡± The disciples congratulated in unison. They sacrificed more than a thousand disciples just for an advanced spiritual root? Zhang Chen watched this scene with a heavy heart, understanding the cruelty of the demonic sect even more. Either advance or die! Patriarch Black Blood handed the baby to his son, waved his hand, and the black blood on the ground quickly gathered and reabsorbed into his body. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The matter was completed, and Patriarch Black Blood led the family away. ¡°Farewell, Elder!¡± The disciples were very calm from start to finish, as if accustomed to it, without any emotional fluctuations. As if it wasn¡¯t a person who died, but a thousand pigs. Zhang Chen returned to his cave without knowing when, feeling powerless and trapped on the edge of life and death, yearning for strength like never before. He wanted to become stronger and free himself from the threat to his life. He wanted to master the control of his own life. Three days had passed since the sacrifice. Zhang Chen had returned to his normal state and left his cave to visit Li Mumin¡¯s. In the cave halfway up the mountain, Zhou Wenting had an unhappy expression, ¡°I¡¯ve given you my blood every day for so long, and you haven¡¯t made any progress?¡± Faced with Zhou Wenting¡¯s questioning, Sun Jian looked helpless, ¡°Senior Zhou, I¡¯ve really tried my best, I even tried to seduce him, but that Zhang Chen is unmoved.¡± Zhou Wenting angrily said, ¡°You¡¯ve taken so much of my blood, you must come up with a solution for me.¡± ¡°That Zhang Chen said that he has been practicing spells recently, and is preparing for an outside mission. Why don¡¯t we try outside the sect¡­¡± ¡°Father, how¡¯s Long¡¯er?¡± The baby¡¯s parents asked nervously. ¡°Waah¡­ waah¡­ waah¡­¡±¡® Before Patriarch Black Blood could answer, the crying of the baby could be heard from within the black mist. Hearing the cries, the baby¡¯s parents finally felt relieved. Patriarch Black Blood opened his mouth and sucked in all the black mist, revealing the image of the baby. The dark clouds above also began to dissipate, as if acknowledging the baby¡¯s existence. With another gesture, Patriarch Black Blood took the baby into his hands. After examining the baby, Patriarch Black Blood smiled, ¡°Not bad. The inferior spiritual root has become a high-grade spiritual root, and the body seems to have also become a Blood Jade Body, more suitable for our Blood God Sect¡¯s techniques, and not weaker than a top-grade spiritual root.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± The baby¡¯s parents were ecstatic. ¡°Congratulations, Elder, for obtaining a Qilin grandson!¡± The direct disciples congratulated in unison. Sacrificing more than a thousand disciples just for a high-grade spiritual root? Zhang Chen watched this scene with a heavy heart, understanding the cruelty of the demon sect even more. Either advance or die! Patriarch Black Blood handed the baby to his son, waved his hand, and the black blood on the ground quickly gathered and reabsorbed into his body. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± After accomplishing the task, Patriarch Black Blood left with his family. ¡°Farewell, Elder!¡± The direct disciples were very calm from start to finish, as if accustomed to it, without any emotional fluctuations. It was as if it wasn¡¯t a person who died, but a thousand pigs. Zhang Chen was in a daze and returned to his cave without knowing when. The casual blood sacrifice and killing made him feel powerless and trapped on the edge of life and death. It made Zhang Chen yearn for strength like never before. He wanted to become stronger! So that his life would no longer be in danger! He wanted to master the control of his own life! Three days had passed since the blood sacrifice. Zhang Chen had returned to his normal state and left his cave to visit Li Mumin¡¯s. In the cave halfway up the mountain, Zhou Wenting had an unfriendly expression. ¡°I give you blood essence every day. It¡¯s been so long, but you haven¡¯t made any progress?¡± Faced with Zhou Wenting¡¯s question, Sun Jian looked aggrieved. ¡°Senior Brother Zhou, I really tried my best. I even used a honey trap, but that Zhang Chen was unmoved.¡± Zhou Wenting said angrily, ¡°You took so much of my blood essence. You must come up with a solution for me.¡± ¡°Zhang Chen said that he has been practicing his techniques recently and is preparing to go out on a mission. Why don¡¯t we¡­¡± Chapter 27 - Inner Sect Mission Chapter 27 Inner Sect Mission In the direct disciple cave abode. Zhang Chen said, ¡°Senior Brother Li, I¡¯m ready to take on the sect mission and go out to capture demon beasts.¡± Li Mumin nodded slightly. ¡°After the blood sacrifice of Elder Black Blood, there aren¡¯t many people in the outer sect, and it is difficult to exchange for blood essence. It¡¯s indeed suitable for sect missions. ¡°If I didn¡¯t need a few years to recuperate after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm, I would also choose to take on sect missions. ¡°To you, the Demon Beast Mountain Range is still quite dangerous. It¡¯s best to find a few fellow disciples to hunt demon beasts together, but you have to be careful of your fellow disciples at all times. ¡°After all, the Blood Nerve Technique is special. It makes us look like walking panaceas in each other¡¯s eyes. Many people have died at the hands of their fellow disciples. If you tell them my name, they might be afraid and not dare to attack.¡± Zhang Chen bowed. ¡°Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother.¡± ¡°Alright, if there¡¯s nothing else, you can go back now.¡± Li Mumin ordered him to leave. ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb you anymore, Senior.¡± Zhang Chen cupped his hands and left. After leaving the cave abode, Zhang Chen walked straight to the Internal Affairs Hall. Although Li Mumin suggested finding a few fellow disciples to hunt with, Zhang Chen did not plan to do so. He had too many secrets on him, and it was more convenient to go alone. Ever since he transmigrated to this world, he had been in the Blood God Sect. Now that he could finally go out and see the outside world, he could not help but feel excited and expectant. The original owner had entered the Blood God Sect at the age of eight, so his impression of the outside world was very vague. Soon, Zhang Chen arrived at the Internal Affairs Hall. Due to the blood sacrifice of a large number of outer sect disciples, the Internal Affairs Hall was very deserted. ¡°Senior Brother, how can I help you?¡± Seeing Zhang Chen, the Internal Affairs disciple aske respectfully. ¡°I want to take on a sect mission.¡± Zhang Chen handed over his identity token. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll register you, Senior Brother.¡± The Internal Affairs Hall disciple took the identity token and began to register. ¡°Senior, this is your first time going out to hunt demons. Let me explain it to you. When you go out, a curse will be placed on you to prevent desertion. ¡°If you don¡¯t return to the sect within three months, the curse will take effect and you will suffer unbearable pain. If you still haven¡¯t returned to the sect within six months, your life will be in danger. ¡°When you return to the sect, we will remove the curse for you. You just need to submit a demon beast to the beast garden to complete the sect mission.¡± After listening to the explanation, Zhang Chen finally understood why no one had taken the opportunity to escape from the Blood God Sect. Because when leaving the sect, a curse was placed on them. If they didn¡¯t return within six months, they would die. This is true for inner sect disciples, but I¡¯m not sure if it applies to direct disciples as well, he thought. ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, this is the map of the Demon Beast Mountain Range and the beast breeding bag. By infusing spiritual energy into the bag, you can capture demon beasts that have no resistance and store up to three of them in the bag.¡± The Internal Affairs disciple handed over his identity token, along with the map and the beast breeding bag. ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhang Chen took the items and turned to leave. Just as he left the Internal Affairs Hall, Zhang Chen saw Sun Jian rushing towards him. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, what a coincidence! A few days ago, I heard you say that you wanted to take on a sect mission. So are you here to receive a mission?¡± Sun Jian greeted with ¡®surprise¡¯. Zhang Chen nodded and did not say anything. He was prepared to leave. ¡°This is great, I¡¯m also planning to take on a sect mission. As it¡¯s your first time going out, you may not understand many things. Why don¡¯t you join me, and I¡¯ll take care of you?¡± Sun Jian invited him enthusiastically. Zhang Chen made an excuse. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother Sun, but I already have a companion.¡± Sun Jian was stunned for a moment, but immediately said, ¡°Then how about adding me to the group?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t make a decision on this. I need to ask someone else.¡± Zhang Chen continued to refuse. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, you have to be careful of others. Many people have harmed their fellow disciples under the guise of capturing demon beasts together. I¡¯m already familiar with Junior Brother Zhang. I won¡¯t harm you. If you go with me, you¡¯ll be much safer,¡± he said in a threatening manner. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother Sun. I¡¯ll consider it.¡± No matter what Sun Jian¡¯s motive was, the first half of his sentence was correct. Zhang Chen did not stay any longer after thanking him. Looking at Zhang Chen¡¯s departing figure, Sun Jian¡¯s face darkened. Does he really have a companion? he wondered. Then how do I make a move? I¡¯ll just take it step by step. If I don¡¯t have the chance to act, I¡¯ll give up. Back in his cave, Zhang Chen studied the map and the beast breeding bag. The area recorded on the map was only a few hundred miles near the Blood God Sect. From the map, the Demon Beast Mountain Range was not very far from the Blood God Sect, about a hundred miles away. For cultivators who could fly or use escape techniques, this distance was relatively close. It was unknown if it was the Demon Beast Mountain Range came first or the Blood God Sect. However, Zhang Chen guessed that it was likely because of the presence of the Demon Beast Mountain Range that the Blood God Sect chose to settle nearby. After all, demon blood was an indispensable cultivation resource for the disciples of the Blood God Sect, just like the relationship between farmers and fields. Perhaps the demon beasts in the Demon Beast Mountain Range were raised by the Blood God Sect. After studying the map, Zhang Chen picked up the beast breeding bag. When his consciousness entered the beast breeding bag, Zhang Chen saw a desolate space filled with an unknown fog. Unfortunately, there were no demon beasts for him to experiment with. Although he had a horse demon in the beast garden, according to the Affairs disciple, he needed to subdue the demon beast before he could bring it into the bag. He couldn¡¯t possibly go over and severely injure the horse demon, could he? Zhang Chen¡¯s realm was low and his knowledge was shallow. He did not understand the principle of the beast breeding bag. After playing with it for a while, he put it away in boredom. Early the next morning, Zhang Chen walked towards the sect¡¯s exit with some anticipation and excitement. He could finally leave the sect and go out to see the outside world. Zhang Chen did not inform Sun Jian, because he had planned to act alone from the beginning. The Blood God Sect¡¯s entrance was in a mountain valley, and Zhang Chen saw a huge blood jade archway from afar. Unknown demonic gods were engraved on the archway, and blood flowed, making it seem alive. A horizontal plaque with the three characters ¡®Blood God Sect¡¯ was on the top. The words were crimson and constantly flowing with blood. Under the archway stood a direct disciple and 10 inner sect disciples. Of course, it wasn¡¯t these disciples who restricted outsiders from leaving, but the array that shrouded the entire Blood God Sect. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang Chen greets the senior brothers.¡± Zhang Chen bowed to everyone. ¡°Are you going out to capture demon beasts?¡± The direct disciple was already used to it and asked calmly. ¡°Yes, Senior Brother. This is my identity token.¡± Zhang Chen handed the token over. An inner sect disciple took the token and nodded after confirming it. ¡°This is your first time out on a mission. Do you know about the curse?¡± ¡°I learned a little from the Internal Affairs Hall,¡± Zhang Chen replied. ¡°I won¡¯t waste my breath telling you more. Just remember to return within three months. If there are any unexpected delays, you must find a way to return within six months, or you will die!¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°When you return, infuse spiritual energy into your identity token. The sect¡¯s array formation will guide you through the illusion array outside.¡± ¡°Thank you Brother.¡± for your guidance, Senior After giving his instructions, the inner sect disciple turned around and bowed to the direct disciple. ¡°Senior Brother, please cast the spell.¡± Chapter 28 - Leaving the Sect and Entering the Place Chapter 28 Leaving the Sect and Entering the Place The direct disciple looked at Zhang Chen and said coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t resist.¡± Without waiting for Zhang Chen¡¯s reply, he made a hand seal and pointed. A beam of bloody light shot out from the archway, landing on Zhang Chen. A blood-red mark appeared on his forehead and then disappeared without a trace. Zhang Chen did not feel anything different, as if nothing had happened. ¡°Alright, you can go now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it? I don¡¯t feel anything,¡± Zhang Chen said. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± He bowed and walked out of the valley. As soon as he walked through the archway, the scenery in front of Zhang Chen suddenly distorted, and he felt a moment of confusion. When he came to his senses, he found himself in a strange forest. The air no longer smelled of blood but of decaying trees and soil. Looking back, he saw lush trees instead of the valley and archway. ¡°How realistic!¡± Zhang Chen couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. He realized that this must be the illusion formation to prevent others from entering. Finally, he had left the Blood God Sect! Excited, Zhang Chen took out the map and headed towards the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Not long after Zhang Chen left, Sun Jian arrived at the sect¡¯s exit. Three days later. Zhang Chen stood before a deep abyss, carefully examining the map in his hand. According to the markings on the map, he was only ten miles away from the Demon Beast Mountain Range, and in front of him was a market established by the Blood God Sect as a place for cultivators to trade and rest. Before leaving the sect, Zhang Chen had asked some other disciples about the situation. Other than disciples of the Blood God Sect, there were also disciples from other sects and itinerant cultivators who came to the Demon Beast Mountain Range. To cultivators, the entire body of a demon beast was a treasure. Fur, bones, and teeth could be refined into magical tools, while their blood and flesh could be refined into pills. In addition to demonic beasts, there were also spiritual herbs and natural treasures growing in the mountain range. Sometimes, even other cultivators become targets for hunting. However, very few people would attack the disciples of the Blood God Sect. If a disciple of the Blood God Sect died, the curses within their body would turn into blood curse marks that revealed the identity of their killer. Unless he could escape from the Blood God Sect¡¯s territory, he would be hunted down by the sect. That was one of the missions of the direct disciples to protect the sect¡¯s prestige. However, the blood curse was ineffective against the other Blood God Sect disciples because they already had a curse in their bodies. Most cultivators would come to the market to sell their gains after obtaining a harvest in the Demon Beast Mountain Range. This was the territory of the Blood God Sect. Outsiders had to pay a fee to enter, but Zhang Chen, as a disciple of the Blood God Sect, did not need to. According to the map, the market should be here, there was no trace of it in front of him, only a bottomless abyss. Could it also be an illusion array? Thinking of this, Zhang Chen picked up a stone and threw it towards the abyss in front of him. The stone did not fall. Instead, it disappeared mysteriously upon entering the abyss. It was indeed an illusion array! Although he knew that it was an illusion array, it was still a little scary to see that it was a bottomless abyss. After all, he could not fly yet. If he fell, he would be seriously injured even if he did not die. Zhang Chen mustered his courage and took a step forward. Just like the feeling of leaving the Blood God Sect, the scenery in front of him suddenly distorted. After a moment of confusion, a huge market that looked like a small town appeared in front of him. Outside the city entrance, two guards at the eighth level of Qi Refinement were looking at him. One of them said happily, ¡°He came in on his own, you lost the bet.¡± The other person sighed and took out a crystal clear stone that emitted dense spiritual Qi. He handed it over unwillingly. Hearing their conversation, Zhang Chen understood that they were betting on whether he dared to step into the abyss or not. And that crystal-clear stone emitting a strong spiritual energy was likely a spirit stone. Although he had heard of spirit stones before, this was his first time seeing one. The Blood God Sect¡¯s cultivation technique was special. It could obtain spirit energy from demon blood. Coupled with the fact that blood essence could directly increase one¡¯s cultivation, it was much more convenient and efficient than using spirit stones. Therefore, the Blood God Sect used blood essence as currency instead of spirit stones. In addition, the disciples of the Blood God Sect could not leave the sect easily. It was difficult to obtain spirit stones, so they were rarely seen. However, Zhang Chen did not mind and walked towards the entrance. ¡°Activate your identity token to prove your identity,¡± said the guard who had won. This was to prevent disciples of the Blood God Sect from appearing. After all, disciples of the Blood God Sect did not have to pay entrance fees. Some people also wore Blood God Sect clothes to avoid being targeted. After all, this was the territory of the Blood God Sect, and it was much safer to to pose as disciples of the sect. Zhang Chen took out his identity token and activated it with spiritual energy. ¡°Alright, you can go in.¡± The guard nodded and let them in. ¡°Thank you, senior brothers.¡± Zhang Chen cupped his hands and stepped into the market. The market wasn¡¯t very lively, but it wasn¡¯t deserted either. In the middle was a wide road with shops on both sides. There were pill shops, magic artifact shops, teahouses, and inns. Zhang Chen even saw a place for dual cultivation. Some people set up small stalls on the road, displaying a variety of items. There were all sorts of beast bones, beast skins, talismans, artifacts, medicinal pills, and so on. Zhang Chen was like a country bumpkin entering the city. He looked left and right, full of novelty. Suddenly, he stopped in front of a stall. This was because other than some miscellaneous items that he did not recognize, there were also three books, the topmost one of which was the Lifespan Burning Technique that he was familiar with. What kind of book could be placed together with the Lifespan Burning Technique? Zhang Chen was interested and asked the stall owner, ¡°What are the two books below the Lifespan Burning Technique?¡± The stall owner was originally sitting on a recliner. When he heard the question, he immediately stood up and enthusiastically introduced, ¡°One is the Divine Forging Technique, and the other is the Spiritual Eye Technique. ¡°The Divine Forging Technique can train and strengthen one¡¯s divine sense. The Spiritual Eye Technique can see through illusions.¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s eyes lit up as he thought of an illusion array. ¡°See through illusions? Then can you see through illusion arrays?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± The stall owner guaranteed, patting his chest. ¡°Have you practiced it before?¡± Zhang Chen continued to ask. ¡°Uh¡­¡± The stall owner was a little embarrassed. ¡°This Spiritual Eye Technique has some side effects, so I didn¡¯t dare to practice it.¡± Zhang Chen was wearing the Blood God Sect¡¯s clothes and this was the Blood God Sect¡¯s territory. The stall owner did not dare to deceive him. Side effects? It¡¯s good that there are side effects! Zhang Chen thought. His interest was piqued. ¡°What are the side effects?¡± ¡°You might lose your sight if you use it too much.¡± The stall owner thought this deal was probably not going to happen. Who would choose a spell that could turn them into a blind person? Zhang Chen knew he couldn¡¯t show too much interest, so he changed the subject. ¡°What about the other Divine Forging Technique? Does it have side effects too?¡± Unexpectedly, the stall owner nodded. ¡°Yes, the side effects are occasional unbearable headaches that cannot be controlled or cured.¡± Zhang Chen deliberately frowned. ¡°If I have a headache when fighting with others, won¡¯t that be fatal?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve told you about the side effects. One book costs 10 spirit stones. Whether you buy it or not is up to you.¡± The stall owner chose to be indifferent. Zhang Chen wanted to buy it, but he did not have any spirit stones. ¡°Can I use my blood essence to exchange for it?¡± The stall owner was used to it and pointed to a store not far away. ¡°That¡¯s your Blood God Sect¡¯s shop. You can go there to exchange your blood essence for spirit stones.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhang Chen walked towards the store that the stall owner pointed to. Zhang Chen was not worried about someone else buying the two spells with extreme side effects. Chapter 29 - Revealing the Truth Chapter 29 Revealing the Truth This was a shop opened by the Blood God Sect to acquire spiritual medicine. The signboard at the entrance had the exclusive logo of the Blood God Sect. As he entered the shop, the shopkeeper saw Zhang Chen¡¯s inner sect attire and quickly greeted him, ¡°Senior Brother, are you looking to exchange spirit stones or sell spiritual medicine?¡± ¡°How do I exchange blood essence for spirit stones?¡± Zhang Chen asked. ¡°A bowl of blood essence for one spirit stone,¡± the shopkeeper replied plainly. To the disciples of the Blood God Sect, one spirit stone could not improve their cultivation for a month. However, this was the sect¡¯s exclusive business. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll exchange for 20 spirit stones.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, please give some blood here!¡± After giving blood, Zhang Chen returned to the stall. When the stall owner saw Zhang Chen return and knew that the business was successful, he was rather happy. ¡°I wonder which one you want, the Divine Forging Technique or the Spiritual Eye Technique?¡± ¡°I want both of them,¡± Zhang Chen said, taking out the spirit stones. As the stall owner was about to take the spirit stones, he seemed to remember something and paused. ¡°I told you about the side effects before. If there are any problems, don¡¯t blame me.¡± ¡°As long as these two techniques are real, I will never blame you,¡± Zhang Chen promised seriously. Hearing this, the stall owner put away the spirit stones and handed over the two books. Zhang Chen opened one of them and checked it on the spot, but found that one page had been torn out, and his face darkened as he questioned the owner. ¡°How did one page get torn out?¡± The stall owner was a little embarrassed. ¡°The torn page described the side effects of the spell. I tore it off to sell it. Seeing that you are a disciple of the Blood God Sect, I dare not hide anything from you.¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t easily believe him and carefully checked the spells. After confirming that there were no omissions, his face turned from dark to sunny. ¡°How would I dare to deceive a disciple of the Blood God Sect on the sect¡¯s territory?¡± the stall owner smiled, trying to please him. With his goal achieved, Zhang Chen did not say anything else and headed to the sect¡¯s inn. He planned to rest for the night and enter the Demon Beast Mountain Range the next day. He had been living rough for the past three days. Although he was a cultivator, he was also a bit tired. The Demon Beast Mountain Range was very dangerous. He could not be careless. He planned to recuperate and restore his strength before entering. The inn was not cheap either. Even a Blood God Sect disciple needed to pay one bowl of blood essence per day. However, the meals were provided three times a day and included demon beast meat. Since coming to this world, Zhang Chen had only eaten Qi-replenishing pills and had never tasted real food. He couldn¡¯t wait to try the food. Zhang Chen did not know if it was because he had not eaten food for a long time, but he felt that this demon beast meat that was rich in spiritual Qi was extremely delicious. After eating his fill and returning to the guest room, Zhang Chen took out the two technique books and tried to cultivate the techniques simply. [Detected cultivation technique, Spiritual Eye Technique. Use spirit energy to continuously stimulate the eyes with a specific method, causing the eyes to slowly change. It has the ability to see through illusions.] [Side effect: Vision will weaken, and both eyes will gradually become blind. In the end, you will be completely blind.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] [Detected cultivation technique, Divine Forging Technique. Use the weapon technique to temper one¡¯s will and divine sense to strengthen one¡¯s divine sense. When mastered, one can kill with a thought.] [Side effect: The divine sense forged by the technique carries the sharpness of a weapon. It will injure the head, causing intense pain in the head.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] ¡°Not bad!¡± Zhang Chen was delighted to have acquired two more powerful techniques. If not for the fact that he was staying in an inn and these two spells did not have much effect in a short period of time, he would have wanted to master them first. Just as Zhang Chen was full of joy, Sun Jian also arrived at the market. After asking around, Sun Jian looked at the inn with a resentful expression. ¡°You¡¯ve been making things difficult for me for a long time. Once I have you, I will definitely torture you!¡± The next day, Zhang Chen left the inn in high spirits and walked towards the Demon Beast Mountain Range. The trees in the Demon Beast Mountain Range were exceptionally thick and dense. The endless forest was filled with a wild and barbaric atmosphere. From time to time, trees collapsed in the distance, and the deafening roars of the demon beasts were heard, startling countless birds. It was unclear whether they were hunting or resisting hunters. Even before entering the Demonic Beast Mountain Range, Zhang Chen sensed a dangerous aura. It was as if there were countless demon beasts hiding in the invisible tree shade, observing him. The huge mountain range was like a crouching beast, waiting to devour people. As for those trees, they were like the scales on the bodies of giant beasts, making one¡¯s heart palpitate with fear. However, no matter how dangerous it was ahead, he would have to face it sooner or later. He could not retreat. Zhang Chen took a deep breath and cautiously walked into the mountain range. In the distance, when Sun Jian saw Zhang Chen enter the mountain range, he revealed a bloodthirsty smile as he quickly followed. Although the chances of encountering demon beasts at the edge of the mountain range were small, Zhang Chen still couldn¡¯t relax his guard. He kept his eyes and ears alert as he slowly explored forward. ¡°Crack!¡± Suddenly, the sound of a tree branch being stepped on could be heard. Zhang Chen immediately turned his head towards the direction of the sound, only to see a familiar figure appearing in front of him. ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± Zhang Chen was surprised but also somewhat suspicious. After all, it was too much of a coincidence. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, I didn¡¯t expect to meet you. It¡¯s really great!¡± Sun Jian looked pleasantly surprised, as if it was indeed a coincidence. Then he looked around and asked, ¡°By the way, Junior Brother Zhang, didn¡¯t say that you had companions? Why is there only one person?¡± you Zhang Chen remained calm and replied, ¡°The others went to hunt for demon beasts. We agreed to meet up ahead.¡± Sun Jian sneered in his heart. If he had not followed all the way, he might have believed it. ¡°I see. However, this is your first time in the Demon Beast Mountain Range after all. It¡¯s sti a little dangerous to be alone. Since we¡¯ve met, let me accompany you for a while.¡± After Sun Jian finished speaking, he did not wait for Zhang Chen to agree. He directly walked in front of Zhang Chen as if they were familiar with each other. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, are you going this way?¡± Zhang Chen frowned. He wanted to say something but hesitated. In the end, he did not say anything and followed Sun Jian. Although he felt that it was too much of a coincidence, he did not expect Sun Jian to attack him. However, he knew he couldn¡¯t let his guard down, and was still wary of Sun Jian. After the two of them walked for a while, Sun Jian asked, ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, how much demon blood did you exchange for Li Shixiong every day when you were his spokesperson?¡± ¡°Senior Brother Sun, why are you asking this?¡± Zhang Chen was puzzled. Is he trying to become Li Mumin¡¯s spokesperson? he wondered. Sun Jian continued to ask, ¡°I heard that Junior Brother Zhang recommended himself and promised three bowls of blood essence a day, right?¡± Zhang Chen frowned, not knowing what Sun Jian wanted to do. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But I also heard that not many people know that you¡¯re Senior Brother Li¡¯s spokesperson, and no one has exchanged demon blood with you. Then where did you get three bowls of blood essence a day?¡± Sun Jian stopped, turned around, and looked at Zhang Chen with a half-smile. This matter had been exposed! Zhang Chen was shocked. He had always been very careful and should not have attracted attention. How could he have been exposed so quickly? He didn¡¯t know that the reason he was being investigated was because Li Mumin had made a rapid breakthrough, causing enemies to become suspicious and investigate, and some of his secrets were exposed. Chapter 30 - Killing the Enemy and Finding the Demon Chapter 30 Killing the Enemy and Finding the Demon Seeing the change in Zhang Chen¡¯s expression, Sun Jian was a little proud. ¡°If you tell me the truth, everything will be fine. If you don¡¯t, this will be your burial ground!¡± In Sun Jian¡¯s opinion, Zhang Chen was just an inner sect disciple who had just been promoted from the outer sect. He did not have much combat experience. At most, he knew two techniques and was not proficient enough. As for him, he had already been an inner sect disciple for four years. He was at the eighth level of Qi Refinement and knew three spells. He had rich experience fighting demon beasts. Therefore, he did not take Zhang Chen seriously. Zhang Chen had already harbored a killing intent. He absolutely couldn¡¯t let his secret be exposed. Blood gushed out and condensed into a knife in his hand. ¡°You want to fight me with just that?¡± Sun Jian sneered and struck out with his palm. An incomparably swift blood-colored imprint flew towards Zhang Chen¡¯s chest. This was the ¡®Blood Palm Imprint¡¯. Once hit, the meridians would be blocked, making it difficult to mobilize the spiritual energy within the body. Zhang Chen took a step forward. Boosted by the Blood Burst Technique, he not only dodged the Blood Palm Imprint, but also instantly appeared next to Sun Jian. Immediately, he slashed out. Mad Blood Demon Saber! ¡°What!¡± Sun Jiandaji¡¯s face turned pale with disbelief. He could not understand how a newly promoted inner sect disciple could have such strength. In terms of proficiency in techniques, he had at least reached a state of minor achievement. Before he could react, the madness released by the Mad Blood Demon Saber gave him a splitting headache and made him lose the ability to think. ¡°Pfft!¡± An arm flew up. ¡°Ah~¡± A miserable scream of pain sounded in the forest. ¡°Why are you prying into my affairs?¡± Zhang Chen did not kill Sun Jian immediately. He needed to know if anyone else knew about this other than Sun Jian and where he had been exposed. Sun Jian was no longer as arrogant as before. His face was filled with fear and regret as he held his shoulder and retreated. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me. wasn¡¯t inquiring about you, it was Senior Brother Zhou who asked me to approach you and find out the source of Senior Brother Li¡¯s blood essence.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Zhou? Which Senior Brother Zhou?¡± Zhang Chen was a little puzzled. He didn¡¯t know any Senior Brother with the surname Zhou. ¡°It¡¯s Zhou Wenting. He gave me blood essence as a reward to monitor you, get close to you, and find out the source of Senior Brother Li¡¯s Foundation Establishment blood essence.¡± Sun Jian blurted out in terror to save his own life. Zhou Wenting? Zhang Chen searched his memories and realized he didn¡¯t know him. ¡°Why is Zhou Wenting investigating the source of Li Mumin¡¯s Foundation Establishment blood essence?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I heard that Senior Brother Zhou and Senior Brother Li had a grudge in the past.¡± Sun Jian did not dare to hide anything. Only then did Zhang Chen understand that he had been implicated by Li Mumin. ¡°I told you, don¡¯t kill me,¡± Sun Jian pleaded. Zhang Chen¡¯s gaze was cold, but he did not say anything. His secret must not be leaked, but he had never killed anyone before, and he hesitated a bit at this moment. When Sun Jian saw this, he knew that Zhang Chen would not let him off. He revealed a ruthless expression and prepared to fight to the death. ¡°Die!¡± Sun Jian opened his mouth and a ray of blood light shot out. This was the spell, Blood God Sting. It condensed blood into a blood light stored in the body and was suddenly shot out from the mouth to attack the enemy when least expected. Not only was it powerful, but it was also extremely fast. The two of them were very close and it was too sudden. Zhang Chen could not dodge in time. Blood Armor Technique! Zhang Chen¡¯s mind moved, and a bright red blood armor covered his whole body. Seeing that Zhang Chen did not dodge, Sun Jian said excitedly, ¡°Gotcha!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± Bloodlight struck the blood armor with a loud bang. The Blood Armor Technique consisted of 10 levels. The first level was comparable to metal, and Zhang Chen had already condensed it to the third level. Although the Blood God Sting was powerful, with Sun Jian¡¯s cultivation realm, he was still unable to break through the three layers of blood armor. He could only push Zhang Chen back by 30 feet. ¡°How is that possible!¡± Looking at Zhang Chen, who was completely unscathed and covered in blood armor, Sun Jian was once again in disbelief. However, his reaction was very quick. He immediately used the Light Body Technique to turn around and escape. With the enhancement of the Light Body Technique, Sun Jian¡¯s body was as light as a swallow, and each step was 30 feet. However, how could the Light Body Technique be faster than the Blood Burst Technique? ¡°Splurt!¡± ¡°Splurt!¡± Zhang Chen used the Blood Burst Technique twice in a row and caught up to Sun Jian. He raised his hand and slashed out. Mad Blood Demon Saber! Madness overwhelmed Sun Jian¡¯s mind. His body stiffened, and a pained expression appeared on his face. ¡°Thud¡­¡± His head was separated from his body, and blood gushed out from his severed neck. How could a newly promoted inner sect disciple be so strong? Sun Jian¡¯s head fell to the ground. While he was still confused, he understood something. Zhang Chen must be hiding an incredible secret! Unfortunately, he would never know. Zhang Chen thought that he would feel uncomfortable after killing someone, but surprisingly, he felt calm. ¡°Am I a born killer? ¡°No, I understood from the beginning what kind of world this is and was mentally prepared to kill.¡± Zhang Chen smiled bitterly. He looked at the corpse on the ground and took out a blood storage bottle. ¡°I can¡¯t waste this blood essence.¡± After collecting the blood essence, Zhang Chen searched the shriveled corpse. He found a blood storage bottle and a demon breeding bag. Although there wasn¡¯t much, Zhang Chen was quite satisfied. A blood storage bottle required 10 bowls of blood essence to exchange for, and a demon breeding bag required at least 20 bowls. After doing all this, Zhang Chen continued to walk deeper into the Demon Beast Mountain Range. ¡°Hmm? The smell of blood!¡± After five miles into the mountain range, Zhang Chen smelled a bloody smell in the air. Disciples of the Blood God Sect were very sensitive to the smell of blood. They could even smell it from a kilometer away. After some thought, Zhang Chen decided to go over and take a look. When he came to the place where the bloody smell was coming from, he saw a pitch-black cave about the height of an adult. There were traces of dragging on the ground. This was likely the cave of a demon beast that had just returned from hunting. Zhang Chen did not enter the cave. After all, no one knew how many demon beasts there were in the cave, how strong they were, and whether they were dangerous. Narrow and dark caves made it difficult to escape. After thinking for a moment, Zhang Chen decided to use smoke to force the demon beasts out of the cave. He found some half-dry and half-wet twigs and leaves, piled them up at the cave entrance, and lit them on fire. Since they were only partially dry, the smoke produced was very dense. The blood condensed into a huge fan in Zhang Chen¡¯s hand, fanning the smoke into the cave. ¡°Squeak squeak squeak¡­¡± As the smoke in the cave became thicker and thicker, the cries of demon beasts could be heard. An hour later, a black figure rushed out of the cave. Zhang Chen quickly stepped back and looked at it carefully. It turned out to be a rat demon at the fifth level of Qi Refinement. It was the size of a calf, with bloodstains on its fur near its mouth, and a pair of sword-like teeth especially prominent. However, its eyes were closed due to the smoke, and tears kept flowing. Although Zhang Chen had seen various demon beasts of all shapes and sizes in the beast garden, they were all bound by formations and had no resistance. This was his first real encounter with a monster, and he was not afraid or nervous, only excited. Chapter 31 - Hunting Demon Beasts Chapter 31 Hunting Demon Beasts Blood Burst Technique! Zhang Chen took two steps and came to the side of the rat demon. The rat demon had temporarily lost its vision and sense of smell because of the smoke. It did not realize that the enemy had already arrived beside it and was still spinning around in place. Zhang Chen slashed at the rat demon¡¯s paws, intending to first immobilize it. He wanted to capture the demon beast and take its blood for confinement, so he could only injure it and not kill it. ¡°Thud¡­¡± ¡°Squeak!¡± One of the rat demon¡¯s back paws was cut off, and it let out a miserable scream. Zhang Chen didn¡¯t stop his actions and made another slash. This time, it was the front paw on the same side. ¡°Thud¡­¡± ¡°Squeak, squeak, squeak¡­¡± With the loss of a front and rear paw, the Rat Demon could not maintain balance and fell to the ground, constantly screaming. A perfect hunt. Looking at the rat demon that had lost its mobility, Zhang Chen smiled and took out his beast breeding bag. He aimed the breeding bag at the Rat Demon and opened it, injecting spiritual power. The breeding bag produced a suction force, sucking the Rat Demon into it. As his consciousness entered the breeding bag, Zhang Chen discovered that the black mist pervading the breeding bag had a soporific effect on demon beasts. In just a moment, the rat demon had fallen unconscious. However, this was normal. If the demon beast wasn¡¯t rendered unconscious, the breeding bag wouldn¡¯t withstand the beast¡¯s thrashing. ¡°The sect mission is considered completed. Let¡¯s continue looking for demon beasts. It¡¯s best if I can fill up the two beast breeding bags.¡± As Zhang Chen was about to leave, he suddenly stopped in his tracks and became alert, because three figures were rapidly approaching from afar. As the distance narrowed, Zhang Chen also got a clear look at the appearance of the three individuals. A young man at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, a burly middle-aged man at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, and an old man at the eighth level of Qi Refinement. Judging from their attire, they should be three itinerant cultivators. The three of them stopped not far away. They glanced at the bloodstains and severed limbs on the ground, understanding that the battle had ended, and then fixed their gaze on Zhang Chen. They were attracted by the thick smoke and wanted to see if they could get something cheap. If possible, they would also rob and kill other cultivators. Previously, when they saw Zhang Chen alone, the three of them were tempted to make a move. However, when they got closer and noticed that Zhang Chen was wearing the clothes of the Blood God Sect, he did not attack. Zhang Chen looked wary, holding a blood knife in his hand and ready to strike at any moment. ¡°What do you think? Should we attack?¡± the young man used telepathy to ask the other two. The burly man shook his head and replied, ¡°Forget it. This Blood God Sect disciple is not injured. It will be troublesome for us to take him down.¡± Killing a Blood God Sect disciple would result in a blood curse, but that didn¡¯t mean there was no way to resolve it. The most common method was to use demon beasts to kill disciples of the Blood God Sect. For example, severely injuring the disciples of the Blood God Sect before attracting the demon beasts and letting them kill the disciples. In this way, the ones who killed the disciples of the Blood God Sect were demon beasts. Naturally, the blood curse would not fall on them. The old man among the three revealed a benevolent smile. ¡°So it turns out that you¡¯re a fellow disciple of the Blood God Sect. We came to check on this place because we saw thick smoke rising from here. Since you¡¯re okay, we¡¯ll take our leave.¡± Zhang Chen did not say anything and continued to stare at the three of them warily. The three of them did not care and turned to leave. They came and left quickly. After the three of them had gone far away, Zhang Chen¡¯s tense nerves relaxed somewhat. He knew that encountering other cultivators was often more dangerous than encountering demon beasts. Since the smoke attracted these three, it¡¯s possible that it could also attract others. I¡¯d better leave this place quickly, Zhang Chen thought. He looked in the direction the three had left and went in the opposite direction. Along the way, Zhang Chen was very careful, guarding against demon beasts and other cultivators. From the map, the area of the Demon Beast Mountain Range was at least a few hundred kilometers. The deeper he went, the more powerful the demon beasts he would encounter. For safety reasons, Zhang Chen did not venture too deep into the Demon Beast Mountain Range and stayed within a 50-mile radius. After all, this was his first time hunting demon beasts, and safety came first. It did not matter if he could catch a few demon beasts. He would treat it as increasing his experience. At the same time, it was also to avoid getting into a bitter battle with powerful demonic beasts and being taken advantage of by others. At night, Zhang Chen meditated and rested on a big tree. Other than that rat demon, he did not encounter another demon beast that day. ¡°Awoooo~¡± ¡°Roar!¡± ¡°Pu, pu. pu¡­¡± The Demon Beast Mountain Range was very lively at night. The cries and roars of wild beasts rose and fell. In the darkness, pairs of ghostly green eyes floated everywhere like ghost flames, densely packed and drifting everywhere. An ordinary person would likely be frightened to death. The next day, Zhang Chen continued to search for demon beasts, but he did not encounter any. On the third day, he still did not encounter any demon beasts. Having gained nothing for two consecutive days, Zhang Chen could not help but start to think. Should I venture deeper into the Demon Beast Mountain Range? ¡°No, I don¡¯t lack cultivation resources. There¡¯s no need to work so hard. Others travel in groups. I¡¯ll be easily targeted if I¡¯m alone.¡± Zhang Chen frowned and continued to ponder. Then he thought of a possibility. Wild beasts had a keen sense of smell, let alone demon beasts. Could it be because of his scent? Perhaps the demon beasts smelled his scent and avoided him. The more Zhang Chen thought about it, the more likely it seemed. He lived in the Blood God Sect, which was shrouded in a bloody mist, and he often drank demon blood. His body emitted a distinct bloody scent. Having lived in the sect with a strong bloody scent for so long, he was accustomed to it and did not think anything was wrong with the scent. In fact, he even found it pleasant. However, in the nose of demon beasts, it was like a beacon in the dark. ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try.¡± Zhang Chen smeared mud all over his body to mask his scent. After covering himself in mud, Zhang Chen began to search for demon beasts in the mountains. Whether it was luck or the effectiveness of the mud covering, he finally encountered a demon beast. This was a deer demon at the second level of Qi Refinement, drinking water by the stream. Relying on the speed boost from the Blood Burst Technique, Zhang Chen suddenly approached, and before the frightened deer demon could react, he chopped off its two hooves and put it into his beast breeding bag. ¡°Not bad. That¡¯s the second one. Let¡¯s continue.¡± With the joy of his capture, Zhang Chen continued to search for demon beasts. Perhaps masking his scent really worked, as he found another demon beast at night. More accurately, this demon beast was chasing its prey and passing under the tree where he was resting. Faced with the gift of a demon beast, Zhang Chen would not let it go. With Zhang Chen¡¯s strength, any demon beast below level eight Qi Refinement, as long as they didn¡¯t have special abilities, could be easily dealt with. The tenfold speed boost from Blood Burst Technique made it difficult for most demon beasts to escape. However, there were flaws in masking his scent with mud. Due to his body temperature, the mud on his body dried and hardened. This was not only uncomfortable but also limited his movement. Until he found another way to mask his scent, he could only keep watering himself or reapplying mud. Zhang Chen had been in the Demon Beast Mountain Range for five days and had captured three demon beasts. That day, as usual, he searched for traces of demon beasts. ¡°What a strong smell of blood!¡± Zhang Chen stopped in his tracks and looked in the direction where the smell came from. Chapter 32 - Reaping the Benefits Chapter 32 Reaping the Benefits This was the smell of demon blood. The demon blood contained spiritual power, which was different from ordinary beast blood and very easy to distinguish. Besides, Zhang Chen devoured a large amount of demon blood every day and was extremely familiar with the smell of demon blood. A demon beast was injured. Should he go over and check it out? Zhang Chen hesitated for a moment before deciding to go over and see the situation. After all, it was not easy to find a demon beast. If it was someone else hunting the demon beast, he would leave. The Blood Burst Technique was not suitable for rushing, so Zhang Chen only headed there at an ordinary speed. An hour later, Zhang Chen arrived at the source of the bloody smell. A bear demon at the ninth level of Qi Refinement was covered in wounds and blood. It could not even stand steadily. Not far away, three figures were also seriously injured. One of them was seriously injured and lying on the ground, one was missing an arm, and one had little spiritual power left. Both sides were equally wounded? ¡°Eh! It¡¯s the three people I met a few days ago.¡± Zhang Chen took a closer look and realized that the three heavily injured people were the young man, the robust middle-aged man, and the old man he had met before. Of the three of them, one was at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, and the other two were at the eighth level. Although there were more people, the bear demon was tough and strong, and at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. If the three people did not have powerful techniques, it was normal for both sides to be equally wounded. The three people also noticed Zhang Chen¡¯s arrival and looked resentful. Previously, when they met Zhang Chen, they wanted to sit back and reap the benefits. They didn¡¯t expect to become the losers today. Zhang Chen¡¯s principle was that as long as people didn¡¯t offend him, he wouldn¡¯t offend them. Therefore, he had no intention of taking advantage of the other party¡¯s predicament to kill and rob the bear demon. However, he would not save the three of them. Under the wary gazes of the three, Zhang Chen turned around and left. He left just like that? The three of them were stunned. They could not understand why the other party would leave such a good opportunity. They judged Zhang Chen based on their own experiences. They did not believe that Zhang Chen had really left. He must have pretended to leave and then hid in the dark, ready to launch a sneak attack at any time. The expression of the old man among the three changed for a while. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°We don¡¯t want the bear demon anymore. We¡¯ll leave immediately.¡± The burly man was a little unwilling. ¡°The bear demon is about to die. Are we going to give up just like that?¡± ¡°How much strength do we have left? Not to mention the bear demon¡¯s counterattack before its death, there are still other hidden cultivators. If we abandon the bear demon, we still have a chance of survival,¡± the old man explained their current situation. ¡°We risked our lives, but we didn¡¯t expect others to benefit in the end.¡± The burly man was filled with frustration and helplessness. ¡°The cultivation world is like this. We¡¯ve also reaped benefits from others before.¡± The old man was filled with emotions. ¡°If we had attacked that Blood God Sect disciple earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have taken advantage of us now.¡± The burly man was a little regretful. ¡°Alright, stop talking. Let¡¯s leave quickly. As long as we¡¯re alive, we¡¯ll have plenty of opportunities to settle scores with him in the future.¡± The old man helped the severely injured youth and the three of them quickly left. up ¡°Roar~¡± Seeing the enemy leave, the bear demon let out a triumphant roar. However, its voice was weak, revealing its weakness. The bear demon licked its wounds and walked in the other direction with difficulty. It was severely injured and very weak. If it went deeper into the mountain range, it would only attract other demon beasts. On the other side, Zhang Chen had indeed left. He was not spying in the dark, looking for an opportunity to launch a sneak attack. However, he had only left for a short while and had not gone far. ¡°What¡¯s going on? The smell of blood is moving. Could it be that the three of them didn¡¯t capture the bear demon and it escaped?¡± Sensing the change in the smell of blood in the air, Zhang Chen was a little puzzled. Previously, he had seen that the bear demon could not even stand steadily. It did not look like it could run away. ¡°Could it be that my appearance scared those three people away?¡± Zhang Chen was not stupid. After thinking for a moment, he thought of the reason. ¡°Sigh, I really don¡¯t want to kill and rob.¡± Zhang Chen shook his head and sighed. He was here to capture demon beasts. Since he had found traces of demon beasts, he naturally had to come and take a look. Moreover, he left immediately. Unexpectedly, it still caused a misunderstanding. ¡°Since I¡¯ve already taken the blame, I¡¯ll carry it to the end.¡± Zhang Chen turned around and walked towards the source of the smell of blood. Soon, Zhang Chen found the bear demon. Seeing the bear demon without the other three, Zhang Chen knew that he had guessed correctly. ¡°Growl¡­¡± The bear demon sensed Zhang Chen¡¯s approach and stopped in its tracks, letting out a low growl as a warning. The blood in his hand condensed into a saber, and Zhang Chen attacked. Blood Burst Technique! Mad Blood Saber Technique! Zhang Chen is accustomed to cutting off one leg from the front and back of the demon beasts to make them lose their mobility, and he did the same this time. ¡°Thud¡­¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s saber slashed at the bear demon¡¯s front leg, but it did not cut off. It only cut a third of the way in. As expected of a thick-skinned bear demon! Before the bear demon could react, Zhang Chen used the Blood Burst Technique to enhance his arm and slashed again. ¡°Bang!¡± Blood flashed and his front leg was cut off. The bear demon was affected by the madness and pain. It roared non-stop and opened its mouth to bite everywhere. Zhang Chen moved like a ghost, avoiding the bites and appearing behind the bear demon. With the Blood Burst Technique boosting his arm, he used the Mad Blood Saber Technique! ¡°Plip!¡± The bear demon¡¯s hind paw was cut off. ¡°Boom!¡± The bear demon lost its support and fell to the ground with a loud noise, directly passing out due to its heavy injuries. ¡°I picked up a bargain.¡± Zhang Chen smiled and shook his sore hands and feet. If not for the fact that the bear demon was seriously injured and its demonic power was almost exhausted, it would not have been taken down so easily. After using the beast breeding bag to put away the bear demon, Zhang Chen looked in the direction where the three itinerant cultivators had escaped according to the smell of blood. ¡°Because of my appearance, they abandoned the bear demon that they had painstakingly injured. They must hate me in their hearts. Although I didn¡¯t have any intention of snatching it at the beginning, the grudge was still formed. I didn¡¯t even have the chance to explain. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, why don¡¯t I take the opportunity to deal with them?¡± Zhang Chen did not think that he was a good person. Good people did not live long. He had his own rules. He didn¡¯t like trouble and didn¡¯t want to be ambushed by the three of them at some point in the future. The three of them were seriously injured and had consumed a lot of spiritual Qi. Now that they had not run far, it was a good opportunity to deal with them. Thinking of this, Zhang Chen used the Blood Burst Technique to chase after the three itinerant cultivators. Among the three of them, the young man had the lowest cultivation level and suffered the most serious injuries. He could not walk on his own and needed someone to support him, severely affecting the speed of the other two. The robust middle aged man had lost an arm, his face was pale, and his footsteps were weak. The old man looked unharmed, but there was not much spiritual power left in his body. He also looked weak. The robust middle-aged man touched his severed arm and said resentfully, ¡°I paid such a huge price this time and didn¡¯t obtain anything. That damn Blood God Sect disciple, I¡¯ll definitely kill him in the future!¡± The old man sighed. Just as he was ¡°Sigh¡­¡± about to speak, he heard a voice coming from behind. ¡°There¡¯s no need to wait for the future. Let¡¯s do it now.¡± The expressions of the three of them changed drastically as they turned to look. It was Zhang Chen who had chased after them. In order to catch up to the three of them, he had used the Blood Burst Technique all the way. Now, his feet were aching faintly. He did not need to look to know that they were swollen. The robust middle-aged man said angrily, ¡°Don¡¯t go too far. We¡¯ve already given the bear demon to you, yet you still want to kill us!¡± Chapter 33 - To End Future Troubles Chapter 33 To End Future Troubles ¡°Give way?¡± Zhang Chen shook his head. ¡°You didn¡¯t want it anymore.¡± The robust middle-aged man gnashed his teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t you know why we didn¡¯t want it? Don¡¯t push us too far. Although we¡¯re injured, we still have the strength to fight!¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t want to explain. ¡°I just heard you say that you want to kill me in the future. If I don¡¯t kill you, do you think I¡¯ll wait for you to recover and kill me?¡± ¡°At most, we¡¯ll fight to the death!¡± The robust middle-aged man glared at him. ¡°The fish will die, but the net won¡¯t break.¡± Zhang Chen shook his head, and his blood condensed into a knife in his hand. Seeing this, the three of them knew that Zhang Chen would not let them off. They had no choice but to fight. ¡°Fight him to the death!¡± The robust middle aged man roared as he charged towards Zhang Chen. The robust middle-aged man was a body cultivator. His entire body emitted a golden light, and his body became larger. His aura was majestic, like a human tank. Every step he took left a deep pit in the ground. The old man swallowed an unknown pill and began to chant incantations. The young man was too injured to help. He could only watch anxiously. The burly middle-aged man punched without reservation, and his fist wind was like a cannonball, causing the surrounding small trees to break directly. One could imagine how powerful this punch was. Zhang Chen also made a move, with the support of the Blood Burst technique, he was as fast as a ghost. ¡°Where is he?¡± The robust middle-aged man was stunned when his punch missed. Zhang Chen did not attack the robust middle-aged man. Instead, he attacked the old man. It was common sense in a team fight to take out the ranged attacker first. The robust middle aged man noticed this as well, and he quickly turned around and warned, ¡°Elder Qiu, be careful!¡± The old man had already finished his hand seal and was about to release it when he realized that Zhang Chen¡¯s speed was too fast. It was difficult to lock onto him. Moreover, he did not have much spiritual power and could not cast many spells. Just as he was hesitating about whether to release the spell, Zhang Chen appeared next to him. So fast! The old man was shocked and hurriedly released the spell in his hand. This was a huge transparent wind blade. The wind was invisible and could not be seen by the naked eye. He had used this spell to kill many people. Although Zhang Chen could not see the wind blades, he could see the old man casting spells and sense the spiritual energy fluctuations in the air. At this critical moment, the old man couldn¡¯t make meaningless movements. Therefore, Zhang Chen did not choose to attack but to dodge. To be safe, he even activated the blood armor hidden under his skin. The wind was very fast, and the speed of wind-type spells was one of the fastest among spells. Although Zhang Chen dodged at the first moment, his arm was still grazed. If he had not carefully activated the blood armor, his arm would have been crippled. That was close. I really can¡¯t underestimate others! Zhang Chen secretly rejoiced. ¡°Did you get it?¡± The old man looked around for Zhang Chen. At this moment, a cold voice sounded behind him. ¡°Are you looking for me?¡± Not good! Just as the old man was about to move, Zhang Chen had already slashed out. Mad Blood Saber Technique! Countless crazy thoughts rushed into his mind. His rationality and madness fought against each other, causing the old man to lose his ability to think. ¡°Thud¡­¡± A head full of white hair rolled off. The expression on the face was twisted in pain. ¡°Elder Qiu!¡± The burly middle-aged man¡¯s eyes were filled with grief and anger as he charged at Zhang Chen like a madman. Zhang Chen did not retreat but advanced. Under the enhancement of the Blood Burst Technique, he slashed out. Crazy thoughts assaulted his mind, causing the robust middle aged man to instantly move. ¡°Ding!¡± ¡°Is it so hard?¡± Zhang Chen frowned. The burly middle-aged man¡¯s body was like metal. When the blood saber slashed at his body, it only left a shallow wound. ¡°Let¡¯s see how many slashes you can take!¡± Zhang Chen swung his saber again, especially at the same spot to deepen the wound. The middle-aged man was quite resilient, barely resisting the craziness of the bloodthirsty Mad Blood Demon Saber. However, he only had one hand and could barely protect his vital points. In front of Zhang Chen, he was like a punching bag. One strike, two strikes, three strikes¡­ Under Zhang Chen¡¯s continuous hacking, the burly middle-aged man¡¯s body was covered in wounds. The serious parts were so deep that bones were visible. Along with the loss of blood, the robust middle aged man¡¯s strength became weaker and weaker, and it wouldn¡¯t be long before he followed in the old man¡¯s footsteps. What made him even more desperate was that he never touched Zhang Chen from the beginning to the end. ¡°Ah!¡± The robust middle aged man roared towards the sky, venting the resentment and despair in his heart. He no longer had any hope. So, he gave up resisting the madness and chose to embrace it, becoming insane. ¡°Kill!¡± ¡°Kill!¡± ¡°Kill!¡± The eyes of the middle-aged man, who was crazily infected, were red like a wild beast. He stared fiercely at Zhang Chen, waving his single arm without any order. From time to time, he would open his mouth and bite, only attacking and not defending. Zhang Chen took his time and continued to use the speed advantage of the Blood Burst Technique to wear down the other party. ¡°Bang!¡± Not long after, the robust middle aged man fell to the ground with a bang. In order to prevent him from faking his death, Zhang Chen slashed at the robust middle-aged man¡¯s head. Without the protection of spiritual Qi, the head was easily cut off. Subsequently, Zhang Chen looked at the remaining young man. The young man was seriously injured and could not move. He looked at Zhang Chen pleadingly. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me. Please don¡¯t kill me. I¡¯ll do anything you want.¡± Zhang Chen did not say anything and walked towards the young man with the blood saber in his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me, don¡¯t kill me, don¡¯t kill me¡­¡± The young man continued to plead, but Zhang Chen ignored him and raised his saber to slash down. ¡°Splat!¡± Blood spurted out. Although he had successfully killed three people, Zhang Chen had used his blood-bursting spell too many times, causing his feet to swell and weaken. After searching the corpses of the three, he obtained several bottles containing unknown medicinal pills, a beast breeding bag, and an unknown bag. Zhang Chen wanted to open it to take a look, but he realized that there was a force preventing him from opening it. ¡°Could it be a storage bag?¡± Zhang Chen was deep in thought as he tried to inject his spiritual energy into the bag. After injecting spiritual power, the bag opened automatically. Zhang Chen scanned with his consciousness and saw some daily necessities, dozens of spirit stones, as well as the scales, claws, bones, and other things of demon beasts. These three itinerant cultivators were very poor and did not have anything good. ¡°It¡¯s really a storage bag!¡± Zhang Chen happily put away a few items. He glanced at the three corpses on the ground and turned to leave. The three of them were not disciples of the Blood God Sect. The spiritual power contained in their blood was much lower than that of demon blood. He did not think much of them. An hour later, on a big tree. Zhang Chen injected his spiritual energy into the storage bag and tried to take something out. He reached into his bag and took out a demon beast scale, then put it back. After a few times, Zhang Chen became proficient in using the storage bag. The space in the storage bag was not big, only about a cubic meter, and the space was limited. Zhang Chen discarded some useless items inside the bag and put his own belongings into it. ¡°With this storage bag, it will be easier to carry things in the future.¡± Zhang Chen hung the storage bag on his waist lovingly and took out the beast breeding bag he had obtained from the three men. With a sweep of his mind, he discovered that there was a demon beast at the seventh level of Qi Refinement. ¡°Not bad.¡± Zhang Chen nodded in satisfaction. With this one, he now had five demon beasts. He would not keep that bear demon at the ninth level of Qi Refinement for the time being. After all, it was too high-profile for him, a cultivator at the seventh level of Qi refining, to capture a demon beast at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Chapter 34 - Purchasing Knives in the Market Chapter 34 Purchasing Knives in the Market Zhang Chen thought for a moment and felt that it would be too ostentatious to capture several monster beasts on his first outing. It was inconsistent with his usual low-key and cautious behavior. The reason why he wanted to capture more demon beasts was because the outer sect had been sacrificed and he could not obtain demon blood from Li Mumin for the time being. Therefore, he wanted to capture a few more demon beasts and become self-sufficient. Now that he thought about it, he felt that it was a bit inappropriate and too hasty. ¡°Four demon beasts are enough. Let¡¯s go back like this.¡± Zhang Chen thought for a moment and made a decision. He planned to leave the Demon Beast Mountain Range and return to the sect after his swollen feet had healed. With the help of spiritual power, it took him half a day to finally reduce the swelling in his feet. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the market first and see if there are any saber-type magical equipment for sale.¡± Zhang Chen jumped down from the tree and walked towards the market. After several battles, he discovered a drawback. Blood-congealed weapons were convenient, but they required some time, which gave the opponent time to react and prepare. Moreover, their sharpness and durability were average. If it were a magic weapon, he wouldn¡¯t have to take so long to deal with a strong middle-aged man. Now that he had obtained Sun Jian¡¯s blood essence and the dozens of spirit stones in his storage bag, he had some small assets. About 10 miles away from the market, four figures were hiding behind a boulder, seemingly waiting for someone. One of them was Lu Wenyu, who had crossed paths with Zhang Chen before! ¡°Fellow Daoists, you only need to injure my fellow disciple and I¡¯ll take his life. That way, you don¡¯t have to worry about the blood curse. I don¡¯t want anything from the other party. The three of you can split it equally.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The other three nodded. Yes, Lu Wenyu wanted to ambush and kill Zhang Chen here. He had been holding a grudge against Zhang Chen ever since he lost blood essence to him, and he had long been planning his revenge. When he found out that Zhang Chen had taken on an outside mission, he also took on the same mission. However, he was not confident in dealing with Zhang Chen, so he made promises and invited three itinerant cultivators in the market for assistance. This was the only way to the Blood God Sect. ¡°Zhang Chen will definitely die if the four of us gang up on him!¡± Lu Wenyu was full of confidence and showed a smug smile. On the other side, Zhang Chen returned to the market and came to the shop that sold magical weapons. Although some of the stalls on the street also sold magical weapons, the quality could not be guaranteed. He did not have the ability to identify the quality of the tools, nor did he think that he was lucky enough to find a bargain. The shop displayed prices clearly, and the quality of the magical weapons was apparent. There was no need to worry about being cheated. ¡°Fellow Daoist from the Blood God Sect, what kind of magical weapon do you want to buy?¡± The shopkeeper greeted Zhang Chen warmly. ¡°I want to buy a saber-type magical weapon.¡± ¡°Fellow Daoist, this way please.¡± The shopkeeper brought Zhang Chen to the counter displaying saber-type magical weapons and began introducing them. Moreover, all the magical weapons he introduced were suitable for disciples of the Blood God Sect. ¡°This is a low-grade magical weapon, the Blood Drinking Knife. It has the effect of absorbing the enemy¡¯s blood. The price is 120 spirit stones. ¡°This is a low-grade magical weapon, the Blood Jade Knife. When injected with blood, it can slash out a blood light. The price is 150 spirit stones. ¡°This is a low-grade magical weapon, the Azure Blood Knife. It can increase the power of blood-type spells at the Qi Refinement realm by three levels. The price is 180 spirit stones.¡± So expensive! If it was blood essence, it would be more than a hundred bowls! Zhang Chen was shocked by the prices and realized his own poverty. ¡°Are you interested in middle-grade, high-grade, or top-grade magical weapons?¡± After introducing the low-grade magical weapons, the shopkeeper asked. Clearly, he felt that Zhang Chen, who was at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, would not be able to afford a better magical weapon. Zhang Chen did not answer. Instead, he asked, ¡°Do you guys buy demon beast materials or blood essence?¡± The shopkeeper nodded. ¡°We buy demon beast materials to make magical weapons, of course. If it¡¯s for purchasing a magical weapon, we also buy blood, one bowl of blood is worth one spirit stone.¡± Since he was doing business in the Blood God Sect¡¯s market, he naturally had the means to deal with blood essence. ¡°How much are these demon beast materials?¡± Zhang Chen took out all the demon beast parts from his storage bag. ¡°The scales of the golden-armored beast cost 100 spirit stones per piece. The claws of the digging beast cost 1 spirit stone per pair¡­¡¯ As the shopkeeper identified them, he listed the purchase price. They were all materials that were not worth much. Even if he sold all of them, he would only get 20 spirit stones. Together with the original 60 Spiritual Stones in his storage bag, he only had 80, which was still 40 short of the cheapest Blood Drinking Knife. These three itinerant cultivators were really poor. Together, they didn¡¯t even have 100 spirit stones. But Zhang Chen still had blood essence. Sun Jian had about 200 bowls of blood essence. However, blood essence could be directly converted into cultivation. It was best to keep it if possible. ¡°Do you accept demon beasts?¡± Zhang Chen planned to sell the bear demon at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. It was useless to keep it if he could not rear it and draw its blood. ¡°Yes. I wonder what kind of demon beast it is?¡± The shopkeeper nodded again. Zhang Chen handed over the beast breeding bag containing the bear demon and let the shopkeeper take a look. ¡°A mountain moving bear at the ninth level of Qi Refinement?¡± The shopkeeper was a little surprised. ¡°I caught this with a few senior brothers. I wonder how many spirit stones it¡¯s worth.¡± The shopkeeper thought for a moment. ¡°I can offer 130 spirit stones.¡± Although it felt a little low, it was understandable. After all, this place was close to the demon beast forest, and demon beasts were not valuable. ¡°Alright, introduce me to some mid-grade magical weapons.¡± Now that he had spirit stones, he naturally wanted to improve his requests. When the shopkeeper heard this, he became even more enthusiastic in his recommendations. In the end, Zhang Chen added some blood essence and gathered 300 spirit stones to buy a mid-grade magical weapon called the Mad Blood Knife. The handle of the knife was in the shape of an evil spirit. There were two blood jade stones embedded in the eye sockets and a crimson tongue sticking out of the mouth. And this tongue was the blade of the knife. The Mad Blood Knife had two effects: it could attach blood spirit power to the blade, and increase the activity of the wielder¡¯s own blood. After the blade was attached with blood spiritual power, it would become even sharper and stronger. While increasing the activity of the wielder¡¯s own blood might seem useless, for disciples of the Blood God Sect, it could speed up their spellcasting. It could be said that this saber was tailor-made for disciples of the Blood God Sect. Zhang Chen picked up the Mad Blood Knife. As expected, his blood became very active. His mind was also affected and he became excited. He then infused spiritual power into the knife, and the eyes of the evil spirit handle lit up with red light, while a thin layer of blood aura adhered to the knife like a veil. ¡°Not bad!¡± Zhang Chen casually swung his blade a few times and happily put the Mad Blood Knife into his storage bag. Having a storage bag is convenient! ¡°Fellow Daoist, it¡¯s good that you¡¯re satisfied. Do you want any other magical tools?¡± After making a deal, the shopkeeper continued to promote his business. ¡°No, I¡¯ll come back next time.¡± After leaving the magic tool shop, Zhang Chen took another stroll around the market. Only then did he realize that there were actually people selling demon-attracting incense and scent-concealing powder that could hide one¡¯s own scent and attract demon beasts. If he had known earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have had to cover himself in mud and work so hard to find demon beasts. However, demon-attracting incense was full of uncertainty, and it might attract several beasts, which had both advantages and disadvantages. demon Feeling worth buying, Zhang Chen left the market and headed towards the Blood God Sect. The main reason was that he did not have any spirit stones. Even if he wanted to buy something, he couldn¡¯t afford it. Chapter 35 - Ambush Chapter 35 Ambush ¡°Someone¡¯s coming!¡± Behind a hidden boulder, Lu Wenyu and his three companions were watching the figure approaching in the distance. ¡°It¡¯s a disciple of the Blood God Sect. There¡¯s only one person.¡¯ Although the distance was too far to see the face clearly, they could distinguish the attire. As the person got closer, one of them asked, ¡°Is that the person you mentioned?¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s attack him when he gets here. Don¡¯t let him escape.¡± Watching Zhang Chen getting closer and closer, Lu Wenyu¡¯s face was filled with excitement for his revenge. I wonder what his expression will be when he sees me? He will be afraid, begging for my forgiveness. When the time comes, I¡¯ll humiliate him first before killing him. Thinking of this, Lu Wenyu could not suppress the smile on his face and became even more excited. Closer, closer, closer¡­ ¡°Attack!¡± The four of them shouted and leaped out to surround Zhang Chen. Lu Wenyu looked at Zhang Chen playfully, wanting to see his frightened expression. However, he was disappointed. Zhang Chen was only surprised for a moment before he frowned and looked at him. ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s gaze fell on Lu Wenyu. He was a little puzzled. He did not remember any grudge between the two of them. Could he be one of Zhou Wenting¡¯s men? ¡°Surprised, aren¡¯t you?¡± Lu Wenyu grinned. ¡°If you kneel down and beg for my forgiveness, I might spare you.¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s gaze turned dangerous as he sneered, ¡°With just you guys?¡± Lu Wenyu was stunned. This was completely different from what he had imagined. Why was he so calm and not afraid at all? Did he have something to rely on? While Lu Wenyu was in a daze, Zhang Chen made a move. Facing the siege of four cultivators at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, he did not dare to be careless. He decided to use his full strength to avoid failure. Blood Ignition Technique! The blood inside Zhang Chen¡¯s body began to boil and evaporate. His body emitted a faint blood mist, and his aura and cultivation began to advance rapidly. Within just two breaths, Zhang Chen¡¯s cultivation level had advanced to the ninth level of Qi Refinement! ¡°This is the Blood Ignition technique! You¡¯re out of your mind, using the Blood Ignition technique!¡± exclaimed Lu Wenyu Recognizing the technique Zhang Chen was using, Lu Wenyu looked incredulous. The Blood Ignition Technique could temporarily boost one¡¯s cultivation level, but once used, it couldn¡¯t be stopped until the user¡¯s blood was completely burned up, resulting in death. He couldn¡¯t understand why Zhang Chen would use such a dangerous technique right from the start. And of course, Zhang Chen wasn¡¯t going to explain. ¡°What¡¯s going on? How did his cultivation level suddenly increase to the ninth level of Qi refining?¡± The other three were shocked and alarmed. They had come because Zhang Chen was only at the seventh level of Qi refining and was alone. They thought it would be an easy win with four of them against one. But now that he had increased his cultivation level, they were worried they might suffer losses. Seeing the other three starting to back off, Lu Wenyu¡¯s expression changed. If they ran away, Zhang Chen would definitely pursue them, and with the gap in their cultivation levels, Lu Wenyu knew he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance of escaping. So, he quickly said, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, he¡¯s just using some secret technique that won¡¯t last long. And even though he¡¯s at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, he probably doesn¡¯t know many spells. I¡¯ll use the Blood Absorption Technique to make his blood unable to leave his body, preventing him from using spells.¡± Upon hearing this, the other three regained their composure. ¡°Attack!¡± Lu Wenyu shouted, and the other three instinctively released their spells. Blood Burst Technique! Zhang Chen¡¯s figure suddenly disappeared from everyone¡¯s sight and arrived beside someone. A red saber had appeared in his hand at some point in time. The ghost eye on the hilt was so red that it looked like it was about to bleed. It seemed to have really come alive and was about to devour everyone. ¡°Oh no!¡± This person was shocked. Fortunately, he knew a defensive spell that could make his body as hard as iron for a short period of time. With the Blood Burst Technique augmenting his arm and the active effect of the Berserk Blood Saber, he slashed out. ¡°Thud¡­¡± It was too fast. No one saw Zhang Chen swing his saber. The person next to him was cut in half at the waist and half of his body fell to the ground. The defensive spell was like a piece of paper, useless. ¡°Magical artifact, the saber in his hand is a mid-grade magical artifact!¡± The remaining people were horrified. They didn¡¯t have any magical weapons as itinerant cultivators. How could they resist? ¡°Run!¡± One person was scared out of his wits and turned to run. But how could Zhang Chen let his enemies escape? Blood Burst Technique! Zhang Chen exerted strength under his feet and instantly caught up to the escaping rogue cultivator. He raised his hand and a head fell to the ground. Due to the speed of the blade, the headless body of the rogue cultivator ran for more than 10 meters before falling. The last itinerant cultivator reacted and immediately fled. He had only taken two steps when Zhang Chen blocked his path. The itinerant cultivator looked terrified. The first thing he thought of was not to attack, but to beg for mercy. ¡°Spare me, don¡¯t kill¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, he was slashed to death by Zhang Chen. The three itinerant cultivators died with endless regret. Lu Wenyu, on the other hand, took the opportunity to run dozens of feet away. His mind was filled with fear and doubt. Zhang Chen had just become an inner sect disciple. This was his first time out hunting. Why did he have a mid-grade magical weapon? And why did he use Blood Burning Technique from the start, to perish with them? Was he not afraid of death? Zhang Chen did not chase after Lu Wenyu. Instead, he used a spell that he had never used before and slashed at Lu Wenyu from afar. Ice Soul Slash! A blade of extremely cold Qi was condensed and broke through Lu Wenyu¡¯s body. Lu Wenyu felt like he had fallen into an icy cave. His blood froze, and his body was stiff and covered in frost. What¡¯s going on here? Lu Wenyu, who could not move, was filled with fear and regret. Why? Why did I come to kill Zhang Chen? If the heavens gave me another chance, I would definitely stay far away from this lunatic! But there was no medicine for regret in this world. Zhang Chen walked up to Lu Wenyu and raised his saber, intending to end his life. Lu Wenyu knew that Zhang Chen would not let him go, so he did not beg for mercy. Before he died, he suddenly smiled and said, ¡°You used the Blood Ignition Technique. Even if you kill me, you will soon come down to join me!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be disappointed.¡± Zhang Chen released the Blood Ignition Technique. His cultivation level quickly dropped to the sixth level of Qi Refinement. Lu Wenyu¡¯s eyes widened. He had a mental breakdown and was unwilling to believe it. He muttered to himself, ¡°Impossible, absolutely impossible. What I saw must be an illusion, an illusion¡­¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t say anything else and struck down with his saber. ¡°Pa!¡± Lu Wenyu shattered into countless pieces like an ice sculpture and scattered on the ground. ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with them all. I only lost a level of my cultivation.¡± Looking at the corpses on the ground, Zhang Chen felt that he was becoming more and more like a demonic cultivator. But he was just trying to live a better life. Zhang Chen took out a blood storage bottle containing blood essence to replenish his lost cultivation. After his cultivation returned to the seventh level of Qi Refinement, he began to search for the corpses on the ground. The itinerant cultivators didn¡¯t have anything good on them. They didn¡¯t even have a storage pouch. Together they only had 40-odd spirit stones. Even if there were valuable things, many people would not carry them around. Instead, they would hide them. After all, who would bring all their possessions with them when they went out? Lu Wenyu only had a blood storage bottle and a beast breeding bag on him. There was nothing else. Chapter 36 - Cause and Effect Chapter 36 Cause and Effect The rest of the journey was smooth and they returned to the forest outside the Blood God Sect. Looking at the flawless forest, Zhang Chen could not help but think of the Spiritual Eye Technique he had obtained in the market. I wonder if I can see through the Blood God Sect¡¯s illusion array after mastering the Spiritual Eye Technique. He took out his identity token and injected spiritual Qi into it. It seemed to be attracted by some force and floated in a direction. Under the guidance of the identity token, Zhang Chen passed through the illusion array and returned to the sect¡¯s archway. Zhang Chen¡¯s appearance caught the attention of the guarding disciples. ¡°You¡¯re back so soon from your first hunting mission in the sect?¡± It hadn¡¯t been even a month, and the guarding disciples still remembered Zhang Chen. ¡°I completed the task, so I came back.¡± Zhang Chen felt conflicted. If it weren¡¯t for the curse, he wouldn¡¯t want to come back. Since he had to come back sooner or later, it was better to come back and practice peacefully. At least the Blood God Sect was safer than outside. ¡°Put your hand on the memorial arch and the blood curse in your body will be removed,¡± the guard reminded. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen bowed and thanked him before walking towards the archway. The archway was crystal clear and blood-red light flowed inside, indicating that it was a precious treasure. Zhang Chen did not think much about it as it was too far out of reach for him. Placing his hand on the archway, he felt something being drawn out of his body. It must be the blood curse. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t stand here and get in the way. You can leave now.¡± The guard disciple urged. ¡°Yes.¡± Zhang Chen cupped his hands and left quickly. He did not return to his cave abode. Instead, he went to the beast garden to submit his task. Smelling the scent of blood in the air, Zhang Chen felt comfortable, but he immediately showed a bitter smile. ¡°I¡¯m really becoming more and more like a member of the demonic sect.¡± From the fear and rejection when he first transmigrated, to now drinking blood like water and killing without blinking, he had adapted to the life of the demonic sect. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, what brings you here?¡± Upon seeing Zhang Chen, Wang Zhengang, who was in charge of the registration of the beast garden, asked warmly. Zhang Chen knew that a lot of information about him came from Wang Zhengang, but this was very normal, so he did not blame him. ¡°I¡¯m here to submit a sect mission.¡± Zhang Chen threw the beast breeding bag and four unconscious demon beasts appeared in front of him. Wang Zhengang widened his eyes and exclaimed, ¡°Senior Brother Zhang caught four demon beasts on your first hunt?¡± ¡°I will hand one over to the sect for the mission, and the other three will be kept in the sect¡¯s enclosure,¡± Zhang Chen instructed. ¡°Alright, Senior Brother Zhang. I¡¯ll arrange that for you now.¡± Wang Zhengang quickly put the four demon beasts into the beast bag. ¡°By the way, transfer all the demon beasts under Brother Sun Jian¡¯s name to my name.¡± Zhang Chen took out Sun Jian¡¯s identity token. With Sun Jian¡¯s identity token, Wang Zhengang did not say anything. After confirming, he said, ¡°Senior Brother Sun has three demon beasts under his name. I¡¯ve already transferred them to Senior Brother Zhang¡¯s name.¡± Zhang Chen did not expect it to really work. When he killed Sun Jian and looted his corpse, he obtained his identity token. Thinking that Sun Jian was a veteran inner sect disciple and there should be demon beasts in the beast garden, he had the idea of transferring the demon beasts. Usually, when inner sect disciples died while on a mission, the demon beasts kept in the beast garden would either be confiscated by the sect or be secretly taken by the disciples in the beast garden. With his own three demon beasts, the one Li Mumin gave him, and the three he just transferred, he already had seven demon beasts and could provide a lot of demon blood every day. Although he had picked up three demon beasts for free, he would also bear the suspicion of being the killer when the news of Sun Jian¡¯s death spread. However, Zhang Chen did not care. As long as there was no evidence, the sect would not interfere in such matters. Having a bit of a notorious reputation in the demon sect could avoid many troubles. As for Zhou Wenting, who was behind Sun Jian, he was already on Zhang Chen¡¯s hit list. ¡°Junior Brother Wang, do you know Senior Brother Zhou Wenting?¡± Zhang Chen asked. ¡°I know. Senior Brother Zhou Wenting is one of the most promising inner sect disciples to reach the Foundation Establishment realm. He was once the spokesperson of a direct disciple.¡± Wang Zhengang did not hide anything. He was also related to a direct disciple? Zhang Chen frowned. He wasn¡¯t afraid of inner sect disciples, but direct disciples were a bit troublesome. ¡°Does Zhou Wenting have a grudge against Senior Brother Li?¡± Zhang Chen continued to ask. Wang Zhengang thought for a moment. ¡°I have heard before that when Senior Brother Li just became an inner sect disciple, he went hunting demon beasts with Zhou Wenting and a few other senior brothers, but they had some conflicts and then went their separate ways. So that was how it was. Zhang Chen understood. Li Mumin had succeeded in reaching the Foundation Establishment realm. Zhou Wenting, who had a of grudge against him in the past, was afraid retaliation, so he investigated the reason why Li Mumin had reached Foundation Establishment so quickly. As long as the direct disciple behind Zhou Wenting did not participate, everything would be simple. He could just find an opportunity to kill Zhou Wenting. Zhang Chen also noticed that Wang Zhengang said that a few senior brothers were together. Since there was a conflict, did the others participate? If they all had grudges, did the others also investigate him? Faced with the pressure of retaliation from direct disciples, this situation would surely lead them to band together. ¡°Besides Zhou Wenting, who else went hunting with Senior Li initially?¡± ¡°There were also Senior Xu Yixian and Senior Jiang Xianghong. They are among the few disciples most likely to reach Foundation Establishment.¡¯ Xu Yixian, Jiang Xianghong? Zhang Chen memorized their names. ¡°How¡¯s their relationship with Senior Brother Li?¡± ¡°Senior Brother Zhou, Senior Brother Xu, and Senior Brother Jiang used to be the spokespersons for the same direct disciple.¡± Hearing this, Zhang Chen knew what was going on. ¡°What about the relationship between Zhou Wenting and the direct disciple?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about this junior brother.¡± ¡°Thank you, Junior Brother Wang. If anyone asks about me, please inform me, and I will reward you generously.¡± Zhang Chen thanked Wang with a bow and did not request that he keep anything secret. There were no walls in the world that did not leak wind. Wang Zhengang was not the only person in the beast garden. There was no way to hide secrets. ¡°Senior Li instructed me to ensure that Junior Brother will accomplish it.¡± Wang Zhengang assured, patting his chest. In his opinion, as Li Mumin¡¯s man, it was normal for Zhang Chen to ask about these things. Perhaps it was to show off, or it could have been Li Mumin¡¯s command to seek revenge from the past. ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb Junior Brother Wang anymore.¡± Zhang Chen cupped his hands and left. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, take care.¡± Wang Zhengang watched Zhang Chen walk away enviously. After leaving the beast garden, Zhang Chen did not return to his cave abode. Instead, he prepared to visit Li Mumin. After all, on the surface, he still needed Li Mumin, a direct disciple, to provide shelter and the blood of demons. ¡°Is Senior Brother Li here? Junior Brother Zhang Chen has come to visit.¡± Zhang Chen called out from outside the cave. ¡°Come in.¡± Li Mumin¡¯s voice came from the cave abode. Entering the cave dwelling, Zhang Chen bowed and said, ¡°Zhang Chen greets Senior Brother.¡± Li Mumin was expressionless. It was impossible to tell if he was happy or angry. ¡°Have you completed the sect mission?¡± ¡°It¡¯s done. I just submitted the mission from the beast garden.¡¯ ¡°Yes, is there anything else?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like this. In the next year, I plan to practice a spell that requires a large amount of demon blood, so I want to use my blood essence to exchange for it with Senior Brother.¡± This was Zhang Chen¡¯s excuse to continue exchanging for blood essence. ¡°The two spells you used before are too dangerous. How much demon blood do you need to exchange for a few spells?¡± Li Mumin did not suspect anything. Chapter 37 - Mission Change Chapter 37 Mission Change ¡°I don¡¯t know how much I need. I¡¯ll exchange for 20 bowls of blood essence first. If it¡¯s not enough, I¡¯ll bother you again.¡¯ Whether it was enough or not was not up to Zhang Chen. It was just an excuse to obtain demon blood in a different way. ¡°Sure.¡± Li Mumin nodded. 20 bowls of blood essence was not a small amount. After exchanging for the demon blood, Zhang Chen left without mentioning anything about Zhou Wenting and the other two. It was mainly because he was afraid of things getting out of hand and exposing the fact that he did not sell demon blood. Back in his cave, Zhang Chen took out the two spells he bought in the market, Divine Forging Technique and Spiritual Eye Technique. Both of these spells could not take effect immediately and required years of practice and accumulation. Putting down the Spiritual Eye Technique book, Zhang Chen planned to practice the Divine Forging Technique first. Zhang Chen sat cross-legged and focused his thoughts according to the method in the Divine Forging Technique. He visualized a divine hammer, constantly pounding his mind like a piece of iron. There was a rhythm to the hammering. It was not random hammering. Each time he pounded, he shattered some distractions, making his mind more pure, compact, and solid. His mind also became tired and damaged and he could not continue pounding all the time. After half a day, Zhang Chen felt that his mind had reached its limit, so he stopped pounding and picked up the Spiritual Eye Technique book. The Spiritual Eye Technique used spiritual Qi to transform the eyes into a kind of spiritual eye that had the ability to see through illusions. However, because it was acquired, the body could not adapt and rejected this kind of eye, so there would be blindness as a side effect. After the modification of the modifier, Zhang Chen did not have this hidden danger and could not wait to cultivate. Spiritual energy circulated in the meridians around his eyes according to the route recorded in the Spiritual Eye Technique book. Due to the special nature of the Blood Nerve Technique, Zhang Chen¡¯s eyes emitted a red light that looked very evil. On the other side, in the first cave abode of the inner sect. Zhou Wenting said, ¡°I received news that Zhang Chen came back safe and sound.¡± ¡°What about Sun Jian? Is he back?¡± Xu Yi asked. ¡°No.¡± Zhou Wenting shook his head. ¡°Not back yet? Then what are you going to do next? In my opinion, supporting me in reaching the Foundation Establishment realm is the simplest and most direct way.¡± Xu Yixian pressured. ¡°Sun Jian went out on a mission assigned by the sect. He might have gone to capture demon beasts. Let¡¯s wait a few more months and see.¡± Zhou Wenting continued to procrastinate. Xu Yixian¡¯s face sank. ¡°Zhang Chen¡¯s return to the sect means that Sun Jian hasn¡¯t completed the task we gave him. What do you plan to do next?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know the specific situation yet. Let¡¯s wait for Sun Jian to return before making a decision. I¡¯ll get someone to keep an eye on Zhang Chen.¡± Jiang Xianghong also used an excuse to delay. He and Zhou Wenting would not support Xu Yixian in reaching the Foundation Establishment realm unless it was absolutely necessary. Based on their understanding of Xu Yixian, after he reached the Foundation Establishment realm, not only would they not get back their resources, but they would also be forced to become Xu Yixian¡¯s subordinates. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s wait another two months.¡± Since the two of them were unwilling, Xu Yixian could only agree. In the blink of an eye, two months had passed. During these past two months, Zhang Chen had been practicing the Divine Forging Technique and the Spiritual Eye Technique. After two months of cultivation, he had already seen results. On the surface, he still maintained the seventh level of Qi Refinement, but his mind had reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement. There were no experimental subjects for the Spiritual Eye Technique, so he didn¡¯t know the specific effect. However, his eyes had become somewhat magical, occasionally flashing red light. ¡°It¡¯s been seven days. I can go to Senior Brother Li to exchange for demon blood. I can also go to the beast garden to get blood.¡± Zhang Chen stood up and walked outside. Inside the first cave abode of the inner sect. Xu Yixian mocked, ¡°Sun Jian has left the sect for three months and hasn¡¯t returned. He¡¯s probably dead.¡± ¡°Sun Jian is most likely dead, and he died at the hands of Zhang Chen.¡± Zhou Wenting¡¯s expression was ugly. Jiang Xianghong was surprised. ¡°Zhang Chen just advanced to the inner sect, how could he kill Sun Jian?¡± ¡°Although I don¡¯t believe it either, I heard that the demon beasts under Sun Jian¡¯s name have been transferred to Zhang Chen, so he must have killed Sun Jian.¡± Zhou Wenting¡¯s face was gloomy. Jiang Xianghong was a little flustered. ¡°Then won¡¯t Li Mumin find out about our investigation?¡± Xu Yixian felt that his chance had come. ¡°If you support me in reaching the Foundation Establishment realm first, you won¡¯t have to worry about Li Mumin¡¯s revenge.¡± The other two had conflicted and unwilling expressions. Xu Yixian¡¯s eyes were burning as he pressed them, ¡°The earlier we make a decision, the better.¡± The two of them looked at each other and reluctantly said, ¡°Alright, but in order not to lose our cultivation, we won¡¯t give you a large amount of blood essence at once. We will only give you the blood essence that we refine every day.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really wishy-washy,¡± Xu Yixian said, but he was elated in his heart. Zhang Chen left Li Mumin¡¯s cave abode and arrived at the beast garden. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, are you here for the demon blood?¡± Wang Zhengang greeted him warmly. ¡°Yes.¡± Zhang Chen nodded. ¡°Junior Brother Wang, please give me the array formation token.¡± As Wang Zhengang handed over the array formation token, he said softly, ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, a while ago, Senior Brother Zhou Wenting came to the beast garden to ask about you.¡± Zhang Chen narrowed his eyes. ¡°Thank you for your reminder, Junior Brother Wang. Do you happen to know anyone in the Internal Affairs Hall?¡± ¡°Yes, Senior Brother Zhang, do you have any instructions?¡± ¡°If Zhou Wenting and his group receive any capture missions, please let me know. I can offer you 10 bowls of blood essence as a reward, Wang Junior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen wanted to deal with Zhou Wenting and his group, but the sect did not allow fellow disciples to fight against each other, so he could only wait until they left the sect. He had to take action against Zhou Wenting and his group outside of the sect! Although Wang Zhengang understood his intentions, he couldn¡¯t resist the temptation of 10 bowls of blood essence. ¡°Rest assured, Senior Brother Zhang. I will have my friends in the Internal Affairs Hall keep an eye on them.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble Junior Brother Wang.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no trouble, no trouble at all.¡± In the following days, Zhang Chen immersed himself in cultivation again. Meanwhile, Zhou Wenting and the other two, who were afraid of Li Mumin¡¯s retaliation, did not leave the sect to hunt this year. Instead, they handed over a demon beast they had previously fostered. Time passed quickly, and a new year arrived. As inner sect disciples, they could receive a bowl of blood essence on the day of the new year. Almost all inner sect disciples came to the Internal Affairs Hall. As soon as he arrived at the Internal Affairs Hall, Zhang Chen saw many people talking and discussing. However, because the environment was too noisy, he only vaguely heard the words ¡®inner sect mission, recruiting disciples¡¯. Zhang Chen didn¡¯t pay attention to it and went to the window to hand over his identity token. ¡°I¡¯m here to collect my blood essence and demon blood.¡± ¡°Alright, Senior Brother.¡± The Internal Affairs disciple took the identity token and began to verify the registration. Soon after. ¡°Senior Brother, this is your blood essence and demon blood. Apart from that, I have something to inform you.¡± Zhang Chen was a little surprised. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°This year¡¯s inner sect mission has been changed to go to recruiting disciples in the mortal world. In a few days, the sect will arrange for Senior Brother to go. Now he understood what the disciples were talking about before. Zhang Chen was not surprised. This was normal. There were not many outer sect disciples definitely needed to be replenished as soon as possible. left in the Blood God Sect. They ¡°Huh? If that¡¯s the case, doesn¡¯t that mean that Zhou Wenting and the others will also have to leave the sect to do missions?¡± Thinking of this, Zhang Chen hurriedly asked, ¡°Is the time to accept the mission unified or can we receive it at any time?¡± ¡°It¡¯s unified,¡± the Internal Affairs disciple replied. Hearing these words, Zhang Chen was pleased, but he still confirmed carefully, ¡°Does this mean that all the inner sect disciples will go out together?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you, Junior Brother.¡± Chapter 38 - Preparation to Leave the Sect Chapter 38 Preparation to Leave the Sect Zhang Chen walked out of the Internal Affairs Hall with joy. ¡°As long as I take this opportunity to kill Zhou Wenting and his men, no one should know my secret. ¡°By the way, the Blood Burst Technique is useful in battle, but it¡¯s not suitable for traveling. I¡¯ll change to another suitable spell.¡¯ Zhang Chen walked towards the Technique Exchange Pavilion again. As long as the spell was really useful, he did not necessarily have to choose a spell with side effects. However, most of the spells of the Blood God Sect had side effects, and the spells with side effects generally had much stronger power. ¡°Senior Brother, do you want to exchange spells? This is the catalog of Qi Refinement realm spells. Tell me when you¡¯ve made your choice.¡± The disciple of the Technique Exchange Pavilion respectfully handed over the catalog of spells. He did not recognize that Zhang Chen was the ¡®dead man¡¯ in his eyes. Or rather, he had never bothered to remember what Zhang Chen looked like. He didn¡¯t think it was worth remembering someone who had chosen six spells with extremely high side effects and almost certain death. Furthermore, Zhang Chen was now an inner sect disciple, and the gap between his cultivation and the previous one was simply too huge for the disciple to believe. Zhang Chen sighed in his heart. The first time he came, the disciples of the Technique Exchange Pavilion ignored him. Now that he came as an inner sect disciple, the other party was respectful. However, he did not have the boring idea of slapping himself in the face. He took the book and began to choose spells. Finally, his gaze fell on two spells. Light Body Technique and Beast Slave Seal. The Light Body Technique could make the body temporarily light as a swallow. It was comparable to a first-rate martial arts expert with lightness skills. Moreover, there were no side effects. Many disciples had learned this technique. He chose this spell not only for traveling, but also to cooperate with the Blood Burst Technique. Being light as a swallow and then increasing his speed tenfold. Wouldn¡¯t he be unimaginably fast? The second spell, Beast Slave Seal, had side effects. By using fresh blood as a seal, it forcibly controlled demons and beasts, requiring 15 bowls of blood in exchange. Prolonged use or controlling multiple demons and beasts can result in the demon beast¡¯s thinking assimilating with the caster, resulting in loss of humanity. Powerful demon beasts can turn the tables and control the caster. The side effects were severe. For others, they could only control the demon beasts for a short time and be careful not to be controlled by them. However, to Zhang Chen, it was a divine technique to gain demonic pets! Controlling a group of demon beasts could not only quickly increase one¡¯s strength, but it could also be used as a mount. After obtaining the spell, Zhang Chen went to the Pill Pavilion to find Feng Wensheng to get some pills. Then he returned to the cave abode to cultivate. [Detected cultivation technique, Beast Slave Seal. Using blood and intent to forcefully control demon beasts.] [Side effects: May be assimilated by the demon beast¡¯s thinking and be in danger of being controlled by it.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] The first thing Zhang Chen did after learning the Beast Slave Seal was to go to the beast garden to test it. ¡°Happy New Year, Senior Brother Zhang.¡± ¡°Happy New Year, Junior Brother Wang.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, the missions for the inner disciples have changed. What should I do about the task you assigned me earlier?¡± Wang Zhengang asked awkwardly. He had already paid his friend from the Internal Affairs Hall when he asked him to do something. Now that the sect mission had changed, he was afraid that Zhang Chen would cancel the task and not pay him. ¡°How about this? Get your friends from the Internal Affairs Hall to find out where Zhou Wenting and the others have been assigned to recruit disciples. The reward remains the same.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Wang Zhengang agreed happily. ¡°Give me the array formation token. I might take away a demon beast later,¡± Zhang Chen explained in advance. Wang Zhengang did not ask why and respectfully handed over the array formation token. Arriving at the cave where the demon beasts were imprisoned, Zhang Chen was very cautious and chose the horse demon at the second level of Qi Refinement that Li Mumin had given him. He activated the array formation token and controlled the horse demon. Zhang Chen made a complex hand seal, and a twisted mass of blood formed a mysterious pattern, leaving a strand of intent in his blood. The horse demon seemed to have sensed a certain danger and struggled desperately. Unmoved, Zhang Chen waved his hand and said, ¡°Beast Slave Seal, go!¡± The pattern formed by the blood landed on the horse demon¡¯s forehead, turning into a blood-red seal with the character ¡®slave¡¯. Next, Zhang Chen felt a connection with the horse demon, and he could change the demon¡¯s thoughts with a single thought. This mark was bi-directional, and the demon¡¯s thoughts could also be transmitted. The grass is delicious. I want to eat fresh grass¡­ However, in an instant, these thoughts disappeared, as if the signal had been blocked. The bi-directional channel of the mark became a one-way channel controlled by Zhang Chen¡¯s thoughts. Next was to test the control effect. ¡°Stand there quietly and don¡¯t move.¡± Zhang Chen transmitted his thoughts to the horse demon. The horse demon suddenly became incredibly quiet and stopped struggling. Zhang Chen retracted the array chain and closed the array. If the horse demon made any movement, he would immediately attack. The horse demon was only at the second level of Qi Refinement. He could kill it instantly and not cause any commotion. This was the reason why he chose to test the horse demon first. The effect of the Beast Slave Seal was very good. Even though the array was already closed, the horse demon still stood on the spot without moving. ¡°Lie down.¡± Zhang Chen transmitted his thoughts again. The horse demon immediately lay down obediently. ¡°Get up.¡± ¡°Raise your front hooves.¡± After several tests, Zhang Chen was completely sure of the effect of the Beast Slave Seal. As long as he transmitted his thoughts, the horse demon would do as he said. ¡°You can be my mount for now.¡± Zhang Chen took out the beast breeding bag and kept the horse demon in satisfaction. Five days later. ¡°Dang, dang, dang¡­¡± The sect representative¡¯s bell rang. ¡°It¡¯s finally time to assign tasks.¡± Zhang Chen stood up and walked towards the square. When they arrived at the square, there were already more than a hundred inner sect disciples gathered here, and other disciples were arriving one after another. An hour later, a blood-red light flashed, and 10 direct disciples descended from the sky. After a short while, black blood gushed out of the ground. It was Patriarch Black Blood. ¡°Welcome, Elder Black Blood!¡± Everyone bowed. Patriarch Black Blood glanced over the crowd and spoke with authority: ¡°Due to the shortage of outer sect disciples, this year¡¯s inner sect mission will be to recruit disciples with spiritual roots from the mortal world.¡± The shortage of outer sect disciples is not because of your blood sacrifices, is it? Many people thought so, but they did not dare to say it out loud. Patriarch Black Blood waved his hand, and everyone received a blood-red bead. ¡°This is the Spiritual Detection Bead. It can detect if a mortal has spiritual roots. Just hold it, and if it glows, it means the person has spiritual roots.¡± ¡°For every disciple you bring back, you will receive a bowl of demon blood. For every hundred disciples you bring back, I will reward you with an additional bowl of blood essence.¡± ¡°You three will work together to go to the designated cities to collect disciples and escort them back to the sect. As for which cities, the Internal Affairs Hall will assign them.¡± ¡°This mission will last for half a year. My 10 direct disciples will be monitoring and supervising you, as well as protecting you from being killed by others.¡± ¡°Alright, go to the Internal Affairs Hall to receive your assigned locations.¡± After saying that, Patriarch Black Blood turned into a pool of black blood and disappeared. ¡°Goodbye, Elder.¡± Zhang Chen played with the Spirit Detection Bead with great interest as he looked at Zhou Wenting and the other two in the crowd without leaving a trace. Over the past few days, Zhang Chen had already figured out the appearance and characteristics of the three of them to avoid mistakenly killing people from the sect. Chapter 39 - Stalking Chapter 39 Stalking However, he did not know that Zhou Wenting and the other two were also secretly sizing him up. ¡°That¡¯s Zhang Chen?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°He¡¯s only at the seventh level of Qi Refinement. Are you sure Sun Jian died at his hands?¡± ¡°Maybe Li Mumin gave him something to protect himself.¡± Soon, the inner sect disciples arrived at the Internal Affairs Hall. Zhang Chen stood in front of the window and handed over his identity token. ¡°I¡¯m here to receive my assigned location.¡± ¡°Senior brother, please wait a moment.¡± After confirming his identity, the Internal Affairs disciple began to flip through a book. ¡°Senior brother Zhang, your assigned location is Ling¡¯an City, and here¡¯s the map.¡¯ ¡°Thank you, Junior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen took the map and turned to leave. There were still people waiting in line behind him, and he didn¡¯t want to delay too long. Only after leaving the Internal Affairs Hall did he open the map to check. This map was much larger than the previous one. It even included three surrounding mortal kingdoms. Soon, he found Ling¡¯an City on the map. Ling¡¯an City was 1,200 miles away from the Blood God Sect. At an ordinary person¡¯s speed, the round trip alone would take over two months. Meanwhile, outside the Internal Affairs Hall, many inner disciples were loudly shouting, ¡°Elk City, Elk City, who¡¯s going to Elk City?¡± ¡°Jinhua City, Jinhua City, who¡¯s going to Jinhua City?¡± Zhang Chen had a feeling that he had just stepped out of the train station in his past life. He heard someone shout Ling¡¯an City, but instead of going there, he looked for the figures of Zhou Wenting and the other two in the crowd. ¡°Nothing?¡± Zhang Chen canned the crowd but didn¡¯t see the three of them. When he entered the Internal Affairs Hall to check again, he still didn¡¯t see them. They had probably already left. Suddenly, an outer sect disciple came to him and asked, ¡°Are you Senior Brother Zhang Chen?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhang Chen replied with a nod. ¡°Someone asked me to give this to you,¡± the outer disciple said, handing him a note. Zhang Chen already had a guess as to what it might be. He took the note and opened it. Sure enough, it was the location Zhou Wenting and the other two were assigned to. A small smile appeared on Zhang Chen¡¯s face. He put away the note and took out a water bag containing 10 bowls of blood essence that he had prepared earlier. ¡°Junior Brother, can you please give this water bag to Wang Zhengang in the beast garden?¡± Zhang Chen asked the outer sect disciple. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to deliver it,¡± the outer sect disciple replied respectfully. After the outer sect disciple left, Zhang Chen opened the map and looked for the names of the cities where Zhou Wenting and the other two were assigned. The three of them were not assigned to the same city and were a bit far apart. Jiang Xianghong was the closest to the Blood God Sect, only 400 miles away. ¡°I¡¯ll go and kill Jiang Xianghong first.¡± After making up his mind, Zhang Chen walked towards the sect¡¯s exit. With the horse demon as his mount, his speed was faster than most people. Even if he rushed to three different places, he wouldn¡¯t be much slower than others. Instead, he was worried that Zhou Wenting and the other two would delay him if they took too long on the road. At the entrance of the sect¡¯s gate, the 10 direct disciples under Patriarch Black Blood were busy, constantly making hand gestures and cursing the inner disciples who were going out on missions. Zhang Chen quietly walked past them and stood at the back of the line. Meanwhile, outside of the Blood God Sect, two figures were closely watching the exit of the illusion array. ¡°Senior Brother Zhou, are we really giving up on this mission?¡± ¡°Li Mumin might use this opportunity to attack us, so we absolutely cannot go to the location assigned by the sect.¡± ¡°What about our mission then?¡± ¡°With our connections and reputation, it shouldn¡¯t be difficult for us to ask for a few talented mortals with spiritual roots to fill the quota. At most, we¡¯ll use demon blood to trade.¡± ¡°Then, should we wait for Zhang Chen to come out and follow him to a deserted place to capture him?¡± ¡°Right, once we capture him, we¡¯ll try to interrogate him to find out the source of his blood essence. If we can find out where Li Mumin¡¯s blood essence comes from, maybe we won¡¯t have to support Xu Yixian to reach the Foundation Establishment realm.¡± The two people talking were Zhou Wenting and Jiang Xianghong. They were unwilling to sacrifice their blood essence to help Xu Yixian build his foundation, so they pretended to separate from him and secretly came to ambush Zhang Chen, hoping to obtain the secret source of his blood essence. Unlike Zhang Chen who asked for information from someone else, their choice was to wait for him to come out and ambush him. After all, no matter where they were assigned, they would all come out from the sect¡¯s exit. They just needed to keep an eye on the exit and quietly follow him. From their conversation, it was clear that they were afraid of Li Mumin¡¯s retaliation and dared not go to the place where the sect¡¯s allocation was made. If Zhang Chen were to head over, they would definitely fail. However, by chance, they had a chance to meet again. ¡°Hide, Zhang Chen is coming out!¡± At the exit of the Illusory Formation, Zhang Chen looked around. Previously, the illusion formation was flawless and very realistic, but now it looked like an ink painting with many flaws and some distortion. His Spiritual Eye Technique was already showing results. Although he could not directly see through the illusion array, he could tell that it was an illusion and distinguish whether the scene in front of him was real or not. Zhang Chen was very satisfied with this and believed that when his eyes were completely transformed into spiritual eyes, he would definitely be able to see through the illusion formation. After taking out the map and confirming the direction, Zhang Chen used the Light Body Technique and walked towards the city assigned to Jiang Xianghong. Now, people were coming out of the Blood God Sect exit one after another, and there were many disciples heading in the same direction. It was not convenient to ride a horse demon to hurry. After Zhang Chen had walked a distance, Zhou Wenting and Jiang Xianghong came out of their hiding place. ¡°Great. He¡¯s alone. Let¡¯s follow him.¡± Both of them were at the ninth level of Qi Refinement and were very confident in themselves. With the Light Body Technique, he could travel much faster than before and without much effort. His body was as light as a feather. With a light tap of his feet, he had a feeling of floating up in the air. It was as if he was on the moon, where gravity was not strong, and he could easily hop and jump forward. Unconsciously, he had walked 50 miles. As he got further and further away from the Blood God Sect, he saw fewer and fewer disciples of the sect around him. However, Zhang Chen frowned. After cultivating the Divine Forging Technique, although he was at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, he had the willpower of the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Since leaving the sect, he had felt as though someone was watching him. At first, there were other disciples from the same sect around him. He thought that they were observing each other, so he did not pay much attention. He had already walked so far, but the feeling of being spied on had not gone away. ¡°Is someone targeting me?¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s eyes narrowed, but he pretended not to notice and continued on his way. Even cultivators with spiritual power needed to rest. After walking for another ten miles and seeing that it was getting late, Zhang Chen found a sheltered place to meditate and rest. In fact, he had been vigilant of his surroundings the entire time. A mile away was also the limit of the perception of the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Zhou Wenting stopped in his tracks. ¡°He stopped. He¡¯s probably planning to rest for the night.¡± ¡°Then what should we do?¡± Jiang Xianghong asked. Zhou Wenting thought for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s go around him and ambush him from the front.¡± ¡°Great!¡± The two of them walked in the other direction. The bright moon was high in the sky, and Zhang Chen hadn¡¯t slept all night. He was feeling a little disappointed. ¡°Aren¡¯t they going to attack me while I¡¯m resting at night?¡± Chapter 40 - Intense Battle in the Forest Chapter 40 Intense Battle in the Forest The next day, the sky was slightly bright and hazy. Although Zhang Chen had been on guard for the entire night, he was still in high spirits. The sense of spying that he sensed with his mind was indistinct, which meant that the person following him had not left. Zhang Chen¡¯s expression was calm as he continued on his way. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, two figures stood in the shadows in a dense forest. ¡°He¡¯s here. Let¡¯s withdraw our thoughts.¡± Zhang Chen seemed to know nothing as he walked into the dense forest. The dense forest was filled with trees, and it was difficult for sunlight to enter. It was very cool and filled with the smell of rotting plants. ¡°Pa!¡± ¡°Pa!¡± ¡°Pa!¡± The forest was abnormally quiet. Only the sound of Zhang Chen stepping on fallen leaves could be heard. Suddenly, two figures darted out from the shadows, one in front and one behind, blocking Zhang Chen¡¯s path. Zhang Chen, who was originally calm, was a little surprised when he saw the two of them clearly. ¡°So it¡¯s the two of you.¡± Then, Zhang Chen smiled again. ¡°I haven¡¯t even looked for you yet, but you¡¯ve already come knocking on my door. It saves me some effort.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Wenting was stunned for a moment before sneering, ¡°Kid, you still want to scare me? We¡¯re already on your way. ¡°You¡¯re only at the seventh level of Qi Refinement. If you have something to rely on to kill Sun Jian, you don¡¯t know the immensity of heaven and earth. The two of us have been at the ninth level of Qi Refinement for many years. Even if Li Mumin comes, he might not be able to kill us. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance to live now. You didn¡¯t exchange for blood essence in the outer sect at all. Tell me where you got the blood essence and I¡¯ll let you live.¡± Zhang Chen smiled and began to circulate the Blood Ignition Technique. ¡°You¡¯ll know soon if I¡¯m bluffing you.¡± While Zhang Chen was speaking, his cultivation level quickly increased. By the time he finished speaking, he had already reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement. ¡°Blood Ignition Technique? You don¡¯t want to talk anymore!¡± Zhou Wenting and the other two were shocked. ¡°You guys will be the ones to die!¡± Zhang Chen took out the storage bag at his waist, took out the Mad Blood Saber, and circulated the Blood Burst Technique. With the Light Body Technique and the Blood Burst Technique, Zhang Chen¡¯s figure instantly disappeared and appeared beside Zhou Wenting. Mad Blood Saber Technique! As Zhang Chen appeared beside him, Zhou Wenting was shocked and lost his composure. Before he could react, a huge surge of madness flooded his mind, causing him to have a splitting headache. He was unable to move. Unexpectedly, just as Zhou Wenting was about to be killed with a single blow, the jade pendant on his body suddenly shone brightly, forming a light film that blocked the attack. ¡°Dang!¡± With a loud sound, both parties retreated 20 feet. The seemingly foolproof strike had been blocked! Zhang Chen looked at the light emanating from Zhou Wenting and wondered to himself, Is this a spell or a magic weapon? On the other side, Jiang Xianghong reacted quickly. He hastily waved his hand, sending three blood arrows shot towards Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen took a step forward. With the support of the two spells, he instantly disappeared from the spot. He dodged the blood arrow and attacked Jiang Xianghong at the same time. ¡°Blood Web Technique!¡± Jiang Xianghong dared not let Zhang Chen approach him, so he cast a giant web made of blood in front of him. This blood web not only had a large coverage area, but it was also incredibly tough. Once it hit its target, it would automatically contract and absorb the enemy¡¯s blood to strengthen itself. Even if a demon beast at the ninth level of Qi Refinement was caught in the net, it would not be able to break free for a while. This was his signature spell. Zhang Chen, who was charging towards Jiang Xianghong, had fallen into his trap, as he had landed in the area covered by the blood web. The blood on the Mad Blood Knife flowed as he swung it towards the blood web. ¡°Sizzle~¡± The blood web shattered into two pieces. ¡°How is this possible! ¡°Wait, that blade is a magical weapon!¡± Upon seeing the incredibly resilient blood web being shattered, Jiang Xianghong was initially incredulous, but then he noticed the Mad Blood Knife in Zhang Chen¡¯s hand. Meanwhile, Zhou Wenting, who had finally recovered from the madness, was gasping for air. This was the closest he had ever come to death. If not for his protective magic item, the protective jade pendant, he would have already become a dead soul. The protective jade pendant was something he had spent most of his savings on. It could withstand three attacks below the Foundation Establishment realm. Coupled with the fact that he had already used it twice, there was only one last time. How could he be so strong! Zhou Wenting found it unbelievable. He really couldn¡¯t figure it out. Two years ago, he was only at the fifth level of Qi Refinement. Even now, with the help of the Blood Ignition Technique, he shouldn¡¯t be able to fully utilize his ninth-level Qi Refinement strength. More importantly, the spells he was using were too powerful. Casting spells required refined blood and time to practice. Where did Zhang Chen get so much blood essence? Then, Zhou Wenting thought about whether he should take the opportunity to run away. In his opinion, Zhang Chen had used the Blood Ignition Technique and was bound to die once the time ran out. Fighting back was not worth it. After breaking through the blood web, Zhang Chen charged towards Jiang Xianghong again. Jiang Xianghong panicked, retreating while casting a defensive spell. A blood shield appeared in front of him. At the same time, he noticed that Zhou Wenting had already regained his senses, so he shouted desperately, ¡°Senior Brother Zhou, come and help me!¡± ¡°Thud¡­¡± The blood shield that could withstand many spell attacks was like a piece of paper in front of Zhang Chen, easily slashed open with one cut. I must kill Jiang Xianghong with my next strike! With the Blood Burst Technique infused on his arm, he was ready to swing the blade. On the other side, Zhou Wenting had an idea. He would use Jiang Xianghong as bait to kill Zhang Chen and take their blood essence and belongings. This way, he could have enough resources to build his foundation and let Xu Yixian roll to the side. ¡°Junior Brother Jiang, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll burn incense for you on your death anniversary every year!¡± Zhou Wenting performed a spell, and a large amount of blood overflowed from his body, condensing into a dense array of blood arrows. ¡°Go!¡± ¡°Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh¡­¡± A large number of blood arrows shot out, covering Zhang Chen and Jiang Xianghong entirely. This was Zhou Wenting¡¯s sure-kill attack, which consumed 80% of his blood. Zhou Wenting¡¯s face was pale and his aura was weak. His body was trembling, but his eyes were particularly bright, staring intently without blinking. Zhang Chen sensed the danger behind him. He swept his gaze and saw countless blood arrows made of condensed blood falling down like rain. He did not expect Zhou Wenting to be so ruthless as to kill his companions. ¡°You¡­¡± Jiang Xianghong wanted to curse, but before he could finish, the blood arrows had already arrived. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Like a grenade, the bombers bombarded the ground. A large number of trees collapsed, turning into debris and countless fallen leaves. ¡°It¡¯s done! ¡°Hahaha~¡± Zhou Wenting laughed wildly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you laughing a little too early?¡± A mocking, icy voice came from the debris of leaves. Zhou Wenting¡¯s body stiffened, and he stared ahead in disbelief. The debris of leaves dispersed, and the fallen leaves fell to the ground, leaving a scarred and pitted landscape. Standing there was a figure wrapped in blood armor. ¡°Blood Armor Technique? To withstand so many blood arrows, you need at least three layers of blood armor, but how could you possibly have it!¡± Zhou Wenting found it hard to accept. He didn¡¯t know if it was because of fear or because he was affected by the madness from before, but he was a little crazy and unwilling to accept reality. What he did not know was that Zhang Chen¡¯s blood armor had already condensed to the fourth level. ¡°Next, I¡¯ll send you to reunite with Jiang Xianghong. He¡¯s waiting for you down there.¡± As he spoke, Zhang Chen had already arrived in front of Zhou Wenting and made a cut. Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Chapter 41: Riding at Full Speed Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Dang!¡± The protective jade pendant lit up again and blocked the attack. ¡°Crack!¡± With a crisp sound, the jade pendant shattered. ¡°Pfft!¡± wielded his sword continuously, and before Zhou Wenting could react, he had already chopped off his head. ¡°Now there¡¯s only Xu Yixian left.¡± Zhang Chen canceled the Blood Ignition Technique and took out a blood storage bottle to replenish the blood essence he had consumed. Only then did he lean over and search their corpses. The two of them were afraid of retaliation from Li Mumin, so they didn¡¯t carry much with them to avoid giving their enemy any resources. They only brought a few months¡¯ worth of cultivation resources. After collecting the blood essence of the two of them, Zhang Chen took out a map to check. The city that Xu Yixian had been assigned to was 2,400 miles away, and it was in the wrong direction. Zhang Chen injected spiritual power into the breeding bag, and the tamed horse demon appeared in front of him with a light shake. The horse demon that had just been released was in a comatose state. Zhang Chen waited for an incense stick to burn before it woke up. With a light leap, he jumped onto the horse¡¯s back and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±¡± The horse demon received the command and started running with its hooves pounding the ground. Zhang Chen had never ridden a horse before, but with his physique and reflexes as a cultivator, he could ensure that he wouldn¡¯t fall off the horse. Although it was only at the second level of Qi Refinement, the horse demon was naturally fast, and it ran much faster than Zhang Chen could on his own. Perhaps because it had been locked up for too long, the horse demon ran faster and faster, becoming more and more excited. If it weren¡¯t for Zhang Chen¡¯s frequent use of Blood Burst Technique, which allowed him to adapt to this speed, he would probably not even be able to control the direction. However, without a saddle, it was bumpy and very uncomfortable. The Thousand-Mile Horse was not really able to travel a thousand miles in a day. It simply referred to a good horse that was good at running and had very good endurance. But the horse demon could really travel a thousand miles in a day. The horse demon ran 300 miles in one go. Finally, it became a little tired, so it slowed down. Speaking of which, the horse demon had not eaten anything for several days. Zhang Chen was not in a hurry. With the horse demon¡¯s speed, they would definitely arrive at the destination before Xu Yixian. Therefore, he decided to stop and let the horse demon freely graze around. The horse demon was also starving and lowered its head to eat grass. It quickly ate up all the grass around and unconsciously wandered a few hundred meters away to a hillside. ¡°Hey! Look, there¡¯s a wild horse on the hillside.¡± ¡°This horse is so beautiful, we could definitely sell it for a good price if we catch it!¡± ¡°Ordinary horses are worth only a few dozen taels, but this one is worth at least several hundred taels.¡± ¡°Then what are we waiting for? Don¡¯t let it escape.¡± When Zhang Chen heard the voice coming from the other side of the hill, he could not help but frown and transmit his thoughts to the horse demon. ¡°Oh no, the horse has run away!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go after it quickly!¡± After a while, five figures appeared on the hill, holding ropes and knives. When they saw the horse demon stop beside Zhang Chen, they ran over quickly. Zhang Chen did not sense any spiritual power fluctuations from them, indicating that these five were not cultivators, but ordinary people. ¡°Everyone, stop chasing. This is my horse Zhang Chen said calmly. The five of them ignored him and continued to run over, surrounding Zhang Chen and the horse. Zhang Chen said again, ¡°This is my horse.¡± ¡°What a joke. Are you saying that what¡¯s yours is yours? This horse doesn¡¯t have reins or a saddle. It¡¯s obviously a wild horse,¡± the five people sneered. Zhang Chen frowned and gently stroked the horse¡¯s body. ¡°It¡¯s not running away and it¡¯s so obedient by my side, can¡¯t you see that?¡± ¡°So what if it¡¯s yours? I advise you to hand it over obediently. This is the wilderness. No one will know if someone dies.¡± Maybe because they saw that Zhang Chen was alone, the five people smirked and threatened. A precious horse worth at least a few hundred taels was worth killing for. ¡°Hehe.¡± Zhang Chen sneered. ¡°I can give you the horse, but it depends on whether you have the ability to catch it.¡± At this moment, the horse demon moved. It raised its front hooves and stepped on someone¡¯s head. ¡°Bang!¡± The head exploded, with red and white matter splattering everywhere. The remaining four people were dumbfounded and petrified. The horse demon did not stop. Its front hooves landed on the ground, and its back hooves kicked back. ¡°Bang! Bang!¡± Two more heads exploded from the kick. The only remaining two screamed in terror and turned to run. But how could they outrun a four-legged creature with just two legs? The horse demon sprinted and stamped on the back of one person. ¡°Crack! ¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The huge impact shattered the person¡¯s spine, causing his body to fold and fly out. Immediately after, the horse demon charged towards the last person. Hearing the rapid approach of the horse¡¯s hooves from behind, the person knew he could not run anymore. With a fierce expression, he turned around and swung his knife. The knife hit the horse demon, but it felt like hitting a hard piece of wood. ¡°Bang!¡± He was sent flying, his chest caved in. This was not an ordinary horse at all, but a horse demon! With a sudden realization, the last man also died. Zhang Chen was about to ride the horse demon and leave, but he remembered that he had to go to a town and had to have money. So he searched the bodies of the five men and obtained a handful of copper coins and a few pieces of silver. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°cnppety-clop¡­¡± The sound of horse hooves faded into the distance, leaving behind five broken corpses. Encountering ordinary people here meant he wasn¡¯t far from where ordinary people lived. After running another hundred miles, the demon horse finally saw a city. Zhang Chen planned to go around and buy a saddle, and also experience the customs and habits of this world. Even though he was a cultivator, his thighs and buttocks couldn¡¯t take the prolonged shaking and friction. ¡°Candied hawthorn, candied hawthorn, sour and sweet candied hawthorn¡­¡¯ ¡°Fried cake, fried cake, freshly baked fried cake¡­¡± ¡°Take a look, take a look. Don¡¯t miss it¡­ Although it was a small border town, it was quite lively, with people coming and going on the street, and the sound of peddling never ceased. ¡°Uncle, where can I buy a saddle?¡± Zhang Chen politely stopped a man in his forties to ask for directions. ¡°Cross this street and turn left. Go straight and you¡¯ll see the horse market.¡± ¡°Thank you, Uncle.¡± Zhang Chen thanked him and walked in the direction the man had indicated. Soon, Zhang Chen successfully found the horse market. In addition to saddles, this place mainly sold horses. With the arrival of the horse demon, the horses here became afraid and uneasy. ¡°Wow, what a magnificent horse!¡± A young man wandering in the market saw the horse demon beside Zhang Chen and his eyes lit up. The horse demon was a demon beast. It was taller and more muscular than ordinary horses. Its fur was smooth without any impurities and it exuded an overwhelming aura. The young master hurried over with his followers, and his eyes were fixed on the horse demon, full of excitement and joy. ¡°Good horse, it¡¯s really a good horse. It¡¯s even better looking than my father¡¯s precious horse.¡± As he spoke, he reached out to touch the horse demon. Zhang Chen ignored him. As long as he did not cause trouble, he could appease the horse demon¡¯s desire to kick. However, he underestimated the allure of a precious horse to ordinary people. In his eyes, it was only a demon beast at the second level of Qi Refinement, used temporarily as a mode of transportation. In the eyes of ordinary people, this was a precious horse that could not be bought even with money. It was a symbol of status, and a means to gallop on the battlefield. ¡°I¡¯ll buy this horse of yours,¡± the young man declared, not wanting to let go of the horse demon. ¡°Not for sale,¡± Zhang Chen replied calmly and continued walking.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Chapter 42: Meeting Again to Seize the Horse Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Two burly attendants stood in front of Zhang Chen, arrogantly declaring, ¡°Our young master is the son of the county magistrate. It¡¯s your lucky day that he has taken a liking to your horse. How dare you not sell it!¡± Zhang Chen squinted his eyes and said, ¡°Get lost.¡± The two attendants rolled up their sleeves and looked fierce, saying, ¡°You¡¯re courting death, kid!¡± ¡°I¡¯m pleased to have encountered such a fine horse today, so I¡¯ll let him off. I¡¯ll pay you 500 taels of silver for it,¡± the young master waved his hand to stop his attendants. ¡°I¡¯ll say it one last time. It¡¯s not for sale.¡± Zhang Chen was also impatient. ¡°I see you¡¯re asking for trouble!¡± The two attendants glared at each other. The young man¡¯s face darkened. He had to have this valuable horse. ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t sell it?¡± Zhang Chen ignored him and continued walking forward. The young master suddenly shouted, ¡°You little thief, how dare you steal my family¡¯s horse! Seize him!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The two followers responded and prepared to attack. ¡°If you love horses so much, then die under their hooves, ¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s tone was icy. The horse demon raised its hooves and stomped. The two attendants spewed blood from their mouths and flew backwards, crashing heavily to the ground, their lives hanging by a thread. The sudden turn of events terrified the young master, leaving him paralyzed on the ground. On the other hand, Zhang Chen had no intention of showing mercy. The horse demon kicked the young master to death. ¡°Ah! He killed someone, he killed someone¡­ The people who had been watching the scene ran away in fear, shouting in alarm. Zhang Chen felt that he was still very suitable for the Demon Sect. He sought revenge for the slightest grievance and respected the principle of ¡®those who offend me shall die¡¯. If it were the righteous path, such behavior would surely be condemned by many. They said that his attacks were ruthless and that they did not deserve to die. Zhang Chen acted as if nothing had happened. He walked into a shop selling saddles and said to the trembling shopkeeper, ¡°Give my horse a saddle.¡± ¡°Sir¡­ sir, your horse is much taller than an ordinary horse, and my shop doesn¡¯t have a suitable saddle.¡± The shopkeeper stuttered and dared not sell even if he had one. If Zhang Chen ran away, he might be accused of aiding and abetting the fugitive by the furious county magistrate or his accomplices. ¡°No? Can¡¯t you make one now?¡± Zhang Chen frowned slightly. Seeing Zhang Chen frown, the shopkeeper was afraid of being killed and did not dare to refuse any longer. ¡°I¡­ I can, if¡­ if you can wait, I¡­ I¡¯ll make it for you.¡± ¡°How long will it take?¡± ¡°Ab¡­ About two hours.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do it.¡± Zhang Chen nodded. The shopkeeper gave instructions to his assistants for the materials while stealing glances at Zhang Chen. His horse kicked the son of the county magistrate to death. Shouldn¡¯t he be running away? Even if the county magistrate is slow, he should have arrived with his men within two hours. I¡¯ll help him make a saddle. I can use the excuse to stall the murderer. The shopkeeper¡¯s movements slowed down a bit as he thought about this. An hour later, a middle-aged man wearing the county magistrate¡¯s uniform and carrying a wooden sword, rushed over with more than 20 constables. ¡°My son!¡± Before he came, the county still had hope that his son might not be dead and was only knocked out by the horse. But when he saw the disfigured body on the ground, he had to accept the truth and wept bitterly. The county magistrate trembled as he closed his son¡¯s eyes, then raised his head with a fierce expression: ¡°Where is the culprit? I want him to pay for my son¡¯s life!¡± ¡°The culprit is in the saddle shop up ahead, your honor.¡± A witness immediately stepped forward to report. ¡°What a thief! He killed my son and didn¡¯t even run away. Is he looking down on me?¡± The county magistrate gnashed his teeth and led the constables towards the shop where Zhang Chen was. ¡°Surround this place and don¡¯t let the criminal escape!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± More than 20 constables scattered and surrounded the shop. The county magistrate saw the horse demon at first glance. If it had been before, as someone who loved horses, he would have found a way to capture the horse. But now, he only wanted to tear this horse that had kicked his son to pieces and offer it as a sacrifice to his son¡¯s soul in heaven. The county magistrate turned to Zhang Chen, who was exceptionally calm beside him. ¡°Did you drive your horse to attack and kill my son?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhang Chen calmly admitted, as if it was only a chicken or duck that had been kicked to death by a horse. ¡°Okay, okay, okay, take him down!¡± The county magistrate laughed out of anger. More than 20 constables drew their swords and carefully surrounded Zhang Chen. They dared not be careless. Anyone who faced a killer who remained calm even when surrounded was either extremely confident in his skills or simply a fool. The former was obviously more likely. Constables acted only on orders and hustled for their livelihoods. Among them, there might be a few good people. Although Zhang Chen did not consider himself a good person, he did not want to kill too many people. With a flick of his finger, a drop of blood shot out. The county magistrate had a thumb-sized hole in his forehead and looked incredulous as he slowly fell. ¡°Bang!¡± It was not until the sound of a corpse falling to the ground was heard that the constables realized that the county magistrate was dead. When did he die? Was itjust the killer¡¯s snap of a finger? The constables felt a chill run down their spines and broke out in cold sweat. Zhang Chen said lightly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to kill too many people. You guys can leave.¡± The constables looked at each other and wanted to retreat. One or two taels ofsilver a month, is it worth risking our lives? However, one of the constables did not back down. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, everyone. If he has the confidence to kill us, he won¡¯t let us leave. Catching the criminal is a great achievement.¡± Hearing this, many constables wavered again. The constable then said to Zhang Chen, ¡°Although I don¡¯t know what means you used to kill the county magistrate, murder requires the death penalty. I will not let you, a criminal, go!¡± Zhang Chen did not know if this constable was putting on a show or using his subordinates, or if he was genuinely upright. ¡°The son of the county magistrate wanted to seize and take away my horse, accused me of stealing it, and sent me to prison. Should I not have killed him?¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s good or bad, right or wrong, it¡¯s up to the authorities to decide. It¡¯s not up to you to decide!¡± The constable said righteously. Zhang Chen stared at this person. ¡°His father is a county magistrate. If I were an ordinary person and entered the yamen, what do you think my sentence would be?¡± The constable hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m sure the county magistrate will see to it that justice is done.¡± Zhang Chen chuckled. ¡°You don¡¯t even believe it yourself, yet you want others to believe it?¡± The constable was unconvinced. ¡°If you don¡¯t go to the yamen, how do you know that the county magistrate will not administer justice for you? Surrender yourself and come with me to the yamen. I will definitely find out the truth for you.¡± Zhang Chen sneered. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of death?¡± ¡°If everyone is afraid of death, why do we need constables? Who would go catch criminals like you?¡± The constable faced death without fear. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll grant your wish. ¡± Zhang Chen once again pricked his finger, drawing out a drop of blood. The constable now had another bloody hole in his forehead, and he fell straight to the ground. ¡°Those who stand in my way will die.¡± Zhang Chen glanced at the other constables. The constables retreated one by one, but they didn¡¯t dare leave, afraid of being punished by the county magistrate later. Zhang Chen did not mind and waited for the saddle to be prepared. An hour later, a few men placed the saddle on the horse¡¯s back. ¡°How much for the saddle?¡± Zhang Chen asked. ¡°I dare not take any money. Take it if you like,¡± the shopkeeper replied, actually afraid of being held accountable afterwards. By not accepting money, he could also claim he was robbed or coerced, and be seen as the victim. Zhang Chen tossed a piece of silver and said, ¡°I¡¯m buying, not robbing.¡± With that, he raised his hand and a large amount of blood gushed out, revealing his identity as a cultivator.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Chapter 43: Hiding From the Rain in the Village Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios As they watched the blood constantly wriggling and changing in the air, the people around finally realized what was happening. They trembled and knelt down one after another. ¡°G-greetings, Immortal!¡± This town was one of the closest mortal towns to the Blood God Sect, about four hundred miles away. Although the disciples of the Blood God Sect rarely came here, there was still some information. Legend had it that there were immortals who could control blood. ¡°Don¡¯t get in my way if you don¡¯t want to die.¡± After saying this, Zhang Chen mounted his horse and galloped out of the city. It was only after the sound of the horse¡¯s hooves faded away that the people dared to stand up and discuss with lingering fear. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect him to be an immortal!¡± ¡°The son of a county magistrate actually dared to snatch an immortal¡¯s horse. He really deserved it.¡± ¡°The constable also wanted to arrest the immortal. He also deserved to die.¡± ¡°By the way, shopkeeper, what¡¯s your relationship with the immortal?¡± Zhang Chen rode his horse and galloped towards the direction where Xu Yixian assigned the city. With the saddle, it was indeed much more comfortable, and he didn¡¯t have to clamp his legs tightly for fear of falling off. The road ahead, between two mountains, was a good ambush spot. At this moment, a group of bandits were ambushing on both sides of the road, waiting for a fat sheep to pass by. ¡°Clatter, clatter, clatter¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s the sound of horse hooves, get ready!¡± The bandits sharpened their senses and watched the direction where the sound came from. At first glance, it was just a black dot in the distance. However, when they took a second look, they could already see the person¡¯s clothes clearly. At the third glance, the person was only 200 feet away from them. Before they could react, Zhang Chen had already whizzed past, leaving only dust in his wake. ¡°So fast!¡± When the bandits regained their senses, all they could hear was the sound of the horse¡¯s hooves disappearing into the distance. At the same time, they had a thought that the speed was so fast, it must be a divine horse, and worth a lot. ¡°We let a divine horse run away!¡± The leader of the bandits looked regretful. If he knew who he was going to rob, he would probably be grateful for his good luck. As Zhang Chen went deeper into the mortal world, more and more people saw his figure. The name of the lightning-fast divine horse also began to spread. Many horse lovers, upon hearing this, offered high rewards to buy it. There were also many people prepared to intercept and snatch the divine horse, but they could not keep up with the speed of the demonic horse¡¯s gallop. If these people really caught up, Zhang Chen would not mind going on a killing spree. In the evening, Zhang Chen looked up at the dark sky and knew that it was going to rain heavily. Although he wouldn¡¯t catch a cold, he didn¡¯t like getting wet either. ¡°Let¡¯s find a place to take shelter from the rain.¡± Not long after, Zhang Chen arrived at a village. There was another group of people seeking shelter from the rain A young lady and her maidservants, an old butler-like man, and four guards. Zhang Chen just casually glanced at them and didn¡¯t pay much attention, dismounted, and walked into the village. ¡°What a handsome horse!¡± The four guards were mesmerized by the demonic horse and couldn¡¯t take their eyes off it. ¡°Miss, that man looks so good!¡± The young lady and her maidservant stared at Zhang Chen. The butler¡¯s expression was solemn as he said softly to Miss, ¡°Miss, stay away from that man. He has a strong scent of blood and is very dangerous.¡± The young lady blushed as if her secret had been discovered, lowered her head, but still stole glances at Zhang Chen from time to time. The maidservant, on the other hand, was a bit rebellious and pouted, ¡°Uncle Wu, how could such a good-looking young man be a bad person?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand. Appearances can be deceiving.¡± The butler shook his head and sighed. The maidservant pouted even more aggrievedly. The four guards also conversed with each other like modern people seeing a sports car. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen such a handsome horse.¡± ¡°I once saw a fine horse that was worth a thousand taels, but it wasn¡¯t as handsome as this one. Look at the horse¡¯s legs. They¡¯re sturdy and powerful. It must run very quickly.¡± When the young lady heard this, she couldn¡¯t help but be a little curious and asked the butler, ¡°Uncle Wu, is that horse worth a thousand taels?¡± The butler nodded. ¡°If you meet someone who loves horses, someone will buy it even if it¡¯s a thousand taels of gold.¡± The young lady covered her mouth in shock. Her family was considered rich, but she might not be able to take out a thousand taels of gold. The maidservant seemed to have thought of something and whispered something in the young lady¡¯s ear. The maid whispered something in the young lady¡¯s ear, making her blush with anger, but her eyes were full of anticipation. In the village, Zhang Chen saw an old man and asked him, ¡°Excuse me, old man, it¡¯s going to rain soon. I would like to stay in your village overnight to avoid the rain. Do you have any vacant rooms? I can pay.¡± ¡°No need for money. Many people in the village have moved away, and there are plenty of empty houses. If you don¡¯t mind, I can show you one,¡± the old man said warmly. ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± Zhang Chen replied gratefully. Just then, the butler and his companions approached the old man and asked, ¡°Sir, we are also here to seek shelter from the rain. Can you help us find an empty room?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really lively today!¡± the old man smiled. ¡°Follow me, I¡¯ll show you to a vacant house. ¡± During this process, Zhang Chen frowned slightly. He could sense that many villagers were hiding and watching him. However, he didn¡¯t think too much of it. It was normal for strangers to be curious about him. Soon, the old man found them an uninhabited house to stay in. Zhang Chen and the butler¡¯s group were staying in houses on opposite sides of the road. The house they were staying in had been vacant for a long time, covered in dust and cobwebs, and some of the furniture had rotted and grown mushrooms. Zhang Chen did not mind and casually found a place to sit down. He took out a blood storage bottle and prepared to ingest the demon blood to refine it. ¡°Bang, bang, bang!¡± At this moment, there was a sudden knock on the door. Zhang Chen put away the bottle, stood up, opened the door, and asked calmly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Master, our young lady saw that you didn¡¯t bring any food, so she sent me to bring you some.¡± It was the maid who came. ¡°Thank you for your Miss¡¯s kind intentions. I¡¯m not hungry. Miss, It¡¯s going to rain soon, so if there¡¯s nothing else, please go back to avoid getting wet.¡± Zhang Chen calmly refused. ¡°Sorry to bother you, Young Master.¡± The maidservant turned around and left in disappointment. Zhang Chen closed the door and took out the blood storage bottle again. He swallowed the demon blood to refine it. With the modifier, immortality was within reach, but women would only bring him trouble. ¡°Pa, pa, pa, pa¡­¡± Raindrops hit the roof, making a pitter-patter sound. Although the rain was heavy, the villagers braved it and gathered together. This was a temple. On the plaque was written ¡®Goddess¡¯, consecrating a statue of a woman inside. However, the statue was very strange. Its body was twisted, as if it was struggling and resisting, and its eyes were full of resentment. The old man who led the way for Zhang Chen said, ¡°A few outsiders came to seek shelter from the rain today. One group had four guards. It was not easy to deal with them, so I could only bring them to an empty room to stay.¡± ¡°Then send them some wedding candles and a wedding blanket.¡± A villager grinned. The old man looked at the statue with a pained expression. ¡°If we hadn¡¯t done that thing back then, perhaps so many people wouldn¡¯t have died.¡± Hearing this, all the villagers fell silent. Twenty years ago, they encountered a severe drought, and their crops failed. Just as they were about to leave their homes and seek a new life, a Daoist priest came to their village and offered a solution. As long as they made a statue out of a woman born in a yin year, yin month, and yin hour on the day of a yin year, yin month, and yin hour wedding, and then worshipped it every year, they would have rain every year.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Chapter 44: The Wedding Day Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios And that year happened to be a Yin year. Most of the villagers did not want to leave their hometowns, so they agreed to the Daoist priest¡¯s plan. They found a woman born in a Yin year, Yin month, and Yin hour, and spent a lot of money to marry her. So on the day of the wedding, they dressed the woman in a red robe and sealed her alive into a clay statue. That statue is the one in the temple. Even after 20 years,the woman¡¯s cries and pleas for mercy before she died still echoed in their dreams. Of course, after they finished the ceremony and made offerings, dark clouds gathered, and it began to rain heavily, just like today. They cheered and jumped in the rain. But what they didn¡¯t know was that it was the beginning of a nightmare. That night, an entire family died. And every year on this day, the woman¡¯s ghost would emerge from the statue and demand the villagers pay for their sins. The owners of the empty houses in the village didn¡¯t move away, they were killed by the woman¡¯s ghost. Some people thought about running away, but if they went more than 10 miles away, they would immediately die. They thought of the Daoist priest and sent people to find him, but they couldn¡¯t find him no matter how hard they tried. But a coincidence led them to find a way to sacrifice someone else. One year, a stranger came to the village seeking shelter. Because they didn¡¯t have any spare candles or blankets, they gave him a wedding candle and a wedding blanket. The next day, they found that the stranger had died, while the villagers were unharmed. They realized that they could use the wedding candle to lure the female ghost away. From then on, every year, they would try to persuade passing travelers to stay and die in place of the villagers on that day. ¡°Bang, bang, bang!¡± Someone knocked on the door again. Zhang Chen stopped practicing and got up to open the door, finding several villagers outside. ¡°It¡¯s chilly at night. We¡¯ve come to bring bedding and candles to the young master. We¡¯re sorry to have offered you old blankets before, so we¡¯ve brought new wedding blankets.¡± Looking at the red wedding candle and blanket that the villagers handed over, Zhang Chen didn¡¯t notice anything wrong. They were indeed ordinary candles and blankets. Although he didn¡¯t need them, he didn¡¯t refuse the villagers¡¯ kindness. ¡°You¡¯ve braved the heavy rain to bring me bedding and candles. I can¡¯t let you leave empty-handed. Here¡¯s one or two silver pieces, please take it as a token of my gratitude.¡± ¡°Young Master is too polite.¡± The villagers happily took the silver. Zhang Chen casually put the wedding candle and blanket aside and continued to cultivate. Meanwhile, the villagers had also sent wedding candles and blankets to the butler and his group. ¡°It¡¯s chilly at night. As a lady from a wealthy family, I¡¯m afraid you might catch a cold, so the villagers sent new bedding and candles. I¡¯m sorry we couldn¡¯t use the old quilt to serve you, so we brought a new one It was the same speech. ¡°It¡¯s really too kind of you,¡± the butler accepted the wedding candle and wedding blanket. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, you¡¯re welcome.¡± The villagers were very enthusiastic. After sending off the villagers, the butler entered the house: ¡°Miss, the villagers sent a new quilt.¡± ¡°Why is it a wedding blanket? I¡¯m not married yet.¡± The young lady was a little embarrassed. The butler persuaded her: ¡°Miss, you don¡¯t have to worry about these things when you¡¯re away from home. It¡¯s raining outside, and the cold is heavy. It¡¯s not good to catch a cold.¡± The maid on the side added, ¡°Miss met that young master, and now someone has sent a wedding candle and a wedding quilt. Is heaven hinting at something?¡± The young lady blushed and said proudly, ¡°You are just making things up. Hurry up and make the bed.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss, hehehe!¡± At night, a villager in the distance saw a candlelight lit up in the lady¡¯s room and smiled. Looking at the house where Zhang Chen was located, it was pitch black without any light. ¡°You¡¯re asleep so early? But it¡¯s okay, as long as one side of the happy candle is lit.¡± The villager turned and went back to report. Zhang Chen, who was originally cultivating, suddenly opened his eyes and frowned. He felt a strong yin energy in the village. Generally speaking, there should not be any yin energy in places where many people live. The human body has yang energy, which can disperse yin energy. Unless it is a gathering place of yin energy, or there are ghosts lurking around. This was a village with at least dozens of people. Even at night, there should only be a faint trace of yin energy. But the yin energy he sensed was too strong. Could there be zhosts here? Should he leave? After thinking about it, Zhang Chen decided not to leave. As a cultivator of the Demon Sect, how could he be afraid of ghosts? Even if it was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he was confident that he could escape. Speaking of which, he had never seen a ghost before. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect my luck to be so bad. I just came to a village to avoid the rain, and I actually encountered a ghost. I don¡¯t know what a ghost looks like.¡± Zhang Chen became interested. If this ghost harmed people and it was within his ability, he would help the villagers solve it as a reward for staying overnight. Outside the house opposite, two guards were on watch and chatting about Zhang Chen and his horse. ¡°Phew-¡± Suddenly, a gust of wind blew over, and the two guards shook involuntarily. ¡°The wind is so cold on a rainy day!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Fortunately, we have a place to shelter ourselves from the wind and rain. If we were in the wilderness, we would probably catch a cold.¡± ¡°Who do you think the young master who came to shelter from the rain is? He can actually ride such a divine steed.¡± The two guards did not notice that a black shadow was approaching in the rain. Inside the house, the wedding candle had been lit. The candlelight flickered, and melted wax dripped down the candle, like a woman¡¯s tears or flowing blood. The young lady and the maidservant were not asleep. The two of them were also talking about Zhang Chen. ¡°What kind of person do you think that young master is?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a rich man.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not asking you that. I¡¯m asking what kind of person you think the Young Master is.¡± ¡°Ah? Is it different? If he can ride a good horse, I think he¡¯s rich!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± The young woman was about to say something, when suddenly she was engulfed in a daze, and her surroundings changed. A huge Chinese character for ¡®joy¡¯ appeared before her eyes. Red curtains adorned the pillars, and wedding candles were lit, as if she were in a wedding hall. The people around her were all looking at her with happy expressions. But their gazes were too intense, making her feel uncomfortable. She lowered her head and saw that she was wearing a big red wedding gown, but she had no idea how she got it on. ¡°The bride has arrived!¡± A voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Am I the bride? Wait, wasn¡¯t Ijust chatting with my maid Xiaolan? How did I suddenly end up in a wedding hall, becoming the bride? ¡°Xiaolan, where are you? Xiaolan, Xiaolan¡­¡± the young woman shouted in panic. But she received no response. The people around her paid her no attention either. A man dressed as the groom led her to the center of the wedding hall. ¡°Who are you? Let go of me!¡± the young lady struggled and shouted, but she couldn¡¯t break free from his grip. ¡°Let¡¯s bow to heaven and earth!¡± the groom said. The young woman found that she was unable to control her body, and began to bow with the groom. ¡°Someone save me, Uncle Wu, Xiao Lan¡­ The young lady was filled with fear and tears streamed down her face, but she found that she couldn¡¯t make a sound. Xiaolan, the maid, was equally terrified, because the same thing had happened to her. Butler Wu and the four guards saw something different. They saw themselves as the groom, marrying a beautiful woman.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 45 Chapter 45: Chapter 45: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Uncle Wu, the butler, was knowledgeable and guessed that they might have encountered some evil spirits, so he kept thinking of ways to deal with it and did not fall into despair. At first, the four guards struggled desperately, but they soon found it was futile. No matter how hard they tried, their bodies were out of control. They could only choose to enjoy it since they couldn¡¯t resist. After the wedding ceremony, should they be sent to the bridal chamber? They couldn¡¯t help but be excited when they saw how beautiful the bride was, and they looked forward to what was going to happen next. But what happened next made their scalps tingle. The guests around them sealed the beautiful bride alive in a clay statue! Without any control over their bodies, they joined in and picked up the clay, filling and smearing it all over the bride. They watched as the joyful and shy bride turned into a frightened one, with the sound of her pleading and begging ringing in their ears. The festive music that was playing had turned into a funeral dirge. The red curtains hanging around the pillars seemed to be flowing with blood. The young lady and maidservants watched helplessly as they were being sealed like clay statues. Despite their desperate pleas, the guests were indifferent to their cries and continued to fill them with more and more clay. In the flickering candlelight, the guests¡¯ figures and faces looked particularly ferocious, like devouring demons. Feeling the weight and suffocation of their bodies, all they were left with was helplessness, despair, and confusion. ¡°What did I do wrong? Why are you doing this to me? What did I do wrong? Why are you treating me like this?¡­¡± Perhaps the original bride had the same despair and confusion. She had done nothing wrong, yet on her wedding day, the villagers had sealed her alive in a clay statue. On the other side, Zhang Chen stepped out of his room and walked towards the house across the way, treading through the rainwater. At this moment, he exuded the aura of a ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator. He did not use the Blood Ignition Technique. Rather, he had taken the precaution of ingesting stored blood essence which had elevated his cultivation to the ninth level of Qi Refinement. The reason he had not made a move when the Ghost Bride appeared was because he was ingesting the blood essence. This was one of the benefits of the Blood Nerve Technique. One only needed to separate the blood essence to lower one¡¯s hidden cultivation realm. As he arrived at the house across the way, in Zhang Chen¡¯s eyes, two night guards were being covered in mud, which had already reached their necks. The mud was pitch black, emitting a foul smell of decayed corpses. A blood whip appeared in Zhang Chen¡¯s hand, which he swung towards the mud. The mud scattered, revealing the forms of the two guards. Zhang Chen swung the blood whip again, enveloping the two guards and throwing them towards the door of his own residence. As for whether the two guards would be injured from the fall, it was not within his consideration. He was not a nanny. Saving their lives was already doing them a favor. And this action also made the Ghost Bride aware of Zhang Chen¡¯s presence. When Zhang Chen pushed open the door of the house, the scene in front of him changed, becoming a wedding hall, and he was dressed in a red robe as the groom. The events that happened to the guards began to repeat themselves on him. But with a flash of bloody light in his eyes, the scene in front of him changed again. This was the effect of the Spiritual Eye Technique! There was no wedding hall or guests, only a mass of pitch-black Yin energy. Did the ghost veil my eyes? Or is it an illusion? Zhang Chen walked into the room and saw the young lady and the maid covered in black mud, with fear and despair in their eyes. With a wave of his Blood Whip, he dispersed the mud and rescued the two of them. The Ghost Bride, seeing that the illusion didn¡¯t work on Zhang Chen, finally appeared. Yin energy condensed, forming a semi-illusory figure in the air. Wearing a blood-red wedding dress stained with mud, it fell with constant cracking sounds. The originally beautiful face was twisted with resentment. Is this a ghost? Zhang Chen calmly looked at the ghost bride in front of him and felt that even a demon beast would be more pleasing to the eye. The reason why he was so calm was that the ghost bride in front of him only had the cultivation of the ninth level of Qi Refinement. The Ghost Bride opened her mouth full of mud and let out an angry roar. The mud that had fallen to the ground rushed towards Zhang Chen, trying to engulf him. Zhang Chen reached into his storage bag and took out the Mad Blood Saber. Then, using the Light Body Technique and the Blood Burst Technique, he charged towards the ghost bride. Because it was so fast, the Mad Blood Saber sliced through her body before she could react. There was no scene of blood and flesh flying around. After all, she was a ghost made of condensed yin energy, but her body became more illusory. The ghost bride let out a piercing scream that was hard to listen to. ¡°Looks like I have to slash many times!¡± Zhang Chen frowned. If it was a living creature, one slash would kill it. With his arm infused with Blood Burst Technique, he slashed again. The ghost bride wanted to control the soil to resist, but she was too late. The Mad Blood Saber slashed across her ghostly body once again, making her even more ethereal and transparent, as if she could disappear at any moment. The ghost bride realized that she was no match for the person in front of her. She was afraid and turned to run. ¡°Trying to run?¡± Zhang Chen wouldn¡¯t let her escape and quickly chased after her. Zhang Chen was naturally faster than the ghost bride, but the ghost bride¡¯s body was ethereal and could ignore the terrain and buildings. Therefore, under the cover of many houses, he could not catch up for a while. However, Zhang Chen¡¯s mind was firmly locked onto the ghost bride, not giving her a chance to escape. Soon, following the ghost bride, Zhang Chen arrived at the Goddess Temple in the village. The ghost bride rushed into a clay statue and disappeared without a trace, no longer emitting any Yin energy. If Zhang Chen hadn¡¯t been following her with his locked mind, he wouldn¡¯t have known that the clay statue could hide ghosts. ¡°As expected, it¡¯s a man-made ghost.¡± Zhang Chen looked at the temple and the clay statue, squinting his eyes, and slashed with a knife. The clay statue sensed danger and emitted black light, blocking the attack. ¡°I see how many slashes you can take!¡± Zhang Chen slashed again, dispersing the black light. This was immediately followed by a third slash. ¡°Pa!¡± The clay statue shattered, revealing the rotten bones inside. Without hesitation, Zhang Chen also slashed the bones to pieces. No matter where this female ghost came from, she was obviously artificially raised. If not killed, she might be used against him again. If it weren¡¯t for his Spirit Eye seeing through the illusion, killing this ghost bride would not have been easy. In the instant the clay statue shattered, a Daoist priest who had been meditating in a Daoist temple suddenly opened his eyes. ¡°Who destroyed my clay statue and killed my ghost spirit!¡± The Daoist priest¡¯s face was ferocious as he gritted his teeth. If there were villagers around, they would have recognized him as the Daoist who had told them the solution to the drought. ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy for me to find a virgin born in a yin year, yin month, and yin hour. I deceived the villagers to help me cultivate a ghost, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be destroyed today!¡± The Daoist priest was filled with hatred. A woman born in a yin year, yin month, and yin hour, who died on her wedding day in a yin year, yin month, and yin hour, with strong resentment, would turn into an extremely fierce evil ghost. Molded into a clay statue for the villagers to worship, absorbing enough incense, it could transform into a higher-level ghost.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Chapter 46: Killing to Stop Killing Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios He had already planned everything out beforehand. All he had to do was wait for the Ghost Bride to kill all the villagers, so that he could avenge his grudges and dissipate his obsession, and then he could completely advance to the strength of the Foundation Establishment stage as a spirit ghost. Moreover, he had lett a backdoor in the clay statue, which would allow him to completely control the spirit ghost by controlling the ghost bride¡¯s corpse. Decades of planning had been ruined in an instant. How could he not be angry? ¡°No matter who you are, I will let you be eaten alive by ten thousand ghosts!¡± With that, the Daoist priest rode the Yin wind and left the Daoist temple, flying in the direction of the village. Flying in the air was an ability that only Foundation Establishment cultivators had! After dealing with the ghost bride, the intent in Zhang Chen¡¯s eyes did not dissipate. When the villagers brought him the wedding candles and bedding as gifts, he originally thought it was a goodwill gesture. But when he saw the contents of the illusion, the wedding candles and bedding in the young lady¡¯s room, and the temple behind the village, Zhang Chen understood that it was not goodwill, but malice. The villagers wanted to harm him! The ghost bride died on the day of the wedding, lighting the red candles would remind her of that day¡¯s scene and attract her. He would return good for good and evil for evil. But if someone tried to harm him, he would kill to stop the killing. ¡°Everyone in the village, come to the Goddess Temple!¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s voice was imbued with spiritual power, and it resounded through the village like a thunderclap. The villagers were shocked, not knowing what had happened. Did somethinggo wrong? Many villagers were worried and went out in the rain, heading to the temple. There were also some timid people who did not leave their homes. They were preparing to deal with it the next day. On the other side, the two guards who had been thrown at the door by Zhang Chen woke up. ¡°It hurts so much, how did I end up here?¡± At first, they were puzzled, but then they remembered what had happened before, and looked at each other in terror. ¡°I just had a dream where I became the groom and sealed the bride in a clay statue. One of the guests looked like the old man who led us there.¡± ¡°I¡­ I had the same dream,¡± the other guard¡¯s voice trembled. The two of them looked at each other and said in unison, ¡°There¡¯s a ghost in the village!¡± ¡°Leave, we have to leave quickly!¡± At this moment, the two of them only wanted to escape the village and run far away. They couldn¡¯t care less about leaving the young lady and the butler behind. How could they be more important than their own lives? When it came to dealing with humans, they could fight to the death, but when it came to ghosts, they had no courage. ¡°Horses! We need horses to escape this village!¡± The two guards turned their attention to the nearby horse demon. Zhang Chen did not put the horse demon in his beast bag, nor did he worry about the horse demon running away, so he let the horse demon stand at the door. Unaware that the ghost bride was already dead, and consumed by fear, the two guards trying to flee the village paid no attention to it and quickly climbed onto the horse¡¯s back. No matter how much they urged the horse, the horse demon remained still. ¡°What do we do? The horse won¡¯t move,¡± one of the guards anxiously said. The other guard showed a ferocious expression and stabbed the horse with his knife. ¡°How is this possible!¡± The guard exclaimed in disbelief. He could not pierce through the horse¡¯s skin. Could it be that this horse was not real? Just as they were speculating, the horse demon reacted to the attack. It stood up on its hind legs, throwing the two guards off its back, and then stomped on them with its hooves. ¡°Crack!¡± The sound of bones breaking could be heard. The two guards never expected to die under the hooves of a horse. If they knew the cause and effect, they would definitely have regretted their actions. Encountering this kind of situation, the natural instincts and thoughts of most ordinary people would be the same as theirs. The villagers arrived at the Goddess Temple and saw Zhang Chen standing at the entrance. They were stunned. ¡°I killed the female ghost inside,¡± Zhang Chen said coldly to the villagers. He wanted to know why these people were causing harm. ¡°What?¡± The villagers looked shocked, wondering if they had heard correctly. The old man who had led them there was the first to react. He believed that Zhang Chen was telling the truth since he was at the temple and knew about the female ghost. ¡°Bang!¡± The old man knelt down suddenly, tears streaming down his face. ¡°The female ghost is finally dead. Thank you, sir, for saving our village!¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± Zhang Chen sneered. ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know that you wanted to use the ghost to harm me?¡± ¡°Sir, we were also forced to do this! If we didn¡¯t, the female ghost would have killed us!¡± Some villagers knelt down one after another, hoping to be forgiven. Zhang Chen¡¯s smile remained cold. ¡°So you want me to die for you? Is my life not valuable?¡± ¡°Sir, you don¡¯t look like an ordinary person. How could you be harmed by a female ghost? Now that the female ghost is gone, we won¡¯t harm anyone again. Please forgive us for the sake of our village, and we will definitely do good deeds in the future to make up for our mistakes.¡± The old man kowtowed heavily. Other villagers did the same. ¡°Please forgive us, sir. We will definitely do good deeds in the future to make up for our mistakes.¡± Zhang Chen sneered at these villagers. They want to use morality to bind me? Unfortunately, he was not a disciple of the righteous path but a disciple of the demonic sect. If he were an ordinary person, he would have already died in the hands of the ghost bride by now. ¡°No matter how much you say, it won¡¯t change the fact that you wanted to harm me. No matter who you are or what your reasons are, I will repay kindness with kindness and enmity with revenge. ¡°You wanted to harm me, so I will kill you!¡± Zhang Chen waved his hand, and numerous drops of blood flew out, piercing through the heads of these villagers. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡¯ The corpses fell like dominoes. Blood scattered in the rain like a river of blood flowing along the village road. ¡°There are still some people.¡± Zhang Chen did not stop there. His thoughts spread out, searching for other people in the village. He had to kill them all! When Zhang Chen returned to his residence, he found that two guards had been trampled to death by the horse demon. He had instructed the horse demon not to move unless someone attacked it. Since the horse demon had trampled the guards to death, it was clear that someone had attacked it. Entering the room, Zhang Chen continued to meditate and practice, as if nothing had happened. The rain fell all night, washing away the blood and cleaning up this sinful land. The next day, the unconscious housekeeper suddenly sat up and looked around. He quickly ran to the young lady¡¯s room. ¡°Miss, wake up. Miss, Miss¡­¡± ¡°Uncle Wu?¡± Seeing the person in front of her, the young lady said nervously and fearfully, ¡°Uncle Wu, I had a dream. I became a bride and was sealed in a mud statue. I¡¯m so scared!¡± ¡°Ah-¡± The housekeeper sighed. ¡®Miss, wake Xiaolan up. I¡¯ll go get the guards and we¡¯ll leave quickly. We¡¯ll talk about everything later.¡± ¡°Okay, okay.¡± The young lady was still in a daze, obviously not yet recovered from the illusion of the previous day. The maid was awakened and was in the same state as the young lady, in a state of extreme shock. The butler searched for a while but didn¡¯t find any guards on duty. He didn¡¯t bother to look anymore and quickly packed up to leave. ¡°Miss, we have to leave quickly,¡± the butler urged. ¡°Wait, what about the gentleman who came with us yesterday? Notify him too.¡± The young lady didn¡¯t forget about Zhang Chen. The butler thought for a moment and instructed a guard, ¡°Go to the other side and tell that young master to leave quickly.¡± The guard hurriedly ran over and returned in a hurry. ¡°Butler, that young master might have already left. His horse is also missing. I also saw the corpses of Zhang San and Li Si. It seemed as if they had been kicked to death by a horse.¡± ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s leave this village immediately.¡± The butler pulled the young lady away.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Chapter 47: The Daoist Priest¡¯s Pursuit Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios As soon as the rain stopped, Zhang Chen left the village. Half a day after the young lady, her butler, and their entourage left the village, a figure descended from the sky on a gust of wind. It was the Daoist priest who came to investigate the killing of the ghost bride. Without so much as a glance at the bodies of the villagers strewn about, the Daoist priest went straight into the temple. Looking at the broken mud statues and bones inside the temple, his face darkened with anger. ¡°I have been planning this for decades and now it¡¯s all gone! You can¡¯t escape me!¡± Immediately, he began to cast a spell over the bodies of the dead villagers, and a great deal of yin energy surged forth from his body. ¡°Illumine the darkness, spirits of the four directions, heed my command and return at once!¡± Suddenly, the wind picked up, the sky grew dark, and the sound of ghostly wailing could be heard. Several ghostly figures with vacant expressions and translucent forms floated out of the bodies of the villagers. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, and most of the other spirits have dispersed. Only these few remnants remain. I hope they can give us some useful information.¡± ¡°Who destroyed the mud statue?¡± The Daoist priest asked in a low voice. The remnant souls showed a look of resentment. ¡°It was a young man who came to the village to seek shelter from the rain.¡± ¡°What did he look like? Did he have any distinguishing features or abilities?¡± the Daoist priest continued to inquire. ¡°He was handsome¡­ After listening to the ghosts¡¯ description, the Daoist priest had a suspicion. ¡°It seems to be an inner disciple of the Blood God Sect. But if he¡¯s just an inner disciple, then it¡¯s not too difficult to deal with.¡± He continued to cast a spell. ¡®¡±¡®There is a debtor for every debt and a cause for every injustice. Go and find the person who killed you!¡± Several ghostly remnants seemed to sense something and flew off in one direction, their expressions vacant. ¡°If you want to destroy my ghost spirit, I¡¯ll replace it with your soul!¡± The Daoist priest smiled sinisterly and followed the remnant souls. On the other side, Zhang Chen rode his horse and continued to head to the city Xu Yixian had been assigned to. However, it had just rained and the road was muddy, affecting the horse demon¡¯s running speed. In other words, Zhang Chen was actually not too far away. The city that Xu Yixian had been assigned to was 2,400 miles from the Blood God Sect. There were still 1,000 miles to go and they could arrive tomorrow or the day after. At night, Zhang Chen casually found a grassy area for the horse to graze and sat down to meditate and cultivate. Two hours later, a strange wind suddenly blew across the grassy area. This wind was not normal! Zhang Chen stood up and looked around warily. He sensed Yin energy in the wind. Encountering ghosts again? Zhang Chen frowned. It was too much of a coincidence to encounter ghosts consecutively. ¡°Give me back my life!¡± Several ghosts appeared not far away, looking at Zhang Chen with resentment. ¡°Are these the villagers I killed?¡± Seeing the appearance of the ghosts, Zhang Chen was first stunned, then his face became solemn. It was not impossible for villagers to turn into ghosts, but the souls of those who had just died would be weak. It was impossible for them to have the ability to chase over hundreds of miles in less than a day. Someone was likely manipulating them from behind! Just as Zhang Chen was thinking about this, a gloomy voice came from the air. ¡°You¡¯re the one who destroyed my spirit ghosts and ruined my decades of planning?¡± Zhang Chen looked up and saw a skinny Daoist priest with a goatee standing in the air, looking at him angrily. Foundation Establishment! Zhang Chen¡¯s heart tightened, but he was not afraid. Since the other party had chased after him, he naturally could not hide it. Hence, he admitted bluntly, ¡°It was me.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The Daoist priest smiled sinisterly. ¡°Since you killed my spirit ghosts, I¡¯ll extract your soul and use it for my own purposes!¡± ¡°I am a disciple of the Blood God Sect. If you kill me, are you not afraid of the Blood God Sect¡¯s retaliation?¡± Zhang Chen stared at the Daoist priest, ready to use his Blood Ignition Technique at any time. ¡°I have a solution to the Blood God Sect¡¯s blood curse. Without the blood curse, who would know that it was me who killed you?¡± the Daoist priest sneered. ¡°Senior, do you have to kill me? I was sheltering from the rain in that village. The villagers wanted to lure ghosts to harm me, so I killed them. I didn¡¯t know that the spirit ghost was raised by Senior.¡± Facing someone at the Foundation Establishment stage, Zhang Chen didn¡¯t want to fight unless he had to. ¡°My decades of planning and waiting have all gone to waste. If I don¡¯t extract your soul and refine it, the hatred in my heart cannot be quelled.¡± The Daoist priest gritted his teeth and refused to give up. ¡°Well, then let me witness the power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.¡± Seeing that there was no room for negotiation, Zhang Chen immediately circulated the Blood Ignition Technique. He was still at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Coupled with the improvement of the Blood Ignition Technique, could he temporarily break through to the Foundation Establishment stage? The Daoist priest looked disdainful. ¡°Although you have reached the ninth level of Qi Condensation, there is still a world of difference between you and the Foundation Establishment stage. You¡­¡± Before the Daoist priest could finish his sentence, his expression suddenly changed. Under the influence of the Blood Ignition technique, Zhang Chen¡¯s momentum quickly skyrocketed. After reaching the peak of the ninth level of Qi Condensation, he felt like there was a barrier in his body preventing him from advancing further. This was the bottleneck. Only by breaking through it could he advance to the Foundation Establishment stage. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­ Zhang Chen¡¯s blood boiled, producing a deafening roar as the massive spiritual power generated by burning his blood, like a surging flood, constantly impacted the bottleneck. As a top spiritual root cultivator, Zhang Chen¡¯s bottleneck was already weak. Within two breaths, the bottleneck was broken by the enormous spiritual power. As the bottleneck was shattered, the spiritual power in his body underwent a transformation, turning into another, even more powerful force. Magical power! Between heaven and earth, there was a spiritual energy floating around. After inhaling it and refining it, it became spiritual power. As spiritual power continued to advance, it turned into magical power. Only after reaching the Foundation Establishment realm could one possess magical power. When Zhang Chen felt a surge of magical power in his body, he knew he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment realm! ¡°You actually used the Blood Ignition Technique!¡± The Daoist priest was first surprised, then disdainful. ¡°Even if you temporarily have the magical power of the Foundation Establishment period, what does it matter? Without the Foundation Establishment period¡¯s spiritual body and spells, at most, you¡¯re just half a step into the Foundation Establishment period period.¡± Foundation Establishment meant laying the foundation and building the basics. A cultivator¡¯s foundation is their physical body. There was a saying in the cultivation world that a hundred days of Foundation Establishment required a hundred days to strengthen or rebuild the physical body and transcend the mortal body. 150 years was the limit of an ordinary person¡¯s lifespan. They only died before this age due to reasons such as illness or constitution. Because there was spiritual power in their bodies, cultivators in the Qi Refinement period were immune to all poisons and did not get sick, so they could live up to 150 years. As for Foundation Establishment cultivators, they could live for 300 years because they had already transcended the mortal body and strengthened or rebuilt their physical body. The Daoist priest suddenly had a small flag in his hand and he waved it gently. Immediately, a strong wind blew, and a large number of illusory figures flew out of the flag, accompanied by cries and strange laughter, making one¡¯s hair stand on end. ¡°Woo woo woo woo woo¡­¡± ¡°Hee hee hee hee hee¡­ Nearly a hundred ghostly shadows appeared in the air. They were densely packed, and all of them had ferocious and terrifying expressions, exuding overwhelming hostility. More importantly, five of them emitted the aura of the ninth level of Qi Refinement! ¡°After killing you, I will also refine your soul into the Hundred Ghosts Banner for my command.¡± The Daoist priest smiled sinisterly and waved the small banner in his hand again. ¡°Go, kill him!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Chapter 48: Blood Battle with the Old Daoist Priest Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Nearly a hundred ghosts bared their fangs and brandished their claws as they lunged towards Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen wielded the Mad Blood Saber and swung it. With the enhancement of magic power, the Mad Blood Saber Technique could also slash out saber beams. The saber beam slashed across, and several ghosts screamed and dissipated into black smoke. The other ghosts took the opportunity to surround Zhang Chen, wanting to pounce on him. Under the effect of the Mad Blood Blade, Zhang Chen¡¯s spellcasting speed was very fast. He continuously used Light Body Technique, Blood Burst Technique, and separated himself from the encirclement of the ghosts. Immediately after, swung his blade again, targeting a ninth-level Qi Refinement ghost. The saber beam slashed at the ghost at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Although it did not kill it, it also became illusory and unstable, looking like it could collapse at any time. Unexpectedly, under the influence of the madness, this ghost began to go crazy and attack the other ghosts. Seeing this, Zhang Chen¡¯s eyes lit up. He swung his saber at the other four ghosts at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Although there were many ghosts, only these five ghosts at the ninth level of Qi Refinement were a threat to him. Ghosts already had confused thoughts and little rationality. It was easy for them to become crazy under the influence of madness. After a few strikes, the other four ghosts also began to go mad and fight amongst themselves. The Daoist priest¡¯s heart ached as he watched the ghosts dissipate. He had painstakingly nurtured and collected these ghosts. This can¡¯t go on! He originally thought that he could easily deal with Zhang Chen, but he didn¡¯t expect Zhang Chen to not only have some restraint over ghosts with his spells, but also had extraordinary speed, making it difficult for the ghosts to approach him. ¡°Netherworld Ghost Hand!¡± The Taoist reached out his hand, and a giant hand made of Yin energy materialized out of thin air, grabbing towards Zhang Chen. Blood Burst Technique! Zhang Chen dodged the huge palm and continued to use his speed advantage to move around and kill ghosts. For cultivators who controlled ghosts, without ghosts, they were like tigers without teeth. Seeing that the Netherworld Ghost Hand was useless, the Daoist priest slapped the ground and injected a large amount of Yin energy into the ground. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡¯ One after another, decaying pale ghost hands emerged from the soil, covering the ground like a forest of sea anemones. Zhang Chen did not expect ghost hands to emerge from the ground, and since he did not know levitation spells, his legs were firmly caught. Just as he was about to cut off these ghost hands with his blade, the Daoist priest smirked and waved his small banner, saying, ¡°Go!¡± The ghosts¡¯ eyes turned red, and their speed increased dramatically. Oh no, its too late! Blood Armor Technique! Red blood armor appeared and wrapped around Zhang Chen¡¯s body. The ghosts pounced on Zhang Chen, but it was like hitting a wall; they bounced off and some weaker ghosts even shattered their own bodies. Seeing this, the Daoist Priest¡¯s smile froze. Zhang Chen did not hesitate. He used Blood Burst Technique to enhance his arms, swung his sword several times, first cutting off the ghost hands on the ground, and then breaking out of the ghosts¡¯ encirclement. ¡°You also have defensive spells. I admit that I underestimated you, but you¡¯re only at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Your consciousness hasn¡¯t been transformed into divine consciousness yet. Let¡¯s see how you defend against this!¡± The Daoist priest¡¯s divine consciousness detached his body and surged into Zhang Chen¡¯s mind. The battle between minds was extremely dangerous. Light injuries could cause headaches, mental fatigue, and memory loss, while serious injuries could cause the soul to perish. Moreover, injuries to the mind were difficult to heal. ¡°You actually practice a spell that strengthens your mind!¡± After the Daoist priest¡¯s divine consciousness entered Zhang Chen¡¯s mind, he found that Zhang Chen¡¯s consciousness was as solid as a rock and couldn¡¯t be shaken. Unless he was willing to disregard the consumption and suffer a two-way injury. This was naturally the credit of the Divine Forging Technique. Although Zhang Chen¡¯s will hadn¡¯t been transformed into divine consciousness, the intensity of it was comparable to divine consciousness under the Divine Forging Technique. Looking at the Daoist priest¡¯s divine consciousness in his mind, Zhang Chen had a sudden inspiration; he activated the Divine Forging Technique and conjured a hammer to strike it down in his mind. The Daoist priest screamed and almost lost his grip on the Hundred Ghosts Banner. In his mind, Zhang Chen controlled the hammer and was preparing to strike agam. The Daoist priest quickly withdrew his divine sense. Defeated once again, the Daoist priest stared at Zhang Chen with a vicious expression, gritting his teeth as if he wan ted to eat Zhang Chen alive. ¡°Good, very good¡± As he spoke, the Daoist priest injected a large amount of Yin energy into the Hundred Ghosts Banner, shouting, ¡°Hundred Ghosts Fusion!¡± The ghosts stopped what they were doing, huddled together, and quickly fused together. Soon, a tall and burly ghost general with a green face and fangs appeared in front of Zhang Chen. He was wearing tattered armor, wielded a large sword, and emitted the aura of a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator. The biggest difference between a Foundation Establishment stage ghost and a Qi Refinement stage ghost was that the former had a physical body. ¡°Kill! ¡± The ghost general was like a real general, raising his saber and charging towards Zhang Chen. The blade was entwined with resentful souls and emitted black Qi, making it comparable to a low-level magic weapon. Blood Burst Technique! After the bloody afterimage, Zhang Chen also charged towards the ghost general. ¡°Ding! ¡± When the two sabers collided, not only did the Ghost General react quickly, but he also managed to block the strike without being affected by the madness. Would the tenfold speed be enough to strike through? With the Blood Burst Technique augmenting his arm, Zhang Chen slashed again. ¡°Thud¡­ This time, the ghost general failed to react in time, and his large head was severed. However, the ghost general did not fall; instead, his headless body struck back with a reverse swing. Zhang Chen was startled and quickly stepped back to dodge the attack. The severed head flew up from the ground and landed back on the ghost general¡¯s neck. The ghost general¡¯s neck quickly regenerated, as if it had never been cut off. He was an inanimate object to begin with. It didn¡¯t matter if he had a head or not. As long as it had enough Yin energy, it wouldn¡¯t die with or without its head. The ghost general twisted its neck, took a step forward, and continued to attack Zhang Chen. Blood Burst Technique, tenfold speed! Zhang Chen continuously attacked the ghost general, cutting off its limbs and body parts. However, the severed parts would quickly fly back and reattach themselves, fully restored. But the ghost general was not unscathed; every time it restored itself, it would consume a large amount of Yin energy. The armor on the ghost general¡¯s body looked ragged, but it was actually extremely tough and could not be broken by a single strike. Although the ghost general was constantly getting hit, the Daoist priest was not worried because he was trying to outlast Zhang Chen. He was a true Foundation Establishment cultivator, with more spiritual power than Zhang Chen. On the other hand, Zhang Chen¡¯s spiritual power was maintained by burning his own blood, and fighting also consumed blood. With dual consumption, he couldn¡¯t maintain it for long. He only needed to drag it out a bit longer and wait for Zhang Chen to run out of blood. After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the Daoist priest revealed a confident smile. He had already sensed with his divine consciousness that Zhang Chen was running out of blood. At this moment, Zhang Chen quickly retreated and distanced himself from the ghost general. He then took out a blood storage bottle and drank a large amount of blood to replenish himself. With his blood replenished, Zhang Chen charged forward again and dismembered the ghost general. The Daoist priest sneered, ¡°Let¡¯s see how much blood essence you have left!¡± After another incense stick of time, Zhang Chen once again took out his blood storage bottle to replenish his blood. Once, twice, thrice, four times¡­ Zhang Chen¡¯s blood seemed endless. Every time the Daoist priest thought Zhang Chen had run out of blood, Zhang Chen would take out his blood storage bottle to replenish himself. The Daoist priest looked like he had seen a ghost. He hadn¡¯t even finished Zhang Chen¡¯s blood, but his own spiritual power was almost unable to sustain the operation of 1¨Clundred Ghost Banner. At this rate, he wouldn¡¯t even have enough spiritual power to fly. ¡°You used the Blood Ignition Technique and your time is almost up. I don¡¯t need to fight you to the death. When your blood runs out, I¡¯ll bring your soul back and torture it!¡± ¡°Retreat!¡± The Daoist priest issued a harsh command and put the ghost general into the Hundred Ghost Banner before quickly flying away.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Chapter 49: Disaster Relief in the Market Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Seeing the Daoist priest fly away, Zhang Chen breathed a sigh of relief. He didn¡¯t have the confidence to win if the fight dragged on. The reason why he didn¡¯t run was because the other party could catch up to him and find him, which meant that he basically couldn¡¯t escape, so he might as well take a chance and give it his all. Fortunately, he won! Zhang Chen was afraid that the Daoist priest would return, so he did not dare to immediately dispel the Blood Ignition Technique. Instead, he called the horse demon over and rode away. They ran a hundred miles nonstop before Zhang Chen finally deactivated the Blood Ignition Technique. A feeling of weakness spread through his body, and his cultivation quickly dropped to the sixth level of Qi Refinement. After experiencing the power of magic, Zhang Chen somewhat regretfully took out a blood storage bottle to replenish his blood essence, allowing his cultivation to return to the ninth level of Qi Refinement. He didn¡¯t not stop and let the horse demon keep running. On the other side, the Daoist priest had already returned to the Daoist temple and was performing a ritual. ¡°Illumine the darkness, spirits of the four directions, heed my command and return at once: ¡± After reciting the spell, the Daoist priest threw out a wisp of Zhang Chen¡¯s breath as a medium to guide the soul. After a while, there was still no sign of Zhang Chen¡¯s soul appearing. The Daoist priest frowned and cast another spell. ¡°Illuminate the darkness, spirits of the four directions, heed my command and return at once!¡± Still no response. ¡°Could it be that the disciple of the Blood God Sect is still alive? Or did he use some method to disperse his soul?¡± After casting the spell several times in a row, the Daoist priest had to give up. However, he believed that Zhang Chen would definitely die. He had never heard of anyone who could survive using the Blood Ignition Technique. Even if there was, it was not something that a Qi Refinement Foundation Establishment cultivator could do. Due to the presence of the Daoist priest, Zhang Chen did not go to the city assigned by Xu Yixian but headed towards the direction of the Blood God Sect. If the Daoist priest came after him again, he wouldn¡¯t have enough blood essence to spare. Near the Blood God Sect, the Daoist priest would probably be wary and not dare to attack. In fact, Xu Yixian was afraid of being retaliated against by Li Mumin and did not go to the assigned city. Even if Zhang Chen went, he wouldn¡¯t find anyone there. The Daoist priest¡¯s appearance saved him from making a wasted trip. After a day and night of traveling, Zhang Chen returned to the town where he had previously bought the saddle. Thanks to the horse demon, Zhang Chen¡¯s speed was the fastest, even though he had run an additional 2,000 miles, the disciples assigned here hadn¡¯t arrived yet. The news of the immortal buying a saddle had long spread throughout the town. Seeing Zhang Chen appear again, many people came to pay their respects. ¡°Immortal, that Immortal is back!¡± ¡°Greetings, Immortal, bless us!¡± ¡°Is this the immortal? He looks so handsome!¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense and get down on your knees.¡± Zhang Chen ignored these people and headed to the horse market. He wanted to see if anyone had caused trouble for the saddle shopkeeper because of him. If anyone caused trouble for the saddle manager, it would be a slap to his face. When Zhang Chen arrived at the horse market and saw that the saddle manager was safe and sound, he turned around and prepared to leave. At this moment, the county magistrate rushed over. ¡°I¡¯m the local county magistrate. Greetings, Immortal!¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s expression was cold. ¡°If someone retaliates against the shopkeeper because of me, I will hold you responsible.¡± The county magistrate was terrified and quickly assured him: ¡°Immortal, rest assured. If anyone dares to retaliate against the shopkeeper, it is as if they retaliate against me. I will never let them go.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhang Chen nodded and got on his horse, preparing to leave. ¡°Immortal, wait!¡± the county magistrate shouted. ¡°What is it?¡± Zhang Chen looked at the county magistrate coldly. The county magistrate said carefully, ¡°I¡¯ve always admired immortals and want to know if I have any immortal fate.¡± ¡°In a few days, someone will come and examine you. Only if you have spiritual roots can you join our Blood God Sect.¡± With that, Zhang Chen urged his horse to leave. Hearing this, everyone¡¯s hearts were filled with excitement, already starting to imagine their lives as immortals. Zhang Chen did not return to the Blood God Sect but went to the market outside the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Returning to the sect so quickly and not bringing back a mortal with spiritual roots could easily be seen as intentionally avoiding his mission and he would be punished by the sect. It was said that there was a Golden Dan elder in the market, and it was currently the safest place to be. Under the effect of his spiritual eye, the market¡¯s illusion array was like a black and white curtain that was incompatible with the surrounding environment. This was Zhang Chen¡¯s second time here. Practice made perfect and he came to the inn in the market to rest. These past few days, Zhang Chen had first experienced a great battle, and then worried that the Daoist priest would come after him. His mind was constantly on edge, and he had not slept at all. Now, he could finally rest easy. He slept for the entire day. The next day, Zhang Chen leisurely strolled around the market, with nothing to do. On one hand, he wanted to broaden his knowledge, and on the other hand, he wanted to see if there was anything he could buy. ¡°Demon beast meat, seventh level Qi Refinement demon beast meat, demon beast meat, seventh level Qi Refinement demon beast meat¡­¡± Hearing the sound of hawking, Zhang Chen stopped in his tracks and walked over. ¡°Fellow Daoist, do you want to buy demon beast meat? This is demon beast meat at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, freshly killed just now.¡± The stall owner warmly greeted him. ¡°Do you have any demon blood for sale?¡± Zhang Chen was not here to buy demon beast meat, but demon blood. In his fight with the Daoist priest, he had used up a large amount of stored essence blood and needed to replenish it. Since there was demon beast meat for sale, there was a high chance that there was demon blood too. Although the demon beast meat was also rich in spiritual energy, for disciples of the Blood God Sect like him, it was far inferior to demon blood. Apart from the people of the Blood God Sect, others generally did not drink monster blood. It was mainly used for drawing talismans and practicing alchemy. ¡°I have demon blood. How much do you want to buy?¡± ¡°How much does it cost?¡± ¡°Two spirit stones per pot.¡± It was about the same price as what he got from Li Mumin. Zhang Chen nodded. ¡°Alright, give me 20 pots.¡± In fact, many inner sect disciples would buy monster blood in the market and then go back to the sect to find outer sect disciples to exchange it for blood essence. ¡°This is demon blood. Fellow Daoist. Keep it safe, and come back if you need more.¡± After buying demon blood, Zhang Chen continued to wander around the market and eventually came to a bookstore selling spells. ¡°Do you have spells for the Foundation Establishment Stage?¡± In his blood-burning state, he could reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, but he wouldn¡¯t know any spells for that stage with just raw magical power. ¡°Of course, do you know what type of spell you need?¡± the bookstore owner asked. Zhang Chen thought for a moment. ¡°Show me the spells related to flying.¡± Flying was the symbol of the Foundation Establishment realm. It was essential whether one was escaping or pursuing. The shopkeeper took out three books from under the counter and introduced them, ¡°This is the ¡®Wind Mastery Technique¡¯. It can soar 100 feet in the air and ride the wind. Its speed is about the same as that of an ordinary horse, and it¡¯s sold for 100 spirit stones. ¡°This is the ¡®Cloud Movement Technique¡¯. It can soar 300 feet in the air and travel on clouds. Its speed is almost the same as that of running with the Light Body Technique. It¡¯s sold for 120 spirit stones. ¡°The last book is the ¡®Flying Feather Soaring Technique¡¯. It can allow one to fly 500 feet in the air simulated bird wings using magic power. It can fly 200 miles in an hour. The price is 200 spirit stones.¡± Zhang Chen wanted the ¡®Flying Feather Soaring Technique¡¯, but the price was too expensive. It was equivalent to the whole body¡¯s blood essence of an eighth level Qi Refinement disciple of the Blood God Sect. He did not have much blood essence on him now, and after buying this spell, he would have almost nothing left. After thinking for a moment, Zhang Chen decided to buy it anyway. He wouldn¡¯t be leaving the market soon, so he could spend the next period of time practicing and storing his blood essence again. ¡°Do you accept blood essence?¡± ¡°Of course, we do.¡± Okay, I¡¯ll take the ¡®Flying Feather Soaring Technique..¡±¡® If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Chapter 50: Killing and Drinking Blood Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Back in his inn room, Zhang Chen eagerly flipped through ¡®Flying Feather Soaring Technique¡¯. Since there were no side effects, the modifier did not give any warnings. However, using the Flying Feather Soaring Technique required magic power. He was currently only at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, unable to practice without magic power. Zhang Chen had also considered cultivating in the market, but cultivating required not only magic power but also the transformation of the body into a spiritual body. Otherwise, his body would be like a bucket filled with water. The spiritual energy he absorbed would leak out, making it impossible to break through the bottleneck of the realm. The Blood Ignition Technique was a sudden eruption of a huge amount of spiritual power, like a fountain, which could break through the bottleneck of the realm. Zhang Chen had heard that the spiritual body of the Blood God Sect was a Blood Body. After condensing, the body would not have fatal injuries. Even if the head was chopped off or the heart was pierced, it would not die, making it incredibly powerful. He did not have a way to condense the Blood Body and had to return to the sect. Using other methods to cultivate might cause trouble. Since he was unable to practice the Flying Feather Soaring Technique now, he could only memorize it as much as possible, so that he could quickly get the hang of it and successfully use it when he broke through the Foundation Establishment stage temporarily with the Blood Ignition Technique. For 10 consecutive days, Zhang Chen devoured and refined demon blood. If he ran out of demon blood, he would buy more in the market. With his top-grade spiritual roots and the ability to freely devour demon blood, he could refine 10 barrels of demon blood and obtain 60 bowls of blood essence without stopping for 24 hours. After deducting the time spent buying demon blood and exchanging it for spirit stones, he saved 520 bowls of blood essence in 10 days. Now that he had enough blood essence, even if he encountered that ghost-controlling Daoist priest again, he had a chance to fight back. Therefore, Zhang Chen decided to complete the sect¡¯s tasks and avoid being punished by the sect. Leaving the market, he rode on a horse demon and rushed towards the city assigned by the sect. A day later. Zhang Chen looked up at the city plaque in front of him, ¡®Wan City¡¯. ¡°Yes, this is the city assigned to me by the sect. If I have the help of the officials, testing the spiritual roots of the entire city will be much faster.¡± Zhang Chen dismounted and walked into the city. Wan City was a prosperous and large city. It was also a prefectural city. In modern terms, it was a city at the municipal level. In the magistrate¡¯s office, two inner sect disciples of the Blood God Sect were eating delicacies while several beautiful maidservants massaged their shoulders and back to serve them. ¡°Mortals are still the most comfortable. If not for the curse, I wouldn¡¯t even want to return to the sect,¡± an inner sect disciple said with a look of enjoyment. Another inner sect disciple agreed. ¡°That¡¯s right. The sect placed a curse on us because they were afraid that we would run away. Isn¡¯t the mission half a year long? Let¡¯s stay with him for three months first.¡± ¡°By the way, didn¡¯t the sect assign three people to a city? We¡¯ve been here for two days. Why isn¡¯t the other one here yet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s even better if they don¡¯t come. We¡¯ll split the disciples with spiritual roots equally.¡± At this moment, the fat magistrate rushed over. ¡°Immortals, another immortal is here.¡± ¡°Oh? We were just talking about it when he came. Go and bring him here,¡± the two inner sect disciples said casually. ¡°Yes.¡± The magistrate was ordered around like a servant. Not only did he not complain, but he also had a fawning expression. After a while, the magistrate brought Zhang Chen over. The two originally nonchalant inner sect disciples hurriedly stood up and bowed when they sensed that Zhang Chen was at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. ¡°Junior Brother Huang Qi greets Senior Brother.¡± ¡°Junior Brother Shen Rong greets Senior Brother.¡± ¡°Zhang Chen greets the two junior brothers.¡± Zhang Chen glanced at them. These two were both at the seventh level of Qi Refinement. When he left the sect, he also displayed a cultivation level of the seventh level of Qi Refinement. In this case, the sect divides people with similar cultivation levels to prevent those with higher cultivation levels from attacking those with lower cultivation levels. ¡°Senior Zhang, please have a seat and enjoy the meal. Although these ordinary foods don¡¯t have any spiritual energy, they taste much better than fasting pills,¡± Huang Qi enthusiastically invited. ¡°Yes, yes, yes. Senior Brother, please have a seat,¡± Shen Rong said ingratiatingly. Zhang Chen nodded, found a seat, and began to taste the delicacies. To be honest, the food was pretty good. Huang Qi then instructed the maids behind him, ¡°Go over and serve my Senior Brother Zhang.¡± ¡°No need, thank you for your kindness, Junior Brother Huang. I¡¯m not used to Demg servea wnlle eating,¡± Lnang cnen aecnnea. ¡°Then, Senior Brother, try this bear paw. It tastes great,¡± Huang Qi recommended another dish. Zhang Chen picked up his chopsticks and began to inquire about business, ¡°How long have you been here? Have you started testing for spiritual roots?¡± ¡°Senior Brother, we just arrived two days ago and have not started testing yet. In order to detect more disciples with spiritual roots, we had the prefecture send people to gather people from nearby villages to test together,¡± Huang Qi replied. ¡°I¡¯m short on time, so let¡¯s test the people in the city first. Then, I¡¯ll take away one-third of those with spiritual roots, and you can continue testing the rest,¡± Zhang Chen needed to guard against the Daoist priest who could control ghosts and didn¡¯t want to stay outside for too long. ¡°Since Senior Brother said so, let¡¯s do it this way,¡± Huang Qi turned to the prefecture and commanded, ¡°Did you hear that? Go and notify all the people in the city to gather, or I¡¯ll kill your entire family!¡± The magistrate trembled and quickly replied, ¡°Yes, yes, yes. I¡¯ll arrange it now.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, let¡¯s eat. If it¡¯s not enough, I¡¯ll get someone to make more.¡± ¡°Thank you, Junior Brother Huang.¡± Shen Rong had just picked up a piece of meat, but due to the maid¡¯s back Imocking action, the meat on the chopsticks fell onto the table. Shen Rong¡¯s expression instantly became ferocious. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see that I was picking up food? How dare you use so much force!¡± ¡°Immortal, spare me, spare me, spare me¡­¡± The maid cried in fear, immediately kneeling down and begging for mercy while kowtowing hard. Shen Rong grinned hideously. Blood coagulated in his hand as he turned around and slashed. ¡°Thud¡­¡¯ The maid¡¯s head was chopped off, and blood splattered everywhere. ¡°Ah!¡± The other maids screamed in terror and collapsed on the ground. Shen Rong licked the blood on his face and sniffed the smell of blood in the air with an intoxicated expression. Suddenly, his face turned cold again. ¡°I¡¯m eating. How dare you expel filth? You¡¯re ruining my appetite!¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Another maidservant was killed by Shen Rong. It turned out that this maidservant had been scared out of her wits. Huang Qi picked up the bowl and went to the corpse to collect the blood. ¡°Although the spiritual energy of this person¡¯s blood is thin, it tastes sweeter than demon blood. I can¡¯t waste it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not satisfying to drink like this. You have to drink like this.¡± Shen Rong grabbed a maid and, like a zombie, bit into her snow-white neck, sucking her blood. The side effects of the Blood Nerve Technique appeared in Zhang Chen¡¯s mind: It was easy to be affected by the spiritual effects contained in the blood, becoming bloodthirsty, murderous, insane, and even brain dead. The side effects of bloodthirst were vividly displayed in these two people. The Blood God Sect was indeed a demonic sect! Within the sect, demon blood was distributed every day, so the symptoms of bloodthirst were not obvious. Moreover, under the restrictions of the sect rules, the urge to kill was not manifested. But once outside the sect, these side effects manifested themselves. Perhaps in the eyes of the Blood God Sect disciples, these were not side effects, but normal expressions. Huang Qi handed a bowl filled with human blood to Zhang Chen. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, please help yourself to this..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Chapter 51: Spiritual Root Testing Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Zhang Chen said coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in ordinary blood, only in refined blood.¡± Hearing this, Huang Qi¡¯s hand trembled and spilled some of the blood in the bowl. He asked nervously and cautiously, ¡°Zhang¡­ Senior Brother Zhang, what do you mean by that?¡±¡± ¡°If you kill someone without testing their spiritual roots, what if these maids have spiritual roots? Then I would have suffered a loss for nothing.¡± Although Zhang Chen disliked and disapproved of the two¡¯s behavior, he was not a righteous swordsman. He only intended to use words to admonish them and make them restrain themselves. Since the Blood God Sect had arranged for people of the same cultivation level to cooperate on missions and 10 personal disciples to patrol, they naturally did not want them to kill each other. There were many maids and servants present. If he killed the two of them, the news would definitely spread and they might be punished by the sect. He had long been mentally prepared for the actions of the demonic sect. Regardless of whether he had done evil or not, as a disciple of the demonic sect, his reputation was bound to be bad. The scene of killing and drinking blood in front of him was probably playing out in other mortal cities. ¡°I know my mistake, Senior Brother.¡± Huang Qi quickly apologized and bowed. Shen Rong also let go of the dying maidservant and bowed. ¡°I will compensate Senior Brother with demon blood.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Zhang Chen lost his appetite and stood up to leave. In the city, constables and bailiffs were beating drums and shouting as they walked through the streets. ¡°Dang, dang, dang!¡± ¡°The immortal is accepting disciples. Everyone, go to the yamen immediately.¡± ¡°Dang, dang, dang!¡± ¡°The immortal is accepting disciples. Everyone, go to the yamen immediately.¡± The news of the immortal accepting disciples had already spread, and upon hearing it, most of the people in the city rushed to the yamen. But there were also a few who didn¡¯t go and instead hid. ¡°Father, why aren¡¯t we going when the immortals are taking in disciples?¡± A young man asked with confusion. ¡°I know some people in the magistrate¡¯s yamen, and I heard that the two immortals who came killed several people, drank their blood, and even took possession of the magistrate¡¯s concubines. They call themselves immortals, but they seem more like demons,¡± the middle-aged man said with concern. ¡°But are we going to give up the opportunity to become immortal just like that?¡± The young man was a little surprised. ¡°I¡¯m just afraid we¡¯ll lose our lives if we go.¡± The middle-aged man sighed. ¡°Bang!¡± Just then, the door was kicked open. The family was startled and quickly looked over. Several constables rushed in aggressively, ¡°The magistrate has ordered that everyone must go to the yamen for the immortals to take a look.¡± ¡°Constable Chen and I are close friends. Can you make an exception for us? The middle-aged man quickly asked. ¡°Even if you¡¯re Constable Chen¡¯s father, you have to go!¡± The constable showed no mercy. The middle-aged man didn¡¯t give up and took out some silver, trying to bribe them, ¡°We don¡¯t want to become immortal.. ¡°That¡¯s not up to you. The magistrate has ordered that everyone in the city must go. If one person is missing, my whole family will be killed. Are you trying to harm my family?¡± The constable drew his sword. ¡°We¡¯ll go, we¡¯ll go.¡± The middle-aged man said helplessly. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the next house!¡± The constables headed to the next house. To ensure that everyone in the city came, the magistrate not only used drums and gongs to spread the news throughout the streets but also sent constables to search the whole city. Men, women, old, young, even beggars were all brought to the yamen, and several wanted criminals were also discovered in the process. Some people were looking forward to becoming immortal, while others were filled with worry and fear. Outside the yamen, there were three tables, each with a blood-red bead. These were the Spiritual Detection Beads that could detect spiritual roots. Zhang Chen looked ahead at the crowd of people, squeezing onto the street, packed to the brim. He slowly said, ¡°Let¡¯s begin. Let each person come forward and touch the beads, one by one.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The magistrate lowered his head and bowed to Zhang Chen, then turned around and confidently spoke to the people below, ¡°Let the common people line up and come forward to touch the beads.¡± Under the maintenance of numerous constables, the people were divided into three teams and came forward one by one to touch the Spirit-Detecting Beads. The crowd in the back whispered, ¡°What are they doing? Didn¡¯t they say the immortals are taking in disciples?¡± ¡°The Immortals have their own reasons. We¡¯ll just do as they say.¡± ¡°Are the three young men behind the table the immortals?¡± ¡°I think so. Can¡¯t you see that the magistrate is like a servant in front of them?¡± ¡°If I can become an immortal, can I also order the magistrate around?¡± ¡°How dare you say that? Do you want to die?¡± ¡°I heard that there are two immortals. Why are there three?¡± ¡°I think another one came today.¡± A person went forward and touched the Spiritual Detection Bead, but there was no reaction. The second person also had no reaction, and neither did the third, fourth.. Each person¡¯s expression was different: excited, expectant, confused, scared. After seeing that there was no reaction from the Spiritual Detection Bead, some were disappointed, some were unwilling, and some were relieved. ¡°It¡¯s glowing, it¡¯s glowing! Look, the beads on the table are glowing!¡± ¡°Wow! The beads are really glowing!¡± The crowd exclaimed in amazement. It was not until the 170th person that the Spiritual Detection Bead in front of Zhang Chen finally glowed. This was a 15 or 16-year-old boy who looked at the bead in his hand, emitting a bloody light, feeling scared and unsure. Zhang Chen said calmly, ¡°You have the fate of an immortal. Stand behind me.¡± The young man did not move. Instead, he looked to his parents for help. ¡°Xiang¡¯er, go. Stand behind the immortal master.¡± His parents were both happy and reluctant. The young man named Xiang¡¯er obediently walked behind Zhang Chen. The testing of spiritual roots continued in an orderly manner. Not long after, the Spiritual Detection Bead in front of Huang Qi lit up, indicating that it had found another mortal with spiritual roots. When they reached the 1140th person, an anomaly occurred. It was a burly swordsman, holding a sword in his hand, exuding confidence and composure. He approached the probing spiritual pearl like an ordinary person and touched it. ¡°This is Guan Wei, the famous swordsman in the martial arts world!¡± someone recognized him. The Spiritual Detection Bead did not light up, indicating that Guan Wei had no spiritual roots. However, Guan Wei sneered, ¡°Playing tricks. I want to see if you three are really immortals.¡± As he spoke, Guan Wei drew his sword and thrust it towards Shen Rong, who was closest to him. Guan Wei¡¯s swordsmanship was excellent and his speed was fast, earning him the nickname ¡®Meteor Swordsman¡¯. Ordinary people couldn¡¯t avoid it. His reputation and powerful sword techniques were the basis of his confidence in attacking. But Shen Rong smiled with bloodlust, raised his hand, and blood gushed out, transforming into a long spear. ¡°Thud¡­¡¯ The blood spear pierced through Guan Wei¡¯s throat before he even knew what had happened. Guan Wei did not expect the blood to suddenly turn into a gun, as if he had bumped into it himself. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Guan Wei¡¯s eyes were full of disbelief and regret. He opened his mouth, but couldn¡¯t say a word. The blood spear did not retract. Instead, it sucked Guan Wei¡¯s blood like a straw. ¡°The blood of martial artists does taste better!¡± Shen Rong licked his lips with relish. As they watched Guan Wei turn into a corpse, everyone couldn¡¯t help but shudder.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Chapter 52: On the Way Back to the Sect Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Shen Rong¡¯s evil and bloodthirsty appearance frightened the crowd. Those who were originally excited and wanted to become immortal also began to have doubts. Is this an immortal or a demon? Are these ¡°immortals¡± really accepting disciples? Among the tens of thousands of people, there were all kinds of people, including many who were arrogant and overconfident. Guan Wei was not the only one who doubted the identity of Zhang Chen and his companions as immortals, but after seeing Guan Wei¡¯s fate, they dared not speak out. Condensing blood into a spear and absorbing the blood of others was clearly not something an ordinary person could do. Seeing the commoners¡¯ fear and reluctance to continue approaching for testing, Huang Qi scolded, ¡®What are you looking at? Keep coming and testing.¡± The commoners could only walk forward in fear, touching the Spiritual Detection Bead with trepidation. If it didn¡¯t light up, then it was the next person¡¯s turn. The middle-aged man who did not want to come previously swiped his hand on the Spiritual Detection Bead and then turned around to leave. Huang Qi¡¯s gaze turned cold as a blood-red light flashed and a palm landed on the ground. ¡°Ah!¡± The middle-aged man screamed in pain. ¡°Trying to play tricks in front of me, how bold!¡± Huang Qi sneered. This person actually pretended to touch the Spiritual Detection Bead, trying to pass off as having done so. ¡°Immortal, please spare my life. I was too nervous. I didn¡¯t do it on purpose,¡± the middle-aged man hastily explained. ¡°Dad!¡± His son yelled loudly in the crowd, wanting to go forward, but was held back by his mother. ¡°I¡¯ll give you another chance.¡± Huang Qi¡¯s tone was cold. ¡°Thank you, Immortal.¡± The middle-aged man quickly touched the Spiritual Detection Bead with his other hand. The Spiritual Detection Bead did not glow. He had outsmarted himself. The middle-aged man retreated to the side with gratitude. Although he had lost a hand, his life was saved. He was just an ordinary person, so Huang Qi didn¡¯t really care. If he really had spiritual roots, he might have killed him to eliminate future troubles. Next, a beggar stepped forward. Unlike the middle-aged man, the beggar was full of anticipation. He did not care if it was immortal or demon, as long as he could have powerful strength. However, the heavens did not favor him. The Spiritual Detection Bead did not glow. The beggar was very unwilling. He didn¡¯t want to be driven away and hated by others, bullied by other beggars, and fighting with wild dogs for food. He wanted to change his fate and become someone superior. ¡°Bang!¡± The beggar knelt down and kowtowed. ¡°Immortals, please teach me immortal techniques!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Immortals, please teach immortal techniques!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Immortals, please teach immortal techniques!¡± The beggar begged loudly and kept kowtowing hard. After a few times, his head was bleeding, and he was hoping to move Zhang Chen and the other two. ¡°A mortal without spiritual roots wants to learn immortal techniques? What wishful thinking! Get lost!¡± Shen Rong looked disgusted and didn¡¯t want to dirty his own hands by killing a beggar. However, the beggar still didn¡¯t want to give up and continued to kowtow. ¡°Immortals, please teach me immortal techniques!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Immortals, please teach me immortal techniques!¡± ¡°Noisy!¡± Seeing that the beggar was unwilling to give up, Shen Rong waved his hand and blood pierced through the beggar¡¯s head. Another person died. The commoners were silent, afraid to do anything out of line. From the beginning to the end, Zhang Chen did not say anything and only watched silently. Whether becoming a disciple of the Blood God Sect was good or bad varied from person to person. No one knew if there would be a demonic giant among these people. If Zhang Chen were to choose between mortals and the demonic path, he would choose the latter without hesitation. In the end, out of the tens of thousands of people in Wan City, only 11 had spiritual roots. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, there are 11 disciples. You have five, and Junior Brother Shen and I will each have three. How about it¡±¡® Huang Qi proposed the distribution. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take five with me.¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t care how they were divided, he just wanted to complete the mission and return to the sect as soon as possible. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, do as you please.¡± Huang Qi and the other two couldn¡¯t wait for Zhang Chen to leave quickly so that they could enjoy themselves in the city. ¡°Five of you come with me.¡± Zhang Chen selected five young ones. The young people were strong and able to endure long journeys, and they were capable of taking care of themselves on the road. Although the five chosen people were reluctant to leave their families, they dared not refuse. For ordinary people, a journey of over a thousand miles was a great distance, and it would be too slow to rely solely on walking. Hence, Zhang Chen used the remaining silver on him to buy a carriage. To be precise, it was only a carriage without horses. He was planning to have the horse demon pull the carriage. The carriage owner naturally dared not accept the money, but Zhang Chen still left the silver. ¡°Grrr, grrr, grrr¡­¡± The wheels of the carriage turned and made a sound as Zhang Chen drove the carriage away from Wancheng and towards the direction of the Blood God Sect. The five ordinary people with spiritual roots squeezed into the cramped carriage. The horse demon pulled the carriage slowly, controlling its speed to be similar to that of an ordinary horse. If they ran at full speed, not only would the carriage fall apart, but the five people inside would also not be able to endure the bumpy ride. Before nightfall, Zhang Chen found a dilapidated temple and planned to spend the night there. He could go without rest, but the five ordinary people needed to rest. ¡°We¡¯ll spend the night here. You only need to stay within 30 meters of the temple.¡± Zhang Chen said and then ignored the others, closing his eyes to meditate in the temple. The five people exchanged glances and silently tidied up a place to lie down in the temple. ¡°Goo, goo, goo¡­¡± After a while, their stomachs let out hungry sounds, but because of their fear of the immortal, they did not dare to say it, nor did they dare to leave the dilapidated temple to find food. Zhang Chen¡¯s hearing was sharp, so he naturally heard the sound. He took out a bottle containing fasting pills and said, ¡°It¡¯s my negligence. Each of you come and take a pill. You won¡¯t be hungry after eating it.¡± The five of them hesitated for a moment before slowly walking over. Looking at the red medicinal pill in their hands that emitted the smell of blood, they looked at each other and were too scared to eat them. Zhang Chen couldn¡¯t be bothered to deal with them. If they were hungry enough, they would eat. After a while, one of them gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and swallowed the fasting pill in one gulp. As the pill entered his stomach and the medicinal power spread, he suddenly did not feel hungry. He could not help but exclaim, ¡°I¡¯m not hungry anymore!¡± Upon hearing this and seeing that he was fine, the others also swallowed the fasting pill. Experiencing the effects of the pill firsthand, they exclaimed in amazement, ¡°It¡¯s so magical! Just a small pill and we feel full of energy and no longer hungry.¡± At night, the five of them tossed and turned, unable to sleep. They thought of their parents and family and were filled with fear for the future. They wanted to cry, but they dared not make a sound to disturb Zhang Chen. They could only cover their mouths and silently shed tears. It wasn¡¯t until late at night that they finally fell asleep exhausted. ¡°Whoosh!¡± A cold wind blew into the dilapidated temple. ¡°Father, Mother¡­ ¡°Xiu¡¯er, wait for me¡­¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to. I don¡¯t want to become an immortal¡­ Zhang Chen opened his eyes and looked at the five people huddled in the corner, shivering and talking in their sleep. He then got up and walked outside, disappearing into the darkness. In the silent temple, there was only the sound of the cold wind blowing and the low murmurs of the five people¡¯s dreams. When Zhang Chen returned to the dilapidated temple, he had a pile of branches and firewood in his hands. ¡°Boom!¡± The flames rose, dispelling the darkness, and the dilapidated temple became a little warmer.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Chapter 53: Return to the Sect Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Yu Fangxiang was the young man who was first detected to have spiritual roots. Since the Spiritual Detection Bead started glowing, he had been in a state of confusion and fear. He was not sure if the immortal who took him as a disciple was real, nor did he know where he was going. All he knew was that disobedience would mean death. The carriage was very cramped, and they could not even stretch their legs straight. Furthermore, the constant jolting made their backs ache. They did not dare to complain or talk for fear of angering the immortals. Even if they needed to urinate, they tried to hold it in and not speak up. However, the immortals outside seemed to know everything. When they were about to lose control, he would stop the carriage and give them time to relieve themselves. It was not until he ate the fasting pill and did not feel hungry for an entire day that he experienced the magic of the pill firsthand. This made Yu Fangxiang more curious about the immortal¡¯s world. When he woke up in the morning, he saw a still-warm campfire. He remembered that there was no fire before he went to sleep. This made Yu Fangxiang think, Although this immortal doesn¡¯t smile often, he doesn¡¯t seem difficult to get along with. When the carriage stopped again for the night, he mustered his courage and asked, ¡°Imm¡­ Immortal, where are we going?¡± ¡°My sect, the Blood God Sect. You will be disciples of the Blood God Sect in the future,¡± Zhang Chen replied calmly. The other four widened their eyes. While they were surprised by Yu Fangxiang¡¯s boldness, they did not expect the immortal to answer. Previously, when they met the other two immortals, they would kill people at the drop of a hat. ¡°Um¡­ Immortal, are you really an immortal?¡± Yu Fangxiang couldn¡¯t help but continue to ask. Zhang Chen shook his head. ¡°I am just a cultivator, a cultivator of the demonic path.¡± Demon Sect! The five were not children and knew what those two words meant. ¡°De¡­ Immortal, can I not go?¡± one of them asked quietly. Zhang Chen shook his head and did not speak. If he agreed, these five people might all have to leave, and his sect mission would not be completed. Besides, even if the five of them left, where could they go? Huang Qi and Shen Rong were still in Wan City. They would still be brought back to the Blood God Sect. If they did not return to Wan City, where else could they go? Within 4,000 miles of this area, there were disciples of the Blood God Sect in every town, and these five people couldn¡¯t avoid them. Seeing this, the five hung their heads in despair. After a while, Yu Fangxiang asked again, ¡°Immortal, can you tell us about the situation of the Blood God Sect?¡± ¡°After you arrive at the Blood God Sect, you will naturally know. As long as you practice seriously, there will be no safety issues in the short term.¡± Zhang Chen ignored the five people. The five of them did not dare to ask further. The group spent the night under a hill in the wilderness, where Zhang Chen cut down a tree and lit a fire. The flickering firelight reflected the heavy hearts of the five. ¡°Awoooo- A wolf howl made the five panic. ¡°It¡¯s a wolf howl. There¡¯s a wolf!¡± Zhang Chen still sat in meditation with his eyes closed and did not move. The five did not know what to do and could only nervously look around. It was dark all around them. They couldn¡¯t see anything, but this scared them even more. The fear of the unknown was the true fear, as no one knew what was in the darkness. Any rustling sound would startle the five. For them, every moment was torture. ¡°Pa, pa, pa, pa¡­¡± An hour later, there suddenly came the sound of many footsteps from around them, as if a group of wild animals were approaching. In the darkness not far away, there were pairs of shiny green eyes, full of hunger, looking in this direction. ¡°Eyes, there are so many glowing eyes. They must be wolves!¡± ¡°Immortal, save us, Immortal.. The five shouted for help and occasionally looked at Zhang Chen with pleading eyes. Zhang Chen finally made a move. He stood up and disappeared in front of the five of them. When they saw Zhang Chen disappear, the five became even more frightened. Just as they were about to shout, they heard the howling of the wolves. ¡°Awoooo!¡± The green eyes in the darkness disappeared quickly. After a few breaths, footsteps sounded in their ears. As a figure stepped out of the darkness into the light of the fire, the hearts of me live nnany secueu. ¡°It¡¯s all right, sleep peacefully,¡± Zhang Chen returned to his previous position and sat cross-legged to meditate. Is it really alright? The five of them glanced at the surrounding darkness. It was silent and still, and the scent of blood seemed to be wafting in the air. For some reason, the smell of blood gave them a sense of comfort. The next day, the five were stunned by what they saw not far away. Dozens of wolf corpses lay on the ground, their blood staining the surrounding grass a deep red. It was too dark the night before and they were too far away to see what had happened in the darkness. They had only assumed that Zhang Chen had driven the wolves away. Now they knew that he had killed all the wolves. From the time he disappeared to the time he returned, it had only taken a few breaths to kill dozens of wolves? The five were even more in awe of Zhang Chen. As they continued on their journey by carriage, they encountered bandits who tried to rob them on the third day. Zhang Chen simply raised his hand, and blood rain began to fall from the sky, causing the bandits to fall down and die one after another. The five people peeping in the carriage were shocked by this display of power and took a while to recover. Although he was from the demon sect, what was the difference between him having this kind of power and being an immortal? The rest of the journey was relatively smooth, and after a month, they finally arrived at the Blood God Sect. ¡°Get off, we¡¯re here.¡± VV¨¦re here? The five got off the carriage and looked at the mountains and forests in front of them, feeling a bit puzzled. Zhang Chen took out the beast breeding bag and injected spiritual power into it. Then he put the horse demon away. The five were all amazed. Such a big horse was packed into a small bag? The five of them stared at the beast breeding bag, trying to figure out its secrets. ¡°This is an illusion array. What you see might not be real. Next, follow me closely. No matter what you see, just follow me,¡± Zhang Chen instructed. ¡°Yes.¡± The five of them nodded. Zhang Chen took out his identity token and injected spiritual qi into it. According to the instructions of the identity token, he entered the sect¡¯s illusion array. Although the five knew what they saw might not be real, they couldn¡¯t help but pause when they almost ran into a big tree. Because the tree in front of them was too real! It wasn¡¯t until Zhang Chen walked towards the tree and disappeared that they closed their eyes and walked forward. Soon after, they smelled a strong smell of blood. When he opened his eyes, he saw a huge archway with the words ¡®Blood God Sect¡¯ written on it. Beyond that was a vast expanse of red mist, with some mountain buildings vaguely visible. He had finally returned to the sect! Zhang Chen put his hand on the archway and lifted the blood curse in his body. ¡°Eh! Someone else is back. Are there only five of them?¡± A guard disciple said in surprise. ¡°Yes. Senior Brother, where should I submit the mission?¡± Zhang Chen bowed and asked. ¡°Take them to the Internal Affairs Hall. Once they have been tested and found to have spiritual roots, your mission will be considered complete.¡± The guard disciple replied. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen first bowed and thanked him, then turned to the five of them and said, ¡°Follow me.¡± Soon, Zhang Chen led the five to the Internal Affairs Hall.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Chapter 54: Preparing for Foundation Establishment Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The process went smoothly, and Zhang Chen received five bowls of demon blood as a reward. After leaving the Internal Affairs Hall, Zhang Chen headed towards Li Mumin¡¯s cave. As for these five people, they would become the miscellaneous disciples of the Blood God Sect, and after breaking through the first level of Qi Refinement within a designated time, they could be promoted to outer disciples. ¡°Is Senior Brother Li here? Zhang Chen requests an audience.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± After Foundation Establishment, there were several years to consolidate one¡¯s realm and practice Foundation Establishment spells, so Li Mumin was mostly in his cave. ¡°Zhang Chen greets Senior Brother.¡± ¡°Your mission¡­ Wait, you¡¯re at the ninth level of Qi Refinement?¡± Li Mumin spoke, surprised at Zhang Chen¡¯s cultivation level. ¡°Zhou Wenting and Jiang Xianghong found out that I provided Senior Brother with blood essence, so they wanted to kill me. But I joined forces with others to kill them instead, and I consumed their blood essence, allowing me to break through to the ninth level of Qi Refinement.¡± Zhang Chen revealed his cultivation level to Senior Brother Li as an excuse. Li Mumin¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. I had planned to master several Foundation Establishment spells before settling the score with them. I didn¡¯t expect them to come after you instead.¡± ¡°I heard that they also have a connection with a direct disciple. If this person comes after me, I ask for Senior Brother¡¯s help.¡± Zhang Chen said respectfully. Li Mumin nodded. ¡°I¡¯m the one who implicated you in this matter. I¡¯ll release the news that I killed Zhou Wenting and Jiang Xianghong and gave you the blood essence.¡± One of Zhang Chen¡¯s purposes in coming to see Li Mumin was to obtain this answer. This way, his sudden cultivation breakthrough wouldn¡¯t attract unwanted attention. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother. Apart from this, I have something else to ask.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already reached the ninth level of Qi cultivation, so I can prepare for Foundation Establishment. I want to ask Senior Brother about the Foundation Establishment stage.¡± He had offended a Foundation Establishment Daoist priest who could control ghosts, and he wouldn¡¯t be safe until he reached Foundation Establishment. And within the Blood God Sect, only in the Foundation Establishment stage did one have some autonomy, considered a middle layer of the sect, and not subject to curses outside the sect. ¡°To build the foundation, you need to first exchange for the Foundation Establishment method from the sect, then condense your blood body. Regardless of which step, you need a large amount of blood essence¡­¡± Li Mumin did not withhold anything and shared his Foundation Establishment experience. ¡°Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother. I won¡¯t disturb you anymore.¡± ¡°Alright, if you have any more questions, you can look for me again.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen could feel that Li Mumin¡¯s attitude towards him had changed. Previously, he had wanted to take him as his subordinate, but now there was a hint of equality. Zhang Chen did not return to his cave abode. Instead, he went to the Technique Exchange Pavilion to exchange for a Foundation Establishment technique. He did not lack blood essence and could immediately start cultivating his Foundation Establishment. After breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm, he wouldn¡¯t be so timid anymore. ¡°Senior Brother, are you looking to exchange for spells?¡± The technique exchange disciple was very respectful. He remembered that a few months ago, this senior brother was only at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, but now he was at the ninth level. Could it be that he took the opportunity of this sect mission to kill fellow disciples and take their blood? Thinking of this, the technique exchange disciple became even more respectful, afraid of offending Zhang Chen. ¡°I want to exchange for the Foundation Establishment technique.¡± Zhang Chen stated his purpose directly. ¡°The sect¡¯s Foundation Establishment technique requires 100 bowls of blood essence. Are you sure you want to exchange for it, Senior Brother?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Zhang Chen had already learned the price from Li Mumin and was mentally prepared. This time, the technique exchange disciple did not hand over a book, but a jade slip. ¡°This is a technique exchange jade slip. You can read the contents by placing it on your forehead. ¡°Once you read it, the jade slip will shatter to prevent it from being leaked. So, when you use it, please remember it carefully.¡± Cultivators had very good memory. As long as there weren¡¯t too many words, they could usually remember them. Back in his cave, Zhang Chen couldn¡¯t wait to place the jade slip on his forehead. [Detected the cultivation technique, Blood God Body, which rebuilds the body with blood, allowing one to transcend the mortal body. There are no fatal weaknesses in the body, blood doesn¡¯t dry up, magical power doesn¡¯t exhaust, soul doesn¡¯t die, and one can become immortal.] [Side effect: This technique is a subsidiary technique of other spells. Once the blood body is formed, it can be sensed, controlled, and taken over by higher-level spells, becoming a puppet.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] ¡°Crack! ¡± After reading it, the jade slip shattered. ¡°This Blood God Body is actually a subsidiary cultivation technique that can be sensed, controlled, possessed, and reduced to a puppet by a higher-level cultivation technique?¡± Zhang Chen was rather shocked. The Blood God Sect had deliberately hidden this information and the jade slip did not mention this at all. If it wasn¡¯t for the modifier, he wouldn¡¯t have known. Zhang Chen took a deep breath. ¡°Is this the method the Blood God Sect uses to control Foundation Establishment disciples? If not for the modifier, I reallv wouldn¡¯t dare to practice it. ¡°However, this Blood God Body is indeed powerful. There are no fatal points on its body. If its blood is dry and its magic power is inexhaustible, as long as its soul is not destroyed, it will not die. Its life-saving ability is first-rate.¡± According to Li Mumin, after condensing the blood body, one could fuse the attributes into the blood, causing the power of the blood to increase greatly. The most common was poison, corrosion, cold, and filth.¡± Poison was easy to understand, and it was also the simplest. It was to add poison to the blood, and the power varied according to the poison. Corrosion and poison were somewhat similar. Everything could rot and everything could corrode. If it was a battle, it could be said to be the strongest among the several attributes, but it was also the most time-consuming. The power in the early stages was not obvious. There was once an ancestor of the Blood God Sect who corroded a mountain range into a huge pit with a drop of blood and turned it into a lake. The cold energy was stored in the blood. As long as there was enough cold energy, it could freeze rivers and seas with a drop of blood. The impure attribute could corrupt one¡¯s spiritual consciousness, physical body, and magical treasure. Once contaminated, one¡¯s cultivation would be damaged, making it difficult to progress. Especially when dealing with magical treasures, the impure attribute was particularly effective. A slight contamination would result in losing control of the magical treasure, and a heavy contamination would render the magical treasure useless. Although the power of one¡¯s blood would greatly increase after fusing with the attribute, there were serious side effects, which meant that killing a thousand enemies would result in injuring oneself 800 times. After all, these attributes were not good things, and attempting to fuse with them would harm oneself. Zhang Chen did not care about the side effects. What he cared about was that after fusing his blood with the attribute, others could not absorb it unless they had fused with the same attribute. This meant that if he fused with the attribute, he could not exchange his blood for spirit stones or demon blood. Fusing his blood with the attribute was not urgent, and he had to consider it carefully. ¡°To condense a blood body, I need to prepare a blood pool and fill it with demon blood and essence blood. The more essence blood, the higher the success rate. ¡°As for the blood pool, I¡¯ll just dig one out in the cave.¡± Zhang Chen got straight to work, taking out his Mad Blood Saber and began digging into the ground. Soon, a pool was dug out. Zhang Chen took out a blood storage bottle containing demon blood and poured it into the pool. Then he took out another bottle containing blood essence. When Li Mumin condensed his blood body, he poured in 300 bowls of blood essence. Zhang Chen was preparing to pour in 400 bowls to ensure success.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Chapter 55: Hundred Days of Foundation Establishment Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Instantly, the cave abode was filled with the thick smell of blood. Looking at the pool of blood, Zhang Chen took off his clothes and stepped into the blood pool with excitement and nervousness. When his body was completely submerged in blood, he began to activate his cultivation technique, Blood God Body. The most important part of this process was to eliminate distractions and focus entirely on the cultivation method. He envisioned the blood pool in his mind and merged his consciousness into the blood. The blood is me, and I am the blood. My body can be discarded, but the blood will always exist! Any other thoughts during this process would lead to the failure of the blood body¡¯s formation. As the cultivation method was activated, the blood in the pool began to boil and emit a mist of blood.. The mist spread out and gradually filled the entire cave, similar to the blood mist that shrouded the Blood God Sect. At this moment, Zhang Chen felt warm all over and indescribably comfortable. However, if someone could see through the blood, they would witness a terrifying sight. His flesh was melting! By now, his skin had completely disappeared, revealing his crimson muscles. And these muscles were also gradually melting away Three days later, all the flesh on Zhang Chen¡¯s body had disappeared, leaving only a skeleton floating in the blood pool. Ten days later, even the skeleton had disappeared, leaving only a pool of blood. In theory, Zhang Chen was already dead without a body. But in fact, his consciousness and soul had merged with the blood. The blood in the pool served as the carrier of his consciousness. Without a physical body, there was naturally no fatal vulnerability. However, this was only the beginning. He still needed to re-form his body. Thirty days later, there was a change in the blood pool. It was as if an invisible force was stirring the blood and molding it. Forty days later, a rough human figure completely condensed from blood essence appeared in the center of the blood pool. Fifty days later, the rough human figure in the blood pool became more refined and had facial features. Sixty days later, organs similar to those in a human body appeared in the blood man. Seventy days later, the blood man had everything a human had, but it was still made entirely of blood and looked like a blood jelly. Eighty days later, the blood man began to solidify and became like a blood jade sculpture. Ninety days later, a perfect male body floated in the blood pool with closed eyes, looking like a demonic beauty. On the 100th day, Zhang Chen slowly opened his eyes in the blood pool, with a glimmer of blood shining in his eyes. Continuing, the blood in the pool swirled incessantly, pouring into his body. Zhang Chen¡¯s body was like a bottomless pit. In just a moment, the blood in the blood pool was sucked dry, revealing the dark red bottom of the pool. After absorbing all the blood, the huge spiritual power contained in the blood broke through some shackles and underwent a qualitative change. The spiritual power transformed into magic power! With the birth of magic power, a strong sense of pressure suddenly emanated. From this moment on, Zhang Chen was at the Foundation Establishment stage! It was only a wisp of magic power now. He still needed to convert all the spiritual power in his body into magic power to stabilize his cultivation level. Zhang Chen sat cross-legged at the bottom of the dry pool and closed his eyes to circulate his blood nerves. At the same time. Xu Yixian. who was in hiding. returned to the sect first. To prevent Li Mumin from seeking revenge, he did not go to the city assigned by the sect. The several mortals with spiritual roots he brought were exchanged with blood essence from others. After completing the task, Xu Yixian prepared to check whether Zhou Wenting and Jiang Xianghong had returned. He went to their respective cave abodes. ¡°They¡¯re not back yet?¡± Xu Yixian felt uneasy. ¡°No, I need to ask around.¡± ¡°Junior Brother Liu, you¡¯re in charge of checking the registered tasks. Have Zhou Wenting and Jiang Xianghong completed this mission?¡± ¡°Senior Brother Xu, wait. Let me check. ¡°Senior Brother Xu, Senior Brother Zhou and Senior Brother Jiang have yet to complete their mission.¡± ¡°Thank you, Junior Brother Liu.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Senior Brother Xu.¡± After asking around, Xu Yixian¡¯s expression turned ugly. Zhou Wenting and Jiang Xianghong had not returned to the sect. The three of them had previously agreed on a time to return. Under normal circumstances, the two of them would have already returned. Could it be that the two of them were found by Li Mumin? Thinking of this, Xu Yixian was filled with fear and prepared to find out more about Li Mumin¡¯s whereabouts. At the thought of this, I want to ask you about Senior Brother Li Mumin¡¯s situation.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Li? He only broke through two years ago. He should be stabilizing his realm and cultivating spells. However, I recently heard a rumor. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true or not.¡± ¡°What rumor?¡± ¡°Someone said that Senior Brother Li killed two people who used to have ties with him and rewarded the spokesperson with a large amount of blood essence. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true. If it¡¯s true, those who offended Senior Brother Li in the past are in trouble.¡± After Xu Yixian heard this, he couldn¡¯t suppress the fear in his heart. Who else could it be other than Zhou Wenting and Jiang Xianghong? Wouldn¡¯t he be the next one to be targeted by Li Mu Min? ¡°The only way to save myself now is to look for Senior Brother Wen!¡± Xu Yixian left in a hurry without even thanking him. The Senior Brother Wen he spoke of was called Wen Xiaosu, a direct disciple. When Xu Yixian was in the outer sect, he was Wen Xiaosu¡¯s spokesperson and exchanged blood for him. A day later. Inside the cave, Zhang Chen opened his mouth and sucked in all the blood mist that filled the air. ¡°As expected, I¡¯ve successfully reached the Foundation Establishment realm!¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s face was filled with excitement and a smile as he examined his new body. At first glance, there wasn¡¯t much difference between his new body and his previous one, except for a slightly more demonic aura. However, his new body was essentially made of blood. It was like a hand being chopped off and immediately turning into blood. If it was reabsorbed, it would reform into a hand. If this blood could not be retrieved, it could also consume the blood in his body and regrow his arm. This was the case for any part of the body. As long as the blood didn¡¯t dry up, his magical powers wouldn¡¯t be depleted, and his soul wouldn¡¯t die, he would De Immortal. Generally speaking, the newly condensed blood body would be unstable and could turn back into blood at any time, causing the body to collapse. However, Zhang Chen had added 400 bowls of blood essence into the blood pool. The blood body condensed was very stable and did not show any signs of collapse. ¡°Next, it¡¯s time to become a direct disciple, store blood essence, and learn Foundation Establishment spells.¡± Zhang Chen put on his clothes and walked out with a confident smile. Because he had already possessed magic power when he used the Blood Ignition Technique previously, there was not much novelty. The main hall of the Blood God Sect was the place where the high-level members discussed the affairs of the sect and where direct disciple status was awarded. At this time, the doors of the hall were tightly closed, and a large bell was erected outside. To promote oneself to a direct disciple, one needed to ring the bell first, and only magical powers could ring the bell, as only after building one¡¯s foundation could one possess magical powers. Zhang Chen walked forward, grabbed the bell hammer, injected magic power into it, and pushed it hard. ¡°Dong, dong, dong¡­ The disciple who heard the bell was stunned. ¡°This is the bell for promotion. Someone broke through to the Foundation Establishment realm and became a personal disciple?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s the direct disciple for this promotion?¡± ¡°At this time of promotion, could it be that someone killed their fellow disciples during a mission? Everyone was filled with envy and jealousy as they speculated on the reason for the Foundation Establishment breakthrough.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Chapter 56: Promotion to Direct Disciple Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Before long, the door of the main hall slowly opened. Zhang Chen took a deep breath and walked into the hall with a hint of nervousness. On the blood jade throne at the top was the Patriarch of the Blood God Sect. He appeared to be middle-aged, dressed in a blood-red robe, exuding an indescribable grandeur with dazzling blood radiance that was difficult to look at directly. This was Zhang Chen¡¯s first time meeting the Patriarch. Quickly lowering his head, he did not dare to look directly at him. To the left and right below were the six elders of the Blood God Sect. Among them were Elder Blood River, Elder Dried Blood, and Elder Black Blood, whom Zhang Chen had met before. The other three he had not met before, but had heard of them. They were Elder Blood Flame, Elder Filthy Blood, and Elder Cold Blood. Under the gaze of the seven, Zhang Chen felt immense pressure, as if he was being crushed by a mountain. He did not notice the ambiguous expression in Elder Blood River¡¯s eyes as he looked at him. Zhang Chen walked to the center and respectfully saluted, ¡°Disciple Zhang Chen, pays respects to the Patriarch and all the elders. After scrutinizing Zhang Chen for a moment, the Patriarch of the Blood God Sect spoke with satisfaction, ¡°Our Blood God Sect truly has no shortage of talent. We have another successful Foundation Establishment disciple.¡± ¡°Show me your identity token.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhang Chen respectfully took out his identity token. The Patriarch of the Blood God Sect waved his hand, and the identity token flew into his hand. After scanning it with divine sense, he was slightly surprised, ¡°You have broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage in 12 years since entering the sect?¡± In the Blood God Sect, it is generally expected to take 20 to 30 years to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, and 12 years is considered a very rare speed. At this time, an elder whom Zhang Chen had not seen before spoke up in a cold tone, ¡°I¡¯m afraid he used this sect mission to hunt down his fellow disciples and devour their blood essence!¡± Elder Black Blood revealed an unfriendly smile, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, we¡¯ll divide his blood among ourselves.¡± To them, these disciples were like the pigs they raised, and Zhang Chen had killed their pigs and eaten their food. Zhang Chen¡¯s heart sank. He did not hunt down his fellow disciples, but was forced to defend himself, though he did kill some of them. The Patriarch of the Blood God Sect remained expressionless, and asked in a deep voice, ¡°Zhang Chen, do you have anything to say?¡± ¡°I did not hunt down fellow disciples. During this sect mission, I returned early with fellow mortal followers who can testify that I did not leave during that time.¡± ¡°The reason for my rapid progress in cultivation is due to having top-level spiritual roots and being able to refine demon blood quickly. Also, my willpower is strong and can consume more demon blood. ¡°Furthermore, under the guidance of Senior Brother Li Mumin, who is also a direct disciple, I was given a considerable amount of blood essence, which allowed me to successfully establish his foundation in 12 years.¡± Before this, Zhang Chen had low-level spiritual roots and had spent nine years just barely reaching the fifth layer of Qi Refinement. The Blood God Sect didn¡¯t check for spiritual root level, and no one knew his spiritual root level, so he could use his top-level spiritual root as an excuse. If it was a top-level spiritual root, coupled with strong willpower and being favored by the senior disciples, he had received a considerable amount of blood essence. With these three conditions combined, it was not unacceptable to establish a foundation in 12 years. The Blood God Sect Master swept his divine sense over Zhang Chen and nodded, ¡°Not bad, it is indeed a top-level spiritual root. I still remember the name Li Mumin, it seems that he was promoted two years ago.¡± Although the body was made up of blood after condensing the blood body, the structure was still the same as before. It used to be a top-level spiritual root, and now the blood body was also a top-level spiritual root. However, aptitude was not very important to the Blood God Sect. As long as one had enough blood essence, even a pig could reach the ninth level of Qi Refinement. But the side effects of the Blood God Technique were clear, and the more one progressed, the more important willpower became. If both were strong, it was truly remarkable. The sect master continued, ¡°So it seems that there should be no problem. What do you elders think?¡± ¡°If the Sect Master says there is no problem, then there is naturally no problem,¡± Blood River Elder was the first to speak up. ¡°No problem,¡± other elders chimed in. ¡°In that case, I will bestow upon disciple Zhang Chen the identity of a senior disciple and grant him the spells ¡®Blood Escape Technique¡¯ and ¡®Blood Curse Technique¡¯! ¡± With that, the Blood God Sect Master waved his hand, and the senior disciple¡¯s attire, identity token, and two jade slips fell in front of Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen received them with both hands. ¡°Thank you for your reward, Sect Master!¡± The Blood God Sect Master nodded, ¡°The Blood God Sect needs talented individuals like you. Work hard in your cultivation from now on.¡± ¡°I will definitely not disappoint the Sect Master¡¯s teachings and the sect¡¯s cultivation. I will work hard,¡± Zhang Chen bowed again. ¡°After becoming a senior disciple, a senior will be your master to guide you personally. That is the true meaning of being a senior disciple. According to the rules of the sect, you will be under the tutelage of Blood Flame Elder.¡± ¡°The third elder on your left, that is Blood Flame Elder,¡± the Blood God Sect Master gestured. Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen looked towards Blood Flame Elder. This was an elder he had never seen before. His entire body emitted a scorching heat all over his body, giving Zhang Chen a feeling that his blood would evaporate. Just as Zhang Chen was about to bow, Blood River Elder suddenly shouted, ¡°Wait!¡± The Blood God Sect Master frowned, ¡°Blood River Elder, what do you mean?¡± Blood River Elder stood up and said, ¡°Sect Master, I want to exchange two disciple quotas for this disciple with Blood Flame Elder.¡± In fact, disciple quotas were already assigned. The disciples in the Qi Refinement period were like pigs raised in the sect, and the disciples in the Foundation Establishment period were no different. Before the pigs were sent to market, the elders who were responsible for raising them had already allocated them in order of marketability. For example, this time, the disciple belonged to Elder Blood Flame, and the next time it would be Elder Blood Cold¡¯s turn, and the time after that would be the Sect Master¡¯s, and so on in a never-ending cycle. This was also the reason why Elder Cold Blood proposed to divide the refined blood earlier, because if they didn¡¯t, Zhang Chen¡¯s blood would not be his share. Moreover, some problems could be seen from the side effects of the Blood God Body. Of course, some pigs were exceptionally fierce and could kill their caretakers and take their place. Others grew at an unexpected rate, leaving the caretakers helpless. With such a huge base, anything was possible. And who could say for sure that these elders weren¡¯t fatter pigs? Zhang Chen had simply jumped out of one enclosure and into a larger one. The Blood God Sect Master looked at the Blood Flame Elder. ¡°Blood Flame Elder, do you agree?¡± Elder Blood Flame carefully evaluated Zhang Chen, as if assessing the price of a pig. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to trade three spots, then he¡¯s yours, ¡± he said. Elder Blood River looked conflicted and thought for a while before saying, ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to think so highly of this kid,¡± Elder Blood Flame said, surprised. ¡°He has top-grade spiritual roots and a strong will. He¡¯s worth my investment,¡¯ Elder Blood River explained.. The Blood God Sect Master declared nonchalantly, ¡°Since Elder Blood Flame agrees, this disciple belongs to Elder Blood River now.¡± No one had asked for Zhang Chen¡¯s opinion from beginning to end. Zhang Chen felt like a commodity being bargained for. ¡°Zhang Chen, pay your respects to your new master,¡± Elder Blood River said with a smile. Zhang Chen suppressed his emotions and respectfully bowed to Elder Blood River. ¡°Disciple Zhang Chen pays respects to Master.¡± ¡°Very well. Here¡¯s a magical weapon as your gift for becoming my disciple,¡± Elder Blood River said, throwing a small ball to Zhang Chen.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Chapter 57: Promotion and Rewards Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios At the same time, Elder Blood River introduced, ¡°This is the Blood Absorbing Pearl. It can absorb the enemy¡¯s blood and is equivalent to the ¡®Bloodsucking Art¡¯ of the Grand Completion Realm. It can also be used to store blood in peacetime, and is several times larger than a normal blood bag.¡± Zhang Chen hurriedly took it and said, ¡°Thank you for your gift, Master!¡± ¡°It seems that Elder Blood River really values this disciple. Three spots and a top-grade magic weapon.¡± Elder Blood Flame was once again surprised. Although Golden Core cultivators used magic weapons, top-grade magic weapons were not cheap. In a sense, it was comparable to the blood essence of a Foundation Establishment disciple. Usually, when they took accepted disciples, they would give them a blood bag as a gift, or at most, a low-grade magic weapon. This is a top-grade magic weapon? Zhang Chen couldn¡¯t help but sigh in his heart at Elder Blood River¡¯s generosity. Could it be that he had really found a good master? However, the environment and cultivation techniques of the Blood God Sect made him deeply wary of these elders and the Sect Leader. ¡°Zhang Chen, I won¡¯t mention the benefits of being a direct disciple. You should know about it, but if you don¡¯t, you can go to the Internal Affairs Hall to inquire. You have three years to stabilize your realm, practice spells, and then come to Blood River Peak to find me.¡± ¡°Alright, you can go now.¡± Elder Blood River waved his hand. Zhang Chen bowed and said, ¡°Master, Sect Leader, and all the elders, I take my leave.¡± ¡°Boom!¡± As soon as Zhang Chen walked out of the main hall, the door behind him automatically closed, as if it had separated two worlds. One world inside the door, and one world outside. ¡°From now on, I¡¯m a direct disciple.¡± Zhang Chen smiled. There were only over a hundred direct disciples in the Blood God Sect, and above them were the six elders and the Sect Leader. Their status was already very high. Direct disciples could have their own mountain peaks as caves, a basin of demon blood every day, and a bowl of refined blood at the end of each month. ¡°Huh! What are these people doing outside?¡± Zhang Chen noticed that a group of people were standing on the square about a dozen yards away. When these people saw Zhang Chen come out, they walked over one after another and said, ¡°Congratulations, Senior Brother, on becoming a direct disciple. My name is Gao Yingguang. What should I call Senior Brother?¡± ¡°Congratulations on becoming a direct disciple, Senior Brother. My name is Zhu Bangquan.¡± ¡°Congratulations on becoming a direct disciple, Senior Brother. My name is Wu Renrong.¡± ¡­ After listening to everyone¡¯s introduction, Zhang Chen learned that these people had come to congratulate him and make connections. ¡°I¡¯m Zhang Chen, and I only managed to break through the Foundation Establishment stage by chance.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s Senior Brother Zhang. I¡¯m giving Senior Brother a demon beast as a congratulatory gift for your advancement. I hope Senior Brother will accept it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll also give Senior Brother Zhang a demon beast as a congratulatory gift.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do the same.¡±¡­ ¡°Thank you, Junior Brothers. I¡¯ll accept these gifts.¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and accepted the gifts. There were a total of 14 demon beasts. He had gained a lot. These people, at most, would claim to have a relationship with the direct disciple to make others hesitate to use Zhang Chen¡¯s name for their own purposes. Even if they had a request, they would come with gifts. After exchanging pleasantries, Zhang Chen bade farewell to everyone and arrived at the Internal Affairs Hall to receive his personal cave abode. When Zhang Chen took out his personal disciple identity token, the disciples of the Internal Affairs Hall were respectful. They served tea and water and introduced the cave abode in detail. In the end, Zhang Chen chose a cave abode called Blood Bamboo Peak. This mountain peak was not considered good, but it was large and remote. The useful items in the cave had long been put into the storage bag, so Zhang Chen went directly to the Blood Bamboo Peak. The Blood Bamboo Peak was named after its dense blood-red bamboo, which looked like a sea of blood. Especially when the wind blew, the bamboo leaves danced like the waves of a surging blood sea, pleasing to the eye.. However, these blood-red bamboos were not valuable, just ordinary bamboo that had turned red due to the environment of the Blood God Sect. And because it was remote, not many people chose to come here. ¡°From now on, this place belongs to me.¡± Zhang Chen smiled as he looked at the mountain full of blood bamboo and stepped into the Blood Bamboo Peak. With the mountain peak, he could plant spiritual plants and raise demon beasts. However, the prerequisite was that he needed an array formation that enveloped the mountain peak. This would prevent others from intruding and picking or destroying the spiritual plants, as well as preventing the demonic beasts he kept from running away. However, array formations were not cheap. Only senior direct disciples had them. After tidying up the cave, Zhang Chen took out the blood-absorbing bead that Elder Blood River had given him. The bead was as big as a fist and had seven holes distributed on it, with blood flowing inside. Zhang Chen hesitated for a moment and tried to inject his magic power to activate it. The blood-absorbing bead immediately emitted a glow, and the seven holes produced a suction force that made his blood surge, giving him the feeling that he was about to be sucked into the bead. ¡°What a precious treasure. It¡¯s indeed a top-quality magical tool. During the Qi Refinement period, one should not be able to resist this suction force.¡± However, Zhang Chen did not rashly establish a connection with the blood-absorbing bead using his divine sense to refine it. Instead, he put it away and took out two jade slips. These were the spells that the Blood God Sect Master had given him: the Blood Escape Technique and the Blood Curse Technique. Zhang Chen placed one of them on his forehead and observed it. [The Blood Escape Spell has been detected. It can only be used with a blood body, consuming blood to fly at an extremely fast speed.] [Side Effect: This spell is exclusive, and if used for a long time, one will not be able to use any other flying technique other than the use of blood.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] For disciples of the Blood God Sect, these side effects were not a big deal. All the direct disciples used Blood Escape Technique, which was a standard practice for foundational disciples of the Blood God Sect. In terms of speed alone, Blood Escape Technique was among the top tier in flying escape techniques during the foundational stage, so there was not much need to learn other escape techniques. The Blood God Sect was not skilled in many other areas, but they were particularly adept at survival. After memorizing Blood Escape Technique, Zhang Chen shattered the jade slip and placed another one on his forehead. Blood Curse Technique had two methods of use: one was for the Qi refining disciples of the Blood God Sect, and the other was for enemies. The first method was specifically designed for the Blood Scripture technique. After being cursed, the blood of the Qi refining disciples who had practiced Blood Scripture would lose control and go berserk after a certain period of time. This curse was used on inner sect disciples when they went on missions. When a person was cursed and died, the curse would absorb the person¡¯s intention and blood, marking the perpetrator and allowing other Blood Scripture practitioners to sense it. The second method transformed a passive mark into an active one on the enemy, which was difficult to remove. ¡°This way, even if the enemy uses demon beasts to kill you, you can let the sect find the real murderer and avenge you. From there, he would intimidate those who wanted to kill the Blood God Sect disciples. Before he attacked, he had to consider if he could deal with the Blood God Sect¡¯s revenge. As a result, the safety of Blood God Sect disciples outside the sect was greatly improved. There were no side effects to Blood Curse Technique, so Zhang Chen did not hear the voice of the modifier.. ¡°Next, I¡¯ll master these two spells first.¡± Zhang Chen closed his eyes and comprehended the spells. The news of Zhang Chen¡¯s promotion to a direct disciple began to spread throughout the Blood God Sect. ¡°Did you hear? The one who was promoted to a direct disciple this time is a senior brother named Zhang Chen.¡± ¡°Zhang Chen? I haven¡¯t heard of him in the inner sect!¡± ¡°It¡¯s normal not to have heard of him. Senior brother Zhang Chen was promoted from the inner sect just over two years ago and keeps a low profile.¡± ¡°What! He was promoted from the inner sect to a direct disciple in just two years?¡± The crowd was shocked, and Xu Yisheng, who had just passed by, paused in his steps. ¡°They¡¯re talking about Zhang Chen.. Could it be the same Zhang Chen that I know?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Chapter 58: Reactions from Everyone Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The name matched, and the time to advance to the inner sect also matched. However, how was this possible! Not to mention the time it took to go from the seventh to the ninth level of Qi Refinement, exchanging for the Foundation Establishment technique required a hundred bowls of blood essence, let alone a few hundred bowls of blood essence required during the Foundation Establishment process. For most cultivators at the ninth layer of Qi cultivation, it would take at least five years to save up so much essence blood. ¡°Can you guys tell me about this Senior Brother Zhang Chen?¡± Xu Yisheng couldn¡¯t help but step forward to inquire, and the result he received was that it really was that Zhang Chen! In just two years, he had advanced from the seventh layer of Qi cultivation to the foundation building stage. Could it be that after Li Mumin killed Zhou Wenting and the other person, he gave all his blood essence to Zhang Chen? With so much blood essence, it could at least allow Li Mumin to advance by three levels of cultivation. Why would he give it to Zhang Chen? Xu Yisheng was muddle-headed and distracted. His mind filled with doubts. After hearing that Li Mumin had killed Zhou Wenting and the other man, he went to look for his direct disciple, Wen Xiaosu, and obtained protection at the price of two bowls of essence qi every month. But it hadn¡¯t been long before Zhang Chen had also reached the Foundation Establishment realm. Could it be that Li Mumin wanted to hold Wen Xiaosu back while he killed me? At the thought of this, the fear in Xu Yisheng¡¯s heart grew stronger. ¡°No matter what method I use, I must build a foundation!¡± Xu Yisheng¡¯s gaze became fierce as he looked at the people around him, as if he was looking at walking essence blood. A month later, a blood light fell on Blood Bamboo Peak. When the blood light dissipated, Zhang Chen¡¯s slightly excited figure was revealed. After spending a month, he had finally gained a preliminary mastery of Blood Escape Technique. ¡°It¡¯s time to visit Li Mumin. I wonder what his reaction will be when he sees me.¡± Zhang Chen transformed into a blood light again and flew towards Li Mumin¡¯s cave abode. ¡°Is Senior Brother Li here? Junior Brother Zhang Chen is here to visit.¡± In the past, he had said he wanted to see him, but now that they were both at the foundation building stage, Zhang Chen said he was here to visit. ¡°Come in.¡± Li Mumin¡¯s tone was calm, and there was no hint of joy or anger. ¡°Greetings, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen just bowed his head in respect. ¡°Did you successfully reach the Foundation Establishment realm and become a direct disciple?¡± Li Mumin was shocked when he saw Zhang Chen¡¯s attire and aura. He had been cultivating in the cave abode and did not know that Zhang Chen had reached the Foundation Establishment realm. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Senior Brother¡¯s guidance that I was able to successfully reach the Foundation Establishment realm. I came to express my gratitude to Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen smiled. It took Li Mumin a while before he said slowly, ¡°Back in the beast garden, you were only at the fifth level of Qi Refinement. The reason why I agreed to let you become the spokesperson was because of vou. ¡°I thought that since you couldn¡¯t exchange for three bowls of blood essence, I would extract your blood essence to replenish it. I didn¡¯t expect you to really have the ability to complete it. ¡°After the blood sacrifice, I didn¡¯t want to lose the source of my blood essence, so I wanted to take you in as a servant. When you rejected me, I was still angry. How dare you reject a mere fifth level Qi Refinement cultivator? ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that I still needed you to exchange blood essence for me, I would have taught you a lesson back then. Later on, when you advanced, I only looked at you slightly. It was not until a few months ago, when you returned with a cultivation level at the ninth level of Qi Refinement and told me that you had killed Zhou Wenting and Jiang Xianghong, that I felt that I had underestimated you and thought that you were worth my investment. ¡°However, I didn¡¯t expect your cultivation to catch up to mine in just two years.¡± Zhang Chen said seriously, ¡°Senior Brother is generous. No matter what, Senior Brother still has kindness towards me. I can still exchange blood essence for Senior Brother in the future.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble you, Junior Brother.¡± This was the first time Li Mumin called Zhang Chen Junior Brother. I can also benefit from it. It¡¯s mutually beneficial.¡± Zhang Chen smiled and asked, ¡°By the way, Senior Brother, do you know anything about Elder Blood River well?¡± i Mumin shook his head, ¡°I just became a direct disciple not long ago, so I don¡¯t know much about the Elders. I only know that the Blood River Elder condensed a blood river and has the strongest magical power among the elders. He¡¯s in charge of the beast garden. ¡°Junior Brother, can it be that you¡¯ve become a disciple of Elder Blood River?¡± Zhang Chen nodded. ¡°Which elder is Senior Brother under?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a disciple of Elder Withered Blood.¡± The two of them chatted for a while more before Zhang Chen bade farewell and left. Li Mumin even asked him to stay for the first time. Every time his identity changed, the attitude of the people around him would also change drastically. After leaving Li Mumin¡¯s cave, Zhang Chen turned into a blood light and flew towards the beast garden. He still had six demon beasts in the beast garden. In addition to the 14 demon beast congratulatory gifts he had obtained not long ago, he had a total of 20 demon beasts. In order to reach the Foundation Establishment realm, he had almost exhausted all the blood essence he had stored. It was time to obtain a wave of demon blood to devour and refine. Without a formation to conceal it, it was not convenient for him to keep the demon beasts in captivity, and imprinting them with the Beast Slave Seal was too obvious. Moreover, feeding demon beasts was also a troublesome matter. For now, it was most convenient to continue keeping them in the beast garden. ¡°Congratulations on becoming a personal disciple, Senior Brother Zhang. This blood storage bottle is my congratulatory gift. I hope you won¡¯t mind it.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, are you here to collect demon blood? In the future, every once in a while, I¡¯ll collect blood and send it to Senior Brother¡¯s cave abode, so you don¡¯t have to waste your precious time running back and forth. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, if you need anything in the future, just let me know.¡± As soon as Zhang Chen arrived at the beast garden, Wang Zhengang eagerly approached him, trying to please him in every way possible. Wang Zhengang¡¯s cultivation had also improved, reaching the seventh level of Qi Refinement, but he was still an outer sect disciple since he hadn¡¯t participated in the inner sect¡¯s major competition. Without wasting too much time, Zhang Chen finished collecting blood and flew towards the Pill Pavilion. He did not forget about the channel for Foundation Establishment demon blood. Previously, his realm was too low and it was difficult to consume the blood, but now that he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. ¡°Junior Brother Feng, how have you been?¡± Zhang Chen landed not far from Feng Wensheng and greeted him. ¡°Senior¡­ Senior Brother Zhang? Congratulations on your promotion to direct disciple. This bottle of Violence Dispelling Pills is my congratulatory gift.¡± Feng Wensheng was stunned for a moment, but quickly reacted and fumbled for a pill bottle. Zhang Chen did not refuse and accepted it with a smile. ¡°Thank you, Junior Brother Feng. I came this time to place a long-term order for Foundation Establishment demon blood. Can it be arranged?¡± ¡°No problem for long-term orders, but I don¡¯t know how much you need and how often,¡± Feng Wensheng said, becoming serious when he heard that it was a business matter. ¡°At least three buckets of Foundation Establishment demon blood a day, and the more the better,¡± Zhang Chen stated his request. This was a huge deal! Feng Wensheng was excited. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, how about I talk to the alchemists and see how much Foundation Establishment demon blood they can provide a day?¡± ¡°Sure, just come to Blood Bamboo Peak to trade with me once you have the result.¡± With that, Zhang Chen didn¡¯t linger and turned into blood light to leave. Back in his cave, Zhang Chen began to devour and refine the demon blood without rest. With his Foundation Establishment cultivation, the speed at which he refined demon blood increased by three times. He could refine 30 buckets of demon blood at the Qi Refinement realm without stopping for 24 hours. Feeling the rapid increase in his blood essence, Zhang Chen was both happy and vexed. This meant that his demand for demon blood had increased again. ¡°I hope the Foundation Establishment demon blood can surprise me.¡± Zhang Chen continued to refine the demon blood in his cave and waited for Feng Wensheng to arrive.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Chapter 59: Core Spell Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Two days later, Feng Wensheng made a deal and said he could provide five buckets of Foundation Establishment stage demon blood a day. After sending Feng Wensheng off, Zhang Chen began to swallow the demon blood. Because the Foundation Establishment demon blood constantly emitted a strong spiritual energy, it brought a shock to the mouth, giving a feeling like drinking cola. During the Qi Refinement realm, Zhang Chen had tried to refine the demon blood of the Foundation Establishment realm. After taking a sip, the residual spirit of the demon beast rushed into his consciousness, taking him a long time to erase it. This time, he drank a bowl of it, but there was no trace of the residual spirit of a demon beast. Other than being five times richer in spiritual energy, it was not much different from the demon blood of the Qi Refinement realm. With a relieved heart, Zhang Chen began to devour the Foundation Establishment demon blood in large mouthfuls, and the blood nerves in his body operated frantically, converting the demon blood into his own blood essence. Days passed by quickly, and soon three months had passed. During these three months, Zhang Chen paid no attention to worldly affairs and focused on refining the demon blood to store blood essence. The discussions about him, the newly promoted direct disciple, gradually died down within the sect. ¡°After three months of seclusion and accumulating a large amount of blood essence. I can go exchange it for a Foundation Establishment stage spell.¡± Zhang Chen stretched his body and flew out of the cave as a stream of blood light, heading towards the Technique Exchange Pavilion. ¡°Senior Brother, what spell do you want? I know all the spells in the catalog. As long as you tell me your requirements, I can immediately find a spell that meets them for you.¡± The technique exchange disciple bowed and was exceptionally enthusiastic. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll find it myself.¡± Zhang Chen waved his hand. ¡°Senior Brother, take a seat.¡± The disciple placed his stool next to Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen sat down without hesitation and flipped through the spell catalog. During that time, an inner sect disciple walked into the Technique Exchange Pavilion. It seemed that he also wanted to exchange for a spell, but when he saw Zhang Chen¡¯s attire as a direct disciple, he immediately withdrew respectfully. Zhang Chen didn¡¯t rush to select a spell, but prepared to read through all the spells first. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. His gaze was drawn to a spell. The ¡®Blood God Son¡¯ utilized a secret technique that involved using a large amount of blood to conceive a Blood God¡¯s clone, which could reach a level one step lower than its creator. As long as its blood didn¡¯t dry up and its magic never exhausted, the Blood God Son would never die. One of the core spells of the Blood God Sect required 300 bowls of blood essence in exchange. It should be noted that if the Blood God Son was separated from its creator for too long, it will develop self-awareness and turn on its controller. Upon reading the description of the Blood God Son, Zhang Chen thought of his own condensed blood body. The Blood God Son, with its blood that never dried up and magic that never exhausted, could never die. The blood body, with its blood that never dried up, magic that never exhausted, and soul that never perished, could also achieve immortality. The only difference between the two was the soul. However, the side effect of the blood body according to the modifier was that it was a subsidiary spell of other spells. Once the blood body was condensed, it could be sensed, controlled, and even possessed by a higher-level spell, turning into a puppet. IfFoundation Establishment disciples like us are controlled and possessed like the Blood God Sons, won¡¯t we be the same? In other words, Foundation Establishment disciples with blood bodies are Blood God Sons with souls and self-awareness. The sects higher-ups don¡¯t need to spend too much time cultivating Blood God Sons. We Blood God Sons will work hard to cultivate and improve ourselves, and then we can be harvested when we reach a certain level. What a greatplan and solution! Zhang Chen couldn¡¯t help but sigh at the Blood God Sect¡¯s sinister intentions, which were even more cunning than those of capitalists, leaving nothing behind after they had taken everything. Compared to the disciples with complex thoughts, Blood Sons were obviously more useful. Fortunately, the side effects of his blood body were eliminated by the modifier, so he didn¡¯t have to worry about that. No wonder the blood curse was only used on Qi Refinement disciples. After reaching the Foundation Establishment realm, he could be sensed, controlled, and possessed, and there was nowhere to run. The Blood God Son¡¯s side effects of condensed blood bodies were not even mentioned by the sect. If it weren¡¯t for the modifier, he would have been left in the dark. But he wasn¡¯t completely safe either. If he was caught and his soul was forcibly erased, he could still be trained into a Blood God Son. Although Zhang Chen had a lot of blood essence, he did not dare to exchange too many spells at once. After all, every Foundation Establishment spell required more than a hundred bowls of blood essence to exchange. He had just reached the Foundation Establishment realm and was too conspicuous. So, Zhang Chen only exchanged for ¡®Blood God Son¡¯ and left, preparing to come back after a while. Returning to his cave, he stuck the jade slip containing the ¡®Blood God Son¡¯ spell on his forehead. [Detected the technique ¡®Blood God Son¡¯. With a large amount of fresh blood, use secret methods to give birth to a Blood God Son, which can be one level lower than oneself at most.] [Side effects: The Blood God Son is naturally bloodthirsty, without emotions. If it gives birth to spiritual intelligence, it will inevitably backlash against the controller.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] After checking the content of ¡®Blood God Son¡¯, Zhang Chen¡¯s speculation was further confirmed. As long as there was enough blood, there was no limit to the number of Blood God Sons. There were two ways to breed Blood God Sons. The first was to breed them in one¡¯s own body or in someone else¡¯s body. The first way was to use blood essence to perform secret spells, leaving behind a wisp of divine consciousness to condense into blood seeds. Breeding them in one¡¯s own body was the fastest, and as long as there was enough blood essence, it could be successfully bred in a month. If they were placed in someone else¡¯s body, they would absorb the host¡¯s blood every period of time, and the growth time varied from person to person. It could be fast, taking only a few years, or slow, taking several decades or even hundreds of years. At the same time, blood seeds could also be used as a means of control. The second method was to breed them in a blood pool. This method is 80 percent similar to the blood body condensation and was likely derived from it. He just needed to pour the blood seeds into the blood pool filled with demon blood. If essence blood was poured in, it could speed up the breeding process, which usually took three years. As one of the core spells of the Blood God Sect, the Blood God Son was extremely powerful. The Blood God was born with the Blood Escape Technique. Although he did not know any other spells, it was fast. Once it pounced on someone, it would suck out all the blood from his body. Combined with its immortal characteristic, it was difficult for ordinary people to resist. In addition, if the spell caster died, there was still a chance to be resurrected on the Blood God Son. However, the probability was very low. It required extremely good luck. Since there was only a trace of divine consciousness in Blood Son¡¯s body, it had not had time to grow and revive before being backlash by the Blood God Son. If one was at the Nascent Soul stage, then 80 percent could resurrect the Blood God Son. Therefore, Blood God Son was also a very strong lifesaving method. In the cultivation world, the Blood God Sect was notoriously troublesome. However, even the Blood God Son cannot escape from an opponent who could kill its main body. The Blood God Son is also a blood body and can be used as a resurrected body. This means that it is not that spells cannot be used, but the controller is afraid of backlash and does not let the Blood God Son develop intelligence. Without intelligence, it can only act on instinct, so it cannot use spells. But with the modifier, I will not suffer a backlash! Thinking of this, Zhang Chen had another idea. He would let the Blood God Son develop intelligence and cultivate spells. I have a lot of blood essence. I can nurture a few Blood God Sons at the same time. Zhang Chen couldn¡¯t help but get excited and immediately split a mass of blood from his body and began to condense the blood seed.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Chapter 60: The Blood God Son is Formed Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios A day later. ¡°It¡¯s done!¡± Zhang Chen exclaimed excitedly, looking at the egg-sized red meatball in his hand. This was the blood seed. After thinking it over, Zhang Chen decided to incubate it inside his own body, as it would be faster that way. Placing the blood seed on his chest, the skin in front of his chest immediately turned into blood, swallowing up the blood seed. Sensing the blood seed continuously absorbing his blood essence, Zhang Chen smiled slightly and said, ¡°Continue.¡± A month later, the first blood seed had completed incubation, and the Blood God Son was about to be born. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The sound of a heart beating could be heard coming from inside Zhang Chen¡¯s body. Then, a terrifying and shocking scene occurred. A bloody head drilled out of Zhang Chen¡¯s chest, followed by the arms and body¡­ Zhang Chen had a calm expression and did not feel anything. Soon, the Blood God Son had completely emerged. The Blood God Son was about the size of a five or six year old child, with its entire body made up of blood, constantly flowing and circulating without staining the ground with bloodstains. It had four limbs, but no facial features. It emitted the cultivation fluctuations of the first level of Qi Refinement. From afar, it looked like a human-shaped jelly. Zhang Chen looked up and down at the Blood God Son, suddenly reaching into his storage bag and taking out the Mad Blood Saber to strike at Blood Son. ¡°Thud¡­ The Blood God Son stood still, and was split in half by a single stroke. Under Zhang Chen¡¯s gaze, the Blood God Son quickly reformed, completely unscathed, as if nothing had happened. ¡°Not bad. Let¡¯s try improving its cultivation.¡± Zhang Chen nodded in satisfaction. With a wave of his hand, a large amount of blood essence surged out, continuously pouring into the Blood God Son¡¯s body. With the infusion of blood essence, the Blood God Son¡¯s cultivation began to rapidly improve. Second level of Qi Refinement, third level of Qi Refinement, fourth level of Qi Refinement¡­ And as its cultivation increased, the Blood God Son¡¯s body also began to grow larger. In less than 15 minutes, the Blood God Son, who was originally not more than four or five years old, became a 15 or 16-year-old youth, with its cultivation increasing to the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Re-evaluating the Blood God Son, Zhang Chen smiled with satisfaction. ¡°Let¡¯s try its speed.¡± With a thought, the Blood God Son transformed into a blood light and instantly appeared on the other side of the cave. This speed was rare even in the Qi Refinement period, but it lacked offensive capabilities, and was not enough to deal with those at the Foundation Establishment stage. However, the true strength of the Blood God lay in its immortality and numbers; even ants could kill an elephant if there were enough of them. Five Blood Gods at the ninth level of Qi Refinement could probably match someone at the second level of Foundation Establishment. Ten could probably match someone at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. Twenty could probably match someone at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment. To deal with a ninth level Foundation Establishment cultivator, he would need a hundred Blood God Sons. After all, those at the Ninth Layer of Foundation Establishment, whether in spell casting or combat experience, were vastly superior in strength. Nurturing so many Blood God Sons required a huge amount of blood essence. Blood God Son was one of the core spells of the Blood God Sect, almost a must-learn, but most disciples of the sect would choose to first improve their own cultivation. Not counting the blood essence consumed in cultivation, just raising a Blood God¡¯s cultivation to the ninth level of Qi Refinement required 300 bowls of blood essence. On the other hand, a Blood God Son at this level had little combat power against those at the Foundation Establishment stage, so it was better to learn a more powerful spell. Only a hacker like Zhang Chen could nurture the Blood God Sons in the early stages. ¡°That¡¯s right. Come back.¡± The Blood God turned into a mass of blood and merged into Zhang Chen¡¯s body. Essentially, the Blood God Son was blood and could merge directly into Zhang Chen¡¯s bloodstream. When necessary, the blood essence of the Blood God Son could be drawn back and transformed back into blood seeds. During this month, in addition to refining the Blood God Sons, Zhang Chen also needed to cultivate demon blood. Each took up half of his time, so he only condensed 15 blood seeds, and there were still 14 blood seeds that were not being bred. The next one would hatch in two davs. For now, 15 Blood God Sons were enough. Zhang Chen planned to cultivate more in a while. He couldn¡¯t rely solely on the Blood God. He had to become stronger himself to avoid being beheaded. Zhang Chen got up and walked out of the cave abode, feeling that he could exchange for another spell. An hour later, Zhang Chen returned to his cave abode with a jade slip in his hand. This was a spell he had exchanged 150 bowls of blood essence for in the Technique Exchange Pavilion. It was called ¡®Blood Shadow Doppelganger¡¯. This spell was a life-saving spell with no side effects. It was said that Blood Shadow Doppelganger was based on the idea of the cicada shedding its skin. In times of danger, it could consume a large amount of essence blood to leave a doppelganger in place while Zhang Chen himself instantly transferred 100 feet away. Although the Blood Body had an immortal attribute, it was still vulnerable to spells like fire, ice, lightning, and sealing. Therefore, a life-saving spell was still necessary. Next, Zhang Chen spent half a day pondering and practicing spells and half a day cultivating demon blood. Time passed day by day, and without realizing it, another month had passed, and all 15 Blood God Sons had been bred. Looking at the 15 Blood God Sons in front of him, all at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, Zhang Chen couldn¡¯t help but imagine the scene where the Blood God Sons rushed forward and sucked dry the enemy¡¯s blood. ¡°Is Junior Brother Zhang here?¡± At this moment, a voice of inquiry came from outside the cave abode. Zhang Chen¡¯s thoughts stirred, the 15 Blood God Sons turned into blood and returned to his body before he walked outside. Outside the cave stood a middle-aged man emitting the third stage of Foundation Establishment cultivation base. He gave off a feeling of violent anger, possibly due to his cultivation technique. Zhang Chen was a little puzzled. ¡°Senior Brother, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°My name is Du Nanfeng. I¡¯m also a disciple of the Elder Blood River. I¡¯m your Sixth Senior Brother and have come to take you to meet the other senior brothers.¡± Du Nanfeng explained his purpose for coming. ¡°So it¡¯s Sixth Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen bowed. ¡°Have you mastered the Blood Escape Technique?¡± Du Nanfeng asked. ¡°I have.¡± ¡°Okay, follow me.¡± Without waiting for Zhang Chen¡¯s reply, Du Nanfeng turned into blood light and flew away. Zhang Chen hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow him. Two streaks of blood-red light landed in front of a mist-shrouded mountain peak. ¡°This is Eldest Senior Brother¡¯s cave abode, Blood Spring Peak. There¡¯s a mist formation outside, so keep up with my pace,¡± Du Nanfeng said, walking towards the mountain peak. Helplessly, Zhang Chen could only follow along while speculating in his mind. This eldest senior brother must be powerful to be able to cast a formation to envelop the mountain peak. I wonder if there¡¯s anything other than just getting to know me. On the way, Zhang Chen also tried to use his spiritual vision to see through the mist formation. He still couldn¡¯t see the entire mountain peak through the fog, he could see through a distance of 300 feet. If he wanted to break through, the fog could not stop him. Compared to the illusion formations in the sect and the market, this fog formation was clearly of a much lower level. Upon reaching the cave entrance, Du Nanfeng shouted, ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, I¡¯ve brought Seventh Junior Brother here.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± An old voice came from within the cave. Entering the cave, Zhang Chen saw four people. An elderly man with white hair and a friendly smile. A graceful and voluptuous mature woman in her thirties who exuded a tempting aura. A young man full of hostility and impatience. And a middle-aged man with a sinister expression and an alarming murderous intent. The four of them were at Foundation Establishment stages of ninth, seventh, sixth, and fourth respectively.. The old man spoke first. ¡°This must be junior brother Zhang Chen. I am Hong Longguang, your eldest senior brother.¡± ¡°Greetings, Eldest Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen hastily bowed. ¡°This is your second senior sister, Dong Fengzhen.¡± ¡°Seventh Junior Brother is really handsome!¡± Dong Fengzhen threw a seductive glance at Zhang Chen. ¡°Greetings, Second Senior Sister.¡± Zhang Chen looked straight ahead. ¡°This is your fourth senior brother, Xu Zhenling.¡± ¡°This is your fifth senior brother, Zhou Xuewu.¡± Hong Longguang introduced them one by one, and Zhang Chen bowed.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Chapter 61: Blood Refining Scripture Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Zhang Chen realized that he was still missing a third senior brother, so he asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Third Senior Brother?¡± ¡°Third Junior Brother is out on a mission and hasn¡¯t returned yet. I called you here this time to let everyone get to know each other and take care of each other in the future. ¡°Although there wasn¡¯t much pressure from the sect after we were promoted to direct disciples, the competition among us direct disciples is fierce due to the struggle for resources. Therefore, we form circles based on our master-disciple relationships to unite against the pressure. ¡°The sect master has the most direct disciples and is also the strongest. I¡¯m at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm, but I can only barely protect my junior brothers from being bullied.¡± Hong Longguang smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble you in the future, Eldest Senior Brother. I have just been promoted and do not fully understand the situation with direct disciples. Senior Brother, can you explain to me?¡± Zhang Chen asked with a bow. ¡°Then let me explain it to you¡­¡± Through Hong Longguang¡¯s explanation, Zhang Chen gained a general understanding of the situation of the direct disciples. The Blood God Sect¡¯s cultivation techniques affect the mind. After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, the sect¡¯s control became weaker, and the abnormal aspects of their minds began to show, leading to frequent conflicts. The direct disciples had sect missions once every three years, and during this period, their masters might also assign tasks to them. Elder Blood River was in charge of the Beast Garden, and most of his missions were related to it. If one wanted to leave the sect without a mission, they had to report to the sect. If they did not return after a certain period of time, the sect would send people to look for them. For example, every year, the direct disciples would hold a gathering to exchange resources and so on. ¡°Thank you for your explanation, Eldest Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen bowed and thanked him. Hong Longguang waved his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. It¡¯s what I should do as a senior brother. You haven¡¯t learned any attacking spells at the Foundation Establishment stage yet, have you? ¡°Most of the spells of our Demon Sect have side effects. You can choose spells that harm the body. With the undying attribute of the blood body, you can repair the damage with just a little blood essence.¡± ¡°Thank you for your guidance, Eldest Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen nodded. With the undying attribute of the blood body, learning those spells that harmed the body would not have much of an impact, so most direct disciples would choose these spells. In the future, when Zhang Chen used such spells, there was no need to hide anything. Very few people in the inner sect learned spells that harmed the body because physical injuries and problems could affect the condensation of the blood body and the hunting of demon beasts. ¡°Everyone has met, and I have said what I should say. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll get Sixth Junior Brother to send you back.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll take my leave. Sixth Senior Brother, please escort me down the mountain. ¡± ¡°Follow me.¡± Du Nanfeng led Zhang Chen out. After the two of them walked away, Fourth Senior Brother Xu Zhenling asked with some confusion, ¡°Senior Brother, why are you so concerned about Seventh Junior Brother?¡± Hearing this, the other two also looked puzzled. When they were promoted, Eldest Senior Brother did not explain everything to them one by one so patiently. Hong Longguang smiled. ¡°Logically speaking, Zhang Chen should have become a disciple of Elder Blood Flame, but he became a disciple of Master. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s strange?¡± Everyone nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a little strange.¡± ¡°Zhang Chen has only just reached the Foundation Establishment realm. It¡¯s impossible for him to influence the decisions of the sect master and elders. Therefore, Master must have taken a fancy to Zhang Chen and asked for him. ¡°Since Master has taken a fancy to him, it means that Zhang Chen must be extraordinary. I naturally have to be on good terms with him,¡± Hong Longguang explained. ¡°I see.¡± The few of them were enlightened. ¡°By the way, Eldest Senior Brother, you¡¯ve been stuck at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm for almost a hundred years. Are you still not confident to break through to the Golden Core stage?¡± Dong Fengzhen, the second senior sister, asked. ¡°I still have decades of life left. I¡¯ll accumulate more foundation and take my time,¡± Hong Longguang replied, saying he wasn¡¯t in a hurry, but there was a hint of gloom on his face. Did he not want to break through to the Golden Core stage? He did, but he was afraid! Several disciples who had broken through to the Golden Core stage before had disappeared, and the sect¡¯s explanation was that they had been sent on missions. But they still hadn¡¯t returned. Hong Longguang was deeply suspicious and afraid of this, so he hesitated to take this step. Seeing this, Dong Fengzhen stopped asking. Back in his cave, Zhang Chen resumed his days of hard cultivation. After mastering the Blood Shadow Substitute, he switched to another spell called the Blood Refining Scripture. The Blood Refining Scripture was also one of the core spells of the Blood God Sect. It not only increased the speed of refining blood but also allowed one to devour refined blood in battle. Once perfected, one could instantly refine the blood of those of lower realms than oneself. In addition to its strong life-saving ability, the Blood God Sect was also skilled in enduring battles and group battles, relying on the Blood Refining Scripture to constantly absorb refined blood in battle and sustain themselves. Therefore, this spell had to be learned, but it still had its side effects. Zhang Chen stuck the technique¡¯s jade slip on his forehead, and the voice of the modifier immediately sounded. [Detecting the technique ¡®Blood Refining Scripture,¡¯ which can devour refined blood in battle and speed up the refining process.] [Side effects: More susceptible to the residual effects of blood, becoming bloodthirsty, murderous, and insane.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] The combination of this side effect and the side effects of the Blood Nerve Technique makes it difficult to be normal! he thought. The Blood God Sect was once glorious and was one of the top magic sects. However, the members of the Blood God Sect were mentally abnormal, often causing disasters of blood demons and chaos in the cultivation world. In the end, they were besieged by the orthodox sects and reduced to a mediocre sect with only one Nascent Soul realm member. The previous sect master had caused the blood demon calamity. Now, he was still suppressed by the orthodox sects. This was one of the reasons why the higher-ups of the Blood God Sect treated their disciples like pigs. They wanted to improve their cultivation, but didn¡¯t want their mental state to be affected by the demonic blood, so they had to drink the blood essence of their disciples. However, this was not what he should be concerned about. Zhang Chen cleared his thoughts and began to practice the Blood Refining Scripture. The Blood Refining Scripture required the use of mana to construct a mana grinding disc inside the body that could operate automatically. As long as the blood entered the body, it would be refined. In this way, he could also refine his blood in battle and not have to divert his attention to circulate his magic power. Although he had a modifier that could ignore the side effects of cultivation techniques, Zhang Chen¡¯s comprehension ability was only average and he had to rely on diligent practice to make up for his lack of talent. Compared to other disciples, he didn¡¯t lack refined blood or suffer from side effects, which gave him the advantage of continuous practice. After a month and a half, Zhang Chen finally mastered the Blood Refining Scripture and constructed a mana grinding disc inside his body that could operate automatically. ¡°Let¡¯s try it out.¡± Zhang Chen swallowed a drop of demon blood without actively refining it. As the mana grinding disc operated, the demonic blood was gradually refined, but only at a rate of 1/20 of what he could achieve with active refining. ¡°I need to continue practicing and speed up the operation of the Blood Refining Scripture.¡± Zhang Chen was not satisfied and continued to practice with his eyes closed. In the blink of an eye, a new year arrived. As most of the outer sect disciples had been sacrificed in the blood ritual, the internal sect competition was canceled this year. Otherwise, Zhang Chen would have appeared in front of the inner and outer sect disciples as a judge, just like Li Mumin. On the 10th day of the Lunar New Year, Zhang Chen walked out of the cave abode and prepared to attend the direct disciple gathering. He had learned from Hong Longguang that the direct disciple gathering was actually a trading event where resources were exchanged among each other. Zhang Chen didn¡¯t plan to buy anything. He mainly wanted to broaden his horizons and experience the atmosphere.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Chapter 62: Direct Disciple Gathering Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Zhang Chen activated the Blood Escape Technique and turned into a streak of blood light flying towards the gathering location. On the way, he saw several other streaks of blood flying in the same direction, likely other disciples of the clan who were also attending the gathering. Underneath a massive mountain peak, Zhang Chen¡¯s form emerged as he landed There were dozens of other disciples around him, all wearing the traditional garb of direct disciples. Despite their imposing presence, they were all engaged in activities that were akin to those of merchants. ¡°Selling a middle-grade magic sword, interested parties can come find me to discuss.¡± ¡°I need a large quantity of blood essence, willing to trade with magic tools, spells, pills, or rare materials.¡± ¡°Selling a copy of a Buddhist scripture that can reduce the impact of demonic blood on the mind.¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s eyes narrowed as he spotted Hong Longguang and several other senior brothers and sisters among the crowd, so he took the initiative to greet them. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, Second Senior Sister, Fourth Senior Brother, Fifth Senior Brother, Sixth Senior Brother.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re here too, Seventh Junior Brother?¡± Hong Longguang, a kind and amiable old man, smiled at him. But Zhang Chen knew better than to be deceived by appearances. ¡°Yeah, I just came to join in the fun and broaden my horizons.¡± Hong Longguang nodded. ¡°We¡¯re going to have some friendly sparring matches. Why don¡¯t you come along with us, Seventh Junior Brother, and gain some experience?¡± ¡°Sparring matches?¡± Zhang Chen was a little puzzled. ¡°We, the disciples who were personally taught by the master, had conflicting interests, and we resolved them through fighting. The loser had to give up their interests,¡± Hong Longguang explained. ¡°I see. Senior Brother, may I ask what interests are in conflict this time?¡± ¡°The elders each manage different resources, but mostly let their subordinates handle them. We are in charge of managing the Beast Garden for our master. Recently, there has been a greater demand for Foundation Establishment demon blood in the Alchemy House, supposedly to refine new pills. They want us to provide more Foundation Establishment demon blood from the Beast Garden. However, there is no order from the sect, so it¡¯s a private request from them. Naturally, we didn¡¯t want to comply, and we argued for months. Finally, we decided to settle it with a fight.¡± After hearing Hong Longguang¡¯s words, Zhang Chen immediately thought that this matter should have something to do with him. The way he obtained the Foundation Establishment demon blood was through the Alchemy House. The Alchemy House sold a large amount of Foundation Establishment demon blood to him, and naturally asked the Beast Garden for more to fill the gap. He didn¡¯t expect that this would cause a conflict between the two factions. Zhang Chen followed the group and arrived at the nearby arena. There was already a group of people waiting here. Leading them was a middle-aged man at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm. ¡°Senior Brother Hong, let¡¯s each send a junior brother of similar cultivation level to fight. ¡°If you lose, I¡¯ll increase the distribution of Foundation Establishment demon blood by 20 percent. If I lose, I¡¯ll give you 20 percent of the pill distribution.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll do as you say, Junior Brother Gu.¡± Hong Longguang agreed. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, let me go this time.¡± The person who spoke was the fourth senior brother at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment, Xu Zhenling. Hong Longguang nodded and said to the opposite side, ¡°We¡¯ll each send a junior brother at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment to fight.¡± ¡°No problem. Next, we¡¯ll wait for Chief Eldest Senior Brother to come and witness our agreement on both sides.¡± The other side agreed readily. The Chief Eldest Senior Brother was the eldest disciple of the sect. The position of Chief Eldest Senior Brother was not fixed. All ninth level Foundation Establishment cultivators could compete for it. Every 10 years, a competition would be held to compete for the position of Chief Eldest Senior Brother. ¡°The Alchemy House and the Beast Garden are going to fight. Let¡¯s go and watch!¡± Many direct disciples noticed the situation here and came over to join in the fun. ¡°Is anyone taking bets?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it. I bet on the Alchemy House winning, 1:1. I bet on the Beast Garden winning, 1:3.¡± ¡°Do you accept spirit stones?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll accept spirit stones, magic tools, and spell manuals, but I¡¯ll evaluate them and compensate you with blood essence.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll bet 100 spirit stones on the Alchemy House winning.¡± From the odds, it was clear that the crowd favored the Alchemy House. This was because practitioners of the Alchemy House could use various medicinal pills to speed up their cultivation or reduce the side effects of their cultivation techniques. Not long after, a handsome and wicked-looking youth with a slightly red mark on his forehead landed on the stage amidst a flash of blood. ¡°Chief Senior Brother.¡± Everyone quickly bowed in respect. The chief disciple looked indifferent as he looked at Hong Longguang and the direct disciple from the Gu Family. ¡°Are you two sure about this contest?¡± ¡°Please serve as the notary public, Senior Brother,¡± Hong Longguang said with a bow. The chief said plainly, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll serve as the notary public. As usual, no matter who wins, I will take 10 percent of the winner¡¯s gains.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Hong Longguang and the other man agreed. ¡°Good. Now, send your representatives to the stage.¡± Xu Zhenling jumped onto the arena. On the other side, a sixth-level Foundation Establishment direct disciple also went on stage. ¡°Xu Zhenling, fourth disciple of Elder Blood River.¡± ¡°Fifth disciple of Elder Blood Flame, Cheng Baosheng.¡± After introducing themselves, the chief disciple waved his hand and four small flags flew out and landed at the four corners of the stage. He then made a hand gesture. ¡°Array, activate!¡± The flags emitted a bright light, forming a barrier that enveloped the entire stage. ¡°The contest begins!¡± The chief disciple announced before leaving the stage. ¡°Kill!¡± Xu Zhenling suddenly burst forth with a tremendous killing intent and drew his sword. A grayish-red sword beam condensed from his killing intent rushed towards his opponent. Cheng Baosheng responded by slapping his hand, creating a huge blood-colored palm print that exuded a stunning heat. ¡°Boom!¡± The two forces collided, unleashing a raging gust of wind and sand. And this was just a probing attack. The spectators below began to discuss and speculate. ¡°It seems like Xu Zhenling is using the Killing Demon Scripture. The more he kills, the stronger he becomes. Without strong willpower, he will easily fall into a killing spree. Judging by the level of his sword energy, he must have killed tens of thousands of living beings.¡± ¡°No wonder his killing intent is so strong. Cheng Baosheng, on the other hand, seems to be using the Blood Boiling Scripture. ¡°That¡¯s right. The Blood Boiling Scripture can absorb heat and fire poison. His blood is like boiling water, and he has no fear of flames. They have a unique advantage in cultivating this method in the Alchemy House, but they have to endure the pain of boiling blood every once in a while.¡± ¡°Who do you think will win?¡± ¡°I think Cheng Baosheng has a better chance of winning. He has already integrated heat and poison into his blood, while Xu Zhenling¡¯s blood has no such attributes.¡± Listening to the discussions around him, Zhang Chen gained a lot of insight. ¡°Kill! Kill! Kill!¡­ On the stage, Xu Zhenling slashed dozens of swords in an instant, creating a gray-red sword web that blocked all of Cheng Baosheng¡¯s retreat paths. Zhang Chen realized that Xu Zhenling had used the Blood Burst Technique to enhance his arms, allowing him to slash dozens of swords in an instant. Cheng Baosheng opened both hands, and blood overflowed from his body, forming a blood curtain that enveloped him.. Unlike ordinary blood, his blood was like boiling water, constantly boiling and emitting a stunning heat. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Streaks of grayish-red sword light slashed at the blood curtain. Although the blood curtain was sturdy, it could not withstand so many sword lights. ¡°Pfft, pfft, pfft!¡± The blood curtain shattered, and three sword beams landed on Cheng Baosheng, instantly cutting him into three pieces. However, Cheng Baosheng¡¯s expression was very calm. Blood Body Undying Attribute activated! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Determining Victory or Defeat Chapter 63: Determining Victory or Defeat Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Cheng Baosheng¡¯s whole body turned into blood, then reassembled and condensed into human form. However, gray death energy entwined around his wounds, preventing the blood from merging. Seeing this scene, the corners of Xu Zhenling¡¯s mouth curled up. This was his confidence when he whe recovery ability of the blood body, he had As Cheng Baosheng¡¯s blood body was about to collapse again, the blood suddenly began to boil, emitting steam and rapidly raising the temperature around him. ¡°Plop, plop, plop, plop¡­ Under this high temperature, the death energy quickly dissipated, and the blood reassembled and recovered. The smile on Xu Zhenling¡¯s face disappeared, replaced with a solemn expression. He used Blood Burst Technique to enhance his arm and wildly swung his sword, unleashing a gray-red sword aura. Facing the overwhelming sword aura, Cheng Baosheng remained calm and composed. He suddenly exploded before the sword aura could reach him. ¡°Boom!¡± A huge impact shook the ground and dispersed the sword aura, causing the formation light to flicker. The chief disciple hurriedly used his magic power to stabilize the array and prevent it from collapsing. Meanwhile, Cheng Baosheng¡¯s self-destruction produced blood splatters that were like sharp arrows, covering the entire arena. ¡°Pfft, pfft, pfft¡­ Xu Zhenling was immediately shot through by the blood splatters, and his body was riddled with wounds. Not only that, but his whole body began to turn red and blister, as if scalded by boiling water. Xu Zhenling tried to repair his wounds, but his body was incredibly hot, and he felt like he was about to ignite. Instead of healing, his pierced body began to melt like a lit candle. The burning was not only on his body, but also on his consciousness, and Xu Zhenling couldn¡¯t help but scream. He was poisoned by fire! After the attributes merged into his blood, it became the strongest attack method. In addition, with Cheng Baosheng¡¯s self-explosion, blood mist filled the air and the scorching heat and poison in his blood were released. The arena, which was wrapped in a formation, turned into a sauna, and the temperature rapidly increased. Under this high temperature, Xu Zhenling¡¯s blood body began to boil like boiling water. However, he had never learned the Blood Boiling Scripture, and his blood could not withstand this temperature. His whole body showed signs of losing control, and he had to forcefully suppress it with his mana. The blood spilled by Cheng Baosheng¡¯s explosion on the ground seemed to be drawn together and began to reassemble and condense into his body. ¡°Cheng Baosheng is going to win,¡± the direct disciple watching from below the stage expressed his opinion. ¡°This is a strategy of self-injury and hurting the enemy a thousand times.¡± ¡°Cheng Baosheng relied on the undying characteristic of his blood body to use the Demon Disintegration Technique to self-destruct and dissolve the sword light. At the same time, he used his blood as an attack method to inflict severe burns and poison on Xu Zhenling.¡± ¡°He also used an array formation to turn the arena into a high-temperature environment that suited himself, further expanding his advantage and weakening the opponent.¡± ¡°Cheng Baosheng is using the restrictions of the arena to his advantage. It¡¯s not very sportsmanlike!¡± ¡°Right, if they were not on the stage, Xu Zhenling could still avoid it and withdraw from the high-temperature range, and there might be a chance for victory.¡± Hearing these conversations, Zhang Chen felt that he still did not have enough spells at his disposal. IfI have time, should I learn the Demon Disintegration Technique? It seems very useful. If he were on the stage, he would be in a difficult situation in the face of such circumstances. Hong Longguang, who had been smiling all along, had an unpleasant look on his face. His gaze returned to the stage, where Cheng Baosheng¡¯s body had already recondensed, but his breath was weak, and his body no longer emitted high temperature. Xu Zhenling¡¯s situation was even worse. In addition to the high temperature, he was also facing the continuous erosion of the fire poison in his body. In this situation of internal and external difficulties, he found it difficult to even mobilize his mana. He knew he was going to lose, but he still wanted to fight to the end. ¡°Thud¡­ Xu Zhenling forced all the fire poison in his body to his arm and slashed down with his sword. In other words, he gave up this part of his blood essence and cultivation. ¡°Plop, plop, plop, plop¡­ His severed arm fell to the ground and immediately turned into boiling blood, causing the jade stone floor of the arena to turn red-hot. Cheng Baosheng seemed to have anticipated this and reached out to grab the blood on the ground, sucking it into his body to refine it. ¡°Kill!¡± he shouted angrily, his whole body full of murderous intent, and the sword qi covered the sky. ¡°Boom!¡± Cheng Baosheng used the ¡®Demon Disintegration Technique¡¯ to self-destruct once again. ¡°Pfft, pfft, pfft¡­ Xu Zhenling¡¯s body was once again covered in wounds, broken and in a state of ruin. The presence of the fire poison not only prevented him from repairing his body, but also caused his injuries to continuously worsen. It was really difficult to deal with such a tactic of injuring the enemy at the cost of self-harm in the arena. Cheng Baosheng¡¯s body reformed. His breath became weaker but the smile on his face grew more intense. ¡°There¡¯s no need to continue. We admit defeat,¡± Hong Longguang said helplessly. ¡°Junior Brother, are you sure you want to admit defeat?¡± The chief disciple asked. ¡°We admit defeat.¡± Hong Longguang nodded. ¡°Alright, I announce that in this competition, the Alchemy House is the winner!¡± he declared. ¡°Senior Brother Hong, thank you for conceding!¡± The Eldest Senior Brother of the Alchemy House cupped his hands proudly. Hong Longguang said nothing. ¡°Junior Brother Gu, remember to exchange my share for blood essence later.¡± The chief disciple said to the Eldest Senior Brother of the Alchemy House before turning into a blood light and leaving. In the arena, the hot blood mist began to shrink, and Cheng Baosheng reabsorbed it into his body. Just like how steam condensed back into water after cooling, this blood mist could also turn back into blood. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, they¡­¡± Xu Zhenling looked resentful as he walked down the arena angrily. ¡°We may have lost the battle, but not the war. No need to say more, we lost this time, but we can win again in the future.¡± Hong Longguang shook his head. ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Zhenling hung his head in disappointment. For Zhang Chen, losing in the Beast Garden actually had its benefits. The Alchemy House could provide him with demon blood for cultivation, which might increase his strength. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Hong Longguang turned around and left with everyone. Although Zhang Chen still wanted to explore, he chose to follow them. After all, they had the same master, so he had to be more gregarious to prevent grudges from forming and estrangement from the group. After arriving at Hong Longguang¡¯s cave, they first scolded the Alchemy House for not playing fair, then began to discuss how to increase the distribution of demon blood by 20 percent. Zhang Chen had just been promoted and hadn¡¯t been assigned any duties in the Beast Garden, so he didn¡¯t participate. After leaving Hong Longguang¡¯s cave abode, Zhang Chen went to the Technique Exchange Pavilion and exchanged for the Demon Disintegration Technique. [Detected cultivation technique, Demon Disintegration Technique. It gathers all the blood and mana in the body and explodes with tremendous force, annihilating the enemy.] [Side effects: Each use will damage the soul, frequent usage in a short time may lead to soul dispersion.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] The Demon Disintegration Technique was indeed a perfect match for the undying blood body. However, although he wouldn¡¯t die, the consumption of the Demon Disintegration Technique¡± was very high, and each time it was used, at least one third of his mana would be lost. Zhang Chen¡¯s idea was to teach it to the Blood God Son, so that it could self-destruct when facing an enemy that couldn¡¯t be harmed, compensating for the Blood God Son¡¯s weakness in attack.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Master’s Summon Chapter 64: Master¡¯s Summon Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Three days after the Alchemy House won against the Beast Garden, Feng Wensheng brought up the topic of the demon blood, saying, ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, the senior brothers in the Alchemy House said they can provide more Foundation Establishment demon blood. Would you be interested?¡± Zhang Chen had already anticipated this and he asked calmly, ¡°How much Foundation Establishment demon blood can you provide every day?¡± ¡°Seven buckets.¡± ¡°Okay, from now on, send seven buckets of Foundation Establishment demon blood at this time every day.¡± After the agreement was made, Feng Wensheng left excitedly, and Zhang Chen returned to his cave to continue his cultivation. Sect missions and sect assessments had nothing to do with him. Time passed quickly during cultivation. Day after day, two years had passed. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, are you there?¡± Hearing the call, Zhang Chen stopped his cultivation and walked out of his cave. He saw an inner sect disciple and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, Elder Blood River said that the three-year period is up. He asked me to summon you over.¡± Zhang Chen was stunned for a moment, then remembered that when he became a disciple, Elder Blood River had told him to go to Blood River Peak after three years. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Watching the inner sect disciple leave, Zhang Chen sighed with emotion. ¡°Time flies. Three years have passed without me realizing it.¡± He had been very comfortable during these three years, and if he could, he would have continued like this. Unfortunately, the sect only gave them three years to stabilize their cultivation. Then, Zhang Chen frowned. ¡°It¡¯s only been exactly three years, and my master is already summoning me. It seems like he really cares about me.¡± He had considered escaping from Blood God Sect. However, although Foundation Establishment cultivators would no longer be cursed, he needed to leave a wisp of his divine sense before leaving the sect to facilitate the sect¡¯s search and confirm his life and death. Unless he could evade the sect¡¯s search, or become powerful enough to not fear Blood God Sect¡¯s pursuit. In the past three years, he went to the Technique Exchange Pavilion every few months to exchange for a new spell to make himself stronger. If he really found a way to escape, he would not have so many spells to learn after becoming an itinerant cultivator. ¡°I can¡¯t avoid it. I have to go.¡± Zhang Chen sighed helplessly and turned into a blood light that flew towards Blood River Peak. Blood River Peak was actually a mountain range surrounded by a river of blood. From far away in the sky, one could see courtyards and pavilions in the mountains. In the place where the elders lived, there was a formation naturally existing. Zhang Chen arrived at the corner of the mountain and bowed, saying, ¡°Disciple Zhang Chen seeks an audience with Master.¡± A huge and ferocious bat, emitting the aura of the fifth level of Qi condensation, flew out of the mountain and transformed into a rebellious young man upon landing. The young man examined Zhang Chen. ¡°You¡¯re Zhang Chen? Master instructed me to take you to the cave abode.¡± ¡°Thank you for leading the way, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen was polite and calm, showing no intention of befriending him. ¡°Follow me.¡± The young man turned around arrogantly and walked up the mountain. Arriving at the huge cave abode on the mountainside, Zhang Chen saw Elder Blood River sitting cross-legged. ¡°Master, Zhang Chen is here.¡± The young man was very respectful to Elder Blood River. Zhang Chen bowed and said. ¡°Greetings. Master.¡± ¡°Ah Bat, you may leave.¡± Elder Blood River waved his hand. ¡°Yes.¡± The young man retreated. Elder Blood River first sized up Zhang Chen before saying, ¡°Since I¡¯m your master, I naturally have to teach you something.¡± As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a jade slip floated in front of Zhang Chen. ¡°This is the ¡®Blood Demon Technique¡¯. It condenses the blood¡¯s demonic energy, allowing you to attack while detached from your body, as well as defend by surrounding yourself with it. It is both offensive and defensive. You must practice diligently. Later, I will evaluate your progress. If you satisfy me, there will be great rewards.¡± ¡°Thank you for the technique, Master. I will definitely master it as soon as possible.¡± Zhang Chen bowed and received the jade slip. Elder Blood River nodded. ¡°I¡¯m in charge of the Beast Garden. I have disciples to help me manage it. As my disciple, you are no exception. ¡°Your Third Senior Brother isn¡¯t around, so you will temporarily take his place. When he returns, I will make other arrangements. For specific details, ask your senior brothers and sisters.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Zhang Chen agreed. ¡°In half a year, I will test the progress of your Blood Devouring Demon Technique. You can go back now.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Looking at Zhang Chen¡¯s departing figure, Elder Blood River had an inexplicable expression. During the inner sect competition, he could tell that Zhang Chen was not affected by the crazy atmosphere of the Mad Blood Saber Technique. He guessed that he had a special physique or a treasure that could resist madness. But he didn¡¯t think too much about it at the time, and it wasn¡¯t until two years later when Zhang Chen reached Foundation Establishment that he caught his attention once again. His cultivation improved so quickly, and coupled with his immunity to the effects of the madness atmosphere, Elder Blood River had some ideas and took Zhang Chen as his disciple. The ¡®Blood Devouring Demon Technique¡¯ given this time would severely affect Zhang Chen¡¯s mental state after cultivation, but Elder Blood River didn¡¯t say anything and urged him to cultivate it to verify his speculation. Zhang Chen left Blood River Peak and went straight to the Beast Garden. Most of the demon blood in Blood God Sect came from the Beast Garden. Whoever controlled the Beast Garden controlled the source of demon blood. By sharing the affairs of the Beast Garden, he could naturally gain benefits from it. Perhaps in the future, he would no longer have to exchange demon blood with others. ¡°Senior Brother, do you have any instructions?¡± Arriving at the Beast Garden, Zhang Chen found that the registration disciple was not the usual person. ¡°Where is Wang Zhengang?¡± ¡°Senior Brother Wang has been promoted to the inner sect. You can tell me if you need anything.¡± The registration disciple had a fawning expression. Three years ago, Wang Zhengang was already at the seventh level of Qi Refinement. It was normal for him to advance to the inner sect. Zhang Chen continued to ask, ¡°Who is the senior brother in charge of the Beast Garden now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Zhou Xuewu, Senior Brother Zhou.¡± It was Fifth Senior Brother. Zhang Chen nodded slightly. ¡°Go and inform Senior Brother Zhou that Seventh Junior Brother Zhang Chen is here to visit.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, wait a moment. I¡¯ll get someone to report it now.¡± The registration disciple immediately turned around and instructed a guard disciple. Not long after, a blood light flew over from the beast mountain. It was Zhou Xuewu. ¡°Seventh Junior Brother, is there something you need?¡± ¡°What are the affairs and benefits for us senior brothers in the Beast Garden?¡± Zhang Chen asked in response. The cake of the Beast Garden was only so big, and his joining would inevitably dilute his senior brothers¡¯ interests. Therefore, he did not mention taking over. Instead, he was prepared to ask about the allocation of affairs and benefits before he joined. Although Zhou Xuewu was suspicious, he still answered, ¡°Our affairs are the same, taking turns to guard the Beast Garden to prevent any monsters from escaping, and checking and maintaining the formation. The other small matters are handled by the disciples below.¡± ¡°What benefits can we get?¡± Zhang Chen continued to inquire. Zhou Xuewu frowned slightly, feeling that Zhang Chen seemed to want to intervene in the Beast Garden¡¯s tasks. This was inevitable, but they wouldn¡¯t let Zhang Chen participate until the Master spoke. However, there was nothing that could not be said. ¡°The cost of taking care of the demon beasts, unowned demon beasts, and the commission deducted when taking blood for the sect¡¯s tasks.¡± ¡°How do we split these benefits?¡± ¡°First Senior Brother gets 30%, Second Senior Sister gets 20%, Third Senior Brother gets 20%, Fourth Senior Brother gets 15%, I get 10%, and Sixth Junior Brother gets 5%. If you join, the benefits will be redistributed, but no more than 50%.¡± ¡°I just came from the Master¡¯s place. He said that Third Senior Brother is not in the sect and asked me to take over his affairs first.¡± Zhang Chen finally explained his purpose.. Zhou Xuewu¡¯s expression changed slightly. He did not understand Elder Blood River¡¯s arrangement. Previously, when he participated in the Beast Garden¡¯s affairs, his master said that he would look for Eldest Senior Brother to make arrangements, but he said to Zhang Chen that he would replace Third Senior Brother. Did that mean that Third Senior Brother¡¯s benefits were also given to Zhang Chen? Zhou Xuewu could not guess what Elder Blood River was thinking. He hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°Since Master ordered it, I¡¯ll leave Third Senior Brother¡¯s matters to you. The order of the mission and the distribution of benefits still need to be discussed with Eldest Senior Brother and the others..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Beast Garden Affairs Chapter 65: Beast Garden Affairs Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go find Eldest Senior Brother. I won¡¯t disturb Fifth Senior Brother anymore.¡± Zhou Xuewu watched as Zhang Chen disappeared in a flash of blood and muttered to himself, ¡°Could it be that Master is planning to give Zhang Chen the benefits of Third Senior Brother? If that¡¯s the case, at least my benefits won¡¯t be reduced.¡± Zhang Chen went to the cave of his eldest senior brother, Hong Longguang, and explained the matter of taking over Third Senior Brother¡¯s affairs again. However, Hong Longguang did not immediately respond, but instead wanted to notify the others to discuss it together before giving Zhang Chen an answer. Back in his own cave, Zhang Chen took out the jade slip given to him by Patriarch Blood River. After hesitating for a moment, he placed the jade slip on his forehead. [Detected cultivation technique, Blood Devouring Demon Technique. Condensing baleful aura in blood, it can leave the body to attack or surround the body to resist attacks. It is both offensive and defensive.] [Side effects: If you learn this technique, you will be affected by the murderous aura and become extremely irritable.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] Zhang Chen frowned. The effect was indeed the same as what Elder Blood River had said, but the side effects were not mentioned at all by the patriarch or in the jade slip. ¡°Was this cultivation technique intentionally given to me, or is it a coincidence?¡± Zhang Chen did not know that Elder Blood River had noticed that he was not affected by the influence of the madness, but the side effect of the blood body controlling possession made him wary of the high-level members of the Blood God Sect from the beginning. In addition, Elder Blood River had used three spots for accepting disciples to exchange for him and bestowed him with a top-grade magical weapon. He had been too attentive to get someone to inform him immediately when three years were up. In this kind of environment, Zhang Chen had to use the greatest malice to speculate. If he weren¡¯t worried, this Blood Devouring Demon Technique would indeed be excellent. On the other side, in Hong Longguang¡¯s cave, Zhang Chen¡¯s several senior brothers had gathered. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, did you call us here for something?¡± Du Nanfeng was puzzled. ¡°Two hours ago, Seventh Junior Brother came to me and said that Master asked him to take over Third Junior Brother¡¯s affairs in the Beast Garden.¡± ¡°Take over Third Senior Brother¡¯s affairs? Why take over? Third Senior Brother should be back in a few months, right?¡± Du Nanfeng was full of confusion. ¡°With my understanding of Master, Master wants Seventh Junior Brother to take over Third Junior Brother¡¯s gains in the Beast Garden.¡± Hong Longguang felt conflicted. He didn¡¯t understand why his master made such a decision. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, what about Third Senior Brother? With his personality, he¡¯s bound to make trouble for Seventh Junior Brother,¡± Du Nanfeng said in surprise. ¡°That¡¯s the problem. That¡¯s why we¡¯re here to discuss whether to let Seventh Junior Brother take over Third Junior Brother¡¯s share or redistribute our respective shares.¡± Du Nanfeng looked at the group. After a moment of silence, Zhou Xuewu said, ¡°Since Master¡¯s intention is for Seventh Junior Brother to take over Third Junior Brother¡¯s benefits in the Beast Garden, let¡¯s follow Master¡¯s orders.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± several people agreed one after another. If they redistributed the shares, with the addition of Zhang Chen, their shares would decrease. If they let Zhang Chen take over, they would not lose anything. When the time came, the conflict between the two of them would have nothing to do with them. After all, it was difficult to defy their master¡¯s order, and they were only following it. ¡°Then let Seventh Junior Brother take over Third Junior Brother¡¯s gains in the Beast Garden.¡± Hong Longguang nodded. The next day, Zhang Chen was very surprised to learn about the situation. He never thought he could take over Third Senior Brother¡¯s profits. He had self-awareness and did not think that a newly-promoted disciple could take over his third senior brother¡¯s huge benefits. Initially, he only thought that it was fine as long as he could obtain benefits. ¡°In that case, wouldn¡¯t I have offended Third Senior Brother?¡± Zhang Chen also realized the problem, but he couldn¡¯t just give up on the benefits he had obtained. Moreover, this was decided by Elder Blood River and those senior brothers. Three months later, in the Beast Garden. Zhang Chen sat cross-legged in a cave abode at the top of the mountain. Not far away was a blood pool. A red bead floated above the blood pool, constantly absorbing the blood in the pool. This was the center of the Beast Garden¡¯s array formation. If something went wrong, all the demon beasts would run out. He had been involved in the affairs of the Beast Garden for 10 days, mainly to watch over the operation of the array formation and extract blood for Foundation Establishment demon beasts. Foundation Establishment demon beasts were powerful. Even if they were bound by the array formation, they were not something ordinary Qi Refinement disciples could approach. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, the Alchemy House wants five bottles of Foundation Establishment demon blood.¡± Outside the cave abode, a disciple from the Beast Garden came to report. The bottles he mentioned were blood storage bottles. ¡°I know.¡± Zhang Chen went outside the cave, took the blood storage bottles and walked towards the cave where the Foundation Establishment demon beasts were imprisoned. Compared to the cave where the Qi Refinement demon beasts were imprisoned, the cave where the Foundation Establishment demon beasts were imprisoned was abnormally quiet. Only the majestic aura kept emanating from the cave, which could suffocate those in the Qi Refinement period and give people a sense of danger, making them want to keep away. Zhang Chen remained calm and walked into the cave. ¡°Little brother, do you think I¡¯m beautiful?¡± In the nearby chamber, a graceful and charming woman looked at Zhang Chen with a mixture of pitifulness and expectation. Zhang Chen was unmoved and took out the array formation token. The woman glanced at the array formation token, took off her clothes, and said seductively, ¡°Little Brother, as long as you let me out, I¡¯ll do whatever you want.¡± Zhang Chen remained indifferent because this was an illusion. In his spiritual eyes, the stunning beauty in the stone chamber was nothing but a giant fox with coquettish moves. By infusing his mana into the formation plate, chains of blood shackles bound the fox¡¯s limbs in a cross shape. This posture was even more alluring. Her figure could be seen clearly. In the illusion, the woman looked like she wanted to reject him but did not want to. Not many men could resist her seduction. Unfortunately, illusions of this level were useless against Zhang Chen. In his eyes, she was just a big fox. The fox demon didn¡¯t know that she was wasting her effort and continued to seduce and entice him, crying and acting pitifully. ¡°Are you really that heartless?¡± Her tone and demeanor made it seem like Zhang Chen was a heartless man who had abandoned her. Zhang Chen was expressionless. He took out the Mad Blood Saber and cut the fox demon¡¯s skin, using the blood storage bottle to absorb the demon blood. As the blood flowed out, the woman¡¯s face turned pale. She looked at Zhang Chen with despair and innocence. ¡°I¡¯m about to die. Before I die, can you let me see the outside world?¡± As she spoke, she even shed tears. Zhang Chen was speechless. This fox demon really had many tricks up her sleeve. If seduction didn¡¯t work, she would act pitiful and innocent. Ignoring her request, Zhang Chen finished taking her blood, reactivated the formation barrier, and walked towards the next stone chamber. The fox demon still didn¡¯t give up and lay weakly on the ground, reaching out her hand. ¡°Big brother, don¡¯t leave me. It¡¯s cold and dark here, and I¡¯m so scared. Stay with me.¡± Zhang Chen stopped in his tracks. The fox demon saw this and was overjoyed. Zhang Chen turned around and smiled. ¡°Then I¡¯ll come back tomorrow to take your blood.¡± The fox demon¡¯s body stiffened, and she cursed loudly, ¡°Are you a man? Are you a eunuch? You heartless person!¡± Zhang Chen ignored the drama queen fox demon and came to the second stone chamber. A Foundation Establishment stage tiger demon was being held captive here. Its lantern-sized eyes were staring at Zhang Chen covetously. Its ferocious gaze and imposing predatory aura would scare the timid.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Leaving the Sect to Pursue the Enemy Chapter 66: Leaving the Sect to Pursue the Enemy Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The tiger demon did not roar or attack. It just stared fixedly at Zhang Chen. As the saying goes, a biting dog doesn¡¯t bark, and a tiger doesn¡¯t roar when it hunts. Zhang Chen infused his mana into the formation plate, and one by one, the blood chains bound the tiger demon tightly, not even letting it open its mouth. But as Zhang Chen entered the stone chamber, dozens of ghosts crawled out of the tiger demon¡¯s body and pounced towards Zhang Chen. These were the vengeful spirits of people eaten by the tiger demon. Among them, three of the vengeful spirits emitted a qi cultivation strength of the seventh level. Zhang Chen¡¯s eyes turned cold, and he slashed out with his sword. As blood light flashed, all the vengeful spirits let out a mournful scream, and their souls scattered. The annihilation of the vengeful spirits also affected the tiger demon, as if it had been drained of its vitality and lost its previous momentum and luster. Zhang Chen slashed through the tiger skin and continued to draw blood. Every Foundation Establishment demon beast had its own innate abilities, so he couldn¡¯t be careless and let his guard down. Without spending too much time, he filled up five blood storage bottles. After handing the blood storage bottle to a disciple of the Beast Garden, Zhang Chen returned to the cave abode at the center of the array formation and meditated. Since taking over the affairs of the third senior brother¡¯s Beast Garden, he had obtained a large amount of demon blood, enough for him to devour. However, the deal with the Alchemy House had not been cut off. Who knows if the split of the Beast Garden¡¯s profits will disappear when Third Senior Brother returns? I should stock up on more demon blood while I can. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, a demon beast at the ninth level of Qi Refinement killed a disciple who was collecting blood and ran out of the stone chamber!¡± Zhang Chen had not cultivated for long when a disciple of the Beast Garden rushed over. ¡°Which cave?¡± Zhang Chen used the Blood Burst Technique and instantly arrived outside the cave abode. ¡°Cave 43.¡± Zhang Chen immediately transformed into a blood light and flew towards cave 43. ¡°Roar!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go forward and fight it head-on. Just surround and harass it, and keep it from running away!¡± Zhang Chen hadn¡¯t arrived yet, but he could already hear the roar of the demon beast and the anxious cries of the disciples of the Beast Garden. ¡°That¡¯s great, our senior brother is here!¡± When they saw the blood light flying towards them, the crowd breathed a sigh of relief and cheered. Zhang Chen stood in the air and observed the situation below. Five sixth-level Qi Refinement Beast Garden disciples surrounded a lion demon at the ninth-level Qi Refinement stage and kept using long-range blood consumption to drain its energy. If the lion demon hadn¡¯t been extremely weak, the five of them might not have been able to stop it. Zhang Chen struck out in the void, and a huge palm condensed from blood killing qi landed on the lion demon. ¡°Roar! ¡± Sensing danger, the lion demon let out a deafening roar. Waves of sound spread out , trying to shake off the giant hand. But the gap between the two sides was simply too great. ¡°Boom!¡± The roar stopped abruptly as a huge palm print appeared on the ground. The lion demon was covered in blood, its breath hanging by a thread. ¡°You guys did well. Lock the lion demon up again,¡± Zhang Chen ordered before turning and disappearing in a flash of blood. ¡°Yes, Senior Brother.¡± A few Beast Garden disciples hurried forward and dragged the lion demon back into the cave. After that, Zhang Chen did not encounter any trouble. Every day, he meditated in the cave abode at the center of the array formation, using demon blood to build his Foundation Establishment demon blood. The affairs of the Beast Garden were generally handled by one person for a month, and the senior brothers took turns to handle them. But on the 20th day, Wang Zhengang arrived at the Beast Garden. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, Xu Yixian, the one you asked me to keep an eye on, has just accepted an inner sect mission,¡± he reported. ¡°Finally willing to leave the sect!¡± Zhang Chen smiled coldly. Back then, there were three people who had secretly investigated him: Zhou Wenting, Jiang Xianghong, and Xu Yixian. Among them, Zhou Wenting and Jiang Xianghong had already died at his hands, leaving only Xu Yixian. But in the past few years, Xu Yixian had been staying in the sect and never went out, and Zhang Chen could not find an opportunity to take action. So he could only have Wang Zhengang keep an eye on him. Once Xu Yi received the sect mission and wanted to leave the sect, he would immediately inform him. ¡°Has he left the sect yet?¡± Zhang Chen asked. ¡°Xu Yixian left as soon as he accepted the mission.¡± The inner sect disciples¡¯ sect missions were to capture demons and beasts. Even if Xu Yixian had left the sect, it didn¡¯t matter as long as he waited on the must-pass road back to the sect. Under Wang Zhengang¡¯s horrified gaze, two blood shadows flew out of Zhang Chen¡¯s bodv and landed on the ground. turning into Blood Gods without skin and covered in blood. Zhang Chen continued, ¡°I need to leave the sect for a while. Help me deal with matters in the Beast Garden during this period of time. These two Blood Gods will help you.¡± ¡°Senior¡­ Senior Brother, don¡¯t worry. I will definitely do a good job.¡± Wang Zhengang looked at the two Blood Gods in fear. He could sense that these two Blood Gods were at the ninth level of Qi Refinement and were even stronger than him. Without further ado, Zhang Chen turned into a blood light and flew towards the Internal Affairs Hall. Direct disciples could leave the sect for a year when they did not have a mission, but they had to report it and leave a wisp of divine sense. If they did not return within the specified time, the sect would send someone to look for them. When Zhang Chen arrived at the Internal Affairs Hall, he didn¡¯t need to wait in line. Inner and outer sect disciples were wise enough to step aside and let him pass. ¡°Thank you, junior brothers.¡± Zhang Chen cupped his hands and thanked them. ¡°Senior Brother, you¡¯re too polite.¡± Everyone was flattered. ¡°Senior Brother, do you have any orders?¡± The Internal Affairs disciple respectfully asked. ¡°I have some matters to attend to and need to leave the sect for three months. Junior Brother, please register me.¡± Zhang Chen handed over his identity token. ¡°Senior Brother, please wait a moment. I¡¯ll register it for you now.¡± After a while, the Internal Affairs disciple handed over another pearl. ¡°This is the God-fearing Pearl. I need Senior Brother to leave a strand of spiritual will behind.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhang Chen took it and left a strand of divine consciousness. Seeing a phantom black line appearing in the Sending Spirit Bead, the internal affairs disciple handed him another item. ¡°This is Senior Brother¡¯s proof of leaving the sect. If you encounter danger, infuse your mana into the token, and the sect will be informed.¡± ¡°Thanks a lot.¡± ¡°Take care, Senior Brother.¡± Using the privilege of being a direct disciple, Zhang Chen quickly registered and turned into blood light, flying towards the mountain gate. The blood light landed under the sect plaque. Guarding the exit was a ninth-level Foundation Building direct disciple. When he saw Zhang Chen, he asked, ¡°Junior Brother, are you leaving the sect?¡± ¡°Yes, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen cupped his hands in response. ¡°Have you registered?¡± ¡°I have registered, and this is my proof of leaving the sect.¡± Zhang Chen took out the token. The personal disciple nodded. ¡°Please go ahead, Junior Brother.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen cupped his hands and walked out. This was the first time he had left the sect as a Foundation Establishment disciple. On the other side, Xu Yixian had already left the sect two hours ago. The reason why he dared to leave the sect was because he had found out that Li Mumin had been assigned a sect mission a few days ago and had left the sect. He had also heard that Zhang Chen was handling affairs in the Beast Garden. This time, his main goal was not to capture demon beasts and complete the sect mission, but to attack his fellow disciples, obtain their blood essence, and then reach the Foundation Establishment realm. He couldn¡¯t rely on others, and only by reaching the Foundation Establishment realm and becoming a direct disciple could he survive. He had begged direct disciple Wen Xiaosu to shelter him before, but he didn¡¯t know if he really did. All he knew was that he was greedy and had been exploiting him all this time. If he continued to be exploited, he wouldn¡¯t even maintain his current cultivation level, let alone reach the Foundation Establishment realm. This was also the reason why he was desperate to reach the Foundation Establishment realm and took the risk of leaving the sect. Only by hunting fellow disciples and obtaining their blood essence could there be hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment realm.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Resolving Future Troubles Chapter 67: Resolving Future Troubles Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Upon seeing two Inner Sect disciples at the seventh level of Qi Refinement in front of him, Xu Yixian felt like he had spotted prey. He had been keeping an eye on these two ever since he was in the Internal Affairs Hall. They had been following him out of the sect, and now that they were far enough away from the sect, he could make his move. As a senior disciple at the ninth level of Qi Refinement and one of Blood God Sect¡¯s most promising inner sect disciples for Foundation Establishment, dealing with two seventh-level cultivators who didn¡¯t know many spells was as easy as taking candy from a baby. Xu Yi quickly approached the two and said, ¡®Wait a minute, junior brothers!¡± The two inner sect disciples looked at Xu Yixian warily and asked, ¡°Is there something you need, senior brother?¡± Xu Yixian put on a fake smile and said, ¡°I happened to see you two junior brothers and thought we could hunt demonic beasts together.¡± The two looked at each other and shook their heads, refusing, ¡°We will only be a burden to senior brother. Please find someone else.¡± ¡°Oh, what a pity,¡± Xu Yixian said disappointedly before grinning sinisterly. ¡°I was planning to let you two live a little longer, but now I have to attack you.¡± The two inner sect disciples were shocked. ¡°Although you¡¯re at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, there are two of us and only one of you. You might not be our match.¡¯ Xu Yixian grinned creepily and said, ¡°Do you know how I found you? Why don¡¯t you fight back?¡± ¡°What!¡± Upon hearing this, the two Inner Sect disciples thought that their companion was a traitor and quickly distanced themselves. Seeing that he successfully caused a rift between them, Xu Yixian smirked and used a spell. Several blood arrows shot out and pierced through the two disciples, who were still in shock and anger from their companion¡¯s supposed betrayal. The two were slowed down by the sudden attack and were about to defend themselves when Xu Yixian curved his fingers and grabbed the air. ¡°Blood Capturing Technique!¡± The two felt their blood flowing out of control, and they quickly tried to suppress it, but it also caused them to pause. ¡°Pfft, pfft!¡± The blood arrow pierced through themagain, inflicting serious injuries. ¡°Blood Absorption Technique!¡± Xu Yixian grabbed the air again, and blood flowed out of the wounds of the two disciples. ¡°Run!¡± The two knew they were no match and temporarily used their spiritual power to block their wounds before turning around to escape. ¡°You can¡¯t escape!¡± Xu Yixian sneered. He exerted force under his feet, and arrived behind one of them. Witn a raise or ms nana, DIOOCI turnea Into a aeatn scytne, ana ne Deneaaea one of the Inner Sect disciples. ¡°Thud¡­ ¡°Bang!¡± Xu Yixian did not even glance at the corpse. His footsteps continued as he chased after the other person. The blood-colored sickle sliced through the air again, leaving behind a crimson streak. ¡°Thud¡­ ¡°Bang!¡± His terrified head rolled far away like a ball. ¡°Hehe-¡± Xu Yixian smiled bloodthirstyly and took out a blood storage bottle to absorb the blood essence of the two people. Soon, the blood essence was drained, and the two people on the ground turned into dried corpses. ¡°The combined blood essence of the two of them is about 400 bowls. It¡¯s enough for me to reach the Foundation Establishment realm. Hunting down fellow disciples is indeed the quickest way.¡± Sensing the blood essence in the blood storage bottle, Xu Yixian was rather excited. ¡°I¡¯ll go back and establish the Foundation immediately. As long as I succeed in reaching the Foundation Establishment realm, I won¡¯t have to worry about being exploited and squeezed by Wen Xiaosu anymore!¡± Although Foundation Establishment was not a sure thing, not establishing a foundation was a dead end. Wen Xiaosu had always used the excuse of protecting him to demand blood every day. If he hadn¡¯t been killed by Li Mumin, he would have been squeezed dry. Just as Xu Yixian finished searching the corpses and was about to turn around, a cold voice came from the air. ¡°Found you.¡± Xu Yixian¡¯s body stiffened and he turned around. In the air was Zhang Chen! Without hesitation, Xu Yixian used the Blood Burst Technique to escape. Shouldn¡¯t he be dealing with matters in the Beast Garden? Why is he here?! I just obtained blood essence and have the hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment realm. Why now?! ¡°As long as I¡¯m given another two hours, I¡¯ll be able to return to the sect to reach the Foundation Establishment realm in two hours. I¡¯m not willing to give Xu Yixian¡¯s heart was filled with grief and indignation. He desperately circulated the Blood Burst Technique to escape, but he knew that his chances of survival were slim. He had hunted down others before, and now it was his turn to be hunted. ¡°I can test the power of the Blood God.¡± A blood shadow flew out of Zhang Chen¡¯s body and shot towards Xu Yixian. With the Blood Burst Technique, Xu Yixian¡¯s speed was about the same as the Blood God. However, the Blood Burst Technique would hurt his meridians and acupoints, and he wouldn¡¯t be able to hold on for long. ¡°Bang!¡± Soon, an acupoint in Xu Yixian¡¯s right leg could no longer withstand the repeated bombardment of spiritual energy and exploded. Hearing the whistling sound behind him, Xu Yixian gritted his teeth and continued running, enduring the pain. Once he stopped, it would be the end of him. ¡°Bang!¡± Another acupuncture point exploded. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡¯ As the acupoints and meridians exploded one after another, Xu Yixian¡¯s feet became a bloody mess, exposing his white bones, a gruesome sight. Even if he survived, his feet would be useless. ¡°Bang!¡± The last acupuncture point on Xu Yixian¡¯s foot exploded and he collapsed to the ground. ¡°Let¡¯s fight!¡± Xu Yixian knew he couldn¡¯t run anymore, so he took out a talisman, infused it with spiritual energy, and threw it behind him. This was his trump card, a talisman that could rival a Foundation Establishment stage attack. Under Xu Yixian¡¯s gaze, the talisman emitted a violent light and exploded. ¡°Boom!¡± The pursuing Blood God Son was scattered, and a blood rain fell. However, the blood that fell to the ground immediately gathered again. The Blood God Son appeared intact, but his aura was a little weaker. ¡°This is the Blood God Son?¡± When Xu Yi first recognized the blood figure, the Blood God Son had already pounced on him. In his current state, he could not avoid it. The Blood God Son directly entered Xu Yixian¡¯s body and absorbed his blood. ¡°Ah!¡± Xu Yixian screamed in pain, and his body rapidly shriveled. After a while, the Blood God Son tore open Xu Yixian¡¯s chest, burst out of his body, and took away all his blood. After obtaining Xu Yixian¡¯s blood, the Blood God Son¡¯s aura returned to its peak. Because it couldn¡¯t absorb any more blood essence due to its cultivation limit, it condensed the excess blood in its hand. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that I didn¡¯t see the scene of the fight. If Xu Yixian hadn¡¯t run, he would have fought the Blood God for a while instead of ending up like this.¡± Zhang Chen commented in disappointment. He was still in the air and did not land. There was no need for him to do anything. The Blood God Son searched everything on Xu Yixian and returned to his side. Several spirit stones, a blood-storing bottle, and a demon cultivation bag. Zhang Chen took the items and reabsorbed the Blood God Son into his body. The excess blood essence that the Blood God Son couldn¡¯t absorb also entered his body. The Blood Refining Scripture automatically circulated and refined this blood essence. ¡°The last person to know that I didn¡¯t exchange for blood essence in the outer sect is dead.¡± Zhang Chen finally felt relieved. If word got out that he had a large amount of blood essence without exchanging for it, the consequences would have been unimaginable. In fact, Xu Yixian and the other two thought it was Li Mumin who had a secret, not Zhang Chen. ¡°Now that I¡¯m out, I might as well avenge the other grudge too. With my current strength, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± The grudge Zhang Chen referred to was the controlling ghost old Daoist who wanted to kill him before. Controlling Ghost was only at the second level of Foundation Establishment. Even though it had been three years since then, he might have only reached Foundation Establishment stage three at most. During these two years, he had nurtured many Blood God Sons. The only thing he had to worry about was whether he could find the old Daoist priest.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Rematch with the Old Daoist Chapter 68: Rematch with the Old Daoist Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Swoosh-¡± A blood-red light streaked across the sky like a meteor and finally stopped above a village. This was the same village where Zhang Chen had taken shelter from the rain previously, but now it was in ruins and desolate. The corpses were devoured by wild beasts, and they could be seen everywhere. After killing the female ghost that night, the old Daoist priest came the next evening. In other words, the place where the old Daoist was located was within a day¡¯s flying range. ¡°I wonder if that old Daoist priest is still nearby after three years.¡± After pondering for a moment in the sky above the village, Zhang Chen spread his divine sense and randomly chose a direction to fly in. It was a gloomy Daoist temple not far away, with white paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling. They swayed unsteadily in the wind, as if beckoning to people. A burial mound was nearby, and even though it was a sunny day, the chilly wind blew through, making people shiver. What was even more eerie was the demonic statue enshrined in the main hall of the Daoist temple. The statue had a green face and sharp fangs, and it looked terrifyingly monstrous. The ghost statue was naked from the waist up, wore a skull necklace, held a steel fork in one hand, and stood on one leg. Under the statue were a dozen or so sealed jars, with dried bloodstains on the jars. Below them were two bright lamps burning on either side, emitting an indescribable stench. This was corpse oil! At the end was a long table with tributes placed on it. And these tributes were all bloody internal organs. An old Daoist walked into the hall and took out a dagger. He cut his wrist expressionlessly and poured blood on the jars. The jars shook violently like hungry baby birds, making clanging noises. ¡°Quiet!¡± The old Daoist priest was a little annoyed by the noise and sternly rebuked them. The jars immediately quietened down. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the sealed area seemed to be alive and constantly sucking blood, they wouldn¡¯t be any different from ordinary jars. After pouring blood on all the jars, the old Daoist priest¡¯s face turned even paler. It was obvious that he had consumed a lot of energy. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for that disciple of the Blood God Sect three years ago, who caused me to lose the spirit ghosts and many other ghosts, I wouldn¡¯t have to work hard to cultivate them again.¡± Thinking of the spirit ghosts that he had planned to cultivate for decades being killed three years ago, the old Daoist was filled with hatred. Back then, he had wanted to summon the soul of that disciple of the Blood God Sect and torture him to death to ease his hatred. But after trying several times and failing to summon his soul, he could only assume that the soul had dissipated. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. ¡°He was so lucky to have his soul dissipate like that!¡± Four days later, the blood light stopped not far from the Daoist temple. Zhang Chen looked at the Daoist temple and swept his divine sense over it. ¡°The Yin Qi here is so strong. This should be the place.¡± In these four days, Zhang Chen had searched in four different directions, and he finally found it. Inside the Daoist temple, the old Daoist, who was meditating and absorbing Yin Qi, sensed the unfamiliar divine sense and suddenly opened his eyes. He stood up and walked outside. Just as Zhang Chen was about to land in the Daoist temple, a figure flew out. ¡°May I know which fellow Daoist is here?¡± ¡°Oh? Don¡¯t you recognize me?¡± Zhang Chen sneered. ¡°Is it you?!¡± The old Daoist¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted in shock as he recognized the visitor¡¯s appearance. ¡°This is impossible! You used the Blood Ignition Technique. How can you still be alive and even break through to the Foundation Establishment realm?!¡± ¡°Nothing is impossible. I¡¯m here to settle the score with you,¡± Zhang Chen said calmly. The old Daoist priest¡¯s expression was dark and ugly. ¡°No wonder I couldn¡¯t summon your soul. I thought you were dead and gone, but it turns out you¡¯re still alive.¡± Suddenly, the old Daoist priest changed his tone. ¡°Back then, you were the one who killed the ghost spirits I had painstakingly nurtured, so I retaliated, and you didn¡¯t even die. Why don¡¯t we let bygones be bygones?¡± ¡°You couldn¡¯t kill me, that¡¯s your problem. It doesn¡¯t stop me from seeking revenge. Today, you will die!¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s body was enveloped in a bloody aura, and he struck out with a palm from afar. ¡°Netherworld Ghost Hand!¡± The old Daoist priest also struck out with his palm. ¡°Boom!¡± The palm made of bloody aura collided with the palm made of Yin Qi, producing a deafening roar and stirring up a violent gust of air. ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far! Don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯ve reached the Foundation Establishment stage, you can defeat me,¡± the old Dao shouted, throwing out the Hundred Ghosts Banner. ¡°Woo, woo, woo¡­¡± Suddenly, the sky darkened and ghosts howled as a large number of restless spirits with bared teeth and claws rushed out of the banner. Not only that, the old Daoist priest made another hand seal. ¡°Soul, come forth!¡± ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The jars in the Daoist temple shook violently as a dozen or so illusory figures flew out of them. Half of them were at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, and the other half were at least at the sixth level. These ghosts and spirits emitted mournful cries as they gathered around the old Daoist, making him look like a king of ghosts. Zhang Chen remained calm, and one after another, blood shadows flew out of his body. One, two, three, four¡­ There were a total of 40 Blood God Sons, all at the ninth level of Qi cultivation. This was the accumulation of Zhang Chen¡¯s three years of efforts! ¡°It¡¯s only been three years. How could you possess so many Blood God Sons?!¡± The old Daoist could hardly believe what he was seeing. He knew about the Blood God Sons of the Blood God Sect, but they required a large amount of blood essence to nurture. The Blood Spirit Sect disciple in front of him was only at the ninth level of Qi Refinement three years ago, and it was already impressive for him to reach Foundation Establishment. How could he possess so many Blood God Sons at the ninth level of Qi Refinement? ¡°Attack!¡± Zhang Chen did not answer, but with a thought, 40 Blood God Sons charged towards the old Daoist. ¡°Go!¡± The old Daoist priest quickly commanded the ghosts to block the Blood God Sons. There were nearly a hundred ghosts and they had the advantage in numbers, but there were only a dozen or so at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. It was difficult to resist the Blood God Sons¡¯ charge. If not for the fact that ghosts did not have blood and could only rely on wearing down Yin Qi to kill, they would probably have been scattered by the Blood God Sons in a moment. However, this could not last long. ¡°Pfft!¡± The old Daoist spat out a mouthful of blood and formed hand seals. ¡°Illuminate the Netherworld, the souls of the four directions, and the five days of demons. Heed my orders and come quickly!¡± ¡°Phew-¡± The Yin wind roared, and countless ghosts with various death poses emerged from the nearby cemetery, rushing like a torrent. Although their momentum was huge, these ghosts were very sluggish and their auras were weak. They didn¡¯t even have one level of Qi Cultivation. They were as if a gust of wind could scatter them. ¡°Pfft!¡± The old Daoist priest¡¯s face twisted in a grimace, and he spewed out another mouthful of blood: ¡°Light shines through the mysterious abyss, souls from all directions, demons from the five heavens, listen to my command, come quickly!¡± The old Daoist priest¡¯s voice was dry and hoarse. Coupled with the whimpers and roars of the ghosts, it was like a whisper from the Netherworld. As the incantation ended, the ghosts flying over from the mass graves showed a scarlet glow in their eyes and began to devour and fuse with each other. Countless ghosts squeezed into a ball and let out miserable wails and roars. Yin Qi pervaded the air, and the sky was covered with dark clouds as if ink was poured, turning everything pitch black. As the ghosts devoured each other, they fused into a huge ghost whose aura rapidly increased. First level of Qi Refinement, second level of Qi Refinement, third level of Qi Refinement¡­ In just a few breaths, it had reached the Foundation Establishment stage. After spewing two mouthfuls of blood in a row, the old Daoist also became weak and exhausted, but as he looked at the Foundation Establishment stage ghost that had merged, he grinned. With his mouth full of residual blood, he looked particularly terrifying, like a malicious ghost.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Revenge is Served Chapter 69: Revenge is Served Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The forbidden technique of forcibly fusing spirits came at a great cost. He spat out a mouthful of blood, losing 20 years of his life in the process. Having just spat out two mouthfuls, he lost 40 years of his life. Moreover, this kind of fusion state couldn¡¯t be sustained for too long. With the addition of the Foundation Establishment ghosts, they temporarily withstood the onslaught of the Blood God Sons. But it wasn¡¯t enough! ¡°Pfft!¡± The old Daoist priest actually spat out blood again, forcibly raising the ghosts¡¯ cultivation with a secret technique. The price of doing so was lifespan and the souls of those ghosts. At this point, the old Daoist¡¯s hair had turned completely white. Blood sprayed onto the ghosts, and they surged in power like they had just consumed a potent medicine. Their original cultivation at the first level of Foundation Establishment had now increased by two levels to the third level. But the old Daoist didn¡¯t stop there; he injected Yin energy into the Hundred Ghosts Banner. Because he knew that he was no match for so many Blood God Sons, he had to use all of his means without reservation. Even if it meant death, he would make Zhang Chen pay the price. ¡°Merge!¡± The ghosts controlled by the Hundred Ghosts Banner also fused together, emitting the aura of Foundation Establishment cultivation. This way, it was equivalent to three Foundation Establishment cultivators fighting Zhang Chen. But even so, they were still no match for 40 Blood God Sons. The Blood God Sons were difficult to destroy, their speed was fast, and they fearlessly attacked. Five could deal with the first level of Foundation Establishment and 10 of them could deal with the fourth level. The old Daoist was at the third level of Foundation Establishment, the ghosts at the third level, and the Hundred Ghosts Banner at the first level. Overall, it could only neutralize 25 Blood God Sons. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that ghosts didn¡¯t have blood and could faintly restrain Blood God Sons, the old Daoist would have long been drained of blood by them. Even if they could barely withstand the Blood God Sons now, the ghosts that had temporarily fused and increased their cultivation levels would not be able to hold out for long. Moreover, Zhang Chen had yet to make a move. The reason Zhang Chen hadn¡¯t acted was also to see the power of 40 Blood Gods. In the air, ghosts roared, brandished ghost knives, and swept with giant hands, chopping, crushing, and striking down one Blood God Son after another. But the Blood God Sons immediately recovered and continued to attack, eroding the Yin energy of the ghosts and the old Daoist. They were now in a brief balance, but as soon as Zhang Chen made his move, the balance was broken. Zhang Chen took out the Mad Blood Saber, activated the Blood Devouring Demon Technique, and filled the air with the scent of blood. A massive Blood Fiend Qi entwined around the knife. Then he used the Blood Escape Technique and transformed into a blood light that flew towards the old Daoist. Finally, he used the Blood Burst Technique to increase the speed of his saber and struck out with the Mad Blood Saber Technique! The madness imbued in the saber technique surged into the old Daoist priest¡¯s mind like a flood. The Blood Fiend Qi entwined around the knife canceled out the Yin energy protecting the old Daoist¡¯s body. ¡°Thud¡­ A shriveled arm dropped from the air. The old Daoist priest¡¯s face twisted in pain. If it weren¡¯t for his strong mental power, which he used to quickly dispel the madness, and he sidestepped at a critical moment, he would have been cut in two. It was not just one arm that was severed, but his entire body was cut into two. He had narrowly avoided one slash, but what about the second and third. ¡°This is what you forced me to do!¡± The old Daoist shouted, and with one hand he made a decisive gesture: ¡°Feed the ghost with my body!¡± The ghosts and spirits suddenly gave up resisting the Blood God Sons and turned to pounce on the old Daoist, crazily gnawing on his flesh and blood. After a shrill scream, the old Daoist priest¡¯s flesh and blood were all eaten by the two ghosts, leaving only a skeleton. After devouring the old Daoist¡¯s flesh, the two ghosts¡¯ aura rose to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment. However, the transformation did not stop there. The two ghosts began to fuse again. A ghost the size of a small mountain and at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment appeared in front of Zhang Chen. ¡°You forced me to do this. Even if my soul dissipates, I will make sure we both go down together!¡± The voice of the old Daoist, full of resentment, came from the mouth of the ghost creature. Its lantern-sized eyes emitted green light, staring fiercely at Zhang Chen. The old Daoist priest had actually merged with the evil spirit at the cost of his own soul scattering! Zhang Chen¡¯s expression finally became serious. Although 40 Blood God Sons could deal with an eight-level Foundation Establishment cultivator, with the other side having no physical body, the strength of the Blood God Sons could only be half as effective. However, Zhang Chen was not afraid. Blood Ignition Technique! The blood flame in his body ignited, and his cultivation level quickly rose to the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. ¡°Kill! The Blood Gods pounced like locusts, acting as the main force to restrain the evil ghost Daoist priest, while Zhang Chen waited for an opportunity to attack. ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± Every strike of the Evil Ghost Daoist priest carried a great power that shook the earth and mountains. Perhaps it was because he had fused with the evil ghost, although his strength had become stronger, the old Daoist priest¡¯s consciousness was very chaotic. He kept repeating the words of wanting Zhang Chen to pay the price and perish together. He did not even know how to use spells. He only knew how to use brute force and boundless Yin Qi to attack. After all, the two Foundation Establishment ghosts were originally formed by a large number of ghosts and countless chaotic minds. Blood Devouring Demon Technique! Blood Escape Technique! Blood Burst Technique! Mad Blood Saber Technique! Zhang Chen¡¯s four techniques were imbued into the Blood God Child and hacked away relentlessly. Under the influence of madness, the already confused consciousness of the Evil Ghost Old Daoist became even more muddled, even attacking indiscriminately. ¡°Annoying flies, get lost, all of you!¡± ¡°Kill, kill, kill!¡± ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­ The Evil Ghost Old Daoist attacked everything he saw in a frenzy. As time passed, his body showed signs of collapsing. Countless ghost faces emerged from his body, struggling to break free. These ghosts had been forcefully fused together by a spell. Now that the evil ghost old Daoist priest¡¯s consciousness had gone crazy, he could no longer maintain the spell. ¡°Boom!¡± With a loud bang, the Evil Ghost Old Daoist¡¯s huge body exploded. ¡°Whimper, whimper, whimper¡­ Countless ghosts gushed out and dissipated into the air. ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± Zhang Chen swept his divine sense over and detected no breath from the Old Dao. ¡°I¡¯ve finally taken revenge, but I¡¯ve consumed a lot of energy!¡± Zhang Chen looked at the group of Blood God Sons whose auras had weakened greatly. He dispelled the Blood Ignition Technique and took out a blood storage bottle to replenish his blood essence and restore his strength. As for the Blood God Sons, they flew towards the collapsed Daoist temple to see if they could find anything useful. The old Daoist priest was gnawed down to his bones, leaving behind only a Hundred Ghosts Banner. This Hundred Ghosts Banner was a decent magic weapon, but unfortunately, all the ghosts inside had been exhausted, and it would only work after replenishing the ghosts. Soon, the Blood God Sons returned with a storage bag in their hands. Zhang Chen took the storage bag and used his divine sense to examine the items inside. There were 300 spirit stones, some miscellaneous items that emitted Yin Qi, and two pieces of human skin covered in writing. Zhang Chen took out the human skin to examine and found two spells. [Detected cultivation technique, Soul Devouring Technique. It can devour ghosts and increase one¡¯s soul strength.] [Side effects: Impurity of the soul, filled with distracting thoughts, confusion of the mind] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] [Detected cultivation technique, Dark Nether Treasure Manual. Cultivate ghosts, control ghosts, and use ghosts to fight enemies.] [Side effects: Body corroded by ghost qi, Yang qi lost, lifespan reduced] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled..] If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Probing Threats Chapter 70: Probing Threats Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Zhang Chen saw the spell that the old Daoist had used previously in the Dark Nether Treasure Manual. The last spell he cast, feeding the ghost with his own body, was truly soul-scattering. Given the environment of the Blood God Sect, it was difficult to use this ghostly spell, so he casually put it away. ¡°Come back!¡± Zhang Chen willed the Blood God Sons back into his body. Then he thought of something and released a Blood God Son. He wanted to try how long it would take for the Blood God Son to develop consciousness after leaving its owner. ¡°Hide, don¡¯t hurt anyone, and try to avoid people as much as possible.¡± Leaving behind a command, Zhang Chen transformed into blood light and flew towards the direction of the sect. The Blood God Son left behind stood stupidly in place for an hour, then came to the broken Daoist temple with some confusion. After looking around, it finally crawled into an intact jar and covered it. A few days later, Zhang Chen returned to the Beast Garden of the Blood God Sect. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, you¡¯re back.¡± ¡°Yes, has anything happened in the Beast Garden recently?¡± ¡°Senior Brother, don¡¯t worry. Everything is normal.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been hard on you during this period of time. This blood essence is your reward.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother. It¡¯s my honor to be able to help you.¡± ¡°You can go back now.¡± ¡°Goodbye, Junior Brother.¡± After sending Wang Zhengang off, Zhang Chen returned to his previous life as if nothing had happened. A few more days passed, and the affairs of the Beast Park were taken over by Sixth Senior Brother. Two months later, the day for Elder Blood River to assess the cultivation progress of the Blood Devouring Demon Technique arrived. Arriving at Blood River Peak, Zhang Chen shouted, ¡°Disciple Zhang Chen requests an audience with Master.¡± ¡°Clap, clap, clap¡­ The sound of flapping wings came from the air, and it was Ah Bat, the bat demon who had led the way last time. ¡°¡±Why are you here again? You¡¯re interrupting my sleep.¡± Ah Bat¡¯s tone was not good. ¡°Last time, Master gave me the cultivation method and said that he would assess my progress in six months. I would trouble Senior Brother to lead the way.¡± Zhang Chen replied calmly. ¡°Follow me.¡± Ah Bat turned around and left. Zhang Chen hurriedly followed. ¡°Master, Zhang Chen is here.¡± ¡°Well, bring him in.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Disciple Zhang Chen greets Master.¡± Zhang Chen bowed. Elder Blood River sized up Zhang Chen, as if he wanted to see something. ¡°How¡¯s your cultivation of the Blood Devouring Demon Technique?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already mastered the basics,¡± Zhang Chen answered truthfully. ¡°Activate the technique, let me see,¡± ordered the Elder. Zhang Chen circulated the Blood Devouring Demon Technique and his body emitted a dense blood fiend aura. ¡°Looks like you didn¡¯t slack off.¡± Blood River Elder nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Master has ordered me not to slack off,¡± Zhang Chen said respectfully. ¡°Did it go well to take over the Beast Garden?¡± ¡°Master, everything went well.¡± ¡°I once said that if your cultivation progress is satisfactory to me, you will be rewarded. In the future, your Third Senior Brother¡¯s benefits in the Beast Garden will be yours.¡± Zhang Chen was stunned. ¡°Then what about Third Senior Brother?¡± ¡°I have my own arrangements.¡± Hearing this, Zhang Chen did not say anything else. ¡°Within a year, raise your cultivation to the second level of Foundation Establishment and attain mastery of the Blood Devouring Demon Technique. I will still reward you,¡± Elder Blood River promised once again. ¡°I will definitely work hard to cultivate.¡± Zhang Chen bowed and promised. ¡°Good, you may go.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Zhang Chen bowed and left. Outside the cave, Ah Bat glared fiercely at Zhang Chen: ¡®You¡¯re only at the first level of foundation building. Who are you to take charge of Third Senior Brother¡¯s interests in the Beast Garden?¡± Zhang Chen was about to explain, but then he thought of something and his expression turned angry: ¡°Who says I¡¯m not qualified? Master rewarded me with this.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not qualified at all. I advise you to proactively return the benefits of the Beast Garden,¡± Ah Bat sneered. ¡°¡±Why am I not qualified?¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s anger grew even stronger. ¡°I said you¡¯re not qualified, so you¡¯re not!¡± The two of them kept arguing, and Zhang Chen seemed very angry. After Zhang Chen left, Ah Bat came to the cave abode of Elder Blood River. ¡°Master, under my provocation, Zhang Chen appeared very angry.¡± It turned out that Ah Bat had deliberately mocked him earlier. ¡°He heard about the negative effects of the Blood Devouring Demon Technique?¡± Elder Blood River frowned slightly. The entire Blood River Peak was enveloped by his divine sense, and it was difficult for any clues to escape his perception. Although Zhang Chen appeared very angry, he could sense from his subtle expressions and spiritual perception that Zhang Chen was not really angry. Elder Blood River suddenly smiled. ¡°Interesting, really interesting. My third disciple will be back soon, and there will definitely be a conflict between them. Let¡¯s see how you perform.¡± Giving Zhang Chen the benefits of his third disciple was also intentional, just to test, create contradictions, and expose more secrets from Zhang Chen. Back in his cave, Zhang Chen breathed a sigh of relief. My angryperformance just now should be correct. Elder Blood River cannot be unaware of the side effects of the Blood Devouring Demon Technique. Of course, it¡¯s also possible that I¡¯m overthinking it. The jade slip containing the techniques did not mention the side effects, maybe Elder Blood River thought that the side effects were nothing since demonic techniques generally have side effects.¡± Zhang Chen did not know the information that Elder Blood River had, but he was wary because of the Elder¡¯s excessive attention. The third senior brother had not yet returned, and another trouble had found Zhang Chen. ¡°Zhang Chen, come out. I know you¡¯re in there!¡± Inside tne cave, znang cnen, wno was originally meditating, nearcl tne unceremonious shouting outside and his face darkened as he got up and walked out. As soon as he came out of the cave, Zhang Chen saw a stranger at the third level of Foundation Establishment, angrily questioning him. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, senior brother?¡± ¡°Did you kill Xu Yixian?¡± the man asked directly. Zhang Chen understood immediately that this person should be Xu Yixian¡¯s backer, the direct disciple Wen Xiaosu. ¡°Xu Yixian? Who is that? Senior brother, are you mistaken? I don¡¯t know anyone named Xu Yixian.¡± Zhang Chen naturally wouldn¡¯t admit it Wen Xiaosu sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t pretend. Before Xu Yixian left the sect, he told me that he had a grudge with Li Mumin, and you are Li Mumin¡¯s person. If something happens to him, it¡¯s likely that you did it. ¡°I have also inquired about it. The day Xu Yixian left the sect, you left too. Who else could it be?¡± ¡°Senior brother, speak with evidence. Just because we left the sect on the same day doesn¡¯t mean that I killed him. Maybe Xu Yixian offended someone else.¡± Zhang Chen still didn¡¯t admit it. Wen Xiaosu sneered, ¡°It¡¯s useless for you to deny it. If you give me 300 bowls of blood, then the matter is settled. Otherwise, I won¡¯t let you go.¡± Xu Yixian had not returned to the sect for three months, so Wen Xiaosu suspected that he might have died. If Xu Yixian was alive, he could provide blood for him every day. Now that he was dead, he naturally came to Zhang Chen to make up for his losses and gain some benefits. ¡°I didn¡¯t kill Xu Yixian. Why should I give you 300 bowls of blood? Senior brother, are you accusing and threatening me?¡± Zhang Chen refused without hesitation. Wen Xiaosu originally thought that Zhang Chen, who had just advanced, was only at the first level of Foundation Establishment and should be easy to control. He did not expect him to ignore his threat.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Provocation and Anger Chapter 71: Provocation and Anger Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°My branch is in charge of the Internal Affairs Hall. You have been promoted to the direct disciple for three years and can now be assigned to tasks within the sect. If you don¡¯t want to be assigned dangerous tasks, then obediently hand over 300 bowls of essence blood to me,¡± Wen Xiaosu continued to threaten. 300 bowls of blood essence were roughly equivalent to the essence blood of a cultivation at the eighth level of Qi Refinement. ¡°You can¡¯t threaten me,¡± Zhang Chen replied coldly. With his current strength, he could fight an eighth level Foundation Establishment cultivator. As long as he did not encounter a Golden Core cultivator, he would have no problem protecting himself outside the sect. Wen Xiaosu was only at the third level of Foundation Establishment, so there was no need for him to bow his head in fear. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll see.¡± Wen Xiaosu glared fiercely at Zhang Chen and turned to leave. Zhang Chen looked at the distant blood light in the sky, his eyes full of cold killing intent. Wen Xiaosu was a disciple of the Blood God Sect Master. Their branch was in charge of the Internal Affairs Hall. The Internal Affairs Hall was of great importance. In order to maintain the operation of the sect, people without management skills would not be able to participate in the affairs of the Internal Affairs Hall. Although Wen Xiaosu was not qualified to manage the matters of the Internal Affairs Hall, he still had a say in some matters. After leaving Zhang Chen¡¯s cave, Wen Xiaosu went directly to the Internal Affairs Hall. ¡°Who is on duty today?¡± Wen Xiaosu asked an Internal Affairs disciple. ¡°It¡¯s Shen Gengyuan, Senior Brother Shen,¡± the Internal Affairs disciple replied respectfully. ¡°So it¡¯s Fifth Senior Brother. Report that 19th Junior Brother, Wen Xiaosu, requests an audience.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Wen, wait a moment. I¡¯ll go report now.¡± ¡°Hurry up.¡± The Internal Affairs disciple left in a hurry and quickly returned. ¡°Senior Brother Wen, I¡¯ll take you to the back hall to see Senior Brother Shen.¡± ¡°Lead the way.¡± Wen Xiaosu followed him to the back hall. The front hall of the Internal Affairs Hall was where other disciples received missions and resources, while the back hall was where Internal Affairs disciples handled matters. When they arrived at the innermost hut, the Internal Affairs disciple respectfully called out, ¡°Senior Brother Shen, Senior Brother Wen is here.¡± ¡°19th Junior Brother, come in.¡± In a small room at the very end, there were books and jade slips everywhere. In the center was a man with a gentle temperament, like a scholar, sitting in front of a desk writing something. Such a temperament was incompatible with that of the Blood God Sect, because before joining the Blood God Sect, he was originally a scholar. Reading books can alleviate some of the mental side effects to a certain extent. ¡°Greetings, Fifth Senior Brother.¡± Wen Xiaosu hurriedly bowed. Shen Gengyuan put down his brush and looked up. ¡°19th Junior Brother, is there something you need from me?¡± ¡°Fifth Senior Brother, I want to ask for your help to arrange a sect mission for someone. After that, I¡¯m willing to pay you back with 100 bowls of blood essence,¡± Wen Xiaosu explained his purpose for coming. ¡°What¡¯s his identity and name?¡± Shen Gengyuan asked casually. Wen Xiaosu replied, ¡°The direct disciple who was promoted three years ago, Zhang Chen.¡± ¡°Now that he¡¯s been promoted to direct disciple for more than three years, he can indeed be assigned a sect mission. What mission do you want him to be assigned?¡± Shen Gengyuan said indifferently. Wen Xiaosu grinned hideously. ¡°The more difficult and dangerous it is, the better.¡¯ ¡°So someone offended you.¡± Shen Gengyuan smiled. ¡°Thank you, Fifth Senior Brother.¡± Wen Xiaosu¡¯s smile was especially sinister. Shen Gengyuan nodded and waved his hand. A jade slip flew into his hand and pressed against his forehead for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ve found a suitable mission. Shanyue Kingdom is one of the small countries that has submitted to our Blood God Sect. They¡¯ve always provided the sect with medicinal herbs and disciples with spiritual roots. However, after the new king ascended the throne two years ago, he no longer offered tributes. He announced that he had joined the righteous Immortal Sect, the Silver Moon Sect, and cut ties with our Blood God Sect from now on. The sect planned to send people to recapture the Shanyue Kingdom because the Silver Moon Sect had sent disciples to guard the Shanyue Kingdom. They originally wanted a direct disciple at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment to go. However, since 19th Junior Brother has spoken, let¡¯s arrange for Zhang Chen to ¡°Thank you, Fifth Senior Brother.¡± Wen Xiaosu was all smiles. Although he had paid the price of a hundred bowls of blood essence, he believed that he could earn it back from Zhang Chen. ¡®When the time comes, 300 bowls won¡¯t be enough. I¡¯ll need at least 500 bowls of blood essence!¡¯ The life-saving ability of the Blood God Sect was too strong. With his third level Foundation Establishment cultivation, it was very difficult for him to kill Zhang Chen. Therefore, he could only manipulate the missions to prove that he could control them. Missions did not necessarily have to be completed, but there would be punishment for failure and reassignment to other missions. Since he could manipulate one mission, he could naturally manipulate others as well. In his view, Zhang Chen was a newly promoted direct disciple with few connections and was likely to bow his head and compensate for blood essence. rlhvvo days later, a disciple of the Internal Affairs Hall came to Zhang Chen¡¯s cave abode. ¡°Is Senior Brother Zhang here?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Zhang Chen asked calmly. ¡°This is a mission arranged by the sect for you. Senior Brother Zhang, please take a look.¡± The disciple of the Internal Affairs Hall respectfully handed over a jade slip. Zhang Chen took the jade slip and checked it against his forehead. Just two days after Wen Xiaosu¡¯s threat, the sect mission came. Zhang Chen understood that this was obviously Wen Xiaosu¡¯s doing. As for the content of the mission, it only stated that he needed to make the Shanyue Kingdom submit again and that there might be interference from the Silver Moon Sect. It was not difficult to force Shanyue Kingdom to pay tribute to the Blood God Sect, but the difficult thing was dealing with interference from the Silver Moon Sect. This clearly exceeded the ability of ordinary first level Foundation Establishment cultivators. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, the mission is urgent. Please go to the Internal Affairs Hall to collect the sect token and map in three days and head to Shanyue Kingdom,¡± the disciple continued. Zhang Chen remained calm on the surface. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb Senior Brother Zhang anymore.¡± The Internal Affairs Hall disciple bowed and left. At this moment, a blood light flew over and landed in front of Zhang Chen. Wen Xiaosu, with a smug look on his face, looked at the jade slip in Zhang Chen¡¯s hand. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, did you receive the mission? Do you remember what I said? ¡°I¡¯ll give you one last chance, but it¡¯s now 500 bowls of blood essence now. As long as you give me 500 bowls of blood essence, I¡¯ll help you change the mission, and Xu Yixian¡¯s matter will be written off.¡± ¡°No need. I don¡¯t think this mission is difficult,¡± Zhang Chen said casually and turned around to return to the cave abode. ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± Wen Xiaosu¡¯s expression was ugly. Originally, he only wanted to use Xu Yixian¡¯s death to extort a sum of money, but now he really hated Zhang Chen. He had spent 100 bowls of blood essence to arrange Zhang Chen¡¯s mission, which was likely to be a total waste now. To continue arranging missions, he would have to spend blood essence. Suddenly, Zhang Chen stopped in his tracks, as if he had thought of something. He turned around again and deliberately taunted Wen Xiaosu. ¡°Senior Brother Wen, I¡¯ll leave the sect tomorrow. If you have the ability, follow me and personally take the blood essence from my body. Take as much as you want.¡± ¡°Good, very good. You¡¯ve only just been promoted for three years. I want to see what you have to dare to provoke me!¡± Wen Xiaosu was furious. He gritted his teeth and did not want to say anything else. He turned into a bloody light and left. ¡°Senior Brother Wen, remember to look for me outside the sect tomorrow!¡± Zhang Chen deliberately shouted, continuing to anger Wen Xiaosu. Looking at the departing bloody light, Zhang Chen whispered expectantly, ¡°I hope you really come to find me tomorrow.¡± Most of the Blood God Sect¡¯s disciples¡¯ mental state was abnormal. Therefore, Zhang Chen tried to anger him and see if he could resolve this future problem tomorrow.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Killing and Devouring Everything Chapter 72: Killing and Devouring Everything Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The next day, nearing noon, Zhang Chen left a wisp of his divine sense in the Internal Affairs Hall, collected the map and token, and left the Blood God Sect. ¡°I wonder if Wen Xiaosu will come after me.¡¯ Shanyue Kingdom was more than 3,000 miles away from the Blood God Sect and the mission period was half a year. Zhang Chen did not rush to the road, but looked forward to Wen Xiaosu catching up. If Wen Xiaosu didn¡¯t come, he could only wait for the other party to go out on a sect mission and follow him to attack, just like how he killed Xu Yixian. A direct disciple¡¯s sect mission was once every three years and he might have to wait for two or three years. 100 miles, 200 miles, 300 miles, 400 miles away from the Blood God Sect. Just as Zhang Chen thought that Wen Xiaosu wouldn¡¯t come and was ready to speed up, he sensed a Foundation Establishment cultivator approaching with his divine sense. ¡°Here he comes!¡± Zhang Chen was overjoyed. He pretended not to notice and continued on his way. ¡°Swoosh-¡± Two blood lights flew past, one in front and one behind, blocking Zhang Chen¡¯s way. Wen Xiaosu had indeed caught up, but he was not alone. Apart from Wen Xiaosu, there was also a direct disciple at the second level of Foundation Establishment. Zhang Chen¡¯s contemptuous attitude and provocative language made Wen Xiaosu very angry, and the more he thought about it after he went back, the more annoyed he became. But he knew that he could not catch Zhang Chen alone, so he found a friend from the sect to team up with him. In his eyes, Zhang Chen had only advanced to the first level of the Foundation Establishment realm three years ago. If the two of them joined forces, there was no chance of survival for Zhang Chen. ¡°Senior¡­ Senior Brother Wen, you¡­ you really came!¡± Zhang Chen looked shocked and scared. Seeing Zhang Chen¡¯s appearance, Wen Xiaosu felt extremely happy. He grinned hideously and said, ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, didn¡¯t you ask me to come and take your blood essence?¡± ¡°I was just joking. Senior Brother Wen, please spare me. I¡¯m willing to give you my blood essence, 500 bowls. No, 600 bowls!¡± Zhang Chen pleaded. ¡°Alright, hand over the blood essence now.¡± Wen Xiaosu agreed, but in his heart, he was thinking of attacking after obtaining the blood essence. The two of them competed in acting skills. Zhang Chen took out a blood storage bottle and threw it at Wen Xiaosu. ¡°There are 600 bowls of blood essence inside. Senior Brother Wen, please let me go.¡± Wen Xiaosu took the blood storage bottle and said with a ferocious expression, ¡°Let you go? Only by killing you can I relieve the hatred in my heart. Junior Brother Wang, I¡¯ll take care of him, and you prevent him from escaping!¡± ¡°Senior Brother Wen, don¡¯t worry. He definitely won¡¯t be able to escape.¡± Wang, the direct disciple, looked relaxed. At this time, Zhang Chen stopped acting and said softly, ¡°Senior Brother Wen, why don¡¯t you check if there are really 600 bowls of blood essence in the storage bottle?¡± Wen Xiaosu didn¡¯t expect Zhang Chen to play a trick on him at this time, and quickly opened the lid of the blood storage bottle to check. The moment the lid was opened, several blood shadows shot out from the bottle. Everything happened so suddenly that Wen Xiaosu did not even have time to react. One, two, three¡­ A total of 10 blood shadows pounced on him. ¡°Ah! These are Blood God Sons!¡± Wen Xiaosu let out a scream of horror and anger, quickly activating his powers to expel the Blood God Sons from his body. Inevitably, some of the essence in his body was taken away by the Blood God Sons. The Blood God Sons were formed from condensed blood and could naturally be hidden in a blood storage bottle, which was why Zhang Chen thought of this sneaky method. He acted with Wen Xiaosu to prevent the two of them from escaping. After the 10 Blood God Sons were expelled from his body, they surrounded Wen Xiaosu again. This sudden turn of events shocked Wang, who was standing nearby: ¡°How could you have so many Blood God Sons?¡± ¡°How many? I still have more.¡± As he spoke, numerous blood shadows flew out of Zhang Chen¡¯s body and attacked Wang. The situation had reversed! Wang was shocked and immediately cast a spell, turning his blood into eight thick tentacles that thrashed about like an octopus. Each blood tentacle had the strength of a thousand pounds and could be long or short, constantly smashing and dispersing the attacking Blood God Sons. However, there were just too many Blood God Sons. The Blood God Sons were indestructible, and in one moment they would be shattered into pieces, only to be completely restored the next, relentlessly attacking. Each collision consumed a considerable amount of energy and essence from both sides. On the other side, Wen Xiaosu was dealing with 10 Blood God Sons. He and Wang were using the same technique, except he had reached a higher level of cultivation, and the eight blood tentacles had transformed into a blood python. Wrapping, biting, lashing, and colliding, it was quite powerful. This was the Blood Spirit Great Technique, which could imbue blood with spirituality. At the highest level, blood could be condensed into eight blood dragons, attacking independently and fiercely. Zhang Chen activated the Blood Devouring Demon Technique, and his body was surrounded by a blood demonic aura. He slapped his hand out. ¡°Boom!¡± One of Wang¡¯s blood tentacles exploded, and blood splattered everywhere. A flaw in the defense had appeared, and the Blood God Sons immediately rushed in. ¡°Not good!¡± Wang¡¯s direct disciple was shocked and wanted to condense his tentacles again. However, it was too late. Many Blood God Sons pounced on him. Like a river dam collapsing, Wang lost his ability to resist and was engulfed by 30 Blood God Sons. In a desperate, pitiful scream, his blood was sucked dry. ¡°Bang! t, Wang was drained of all his blood by the Blood God Sons, and his clothes and belongings fell from the air. Wen Xiaosu¡¯s face was full of fear: ¡°This is impossible, absolutely impossible. You¡¯ve only been in the Foundation Establishment stage for three years. How could you have so many Blood God Sons?¡± Zhang Chen sneered coldly: ¡°You can go ask Xu Yixian in the underworld.¡± ¡°Oh no, you won¡¯t even have a chance to go to the underworld.¡± Zhang Chen performed a spell: ¡°Radiance shines in the darkness, souls of the four directions, appear!¡± An illusory figure appeared in the air, which was Wang¡¯s soul. ¡°Soul Devouring Technique!¡± Zhang Chen opened his mouth and released a suction force targeting Wang¡¯s soul. Wang¡¯s soul also sensed something and struggled desperately, trying to break free from the suction. But it was in vain, and Zhang Chen swallowed it up in one gulp. He didn¡¯t even spare the soul! Wen Xiaosu¡¯s heart was filled with fear. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang¡­ No, it¡¯s Senior Brother Zhang. Please spare my life, Senior Brother Zhang. I¡¯m willing to give you all my blood essence, just beg for my life.¡± ¡°I prefer your arrogant self.¡± Zhang Chen smiled coldly. The outcome had already been decided when Wen Xiaosu came to threaten him. The Blood God Sons, who were originally besieging Wang, also attacked Wen Xiaosu. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, spare me, spare me¡­¡± Under the siege of the 40 Blood Gods, Wen Xiaosu was quickly sucked dry, leaving only a pile of clothes. ¡°Illuminate the Mysterious Underworld, the souls of the four directions, appear!¡± Zhang Chen opened his mouth again and activated the Soul Devouring Technique, swallowing Wen Xiaosu¡¯s soul. Then he sat cross-legged and refined their souls, while the 40 Blood God Sons guarded him. Zhang Chen did not expect that the Dark Nether Treasure Manual and Soul Devouring Technique that he had obtained a few months ago would be used so quickly. It could be said that he had killed them all and devoured them all, leaving nothing behind. As the Soul Devouring Technique circulated, the souls of Wen Xiaosu and Zhang Chen turned into spiritual power bit by bit and were absorbed by Zhang Chen¡¯s soul. After the time for an incense stick to burn, their souls were completely refined. Zhang Chen felt energetic. His divine sense had grown by a third, and he could cover a wider range of perception. He had cultivated the Spirit Forging Technique, and his spiritual will was already stronger than people of the same cultivation level. Now that he had the Soul Devouring Technique, it could be said to be icing on the cake and taking another step forward.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Be Careful Chapter 73: Be Careful Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Come back!¡± Zhang Chen withdrew the Blood God Sons back into his body and checked the items that the two had dropped. Blood storage bags, blood storage bottles, beast nurturing bags, and storage bags were all standard items of the Blood God Sect. The blood storage bag contained a large amount of demon blood, the blood storage bottle contained about 200 bowls of refined blood, and the beast nurturing bag was empty. Inside the storage bag was a low-grade magic weapon, 300 spirit stones, and several bottles of medicinal pills. The harvest was quite good. Zhang Chen was satisfied and collected all the items, continuing his journey towards Shanyue Kingdom. Two days later, on a small mountain a hundred miles away from Shanyue Kingdom, a blood light fell. It was Zhang Chen. There were people from the Silver Moon Sect in Shanyue Kingdom, so they would definitely be wary of the people from the Blood God Sect. Being cautious, he did not rashly enter the Shanyue Kingdom. Instead, he prepared to hide and figure out the current situation of Shanyue Kingdom. If there was a Golden Core realm cultivator from the Silver Moon Sect, he would turn and run without hesitation. Zhang Chen took off his Blood God Sect¡¯s personal uniform and changed into a Daoist robe. Just changing his clothes was not enough. He still exuded a strong bloody smell unique to the Blood God Sect. Zhang Chen was already prepared for this. A year ago, he had learned a spell that could hide his aura. This spell was called the Yin Energy Isolating Technique. It could attach a layer of mana film to his body, preventing his aura and cultivation level from leaking out. As he activated the Yin Energy Isolating Technique, the bloody smell on Zhang Chen disappeared. Without using other spells, it was difficult for others to detect his cultivation level. At this moment, if one ignored his handsome appearance, Zhang Chen looked like an ordinary person. Previously, he had bought a copy of the Flying Feather Soaring Technique in the market city. It could be used in Shanyue Kingdom. ¡°Rise!¡± Zhang Chen seemed to sprout a pair of wings behind him and soared into the air. Since he had not used the Flying Feather Soaring Technique before, he did not dare to fly too fast to avoid making any mistakes. Moreover, he did not enter the Shanyue Kingdom from the direction of the Blood God Sect. Instead, he spent an extra day and went around in another direction. Two days later, Zhang Chen, dressed as a Daoist priest, arrived at the capital of Shanyue Kingdom, Xingyue City. As the capital, Xingyue City was naturally very lively. People came and went on the streets, with the sound of hawking and conversation constantly in the air. Zhang Chen walked leisurely on the main street, looking around and enjoying the cultural atmosphere of this world. And Zhang Chen¡¯s handsome face also attracted many women¡¯s passionate gazes. ¡°Look, that Daoist priest is so handsome!¡± ¡°Wow, he¡¯s really handsome. It¡¯s a pity that he¡¯s a Daoist priest.¡± Seeing the Taoist robe on Zhang Chen, many women were disappointed. A bold woman immediately went forward to strike up a conversation. ¡°Little Daoist, come to my house.¡± Zhang Chen paid no attention and walked past her. ¡°Is this little Daoist deaf, or does he think I¡¯m ugly?¡± The woman was exasperated. An hour later, Zhang Chen arrived outside the palace. He did not enter the palace, nor did he release his divine sense to explore, because with the help of his spiritual eyes, he saw a formation shrouding the palace. I need to think ofa way to lure out the people from the Silver Moon Sect or infiltrate the palace. To make the Shanyue Kingdom worship the Blood God Sect again, it only needed to threaten the king. If the king didn¡¯t cooperate, they could replace him. But they needed to figure out first if there were any people from the Silver Moon Sect in the palace, how many there were, and what realm they were in. Acting rashly could very likely result in falling into a trap set by the Silver Moon Sect. Yang Junchang, an ordinary palace guard, left the palace after the evening shift change and headed home. When he reached a secluded alley, a shadow covered him, as if there was something above him. Just as Yang Junchang was about to look up, he suddenly felt dizzy and passed out. ¡°My head hurts. What happened? ¡°No, I seem to have been attacked!¡± Yang Junchang suddenly opened his eyes and found himself in an unfamiliar place, with his limbs tied up. ¡°Awake?¡± A calm and indifferent voice sounded. Yang Junchang looked up and saw a handsome young Daoist priest. ¡°Who are you? Why did you kidnap me?¡± ¡°If you want to live, answer my questions.¡± Yang Junchang was silent for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary palace guard. I don¡¯t know much.¡± ¡°Do you know about the Silver Moon Sect?¡± ¡°I know. I heard that it¡¯s a sect of immortals. After the new king ascended to the throne, he declared the Silver Moon Sect as the national religion and built the Silver Moon Temples all over the country.¡± ¡°Are there people from the Silver Moon Sect in the palace? ¡°Yes, the Imperial Preceptor. The Imperial Preceptor is in the palace.¡± ¡°Do you know what cultivation level the Imperial Preceptor is at?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only heard that the Imperial Preceptor is an immortal who can ride the clouds and summon the wind and rain.¡± Zhang Chen frowned slightly. The only thing he could confirm now was that there were people from the Silver Moon Sect in the palace, but he did not know their cultivation levels. Seeing Zhang Chen¡¯s silence, Yang Junchang pleaded, ¡°I¡¯ve told you everything I know. I still need to take care of my family, so please spare my life, Daoist.¡± ¡°I can let you go as long as you don¡¯t reveal what happened today. I won¡¯t kill you,¡± Zhang Chen answered calmly. ¡°Thank you, Daoist. I swear to heaven that I won¡¯t reveal what happened today,¡± Yang Junchang quickly promised. ¡°Good. Remember what you said. When are you on duty in the palace tomorrow?¡± ¡°We change shifts at dawn.¡± As soon as Yang Junchang finished speaking, he passed out again. When he woke up, he found himself back in the alley where he had been kidnapped. ¡°I¡¯m still alive? The Daoist really didn¡¯t kill me?¡± Yang Junchang was filled with joy at his narrow escape. ¡°Is it morning now?¡± He had planned to go home, but he realized it was already morning. ¡°Oh no, I can¡¯t miss the shift change!¡± Yang Junchang hurriedly rushed to the palace, knowing that if he missed the time, he would face severe punishment. ¡°That was close. I made it on time!¡± When he arrived at the palace, he asked for the time and breathed a sigh of relief. As for the kidnapping, for the sake of his and his family¡¯s lives, he did not dare to say anything for the time being. Yang Junchang tried to act normal and chatted with his colleagues as usual, and then he changed shifts. But not long after, he felt something moving in his arms. Yang Junchang reached in and pulled out a sealed bottle. ¡°A bottle? I don¡¯t remember putting a bottle in my arms.¡± Puzzled, Yang Junchang opened the bottle to see what was inside. However, as soon as the bottle was opened, a blood shadow shot out and disappeared. Yang Junchang¡¯s body stiffened. Then he realized that the young Daoist priest must have placed this bottle on him and deliberately let him bring it into the palace. Although he didn¡¯t get a clear look at what the blood shadow was, he knew it was not something good. ¡°Am I an accomplice now?¡± Yang Junchang was sweating profusely, and his heart was pounding heavily. ¡°I hope nothing bad happens!¡± Yang Junchang prayed silently and quickly sealed the bottle again and hid it in his arms to avoid being detected by others. The palace was enveloped by a formation. Zhang Chen did not want to take risks, so he used Yang Junchang to bring the Blood God Son into the palace and test the situation inside. If Yang Junchang chose to report Zhang Chen¡¯s matter, the Blood God Son would kill him.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Mission Failure Chapter 74: Mission Failure Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In a certain hall in the palace, a middle-aged man with a silver moon embroidered on his clothes sat cross-legged. Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide and revealed a confident smile. ¡°The people from the Blood God Sect are finally here. Activate the formation! As the middle-aged Daoist priest made a hand gesture, the formation that enveloped the palace immediately appeared, sealing off the palace, making it impossible to enter or exit. ¡°Look, what¡¯s that shining in the sky!¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening!¡± Seeing the glowing cover enveloping the palace, panic swept through the palace. ¡°Imperial Preceptor, Imperial Preceptor, there¡¯s a glowing cover above the palace.¡± A man in a dragon robe rushed into the hall in a fluster. ¡°Your Majesty, don¡¯t worry. This is just me activating the formation,¡± the Imperial Preceptor explained calmly. The king became even more frightened because it was impossible to activate the formation for no reason. ¡°Could it be that the Blood God Sect¡¯s demons are here?¡± The Imperial Preceptor nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Your Majesty. I¡¯ll deal with the demons of the Blood God Sect now. You can rest assured that nothing will happen to you here.¡± The king calmed down. ¡°I¡¯ll follow your arrangement.¡± ¡°Good.¡± The Imperial Preceptor walked out of the hall, turned into white light, and flew away. The king looked on with envy. On the other side, a Blood God Son turned into a puddle of blood, flowing silently inside the palace. Whether it was the guards, the palace maids, or the eunuchs, none of them noticed. Just as the Blood God Son was about to reach the king¡¯s bedroom, a white light descended. ¡°Do you still think you can hide under my formation?¡± The Imperial Preceptor pointed his finger and a full moon flew out, slicing through a red pillar. The red paint on the pillar suddenly fell off, turning into a bloody light that wanted to escape. ¡°Forbidden!¡± The Imperial Preceptor made a hand seal. Rays of light fell from the sky and trapped the blood light. Only then did the figure of the blood light appear. It was a human figure completely made of blood. ¡°So it¡¯s the Blood God Son.¡± The Imperial Preceptor was a little disappointed. ¡°Silver Moon Cold Light! ¡± A silver moon rose from behind the Imperial Preceptor, and a bone-piercing light shone on the Blood God on. After being illuminated by the cold light, the Blood God Son slowly turned into an ice sculpture. ¡°Crack! ¡± The ice sculpture shattered, turning into powdered ice crystals. The Blood God Son, who was difficult to defeat, actually perished just like that. Of course, part of the reason for this was that the Blood God Son was trapped in the formation and unable to evade or escape. Outside the palace, Zhang Chen¡¯s face was solemn. He hadn¡¯t expected the Blood God Son to be defeated so quickly. Through his connection with the Blood God Son, he learned of the Imperial Preceptor¡¯s cultivation level, which was at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. If they were outside, perhaps he could fight him, but within the formation, he recognized that he was not a match for him and didn¡¯t even have a chance to escape. Therefore, he was somewhat relieved that he had not entered the palace and instead sent the Blood God Son to gather information. ¡°Although I have already killed Wen Xiaosu, I¡¯m still trapped by the mission he arranged for me.¡± Actually, Zhang Chen had another option, which was to slaughter ordinary people and force the king of Shanyue to offer tributes to the Blood God Sect again. The Imperial Preceptor could protect the king, but he could not protect everyone. However, Zhang Chen was not a bloodthirsty person and could not bring himself to do something so inhumane. After all, he had come from a modern era and was deeply influenced by modern thinking. Besides, fighting against an Imperial Preceptor at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment would be extremely difficult and would result in heavy losses, no matter who won or lost, and the consumption would be immense, so it was more worthwhile to receive punishment. ¡°But I can¡¯t just slink away like this. I¡¯ll try to intimidate him. If it doesn¡¯t work, then I¡¯ll have to give up the mission and return to the sect to be punished.¡± With that in mind, Zhang Chen released the Blood God Sons from within him. As the Imperial Preceptor was about to return to the main hall after dealing with the Blood God Son, there was suddenly a series of intense impacts in the sky. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Looking up, he saw 40 Blood God Sons slamming into the formation. Under the intense barrage, the formation flickered with brilliant light. But the Imperial Preceptor wasn¡¯t worried. Unless five Foundation Establishment experts attacked simultaneously, the formation couldn¡¯t be broken. The voice of Zhang Chen emerged from one of the Blood God Sons. ¡°King of Shanyue, you have betrayed the Blood God Sect and joined the Silver Moon Sect. Do you realize the consequences? You may have the protection of the Silver Moon Sect, but what about your people? The Blood God Sect is a demonic sect. If you don¡¯t offer us tributes again, we will bathe Shanyue in blood. The Silver Moon Sect won¡¯t get what we can¡¯t.¡± Hearing this, the Imperial Preceptor¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Demonic sects are so despicable, threatening mortals! The King of Shanyue may be shaken. We need to appease him first.¡± At this time, the king was in a panic, walking back and forth in the hall like an ant on a hot pot. ¡°What should we do? If the Blood God Sect really bathes Shanyue in blood, then I¡¯ll truly become a solitary ruler. Why hasn¡¯t the Imperial Preceptor returned yet?¡± Yang Junchang recognized the familiar voice and immediately imagined the handsome Daoist: ¡°It¡¯s him. He¡¯s actually a Blood God Sect immortal! The people of Xinyue City also heard Zhang Chen¡¯s words and were filled with panic and fear. ¡°Maybe we should ask His Majesty to offer tributes to the Blood God Sect again. The Silver Moon Sect is a righteous immortal sect. Even if we don¡¯t offer them tributes, they won¡¯t bathe Shanyue in blood.¡± ¡°Right, let¡¯s go ask His Majesty now.¡± ¡°Imperial Preceptor, the Blood God Sect wants to wash away Shanyue Country with blood. What should we do?¡± The king hurriedly asked as he saw a white light fly into the throne room. ¡°Your Majesty, rest assured. Since my Silver Moon Sect has accepted the offering from Shanyue Kingdom, we will naturally protect you fully. I will report to the sect and have them send people over.¡± The Imperial Preceptor remained calm and unaffected by the threat. If he could be easily threatened like this, then the righteous immortal sects could just give the mortal world to the demonic sects. The king still looked worried, ¡°I believe in you, but it¡¯s hard to calm down the ministers and the people. Many people opposed offerings to the Silver Moon Sect in the first place, and now there may be rebellions and calls for my dismissal.¡± ¡°With me here, no amount of mortals can cause trouble. Instead, we can¡¯t let the disciple of the Blood God Sect keep acting arrogantly. He dares not enter the formation, so I¡¯ll go out and meet him.¡± After speaking, the Imperial Preceptor flew out of the formation. ¡°Silver Moon Cold Light!¡± Zhang Chen, hiding in the shadows, saw a round of silver moonlight emitting cold light emerge from the formation. The Blood God Sons who were illuminated by the cold light immediately began to freeze on the surface of their bodies. The people from the Silver Moon Sect are really powerful. No wonder they dare to rob the territory of the Blood God Sect. It seems that my threat has not succeeded. Well, forget it. The mission failed, and it¡¯s not worth fighting hard.¡± ¡°Moon Gold Wheel!¡± A brilliant crescent-shaped magical tool flew out of the Imperial Preceptor¡¯s hand and attacked the fleeing Blood God Sons. ¡°Pfft, pfft, pfft!¡± Several Blood God Sons were directly beheaded, but their heads immediately reattached and they continued to flee. ¡°The Blood God Sect is really troublesome.¡± The Imperial Preceptor frowned but did not pursue them. Because he was afraid of falling into a trap. After all, only Blood God Sons appeared and the person controlling them did not appear. The Imperial Preceptor¡¯s divine sense expanded, searching nearby, trying to find any hidden disciples of the Blood God Sect, but to no avail.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: A New Mission Chapter 75: A New Mission Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Zhang Chen also sensed the divine sense sweeping past him, but he remained calm. With the Yin Energy Isolating Technique, his cultivation aura was isolated. Unless he used magic, someone with a cultivation level higher than him could sense him using divine sense. Even if he was discovered, the Blood Escape Technique of their Blood God Sect was known for its speed, so escaping would not be a problem. The Imperial Preceptor stood proudly in the void, his robes fluttering. With the silver moon behind him, he was like a celestial being descended to the world, as he used his magic power to spread his voice. ¡°You can rest assured that the reinforcements from the Silver Moon Sect will arrive soon and will be able to protect the entire Shanyue kingdom.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an immortal!¡± The people knelt down and worshiped. The Imperial Preceptor¡¯s immortal appearance quickly calmed the anxious people of Xingyue City down. Seeing this scene, Zhang Chen was quite envious: ¡°Unfortunately, I have already embarked on the path of demons and am destined to be a demon king.¡± The Imperial Preceptor only stayed for a moment before returning to the formation. Several hours later, fifty miles away from Xingyue City, Zhang Chen stood in place, seeming to be waiting for someone. After a while, a blood shadow flew over and directly entered Zhang Chen¡¯s body. Then, two, three, four, and continuously more blood shadows flew over in succession. These were the Blood God Sons who had previously fled in all directions. After all the Blood God disciples had returned to his body, Zhang Chen did not linger and used the Flying Feather Soaring Technique to fly towards the direction of the Blood God Sect. At the border of Shanyue Kingdom, two men wearing Silver Moon Sect clothes watched Zhang Chen fly by. ¡°Senior brother, a Foundational Establishment cultivator just flew by.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not the Blood Escape Technique, don¡¯t pay attention to it. The disciples of the Blood God Sect can only use the Blood Escape Technique.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After traveling a hundred miles away from Shanyue Kingdom, Zhang Chen changed back into the Blood God Sect¡¯s authentic clothing and used the Blood Escape Technique to hurry on his way. Two days later, he arrived at the Internal Affairs Hall of the Blood God Sect. ¡°I failed the mission, please register it,¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s tone was full of helplessness and unwillingness as he handed over his identity card and mission jade slip. The Internal Affairs disciple carefully took the registration and asked, ¡°May I ask, senior brother, what caused you to fail the mission?¡± ¡°The disciples of the Silver Moon Sect in Shanyue Kingdom had a cultivation base of nine levels of Qi Refinement, far beyond my strength,¡± Zhang Chen replied truthfully. ¡°I will report this to the sect, and Senior Brother will receive the punishment result and new mission arrangement within three days.¡± ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t care too much. Although he would be punished for failing the mission, the punishment would not be too severe, in order to prevent disciples from deserting due to mission failure. If the mission information was incorrect, the punishment could even be waived. Zhang Chen¡¯s mission was to make Shanyue Kingdom submit again, but there might be interference from the righteous Silver Moon Sect. Everyone knew that this kind of mission could not be completed by a cultivator of only one level of Qi Refinement, but the information was not wrong, so the punishment could not be canceled. The person who arranged the mission had already prevented this kind of situation from happening. After Zhang Chen left, an Internal Affairs disciple handed over the mission card to Shen Gengyuan. ¡°Senior Brother Shen, the mission you arranged failed.¡± Shen Gengyuan took the jade slip and looked at it, without any surprise. This kind of mission was one where even someone with nine levels of Qi Refinement might not be able to survive. ¡°Go tell Wen Xiaosu, the mission failed, but the person is not dead. Should we continue with the arrangement?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Internal Affairs disciple hurriedly left. Soon, the internal disciple came back and said, ¡°Senior Brother Shen, Senior Brother Wen is not within the sect.¡± ¡°Not here?¡± Shen Gengyuan frowned. ¡°When did he leave the sect?¡± ¡°Six days ago.¡± ¡°Six days ago? Wasn¡¯t that the time when Zhang Chen went on his mission?¡± Shen Gengyuan¡¯s expression became serious. After a moment of silence, Shen Gengyuan spoke up, ¡°Zhang Chen¡¯s mission failed. He¡¯s being punished with a hundred bowls of blood essence, and he¡¯ll be assigned a new mission.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The internal disciple bowed and left. Three days passed quickly. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, are you there?¡± Zhang Chen walked out of his cave and saw that it was an internal sect disciple who had come, so he already knew why he was there. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, your mission failed, and the sect punishes you with a hundred bowls of blood essence, and also assigns you a new mission.¡± The internal sect disciple took out a blood storage bottle and a mission jade slip. Zhang Chen first took the jade slip and checked the mission. Two Qi Refinement stage rogue cultivators had killed a Blood God Sect disciple and fled to a neighboring demonic sect, the White Bone Hall¡¯s territory. His mission was to pursue and bring back the blood of the two individuals within six months. This mission was in line with his cultivation level. Zhang Chen nodded and put away the mission jade slip, then took out the blood storage bottle and poured out a hundred bowls of blood to hand over to the Internal Affairs disciple. He had killed Wen Xiaosu and Wang, and obtained their blood essence. Even with the loss of a Blood God Son in Shanyue Kingdom, the consumption of some blood essence, plus a penalty of one hundred bowls, he still made a big profit. ¡°Then I won¡¯t bother you, Brother Zhang,¡± said the Internal Affairs disciple, who took the blood essence and left after bowing. The next day, Zhang Chen left the Sect and went to the territory of the neighboring White Bone Hall. The territory of the White Bone Hall was not small, and it was not easy to find two wandering cultivators. Fortunately, the two itinerant cultivators had a blood curse on them, and he could sense them when he got close within a hundred miles. Ten days later, blood light flashed, and Zhang Chen landed in front of a big river. On the surface, it looked like a surging river, but it was actually an illusion formation. With his spiritual eye and illusion-breaking ability, he could vaguely see that it was a market. And according to the sensing of the blood curse, the two wandering cultivators who killed the Blood God Sect disciples were hiding inside. Since he came to the market, he naturally wanted to go in and take a look. Zhang Chen walked towards the river and suddenly the scenery changed. The sound of waves turned into the sound of vendors and towering buildings surrounding him. ¡°Sir, this is the market of the White Bone Hall. You need to pay a spirit stone to enter.¡± Two guards at the entrance bowed respectfully. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhang Chen handed over a spirit stone to the guards without hesitation. ¡°Please, sir.¡± Meanwhile, two Qi Refinement level nine itinerant cultivators in an inn in the market were frowning. The two looked extremely alike, presumably twin brothers. The younger brother said, ¡°Brother, we have to pay one spirit stone every day in the market. How long can we hide?¡± ¡°I have already asked someone for a way to lift the blood curse. If we can get rid of it, we won¡¯t have to worry about being chased by the Blood God Sect anymore.¡± The older brother was more composed. ¡°If only we knew earlier, we shouldn¡¯t have attacked the Blood God Sect disciple for a demon beast.¡± The younger brother was full of regret. ¡°At this point, there¡¯s no use saying anything. Nobody knew that the Blood God Sect disciple would use the Blood Ignition Technique.¡± The older brother was helpless. On the other side, Zhang Chen was wandering around in the market. His advantage was having a modifier that allowed him to ignore the side effects of cultivation methods. Therefore, his first target was the stall selling spells. Soon, he saw a spell that interested him. ¡®The Unbounded Demon Sutra¡¯ can help one transform into the appearance of another person, without any flaws. The drawback is gradually losing memory and forgetting one¡¯s previous identity. In other words, after becoming another person, as time goes by, one would forget who they are. ¡°How much does this ¡®The Unbounded Demon Sutra¡¯ cost?¡± Zhang Chen asked. The vendor replied, ¡°300 spirit stones.¡± After thinking for a moment, Zhang Chen bargained, ¡°Will you sell it for 200 spirit stones?¡± The vendor became a little impatient, ¡°The lowest is 260 spirit stones..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: The Six Arts of Immortal Cultivation Chapter 76: The Six Arts of Immortal Cultivation Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Okay, and how much for these six books?¡± Zhang Chen pointed to the six books. These were the introductory books to the Six Arts of Immortal Cultivation, ¡®Introduction to Alchemy¡¯, ¡®Introduction to Weapons Refinement¡¯, ¡®Introduction to Formations¡¯, ¡®Introduction to Talisman Crafting¡¯, ¡®Introduction to Spiritual Plants¡¯, and ¡®Introduction to Puppet Creation¡¯. Anyone who was proficient in any one of them could thrive in the world of cultivation. Zhang Chen wasn¡¯t sure which one suited him best, so he decided to buy all of them to see if he had any talent in these areas. Even if he didn¡¯t have any talent, he could still expand his knowledge. The vendor glanced at them and said, ¡°100 spirit stones per book.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take all six. Can you give me a discount?¡± Zhang Chen asked. The vendor was taken aback but thought for a moment and said, ¡°If you buy all six, it¡¯s 50 spirit stones per book.¡± These were just the most basic introductory knowledge and not particularly valuable; most cultivators knew something about them. ¡°That¡¯s a total of seven books for 560 spirit stones.¡± Zhang Chen handed over the spirit stones, which he had almost emptied from killing people during this period. Seeing so many spirit stones, the stall owner became enthusiastic. ¡°Fellow Daoist, these are the spells and introductory books you want. Please take them.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhang Chen took it and placed it in his storage bag. He turned around and walked towards the inn, no longer strolling around the market. It was not that he did not want to shop anymore, but he did not have many spirit stones left. This was not the market of the Blood God Sect and did not accept blood essence. ¡®When I return to the sect, I have to exchange for some spirit stones.¡¯ Blood essence was only circulated within the Blood God Sect. The real currency in the cultivation world was still spirit stones. As he thought about it, Zhang Chen arrived at the inn. According to his Blood God Sense, the target of this mission was inside the inn. ¡°Senior, do you want to stay in the inn?¡± The innkeeper immediately welcomed him. ¡°Well, how much is it per day here?¡± Zhang Chen asked. ¡°A normal room is one spirit stone per day, a mid-range room is five spirit stones per day, and a top-level room is ten spirit stones per day. The mid-range room included three meals, which were all made of demon beast meat. The top-level room had a gathering spirit array, which not only had abundant spiritual energy but also has spirit fruit medicinal baths and maidservants to serve. ¡°If you like the maidservant, you can just reward her with two spirit stones¡­ Hehehe-¡± ¡°Just give me a normal room.¡± Since consuming and refining demon blood was equivalent to absorbing spirit stones for cultivation, he didn¡¯t have a great demand for spiritual energy in his surroundings. ¡°Okay, senior. This is your room number array card. You just need to inject some mana to open the door.¡± The innkeeper was a bit disappointed since most Foundation Establishment cultivators would choose the top-level room. Arriving at his room and hanging the ¡°Do Not Disturb¡± sign, Zhang Chen took out the newly bought ¡®Formless Demon Scripture¡¯. [Detected that the cultivation technique, Formless Demon Scripture, can transform into another person¡¯s appearance, without revealing any flaws in appearance.] [Side effect: After using it, you will gradually lose your memory over time and forget your original identity, turning into a completely different person.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] Zhang Chen¡¯s heart was already calm as he began to cultivate this spell. The Formless Demon Scripture could be said to be a necessary spell for killing, arson, framing, and evading pursuit. Of course, simply changing one¡¯s appearance was useless, as the cultivators had too many detection methods. For example, blood curses and other marking spells, no matter how the target changed their appearance or hid their aura, were useless. Blood bodies were originally condensed from blood, and changing their appearance was very easy. Therefore, Zhang Chen only took 10 days to master it. Getting started only meant being able to change one¡¯s face. If one wanted to be exactly like the person they were changing into, they still needed to practice until they reached mastery. However, it was enough for now. Zhang Chen took out the ¡®Introduction to Alchemy¡¯ and flipped through it. Since it was an introduction, it naturally covered the most basic things. It roughly introduced several methods of alchemy, what was needed, what to pay attention to, and the steps, etc. However, to truly practice alchemy, it was far from enough. At the very least, one needed a pill formula. The other five entry-level books were roughly the same. Only the book on spiritual plants mainly talked about how to view the properties of spiritual plants, what environment they should be grown in, and how to take care of them. After reading all six books, Zhang Chen felt that he might have some talent in alchemy, arrays, and talisman-making because these three techniques required powerful spiritual will. With the Divine Forging Technique and the Soul Devouring Technique, his divine thoughts were naturally powerful. Among them, talisman-making was the easiest to master. One only needed a talisman brush, talisman paper, and demon blood to try making talismans. Hence, Zhang Chen prepared to go out and buy a talisman brush and talisman paper to practice. Previously, he had obtained several storage bags. The things inside could be sold for some spirit stones. ¡°Eh! One of them left the inn.¡± At this moment, Zhang Chen sensed a blood curse starting to move and leaving the inn. After thinking about it, he decided to follow and take a look. Changing his clothes, Zhang Chen¡¯s face wriggled and turned into the appearance of Wen Xiaosu. Then he used the Yin Energy Isolating Technique to hide his aura. After leaving the inn, Zhang Chen quickly found his target according to his senses. He was a middle-aged man with the cultivation of the ninth level of Qi Refinement. This was the older of the twins. He came to a stall and cupped his hands. ¡°Fellow Daoist Su, have you found anything about the matter I asked you to find out?¡± The stall owner shook his head. ¡°If the Blood God Sect¡¯s blood curse is so easy to remove, what¡¯s the point of this blood curse?¡± His brother nodded in disappointment. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble Fellow Daoist Su to continue investigating for me.¡± ¡°Fellow Daoist, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll try my best to find out.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t delay Fellow Daoist Su¡¯s business.¡± After his brother left, Zhang Chen came to the stall. ¡°Fellow Daoist, what do you need?¡± The stall owner greeted him warmly. Zhang Chen took out two spirit stones and placed them on the table. He asked calmly, ¡°What did that person say to you just now?¡± The stall owner looked at the spirit stones and then at Zhang Chen, showing a hesitant expression. ¡°I always keep my customers¡¯ secrets, and besides, he¡¯s been my good friend for many years. We¡¯re like brothers¡­¡± Without waiting for the stall owner to ask for more money, Zhang Chen revealed his Foundation Establishment stage aura and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to stay in this market forever, tell me what that person said.¡± In truth, it wasn¡¯t that Zhang Chen didn¡¯t want to pay more, but he was short on money and had to resort to threats. The stall owner was sweating profusely and quickly said, ¡°Sir, he asked me to help him find a way to break the Blood Curse.¡± A way to break the blood curse? Zhang Chen thought of a way to get the man out of the market. Although they would have to leave sooner or later, he didn¡¯t want to waste time. ¡°I have something I need you to do. After it¡¯s done, I¡¯ll give you 20 spirit stones.¡± ¡°Sir, just tell me what you need. I¡¯ll do it for you,¡± the stall owner replied, not daring to raise the price this time. ¡°In a couple of days, tell him you¡¯ve found a way to break the Blood Curse and bring him out of the market.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯t believe me.¡± ¡°Tell him that the method is¡­ After giving his instructions, Zhang Chen went to several other shops and sold everything he didn¡¯t need, earning a total of 270 spirit stones. Then he went to a shop that sold talismans to ask about the price of the materials.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Mission Completed Chapter 77: Mission Completed Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Do you sell talisman brushes and paper here?¡± Zhang Chen asked as he walked Inco me snop. ¡°Of course we do. May I know what kind you need, Daoist?¡± The shopkeeper stood up to greet him. ¡°I¡¯m just starting to learn about talismans, so I just need something to practice with.¡± Zhang Chen replied. The shopkeeper took out a jade-white talisman brush and introduced, ¡°Then I recommend this White Wolf Brush. It¡¯s made from the leg bones of a level three wolf demon and the white fur from its forehead. ¡°It has a moderate feel and can be used to draw inferior spirit talismans. It only costs 30 spirit stones and is the most suitable for beginners. However, please note that the White Wolf brush cannot withstand magical power.¡± Inferior spirit talismans referred to talismans with power below level four of Qi Refinement. For beginners like Zhang Chen, it was indeed suitable. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take this White Wolf brush. The shopkeeper put the brush aside and took out a stack of magic paper. ¡°This is magic paper made from the skin of a level one demon. It can hold inferior talismans, and costs 50 sheets for one spirit stone.¡± Zhang Chen thought for a moment, ¡°Let me take 500 sheets first.¡± ¡°Does Daoist need any demon blood?¡± The shopkeeper continued to ask. ¡°No, that¡¯s all.¡± Zhang Chen took out the spirit stones. ¡°Safe travels, Daoist. I wish you a smooth journey in the path of talisman-making.¡± ¡°Thanks a lot.¡± Back at the inn, Zhang Chen began to draw spirit talismans. In the ¡®Introduction to Talisman Crafting¡¯ , there was a very basic talisman, the Dust-Removing Talisman, which was used to remove dust, and was used for practice. He poured a bowl of demon blood, spread the magic paper on the table, picked up the magic brush, held his breath, infused spiritual power, and drew the talisman with mental guidance. As expected, he failed. ¡°I was too impatient. I should have practiced drawing the talisman until I was proficient and able to do it in one go without interruptions before starting to make talismans.¡± Zhang Chen summed up his failed experience and began to practice drawing talismans on the table with water as ink. Although Zhang Chen¡¯s talent was average, he was, after all, only at the most basic level of talismans. However, with patience and perseverance, a strong spiritual sense, and excellent control over his body, he successfully drew his first Jingchen Talisman the next day. ¡°I did it!¡± Looking at the spiritual energy emanating from the talisman in his hand, Zhang Chen¡¯s face was full of joy, as if he had obtained a rare treasure that he couldn¡¯t put down. ¡°Let¡¯s try it out.¡± Zhang Chen aimed the talisman at the table and infused it with spiritual power to activate it. The talisman flashed, and a breeze blew by, blowing away the dust on the table. But the used talisman lost its spirituality, and the blood-drawn talisman on it disappeared, as if it were just ordinary yellow paper. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going!¡± Zhang Chen, caught up in the moment, did not rest for a moment and continued to draw talismans. On the third day, in the room of the twin cultivators. ¡°Big brother, did you really find a way to remove the blood curse?¡± The younger brother was a little excited, as long as the blood curse was removed, they would no longer have to hide in the marketplace. ¡°Well, the other party said that the blood curse is hidden in the blood, and all we need to do is to draw out all the blood in our body to break the curse.¡± When the younger brother heard this, his eyes widened. ¡°Draw out all the blood in our body? Doesn¡¯t that mean we will die?¡± ¡°There are people who can perform blood transfusions and can give us other people¡¯s blood, so we won¡¯t die.¡± ¡°Can we use other people¡¯s blood?¡± ¡°It seems like it¡¯s possible. I¡¯ve heard of similar methods.¡± The older brother nodded and continued. ¡°This is currently the only way we have found. We can only take the risk and try it out. I¡¯ll go first and you watch from the side. If something goes wrong, take action immediately.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The younger brother nodded vigorously. After speaking, the two of them left the inn together. Zhang Chen, who was originally drawing symbols, sensed the Blood Curse moving and threw away the scrapped paper, standing up to leave. Soon, the twins arrived at the stall. ¡°We¡¯re here. Can you take us to the person who can change blood?¡± the older brother asked. The vendor named Su said, ¡°The person who can change blood is outside of the city. If you dare to leave the city, I will take you there.¡± The older brother frowned. ¡°Can you bring him to the city?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t use spells in the city.¡± The vendor shook his head. ¡°Big Brother, what should we do now?¡± the younger brother asked anxiously. The older brother frowned, struggling with the decision to leave the city or not. If they didn¡¯t solve the Blood Curse, they would face the pursuit of the Blood God Sect. It cost one spirit stone per day to stay in the city, and they didn¡¯t have any skills to earn spirit stones. After such a long time, they had almost run out of spirit stones. After some time, even if they found a way to solve the Blood Curse, he wouldn¡¯t be able to offer spirit stones as compensation. In the end, his brother said, ¡°We can leave the city, but we can¡¯t go too far.¡± The vendor smiled. ¡°It¡¯s not far. It¡¯s only five miles from the city.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you for your help, Su.¡± ¡°Follow me.¡± The three of them walked towards the outskirts of the city. After leaving the market, the two brothers were very nervous and uneasy as they vigilantly looked around. They did not know if the people from the Blood God Sect had chased after them, but they had to be careful. One mile, two miles, three miles¡­ As they went further and further away, nothing happened. The two brothers were no longer as nervous as before. However, the stall owner began to become nervous. That Foundation Establishment senior told me that Ijust had to trick the two brothers out of the market. Now that we¡¯re almost five miles away, why hasn¡¯t he appeared yet? What if these two brothers know that I¡¯m lying to them? These two brothers were both at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. He was no match for them. Zhang Chen naturally followed from behind. With the Yin Energy Isolating Technique isolating his cultivation aura and the difference in cultivation realm, the three of them could not discover him at all. They hadn¡¯t made a move yet because they wanted to get as far away from the market as possible to avoid any escape routes the two might have back to the market. His brother suddenly stopped in his tracks and stared nervously at the stall owner. ¡°Fellow Daoist Su, it seems like we¡¯ve already gone five miles. Why haven¡¯t we arrived yet?¡± ¡°W-we¡¯re almost there, just ahead,¡± the vendor said, sweat beading on his forehead. ¡°That¡¯s not right, you¡¯re lying to us!¡± Both brothers understood immediately upon seeing the vendor¡¯s behavior. ¡°Run!¡± the older brother yelled as he turned and ran towards the market. But they quickly stopped in their tracks as Zhang Chen turned into a blood-red light, blocking their way. ¡°People from the Blood God Sect!¡± ¡°Foundation Establishment, only one person?¡± The brothers¡¯ faces darkened, but they felt relieved upon seeing that it was only Zhang Chen at the Foundation Establishment level. Although the two brothers were at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, they had a combined attack spell that could barely withstand someone at the Foundation Establishment level. This place was only five miles away from the market, so there might be a chance. Zhang Chen did not speak. Blood shadows flew out of his body and surrounded the two brothers. Looking at the 40 Blood Gods at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, the two brothers were filled with despair. ¡°Kill!¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t waste any time and gave the order. The Blood God Sons rushed forward. Although the two brothers had a combined attack spell to withstand someone at the Foundation Establishment level, forty Blood God Sons were more than enough to handle someone at the eighth level of Qi Refinement. They didn¡¯t last a single breath before the Blood God Sons sucked all the blood from their bodies. ¡°Bang!¡± The two dried corpses fell to the ground at the same time.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Birth of Intellect Chapter 78: Birth of Intellect Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Senior, can I go now?¡± The nearby vendor looked frightened and wanted to run, but didn¡¯t dare to. He was afraid that Zhang Chen wouldn¡¯t let him go and would go back on his word, as there were too many instances of people burning bridges after crossing them. ¡°Wait,¡± Zhang Chen called out. ¡°Senior, is there anything else?¡± The vendor¡¯s body stiffened. ¡°This is your reward.¡± Zhang Chen tossed 20 spirit stones over. The vendor never expected Zhang Chen to actually keep his promise and hastily caught the spirit stones. ¡°Thank you, senior.¡± Zhang Chen ignored the stall owner and took the storage bags of the two brothers from the Blood God Sons. Other than a dozen or so spiritual stones and a jade slip, there was nothing else in the storage bags. It was obvious they sold everything they could and had spent almost all their spirit stones. Even if the two brothers continued to hide in the market, they could only do so for another ten days. It was no wonder they took the risk of coming out. Zhang Chen took out a jade slip and placed it on his forehead to check. He realized that it was a joint attack spell called ¡°Heaven and Earth Combined¡±. It COUICI connect tne two Individuals¡¯ spiritual powers as one, releasing a powerful strike. However, the two individuals had to be in sync mentally, or else their spiritual powers would clash and they would explode and die. Zhang Chen¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw this spell. If he gave it to the Blood God to use, his strength could greatly increase. However, the Blood God was currently not rational and needed him to split his attention to control it. ¡°I wonder how long it will take for the Blood God to develop intelligence.¡± Thinking of this, Zhang Chen also thought of the Blood God he had released earlier and didn¡¯t know if it had gained intelligence or not. Because they were too far apart, he could only sense the direction the Blood God was in through a vague connection. With the mission completed, Zhang Chen transformed into blood light and flew towards the Blood God Sect. At the same time, an unwelcome guest arrived at a burial mound. ¡°Respected ghost grandfathers and grandmothers, please don¡¯t be offended. Money can¡¯t be brought into the afterlife, and when in need, one seeks help from the world.¡± A man with a hoe muttered to himself nervously as he arrived at the burial mound. His name was Song Limin, a gambler who couldn¡¯t pay back his debts and had come to the burial mound to see if he could find something valuable. He was hiding from loan sharks. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s just me.¡± Song Li chose a mound with tributes and looked around. If no one was around, he was ready to dig. ¡°Eh! Why did that Daoist temple collapse?¡± Song Limin suddenly realized that the Daoist temple not far from the mass grave had become a pile of ruins. He still remembered that the Daoist temple was built decades ago by a Daoist priest to suppress the souls of the mass graves. It was said that he had spent a lot of silver at that time. ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look. Maybe we can pick up something valuable.¡± Song Limin hurriedly ran towards the Daoist temple. Even if it was scrap metal, it could still fetch some money. It was much easier than digging graves. Arriving at the ruins of the Daoist temple, Song Limin began to search continuously. Soon, his attention was drawn to a perfectly intact jar. ¡°It¡¯s heavy and there¡¯s something inside.¡± Song Limin picked up the jar and showed a happy expression, opening the lid. As the lid was opened, a strong smell of blood emanated, and inside was thick, red liquid, as if it had just flowed out of a body. ¡°This is blood!¡± Song Limin quickly threw the jar away. ¡°Pa! ¡± The jar shattered, blood splattered everywhere, but a strange scene occurred, as the blood on the ground began to flow and converge. In Song Limin¡¯s terrified gaze, the blood on the ground condensed into the shape of a human. ¡°Ghost¡­ Ghost!¡± Song Limin screamed and fled in panic. Zhang Chen left an order for the Blood God¡¯s offspring to hide and not hurt anyone indiscriminately. The Blood God Son had no intelligence and acted purely on instinct, and Song Limin¡¯s act of breaking the jar was perceived as an attack on it. So the Blood God Son moved, turning into blood light and pouncing on Song Limin. In iust an instant, all of Sonz Limin¡¯s blood was sucked drv, turninz him into a shriveled corpse. After sucking the blood, the Blood God Son stood motionless next to the corpse, looking lost and not knowing what to do. After a long time, the Blood God Son seemed to have undergone a slight change. Although it still looked the same, it seemed to have gained some agility. The face without any features began to wriggle, revealing rough facial features. The Blood God Son slowly opened its mouth, making intermittent, awkward sounds, ¡°Blood¡­ blood¡­ blood¡­ After a while, the Blood God Son finally moved, transforming into a puddle of blood and flowing towards the distant forest. Blood¡­ Hide¡­ Blood¡­ Hide¡­ In the forest, a wild rabbit was eating grass, suddenly pausing as if sensing danger and trying to escape. A blood shadow flashed by, and the rabbit¡¯s body withered, and it became still. A puddle of blood flowed out of the rabbit¡¯s corpse, continuing to flow into the forest. Driven by the thirst for blood, the Blood God Son continued to seek out and consume the blood of living creatures. Wherever it went, it left behind withered animal corpses. A woodcutter was chopping down a tree, paying no attention to the puddle of blood flowing through the nearby bushes. ¡°Master¡­ not allowed to hurt people indiscriminately¡­ blood¡­¡± The Blood God restrained his instincts, ignored the woodcutter, and continued to flow forward. Five days later, Zhang Chen arrived at the Blood God Sect¡¯s marketplace outside the Demon Beast Mountain Range. He exchanged his blood for 400 spirit stones, bought some talisman paper, and several simple methods for drawing talismans. He had originally wanted to buy a pill furnace to try alchemy, but he decided to put it off for now. He hadn¡¯t fully mastered talisman making yet, and he couldn¡¯t afford to be distracted by alchemy, or he would end up accomplishing nothing in either. He had to master talisman making first before considering other things. Back at the Blood God Sect, after completing his mission, Zhang Chen began his dull and boring cultivation routine. He practiced drawing talismans in the morning, practiced spells in the afternoon, and devoured and refined demon blood at night. A month later, Zhang Chen¡¯s peaceful life was once again disrupted, as his third senior brother returned. In Eldest Senior Brother¡¯s cave abode. ¡°Third Junior Brother, you¡¯re finally back. ¡± Hong Longguang faced a man with a dark and fierce countenance. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, I haven¡¯t been back for a few years. Did something major happen in the sect?¡± ¡°Nothing major, but Master took in a new disciple before the third year and gave him your share of the profits from the Beast Garden.¡± Third Senior Brother looked furious. ¡°What! Not only did Master take in a new disciple, but he also gave him my share of the Beast Garden profits?¡± Hong Longguang sighed, ¡°This is Master¡¯s decision, and we have no say in it.¡± ¡°What about me? What am I supposed to do? How can a newly-promoted inner disciple take two-thirds of the profits from the Beast Garden?¡± Third senior brother gritted his teeth. ¡°Are you trying to defy Master¡¯s orders?¡± Hong Longguang shook his head. ¡°What if he voluntarily gives me his share?¡± Third senior brother sneered. Shortly after, outside Zhang Chen¡¯s cave. ¡°Is Seventh Junior Brother here? I¡¯m Eldest Senior Brother.¡± ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhang Chen walked out of the cave abode and realized that there was an unfamiliar man at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment beside Hong Longguang. ¡°This is your third senior brother, Wu Chang.¡± ¡°Greetings, Third Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen bowed.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Master and Disciple Scheming Chapter 79: Master and Disciple Scheming Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Wu Chang sized up Zhang Chen and said in an unfriendly tone, ¡°Did Master give you my share of the Beast Garden?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m indebted to Master¡¯s kindness. Master also said at that time that he would have other arrangements for Third Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen had already guessed their intentions. Wu Chang narrowed his eyes. ¡°The waters of the Beast Garden are very deep. You can¡¯t grasp it. If you¡¯re smart, take the initiative to hand over the benefits of the Beast Garden.¡± ¡°I think I can handle it.¡± Zhang Chen was neither arrogant nor humble. Wu Chang smiled disdainfully. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re not smart enough. Only smart people can live in the Blood God Sect for a long time. Fourth Junior Brother only obtained 15% of the benefits at the sixth level of the Foundation Establishment realm. ¡°You¡¯re only at the first level of the Foundation Establishment realm. Do you have the ability to take 20% of the benefits of the Beast Garden? The most important thing for people is to recognize their own strengths. ¡°Let me be frank with you. If you take the initiative to share the benefits, I¡¯ll acknowledge you as my junior brother and let you have 5% of the benefits like Sixth Junior Brother.¡± ¡°You want to acknowledge me as your junior brother, but I don¡¯t want to acknowledge you as my senior brother.¡± Zhang Chen looked straight at Wu Chang, no longer as polite as before. He also needed a large number of resources to cultivate and did not want to give up his benefits so easily. Wu Chang was at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. He might not be his match, but he had no problem protecting himself. Moreover, his sect mission had been completed, and he had at least three years to develop steadily. With the speed at which his strength was improving, Wu Chang would definitely not be his match. ¡°Good, very good.¡± Wu Chang was so angry that he laughed. His aura at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm spread out without reservation, wanting to suppress others with his power. ¡°Do you think you can look down on me just because you have Master¡¯s support?¡± Hong Longguang looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, I still need to cultivate, so I will excuse myself.¡± Zhang Chen ignored Wu Chang and turned to enter his cave. ¡°You don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you!¡± Wu Chang¡¯s gaze was ruthless. It never crossed his mind that Zhang Chen, who was at the first level of Foundation Establishment, would dare to reject him and not take him seriously at all. ¡°Third Junior Brother, don¡¯t be angry. Benefits move people¡¯s hearts. Some people can¡¯t see themselves clearly. It¡¯s normal for them to be unwilling to give up benefits.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Wu Chang snorted coldly and turned into a blood light to leave. In the cave abode. Zhang Chen put away the talisman brush and talisman paper. He knew that there would be trouble soon. The most important thing now was to increase his strength with all his might. He could put aside the matter of making talismans for the time being. The fastest way to increase his strength now was to create Blood God Sons. On the other side, after Wu Chang left Zhang Chen¡¯s cave abode, he arrived at the Internal Affairs Hall. As long as Zhang Chen died, the dividends of the Beast Garden would still belong to him. Therefore, the first thing he thought of was to use the sect mission to deal with Zhang Chen. He had been in the sect for more than a hundred years and had some connections. Moreover, he was at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm. Most people would give him some face. Most people knew how to choose between a first-level Foundation Establishment cultivator and a ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator. ¡°Which senior brother is in charge of the Internal Affairs Hall now?¡± Wu Chang asked an internal affairs disciple. ¡°It¡¯s Senior Brother Shen Gengyuan,¡± the Internal Affairs disciple said respectfully. ¡°Report to Senior Brother Shen that Wu Chang, the third disciple of Elder Blood River, requests an audience.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The internal affairs disciple hurriedly turned around and went to the back hall to report. The Internal Affairs disciple quickly returned. ¡°Senior Brother Wu, please follow me.¡± Not long after, Wu Chang arrived at the inner hall. ¡°Junior Brother Wu, why are you looking for me?¡± Shen Gengyuan had a smile on his face which made people feel comfortable. Wu Chang cupped his hands. ¡°I would like to trouble Senior Brother Shen to arrange a mission for someone.¡± Shen Gengyuan nodded. ¡°Who do you want to assign a mission to?¡± ¡°His name is Zhang Chen. He just became a direct disciple three years ago.¡± ¡°Zhang Chen?¡± Shen Gengyuan was slightly surprised when he heard this familiar name. Seeing this, Wu Chang asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Does Senior Brother Shen have any difficulty?¡± Shen Gengyuan shook his head. ¡°Junior Brother Wu, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m unwilling to help you, but a month ago, Zhang Chen had already completed the sect¡¯s mission. If you want to arrange it, you have to wait three years.¡± ¡°He has only reached the Foundation Establishment realm for three years and has already completed the mission?¡± Wu Chang was stunned. Shen Gengyuan explained, ¡°Previously, my 19th junior brother asked me to arrange a mission for Zhang Chen.¡± Wu Chang frowned and said reluctantly, ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t disturb Senior Brother Shen anymore.¡± ¡°Take care, Junior Brother Wu.¡± Shen Gengyuan watched Wu Chang leave with a hint of curiosity. ¡°What kind of person is this Zhang Chen? He has just reached the Foundation Establishment realm and has already offended so many people.¡± Outside the Internal Affairs Hall. Wu Chang¡¯s face darkened. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect him to have completed the sect mission. However, I have methods to deal with him in the sect!¡± Blood River Peak, in the cave abode. The bat demon reported respectfully, ¡°Master, as you expected, Wu Chang went to look for Zhang Chen. He wanted Zhang Chen to take the initiative to give up the share of the Beast Garden, but Zhang Chen refused.¡± The Blood River Elder¡¯s expression was calm, and it was impossible to tell if he was happy or angry. ¡°Even if Zhang Chen agrees, I¡¯ll give the order to stop him. By the way, did Zhang Chen show any anger?¡± ¡°No,¡± the bat demon answered truthfully. ¡°Go and tell Wu Chang to quickly form his core. As long as he forms his core, the Beast Garden will be handed over to him to manage in the future.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The bat demon bowed and left. The Blood River Elder narrowed his eyes and muttered, ¡°The first and third disciples are not in the Core Formation realm. I need to force them. I don¡¯t have the patience to wait any longer. ¡°Zhang Chen, I¡¯ve given you so many resources. Don¡¯t disappoint me with your cultivation speed.¡± Then, the cave abode fell silent again. ¡°Pa! Pa! Pa!.. Wu Chang had just returned to his cave abode when he heard the sound of bat wings flapping behind him. The bat demon did not transform into his human form and said in the air, ¡°Wu Chang, Master has ordered you to form your core as soon as possible. After you form your core, he will give you full authority to manage the Beast Garden.¡± ¡°Yes, Master!¡± Wu Chang bowed. The bat demon didn¡¯t say anything else and turned to fly away. Wu Chang¡¯s expression was ugly. ¡°No wonder he gave my share of the Beast Garden to Zhang Chen. It turns out that he wants to force me to form my core!¡± Although he was the third disciple of Blood River Elder, his cultivation level was higher than his second senior sister¡¯s. Twenty years ago, he was already at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. However, seeing that Hong Longguang refused to form his Golden Core, he naturally realized something and stopped improving his cultivation. After asking around, there were almost no new elders in the Blood God Sect. Many disciples from the other factions were unwilling to form their cores, which explained the problem. ¡°Hong Longguang hasn¡¯t reached the Core Formation stage after so long. Why can¡¯t I?¡± Wu Chang made up his mind and planned to continue delaying. In the next few months, Zhang Chen lived very calmly, as if he had been forgotten. ¡°Looking at the time, it¡¯s my turn to guard the Beast Garden and deal with matters again.¡± Zhang Chen placed a Blood God Son into his body and cultivated it before getting up and walking out. A blood light streaked past like a meteor and landed outside the core cave abode of the formation at the top of the Beast Garden. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, I¡¯m here to take over.¡± ¡°Seventh Junior Brother, I¡¯ll leave this place to you. The Beast Garden has been unstable recently. You have to pay more attention and don¡¯t let anything go wrong.¡± Hong Longguang seemed to be implying something. Zhang Chen seemed to be deep in thought. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Eldest Senior Brother. I¡¯ll be careful..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Endless Trouble Chapter 80: Endless Trouble Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be leaving then.¡± Hong Longguang turned into a blood light and left. Zhang Chen entered the core cave abode of the array formation with a slightly solemn expression. From Hong Longguangs words, I can tell that Wu Chang will definitely make things difficult for me in the Beast Garden. Ijust don¡¯t know how he would do it. At this moment, a shout came from outside the cave. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, a demon beast has escaped.¡± Zhang Chen knew that something would happen to the Beast Garden, but he didn¡¯t expect it to happen so quickly. However, he still had to do it well and not be criticized. Zhang Chen came outside and asked, ¡°What cave is it?¡± ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, cave 220.¡± Hearing this, Zhang Chen immediately flew in the direction of cave 220. After arriving at the location, they discovered that a demon beast at the ninth level of Qi Refinement was going crazy. A few disciples resisted with difficulty. The bloodthirsty aura on Zhang Chen¡¯s body condensed and he slapped down. ¡°Boom!¡± A huge palm print appeared on the ground. Strands of red murderous aura rose. In the center was a bloody demon beast whose fate was unknown, The few Beast Garden disciples had just heaved a sigh of relief when they heard Zhang Chen¡¯s cold voice. ¡°How did this demon beast escape?¡± A disciple of the Beast Garden replied, ¡°Senior Brother, a junior brother who was collecting blood was careless and let the demon beast escape.¡± ¡°Is the disciple who took the blood still alive?¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s tone was still cold. ¡°He¡¯s wounded, but he¡¯s alive.¡± ¡°Alright, demote that disciple to a blood slave. Inform everyone that in the next month, if a demon beast escapes during the blood collection, regardless of whether it¡¯s an accident or not, the disciple will be demoted to a blood slave. ¡°If the blood is not taken and the demon beast escapes for no reason, the registration disciple who manages the array token will be demoted to a blood slave!¡± Zhang Chen knew that if he did not issue this order, demon beasts would escape one after another. Ordinary direct disciples did not have the right to make their disciples blood slaves, but direct disciples in charge of the sect¡¯s affairs were not ordinary direct disciples. Instead, they were deacons who had the right to punish the disciples they managed. Upon hearing this, a few Beast Garden disciples trembled. ¡°Yes.¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s cold gaze swept past them before he turned around and left. After the order was sent out, the disciples who had originally planned to release the demon beasts and disturb the Beast Garden gave up. No matter how much he wanted to please Wu Chang, it was not as important as their own lives. Before long, a disciple of the Beast Garden hastily left the Beast Garden. At this moment, Wu Chang was talking to his fourth, fifth, and sixth junior brothers in the cave abode. ¡°That Zhang Chen must think that I can¡¯t do anything to him in the sect, but he doesn¡¯t know that I have plenty of ways to deal with him. The Beast Garden must be in chaos now. ¡°After a while, we¡¯ll chase him out of the Beast Garden on the grounds that his management ability is inadequate and is causing losses to the Beast Garden.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll listen to Third Senior Brother¡¯s arrangements.¡± Fourth Junior Brother and the others looked like they were trying to curry favor. Wu Chang was at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, so they naturally did not dare to offend him, so they stood on Wu Chang¡¯s side. At the same time, they were also jealous of Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen was only at the first level of the Foundation Establishment realm and had just advanced, but he had received more benefits than them. They were resentful. Previously, they had agreed to let Zhang Chen take over Wu Chang¡¯s share of the profits because they did not want their own share to decrease. ¡°Is Senior Brother Wu here? Disciples of the Beast Garden request an audience.¡± Why were the disciples of the Beast Garden here? Could there be a problem with the Beast Garden? Wu Chang frowned slightly. ¡°Come in.¡± The Beast Garden disciple entered the cave abode and bowed. ¡°Greetings, senior brothers.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Wu Chang asked in a deep voice. ¡°Senior Brother, you previously instructed me to arrange for people to cause trouble in the Beast Garden, but Zhang Chen ordered that if a demon beast escaped, all disciples involved would be demoted to blood slaves, so no disciple dared to do it.¡± After listening to the disciple of the Beast Garden, Wu Chang¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Zhang Chen has some brains and decisiveness, but do you think it¡¯s over just like that? If the disciples from the Beast Garden can¡¯t deal with you, I¡¯ll get other disciples to do so.¡± In the Beast Garden, no more demon beasts escaped due to the dire consequence. However, after only a day, new troubles came. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, the people from the Pill Pavilion said that they need three bottles of Foundation Establishment demon blood.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± This was a normal matter, and Zhang Chen could not refuse. He stood up and went to the cave where the Foundation Establishment demon beasts were imprisoned to obtain blood. Soon, Zhang Chen finished taking the blood and handed the blood storage bottle to the disciples of the Beast Garden. Not long after, the disciple of the Beast Garden rushed over again. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, the Pill Pavilion said that you used the Qi Refinement demon blood to make up the numbers, causing the pill refinement to fail. They want you to compensate them.¡± Zhang Chen knew that this was definitely Wu Chang¡¯s method of making the Pill Pavilion cause trouble deliberately. ¡°Couldn¡¯t they tell if it¡¯s Foundation Establishment demon blood when they exchanged for it? Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The disciple of the Beast Garden left, but not long after, he came again. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, the people from the Pill Pavilion are unwilling to let go. A senior brother is blocking the entrance of the Beast Garden and seeks an explanation from you.¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s gaze turned cold. ¡°Go to the Pill Pavilion to look for Feng Wensheng. Tell him that I¡¯m looking for him and ask him to come to the Beast Garden.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The disciple of the Beast Garden left quickly. Zhang Chen transformed into a blood light and flew towards the entrance of the Beast Garden. ¡°Where¡¯s Zhang Chen from your Beast Garden? Hurry up and call him over. He actually mixed Qi Refinement demon blood into the Foundation Establishment demon blood, causing me to fail in refining pills and lose precious spiritual plants. You have to compensate me!¡± At the entrance of the Beast Garden, a direct disciple was fuming and complaining loudly. Some disciples who came to collect blood did not dare to approach and hid far away. ¡°Senior Brother, calm down. We¡¯ve already gone to inform Senior Brother Zhang.¡± The disciples of the Beast Garden were all nervous and sweating profusely. ¡°How much longer do you want me to wait? Could it be that he¡¯s afraid and doesn¡¯t dare to appear?¡± The direct disciple mocked. As soon as he finished speaking, a blood light flew over. ¡°Are you the one looking for me?¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s gaze was cold as he looked at the direct disciple at the third level of Foundation Establishment in front of him. ¡°You¡¯re Zhang Chen? The Foundation Establishment demon blood given by your Beast Garden is mixed with Qi Refinement demon blood, causing me to fail in refining pills and lose precious spiritual plants. You have to compensate me!¡± the direct disciple shouted. Zhang Chen sneered. ¡°During the handover, we¡¯ll check if there¡¯s any Qi Refinement demon blood mixed in. Can¡¯t your Pill Pavilion tell?¡± ¡°There has never been a problem before. Out of trust in your Beast Garden, I didn¡¯t check. Who knew that you would make up the numbers!¡± ¡°We won¡¯t be responsible for items that left the Beast Garden. Who can prove that it wasn¡¯t your Pill Pavilion who was greedy and switched the blood on the way? Or that you were instructed by someone to deliberately frame us?¡± ¡°Our Pill Pavilion definitely won¡¯t do this. It must be your Beast Garden¡¯s problem. No matter what, you have to compensate me for my losses.¡± The direct disciple refused to let go. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with the pills in your Pill Pavilion. You poisoned a few Foundation Establishment demon beasts in my Beast Garden. How do you plan to compensate?¡± Zhang Chen gave him a taste of his own medicine. ¡°Nonsense, how can there be a problem with our Pill Pavilion¡¯s medicinal pills!¡± The direct disciple rebuked angrily. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s spouting nonsense and framing my Beast Garden.¡± ¡°You must compensate me for my loss!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it when you compensate me with a Foundation Establishment demon beast.¡± The two of them argued non-stop. If not for the fact that they were in the sect, Zhang Chen would have attacked directly.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Foiling a Plan and Roping in Allies Chapter 81: Foiling a Plan and Roping in Allies Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, why are you looking for me? Senior Brother Liu, you¡¯re here too!¡± Feng Wensheng arrived and cupped his hands in greetings to Zhang Chen and the troublemaker disciple. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Liu was puzzled. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang asked me to come,¡± Feng Wensheng said truthfully. Liu sneered, ¡°Do you think you can resolve this matter by finding an inner sect disciple of the Pill Pavilion?¡± Zhang Chen ignored Liu and said to Feng Wensheng, ¡°If your Pill Pavilion continues to find trouble with me, our deal will end here.¡± Upon hearing this, Feng Wensheng¡¯s expression changed. Zhang Chen was a big customer of their Pill Pavilion. He bought seven buckets of Foundation Establishment demon blood every day and continuously provided a large amount of blood essence. Although he was only the spokesperson for selling pills, the profit line behind him was the entire Pill Pavilion. Previously, in order to expand their business with Zhang Chen, the Pill Pavilion had even taken out 20 percent of the Pill Pavilion¡¯s profits to compete with the Beast Garden. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, I¡¯ll immediately convey your words to our Pill Pavilion Master.¡± Feng Wensheng quickly used the Light Body Technique and rushed to the Pill Pavilion. ¡°A deal? Hehe, you¡¯re deliberately mystifying things.¡± Liu didn¡¯t care at all. In his opinion, Zhang Chen just wanted to buy some medicinal pills. How many medicinal pills could a personal disciple who had just advanced buy? Zhang Chen ignored him and waited quietly. Seeing this, Liu became even more smug, thinking that Zhang Chen was at his wit¡¯s end. Not long after, a blood light emitting the pressure of the ninth level of Foundation Establishment flew over. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, why are you here?¡± Liu was surprised to see him. What kind ofdeal can a new direct disciple at the first level ofFoundation Establishment have that concerns Eldest Senior Brother? The Eldest Senior Brother of the Pill Pavilion ignored the direct disciple named Liu and smiled at Zhang Chen. ¡°This is Junior Brother Zhang Chen, right?¡± ¡°Greetings, Senior Brother Gu. I¡¯m Zhang Chen.¡± Zhang Chen cupped his hands. At the direct disciple gathering three years ago, he had met the Eldest Senior Brother of the Pill Pavilion and knew that his surname was Gu. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, don¡¯t worry. This is a misunderstanding, I guarantee that the Pill Pavilion won¡¯t find trouble with you. It¡¯s his private matter.¡± The Eldest Senior Brother of the Pill Pavilion said solemnly. Liu¡¯s mouth went dry and he was dumbfounded. He could not understand why his Eldest Senior Brother was so polite to Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen was very calm. ¡°Senior Brother Gu, this senior brother from the Pill Pavilion framed me. He said that I mixed Qi Refinement demon blood with the demon blood of the Foundation Establishment realm and wanted me to compensate for the losses. How do you want to resolve it?¡± The Pill Pavilion¡¯s Eldest Senior Brother¡¯s face darkened as he looked at Liu. ¡°Liu Liang, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, I¡­ he¡­ is Wu Chang from the Beast Garden. He asked me to find trouble with Junior Brother Zhang.¡± Liu Liang wanted to find an excuse, but he could not withstand the pressure and said truthfully. The Eldest Senior Brother of the Pill Pavilion smiled again and said to Zhang Chen, ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, I¡¯ll let him use a bucket of Foundation Establishment demon blood as compensation. How about that?¡± ¡°Since Senior Brother Gu has said so, we¡¯ll let this matter go.¡± Zhang Chen did not push his luck and was willing to let go of the matter. Seeing that Zhang Chen had given him face, the Eldest Senior Brother of the Pill Pavilion nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, Wu Chang is at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm. If you encounter any trouble in the future, you can look for me. I¡¯ll help you if I can.¡± In other words, he could help him resist Wu Chang. Of course, this was not only to do him a favor, but also because he did not want to lose Zhang Chen, a stable source of blood essence. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother Gu.¡± Zhang Chen cupped his hands and thanked him. ¡°I still have something to do in the Pill Pavilion. I can¡¯t be away for too long, so I¡¯ll leave first.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Gu, take care.¡± The Eldest Senior Brother of the Pill Pavilion glared at Liu Liang before turning into a blood light and leaving. Liu Liang heaved a sigh of relief and hastily took out the blood storage bottle to apologize to Zhang Chen. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, I¡¯m sorry. This is my apology.¡± Zhang Chen took the blood storage bottle. ¡°I¡¯ll settle scores with Wu Chang. Leave.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb Junior Brother Zhang.¡± Liu Liang didn¡¯t have the face to stay any longer. Zhang Chen did not stop. He turned around and flew towards the peak of the Beast Garden Mountain. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Senior Brother Zhang to have such a good relationship with the Eldest Senior Brother of the Pill Pavilion!¡± ¡°Senior Brother Wu is taking revenge on Senior Brother Zhang. The ones who are implicated are ordinary disciples like us.¡± ¡°Sigh-¡± The disciples of the Beast Garden sighed helplessly. The disciple who had left the Beast Garden to report to Wu Chang went to his cave abode again. ¡°Is Zhang Chen related to the Eldest Senior Brother of the Pill Pavilion, Gu Pingshan?¡± After hearing what had happened, Wu Chang¡¯s expression was solemn. The disciple of the Beast Garden said, ¡°From the conversation, this is the first time the two of them have seen each other, but Zhang Chen seems to have an important deal with the Pill Pavilion.¡± ¡°An important deal? Using demon blood and the Pill Pavilion to exchange for medicinal pills? But the Pill Pavilion doesn¡¯t lack demon blood!¡± Wu Chang frowned. He really couldn¡¯t think of any important deal between Zhang Chen and the Pill Pavilion. Unable to figure it out, Wu Chang stopped thinking and said ferociously, ¡°If the Pill Pavilion doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll switch to the Internal Affairs Hall, In the Internal Affairs Hall. He can¡¯t have connections there, right?!¡± On the other side, Zhang Chen also knew that he could not be passive all the time. He had to take the initiative to attack. After thinking for a moment, he had an idea. He would use his benefits to rope in the other senior brothers. After today¡¯s incident, it was very likely that he could not hide the demon blood deal with the Pill Pavilion. It was better to expose it. With his current strength, as long as the Golden Core disciples did not attack, he would be safe. Currently, on the surface, only a few elders and the sect master of the Blood God Sect were dangerous to him. He could be more daring. Zhang Chen found a disciple of the Beast Garden. ¡°Go and invite Senior Brother Hong, Senior Sister Dong, Senior Brother Xu, Senior Brother Zhou, and Senior Brother Du to the Beast Garden.¡± Needless to say, the disciples of the Beast Garden knew that they were the direct disciples who managed the Beast Garden. Fifteen minutes later, in the cave abode at the core of the formation. ¡°Seventh Junior Brother, why did you call us here?¡± Eldest Senior Brother Hong Longguang was the first to ask. Zhang Chen slowly said, ¡°Our Beast Garden¡¯s share is actually demon blood. However, it¡¯s not easy to transform demon blood into blood essence. ¡°As for me, I have a way to sell demon blood to exchange for blood essence.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Seventh Junior Brother, you mean you can exchange blood essence for us?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Zhang Chen nodded. ¡°I can use a bowl of blood essence, three buckets of Qi Refinement demon blood, or 10 bowls of Foundation Establishment demon blood to exchange for blood essence for my senior brothers and sister.¡± ¡°Really!¡± Everyone was pleasantly surprised. Although they could obtain a large amount of demon blood from the Beast Garden every day, the demon blood contained a ferocious aura, so they did not dare to refine too much. Coupled with the fact that the outer sect disciples were short of young and old disciples, no one exchanged their blood essence for demon blood, so the demon blood would only rot in their hands. Everyone looked at Zhang Chen with burning gazes, but they were still concerned about one question. ¡°I wonder how much blood essence can Seventh Junior Brother exchange for?¡± Zhang Chen said unhurriedly, ¡°At the moment, we can exchange for 50 bowls of blood essence a day. As for how to distribute these 50 bowls of blood essence, Senior Brothers and Senior Sister, you can discuss it among yourselves. ¡°As long as my share in the Beast Garden remains unchanged, I can exchange for blood essence for my senior brothers and sister every day in the future. However, I have two conditions.¡± ¡°Fifty bowls of blood essence a day? Is what you said true?¡± Everyone was excited and in disbelief. ¡°What¡¯s in it for me to lie to my senior brothers and sister?¡± Zhang Chen smiled. With his current speed of cultivating demon blood, he could obtain 200 bowls of blood essence a day. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he had other things to do and couldn¡¯t keep refining the demon blood, coupled with the deal with the Pill Pavilion, he would have said more.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Trouble Resolved Chapter 82: Trouble Resolved Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Only Hong Longguang remained calm and asked, ¡°What are the two conditions Seventh Junior Brother mentioned?¡± Zhang Chen said seriously, ¡°The first condition is to share the matters of the Beast Garden with me. You should know that Wu Chang has been looking for trouble with me now. I will only have endless trouble in the Beast Garden. ¡°The second condition is to ostracize Wu Chang together and declare that you¡¯re on my side.¡± Everyone looked at each other in silence. The first condition was not a problem at all, but the second condition would completely offend Wu Chang. Other than Hong Longguang, everyone else was worried. After all, their cultivation levels were not as high as Wu Chang¡¯s. They were afraid that they would be attacked by Wu Chang when they left the sect. In the end, it was Hong Longguang who said, ¡°I can warn Wu Chang not to attack you, but I want half of the 50 bowls of blood essence.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll do as Eldest Senior Brother says.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be able to get a share of the blood essence. Zhang Chen smiled. ¡°Senior Sister, Senior Brothers, why don¡¯t you discuss the amount of blood essence you can exchange for now? Then, we¡¯ll immediately complete today¡¯s transaction.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The few of them could not wait to start discussing. Soon, there was an outcome of the discussion. After deducting the 25 bowls of blood essence that Hong Longguang would obtain, Second Senior Sister would have 10 bowls, and the remaining three senior brothers would have 5 bowls each. Zhang Chen took out the blood storage bottle containing the blood essence. ¡°According to the ratio we just agreed on, let¡¯s start the exchange.¡± Not long after, the transaction was completed. Hong Longguang and the others obtained the blood essence with satisfaction, and Zhang Chen also obtained the demon blood. It was one thing to say it, but it was quite another to really obtain the blood essence. They could not help but smile. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll take my leave. I¡¯ll have to trouble Senior Brothers and Senior Sister with the affairs of the Beast Garden.¡± Zhang Chen stood up and bowed, preparing to leave. ¡°Junior Brother, don¡¯t worry. Leave the Beast Garden to us.¡± Everyone became especially enthusiastic and hurriedly sent him off. Zhang Chen smiled and turned into a blood light before leaving. Looking at the distant blood light, Sixth Senior Brother Du Nanfeng sighed, ¡°Fortunately, I didn¡¯t offend Seventh Junior Brother previously. Otherwise, I would have lost this opportunity.¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s all thanks to Wu Chang. Otherwise, Seventh Junior Brother wouldn¡¯t have traded with us.¡± Second Senior Sister¡¯s smile was like a blooming flower, beautiful and moving. ¡°Seventh Junior Brother¡¯s cultivation might reach the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm before us.¡± ¡°Then I have to curry favor with Seventh Junior Brother in the future.¡± Everyone knew very well that Zhang Chen had taken out his blood essence to trade with them to rope them in. However, who among the disciples of the Blood God Sect could resist the temptation of blood essence? As for the origin of Zhang Chen¡¯s blood essence, they were also envious and curious, but they did not show it. Zhang Chen returned to the cave abode and began to cultivate in peace, working hard to increase his strength. Now that the demon blood had exceeded his cultivation speed, he planned to build a blood pool and use the demon blood to nurture some Blood God Sons. The speed at which demon blood was nurtured was slightly slower, but it could nurture many Blood God Sons at the same time. He only needed to replenish demon blood every once in a while. It was not troublesome. He immediately dug out a huge pool in the cave abode and poured demon blood into it. Instantly, the smell of blood filled the entire cave abode. After the demon blood filled the pool, Zhang Chen sat cross-legged. The blood essence in his hand surged and condensed into a red meatball. This was a blood seed! ¡°Plop!¡± After throwing the blood seed into the blood pool, Zhang Chen did not rest and continued to condense the blood seed. On the other side, Wu Chang had just returned from the Internal Affairs Hall and said confidently, ¡°Zhang Chen, let¡¯s see how you deal with the Internal Affairs Hall¡¯s difficulties next!¡± In order to persuade the Internal Affairs Hall to find trouble with Zhang Chen, he had paid a considerable price and owed them a favor. ¡°Is Third Junior Brother here?¡± Hong Longguang? Why is he here? Wu Chang walked out of the cave abode to welcome him. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Hong Longguang had a calm expression. ¡°Third Junior Brother, I¡¯m here to tell you that Seventh Junior Brother is no longer involved in the affairs of the Beast Garden. Don¡¯t cause trouble for the Beast Garden in the future.¡± ¡°Hahaha, I knew he wouldn¡¯t last long.¡± Wu Chang laughed proudly and asked, ¡°When will I take over the affairs of the Beast Garden?¡± Hong Longguang shook his head. ¡°Although Seventh Junior Brother no longer participates in the affairs of the Beast Garden, the shares won¡¯t change. Without Master¡¯s orders, we won¡¯t let you participate in the affairs of the Beast Garden.¡± Wu Chang¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. He confirmed, ¡°Senior Sister and Junior Brothers also agreed?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Hong Longguang nodded. ¡°Also, I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t think about attacking them. Otherwise, I won¡¯t let you off.¡± Wu Chang¡¯s expression became incomparably ferocious. ¡°You definitely won¡¯t be helping Zhang Chen for no reason. He¡¯s only at the first level of the Foundation Establishment realm. What benefits did he give you?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know that. Remember what I said, Third Junior Brother.¡± Hong Longguang lost his usual kindness and turned to leave. Wu Chang¡¯s face contorted in disbelief. ¡°How could this be? I can¡¯t do anything to a direct disciple who has just advanced!¡± Although they were both at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm, there was still a difference in strength between people of the same realm. Hong Longguang had been at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm for a hundred years. He was definitely not his match. Wu Chang gritted his teeth and his gaze was fierce. ¡°Three years. I¡¯ll wait another three years. The sect mission in three years will be Zhang Chen¡¯s death! ¡°As long as Zhang Chen dies, everything will still be mine! ¡°By the way, I have to find out what benefits Zhang Chen gave Hong Longguang and the others. They actually switched camps. ¡°Also, what kind of deal does he have with the Pill Pavilion to make Gu Pingshan intervene personally?¡± Wu Chang narrowed his eyes. He had a feeling that Zhang Chen must have a secret! However, before investigating Zhang Chen, he needed to go to the Internal Affairs Hall first. Now was not the time to fall out with Hong Longguang. ¡°Junior Brother Wu, why are you here again?¡± Shen Gengyuan from the Internal Affairs Hall was a little surprised. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disturb Senior Brother Shen, but something happened. I want to cancel the request I made to Senior Brother Shen,¡± Wu Chang said helplessly. Shen Gengyuan said indifferently, ¡°I can cancel it, but I won¡¯t return the blood essence to you.¡± Although Wu Chang¡¯s body was in pain, he could only nod. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. Even if Senior Brother Shen wants to return it, I won¡¯t accept it.¡± ¡°Junior Brother Wu, is there anything else?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll take my leave. I won¡¯t disturb Senior Brother Shen anymore.¡± Shen Gengyuan knew that Wu Chang must have encountered a problem and that he had no choice but to compromise when he suddenly canceled the matter against Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen was something to be able to force a senior brother at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm to such a state. He was even more intrigued by Zhang Chen now. Because they were afraid that others would snatch the business, Hong Longguang and the others kept Zhang Chen¡¯s deal with the Pill Pavilion a secret. This also caused Wu Chang to be unable to find any useful information after investigating for a long time. As for Hong Longguang and Gu Pingshan, they wanted to investigate the source of Zhang Chen¡¯s blood essence, but they were worried that they would be discovered and lose this long-term channel to obtain blood essence, so they did not make a move for a long time. Time flew by, and a year passed. In the cave abode that was filled with the smell of blood, the huge blood pool was especially eye-catching. Dozens of blood seeds that looked like tumors kept shrinking and floating in the blood pool, absorbing blood. Not far from the blood pool, Zhang Chen stopped cultivating and opened his eyes. A blood-colored light flashed in his eyes. ¡°A year has passed. It¡¯s time to meet the Elder Blood River again..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: A Year’s Gains Chapter 83: A Year¡¯s Gains Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios If possible, Zhang Chen did not want to see Elder Blood River. Elder Blood River¡¯s attention and the side effects of the Blood Body gave him a serious sense of danger. As a result, he still did not dare to refine and use the high-grade magic weapon that Elder Blood River had given him previously. In the past year, other than the pool of blood seeds, Zhang Chen had also improved his cultivation to the second level of Foundation Establishment. It was Elder Blood River who had asked him to reach the second level of Foundation Establishment in a year. Zhang Chen did not know if Elder Blood River would punish him if he did not meet the requirements. At the very least, he would feel that he was not worth nurturing. If the Blood God Sect wanted to raise pigs, he would let them. In any case, they would not be slaughtered unless they were raised to a certain extent. His growth speed had far exceeded everyone¡¯s imagination. When the higher- ups of the Blood God Sect wanted to kill him, they would realize that he was not a fat pig, but a ferocious tiger with sharp fangs and claws! Retracting his thoughts, Zhang Chen stood up and left the cave abode, turning into a blood light and flying towards Blood River Peak. ¡°Disciple Zhang Chen requests to see Master.¡± ¡°Pa, pa, pa¡­¡± A huge bat demon flew over from the sky. ¡°Follow me.¡± The bat demon was very impatient. Zhang Chen did not say anything and followed silently. ¡°Master, Zhang Chen is here.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Zhang Chen entered the cave abode and bowed. ¡°Disciple Zhang Chen greets Master.¡± ¡°Second level of Foundation Establishment, not bad. Looks like you¡¯re diligent in your cultivation and haven¡¯t forgotten my words. You should be rewarded!¡± Elder Blood River nodded in satisfaction. Then, with a wave of his hand, a jade slip flew in front of Zhang Chen. ¡°This is the advanced spell of the Blood Escape Technique, Blood Light Escape. Only the elders in the sect can obtain it. After mastering it, no one below the Golden Core realm can catch up to you.¡± ¡°Thank you for the technique, Master.¡± Zhang Chen took the jade slip with both hands. Elder Blood River continued, ¡°If you can break through to the third level of Foundation Establishment in five years, I will reward you.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let Master down,¡± Zhang Chen said seriously. Elder Blood River smiled like a true teacher. ¡°Alright, you can go back and cultivate.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Zhang Chen bowed and left the cave abode. After Zhang Chen left, Elder Blood River revealed a meaningful smile. ¡°Regardless of whether you have a special physique or any treasures, they will be mine in the end. ¡°As for my good disciple, Wu Chang, he has lost his share of the Beast Garden and can¡¯t do anything to Zhang Chen. It¡¯s very likely that he will make up his mind to form his Gold Core. As long as he forms his Gold Core, it will be time to pluck the fruits.¡± Zhang Chen returned to his cave abode and took out the jade slip given to him bv Elder Blood River. He frowned. What a coincidence! No one below the Golden Core stage could catch up to this escape technique. He could escape Wu Chang¡¯s pursuit now. Clearly, Elder Blood River knew him very well. Or rather, all of this was pushed by him. If he had not given him the share of the Beast Garden, Wu Chang would not have formed a grudge with him. ¡°What¡¯s the purpose of Elder Blood River doing this? To nurture me? To suppress Wu Chang? Or to do both?¡± He had obtained a share of the Beast Garden and a life-saving escape technique. Only Wu Chang had suffered losses. ¡°Forget it, I won¡¯t think too much about it. What I need to do now is to increase my strength as soon as possible.¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s gaze was firm as he placed the jade slip on his forehead to check. [Detected cultivation technique, Blood Light Escape. Compressed the body and erupted with a dazzling blood light. Escape 1,000 miles in a flash.] [Side effect: When used, there is a risk of the body collapsing and not being able to recover.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] The Blood Light Escape was indeed powerful! After Zhang Chen memorized the content, he immediately began to practice. The Blood Light Escape was of the same lineage as Blood Escape Technique, so it was very easy to comprehend. The difference between the two was that the Blood Escape Technique used blood as gasoline and the Blood Light Escape Technique used blood as gunpowder. A month later, Zhang Chen successfully mastered the Blood Light Escape, but it was inconvenient to use it in the Blood God Sect. ¡°Is Senior Brother Zhang here? Junior Brother Wang Zhengang requests an audience.¡± In the cave abode, Zhang Chen was a little puzzled when he heard the name. Ever since Wang Zhengang advanced to the inner sect, the two of them had not interacted for several years. Most importantly, Wang Zhengang was not a registration disciple of the Beast Garden and could not help Zhang Chen much. He did not dare to disturb him. Walking out of the cave abode, Zhang Chen realized that there was an outer sect disciple beside Wang Zhengang. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang.¡± Wang Zhengang cupped his hands and bowed. The outer sect disciple at the side was especially uneasy and nervous. ¡°Greetings¡­ Senior Brother Zhang.¡± Zhang Chen glanced at them and asked, ¡°Junior Brother Wang, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, the junior brother beside me is called Shi Zhi. He wants to be a registration disciple in the Beast Garden and serve you.¡± Wang Zhengang explained his purpose for coming. Although he had already left the Beast Garden, he still had connections and knew a lot of inside information about the Beast Garden, such as Zhang Chen snatching Wu Chang¡¯s share. Shi Zhi was actually the spokesperson he had found in the outer sect. As a former registered disciple of the Beast Garden, Wang Zhengang was very clear about the benefits and benefits. Even now, he was still thinking about it. Therefore, he figured out Zhang Chen¡¯s relationship and let his spokesperson become a registration disciple of the Beast Garden. Although he said that he was working for Zhang Chen, he actually wanted to obtain benefits. Zhang Chen also knew very well that with his current status and the resources he had, he did not need a registration disciple at all, so he shook his head and refused. ¡°I¡¯m no longer involved in the affairs of the Beast Garden. I don¡¯t know which senior brother arranged for the registered disciples now. If I rashly recruit someone, it¡¯s very easy to offend other senior brothers.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb Senior Brother Zhang anymore.¡± Wang Zhengang was a little disappointed and left with Shi Zhi. Zhang Chen shook his head and returned to the cave abode. A few days later, someone came again. ¡°Is Junior Brother Zhang here?¡± Zhang Chen walked out of the cave abode and realized that it was an unfamiliar direct disciple at the second level of the Foundation Establishment realm. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Senior Brother?¡± ¡°Hello, Junior Brother Zhang. My name is Huo Qiren.¡± ¡°Hello, Senior Brother Huo.¡± Zhang Chen cupped his hands. ¡°It¡¯s like this. When I was on a sect mission, I discovered an ancient cave abode enveloped by a formation. Because our cultivation levels are similar, I want to invite Junior Brother Zhang to break the formation and explore it together.¡± An ancient cave abode was a cave abode left behind by a senior in the cultivation world. There might be spiritual herbs, treasures, spells, cultivation techniques, and so on, In the cultivation world, there had always been a legend of a certain person discovering an ancient cave by chance, obtaining a treasure or a heaven-defying cultivation technique, and soaring into the sky. Therefore, cultivators were very enthusiastic about exploring ancient cave abodes. They discovered that ancient cave abodes were like winning the lottery. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m not interested in the ancient cave abode. Senior Brother Huo, find someone else.¡± Zhang Chen shook his head and refused. He knew that Wu Chang was definitely watching him and wanted him to leave the sect. He would not leave the sect until he was 100 percent confident in dealing with wu Chang. Huo Qiren did not give up and persuaded, ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, are you really not going to reconsider? This is an ancient cave abode! We might be able to obtain some treasure!¡± ¡°I still have to cultivate, so I won¡¯t accompany Senior Brother Huo.¡± Zhang Chen was unmoved. He turned around and returned to the cave abode. Huo Qiren could only give up unwillingly and turn into a blood light to leave. A moment later, Huo Qiren arrived at Wu Chang¡¯s cave abode. ¡°Senior Brother Wu, Zhang Chen is unwilling to leave the sect.¡± ¡°Even the ancient cave abode can¡¯t tempt him!¡± Wu Chang¡¯s expression was gloomy. After waiting for a year, the more Wu Chang thought about it, the angrier he became. He couldn¡¯t wait any longer. Therefore, he found Huo Qiren to see if he could lure Zhang Chen out of the sect.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Three Years Have Passed Chapter 84: Three Years Have Passed Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Three years was a long time for ordinary people, but for cultivators, it was only a short period of seclusion cultivation. ¡°Another three years have passed.¡± Zhang Chen sighed and looked at the densely packed blood seeds in the blood pool. After three years of nurturing with a large amount of demon blood, the Blood God Sons in the pool were finally about to take shape. ¡°Pa, pa, pa, pa¡­¡± Like baby birds breaking out of their shells, the blood seeds shattered one by one, revealing the Blood God Sons that were completely condensed from blood. The current Blood God Sons were only the size of a child and were at the first level of Qi Refinement. Zhang Chen took out a blood storage bottle and continuously poured blood essence into the blood pool. The Blood God Sons kept absorbing the blood essence hungrily, and their cultivation began to improve. Second level of Qi Refinement, third level of Qi Refinement, fourth level of Qi Refinement¡­ until the ninth level of Qi Refinement. These 100 Blood God Sons at the ninth level of Qi Refinement were the results of Zhang Chen¡¯s three years of hard work. Together with the original 40 Blood Gods, a total of 140 Blood Gods were more than enough to deal with Wu Chang. Looking at these Deities, Zhang Chen¡¯s heart was filled with a sense of accomplishment. ¡°Wu Chang can¡¯t wait anymore, right? I should be able to receive the notification of the sect mission in the next two days.¡± Just as Zhang Chen had guessed, the next day, the people from the Internal Affairs Hall arrived. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, this is the mission assigned to you by the sect.¡± The internal affairs disciple handed over the mission jade slip. ¡°Got it.¡± Zhang Chen calmly took the jade slip and checked it. Zhenluo Kingdom was a kingdom located at the border between the Blood God Sect and the White Bone Hall. The two sects had fought for ownership many times, but they had never been able to confirm it. Recently, Zhenluo Kingdom had taken the initiative to join the Blood God Sect and seek protection. The reason was that 50 years ago, an official from Zhenluo Kingdom was executed, but one of them ran away. The person who escaped had spiritual roots and had joined the White Bone Hall. Now that he had successfully reached the Foundation Establishment realm, he was prepared to take revenge and kill the royal family of Zhenluo Kingdom. There were also people from the Zhenluo Kingdom¡¯s royal family who had joined the White Bone Hall, so they knew about this matter. However, they were only at the Qi Refinement realm and could not protect themselves. In order to survive, the King of Zhenluo took the initiative to become a vassal state of the Blood God Sect and pay tribute every year. What Zhang Chen needed to do was to go to Zhenluo Kingdom to take on the position of Imperial Preceptor for a year and ensure that the royal family of Zhenluo Kingdom would not be destroyed. At the same time, he would bring the tribute herbs and mortals with spiritual roots back to the sect. This assignment was very simple. The problem was that it would last for a year. Wu Chang was worried that Hong Longguang and Gu Pingshan would interfere, so he chose this mission that would take a year for Zhang Chen. Because it was impossible for the two of them to leave the sect and protect Zhang Chen for a year. Without the obstruction of other ninth level Foundation Establishment cultivators, Wu Chang could easily kill a second level Foundation Establishment cultivator. As long as he killed Zhang Chen, who would offend him, who was at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm, for a dead person? ¡°This mission must be completed. Otherwise, you will be severely punished by the sect. Furthermore, the mission is urgent. Senior Brother, please set off within three days.¡± After the Internal Affairs disciple finished speaking, he bowed and left. ¡°What a painstaking effort! I think someone has been waiting for a long time. Don¡¯t let him wait any longer.¡± Zhang Chen put away the mission jade slip and smiled. He transformed into a blood light and flew towards the Internal Affairs Hall. Wu Chang wanted to deal with him and vice versa. Soon, Wu Chang received the news. ¡°Senior Brother Wu, Zhang Chen has already left the sect.¡± ¡°Alright! I¡¯ve waited for three years. This day has finally come!¡± Wu Chang smiled sinisterly and headed to the Internal Affairs Hall. He had also arranged a mission for himself to leave the sect for a year. During the year, he could find an opportunity to attack Zhang Chen at any time. At the same time, Hong Longguang and Gu Pingshan also received news that Zhang Chen had left the sect. Hong Longguang was a little surprised. ¡°Seventh Junior Brother didn¡¯t come to me for help? Does he have reservations about me too?¡± On the other side, Gu Pingshan felt the same. ¡°Zhang Chen didn¡¯t come to ask for my help. Isn¡¯t he afraid that Wu Chang will kill him?¡± Then, the two of them inquired about Zhang Chen¡¯s mission this time. After learning that the mission required a year, they instantly understood Wu Chang¡¯s thoughts and intentions. Hong Longguang shook his head helplessly and sighed. ¡°If Zhang Chen had come to me for help earlier, with my reputation, I might have been able to change the mission and protect him. ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s too late now. I hope Zhang Chen has a life-saving method and can survive from Wu Chang¡¯s hands. Otherwise, the channel to exchange demon blood for blood essence will be gone.¡± Gu Pingshan, who was in the Pill Pavilion, thought so too. After leaving the sect, Zhang Chen flew unhurriedly towards Zhenluo Kingdom. Wu Chang was not in a hurry to attack because he did not know if Hong Longguang and Gu Pingshan were following behind him. He had already waited for three years, so this little time was not a big deal. Four days later, Zhang Chen arrived at the capital of Zhenluo Kingdom. Above the palace, Zhang Chen stood in the void and used his magical powers to spread his voice. ¡°I¡¯m a direct disciple of the Blood God Sect. Where is the King of Zhenluo?¡± ¡°Look, there¡¯s someone in the sky!¡± ¡°This¡­ this is an immortal!¡± ¡°What does the immortal want with the king?¡± The people in the palace looked up and discussed. The King of Zhenluo did not tell anyone that the royal family was in danger and had joined the Blood God Sect to prevent people from worrying after hearing about it. As long as the people from the Blood God Sect arrived, everything would be fine. The existence of immortals could suppress the thoughts of most people. Soon, a fat middle-aged man in gorgeous clothes walked out surrounded by a group of people. ¡°I am King Zhenluo. Greetings, Immortal Envoy of the Blood God Sect.¡± King Zhenluo bowed excitedly. Ever since he heard that the direct disciples of the White Bone Hall wanted to take revenge and kill all the royal bloodlines, he had been worried and afraid all day long, hoping that the people from the Blood God Sect would arrive early. Now that the people from the Blood God Sect had arrived, he could finally sleep Zhang Chen landed in front of the king and said calmly, ¡°I will ensure that your royal family is not destroyed for a year.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll leave the safety of the royal family to you, Immortal Envoy.¡± King Zhenluo tried to please him respectfully. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked someone to prepare a banquet to welcome you, Immortal Envoy. Please come this way.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need. Just arrange a quiet residence for me.¡± Zhang Chen waved his hand and refused. ¡°Follow me, Immortal Envoy.¡± The king personally led the way and they arrived at an extremely luxurious palace. ¡°Are you satisfied with this place? Do you want to see the other palaces?¡± Zhang Chen said calmly, ¡°This is it. His Majesty is busy with work, so you don¡¯t have to accompany me.¡± ¡°Alright, if you need anything, feel free to instruct the palace maids and eunuchs outside to do it.¡± Seeing Zhang Chen¡¯s cold expression, the king left with his guards. After the king left, Zhang Chen willed dozens of blood shadows to fly out of his body and disperse into the palace to hide. Without a formation, it was too consuming to constantly emit divine thoughts. He could only use the Blood God Sons as his eyes and ears to guard against Wu Chang and the personal disciples of the White Bone Hall. The next day, King Zhen Luo gathered the ministers and announced that he would be affiliated with the Blood God Sect from now on and appoint Zhang Chen as the Imperial Preceptor. ¡°Your Majesty, our Zhenluo Kingdom is in a special position and can benefit from both sides. Why do we have to affiliate with the Blood God Sect?¡± Many ministers expressed their confusion. ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind. The immortal envoy from the Blood God Sect has arrived. There¡¯s no possibility of change.¡± King Zhenluo¡¯s attitude was unyielding. He did not explain the reason, afraid that some ministers and the direct disciples of the White Bone Hall would cooperate from the outside.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Making an Example Chapter 85: Making an Example Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Immediately after, King Zhenluo announced again that he would summon all the royal family members outside to enter the palace. The King did not tell the rest of the royal family that the direct disciples of the White Bone Hall wanted to slaughter the entire royal family. The fewer people who knew about this, the better. After the royal family entered the palace, they were not allowed to leave. The king wanted to protect the other members of the royal family, but those who did not know the truth thought that it was house arrest. Some members of the royal family were afraid that the king wanted to eliminate them, so they delayed and did not enter the palace. Such a huge action naturally made everyone panic. In private, many ministers scolded the king for being old and muddle-headed, while some secretly investigated the reason. In the beginning, the king was very concerned about Zhang Chen. He invited him to a banquet and gave him beauties. However, they were all rejected by Zhang Chen. After a few times, the king gave up on currying favor. In addition, Zhang Chen had been meditating and cultivating in the palace and did not go out. Most people in the palace had only heard of him and had never seen this mysterious Imperial Preceptor. A group of young royal family members gathered together and chatted about Zhang Chen. ¡°Didn¡¯t His Majesty confer the title of Imperial Preceptor? Why haven¡¯t we seen the Imperial Preceptor at any of the banquets since we came to the palace?¡± ¡°It seems like he has been in the palace all this time and hasn¡¯t come out.¡± ¡°I heard that this Imperial Preceptor is an immortal. Many people saw him flying in the sky with their own eyes.¡± Suddenly, someone said, ¡°But we¡¯ve never seen him before. Do you think this imperial preceptor is a liar?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we go to the Imperial Preceptor and see what immortals are like?¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go and see if it¡¯s true.¡± They were all members of the royal family. In addition, they were young and impetuous. They had been pampered since they were young and were high and mighty. They did not have much respect. Now that they were confined to the palace, it was really too boring. This was a good opportunity to have fun. Soon, a group of people arrived at the palace where Zhang Chen was. The leader was the fourth prince. However, he was stopped by a guard. ¡°Fourth Prince, please wait. This is the place where the Imperial Preceptor cultivates. Please don¡¯t disturb him.¡± The fourth prince looked displeased. ¡°I¡¯m here to see the Imperial Preceptor. Hurry up and report it.¡± ¡°The Imperial Preceptor has instructed that no one is to disturb him.¡± The guard said helplessly. Before the fourth prince could speak, a member of the royal family scolded, ¡°This is the fourth prince! Is the Imperial Preceptor not giving the fourth prince face?¡± Hearing this, the fourth prince also felt that it made sense. In front of so many relatives, he could not lose his prestige as a prince. ¡°Who can¡¯t I see in the palace? Even if it¡¯s Father, I can see him whenever I want. Can¡¯t I see the Imperial Preceptor?¡± The guard looked troubled, not knowing what to do. ¡°The Imperial Preceptor is hiding. Could he be a liar?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Ask the Imperial Preceptor to come out and see us. Prove it to us. Otherwise, it will be fake!¡± ¡°We have to see the Imperial Preceptor today, or we won¡¯t leave!¡± Many members of the royal family questioned loudly and hooted. In the hall, Zhang Chen, who was cultivating, frowned when he heard the commotion. He stood up and walked out. ¡°Imperial Preceptor, the Fourth Prince and the others want to see you.¡± When the surrounding guards saw Zhang Chen come out, they hurriedly bowed in fear and trepidation. When the royal family members saw that the Imperial Preceptor was a young man, they could not help but judge him by his appearance and looked down on him. ¡°He¡¯s so young. He¡¯s no different from us. He¡¯s not a liar, is he?¡± Egged on by the others, the fourth prince said arrogantly, ¡°You¡¯re the Imperial Preceptor? I heard that you¡¯re an immortal. Prove it to us, or I¡¯ll get someone to take you down as a liar!¡± Zhang Chen looked at the fourth prince with a cold gaze. ¡°You want me to prove it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If you don¡¯t prove it, who knows if you¡¯re a liar!¡± The fourth prince said matter-of-factly. Zhang Chen smiled coldly. Large amounts of blood gushed out of his body, turning into a huge hand that grabbed at the Fourth Prince. The fourth prince¡¯s eyes were filled with fear. Before he could scream, he was grabbed by the bloody hand. In an instant, all the blood in his body was sucked dry, turning him into a shriveled corpse. The blood did not return to his body. Instead, it floated and squirmed beside Zhang Chen, making him look evil and dangerous. Looking at the Fourth Prince who had already turned into a dried corpse and the blood that seemed to have a life of its own, everyone was already scared silly. Their faces were filled with fear and disbelief. The dignified Fourth Prince of Zhenluo Kingdom had died just because he doubted the Imperial Preceptor? ¡°Which one of you wants me to prove it?¡± Zhang Chen said coldly. Hearing this, everyone came back to their senses. Some people sat on the ground, their pants wet. They no longer had the nobility and aura from before. Some people ran crazily, wanting to get away from Zhang Chen. Someone shouted, ¡°The Fourth Prince is dead. He killed the Fourth Prince!¡± ¡°Go, quickly report to the king!¡± ¡°Someone, someone come quickly!¡± ¡°Lunatic, this is a lunatic. Help, help.. ¡°Noisy!¡± Zhang Chen frowned. With a thought, his blood turned into a few tentacles and shot towards the noisiest people. ¡°Pfft, pfft, pfft¡­¡± The blood tentacles pierced through their bodies, but not a single drop of blood flowed out from their wounds. It should be said that the blood in their bodies had been sucked dry. The remaining members of the royal family did not dare to make a sound. ¡°Don¡¯t let anyone disturb me in the future.¡± Zhang Chen said to the guards who were at a loss and turned to enter the palace. The guard leader looked at the dried corpses on the ground and his face turned pale. He muttered to himself, ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over¡­¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s purpose in doing this was to make an example out of them. He was not a conjurer. Today, someone had asked him to prove it. Tomorrow, someone would want to see him perform magic. Cultivators had sharp eyes and ears, so Zhang Chen heard their conversation clearly. These nobles were self-righteous and felt that they were high and mighty. Little did they know that in Zhang Chen¡¯s eyes, they were no different from ordinary people. As long as he provoked him, even if it was the king, he would kill him without hesitation. His mission was to ensure that the royal family was not destroyed, as long as there was one person from the royal family. A eunuch hurriedly reported, ¡°Your Majesty, bad news. The Fourth Prince and a few members of the royal family have been killed by the Imperial Preceptor!¡± ¡°What!¡± King Zhenluo was shocked and quickly asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°The fourth prince and the others wanted to see the Immortal, and at the same time, they suspected that the Imperial Preceptor was a liar, so they went to the Imperial Preceptor¡¯s palace and wanted him to prove himself. Then the fourth prince and the others were killed by the Imperial Preceptor.¡± This matter was too serious. The eunuch did not dare to hide it and told the truth. King Zhenluo first grieved, then sighed helplessly. ¡°Let¡¯s simply bury the fourth prince¡¯s body and make arrangements. I didn¡¯t teach my son well, so I have to apologize to the Imperial Preceptor personally.¡± Compared to the survival of the royal family, the death of a son and a few royal descendants was nothing. Furthermore, he knew very well that the Blood God Sect was a demon sect and the other party was a demon. He called them immortals just to flatter them. As far as he knew. this Imoerial Precentor was alreadv rare for him to be easy to get along with. Other than not liking to be disturbed, he did not do anything overboard. The other disciples of the Blood God Sect killed for fun and drank human blood. If not for the fact that he had no choice, he did not want to become a vassal of the Blood God Sect. Even becoming a vassal of the White Bone Hall was better than becoming a member of the Blood God Sect.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: Direct Disciple of White Bone Hall Chapter 86: Direct Disciple of White Bone Hall Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Brother, my son died so tragically! ¡°I only had one son! ¡°Your Majesty, please make a decision for us!¡±. Watching these sorrowful members of the royal family, King Zhenluo felt a headache. ¡°My fourth son also died. I understand your grief, but they provoked the Imperial Preceptor, and I can¡¯t do anything about it.¡± ¡°Does that mean our children died in vain? We can poison him, or we can seek refuge in the White Bone Hall and let them avenge us!¡± The crowd was full of hatred and their expressions were fierce. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to say it but I have to, now that things have come to this.¡± King Zhenluo knew that if he didn¡¯t explain the reason, these people might cause trouble. ¡°Fifty years ago, the previous king had the entire Cai family, who were ministers at the time, executed. But when they were executed, one person was missing. His name was Cai Yongxiang, and he escaped from Zhenluo and joined the White Bone Hall. ¡°As you know, my second son is a disciple of the White Bone Hall. Two months ago, he sent someone to pass on a message that Cai Yongxiang successfully reached the Foundation Establishment stage and became a true disciple of the White Bone Hall. ¡°He also threatened to wipe out all the bloodline of my royal family and avenge the extermination of his family years ago. In order to protect the bloodline of the royal family, I made the decision to become a vassal of the Blood God Sect in exchange for protection.¡± After revealing the secret that had been weighing on his heart, King Zhenluo¡¯s expression relaxed considerably. ¡°So that¡¯s it!¡± The people suddenly realized what King Zhenluo had been doing recently. King Zhenluo solemnly said, ¡°You should understand the seriousness of this matter. It must be kept strictly confidential. If it gets out, there will certainly be some who will have rebellious thoughts.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, rest assured, we will keep our mouths shut.¡± The people quickly promised. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it. You can leave now.¡± King Zhenluo was mentally and physically exhausted. He waved his hand, signaling them to leave. ¡°We take our leave.¡± Although the members of the royal family were grief-stricken, they had to accept that the continuation of the entire royal family was a priority. After they left, King Zhenluo called out, ¡°Guard!¡± A guard walked into the palace. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Send someone to keep an eye on them, and if they made any moves to harm the royal tutor, they were to be killed without regard for their identities.¡± King Zhenluo was afraid that some of them would be blinded by the pain of losing a child and do something to offend Zhang Chen. ¡°Yes!¡± The guard received the order and left. Ever since Zhang Chen killed the fourth prince, no one dared to disturb him, and the palace where he was located became off-limits to members of the royal family. Days passed, and Wu Chang did not appear, nor did any of the disciples of the White Bone Hall. The peaceful days lasted for half a year until they were finally shattered. Zhang Chen, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes as if sensing something. ¡°King Zhenluo, come out and die!¡± An angry shout spread throughout the entire palace. Above the palace, a thin, bony figure dressed in a skeleton robe, with eyes full of hatred, stood. He was Cai Yongxiang, the only survivor of the Cai family for 50 years and now a Foundation Establishment cultivator and a disciple of the White Bone Hall. As for his thin, bony appearance, it was due to the cultivation method of the White Bone Hall. When they reached the highest realm of their cultivation, they would abandon their flesh and blood and transform into bone demon gods. The people who did not know the reason were shocked. ¡°Who dares to be so bold!¡± ¡°Look at the sky, it¡¯s another immortal!¡± ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s here, he¡¯s here!¡± King Zhenluo hid in the palace, looking nervous, and trembling with hope that he could rely on Zhang Chen to take care of everything. ¡°The former king slaughtered my entire Cai family, and only I escaped. Today, I come to exterminate the bloodline of the Zhenluo royal family and avenge the past!¡± As Cai Yongxiang spoke of his hatred, a blood-red light flew over, and Zhang Chen¡¯s voice echoed. ¡°My Blood God Sect will protect the bloodline of Zhenluo Kingdom¡¯s royal family!¡± Seeing that Zhang Chen was at the second level of the Foundation Establishment realm, Cai Yongxiang¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Fellow Daoist from the Blood God Sect, can you give me some face? I will definitely repay this favor.¡± Zhang Chen shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but this is an order from my sect that must be fulfilled.¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s see your divine abilities, fellow Daoist!¡± Cai Yongxiang waved his hand, and a dozen or so skeletons landed. These skeletons were in the shape of beasts and humans, and each bone gleamed with a metallic luster. This was the White Bone Hall¡¯s specialty spell, to temper and control skeletons. Each skeleton was incredibly powerful, harder than gold and stone. ¡°Kill! ¡°Crack, crack, crack¡­¡¯ The skeletons made a clattering sound, not attacking Zhang Chen but heading toward the palace where King Zhenluo was located. Cai Yongxiang had just broken through to the foundation establishment stage, and these skeletons had not yet been refined to the point where they could fly, but his goal was the bloodline of the Zhenluo royal family. Blood Devouring Demon Technique! Zhang Chen condensed the aura of blood and death and struck out with a palm. ¡°Boom!¡± There was a loud noise, and a huge palm print appeared on the ground. The dozen or so skeletons were sent flying and many buildings were destroyed. ¡°crack, crack, crack¡­¡± However, the skeletons quickly rose up again. There were only a few more cracks on their bones, but they were not serious. Just as Zhang Chen was about to slap out a second time, Cai Yongxiang raised his hands and several bone spikes shot out. The target of these bone spikes was also the palace where King Zhen Luo was. Zhang Chen frowned and slapped the bone spikes with his palm. ¡°Boom!¡± The bone spikes turned into countless fragments that flew in all directions. Was this a battle between immortals? Everyone in the palace trembled as they felt the earth-shattering power. Zhang Chen reached into his storage bag and took out the Mad Blood Saber. Blood Escape Technique! Blood Burst Technique! Mad Blood Saber Technique! Cai Yongxiang knew that the Blood God Sect was fast. The moment Zhang Chen transformed into a blood light, he reacted. ¡°Bone Armor!¡± A large number of white bones pierced his skin, forming a bone armor on his body. Zhang Chen appeared beside Cai Yongxiang, his arms augmented by the Blood Burst Technique as he slashed out dozens of strikes in an instant. ¡°Ding, ding, ding. ding¡­¡¯ The Mad Blood Saber struck the bone armor, producing a metallic sound. Bone fragments scattered, and bone dust floated in the air. The bony armor was not only tough, but also thick, and even dozens of strikes could not break through it. ¡°What a tough nut to crack!¡± Zhang Chen couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. The advantage of the Blood God Sect was its speed, making it difficult to kill. The advantage of the White Bone Hall was its strong power and defense. The fundamental practice of the Blood God Sect was blood, while that of the White Bone Hall was bones, and the two techniques did not have a counter-restraint relationship. Without resorting to consuming Blood God Sons, Zhang Chen¡¯s cultivation was only one level higher than the opponent¡¯s , making it difficult to kill them. The reason he did not use the Blood God Sons was that Wu Chang had not yet appeared. If Wu Chang was hiding in the shadows observing and discovered that he had so many Blood God Sons, he might not dare to appear. Compared to the mission, Zhang Chen was more eager to deal with Wu Chang. Difficult to kill didn¡¯t mean impossible. It was only a matter of time. Under the influence of the Mad Blood Saber Technique and the madness, Cai Yongxiang¡¯s mind became hazy, becoming a target for the attacks. However, there were still more than a dozen skeletons to deal with. In just a moment, more than a dozen skeletons had already approached the palace where King Zhenluo was located.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Wu Chang Appears Chapter 87: Wu Chang Appears Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Protect His Majesty!¡± The commander of the palace guards shouted and led a thousand guards to defend the palace and resist the skeletons. Seeing the skeletons, which were fleshless but able to move freely, the guards were full of fear. However, out of loyalty to the king and obedience to orders, they could only muster their courage and fight the skeletons to the death. If they died, they died. But if they fled, their families would be implicated later. ¡°Ding ding ding ding ding ding.. Numerous swords and blades struck the skeletons, splashing sparks, but leaving no marks. ¡°Bang!¡± With a sweep of a skeleton¡¯s arm, five guards were thrown out and fell heavily to the ground, their flesh smashed and their lives uncertain. ¡°Thud¡­ Another skeleton reached out and penetrated the armor, pulling out a guard¡¯s heart. ¡°Crack! ¡± There were also unknown beast skeletons that bit down and chewed the guards¡¯ heads to pieces. The screams were continuous, and the pain was intense and heartbreaking. This was a massacre, a one-sided massacre! One thousand guards were powerless to resist, and a dozen or so skeletons rampaged, leaving corpses everywhere they went. What kind ofmonster is this! The guards were filled with fear and despair, and they could not see any hope. ¡°Stop them, stop them¡­¡± The commander of the guards continued to roar, inspiring morale and not letting the guards scatter. Even if they were dealing with a thousand pigs, it would still take time to kill them. What he had to do was to use human lives to delay time. In the air, Zhang Chen ignored the slaughter below and continued to attack Cai Yongxiang. As long as the owner lost control, those skeletons would naturally stop. Although the bone armor was hard, the Mad Blood Saber was at least a medium-grade magic weapon. After two breaths, the bone armor was only a thin layer left. Under the stimulation of a life and death crisis, Cai Yongxiang forcibly shook off the madness. ¡°White Bone True Body!¡± A large number of white bones emerged from Cai Yongxiang¡¯s body, constantly expanding and growing. It was like white dough fermenting and being kneaded into shape by someone. In just the blink of an eye, a huge skeleton the size of a house appeared in front of Zhang Chen. It was like a white jade skeleton, emitting a savage and deathly aura. In the hollow eye sockets, green ghostly flames flickered, terrifying and chilling. ¡°Roar!¡± Although it was obviously a fleshless skeleton, it let out an ear-piercing roar that struck the soul. The Blood God Sect¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivator would condense a blood body while the White Bone Hall¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivator would shape its true body of white bones. The huge bone palm lifted up and slapped towards Zhang Chen like swatting a fly. Blood Escape Technique! Zhang Chen transformed into a blood light and dodged the bone palm. ¡°Boom!¡± With a loud bang, the ground shook and cracked, and many houses collapsed. In the distance, the palace guards who were resisting the skeletons could not stand steadily and fell to the ground one after another. It was difficult for them to maintain their formation. Although the White Bone True Body was extremely strong and had strong defense, its speed was too slow. Cai Yongxiang knew that he couldn¡¯t hit Zhang Chen, so he walked towards the palace where King Zhenluo was. Zhang Chen also Imew that he could not break through the defense of the White Bone True Body in a short period of time, so he changed his target. Blood Escape Technique! Zhang Chen used his speed advantage to arrive beside a skeleton that was killing in all directions and slashed out with the Blood Burst Technique. ¡°Clap, clap, clap.. The skeleton was not as hard as the bone armor on Cai Yongxiang¡¯s body. It was instantly slashed into a pile of broken bones. The blood light kept moving, and skeletons kept shattering and scattering. ¡°The Imperial Preceptor is here to save us!¡± The guard commander shouted excitedly when he saw this scene. The originally lifeless guards, who were like walking corpses, had a hint of color in their eyes. From 1,000 people at the beginning to 300 people now, one could imagine the despair they felt. When the White Bone True Body arrived at the side of the palace, Zhang Chen had already shattered seven skeletons, leaving seven skeletons. ¡°Boom!¡± A huge bone claw swept past, and the roof of the hall was sent flying. However, there was no sign of King Zhenluo because there was an underground secret room in the palace. However, under the scan of his divine sense, the secret room could not be hidden at all. The White Bone True Body continued to raise its palm and slap towards the secret room. Zhang Chen did not resist and continued to kill the skeletons. It was better to break one finger than to injure all ten fingers of the opponent. After these skeletons were killed, he could focus on dealing with the White Bone True Body. ¡°Protect His Majesty!¡± The guard commander rushed into the hall with a few trusted aides and blocked the bone palm with his flesh and blood. ¡°Boom!¡± The guard commander and a few trusted aides were directly smashed into meat paste, and the weapons in their hands were twisted beyond recognition. The bony palm rose, revealing a dented metal door. This was actually an underground secret chamber entirely made of metal! In order to deal with Cai Yongxiang¡¯s revenge, King Zhenluo had made many preparations. During this period of time, Zhang Chen had killed three more skeletons, leaving four. ¡°Boom!¡± The White Bone True Body punched down, and the thick metal door shattered. Zhang Chen killed two more skeletons, leaving only two. The White Bone True Body inserted its hands into the crack and pulled hard, tearing off the metal door. In the metal secret room, King Zhenluo and a eunuch watched this scene in horror. Just as the White Bone True Body was about to kill King Zhenluo, Zhang Chen killed the last two skeletons in time. With a flash of blood, Zhang Chen appeared above the White Bone True Body. Blood Burst Technique! Mad Blood Saber Technique! ¡°Ding-¡± Dozens of slashes were heard with only the sound of impact, as the speed of the strikes was too fast. Bone fragments splattered everywhere, leaving a deep gash on the skull of the White Bone True Body. However, compared to its massive size, it was merely a scratch. Under the influence of madness, the White Bone True Body paused for a moment, and the ghostly fire in its eyes flickered. Although Cai Yongxiang had transformed into the White Bone True Body, his mind remained unchanged and still affected. ¡°Continue!¡± ¡°Ding, ding, ding. ding¡­¡± Zhang Chen kept swinging his sword, striking the same spot with each slash. The gap grew larger and deeper. ¡°Your Majesty, let¡¯s run!¡± Taking advantage of the White Bone True Body being distracted by Zhang Chen, the eunuch supported King Zhenluo and hurriedly ran towards the secret room¡¯s exit. As the madness accumulated, Cai Yongxiang¡¯s mind became chaotic, and he began to plunge into insanity, the White Bone True Body madly attacking everything around it. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡¯ Large groups of the palace collapsed, and the grand and majestic imperial palace turned into ruins. Fifteen minutes later. ¡°Crack! ¡± With a crisp sound, the White Bone True Body¡¯s skull was pierced. ¡°Die!¡± Zhang Chen slashed inside the head, destroying Cai Yongxiang¡¯s soul. ¡°Pfft! ¡± The green ghost fire in the eye sockets of the White Bone True Body suddenly extinguished. ¡°Boom!¡± The huge skeleton collapsed. The direct disciple of the White Bone Palace, Cai Yongxiang, was dead! ¡°Finally, it¡¯s over!¡± Zhang Chen couldn¡¯t help but sigh. If he hadn¡¯t been affected by the madness , Cai Yongxiang wouldn¡¯t have become a target. At the very least, he could have escaped. Unfortunately, he encountered Zhang Chen. Other people who used the Mad Blood Knife technique for such a long time would inevitably fall into madness first, but Zhang Chen had a modifier and was unaffected. Zhang Chen waved his hand, and a storage bag flew out of the white bones and fell into his hand. Cai Yongxiang had a white skeleton body. There was no blood and his soul had been destroyed. All that was left was this storage bag. ¡°I hope there¡¯s something to gain.¡± Just as Zhang Chen was about to check Cai Yongxiang¡¯s storage bag, a mocking voice sounded. ¡°You¡¯re amazing, you actually killed the White Bone Hall disciple, who was said to have a turtle shell defense, although he was just a new Foundation Establishment disciple. ¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s face was indifferent, as if he had already known: ¡°Wu Chang, you¡¯ve been watching in the dark for a long time, haven¡¯t you?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Wu Chang’s Death Chapter 88: Wu Chang¡¯s Death Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Zhang Chen was not surprised, not only because he had already guessed it in his heart, but also because the previous White Bone True Body went crazy and destroyed everything, which affected Wu Chang¡¯s hiding place. Although Wu Chang had hidden his aura at that time, his Blood God Sons saw him. ¡°You¡¯re actually so calm. If I hadn¡¯t been watching you for half a year, I might have thought you had some help.¡± Wu Chang did not care about a mere second level Foundation Establishment cultivator who had just broken through. He looked at Zhang Chen as if he was looking at a prey with nowhere to run. His heart was full of pleasure. Three and a half years. He had endured for three and a half years. Finally, this day had arrived. The only regret was that he didn¡¯t get to enjoy Zhang Chen¡¯s terrified expression. ¡°Help?¡± Zhang Chen looked serious. ¡°I do have help, and I have a lot of it.¡± Hearing Zhang Chen¡¯s words, Wu Chang sneered, ¡°Stop pretending. In the past six months, I¡¯ve¡­ Before he finished speaking, numerous Blood God Sons flew out from every corner of the palace, surrounding him. Seeing so many Blood God Sons, Wu Chang¡¯s face darkened, and he looked around warily. ¡°Who¡¯s helping you? I¡¯ve been investigating the palace for half a year and haven¡¯t found anyone else!¡± He didn¡¯t believe that these Blood God Sons at the ninth level of Qi Refinement were Zhang Chen¡¯s. He thought someone was hiding in the shadows and helping him. ¡°There¡¯s no need to look. There¡¯s no one else. It¡¯s just you and me,¡± Zhang Chen said calmly. ¡°Only you?¡± Wu Chang was first surprised, then said coldly, ¡°I underestimated you. I didn¡¯t expect you to hide so deeply. Are you relying on these dozens of Blood God Sons?¡± ¡°Not just dozens.¡± Zhang Chen smiled slightly, and a large number of blood shadows flew out of his body. Together with the dozens of Blood God Sons outside, there were a total of 140 Blood God Sons! ¡°Are¡­ are these Blood God Sons really yours? How is this possible! How is this possible!¡± Wu Chang looked at the Blood God Sons that surrounded him, all at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, with an expression of disbelief and shock, completely devoid of his previous arrogance. Zhang Chen sneered, ¡°You want to kill me, but you don¡¯t know that I want to kill you too. The death trap you set up is actually digging your own grave.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the Blood God Sons moved! More than 100 Blood God Sons swarmed towards Wu Chang like locusts. ¡°Blood Demon Protection!¡± Wu Chang also used the Blood Devouring Demon Technique, but the Blood Devouring Qi condensed was incomparably dense, as if it was corporeal. Blood Qi surrounded his body, forming a blood -red barrier that resisted the onslaught of the Blood God Sons. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The Blood God Sons¡¯ strikes were continuous, rapidly depleting the Blood Demon Qi. ¡°Blood Demon Palm!¡± Wu Chang slapped out again. With one palm strike, the space in front of them was empty, and dozens of Blood God Sons were directly exploded, causing blood rain to fall from the sky. But in just a breath, these Blood God Sons reassembled and continued to strike the blood barrier. As a fellow disciple of the Blood God Sect, Wu Chang naturally knew that the Blood God Sons could not be killed, only exhausted. Lets see if the Blood God Sons will run out ofblood or I will run out of energy first. Blood Demon Blade, Blood Demon Infusion, Blood Demon Overflow¡­ Wu Changs understanding of the Blood Demon Qi far surpassed that of Zhang Chen, and various spells and techniques emerged one after another. A large number of Blood God Sons were blown up at every moment and condensed again. The entire sky above the palace turned red. Zhang Chen watched Wu Chang¡¯s use of the Blood Demon Qi and learned a lot from it, but he was not here to learn. ¡°Heaven and Earth Combined!¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s divine sense took over the two Blood God Sons and used a joint attack spell. This combined attack spell was obtained by Zhang Chen from the twin brothers during his last mission. When two cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refinement combined their attacks, they could release an attack that was comparable to the first level of Foundation Establishment. ¡°Boom!¡± The blood barrier shook violently, but breaking it was still far from enough. Zhang Chen used his divine sense to take over 10 Blood God Sons and continued to use the Heaven and Earth Combined. ¡°Boom boom boom boom boom¡­¡± After a series of attacks, the blood barrier became thinner and dimmer, and a few more attacks should be enough to break it. Originally, five Blood God Sons at the ninth level of Qi Refinement were equivalent to one at the first level of Foundation Establishment. Now, two Blood God Sons were equivalent to one at the first level of Foundation Establishment. The gap between them can be imagined. However, giving an order to the Blood God Sons was different from controlling them to cast spells. Any mistake would cause the spell to fail. Even with Zhang Chen¡¯s strong divine sense, he could only control 10 Blood God Sons at the moment. ¡°You actually know how to use a combined spell!¡± Fear appeared in Wu Chang¡¯s eyes. He was already worn out dealing with 140 Blood God Sons. And with the combined spell, he was sure to die. At this point, he had completely given up on killing Zhang Chen and just hoped to survive. Zhang Chen did not say anything and continued to control the 10 Blood God Sons to perform Heaven and Earth Combined. ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom¡­¡± The blood barrier became thinner and dimmer. Run, he had to run! Wu Chang knew that if he could break out of the encirclement now, there was still a chance of survival. If he continued to drag on, he would only exhaust his mana. Blood Demon Blade! Wu Chang burst out without reservation, and his blood energy turned into a huge sword, sweeping away a large area of Blood God Sons. Then he used the Blood Escape technique, trying to turn into blood and escape. But just as he flew out ten yards, he was stopped by a large number of Blood God Sons, while the cleared Blood God Sons quickly recovered. ¡°Get out of my way!¡± Wu Chang roared furiously, and his blood energy vented out, once again clearing a large area of Blood God Sons. However, the Blood God Sons were like adhesive plaster, being cleared out and revived time and time again, and encircled him time and time again. Can¡¯t kill them, can¡¯t finish them off, can¡¯t shake them off! Why is this happening?! Filled with resentment and unwillingness, Wu Chang couldn¡¯t understand how Zhang Chen, who had only been at the Foundation Establishment stage for a few years, could command so many Qi Refinement stage Blood God Sons. Most of the disciples of the Blood God Sect only cultivated Blood God Sons after reaching the ninth level of the Establishment Foundation stage. To cultivate one hundred Qi Refinement stage Blood God Sons required more essence blood than reaching the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment stage. A hundred Blood God Sons at the ninth level of Qi Refinement required more blood essence than reaching the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. Who would sacrifice the core for the sake of the periphery? ¡°It¡¯s time to end this.¡± Looking at Wu Chang, who was still trying his best to break out of the encirclement, Zhang Chen¡¯s gaze was cold, as if he had announced a death sentence. ¡°Demon Disintegration Technique, explode! ¡± Under Zhang Chen¡¯s will, the Blood God Sons pounced on Wu Chang one by one, and then exploded using the Demon Disintegration Technique. ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom boom boom boom boom¡­ One, two, three¡­ The power of a self-destruction at the ninth level of Qi Refinement was equivalent to a full-strength attack at the first level of Foundation Establishment. The self-destruction of 140 Blood God Sons was equivalent to the full-strength attack of 140 first level Foundation Establishment cultivators. Wu Chang¡¯s Blood Demon Qi was scattered and one arm was shattered. Before it could be repaired, the other arm was also shattered. In the deafening noise, both the Blood God Sons and Wu Chang disappeared, replaced by a river of blood. This river of blood was formed from the scattered blood of the self-destructed Blood God Sons. Suddenly, Wu Chang¡¯s face appeared in the blood river. He seemed to be struggling to break free and escape from the river. But countless bloody hands emerged from the blood river, dragging and restraining Wu Chang, not letting him leave. Soon, Wu Chang¡¯s face sank back into the blood river and disappeared without a trace. Wu Chang was dead, devoured by the blood river formed by the 140 Blood God Sons.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Returning to the Sect with the Harvest Chapter 89: Returning to the Sect with the Harvest Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios But it wasn¡¯t over yet. When a person died, his soul remained. ¡°Illuminate the Mysterious Underworld, the souls of the four directions, appear! ¡± As Zhang Chen recited the incantation, Wu Chang¡¯s soul floated out from the blood river. Wu Chang¡¯s ethereal figure looked terrified. ¡°Please, don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t do this¡­ Zhang Chen remained unmoved and activated the Soul Devouring Technique. He opened his mouth and sucked in Wu Chang¡¯s soul, refining it in his belly. Feeling the strengthening of his soul, Zhang Chen revealed a satisfied smile. At this moment, the river of blood stirred and reformed into Blood God Sons. One of the Blood God Sons carried a pile of items and came to Zhang Chen¡¯s side. It was the standard set of three items for the Blood God Sect: a storage bag, a blood storage bottle, and a beast-rearing bag. ¡°It¡¯s time to take stock of our gains. This time, there shouldn¡¯t be anyone interrupting us.¡± Zhang Chen first opened the storage bag and scanned it with his divine sense. Inside were 800 spirit stones, several bottles of pills, a few unknown spiritual herbs, and some odds and ends. ¡°As expected of someone at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm. He¡¯s really rich. 800 spirit stones is like 800 bowls of blood essence!¡± Zhang Chen exclaimed and then opened the blood storage bottle and the beast-rearing bag. The blood storage bottle contained demon blood, while the beast-rearing bag held a second -level Qi Refinement demon beast, which was a pleasant surprise. Next, Zhang Chen took out Cai Yongxiang¡¯s storage bag. Perhaps because he had just broken through to the Foundation Establishment realm, there were only a dozen spirit stones, a book, a jade slip, and a pile of bones in his storage bag. Zhang Chen reached in and pulled out the book and jade slip. On the cover of the book were three characters made up of skeletal bones, ¡®White Bone Scripture.¡¯ ¡°White Bone Hall¡¯s cultivation technique?¡± Zhang Chen flipped through it with curiosity. [Detected cultivation technique, White Bone Scripture. Visualizing the White Bone Demon God, strengthening the bones, using the white bones as an attack method, casting spells.] [Side effect: The flesh and blood disappear, the soul transfers to the bone and becomes a half-dead bone demon.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] Zhang Chen looked like a human on the surface, but he was essentially condensed from blood. This White Bone Scripture was useless to him and could only be used to broaden his horizons and understand the spell methods of the White Bone Hall. ¡°I hope I can gain something from this jade slip.¡± Zhang Chen put away the book and stuck the jade slip to his forehead. [Detected cultivation technique, Bone Slave Sacrifice. Using skeletons as materials, use a secret technique to refine them into puppet servants. The strength depends on the materials and the degree of refinement.] [Side effect: If the bone slave is destroyed, it will be implicated and its soul will be damaged.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] After reading the ¡®Bone Slave Sacrificial Ceremony¡¯, two thoughts popped into Zhang Chen¡¯s mind. Could Cai Yongxiangs White Bone True Body be refined into a bone slave? In theory, it should be possible. Then, could the disciples of the White Bone Hall be used as materials for bone slaves trained by the sect¡¯s higher- ups? Let¡¯s go back and give it a try. IfI can refine the White Bone True Body into a bone slave. It¡¯s like having an additional Foundation Establishment helper. With this in mind, Zhang Chen used his mental power to retrieve the Blood God Sons and turned it into blood light, flying towards the imperial palace. Upon returning to the palace, the giant White Bone True Body was still in the same place. Because it was too big, Zhang Chen could only dismantle it and put it into his storage bag. Cai Yongxiang had died, the royal crisis had been resolved. Although nearly a thousand guards had died, and the palace had been reduced to ruins, King Zhenluo felt that everything was worth it. Peace returned to the capital, and the palace was being rebuilt in full swing. Soon, half a year had passed. Even after six months, many people were still talking about the immortal battle half a year ago. But, due to word-of-mouth and hearsay, there were some deviations in the story. Legend had it that it was raining blood that day, and the entire sky was red with continuous thunder. There were white bone demons massacring in the palace, and no one could stop them. At the critical moment, the Imperial Preceptor appeared and fought a huge battle with the demons. It was extremely intense and eventually, the white bone demons were slain. In the palace, Zhang Chen sat cross-legged with a huge skeleton in front of him. ¡°After half a year of refinement, there¡¯s only one final step left, to ignite the soul fire.¡± ¡°Soul fire, ignite!¡± Zhang Chen made a hand seal and pointed at his forehead. A wisp of bright flames appeared at his fingertips. Zhang Chen flicked his finger, and the flames flew into the eye sockets of the skull. ¡°Boom!¡± Like sparks falling into oil, two balls of flames suddenly ignited in the empty eye sockets of the skull, illuminating the surrounding area like lanterns. Originally just an inanimate skeleton, it became agile as if it had come to life. ¡°Rise!¡± At Zhang Chen¡¯s command, the skeleton on the ground suddenly sat up, and its huge body directly punched a hole in the roof. ¡°Great, it¡¯s finally done.¡± Zhang Chen showed a pleased expression as he gained another Foundation Establishment helper. ¡°Imperial Preceptor, what happened?¡±The guards heard the sound of the roof collapsing and rushed in to investigate. When they saw the White Bone True Body, they were almost scared out of their wits. ¡°Bone¡­ Bone Demon!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. This skeleton is under my control now,¡± Zhang Chen explained and instructed. ¡°A year has passed. Go and tell your king to prepare the medicinal herbs and mortals with spiritual roots as tribute. I will return to the sect in three days.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go now.¡± The guard fled. Zhang Chen looked at the huge skeleton again: ¡°It¡¯s a good thing it can be stored in the beast bag like a demon beast, otherwise it would be very inconvenient.¡± This bone slave could be understood as a different kind of puppet. The only difference was that he had the Soul Fire and could absorb spiritual energy on its own, without consuming spirit stones. Three days passed in a flash, and Zhang Chen left Zhenluo Kingdom with a large amount of medicinal herbs and dozens of mortals with spiritual roots, escorted by soldiers. The journey went smoothly, except for a small incident on the twentieth day. ¡°Imperial Preceptor, a woman has asked for our help. She claims to be a princess from a neighboring country and is being pursued. She wants us to escort her back to her country.¡± Zhang Chen frowned. ¡°Ignore her and let her leave.¡± ¡®Yes.¡± The soldier bowed and left, but soon returned. ¡°Imperial Preceptor, the woman refuses to leave and wants to follow us to the town.¡± Zhang Chen sneered: ¡°Does she want us to be her shield? Tie her up and hand her over to whoever comes after her.¡± He didn¡¯t care about the truth or who was right or wrong. He didn¡¯t like the trouble caused by this kind of behavior. The soldier was a little stunned, but he still did as he was told. ¡°Yes.¡± Shortly after, Zhang Chen heard the woman screaming and cursing. Not long after, a group of people really came after them. When the bound woman was handed over, they were also very surprised. Perhaps seeing that there were many people in the convoy and that there were soldiers escorting them, they did not do anything out of line and left with the woman. Two months later. ¡°Has Zhang Chen completed the mission and returned?¡± Hong Longguang, who received the news, was not surprised. Zhang Chen did not ask him for help before, so he must have had means of self-protection and confidence. Gu Pingshan of the Alchemy Pavilion also thought so. That day, he sent someone to restore the transaction of exchanging demon blood for refined blood. Seeing that Zhang Chen could escape from Wu Chang¡¯s hands, Zhang Chen¡¯s senior brothers completely gave up on the idea of investigating the source of refined blood. Zhang Chen returned to his previous ordinary life and continued it until the deadline for the last mission outside, and Wu Chang still had not returned.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: The Sect’s Reaction Chapter 90: The Sect¡¯s Reaction Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Internal Affairs Hall. ¡°Senior Brother Shen, Senior Brother Wu Chang from the Blood River Elder¡¯s sect has exceeded the mission deadline. I just checked the divine sense bead and found that the divine sense left by Senior Brother Wu is dim and lifeless. He should have been killed.¡± Upon hearing the words of his subordinate disciple, Shen Gengyuan showed a surprised expression. Previously, when Zhang Chen returned, he did not think much of it. He only thought that Zhang Chen had escaped Wu Chang¡¯s attack. ¡®Did something happen to Wu Chang, or was he plotted against by an enemy?¡¯ Shen Gengyuan thought for a moment and said, ¡°Go to Blood River Peak and tell Elder Blood River about Wu Chang¡¯s death.¡± ¡®Yes.¡± Looking at his subordinate leaving, Shen Gengyuan muttered under his breath, ¡°This Zhang Chen is a bit strange!¡± The same thing happened to Wen Xiaosu before, who was assigned a task and then died after leaving the sect. It was worth mentioning that he had arranged for a direct disciple at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm to go on a mission to Shanyue Kingdom. The mission had also failed. The moment the direct disciple of the ninth level Foundation Establishment realm entered Shanyue Kingdom, he was besieged by the Silver Moon Clan and almost couldn¡¯t come back. Although he did come back, he also lost a lot of blood essence and his cultivation level plummeted. Recently, the Blood God Sect Master and a few elders had been discussing how to retaliate against the Silver Moon Sect. Fifteen minutes later, inside the cave of Blood River Peak. The bat demon bowed respectfully and said, ¡°Master, someone from the Internal Affairs Hall just came to report that Wu Chang was killed on a mission.¡± Elder Blood River asked in a deep voice, ¡°What mission did Wu Chang accept?¡± ¡°He was sent to sit in the market for a year,¡± the bat demon answered with a bow. ¡°This mission is not dangerous. Our Blood God Sect is good at escaping danger. How could Wu Chang, who had a cultivation level of the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, die?¡± Elder Blood River¡¯s face darkened. All his planning during this period of time was for naught. It was like planting a fruit tree with great effort, and it was about to bear fruit and then suddenly being told that the tree had been cut down. It was normal for Zhang Chen to escape with the Blood Light Escape Technique he had given him. The Blood River Elder did not think it was Zhang Chen¡¯s doing. How could a newly promoted cultivator at the second level of Foundation Establishment kill someone at the ninth level? The bat demon kept his head bowed and dared not speak. After a while, Elder Blood River squinted and said, ¡°My eldest disciple has been delayed enough. Let him put aside everything and focus on breaking through to the Core Formation stage.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The bat demon accepted the order and left. At the same time, Hong Longguang and the others also received news of Wu Chang¡¯s death. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Wu Chang to die!¡± Hong Longguang was extremely surprised. He had a blood exchange transaction with Zhang Chen and naturally paid attention to Wu Chang¡¯s news. He thought that Wu Chang would come back soon after Zhang Chen returned, but half a year passed, and all they got was the news of Wu Chang¡¯s death. The mortality rate of the direct disciples of the Blood God Sect was actually very low. The immortal properties of the Blood Body, coupled with the Blood Escape technique, even if they couldn¡¯t win a fight, they could still escape. Moreover, Wu Chang was at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, and no one thought he would die. ¡°I wanted to wait for Wu Chang to break through to the Golden Core stage before considering whether to form my core. With this situation, I¡¯m afraid my master will urge me to form my core! ¡± Just as Hong Longguang said that, he heard the bat demon¡¯s voice coming from outside the cave abode. ¡°Is Eldest Senior Brother here? I¡¯m here on Master¡¯s orders.¡± Hong Longguang looked at the departing bat demon with a solemn expression. Elder Blood River had asked him to form his core more than once, but he had resolved it and delayed it. He was only able to do it after Wu Chang broke through to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. Now, he had only a few decades of life left, and his second junior sister was only at the seventh level of Foundation Building. He couldn¡¯t delay it any longer. The matter of being killed when forming the core was just a guess. More importantly, forming the core was not an easy task, and success was not guaranteed. Perhaps he could try to form his core. Even if he failed, there was still a chance. If he waited until he had no life left, forming his core would be a matter of life and death. Forming the core required a large amount of essence blood, which still depended on Zhang Chen. Thinking of this, Hong Longguang decided to get closer to Zhang Chen first. ¡°Is Seventh Junior Brother here?¡± Zhang Chen walked out of the cave abode and bowed. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Hong Longguang smiled amiably, ¡°Seventh junior brother, Wu Chang is dead, and you can rest easy in the future.¡± ¡°Wu Chang is dead?¡± Zhang Chen feigned surprise. Hong Longguang didn¡¯t care whether Zhang Chen knew or not. ¡°I am going to break through to the Golden Core stage next, and won¡¯t be able to manage the Beast Garden affairs anymore. Only you and your senior sister and senior brother are too busy. I hope the seventh junior brother can participate in the Beast Garden affairs again.¡± ¡°This is my duty.¡± Zhang Chen nodded in agreement. ¡°Core Formation requires a large amount of blood essence. I wonder if I can exchange more blood essence with Seventh Junior Brother?¡± Hong Longguang smiled in embarrassment. Zhang Chen thought about it and decided to give Hong Longguang face, but he still showed a conflicted expression. ¡°How about exchanging for five more bowls of blood essence every day in the future?¡± In the past, he had found someone to exchange for it. Now that his strength, identity, and resources were different, it was someone else who begged him to exchange for it. ¡°Thank you, Seventh Junior Brother.¡± Hong Longguang did not push his luck and stopped while he was ahead. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, you¡¯re too polite. Coincidentally, I have something to ask of you.¡± ¡°Seventh Junior Brother, please speak.¡± ¡°I want to know who arranged the mission for me in the Internal Affairs Hall.¡± His few sect missions had been secretly handled. Although he knew that the Internal Affairs Hall was paid to do things , he still hated it. Moreover, who knew if the people from the Internal Affairs Hall would be afraid of his revenge and deliberately arrange a mission for him to die. It was better to find an opportunity to strike first. While resolving the hidden danger, he could also obtain blood essence and other wealth. Why not? ¡°In recent years, the Internal Affairs Hall has been managed by Shen Gengyuan. He¡¯s the fifth disciple of the sect master and reached the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm 60 years ago. However, don¡¯t worry, Seventh Junior Brother. I¡¯ll seek justice for you.¡± Hong Longguang knew that Zhang Chen must have hated the Internal Affairs Hall because of the mission he had arranged. Now that he was preparing to form his core, no matter if he succeeded or failed, he might not live for long. He might as well give Zhang Chen face and stand up for him. Perhaps he could exchange for more blood essence. ¡°Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen did not refuse. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll leave first.¡± ¡°Take care, Senior Brother.¡± After watching Hong Longguang leave, Zhang Chen thought for a moment before transforming into a blood light and flying towards the Technique Impartation Pavilion. He had many methods, but most of them could not be exposed. For example, it was impossible to reveal all the strongest Blood God Sons in the sect. Therefore, magic techniques were still a little too poor. The others did not dare to practice too many cultivation techniques because they were afraid that the side effects of the cultivation technique would stack. He was not afraid. Instead, the more, the better. Speaking of which, it had been a few years since he went to the Technique Impartation Pavilion to exchange for cultivation techniques. An hour later, Zhang Chen returned to the cave abode with a cultivation method jade slip in his hand. [Detected cultivation technique, Blood Spirit Technique. Use a secret technique to refine the blood of a demon beast and give the demon beast spirituality to its blood.] [Side effect: It will be affected by the demonic nature in the blood, and its habits will gradually become demonic.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] Wen Xiaosu, who was killed by him, cultivated this cultivation technique.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Blood Spirit Technique Chapter 91: Blood Spirit Technique Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios According to the cultivation technique, one had to first choose a demon beast and use a secret technique to refine its blood. This demon beast could be chosen at will, but most people would choose the snake demon. This was because the path of the blood snake¡¯s evolution was clear. From snakes, pythons, boas, flood dragons, to the ultimate blood dragon. In fact, the Blood Spirit Technique did not stipulate that only one demon beast could be refined. In theory, the spiritual essence of all beasts could be merged into the blood. However, in order to avoid being influenced by the habits of too many demon beasts, only one was chosen for refinement. The reason why Zhang Chen chose this cultivation technique was because when he saw it, an idea popped into his mind. Could he use a secret technique to cultivate human blood and integrate its spiritual essence into the Blood God Son¡¯s body, and give the Blood God Son intelligence? Others didn¡¯t dare to do this because they were afraid of the Blood God Son¡¯s backlash. But Zhang Chen did not have such concerns. Blood essence was still human blood! Zhang Chen sat cross-legged and eagerly began to use the Blood Spirit Technique to refine his blood essence and extract the spirituality within it. Meanwhile, Hong Longguang arrived at the Internal Affairs Hall. ¡°Hong senior brother, is there something you need from me?¡± Shen Gengyuan asked with a bow. ¡°I¡¯m here to demand justice for my seventh junior brother Zhang Chen. When he was just promoted, you assigned him the task of recapturing Shanyue kingdom. This was clearly a task that could not be completed by someone at the first level of foundation building. You deliberately sent him to his death!¡± Hong Longguang accused. So he was here to settle scores! The smile on Shen Gengyuan¡¯s face disappeared, and he asked in a low voice, ¡°What does Senior Brother Hong want?¡± Hong Longguang said in a deep voice, ¡°Return the blood essence that was taken as punishment and compensate!¡± ¡°Senior Brother Hong, must you offend our Internal Affairs Hall for Zhang Chen?¡± Shen Gengyuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°My Seventh Junior Brother¡¯s mission was arranged by you. I¡¯m not targeting the Internal Affairs Hall, but you!¡± Hong Longguang sneered. ¡°What if I refuse to compensate?¡± Shen Gengyuan asked coldly. ¡°Then our Beast Garden will not provide demon blood to the Internal Affairs Hall. As the owner of the Beast Garden, I can do this. Can you?¡± Hong Longguang was aware that his time was limited and had no scruples. Shen Gengyuan¡¯s face darkened. He did not expect Hong Longguang to go to such lengths for Zhang Chen. The cessation of the supply of demonic blood would have a huge impact. He had four senior brothers above him who would surely hold him accountable. For a moment, both sides fell into silence, and the atmosphere became tense. Three days later, Hong Longguang once again arrived at Zhang Chen¡¯s cave. ¡°Seventh Junior Brother, come out and meet me.¡± ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhang Chen was a little puzzled. How come Hong Longguang was here to find him again in just a few days? ¡°I said that I would seek justice for you from the Internal Affairs Hall. After three days of negotiation, they want to compete with us. ¡°If we win, they will compensate you with double the blood essence. If they win, the matter will be dropped. What do you think?¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t expect things to develop like this. His original idea was to kill Shen Gengyuan privately. However, it did not matter. It was time to show his fangs to his fellow disciples! ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother, for your hard work. Let¡¯s compete with them.¡± Hong Longguang nodded. ¡°Okay, I will personally take the field and make sure you win.¡± This decision was not entirely for Zhang Chen. If he was injured during the competition, there was a reason to postpone the Core Formation. What really made him want to build the formation was fear. There was no reason to delay before, but now there was a reason that came to him. Not only could he do Zhang Chen a favor, but he could also live for a while longer. It was killing two birds with one stone. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Eldest Senior Brother. This is my own business. I want to compete personally,¡± Zhang Chen refused. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re confident, Junior Brother.¡± Hong Longguang did not force him. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, when will the competition take place?¡± ¡°The direct disciples¡¯ gathering will be held in four months. At that time, it will be held under the witness of many direct disciples.¡± After Hong Longguang left, Zhang Chen continued to practice the Blood Spirit Technique. Time flew by, and a month passed. Zhang Chen looked at the agile blood-colored aura in his hand and smiled. ¡°After a month, I¡¯ve finally mastered the Blood Spirit Technique and extracted the spirituality from the blood essence!¡± ¡°Next, it¡¯s time to merge this spirituality into the Blood God Son and test the hypothesis.¡± After the Blood God gained intelligence, he could use spells, and his strength would at least increase tenfold. With a thought from Zhang Chen, a Blood God Son flew out of his body. Zhang Chen slapped his palm, injecting the spiritual energy in his hand into the Blood God Son¡¯s body. As soon as the spiritual energy entered the Blood God Son¡¯s body, it melted into the blood and disappeared. One breath, two breaths, three breaths¡­ Under Zhang Chen¡¯s gaze, the Blood God Son began to change. Originally lifeless and like a puppet, the Blood God Son seemed to become more lively. Without facial features, the face that was as calm as a still lake began to fluctuate, slowly forming into the nose, eyes, and other facial features. Without Zhang Chen¡¯s command, the Blood God Son moved. He turned his head and observed his surroundings curiously. ¡°It really works!¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s face was full of excitement. With this, he didn¡¯t have to scatter the Blood God Sons. His main means of attack was the Blood God Son, so he had not given it intelligence, fearing that it would be lost outside. If it encountered a direct disciple of the Blood God Sect, it would be like giving away several hundred units of blood. Zhang Chen¡¯s divine sense scanned over, trying to communicate with the Blood God Son. The Blood God Son did indeed gain intelligence, but it was too weak, currently only at the level of a three-year-old child and unable to understand and use spells. It needed to continue to integrate spiritual energy to increase its intelligence. ¡°Come back!¡± Zhang Chen retracted the Blood God Son and did not continue to extract the spiritual energy from the blood essence. Instead, he extracted the spiritual energy from the demon blood and integrated it into his own blood for the competition in three months. Like most people, he chose the spiritual energy of the snake demon. As one of the managers of the Beast Garden, he could have any demon blood he wanted. Yu Fangxiang was one of the five people Zhang Chen had brought back to the sect during the previous mission of searching for spiritual root disciples.. After joining the Blood God Sect, he understood how cruel it was and cultivated diligently. Unfortunately, his aptitude was not good. After six years, he was only at the second level of Qi Refinement. According to the Blood God Sect¡¯s rules, if a disciple did not break through to the third level of Qi Refinement in six years, he would be stripped of his disciple status and demoted to a blood slave. Seeing that it was almost the day of the sect assessment, Yu Fangxiang, who had nowhere to go, thought of Zhang Chen. After asking around, Yu Fangxiang finally found Zhang Chen¡¯s cave abode. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, are you there?¡± Zhang Chen stopped his cultivation and walked out of the cave, seeing that it was an outer disciple: ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Yu Fangxiang said excitedly, ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, do you still remember me? Six years ago, it was you who brought me into the sect.¡± Zhang Chen recalled that there was indeed such a person and asked plainly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Yu Fangxiang said respectfully, ¡°My aptitude is poor, and I cannot pass this year¡¯s sect examination. I would like to ask Senior Brother for some blood to help me pass the examination.¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s face was cold as he rejected him directly. ¡°You can leave now.¡± Yu Fangxiang was anxious. ¡°Senior Brother, won¡¯t you help me? I came to the sect with your help!¡± ¡°Half a year ago, I brought dozens of people back to the sect. Should I also give them blood to help them pass the examination? If I don¡¯t bring you back to the Blood God Sect, there will be others who will.¡¯ Zhang Chen¡¯s tone was icy. Once he started, many others would follow suit. ¡°It was you who brought me to the Blood God Sect. If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have died. You have to help me. You have to help me!¡± Yu Fangxiang shouted, unwilling to give up. Zhang Chen¡¯s gaze turned cold. He condensed his bloodthirsty aura and slapped out. ¡°Scram!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Yu Fangxiang spat out blood and rolled down the mountain. If not for the fact that he could not kill his fellow disciples in the sect, Zhang Chen¡¯s palm could have directly killed Yu Fangxiang. Yu Fangxiang, who had been seriously injured and rolled down the mountain, said with hatred in his eyes, ¡°You will die a horrible death! You will die a horrible death.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Overpowering the Opponent Chapter 92: Overpowering the Opponent Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°No, I still have a chance to break through. With the Lifespan Burning Technique and devouring a large amount of demon blood. I must survive¡­ I must survive¡­¡± Yu Fangxiang got up from the ground and staggered away. Three months passed in the blink of an eye. Amidst a flash of blood, Zhang Chen arrived at the location of the private gathering. ¡°Seventh Junior Brother, you¡¯re here.¡± Hong Longguang and the others were already waiting here. Zhang Chen bowed and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been delayed for a while by my cultivation. Sorry to keep you waiting, Senior Brother and Senior Sister.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. We just arrived.¡± ¡°The Internal Affairs Hall is too much. Seventh Junior Brother had just reached the Foundation Establishment realm and they were already arranging impossible missions!¡± ¡°Seventh Junior Brother, do you want me to help you win this battle?¡± Several people tried to please Zhang Chen by expressing their indignation and hatred for a common enemy as if they were the ones who were treated unfairly. ¡°Alright, since Seventh Junior Brother is already here, let¡¯s go over to the arena.¡± Hong Longguang interrupted everyone and walked towards the arena. ¡°Someone is competing. Let¡¯s go take a look.¡± Many direct disciples saw this scene and followed to watch the commotion. At this moment, another group of people was already standing beside the arena. The leader was a scholar at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm. A scholar appearing in the demonic sect was out of place with the people around him, very noticeable. ¡°That scholar is Shen Gengyuan from the Internal Affairs Hall,¡± Hong Longguang introduced to Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen narrowed his eyes and memorized the other party¡¯s appearance. As they approached each other, Shen Gengyuan asked, ¡°Senior Brother Hong, who do you send to fight?¡± ¡°Me.¡± Zhang Chen took the initiative to step forward. Shen Gengyuan¡¯s expression was meaningful, he took a deep look at Zhang Chen and said, ¡°I don¡¯t have a junior brother who has built his foundation to the second level. The one with similar cultivation is only at the third level. Do you want to switch to someone else?¡± ¡°Seventh Junior Brother, what do you think?¡± Hong Longguang asked. Zhang Chen shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s only a difference of one level. It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Okay, since we¡¯re not going to switch, let¡¯s settle it this way. Fifteenth Junior Brother, I¡¯ll trouble you with the match this time,¡± Shen Gengyuan said, looking at a dark and thin man behind him. The dark and thin man nodded. ¡°Fifth Senior Brother, don¡¯t worry. I will definitely win the competition.¡± Shen Gengyuan then said to Hong Longguang, ¡°There¡¯s not much blood essence involved this time. There¡¯s no need to trouble Chief Senior Brother. Just let all the direct disciples present be witnesses.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Hong Longguang thought so too, as having the Chief Senior Brother act as a notary would require payment. Shen Gengyuan walked onto the arena and looked at everyone below. He said loudly, ¡°There was a misunderstanding between us and the Beast Park in our mission. Today, we will settle it with this match, and I request all elders to be witnesses. If the Beast Garden wins, our Internal Affairs Hall will compensate them with three hundred bowls of essence and blood. If we win, the matter will be considered resolved.¡± To save face, Shen Gengyuan didn¡¯t reveal the reason for the conflict. The crowd murmured when they heard this. ¡°The Beast Garden doesn¡¯t have to pay if they lose?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the Internal Affairs Hall would bow their heads to the Beast Garden.¡± ¡°Who knows what the misunderstanding is between the Internal Affairs Hall and the Beast Garden?¡± ¡°Is there anyone setting up a bet?¡± ¡°One is at the third level of the Foundation Establishment realm, and the other is at the second level. The Beast Garden will definitely lose. How do we bet?¡± ¡°The two contestants, please enter the arena!¡± In a flash of blood, two figures came to the arena and reported their names to each other. ¡°Sect Master¡¯s direct disciple, Su Qinz.¡± ¡°Elder Blood River¡¯s direct disciple, Zhang Chen.¡± ¡°The match begins!¡± After Shen Gengyuan announced it, he flew out of the arena. The moment he finished speaking, Zhang Chen attacked. With a thought from Zhang Chen, 10 Blood God Sons flew out of his body and pounced towards Su Qing. The people below were surprised to see this. ¡°It¡¯s actually the Blood God Sons! I didn¡¯t expect someone at the second level of Foundation Establishment to nurture Blood God Sons.¡± ¡°Ten Blood God Sons at the ninth level of Qi Refinement are comparable to a helper at the second level of Foundation Establishment. No wonder he dares to fight against Su Qing, who¡¯s at the third level of Foundation Establishment!¡± ¡°If he hadn¡¯t cultivated Blood God Sons with this essence and blood, he would probably be at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, right?¡± On the other side, Su Qing¡¯s body suddenly split into two figures, and both of them were at the third level of Foundation Establishment. One faced the Blood God Sons, and the other attacked Zhang Chen. Someone below the arena exclaimed, ¡°This is the Blood Shadow Clone Technique. which can split into two doppelgangers with the same cultivation base. The downside is that it cannot last long and will cause soul division, creating a second consciousness. ¡°This second consciousness is very dangerous. It may compete with the primary consciousness for control of the body. And you can only suppress the second consciousness, not eliminate it, otherwise, the soul will be deficient.¡± ¡°This Su Qing actually covets power and practices such a dangerous technique!¡± ¡°Facing the siege of two third level Foundation Establishment cultivators, Zhang Chen is going to lose!¡± As the opponent charged towards him, Zhang Chen patted his beast breeding bag, and a huge white skeleton appeared in front of everyone. ¡°This is the White Bone True Body of the White Bone Hall! ¡± ¡°He actually killed a direct disciple of the White Bone Hall and refined him into a bone slave!¡± Once again, everyone was amazed and exclaimed in shock. Although the White Bone True Body was only at the first level of Foundation Establishment, its defense was strong and it did not have the weakness of blood. It could withstand the attacks of a third level Foundation Establishment cultivator for a short period of time. Zhang Chen did not stay idle either. He circulated the Blood Spirit Technique and several blood snakes emerged from his body to attack the opponent. Blood Demon Blade, Blood Demon Infusion, Blood Demon Overflow¡­ He used the spells and techniques he learned from Wu Chang one by one. Su Qing thought he had the upper hand. After all, his Blood Shadow Clone Technique was very powerful. Having a clone with the same cultivation level made it easy to deal with a second level Foundation Establishment cultivator. But reality hit him hard. The opponent was just too abnormal, and he was completely suppressed and defeated. Ten Blood God Sons at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, bone slaves with strong offense and defense, the Blood Spirit Technique, and the Blood Devouring Demon Technique. This was like facing the attacks of four Foundation Establishment cultivators at the same time! If not for the fact that he had a clone sharing the pressure, he would not have been able to hold on. Seeing the situation turn around, the direct disciples watching from below the arena couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°This Zhang Chen at the Foundation Establishment level two is so strong!¡± They didn¡¯t know that Zhang Chen was still hiding most of his strength. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Seventh Junior Brother to be so strong.¡± Sixth Senior Brother Du Nanfeng had mixed feelings. He was only at the third level of Foundation Establishment and didn¡¯t think he was a match for Zhang Chen. Although he had already suppressed the opponent, Zhang Chen was not satisfied. He wanted to win today, and win decisively! ¡°Demon Disintegration Technique, explode!¡± ¡°Boom boom boom boom boom¡­ The 10 Blood God Sons began to self-destruct, then reformed and self-destructed again. ¡°I give up, I give up!¡± Su Qing quickly surrendered. If he continued, his clone would be destroyed. This was just a sparring match, and Zhang Chen did not intend to kill. With a thought, the Blood God Sons and Bone Slaves stopped their actions. From the start of the match to the surrender, it only took about 15 minutes. ¡°Zhang Chen wins this match!¡± Shen Gengyuan went on stage and announced. Su Qing said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Fifth Senior Brother. I lost.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Shen Gengyuan waved his hand, not caring at all. Zhang Chen put away the Blood God Sons and Bone Slaves and looked straight at Shen Gengyuan. ¡°Senior Brother Shen, can you give me the compensation ¡°It¡¯s just 300 bowls of blood essence.¡± With so many people watching, Shen Gengyuan naturally could not go back on his word. He took out a blood storage bottle and threw it to Zhang Chen.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: The Secret of Core Formation Chapter 93: The Secret of Core Formation Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Zhang Chen took the blood storage bottle and walked out of the arena. ¡°Congratulations to Seventh Junior Brother for winning,¡± everyone congratulated. ¡°Seventh Junior Brother is amazing.¡± Second Senior Sister even winked at him, making one¡¯s imagination run wild. On the other side, Shen Gengyuan¡¯s expression darkened as he looked at the few of them chatting and laughing. ¡°Alright, the competition is over. Everyone, disperse.¡± Hong Longguang¡¯s expression was relatively calm. How could someone who could exchange for a large amount of essence blood be weak? Zhang Chen exchanged a few more compliments with everyone. Just as he was about to leave, he heard Hong Longguang shout again. ¡°Seventh Junior Brother, wait.¡± ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, is there anything else?¡± Zhang Chen was puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s not convenient to talk here. Let¡¯s go to your cave abode.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Zhang Chen was not worried about anything. He nodded and agreed. Then, the two of them turned into blood light and left. In the cave abode. Hong Longguang took out a storage bag and handed it to Zhang Chen. ¡°I¡¯m about to enter seclusion to cultivate my core formation. My life is hanging in the balance, and I have descendants in the mortal world. ¡°There are a few hundred spirit stones and a few orthodox cultivation techniques in the storage bag. If I die, I hope you can deliver the storage bag to my descendants.¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t accept it. ¡°Senior Brother, are you really at ease with me doing this?¡± Hong Longguang chuckled and said, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t trust anyone else, but you, Seventh Junior Brother, would definitely not care about a mere few hundred spirit stones. I have the ¡®Seven Emotions and Six Desires Demon Technique¡¯ and can slightly perceive other people¡¯s emotions and desires. Among the disciples of the Blood God Sect, you are the only one I¡¯ve seen who doesn¡¯t have too many desires or distractions. If you¡¯re interested in any of the orthodox techniques inside, feel free to browse them.¡± Zhang Chen still didn¡¯t respond. He truly didn¡¯t care about those few hundred spirit stones, but he also didn¡¯t want to cause trouble for no reason. Hong Longguang went to the Internal Affairs Hall to seek justice for him, and he increased the amount of blood essence exchanged. It could be said that they owed each other nothing. Seeing that Zhang Chen was silent, Hong Longguang continued, ¡°If you¡¯re willing to help me, I can tell you the secret of the sect¡¯s Core Formation.¡± Hearing this, Zhang Chen fell into deep thought, but he still did not agree. After a moment of silence, Hong Longguang said, ¡°Previously, when I fought with someone and saw the other party use the Blood Shadow Clone Technique, you seemed to have a desire for it. Are you interested in demonic techniques?¡± Zhang Chen was a little surprised. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother¡¯s Seven Emotions and Six Desires Demon Technique can even perceive that?¡± Hong Longguang was quite pleased with himself. ¡°This Seven Emotions and Six Desires Demon Technique is the foundational technique of the demonic sect, the main technique of the Seven Emotions Demon Palace. I was fortunate enough to obtain the first half a hundred years ago. Although I didn¡¯t use the second half of the Seven Emotions and Six Desires, I can absorb and perceive the seven emotions and six desires. If Junior Brother is willing, I can use the ¡®Seven Emotions and Six Desires Demon Technique¡¯ as your reward.¡± Zhang Chen was indeed interested in this technique and reached out to take the storage bag, ¡°I¡¯ll help you with this favor, Eldest Senior Brother.¡± Hong Longguang sensed Zhang Chen¡¯s seven emotions and six desires and then smiled with satisfaction. ¡°I don¡¯t want my descendants to join the demonic sect, so I sent them to the nearest Silver Moon Sect territory.¡± As he spoke, Hong Longguang took out a blood-red jade pendant, ¡°As long as you¡¯re close to my bloodline, this jade pendant will vibrate and glow. The specific location is¡­¡± ¡°Rest assured, Senior Brother. I¡¯ll remember it.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give the ¡®Seven Emotions and Six Desires Demon Technique¡¯ to you now.¡± Hong Longguang took out a blank jade slip and stuck it to his forehead to copy the cultivation technique¡¯s memories. A moment later. ¡°Junior brother, please verify its authenticity.¡± Without saying anything polite like ¡°I believe you, Senior Brother,¡± Zhang Chen simply stuck the jade slip to his forehead. [Detected cultivation technique, Seven Emotions and Six Desires Demon Technique. First volume. It uses joy, anger, grief, fear, love, evil, and desire as cultivation resources. The second volume, which controls the seven emotions and six desires, is missing.] [Side effects: You will be affected by the seven emotions and six desires and become extreme. You have to experience the seven emotions and six desires tribulation once every 10 years. After passing it, your control over the seven emotions and six desires will increase. If you can¡¯t pass it, you will sink into it and can¡¯t extricate yourself.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] The authenticity of the ¡®Seven Emotions and Six Desires Demon Technique¡¯ was verified by the modifier. It was indeed the real deal, just as Hong Longguang had said, but only Volume 1 was present. As for this side effect, the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Tribulation was interesting. It was considered a mixed blessing. Those with great willpower could easily cultivate this technique, but without great willpower, it would be impossible to pass through the tribulation. However, the modifier had canceled the side effects. Even if he had the choice, Zhang Chen would have chosen to cancel them. He had little confidence in his own willpower. ¡°The technique is fine,¡± Zhang Chen said as he put away the jade slip. Hong Longguang felt that he didn¡¯t have much hope of surviving and was depressed. ¡°I¡¯ll also tell you the secret of the sect¡¯s Core Formation realm. If my descendants are in trouble, help them if you feel like it.¡± Zhang Chen did not answer. Hong Longguang continued, ¡°Do you know why I stayed at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm for a hundred years? It¡¯s because all the disciples who formed the core previously disappeared without a trace!¡± At this point, Hong Longguang¡¯s eyes were filled with fear. It was fear of death and the unknown! Zhang Chen was not surprised. The nature of the Blood God Sect¡¯s cultivation techniques determined everything. When combined with the side effects of the Blood Body, these Core Formation disciples either lost their bodies or were controlled and turned into puppets. The Blood God Sect raised pigs, and they would at most raise them to the Golden Core realm before slaughtering them. No wonder Hong Longguang, who was about to form his core, was so anxious to make arrangements for the future. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t Senior Brother continue to delay?¡± Zhang Chen asked with suspicion. ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t want to? It was our Master¡¯s order for me to cultivate the core formation, so I had to do it. I used the ¡®Seven Emotions and Six Desires Demon Technique¡¯ to sense Master¡¯s emotions before and found ways to delay until now. ¡°If Wu Chang hadn¡¯t died, Master wouldn¡¯t have forced me. After all, I don¡¯t have much lifespan left, and I would have had to form my core in the end. But now, after waiting for so long and achieving nothing, Master doesn¡¯t want to wait anymore.¡± Hong Longguang said with a tone of helplessness. Zhang Chen was stunned. It turned out that this matter was related to him as well. However, it was Wu Chang who wanted to kill him, so he had only himself to blame. ¡°Thank you for reminding me, Senior Brother,¡± Zhang Chen said, arching his hand in thanks. ¡°Ah-¡± Hong Longguang sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve already explained everything. I won¡¯t disturb Seventh Junior Brother anymore.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send Eldest Senior Brother off.¡± After bidding farewell to Hong Longguang, Zhang Chen returned to his cave. The Golden Core stage? I still need to accumulate my foundation. When I reach the Core Formation stage, I must have the ability to deal with the late Core Formation stage, he thought to himself. Even though he had been modified so that he wouldn¡¯t be controlled or possessed, he still needed to face Elder Blood River at the late Core Formation stage. At the very least, he had to have a way to escape from the hands of a late stage Core Formation cultivator. ¡°The Core Formation stage is still far away. I¡¯ll start by practicing the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Demon Technique to see if it works,¡± Zhang Chen thought, pulling his mind back and sitting cross-legged to begin his cultivation. Using the seven emotions as cultivation resources, he naturally had to sense the seven emotions before he could absorb them. Therefore, the first thing he had to cultivate was a secret technique to sense the seven emotions. Because it involved elusive emotional desires, this secret technique was very difficult to master. When practicing, one must maintain strong emotional fluctuations. Because of this, Zhang Chen could only constantly recall his fear when he crossed over and his excitement when he found the modifier. Even so, it took him a full year to master this secret technique. Now that he had mastered it, he naturally had to try it out and see if it worked.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: Seven Emotions Secret Technique Chapter 94: Seven Emotions Secret Technique Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The most populous place in the Blood God Sect was naturally the Internal Affairs Hall. Zhang Chen arrived at the Internal Affairs Hall. The moment he used the secret technique, he saw colorful lights emanating from the disciples around him. According to the description of the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Demon Technique, each color of light represents a different emotion and desire. When those outer and inner sect disciples saw him, their bodies would emit a gray light, which represented fear and dread. Suddenly, Zhang Chen discovered a black light. This represented malice and hostility. It was an old man at the third level of Qi Refinement with gray hair and an abnormal mental state, staring fiercely at him as if he wanted to devour him. Lifespan Burning Technique? While recognizing the old man¡¯s age, Zhang Chen also felt a sense of familiarity. After some thought, Zhang Chen finally remembered who he was. It was Yu Fangxiang, the person he brought back to the sect who wanted to give him his blood essence but was refused. Yu Fangxiang did not expect to meet Zhang Chen in the Internal Affairs Hall. After being slapped down the mountain by Zhang Chen, in order to survive, he used the Lifespan Burning Technique to improve his aptitude and devoured a large amount of demon blood. Unexpectedly, with his strong hatred towards Zhang Chen, he resisted the ferocious aura, broke through the third level of Qi Refinement, and passed the sect assessment. Zhang Chen¡¯s gaze turned cold. Yu Fangxiang was like an ant to him, but as long as he was an enemy, he must be eliminated. Today, the opponent was able to break through the third level of Qi Refinement. Who knew if he will break through the Foundation Establishment period tomorrow? Although killing a fellow sect member was prohibited in the Blood God Sect, it did not mean that there was no way to kill someone, especially when there was a huge difference in status. ¡°You, come here,¡± Zhang Chen shouted to a passing inner sect disciple. This inner sect disciple did not dare to disobey. He walked over nervously and said respectfully, ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, what instructions do you have?¡± Zhang Chen pointed at Yu Fangxiang. ¡°Did you see him? Find a way to trouble him, preferably kill him. After the deed is done, come to Blood Bamboo Peak and claim your reward from me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, senior brother. I¡¯ll definitely kill him.¡± The inner sect disciple looked excited. Killing an outer sect disciple at the third level of Qi Refinement not only earned a reward, but also the admiration of a direct disciple. It was like a pie falling from the sky. ¡°Good, I leave it to you.¡± Zhang Chen activated the Seven Emotions Secret Art and saw a glow of joy and excitement emanating from the inner sect disciple. Yu Fangxiang noticed Zhang Chen¡¯s actions and realized that something was wrong. He quickly turned and left, while the inner sect disciple chased after him. Zhang Chen withdrew his gaze and continued his own experiment After sensing the seven emotions and six desires, he absorbed and refined them. Zhang Chen felt that the colors on the disciples around him were all attracted by him. Anger, fear, and excitement¡­ Various emotions rushed towards him and overwhelmed him. However, those who had their emotions absorbed became calm and had a feeling of melancholy. It was like someone who was very happy suddenly lost the feeling of happiness. Although Zhang Chen was not affected because of the modifier, However, he could feel that without the modifier, absorbing these emotions would certainly make people cry and laugh, and even drive them crazy. People without great determination could not bear it. ¡°As expected of the main cultivation technique of a major demonic path sect!¡± Zhang Chen sighed in his heart and guessed. Hong Longguang should only have cultivated the Seven Emotions Secret Technique of sensing emotions and had not absorbed them. After some thought, Zhang Chen decided not to absorb these emotions. After all, he did not have the second half of the cultivation technique and could not use these emotions. It was useless to absorb them. After obtaining the result he wanted, Zhang Chen did not stay any longer. He turned into a blood light and left. In the following days, Zhang Chen either refined his demon blood or used the Blood Spirit Technique to improve his spirituality. A month later, Yu Fangxiang died. During the past month, he had been continuously provoked and beaten by different people, and eventually died from his injuries in indignation and resentment. Since it was not an on-the-spot death, but rather a cumulative injury involving many people, the only punishment was a small amount of blood essence from those involved. In the demon sects, if one did not have strength or background, one had to have self-awareness and learn to hide one¡¯s emotions and thoughts. Otherwise, they would become a death warrant. The inner sect disciple came to report to Zhang Chen who rewarded him with blood essence and stopped paying any attention. Soon, another three years passed. Unlike the previous two times, Zhang Chen did not immediately receive a mission from the sect. After all, the previous two times were because an enemy had spent blood essence to arrange a mission for him. Hong Longguang had already entered closed-door cultivation to form his core. There had been no news of him for the past two years. However, it had been five years since he last saw Elder Blood River. It was time for him to test his cultivation again. In order to deal with Elder Blood River, he raised his cultivation to the third level of Foundation Establishment. When he opened his eyes from his cultivation, Zhang Chen saw 10 Blood God Sons with facial features meditating and practicing. This was the result of two years of refining their spirits using the Blood Spirit Technique. These 10 Blood God Sons were capable of self-cultivation and using spells. Actually, their spiritual intelligence was only equivalent to that of a nine-year-old child. Although under the effect of the Modifier, it was impossible for the Blood God Sons to betray and counterattack, for Zhang Chen, the Blood God Sons could practice and use spells on their own without requiring high intelligence. By doing so, he could also give more Blood God Sons intelligence. Instead of absorbing the Blood God Sons into his body, Zhang Chen let them continue their cultivation. He then left his cave and flew towards the Blood River Peak. ¡°Disciple Zhang Chen requests to see Master!¡± ¡°Clap, clap, clap.. A moment later, the bat demon appeared. ¡°Follow me.¡± ¡°Master, Zhang Chen is here.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Greetings, Master!¡± Zhang Chen bowed respectfully. ¡°Third level of Foundation Establishment, not bad.¡± Elder Blood River was very satisfied. ¡°Your Eldest Senior Brother is in seclusion to condense his Golden Core. His share in the Beast Garden will be given to you as a reward.¡± ¡°Thank you for your reward, Master.¡± With this, Zhang Chen¡¯s share of the demon blood in the Beast Garden reached up to 50 percent. Elder Blood River¡¯s reason for rewarding Zhang Chen was not only because of his progress in cultivation, but also to make the other disciples feel the pressure of competition. Without working hard to break through cultivation, they would lose their share in the beast park. With effort and cultivation, they would receive rewards. As expected, the Blood God Elder instructed once again, ¡°Do not slack off in your cultivation. Within six years, break through to the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. I will still reward you.¡± ¡°I will definitely cultivate hard and break through as soon as possible.¡± Zhang Chen nodded. ¡°Alright, you can go back now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± After leaving Blood River Peak, Zhang Chen first went to find his senior brothers and sisters to inform them of his share. ¡°Congratulations, Seventh Junior Brother.¡± The senior brothers and sisters congratulated him one after another, but their jealousy and envy were palpable through the Seven Emotions Secret Technique. This was human nature, and Zhang Chen was not surprised. With the Seven Emotions Secret Technique, it was difficult for others to hide their true thoughts in front of him.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 95 - Chanter 95: The Sect War Begins Chanter 95: The Sect War Begins Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After receiving 50 percent of the benefits of the Beast Garden, in addition to the fact that these senior brothers and sisters needed to rely on him for blood essence, it could be said that he had established control over the Beast Garden. Zhang Chen¡¯s life returned to a peaceful routine. He continued to consume demon blood, refine his spirituality, and manage affairs at the Beast Garden once in a while. This peace was not to last, however, and was shattered a year later. ¡°Dang dang dang dang dang¡­¡¯ The sound of the bell, which represented the gathering of all direct disciples, echoed throughout the entire Blood God Sect. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zhang Chen asked, puzzled, as he walked out of his cave. He saw streaks of blood-red light flying towards the sect square. All direct disciples, except those in important positions who were not allowed to leave, were required to attend. Thus, Zhang Chen also turned into a blood light and flew towards the sect square. By the time he arrived, there were already over 40 direct disciples gathered, and more were arriving constantly. Zhang Chen found his second senior sister and others in the crowd and asked, ¡°Senior brothers and sisters, do you know what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know either.¡± They shook their heads. Other direct disciples around them were also asking each other for information. Amidst the fragmented conversations, vague mentions of the Silver Moon Sect could be heard. An hour later, a blood river appeared, and a blood spring emerged from the ground, causing blood to spread in all directions and immersing everyone in a blood-red sea. The phenomenon dissipated and seven figures appeared in front of everyone. They were the six elders and the Blood God Sect Master. ¡°Greetings, Sect Master and Elders.¡± The direct disciples all bowed in unison. Many people were surprised. What exactly was going on? Even the sect master was here! The Blood God Sect Master¡¯s expression was dignified as he said in a deep voice, ¡°The Silver Moon Sect has seized our affiliated country, the Shanyue Kingdom. ¡°Our Blood God Sect is a demonic sect. We have always been the ones to invade other sects. How can we tolerate others invading us? ¡°After discussing with the elders, I have decided to go to war with the Silver Moon Sect and retake the Shanyue Kingdom!¡± The direct disciples had various expressions upon hearing this news. This meant that they were going to fight against the Silver Moon Sect. A small number of them looked solemn, while the majority were excited and bloodthirsty, eager to try. The Blood God Sect Master continued, ¡°Tomorrow, Elder Black Blood will lead you to the Shanyue Kingdom to demonstrate the might of our Blood God Sect!¡± ¡°Demonstrate our sect¡¯s might!¡± ¡°Demonstrate our sect¡¯s might!¡± ¡°Demonstrate our sect¡¯s might!¡± The direct disciples shouted loudly and excitedly. The Blood God Sect Master nodded in satisfaction at first. Then, he glanced at everyone coldly and unleashed the power of the Nascent Soul realm. ¡°Those who fear fighting and attempt to escape will all be dealt with according to the punishment for deserting the sect!¡± Everyone felt as if they were being crushed by a mountain and bent over, unable to straighten up. In addition, they felt like they had met a natural enemy, filled with fear in their hearts. Just as everyone was about to collapse, the Blood God Sect Master restrained his momentum: ¡°Kill a disciple of the Silver Moon Sect, and you will be rewarded with a hundred bowls of refined blood!¡± ¡°Phew!¡± Everyone heaved a sigh of relief and shouted again, ¡°Kill!¡± ¡°Kill! ¡°Kill! The Blood God Sect Master smiled with satisfaction and turned into a pool of blood that disappeared without a trace. Immediately after, the other five elders also left one by one, leaving only Elder Black Blood in charge of recapturing the Shanyue Kingdom. ¡°At noon tomorrow, gather here and head to the Shanyue Kingdom!¡± ¡°Understood the Elder¡¯s decree!¡± The direct disciples bowed. When they looked up again, Elder Black Blood had already left. ¡°Seventh Junior Brother, when we get to the Shanyue Kingdom, you will follow me. I will protect you.¡± Second Senior Sister acted like a rich woman keeping a gigolo. The other senior brothers were rather envious. If possible, they also wanted to live off a woman. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Senior Sister, but I want to be alone.¡± Zhang Chen had too many secrets on him, and if he really encountered danger, he didn¡¯t know who would protect whom. ¡°Seventh Junior Brother, I know that you¡¯re strong and might not be your match even if you¡¯re only at the fourth or fifth level of the Foundation Establishment realm, but it¡¯s better to have someone to look after you when there are more people.¡± Fifth Senior Brother hurriedly persuaded. ¡°That¡¯s right, Seventh Junior Brother, let¡¯s go together,¡± Sixth Senior Brother echoed. ¡°Senior Sister, Senior Brother, see you tomorrow.¡± Zhang Chen still shook his head and left with a bow. After Zhang Chen left, Fourth Senior Brother was somewhat dissatisfied. ¡°Seventh Junior Brother is too arrogant.¡± ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s afraid that we¡¯ll harm him. After all, he has the means to exchange for blood essence,¡± Sixth Brother guessed. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about him anymore. We¡¯ll go together tomorrow.¡± The other disciples around also agreed and made a pact to travel together. The next day. Zhang Chen had incorporated 15 intelligent Blood God Sons into his body and flew to the square. ¡°Senior Sister, Senior Brother.¡± ¡°Seventh Junior Brother.¡± Perhaps because of yesterday¡¯s rejection, Zhang Chen¡¯s senior brothers and sisters didn¡¯t have much enthusiasm. They just greeted each other and didn¡¯t say anything else. At noon, the sun blazed in the sky. Due to the formation and blood mist, the sun appeared blood-red in the Blood God Sect, casting a crimson light. It was like a blood spring floating in the air, constantly spewing out blood, dyeing the whole world red. ¡°Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle¡­¡¯ At this moment, a blood spring also erupted from the ground, continuously spewing black blood. Suddenly, a foul odor filled the air. Elder Black Blood, with a face full of corpse spots, emerged from the blood spring. ¡°Welcome, Elder!¡± The direct disciples quickly bowed. Elder Black Blood just glanced at everyone, then took out a token and threw it into the air: ¡°Open!¡± The token shone brightly, and a crack appeared in the sky, growing larger and larger. No! It should be said that a hole had been opened in the formation that enveloped the sect¡¯s encampment. ¡°All direct disciples, listen up! ¡± Elder Black Blood¡¯s voice was dry and hoarse, but it seemed to carry a mysterious power that made one¡¯s blood stir and want to drink blood to quench their thirst. ¡°At your service!¡± The disciples all responded in unison. ¡°Follow me to the Shanyue Kingdom and drink the blood of the orthodox path!¡± As he spoke, Elder Black Blood soared into the air and flew out of the Blood God Sect. ¡°Respect the Elder¡¯s decree!¡± The disciples all smiled ferociously, turned into blood light, and followed closely behind. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡¯ Ahead, Elder Black Blood laughed out loud, like a ghostly howl. The hundreds of blood lights behind him accentuated his power as a demonic cultivator of the Golden Core stage. In the eyes of mortals, this scene was like numerous blood-colored meteors streaking across the sky. Two days later, at the border of the Shanyue Kingdom, several men dressed in the clothing of the Silver Moon Sect looked at the distant sky in horror. ¡°Senior Brother, look!¡± ¡°This is bad, it¡¯s the Blood God Sect coming to kill us. Quickly send word to the sect!¡± A disciple of the Silver Moon Sect hastily took out a communication jade slip and infused it with mana. The communication jade slip flashed with light and disappeared from his hand. The leader of the Silver Moon Sect disciples¡¯ face changed again: ¡°This is the aura of a Golden Core cultivator, let¡¯s go!¡± Several silvery lights quickly flew away. Elder Black Blood had long sensed these Silver Moon Sect disciples, but he did not take action. In the cultivation world, there was a rule that during sect wars, cultivators of the Golden Core stage and above could not attack disciples of either side. This was to prevent both sides from specifically slaughtering each other¡¯s disciples. In the distant past, the cultivation world did not have this rule, and both sides killed each other¡¯s disciples. As a result, all the sects¡¯ cultivators below the Golden Core stage were killed, leading to a situation where there were no successors. Eventually, all sects declared a truce and established this rule.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Battle of Golden Cores Chapter 96: Battle of Golden Cores Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The strength of a sect disciple also represented the strength of a sect itself. The Golden Core cultivators were not always forbidden from attacking disciples, but both sides¡¯ higher-ups must first negotiate and determine the outcome before any action was taken. If the higher-ups were defeated, the opposing disciples would naturally be annihilated. In other words, the Golden Core stage cultivators would not attack the disciples of the opposing sect until a victor had been determined between the higher-ups. The reason why the Blood God Sect sent all their direct disciples was to showcase the strength of their sect and to kill as many of the opposing disciples as possible. Moreover, it was difficult to kill the disciples of the Blood God Sect, so they would not suffer too much loss. Black Blood Elder grinned, ¡°Disperse and enter the Shanyue Kingdom. If you encounter disciples of the Silver Moon Sect, kill them all!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The members of the Blood God Sect dispersed like a swarm of blood-colored locusts and rushed into the Shanyue Kingdom. The Silver Moon Sect had occupied the Shanyue Kingdom, so they were naturally wary of the Blood God Sect. Especially after Zhang Chen had used the lives of mortals as a threat, many Silver Moon Sect¡¯s disciples had been sent to the kingdom. The reason why Shen Gengyuan¡¯s attempt to reclaim the Shanyue Kingdom with his Foundation Establishment stage disciples had failed and he had been severely injured was largely due to this. Other than a few who acted alone, most of the Blood God Sect¡¯s direct disciples acted in groups of three or two. Zhang Chen randomly chose a direction and flew in an unhurried manner, without deliberately searching for disciples of the Silver Moon Sect. If he really encountered disciples of the Silver Moon Sect, he would not hesitate to take action. However, there were many disciples of the Blood God Sect coming, so there were more wolves than prey. It would not be easy to encounter disciples of the Silver Moon Sect. An hour later, Zhang Chen suddenly paused. This was because a huge Golden Core aura swept over like a giant wave. It was the Golden Core elder of the Silver Moon Sect who had arrived! ¡°Ancestor Black Blood, don¡¯t be arrogant!¡± With a cold rebuke from a woman, a huge silver moon rose in the distance. There was a jade tree on the silver moon. The leaves on the tree were sharp swords condensed from ice crystals. ¡°Ding ding ding ding ding¡­¡± The jade tree swayed and the ice swords clashed, shooting out bone-chilling sword qi. With the appearance of the silver moon, the temperature between heaven and earth plummeted. It was summer, the hottest season and time of the year, with the sun shining bright. Yet, it was now snowing in the sky, and the ground was covered in frost. ¡°A little girl has come, hehehe-¡± Elder Black Blood grinned, ¡°The Shanyue Kingdom is a vassal state of our Blood God Sect. If your Silver Moon Sect dares to make a move, we will dare to strike!¡± As he spoke, a similarly huge coffin appeared beside the silver moon. The coffin was covered in bloodstains and engraved with countless dried-up figures of demons, monsters, and humans whose blood had been drained. It emitted a putrid and terrifying aura. ¡°Creak! ¡± The coffin suddenly opened a crack, revealing darkness inside, as if something terrifying was hidden within. ¡°Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle¡­¡± A large amount of black blood gushed out from the seams of the coffin, with a stench filling the air. Upon smelling it, mortals all felt dizzy and nauseous. Some even developed corpse spots. And these spots only appeared on the bodies of the dead! The black blood inside the coffin seemed to be endless, constantly surging out and spreading towards the silver moon, as if it wanted to submerge it. However, as soon as this black blood approached the silver moon, it was either frozen or shattered by the cold light of the ice sword. Zhang Chen had inquired about the abilities of those in the Golden Core stage and knew that this was a phenomenon known as the Golden Core anomaly. When each person condensed his golden core, there would be a heavenly and earthly phenomenon. After fully activating his Golden Core with all his might, the spiritual qi in the world would be affected and the phenomenon would appear again. The phenomenon could also be understood as a symbol of the full strength of a Golden Core cultivator. The phenomenon was not controllable and it was only in the Nascent Soul stage that it could be condensed into a Dharma Idol could he control it. The appearance of the phenomenon was influenced by the cultivation technique and each different cultivation technique would produce a different phenomenon. For example, the Blood God Sect¡¯s cultivation technique would produce blood in the phenomenon. The Silver Moon Sect¡¯s cultivation technique would produce a silver moon in the phenomenon. Therefore, the opponent¡¯s cultivation technique and attribute could be deduced from their Golden Core anomaly. The reason why the blood controlled by Elder Black Blood was black and had a foul odor was because he had absorbed zombie blood and assimilated it into his body. When Zhang Chen inquired about the Golden Core abilities, he also asked about the abilities of the six elders. Elder Black Blood practiced the ¡®Blood Zombie Technique¡¯, which was a very powerful cultivation technique. Once a normal person was tainted with his blood containing corpse poison, they would immediately turn into a zombie and be under his control. Zombies were born with the ability to suck blood and become stronger. The people bitten by zombies would also become zombies, and they would be under the control of Elder Black Blood as well. In theory, Elder Black Blood only needed to release one of the zombies he had transformed into to develop an infinite number of zombies under his control. At the same time, he could also let the zombies suck blood and obtain blood with corpse poison from inside their bodies. It was precisely because he used the Blood Zombie Technique to form his core that the phenomenon of the black-blood elder was a coffin spewing blood. When he reached the Nascent Soul stage, an image of a blood zombie would be born inside the coffin. Therefore, Zhang Chen could also deduce from the image of the Silver Moon Sect¡¯s Golden Core elder that the opponent was cultivating an ice attribute sword technique. Apart from that, the strength of the heavenly and earthly phenomenon also represented the strength of both sides. When two Golden Core cultivators were fighting, the heavenly and earthly phenomena were also contending against each other. Whichever side¡¯s phenomenon overwhelmed the other¡¯s would be the side that won the fight. ¡°Boom!¡± With a loud bang, the two elders officially began their fight. Zhang Chen thought for a moment and flew in the direction where the two were fighting. He knew that when he formed his Gold Core, he would face the Blood River Elder, but he was unsure how strong Elder Blood River really was. Elder Black Blood was also at the late-stage Golden Core realm, so this was a good opportunity to understand the strength of someone in the later stage of the Golden Core. When the time came to form the core, he could make preparations according to the strength of Elder Black Blood. However, for safety reasons, Zhang Chen did not get too close. He stopped when he was 30 miles away from the battle site. The commotion caused by the battle between Golden Core cultivators was huge, and with his divine consciousness comparable to the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, he could observe 80 percent of the battle situation. Furthermore, he used the Yin Energy Isolating Technique to hide his aura and reduce some of his presence. Thirty miles away, Elder Black Blood stood in the air, surrounded by five zombie kings in the Golden Core stage. Two were normal zombies, and three were blood zombies. Normal zombies had extremely tough bodies, and blood zombies were even stronger and had corpse poison. On the other side, there was a beautiful and aloof woman, surrounded by a chill that seemed to be able to freeze the air. A flying sword forged from 10,000-year-old ice hung over her head, emitting a terrifying chill that could freeze even the air. Zhang Chen only sensed it for a moment before his body turned cold and stiff. ¡°I won¡¯t show mercy to the fairer sex. Go, tear her apart!¡± The black-blood elder ordered, and the five zombie kings rushed forward ¡°Hmph! Today I will eradicate evil and uphold justice by killing you, the demon!¡± The elder of the Silver Moon Sect snorted coldly, waving her jade hand, and the flying sword above her head shot out at an incredible speed. ¡°Thud¡­¡± One of the blood zombies was directly cut in half, and the wound froze, preventing it from healing. The sword light turned again and slashed at one of the normal zombie kings.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Demon’s Methods Chapter 97: Demon¡¯s Methods Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Sizzle Ice shards flew everywhere. The normal zombie king¡¯s body was hard and not severed into two pieces, but was only knocked away with an icy wound on its chest. The flying sword did not slow down and continued to slash towards another zombie king. As for the other two blood corpses, they were already close to the Silver Moon Sect elder. ¡°Silver Moon Cold Light!¡± The elder of the Silver Moon Sect remained calm and shot out two beams of cold light. The two blood zombies were frozen, and their movements stiffened. Although blood zombies were not afraid of blades and swords, they were greatly restrained by ice and fire. Just as the flying sword swas about to fly back to provide support after slashing another corpse king, a giant hand made of black blood appeared out of nowhere and grabbed towards the flying sword. Once she lost the flying sword, the strength of the Silver Moon Sect elder would decrease by at least 70 percent. The flying sword emitted a burst of cold light and suddenly turned around to slash. ¡°Whoosh!¡± The giant hand was instantly cut in half, and a large amount of black blood froze, falling like hail. ¡°Corpse Qi fills the sky!¡± Elder Black Blood saw how seriously his blood was restrained, so he opened his mouth and spewed out a large amount of black qi. The black and poisonous corpse Qi swept across the sky, covering the sun and the sky, making everything dark. ¡°Ice Seal for a Thousand Miles!¡± The elder of the Silver Moon Sect also released white cold air to resist the corpse aura. The world was divided into two colors, black and white, each occupying one side. The attacks of both sides did not have many moves, and they were not pleasing to the eye. It was more ot a direct confrontation, which was overwhelming. But seemingly simple attacks carried a power that could not be resisted by the Foundation Establishment stage. The Dao was the simplest, and it was a competition of strength, understanding, and utilization of power. Every time the strengths of both sides collided, it made Zhang Chen¡¯s heart tremble. The battle at the Golden Core Stage was naturally not something that could be ended in a short time. As the saying went, when immortals fought, mortals suffered. As the corpse aura spread, countless humans and animals breathed it in and began turning into zombies. Although the cold air did not harm anyone, it destroyed countless crops, resulting in no harvest. A once lively small town was turned into a dead city in an instant due to being covered in corpse Qi. The zombies transformed by corpse energy were not controlled by Elder Black Blood, but he had the spell to control corpses. These were only the lowest-level zombies, so he could still control them. Under the control of Elder Black Blood, the zombies that the ordinary people turned into rushed towards the Elder of the Silver Moon Sect. Naturally, newborn zombies could not injure Golden Core cultivators. They were frozen into ice sculptures or killed by flying swords even before getting within a kilometer of the Silver Moon Sect Elder. Elder Black Blood did this purely to disgust the other side. ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk- You claim to be the righteous path, but what is the difference between you and our demonic path when you slaughter ordinary people?¡± Elder Black Blood sneered and taunted. The Silver Moon Sect elder said coldly, ¡°They¡¯re no longer humans. All I can do is kill you, the demon, and avenge them.¡± ¡°Hahaha, so this is the righteous path. As a late-stage Golden Core, cant you sense that these ordinary people are still only half-dead and half-alive? As long as you are willing to spend your mana, you can force the corpse poison out of their bodies.¡± Elder Black Blood laughed smugly. The Silver MoonSect Elder frowned and did not say anything. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you talking? Are you reluctant to spend mana or have I hit the nail on the head that you people in the righteous path don¡¯t care about the lives of ordinary people at all? ¡°Is this the so-called righteous path?¡± Elder Black Blood mocked. The elder of the Silver Moon Sect¡¯s brow furrowed slightly and still did not speak. Although she knew that the Elder Black Blood had a wicked heart, she was affected by his words. The Black Blood Elder again controlled those pregnant women and children who had turned into corpses, walking in front. Even the babies in the swaddling clothes could be seen. Seeing this scene, the Silver Moon Sect Elder paused and gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Despicable!¡± ¡°I¡¯m a demon, so I¡¯m naturally despicable. I¡¯m not like you orthodox sects who pretend to be benevolent and righteous. You could have saved these people, but you chose to kill them.¡± Elder Black Blood was not ashamed, but proud. ¡°Do you see the pregnant woman in front of you? She¡¯s been pregnant for 10 months and is about to give birth. Unfortunately, she¡¯s going to die under your sword. One corpse and two lives. ¡°That fetus is so pitiful! It could have come to this world with just a little more time. ¡°Do you see that beggar next to her? Although abandoned by his parents, he is still living stubbornly, those wounds on his hands and feet were probably caused by fighting with stray dogs for food. ¡°Death may be a good thing for him, and he won¡¯t have to suffer from hunger ¡°By the way, there¡¯s a blind girl not far away. I suggest you kill her first. She can¡¯t see who killed her and won¡¯t hold a grudge against you naturally. ¡°And the one on the right¡­¡± Elder Black Blood elder launched a psychological attack and kept talking about how pitiful these ordinary people were. The expression of the Silver Moon Sect Elder changed and she did not make a move for a long time. In the end, she only froze these pregnant women and children without harming their lives. Elder Black Blood became even more aggressive. ¡°What¡¯s the use of doing this? They¡¯re already infected with corpse poison. Either kill them or remove the poison for them.¡± The Silver Moon Sect Elder¡¯s expression was ugly. She was certain that if she saved these mortals, Elder Black Blood would definitely infect more mortals for her to save. It would constantly consume her magic power and distract her from protecting mortals. Elder Black Blood added fuel to the fire again, restoring some consciousness to the mortals controlled by corpse poison. ¡°How did I get here? Why can¡¯t I control my body? What happened? Help, help, someone please save me!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t die, my family needs me to take care of them. What will happen to them if I die?¡± ¡°Is that a fairy in the sky? Please save me! ¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to save me. Please save my child!¡± ¡°Has anyone seen my wife? She¡¯s pregnant!¡± ¡°It¡¯s you. You killed my husband. You¡¯re not a fairy at all. You¡¯re a demoness! Kill me, kill me too!¡± ¡°Son, why have you turned into an ice sculpture?¡± ¡°Father¡­ ¡°Mother¡­¡± Cries, shouts, curses, and pleadings filled the ears of the Silver Moon sect elders. Zhang Chen noticed a change in the Golden Core anomaly in the sky. The brilliance of the silver moon became dim, with pitted spots appearing on it, like freckles on a perfect face, particularly striking. In contrast, the black blood surging out of the blood coffin was about to engulf the silver moon. The elder of the Silver Moon sect had an unstable state of mind! The state of mind was a method of cultivation in the orthodox path. Most orthodox sect cultivators would transform their pursuits, beliefs, and ideals into a state of mind to push themselves further. For example, helping the people, slaying demons, and gaining eternal life, etc. Once they realized their state of mind, as long as they did the corresponding actions, their cultivation would advance by leaps and bounds. However, if they violated their state of mind and let it be clouded, their cultivation would be difficult to improve, and their realm could even fall. This was one of the differences between the demonic path and the orthodox path. The state of mind could make the orthodox sect cultivators go further and be more stable in the cultivation process. Because the demonic path did as they pleased, they were more prone to stray and be influenced by various personal desires. The elder of the Silver Moon Sect knew it was the opponent¡¯s plot, but she couldn¡¯t turn a blind eye. She was also human. How could she not have feelings? The most insidious thing was that these mortals were not completely zombified, some could be saved. Saving these people would consume a lot of her mana and drag her down. Not saving them would damage her state of mind. Of course, not all orthodox sects had the same state of mind, and the result might be different for another person.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: The Curtain Falls Chapter 98: The Curtain Falls Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Elder Black Blood, you¡¯ve won. The Shanyue Kingdom will be returned to your Blood God Sect!¡± said the Elder of the Silver Moon Sect with bitterness. She chose to surrender because continuing on could mean that her Dao heart would never recover. At first, the Elder of the Silver Moon Sect didn¡¯t hesitate to kill all those infected by the corpse poison. Even when Elder Black Blood made it clear that there was still a chance for salvation, she could still go through with it. However, when she faced pregnant women and children, she softened. When the dam had a breach, it would quickly collapse. After all, she was a cultivator of the righteous path. She could not be as inhumane as the demon. She took over the Shanyue Kingdom to free it from the clutches of evil, not to destroy and slaughter. Otherwise, what was the difference between her and the demon? ¡°Hehe-¡± Elder Black Blood laughed smugly, ¡°I¡¯m most skilled at dealing with you righteous little girls.¡± Although both were in the later stage of the Golden Core realm, there was a huge age difference between them. The Silver Moon Sect Elder was only 300 years old, while Elder Black Blood was already 600 years old. The lifespan of a Golden Core cultivator was 500 years, but Elder Black Blood was able to live this long because he used a secret technique to extend his life. From the age of 300 to the late-stage of the Golden Core realm, it could be said that most of his time was spent in cultivation. In addition, the righteous path was relatively peaceful, and she had not encountered too many dirty tactics, which was why Elder Black Blood was able to take advantage of her. ¡°Silver Moon Sect disciples, follow my orders and withdraw from the Shanyue Kingdom!¡± The Elder of the Silver Moon Sect¡¯s voice filled with magical power spread out in all directions. The battle for the Shanyue Kingdom came to an end with this voice. The elder of the Silver Moon Sect did not leave immediately. Instead, she used her magic power to remove the poison from the mortals. Elder Black Blood didn¡¯t stop her either because if he did, it would be a battle to the death. Previously, they fought for the ownership of the Shanyue Kingdom but now they were fighting for their Dao hearts. Their starting points were different. The other party was not weak, and her cultivation technique restrained blood. Otherwise, he would not have used a method to destroy her Dao heart to win. It wasn¡¯t worth it for some mortals. Moreover, once they regained the Shanyue Kingdom, these mortals would also become assets of the Blood God Sect. ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± Zhang Chen turned and left. There was no need to continue watching. From the beginning, he knew that the ownership of the Shanyue Kingdom and the outcome of the battle had nothing to do with him and the other direct disciples. Although the ground battle was brief, he had learned something about the strength of the late-stage Golden Core realm. Zhang Chen felt a little heavy-hearted because he might have to face more than just Elder Blood River of the Golden Core period when he reached the Foundation Establishment. Elder Black Blood Elder has five initial stage Golden Core zombie kings. What about Elder Blood River? Would there be five or even more Golden Core Blood God Sons? Based on the side effects of the control of the Blood Body and the information that the direct disciples of the Golden Core level disappeared. Zhang Chen guessed that the three Golden Core blood corpses controlled by Elder Black Blood were very likely cultivated from direct disciples who had broken through to the Golden Core realm. After all, the Blood Corpse¡¯s ability was exactly the same as the Blood Body, except that it had an additional corpse poison. After Zhang Chen flew for 15 minutes, he suddenly saw two white lights flying over in front of him and four blood lights chasing from behind. The white light was naturally a disciple of the Silver Moon Sect, a man and a woman, with cultivation levels of Foundation Establishment sixth level and Foundation Establishment fourth level, respectively. ¡°Senior Brother, there¡¯s a Blood God Sect disciple in front!¡± The woman said nervously. ¡°It¡¯s only the third level of Foundation Establishment, let¡¯s go!¡± The man raised his hand and shot out an ice sword. The cold air of the ice sword was pressing, and with the infusion of the Foundation Establishment sixth level mana, it was almost impossible for an ordinary Foundation Establishment third level disciple to withstand it. Seeing that the ice sword was about to reach him, Zhang Chen patted the beast breeding bag and used his huge White Bone True Body to block in front of him. ¡°Ding!¡± Bone fragments flew, and the ice sword left a deep sword mark on the White Bone True Body. ¡°The White Bone True Body of the White Bone Palace!¡± The male disciple of the Silver Moon Sect was also quite surprised, but his hand did not stop moving. The ice sword turned around and attacked Zhang Chen again. The White Bone True Body was slow to respond and could not keep up with the speed of the flying sword. Zhang Chen took out the Mad Blood Saber from his storage bag, and with the Burst Blood Technique enhancing his arm, he slashed at the ice sword. ¡°Ding!¡± The ice sword was knocked away. Although there was no direct contact, the cold air carried by the ice sword still made Zhang Chen¡¯s hand go cold, almost unable to hold onto the saber. It was evident how powerful the cold air was. If he was injured, at least half of his body would freeze, and a lot of mana would have to be consumed to remove it. After two consecutive sword blocks, the male disciple of the Silver Moon Sect was also a little surprised, ¡°Junior Sister, let¡¯s attack together!¡± ¡°Yes, Senior Brother. Ice Soul Cold Light!¡± The ice sword and the cold light attacked together. Zhang Chen patted the beast breeding bag again and released a second level Foundation Establishment demon beast with a slave mark on its forehead. It was the same demon beast that he had obtained after killing Wu Chang and had already been controlled by him with a beast slave mark. The Foundation Establishment demon beast took the initiative to face the cold light, while the White Bone True Body waved its arms and grabbed the ice sword. The demon beast spewed out a yellow light, but it couldn¡¯t resist the cold light and was hit by it. Its body was covered with a layer of frost and fell from the air. The ice sword suddenly turned and circled around the White Bone True Body, continuing to slash towards Zhang Chen. Blood Burst Technique! Zhang Chen brandished his saber to block again. ¡°Ding! ¡± Another failure made the man¡¯s face look ugly, and the woman next to him was even more anxious. After all, there were pursuers behind them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. We¡¯ll just rush over!¡± If the two of them wanted to leave, they had to ask Zhang Chentong for his permission. Spirit Blood Technique! Several blood snakes sprouted from Zhang Chen¡¯s body like iron chains, biting towards the two people. At the same time, another 10 Blood God Sons flew out of his body and blocked in front of the two people. The two were both angry and anxious. They didn¡¯t expect a Foundation Establishment stage level three cultivator to have so many tricks up his sleeve. ¡°Get out of my way!¡± The man roared and controlled the ice sword to slash towards one of the Blood God Sons. The flying sword was too fast. Before the Blood God could react, it was split in half and frozen into an ice block. It could not recover for a while. When the flying sword wanted to slash at the second Blood God Son, Zhang Chen simply let the Blood God Son self-destruct. ¡°Demon Disintegration Technique, explode! ¡± ¡°Boom!¡± The flying sword was blown away. The man quickly performed a sword incantation and recalled his flying sword. The woman was not idle either. She held a mirror in her hand and shone it on the blood snakes. The blood snakes froze and became sluggish. However, in this short period of time, the White Bone True Body¡¯s bone palm had already fallen towards the two. ¡°Retreat!¡± The White Bone True Body was extremely powerful. The two of them did not choose to resist it head-on and quickly retreated. Because there were other Blood God Sect disciples not far away, Zhang Chen did not release all of his Blood God Sons. With his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Stage Level Three, using all his means to resist a Foundation Establishment Stage Level Six and Level Four cultivator was already his limit. At this moment, the four Blood God disciples finally arrived. After surrounding the Silver Moon Sect disciples, the leader, a Foundation Establishment stage level seven cultivator, smiled and said, ¡°Thank you, junior brother, for stopping the two of them for us. You can leave now.¡± The implication was that they didn¡¯t want to share the spoils with Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen¡¯s eyes were cold. In theory, with the speed of Blood Escape Technique, the four Blood God Sect disciples should have arrived earlier. Unless they intentionally slowed down. The purpose of doing so was likely to use the hands of the two Silver Moon Sect disciples to kill him and obtain his blood essence. Elder Black Blood was in the Shanyue Kingdom, and they dared not kill their fellow sect members, but they could use the hands of the Silver Moon Sect! Now that they saw the Silver Moon Sect disciples couldn¡¯t kill him, they finally arrived.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: Take Revenge When There’s a Grudge Chapter 99: Take Revenge When There¡¯s a Grudge Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios However, Zhang Chen did not immediately turn hostile. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave this to you, Senior Brothers.¡± With that, he put away the Blood God Son, the White Bone True Body, and the Foundation Establishment demon beast. Without hesitation, he transformed into a blood light and left. Seeing Zhang Chen so sensible, the leader of the Foundation Building Stage Seven returned his gaze to the man and woman of the Silver Moon Sect who were surrounded. ¡°Senior Brother, what should we do?¡± The woman trembled in fear. ¡°Senior Brother will definitely lead you out!¡± The man¡¯s expression was solemn, and his tone was especially firm. The direct disciple of the Blood God Sect grinned menacingly. ¡°Neither of you can escape today!¡± Instantly, blood surged and cold light shimmered. On the Blood God Sect¡¯s side, one was at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, one was at the sixth level, and two were at the fifth level. In terms of cultivation, numbers, and absolute advantage, they had the upper hand. But the Silver Moon Sect¡¯s techniques restrained the Blood God Sect, and their ability to kill with flying swords was strong. The few people dared not confront them head-on. The mirror in the woman¡¯s hand was called the Cold Light Mirror. It was a medium-grade magical artifact. When illuminated by cold light, it could affect the speed of several people. The four members of the Blood God Sect would find it difficult to take down the two of them for a while. On the other side, after flying out of the sensing range of the Foundation Building Stage Seven, Zhang Chen stopped and activated the Formless Demon Scripture to change his appearance. Then he took out a blood storage bottle containing blood essence and raised his cultivation to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment. After doing all this, Zhang Chen turned around and flew back. Next, he was going to kill them! There were four of them on the other side, plus two disciples of the Silver Moon Sect, and Zhang Chen wasn¡¯t confident he could take them all down. More importantly, Elder Black Blood was in the Shanyue Kingdom, so it was not convenient to pursue and kill them. But Zhang Chen didn¡¯t want to let it go, so he changed his appearance and cultivation level. Even if one of them escaped, he wouldn¡¯t expose himself. ¡°Senior Brother, are we going to die?¡± The woman from the Silver Moon Sect had tears in her eyes. They had broken through several times, but the people of the Blood God Sect were like a plaster, sticking to them and constantly depleting their magical power. ¡°Junior Sister, when I tell you to run later, just run. Don¡¯t stop, ¡± the man instructed solemnly. ¡°Alright.¡± The woman nodded helplessly. ¡°One Sword Cold Light!¡± The man formed a sword incantation with his hand and transmitted all his magical power to the flying sword without reservation. The flying sword shone brightly, bursting with astonishing coldness. The water vapor in the air was constantly freezing into snowflakes and falling, which was very beautiful. But no one in the audience had the heart to appreciate it. The four members of the Blood God Sect even retreated a bit. ¡°Junior Sister, run!¡± The man yelled out and swept his sword. The four people did not dare to take it and dodged. When the woman heard the word ¡®run¡¯, she instinctively ran forward. ¡°Don¡¯t let that woman escape!¡± Just as the two Blood God Sect disciples were about to chase after her, they heard the man from the Silver Moon Sect shout, ¡°Explode!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± The top-grade flying sword approached the two and suddenly exploded. A white cold stream spread out, enveloping the two unprepared people. ¡°Crack, crack, crack¡­¡± The freezing sound came from within the cold stream. As a swordsman, the man was like a tiger without its claws once he lost his flying sword, allowing himself to be slaughtered. But he didn¡¯t care! Watching his junior sister run away, the man¡¯s face showed a relieved smile. ¡°Junior sister, you must live.¡± At this moment, the woman finally realized that her senior brother had sacrificed himself to create an opportunity for her to escape. Tears streaming down her face, she silently vowed to herself, recalling every moment she had spent with her senior brother. ¡°Senior Brother, I swear by my dao heart that I will kill every member of the Blood God Sect and avenge you.. Before the woman could finish speaking, she suddenly realized that more than a hundred Blood Gods at the ninth level of Qi Refinement had appeared in front of her. It¡¯s over! Despair filled the woman¡¯s heart. Facing more than a hundred Blood God Sons, the woman had no ability to resist and was instantly sucked dry of blood. In the distance, the man who had been smiling watched as the woman was submerged by the Blood God Sons, his eyes red with anger. ¡°Junior sister, no- The four members of the Blood God Sect were also stunned as they watched this scene, feeling as if they had been robbed. Afterwards, the Blood God Sons continued forward and surrounded the four members of the Blood God Sect and the man from the Silver Moon Sect. ¡°I wonder who the senior brother is? I am Liu Zicai, a disciple of Elder Withered Blood of the Blood God Sect. The woman was killed by the senior brother, so she belongs to the senior brother. This man is already at his last breath, so there¡¯s no need for Senior Brother Ma to bother.¡± Liu Zicai thought that whoever could command hundreds of Blood God Sons must be a veteran at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm. ¡°What if I say that I want this male disciple from the Silver Moon Sect too?¡± Zhang Chen, who had changed his appearance, appeared before everyone. Upon seeing the unfamiliar appearance of Zhang Chen, who was only at the fifth level of Qi Foundation, Liu Zicai raised his eyebrows, but he thought that Zhang Chen was hiding his cultivation. ¡°The four of us paid a huge price to surround the two of them but you want to seize them. Isn¡¯t that too much?¡± Liu Zicai gritted his teeth. ¡°Hehe.¡± Zhang Chen sneered. ¡°Too much? I can be even more overboard. I want vour blood essence too!¡± The four of them were shocked. ¡°Elder Black Blood is not far from here. If any one of us escapes, you won¡¯t be able to escape death!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let you escape. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡± Zhang Chen grinned wickedly and commanded 100 Blood God Sons to make a move. More than 10 intelligent Blood God Sons used combined spells to attack. Under Zhang Chen¡¯s control, the remaining 100 Blood God Sons kept charging at the four of them and self-destructing with the Sky Demon Disintegration Technique. This was equivalent to more than a hundred first level Foundation Establishment cultivators attacking four people in a row. ¡°Boom boom boom boom boom¡­ The continuous attacks gave the four people no chance to catch their breath. The male disciple of the Silver Moon Sect had lost his flying sword and had little power left. Knowing that there was no possibility of survival, he rushed towards Zhang Chen. ¡°Junior sister, Senior Brother is the one who harmed you!¡± Before the male disciple could get close to Zhang Chen, a Blood God Son pounced on him and exploded fiercely. ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Pu!¡± The man was badly mutilated and spat out blood. He flew out like a rag, crashing to the ground. The man raised his head with difficulty and looked in the direction of the woman¡¯s corpse. ¡°Junior Sister, don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll accompany you now!¡± Liu Zicai did not expect Zhang Chen to really want to kill them. He quickly begged for mercy, ¡°Senior Brother, I¡¯ll give these two Silver Moon Sect disciples to you. Please spare us!¡± Zhang Chen ignored him and continued to control the Blood God Son Sons to explode and attack. Soon, the two of them, who were only at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, began to collapse under the constant bombardment. After 15 minutes, the two people with the lowest cultivation were devoured by the Blood God Sons, leaving only Liu Zicai and a Qi Foundation Establishment level six cultivator. Without the two people to share the attack, Liu Zicai and the other person were even more struggling, barely holding on. ¡°Senior Brother, I know a secret. As long as you let me go, I¡¯ll tell you!¡± Liu Zicai shouted. Zhang Chen was unmoved and ignored him. Liu Zicai said anxiously, ¡°Senior Brother, I really know a secret. It¡¯s about the Blood Body. If you let me go, I will tell you everything truthfully!¡± The secret of the Blood Body? Could it be the side effects of the Blood Body? Zhang Chen pondered for a moment. Among his direct disciples, there were many smart people and people who had had strange experiences. After so long, there were bound to be some who had discovered some problems.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 100 - Chapter 100: Tit for Tat Chapter 100: Tit for Tat Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Seeing that Zhang Chen was ignoring him, Liu Zicai became anxious and decided to reveal something: ¡°It¡¯s true, what I said is true! Do you want to know where those Foundation Establishment disciples went?¡± Unfortunately, Zhang Chen had already guessed everything and remained indifferent no matter what he said. As time passed, Liu Zicai began to lose his patience and shouted unwillingly, ¡°You¡¯ll regret it, you¡¯ll regret it, you¡¯ll definitely regret it¡­¡± Liu Zicai was drowned by the Blood God Sons and disappeared without a sound. ¡°Illuminate the Mysterious Underworld, the souls of the four directions, appear!¡± Zhang Chen used the Dark Nether Treasure Manual again to summon the souls of several people. ¡°You¡¯ll regret it, you¡¯ll regret it¡­¡± Liu Zicai¡¯s soul continued to shout. Zhang Chen used the Soul Devouring Technique to swallow them all, and the world suddenly became quiet. Zhang Chen did not spare the bodies of the male and female disciples of the Silver Moon Sect and put them in the Beast Breeding Bag, preparing to go back and refine bone slaves. Due to their cultivation technique, their corpses had a cold attribute, which was the best material to refine bone slaves. The Blood God Sons returned to his side with their storage bags and other items. Zhang Chen did not check the items. After putting them away, he turned into a blood light and left. On the other side, the elder of the Silver Moon Sect had removed the poison from the bodies of the ordinary people in the city. ¡°Old monster, the next time we meet, I will definitely slay you with my sword!¡± ¡°Little girl, you sure talk big.¡± Elder Black Blood sneered. ¡°In a hundred years, I may have already formed my Nascent Soul, while you are still in the late Foundation Establishment stage. Do you think I can¡¯t kill you?¡± The Elder of the Silver Moon Sect seemed to know something. Elder Black Blood¡¯s expression was ugly, but he did not refute. The Silver Moon Sect elder did not say anything else and turned into a white light and left. was the backbone of the sect. Unless there were some righteous individuals who were responsible for slaying demons and monsters, or there was a complete war between the sects, they would generally not fight to the death. The departure of the Silver Moon Sect elder also meant that the Shanyue Kingdom had returned to the Blood God Sect. ¡°All disciples of the Blood God Sect, gather in the Shanyue Kingdom!¡± Elder Black Blood¡¯s voice filled with mana spread throughout the Shanyue Kingdom. As soon as Zhang Chen heard the voice, he immediately changed direction and flew towards the Shanyue Kingdom. At this moment, in the capital of the Shanyue Kingdom, the King was sitting on the throne with a dispirited expression. He had lost his usual elegance. ¡°Your Majesty, the immortals of the Silver Moon Sect have all left,¡± a eunuch said. ¡°These orthodox sects can¡¯t be relied on either!¡± The king laughed bitterly. He was in his prime and had wanted to make a career for himself, to free the Shanyue Kingdom from the control of the Blood God Sect. So he contacted the nearby Silver Moon Sect, but unfortunately, he failed. ¡°Your Majesty, people from the Blood God Sect are on their way to the capital. You must run!¡± The eunuch suggested. The king smiled bitterly. ¡°I¡¯m just a mortal. How can I outrun the people of the Blood God Sect? I will stay and take responsibility, and hope that the Blood God Sect will spare others.¡± ¡°Your Majesty!¡± The eunuch wept bitterly. Soon, a huge pressure descended on the capital. The king gritted his teeth and walked outside the palace. When he arrived outside the hall, the king saw Elder Black Blood standing in the air. ¡°Bang!¡± The king knelt down suddenly and kowtowed heavily. ¡°It¡¯s all my decision, my mistake. Please spare others, I am willing to bear it all!¡± Elder Black Blood simply ignored him and ordered: ¡°Kill all the bloodlines of the royal family of the Shanyue Kingdom! ¡± ¡°Understood, Elder!¡± Several trusted disciples immediately started to act. King Shanyue kowtowed desperately. ¡°Please take back your command, I am willing to do anything!¡± ¡°Annoying!¡± With a thought from Elder Black Blood, the king¡¯s blood left his body and he turned into a dried corpse. ¡°Your Majesty!¡± The old eunuch ran out of the palace, holding the king¡¯s body and weeping bitterly. ¡°Well, since you¡¯re so loyal, you can die too.¡± Elder Black Blood drained the old eunuch¡¯s blood. By the time Zhang Chen arrived at the capital, the royal bloodline had already been completely wiped out. Elder Black Blood glanced at all the direct disciples and his face darkened. ¡°Why are there seven fewer?¡± In other words, in addition to the four people Zhang Chen killed, three other direct disciples had died. Considering the number and life-saving ability of the Blood God Sect disciples, losing seven people in this mission was a significant loss. The direct disciples hung their heads, afraid to speak. The Black Blood Elder continued to ask, ¡°How many Silver Moon Sect disciples have you killed?¡± ¡°Reporting to Elder, I killed one person, this is the head of a Silver Moon Sect disciple.¡± ¡°¡±Report to Elder, I killed two people¡­¡± ¡°¡±Report to Elder¡­¡± The bodies of the Silver Moon Sect disciples had a chilling aura, making it easy to identify, and no one dared to fake it. Zhang Chen remained silent, not wanting to attract the attention of Elder Black Blood. He was only at the third level of Foundation Establishment, and he acted alone. Killing two disciples of the Silver Moon Sect was too conspicuous. In the end, the other Blood God Sect disciples killed a total of 12 Silver Moon Sect disciples. ¡°For bringing glory to our Blood God Sect, you shall be rewarded!¡± Elder Black Blood¡¯s expression softened slightly, and he waved his hand, and several clumps of blood essence flew out. The disciples who received the blood essence quickly expressed their gratitude: ¡°Thank you for the reward, Elder. It¡¯s what disciples should do.¡± Immediately after, Elder Black Blood gathered all the ministers of the Shanyue Kingdom and appointed one of them as the new king. Moreover, the coronation ceremony was held that afternoon. Although the ceremony was simple, no one dared to say anything. The new king kowtowed to Elder Black Blood in front of his subjects and swore loyalty to the Blood God Sect. His descendants would never betray it. After handling these matters, just when Zhang Chen thought everything was over, Elder Black Blood spoke again. ¡°Retaking the Shanyue Kingdom is just taking back what belongs to us. We can repay kindness, but we must repay enmity. We must also give gifts to our old neighbors.¡± ¡°In a month¡¯s time, it will be the Silver Moon Sect¡¯s enrollment ceremony, and during this time, many mortals with spiritual roots will be sent to the Silver Moon Sect. I want you to snatch these mortals with spiritual roots and make them disciples of our Blood God Sect.¡± ¡°For every person you bring back, I will reward you with a bowl of blood essence!¡± ¡°Respect the Elder¡¯s decree!¡± Entering the Silver Moon Sect¡¯s territory was undoubtedly very dangerous, but the disciples dared not refuse. ¡°Very well, go ahead.¡± Elder Black Blood nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Yes!¡± The disciples transformed into blood lights and flew towards the Silver Moon Sect¡¯s territory. At the mountain stronghold of the Silver Moon Sect, a dazzling silver light directly shot straight through the protective array and landed in a large hall. Inside the hall, several figures were already present, each with a cultivation level of at least the Golden Core stage. ¡°I failed. I even lost more than 10 disciples and caused the deaths of many mortals.¡± The female elder of the Silver Moon Sect blamed herself. A Golden Core elder spoke in a bad tone: ¡°Elder Liqing, we¡¯ve already agreed that the Shanyue Kingdom cannot be taken over. But you didn¡¯t listen and insisted on taking over.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been maintaining peaceful relations with the Blood God Sect for hundreds of years, and your actions this time could very well cause a battle between the righteous and demonic forces.¡± The woman named Liqing stood up with righteous indignation: ¡°The Shanyue Kingdom sent people to ask for our help. As a righteous immortal sect, how can we turn a blind eye?¡± The Golden Core elder berated again, ¡°Indeed, you are too impulsive. Can you handle all the countries ruled by demonic sects? Can you bear the karma of the suffering of all beings if the righteous and demonic forces go to war?¡± Just as Liqing was about to retort, she heard a faint voice from above. ¡°Liqing, you have had it too easy. Some setbacks can be a good thing. This time, because of your decision, the sect suffered losses, so I¡¯ll punish you to meditate in seclusion for a hundred years.¡± ¡°I accept the punishment.¡± Elder Liqing bowed respectfully.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 101 - Chapter 101: A Chance Encounter with an Acquaintance Chapter 101: A Chance Encounter with an Acquaintance Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The figure at the top waved their hand. ¡°Go meditate facing the wall at the back mountain.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Elder Liqing saluted, turned into white light, and departed. After a moment of silence, an elder in the hall spoke up. ¡°Master, do you think Elder Liqing will break through the Nascent Soul stage within a hundred years?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a 70 percent chance,¡± the master sighed. ¡°Elder Liqing has exceptional talent and has had a smooth journey in her cultivation since the beginning. But she¡¯s also too fast and too smooth, and her state of mind is not yet complete. I¡¯m worried she won¡¯t be able to overcome the Inner Demon Tribulation during the Nascent Soul stage, that¡¯s why I allowed her to take over the Shanyue Kingdom. After experiencing this failure, her state of mind will surely advance further.¡± The elders nodded in agreement, then looked solemn. ¡°Master, with the Blood God Sect¡¯s style of doing things, they¡¯re afraid they won¡¯t just let this go.¡± Just then, a jade slip flew in from outside the hall. The Silver Moon Sect master reached out and grabbed it, scanning it with his divine sense. He slowly said, ¡°There have been many Blood God Sect disciples appearing within our territory. ¡± The elder from earlier spoke up in a low voice. ¡°It must be the Blood God Sect¡¯s preparation for revenge!¡± The Silver Moon Sect master pondered for a moment. ¡°Our Silver Moon Sect¡¯s initiation ceremony is just around the corner. We cannot be affected. ¡°Spread the word. Tell all disciples above the Foundation Establishment stage to go out and patrol. If they discover any disciples of the Blood God Sect, kill them without mercy! ¡± ¡°We respect the sect master¡¯s decree!¡± The elders bowed and left. Every elder of their Silver Moon Sect could open a peak and take in disciples. Unlike the Blood God Sect¡¯s free-range, fake master-disciple relationship, they had a true master-disciple relationship and disciples were personally taught by Golden Core elders. The orders were usually given directly by masters like them. Black Iron City, a remote small city under the control of the Silver Moon Sect, welcomed an uninvited guest today. It was Zhang Chen! However, at this moment, not only had Zhang Chen used the Formless Demon Scripture to change his appearance, but he had also used the Yin Energy Isolating Technique to hide his cultivation aura. He looked no different from an ordinary person. He was not interested in snatching the Silver Moon Sect¡¯s spiritual root disciples at all. He was not someone who lacked blood essence. Core Formation was only a matter of time. Why would he risk his life in an enemy sect for a little blood essence? The gains did not make up for the losses. Therefore, he chose a small remote city and planned to hide for a month before returning to the sect. The moment Zhang Chen entered the city, he saw the commoners rushing in one direction. ¡°The immortals of the Silver Moon Clan are taking in disciples. Let¡¯s go and watch the show!¡± ¡°I wonder which child will be chosen by an immortal.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go quickly. If we¡¯re slow, we won¡¯t have anywhere to stand!¡± Although the Silver Moon Sect¡¯s disciple recruitment ceremony would be held in a month, they had to choose disciples with spiritual roots in advance and send them to the sect. To the Blood God Sect, disciples were just pigs raised with spiritual roots and they did not care about anything else. Zhang Chen had never seen how the orthodox sects chose their disciples, so he mingled with the crowd curiously. Soon he followed the crowd to an open space. In the center of the open space were three disciples of the Silver Moon Sect. One was at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, one was at the eighth level, and one was at the ninth level. The seventh-level Qi Refinement disciple of the Silver Moon Sect said loudly, ¡°Our Silver Moon Sect only accepts children under the age of nine. Anyone under nine years old can participate in the assessment.¡± The common people obviously knew this and gently pushed their own children to the front. The disciple of the Silver Moon Sect took out a seven-colored gem and said to the many children, ¡°One by one, come forward and touch the gem in my hand.¡± A bold child stepped forward and reached out to touch the gem, and it immediately emitted a five-colored light. The disciple of the Silver Moon Sect said indifferently, ¡°Five attributes, inferior spiritual roots, disqualified. Next one.¡± The child lowered his head in disappointment and turned to walk back to his parents. Not long after, another child touched the gem, and it emitted a three-colored light. ¡°Three attributes, intermediate spiritual roots, acceptable!¡± Meeting the spiritual root requirements didn¡¯t mean they could join the Silver Moon Sect. For the righteous sect, temperament was more important than aptitude. They wanted to avoid wasting a lot of resources and training a monster who would betray his master and destroy their lineage. The eighth-level Qi Refinement disciple of the Silver Moon Sect came to the child and took out a compass, infusing it with mana. The compass emitted a ray of light that penetrated the child¡¯s forehead. A moment later, a gray mist rose from the compass. The eighth-level Qi Refining disciple of the Silver Moon Sect frowned, ¡°Unqualified temperament, eliminated!¡± An hour later, a child finally passed both the spiritual root and temperament tests. Zhang Chen noticed that the Silver Moon Sect had very high requirements for its disciples, striving for perfection and not just accepting anyone. Because there was still the third test, comprehension! The spiritual roots determined the speed at which the body absorbed spiritual energy, while aptitude determined the ability to understand spells and the speed of cultivation. One¡¯s aptitude determined the difference between being a straight-A student and a poor performer. Out of 1,000 children, 50 possessed spiritual roots, but in the end, only four passed the triple assessment. After the assessment ended, Zhang Chen was about to leave with the crowd when he suddenly smelled a familiar scent of blood. It was the work of a disciple from the Blood God Sect! ¡°These disciples with spiritual roots belong to our Blood God Sect!¡± Seven blood snakes emerged from the crowd, with three attacking the disciples of the Silver Moon Sect and four slithering towards the children who passed the assessment. Zhang Chen looked up and saw that it was Li Mumin, whom he hadn¡¯t seen in a long time. Because of a previous disagreement with Xu Yixian and his team, Li Mumin no longer worked in teams with others. Furthermore, as he was alone, he believed that it was easier to take action in remote towns, where the danger was lower, so he chose this remote small town. ¡°Oh no! It¡¯s a demon of the Blood God Sect!¡± The three disciples of the Silver Moon Sect were frightened. They only had the cultivation of the Qi Refinement stage, and could barely defend themselves against an attack from the Foundation Establishment stage, let alone taking care of the four children As they saw the blood snakes about to take the four children away, a figure suddenly appeared in the air and shot out a cold light. ¡°Silver Moon Cold Light!¡± ¡°Kakakakakaka¡­¡¯ Under the cold light, several blood snakes froze. The three disciples of the Silver Moon Sect looked up and were pleasantly surprised, ¡°Great! It¡¯s Liang Wei, Senior Brother Liang!¡± ¡°Ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm!¡± Li Mumin sensed the cultivation of the person who took action in the air and immediately turned into blood light to run away. Zhang Chen looked at Liang Wei and narrowed his eyes. He was actually an acquaintance. He was the direct disciple of the Silver Moon Sect who took on the role of Imperial Preceptor in the Shanyue Kingdom previously. ¡°Trying to run?¡± Liang Wei took out a mirror of ice and shone it towards the blood light. Li Mumin¡¯s body stiffened, and he failed to use the Blood Escape technique. The difference in their magical cultivation was too great. ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± Li Mumin¡¯s heart was filled with despair, and his face was ashen. If it were any other disciple of the Blood God Sect, Zhang Chen would not have cared, but Li Mumin had saved his life before, and he intended to save Li Mumin¡¯s life as well. ¡°Senior Brother Li, it¡¯s been a long time.¡± Zhang Chen flew into the air and greeted Li Mumin with a smile. ¡°There¡¯s actually a Blood God Sect disciple hiding!¡± Liang Wei was surprised, as his ninth level Foundation Establishment spiritual consciousness had not sensed it. However, he was relieved to find that Zhang Chen was only at the third level of Foundation Establishment. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang!¡± Li Mumin was surorised but then sighed. ¡°The opponent is at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. We are no match for him. Junior Brother Zhang, there is no need for you to show yourself..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 102 - Chapter 102 : Making Bone Slaves Chapter 102 : Making Bone Slaves Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios At this moment, Li Mumin was overwhelmed with emotions. Zhang Chen had progressed too quickly, from being his spokesperson to becoming someone he needed to look up to. He was now at the second level of Foundation Establishment, while Zhang Chen had already reached the third level, and it was said that his strength displayed in the disciples¡¯ gathering competition was comparable to someone at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment. Moreover, Zhang Chen was not highly regarded by his own master, nor was he good at socializing. He still did not have control over any sect matters. Therefore, Li Mumin, who was full of pride, did not approach Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen remained calm. ¡°Senior Brother Li, you go first. I¡¯ll handle things here.¡± Li Mumin was stunned. He didn¡¯t expect Zhang Chen to let him go first. Although he didn¡¯t understand, staying alive was more important than anything else. Without too many words or hesitation, he directly used the Blood Escape Technique and turned into a blood-red light to leave. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about running away!¡± Liang Wei invoked the Ice Mirror once again. Zhang Chen patted the beast breeding bag. The White Bone True Body and the second level Foundation Establishment demon beast blocked the mirror light. Liang Wei¡¯s expression darkened as he watched the blood light fly away. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that in the demon sect, there would be someone like you who is willing to sacrifice themselves for others.¡± Zhang Chen shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not that noble. I just think it¡¯s a small effort, and at the same time, I want to collect a debt from you. ¡°A few years ago, you killed one of my Blood God Sons. That was something I cultivated with a lot of effort.¡± ¡°You were the one in the palace of the Shanyue Kingdom?¡± Liang Wei instantly understood. Zhang Chen smiled without saying a word, and one by one, the Blood God¡¯s children flew out of his body. Looking at the increasing number of Blood God Sons, Liang Wei¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Who are you? You shouldn¡¯t be a nobody in the Blood God Sect, right?¡± ¡°A dead person doesn¡¯t need to know my name.¡± Zhang Chen replied, and at the same time, the Blood God Sons had already pounced towards Liang Wei. ¡°Arrogant!¡± Liang Wei roared and raised his hand. A golden wheel like a crescent moon flew out, instantly cutting several Blood God Sons in half. Then, he used a hand seal. ¡°Moon Sets, Star Sinks!¡± The golden wheel shot out countless countless starlights, turning a large number of Blood God Sons into a sieve. However, for the undead Blood God Sons, these injuries were quickly healed in the blink of an eye. ¡°Silver Moon Cold Light! ¡± A full moon rose behind Liang Wei, emitting a piercing cold light. ¡°Heaven and Earth Combined!¡± More than 10 Blood God Sons with intelligence cooperated and used combined spells to attack the full moon. Although the attack was equivalent to that of seven or eight first level Foundation Establishment cultivators, the spells of the ninth level Foundation Establishment were not so easily broken, and many Blood God Sons were still frozen into ice. ¡°Sky Demon Disintegration Technique, explode!¡± With a thought, Zhang Chen caused the frozen Blood God Sons to self-destruct. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­ Amidst continuous explosions, the silver moon dissipated. Seeing that he was about to be surrounded by the Blood God Sons, Liang Wei didn¡¯t panic and threw the Ice Mirror in his hand into the air. ¡°Ice Mirror Images!¡± Countless ice mirrors, each as tall as a person, condensed in the air, and each mirror contained an image of Liang Wei, with the same speech, behavior, and appearance, making it impossible to distinguish the real Liang Wei. A blood-red light flashed in Zhang Chen¡¯s eyes as he activated his Spiritual Eye Technique. In his eyes, all the other ice mirrors disappeared, leaving only one. Zhang Chen pretended not to notice and secretly directed the Blood God Sons to quietly approach him. ¡°Oh no, I¡¯ve been discovered!¡± Soon, Liang Wei realized something was wrong, his face changed drastically, but it was too late. ¡°Demon Disintegration Technique, explode! ¡± ¡°Boom boom boom boom boom boom¡­¡¯ Zhang Chen did not give the other party a chance to escape at all. The Blood God Sons exploded continuously. Liang Wei could only resist the attacks from all sides and could not move an inch. The White Bone True Body and the Foundation Establishment demon beast were sent by Zhang Chen to deal with the three Qi Refinement disciples of the Silver Moon Sect. It was naturally easy for two Foundation Establishment cultivators to deal with three Qi Refinement cultivators. They returned in a moment. Zhang Chen stood on top of the White Bone True Body and looked coldly at Liang Wei, who was gradually losing strength. After 15 minutes. ¡°I won¡¯t let you have anything!¡± Liang Wei knew he was doomed and destroyed all his magical tools and storage bags.. ¡°Boom!¡± Immediately after, Liang Wei was also blown into pieces by the Blood God Sons. ¡°What a pity for a ninth level Foundation Establishment ice-cold attribute skeleton.¡± Zhang Chen lamented as he glanced at the debris on the ground. Liang Wei¡¯s strength was so strong that he couldn¡¯t stop and preserve his bones. He did not gain anything from this battle. Instead, he consumed a large amount of blood essence. Zhang Chen did not care about the gains and losses, nor did he look for the mortals with spiritual roots. Instead, he put away the Blood God Sons and immediately turned into a blood light and left. After all, this was the territory of the Silver Moon Sect. Who knew if other Silver Moon Sect disciples would come. Sure enough, two hours after Zhang Chen left, three ninth-level Foundation Establishment Silver Moon Sect disciples arrived at Black Iron City. Looking at the shattered flesh and bones on the ground, the three of them had ugly expressions. On the other side, Li Mumin flew for more than a thousand miles before stopping. ¡°I wonder how Junior Brother Zhang is doing.¡± Li Mumin looked back with mixed feelings. Most of the people in the demonic path were selfish and he really didn¡¯t expect Zhang Chen to save him. In retrospect, agreeing to let Zhang Chen become the spokesperson was the best decision he had ever made. ¡°I hope Junior Brother Zhang has some life-saving means.¡± After murmuring, Li Mumin turned back into a blood light and left. In other towns, many Blood God Sect disciples also encountered disciples of the Silver Moon Sect. Both sides fought, each with their own victories and defeats. There were also some Blood God Sect disciples who killed mortals wantonly to vent their bloodthirsty desires. However, this had nothing to do with Zhang Chen. After leaving Black Iron City, he hid himself and prepared to refine bone slaves. In a hidden cave, Zhang Chen took out the corpses of the two Silver Moon Sect disciples. Although 10 days had passed, the bodies of the two people had not decayed in the slightest. They looked as if they had just died, with a faint cold air emanating from their bodies. To refine bone slaves, not only were skeletons needed, but various materials and treasures also needed to be added. The bodies of the Silver Moon Sect disciples had an ice-cold attribute. It would be best to integrate them with cold iron to increase the strength and coldness of the bones. As luck would have it, the woman¡¯s magic tool, the Cold Light Mirror, was made of cold iron. Without the accompanying magic power, he could not control the Cold Light Mirror. It was just right to melt it and integrate it into the bones. ¡°Flesh and blood disappear, white bones emerge!¡± Zhang Chen made a hand seal and the two corpses changed. The flesh and blood of his body shriveled at a speed visible to the naked eye and were absorbed and devoured by his bones. In just a few breaths, the flesh and blood had completely disappeared. After absorbing the flesh and blood, the bones emitted a cold aura, as if they were carved from ice crystals. ¡°Blood Flame!¡± Zhang Chen formed another hand seal, and a blood-colored flame appeared out of thin air. Zhang Chen threw the Cold Light Mirror into the flames. Under the burning of the blood flames, the Cold Light Mirror began to soften and deform. After two days of burning, the Cold Light Mirror finally turned into molten iron. Immediately after, Zhang Chen took out many demon beast bones, wrapped them in magic power, crushed them into powder, and poured them into the molten iron. ¡°Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle¡­¡± Under the traction of the magic power, the molten iron was evenly poured onto the two white bones¡­ ¡°Merge!¡± The two skeletons continued to absorb the molten iron as if they were drinking water.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 103 - Chapter 103: Condensing a Golden Core Chapter 103: Condensing a Golden Core Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Half a month later, the sacrificial exercise was completed. The eyes of the two skeletons ignited with cold blue soul flames, and their bodies constantly emitted bone-piercing cold air. The white bones were like ice crystals, like a work of art. When they were alive, they were at the sixth and fourth level of Foundation Establishment, respectively. However, after being refined into bone slaves, they could only unleash the strength of the first level of Foundation Establishment. ¡°Kakakakakaka¡­¡¯ Under Zhang Chen¡¯s control, the two skeletons moved and attacked a big tree outside the cave. ¡°Boom!¡± With a loud bang, wood chips flew and the tree fell to the ground. The entire tree was covered in frost, and the leaves were all frozen into ice. In terms of attack and defense, the two skeletons were far inferior to the White Bone True Body. The only thing worthy of praise was the ice attribute. It was even more useful against his fellow disciples of the Blood God Sect. ¡°It¡¯s time to return to the Blood God Sect after so long.¡± Zhang Chen put away the two ice skeletons, turned into a blood light, and disappeared from the cave. At this moment, the sect master was discussing matters with a few elders in the Blood God Sect. ¡°Black Blood, how did the Silver Moon Sect react?¡± Elder Black Blood replied, ¡°Sect Master, other than sending disciples to fight with our sect¡¯s disciples, the Silver Moon Sect did not do anything else.¡± The Blood God Sect Master asked again, ¡°How many disciples have we lost?¡± Elder Black Blood thought for a moment. ¡°About 20 personal disciples.¡± ¡°How many disciples did the Silver Moon Sect lose?¡± ¡°About 50.¡± ¡°How many spiritual root disciples did you snatch from the Silver Moon Sect?¡± The two of them asked and answered. After the Blood God Sect Master figured out the losses of both sides, he frowned. ¡°Our sect has lost too many disciples.¡± The elders lowered their heads and did not dare to speak. After a while, the Blood God Sect Master continued, ¡°I recently sensed that a disciple seems to be condensing a Golden Core. Whose disciple is it?¡± ¡°Sect Master, he¡¯s my disciple,¡± Blood River spoke up. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you also be advancing to the Nascent Soul stage?¡± The Blood God Sect Master seemed to be hinting at something. The expressions of the Golden Core elders changed immediately, and fear appeared in their eyes. At this moment, they were no different from those direct disciples who were afraid of forming their cores. Without waiting for the elders to answer, the Blood God Sect Master Continued, ¡°It¡¯s been 300 years since our Blood God Sect was rebuilt. It¡¯s time to consider rescuing the previous sect master. ¡°However, at least three Nascent Soul cultivators are needed to have the chance to set up the Netherworld Array, connect the Netherworld Blood Sea, and break the seal of the orthodox sect.¡± Hearing this, the elders could only express their stance, ¡°We will definitely try our best to form the Nascent Soul.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Blood God Sect Master nodded in satisfaction without pressing too hard. Several days later, Zhang Chen returned to the Blood God Sect. Although Elder Blood River was keeping a close eye on him, for Zhang Chen, the Blood God Sect was currently the place where he could practice in peace and have enough resources. It was relatively safe before he formed his core, and what he had to do was to continue to accumulate strength. As Zhang Chen returned, many people came to visit him. It was mainly because his senior brothers and sisters, as well as the Alchemy Pavilion, wanted to confirm if they could continue to exchange for blood essence. On the fifth day, Li Mumin also came. ¡°Thank you, Junior Brother Zhang. Otherwise, I would not have been able to escape,¡± Li Mumin said. Zhang Chen responded flatly, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Senior Brother¡¯s reminder, I might have been sacrificed by Elder Black Blood. I am just repaying your kindness.¡± Li Mumin shook his head. ¡°I only gave a reminder at that time, which is far from being compared with Junior Brother¡¯s kindness. If you need anything, just let me know. As long as I can do it, I will not refuse.¡± Li Mumin knew that the gap between him and Zhang Chen would only grow larger, and it would be difficult for them to have any more communication. He might as well take this opportunity to rekindle their relationship. Although the roles had been reversed, it was still an opportunity. Zhang Chen was stronger than him, controlled the Beast Garden, and had a way to exchange for blood essence. Countless people wanted to build connections with him. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Li Mumin left. Zhang Chen¡¯s life returned to peace. He refined demon blood, extracted blood essence and spirituality, nurtured the Blood God Sons, and dealt with the affairs of the Blood God Sect. One day two years later, thunderclouds surged above the Blood God Sect, as if something was brewing. ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Zhang Chen was awakened from his cultivation, got up, and walked out of the cave to look at the thunderclouds in the sky. There was also a kind of pressure that belonged to the Golden Core stage, faintly emanating, extremely unstable. Zhang Chen narrowed his eyes and guessed, ¡°Is Eldest Senior Brother advancing to the Golden Core realm?¡± The disciples of the Blood God Sect raised their heads and looked at the sky with solemn expressions. At this moment, Hong Longguang had already reached the critical moment of condensing his Golden Core. He had been stuck at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment for a hundred years and already had the powers and foundation to advance to the Golden Core realm. However, he had never dared to take this step. ¡°Boom!¡± A bolt of lightning struck down, and an invisible suction force appeared in the cave abode. The blood in Hong Longguang¡¯s body was drawn away and left his body, forming a huge vortex in the air. To the disciples of the Blood God Sect, blood was magic power. As his blood continued to be lost, Hong Longguang¡¯s aura began to decline rapidly, but his mental power began to sublimate. ¡°Boom!¡± Another bolt of lightning struck down, and a strange scene began to appear in the air. One could vaguely see a blood river. It was a Golden Core phenomenon! In the cave abode, Hong Longguang¡¯s body was completely devoid of blood. A large amount of blood floated in the air and spun into a huge blood ball. Then the invisible force began to squeeze the blood cells, and the blood cells gradually shrank. As the invisible force continued to squeeze, the blood began to crystallize. The Golden Core phenomenon in the sky above became more and more apparent, and a surging blood river appeared. In the cave abode, the condensation of the Golden Core had reached its final step. The blood that had been compressed into crystals could not completely take shape, and was covered with cracks on the surface. Hong Longguang swallowed a bottle of pills and roared, ¡°Golden Core, condense!¡± With the support of the medicinal pill, the blood-colored crystals in the air burst into a brilliant light, which even the stone walls of the cave could not withstand. ¡°This is a success!¡± The moment they saw the light, everyone understood that Hong Longguang had successfully advanced to the Golden Core realm. And those direct disciples who were at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment stage became even more nervous, staring at Hong Longguang¡¯s cave intently: ¡°What will happen next? Will Hong Longguang become an elder or disappear forever?¡± In the cave abode, a fist-sized, round blood-red bead floated in the air. ¡°This is a Golden Core!¡± Excited, Hong Guang opened his mouth and swallowed the golden core. As the golden core entered his abdomen, a huge force ran through his whole body, giving him a feeling that he could destroy the world. And his appearance, which was once elderly, also changed to a middle-aged appearance. As the saying went, when one swallowed a golden core, one knew that one¡¯s destiny was not in the hands of heaven. From then on, he would be a Golden Core Stage Patriarch, with a lifespan of 500 years! In some small sects, the highest cultivation level was at the Golden Core realm. However, Hong Longguang quickly calmed down and became worried. The situation where disciples disappeared after reaching the Core Formation stage weighed heavily on his mind.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 104 - Chapter 104: Death Upon Core Formation Chapter 104: Death Upon Core Formation Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios At that moment, a very abrupt voice sounded inside the cave. ¡°Good disciple, you did not disappoint me.¡± Hong Longguang¡¯s face changed dramatically as he looked in the direction of the voice. ¡°Master, I have just advanced to the Golden Core stage. Are you in such a hurry?¡± In the corner, a puddle of blood wriggled and formed a figure, which was Elder Blood River. ¡°I¡¯ve waited for more than a hundred years. Naturally, I can¡¯t wait any longer.¡± The Blood River Elder smiled and did not hide anything. ¡°Master, can you tell me what you plan to do with me?¡± Hong Longguang asked in a low voice. ¡°To make you into a Blood God Son, of course.¡± Blood River Elder looked as if victory was in his grasp. He didn¡¯t care at all. The Blood God Son was a realm lower than its master. In other words, Golden Core cultivators could only have Blood God Sons at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm. Therefore, disciples were allowed to cultivate to the Golden Core stage on their own before being refined into a Blood God Son, so they could have a Blood God Son at the same realm as themselves. These Golden Core Elders dared not advance their own cultivation realm, so they could only use this method to increase their own power. When they had enough Golden Core Blood God Sons, they could even fight against the Nascent Soul realm. The difference between the Foundation Establishment realm and the Nascent Soul realm was too great. Quantity was no longer effective. If they wanted to resist the sect master of the Nascent Soul realm, they must nurture enough Golden Core Blood God Sons. Although it would take a long time to nurture enough Golden Core Blood God Sons and there was little hope, no one was willing to sit and wait for death. Even if there was only a glimmer of hope, they would try. The Blood God Sect Master was well aware of this, but he did not stop them. He even intentionally encouraged them. In a sense, what these Golden Core elders did was also benefiting the sect master. Hearing this simple and straightforward reason, Hong Longguang clenched his fists. ¡°Even if I self-destruct my Golden Core, I won¡¯t let you succeed!¡± Elder Blood River shook his head. ¡°From the moment we joined the Blood God Sect, we had no choice and could not resist at all.¡± As he spoke, Elder Blood River was also full of helplessness. Hong Longguang, who was using the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Demon Art to sense emotions, found that what the other party said was actually true! ¡°Since we¡¯re master and disciple, I¡¯ll let you die knowing that there is a huge hidden danger in our blood bodies that can be controlled by others, like this.¡± After saying that, Elder Blood River made a hand seal. Hong Longguang suddenly found that he could not move his body. It was as if there was a membrane separating his soul from his body, making them independent entities that could not connect with each other. ¡°What¡¯s going on!¡± Hong Longguang was terrified and struggled to regain control of his body. He couldn¡¯t understand why his body would reject his soul. ¡°Disciple, don¡¯t waste your effort. Let me see what secrets you have.¡± Elder Blood River had a sinister smile on his face as he walked slowly to Hong Longguang, reaching out to grab him. A phantom figure floated out of Hong Longguang¡¯s body and into his hand. ¡°No, please spare me, Master¡­¡± Hong Longguang begged loudly, his face filled with fear. No one could accept that the fruits of their hard work in cultivation would be taken away from them in an instant. Elder Blood River paid no attention to his pleas. ¡°Soul Searching Technique!¡± Hong Longguang¡¯s soul let out a tragic scream, his expression twisted in pain. The Soul Searching Technique was an evil spell used to take someone¡¯s memories. The victim would lose his memories and become an idiot, while the user would gain access to his memories. As the Soul Searching Technique was used, Hong Longguang¡¯s memories appeared in Elder Blood River¡¯s mind. ¡°My little disciple has a way to exchange for blood essence?¡± Elder Blood River, who had obtained Hong Longguang¡¯s entire memory, was slightly surprised, then smiled and said, ¡°Whatever secrets you have, in the end, they will all be mine. ¡°However, since he has such refined blood, his cultivation should have progressed as well.¡± Thinking of this, Elder Blood River smiled happily and clenched his fist. Hong Longguang¡¯s stunned soul shattered like a balloon, disappearing into nothingness. In the outside world, the Golden Core phenomenon disappeared, but everyone was still worried. They were eager to know the outcome. Hong Longguang disappeared like the previous new Golden Core cultivators, or had he become the seventh elder? Zhang Chen retracted his gaze. Just as he turned around and entered the cave abode, he felt the vibration of the storage bag. ¡°Huh?¡± Zhang Chen reached out in confusion and took out a red jade pendant. This was the Bloodline Jade Pendant that Hong Longguang had given him previously to find descendants of his bloodline. The jade pendant flashed with red light and Hong Longguang¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°Seventh Junior Brother, when you hear this, it means that I¡¯m already dead. I hope you will keep your promise and pass on my belongings to my descendants.¡± Zhang Chen furrowed his brow tightly. Hong Longguang has just broken through to the Golden Core realm and is already dead? He knew Elder Blood River would take action, but he didn¡¯t expect it to happen so soon. This was truly not giving him any chance at all! ¡°When I advance to the Golden Core realm in the future, I definitely can¡¯t be in the Blood God Sect. Moreover, I have to accumulate more power.¡± Zhang Chen muttered softly and put away the jade pendant. He turned around and walked towards the Technique Exchange Pavilion. This was a sign of insecurity. Hong Longguang¡¯s death gave Zhang Chen a strong sense of crisis. With such a huge gap in strength, he had no choice but to learn more cultivation techniques and coping strategies. An hour later, Zhang Chen returned to the cave with a jade slip in his hand. [Detected cultivation technique, Blood Shadow Clone Technique. Splits the soul body and has a clone similar to his cultivation level for a short period of time.] [Side effect: A second personality is born and fights for control of the body.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] He had been quite impressed when he saw his opponent use this technique before. After mastering it, he would have a Foundation Establishment helper, and the higher his own cultivation level, the stronger the assistance. So he deliberately chose this cultivation technique. Although the modifier did not show any side effects, after watching the technique, Zhang Chen found that it required a powerful soul to learn. Otherwise, during the process of tearing the soul, one¡¯s own soul would not be able to bear it and would dissipate. Zhang Chen, who had the Divine Forging Technique and had devoured many souls, naturally had no problem with his divine sense being comparable to the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm. Meanwhile, as the Elder of Blood River was preparing to turn Hong Longguang¡¯s body into a Blood God Son, several figures appeared in the cave. The other elders of the Blood God Sect had arrived. Seeing the visitors, Elder Blood River narrowed his eyes slightly and asked in a low voice, ¡°What are you here for?¡± The one who spoke was Patriarch Black Blood. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since any disciple in the sect formed his Gold Core. As for the reason, everyone knows it very well. ¡°We hope that you, Blood River, will let the newly Core Formation cultivator show up and reduce the resistance of the other disciples.¡± Elder Blood River sneered, ¡°1 don¡¯t have any Core Formation disciples under me anymore. What benefits do I have from doing this?¡± ¡°Next time we take in disciples, we will let you choose one first. How about that?¡± Black Blood promised. Blood River thought for a moment.. ¡®Yes!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 105 - Chapter 105: Blood Shadow Avatar Chapter 105: Blood Shadow Avatar Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The next day, a bell echoed throughout the Blood God Sect. ¡°Dang dang dang dang dang¡­¡± Zhang Chen, who was practicing his spells in seclusion, opened his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s going on? The disciples are being summoned again.¡± With doubts in his mind, Zhang Chen stopped practicing and turned into blood light, flying towards the square. Usually, only when something big happens in the sect, the bell calling for disciples to gather would ring. Soon, Zhang Chen arrived at the square. After the battle with the Silver Moon Sect, the number of direct disciples had significantly decreased. Zhang Chen found an acquaintance in the crowd and asked, ¡°Senior Sister, do you know what¡¯s going on?¡± Senior Sister shook her head. ¡°No idea.¡± Zhang Chen looked around and realized that everyone was confused. They were asking each other. Obviously, no one knew why the sect was calling for a gathering this time. After a while, seven figures emitting the aura of the Golden Core Realm appeared in front of everyone. ¡°It¡¯s Eldest Senior Brother!¡± Second Senior Sister and the others could not help but exclaim. Zhang Chen looked up and saw Hong Longguang. Although he looked younger, he could still recognize him at a glance. This was Hong Longguang. Isn¡¯t Eldest Senior Brother already dead? Zhang Chen was surprised. The Bloodline Jade Pendant would only activate after death. Why would a dead person appear? Upon closer observation, Zhang Chen found that the Hong Longguang on the platform had a vacant look in his eyes, with no radiance. Obviously, he was just a puppet. To be safe, Zhang Chen used the Seven Emotions Secret Technique to check and found that there was no emotion emanating from Hong Longguang¡¯s body. It could be confirmed that the Hong Longguang in front of him was just a puppet under someone¡¯s control. The other direct disciples didn¡¯t know that Hong Longguang was already dead, so they didn¡¯t dare to stare at the Golden Core Realm. Therefore, none of them noticed. On the platform, Elder Blood Flame spoke, ¡°Today, the disciples are called because we want to announce something.¡± Everyone remained silent, not daring to make a sound. Elder Blood Flame continued, ¡°Yesterday, our sect¡¯s disciple, Hong Longguang, successfully condensed his Golden Core and was promoted to become a Golden Core Elder. He was specially given the title Blood Light!¡± ¡°We disciples pay respect to Elder Blood Light!¡± Everyone saluted and bowed, and their voices echoed throughout the sect. Some of the disciples were even more excited. Their eyes were filled with yearning as they imagined themselves becoming elders. Elder Blood Flame nodded in satisfaction. ¡°The affairs of the sect are in order. Elder Blood Light will be sent out to establish a new town.¡± Hearing this, Zhang Chen finally understood the goals of the elders. The Blood God Sect really exploited the value of its disciples to the extreme! ¡°For every additional elder, the sect will prosper. You must work hard to practice, break through the Golden Core Realm, become an elder, and revitalize the sect!¡± ¡°We will work hard to practice and revitalize the sect!¡± ¡°Okay, you may leave.¡± After achieving their goal, the elders did not linger and disappeared in a flash of light. ¡°I never thought that Brother Hong would become a golden core elder and even have complete control over a district market!¡± ¡°I wonder when I can break through to the Golden Core stage.¡± The disciples discussed spiritedly. Some were envious, some were jealous, and of course, there were also some who were suspicious, but they did not say it out loud. The most excited ones were Zhang Chen¡¯s senior brothers. ¡°It¡¯s great that Eldest Senior Brother has become an elder. How about we visit Eldest Senior Brother together later?¡± Fifth Senior Brother suggested excitedly. ¡°Alright, we¡¯d better prepare some gifts as congratulatory gifts,¡± Fourth Brother agreed. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother will definitely need help establishing the new market, so why don¡¯t we offer to assist?¡± Second Senior Sister proposed. Looking at his excited senior sister and senior brothers, Zhang Chen didn¡¯t reveal the truth and said at an inappropriate time, ¡°Senior Brothers and Sisters, I have something to attend to, so I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± After speaking, Zhang Chen didn¡¯t wait for their response and transformed into a blood-red light, disappearing. ¡°Seventh Junior Brother¡­¡± The few people were surprised by Zhang Chen¡¯s behavior. Second Senior Sister waved her hand and said, ¡°Seventh Junior Brother has mastery over the blood essence channel. He¡¯s proud and doesn¡¯t want to please Eldest Senior Brother. It¡¯s understandable, so let¡¯s mind our own business.¡± Back in his cave, Zhang Chen continued to study the Blood Shadow Avatar Technique. After a day of research, he had figured out the way the technique worked and was ready to begin practicing. First, he used a secret technique to split his soul into two. ¡°The body has a soul. Myriad Qi is fundamental. Unseen, unheard, reflected upon my body. Split in two, and reveal my magical powers!¡± As the incantation ended, Zhang Chen felt a painful tearing sensation in his soul. It hurts! It hurts! It hurts so much! This pain was different from physical pain. It was indescribable. Moreover, as his soul continued to tear, the pain only increased. ¡°Ah-¡®t Zhang Chen could not help but scream in agony. At that moment, he even had thoughts of giving up. ¡°No, I can¡¯t give up! I have a modifier, I¡¯m already better off than everyone else. If I can¡¯t bear this pain, what¡¯s the difference between me and trash?¡± Zhang Chen was sweating profusely. His face twisted in pain as he gritted his teeth. Because he clenched his teeth so hard, his gums were bleeding, and blood flowed from his mouth, making him look terrifying and pitiful. Five days later. ¡°Thud¡­ A sound of tearing fabric echoed in Zhang Chen¡¯s mind, and the pain instantly disappeared, replaced by a strange sensation. The consciousness in his mind had split into two. It was like looking at a mirror, but it was also different. It was an indescribably strange feeling. Because of the modifier, the split soul did not produce a second personality, so the consciousness of the two souls remained unified. After successfully splitting his soul, the next step was to split his body. Zhang Chen¡¯s body squirmed and turned into blood, exactly the same as the Blood God Son. Immediately after, a blood tumor grew out of his neck and injected the split soul into the blood tumor. The blood tumor kept twisting and squirming, gradually revealing its facial features. Looking closely, it was identical to Zhang Chen. The new head struggled hard, seeming to want to escape from this body. As the head continued to struggle, the body was torn apart, with many blood vessels connecting and stretching longer and longer. It was like a conjoined twin being forcibly torn apart. Terrifying! After a day, Zhang Chen¡¯s body finally split into two. Then the blood body wriggled violently, completing the missing limbs. Soon, two identical Zhang Chens appeared in the cave abode. ¡°Is this the Blood Shadow Avatar?¡± Both Zhang Chens spoke at the same time, examining each other. So this is how others see me! It was his first time seeing himself from a different perspective, which was quite novel. With a thought, one body used the Blood Spirit Technique while the other used the Blood Devouring Demon Technique. ¡°Not bad. I wonder if we can use a combination spell like this.¡± Zhang Chen had another idea. He was now at the third level of Foundation Establishment. If he could use a combined spell with his avatar, he could unleash the attacking power of the fifth level. The cave was not convenient, so the two Zhang Chens went outside. ¡°Heaven and Earth Combined!¡± Both Zhang Chens gathered their magic power and slapped their palms together. ¡°Boom!¡± With one strike, a huge pit appeared on the ground in the distance. ¡°Indeed we can.¡± Both Zhang Chens smiled.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 106 - Chapter 106: Time Is Running Out Chapter 106: Time Is Running Out Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios As his cultivation level increased, the strength of this Blood Shadow Avatar would also increase. However, maintaining the avatar required an enormous amount of magical power, which was difficult for ordinary people to sustain for too long. In fact, the Blood Shadow Avatar used the characteristics of the Blood Body to divide the body¡¯s magical power in half, and then injected it into the second personality, cooperating with the main personality to launch attacks. If the main personality was killed, the second personality could even become independent. But due to the influence of the modifier, Zhang Chen¡¯s split soul did not produce a second personality, which meant that one person controlled two bodies. In order to familiarize himself with how to control two bodies, Zhang Chen simply let the two bodies attack each other. One body used the Blood Spirit Technique, while the other used the Blood Devouring Demon Technique. At first, because he was not used to the two perspectives, he often made mistakes. But as time went by, he gradually adapted to the two perspectives and became more proficient. And Zhang Chen¡¯s actions also attracted the attention of the law enforcement disciples. A blood light flew over from the distance and shouted, ¡°Stop! Fighting is prohibited within the sect!¡± ¡°This senior brother has misunderstood. I am practicing my magic.¡± Both Zhang Chens explained at the same time. The law enforcement disciple took a closer look and found that the two people had identical appearance and aura. ¡°The Blood Shadow Avatar Technique?¡± he asked. ¡°Senior brother has keen eyes,¡± Zhang Chen complimented. ¡°Keep it down.¡± The law enforcement disciple grumbled and walked away. Having achieved his goal of familiarizing himself with two bodies, Zhang Chen put away the avatar. The two bodies were equal in importance and merged together like a liquid. ¡°Next, I¡¯ll have to raise my cultivation to the fourth level of Foundation Establishment to deal with Elder Blood River¡¯s assessment.¡± Zhang Chen murmured as he entered the cave. On the other side, outside Hong Longguang¡¯s cave. ¡°Second senior sister, let¡¯s forget it! We¡¯ve visited several times but haven¡¯t received a response from our eldest senior brother. He probably doesn¡¯t want to see us,¡± Fourth Senior Brother said in a deep voice. Second Senior Sister forced a smile, ¡°Eldest senior brother is not that kind of person. Perhaps he has already left the sect and gone to establish a new market.¡± ¡°Even if he went to establish a new city, he would still need help. The Internal Affairs Hall has not issued a task to establish a new market. Fourth Senior Brother¡¯s words broke Second Senior Sister¡¯s argument. The direct disciples who could reach the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm were not stupid. It was precisely because they had discovered this that they were worried and still did not dare to break through to the Golden Core realm. However, Hong Longguang had just broken through after all. He might be in seclusion to consolidate his cultivation. Therefore, the direct disciples at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment were still observing. Soon, half a year passed. At the foot of Blood River Peak, Zhang Chen shouted respectfully, ¡°Disciple Zhang Chen requests an audience with Master.¡± ¡°Clap, clap, clap¡­¡± Before long, the sound of bat wings flapping in the air could be heard. ¡°Come with me.¡± Even though Zhang Chen had made rapid progress and was valued by Blood River Elder, the bat demon was not polite at all. Its eyes were even full of mockery. Although it was just a demon beast raised by Elder Blood River and usually served as a young servant with little status, it had no worries about life or death. In its eyes, the faster Zhang Chen¡¯s cultivation progressed, the faster he would die. Half a year ago, it had seen with its own eyes that Hong Longguang had been trained into a Blood God Son. Arriving at the cave abode, Zhang Chen bowed respectfully. ¡°Disciple Zhang Chen greets Master.¡± Elder Blood River sensed Zhang Chen¡¯s progress in cultivation and showed a smile, ¡°Among so many disciples, only you have satisfied me the most.¡± ¡°Master is too kind. Even if no one urges me, I dare not slack off in my cultivation,¡± Zhang Chen said modestly. ¡°If your senior brothers and sisters were as diligent as you, it would be great.¡± Blood River Elder praised again, then took out a blood bead. ¡°This is the Blood River Pearl. It contains a single strike of my power. If you encounter danger, you only need to inject blood essence to activate it. This is your reward for this time.¡± After saying that, Elder Blood River used his magic power to move the bead in front of Zhang Chen. Blood River Elder rewarded the Blood River Bead because he was afraid that something might happen to Zhang Chen. Previously, he was about to harvest Wu Chang but he unexpectedly died, making his effort go in vain. To avoid such a situation from happening again, he deliberately rewarded Zhang Chen with the Blood River Pearl as a life-saving measure. Zhang Chen understood this and pretended to be surprised and grateful, quickly reaching out to catch it, ¡°Thank you for your reward, Master!¡± ¡°If you can break through to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment in five years, I will still reward you.¡± The more Elder Blood River looked at Zhang Chen, the more satisfied he was. Hearing this, Zhang Chen¡¯s heart tightened. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best.¡± The higher the cultivation level, the longer it took to cultivate. Other people needed at least 10 years to break through from the fourth level of Foundation Establishment to the fifth level. When he broke through to the third level of Foundation Establishment, Blood River Elder gave him five years. Unexpectedly, now that he has broken through to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, he only gave him five years. Zhang Chen did not know that Elder Blood River had learned from Hong Longguang¡¯s memory that he had a way to obtain blood essence. Therefore, Zhang Chen felt uneasy and felt a strong sense of urgency. This meant that he had less time to prepare. ¡°Alright, you may leave.¡± Elder Blood River closed his eyes and no longer paid attention to Zhang Chen. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Zhang Chen bowed and left. His late-stage Golden Core divine sense was very powerful, so Zhang Chen did not dare to show any abnormality along the way. Back in his cave, Zhang Chen looked solemn and muttered to himself in a low voice. ¡°I originally had enough time to slowly accumulate power, but now it seems that my time has been shortened by at least a third. I have to speed up. ¡°The higher the cultivation level, the greater the difference. To deal with the Golden Core realm, I need 1,000 Blood God Sons at the Foundation Establishment stage and ninth level. ¡°And Elder Blood River is not an ordinary late-stage Golden Core cultivator. There will definitely be several Golden Core Blood God Sons. ¡°Therefore, I need to prepare at least 2,000 ninth level Foundation Establishment Blood God Sons. ¡°No, 2,000 is not enough! ¡°I only have one chance. I must have the ability to kill Elder Blood River Elder. Once he escapes, I am likely to face the pursuit of the entire Blood God Sect! ¡°I need 3,000 Blood God Sons. I have to have 3,000 ninth level Foundation Establishment Blood God Sons after breaking through to the Golden Core realm.¡± Thinking of this, Zhang Chen had a headache. Three thousand Blood God Sons were not a small number, let alone 3,000 ninth level Foundation Establishment Blood God Sons. The amount of blood essence required was too huge, enough to produce three late-stage Golden Core cultivators. In addition, he also needed blood essence to break through to the Golden Core realm. Even if he killed all the Blood God Sect disciples, he would not be able to gather so much blood essence. And the time he had was only two-thirds of the time it took others to break through to the Golden Core realm! Although he could ignore the side effects of demon blood and continuously refine it into blood essence, he was not confident that he could do this. ¡°If necessary, after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage and ninth level, I can learn from Hong Longguang and drag it out until Elder Blood River forces me to form my core. ¡°Other than that, I might be able to start from other aspects, such as using the Beast Slave Seal to control a large number of demon beasts at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm!¡± Directly controlling a demon beast at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm was naturally faster than storing blood essence and nurturing Blood God Sons on his own.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 107 - Chapter 107: Capturing Demon Beasts Chapter 107: Capturing Demon Beasts Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios For this sect mission, Zhang Chen planned to go to the Demon Beast Mountain Range to see if he could catch some Foundation Establishment demon beasts. ¡°I don¡¯t have any acquaintances in the Internal Affairs Hall, and there¡¯s a grudge between us. I¡¯ll have to ask someone else for help.¡± Zhang Chen thought for a moment and felt that he could ask Second Senior Sister for help. Second Senior Sister was experienced and should know someone from the Internal Affairs Hall. After making up his mind, Zhang Chen did not go there immediately, but took out the Blood River Pearl he had just obtained and examined it. The blood light flowed inside the pearl, as if there was a blood river surging inside. This Blood River Pearl had the power to make a single strike in the later stage of the Golden Core realm. Although the spells of the Blood God Sect were not known for their power, they were still enough to kill all beings below the Golden Core realm. Even just holding it, the fluctuations emanating from it made Zhang Chen feel a strong sense of deadly danger. Even just holding it, the fluctuations emanating from it made Zhang Chen feel a strong sense of deadly danger. Enclosed within it was the Elder Blood River¡¯s strike, and through the power of this pearl, Zhang Chen could also gain some understanding of the Blood God Elder¡¯s strength. After playing with it for a while, Zhang Chen put away the Blood Bead and walked out of the cave. ¡°Is Second Senior Sister here? Junior Brother Zhang Chen requests an audience.¡± The door of the cave opened, and a fragrant breeze blew out, making people¡¯s blood boil. A graceful figure walked out, and her beautiful eyes scanned over him. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang Chen is visiting my cave for the first time, why not come in and sit down? I practice dual cultivation techniques, you know!¡± After speaking, she even threw a coquettish glance at him. Zhang Chen quickly changed the subject: ¡°I came to see Senior Sister for a request. ¡± Second Senior Sister¡¯s expression became slightly serious: ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°For this sect mission, I want to go to the Demon Beast Mountain Range, but I don¡¯t know anyone in the Internal Affairs Hall, so I want to ask Senior Sister to arrange it for me. Senior Sister, feel free to tell me how much blood essence you need.¡± Zhang Chen explained his purpose for coming and was not worried that the other party would ask for too much blood essence. Second Senior Sister covered her mouth and laughed. ¡°I thought it was something important. Our Beast Garden is in charge of providing demon blood. Just tell the Internal Affairs Hall that we¡¯re lacking in Foundation Establishment period demon beasts, and they¡¯ll arrange a mission to catch them. ¡°At that time, if you take the initiative to accept sect missions, there¡¯s a high chance that you will be assigned a mission to capture Foundation Establishment demon beasts. You can save a sum of blood essence.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Sister, for your guidance.¡± Zhang Chen quickly thanked her with a bow. As the saying went, those involved were confused. He had not thought of this. The Internal Affairs Hall had a lot of power, but to a certain extent, it also served the Beast Garden. ¡°Junior Brother, won¡¯t you come in and sit for a while? Dual cultivation technique can enhance our cultivation together!¡± Second Senior Sister seduced him again with a flirtatious look. ¡°I have something else to attend to, I won¡¯t disturb Senior Sister.¡± Zhang Chen quickly turned into a bloody light and flew away. Looking at the fleeing Zhang Chen, Second Senior Sister could not help but burst into laughter. ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± After leaving Second Senior Sister¡¯s cave, Zhang Chen headed to the Beast Garden. He was also a deacon of the Beast Garden, and his senior sister and senior brothers had to rely on him to exchange for blood essence. Naturally, they would give him face. Therefore, reporting the lack of Foundation Establishment demon beasts in the Internal Affairs Hall went very smoothly. Internal Affairs Hall. ¡°Senior Brother Shen, the Beast Garden just sent someone over. They said that there is a shortage of Foundation Establishment demon beasts.¡± ¡°Then arrange for a suitable disciple to go to the Demon Beast Mountain Range to capture Foundation Establishment demon beasts.¡± Shen Gengyuan did not think too much about it and made a casual arrangement. ¡°Yes.¡± The Internal Affairs disciple bowed and left. Half a day later, Zhang Chen took the initiative to come to the Internal Affairs Hall. ¡°Senior Brother, do you have any orders?¡± the Internal Affairs disciple asked respectfully. ¡°I want to receive a sect mission.¡± Zhang Chen explained his purpose for coming. ¡°There is a mission to capture Foundation Establishment demon beasts in the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Would Senior Brother like to take it?¡± The disciple of Internal Affairs asked cautiously. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take this mission.¡± Zhang Chen nodded calmly. ¡°I¡¯ll register for Senior Brother now.¡± Time was running out. After the registration was completed, Zhang Chen did not delay and immediately left the Blood God Sect. Outside the Demon Beast Mountain Range, a blood light fell. Looking at the continuous mountain range in front of him, where demon beasts roared incessantly, Zhang Chen couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I came to the Demon Beast Mountain Range. The last time I came, I was just an inner disciple.¡± Zhang Chen was already a different person now. There was no need to be afraid, so he directly turned into a blood light and flew deeper towards the depths of the mountain range. ¡°It¡¯s a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Blood God Sect!¡± In the mountain range, many itinerant cultivators looked up at the bloody light passing overhead with solemn expressions. Some of the itinerant cultivators who had secretly harmed the Blood God Sect disciples felt even more apprehensive and quickly left the mountain range. Zhang Chen spread his divine sense and discovered many Qi Refinement Stage demon beasts along the way, but he ignored them. After penetrating 300 miles into the mountain range, Zhang Chen finally found a Foundation Establishment stage level two demon beast. ¡°Let¡¯s start with this demon beast first.¡± Although it was not a demon beast at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, Zhang Chen did not want to let it go. He condensed the bloodthirsty energy and slapped it with a palm. ¡°Boom!¡± With a loud bang, a large number of trees turned to dust, and a huge palm print appeared on the ground. But the attack missed! The Foundation Establishment demon beast already possessed intelligence and sensed that Zhang Chen was only at the fourth level of the Foundation Establishment stage, knowing that it was not his opponent. It immediately turned around and ran. Although Zhang Chen¡¯s cultivation was two levels higher than this demon beast, he did not have the advantage of overwhelming it. Besides, his goal was to capture and control it, not to kill it. ¡°Trying to run?¡± Zhang Chen sneered and activated the Blood Spirit Technique, causing seven blood snakes to emerge from his body and bite towards the demon beast¡¯s limbs. ¡°Roar!¡± The demon beast roared angrily and spat out wind blades. ¡°Puchi!¡± The wind blades passed through, severing the heads of the blood snakes. But in just a breath, the blood flowed and the snake heads regenerated, continuing to bite at the demon beast¡¯s limbs. The demon beast twisted its body and abruptly changed direction, trying to dodge the blood snakes¡¯ bites. How could Zhang Chen let the demon beast get away? ¡°Blood Fiend Palm!¡± Zhang Chen slapped out with his palm, directly blocking the monster¡¯s escape route. ¡°Boom!¡± The demon beast that could not evade was slapped and flew away, breaking countless trees. ¡°Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!¡± The seven blood snakes followed closely behind, directly biting on the demon beast¡¯s limbs and sucking its blood before it could stand up. ¡°Roar-¡± The demon beast cried out in pain, struggling hard to try and tear apart the blood snakes. However, Zhang Chen did not give it a chance. He used Light Body Technique to stack on Blood Burst Technique, and took advantage of the opportunity to come to the demon beast¡¯s side. ¡°Blood Fiend Entering the Body!¡± A large amount of Blood Fiend Qi poured into the demon beast¡¯s body, causing its body to momentarily lose control. ¡°Beast Slave Seal!¡± Zhang Chen quickly formed hand seals and pressed both hands on the demon beast¡¯s head. Glowing characters ¡®Beast Slave¡¯ appeared on the demon beast¡¯s forehead. However, the light of the Beast Slave Seal was somewhat unstable, still flickering violently. This was the demon beast resisting the control of the Beast Slave Seal. However, under Zhang Chen¡¯s powerful divine sense, which was comparable to the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm, the demon beast soon became motionless and was completely controlled. ¡°The first one.¡± After easily controlling a demon beast, Zhang Chen smiled in satisfaction and put it into his beast breeding bag. ¡°Let¡¯s continue!¡± Zhang Chen transformed into a blood light and continued to venture deeper into the Demon Beast Mountain Range. After 15 minutes, Zhang Chen discovered another seventh level Foundation Establishment demon beast. But before Zhang Chen could make a move, this demon beast launched an attack against him first. Because in the demon beast¡¯s eyes, its cultivation was higher than that of the invading human cultivator.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 108 - Chapter 108: Negotiation Among the Demon Beasts Chapter 108: Negotiation Among the Demon Beasts Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios This was a deer monster, with a body as white as snow and antlers as crystal-clear as jade. It was like a perfect work of art, very beautiful, making people reluctant to harm it. However, its eyes were full of hostility and hatred, ruining this beautiful scene. The deer demon let out a low cry and stomped heavily with its hooves. The surrounding vegetation grew crazily like a huge hand that swept towards Zhang Chen in the air. ¡°Evil Spirit Blade!¡± The bloodthirsty aura surged around Zhang Chen¡¯s body, forming into a sword that slashed towards the vegetation. ¡°Ding ding ding ding ding ding¡­¡± Under the effect of demonic power, the soft vegetation became as tough as metal. When the two collided, they made a metallic sound. Although the saber and sword condensed from the blood fiend aura were still better, grass and wood shavings flew. However, the endless growth of plants clearly gave the deer demon with a higher cultivation an advantage in terms of consumption. With a thought from Zhang Chen, and numerous blood shadows flew out of his body, attacking the deer demon. The Blood God sons! ¡°Clap, clap, clap.. The vegetation was like a whip with sharp blades, lashing and cutting the Blood God Sons. Blood rain fell from the sky, and after it landed, it reformed into the Blood God Sons, continuing to attack the deer demon. The deer demon let out a low cry again and spat out countless seeds. Then, its body emitted a green light as it raised its hooves and stomped on the ground. The seeds flew towards the Blood God Sons like bullets. After entering the bodies of the Blood God Sons, these seeds sprouted and grew instantly, transforming into strange vines covered with spikes, which began to suck the Blood God Sons¡¯ blood. The Blood God Sons could not break free from the vine and their breath rapidly weakened. This vine was a spiritual plant called the Bloodthirsty Vine. It relied on parasitic animals to absorb blood and grow. It seemed that the deer demon was not lacking in intelligence! The deer demon¡¯s ability to grow to the seventh level of the Foundation Establishment realm. After all, people from the Blood God Sect would come to the Demon Beast Mountain Range to capture demon beasts every once in a while. After reaching the Foundation Establishment realm, its intelligence had increased. It had accidentally discovered this kind of vine that could absorb blood while wandering in the mountains. It immediately thought of using it to restrain the disciples of the Blood God Sect, so it gathered its seeds. Relying on the Bloodthirsty Vine, it had repeatedly repelled the Blood God Sect¡¯s direct disciples, enabling it to grow to its current level. This was the confidence it had in taking the initiative to attack! The deer demon¡¯s heart was filled with hatred for the human cultivators who kept coming to the Demon Beast Mountain Range to capture demon beasts. Unfortunately, it encountered Zhang Chen. ¡°Demon Disintegration Technique, explode!¡± ¡°Boom boom boom boom boom boom¡­ The Blood God Sons that had been parasitized self-destructed one after another. Not only did they get rid of the Bloodthirsty Vine, but they also blew up the surrounding plants. Immediately after, the Blood God Sons condensed again and continued to charge at the deer demon. ¡°Yo, yo, yo¡­¡¯ Seeing that his trump card had failed, the deer demon was caught off guard. It cried out in panic and wanted to escape. But the Blood God Sons were already everywhere, and the deer demon had lost the chance to escape. This was the result of excessive confidence. The Blood God Sons swarmed and pounced on the deer demon, sucking its blood. The deer demon flailed like an ordinary beast, with hooves and horns wildly ramming. Although each blow was enough to split mountains and rocks, these attacks were simply harmless to the Blood God Sons. As blood loss increased, the deer demon quickly weakened and collapsed to the ground. ¡°Stop!¡± With a thought from Zhang Chen, the Blood God Sons stopped. Zhang Chen came to the deer demon¡¯s side and looked down at it from a high vantage point. ¡°Yo-¡± The deer demon raised its head with difficulty and let out a mournful cry. Zhang Chen was unmoved. He quickly formed seals with both hands and pressed them on the deer demon¡¯s head. ¡°Beast Slave Seal!¡± After a moment, the seal appeared on the deer demon¡¯s forehead. ¡°Another one.¡± Zhang Chen put the deer demon into his beast breeding bag and continued to venture deeper into the mountain range. Three days later. Zhang Chen had already ventured a thousand miles deep into the Demon Beast Mountain Range, and along the way, he had enslaved more than 20 Foundation Establishment demon beasts. Perhaps ninth level Foundation Establishment demon beasts were too rare, as he did not encounter any on the way. The intelligence of Foundation Establishment demon beasts was not lower than that of humans, but because of their environment and difficult-to-control beast nature, they seemed a bit unintelligent. But there were always exceptions, and occasionally there were cunning demon beasts that were comparable to humans in the Demon Beast Mountain Range. In a huge cave covered in bones and filled with a stench, four Foundation Establishment demon beasts gathered. A wolf demon, a tiger demon, a fox demon, and a pig demon. As the saying went, two tigers could not coexist on one mountain. This situation was very rare because every Foundation Establishment demon beast had its own hunting territory. ¡°Black Wolf, why did you call us here? Is there something important?¡± The tiger demon impatiently asked in beast language. The wolf demon named Black Wolf growled lowly: ¡°Recently, a cultivator from the Blood God Sect has been hunting rampantly in the mountain range, and many of our kind have fallen into his hands. My wolf descendants have found out that even that White Deer was captured three days ago.¡± Upon hearing this, the other two Foundation Establishment demon beasts became serious. The cultivation of White Deer, who had reached the seventh level of Foundation Establishment and possessed the talent to control plants, gave it an advantage in the mountain full of vegetation. Among the many Foundation Establishment demon beasts, the White Deer was also quite famous. However, only Tiger Demon remained impatient: ¡°What¡¯s so surprising about this? The cultivators of Blood God Sect come to capture us every once in a while. ¡± Black Wolf shook its head. ¡°This time is different. In the past, cultivators would capture one or two and then leave, but this cultivator has been capturing beasts every day. There have been at least twenty so far, and there seems to be no intention of leaving.¡± ¡°You called us here to discuss joining forces against that cultivator from Blood God Sect, right?¡± Fox Demon guessed. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Black Wolf nodded. ¡°This cultivator from the Blood God Sect is heading in our direction. If we don¡¯t join forces, we¡¯ll soon end up like White Deer. ¡± Tiger Demon sneered. ¡°Your territory is in front of ours. I think you want us to protect you, don¡¯t you?¡± Black Wolf¡¯s gaze turned cold. ¡°There¡¯s a human saying that goes, ¡®if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.¡¯ If something happens to me, do you think the cultivator from the Blood God Sect will spare you?¡± ¡°If he dares to come, I will eat him,¡± Tiger Demon said confidently. ¡°So, you¡¯re not going to join forces with us then?¡± Wolf Demon narrowed its eyes. ¡°Strong individuals hunt alone. Only weaklings like you hunt in groups,¡± Tiger Demon¡¯s words were full of contempt for Wolf Demon. ¡°One more or one less, it doesn¡¯t matter. The esteemed strong individual can leave now,¡± Black Wolf snarled. As wolves, they were pack hunters and felt deeply offended. If it weren¡¯t for the imminent threat, Black Wolf would have even wanted to fight Tiger Demon. ¡°Heh,¡± Tiger Demon sneered and got up to leave. As Tiger Demon left, Black Wolf said angrily, ¡°It¡¯s because most of the demon beasts are unwilling to cooperate in hunting that they are hunted by humans!¡± Fox Demon spoke up, ¡°You are a wolf, I am a fox, and he is a tiger. Although we are all demon beasts, we are not true brethren. In our eyes, we are even each other¡¯s prey. How could we be of one mind?¡± ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s not talk about this anymore. Are the two of you willing to stay behind to fight the enemy together?¡± Black Wolf returned to the main topic.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 109 - Chapter 109: Breaking the Game Chapter 109: Breaking the Game Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°My wife and children were all captured by human cultivators. Pigs and humans are mortal enemies!¡± the pig demon said fiercely. ¡°Wolf brother, I¡¯ll follow your lead,¡± the fox demon said timidly. ¡°If other demon tribes can cooperate, why fear human cultivators!¡± The black wolf sighed before making arrangements. ¡°My wolf cubs discovered that the Blood God Sect cultivator won¡¯t attack any demon beast below the Foundation Establishment stage. Green Fox, use an illusion technique to disguise us as Qi Refinement demon beasts. Piggy, with your tough skin and thick flesh, be the bait. When the Blood God Sect cultivator approaches, we¡¯ll attack together. ¡°If we can¡¯t kill him, Piggy will take him head-on while Azure Fox harasses him with illusions, and I¡¯ll wait for an opportunity to sneak attack.¡± The fox demon and the pig demon nodded. ¡°No problem.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get moving now. That cultivator from the Blood God Sect should arrive in about an hour.¡± After saying that, the black wolf revealed a ferocious smile. It was clearly very satisfied with his plan, as if it had already seen the prey trapped in a dead end. The fox demon activated its demonic power, and the surrounding scenery began to distort and change. An hour later, a blood light flashed and Zhang Chen arrived above the cave where black wolf was located. He sensed with his divine sense that there was a sixth level Foundation Establishment demon beast and two Qi Refinement demons here. ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhang Chen suddenly frowned. Because of the Spiritual Eye Technique, he saw that the two Qi Refinement demon beasts outside the cave didn¡¯t blend in with the surrounding environment. The scene that his divine sense swept across was an ordinary cave. A huge pig demon at the sixth level of the Foundation Establishment realm was sleeping in the cave, and outside were two small pig demons at the Qi Refinement realm. However, in his eyes, the two little pig demons were blurred, as if they had been pixelated. These demon beasts want to use illusions to ambush me? Zhang Chen narrowed his eyes and was a little surprised. He did not expect demon beasts to play tricks. If not for the fact that the Spiritual Eye Technique could see through illusions, he might really have suffered a loss. Below, the fox demon was communicating with the black wolf through divine sense. ¡°Brother Wolf, that cultivator from the Blood God Sect is looking at us strangely. Have we been discovered?¡± Black Wolf¡¯s expression was solemn. ¡°Don¡¯t panic. Even if we¡¯re discovered, the three of us can take him down head-on.¡¯ When the fox demon heard this, he calmed down. After all, the other party looked to be only at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. As for them, they were at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment, the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, and the eighth level respectively. If it weren¡¯t for Black Wolf¡¯s words that the opponent had killed a seventh-level Qi Condensation cultivator, the fox demon wouldn¡¯t have even bothered with Zhang Chen. If it was before, Zhang Chen might have changed his target. But now¡­ Zhang Chen sneered. With a thought, more than a hundred Blood God Sons flew out of his body and rushed down. Seeing the Blood God Sons rushing over, the two demons understood that their illusions had indeed been seen through, so they stopped hiding. ¡°Piggy!¡± Black Wolf roared. ¡°Boom boom boom boom boom¡­¡¯ The ground shook, and a huge wild boar comparable to a small mountain with sharp tusks rushed out of the cave. The pig demon ignored the Blood God and charged towards Zhang Chen in the air. Zhang Chen was not in a hurry. He reached out and patted the Demon Cultivation Bag at his waist. At this moment, the fox demon¡¯s eyes emitted a green fluorescent light as it activated its spiritual illusion. However, Zhang Chen¡¯s divine sense was as strong as a ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator. Coupled with his Spiritual Eyes that had the ability to break illusions, he only paused for a moment before breaking free of the illusion and continuing to reach for the beast breeding bag. ¡°Ah-¡± The fox demon¡¯s eyes bled as he screamed. ¡°His divine will is powerful, and my illusion is useless against him!¡± The wolf demon said anxiously, ¡°Then stall these Blood God Sons. They are his main reliance!¡± On the other side, a similarly huge White Bone True Body and two bone slaves emitting cold aura blocked the pig demon¡¯s path. ¡°Boom!¡± With a loud bang, bone fragments splattered everywhere. Although the Bone True Body was tough, it only had a cultivation level of the first level of Foundation Establishment and was unable to fully withstand the pig demon¡¯s charge, being knocked to the ground. The attacks of the two ice skeletons had similarly little effect. With a shake, the pig demon shook off all the ice on its body. Zhang Chen remained calm and took out several beast breeding bags. During this time, he had enslaved and controlled over 20 demon beasts, of which more than 10 still had battle prowess. For a moment, more than 10 Foundation Establishment demon beasts appeared, surrounding the pig demon. Seeing these demon beasts, the three demons were shocked, recognizing some of them. ¡°Go!¡± Zhang Chen commanded, and more than 10 Foundation Establishment demon beasts attacked. Even though the pig demon had tough skin and an astonishing defense, it could only withstand the attacks of so many Foundation Establishment demon beasts for a few breaths. If Zhang Chen didn¡¯t need it alive, his underlings¡¯ demonic beasts would have unleashed their full power, and the pig demon would have lasted only a few breaths. ¡°Boom!¡± The enormous body of the pig demon fell, drenched in blood. Zhang Chen slapped his palm on the pig demon¡¯s forehead, enslaving and controlling it. Watching the pig demon fall, the fox demon panicked: ¡°Brother Wolf, what do we do?¡± Even Black Wolf hadn¡¯t anticipated that such a sure thing would develop into this, and the appearance of these demon beasts was even more unexpected. Their usual deceitfulness and cleverness were completely useless in the face of overwhelming strength! What made Black Wolf even more desperate was that the pig demon that was with them suddenly turned against it and charged towards it. ¡°Awoooo-¡± Black Wolf let out a mournful howl; it knew it had no hope left. Before long, the fox demon and wolf demon were also branded with the Beast Slave Seal and became involuntary puppets. After controlling the three demons and replenishing his expended blood essence, Zhang Chen continued to penetrate deeper into the mountains. And this direction was where the tiger demon was. ¡°Hmm? That¡¯s the aura of a cultivator of the Blood God Sect. Could it be that Black Wolf and the others have already been defeated?¡± Sensing Zhang Chen¡¯s aura, the tiger demon was uncertain. It looked down on Black Wolf, not only because it was at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, but also because of the innate divine power of the tiger demon race. All the people eaten by tigers would have their souls turn into vengeful spirits. The tiger demon had eaten many cultivators, and some of them were even Foundation Establishment cultivators. Compared to other demon beasts, its greatest advantage was these vengeful spirits. With the help of these ghosts, ordinary ninth level Foundation Establishment cultivators might not be its match. Before the tiger demon could think carefully, Zhang Chen had already arrived. ¡°I found it. It¡¯s a tiger demon at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment. If I go deeper, I should be able to encounter a demon beast at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment.¡± Zhang Chen stood in the air and looked down at the tiger demon below. ¡°Ahh-¡± Feeling the contempt, the tiger demon let out a thunderous roar, dispersing the clouds in the sky and frightening countless birds and beasts, causing leaves to fall around it. ¡°Kitten, you sure know how to make a loud noise. Attack!¡± Zhang Chen released his Blood God Sons. The tiger demon also released dozens of vengeful spirits, some of which were in the Foundation Establishment realm. Seeing these vengeful spirits, Zhang Chen thought of something and took out a small banner from his storage bag. ¡°Hundred Ghost Banner, retract! Zhang Chen threw the banner, and it produced a suction force, pulling in many vengeful spirits.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 110 - Chapter 110: Golden Core Demon King Chapter 110: Golden Core Demon King Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Only the Foundation Establishment ghosts could resist the suction of the Hundred Ghosts Banner. Zhang Chen had obtained a spell called the Dark Nether Treasure Manual which allowed him to cultivate and control ghosts. He had only used it to summon spirits before, but now he finally had a chance to use it in battle. ¡°Clearly present, yet obscure, the shadows shall obey, all ghosts hidden, bind the evil ghosts!¡± As he chanted the spell, a huge ghostly figure appeared behind Zhang Chen. The ghostly figure roared silently, holding a strange token and waving it towards the Foundation Establishment ghosts. Black chains and wooden collars emerged from the void, binding and restraining the Foundation Establishment ghosts. Although the Foundation Establishment ghost ghosts struggled fiercely, it seemed that they could not break free in the short term. The tiger demon, who had been full of confidence, now looked panicked, like a cat that had lost its footing. Its control over the ghosts relied entirely on its natural talents, and it had no means of breaking through ghostly spells. Without the help of the ghosts, the tiger demon was unable to withstand the onslaught of the Blood God Sons. Soon, the tiger demon lost too much blood under the attack of the Blood God Child and collapsed helplessly. ¡°Beast Slave Seal!¡± The character for ¡®slave¡¯ covered the character for ¡®king¡¯ on the tiger demon¡¯s forehead, making it lose its power and aura, and appear somewhat ridiculous. As Zhang Chen continued to venture deeper into the Demon Beast Mountain Range, he finally encountered a ninth-level Foundation Establishment demon beast. But even with the combined onslaught of the Blood God Sons and the demon beast army, the ninth-level Foundation Establishment demon beast was still easily defeated. Using the method of fighting to raise his fighting prowess, Zhang Chen controlled more and more demon beasts, and his strength grew stronger and stronger, and his speed in capturing demon beasts became faster and faster. Ten days later. Zhang Chen had already controlled 100 Foundation Establishment demon beasts, including five at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm. On this day, Zhang Chen, as usual, searched for and captured Foundation Building demonic beasts. Luck was on his side as he quickly found a ninth-level Foundation Establishment demon beast. Just as he was about to make his move, a powerful pressure suddenly enveloped him. ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s the pressure of a Golden Core cultivator!¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s expression changed dramatically as he immediately used the Blood Light Escape technique to try to flee. A dazzling burst of bright red blood light erupted, making it difficult for anyone to look directly at it. ¡°Trying to run? Stay here for me!¡± As the rough and bizarre words sounded, the surrounding space was sealed and compressed by a powerful magic, and the blood light instantly dimmed. Zhang Chen stumbled and almost fell from the sky. The Blood Light Escape technique, which was comparable to the Flying Escape of the Golden Core stage, had failed! Zhang Chen¡¯s expression was solemn as he turned around and looked behind him. A burly ¡®man¡¯ wearing black armor and with a bear¡¯s head was standing 1,000 feet away. It was a Golden Core demon beast that could be called a demon king! Foundation Establishment demon beasts had great intelligence, and Golden Core demon beasts could transform from their beast form into human form. Golden Core demon beasts could generally be divided into three types. One type hated humans, took pride in their beast form, and would not transform into a human form This type of demon beast generally had a very violent temperament and was difficult to communicate with. The second type believed that humans were the darlings of heaven and earth, and completely abandoned their beast form and blended in with humans. This type was difficult to discern whether they were good or evil and had habits similar to humans. The one in front of Zhang Chen was the third type, who believed that the human form was convenient, but still retained some of their beast form to highlight their identity. This type valued practicality, had a high level of intelligence, and was stubborn as a demon beast. Zhang Chen stared at the Golden Core demon king, his hand already reaching into his storage bag, ready to take out the Blood River Pearl to activate it at any time. The reason he did not take it out now was that he was afraid that the Demon King would be prepared for it. Although the other party might not be able to resist a strike from the later stage of the Golden Core, they might have a way to prevent him from using it, just like when they broke his Blood Light Escape. Therefore, he had to be cautious. At this point, the Golden Core demon king spoke, ¡°Our Sacred Beasts have a treaty with your Blood God Sect, but you are being too greedy, kid. As long as you release those demon beasts and lift their control, I will let you go.¡± The Demon King rarely spoke human language, so his speech sounded strange. Naturally, Zhang Chen didn¡¯t want to give up these Foundation Establishment demon beasts. If he wanted to cultivate so many Foundation Establishment Blood God Sons, it would probably take about 20 years. But if he didn¡¯t give them up, he would face the pursuit of the Golden Core demon king. After thinking for a moment, Zhang Chen made his decision. twenty years! This was 20 years! If it were in the past, he would have agreed immediately, but he didn¡¯t know how much time Elder Blood River would give him to develop. Therefore, saving twenty years of time was crucial. ¡®Your Excellency, I have something to show you.¡± ¡°Oh! What is it?¡± The Golden Core Demon King was surprised. ¡°This is it!¡± Zhang Chen suddenly took out the Blood River Pearl and activated it with his blood essence. ¡°Crack!¡± The pearl cracked open, and a large amount of blood gushed out, forming a blood river in the air. ¡°Whoosh!¡± The blood river surged with boundless power, rushing towards the Golden Core Demon King. Run! Zhang Chen did not even look at the outcome. He used the Blood Light Escape again and turned into a blood light that instantly disappeared. Sensing the power of the blood river, the Golden Core Demon King was shocked and furious. Although he would love to tear Zhang Chen to pieces to vent his anger, the urgent matter at hand was to find a way to deal with the impact of the blood river, with no time to spare for Zhang Chen. The speed of the blood light was extremely fast. Soon, it flew thousands of miles and left the Demon Beast Mountain Range. ¡°Boom!¡± A deafening sound shook the earth and countless demon beasts ran. Zhang Chen did not stop or look back. Although this was an attack belonging to the later stage of the Golden Core realm, it was still uncontrolled and at most would only injure the Demon King. At the same time, Elder Blood River of the Blood God Sect suddenly opened his eyes: ¡°What danger did Zhang Chen encounter that he used the Blood River Pearl I gave him?¡± ¡°This direction and distance should be the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Could it be that he encountered a Golden Core demon beast?¡± Elder Blood River looked in the direction of the Demon Beast Mountain Range, frowning. ¡°The Demon Beast Mountain Range is not far from the sect¡¯s market. He only needs to hide in the market. With the Blood River Pearl and the Blood Light Escape I gave him, he can escape even if he encounters a mid-stage Golden Core realm cultivator.¡± Elder Blood River thought for a moment, then closed his eyes and continued to meditate. On the other side of the Demon Beast Mountain Range, there was a huge pit, as if it had been hit by a meteorite. And within tens of miles around it, it was like it had been washed away by a flood, with no living creatures or plants growing. ¡°Cough cough cough.. ¡® The Golden Core Demon King coughed a few times, wiping the blood from the corners of his mouth, looking wretched as he climbed out of the pit. At this time, his armor was tattered, his fur covered in blood, with no trace of the majesty of a Golden Core Demon King at all. ¡°Human, I won¡¯t let you off!¡± The Golden Core Demon King¡¯s eyes were filled with anger as he leapt into the air, chasing after Zhang Chen¡¯s direction. As Elder Blood River thought, Zhang Chen did not fly towards the Blood God Sect, but came to the market outside the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Because he was not sure if he could outrun a Golden Core demon king. With a Golden Core elder guarding the market, he could resist the demon king. As soon as he entered the market, Zhang Chen immediately used the Formless Demon Scripture to change his appearance and the Yin Energy Isolating Technique to isolate his cultivation aura. Even so, Zhang Chen was still not at ease. He changed his clothes and bought potions to eliminate his scent at a stall. Not long after doing all this, Zhang Chen looked at the sky above the market with a solemn expression. ¡°Here he comes!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 111 - Chapter 111: Return to the Sect Chapter 111: Return to the Sect Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Look at the sky, it¡¯s a Golden Core demon king!¡± ¡°Not good, the Golden Core Demon King has come out of the Demon Beast Mountain Range!¡± ¡°Is this demon king going to attack the market?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a Golden Core elder of the Blood God Sect guarding the market. Don¡¯t panic!¡± The cultivators in the market city noticed something amiss and looked at the sky in horror. A Golden Core demonic king with the head of a bear and the body of a man was standing in the sky, staring down at the market with a furious expression, searching for Zhang Chen¡¯s whereabouts. Demon beasts had a sharp sense of smell. They could tell that Zhang Chen had hidden himself in the market by the scent in the air. But there were many cultivators in the market, and the scents were mixed together, making it difficult to distinguish them. In addition, Zhang Chen had concealed his scent and changed his appearance, so unless one looked carefully, one wouldn¡¯t be able to find him. However, this was a market, and they couldn¡¯t let a beast run wild. A burst of blood light flew out of the market and confronted the Demon King. Zhang Chen recognized that this was Elder Withered Blood, but his aura was much weaker. He was around the early-stage Golden Core realm, so he should be an avatar or a Blood God Son. ¡°This is not where you belong. Please go back to the Beast Mountain Range.¡± Elder Withered Blood¡¯s voice was low. Although he said ¡®please¡¯, his tone was not polite. It was more like an order. ¡°I have no intention of invading your Blood God Sect¡¯s market. It¡¯s just that a disciple of your Blood God Sect captured more than a hundred Foundation Establishment demon beasts, seriously affecting the balance of our mountain range. And he offended me by playing tricks. As long as you hand him over, I¡¯ll leave immediately,¡± the demon king said in a booming voice. Elder Withered Blood sneered, ¡°A dignified Golden Core Demon King is actually toyed with by a Foundation Establishment cultivator. How laughable. I, Withered Blood, have not fallen to the point of handing my disciple over to ensure my safety. If you don¡¯t leave now, you¡¯ll die!¡± Hearing this, Zhang Chen heaved a sigh of relief. He was actually a little worried that Elder Withered Blood would hand him over. The Demon King clenched his fists, clearly furious. However, the Blood God Sect was stronger than the Demon Beast Mountain Range, so he could only endure it. ¡°I don¡¯t want that disciple, but he must hand over the captured demon beasts!¡± ¡°The Blood God Sect has a deal with your sacred beasts. Our disciples can capture demonic beasts at will, and how many they capture is their ability. Why should we hand them over? Are you trying to violate the trade agreement?¡± Elder Withered Blood did not back down. The Demon King bared his teeth, looking like he could attack at any moment. Blood kept flowing out of Elder Withered Blood¡¯s body also showing a desire to fight. The atmosphere became incredibly tense, and the people in the market didn¡¯t dare to move or even breathe, looking up at the two figures in the sky with sweat pouring down their foreheads. When immortals fought, mortals suffered. When high-level cultivators fought, low-level cultivators like them also suffered. In the end, the Demon King gave in. The Blood God Sect was stronger than the Demon Beast Mountain Range, but it did not receive the support of the Sacred Beasts, and could even be punished. The Demon King glanced at the marketplace and said fiercely, ¡°If you appear in the Demon Beast Mountain Range again, I¡¯ll definitely kill you!¡± These words were clearly directed at Zhang Chen. In the marketplace, Zhang Chen remained unmoved and showed no sign of anything unusual. After leaving a harsh statement, the Demon Beast looked at Elder Withered Blood resentfully and turned to leave. ¡°Phew-finally gone!¡± The people in the marketplace breathed a sigh of relief. In the air, Elder Withered Blood glanced at the crowd below, said nothing, retracted his blood, and disappeared in a flash of light. Perhaps it was because of his guilty conscience, Zhang Chen felt that Elder Withered Blood¡¯s gaze seemed to pause on him for a moment. To avoid the possibility of the Demon King leaving as a ruse and lying in ambush outside, Zhang Chen did not leave the marketplace but instead prepared to cultivate in seclusion until the mission date arrived. Although the person involved, Zhang Chen, was in seclusion, the commotion he caused did not die down. ¡°Who¡¯s so powerful? He actually captured more than a hundred Foundation Establishment demon beasts, attracted the demon king, and successfully escaped!¡± Everyone in the marketplace was speculating and discussing who among the Blood God Sect disciples had attracted the Demon King. When some Blood God Sect disciples walked on the streets, they were immediately surrounded and questioned. Just like that, a month passed, and the marketplace was filled with lamentations. This was because the demon beasts in the Demon Beast Mountain Range became more and more violent and appeared in groups, catching the cultivators who relied on hunting off guard and causing them great losses. Even with preparation, it was difficult to hunt demon beasts again. Most people speculated that it was because something happened a month ago that caused an unforeseen event in the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Therefore, many people cursed and resented the instigator of the incident. Zhang Chen did not pay attention to this, and besides, these people did not know his name or appearance. Three months passed quickly, and it was time to leave. Zhang Chen continued to practice the movements of the Formless Demon Scripture and the Yin Energy Isolating Technique, changing his appearance and isolating his cultivation aura. In addition, Zhang Chen also left a Blood God Son with intelligence in the market city to confuse and mislead others. The Blood God Son wore his clothes, took on his appearance, and possessed his aura. Apart from the difference in cultivation level, there was no distinction between the two. When leaving, Zhang Chen did not use the Blood Escape technique but instead used the Feather Flight technique to avoid exposing his identity. Fortunately, he did not encounter any attacks from the Demon King. ¡°Finally, it¡¯s safe!¡± After entering the Blood God Sect, Zhang Chen finally relaxed. He had been on edge the entire way and could finally feel at ease. Although it was perilous, if Zhang Chen could go back in time, he would still choose to do the same thing. Although the Blood River Pearl was a life-saving weapon that could deliver a hit comparable to that of a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, it was given by Elder Blood River, and it was uncertain whether it contained any hidden tricks It was worth trading for a hundred Foundation Establishment demon beasts. When he was promoted to the inner circle, Elder Blood River also gave him a high-grade magical treasure, the Blood Pearl. Zhang Chen was afraid that it had some hidden tricks, so he had never used it. If he wasn¡¯t worried about being noticed by Elder Blood River, he would have sold the Blood Pearl and bought a new magical treasure. ¡®What are you doing here at the Blood God Sect?¡± A questioning voice interrupted Zhang Chen¡¯s thoughts. He turned around and saw that the direct disciple guarding the entrance was looking at him warily. Only then did Zhang Chen realize that he was not wearing the Blood God Sect¡¯s inner disciple clothing and had hidden his cultivation aura The other party was also at the Foundation Establishment realm and couldn¡¯t see through his disguise, which caused a misunderstanding. Zhang Chen removed the Formless Demon Scripture and the Yin Energy Isolating Technique, revealing his true appearance and the aura of the Blood Nerve Technique. At the same time, he took out his identity token from his storage bag. ¡°I¡¯m from the sect and hid my cultivation aura for safety. I came back in a hurry and forgot to dispel it. I¡¯m Zhang Chen. Nice to meet you, Senior Brother.¡± As he spoke, Zhang Chen activated his identity token to prove his identity. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re Junior Brother Zhang from the Beast Garden. I saw you perform magnificently on the stage at the inner circle gathering.¡± The guard warmly greeted him. ¡°I¡¯m no match for Senior Brother. I¡¯m in a hurry to complete a mission, so I won¡¯t bother Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen complimented him and then took his leave. ¡°Take care, Junior Brother Zhang.¡± Shortly after Zhang Chen returned, the bat demon arrived at the cave abode on Blood River Peak. ¡°Master, Zhang Chen has returned..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 112 - Chapter 112: Development of the Situation Chapter 112: Development of the Situation Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Elder Blood River slowly opened his eyes and ordered, ¡°Bring Zhang Chen here.¡± ¡®Yes!¡± The bat demon bowed and left the cave abode. On the other side, Zhang Chen had just completed a mission and was flying towards the cave abode. ¡°Pa, pa, pa, pa¡­¡± Hearing the sound of flapping bat wings, Zhang Chen already knew who was coming, so he stopped. The only person who could control the bat demon was Elder Blood River. He must have been summoned because of the use of the Blood River Pearl. At this point, Zhang Chen had already started thinking about how to explain himself when facing Elder Blood River. Soon, the bat demon arrived and said bluntly, ¡°Zhang Chen, Master wants to see you.¡± Zhang Chen did not respond. He ignored the bat demon and turned to fly towards Blood River Peak. If others treated him with respect, he would reciprocate tenfold. If others had ill intentions towards him, he would also return them tenfold. Looking at the distant blood light, the bat demon snorted coldly. ¡°Hmph! Let¡¯s see how long you can live.¡± Blood River Peak. ¡°Disciple Zhang Chen is here to pay his respects to Master.¡± ¡°Come up.¡± Blood River Elder¡¯s voice sounded. The blood mist that enveloped the mountain peak revealed a path. ¡°Yes.¡± Zhang Chen walked up the mountain. Entering the cave, Zhang Chen bowed and said, ¡®Greetings, Master.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Elder Blood River nodded and asked, ¡°What did you do during your time outside the sect?¡± ¡°Master, I took on a sect mission to capture Foundation Establishment demon beasts. With the Blood River Pearl you bestowed upon me, I caught those beasts without fear. However, I didn¡¯t expect to attract a Golden Core demon king, and I barely escaped with the Blood River Pearl you gave me. I had to hide in the marketplace.¡± Zhang Chen hardly concealed anything except the number of demon beasts. It was impossible to conceal this matter, and doing so would only make things worse. ¡°This incident should serve as a lesson for you. Remember that there will always be someone better than you, and you should not be overconfident in your abilities.¡± Elder Blood River spoke solemnly, as if he genuinely cared for Zhang Chen. In reality, he was worried that Zhang Chen would die outside and he would lose a potential Golden Core Blood God Son in the future. Elder Blood River wasn¡¯t too concerned about the number of Foundation Establishment demon beasts. In his eyes, anyone below the Golden Core stage was insignificant. ¡°I will heed your teachings, Master.¡± Zhang Chen expressed his sincere attitude and promised to learn from his mistakes. ¡°Hmm, practice diligently. If you can reach the fifth level of Foundation Establishment within five years, I will give you another Blood River Pearl.¡± Elder Blood River promised. ¡°I will work hard to reach the fifth level of Foundation Establishment as soon as possible.¡± Zhang Chen was full of enthusiasm and longing. Elder Blood River was pleased with Zhang Chen¡¯s attitude. ¡°You¡¯re promising. Alright, you may leave now.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you, Master.¡± Zhang Chen bowed and left. On the way down the mountain, Zhang Chen encountered the bat demon, but he still chose to ignore it. The bat demon didn¡¯t hide its disdain and mockery towards Zhang Chen. At this moment, the bat demon¡¯s body suddenly trembled, and the Blood River Elder¡¯s voice sounded in its mind. ¡°Ah Bat, come into the cave abode.¡± Upon entering the cave, the bat demon immediately changed its demeanor and became respectful and deferential. ¡°Master.¡± ¡°Why did Zhang Chen come alone when I asked you to bring him here?¡± Elder Blood River narrowed his eyes. The bat demon hurriedly explained, ¡°Master, Zhang Chen was arrogant and didn¡¯t wait for me at all.¡± ¡°Ah Bat, you must remember your place. They are my disciples, and you are only a servant.¡± Elder Blood River spoke sternly. ¡°Ah Bat was wrong, Master.¡± The bat demon¡¯s body trembled as it knelt on the ground. Elder Blood River scolded the bat demon because he was afraid that Zhang Chen and the other disciples would become suspicious. How could a captive demon beast give orders to the most favored disciple? What would the disciples think? If the identity of a senior disciple was inferior to that of a demon beast, it would cause chaos. What was the reason that a dignified direct disciple was looked down on by a demon beast raised in captivity? Zhang Chen went back to his own cave, thinking about how to make arrangements for over a hundred Foundation Establishment demon beasts. There was a special mist inside the beast breeding bag that could make the beasts fall asleep and avoid struggling and damaging the space inside the bag. However, these beasts had expended a lot of demonic energy and even sustained injuries during their capture, so they slept without recovering in the beast breeding bag. Additionally, they could not cultivate their strength inside the bag. Zhang Chen had at least a few decades of time, and if he let these demon beasts cultivate during this time, they could also improve their cultivation by one or two levels. ¡°What if I buy a formation flag and raise the demonic beasts on the peaks of my cave?¡± he thought. But he immediately rejected the idea, thinking that ordinary formations could not withstand the scrutiny of the Golden Core cultivators. Each beast had a slave seal on its forehead, which was too conspicuous. ¡°Buying a formation that can withstand the Golden Core stage is too expensive. And if the formation is too good, it will make people more suspicious. ¡°But when I form my core, I can buy a formation that can threaten the Golden Core stage to defend against Elder Blood River, and that will require a lot of blood essence or spirit stones. ¡°It seems that I can only find a place outside the sect to settle these demon beasts. When I leave the sect, I can also take the opportunity to look for the descendants of Hong Longguang.¡± Although he had made up his mind, Zhang Chen did not immediately leave the sect, intending to wait for another year or two until the incident in the Demon Beast Mountain Range faded a little. At that time, many disciples of the Blood God Sect were in the market. After a few months, the news of a Golden Core Demon King coming to ask for him had also spread to the Blood God Sect, causing quite a commotion. All direct disciples who left the sect were suspected, including Zhang Chen, but because of his low cultivation level, he was soon excluded. Other direct disciples returned one after another, but no one admitted to anything. This became an unsolved mystery. For the next year, Zhang Chen lived quietly, constantly refining his blood and cultivating Blood God Sons. His cave was filled with large and small blood pools, with almost no place to stand. Roughly estimated, there were no fewer than 20. These blood pools were filled with demonic blood and floating with densely packed blood seeds, like being in the nest of some giant insect. The blood seeds contracted and wriggled like breathing, sucking blood, making people shudder and feel creepy. Although it was slow, using demonic blood to cultivate Blood God Seed was the most cost-effective method. Zhang Chen had half of the blood share of the Beast Garden and traded blood with the Alchemy Pavilion, so the thing he lacked the least was demon blood. The blood he refined was used to improve the cultivation of Blood God Sons after it hatched. He made progress in both areas at the same time. With his current strength, he could be considered the number one person under the Golden Core. However, what he lacked were the means to deal with the Golden Core stage. No matter how many Blood God Sons he had cultivated at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, he could not pose a threat to the Golden Core stage Hence, he decided to slowly nurture them with demon blood. Zhang Chen stood up and glanced at the blood pools around him. ¡°It¡¯s time to find a place to settle the demon beasts and find Hong Longguang¡¯s descendants..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 113 - Chapter 113: Revisiting Old Haunts Chapter 113: Revisiting Old Haunts Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios At the flick of a thought by Zhang Chen, a Blood God Son with spiritual intelligence drilled out of his body. Immediately after, Zhang Chen threw a few blood storage bags to the Blood God Son and instructed, ¡°Look after the blood pool and remember to replenish the demon blood in time.¡± The Blood God Son couldn¡¯t speak but just nodded after catching the blood storage bags. With everything arranged properly, Zhang Chen transformed into a blood light and left the cave, flying towards the Internal Affairs Hall. In the cave abode, the Blood God Son looked at the densely packed blood seeds in the blood pool around it, revealing a joyful emotion, as if seeing unborn siblings. From time to time, it would touch and pat this blood seed and that blood seed, seeming to say, ¡°Drink more blood and grow up quickly.¡± After registering with the Internal Affairs Hall, Zhang Chen obtained the token to leave the sect and could be away for half a year. Certainly, demon beasts could not settle near the Blood God Sect since the disciples of the sect come and go frequently, making it easy to be discovered. It was not easy to find a place that was far from the Blood God Sect, yet secluded and spacious enough for over a hundred demon beasts to live in. After thinking about it, Zhang Chen thought of a place. It was the Zhenluo Kingdom, where he had been the Imperial Preceptor for a year. The Zhenluo Kingdom was located at the edge of the Blood God Sect¡¯s sphere of influence, and beyond it was the sphere of influence of the White Bone Palace. Generally, cultivators from both sects would not venture into each other¡¯s territory. Hence, 10 days later, in a magnificent palace in the Zhen Luo Kingdom, Zhang Chen appeared before the king. The king of the Zhenluo Kingdom had just finished reading the memorials and stretched lazily. Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of him. King Zhenluo was startled and instinctively shouted, ¡°Assassin! Assassin!¡± Zhang Chen remained expressionless and slowly said, ¡°Your Majesty, don¡¯t you recognize me?¡± Upon hearing this, King Zhenluo was first surprised, but then he quickly reacted and showed a forced smile, bowing respectfully and asking, ¡°So it¡¯s the Imperial Preceptor. Do you have any instructions from the Immortal Sect?¡± Before Zhang Chen could speak, the guards outside the hall rushed in, shouting, ¡°Protect the King!¡± ¡°Get out of here!¡± King Zhenluo immediately scolded loudly. The guards looked at Zhang Chen, then at King Zhenluo, hesitated for a moment, and then withdrew. ¡°Imperial Preceptor, I was too nervous just now. Please don¡¯t blame me.¡± King Zhenluo apologized out of fear that Zhang Chen might be displeased. Zhang Chen did not mind and said calmly, ¡°I came here not for matters concerning the sect, but because I have a personal matter to ask of Your Majesty the King.¡± ¡°Imperial Preceptor, feel free to ask. I will do my best to fulfill your request,¡± King Zhenluo readily agreed. Zhang Chen then revealed his purpose: ¡°I need a secluded mountain range, and no one should be allowed to approach it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to investigate now, but it will take some time. Your hall is still available. Why don¡¯t you move there and rest for a while?¡± In front of Zhang Chen, King Zhenluo was very careful and did not have the demeanor of a king at all. ¡°There¡¯s no need. I still have other things to attend to. I¡¯ll come back in a few days. ¡± With that, Zhang Chen turned into a streak of blood light and left without waiting for King Zhenluo¡¯s reply. It was not enough to just have a place. He planned to go to the market of the White Bone Hall to buy an array formation to hide his aura. ¡°Phew-¡± Seeing Zhang Chen leave, King Zhenluo heaved a sigh of relief and regained his dignity, but his eyes inadvertently revealed yearning. Although he was the ruler of a country, he was just an ordinary mortal who had to experience the process of aging and dying, especially now that he was getting old. As death approached and he felt his body aging, he longed to become a cultivator. felt his body age and yearned to become a cultivator. However, he did not have spiritual roots and was destined to never become a cultivator. ¡°Mutual agreement, there is a way in the world that does not require spiritual roots but can still become a cultivator,¡± King Zhenluo muttered to himself in a low voice. On the other side, after Zhang Chen entered the territory of the White Bone Hall. He hid his aura and used the Feather Flight Technique to fly to avoid exposing his identity as a disciple of the Blood God Sect. Previously, he had killed the core disciple of the White Bone Hall and made enemies with the White Bone Hall. If he used his identity as a disciple of the Blood God Sect, he might encounter trouble. He might as well pretend to be an itinerant cultivator. Three days later, Zhang Chen arrived at the market of the White Bone Hall. This was a huge sinkhole that was 1,000 feet deep, and ordinary people could not reach it, so there were no formations set up. It was said that this sinkhole was formed when an immortal fell thousands of years ago. In the beginning, the White Bone Hall wanted to excavate the immortal¡¯s bones. But inadvertently, it became a bustling market instead of finding the bones. Zhang Chen paid a spirit stone and smoothly entered the market. He did not go to the stalls of the itinerant cultivators but went directly to the shop selling formations. Although the items sold by the itinerant cultivators were cheap, their quality and reputation were not guaranteed. Since he knew little about formations, he might be cheated instead of picking up bargains. ¡°Fellow Daoist, what kind of formations do you want? Our shop has the best and most complete formations in this market,¡± the shopkeeper approached him and greeted him. ¡°I want to buy a Spirit Gathering Formation and a formation that can conceal my aura. What do you recommend?¡± Spiritual energy was everywhere, but it was very sparse. The Spirit Gathering Formation could attract the surrounding spiritual energy and gather it together, making cultivation twice the result with half the effort. Most itinerant cultivators who had the means would set up a Spirit Gathering Formation in their caves. As for Zhang Chen, he bought the Spirit Gathering Array to enable the demon beasts to improve their cultivation. ¡°Do you have any other requirements, Fellow Daoist? ¡°The Spirit Gathering Formation can be used for Foundation Establishment cultivation, and the range of the array to conceal one¡¯s aura is wide. ¡°These arrays can meet your needs¡­¡± The shopkeeper began to introduce them one by one. In the end, Zhang Chen chose two formations. A mid-grade Spirit Gathering Formation that could absorb the spiritual energy within a ten-mile radius and a Cloud Mist Formation that could envelop a mountain range. The Cloud Mist Formation would produce a special fog that blocked the prying of divine senses and vision. The two formations cost Zhang Chen a total of 1,000 spirit stones. This place did not accept blood essence. If not for the hundreds of spirit stones in the Silver Moon Sect disciple¡¯s storage bag, he really would not have been able to afford them. ¡°These are the array flags and the method to set up the array formation. Fellow Daoist, please keep them safe.¡± The shopkeeper handed over two boxes, which contained more than 10 array flags and a jade slip. ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhang Chen put the boxes away. ¡°Do you have any formations that can trap a cultivator in the Golden Core stage or above?¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t have any spirit stones left to purchase, but he wanted to know the prices. The shopkeeper was stunned and shook his head. ¡°Formations that can trap cultivators in the Golden Core stage or above can only be customized by a formation master, or obtained at a market auction. Zhang Chen didn¡¯t know any array masters, so he could only obtain them from the market auction. ¡°When does the market auction start?¡± ¡°Our market¡¯s auction is held once every 10 years, and the next one is still two years away.¡± The shopkeeper raised two fingers. ¡°Thank you for telling me. I wish Shopkeeper Zhu a prosperous business.¡± Zhang Chen cupped his hands and left. The shopkeeper watched Zhang Chen walk away and revealed an inexplicable expression. ¡°Another fat sheep.¡± The market city of the Demon Beast Mountain Range was established and managed by the Blood God Sect. As a disciple of the Blood God Sect, Zhang Chen naturally did not have any designs. However, in the market of the White Bone Hall, as a foreign itinerant cultivator, Zhang Chen naturally had many ideas.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 114 - Chapter 114: Roadblock and Robbery Chapter 114: Roadblock and Robbery Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After leaving the formation shop, Zhang Chen went to other shops to sell the magic tools, spiritual objects, and spiritual plants he had obtained before. He sold them for a total of 800 spirit stones. Since he had come to the market, he naturally had to walk around and see if there was anything suitable. Soon, Zhang Chen stopped at a shop selling cultivation techniques. His greatest advantage was the cultivation technique modifier, which he naturally had to use to the fullest extent. Otherwise it would be like having a treasure mountain but not knowing it. ¡°Shopkeeper, what spells and cultivation techniques do you have with great side effects?¡± Zhang Chen directly stated his requirements. In any case, the two parties did not interact and would not expose anything. Generally speaking, the more side effects a cultivation technique had, the more powerful it was. In demonic territories, there was no lack of such cultivation techniques. ¡°Fellow Daoist, please take a look. This is our shop¡¯s cultivation techniques catalog.¡± The shopkeeper handed him a book. Zhang Chen took the catalog and flipped through it. Human Pill Technique: Suitable for those who cannot practice alchemy. Use humans as pills, feed them with specific spiritual medicines, lock the medicinal properties with secret techniques, and gradually let the medicinal properties dissipate and merge into the human pill flesh and blood. By consuming their flesh and blood, it has the effect of increasing cultivation and breaking through realms. Side effects: Addiction to consuming human flesh, difficulty in restraining oneself, gradually becomes insane and loses consciousness. [Demonic Thought Divine Technique]: Practitioners will constantly produce obsessive thoughts in their minds. By completing these thoughts, they can break through their mental state and make great progress in cultivation. When cultivated to the highest realm, all obsessive thoughts can be eliminated, and the mental state cultivation can reach the level of an Immortal, with the added effect of breaking delusions. Side effects: Unable to complete obsessive thoughts, tortured by them, behaving excessively, and difficult to make progress in cultivation. [Shadow Skin Drawing Technique: Using a special method, peel off human skin and refine it into a shadow slave that combines attack and concealment.] The human skin shadow can fly in the air, enveloping enemies and forcibly controlling them. By wearing the skin of a peeled person, one can disguise oneself as the peeled person, with an appearance and aura that were no different. Side effects: Constantly affected by the resentment of the peeled person, the skin has a certain chance of backlashing. Demon Fetus Scripture: Abandon your human body and transform into a true demon. Using secret techniques to condense blood and part of the soul into a demon fetus, which must be incubated in a woman¡¯s body for three years before it can be born. One can perfectly possess the demon fetus, born with the highest level of spiritual roots. Side effects: Unable to absorb the spiritual qi of heaven and earth. Can only absorb demonic qi, Yin qi, resentment, baleful qi, blood qi, and other filthy qi for cultivation. Moreover, as the Demon Fetus grows older, it will gradually lose its human emotions and become a true demon. ¡°Hades Death Decree Technique¡±¡­ As expected of a demonic territory, there were dozens of spells and techniques in the catalog, and most of them had severe side effects. It was hard to find one without any side effects. Zhang Chen thought for a moment and asked, ¡°How many spirit stones does this ¡®Demonic Thought Divine Technique¡¯ cost?¡± The Demonic Thought Divine Technique was very powerful and could reach the legendary celestial realm. Just the words ¡®celestial realm¡¯ were enough to make countless people yearn for it. The shopkeeper replied, ¡°It only costs 300 spiritual rocks.¡± It was cheaper than Zhang Chen had imagined, but it was understandable. Although the Demonic Thought Divine Technique was powerful, few people could continuously overcome their obsession. Those who could overcome one or two obsessions were already exceptional. Therefore, after most people practiced it, their cultivation regressed instead of advancing, and they became insane because of their obsession. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take it.¡± Zhang Chen nodded, then pointed at the catalog with his finger. ¡°How many spirit stones does this secret technique cost?¡± The shopkeeper looked down. ¡°The Hades Death Decree Technique costs 600 spirit stones.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take these two demonic techniques.¡± Zhang Chen took out the spirit stones from his storage bag. The miscellaneous items that he had no use for were sold for 800 spirit stones. Coupled with the remaining spirit stones, it was just enough. ¡°Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment.¡± The shopkeeper searched behind the counter for a while and took out two boxes. ¡°These are the demonic techniques you want.¡± Zhang Chen took the box, opened it, and picked up the jade slip to check the goods. [Detected cultivation technique, Hades Death Decree Technique. Extract others¡¯ life and vitality to supplement oneself.] [Side effects: Once this technique is used, the user¡¯s own life and vitality will flow twice as fast. Every time the user extracts life and vitality from someone, the flow rate will double.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] This Hades Death Decree Technique was the epitome of desperate measures. Once the user extracted others¡¯ life and vitality, they couldn¡¯t stop because their life and vitality were draining at an increasingly fast rate. The more they absorbed, the faster it went, and they had to keep doing it. In the end, they had to absorb the lives of many people every day just to survive. There were many similar demonic techniques, which were one of the notorious reasons for the evil reputation of the demonic path. Then, Zhang Chen picked up another jade slip. [Detected cultivation technique, Demonic Thought Divine Technique. continuously generates obsession in the mind¡­] [Side effects: Whether winning or losing, being trapped by obsession makes it difficult to make progress in cultivation, living worse than death, and suffering torment. ] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] The Demonic Thought Divine Technique was similar to the description in the cultivation techniques catalog. There was no problem with the authenticity of the cultivation technique. ¡°No problem. Goodbye.¡± Putting away the two demonic techniques, Zhang Chen bowed and left after the transaction was completed. ¡°Take care, Fellow Daoist.¡± The shopkeeper escorted Zhang Chen to the door. Although it seemed like a friendly gesture, it actually represented another layer of meaning. In a stall not far from the shop, a few cultivators saw the shopkeeper coming out and smiled meaningfully. ¡°He¡¯s indeed a fat sheep.¡± After buying the demonic technique, Zhang Chen did not stay long and walked towards the outskirts of the market. Outside the market, three cultivators watched as Zhang Chen flew away and whispered, ¡°We¡¯ve observed him. He¡¯s alone, without any companions, and he¡¯s using the Feather Flight Technique.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go after him and not let him get away.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The three of them turned into rays of light and chased in the direction of Zhang Chen¡¯s departure. In addition to these three, there were also several figures secretly flying in the same direction. Ahead, Zhang Chen flew steadily as if he knew nothing of the danger that was about to come. Not long after, a voice sounded. ¡°Fellow Daoist, please stop!¡± Three figures surrounded Zhang Chen, blocking his way. Zhang Chen stopped cooperatively and said somewhat disappointedly, ¡°Is this all there is?¡± The three people in front of him were all at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment. With his powerful divine sense and the help of his spiritual eye, he had long discovered that he was being trailed. With his strength, it was not an exaggeration to say that he was invincible below the Golden Core Stage. In his eyes, these cultivators who had designs on him were no different from money gods. The three were stunned when they heard this and had a bad feeling, but they still instinctively said what they wanted to say: ¡°As long as you leave behind the storage bag on your body, we will let you go.¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t say anything, but responded with action, unleashing a stream of blood shadows from his body. ¡°Blood God Sons!¡± ¡°He¡¯s not an itinerant cultivator. He¡¯s a disciple of the Blood God Sect!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, he¡¯s only at the fourth level of the Foundation Establishment Stage¡­¡± Before this person finished speaking, he was shocked by the number of Blood God Sons. After releasing the Blood God Sons, Zhang Chen ignored the three people and looked towards several other concealed places. ¡°There are a few big rats here. Since you¡¯re here, you don¡¯t need to leave.¡± As he spoke, Zhang Chen had already reached for the beast breeding bag at his waist.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 115 - Chapter 115: Demolish and Destroy Chapter 115: Demolish and Destroy Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Suddenly, the space in front was occupied by hundreds of Foundation Establishment demonic beasts. The three people on the opposite side were stunned by this scene and filled with despair and regret. However, Zhang Chen¡¯s goal in releasing these demon beasts was not to deal with the three of them. It was enough for the three of them to have the Blood God Sons. In addition to these three people, there were also three unscrupulous individuals hiding in the shadows. These three people were all at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm. They had hidden their auras and were hiding not far away, perhaps planning to benefit from the outcome of the fight. However, he was not to be taken advantage of! Zhang Chen gave the order, and the hundred demonic beasts dispersed and rushed in three directions. ¡°Oh no!¡± The hidden three individuals realized they had been exposed and no longer concealed themselves. They quickly used their escape technique to try to flee. ¡°You want to leave?¡± Zhang Chen sneered. ¡°Blood Shadow Avatar!¡± Zhang Chen split into two and turned into a blood light that blocked the path of the two of them. The Blood God Sect¡¯s escape technique was the top in many sects, not to mention that these were just itinerant cultivators. ¡°Fellow Daoist, it¡¯s a misunderstanding! I¡¯m not with them. I just happened to be passing by and watching the excitement,¡± one cultivator explained anxiously. ¡°Next life, watch less excitement.¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t believe him at all, and bloodthirst surged as he launched an attack. Another intercepted cultivator said, ¡°It¡¯s better to resolve conflicts than to make enemies. Would you let me go and make friends?¡± The avatar ignored him and activated the Blood Spirit Technique, and numerous blood snakes attacked. With only a cultivation base of four levels of Foundation Establishment, he was no match for the two cultivators at the ninth level, but he just needed to delay them for a while to allow the demon beasts to surround them. Since these two Foundation Establishment cultivators dared to engage in murder and robbery, they naturally had some means and were more formidable than ordinary itinerant cultivators. However, under the siege of many Foundation Establishment demon beasts, they were quickly dismembered. Summoning their souls, swallowing their souls, refining their essence, all in one smooth motion. The pitiful cries and pleas of the resentful spirits filled Zhang Chen¡¯s ears, but he was already accustomed to it. The demon beasts were like pet dogs, carrying the bones and storage bags of the two individuals to Zhang Chen¡¯s side. After completing all of this, the Blood God Sons on the other side also sucked dry the blood of the three scattered cultivators. ¡°There¡¯s one more person.¡± After putting away the bones, the storage bag, the Blood God Sons, and the demon beasts, a red light flashed and disappeared. This was Zhang Chen using the Blood Light Escape. He did not want to let anyone escape. The itinerant cultivator who had already fled far away was filled with the joy of surviving a calamity. Just thinking about the scene where hundreds of Foundation Establishment demon beasts appeared still gave him lingering fears. Who would have thought that an ordinary fourth level Foundation Establishment cultivator could control more than a hundred Foundation Establishment demon beasts? Sensing that no one was chasing after him, the cultivator sighed and said, ¡°Fighting eagles all day and almost getting pecked blind by eagles. What a close call. Fortunately, I wasn¡¯t the one who was stopped.¡± Thinking of the two fellow cultivators who were stopped, the cultivator could not help but gloat. ¡°I¡¯m afraid the two of them have already died, right? ¡°Dead fellow Daoists. Thanks to those two, I was able to escape. Hehe-¡± Just as the cultivator was feeling smug, a dazzling blood light appeared within the range of his spiritual sense. Although the speed of the blood light escape was comparable to the early-stage Golden Core realm, it was too conspicuous. ¡°What is this¡­¡± The cultivator¡¯s thoughts had just arisen when the blood light had already arrived in front of him. The blood light dispersed, revealing Zhang Chen¡¯s figure. ¡°How could you be so fast!¡± Seeing the person in front of him, the cultivator was filled with shock. ¡°You can¡¯t get away.¡± As he spoke, Zhang Chen released his Blood God Sons, like a stream of blood rushing towards the cultivator. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me, I¡¯m willing to give up everything!¡± The cultivator knew that he was no match for him and begged for mercy. Zhang Chen had originally planned to kill the cultivator directly, but at this moment he changed his mind. Why be so fixated on Blood Gods and demon beasts when he could control Foundation Establishment cultivators? He hadn¡¯t considered it before because he didn¡¯t have the spell to control cultivators, and cultivators had complicated thoughts that were difficult to control, with the danger of backlashes. These cultivators would also look for ways to remove the control in secret, which was extremely risky. Desperate measures in desperate times. That was one way to go. However, controlling cultivators was a forbidden technique because no cultivator wanted to be controlled. Even in the demonic path, it was extremely difficult to obtain. Even the Blood Curse of the Blood God Sect could only control cultivators below Foundation Establishment level. Seeing that the Blood God was only surrounding him and not attacking, the cultivator saw hope and hurriedly said, ¡°I can swear to the heavens. If I break my oath, may I not die peacefully!¡± The Heavenly Dao was the consciousness of this world. It was chaotic and vague, without true self-awareness. After the cultivator made the oath to the heavens, breaking it would result in the influence of the unknown, causing many tribulations and difficulties in their cultivation. Oaths were often effective. However, there were ways to nullify or avoid oaths. Some people even used heavenly oaths to deceive other cultivators. Zhang Chen had the idea of controlling this cultivator, but he did not believe in the binding power of heavenly oaths. After thinking for a moment, Zhang Chen came up with a plan and decided to try it out. With a thought, a Blood God Son with intelligence turned into a ball of blood, constantly wriggling until it degenerated into a blood seed. This was not a real blood seed. It was just sealing the blood of cultivation. With a single thought, it could transform back into a Blood God Son at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Zhang Chen held the blood seed and slowly flew towards the cultivator, saying, ¡°Disperse your protective spiritual power and do not resist.¡± The cultivator¡¯s expression changed. After hesitating for a moment, he gave up resisting. With the undying attribute of the blood body, Zhang Chen was not worried that the cultivator would suddenly launch a sneak attack. He came to his side and slapped the blood seed into the cultivator¡¯s chest. After the blood seed entered the body, it directly wrapped around the cultivator¡¯s heart, entangled as if they were one. The cultivator¡¯s body trembled, and his face turned pale with pain. One way to cultivate a Blood God Son was to parasitize the blood seed in other living beings, slowly absorbing their blood to grow. Zhang Chen wanted to use this as a means of control. For Foundation Establishment Cultivators, there were many ways to extract the blood seed, so Zhang Chen chose to use an intelligent Blood God Son. Once sensing any anomalies, the Blood God Son would immediately suck the cultivator¡¯s blood dry and break out of his body. To be on the safe side, Zhang Chen also placed a blood curse on the Blood Seed to prevent special means from killing the Blood God Son. With the blood curse, it would be easy for Zhang Chen to find the cultivator. Although there were ways to sacrifice their body and possess another, how many people would give up their cultivation at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment? After doing this, Zhang Chen said, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The cultivator lowered his status and squeezed out a fawning smile. ¡°I¡¯m Shen Yijun.¡± ¡°Shen Yijun? Good, now swear to the heavens.¡± Zhang Chen would not let go of any useful methods. Zhang Chen was not worried about the cultivator¡¯s name being false, as swearing to the heavens did not involve names, only people. ¡°Sir, how should I address you?¡± At this point, Shen Yijun had no intention of resisting at this point. ¡°Zhang Chen.¡± Shen Yijun took a deep breath and said solemnly, ¡°I swear to the heavens, with all things as witness and the sun and moon as proof, from today on, I will be loyal to Zhang Chen. If I have any ulterior motives, I will die immediately!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Chen felt a mysterious power descend from the void, but he did not feel any changes.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 116 - Chapter 116: Purchasing Demon Techniques Again Chapter 116: Purchasing Demon Techniques Again Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios This power was grand and immense, beyond words. It represented this land and all living creatures. Yet it was like a newborn child, with a hazy and confused consciousness, without the distinction of good and evil. Once its will was violated, it would be rejected and hated by all things in heaven and earth. ¡°So this is the power of the Heavenly Dao?¡± In the face of this power, Zhang Chen felt as small as an ant. ¡°My lord, do you have any orders?¡± Shen Yijun bowed and flattered. He had completely put aside his dignity in order to survive. It could be said that he was adaptable. Zhang Chen retracted his thoughts and said in a deep voice, ¡°I need you to search and inquire about formations, spells, and poisons that can cause damage to the late-stage Golden Core realm cultivators. Any method that can cause damage to them is acceptable. You will report your findings to me near the Blood God Sect every six months.¡± ¡°I will do my best to inquire,¡± Shen Yijun replied. Hearing that Zhang Chen would let him leave, Shen Yijun felt a sense of joy in his heart. As long as he was not constantly with Zhang Chen, he could find a way to get rid of his control. ¡°Do not attempt to remove the blood seed in your body. If you take any action to remove it, the blood seed will destroy your five organs and drain your blood,¡± Zhang Chen warned. ¡°Even if you have a way to instantly kill the blood seed, it will leave a blood curse in your body, and you will face my endless pursuit in the future.¡± Zhang Chen knew that after the other party left, he would definitely try to find a way to remove the control. Therefore, he explained the situation to deter any reckless action. The human heart was complex, unlike the mindless puppets. With their own thoughts, they needed to be guarded against at all times when kept close. It was better to send them away. Shen Yijun¡¯s face turned pale, but he forced a smile and said, ¡°I have pledged loyalty to my lord and would never think of removing your control.¡± Zhang Chen didn¡¯t believe him. This was just an experiment to see if he could use a sentient Blood God Seed to control a cultivator. If a Blood God Son at the ninth level of Qi Refinement could control a cultivator at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, it would be extremely cost-effective. Seeing that Zhang Chen did not speak, Shen Yijun cautiously asked, ¡°Sir, should I go and inquire immediately?¡± Zhang Chen nodded and said, ¡°Before you go, give me your storage bag.¡± Shen Yijun¡¯s smile froze. Although he was extremely unwilling, he could only take off his storage bag and hand it over with both hands. Zhang Chen took the storage bag and checked it with his divine sense. With Shen Yijun¡¯s ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivation and his business of robbing others, he was quite wealthy among the itinerant cultivators, and now Zhang Chen was taking advantage of him. He put the valuable items into his own storage bag, leaving only a dozen or so spirit stones and some worthless items. ¡°Remember to report back to me in half a year near the Blood God Sect.¡± Zhang Chen tossed the storage bag back and turned into a blood light before disappearing. Looking at the disappearing blood light and feeling the discomfort in his body, Shen Yijun looked dispirited with a complicated expression. In the marketplace of the Bone Hall at the bottom of the pit, there was a shop that sold demonic techniques. The shopkeeper looked at the person at the door in surprise. ¡°Why are you back again, Fellow Daoist?¡± ¡°I want to buy a few more cultivation techniques.¡± After obtaining the ¡®financing¡¯ of a few criminals, Zhang Chen planned to buy more demonic techniques. ¡°Fellow Daoist, please come in.¡± The shopkeeper greeted him warmly. As he walked in, Zhang Chen asked, ¡°Do you have any spells that can control cultivators?¡± The shopkeeper paused for a moment and whispered, ¡°That is a forbidden technique, it is not allowed to be sold in the marketplace.¡± Zhang Chen narrowed his eyes. ¡°Does that mean you have it here?¡± The shopkeeper shook his head. ¡°Only the sects can master the forbidden techniques. Even if we have them, we dare not sell them, but we have another way to control cultivators.¡± Zhang Chen thought he needed to pay more money, but it turned out to be another way, so he asked, ¡°What way?¡± The shopkeeper spat out a word, ¡®Gu!¡¯, a magical worm that could be used in spellcasting. ¡°That¡¯s right, using gu worms to control other cultivators.¡± The shopkeeper began to explain, ¡°In addition to the orthodox and demonic paths, there are all sorts of miscellaneous paths, and gu cultivation is one of the miscellaneous paths. ¡°In gu cultivation, there is a special type of gu worm that can parasitize on the divine soul, divided into mother and child gu worms. The mother gu worm parasitizes on one¡¯s own divine soul, while the child gu worm parasitizes on the divine soul of other cultivators. ¡°Just a thought, and the child gu worm will devour the parasitized cultivator¡¯s divine soul until it completely consumes it, and the process will make the parasitized cultivator suffer unbearable pain, thereby achieving the control effect. ¡°It¡¯s just that these gu worms are difficult to cultivate, so the price is relatively high. Do you need them, fellow Daoist?¡± At first, Zhang Chen was tempted, but the act of letting the mother gu parasite on his own soul made him hesitate. From the perspective of spells and techniques, he had seen too many with malicious intent. Who could be sure that this mother Gu was not a child Gu of another Gu? Just like the Blood God Sect, with layers of exploitation and control over a large number of cultivators, they might be helping others and sacrificing themselves. This was not a cultivation technique or spell. The modifier could not help him eliminate the side effects. Under the shopkeeper¡¯s eager gaze, Zhang Chen shook his head, ¡°No, let¡¯s just look at the techniques.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The disappointment on the shopkeeper¡¯s face flashed by. Not long after, Zhang Chen left with two more technique jade slips in his storage bag. At the entrance of the shop, the shopkeeper watched Zhang Chen leave with a puzzled and solemn expression. He had an agreement with those robbing cultivators that whoever he personally sent out of the store represented a wealthy background and was worth robbing. And after a successful robbery, he could get a share of the benefits. He only sent the customers out of the shop and did not do anything. He did not take any risks. It could be said to be a huge profit. But strangely, the robbing cultivators were missing this time. And their previous target was Zhang Chen. Now that Zhang Chen had come again, and the robbing cultivators were missing, it was very likely that¡­ Thinking of this, the shopkeeper shuddered all over and quickly returned to the store, not planning to leave the market for the next 10 years. On the other side, Zhang Chen was flying towards the Zhenluo Kingdom, thinking about the two techniques he had just purchased. [Detected cultivation technique, Soul Searching Technique, forcibly taking others¡¯ memories, this technique can only be used on souls weaker than oneself.] [Side effects: With the accumulation of a large number of memories, it can lead to confusion and madness.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled.] In the future, when he killed people, he could use the Soul Searching Technique to obtain the other party¡¯s spell techniques and hidden secrets. Of course, the price of this Soul Searching Technique was also very high. It cost him 2,000 spirit stones. [Detected cultivation technique, Great Grudge Curse Technique. Set up a special formation and use items that carry the other party¡¯s aura as the eye of the formation to launch a curse against the opponent.] [The richer the aura, the better the effect.] [Side effects: Injuring enemies will cause great damage to yourself. While cursing the opponent, oneself will also receive the same backlash.] [Please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [Ding! Modification complete. Side effects canceled..] If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: Demonic Thought Divine Technique Chapter 117: Demonic Thought Divine Technique Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The ¡®Great Grudge Curse Technique¡¯ was also expensive, although it had extreme side effects. However, many demonic cultivators had aggressive personalities and would rather choose to die together than let their enemies go unpunished. Therefore, there were still many people who purchased it. On the other side, Shen Yijun had also returned to the market. The first thing he did after returning to the market was to look for a way to remove the blood seed from his body. If he was willing to give up his cultivation, he could give up his body and switch to ghost cultivation or possess someone else¡¯s body. However, who would be willing to give up their ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivation unless it was absolutely necessary? For itinerant cultivators, reaching the Foundation Establishment realm was already extremely difficult, let alone reaching the ninth level. The first thing Shen Yijun thought of was to remove the blood seed from his body. Foundation Establishment cultivators had strong vitality. Even if he were to open up his body, he wouldn¡¯t die in a short time. Zhang Chen had said that once he made a move to remove the blood seed, it would suck his blood dry. However, as someone from the demonic path, Shen Yijun would not easily believe what others said. Seeing was believing. This was the description of most people in the demonic path. In the inn¡¯s cave abode, Shen Yijun was shirtless, with a fierce look on his face, and raised the dagger towards his chest. ¡°Thud¡­ His flesh was like cloth, cut open by the blade, revealing a fresh red heart. ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡± The heart thumped, and without the hindrance of flesh and blood, the sound was clear and audible, like a drumbeat. Shen Yijun looked down and saw a blood tumor on his heart. The tumor extended numerous tendrils, densely packed and connected to the surrounding blood vessels. This was the blood seed that parasitized his body! Shen Yijun looked at the blood seed, hesitated for a moment, and decided to test it first. He aimed the dagger at one of the tendrils on the periphery. When the dagger touched the blood-red tendril, the blood seed trembled violently. ¡°Ding!¡± Shen Yijun let out a scream, convulsing and dropping the dagger from his hand. His face turned pale and his body shrank and wrinkled. In that instant, a third of the blood in his body was sucked up by the blood seed inside him. If Shen Yijun had attacked the blood seed just now, he would not have absorbed onlv one-third of the blood, but all the blood in his bodv. ¡°Looks like what he said is true.¡± Shen Yijun¡¯s expression was ugly. He took a deep look at the blood seed on his heart and used his magic power to heal the wound. A few days later, Zhang Chen returned to the Zhenluo Kingdom. Seeing the person in front of him, King Zhenluo hurriedly bowed. ¡°Imperial Preceptor, you¡¯re back.¡± Zhang Chen asked lightly, ¡°Have you selected the mountain range I asked for?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already chosen. It¡¯s just that¡­ I encountered a small problem.¡± King Zhenluo lowered his head, not daring to look Zhang Chen in the eye. Zhang Chen frowned. ¡°What problem?¡± King Zhenluo was a little nervous. ¡°When the White Bone Hall found out that the Zhenluo Kingdom had joined your sect, they were very angry. However, they did not want to fall out with your sect, so they let the neighboring Green Jade Kingdom attack our country. ¡°The Green Jade Kingdom is powerful, and our Zhenluo Kingdom is no match for it. We retreated repeatedly and lost a large area of territory. Two days ago, the mountain range designated for you was also occupied by Green Jade Kingdom.¡± Zhang Chen looked coldly at the Zhenluo King. ¡°Report this matter to the Blood God Sect, and someone will naturally come to deal with it. I request that Your Majesty select a mountain range closer to the Blood God Sect for me again.¡± It was true that the White Bone Hall had taken revenge, and it was also true that the Green Jade Kingdom had attacked, but there were also some schemes of the Zhenluo King involved. There were many mountain ranges in the Zhenluo Kingdom, so why did he choose the one close to the Green Jade Kingdom? King Zhenluo knew that the Blood God Sect would not sit idly by, but he didn¡¯t know when the Blood God Sect would send someone. Even if the people of the Blood God Sect came, they might not be able to regain all the lost territory. They might make concessions and give up a portion of the territory to settle the matter. However, King Zhenluo didn¡¯t dare to directly approach Zhang Chen, so he resorted to being cunning. But this was a struggle between sects, and Zhang Chen did not want to get involved without a sect mission. It was easy to deal with the Green Jade Nation, but what about the White Bone Hall behind it? Hearing Zhang Chen¡¯s rejection, King Zhenluo could only agree in disappointment. ¡°I¡¯ll rearrange it for you, Imperial Preceptor. It¡¯ll only take a day.¡± Zhang Chen nodded. ¡°I won¡¯t ask for the mountain range for nothing. If Your Majesty encounters any danger in the future, you can take your descendants to hide in the mountains to ensure their survival.¡± Hearing this, King Zhenluo was overjoyed but then thought of something else. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you have a way to enable ordinary people without spiritual roots to cultivate?¡± He was getting old and would not live much longer. Continuing the bloodline of his descendants was more important than his own longevity. Zhang Chen shook his head. ¡°I do know of some methods to change one¡¯s spiritual root talent, but I have not heard of any way to enable ordinary people without spiritual roots to cultivate.¡± Even the Demon Fetus Scripture that he had seen in the White Bone Hall Market required magic power to condense the blood essence and a strong soul to work. King Zhen Luo seemed to have lost his vitality and became dispirited. He muttered to himself, ¡°Can¡¯t I cultivate without spiritual roots?¡± Zhang Chen did not say anything else and turned into a blood light and left. Not long after. In a magnificent hall, Zhang Chen sat cross-legged, intending to try out his newly acquired Demonic Thought Divine Technique. The Demonic Thought Divine Technique was the only cultivation technique he had seen that could reach the level of a Heavenly Immortal. Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divine Transformation, Mahayana, Tribulation Transcendence, True Immortal, and then Heavenly Immortal. This was a realm beyond that of an immortal! In other words, even those who had already ascended to the Heavenly Immortal Realm achieve the state of desirelessness and perfection in practicing the Demonic Thought Divine Technique. One could imagine how difficult it was to master this skill. As the Demonic Thought Divine Technique began to operate, a thought appeared in Zhang Chen¡¯s mind. ¡°As a man, how can I stay under others for long in this world?¡± It was like a thought that arose on a whim. But this thought remained in his mind, deepening and eventually turning into an obsession. ¡°Who am I, Zhang Chen? A transmigrator with a cheat! How can a small Blood God Sect restrain me? ¡°What Golden Core elders and Nascent Soul sect master? They¡¯re just so-so. Are they worthy of coveting my blood essence? ¡°They can be replaced! ¡°I want to become the sect master of the Blood God Sect!¡± What was obsession? To be persistent and determined to complete something. If it could not be completed for a long time, it would become tangible, binding and torturing the spirit. ¡°Phew-¡± Zhang Chen stopped the operation of the skill and let out a deep sigh. ¡°As expected of the Demonic Thought Divine Technique that no one dares to cultivate!¡± Zhang Chen exclaimed. If he did not have a modifier, he would have been affected by this obsession, trying every means to replace the Blood God Sect Master. If he succeeded, his mind would be free, and his cultivation would advance rapidly. However, it was extremely difficult to become the Blood God Sect Master! At the very least, he had to reach the late-stage Nascent Soul realm. During this period, he would be constantly influenced and tortured by the obsession. However, under the effect of the modifier, the obsession born from the Demonic Thought Divine Technique did not have any effect on him. It was just an ordinary thought that lingered in his mind.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 118 - Chapter 118: Proper Arrangements Chapter 118: Proper Arrangements Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The time spent using the magic power of the Demonic Thought Divine Technique seemed short, but in reality, a day had passed. ¡°Imperial Preceptor, you¡¯re here,¡± said King Zhenluo, who was originally sitting down, as he saw the blood-red light fly into the hall and quickly stood up. ¡°Your Majesty, have you chosen the mountain range?¡± Zhang Chen asked. ¡°I¡¯ve already chosen it. Imperial Preceptor, please take a look. It¡¯s here.¡± King Zhen Luo pointed to a map on the table. Zhang Chen glanced at it and nodded with satisfaction. According to the map, it was a vast mountain range called the Fallen Phoenix Mountain. It was located on the other side of Zhenluo Kingdom¡¯s border, far from the territory of the White Bone Hall. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll borrow this mountain range. Your Majesty, please give an order that no one else is allowed to approach,¡± Zhang Chen said. King Zhen Luo said happily, ¡°It¡¯s good that the Imperial Preceptor is satisfied. I¡¯ll give the order immediately. ¡°I will take a drop of your blood as identification. If you or your descendants are ever in trouble, you can go to the mountain range for refuge.¡± With that, Zhang Chen reached out and took a drop of King Zhenluo¡¯s blood. It would take him at least several decades to form his core. It was enough for ordinary people to reproduce for three to four generations. No one knew what would happen during this period. ¡°Thank you, Imperial Preceptor.¡± King Zhenluo quickly thanked him with a bow. ¡°Your Majesty, until we meet again,¡± Zhang Chen turned into a blood-red light and left. King Zhenluo watched as Zhang Chen disappeared, feeling lost for a moment before finally shouting, ¡°Men!¡± ¡°Your Majesty.¡± An old eunuch respectfully entered the hall. ¡°Pass down my decree. From now on, the Fallen Phoenix Mountain will be the dojo of the Imperial Preceptor. No one is allowed to approach it!¡± ¡°As you command.¡± The blood-red light streaked across the sky like a red shooting star before finally landing in a mountain range. This mountain range resembled a bird¡¯s nest and was rumored to be the resting place of a phoenix, hence its name, Fallen Phoenix Mountain. Zhang Chen spread out his divine sense, surveying the surrounding environment and choosing places to settle the demons and place the formation. ¡°Found it!¡± Zhang Chen flew towards the depths of the mountain range and arrived at a natural cave after a moment. The cave was two miles deep and filled with stalactites, making it very suitable for use as a cave dwelling. ¡°Pupupupu¡­¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s arrival startled a large number of bats inside the cave, and they swarmed towards him like a black tide. Zhang Chen was unmoved and remained where he was. However, something strange happened. As soon as these bats approached Zhang Chen, their bodies shriveled and they fell to the ground one by one. In just a moment, the ground in front of Zhang Chen was piled with bat corpses. If there were cultivators present, they would realize that these bats had been stripped of their life force and died. What Zhang Chen used was the Hades Death Decree Technique that he had just obtained. It could seize the life force and lifespan of others to supplement himself. The side effect was that once he used this cultivation technique, his own life force and lifespan would be depleted at twice the speed, and every time he took away someone else¡¯s life force and lifespan, the depletion speed would double. Others were afraid of accelerating the depletion of their own life force and lifespan and dared not use it casually. They could only use it as a means of prolonging their lifespan, but Zhang Chen could use it as an attacking technique. When facing evenly matched enemies, he could also use the Hades Death Decree Technique to continuously absorb their life force and lifespan. This way, he could gain an advantage and eventually defeat them. When facing enemies who were old and had a short lifespan left, the battle might not even be over before they passed away. This was also the reason why Zhang Chen chose this spell. ¡°Not bad.¡± Looking at the dense pile of bat corpses and feeling the slight increase in his own life force, Zhang Chen nodded in satisfaction. Then he took out a formation flag from his storage bag and began to set up the Spirit Gathering Formation. Zhang Chen tossed the formation flag into the air, and it scattered in all directions, shooting into the stone walls. Immediately after, Zhang Chen took out a spirit stone and threw it into the formation¡¯s eye. ¡°Spirit Gathering Formation, rise!¡± As Zhang Chen chanted the incantation and connected the formation flag with his spiritual energy, the formation flag on the stone wall glowed. Although there seemed to be no visible changes in the cave, Zhang Chen could clearly feel the spiritual energy gathering from all directions into the cave. After setting up the Spirit Gathering Formation, Zhang Chen left the cave and went outside, preparing to set up the Cloud Mist Formation. The Cloud Mist Formation was a large-scale formation that required a lot of meticulous work to set up. Zhang Chen first observed the terrain and estimated the range before starting to set up. Half an hour later, the formation was complete and the flags began releasing a large amount of mist, quickly covering the mountains. On the surface, it looked no different from normal fog. Zhang Chen tried to release his divine sense to investigate, but found that he couldn¡¯t penetrate the fog. There seemed to be an inexplicable power in the fog that could refract divine sense. As soon as his divine sense entered the fog, it was as if he had entered a maze, unable to penetrate to the other side. The only downside was that this smokescreen array only blocked divine sense and normal people could still enter the formation. Therefore, he had King Zhenluo order a ban on ordinary people approaching the mountains. Cultivators generally wouldn¡¯t enter places that their divine sense couldn¡¯t detect, which meant that there were likely other cultivators here. Of course, it would also attract some cultivators who liked to search for treasures. However, there were hundreds of Foundation Establishment demon beasts confined in the mountains, so it was basically impossible to leave unless they were at the Golden Core stage. After everything was set up, Zhang Chen took out the demon breeding bag and infused it with mana. The strange and bizarre demon beasts fell down like dumplings. The demon beasts didn¡¯t roar or make any noise, but stood quietly in place, looking up at Zhang Chen like soldiers waiting for orders. After releasing all the demon beasts, Zhang Chen said, ¡°From now on, you will cultivate in the karst cave below. You are not allowed to leave the mountain range.¡± Although these demon beasts had the Beast Slave Seal on them and could not disobey his commands, they were still intelligent beings and needed to be guarded against. With a thought, a Blood God Son with intelligence flew out of his body. Zhang Chen instructed, ¡®You will stay here to supervise their practice and not allow them to leave the mountains.¡± The Blood God Son couldn¡¯t speak, but nodded vigorously. Zhang Chen held out his hand, and a drop of blood floated in the air. ¡°Remember the scent of this blood. If someone with this bloodline comes in the future, protect them.¡± After speaking, Zhang Chen flicked his finger and the blood shot towards the Blood God Son. The Blood God Son opened its mouth and swallowed the blood, sensing the scent of the blood and remembering it firmly. After arranging everything, Zhang Chen didn¡¯t linger any longer and turned into a blood light and left. Next, he needed to go to the territory of the Silver Moon Sect to find Hong Longguang¡¯s descendants. At the same time, he prepared to go to the Silver Moon Sect¡¯s market to buy the materials to set up the Great Grudge Curse Technique formation. The reason he didn¡¯t buy it in the Blood God Sect or the White Bone Hall was that he was afraid of being discovered. Because he was going to use the Great Grudge Curse on Elder Blood River! It was too difficult to curse a late-stage Golden Core cultivator to death, let alone Elder Blood River, who was known for his survival ability. Zhang Chen did not have any extravagant hopes of cursing Elder Blood River to death. His main goal was to harass him and make him suspicious, and distract him, so that he wouldn¡¯t pay attention to him, thus delaying his breakthrough to the Golden Core stage. Once Elder Blood River knew that he was being cursed, he would definitely investigate. That was why Zhang Chen chose to go to the Silver Moon Clan¡¯s territory to buy materials and complete the agreement with Hong Longguang to find his descendants.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 119 - Chapter 119: Completing the Entrustment Chapter 119: Completing the Entrustment Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After Zhang Chen left, the demon beasts entered the cave to cultivate. Under the supervision of the Blood God Son, the demon beasts cultivated seriously. Foundation Establishment cultivators could abstain from food, so it was not a problem. Only a few gluttonous demon beasts occasionally went out to hunt in the mountains. However, Zhang Chen had overlooked a problem. These demon beasts would mate and reproduce! Decades of time was enough for these demon beasts to give birth to many descendants. Several decades of time were enough for these demon beasts to give birth to many offspring. And these offspring were not under Zhang Chen¡¯s control and could potentially cause trouble. At the border between the Blood God Sect and the Silver Moon Sect, a blood beam descended. Zhang Chen scanned his surroundings. After confirming that there was no one around, his face suddenly distorted violently. A moment later, he turned into another unfamiliar face. Immediately after, he circulated the Yin Energy Isolating Technique and hid his Blood God Sect¡¯s aura. Finally, he took off his personal clothes and changed into a normal black outfit before using the Feather Flight Technique to fly towards the Silver Moon Sect¡¯s territory. Fifteen days later, in the sky above a city, Zhang Chen held a blood-colored jade pendant. This was the Bloodline Jade Pendant. It could sense the general direction of the descendants of the bloodline it was related to. When they were a certain distance away, it would emit light. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother¡¯s descendant should be here.¡± Zhang Chen hung the jade pendant on his waist and went to a small alleyway that was off the beaten path. Hong Jinbao, a down-and-out scholar, had a secret in his heart. His grandfather was not a mortal, but a cultivator, a demonic cultivator of the Blood God Sect. Because he was in the territory of the orthodox sect, he never dared to publicize it. He only learned of this from his father before he passed away. He did not feel proud of it but ashamed, as he had heard too much about the evil reputation of demonic cultivators since he was young. Influenced by his environment, he was full of disgust towards demonic cultivators. Although he did not like being a descendant of demonic cultivators, he was still somewhat proud in his heart, thinking that if his ancestors could become cultivators, he could become one too. A few years ago, when the Silver Moon Sect was accepting disciples, he went there full of confidence. He did have spiritual roots, but they were only low-grade spiritual roots, and he was not recognized by the Silver Moon Sect. After being deeply frustrated, his willpower was weakened, and he became disheartened. Later on, there was the incident of the Blood God Sect snatching disciples. He felt even more complicated and did not know if he should be glad or disappointed. During the disciple-snatching incident, the Blood God Sect¡¯s disciples did not care about the life and death of ordinary mortals, and their notoriety became even more prominent. ¡°Why was my ancestor a demonic cultivator and not a righteous cultivator!¡± Whenever he thought of this, Hong Jinbao felt anger and guilt in his heart. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡¯ At this moment, he heard a knocking on the door outside. ¡°Who could it be?¡± Hong Jinbao was a little puzzled and walked towards the door. Because of his identity and inner arrogance, he rarely interacted with others and had no friends. Even the neighbors and passersby despised him. When he opened the door, Hong Jinbao saw a stranger he had never met before. This man¡¯s appearance was ordinary. His face was indifferent and cold. He was wearing black clothes, and he had a certain unique temperament that was difficult to describe. Immediately, his gaze was drawn to the jade pendant hanging from the man¡¯s waist. The jade pendant occasionally shimmered with a bright red light, as if it was about to drip blood. For some reason, the moment he saw the jade pendant, he felt a sense of familiarity that deeply attracted him. Hong Jinbao was lost in thought and involuntarily reached out his hand, wanting to touch the jade pendant. At this moment, Zhang Chen said, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Hong Jinbao came back to his senses and answered instinctively: ¡°My name is Hong Jinbao.¡± Zhang Chen looked at the flashing jade pendant and nodded. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re indeed Senior Brother Hong¡¯s descendant. I was entrusted by someone to give these things to you.¡± As he spoke, Zhang Chen took out the storage bag Hong Longguang had given him and handed it to Hong Jinbao. Hong Jinbao stared at the storage bag, the words ¡°Senior Brother Hong¡¯s descendant¡± and ¡°entrusted by someone¡± repeated in his mind, throbbing and surging. From the literal meaning, he had already guessed that the black-robed man in front of him was entrusted by his demonic cultivator grandfather to give him something. ¡°What¡­ what is this?¡± Hong Jinbao¡¯s voice trembled, and he was at a loss. Zhang Chen said indifferently, ¡°This is a storage bag. There are some spirit stones inside, as well as cultivation techniques and spells.¡± ¡°Cultivation techniques?!¡± Hong Jinbao was both surprised and delighted. He had always longed to become a cultivator, but he never expected to receive a cultivation technique right at his doorstep. He eagerly reached out to take the storage bag, but no matter how hard he tried to open it, he couldn¡¯t. He was sweating profusely from anxiety. ¡°If you want to open the storage bag, you need spiritual energy. Ordinary people can¡¯t open the storage bag.¡± As he spoke, Zhang Chen pointed a finger and sent a burst of spiritual power towards the bag. ¡°Hualala¡­¡± A pile of things spilled out of the bag. These included glowing stones and old yellowed books. Zhang Chen wasn¡¯t being kind. It was because Hong Longguang had said that if his descendants were in trouble, he could help them out if he was in the mood. Hong Longguang was willing to tell him the spells and secrets, so Zhang Chen was returning the favor. Therefore, Zhang Chen¡¯s help was nothing. Hong Jinbao stared in disbelief at the items on the ground. He picked up the books with trembling hands and eagerly flipped through them. After the exchange was complete and the items were delivered, Zhang Chen turned to leave. Just as Zhang Chen was about to leave, Hong Longguang suddenly shouted, ¡°Please wait! ¡± Zhang Chen stopped in his tracks, turned around, and narrowed his eyes. ¡°What is it?¡± Hong Jinbao respectfully said, ¡°There are still a few elders in my family. These items were left by my grandfather and should be shared among us. To avoid any misunderstandings that I may have taken something that belonged to others, could you please act as a witness for me? ¡°Okay.¡± For some reason, Zhang Chen actually nodded in agreement. ¡°Please wait here. I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± said Hong Jinbao, as he joyfully put the books and stones into his arms and hurried away. As he watched Hong Jinbao leave, Zhang Chen¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°Hong senior brother, it seems that your descendants have some inappropriate ideas. Don¡¯t blame me for this.¡¯ Under the influence of the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Demon Technique, he saw a large amount of black energy emanating from Hong Jinbao. That represented malice! The reason why Zhang Chen stayed was to see what Hong Jinbao was up to. He even hoped that Hong Jinbao could attract cultivators from the Silver Moon Sect and try out the Soul Searching Technique. He had thought about it before he came here, finding a cultivator to perform soul-searching so he could secure a position in the Silver Moon Sect market. If Hong Jinbao could attract a cultivator, he wouldn¡¯t have to go looking for one. On the other hand, Hong Jinbao was running towards the Silver Moon Sect outside the city. ¡°My grandfather was a demonic cultivator of the Blood God Sect. He referred to my grandfather as his senior brother, so he must also be a demonic cultivator of the Blood God Sect. ¡°If I report to the Silver Moon Sect, I might be able to join them!¡± Hong Jinbao¡¯s face was filled with excitement. He had been born and raised in the righteous realm, so he naturally yearned for the righteous path and hated the demonic path. Joining the Silver Moon Sect was the aspiration of almost everyone in the Silver Moon Sect territory, so reporting to the Silver Moon Sect and gaining merit to join was a tempting idea. Although he had just obtained a cultivation technique, he had never seen any other cultivation technique before and did not know if it was a demonic technique. He did not want to cultivate demonic techniques. Even if he couldn¡¯t join the Silver Moon Sect, reporting a demonic cultivator should at least earn him a righteous cultivation technique.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 120 - Chapter 120: Wasted Effort Chapter 120: Wasted Effort The Silver Moon Temple was a Daoist temple set up by the Silver Moon Sect in the mortal world, but they didn¡¯t interfere with mundane affairs. They only intervened when there were demons and monsters appearing in the area. The temple master was usually a disciple who had no hope of making a breakthrough and had a limited lifespan. ¡°Hoo- hoo- finally¡­ finally arrived!¡± Hong Jinbao exclaimed excitedly as he gasped for air, looking at the temple in front of him. After catching his breath for a moment, Hong Jinbao regained some strength and approached the door, pounding on it. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­ ¡°Is the Immortal Master of the Silver Moon Sect here? I have something to report!¡± ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡¯ ¡°Immortal Master, I have¡­!¡± The door opened, and a young Daoist with a refined appearance walked out. ¡°Stop shouting. What happened?¡± he asked. ¡°This is a matter of great importance. I must report it to the immortal master in person!¡± Hong Jinbao insisted, afraid that someone else would take credit for his discovery. ¡°The temple master is an immortal. Countless people want to see him. If everyone were to see him, how could he handle it all? If you don¡¯t say what the matter is, the temple master won¡¯t see you,¡± the young Daoist retorted. Hong Jinbao was afraid that if he delayed too long, Zhang Chen would run away. He could only say, ¡°I have discovered the trail of a Blood God Sect demon cultivator. ¡± ¡®What!¡± The boy was shocked and his face turned pale. ¡°Don¡¯t waste any more time. Take me to see the immortal master,¡± Hong Jinbao urged. ¡°Follow me.¡± The young Daoist led the way, flustered. Soon, the two of them arrived outside a house in the temple. The young Daoist regained his composure, tidied up his appearance, and respectfully bowed to the house. ¡°Temple master, someone claims to have discovered the trail of a Blood God Sect demon cultivator and wishes to meet you.¡± ¡°Creak! ¡± The door opened automatically, and the master wearing a tattered moon robe, with a youthful appearance and an ethereal temperament, walked out. The master looked at Hong Jinbao and asked in a deep voice, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s a demonic cultivator from the Blood God Sect?¡± ¡°I dare not deceive the immortal.¡± Hong Jinbao was excited and even began to fantasize about the scene after he became an immortal. ¡°Tell me how you found the demonic cultivator.¡± The master continued to inquire with a serious expression. The last revenge of the Blood God Sect caused a great loss of new disciples for the Silver Moon Sect. Now that there were Blood God Sect disciples appearing again, he had to worry whether the Blood God Sect was planning something big again. Naturally, Hong Jinbao wouldn¡¯t reveal his relationship with the Blood God Sect. He had already thought of an excuse on the way here. ¡°My name is Hong Jinbao, and my family has lived in Kang City for three generations. Not long ago, a stranger came to me. He claimed to be a disciple of the Blood God Sect and gave me a few stones to help him find someone.¡± As he spoke, Hong Jinbao took out several spirit stones as proof. He didn¡¯t know what spirit stones were, but they were certainly not as important as cultivation techniques and spells. Besides, there were dozens of them, and he wouldn¡¯t mind losing a few. ¡°These are spirit stones, the currency among cultivators and can be used for cultivation.¡± The master explained. Hong Jinbao¡¯s face lit up at the words and continued, ¡°I pretended to agree and let the demonic cultivator wait for me at my home, but in fact, I came to report to Immortal Master.¡± ¡°You did well.¡± The master nodded and pondered his next move. Only inner disciples or above of the Blood God Sect could leave the sect, which meant that the demonic cultivator was at least at the seventh level of Qi Refinement. Given the Blood God Sect¡¯s style, it was more likely that he was a direct disciple at the Foundation Establishment stage. As the master was only at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, it would be best to seek help from the sect. After thinking for a moment, the master took out a sound transmission jade pendant. He injected mana into it and said, ¡°It seems that a demonic cultivator from the Blood God Sect has appeared in Kang City, and someone from our sect has come to investigate!¡± After speaking, the master tossed the sound transmission jade pendant into the air and said, ¡°Go!¡± The jade pendant turned into a stream of light and flew towards the direction of the Silver Moon Sect. Just then, a sudden change occurred. A dazzling blood light flashed by, and a hand reached out and grabbed the sound transmission jade pendant. ¡°Immortal, he is the demonic cultivator from the Blood God Sect. Please take action and eliminate him!¡± Hong Jinbao pointed excitedly at the figure in the air, completely oblivious to the master¡¯s lifeless face. ¡°Crack! ¡± Zhang Chen crushed the sound transmission jade pendant with a cold look at Hong Jinbao. ¡°Is this what you call respecting your elders?¡± In fact, Zhang Chen had long concealed his aura and followed them. With only the ninth level of Qi Refinement, the master naturally could not perceive Zhang Chen¡¯s hidden aura. He had heard every word of the conversation between Hong Jinbao and the master. Hong Jinbao, feeling confident with the backing of his immortal from the Silver Moon Sect, was fearless and said righteously, ¡°Demon, you have brought this upon yourself. Today is your day of death!¡± Zhang Chen shook his head and sighed. ¡°Senior Brother Hong, I¡¯m going to make sure you don¡¯t have any descendants today.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, numerous Blood God Sons flew out of Zhang Chen¡¯s body and rushed towards the Silver Moon Temple below. Seeing the terrifying Blood God condensed from blood, Hong Jinbao retreated in fear and shouted, ¡°Immortal Master, save me, Immortal Master, save me¡­ The sect master paid no attention to Hong Jinbao, let alone save him. Faced with so many Blood God Sons at the Qi Refinement ninth level, he couldn¡¯t even save himself. However, he was not resigned to fate. ¡°Moonlight Array, activate!¡± The temple master pinched the tactics, and a shield that looked like moonlight wrapped around the sect. Each of the Silver Moon Sect¡¯s branches had a Moonlight Array deployed, which could absorb moonlight to sustain the formation and withstand attacks from Foundation Establishment cultivators for a short time. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The Blood God Sons collided with the shield and were repelled. Seeing this, Hong Jinbao laughed. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± ¡°Crack! ¡± A crisp sound made Hong Jinbao¡¯s expression stiffen, and his laughter stopped abruptly. A crack appeared on the shield. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s just a crack. Immortal Master is here¡­¡± ¡°Crack! ¡± Before Hong Jinbao could finish speaking, another crack appeared on the shield. Before Hong Jin could react, cracks continuously appeared on the barrier like firecrackers. ¡°Crack, crack, crack¡­ In the next moment, the shield shattered and turned into specks of starlight that dissipated. More than a hundred Blood God Sons were comparable to the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm. The Moonlight Array only lasted for 10 breaths. Hong Jinbao turned his head to look at the temple master, hoping to see how he would respond. Instead, he found the temple master in despair. At this moment, Hong Jinbao finally realized that the immortal master he was relying on was no match for a demonic cultivator. It¡¯s over! No, I still have a chance. Mygrandfather was his senior brother, and he might spare me for my grandfathers sake. Just as the thought of begging for mercy arose, the Blood God Sons pounced on Hong Jinbao before he could speak. In just an instant, before he even had time to scream, Hong Jinbao was drained of his blood and lost his life. The Daoist child next to him was not spared either. He was also drained of his blood. Only the sect master did not die, but he lost a lot of blood and was barely alive. The reason why he did not attack the temple master was because he wanted to use the Soul Searching Technique to extract the other party¡¯s memories. Zhang Chen landed from the air and came to the temple master¡¯s side. The temple master struggled to lift his eyelids and looked calmly at Zhang Chen without any fear. He had not many years left to live, so he could face death so calmly.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 121 - Chapter 121: Orthodox Marketplace Chapter 121: Orthodox Marketplace Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Zhang Chen extended his hand indifferently and placed it on the temple master¡¯s head. ¡°No!¡± The temple master widened his eyes and tried to struggle. He recognized that this was the action of using the Soul Searching Technique. He could face death calmly, but he couldn¡¯t accept his memories and secrets being taken away by others. Facing the temple master¡¯s gaze, Zhang Chen remained unmoved, and used his spiritual connection to cast the Soul Searching Technique! As he used the Soul Searching Technique, many scenes appeared in Zhang Chen¡¯s mind. The scenes started from when he was a child with memories, playing carefreely every day. As he grew up, he began to develop feelings for the girl next door he grew up with. When he went to participate in the Silver Moon Sect¡¯s disciple recruitment ceremony, he promised the girl that he would marry her after becoming an immortal. The girl readily agreed. After becoming a disciple of the Silver Moon Sect, he came into contact with another magical world and also met many beautiful senior sisters and junior sisters. Gradually, he forgot about the girl and the promise he made, and fell in love with a senior sister. Time flew by, and decades passed. When he went out to slay demons, he thought of the girl next door that he used to love while passing through his hometown. After inquiring about her, he found out that the neighbor girl had died of old age and had never married. She had been waiting for him. Everyone said that there was an old woman with white hair who walked slowly to the village every day, looking towards the direction of the Silver Moon Sect, muttering to herself. If someone were to ask her who she was waiting for, she would say, ¡°I am waiting for my husband.¡± If asked who her husband was, she would answer with a happy and longing expression, ¡®My husband is an immortal. I know that one day, he will appear in a situation where everyone is watching, wearing golden armor and riding on a seven-colored auspicious cloud to come and marry me!¡± And this was also the sentence she said before she died. After hearing this, he remained motionless and silent for a long time. He forgot the promise, but she did not forget and waited for him for a lifetime. Because of a promise, he delayed a woman¡¯s entire life. He felt guilty and regretful, leaving behind a knot in his heart. His state of mind could not be whole, so he could not break through the Foundation Establishment stage and was always trapped at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Zhang Chen did not care about these things. What he cared about was the process of cultivating the Dao technique in his memory and the environment of the Silver Moon Sect. Due to the modification device, the memories that Zhang Chen obtained through the Soul Searching Technique were like watching a first-person perspective movie. Others, on the other hand, would immerse themselves in it, as if they had experienced it personally. If their willpower was not firm, it would lead to memory confusion and they would not be able to distinguish between their own memories and others¡¯ memories. The temple master¡¯s memory of a hundred years was very long, but in his consciousness, time passed very quickly. Only 15 minutes had passed in the outside world. ¡°Bang!¡± Zhang Chen loosened his grip, and the temple master fell to the ground. The temple master was only in the Qi Refinement Stage and had not yet mastered advanced spells, so he was of little value to Zhang Chen. Instead, the internal situation of the Silver Moon Sect and its location in the city were more valuable to him. From the temple master¡¯s memories of his fall, the environment in the righteous path was indeed good, with respectful teachers and fellow disciples, and little scheming and plotting. At least that was what it seemed on the surface. Some of the masters even risked their lives and cultivation to save their disciples. Looking at the lifeless master on the ground, Zhang Chen frowned. It was only through the master¡¯s memories that Zhang Chen learned that every disciple of the Silver Moon Sect had left a ¡°life lamp¡± in the sect. Once they died, the lamp would go out, and the last thing they saw before they died would be transmitted back to the sect. In other words, the Silver Moon Sect already knew of the master¡¯s death and would soon send someone to investigate. Fortunately, he had changed his appearance with the Formless Demon Scripture, and except for the Blood God¡¯s followers, he had not exposed anything. ¡°It seems that I need to quickly purchase the necessary materials and leave the Silver Moon Sect¡¯s territory.¡± After speaking, Zhang Chen turned into a blood light and flew towards the marketplace. The temple master¡¯s blood had already been drained, and his cultivation was low. Zhang Chen had no interest in his corpse and was also afraid that the Silver Moon Sect would have some means of tracking their disciples. In a hall of the Silver Moon Sect, numerous bronze lamps were arranged in an orderly and intricate manner. The flames swayed constantly, creating a mysterious and sacred atmosphere. Just then, one of the lamps suddenly went out. One of the disciples responsible for guarding the lamps sensed it and looked up, his face changing: ¡°Quick, inform the elders, a life lamp has gone out!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go right away!¡± Another person hurriedly ran out of the hall. ¡°I wonder which senior brother has died again.¡± The Silver Moon Sect disciple guarding the lamps was full of sadness. Not long after, a beam of moonlight shone into the hall and transformed into a handsome young man. ¡°Greetings, Elder.¡± The Silver Moon Sect disciple guarding the lamps immediately bowed. ¡°Hmm.¡± The man nodded and waved his hand, taking the extinguished bronze lamp into his grasp. Then, he threw the lamp oil into the air. The lamp oil did not fall to the ground. Instead, it floated in the air and condensed into a mirror. The mirror showed the scene that the temple master saw before he left. Zhang Chen¡¯s expression was cold as he grabbed the temple master¡¯s head. Behind him, many Blood God Sons circled, looking like devils. The handsome man frowned. ¡°The Blood God Sect? Is the Blood God Sect still unwilling to give up?¡± Three days later, four direct disciples of the Silver Moon Sect arrived at the Silver Moon Temple outside of Kang City. Looking at the corpses on the ground, the four direct disciples of the Silver Moon Sect were filled with indignation. ¡°The demonic cultivators of the Blood God Sect deserve to die!¡± ¡°Junior Brother, don¡¯t worry. We will definitely avenge you!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s bury Junior Brother¡¯s corpse first. At night, we¡¯ll use the Moon Mirror Technique to find the demonic cultivator of the Blood God Sect.¡± On the other side, Zhang Chen had also arrived at the nearest market of the Silver Moon Sect. At this time, he had changed his appearance again and his body now exuded the unique aura of the Silver Moon Sect. Having obtained the memories of the temple master, he naturally knew the cultivation techniques of the Silver Moon Sect. So, he absorbed the aura of a Silver Moon Sect Bone Slave and disguised himself as a disciple of the Silver Moon Sect. In the marketplace of the Silver Moon Sect, having the identity of a Silver Moon Sect disciple could bring a lot of convenience. Zhang Chen walked into a shop and the shopkeeper immediately greeted him, ¡°What materials do you need, fellow Daoist?¡± ¡°Do you have any hundred-year-old grudges for sale?¡± To cast the Great Grudge Curse, nine types of grudges were required as materials. Unborn Grudge: The grudge produced when a cultivator died in the mother¡¯s womb before being born. Unraised Grudge: The intense grudge generated when one was abandoned by one¡¯s parents. The grudge of being killed, and so on¡­ Those that could last for a hundred years without dissipating were all extremely intense grudges. The shopkeeper was a little troubled. ¡°Grudges are demonic sect materials. Our orthodox sects have no use for them, so we don¡¯t have any in stock.¡± ¡°Sorry to bother you.¡± Zhang Chen arched his hands and left. ¡°Take care, Fellow Daoist.¡± If Zhang Chen did not have the aura of the Silver Moon Sect on him, the shopkeeper might have reported to the Silver Moon Sect that a demonic cultivator had entered the market. Zhang Chen asked several shops in a row but could not find any hundred-year-old grudge for sale. He had to change his target and look for them from itinerant cultivators. for a while After walking around for a while, Zhang Chen arrived at a stall. The reason he chose this stall was that there were several magical instruments used by demonic cultivators on display.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 122 - Chapter 122: Passing Through the Checkpoint by Deception Chapter 122: Passing Through the Checkpoint by Deception Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Have you got any hundred-year grudge for sale?¡± The stallholder looked up as he heard the question, noticing that the other person emitted a chilling aura belonging to the Silver Moon Sect. He thought for a moment before answering. ¡°Not long ago, I killed a demonic cultivator who happened to have a bottle of hundred-year joy and grudge in his storage bag. Would you be interested in it, fellow Daoist?¡± ¡°Joy and grudge¡± referred to the grudges that arose from intense emotions such as great happiness or deep sorrow, such as being brutally killed on one¡¯s wedding day. ¡°I¡¯ll take it. How many spirit stones?¡± Zhang Chen nodded. ¡°Thirty spirit stones.¡± Not many people in the orthodox territories bought grudges. In addition, they mistakenly thought that Zhang Chen was a disciple of the Silver Moon Sect, so they did not ask for too high a price. ¡°Alright.¡± Zhang Chen readily took out the spirit stones from his storage bag without hesitation. Seeing the spirit stones, the stall owner smiled and handed over the bottle of resentment. ¡°Fellow Daoist, this is the grudge you wanted.¡± Zhang Chen took the bottle and released his divine sense to verify its authenticity. When his divine sense entered the bottle, Zhang Chen felt as if he had entered a wedding chamber. Red curtains, red candles, and the character ¡®happiness¡¯ dominated the entire chamber, shrouded in a romantic red ambiance. A slim bride in a wedding dress and red veil sat on the bed, as if waiting for him to lift the veil. The sound of jubilant suona music filled his ears, as if many people were congratulating and laughing. The atmosphere was extremely festive. The flames flickered, and the candles burned unusually quickly, with a large amount of wax oil sliding down the candles. Suddenly, the music changed from jubilant to mournful, and the congratulations turned into screams. It seemed that something unexpected had happened at the wedding! At the same time, the scene in the chamber changed. The character ¡®happiness¡¯ turned into a bloody mess, with blood dripping down. The red curtains seemed to have been soaked in blood, continuously dripping blood down. ¡°Drip, drip, drip¡­¡¯ Zhang Chen did not know when the ground had already been submerged in blood. It turned out that the melting wax oil had turned into blood, and the red candles spurted blood continuously like a blood spring. The bride who had been sitting on the bed also began to move. She slowly lifted her hand and lifted the red veil, revealing a face that was rotten, pockmarked, and riddled with maggots. A pungent stench spread. The only intact feature were her eyes. She stared at Zhang Chen with resentment, as if he was the culprit behind all of this. Zhang Chen calmly retracted his divine sense, unaffected. ¡°It¡¯s indeed a hundred years of joy and grudge. Do you know where I can buy other grudges? I can pay with spirit stones for the information.¡± The vendor was intrigued: ¡°I have a good friend who may still have a hundred ¨C year grudge.¡± ¡°My friend also obtained the hundred-year grudge by killing a demon cultivator,¡± the vendor explained. Some demon cultivators created environments and tormented mortals to obtain grudges. Cultivators in orthodox territories were forbidden from cultivating grudges. Zhang Chen¡¯s Silver Moon Sect identity was why the vendor explained this. Zhang Chen said nonchalantly, ¡°May I know where your friend is?¡± ¡°He¡¯s in the market. Just follow this path for another 1,000 feet and you¡¯ll see the stall selling spiritual plants.¡± ¡°Thank you, Fellow Daoist. I¡¯ll come back to thank you after I acquire the grudge.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Fellow Daoist.¡± In the end, Zhang Chen walked around the market but only obtained five types of grudges. He was still short of four. However, there was more than one market in the Silver Moon Sect¡¯s territory, so Zhang Chen decided to check out the other markets. Outside Kang City at the Silver Moon Temple, four Silver Moon Sect disciples recited incantations and formed hand seals toward the full moon in the sky. ¡°The Lunar Canopy, the Heavenly Gate of the Earth, uses the great light. The circle is unfathomable, and the moon is the mirror. There¡¯s nowhere to hide!¡± As they finished the incantation, their spiritual power surged and pointed toward the moon. ¡°Moon Mirror Technique!¡± The moon in the sky seemed to have become brighter, and a beam of moonlight condensed into a pillar and shone down on the four disciples. Then, the light pillar twisted and transformed into an ice mirror. One of them touched his forehead and sent a strand of spiritual sense into the ice mirror. This wisp of divine sense contained the appearance of the person they were searching for. As long as this person was under the moonlight, he would be shown in the ice mirror, even if he changed his appearance. The premise was that the appearance was genuine. However, after 10 seconds, the ice mirror remained unchanged, and the four disciples frowned: ¡°Either this person is in a place where the moonlight can¡¯t reach, or the appearance shown by the life lamp is fake.¡± ¡°What should we do next?¡± ¡°Other than knowing that the other party is a disciple of the Blood God Sect and has many Blood God Sons, we know nothing. In my opinion, let¡¯s go to the nearby market and ask if any cultivators know anything.¡± ¡°Great!¡± The four of them turned into white light and flew towards the nearest market. At this moment, Zhang Chen had already left the original market and was on his wav to another one. In the second market, it was not easy to find someone selling grudges, but it was repeated. After searching for a long time, he only obtained two types of grudges. He could only continue to the last market in the Silver Moon Clan¡¯s territory. It took twenty days and three markets for Zhang Chen to gather all nine types of grudges. Buying materials for demonic cultivation in the orthodox markets was really difficult. Some people had them, but they were afraid to sell them, for fear of being suspected of being demonic cultivators. Just as Zhang Chen was about to leave the market and return to the Blood God Sect, a voice sounded. ¡°Junior Brother, please wait!¡± Zhang Chen turned around and saw four Silver Moon Sect disciples at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. ¡°What can I do for you, Senior Brothers?¡± Zhang Chen remained calm and composed, bowing respectfully. ¡°We just arrived at the market. Have you seen or heard of any suspicious person that might be a demonic cultivator recently?¡± Zhang Chen shook his head. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t seen any.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± The four of them seemed disappointed. After a moment of silence, Zhang Chen asked anxiously, ¡°Senior Brothers, has something happened?¡± One of them nodded. ¡°Twenty days ago, a demonic cultivator from the Blood God Sect killed a fellow disciple. We¡¯re searching for his whereabouts.¡± ¡°Blood God Sect¡¯s magic cultivators are truly despicable. Senior Brothers, please let me join you!¡± Zhang Chen was filled with righteous indignation and appeared very angry. The other party shook his head. ¡°Junior Brother, we appreciate your intentions, but your cultivation level is too low. Judging by the number of Blood God Sons he has, he is at least at the Foundation Establishment ninth level. You won¡¯t be able to help, and you will only distract us.¡± Unwilling, angry, and helpless, Zhang Chen¡¯s expression changed, but he said firmly, ¡°I will work hard to cultivate. One day, I will destroy the Blood God Sect and avenge my dead Senior Brother!¡± ¡°Junior Brother, we appreciate your intentions, but let us handle this matter. Be careful outside and don¡¯t leave the market for now.¡± The other party advised him kindly. ¡°Yes, Senior Brother.¡± Zhang Chen nodded in agreement. ¡°Good, we¡¯re leaving now.¡± The four turned around and left. Zhang Chen looked at them with admiration until they disappeared from sight. Then he turned around and left as if he were in a hurry to go and cultivate. With the memory of the temple master, he behaved just like an orthodox person in his way of speaking and his expressions, with almost no flaws. Even if someone was suspicious and asked about his identity, Zhang Chen could still answer fluently.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 123 - Chapter 123: Great Grudge Curse Technique Chapter 123: Great Grudge Curse Technique Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Instead of leaving the market directly, Zhang Chen entered an inn and dispersed the aura of the Silver Moon Sect from his body in the room. After changing his appearance and attire, he walked towards the exit of the market. Previously, he disguised himself as a disciple of the Silver Moon Sect for convenience and not to arouse suspicion. Now, with the arrival of the four members of the Silver Moon Sect, his disguise as a disciple of the Silver Moon Sect has become conspicuous. This was a marketplace with a Golden Core cultivator stationed here. Once exposed, it would be difficult to escape. At this moment, Zhang Chen was no different from the other itinerant cultivators. He was inconspicuous and left the market smoothly. In order not to be suspected, he decided to take a detour and use the Flying Feather Soaring Art to fly in the opposite direction of the Blood God Sect. It was a close call. Half a month later, Zhang Chen left the territory of the Silver Moon Clan safely without incident. On this journey, he changed his appearance more than ten times and changed direction three times. After all, it was the other side¡¯s territory, and it was better to be cautious. Once he entered the Blood God Sect¡¯s territory, Zhang Chen no longer hid and began to use the Blood Escape Technique to travel. The blood light was like a meteor, flashing across the sky and disappearing in an instant. Ten days later, in a secluded cave one hundred miles away from the Blood God Sect, Zhang Chen was setting up the formation for the Great Grudge Curse Technique. Although it was a formation, it was actually more like an altar. In the center of the altar was a statue made of clay. The statue had six hands, one holding up the sky, one supporting the earth, one holding a dagger, and one holding a poison bottle. The other two hands were placed flat on the chest, and the posture was twisted and strange, very discordant. Even more bizarrely, the statue had nine heads, each with a different face. These nine heads were stacked from small to large, like a pagoda. The head at the top was only the size of a fist, with wrinkled skin, like an unborn baby. The baby¡¯s eyes were tightly closed, and his expression was twisted, as if enduring great pain. The second head was a size bigger, like a newborn baby. It tried to open its eyes a little, as if it wanted to see its parents and the world. However, his expression was full of disgust and conflict. The third head was that of a child, with very mismatched features and missing one ear, like a random doodle by a kid. The expression was both fearful and angry, as if having suffered from bullying and suppressing the inner rage. The fourth head was that of a teenager, with one eye open and one eye closed, gritting the teeth and making faces, with a look of defiance and rebellion written all over the face. The fifth head was that of a young person, mouth wide open as if roaring in anger. The sixth head was that of a young woman, showing mixed emotions of sadness and joy. One half of the face was red with a smile on the corner of the mouth. The other half was white with a tearful look and a downturned mouth. The seventh head was that of a middle-aged man, with a face full of hardship and grievance, seemingly resenting the unfairness of fate. The eighth head was that of a middle-aged woman, with an extremely ugly appearance and a sharp and sarcastic look in the eyes. The ninth head was that of an elderly man, with a frail and withered appearance, a face covered in corpse spots, and eyes filled with regret and disappointment. These nine heads, nine faces, seemed to represent different stages of life and nine different experiences. According to the records in the Great Grudge Curse Technique, this was the image of the Curse Demon. It possessed some kind of mysterious and unfathomable ability to borrow the power of the Curse Demon and cast curses. The Curse Demon was said to be reborn nine times, each time filled with hatred, and the resentment lasting for 100,000 years, finally turning into a demon. The two hands that supported the sky and the ground represented the connection between the two sides and the two worlds. The two hands holding a knife and a poison bottle were mainly used to cast curses. The two hands on the chest were used to place curse mediums. After confirming the accuracy of the clay statue, Zhang Chen took out nine bottles from his storage bag. They contained the hundred-year-old gudge he had bought in the marketplace. ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!¡± Zhang Chen waved his hand and the nine bottles exploded one after another. Nine black mists dispersed, revealing vaguely discernible phantom figures. There were infants with umbilical cords, infants crying in swaddling clothes, disabled children, women in wedding gowns¡­ There were nine figures, each one perfectly matching one of the nine heads of the clay statue. ¡± Hatrecl¡­ Hatred¡­ Hatrecl¡­¡± ¡°Resentment¡­ Resentment¡­ Resentment.. The air in the cave was thick with grievance, and voices full of resentment kept ringing in Zhang Chen¡¯s ears. He knew how intense the grievances were, for they could persist for a hundred years without dissipating. ¡°People suffer harm, tragedy is boundless, the authority of justice is insufficient, and the anger of heaven is provoked. Submit!¡± As if responding to some kind of attraction, the nine grievances poured into the clay statue one after another. As they did so, the nine heads of the clay statue became vividly lifelike, as if they were about to come alive at any moment. The formation of the great grievance spell was complete, and all that remained was to put in items imbued with the cursed person¡¯s aura. Zhang Chen reached into his storage bag and took out a blood-red bead with seven holes. It was a superior-grade magical tool given to him by Elder Blood River when he was promoted to being a direct disciple, the Blood Pearl. He had never used it before because he was afraid that Elder Blood River had left something sinister inside it. But now, it was finally time to put it to use. Zhang Chen used his powers to lift the Blood Pearl and flew it into his hands, which rested in front of the mud statue¡¯s chest. ¡°The heavenly path is complete, three and five make eight, the sun and moon together, in and out of the darkness.¡± Zhang Chen formed a seal and chanted an incantation, extracting the aura of Elder Blood River from the Blood Blood Pearl. A red mist flew out from the Blood Pearl and entered the mud statue¡¯s chest. The mud statue¡¯s chest wriggled, revealing a face that was identical to Elder Blood River. ¡°Those who see me are blind, those who hear me are deaf, close the eyes and ears of the Three Realms. ¡°Valiant Three Gods, Four-Eyed Old Man, Five Corpses, Seven Officials and Eight Spirits, Nine Mystic Killing Children, Supreme Terror, Curse Demon God, I summon thee!¡± As Zhang Chen chanted, he made various movements. It was like a sacrificial dance, a ritual of sorts, yet it was also like wild waving, utterly insane. As he infused the mud statue with his powers, it emitted a black aura that seemed to indicate a presence had descended into it. It had no consciousness, only resentment, an incredibly strong resentment that was unimaginable and indescribable. Resentment towards heaven, towards the earth, towards all living beings in the world. Zhang Chen knew that this was the power of the cursed demon god, and even though it was only a faint trace of energy, he still felt fearful and uneasy. Zhang Chen steadied his mind and proceeded to perform the final step of the Great Cursing Technique, the curse! Zhang Chen¡¯s expression was ferocious as he said maliciously, ¡°Sever your arm!¡± The mud statue moved! The hand holding the dagger fell heavily, severing the arm at the chest. ¡°Pa!¡± The mud hand fell to the ground. At the Blood God Sect a hundred miles away, Elder Blood River was making a magical artifact. But at that moment, one of his arms suddenly separated from his shoulder without warning and fell to the ground. ¡°Boom!¡± The magical artifact he was working on also self-destructed due to this mishap. ¡°What¡¯s going on!¡± Elder Blood River¡¯s expression was ugly as he turned to look at the severed limb. He saw that the wound was smooth, as if the arm had been sliced off by a sharp weapon, and that resentment was coiling around it. ¡°Is this the Great Grudge Curse Technique?¡± Elder Blood River¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect someone to use the Great Grudge Curse Technique on me.¡± Elder Blood River knew the effect of the Great Grudge Curse Technique. One would injure both the enemy and oneself. While cursing the other party, one would also suffer the same backlash. ¡°Could it be that some enemy has reached his end and used the Great Grudge Curse Technique against me before he died?¡± Elder Blood River frowned and pondered. His blood body had an immortal attribute, so he was not afraid of curses. It was just that the magical artifact he had been about to create was destroyed, which made him extremely annoyed.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 124 - Chapter 124: Half a Year Later Chapter 124: Half a Year Later Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Elder Blood River¡¯s body was boiling with blood as he erased the grudges from his wounds. The severed arm on the ground melted into blood and flew back to his shoulder. After a wriggle, his arm was restored to its original state. ¡°I want to see what else you can do.¡± Blood River Elder sat cross-legged and waited quietly for the following curse. As long as he could withstand the price of the curse, theoretically speaking, the Great Grudge Curse Technique could keep cursing. On the other side, as Zhang Chen launched the first curse, the backlash followed. Since he cut off the opponent¡¯s arm, he naturally had to pay the price of losing an arm. The clay figure raised its dagger and slashed at Zhang Chen¡¯s arm. But as it was about to touch Zhang Chen, the clay figure suddenly stopped moving, as if a machine had malfunctioned and got stuck. The consciousness of the curse demon did not understand what had happened, but only found that it could not harm the person in front of it. It had no thinking ability, and after a brief stalemate, it confirmed that it could not harm the other party and withdrew its arm, returning to its original state. Zhang Chen knew that this was because the modifier had modified the cultivation technique and removed the side effects. When using the curse with the help of the curse demon¡¯s ability, the curse demon would naturally not work for free but would require payment for the curse¡¯s cost. What was cursed on others would also be paid by oneself, which was fair. The ritual and the curse were like a contract, but after being modified by the modifier, the curse demon could only work for free and become a one-sided command without pay. The consciousness of the curse demon was confused and could not find the problem. ¡°I curse him to die by being disemboweled!¡± Zhang Chen cursed again. The clay figure held the knife and ruthlessly cut a large slash across the abdomen of Elder Blood River without warning. ¡°Thud¡­ In the Blood God Sect, a huge cut suddenly appeared on Elder Blood River without warning. But the blood at the wound wriggled, and in the blink of an eye, it was restored to its original state. ¡°I curse him to lose his five senses!¡± Zhang Chen continued to curse. The clay figure used a dagger to stab at Elder Blood River¡¯s face, stabbing his mouth, ears, eyes, nose, and throat. In the Blood God Sect, Elder Blood River was bleeding from his seven orifices. It was extremely terrifying. ¡°I curse him to have no heart or lungs!¡± The clay figure opened the chest and took out two clay balls representing the heart and lungs. ¡°I curse him to fall into madness! ¡°I curse him¡­¡± Zhang Chen cursed continuously, and Elder Blood River on the other side was constantly being injured, but he would soon recover. He did not expect to kill Elder Blood River with curses. The purpose of doing so was only to disgust and torture him, making him paranoid and unable to focus on him. This curse lasted for a day! I curse him to die by being beheaded!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± As Zhang Chen uttered the curse, the dilapidated mud statue could no longer hold together and collapsed into countless pieces. ¡°Is it broken? Then that¡¯s it for now, curse you again next time.¡± Zhang Chen took out a bottle and collected the scattered grudges, ready for the next use. An hour later, in the Blood God Sect, Elder Blood River no longer felt the curses descending and spoke coldly. ¡°Is he finally dead? It took so long for the curses to kill him. Looks like he was well prepared.¡± The only people who could cast the Great Grudge Curse on him were those whose cultivation level was lower than his own because those with a higher cultivation level did not need a curse at all. Being able to cast so many curses was already very rare. He didn¡¯t take the Great Grudge Curse seriously at first, but the continuous curses that lasted a day made him irritable and angry. He didn¡¯t know who the other party was and he had no place to vent. To dispel the grudges left by the curse, he lost 20 years of his power. It was only because the Blood God Sect¡¯s cultivation techniques were special, possessing an undying body, that for others, the cost of resisting the curse would be even greater. However, he had many enemies and did not take this matter to heart. Two days later, Zhang Chen returned to the Blood God Sect as if nothing had happened. The days after that returned to normal, refining demon blood and cultivating Blood God Sons. On the other side, the four members of the Silver Moon Sect were still searching for Zhang Chen¡¯s whereabouts. After two months of searching without any results, they had no choice but to give up and return to their sect to report. As the Silver Moon Sect was worried that the Blood God Sect was up to something, they sent more direct disciples to search and investigate within their territory. They did not find the disciples of the Blood God Sect, but they found many demonic and evil cultivators. Time passed quickly when cultivating. Half a year passed in a flash. Zhang Chen stood up and walked out of the cave abode with a deep gaze. ¡°Half a year is up. I wonder if Shen Yijun has come near the Blood God Sect.¡± Shen Yijun, who wanted to kill Zhang Chen, was instead controlled by the Blood Curse that Zhang Chen had cast, despite being at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. This was also his experiment to see if the intelligent Blood God Sons could control other cultivators with the blood curse. During this half a year, Shen Yijun would definitely try various ways to remove the blood seed from his body. If he could not remove it, it would prove that using the Blood God Sons to control other cultivators was indeed feasible. As soon as he entered the Blood God Sect, Zhang Chen sensed that the Blood God Son was only 50 miles away from him. ¡°I wonder if Shen Yijun can bring me any surprises.¡± Zhang Chen smiled slightly, feeling somewhat excited, and turned into a blood light and flew over. In a dense forest 50 miles away, Shen Yijun was anxiously waiting for Zhang Chen¡¯s arrival. During this half year, he did indeed inquire about Zhang Chen, but most of the time, he was looking for a way to remove the blood seed from his body. Although he had not been able to get rid of the control of the blood seed, he had gained some knowledge. The simplest method was to slowly erode the blood seed with his own power. After all, this was his own body, and his power was spread throughout his body. And with his high level of cultivation, he only needed to erode and assimilate the blood seed and he would be able to refine it into a part of himself. However, this process was very long and would probably take more than a hundred years. The main reason was that he could not be anxious during this period. If he was discovered by the blood seed, he would be in danger of dying. There was also a cultivation technique that could reconstruct the body. It would be best if he could cultivate the Blood Nerve Technique. After condensing the blood body, not only would he not die, but he could also refine the blood seed in his body and increase his cultivation. Not to mention the Blood Nerve Technique, other cultivation techniques that reconstructed the body were very rare. Therefore, Shen Yijun chose to use his mana to slowly erode and assimilate the blood seed before searching for a cultivation technique to reconstruct his body. If he could obtain the cultivation technique, he would switch to cultivating it. During this period, he had no choice but to serve Zhang Chen. As for the Heaven¡¯s Oath, even though it couldn¡¯t be violated, it could be used to deceive Heaven¡¯s Will. At that time, he only swore to be loyal to Zhang Chen and did not specify which Zhang Chen it was. It was fine to change his name to Zhang Chen, or find someone called Zhang Chen and get him to break the oath. Because this was Zhang Chen¡¯s first time coming into contact with the Heavenly Dao oath and he did not understand the twists and turns, such a loophole appeared. Of course, it was also Shen Yijun who had deliberately guided him. Just as Shen Yijun was thinking about how to deal with Zhang Chen, a blood light landed in front of him. Shen Yijun immediately turned into a lackey and bowed. ¡°Sir, you¡¯re here..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 125 - Chapter 125: Curse Again Chapter 125: Curse Again Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Did you find out what I asked you to investigate?¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s tone was icy, as if he was dissatisfied and ready to take drastic action. Shen Yijun trembled and said, ¡°This humble one has found out some information. ¡°Speak.¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s tone remained cold. Shen Yijun dared not hold back and quickly revealed everything he knew, ¡°There is a poison that can harm the late-stage Golden Core¡­¡¯ There were many things that could harm late-stage Golden Core cultivators. It was not difficult to inquire about them, but the difficult part was how to obtain them. All items that could injure Golden Core cultivators were very precious. For example, the Blood God Sect¡¯s Protective Sect Formation had the ability to trap and kill early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. However, not many people could afford the resources needed to purchase and set up such formations. Even if there were spirit stones, they might not be able to buy them, as they also required powerful factions and strength. ¡°That¡¯s all I heard. Does the master have any other orders?¡± Shen Yijun looked cautiously at Zhang Chen, afraid that he would be accused of not doing enough. After all, the things he said could be easily learned through inquiry. ¡°This humble one will do his best.¡± Shen Yijun appeared happy on the surface, but sneered in his heart at Zhang Chen¡¯s words. ¡°I will definitely do my best.¡± Shen Yijun looked happy on the surface, but he scoffed at Zhang Chen¡¯s words in his heart. As a demonic cultivator, he knew the character of people in the demonic path. Who would let go of a level nine Foundation Establishment cultivator? Zhang Chen didn¡¯t care what Shen Yijun was thinking as long as he was really working for him. ¡°Also, if you can trick 10 ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivators into letting me control them, I can let you go.¡± Hearing this, Shen Yijun was stunned. He did not expect Zhang Chen to be so ambitious. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s meet again here in half a year.¡± Zhang Chen said nothing more, and turned into a blood light and left. ¡°Phew-¡± After the blood light disappeared, Shen Yijun breathed a sigh of relief and started to contemplate on the matter of deceiving 10 ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivators. Compared to assimilating the blood seed, finding a cultivation technique to reconstruct the body, and obtaining array formations and poisons to deal with late-stage Golden Core cultivators, this matter was clearly much simpler. ¡°Perhaps I can trick 10 cultivators at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm to come and see if he will let me go.¡± Shen Yijun thought for a moment and made a decision. What if Zhang Chen really let him go? Even if he didn¡¯t, at most, he would maintain the status quo, understand that the other party couldn¡¯t be trusted, and continue to bide his time for revenge. In fact, Shen Yijun had a desire to drag others down with him. Why should he be the only one who was unlucky and controlled? Everyone should be unlucky together to balance things out. Zhang Chen did not return to the Blood God Sect immediately. Instead, he went to the cave where he had used the Great Grudge Curse Technique to curse the Blood River Elder. Yes, he was going to curse Elder Blood River again. However, this time, he didn¡¯t plan to do it himself. If he cursed Elder Blood River every time he left the sect, he would definitely be suspected by him. ¡°Swoosh!¡± A Blood God Son flew out of Zhang Chen¡¯s body. Its eyes were lively as it looked around curiously. Clearly, it had intelligence. Zhang Chen transmitted the steps and incantations of the Great Grudge Curse without side effects to the Blood God Son through his thoughts. Demonic techniques without side effects cannot be passed on to outsiders. This involves his greatest secret, the cultivation technique modifier. Because he knew the Soul Searching Technique, Zhang Chen was also worried that the Blood God Son would be soul-searched, so he left a command behind. Once caught by other cultivators, it would self-destruct and forget everything. Then, Zhang Chen took out a bottle containing grudges and threw it to the Blood God Son. ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll hide yourself and stay in the cave, and every month, you¡¯ll cast the Great Grudge Curse on Elder Blood River.¡± The Blood God Son caught the bottle and nodded. Returning to the Blood God Sect, Zhang Chen continued to seclude himself as if everything outside had nothing to do with him. But he didn¡¯t know what kind of waves his butterfly would stir up. A month passed quickly, especially for cultivators, it was just a short period of seclusion. In the cave one hundred miles away from the Blood God Sect, the nine-headed curse demon mud statue stood again. In front of the clay statue, the Blood God was casting the Great Grudge Curse Technique. In the main hall of the Blood God Sect, the sect master and elders gathered together. ¡°Recently, many itinerant cultivators have come to our territory. From them, I learned that the Silver Moon Sect is investigating and searching for our disciples. Perhaps they are planning something big against us.¡± When the elders heard this, they frowned in unison. Elder Blood Flame made a guess. ¡°Previously, we took many uninitiated disciples from the Silver Moon Sect. They might want to retaliate. The search for our disciples is to prevent us from sending spies and leaking information.¡± The Blood God Sect Master nodded. ¡°That¡¯s very likely.¡± ¡°How do you plan to deal with it, Sect Master?¡± Elder Cold Blood asked. The Blood God Sect Master had clearly thought of a countermeasure. He said slowly, ¡°Regardless of whether the Silver Moon Sect wants to retaliate or not, we have to be on guard. ¡°I want to invite the White Bone Hall, Corpse Control Sect, and Dark Abyss Gate to hold a Demon Path Grand Competition. After these three sects arrive, we will discuss the matter of an alliance. ¡°Even if these three sects do not agree, it will make the Silver Moon Sect wary and even suspect that we four sects have secretly joined forces, thereby delaying or even abandoning their retaliation.¡± ¡°This plan is excellent, worthy of the Sect Master!¡± Elder Withered Blood praised. ¡°I also think this plan is wonderful!¡± Elder Black Blood also expressed his approval. Elder Blood River also wanted to speak up but suddenly, without warning, his head fell to the ground. ¡°Dong dong dong¡­¡¯ In the spacious hall, the sound of the rolling head was particularly piercing. Everyone fell silent and looked at the head on the ground with a strange expression. Blood surged from the severed neck, and a new head grew back, but its expression was terrifyingly dark. Elder Blood River did not expect that someone would use the powerful curse on him again after more than half a year. ¡°Great Grudge Curse Technique? Blood River, looks like someone wants to perish with you!¡± Elder Dirty Blood gloated. Elder Blood River pretended to be indifferent: ¡°It¡¯s just a small trouble that doesn¡¯t hurt or itch.¡± As soon as the Blood River Elder finished speaking, his limbs fell off at the same time as if he had been dismembered by five horses. ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk. I didn¡¯t expect Elder Blood River to be in such a miserable state,¡± Elder Dirty Blood mocked. Elder Blood River was embarrassed, but he did not flare up because the sect master was present. The Blood God Sect Master said at the right time, ¡°Next, we¡¯ll discuss the specifics of holding the Demon Path Grand Competition.¡± Although it was said to be a discussion, in fact, only the Blood God Sect Master was speaking. The elders echoed him. During this period, problems continued to arise for Elder Blood River. The damage was not great, and it was extremely humiliating. It could be said that he had lost face. After the meeting ended and the Sect Master left, Elder Blood River immediately left the hall. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± The other elders laughed when they saw this. In the cave abode of Blood River Peak, the atmosphere was oppressive. The bat demon was trembling with fear and lowered its head, not even daring to breathe loudly. ¡°Ah Bat, go and find out what my disciples are doing.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± The bat demon bowed and left the cave abode as if it was escaping.. 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Chapter 126 - Chapter 126: Paranoid chapter 126: paranoid translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios elder blood river¡¯s eyes were full of killing intent. he didn¡¯t know if the person who had cast the great grudge curse on him this time was the same as the last time. this was already the second time. there might very well be a third, fourth, and fifth time. although this curse could not injure him and he would at most lose some blood essence, as a fearsome demonic nascent soul ancestor, how could he endure this kind of humiliation and frustration? the fact that the other party could withstand the great grudge curse and still continue to curse him meant that he was not an ordinary person. on the other hand, the blood god sect¡¯s blood body had the undying attribute and could withstand the price of a backlash. his several disciples were capable and had motives. therefore, he suspected that his disciples were cursing him, so he sent the bat demon to investigate. on the other side, the bat demon appeared outside zhang chen¡¯s cave abode. since it could be raised by elder blood river, it was naturally not an ordinary demon beast, but a rare exotic beast. each exotic beast had special abilities. besides being able to suck blood to increase its cultivation, it could also emit a special kind of sound wave. this sound wave could be used to attack or investigate, and could ignore terrain and most formations. except for bats, other creatures could not hear the sound waves it emitted, even those in the golden core stage could not detect it. it was silent and very concealed. three hundred feet away from zhang chen¡¯s cave, the bat demon revealed its true form, opened its mouth, and activated its innate power. ripples invisible to the naked eye constantly spread from its mouth full of sharp teeth. everything that the ripples touched would be reflected in its mind. trees, soil, rocks.. when the ripples entered zhang chen¡¯s cave and sensed the blood pools and the blood seeds inside, the bat demon was stunned and showed a surprised expression. ¡°you¡¯re really biting off more than you can chew.¡± the bat demon sneered and continued to observe zhang chen with its innate ability. inside the cave, zhang chen was completely unaware of the ripples and was still refining the demon blood. after observing for 15 minutes and not finding any other problems, the bat demon put away its innate ability, turned around, and flew in the other direction. ¡°clap, clap, clap¡­¡¯ half a day later, the bat demon returned to blood river peak and transformed into a human. he bowed respectfully and said, ¡°master, ah bat has returned.¡± elder blood river narrowed his eyes and asked in a deep voice, ¡°what are my disciples doing?¡± the bat demon introduced them one by one, ¡°second disciple dong fengzhen is practicing dual cultivation with someone, fourth disciple xu zhenling is handling matters in the beast park, fifth disciple zhou xuewu is out and has not returned, sixth disciple du nanfeng and seventh disciple zhang chen are cultivating in seclusion in the cave.¡± elder blood river thought for a moment and asked, ¡°did you notice anything unusual?¡± the bat demon shook his head, ¡°nothing unusual, but i found out that zhang chen is using demon blood to incubate blood seeds, and there are thousands of them.¡± ¡°thousands?¡± elder blood river was surprised to hear this. it takes one bowl of blood essence to condense a blood seed, so thousands of blood seeds would require thousands of bowls of blood essence. in elder blood river¡¯s opinion, the blood god sons at the first level of qi refinement, were useless. it was better to use this blood essence to improve his cultivation. even if he deliberately did not improve his cultivation to delay the formation of the golden core, he could gather his blood essence and elevate some blood god sons to the ninth level of qi refinement. however, elder blood river was also overthinking it. no matter how many blood god sons zhang chen cultivated, they would eventually become his. the suspicions of the other disciples were ruled out, leaving only the fifth disciple who had not returned. ¡°why did zhou xuewu go out? how long has he been away from the sect?¡± ¡°master, zhou xuewu took on a sect mission and has been gone for three months.¡± ¡°three months?¡± elder blood river murmured softly, his eyes flickering with blood light. the bat demon trembled, knowing that this was elder blood river¡¯s expression of murderous intent. a moment later, the blood river elder instructed, ¡°leave the sect and go to the market to investigate who bought the great grudge curse technique and nine kinds of hundred-year grudges.¡± ¡°yes.¡± the bat demon bowed and left. ¡°zhou xuewu, was it you who cursed me?¡± the gloomy voice of elder blood river echoed in the cave. with the bat demon¡¯s ability and background, it was naturally very simple to inquire about things. in just a month, he found out that someone had bought the great grudge curse technique in the market at the bottom of the white bone hall. at this moment, elder blood river was cursed by the great grudge curse technique again. pus flowed, blood flowed, limbs fell, five senses were stripped, and all kinds of curses followed. ¡°who is it? who is it? i¡¯m going to kill you! ¡°no! i want to torture you and make you die a horrible death!¡± elder blood river continued to roar and howl like a raging ghost. but this was just the beginning. every month thereafter, he would be cursed. six months later, the bat demon returned to the blood god sect. ¡°ah bat greets master.¡± ¡°did you find out anything?¡± elder blood river¡¯s voice was low and extremely oppressive. the bat demon clearly felt that elder blood river¡¯s killing intent was several times stronger than it was six months ago. ¡°more than a year ago, a mysterious itinerant cultivator bought a few demonic cultivation techniques, including the great grudge curse technique, in the market of the white bone hall. several demonic cultivators tried to rob the itinerant cultivator but none of them returned. they were most likely dead¡­ then, the bat demon began to describe zhang chen¡¯s appearance at the time. elder blood river frowned. he had no impression of zhang chen¡¯s transformation of appearance. however, there were many spells that could change one¡¯s appearance. it was very likely that it was not their true appearance. these pieces of information did not satisfy elder blood river: ¡°is there more?¡± the bat demon swallowed saliva and said, ¡°no one in the nearby demonic sect markets bought hundred-year grudges, so i wondered if they went to the orthodox sect markets. ¡°so i quietly sneaked into the silver moon sect¡¯s territory and learned that a year ago, a disciple of the silver moon sect bought nine kinds of hundred-year grudges, which happened to be able to cast the great grudge curse technique.¡± ¡°it¡¯s actually a disciple of the silver moon clan? are you sure?¡± elder blood river was surprised. timing-wise, it was very fitting. he was first cursed a year ago, but he never thought it would be someone from the silver moon sect. with the moral character of the orthodox sects, they would not allow disciples to use demonic techniques. ¡°the stall owner who traded with him said that he exuded the unique silver moon sect¡¯s chilling aura and that someone saw him talking to four silver moon disciples who were at the ninth level of foundation establishment.¡± elder blood river fell into contemplation at the bat demon¡¯s words. why did a disciple of the silver moon sect cast the great grudge curse on him, and why was it done every month? furthermore, the silver moon sect¡¯s cultivation technique did not have the undying attribute, so it should not be able to withstand the backlash. ¡°could this be the silver moon sect¡¯s retaliation against our sect? but it was black blood who raided their disciples. if they wanted revenge, they should have taken revenge on black blood!¡± elder blood river was filled with doubts and puzzles, but from the information currently available, the curse was related to the silver moon sect. what conspiracy was hidden within this? was it related to the counterattack against the blood god sect? elder blood river couldn¡¯t understand, and it made him somewhat restless. the bat demon stood in place, bowing its head, feeling tormented, and not daring to make any movements.. Chapter 127 - Chapter 127: Sect Selection chapter 127: sect selection translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios ¡°dang dang dang dang dang dang¡­¡± the dense and compact sound of bells echoed through the blood god sect. ¡°this is the bell summoning all disciples. could it be that something big has happened in the blood god sect again?¡± zhang chen stopped cultivating and looked puzzled. he got up and walked outside. when he arrived outside the cave, he looked up at the sky and saw numerous blood-colored lights flying towards the square like a meteor shower. whenever the sect summoned, as long as one was within the sect, one must go. therefore, zhang chen also turned into a blood light and joined the group. arriving at the square, zhang chen glanced around and found second senior sister and the others. he walked forward and asked, ¡°senior sister, senior brothers, do you know why the sect has summoned us this time?¡± dong fengzhen and the others shook their heads. ¡°we don¡¯t know either. it¡¯s only been a few years since we fought against the silver moon sect. i¡¯m afraid this time, we will have to deal with their retaliatory attack.¡± zhang chen nodded, feeling that this was indeed a possibility. just as everyone was guessing, various phenomena appeared, and seven figures emitting a huge aura appeared in the sky. all the disciples immediately bowed, ¡°greetings, sect master, elders!¡± the blood god sect master looked solemn and said in a deep voice, ¡°the orthodox faction is becoming more and more rampant, trespassing on our demonic land. in order to show the power of our demonic faction, our sect intends to invite nearby fellow practitioners to hold a demonic competition. yesterday, our sect received a reply that the white bone hall, corpse control sect, and dark abyss gate have agreed to participate in the competition, which is scheduled for half a year later. you all must practice diligently and not tarnish the reputation of our blood god sect.¡± ¡°we will never tarnish the reputation of our sect!¡± everyone shouted in unison. the blood god sect master nodded in satisfaction. ¡°for this competition, our sect will offer several valuable treasures as rewards. don¡¯t miss this opportunity, everyone.¡± hearing the words ¡®valuable treasures¡¯, everyone became excited and wanted to try their luck. zhang chen was also curious. with the blood god sect master¡¯s status, if he could say that it was a treasure, it must be a real treasure. in the air, the blood god sect master continued to say, ¡°the competition is divided into three groups: early foundation building, mid foundation building, and late foundation building. the first place in each group can receive a reward. if you have confidence, you can challenge beyond your level. ¡°to avoid embarrassment from waste appearing on stage, there will be an internal competition within the sect to select elites before the demonic competition.¡± the blood god sect master waved his hand, and his magical power was released. the ground shook, and three arenas were formed. ¡°the arena on the left is used for the early-stage foundation establishment realm. the middle one is used for the mid-stage foundation establishment realm, and the right one is used for the late-stage foundation establishment realm. ¡°each group will only take ten people. those who are nominated at the early-stage foundation establishment realm will be rewarded with 50 bowls of blood essence. ¡°those who are nominated for the mid-stage foundation establishment realm will be rewarded with a hundred bowls of blood essence. ¡°those who enter the late-stage foundation establishment realm will be rewarded with 200 bowls of blood essence.¡¯ hearing such generous rewards, everyone was tempted. under the arrangement of the blood god sect master, the competition quickly began. the first to third levels of foundation establishment were the early stages of foundation establishment, and zhang chen was currently at the fourth level of foundation establishment, entering the mid-stage of foundation establishment. some opponents were at the fifth or sixth level of foundation establishment, putting him at a disadvantage in terms of realm. however, the reason for dividing the competition into early, mid, and late stages was that the strength difference between each stage was not significant. the key to victory was in the mastery of techniques, spells, and artifacts. in this regard, zhang chen had a significant advantage. even without using the blood god son, he could compete with those at the late foundation establishment stage with just his spells. he needed to consider how much of his strength to display, enough to demonstrate his worth and intimidate his fellow disciples, but not enough to cause suspicion from the elders and sect master. overall, as long as he did not use fatal spells, there would be no significant problems. many spells had side effects on the mental level or required accumulation over time, and hidden dangers that might not be apparent even after use. the battle in the arena was very intense, but zhang chen was not interested. only a battle with someone at the ninth level of the foundation establishment realm could pique his interest. zhang chen suddenly exclaimed in surprise because he saw a familiar face on the left arena, li mumin. at this time, li mumin had a cultivation of the third level of foundation establishment, but his aura was unstable, indicating that he had just recently broken through. he was using the blood boiling scripture, and the blood he released carried a hint of heat. perhaps to show off and quickly end the battle, li mumin used all his strength and didn¡¯t hold back on any of his attacks. the disciple he was fighting against was only at the second level of the foundation establishment realm. continuously dodged and defended, intending to consume li mumin¡¯s magical power. in the end, li mumin won the fight with an advantage of one level in cultivation, with a look of pride on his face. zhang chen shook his head and retracted his gaze, looking towards the late-stage foundation establishment realm arena. in his opinion, li mumin had good luck, potential, and mentality, especially luck. if he was unlucky, he would not have met him and obtained enough blood essence to reach the foundation establishment realm and stand out. nor would he have encountered him in the territory of the silver moon sect and been saved by him. however, in the blood god sect, he was destined to be a pawn of the elders. there were only about a hundred direct disciples of the blood god sect and they were divided into three arenas. soon, it was zhang chen¡¯s turn. in the previous direct disciple competition, zhang chen had displayed the strength of a fifth-level foundation establishment cultivator with a third-level foundation establishment cultivation, and had some reputation. therefore, zhang chen attracted a lot of attention when he went on stage. zhang chen¡¯s opponent was also at the fourth level of foundation establishment. in the crowd, second senior sister dong fengzhen said confidently, ¡°when seventh junior brother was at the third level of the foundation establishment realm, he defeated an opponent at the fourth level of the foundation establishment realm. now that seventh junior brother¡¯s cultivation level has increased by one level, there should be no suspense in this competition.¡± the others nodded in agreement. ¡°i think seventh junior brother should be able to get into the top ten in the middle-stage foundation establishment realm and participate in the demon dao grand competition.¡± on the arena, zhang chen released a white bone true body, two frost bone slaves, 10 blood god sons at the ninth level of qi refinement, and a foundation establishment beast, filling the arena. except for the two frost bone slaves, which he had used in the previous direct disciple battle, he had no hidden means. seeing zhang chen¡¯s imposing manner, his opponent already knew he had lost, especially since the two frost bone slaves were extremely effective against blood. ¡°this is the white bone true body of the white bone hall, and those two bone slaves emitting cold air should have been refined from the bodies of disciples of the silver moon sect.¡¯ the blood god sect master watching from above was a little surprised and turned to elder blood river. ¡°elder blood river, i remember this is your disciple, right?¡± ¡°this is my seventh disciple, zhang chen,¡± blood river replied respectfully. ¡°this zhang chen is good, he has broken through to the fourth layer of foundation establishment in just over 10 years, not only killing the direct disciples of the white bone hall and the silver moon sect, but also refining them into bone slaves, which has brought face to our blood god sect.¡± the blood god sect master looked at zhang chen with great interest. elder blood flame, who should have been zhang chen¡¯s master, said sourly, ¡°no wonder elder blood river was willing to exchange three spots for him. he has a good eye for talent!¡± elder blood river smiled smugly and did not say anything. ¡°but¡­¡± the blood god sect master suddenly changed the subject, ¡°during the demon dao grand competition, the white bone hall will also be present, and it won¡¯t be easy to use the white bone true body and the bone slaves.¡± blood river elder immediately understood and replied respectfully, ¡°i understand, after this battle, i will inform zhang chen not to use the white bone true body and the bone slaves.¡± ¡°yes.¡± the blood god sect master nodded in satisfaction and did not say anything else¡­ Chapter 128 - Chapter 128: Selection Ends chapter 128: selection ends translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios as the blood god sect¡¯s leaders were conversing, the battle on the arena had already begun. zhang chen¡¯s cultivation was the same as his opponent¡¯s. he had the white bone true body, bone slave, blood god¡¯s son, and the assistance of a demonic beast. they rushed forward and overwhelmed the opponent, who couldn¡¯t even defend himself. almost in just one move, the opponent was defeated. the competition was still ongoing. he needed to win three consecutive rounds to enter the top 10 and qualify for the demon path grand competition. in the second round, zhang chen¡¯s opponent was a cultivator at the fifth level of the foundation establishment stage. the battle was still very fast. the opponent only managed to resist for a moment before the victory was decided. the entire process took only a dozen or so breaths. ¡°zhang chen wins!¡± the opponent in the third round was at the sixth level of foundation establishment, the highest realm of the mid-stage foundation establishment realm. however, the other party was still no match for zhang chen. he only lasted for 15 minutes before being defeated. ¡°zhang chen wins and qualifies for the demon path grand competition. awarded one hundred bowls of blood essence!¡± ¡°thank you for the reward, sect master.¡± zhang chen respectfully received the blood storage bag containing the blood essence. as soon as zhang chen walked down the arena, dong fengzhen and the others immediately surrounded him and praised him, ¡°it ended so quickly. seventh junior brother is amazing!¡± zhang chen smiled. ¡°you flatter me. i only borrowed some external power.¡± ¡°seventh junior brother is too humble. external power is also a part of one¡¯s strength¡­¡¯ this time, zhang chen had truly become famous in the blood god sect. many disciples came up to him to chat, build relationships, and get on his good side. the selection competition continued in an orderly manner. after li mumin won two rounds, he lost the third round. after all, he had just broken through and his foundation was not strong enough. as for the disciples of elder blood river, besides zhang chen, fourth senior brother xu zhenling also won three matches and qualified for the demon path grand competition. when zhang chen was at the foundation establishment realm, xu zhenling was already at the sixth level of the foundation establishment realm. he was a veteran mid-stage foundation establishment realm cultivator. it was not surprising that he could win three rounds. after two days of competition, all the candidates for the demon path grand competition were determined. except for zhang chen, everyone else had the highest cultivation level in their respective stages. just as zhang chen was preparing to leave, the voice of elder blood river echoed in his mind. ¡°come to my cave.¡± this was a sound transmission technique! zhang chen lowered his head respectfully and replied with his divine sense, ¡°yes, master.¡± after a while, zhang chen raised his head and looked at the place where elder blood river had disappeared. ¡°why did that old guy come to me when it¡¯s not yet time to test my cultivation? could it be about the curse?¡± frowning, zhang chen kept pondering in his mind. there was no way to avoid it. what was supposed to come would come sooner or later. regaining his composure, zhang chen calmly transformed into a blood-red light and left as if nothing had happened. upon witnessing this scene, xu zhenling and his companions showed expressions of envy. ¡°junior brother seven is heading towards blood river peak. he will surely perform well, and master will reward him for his efforts.¡± second senior sister, who was standing nearby, had a strange expression on her face, as if she wanted to say something but didn¡¯t. it was evident that she knew something. zhang chen arrived at the foot of blood river peak and discovered that the formation that had previously enveloped the mountain was not activated. he immediately understood what it meant. out of respect, he did not use his spells to fly up, but instead took one step at a time, making his way up the mountain until he reached the entrance of the cave. ¡°disciple zhang chen is here to pay his respects to master.¡± ¡°come in.¡± upon entering the cave, zhang chen once again paid his respects. ¡°master.¡± ¡°you¡¯ve performed well in this selection. you¡¯ve made me proud.¡± elder blood river smiled kindly. upon seeing his smile, zhang chen had an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if he had seen it on someone else¡¯s face before. ¡°it was because my opponents were afraid of you, master, that they intentionally lost to me,¡± zhang chen flattered. ¡°hahaha-¡± although he knew that zhang chen was flattering him, elder blood river still laughed heartily. ¡°but the direct disciples of the white bone hall and the silver moon clan aren¡¯t afraid of me, are they?¡± was it about the white bone true body and the frost bone slave? just as zhang chen was about to explain, elder blood river spoke again, ¡°i don¡¯t care about the origins of your white bone true body and bone slaves. i just want to remind you not to use them during the demon path grand competition. ¡°after all, the white bone hall will also come. if it was in the past, it would be fine, but now that sect master wants to form an alliance with the white bone hall, it¡¯s better not to have any conflicts.¡± the blood god sect wants to form an alliance with the white bone hall? zhang chen learned an important message from elder blood river¡¯s words. ¡°yes, master. when the time comes, i won¡¯t use anything related to the white bone hall.¡± ¡°hmm.¡± blood river elder nodded in satisfaction. ¡°without the bone slaves, your strength would decrease a lot. so, i¡¯ll give you a secret technique to fill the gap in your combat power.¡± at first, zhang chen didn¡¯t pay much attention. what secret technique could compare to three foundation establishment helpers? ¡°this technique is called the blood sacrifice technique. it can forcefully break through the realm of the blood god son, but after half an incense stick, the blood god son will perish and cease to exist.¡± elder blood river said, taking out a jade slip. due to the limitations of the spell, the blood god son¡¯s cultivation would be one realm lower than his own. but if he used the blood sacrifice technique, he could make the blood god son break through the foundation establishment realm. although it could only last for 15 minutes and he would lose the blood god son, this was completely acceptable to zhang chen. he didn¡¯t lack blood essence and could use the blood god son at the ninth level of qi refinement as a consumable. if he had a thousand foundation establishment blood god sons, he could even contend with an early-stage golden core cultivator. as long as he mastered the blood sacrifice technique, he could be said to be truly the number one person under the golden core stage! zhang chen suppressed the excitement in his heart and tried to maintain his composure. elder blood river lightly tossed the jade slip, and it flew towards zhang chen under the support of his mana. watching the jade slip fly closer and closer, zhang chen almost couldn¡¯t restrain the expression on his face, but he used the seven emotions and six desires demon technique in time and suppressed the excitement in his heart. ¡°thank you for the technique, master!¡± zhang chen respectfully stretched out his hands and caught the jade slip. ¡°you have 10 blood god sons at the ninth level of qi refinement. as long as you master the blood sacrifice technique within half a year, you might have a chance to win the first place in the mid- stage foundation establishment competition during the demon path grand competition and receive a reward from the sect. ¡°you have always made me very satisfied and never disappointed me. i hope this time will not be a disappointment.¡± elder blood river had a kind smile on his face, like a master who really cared about his disciple. ¡°i will definitely bring glory to the sect and not disappoint you, master!¡± zhang chen said with a serious expression. ¡°alright, you can go back now.¡± ¡°yes, i¡¯ll take my leave.¡± zhang chen left the cave abode respectfully. after zhang chen left, the smile on the blood river elder¡¯s face disappeared and he smiled sinisterly. ¡°my good disciple, you¡¯ve nurtured so many blood god sons in the cave. this blood sacrifice technique is probably just what you wanted, right?¡± as he walked out of the cave, zhang chen tightly grasped the jade slip. although the jade slip was cold, his heart was burning with passion. it was also at this moment, without the pressure and urgency of the golden core stage, that zhang chen finally realized why elder blood river¡¯s smile gave him a sense of familiarity. he often saw this kind of smile on the face of his eldest senior brother, hong longguang. and the side effect of the soul searching technique was that, with the accumulation of memories, it could lead to confusion of memories. zhang chen instantly realized that elder blood river had probably used soul searching technique on hong longguang, so he was influenced by hong long¡¯s memories and habits.. Chapter 129 - Chapter 129: Speculation and Decision chapter 129: speculation and decision translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios elder blood river knew that he could compress zhang chen¡¯s cultivation time only because he had obtained hong longguang¡¯s memories and knew that zhang chen could provide a large amount of refined blood. thinking of this, zhang chen¡¯s heart sank. once the fact that he could refine a large amount of blood was exposed, elder xuehe would probably directly probe his soul. the reason why he hadn¡¯t made a move on him yet was that hong longguang only knew about his blood trading with his senior brothers, and the trading time was not very long. this blood essence was not much to elder blood river, not enough to attract his attention. at the moment, he was more interested in controlling zhang chen¡¯s soul after he broke through the golden core stage. ¡°i control most of the blood division in the beast garden and don¡¯t lack blood. continuing to trade was to win over my fellow disciples and establish connections. ¡°with my current strength, i don¡¯t have to care about the ways of the world anymore. it¡¯s time to stop.¡± after making up his mind, zhang chen transformed into a blood light and flew towards his cave. back in his cave, zhang chen couldn¡¯t wait to take out the jade slip he had just obtained. as long as he mastered the blood sacrifice technique, his strength would increase at least tenfold. he pasted the jade slip on his forehead, and mysterious and arcane characters entered his mind one by one. [detected cultivation technique, blood sacrifice technique. use a secret technique to establish a connection with the netherworld blood sea and sacrifice the blood god son to it.] [when the netherworld blood sea absorbs the blood god son, it will form an energy nourishment that will increase the blood god son¡¯s cultivation realm for a short period of time, but it will not be able to break through to the golden core realm.] [side effects: every sacrifice will deepen the connection with the netherworld blood sea. when the connection reaches a certain level, it will be sensed by the master of the netherworld blood sea and forcefully absorbed and devoured, becoming a part of the netherworld blood sea.] [please wait a moment, system modification is in progress¡­] [ding! modification complete. side effects canceled.] ¡°this blood sacrifice technique is actually sacrificing the blood god son to the netherworld blood sea?¡± zhang chen showed a surprised expression. the jade slip only recorded the chanting and process of the technique, but did not explain its source and side effects. legend had it that the blood god sect¡¯s inheritance came from the netherworld blood sea. the owner of the netherworld blood sea was patriarch nether river. according to the modifier, each sacrifice would deepen the connection with the netherworld blood sea. at a certain level, patriarch nether river would sense it and forcefully absorb and devour it with great magic power. the function of increasing the cultivation realm of the blood god son was actually just an accessory. zhang chen guessed that the blood sacrifice technique was very likely deliberately spread by patriarch nether river. not only did it acquire sacrifices and strengthen the blood sea, but it also had to devour the sacrificer. it could be said to be a model of the demonic path. however, zhang chen did not have to worry about this at all. after being modified by the modifier, he could use it without restraint. ¡°i wonder if that old thing blood river knows this? he probably doesn¡¯t. if i¡¯m devoured by the netherworld blood sea, he won¡¯t get anything. it won¡¯t do him any good.¡± zhang chen answered his own question, then withdrew his thoughts and began to study the blood sacrifice technique. seven days later. ¡°disciple of the pill pavilion requests an audience with senior brother zhang.¡± zhang chen was not surprised to hear the voice outside the cave abode. he stood up and walked out because today was the day he agreed to trade blood essence with the alchemy tower. when the pill pavilion disciple saw zhang chen, he hurriedly bowed. ¡°senior brother zhang, i¡¯m here on behalf of the pill pavilion to exchange for blood essence.¡± zhang chen nodded and took out the blood storage bag containing the blood essence and threw it over. the disciple from the pill pavilion also took out the blood bag containing the foundation establishment demon blood, but he dared not be as casual as zhang chen and instead held it up with both hands. zhang chen took the bag and said, ¡°go back and tell your eldest senior brother that our deal ends here.¡± the disciple from the pill pavilion hurriedly asked, ¡°can senior brother zhang please tell me the reason?¡± ¡°you don¡¯t need to know the reason. just go back and tell them,¡± zhang chen said and turned around to enter the cave, ignoring him. the pill pavilion disciple wanted to say something but hesitated. his expression was ugly. he was likely to be held accountable after he went back and reported what zhang chen had said. not long after, the pill pavilion disciple arrived at gu pingshan¡¯s cave abode and truthfully relayed what zhang chen had said. gu pingshan¡¯s face darkened. ¡°didn¡¯t he explain the reason?¡± the pill pavilion disciple replied carefully, ¡°i asked, but senior brother zhang said we don¡¯t need to know.¡± ¡°qualifying for the demon path grand competition, and he thinks he¡¯s better than everyone, even me?!¡± gu pingshan¡¯s face grew darker. each transaction may not have been for a large amount of essence blood, but it had been stable for more than a decade, and the accumulation was significant. relying on this blood essence, his strength increased greatly. he also roped in many people and made the pill pavilion his sole say. now that the supply of blood essence had suddenly and inexplicably been cut off, he might lose his current position, so he was naturally very angry. ¡°before, i didn¡¯t investigate the source of the blood essence because i was afraid of accidents and losing a stable source of blood essence. now that you can¡¯t provide it anymore, it¡¯s worthless!¡±¡± gu pingshan¡¯s gaze turned cold as he ordered, ¡°go and have someone keep an eye on zhang chen¡¯s every move.¡± ¡°yes, eldest senior brother.¡± the pill pavilion disciple replied and left. although they were extremely reluctant, they had no choice. previously, they had traded essence blood to resist wu chang, their third senior brother. now that wu chang was dead, hong longguang had left, and zhang chen had shown his strength during the selection process, they could do nothing against him. zhang chen also noticed that his senior brothers and sisters had changed their attitude towards him, becoming less enthusiastic and more dismissive. zhang chen did not care about this, just like how humans did not care about the ants under their feet. half a month later, a blood light fell into the dense forest fifty miles away from the blood god sect. through his perception of the blood god son, zhang chen knew that shen yijun was coming towards him. ¡°last time i said that as long as shen yijun could bring ten cultivators at the ninth level of foundation establishment for me to control, i would release him. i wonder if he will bring me a surprise this time.¡± zhang chen smiled and stood in the forest waiting. meanwhile, in the blood god sect, the disciple in charge of the pill pavilion reported zhang chen¡¯s departure from the sect to gu pingshan. after hearing this, gu pingshan grinned, ¡°he left the sect at this time? since we can¡¯t investigate the source of his blood essence, i can only use the soul searching technique.¡± although zhang chen had easily defeated a cultivator at the sixth level of foundation establishment cultivator, in gu pingshan¡¯s eyes, it was nothing special and at most equivalent to a cultivator at the eighth level. in the blood god sect, every cultivator at the ninth level of foundation establishment was not a simple character and had profound knowledge, as well as many secret techniques. although he had not investigated the source of zhang chen¡¯s blood essence before, he was not completely unprepared. there was a special kind of powder on the blood storage bag he gave to zhang chen, which was colorless and odorless and only detectable by the demon beasts fed with this kind of pill since childhood. from the beginning, he had no intention of letting zhang chen go. if zhang chen could not provide the blood essence steadily, he would use this method to investigate the source of the blood essence. ¡°fellow daoist shen, where exactly is the ancient cultivation cave abode you mentioned? if we continue forward, we¡¯ll reach the blood god sect.¡¯ ¡°fellow daoist ma, we¡¯ve known each other for 200 years. why would i lie to you? it¡¯s just ahead. we¡¯ll be there soon.¡± shen yijun reassured the cultivators beside him and increased their flying speed.. Chapter 130 - Chapter 130: Another Person chapter 130: another person translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios ¡°shen yijun really brought a cultivator here?¡± zhang chen¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw the two streaks of light flying over. the cultivator named ma also sensed that there was someone in the forest. he paused and said warily, ¡°there¡¯s someone ahead!¡± shen yijun smiled. ¡°fellow daoist ma, don¡¯t be nervous. that¡¯s another fellow daoist i¡¯ve arranged to meet. he¡¯s at the fourth level of foundation establishment and is a direct disciple of the blood god sect. after all, this is the territory of the blood god sect and this can avoid a lot of troubles.¡± upon hearing that it was only a fourth-level foundation establishment cultivator, ma¡¯s expression relaxed a bit. ¡°we¡¯re so close to the blood god sect. how come they haven¡¯t found the ancient cultivation cave yet?¡± shen yijun said calmly, ¡°i¡¯m here to meet up with the fellow daoists of the blood god sect. the ancient cultivation cave abode is still 300 miles ahead.¡± cultivator ma didn¡¯t say anything. he seemed to be pondering his credibility. shen yijun smiled. ¡°don¡¯t keep the fellow daoists of the blood god sect waiting. let¡¯s go down.¡± cultivator ma nodded and remained vigilant as he followed behind shen yijun. shen yijun¡¯s lips curled into an imperceptible sinister smile. the two of them had known each other for 200 years, and their relationship had always been good. that was why the other person trusted him and came here with him. it was difficult to deceive strangers, but it was much easier to deceive acquaintances. this was also why many people chose to deceive acquaintances. when they arrived at the forest, cultivator ma saw that zhang chen was indeed only at the fourth level of foundation establishment and believed shen yijun¡¯s words even more. ¡°fellow daoist zhang, this is ma quan. fellow daoist ma will explore the ancient cultivation cave abode with us,¡± shen yijun introduced very naturally, completely unlike the lackey he had been the last time they met. zhang chen played along. ¡°greetings, fellow daoist ma.¡± shen yijun introduced to ma quan, ¡°this is the direct disciple of the blood god sect, zhang chen.¡± ¡°greetings, fellow daoist zhang.¡± ma quan cupped his hands. ¡°next, let¡¯s discuss the distribution of the spoils from the ancient cultivation cave abode.¡± shen yijun completely acted like a leader. ¡°as the discoverer of the cave abode, i¡¯ll take 50 percent of the spoils. this is the territory of the blood god sect, and zhang, as a disciple of the sect, will take 30 percent. the remaining 20 percent will go to fellow daoist ma,¡± he continued. upon hearing the distribution, ma immediately protested, ¡°i don¡¯t object to fellow daoist shen taking 50 percent, but fellow daoist zhang is only at the fourth level of foundation establishment. when the time comes, exploring the ancient cultivation cave abode will mainly rely on you and me. so i should take 30 percent!¡± ¡°fellow daoist ma, do you think i¡¯m too weak to deserve 30 percent?¡± zhang chen smiled. ma quan did not say anything, but his expression and gaze revealed what he meant. ¡°well then, i¡¯ll prove my strength to you, ma,¡± zhang chen said. zhang chen slapped his storage bag and his white bone true body, two frost bone slaves, and a foundation establishment demon beast appeared before them. ma remained unfazed. four early-stage foundation establishment cultivators and zhang chen, who was at the fourth level of foundation establishment, were still far from the ninth level of foundation establishment. however, when he saw the blood god sons constantly pouring out of zhang¡¯s body, ma finally showed a look of shock. after releasing more than a hundred blood god sons, zhang chen revealed a meaningful smile. ¡°attack!¡± shen yijun grinned savagely and launched his attack on ma with all his power. capturing a foundation establishment cultivator at the ninth level was not easy. he had proposed the distribution to make ma dissatisfied and then let zhang prove himself. he naturally displayed his strength by releasing the bone slaves and the blood god sons. if he had released the blood god directly, ma quan would definitely have run or attacked instead of watching zhang chen release his bone slaves. ma quan was shocked and furious. he quickly activated his protective artifact. he could never have imagined that his friend of 200 years, who had fought alongside him, would join forces with others to kill him. ¡°boom!¡± there was a loud bang. ma quan¡¯s protective instrument device barely withstood the attack, but he himself was still slightly injured. but in the meantime, many blood god sons and bone slaves had formed a siege, and ma quan had almost lost his chance to escape. ma quan looked furious as he sternly asked shen yijun, ¡°we¡¯ve known each other for 200 years, worked together many times, and saved each other. why do you want to harm me?¡± shen yijun said helplessly, ¡°fellow daoist ma, don¡¯t blame me. i was not in control, being manipulated by others.¡± ma quan did not believe him and sneered, ¡°hehe!¡± ¡°as long as you don¡¯t resist and accept fellow daoist zhang¡¯s control, your life won¡¯t be in danger.find something that can harm a golden core cultivator or 10 ninth level foundation establishment cultivators, and you¡¯ll be able to regain your freedom.¡± shen yijun looked like he was advising him for his own good. ma quan looked at zhang chen doubtfully. he could not understand how a fourth level foundation establishment cultivator could control shen yijun. at the same time, he was extremely angry at shen yijun¡¯s betrayal. ¡°shen yijun, to think that i trusted you and treated you as a good friend. you actually tricked me to this place and allowed me to be controlled!¡± ¡°sigh¡­¡± shen yijun sighed. ¡°i just wanted to get rid of my control and regain my freedom. i had no choice.¡¯ ¡°what a ridiculous excuse!¡± ma quan laughed out of anger. at this moment, zhang chen said, ¡°take him down first. you¡¯ll have plenty of opportunities to catch up in the future.¡± as soon as he finished speaking, more than a hundred blood god sons moved. they swarmed towards ma quan like locusts. shen yijun did not dare to hesitate and immediately attacked. a hundred blood god sons at the ninth level of qi refinement were equivalent to a ninth level foundation establishment cultivator. zhang chen, a white bone true body, two frost bone slaves, and a foundation establishment demon beast were also equivalent to a ninth-level foundation establishment cultivator. coupled with shen yijun, it was equivalent to three ninth level foundation establishment cultivators attacking ma quan. ma quan couldn¡¯t hold on for long and soon spewed blood, seriously injured and fell to the ground. ¡°cough, cough, cough-¡± ma quan kept coughing up blood and found it difficult to move. his face was full of sorrow. shen yijun said guiltily, ¡°fellow daoist ma, i¡¯ve let you down. in the future, i¡¯ll help you find cultivators to help you get rid of your control as soon as possible.¡± ¡°stop crying. cough, cough- if it weren¡¯t for you, i wouldn¡¯t have fallen into this state! cough, cough-¡± ma quan¡¯s eyes were full of hatred. anyone who was deceived by a good friend and controlled by someone would feel angry and find it difficult to forgive. but zhang chen did not care and walked towards ma quan, preparing to plant the blood seed. seeing zhang chen approaching, ma quan¡¯s eyes flashed with fierceness. he wanted to fight to the death. however, when he thought about how the other party was a disciple of the blood god sect that was difficult to kill, he gave up the idea and lowered his head in resignation. a blood god son with intelligence turned back into a blood seed and flew into zhang chen¡¯s hand. ¡°you can resist, but i advise you not to do so.¡± ¡°cough, cough, cough.¡± ma quan said with difficulty, ¡°i hope it¡¯s really as shen yijun said. if i find anything that can hurt a late-stage golden core or 10 ninth level foundation establishment cultivators, you can let me regain my freedom.¡¯ zhang chen smiled. ¡°as long as you can really find them for me, i will let you go.¡± one for ten, this deal can be done. ¡°alright, come on!¡± ma quan closed his eyes and let zhang chen do as he pleased. zhang chen slapped the blood seed into ma quan¡¯s chest. at this moment, shen yijun suddenly said, ¡°sir, you still have to make him swear an oath to the heavenly dao..¡± Chapter 131 - Chapter 131: Deception and Intrigue chapter 131: deception and intrigue translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios ma quan was furious and glared at shen yijun. ¡°you¡¯re really vicious. i must have been blind to believe you in the first place!¡± shen yijun remained composed. since he had already offended ma quan and there was no sign of reconciliation, he might as well go all out and continue. ¡°although you have means of control, it¡¯s safer to add a heavenly oath.¡± zhang chen nodded and instructed ma quan, ¡°add another heavenly oath.¡± although ma quan was seething with hatred, he had no choice but to comply and compromise. ¡°as a testament to all things, with the sun and moon as witnesses, i, ma quan, swear by the heavenly oath¡­¡± a force from the depths of the abyss descended from the void. although zhang chen had seen this power before, he still felt insignificant, like an ant. ¡°¡­from this day forth, i shall obey zhang chen¡¯s commands until i find an item capable of harming a late golden core stage cultivator or encounter ten cultivators at the foundation establishment ninth level. should i harbor any rebellious thoughts during this period, i shall immediately perish!¡± just as ma quan finished speaking, shen yijun quickly pointed out a flaw. ¡°fellow daoist ma, you should say ¡®obey the current zhang chen.¡±¡® although ma quan felt reluctant, he had to swear again, ¡°as a testament to all things, with the sun and moon as witnesses, i, ma quan, swear by the heavenly oath to obey the current zhang chen from this day forth¡­ if one was subjected to a control method, there might be a way to break free, but with a correct heavenly oath, unless they left this realm, it couldn¡¯t be undone. though one wouldn¡¯t immediately die after violating the oath, numerous unexpected events would occur, and nothing would go smoothly, leading to their demise. after making the oath, ma quan said with resentment, ¡°fellow daoist shen, is there anything else you want to add?¡± shen yijun laughed dryly and said, ¡°no, there isn¡¯t.¡± since he had accepted being controlled, he was now part of the group. zhang chen took out a bottle of healing pill and tossed it to ma quan. ¡°this is a healing pill. don¡¯t die.¡± ma quan didn¡¯t hesitate and swallowed the pill directly. as the pill dissolved, his complexion became much rosier. after putting away the blood god¡¯s child and others, zhang chen turned to shen yijun and asked, ¡°well done. did you gain anything else?¡± ¡°my lord, no more,¡± shen yijun replied respectfully. ¡°that¡¯s settled then. we¡¯ll meet again here in six months.¡± ¡®yes, my lord.¡¯ with that, zhang chen did not linger any longer. he turned into a blood light and left. however, he did not return to the blood god sect. instead, he flew towards the cave where the blood god curse was left. in the forest, shen yijun said, ¡°fellow daoist ma, you saved me this time. i was desperate and had no other choice.¡± ¡°and because you were desperate, you decided to harm me?¡± ma quan sneered. ¡°at least i didn¡¯t intend to take your life. although i¡¯m being controlled, there is hope for me to break free. apart from finding items that can harm a late golden core stage cultivator or encountering ten cultivators at the foundation establishment ninth level, i can also slowly refine the blood seed within my body using my mana or cultivate techniques to reshape my body,¡± shen yijun explained, wearing an expression of being falsely accused. ¡°but how does that justify making me take a heavenly oath?¡± ma quan¡¯s eyes brimmed with hatred. shen yijun explained, ¡°i had already taken a heavenly oath before. i knew he would make you take an oath, so i thought i could gain his trust by speaking first. ¡°regardless, you deceived me and caused me to be controlled. that¡¯s the truth,¡± ma quan remained unmoved. while the two argued, zhang chen, who was flying towards the cave, suddenly came to a stop. his divine sense sensed the approach of a foundation establishment ninth level cultivator flying towards him, and it was a cultivator from the blood god sect. however, since the cave was close to the blood god sect, encountering their cultivators was normal. the reason he stopped was to avoid exposing the cave¡¯s location and any potential associations with it. as the other person approached, zhang chen could already see the blood light with his naked eyes. finally, the blood light stopped a hundred meters away from him. ¡°what a coincidence, junior brother zhang.¡± zhang chen looked at the little beast in gu pingshan¡¯s hand that kept chirping at him and wanted to pounce on him. he said calmly, ¡°i¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not a coincidence. senior brother gu specially came to look for me, right?¡± after being exposed, gu pingshan¡¯s expression remained normal. ¡°that¡¯s right. i came to find you because i want to know why you suddenly stopped the blood essence transaction.¡± ¡°senior brother gu, shouldn¡¯t you explain how you found me first?¡± zhang chen¡¯s gaze revealed coldness. if he wanted to ask why the transaction was interrupted, he could ask in the sect, not outside. ¡°it¡¯s just some small tricks. it¡¯s not worth mentioning.¡± gu pingshan had no intention of explaining. he put the little beast into the beast breeding bag and continued. ¡°i had a good time working with junior brother zhang previously. it¡¯s best if we can continue trading. if not, please tell me the source of the blood essence.¡± zhang chen was still indifferent. ¡°if i say no, will senior brother gu attack?¡± gu pingshan smiled. ¡°junior brother, you¡¯re a smart person. since you know, tell me the source of the blood essence. ¡°this place is less than a hundred miles away from the sect. senior brother gu, are you so confident in keeping me here?¡± zhang chen asked. ¡°your strength is indeed not bad, comparable to the seventh or eighth level of the foundation establishment realm, but it¡¯s all external help. if i can¡¯t even keep a fourth level foundation establishment cultivator alive, how can i have the face to be the eldest senior brother of the alchemy house?¡± gu pingshan was full of confidence and had a proud expression. zhang chen naturally had the strength to kill gu pingshan, but this place was too close to the blood god sect. he could not expose the secret of having many blood god sons. hence, zhang chen turned into a blood light and turned to run. ¡°you want to run?¡± gu pingshan sneered and turned into a blood light to chase after him. because of his realm, gu pingshan¡¯s escape technique was much faster than zhang chen¡¯s. more importantly, he was in the direction of the blood god sect. zhang chen could only run away from the blood god sect. however, zhang chen did not really want to run. instead, he wanted to lead gu pingshan into the dense forest. seeing that zhang chen had returned, shen yijun and ma quan who were arguing were stunned. following that, he saw more blood lights chasing from behind, and he had a suspicion in his heart. he stood still without making any movements. gu pingshan naturally noticed shen yijun and ma quan. although both emitted the aura of foundation establishment ninth level cultivators, he didn¡¯t pay much attention to them. because they were close to the blood god sect, it was unlikely that any itinerant cultivator would dare to make a move against disciples of the blood god sect here. furthermore, with the two of them drawing their swords in anger and ma quan appearing injured and weak, it seemed like a fierce battle between enemies. he couldn¡¯t imagine that the two of them were actually allies with zhang chen. seeing zhang chen land in the dense forest, gu pingshan, wary of shen yijun and ma quan, stopped in the air above the forest to avoid causing any misunderstandings and didn¡¯t make a move. the group of people looked at each other, and the atmosphere was exceptionally tense and oppressive. gu pingshan took the initiative to speak, ¡°i have no intention of interfering in the matters between you two, but i have some grievances with this fellow disciple, and i have come to pursue him.¡± shen yijun and ma quan exchanged glances and said, ¡°feel free, fellow disciple of the blood god sect. after speaking, the two of them remained vigilant and flew into the sky, maintaining a distance from each other. as for zhang chen, he looked like he was going to fight to the death. he slapped his storage bag and released his white bone true body, the frost bone slave, and the foundation establishment demon beast. as for the blood god sons, he only released 10 of them.. Chapter 132 - Chapter 132: The Battle at the Peak chapter 132: the battle at the peak translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios gu pingshan smiled disdainfully and released his blood to condense into a spear that attacked zhang chen. ¡°gurgle, gurgle, gurgle¡­¡± the crimson blood rolled like boiling lava. wherever it passed, the air twisted due to the high temperature, and the surrounding trees quickly withered and burned. gu pingshan was the eldest senior brother of the alchemy house lineage. his main cultivation was naturally the blood boiling scripture. the temperature contained in his blood was terrifying, reaching the limit of the foundation establishment stage. only the elder blood flame in the blood god sect could surpass him. ten blood god sons rushed towards the blood spear, but as soon as they approached, their bodies were burned and boiled by the high temperature, causing their forms to become unstable and scatter into blood. ¡°phew-¡± two frost bone slaves immediately exhaled cold air, condensing into an ice spear. however, the gap between the two sides was too great. as soon as they approached, they were melted by the scorching temperature. at the same time, zhang chen condensed the blood demon qi and struck out. blood demon palm! ¡°boom!¡± a large hole appeared in the center of the demon palm. the hot blood spear pierced through the evil aura and continued to attack. although neither of the two attacks was able to withstand the blood spear, they weakened its momentum considerably. just as the blood spear was about to descend, a huge figure stood in front of zhang chen. it was the white bone true body! ¡°boom!¡± with a loud noise, two grooves appeared on the ground, and the white bonetrue body retreated a hundred feet before coming to a halt. its originally jade-like body turned charred. ¡°junior brother zhang, your strength is not worth mentioning in my eyes.¡± gu pingshan stood proudly in the air and looked at zhang chen, who had used all his methods to block his attack. he smiled disdainfully and raised his hand gently. the blood in his body wriggled and condensed into dozens of scorching blood spears. with another flip of his palm, he lightly waved it, and a dense array of blood spears descended upon zhang chen. it was already a struggle to block one blood spear, so what about dozens of them? zhang chen remained unperturbed and calmly said, ¡°make your move.¡± shen yijun and ma quan made their move. one on the left and one on the right, they simultaneously activated their artifacts and attacked gu pingshan. ¡°what is the meaning of this, two fellow cultivators?¡± although gu pingshan was surprised and did not expect the two of them to be in cahoots with zhang chen, he had been on guard against them from the beginning. the blood in his body surged and condensed into four thick blood anacondas with single horns. ¡°hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss¡­¡± the blood anacondas were vivid and brimming with a fierce aura. they opened their blood-filled mouths and let out terrifying hisses. snake, python, anaconda, flood dragon, dragon. the python grew a horn to become an anaconda, two horns to become a dragon, and five claws to become a true dragon. apart from the blood boiling scripture, gu pingshan actually cultivated the blood spirit technique and reached the fourth realm of the anaconda dragon transformation. because he was on guard against shen yijun and ma quan¡¯s sneak attacks, he hadn¡¯t exerted his full strength against zhang chen earlier; instead, he concealed his true power. the four blood anacondas bit and entangled the artifacts of the two cultivators, facing their attacks. if it was just an ordinary blood anaconda, it would at most control or send their artifacts flying. however, gu pingshan¡¯s blood carried a terrifyingly high temperature. ¡°sizzle, sizzle, sizzle¡­¡¯ when the artifacts touched the blood anacondas, they sizzled and emitted bursts of black smoke. ¡°come back!¡± shen yijun and the other two were greatly shocked and tried to retrieve their artifacts. however, the four blood anacondas were unwilling to let go of the cultivators¡¯ artifacts and tightly clung to them. with prolonged contact, the artifacts even showed signs of melting. shen yijun and ma quan were both at the foundation establishment ninth level. after using some means, they successfully retrieved their artifacts and launched another attack, but they became much more cautious. on the other side, facing dozens of scorching blood spears, zhang chen used the blood shadow avatar technique, splitting his body into two. the avatar and the bone slave temoorarilv blocked the blood soears. while the true body unleashed the blood god sons without reservation. the blood god sons advanced one after another, constantly charging towards the blood spears, absorbing their temperature, and then boiling and collapsing under the high temperature, forming boiling blood pools on the ground. from afar, it looked like a hotpot. with the absorption of numerous blood god sons, the temperature of the blood spear plummeted. ¡°how do you have so many blood god sons?!¡± gu pingshan was shocked. then he thought of something and revealed a greedy gaze. ¡°the source of your blood essence! where did you get your blood essence from to be able to nurture more than a hundred blood god sons at the ninth level of qi refinement?!¡± zhang chen ignored him and launched a counterattack. the previously shattered blood god sons condensed again and pounced on gu pingshan. ¡°you must be hiding a huge secret. even if you don¡¯t tell me, i¡¯ll uncover your secret!¡± gu pingshan desperately wanted to know zhang chen¡¯s secret and fully activated the blood boiling scripture. it erupted like a volcano, spewing forth a large amount of blood that resembled molten lava. the temperature around them soared once again, causing the plants to ignite without fire, the earth to crack, as if they were truly immersed in volcanic lava. at this moment, gu pingshan resembled a demon god controlling the lava, his power surging. facing three opponents, he not only held his ground but also held the upper hand. the main thing was that gu pingshan was not an ordinary ninth level foundation establishment cultivator, but a peak foundation establishment cultivator. if not for the fact that he was afraid of encountering any mishaps, he could have entered seclusion to break through to the golden core realm at any time. since his cultivation level couldn¡¯t be further improved, he had to elevate the realm of his techniques, which led him to learn the blood spirit technique. the combination of the two techniques doubled his strength and more. furthermore, shen yijun and ma quan were itinerant cultivators, lacking in techniques and resources, far inferior to disciples of sects. the only commendable thing about them was their rich combat experience. moreover, ma quan was injured. although he had taken a medicinal pill, his strength was only around 50 percent of his usual strength. however, zhang chen had more hidden cards up his sleeve than just these. ¡°heaven and earth combined!¡± with a thought, zhang chen controlled the blood god sons to use a joint attack spell. ¡°boom boom boom boom boom boom¡­¡± faced with numerous attacks comparable to the foundation establishment stage, gu pingshan became somewhat flustered and fell into a disadvantage. but zhang chen wasn¡¯t satisfied. they were still too close to the blood god sect, so they had to finish the battle quickly. sky demon disintegration technique! combined attack spells required coordination and precise control. zhang chen¡¯s mind was only enough to control 50 blood god sons to perform the combined attack spell. the remaining dozens of blood gods used the sky demon disintegration technique to explode and self-destruct. ¡°boom boom boom boom boom boom¡­¡± gu pingshan couldn¡¯t fathom how zhang chen had so many methods and such formidable strength. under the continuous and intensive bombardment, his energy was greatly depleted, and he began to struggle to cope, facing imminent danger. ¡°junior brother zhang, i never expected you to hide so deeply, repeatedly surprising me. i¡¯m glad i took action today. if i gave you another 10 years, i might not be the one attacking you.¡± as he spoke, gu pingshan took out several bottles, tilted his head back, and swallowed all the pills inside. as the head of the alchemy house, he had various types of pills. compared to demonic techniques, the side effects of using medicinal pills were much smaller. ¡°boom!¡± as the pills entered his stomach, flames surged from gu pingshan¡¯s body, and his momentum soared once again. ¡°these are blood ignition pills!¡± shen yijun, who had seen a lot, recognized the abnormality on gu pingshan¡¯s body and exclaimed. the effect of the blood ignition pills was the same as the blood ignition technique, burning one¡¯s blood to enhance cultivation. however, using the blood ignition technique would lead to certain death, while the blood ignition pills would not. the only consequence was a significant decline in cultivation afterward.. Chapter 133 - Chapter 133: The Fall of Gu Pingshan chapter 133: the fall of gu pingshan translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios the temperature around them rose as the momentum of gu pingshan increased. during the foundation establishment stage, they were impervious to cold and heat, but the temperature was unbearably high, as if they were in a furnace. shen yijun and shen yijun felt dryness in their mouths and their backs were drenched in sweat. zhang chen¡¯s physical body also struggled to endure, with his blood showing signs of boiling. soon, the momentum of gu pingshan ceased to rise and emitted a feeling similar to a golden core but lacking something. he was lacking a golden core! after breaking through to the golden core stage, one¡¯s magical power would solidify within the body and condense into a golden core. in gu pingshan¡¯s situation, there was only the magical power of the golden core stage but no golden core, which was known as the fake core stage. it usually occurred in cultivators who were originally in the golden core stage but had their golden core shattered. without a golden core, they couldn¡¯t mobilize the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, display their divine abilities, and still had a considerable gap compared to a true golden core. in addition to the blood ignition pill, gu pingshan had also consumed many medicinal pills that replenished qi and blood and restored magical power, allowing the fake core stage to be maintained for a longer period. looking at the majestic gu pingshan, ma quan¡¯s face turned grim. ¡°shen yijun, you¡¯re going to get me killed!¡± in his view, this was undoubtedly a mortal situation. zhang chen was likely to make him and shen yijun stay behind to delay while he escaped. shen yijun remained relatively calm. ¡°fellow daoist ma, it¡¯s too early to talk about dying now.¡± ma quan angrily retorted, ¡°the three of us besieging him can barely force him into a desperate situation. now that he has consumed pills and reached the fake core stage, his strength has at least doubled. do you still have any means?¡± shen yijun smiled. ¡°we don¡¯t, but that doesn¡¯t mean the boss doesn¡¯t.¡± upon hearing this, ma quan was taken aback. he naturally understood that the boss shen yijun referred to was zhang chen. however, zhang chen¡¯s displayed strength had already surprised him. was there still some hidden trump card that could defeat gu pingshan at the fake core realm? feeling the immense magical power within his body, gu pingshan smiled sinisterly. ¡°although my cultivation level will decrease greatly after taking the blood ignition pill, as long as i obtain the source of your blood essence, i can quickly replenish it.¡± zhang chen said helplessly, ¡°i didn¡¯t want to use it at first, but now it seems that i can only use the blood sacrifice technique.¡± upon seeing zhang chen¡¯s continued calm demeanor, gu pingshan furrowed his brow, feeling a sense of unease. ¡°could he still have some means? what kind of spell is this ¡®blood sacrifice technique¡¯ he mentioned?¡± soon, gu pingshan would witness the blood sacrifice technique firsthand. ¡°nine springs of the netherworld, the root of 10,000 blood, spread the calamity of slaughter, the divine ability of the blood sea, the sole ruler of the underworld, all blood returns to its source. sacrifice!¡± zhang chen chanted the incantation, formed hand seals, and unleashed the blood sacrifice technique he had just mastered. as the incantation concluded, a power resembling the will of the heavenly dao descended from the ethereal realm. unlike the will of the heavenly dao, this will was exceptionally sinister, foul, bloody, and . this was the will of the netherworld blood sea summoned by the blood sacrifice technique! when he sensed the will of the blood sea, zhang chen had an impulse to draw near and immerse himself in it, as if it were his nurturing mother. gu pingshan also experienced the same sensation, leaving him uncertain and hesitant, not daring to act rashly for a moment. as the will of the blood sea descended, the 100 blood god sons began to expand, their aura rapidly soaring. in just two breaths, they broke through to the foundation establishment stage. in other words, zhang chen had sacrificed a hundred blood god sons to the netherworld blood sea! what did this concept mean? it must be noted that even the vast blood god sect had only slightly over one hundred disciples in the foundation establishment stage! ¡°you¡¯re only at the fourth level of foundation establishment. how can the blood god sons break through to the foundation establishment realm!¡± gu ping mountain exclaimed in disbelief, astonished by the scene before him. the blood sacrifice technique was a secret technique only accessible to those in the golden core stage, so it was normal for gu pingshan to be unaware of it. zhang chen had no interest in explaining either. with a thought, the 100 foundation establishment blood god sons attacked. after employing the blood sacrifice technique, the blood god sons could only exist for 15 minutes. he needed to finish off gu pingshan within 15 minutes. perhaps, he didn¡¯t even need that long. even a true golden core cultivator would hesitate to claim a complete victory when faced with the siege of 100 foundation establishment cultivators, let alone 100 fiercely fearless and indomitable foundation establishment cultivators. ¡°heaven and earth combined!¡± zhang chen controlled 50 of the blood god sons and unleashed a combined spell. when executed at the ninth level of qi refinement, it could exhibit the attacking power of the foundation establishment stage. now, with the foundation establishment cultivators performing it, its strength reached the mid-foundation establishment stage. the other 50 blood god sons self-detonated using the sky demon disintegration technique, their power also reaching the mid-foundation establishment stage. facing the overwhelming barrage of attacks, gu pingshan fiercely resisted, his body protected by a lava-like blood and blood anacondas writhing. ¡°boom boom boom boom boom boom¡­¡± the intense rumbling was deafening. just one round of attacks transformed the entire ten-li radius into a scene of devastation, with all living beings annihilated. shen yijun and ma quan quickly flew away to avoid being affected. however, the attacks did not stop. the second round of attacks from the blood god sons immediately followed. ¡°boom boom boom boom boom boom¡­¡± the scorching blood splattered, and gu pingshan¡¯s body suffered numerous injuries, appearing disheveled and his eyes filled with terror, completely devoid of his previous arrogance and confidence. ¡°boom boom boom boom boom boom¡­¡± after the third round of attacks, gu pingshan¡¯s figure disappeared, leaving only a large mass of blood that kept wriggling, attempting to condense into a humanoid form. ¡°boom boom boom boom boom boom¡­¡± the fourth round of attacks descended, and the large mass of blood dwindled down to a small cluster, with the wriggling and condensing process becoming incredibly slow. it seemed that one more round of attacks would be enough to completely annihilate gu pingshan. however, the blood god sons did not continue their assault. zhang chen approached the cluster of blood and reached out his hand. soul searching technique! it was unknown what gu pingshan was thinking at this moment. he had come to look for zhang chen to use the soul searching technique and uncover zhang chen¡¯s secret. in the end, it was he who had the soul searching technique performed on him. as the soul searching technique was executed, gu pingshan¡¯s memories played in zhang chen¡¯s mind like a documentary. forced to join the blood god sect, he had worked hard in cultivation, endured hardships, successfully reached the foundation establishment stage, became the senior brother of the alchemy house, and took charge of it¡­ gu pingshan¡¯s life experiences unfolded in minute detail before zhang chen. through these memories, zhang chen gained insights into many secrets of the blood god sect. for example, the blood god sect had been destroyed 300 years ago and the current blood god sect was a reconstruction. in the past, there were not just six golden core elders, but seven, including one elder poison blood. after this elder poison blood entered seclusion to break through to the nascent soul stage, he never appeared again, just like the direct disciples who broke through to the golden core stage. this further solidified zhang chen¡¯s speculation that they, the direct disciples, were pigs raised by the elders, and the elders themselves were pigs raised by the sect master. in the distance, shen yijun and shen yijun watched zhang chen, who had closed his eyes to receive the memories, with complex expressions, not daring to disturb him. after a while, zhang chen finished viewing the memories and opened his eyes Chapter 134 - Chapter 134: Conclusion chapter 134: conclusion translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios at this moment, the blood clot in zhang chen¡¯s hand had already solidified into a human form, but the face was lifeless, devoid of any vitality. although gu pingshan had lost his memories, his soul still existed. with a lift of his hand, zhang chen grabbed another lifeless soul and stuffed it into his mouth, using the soul devouring technique to refine it. first, he performed soul searching, and now he was devouring souls. shen yijun and the other person, witnessing this scene, were shocked and couldn¡¯t help but doubt if zhang chen was normal. those from the demonic path would scatter souls, torment them, and enslave them, but they rarely consumed souls. even ghost cultivators rarely did such a thing. because doing so would taint their own souls and absorb the aura of the other person. especially when using soul searching techniques, obtaining the memories of others and incorporating their soul¡¯s aura would further confuse their own memories. with gu pingshan¡¯s body no longer under the control of his soul, it instantly collapsed and turned into blood again. this blood contained intense heat and could only be absorbed by disciples who had cultivated the blood boiling scripture. zhang chen could only collect them in a blood storage bag for later handling. then, with a wave of his hand, he took the storage bag and other items dropped by gu pingshan. at the same time, 15 minutes had passed, and the one hundred blood god sons dissipated like bubbles. however, zhang chen knew that they had been absorbed by the netherworld blood sea. the so-called 15 minutes was just the time it took for the netherworld blood sea to connect the two realms and consume the offerings. ¡°my lord, the dense forest here has been destroyed. shall we meet here again in six months?¡± shen yijun cautiously asked while observing zhang chen¡¯s condition. if zhang chen was affected by the soul searching technique and soul devouring technique and his mental state was unstable, it would be quite dangerous, and he might even mistakenly attack them. zhang chen was unaware of what the two were thinking. after pondering for a moment, he replied, ¡°meet me in half a year on the hill 10 miles away.¡± seeing that zhang chen appeared unaffected and composed, the two breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°yes.¡± ¡°we can¡¯t stay here for long. you should leave quickly,¡± zhang chen said without engaging in conversation, transforming into a blood light and departing. this place was too close to the blood god sect, and the recent commotion was likely to attract the sect¡¯s people. looking at the distant blood light, ma quan said with a complicated expression, ¡°i finally understand how you were controlled by a fourth level foundation establishment cultivator.¡± the scene of him meeting zhang chen for the first time and releasing more than a hundred foundation establishment demon beasts with a wave of his hand appeared in shen yijun¡¯s mind. ¡°what you see is only a small portion of his strength.¡± ¡°what!¡± ma quan¡¯s face was filled with disbelief. the strength that zhang chen had displayed so far was already infinitely close to the golden core realm, and this was only a small portion? then what level was his full strength at? but upon further thought, zhang chen controlled them to search for items that could harm a later stage golden core cultivator. this indicated that cultivators at the early and middle stages of golden core posed no threat to him. at this moment, zhang chen¡¯s strength was elevated to the mid-stage of golden core in ma quan¡¯s mind, and he completely abandoned the idea of breaking free from his control. the two no longer had the desire to continue arguing. they exchanged a glance and transformed into streaks of light, flying away. not long after, zhang chen arrived near the cave where the blood god sons resided, but he didn¡¯t land immediately. instead, he expanded his divine sense, comparable to a foundation establishment level nine cultivator, to investigate the surroundings. after confirming that there were no other cultivators nearby, he converged his aura and descended toward the cave. inside the cave, a puddle of blood flowed out from between the rocks and condensed into a human form. it was none other than the blood god son who had stayed behind to cast the great grudge curse technique. the blood god son was like a child left behind who had seen their father return home, filled with excitement and joy. zhang chen smiled and praised, ¡°well done.¡± the blood god son also attempted to smile, but it exerted too much force, causing its mouth corners to crack into an exaggerated and terrifying extent. although the modifier ensured that the blood god son would not betray him, zhang chen had no intention to further enhance its intelligence. currently, the blood god son¡¯s intelligence was equivalent to that of an eight or nine-year-old child. it was obedient yet not completely ignorant, making it convenient and unnecessary to continue improving its intellect. suddenly, zhang chen frowned and swept his gaze across the cave. perhaps due to the frequent use of the great grudge curse, the stalactites in the cave had twisted into distorted and grotesque humanoid forms. whenever the wind blew through these stalactites, they emitted curses filled with resentment. upon careful listening, one would notice that each humanoid stalactite produced a different curse. all these curses converged together, resembling the chants during a prayer to a deity. it was eerie and inexplicable! if it weren¡¯t for the wind blowing into the cave just now, zhang chen wouldn¡¯t have noticed anything unusual. the stalactites themselves were already peculiar, and coupled with their twisted shapes, it was nearly impossible to discern their humanoid forms without careful observation. he had a vague suspicion that the reason the cave had transformed like this was due to the frequent descent of the power of curses and grudges from the demon god. the status of a demon god was too high, and even a faint breath from it could influence the surrounding environment. zhang chen¡¯s expression became somewhat solemn. the cave had undergone such changes in just a year. if it continued for several decades, it could likely become a sinister place capable of connecting with the power of curses and grudges. since it was only a hundred miles away from the blood god sect, it might cause some trouble for them. in a few decades, he should have broken through to the golden core stage and escaped from the blood god sect, unaffected by its influence. with this in mind, zhang chen dismissed the idea of relocating and instructed the blood god son, ¡°continue casting the great grudge curse every month and hide during other times. try not to let anyone discover you.¡± the blood god son nodded, indicating that it was very good and obedient. after ensuring there were no issues, zhang chen left the cave and flew towards the market outside the demon beast mountain range. he prepared to buy an alchemy furnace. as the eldest senior brother of the alchemy house, gu pingshan naturally possessed numerous pill formulas and exquisite alchemy techniques. and since he had obtained gu pingshan¡¯s memories, he essentially possessed the pill formulas and alchemy techniques as well. the only difference was that the memories he acquired existed in his mind like movies, and he couldn¡¯t immediately grasp the alchemy techniques and experiences. he needed to practice and compare them with gu pingshan¡¯s memories. it was akin to having an alchemy master by his side, imparting the techniques and experiences without reservation. since he had this advantage, zhang chen naturally intended to make use of it. he had an idea¡ªto transfer this experience to the intelligent blood god son and let it practice alchemy on his behalf. the prerequisite, however, was to acquire an alchemy furnace. he even considered searching for cultivators who were proficient in weapon refinement, formations, talisman crafting, spirit plants, and puppetry, and extracting their memories through soul-searching to acquire their techniques and experiences. others refrained from doing so, fearing that the memories would become jumbled and chaotic, but he didn¡¯t have that concern. it was entirely feasible for him. half a day later, zhang chen arrived at the market. outside the market, other than the disciples in charge of guarding the entrance, there was also an itinerant cultivator at the first level of qi refinement. ¡°please be lenient. i¡¯ve just become a cultivator and don¡¯t have any spirit stones. let me sell my things first and then i¡¯ll come back to pay the entrance fee. as zhang chen approached, he heard the plea from the wandering cultivator. the guarding disciple wore a scornful expression and was about to speak when he saw zhang chen. immediately, his expression changed, and he respectfully greeted, ¡°greetings, senior brother zhang.¡± zhang chen ignored him and went straight into the market. the itinerant cultivator watched zhang chen¡¯s figure, filled with envy and longing, murmuring to himself, ¡°cultivators should be like him!¡± ¡°you think you can get away with it? you can¡¯t even produce a single spirit stone. get lost!¡± the words of the guarding disciple snapped the itinerant cultivator back to reality. he could only leave indignantly, secretly vowing in his heart. the tides will turn.. in 30 years, when i come back, i¡¯ll make sure you all bow down to me with utmost respect! Chapter 135 - Chapter 135: Supreme chapter 135: supreme-grade magic artifact translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios zhang chen had visited this marketplace many times before, and he arrived at a shop that specialized in selling magic artifacts with ease. ¡°senior, are you looking to buy a magic artifact?¡± the shopkeeper quickly stood up and bowed. ¡°i want to buy an alchemy furnace. do you have any here?¡± zhang chen asked. ¡°please follow me, senior.¡± the shopkeeper walked while introducing, ¡°we have inferior, low-grade, medium-grade, and high-grade furnaces. the inferior furnace is suitable for beginners, the low-grade furnace is suitable for¡­ zhang chen followed the shopkeeper to the backyard, where dozens of furnaces of various sizes were placed. gu pingshan used a high-grade furnace, but considering that zhang chen had never practiced alchemy and was a beginner, it would be too wasteful to use a high-grade furnace. with gu pingshan¡¯s memories, progress would be swift. the inferior and low-grade furnaces would not be useful for long. after much thought, zhang chen decided that the medium-grade furnace was the most suitable. so zhang chen said, ¡°tell me about the medium-grade alchemy furnaces.¡± ¡°alright, please have a look, senior. this is the red copper cauldron, made of fiery red copper crystal. it can better absorb the furnace fire, increasing alchemy speed and condensation rate by 30%. it is priced at 500 spirit stones. ¡°this is the blood jade cauldron, crafted from a thousand-year blood jade. it is most suitable for your esteemed sect¡¯s blood pills. it can better retain the spiritual power of blood, improving the quality and success rate of blood pills. it is priced at 600 spirit stones. ¡°this bloodwood cauldron is also suitable for your esteemed sect. it is made from a hundred-year blood-sucking wood and can absorb impurities in the blood, improving the quality and success rate of blood pills. it is priced at 700 spirit stones. ¡°and this is the yin stone cauldron, refined from yin stone, suitable for cultivating pills with a yin and cold attribute¡­¡± as the blood god sect excelled in blood refinement, zhang chen naturally chose what was suitable. ¡°i¡¯ll take the blood jade cauldron.¡± ¡°senior, are you paying with spirit stones or blood essence?¡± the shopkeeper asked respectfully. ¡°spirit stones.¡± zhang chen took out gu pingshan¡¯s storage bag and poured out a pile of spirit stones. as the overseer of the alchemy house, gu pingshan had naturally accumulated a considerable amount of pills. besides selling them within the sect, they were also sold outside, resulting in a substantial stock of spirit stones. the shopkeeper scanned with his spiritual sense and happily accepted the spirit stones. ¡°the amount is correct. this blood jade cauldron belongs to you, senior. ¡± zhang chen nodded and put the blood jade cauldron into his storage bag. he remembered that the mad blood saber he had bought in the past was already too weak, so he asked, ¡°do you have any top-grade magical artifacts?¡± top-grade magic artifacts were treasures that could only be activated by those in the golden core stage. this was a big deal! the shopkeeper¡¯s face lit up, and he took out four artifacts. zhang chen¡¯s gaze was immediately captivated. there was a wheel-shaped artifact studded with numerous sharp teeth, a dark red wine jug, a black and ominous sword, and a garment that continuously dripped blood. these four artifacts exuded immense spiritual energy. even without activation, they emitted tremendous power, especially the three offensive artifacts, which gave off a sense of danger. ¡°the prized possessions of our humble shop are these four top-grade magic artifacts: the wheel of ten thousand fangs, the sepsis jug, the soulbound sword, and the bloodguard robe,¡± the shopkeeper introduced them proudly. ¡°the hardest and sharpest part of a demon beast is its teeth. the wheel of ten thousand fangs is made from the teeth of 10,000 foundation establishment stage ninth level demon beasts. ¡°gathered together, they form a wheel, dispersing like rain, making it difficult to evade. it possesses the ability to pierce armor and break magic, rendering most body protection spells ineffective against it below the golden core stage. ¡°the second artifact, the sepsis jug, is made from three types of thousand-year poisonous stones and mustard seed stones. it can expand or shrink, containing a mustard seed space inside. it doesn¡¯t possess much attacking power on its own, but when blood is injected into it and released, it carries a powerful toxin. ¡°the toxicity is exceptionally fierce, instantly killing those below the foundation establishment stage upon contact. even those in the foundation establishment stage cannot escape death after prolonged exposure. ¡°your esteemed sect can add toxicity to your own blood, but it takes time and effort. with the sepsis jug, you can achieve the same power, saving a considerable amount of time and painstaking cultivation. ¡°the third artifact, the soulbound sword, is forged from gloomy ghostwood and tiger demon inner cores. when you slay an opponent with this sword, you can enslave and control their soul, making it extremely effective against ghost cultivators. ¡°the fourth artifact, the bloodguard robe, contains the essence blood of a golden core cultivator. it can withstand a strike from an early golden core cultivator and, as long as the damage isn¡¯t severe, can be replenished with one¡¯s own essence blood.¡± due to his indestructible bloodline attribute, zhang chen wasn¡¯t particularly interested in the bloodguard robe. the idea of slaying an opponent with the soulbound sword and enslaving their soul sounded powerful, but it required first killing the opponent. if he had that kind of strength, he might as well use the hundred ghost banners. ¡°how much for the wheel of ten thousand fangs and the sepsis jug?¡± upon hearing zhang chen¡¯s inquiry, the shopkeeper wasn¡¯t surprised. ¡°the wheel of ten thousand fangs is 10,000 spirit stones, and the sepsis jug is 5,000 spirit stones.¡± both were top-grade magic artifacts, but the significant price difference was due to the fact that the sepsis jug was only suitable for blood god sect cultivators. although he was mentally prepared, zhang chen still furrowed his brow upon hearing the price. there were 1,000 spirit stones in gu pingshan¡¯s storage bag. other than that, there were numerous medicinal pills and some spiritual herbs and materials. if he were to sell the pills and spiritual herbs and materials, he could probably get around 3,000 spirit stones. by selling some more of his belongings, he should be able to barely scrape together 5,000 spirit stones. half a day later, zhang chen left the market, and his storage bag became empty, except for the newly acquired pill furnace and wine jug. although he had spent a considerable amount of spirit stones at the market, no one dared to target him due to his status as a direct disciple of the blood god sect. two days later, at the blood god sect. upon returning to his cave dwelling, zhang chen first took out the recently purchased top-grade magic artifact, the sepsis jug. the size of the sepsis jug was similar to an ordinary wine jug, but it had no lid. zhang chen waved his hand, and a glob of blood flew out and landed into the opening of the jug. after a moment, the glob of blood flowed out from the spout of the jug, but it had turned dark red and emitted a pungent odor, clearly containing a potent poison! zhang chen extended his hand, and the dark red blood globule hovered in front of him. his foundation establishment stage sixth sense told him that the blood in front of him was highly dangerous and should not be touched. however, he wanted to confirm the strength of the sepsis jug¡¯s toxicity and see if it lived up to the shopkeeper¡¯s description. zhang chen lightly touched the blood globule with his finger, and in an instant, his finger turned black and quickly spread to his arm. ¡°hmph!¡± zhang chen let out a pained groan but didn¡¯t rush to detoxify himself. instead, he carefully sensed the situation. the poison was indeed potent. if it contaminated his flesh and was not dealt with promptly, even a foundation establishment stage cultivator would be at risk of death. ¡°let¡¯s try suppressing it with mana,¡± zhang chen circulated his mana and covered his arm. the spread of the poison didn¡¯t stop; it only slowed down, but it consumed a significant amount of mana. ¡°let¡¯s try detoxifying with mana,¡± zhang chen¡¯s thoughts shifted, and a large amount of mana pressed against the toxicity in his arm. ¡°tsk, tsk, tsk¡­¡± black smoke billowed from his arm, and upon smelling it, he felt dizzy and disoriented. clearly, the black smoke was also poisonous. zhang chen estimated that with his fourth level foundation establishment cultivation, it would take about 60 breaths to force out all the poison. in a battle, a single breath could determine life or death, so there simply wasn¡¯t enough time. zhang chen was still satisfied with the sepsis jug as it compensated for his disadvantage of not being able to integrate his blood with attributes. the only downside was that he was also affected by the toxins and couldn¡¯t absorb the poisonous blood into his body; he had to store it separately.. Chapter 136 - Chapter 136: Attempting Alchemy chapter 136: attempting alchemy translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios and within the space contained in the sepsis jug, it happened to be able to store this toxic blood. the toxic blood from the arm flew out and fell back into the flask, then the mana was withdrawn. without the support of mana, the sepsis jug returned to the size of a wine flask and dropped from the sky, caught by zhang chen¡¯s outstretched hand. now, as long as he refined the sepsis jug and branded it with his own spiritual imprint, he could activate it at will. however, zhang chen didn¡¯t rush to refine it, but took out the blood jade cauldron from his storage bag. the blood jade cauldron was the size of a calf, crystal clear, like red glass, and the internal situation was clear at a glance. when refining pills, it could provide a good understanding of the changes in the materials and medicinal properties, thereby increasing the chances of success. ¡°next, let¡¯s see if the blood god son can refine pills for me. with a thought from zhang chennian, a blood god son with intelligence flew out of his body and landed beside the blood jade cauldron. the blood god son looked at the blood jade cauldron curiously as it examined it, as if it had found an interesting toy, but it didn¡¯t dare to touch it because its parents were present. zhang chen reached out and touched the blood god¡¯s forehead, transmitting the images of gu pingshan¡¯s alchemy techniques. as the blood god son saw the continuously appearing images in its mind, its eyes widened with novelty, but as more and more memories flooded in, its gaze became confused. after a moment, zhang chen retracted his arm and took out a blood storage bag and several low-grade spiritual herbs. he said, ¡°according to those memories, try refining blood pills.¡± the blood god son didn¡¯t move, but stood still in place, seemingly still lost in the memories it had just acquired. zhang chen was not in a hurry and waited quietly. after a while, the blood god son finally made a move, taking the blood storage bag and herbs, and coming to the blood jade cauldron. however, it remained motionless, staring blankly at the blood jade cauldron, seemingly searching its memories for confirmation. after a while, the blood god son finally began to refine pills. opening the furnace lid, it poured in the demonic blood and used the correct method to create the blood flame. once the blood inside the cauldron began to boil, it threw a certain amount of spiritual herbs into it. as the herbs dissolved, the blood underwent subtle changes. it seemed that some kind of power within the blood had been activated, and phantom images of demonic beasts kept appearing, flying up and down inside the furnace. under the burning of the blood flame, the blood became thicker and showed a tendency to coagulate into pills. unfortunately, the furnace fire was too strong, causing some of the blood to scorch, resulting in only a few defective pills being produced. zhang chen was very satisfied with this. the blood god son came close to success in its first attempt at alchemy, and with more practice, it would definitely become proficient. this was also due to the blood god son¡¯s pure spiritual intelligence, free from distractions, allowing it to focus on learning. ¡°for long-term alchemy, i need a large amount of demon blood and spiritual herbs. i have plenty of demon blood, but i lack the herbs for alchemy. it seems i have to continue cooperating with the alchemy house.¡± thinking of this, zhang chen stood up and walked out. at the same time, he threw several blood storage bags to the blood god son. ¡°in the future, you¡¯ll be responsible for refining pills in the cave abode.¡± the blood god son obediently caught the blood storage bag and silently started a fire to refine pills again. after zhang chen left the cave abode, he turned into a blood light and flew towards the alchemy house. not long after, the blood light landed outside the alchemy house. when the pill pavilion disciple saw zhang chen, he hurriedly bowed. ¡°senior brother zhang, what brings you to the alchemy house?¡± ¡°i wonder if senior brother gu is here? i need to discuss something with him,¡± zhang chen pretended not to know. ¡°senior brother gu left the sect a few days ago and hasn¡¯t returned yet,¡± the disciple answered truthfully. ¡°he¡¯s not here?¡± zhang chen frowned, ¡°who is currently in charge of the alchemy house?¡± ¡°it¡¯s yan chengzi, senior brother yan.¡± ¡°then please inform senior brother yan that i have something to discuss with him.¡± for zhang chen, it didn¡¯t matter who it was, as long as they had the authority. ¡°yes, senior brother zhang, please wait a moment,¡± the disciple bowed and turned to enter the pavilion. inside the second-floor attic of the alchemy house, yan chengzhi looked down at the numerous furnaces below, carefully avoiding any mistakes. each furnace could produce up to ten pills, of which five had to be handed over to the sect. any extras belonged to the pill pavilion, and all the disciples of the alchemy house could benefit from them. but if there were less than five pills, the alchemy house had to pay for the shortfall out of its own pocket. therefore, in order to protect their own interests, they had to avoid any mistakes as much as possible. ¡°senior brother yan, senior brother zhang chen from the beast garden is looking for you. he says he wants to discuss something.¡± upon hearing the disciple¡¯s words, yan chengzhi was somewhat surprised. ¡°zhang chen is looking for me? ¡°senior brother zhang originally wanted to find senior brother gu, but since senior brother gu is not here, he changed his request to see you, senior brother yan, ¡± the disciple explained. could it be that zhang chen had a change of heart and was ready to continue purchasing demon blood? ¡°go and invite junior brother zhang¡­ no, i¡¯ll go myself,¡± yan chengzhi hurriedly walked downstairs. ¡°indeed, may i ask what brings junior brother zhang here?¡± yan chengzhi asked. zhang chen smiled. ¡°i want to make a deal with senior brother yan.¡± ¡°oh! what kind of deal does junior brother zhang want to make?¡± yan chengzhi was curious and expectant. ¡°i am planning to engage in alchemy and want to purchase spiritual herbs from the alchemy pavilion using refined blood as a long-term arrangement,¡± zhang chen stated his purpose. ¡°are you sure it¡¯s long-term?¡± yan chengzhi confirmed. zhang chen nodded, ¡°i will need a minimum of 10 furnaces of spiritual herbs every day.¡± upon hearing this, yan chengzhi¡¯s heart skipped a beat, ¡°very well, if that¡¯s the case, i will promise on behalf of the alchemy house.¡± ¡°then let¡¯s discuss the supply of spiritual herbs and the price. if possible, i would like to purchase a batch of herbs right now.¡± ¡°junior brother zhang, let¡¯s discuss inside.¡± half an hour later, with yan chengzhi bidding him farewell, zhang chen left the alchemy house, carrying a large quantity of spiritual herbs. as he watched zhang chen¡¯s departing figure, yan chengzhi felt relieved, ¡°we have regained a source of blood essence, and senior brother gu will be delighted when he returns.¡± just at that moment, a disciple who had reported zhang chen¡¯s departure to gu pingshan approached yan chengzhi with a grave expression and spoke softly. ¡°senior brother yan, senior brother gu went out previously to obtain the source of refined blood from zhang chen. but now zhang chen has returned, and senior brother gu has not.¡± yan chengzhi¡¯s expression changed as he confirmed, ¡°senior brother gu went out to obtain the source of refined blood from zhang chen? zhang chen left the sect a few days ago?¡± the disciple nodded. ¡°after zhang chen terminated our trade, senior brother gu instructed me to keep an eye on zhang chen. a few days ago, when zhang chen went out, senior brother gu followed him, intending to use soul searching technique on zhang chen.¡± yan chengzhi¡¯s expression fluctuated, and it took him a while before he spoke, ¡°senior brother gu has reached the ninth level of foundation establishment and has been powerful for nearly a hundred years. unless he encounters a golden core cultivator, no one can kill him. ¡°it¡¯s possible that senior brother gu couldn¡¯t find zhang chen, or zhang chen managed to elude him. zhang chen came to us to purchase spiritual herbs in order to avoid pursuit and restore the blood essence trade.¡±¡® ¡°you¡¯re right, senior brother yan.¡± the disciple also inclined towards yan chengzhi¡¯s speculation. after all, the strength of gu pingshan was evident, while zhang chen had only recently become a direct disciple for a few years. although yan chengzhi said that, he hoped that something bad had happened to gu pingshan. if gu pingshan really died and he controlled the source of blood essence, wouldn¡¯t he be able to logically control the alchemy house? Chapter 137 - Chapter 137: Arrival of the Three Sects chapter 137: arrival of the three sects translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios back in the cave abode, zhang chen saw that the blood god son was very busy with the fire and pill refining. he felt that it would be better to have a few more blood god sons practicing pill refining together. although blood god sons didn¡¯t experience fatigue, their mana was limited. moreover, they had to maintain the furnace fire while refining pills, dividing their attention and affecting the success rate of pill formation. so zhang chen released three intelligent blood god sons and transmitted the memory of pill refining on gu pingshan to them, following the established procedure. with four blood god sons, two in each group, one maintained the blood flames while the other focused on pill refining. after one group¡¯s mana was depleted, they would switch with the other group, allowing uninterrupted pill refining. after handing over the demon blood and spirit herbs to the four blood god sons, zhang chen began refining the sepsis jug. the process went smoothly, taking only an hour, and the sepsis jug was successfully refined, with the soul imprint engraved on it. ¡°retreat!¡± with a thought, zhang chen made the sepsis jug fly into his dantian and disappear. ¡°although i gained a lot from the battle on gu pingshan, i also lost a hundred blood god sons. i need to quickly replenish and restore our combat strength. it would be best to reach the original quantity before the upcoming demon path grand competition.¡± zhang chen waved his hand, summoning dozens of blood seeds from the blood pool, which he absorbed into his body to nurture them with his blood essence, accelerating their incubation. originally, he had 140 blood god sons, but he lost 100 and only had 40 left. of these 40, 30 had gained intelligence. four were refining pills, one was cursing, and one was guarding the demon beasts, which accounted for six disciples. their overall strength had greatly diminished. zhang chen wouldn¡¯t leave the blood god sect until he had enough blood god sons. three months later, gu pingshan still hadn¡¯t returned, finally arousing the attention of the disciples in the alchemy house. however, they were suppressed by yan chengzhi, who used the excuse that senior brother gu had important matters to attend to. thanks to the trade in spiritual herbs with zhang chen, the alchemy house had a stable source of refined blood, and yan chengzhi¡¯s prestige soared. with this period of buffer and positioning, there was already a tendency to replace gu pingshan. yan chengzhi benefited the most from gu pingshan¡¯s death. after some time, he should be able to truly take gu pingshan¡¯s position. if it weren¡¯t for the trade with zhang chen, yan chengzhi wouldn¡¯t have had the qualifications to manage the alchemy house. although he was also at the ninth level of the foundation establishment realm, he had only recently reached that level, while there were still two others with higher strength and seniority than him. the reason why gu pingshan appointed yan chengzhi as the temporary head of the alchemy house was to prevent the other two from seizing power. this actually worked in his favor. soon, another two months passed and it was the day of the demon path grand competition. ¡°dong dong dong dong dong¡­ hearing the bell, zhang chen stopped cultivating and opened his eyes. ¡°this is the bell toll that represents the arrival of guests. it should be the other three sects arriving at the blood god sect.¡± in these past five months, zhang chen had consumed a large amount of refined blood and successfully nurtured a hundred blood god sons at the qi refinement. although it prolonged the time to accumulate strength, it could be compensated with medicinal pills. the progress in pill refining was very gratifying. after five months of practice, four blood god sons were already able to refine foundation establishment stage medicinal pills. afterwards, he could use medicinal pills as assistance to accelerate the refinement of demonic blood and make up for the losses. in battles, medicinal pills could also enhance their strength. in the long run, their power would not decrease but increase, albeit requiring some time. zhang chen glanced at the enthusiastic blood god sons who were dedicatedly refining pills, nodded in satisfaction, and stood up to walk outside, prepared to witness the splendor of the other demonic sects. at the entrance of the sect, disciples who had come to join in the excitement had already gathered. they eagerly awaited and discussed among themselves. zhang chen had no intention of conversing with anyone and silently stood in a corner. many disciples exclaimed, ¡°look, what¡¯s that!¡± zhang chen looked up and noticed three enormous shadows in the distance approaching the blood god sect. the scene inside the blood god sect couldn¡¯t be seen from the outside, but within the sect, through the protective array, the situation outside could be observed as if through a single-sided red glass. ¡°it should be the other three demonic sects arriving.¡± many people talked to each other, sharing information and details about the other three demonic sects. suddenly, all conversation ceased, and silence enveloped the area. above them appeared seven figures emanating a tremendous aura. it was the blood god sect master and six golden core elders. ¡°greetings, sect master and elders!¡± everyone bowed respectfully. the blood god sect master paid no attention to the disciples. he made a hand seal, and a beam of light shot out, dissolving the protective array. the light landed on the protective array, causing the red barrier to tremble slightly before disappearing. in just a few breaths, the three enormous shadows arrived outside the blood god sect. they were three massive floating ships in the sky. another ship was composed of numerous elongated wooden blocks, but upon closer inspection, one would realize that these blocks were actually coffins. ¡°roar!¡± ¡°bang, bang, bang¡­¡± a putrid stench permeated the air, and the coffins would occasionally shake, accompanied by wild beast-like roars and the sound of pounding and impact, as if something wanted to burst out of them, instilling a chilling fear and dread in people¡¯s hearts the third ship was incredibly eerie and mysterious, completely enveloped in black mist, with only vague outlines visible, appearing decayed and dilapidated. accompanied by gusts of gloomy wind and mournful howls, ethereal figures would occasionally flash within the black mist. these illusory figures wore grimacing expressions of agony, seemingly struggling desperately, trying to break free from the ship¡¯s hull. the disciples of the blood god sect, as well as zhang chen, were all stunned by the sight of the three ships. he even had a feeling that these three ships could easily claim his life. while zhang chen carefully observed the three ships, a ninth stage foundation establishment disciple nearby softly introduced them. ¡°the first ship is the treasured artifact of the white bone hall, the white bone warship. it is said to have two forms. one is the flying ship before us, capable of carrying passengers. the other is transforming into the white bone demon body, briefly unleashing the power of the nascent soul realm. ¡°if i¡¯m not mistaken, the second ship is made up of ten thousand coffins. inside the coffins are the silver armor corpses, impervious to blades and immune to fire, possessing the strength of the ninth stage foundation establishment. ¡°these 10 ,ooo silver armor corpses can form the sect¡¯s protective array, the mystic yin myriad corpses array, capable of trapping nascent soul realm. ¡°as for the third ship, it is the renowned treasure of the founder of the nether spring sect, the hades ferry. it has the ability to alternate between illusion and reality, devouring souls, and traversing between the netherworld and the mortal realm. ¡°legend has it that the founder of the nether spring sect was originally a soul formation stage powerhouse who unfortunately died and had his soul fall into the netherworld. after hundreds of years, he returned to the mortal realm using this ferry, establishing the nether spring sect.¡± ¡°wow!¡± upon hearing the introduction, many disciples couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in astonishment.. zhang chen¡¯s gaze was also filled with excitement. if he could possess these three items, dealing with elder blood river would be a piece of cake. however, he wasn¡¯t even at the golden core stage yet. it was simply wishful thinking to obtain these three treasures capable of countering the nascent soul stage.. Chapter 138 - Chapter 138: Grand Competition Reward chapter 138: grand competition reward translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios three figures flew out from the flying vessel and bowed, saying, ¡°wang zongyan of the white bone hall, invited to come. i have seen the blood god sect master and the six fellow daoists.¡¯ ¡°li yuanlin of the corpse control sect, invited to come¡­¡± ¡°xu shuanghong of the nether spring sect¡­¡± wang zongyan from the white bone hall was a middle-aged man wearing a white daoist robe embroidered with skull patterns. his skeletal frame was unusually large. li yuanlin from the corpse control sect was a thin old man, and what was more astonishing was that he was wearing a shroud of a dead person. as for xu shuanghong of the nether spring sect was a young and beautiful woman dressed in sheer, seductive gauze. but the disciples of the blood god sect present dared not gaze for long because all three exuded the immense power of the later stage of the golden core realm. the six golden core elders of the blood god sect returned the greeting. ¡°greetings, fellow daoists.¡± the sect master of the blood god sect remained indifferent, showing no signs of joy or anger. ¡°are the three of your sects afraid that i might harm you? although the directions and distances differ, you all arrived simultaneously, and each brought your respective sect¡¯s treasure. are you not afraid of a surprise attack on your sects?¡± ¡°sect master, you must be joking. the encounter of our three sects is purely coincidental. the disciples who came this time are all talented disciples of our sects. to avoid any mishaps, we brought the treasures of our sects for protection. ¡± although the three said so, anyone with discerning eyes could see that the three sects were indeed worried that the blood god sect would harm them. the sect master of the blood god sect did not dwell on this topic further. ¡°we, the demonic path, do not have so many tedious rituals. since you have already arrived, let¡¯s begin the grand competition.¡± ¡°it¡¯s up to the blood god sect master to arrange.¡± the three had no objections and turned to say, ¡°blood god sect, please disembark.¡± ¡°yes!¡± thirty foundation establishment disciples disembarked from each flying vessel, totaling ninety disciples who came to participate in the grand competition, representing the three sects. those who could participate in the demon path grand competition were all outstanding individuals from their respective sects. everyone had arrogant expressions on their faces. clearly, they were very confident in their strength. the disciples of the blood god sect assessed the disciples of the three sects, and likewise, the disciples of the three sects observed the strength of the blood god sect¡¯s disciples. both sides scrutinized each other. ¡°please follow me, everyone.¡± the blood god sect master turned and flew towards the square, followed closely by the six elders. the three exchanged glances and made a hand gesture. the white bone warship quickly shrank and landed on wang zongyan¡¯s forehead, transforming into a white horn. in the mystic yin myriad corpses array, a coffin suddenly grew in size, its lid opened, revealing a dark and eerie space, like a black hole that sucked in the other coffins. ¡°bang!¡± after all the coffins fell inside, the coffin lid slammed shut, returning to its normal size and landing on li yuanlin¡¯s back. as for the hades ferry, it seemed to have entered another dimension, gradually fading away and disappearing before everyone¡¯s eyes. according to rumors, it had returned to the depths of the netherworld. retracting their treasures, the three brought their respective sect disciples and followed along. ¡°dang dang dang dang dang¡­¡± the gathering bells rang once again, and almost all the disciples of the blood god sect arrived at the square. in front of the square stood a high platform, with the blood god sect master seated in the center, the six elders on the left, and the elders of the three visiting sects on the right, overseeing the area below. below was a huge platform specially built for the demon path grand competition. seeing that the disciples had almost gathered, the blood god sect master stood up and spoke, ¡°in this demonic path grand competition, our blood god sect, white bone hall, corpse control sect, and nether spring sect will participate. ¡°the competition is divided into three stages: early foundation establishment, mid foundation establishment, and late foundation establishment. each sect will send 10 disciples to compete in each stage. ¡°as the saying goes, there is no first in literature, and no second in martial arts. in the demonic path, we have always revered the strong, and the defeated shall perish. ¡°only the first-place winner in each group will be able to obtain spoils of war. ¡°this means that in real combat, failure will result in death, and everything belonging to the deceased will go to the victor. even if someone achieves second place, there will be no rewards whatsoever.¡± speaking of this, the blood god sect master looked at wang zongyan and the other two. ¡°what do you think?¡± the three agreed, saying, ¡°the blood god sect master is right. in the demonic path, either we don¡¯t compete, or we compete for first place!¡± the blood god sect master nodded and continued, ¡°the first-place winner in the early foundation establishment stage will receive the blood sea source cup.¡± as he spoke, a metallic cup flew out from within the blood god sect master, emitting a dazzling blood-red light in the air. the cup was not empty; it contained flowing crimson liquid. zhang chen recognized it at a glance. it was blood, and not ordinary blood, but blood essence! ¡°this cup is a semi-magical treasure, capable of connecting to a branch of the netherworld blood sea, continuously gaining the power of the netherworld blood sea. it can obtain a certain amount of blood essence every day.¡± a semi-magical treasure is a failed attempt at crafting a treasure but still possesses some of the treasure¡¯s abilities. ¡°if the essence blood is not extracted, when the cup is full, it can activate the blood sea source cup, unleashing an attack comparable to the full power of a ninth level foundation establishment cultivator.¡± upon hearing this, all the disciples of the blood god sect looked at the blood sea source cup with burning eyes, filled with eager anticipation. with a constant supply of selected essence blood, their strength and cultivation level could rapidly improve. many disciples of the mid foundation establishment and late foundation establishment stages in the blood god sect wished they were in the early foundation establishment stage, so they could compete for the first place. however, for zhang chen, it didn¡¯t hold much allure. after all, the blood essence he could refine in a day was equivalent to several years of arduous cultivation for other disciples. ¡°the first-place winner in the mid foundation establishment stage will receive a replica formation disk of the blood sea array.¡± the formation disk is suitable for cultivators who don¡¯t understand formations. by infusing spiritual energy, the formation disk can automatically arrange the formations. a circular array disk flew out of the blood god sect master¡¯s body and floated in the air, radiating dazzling blood-red light. the edge of the disk was adorned with a circle of flags, blood-red in color, as if soaked in blood, spinning like windmills in the air. ¡°although it is a replica formation disk, once set up, it can withstand attacks and block the exploration of divine sense from the golden core stage.¡± the blood god sect master didn¡¯t mention that in order to withstand attacks from the early golden core stage, the prerequisite was having enough spiritual energy to sustain the formation disk¡¯s consumption. zhang chen¡¯s eyes lit up. if he achieved first place, the reward would be this formation disk. there were far too many secrets in his cave, especially the secret of the blood god sons¡¯ pill refinement, which required a formation to conceal it. ordinary formations couldn¡¯t block the exploration of the golden core stage, and those capable of doing so were not only expensive but also likely to arouse suspicion from the golden core elders. a foundation establishment stage cultivator setting up a formation capable of blocking the exploration of the golden core stage would undoubtedly be hiding some unspeakable secrets. ilf he could obtain this formation disk, he could legitimately set it up in his cave without raising suspicion. originally, zhang chen didn¡¯t intend to aim for first place, but now, he was determined to claim it! ¡°the first-place winner in the late foundation establishment stage will receive the formation method of the blood sea array.¡± the crowd was shocked. they didn¡¯t expect the blood god sect master to offer the blood god sect¡¯s protective array as a reward. however, the six elders and the trio of wang zongyan seemed unperturbed, indicating they had known beforehand. the reason the three sects agreed to participate in the grand competition was precisely to obtain the formation method of the blood sea array.. Chapter 139 - Chapter 139: Negotiations Among the Four Sects chapter 139: negotiations among the four sects translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios the grand protective formation was crucial for a sect, symbolizing its heritage and strength. without the grand protective formation, it would be like a house without walls and doors, allowing anyone to come and go freely. sharing the arrangement method of the formation with others would be equivalent to handing over the keys to the door. others could identify the weak points and loopholes of the formation based on the deployment method. therefore, most sects had unique grand protective formations. the nascent soul stage represented the highest combat power within this realm, and the value of a grand protective formation capable of resisting nascent soul cultivators could be imagined. although all three sects had their own grand protective formations, who would complain about having more of them? this was especially true for the corpse control sect. although their mystic yin myriad corpses array could be moved and set up anywhere, it would leave their sect¡¯s base unprotected. if they obtained the deployment method for the blood sea array, the mystic yin myriad corpses array could be carried around, effectively adding another expert at the nascent soul stage. the voice of the blood god sect master resounded once again: ¡°all disciples participating in the grand competition, step into the arena and select your opponents.¡± including zhang chen, a total of 119 people flew into the arena. the blood god sect master furrowed his brows, his gaze turning slightly cold. ¡°why is there one less disciple from the late foundation establishment stage participating on behalf of our sect?¡± elder blood flame on the high platform also frowned because he realized that the missing disciple was his eldest disciple, gu pingshan. wang zongyan and his two companions showed expressions of anticipation, eager to witness the unfolding spectacle. yan chengzhi gritted his teeth and stepped forward. if he wanted to replace gu pingshan, he had to assume certain obligations and responsibilities. ¡°sect master, senior brother gu left the sect for some personal matters half a year ago and hasn¡¯t returned yet.¡± the blood god sect master¡¯s gaze turned even colder. if it weren¡¯t for the presence of representatives from the other three sects, he might have already erupted in anger. ¡°since you are also at the late foundation establishment stage, you will take his place.¡± ¡°yes.¡± yan chengzi didn¡¯t dare to disobey and flew into the arena. after everyone was here, the blood god sect master waved his hand, and 40 plaques appeared out of thin air, floating above the arena. each plaque was enveloped in a mist of blood, obscuring their appearance. the blood god sect master explained, ¡°the plaques bear numbers, and those who have the same number will be opponents in the competition. disciples in the early foundation establishment stage will choose first.¡± ¡°yes!¡± a disciple of the blood god sect leaped up and grabbed a plaque. the blood mist dissipated, revealing the number on it. ¡°i¡¯ve chosen 12,¡± the disciple announced. with someone taking the lead, the others followed suit. once all the disciples in the early foundation establishment stage had taken their plaques, the blood god sect master waved his hand again, causing the plaques to fly back into the air, shrouded in blood mist, quickly changing their positions. with their cultivation at the early foundation establishment stage, they couldn¡¯t possibly see through and remember the locations. ¡°now, it¡¯s time for the disciples in the mid foundation establishment stage to choose their plaques.¡± zhang chen casually grabbed a plaque and looked down. it had five characters on it. after zhang chen announced the number, a disciple from the corpse control sect smiled. ¡°fourth level of foundation establishment? seems like i got lucky.¡± if he wasn¡¯t afraid of angering the blood god sect master, he would have even asked if the blood god sect had no one else and had to rely on someone at the fourth level of foundation establishment to make up the numbers. zhang chen noticed the other party¡¯s gaze, but he ignored it. with his cultivation at the fourth level of foundation establishment, standing in the arena indeed attracted a lot of attention. many disciples from the other three sects had been secretly sizing him up earlier. after the plaques were chosen by the disciples in the late foundation establishment stage, the blood god sect master collected the plaques. ¡°the disciple who drew number one in the early foundation establishment stage remains, and the others can step down and wait.¡± ¡°yes.¡± the crowd complied, flying off the arena, leaving only two disciples in the early foundation establishment stage who drew number one. one of them was a disciple of the white bone hall, and the other was a disciple of the nether spring sect. ¡°we cultivators of the demonic path don¡¯t have so many rules. as long as we can win, we can use any means necessary, as long as we don¡¯t hide our cultivation level. therefore, in this grand competition, you can employ any methods you want.¡± ¡°now, let the battle begin!¡± the two individuals in the arena seemed to have reached an unspoken agreement. without any communication, they simultaneously launched their attacks, seizing the opportunity to strike first. as soon as the blood god sect master finished speaking, they both made their moves against each other. the disciple from the white bone hall shot out several bone spikes, fast and fierce, aiming directly at the vital points of the opponent. if they hit, it would either result in death or severe injuries. it was extremely ruthless. as for the disciple of the nether spring sect, he had concealed a ferocious ghost in his sleeve. with a flick of his sleeve, the malevolent spirit bared its fangs and claws, pouncing towards the opponent¡¯s throat. on the high platform. wang zongyan felt somewhat dissatisfied with the nether spring sect disciple¡¯s act of secretly hiding a malevolent ghost in advance. it could be considered cheating. before he could speak, xu shuanghong from the nether spring sect covered her mouth and chuckled seductively. ¡°these two disciples are impressive. they have the charm of the demonic path.¡± hearing this, wang zongyan could not say anything further. in the arena, both sides¡¯ surprise attacks were successful but failed to eliminate their opponents. the bone spikes hit the vital points of the nether spring sect disciple, but strangely, he didn¡¯t bleed. the nether spring sect disciple acted as usual, taking out the hundred ghosts banner and waving it, releasing numerous ghostly entities. the arena instantly transformed into a realm of ghosts. just like biting into a tomato, the ferocious ghost easily bit through the throat of the white bone hall disciple. the white bone hall disciple not only didn¡¯t mind but also directly abandoned flesh and transformed into a 30-foot-tall white bone giant. it was the white bone hall¡¯s specialty, the white bone true body! those who could participate in this demon path grand competition were the cream of the crop among their respective sects, and the battles were intense and exciting, keeping the spectators thoroughly engaged. the blood god sect master wasn¡¯t interested in the battles of the foundation establishment stage. he raised his hand and set up a barrier to block the sound. ¡°some time ago, there was a conflict between my blood god sect and the silver moon sect. you three should know about it,¡± the blood god sect master began. wang zongyan spoke up, ¡°blood god sect master, why don¡¯t you state your point directly instead of beating around the bush?¡± the blood god sect master nodded. ¡°i believe that the righteous path intends to attack the demonic path. the silver moon sect¡¯s invasion of my sect was merely a test by the righteous path. next, they may launch a real attack.¡± the three individuals furrowed their brows. ¡°are you suggesting there will be a war between the righteous and demonic paths?¡± the blood god sect master didn¡¯t answer and continued, ¡°when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. if the silver moon sect dares to occupy the blood god sect¡¯s territory this time, they may wipe out your three sects next.¡± so, the reason you invited us here, besides the demonic path competition, is to form an alliance with our three sects? the three individuals guessed reasonably, but they were puzzled. how does the invasion of your territory result in the annihilation of our sects? due to the blood god sect master¡¯s high cultivation level in the nascent soul stage, they didn¡¯t dare to oppose him and could only make excuses. ¡°this matter is of great importance. we cannot make a decision now. we need to consult with our sect masters when we return.¡± ¡°i know you have a way to contact your respective sect masters. why not do it now?¡± the blood god sect master was very certain. the three fell silent and didn¡¯t answer. the blood god sect master was in no hurry and eagerly watched the battles below. in the first match, the disciple from the white bone hall lost. although the white bone true body had formidable defense, it couldn¡¯t withstand spiritual attacks. the nether spring sect specialized in manipulating souls, and their mental attacks were abundant, which led to the defeat of the white bone hall disciple.. Chapter 140 - Chapter 140: Zhang Chen Takes the Stage chapter 140: zhang chen takes the stage translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios ¡°nether spring sect wins! ¡± ¡°early-stage foundation establishment, the second card will compete on the stage.¡± the competition continued, and it was still very intense. on the high platform, however, wang zongyan and his two companions were not interested in watching. they were contemplating whether or not to pass on the matter of the blood god sect¡¯s intention to form an alliance to their own sect master. this alliance was not a simple verbal agreement but a solemn oath made under the witness of the heavenly dao, a mutual commitment to advance and retreat together. although the lips would perish if the teeth were cold, the blood god sect intended to drag them down and be the ones to face the blade. in reality, what they wanted more was to assess the situation or for the blood god sect to promise benefits and seek their assistance. in doing so, they could avoid some losses and gain some benefits, rather than getting involved in the battle from the beginning. in the silver moon sect, the elders gathered together. the sect master of the silver moon sect spoke slowly, ¡°previously, disciples from the blood god sect were spotted within our sect¡¯s territory, but despite multiple searches, we found nothing. therefore, we have been keeping a close eye on the blood god sect¡¯s movements. ¡°today, i received news that the elders of the white bone hall, the corpse control sect, and the nether spring sect brought many foundation establishment disciples to the blood god sect. i don¡¯t know why.¡± the many elders were shocked and pale, ¡°could it be that the blood god sect has approached the three demon sects and intends to join forces to attack our sect?¡± ¡°it¡¯s not impossible.¡± the sect master of the silver moon sect looked grave, clearly considering the possibility. ¡°sect master, do you have any countermeasures?¡± one of the elders asked. the sect master of the silver moon sect gazed deeply, ¡°although we can¡¯t be certain what the four sects intend to do, we must remain vigilant. therefore, i plan to seek assistance from the heavenly origin sword sect and the spiritual cloud sect.¡± the elder expressed some concerns, ¡°this conflict was caused by our sect occupying the blood god sect¡¯s territory. will the heavenly origin sword sect and the spiritual cloud sect help us?¡± ¡°perhaps, this is exactly what they want to see.¡± the sect master of the silver moon sect¡¯s tone was filled with helplessness. ¡°more than 300 vears ago, the blood god sect, was a super sect that exerted pressure on both the orthodox and demonic paths. ¡°at that time, the blood god sect¡¯s leader, blood demon, wanted to devour the blood of all living beings to break through to a higher realm and unleash a blood demon calamity. in the end, it led to the orthodox sects of the entire tiannan province joining forces to defeat his plot, sealing him and putting an end to the disaster. ¡°the once great blood god sect now only has a handful of members left. the reason they weren¡¯t completely eradicated was that the demonic path feared that if the orthodox path annihilated the blood god sect, they would take advantage of the situation and attack other demonic sects, so they preserved the blood god sect. ¡°the orthodox path was afraid that the demonic path would break through the seal and release the blood demon, so they didn¡¯t completely wipe out the blood god sect.¡± ¡°now that 300 years have passed, the blood god sect has become much stronger. many righteous sects have been worried that the blood god sect will save the blood demon and have been wanting to weaken the blood god sect. ¡°the conflict between us and the blood god sect is exactly what they want.¡± after hearing the silver moon sect master¡¯s explanation, the elders were worried. ¡°the other sects will at most send one or two golden core elders. we will still be the first to bear the brunt. after this battle, there will probably not be many disciples left in our sect.¡± ¡°sigh¡­¡± the silver moon sect sighed. ¡°now that things have come to this, there¡¯s no other way.¡± cultivators could go without sleep or food for a few days. it would not affect them much. therefore, the competition showed no sign of stopping. after two days, the first round of matches concluded, determining the victories and defeats among the 40 early foundation establishment disciples. only four disciples from the blood god sect advanced. the blood god sect master and the six elders did not show any particular reaction to this. next, it was the turn of the mid-foundation establishment disciples to take the stage for the first round of matches. half a day later, it was finally zhang chen¡¯s turn. ¡°mid-stage foundation establishment realm. contestant number five takes the stage.¡± the corpse control sect disciple grinned menacingly at zhang chen and flew onto the arena. expressionless, zhang chen also ascended the platform. as soon as he landed and before he could stabilize himself, the corpse control sect disciple opposite him launched an attack. a strong stench of decay permeated the air as two silver-armored corpses comparable to mid-foundation establishment realm pounced on him from the left and right. the silver-armored corpses appeared entirely silver-white, except for their inch-long nails, which emitted a dark metallic luster, evidently carrying corpse poison. ¡°clang, clang, clang¡­¡± zhang chen used the blood burst technique to enhance his legs, swiftly retreating and creating distance. as his attack missed, the two silver-armored corpses opened their mouths, spewing out corpse qi. blood demon technique! a large amount of blood demon qi surged from zhang chen¡¯s body, counteracting the corpse qi. seeing that he couldn¡¯t take down zhang chen, the corpse control sect disciple slapped his storage pouch, and four coffins landed on the ground. ¡°bang! bang! bang! bang!¡± the coffin lids forcefully opened, and four copper-armored corpses, equivalent to the ninth level of qi refinement, leaped out. blood god sons! ten blood shadows flew out of zhang chen¡¯s body and fought the zombies. the two copper-armored corpses at the foundation establishment stage ignored the blood god sons and charged straight at zhang chen. any blood god sons attempting to block them directly were immediately scattered. blood shadow avatar technique! zhang chen split into two, becoming two identical versions of himself. the avatar used the blood spirit technique, with several blood snakes emerging from its body like ropes, attempting to bind the two silver-armored corpses. ¡°roar!¡± the silver-armored corpses roared, exerting force and breaking the blood snakes. zhang chen immediately changed his strategy, utilizing his speed advantage to launch an attack on the corpse control sect disciple. ¡°corpse transformation!¡± the corpse control sect disciple formed hand seals and a large amount of corpse qi surged from his body. his fangs and nails rapidly grew as he transformed into a half-human, half-corpse existence. this was the unique secret technique of the corpse control sect, using corpse qi to temporarily transform oneself into a pseudo-zombie. it possessed the strength and defense of a zombie while retaining intellect and agility. however, the side effect was that each use resulted in irreversible zombification of a part of the body, eventually turning the person into a real zombie. among the mystic yin myriad corpses array consisting of 10 ,ooo silver-armored corpses, many were disciples of the corpse control sect who had undergone this transformation. most of the demonic cultivation techniques were similar, trading the future for present power. ¡°this zhang chen has learned so many techniques. his future path may not be long.¡± a disciple watching the battle shook their head and sighed lightly. ¡°no, i think zhang chen is a clever person,¡± someone countered. ¡°as disciples of the blood god sect, we have no future anyway. it¡¯s better to exchange for power as much as possible. perhaps with this power, he can break free from the blood god sect.¡± the other person remained silent, not offering any retort. seeing the corpse control sect disciple transform into a half-corpse, half-human entity, zhang chen showed no signs of panic because there was still a significant gap in their speed. he could fully utilize his speed advantage to maneuver and seek out the opponent¡¯s weaknesses. blood demon palm, blood demon transformation blade, blood demon assimilation, blood demon filling the sky¡­ the corpse control sect disciple could only endure the continuous dance of blood shadows, unable to land a hit on zhang chen, roaring in frustration. the two silver-armored corpses resembled headless flies, constantly chasing after zhang chen in different directions, being toyed around with. the corpse control sect disciple had initially thought he was lucky to encounter a soft target at the fourth level of foundation establishment, but he didn¡¯t expect the situation to be so difficult. he found himself in a disadvantageous position, being extremely passive.. Chapter 141 - Chapter 141: Second Round of Competition chapter 141: second round of competition translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios ¡°since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s compete in terms of consumption. i¡¯m at the sixth level of foundation establishment, while you¡¯re only at the fourth level. let¡¯s see who has more mana!¡± the disciple of the corpse control sect recalled the silver armor corpse and positioned himself in the middle, determined to engage in a mana contest with zhang chen. zhang chen remained unaffected and maintained his original attack frequency, showing no concern for mana consumption. one hour passed, two hours, one and a half hours, four hours¡­ after six hours, zhang chen began ingesting pills. seeing this scene, the corpse control sect disciple smiled, seemingly confident of victory. because this indicated that zhang chen didn¡¯t have much mana left and needed to rely on pills for replenishment. and the pills couldn¡¯t keep up with the consumption. based on the rate of consumption, he would achieve victory in at most another four hours. soon, another two hours passed, and the disciple of the corpse control sect also took out pills to ingest. however, at this moment, he still felt that victory was within his grasp. during this time, zhang chen swallowed numerous pills, giving the impression that he could collapse at any moment. in fact, these pills were all refined by the blood god son during this period, and the one thing he currently didn¡¯t lack was pills. another two hours passed. in addition to taking pills, zhang chen also took out a blood storage bottle and activated the blood refining scripture, devouring and transforming the blood into mana. the blood refining scripture could devour and transform blood during battles. when cultivated to the highest realm, as long as there was blood to absorb, his mana would be inexhaustible. the side effect was that it made one more susceptible to the lingering willpower in the blood, turning one bloodthirsty, murderous, and mad. but what zhang chen was least concerned about was the side effect; he could freely operate the blood refining scripture. however, in order to avoid suspicion, he also displayed a frenzied state, launching even more fierce attacks. the disciple of the corpse control sect knew that the blood god sect possessed this technique, so he had deliberately poisoned himself to avoid being bled dry. however, no matter how he defended, he couldn¡¯t stop zhang chen, who carried a large amount of demonic blood, from not needing to absorb his blood at all. ¡°just hold on a little longer, just a little longer. he must be on the verge of collapse!¡± although initially at a disadvantage, the disciple of the corpse control sect refused to believe that he would be outlasted by someone at the fourth level of foundation establishment. another two hours passed. it had been a full twelve hours since the two of them took the stage, and the disciple of the corpse control sect could no longer hold on. the prolonged maintenance of the corpse transformation state had severely corroded his body. if he continued, he would truly turn into a zombie. ¡°i concede!¡± the disciple of the corpse control sect disciple shouted with deep reluctance. zhang chen pretended to be affected by the side effects and continued to attack without stopping. ¡°alright, my disciple from the blood god sect wins this round.¡± the blood god sect master waved his hand lightly and suppressed zhang chen¡¯s mana. as if a bucket of cold water was poured over him, zhang chen immediately calmed down and respectfully bowed towards the platform. ¡°disciple knows his mistake.¡± the blood god sect master remained silent and waved his hand again, sending zhang chen down from the arena while lifting the mana suppression. ¡°mid-stage foundation establishment stage, contestant number six, take the stage.¡± in the current competition, zhang chen had the longest battle duration. with his strength, he could easily deal with his opponents, but within the sect, he could only reveal a small portion of his power. at the same time, it was also to deceive the other opponents and make them underestimate him. therefore, he did not even use the top-grade magical artifact he had just obtained. so this is the power of the nascent soul stage? being able to suppress my mana effortlessly from a distance, making me as weak as an ordinaryperson! feeling the irresistible power emanating from the blood god sect master, zhang chen¡¯s heart was filled with longing. only when he reached the nascent soul stage could he fearlessly face everything. zhang chen no longer paid attention to the following battles. instead, he sat cross-legged, quickly refining the demon blood at a normal pace to restore his mana. most of the others were doing the same. no one knew when the next battle would take place, so they had to quickly recover their strength to feel at ease. among the crowd, yan chengzhi looked at zhang chen with a complex expression. gu pingshan had left the sect to pursue zhang chen, but it had been half a year and he still hadn¡¯t returned. previously, it was possible that he hadn¡¯t been found or had escaped from zhang chen, but now he hadn¡¯t even appeared in the demon path grand competition. it was almost certain that he was dead! gu ping mountain, at the ninth level of foundation establishment, had an unknown fate, while zhang chen, at the fourth level, remained unharmed. this situation was worth pondering. therefore, yan chengzhi speculated that zhang chen¡¯s strength was definitely more than what had been demonstrated. when zhang chen had restored his mana, the mid -foundation establishment stage competition also came to an end. including zhang chen, only three disciples from the blood god sect at the mid-foundation establishment stage advanced, which was less than the initial-foundation establishment stage. after that, the late-stage foundation establishment disciples went on stage for the first round of the competition. the disciples from the four sects were all at the ninth level of foundation establishment, making them the strongest within their respective sects. as a result, the battles were particularly intense and exciting. various powerful spells and precarious reversals elicited continuous exclamations and marvels from the disciples. zhang chen was also captivated, watching the battles attentively. many of them were not inferior to gu pingshan, and even if zhang chen exerted his full strength, he could not easily win. of course, yan chengzhi, who was temporarily named to participate in the grand competition, was an exception. as expected, he lost. he was beaten down from start to finish without being able to fight back. yan chengzhi flew off the stage in a sorry state and said to the disciples of the pill pavilion, ¡°i am incompetent and have brought shame to the pill pavilion.¡± ¡°senior brother yan was given a mission in a time of crisis. it¡¯s not senior brother yan¡¯s fault. if we talk about responsibility, it should be senior brother gu¡¯s.¡± a disciple from the pill pavilion spoke up in defense. many disciples nodded in agreement and criticized gu pingshan. in fact, this disciple was arranged in advance by yan chengzhi himself. he also knew his own abilities and had never thought of winning. he just wanted to buy some time and avoid losing too disgracefully. even so, he did his best and only defended without attacking, barely lasting for an hour. fortunately, he had arranged his trusted subordinate in advance, diverting the conflict and saving some face. ¡°are there such vast differences in strength among those at the ninth level of foundation establishment? zhang chen is only at the fourth level, but he claims to have escaped from gu pingshan¡¯s hands and even counterattacked?¡± yan chengzhi grew more puzzled after experiencing the gap between himself and the peak of foundation establishment. the more unknown, the more fearful. yan chengzhi didn¡¯t realize that he was starting to feel a trace of fear for zhang chen. ten days later, the first round of the late-foundation establishment stage competition concluded. surprisingly, seven disciples from the blood god sect advanced! if gu pingshan hadn¡¯t died, it would have been eight. this was mainly due to the environment of the blood god sect. the disciples at the ninth level of foundation establishment dared not break through to the golden core stage and could only accumulate strength and techniques. naturally, they were stronger compared to the ninth-level disciples of other sects. after the first round of the late-foundation establishment stage competition, it was time for the early-foundation establishment stage disciples to compete again. this time, the contestants were paired based on the closest numbers. for example, the winner of contestant number one would compete against the winner of contestant number two. having witnessed the battles of the late-foundation establishment stage, the battles of the early-foundation establishment stage seemed trivial. three days later, the second round of the initial-foundation establishment stage competition concluded, and two disciples from the blood god sect advanced. then came the mid-foundation establishment stage competition, and zhang chen¡¯s opponent was the winner of contestant number six, a disciple from the nether spring sect.. Chapter 142 - Chapter 142: Victory Once Again chapter 142: victory once again translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios before stepping onto the stage, the disciples of the nether spring sect grasped the artifact, hundred ghosts banner, in their hands, trying to gain an advantage as much as possible. on the other hand, zhang chen remained motionless, seemingly giving up the struggle. ¡°mid-stage foundation establishment stage, contestants number five and six, please step onto the stage for the match.¡± almost no one had high expectations for zhang chen in this battle. previously, zhang chen had relied on exhaustion to win, but the disciples of the nether spring sect excelled in spiritual spells. if one¡¯s spiritual power was weak, they wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand it at all. for ordinary cultivators, their spiritual power was at most one level higher than their own cultivation realm. zhang chen had only displayed a cultivation realm of the fourth layer of foundation establishment, so it was naturally assumed by everyone that his spiritual power realm would not surpass the fifth layer of foundation establishment. the disciples of the nether spring sect, on the other hand, had cultivated techniques to strengthen their souls in order to control ghost creatures, often possessing a spiritual power realm higher than their cultivation realm. with a cultivation realm of the sixth layer of foundation establishment, their spiritual power realm would be at least the seventh layer of foundation establishment! as soon as the disciple of the nether spring sect ascended the stage, they shook the hundred ghosts banner. in an instant, black mists billowed, and eerie and terrifying figures surged out from the black mists, pouncing towards zhang chen. these black mists were condensed yin energy, also known as ghost mist, mainly used to enhance the strength of ghost spirits and unaffected by the sunlight during the day. blood demon technique! a large amount of blood demon qi surged around zhang chen, counteracting the ghost mist. the ghost spirits of the qi refinement stage that entered the blood demon qi were like falling into a hot oil pan, emitting painful and miserable screams, making people¡¯s hair stand on end. several foundation establishment ghosts were unaffected and continued to attack. blood spirit technique! several blood snakes emerged from within zhang chen¡¯s body, resembling whips as they lashed out at these foundation establishment stage ghost spirits. ¡°clap, clap, clap¡­¡± with each lash of the blood snakes, a large amount of yin energy would dissipate from the ghost spirits, causing them to scream in agony, making it difficult for them to approach. however, the disciples of the nether spring sect did not expect these ghosts to defeat zhang chen. instead, they wanted to temporarily delay him with these ghosts, creating time for themselves to cast spells. ¡°soul-shattering roar!¡± a huge ghostly face appeared out of thin air, opening its mouth and roaring towards zhang chen. however, no one heard any sound because this roar was a sound of the soul, only audible to the soul. the blood snakes suddenly paused in their movements, one by one falling to the ground as if they had fallen asleep. zhang chen¡¯s body also stiffened, and his eyes were empty, as if he had also lost consciousness. seeing this scene, the disciple of the nether spring sect smiled. ¡°that¡¯s all you¡¯ve got? go!¡± the numerous ghost creatures received the command and rushed towards zhang chen. below the arena, many people shook their heads and concluded, ¡°the disciple of the blood god sect has lost. just as the ghost creatures were about to touch zhang chen, the previously limp blood snakes moved and moved extremely quickly. like real venomous snakes lurking in the grass, they seized the opportunity to launch a deadly surprise attack on their prey. violent snake dance! the blood snakes left behind numerous afterimages in the air, dazzling the eyes and overwhelming the senses, dispersing and repelling the many ghost creatures. ¡°so, the blood ignition technique was applied to the blood snakes?¡± some disciples of the blood god sect realized the reason behind the blood snakes¡¯ agility. with the boost of the blood ignition technique, the speed of the blood snakes was increased tenfold, hence their formidable power. however, this method would damage the spiritual nature of the blood snakes, so it was rarely used within the blood god sect. after all, the power of the blood spirit technique was closely related to the spiritual nature of the blood snakes. damaging their spiritual nature was akin to reducing their cultivation level unless they reached a dead end. but for zhang chen, the blood spirit technique was not important. it was optional. ¡°surprisingly, he regained consciousness so quickly!¡± the disciple of the nether spring sect¡¯s face darkened, and he cast his spell again. ¡°soul annihilation thrust!¡± a phantom black cone condensed in front of the disciple of the nether spring sect disciple¡¯s forehead, then shot towards zhang chen at an incredibly fast speed, making it impossible to dodge. the disciples of the nether spring sect often encountered ghost creatures, whose souls existed between reality and illusion. they were immune to many physical attacks and difficult to deal with. only spells that directly targeted the soul could cause fatal damage, making their souls scatter. the soul annihilation thrust was precisely such a spell that directly attacked and obliterated the soul. however, the premise was that the opponent¡¯s spiritual power realm couldn¡¯t be much higher than one¡¯s own. otherwise, one would suffer a backlash and one¡¯s spiritual power would be greatly damaged. in milder cases, one¡¯s spiritual power would be damaged, causing severe headaches. in severe cases, one would fall into a coma and become a vegetable. because the soul annihilation thrust was formed by condensing one¡¯s own spiritual power, only spiritual power could attack spiritual power. ¡°boom!¡± the cone was enormous, and its appearance shook his consciousness incessantly. facing this soul cone that resembled a world-destroying meteor, zhang chen remained calm and activated the soul refining technique. his spiritual power transformed into an even larger and more solid hammer, smashing towards the black cone. ¡°boom!¡± first came the thunderous collision, followed by a crisp sound. the black cone shattered! the hammer formed by zhang chen¡¯s transformed spiritual power shattered it! zhang chen had practiced the divine forging technique and devoured many souls with the soul devouring technique. his spiritual power realm was already comparable to the half-step golden core stage. meanwhile, the spiritual power realm of this disciple from the nether spring sect was only at the eighth layer of foundation establishment. he never expected that the spiritual power realm he was proud of would turn out to be his weakness. ¡°spurt-¡± the disciple of the nether spring sect spurted a mouthful of blood, eyes wide with disbelief, and then fell straight to the ground, fainting. ¡°how is this possible!¡± ¡°the disciple of the nether spring sect actually lost!¡± ¡°zhang chen¡¯s spiritual power realm is even higher than that of the nether spring sect disciple?¡± everyone was equally incredulous, unable to help but exclaim in surprise. on the high platform, elder blood river also looked surprised, but he did not take it to heart. with his late-stage golden core cultivation and the secret techniques to control his blood body, even if zhang chen was at the golden core realm, he could easily destroy him, let alone someone who had yet to reach the golden core realm. ¡°the blood god sect wins this round!¡± as the announcement was made by the master of the blood god sect master, zhang chen pretended to be extremely weak and walked down the stage with great difficulty. the unconscious disciple of the nether spring sect was carried down by his fellow sect members. after examining the injuries, the members of the nether spring sect had grave expressions. ¡°his spiritual power suffered severe damage and it will take at least ten years for him to wake up.¡± if the soul annihilation thrust hadn¡¯t been used, the nether spring sect disciple wouldn¡¯t have lost so quickly and severely. zhang chen didn¡¯t pay attention to all this and closed his eyes to recover his mana. zhang chen didn¡¯t appear to have made any preparations before the battle or launched a surprise attack to gain an advantage. but he had witnessed the battles of other nether spring sect disciples and knew they would use spiritual power attacks. by deliberately showing signs of being affected when the opponent used the soul-shattering roar, he made the other party think that his spiritual power realm wasn¡¯t too high. the duel continued, and with zhang chen included, there were only two blood god sect disciples who advanced to the mid foundation establishment stage, with four more matches to follow. zhang chen also watched the battle of the other mid foundation establishment stage disciple from the blood god sect. his strength was indeed decent but still a bit lacking. without him, the chances of the blood god sect disciple in the mid foundation establishment stage obtaining the first place were slim. ten days later, the third round began with ten participants competing for the final five spots. in this match, zhang chen¡¯s opponent was a disciple from the white bone hall.. Chapter 143 - Chapter 143: Advancement Again chapter 143: advancement again translator: atlas studios editor: atlas studios ¡°die!¡± the disciples of the white bone hall didn¡¯t hesitate to engage in a power-consuming battle with zhang chen. as soon as he stepped onto the stage, he directly activated the white bone true body, turning into a giant skeleton. he slammed his palm down. ¡°whoosh!¡± before the skeletal palm could descend, zhang chen¡¯s figure dissipated in advance, transforming into a puddle of blood. ¡°boom!¡± the skeletal palm landed, causing the ground to tremble violently. if it weren¡¯t the formation bolstering the stage, it would have collapsed instantly. in the corner of the stage, the blood pooled together, and zhang chen returned to his human form. he waved his hand, and 10 blood god sons flew out. the disciple from the bone palace wiped his pelvis, and seven skeletons fell to the ground. it was precisely the signature spell of the white bone hall, the bone slave. among the seven skeletons, five were in the qi refinement realm, and two were in the foundation establishment stage. it was clear that the blood god sons were no match for them. so zhang chen patted the beast breeding bag and released two foundation establishment stage demon beasts. ¡°besides the blood god sons, zhang chen also controls foundation establishment demon beasts!¡± below the arena, the disciples of the other three sects were amazed by zhang chen¡¯s continuous display of abilities. initially, they thought the blood god sect was lacking in capable individuals, which was why they allowed a fourth-layer foundation establishment cultivator to participate. but now, they put away their disdain and considered zhang chen a formidable opponent. then, someone began to analyze and speculate. ¡°there¡¯s a slave mark on the heads of the two demon beasts. it should be a spell, the beast slave seal. since zhang chen can resist the soul annihilation thrust, his spiritual realm must be at least above the seventh layer of foundation establishment. it¡¯s entirely possible for him to control two foundation establishment stage demonic beasts with the beast slave seal.¡± ¡°but why are there two dog demons?¡± whether intentional or unintentional, the two foundation establishment demon beasts zhang chen summoned were dog demons. the white bone hall was all about bones, and dogs liked to gnaw on bones! the dog-like demon beasts drooled and pounced toward the skeletal slaves in the foundation establishment stage. ¡°if you want to gnaw on my bones, let¡¯s see if your teeth are strong enough or if my bones are harder.¡± the white bone hall also realized the hidden meaning behind the dog-like demonic beasts. he clasped his palms together and angrily slammed them onto the ground. ¡°white bone barrier!¡± ¡°boom boom boom boom boom boom¡­¡± sharp and sturdy bone spikes continuously emerged from the ground, spreading and branching out like trees. if the blood god sons and the blood refining scripture were the core techniques of the blood god sect, then the bone barrier and the bone slave spreading and branching out like trees. it was said that when cultivated to the highest realm, one could transform an area into a bone world, commanding countless white bones at will and having an endless supply of bone slaves. in a blink of an eye, the arena transformed into a white forest of bones, eerie and terrifying, filled with danger. zhang chen turned into blood light, dodging the consecutive bone spikes that emerged. however, the arena was only so big, and the space to evade was shrinking rapidly. the longer the time passed, the more perilous and unfavorable the situation became. watching zhang chen¡¯s desperate evasion, the disciple from the white bone hall excitedly increased his power output. but he failed to notice a puddle of blood that had already approached him from a crack in the ground. that was zhang chen¡¯s true body, the one attacked by the white bone barrier was actually the blood shadow avatar. when he transformed into blood earlier, he used the blood shadow avatar and split into two puddles. the blood shadow avatar attracted the firepower upfront while he used the yin energy isolating technique, hiding his aura as he approached the disciple from the white bone hall, waiting for the right moment to strike. now the disciple from the white bone hall was completely focused on the clone, making it the perfect opportunity for a surprise attack. the blood clung to the white bone true body and moved rapidly towards the head. feeling something amiss on his body, the disciple from the white bone hall finally realized that something was wrong, but it was too late. before the white bone hall disciple could react, zhang chen had already arrived at his head. mad blood saber technique! zhang chen brandished his blood saber, infusing the frenzy into the mind of the disciple from the white bone hall. the white bone true body had astonishing defense. with a cultivation at the sixth layer of foundation establishment, it could withstand attacks from middle-grade spiritual weapons without damage. only attacks targeting the soul and spirit could restrain it. though his movements were slower compared to the speed-oriented sects like the blood god sect, they were not sluggish compared to most sects. as the frenzy surged in, the disciple of the white bone hall clutched his head in pain, and the light in the skull¡¯s eyes flickered erratically. ¡°chop, chop, chop, chop, chop, chop¡­¡± ¡°annnnnn¡­¡± the white bone hall disciple descended into madness, screaming in agony. with no mana to sustain the bone barrier, the bone spikes began to crumble into bone dust, and the bone slaves stood dumbfounded in their spots. as time passed, the disciple from the white bone hall was increasingly affected, even attacking indiscriminately without distinguishing between friend and foe. several foundation establishment bone slaves were directly crushed into fragments by his own hands. zhang chen¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot as well, pretending to be influenced by the frenzy, he used blood burst technique to empower his arms and attacked frantically. the remaining consciousness of the disciple from the white bone hall knew that if this continued, he would undoubtedly become a madman. he had to quickly shake off the influence of the frenzy. the simplest way was to surrender and make zhang chen stop, but under the invasion of the frenzy, he couldn¡¯t even open his mouth. after much contemplation, the disciple from the white bone hall finally came up with a plan¡ªto put his soul into a deep sleep and unconsciousness, thus avoiding the influence of the frenzy. and to make his soul fall into a deep sleep and unconsciousness, he had to inflict severe injuries on his soul. injuries could be slowly healed, but if he turned into a madman capable of anything, he might lose his life because of it. with this in mind, the disciple from the white bone hall disciple no longer hesitated and immediately self-destructed a portion of his soul. ¡°boom!¡± his soul fell into a deep sleep and the huge white bone true body crashed to the ground. ¡°the blood god sect wins!¡± with the announcement from the blood god sect¡¯s leader, zhang chen was once again stripped of his mana and escorted off the arena. zhang chen¡¯s eyes remained bloodshot, filled with a murderous aura as he looked at the people around him, seemingly not yet recovered from the effects of the mad blood saber technique. people involuntarily moved away, fearing that zhang chen might suddenly go berserk. ¡°i didn¡¯t expect zhang chen to win again!¡± many sighed in admiration. to win three consecutive matches was already remarkable among the top contenders of the four sects. more importantly, zhang chen was only at the fourth level of foundation establishment, two levels lower than the others, making his achievements even more extraordinary. many even believed that if zhang chen reached the sixth level of foundation establishment, he would undoubtedly become the number one in the mid-stage of foundation establishment. as for now, it was hard to say. all they could do was hope for the championship. with the conclusion of the third round of battles, the blood god sect had a total of five members advancing. among them, one was in the early stage of foundation establishment, two in the mid-stage, and three in the late stage. now, each group had only five people remaining, which meant that one lucky person would receive a bye in the fourth round. and according to the rule of matching similar numbers, zhang chen was fortunate enough to receive a bye. however, in this demon path grand competition, only the first place would receive a reward. apart from the first place, each match had no significance. therefore, even if someone received two consecutive byes, it would be meaningless if they lacked the strength. with the conclusion of the fourth round of battles, the blood god sect had a total of four members advancing. there was no change in the early and mid-stages of foundation establishment, but one disciple was eliminated in the late stage, leaving only two remaining. in the upcoming fifth round of battles, one person would still receive a bye. but this time, zhang chen didn¡¯t get a bye; he needed to step onto the stage and compete for the spot in the decisive battle. his opponent was another disciple of the blood god sect.. Chapter 144 - Chapter 144: Competition Between Fellow Disciples Chapter 144: Competition Between Fellow Disciples Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Zhang Chen had also seen the battle of the other Blood God Sect disciple. He was very strong. Unlike him, who had a cheat, he was a true genius. From the accounts of others, Zhang Chen learned that this disciple was named Wu Daowen, a disciple of Elder Filthy Blood. He had already cultivated the ¡®Filthy Blood Scripture¡¯ and possessed the power of impurity within his blood. The cultivation of the Filthy Blood Scripture required the collection of various filthy fluids, with menstrual blood being the most common. Not only did it require enduring various disgusting and foul fluids, but it also entailed enduring strong side effects. After all, in order to refine these impure fluids, one must first bear the burden themselves. Even among the disciples under Elder Filthy Blood, only a few had successfully cultivated it. Therefore, Wu Daowen was considered a genius, a genius with great determination. However, once cultivated, its power was also tremendous, specifically targeting spiritual tools, clones, divine senses, and formations. Once a magical artifact was stained with dirty blood, its spirituality would be greatly reduced and its power would decrease. If it was serious, it would become scrap metal. Furthermore, it could also establish a connection with the owner¡¯s divine sense through the magic treasure, corrupting the owner¡¯s divine sense and causing damage to it. Moreover, the same effect applied to anything controlled by divine sense. In other words, if Zhang Chen¡¯s Blood Shadow Avatar, Blood God, and the demon beast controlled by the Beast Slave Seal were contaminated by Wu Daowen¡¯s filthy blood, not only could they be destroyed, but their connection could also corrupt Zhang Chen¡¯s divine sense. The Bone Slaves of the White Bone Hall, the zombies of the Corpse Control Sect, and the ghosts of the Nether Spring Sect would face the same situation. It was precisely because of the formidable Filthy Blood Scripture that Wu Daowen could achieve consecutive victories and become Zhang Chen¡¯s opponent. To better engage in battle, it was best not to use the Blood Gods, Blood Shadow Avatar, or direct-attack spiritual tools and controlled beasts. As a result, Zhang Chen lost the majority of his methods. As the duel began, both of them flew onto the arena. Wu Daowen¡¯s body constantly emitted murky and filthy blood, thick and pitch-black, reeking with a foul stench. From afar, it resembled black mud. The ground that was tainted by the filthy blood flowed like it had been corroded by sulfuric acid, sizzling and emitting black smoke. Zhang Chen reached into his storage bag and produced a red, lidless wine jug. It was the premium spiritual tool he had purchased in the market, the Sepsis Jug. Although filthy blood could corrupt spiritual tools, the Sepsis Jug didn¡¯t require direct contact with the filthy blood. With a gentle toss, the Sepsis Jug rapidly enlarged in mid-air. Following that, Zhang Chen¡¯s body also emitted a large amount of blood, which descended towards the empty jug. The onlookers beneath the arena observed the Sepsis Jug with curiosity. They speculated about what surprising methods this dark horse Zhang Chen would display. Some had eager eyes fixed on the Sepsis Jug. They were full of longing. ¡°Based on the spiritual radiance emanating from that jug, it should be a premium spiritual tool. He¡¯s only at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, yet he possesses a premium spiritual tool!¡± Some shook their heads, not optimistic about the situation. ¡°Although premium spiritual tools are strong, the opposing side is using the Filthy Blood Scripture, which specifically counters spiritual tools. Even a premium spiritual tool won¡¯t be effective. ¡°Knowing that the opponent has the Filthy Blood Scripture and still bringing out a premium spiritual tool, after this duel, even if the premium spiritual tool isn¡¯t destroyed, its spiritual nature will be greatly diminished, and its power will significantly decrease. It¡¯s such a pity!¡± There were also those who didn¡¯t know the capabilities of the Sepsis Jug, wearing a look of regret, wishing they could go up and snatch it. On the arena, Wu Daowen was the first to launch an attack, waves of filthy blood surging forth. His attack was simple and straightforward, without any fancy techniques because there was no need for them! So far, among those at the same cultivation level he had encountered, no one could withstand the corrupting power of the filthy blood. There was no need for tactics. As long as the opponent was tainted by the filthy blood, the outcome was decided. That was his confidence! Zhang Chen extended his hand and pointed, causing the Sepsis Jug to tilt slightly, and the highly toxic blood flowed out from the jug, resembling a waterfall. The clash between the colossal waves and the waterfall was also a battle between extreme toxicity and filthiness. ¡°Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle.. As soon as the two substances made contact, immediate reactions occurred, as if they were boiling. Between the two, there were many similarities. When filth reached a certain level, toxins would be produced. And some toxins also had corrosive properties. In other words, filth was a form of poison as well. After a moment of confrontation, the filthy blood began to retreat. ¡°How could this be possible!¡± Wu Daowen¡¯s expression was ugly, finding it difficult to accept. The reason why the Sepsis Jug became a premium spiritual tool was precisely because of its highly toxic nature, which was difficult for cultivators below the Golden Core stage to withstand. Although the filthy blood was powerful, Wu Daowen was only at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment, and the level of filth he cultivated was far inferior to the toxicity of the Sepsis Jug. ¡°After all the painstaking effort and immense cost I paid to cultivate the Filthy Blood Scripture, it is actually inferior to a mere spiritual tool? ¡°Impossible, this is absolutely impossible!¡± Wu Daowen roared angrily, forcefully activating the filthy blood to compete against the toxic blood. For a moment, the filthy blood surged and overwhelmed the toxic blood. Zhang Chen remained calm, unperturbed, because he knew that Wu Daowen wouldn¡¯t be able to sustain this kind of outburst for long. The entire arena was filled with foul stench and extreme toxicity. If it weren¡¯t for the array formation enveloping the arena, the arena would have long been in ruins, affecting the surrounding area. Sure enough, half an hour later, the onslaught of the filthy blood began to weaken, once again suppressed by the toxic blood. Wu Daowen had no choice but to accept the fact that the filthy blood was inferior to the toxic blood. ¡°I refuse to accept it! You¡¯re only relying on the power of a spiritual tool. Without this spiritual tool, you¡¯re definitely not my match!¡± Wu Daowen suddenly revealed a delighted expression, as if he had discovered something. ¡°Right, the spiritual tool! As long as I destroy this spiritual tool, I can win!¡± After saying that, the filthy blood transformed into demonic hands and reached towards the Sepsis Jug in mid-air. Zhang Chen had no intention of arguing with him and the toxic blood also formed giant hands to defend against the attack. When his first attack failed, Wu Daowen turned the filthy blood into a rainstorm. ¡°Just a drop, as long as your spiritual tool touches a drop of filthy blood, it will be damaged!¡± Wu Daowen¡¯s face twisted into a grimace as he watched the torrential blood rain fall. Zhang Chen raised his hand and waved, causing the toxic blood to form a blood curtain, enveloping him and the Sepsis Jug. ¡°Pa, pa, pa, pa¡­¡¯ The filthy rain fell on the blood curtain, creating a dense sound, but it couldn¡¯t penetrate through. Seeing this, Wu Daowen brought his hands together, condensing the filthy blood once again, forming a thick blood column that surged toward the location of the Sepsis Jug. ¡°Sizzle- The blood curtain couldn¡¯t withstand the impact of the blood column and was corroded, creating a hole that revealed the Sepsis Jug behind it. However, at this moment, Zhang Chen revealed a smile. He tilted the Sepsis Jug, aiming its opening at the blood column. The blood column fell straight into the jug without deviation. The jug itself contained intense toxicity and had a strong resistance to filthy blood. Coupled with its ability to infuse toxins, once the filthy blood was imbued with intense toxicity, it paradoxically disrupted and weakened the effects of filthiness, transforming it into toxic blood. Moreover, the jug contained a mustard seed space, comparable in size to a lake, capable of holding a large amount of blood. The filthy blood continuously poured into the jug, yet there was no sign of it reaching its capacity. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°How is this possible? My filthy blood couldn¡¯t destroy this spiritual tool!¡± Wu Daowen couldn¡¯t believe it. Wu Daowen was helpless against the Sepsis Jug, and the filthy blood was no match for the toxic blood. The victory was decided! The onlookers below gazed at the Sepsis Jug with even greater fervor. ¡°Premium spiritual tools are indeed powerful. If only I could possess one¡­¡± Soon, the duel ended as Wu Daowen succumbed to the intense toxicity and was unable to continue fighting.. Chapter 145 - Chapter 145: Negotiation of the Righteous Path Chapter 145: Negotiation of the Righteous Path Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After the fourth round of battles, Blood God Sect was left with four members. One in the early Foundation Establishment stage, Zhang Chen in the mid Foundation Establishment stage, and two in the late Foundation Establishment stage. In the fifth round of battles, three out of two would advance, and there would also be one person exempted from fighting. In other words, in the late Foundation Establishment stage battles, Blood God Sect would definitely have one person promoted, contending for the first place. And in this round, Zhang Chen was exempted. On the other side, within the Silver Moon Sect, the elders of Heavenly Origin Sword Sect and the Spiritual Cloud Sect were also welcomed. The Sect Master of Silver Moon Sect personally led the elders to greet them, saying, ¡°Welcome to the Silver Moon Clan, Fellow Daoists.¡± The elder of the Heavenly Origin Sword Sect was a middle-aged man with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. He exuded an unstoppable sharp aura, carrying an ordinary-looking sword on his back. But how could a sword carried by an elder of the Heavenly Origin Sword Sect be ordinary? A divine sword hid its sharpness. Once unsheathed, it would surely shake the heavens. The elder of the Spiritual Cloud Sect was an old man, standing on a cloud with his hair white as snow and a youthful appearance. His temperament was ethereal, like an immortal descending to the mortal realm. ¡°Greetings, Sect Master Chen.¡± The two of them cupped their hands and bowed. ¡°The two Fellow Daoists have come from afar. Please enter the sect and have a cup of spiritual tea before discussing matters,¡± the Sect Master of Silver Moon Sect spoke calmly. ¡°As you wish, Sect Master Chen.¡± The two of them nodded in agreement. ¡°Please.¡± They arrived at the main hall of the sect. As soon as they sat down, a disciple immediately served them spiritual tea. The fragrance filled the air, carrying the essence of moonlight, refreshing one¡¯s spirit. In the cup, there was a peculiar flower petal emitting a faint cold light, constantly changing its shape like the moon. Crescent, half-moon, ellipse, full moon¡­ It felt as if the moon in the sky was contained within the cup! ¡°This is the Thousand-year Moon Lotus Tea. Fellow Daoists, please savor it,¡± the Sect Master of Silver Moon Sect introduced with a smile. The two individuals lifted their teacups and took a sip. As the cool liquid entered their mouths, their bodies and souls felt as if they were bathing in moonlight, experiencing an unprecedented sense of comfort. ¡°Excellent tea!¡± the two exclaimed in unison, praising it. ¡°As long as the two fellow Daoists enjoy it,¡± the Sect Master of Silver Moon Sect responded with a smile on his face. The group leisurely drank their tea, with each passing moment feeling like an eternity. It was impossible to tell that they were supposed to seek assistance from the two sects; it appeared more like they were there to sample tea. After finishing the spiritual tea in their cups, the elder from the Heavenly Origin Sword Sect took the lead and spoke, his words as sharp as a sword. ¡°It¡¯s commendable that you, as the Sect Master, can remain so composed. Now that the tea is finished, Sect Master Chen, perhaps it¡¯s time to discuss the matter concerning Blood God Sect?¡± The reason the Sect Master of Silver Moon Sect didn¡¯t bring it up earlier was to maintain control of the situation. If he showed impatience or anxiety, he could easily be manipulated and threatened by the other party. The less he appeared concerned, the less certain the other side would be. The Sect Master of Silver Moon Sect nodded, set down his teacup, and spoke slowly, ¡°The Blood God Sect has remained dormant for hundreds of years, and its strength has greatly recovered. Being adjacent to them, it falls upon the Silver Moon Sect to oversee and monitor their actions. ¡°Seeing the Blood God Sect prosper day by day has caused me great unease. In order to prevent the resurgence of the Blood Demon Calamity, the Silver Moon Sect took the initiative to engage in battle with them as a probe. ¡°Through this trial, we discovered that the Blood God Sect is indeed formidable. Not only did they defeat our elders, but they also invaded our territory with their strength. ¡°Because of this, my Silver Moon Clan lost a large number of disciples.¡± As he spoke, the Sect Master of Silver Moon Sect displayed a face filled with grief, pain, and anger. And in his words, the problems that originally belonged to the Silver Moon Sect became sacrifices made for the safety and well-being of the righteous path. ¡®¡±¡®Sect Master Chen truly embodies the ideals of the righteous path, and we admire you,¡± the two elders praised, giving face to him. Deeply concerned, the Sect Master of the Silver Moon Sect continued, ¡°Furthermore, our sect has discovered that disciples from the Blood God Sect have infiltrated our borders, seemingly plotting some sort of conspiracy. ¡°Moreover, not long ago, the White Bone Hall, Corpse Control Sect, and Nether Spring Sect all headed towards the Blood God Sect. I am worried that the Blood Demon Calamity might reemerge. That is why we invited both of your sects to discuss this matter.¡± When the two elders heard this, their expressions were solemn. The Spiritual Cloud Sect elder raised a question. ¡°The demonic path is selfish and self-serving. Previously, the Blood Demon was isolated and had no assistance, relying solely on the power of one sect to confront the righteous path, resulting in his failure and subsequent sealing. Why would they now want to help the Blood God Sect?¡± The Sect Master of Silver Moon Sect shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. Perhaps the Blood God Sect has promised them certain benefits, or maybe there is a great demon who wishes to emulate the Blood Demon and break through countless living beings¡¯ boundaries. ¡°This is a serious matter. No matter what the reason is, even if it¡¯s a one in a million chance, we have to treat it carefully and guard against it. ¡°For the sake of the people of the world and the continuation of the righteous path, my Silver Moon Clan is willing to be the sword of the righteous path. We will stop the Blood Demon Calamity at all costs!¡± The sect Master of the Silver Moon Sect was righteous and his tone was resolute. However, upon careful consideration, the Silver Moon Sect was adjacent to the Blood God Sect. If the Blood God Sect made a move, the first to suffer would be the Silver Moon Sect. It did not matter if they were at the forefront or not. ¡°Our three sects can be said to be the door to resist the demonic path. We naturally have to help each other. We can¡¯t lack any of them.¡± ¡°The three sects can be considered the gatekeepers against the demonic path, and we must support and assist each other. We cannot afford to be lacking in any aspect,¡± spoke the elder from the Heavenly Origin Sword Sect. As a swordsman, he possessed the strongest inclination for battle and killing. The Spiritual Cloud Sect elder nodded, ¡°Indeed, the three sects must support and assist each other, standing united against the demonic sect. However¡­¡± The Spiritual Cloud Sect elder changed his tone. ¡°Our Spiritual Cloud Sect and the Nether Spring Sect are next to each other, and the Heavenly Origin Sword Sect and the Corpse Control Sect are adjacent.lf our two sects focus too much attention on Blood God Sect, it may be a ploy by the demonic path to lure us away from our bases.¡± Implicitly, it meant they could help the Silver Moon Sect, but they wouldn¡¯t send too many people. ¡°We do need to guard against the demonic path¡¯s schemes. The specific details of assistance can be discussed based on the circumstances of each sect,¡± the Sect Master of the Silver Moon Sect didn¡¯t object but agreed instead. After all, it was impossible to mobilize the entire sect¡¯s strength for assistance. It was better to first finalize the details of the support and gain whatever additional strength they could. On one side, the three righteous sects discussed how to resist the Blood God Sect. On the other side, within the Blood God Sect, the fifth round of the demonic competition had concluded, entering the finals to determine first place. Throughout the Foundation Establishment stage¡¯s three phases, the Blood God Sect surprisingly secured a place in the finals for each phase. Other than Zhang Chen, the early-stage Foundation Establishment Blood God Sect disciples displayed exceptional strength. Although the spells and techniques used were not particularly powerful, their wealth of combat experience allowed them to seize fleeting opportunities and repeatedly turn defeat into victory. Zhang Chen had to admit that in a situation where their strength and techniques were on par, he was not the opponent of those disciples. That kind of combat experience, or rather, combat talent, was something he couldn¡¯t match. The finals began with the disciples in the early stage Foundation Establishment conducting the first bout, as usual. Zhang Chen attentively watched the two figures on the stage, eager to see what astonishing performance his fellow sect disciples would deliver this time, and whether they could win again based on their combat experience. The opponent was a disciple from the Corpse Control Sect, who possessed great strength in the early stage Foundation Establishment and initially dominated the disciple from the Blood God Sect. The disciple of the Blood God Sect relied on his combat experience, narrowly escaping danger several times. He even managed to land a strike on the opponent, but to his surprise, a robe appeared on the Corpse Control Sect disciple, blocking the attack. It was a high-grade robe capable of withstanding attacks from the mid-stage Foundation Establishment and below, making him nearly invulnerable. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only No one thought that the Blood God Sect disciples would win. And a shocking scene happened. The disciple of the Blood God Sect used the Blood Ignition Technique! It was known that once Blood Ignition Technique was employed, the outcome would only be death. None of the disciples present could comprehend why someone would risk his life for a mere competition. Although the prize was enticing, it wasn¡¯t worth sacrificing one¡¯s life for! Chapter 146 - Chapter 146: Scheming Chapter 146: Scheming Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Could it be that they thought the elders and the sect master would lend a hand?¡± Zhang Chen was also perplexed. He secretly activated the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Demon Technique to examine the other party¡¯s emotions. He saw a continuous release of gray smoke from the other person¡¯s body, and gray symbolized fear. Zhang Chen was somewhat surprised because this behavior was completely different from that of the disciples of the Blood God Sect. The disciples of the Blood God Sect clearly had resolute expressions, as if they were willing to do anything for victory. However, under the perception of the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Demon Technique, they emitted an emotion of fear. Someone who uses death spells is actually afraid? What can be scarier than death? Zhang Chen even suspected that there might be an error in the perception of the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Demon Technique. If there was no problem with the technique, then the problem lay with this disciple of the Blood God Sect. It was highly likely that he was using the Blood Ignition Technique involuntarily! Zhang Chen¡¯s mind couldn¡¯t help but start to speculate¡­ In the arena, the disciple of the Blood God Sect who used the Blood Ignition Technique experienced a tremendous increase in strength, rapidly advancing in cultivation. In just a moment, his cultivation reached the fifth level of the Foundation Establishment stage. Generally speaking, such a rapid surge in cultivation would lead to some discomfort and difficulties in controlling one¡¯s power. But this disciple of the Blood God Sect seemed to possess exceptional talent in battle. He was able to perfectly control his power, even more meticulously than most mid-Foundation Establishment disciples. The situation immediately turned around! The high-grade Daoist robe could ignore spells below the mid-Foundation Establishment stage but couldn¡¯t resist mid-Foundation Establishment spells. At most, it could weaken their power. The Blood Ignition Technique couldn¡¯t be sustained for long, so the disciples of the Corpse Control Sect wanted to keep engaging in combat to delay time. The disciples of the Blood God Sect, with their abundant combat experience, had long anticipated this and didn¡¯t give them any chance. Soon, the disciple of the Blood God Sect, relying on his cultivation at the fifth level of the Foundation Establishment stage and his extensive combat experience, defeated the disciple of the Corpse Control Sect. But he wouldn¡¯t last long before his blood burned out, leading to his death. Even if he won, what would be the point? Everyone was also curious if the Blood God Sect Master would reward a dead person. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, the Blood God Sect Master stood up and announced, ¡°The disciple of the Blood God Sect is victorious, earning the first place in the early Foundation Establishment stage and rewarded with a semi-magic treasure, the Blood Sea Source Cup!¡± With that, he waved his hand, and the Blood Sea Source Cup, radiating dazzling blood light, flew towards the disciple of the Blood God Sect. ¡°Thank you for the Master¡¯s reward,¡± the disciple of the Blood God Sect extended his hands and respectfully received the Blood Sea Source Cup. Did he really reward a person who was about to die? Everyone was astonished. Just at that moment, as if on cue, the blood inside the disciple of the Blood God Sect burned out. Before he could step down from the arena, his body was engulfed in a blaze of blood, turning him into ashes. ¡°Ding!¡± The Blood Sea Source Cup fell to the ground, emitting a crisp sound. This was expected, and the crowd wasn¡¯t surprised. What they were concerned about now was if the first-place winner died, would the prize go to the second-place? The recently defeated disciple of the Corpse Control Sect had a hopeful expression on his face as well. ¡°As disciples of the sect, items after death belong to the sect.¡± The Blood God Sect Master¡¯s dignified voice sounded as the Blood Sea Source Cup flew back into his hands. On the high platform, the Elder of the Corpse Control Sect had a stern face and questioned, ¡°Master Chen, what do you mean by this?¡± The Blood God Sect Master countered, ¡°My disciple won the competition and naturally deserves the reward. Is there a problem?¡± The Elder of the Corpse Control Sect sneered, ¡°Do you really think I can¡¯t see through this?¡± Sweeping a glance at the six Elders of the Blood God Sect, the Elder of the Corpse Control Sect continued, ¡°I wonder which esteemed Elder of your sect was so interested in controlling disciples to participate in the competition. If you¡¯re unwilling to part with treasures, why did you invite us to join this competition? I see no point in continuing this competition, lest your sect loses two more disciples.¡± Even though he was exposed, the Blood God Sect Master remained composed, ¡°As long as your three sects agree to form an alliance and stand against the orthodox path, I will offer all three treasures from this competition, regardless of the outcome.¡¯ The Blood God Sect Master knew that the three factions could see that the disciple was being controlled, and he didn¡¯t hide it. Everything was part of his plan. He first used the protection formation as a competition reward to attract the three sects, then deliberately transmitted the information of their arrival to the Silver Moon Sect. This made the Silver Moon Sect wary and speculative, reluctant to act recklessly. If the three sects didn¡¯t form an alliance, he would naturally not let the treasures and the protection formation fall into someone else¡¯s hands. ¡°Of course, if your disciples win the competition, I will still honor my promise and offer the formation,¡± the Blood God Sect Master added with a smile. The Elders of the three sects knew that their disciples had no chance of winning. This was a battle between a Golden Core stage disciple and Foundation Establishment stage disciples. Their combat experience and understanding of spells were simply not on the same level, not to mention being able to use Blood Ignition Technique without any scruples. The competition continued, and next was the finals of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Zhang Chen could not hear the conversation on the high platform, but he could guess that the Blood God Sect disciple was being controlled. He could also tell that the Blood God Sect Master did not want the treasures to fall into the hands of the other three sects. If he was no match for his opponent, the elder or sect master would undoubtedly control him in order to win the competition. The side effect of the Blood Body was being controlled by higher-level techniques. After being modified by the modifier, he would not be controlled. But if the Elders or the Sect Master attempted to control him, they would undoubtedly discover this. Once discovered, he would have no way out, so he had to quickly defeat his opponent and prevent the Elders or the Sect Master from having thoughts of controlling him. As soon as Zhang Chen entered the arena, he launched a fierce attack. Blood God Sons, Blood Shadow Avatar, demon beasts, top-grade magical artifact, Sepsis Jug. However, this was only to stall the opponent so that he could use the Blood Sacrifice Technique. In order to avoid exposing his secret of being uncontrollable, Zhang Chen immediately used the Blood Sacrifice Technique. The auras of the 10 Blood God Sons suddenly surged and broke through to the Foundation Establishment realm. Everyone was shocked, especially the disciples of the Blood God Sect. They widened their eyes and stared at the Blood God Sons. ¡°What kind of secret technique is this? It can actually allow the Blood God Sons to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm!¡± ¡°Our Blood God Sect has such a secret skill? Why haven¡¯t I seen it before?¡± ¡°If I had this secret skill and many Blood God Sons, who below the Golden Core realm would be my match?¡± The Blood God Sect disciples recovered from their shock and their gazes became abnormally fiery. The Blood God Sect Master and the other elders naturally recognized the Blood Sacrifice Technique because only the seven of them knew it in the entire Blood God Sect. That was a secret skill that could only be learned 300 years ago before the Blood God Sect was destroyed. The other elders looked at the Elder Blood River unhappily, blaming him for imparting the Blood Sacrifice Technique to his disciple. Zhang Chen was a disciple of Elder Blood River, so this secret technique could only be imparted by Blood River. The reason why the other elders were unhappy was because they did not want the other disciples to learn the Blood Sacrifice Technique from Zhang Chen. The Blood Sacrifice Technique was used to sacrifice the Blood God Sons, and in a sense, the disciples¡¯ Blood God Sons were nurtured for them. After these disciples saw the power of the Blood Sacrifice Technique, they would definitely think of a way to obtain it from Zhang Chen. Elder Blood River felt their gazes and said, ¡°After the competition, I¡¯ll instruct Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Zhang Chen not to privately teach the Blood Sacrifice Technique.¡± Although the elders were still unhappy, they still retracted their gazes. As an elder, Elder Blood River knew the Blood God Sect Master¡¯s plan from the beginning. Zhang Chen was the most likely to form his core among his disciples. If he used the Blood Ignition Technique, it would be equivalent to losing a Golden Core Blood God. That would be a huge loss. One of the goals of imparting the Blood Sacrifice Technique was to prevent Zhang Chen from being controlled to use the Blood Ignition Technique when he was not a match for his opponent.. Chapter 147 - Chapter 147: Everyone’s Plans Chapter 147: Everyone¡¯s Plans Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios His gaze returned to the arena, where the Blood God Sons, who were already in the Foundation Establishment stage, rushed towards his opponent. Both the Foundation Establishment demon beasts and Blood Shadow Avatar launched fierce attacks. No matter how formidable the mid -Foundation Establishment stage was, it couldn¡¯t withstand the siege of more than a dozen Foundation Establishment stage opponents, let alone the fearless Blood God Sons. In just a few moments, the opponent was heavily injured and defeated. From the beginning to the end, it only took a dozen moments, making it the fastest match since the Grand Competition began¡ªa complete one-sided victory. Zhang Chen was afraid that his being uncontrollable would be exposed, so he directly used his trump card to quickly end the battle. ¡°Victory goes to the disciple of the Blood God Sect, securing the first place in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Reward: Blood Sea Array Disk.¡± The Blood God Sect Master raised his hand and the suspended Array Disk flew towards Zhang Chen. ¡°Thank you for your reward, Sect Master!¡± Zhang Chen hurriedly bowed and caught the Array Disk with both hands. ¡°You¡¯ve done well,¡± the Blood God Sect Master praised unprecedentedly. Being able to win the first place with only a cultivation level of the fourth level of Foundation Establishment was truly remarkable. After all, everyone who could participate in the Great Competition was the cream of the crop from various sects. ¡°I rely on the advantage of our sect¡¯s techniques entirely. If other senior brothers master this secret technique, they can also achieve victory,¡± Zhang Chen humbly and respectfully responded. If he was in a righteous sect, the more talented he appeared, the more the sect would value and nurture him. However, being in the demonic sect, being too talented would easily provoke jealousy from fellow disciples and wariness from the elders. Especially in the Blood God Sect, all their disciples would be refined into Blood God Sons. If their strength was too strong and there was a risk of losing control, they would undoubtedly be suppressed. ¡°You may leave. Let¡¯s continue with the last match.¡± The Blood God Sect Master¡¯s tone was calm, but a smile appeared on his face. Clearly, he was very satisfied with Zhang Chen¡¯s answer. ¡°Yes.¡± Zhang Chen bowed again and flew down from the arena. Although Zhang Chen really wanted to try out the effectiveness of the Array Disk, the competition was still ongoing. He could only put it away and wait until the competition was over. As for the 10 Blood God Sons, Zhang Chen did not put them away because they would soon be absorbed by the Blood Sea, and he also had another purpose. After using the Blood Sacrifice Technique, he felt the intense gazes of the other Blood God Sect disciples. Letting them see the Blood God Sons disappear might dispel some of their thoughts. After all, not only did it take time to nurture the Blood God Sons, but it also required a large amount of blood essence. Not everyone could afford it. Although the decisive match of the late Foundation Establishment stage had already begun, most of the gazes of the Blood God Sect¡¯s direct disciples were still on Zhang Chen. They looked at the ten Blood Gods emitting the aura of the Foundation Establishment stage around Zhang Chen, their gazes filled with fervor. They kept thinking about how to obtain this powerful secret technique. If not for the fact that the sect master and elders were present, they would have surrounded Zhang Chen, using threats and temptations to pry out the secret technique. Soon, the time came, and the 10 Blood Gods dissipated like smoke. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why did the Blood God Sons disappear?¡± ¡°Such a powerful secret technique couldn¡¯t possibly come without a price. The Blood Ignition Technique sacrifices life to forcefully enhance cultivation. It seems that the secret technique Zhang Chen used is similar to the Blood Ignition Technique, except the price is the loss of the Blood God Sons.¡± The numerous disciples of the Blood God Sect were initially surprised but quickly guessed the reason. Although this greatly reduced the value of the secret technique, it was still powerful enough to be used as a trump card. Most of the disciples of the Blood God Sect still wanted to obtain this secret technique. In the arena, the two sides fought intensely and were evenly matched. But it was just an illusion. The elders of the Blood God Sect could instantly take control of their disciples¡¯ bodies and win the competition. ¡°Fellow Daoists, have you discussed with your respective sect masters? Will you form an alliance, obtain the array formation, or return empty-handed?¡± The Blood God Sect Master asked calmly, seemingly indifferent to whether an alliance could be formed. The elders of the three sects looked at each other and began to communicate with their divine senses. The elder of the White Bone Hall, Wang Zongyan, asked, ¡°Fellow Daoists, does your sect intend to form an alliance?¡± The elder of the Corpse Control Sect, Li Yuanlin, replied, ¡°Our sect intends to form an alliance. As long as the Blood God Sect is still around, the righteous path¡¯s target will only be the Blood God Sect, not us.¡± Wang Zongyan was a little hesitant. ¡°The righteous path doesn¡¯t want the Blood God Sect to regain its strength and rescue the Blood Demon, but aren¡¯t we the same? If the Blood Demon is freed, with its domineering style, it will undoubtedly make us bow down.¡± At this moment, Xu Shuanghong, an elder of the Nether Spring Sect, said, ¡°Fellow Daoist Wang, you¡¯re overthinking. Although we¡¯ve sworn to form an alliance, it is only to resist the righteous path, not the demonic path. ¡°If the Blood God Sect really intends to rescue the Blood Demon, we can take action ourselves. ¡°After obtaining the Blood God Array and knowing its weakness, the Blood God Sect is equivalent to defenseless to us. The survival of the Blood God Sect is is defenseless against us. The survival of the Blood God Sect will be completely in our hands in the future.¡¯ ¡°Fellow Daoist Xu is right.¡± Li Yuanlin agreed. ¡°As long as we obtain the Blood Sea Array, the Blood God Sect won¡¯t be able to resist us at all. ¡°Without us, the Blood God Sect would have been destroyed by the righteous path. Furthermore, they would need at least 10 Nascent Soul realm cultivators to save the Blood Demon. Even if they include the few elders in the Blood God Sect, it is still not enough. The reason the Blood God Sect Master handed over the sect-protecting formation was probably to indicate that they had no intention of rescuing the Blood Demon. Watching the three people communicate with divine senses, the Blood God Sect Master remained calm and confident that the three would agree. Sure enough, after a moment, Wang Zongyan spoke, ¡°Our three sects can form an alliance with your Blood God Sect to resist the righteous path.¡± The Blood God Sect Master smiled faintly, ¡°Once the three esteemed friends make the alliance oath, I will present the method of deploying the Blood Sea Array.¡± The three of them nodded and began to swear. ¡°With the Heavenly Dao as my witness, I, Wang Zongyan, represent the White Bone Hall to form an alliance with the Blood God Sect to resist the righteous path together. If we violate it, the world will abandon us.¡± ¡°With the Heavenly Dao as my witness. I, Li Yuanlin, represent the Corpse Control Sect¡­¡± Although it wasn¡¯t the sect masters themselves who made the alliance, as elders of their respective sects, their fortunes were connected, and they had the same effect. A violation of the oath would weaken the sect¡¯s fortune, leading to disasters and misfortunes, with everything going against them, ultimately resulting in extinction. ¡°Excellent!¡± The Blood God Sect Master laughed heartily and waved his hand, sending three jade slips flying toward the three individuals. ¡°Inside are detailed records of the steps to deploy the Blood Sea Array. Fellow Daoists, please take a look.¡± The three received the jade slips and examined them with their divine senses. With their cultivation at the late Golden Core stage, they could naturally discern their authenticity. A moment later, the three revealed satisfied smiles. ¡°Not bad. It¡¯s indeed the Blood Sea Array.¡± Half a day later, the competition ended, and once again, a disciple of the Blood God Sect emerged as the victor. The Blood God Sect achieved a three-time consecutive championship! Except for the first final, the following two matches were indeed won by their own abilities. The disciples of the Blood God Sect were filled with joy and excitement, while the disciples of the other three sects hung their heads in dejection. s for the three sect elders, they didn¡¯t show much expression. They had obtained what they wanted, and the outcome of the competition was inconsequential. ¡°We¡¯ll send these disciples back to their sects first and then come to assist your esteemed sect in resisting the righteous path.¡± The three stood up and prepared to leave. They were all genius disciples of the various sects, and wouldn¡¯t be sacrificed in vain in the Blood God Sect. The Blood God Sect Master nodded, ¡°That¡¯s how it should be.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Wang Zongyan wiped the horn on his head. The horn flew away and quickly grew, transforming into a white bone battle ark. Behind Li Yuanlin, the coffin opened, and countless coffins flew out, forming a flying vessel. Yin energy spread around Xu Shuanghong, and a broken ferry sailed out from it. It was the Hades Ferry. ¡°Board the vessel!¡± With a light command, the three embarked with their respective disciples and left.. Chapter 148 - Chapter 148: The Power of the Array Disk Chapter 148: The Power of the Array Disk Translator: Atlas Studios | Editor: Atlas Studios Watching the three giant boats getting farther and farther away, the Blood God Sect Master sneered coldly. ¡°So what if I give you the Blood Sea Array? As long as the main body is freed, the Blood God Sect is dispensable. We can rebuild it if needed.¡± No one knew that the Blood God Sect Master was actually a clone of the Blood Demon. The reconstruction of the Blood God Sect was just to accumulate power and save his main body. This was because the Blood Demon¡¯s main body had reached the Soul Formation realm. As a clone, his cultivation level could only reach the late-stage Nascent Soul realm. Otherwise, he would have sucked the blood of everyone in the sect and achieved a breakthrough to the Soul Formation realm. It¡¯s almost time, almost there. The Blood God Sect Master subtly glanced at a few elders and then looked at the disciple who had won first place in the late Foundation Establishment stage. This disciple was called Wei Qi, the eldest senior brother of Elder Cold Blood¡¯s faction. ¡°I promised that the one who ranks first in the late Foundation Establishment stage would be rewarded with the Blood Sea Array deployment method. However, this is our sect¡¯s protective formation and it is of great importance. ¡°Your cultivation is too low, making it easy for others to spy on. To prevent the leakage of the formation and ensure your safety, I will grant you the method after you break through to the Golden Core stage.¡± Wei Qi¡¯s expression turned ugly when he heard the Blood God Sect Master¡¯s words. It sounded nice, but in reality, he just didn¡¯t want to give it to him. How many disciples of the Blood God Sect dared to break through to the Golden Core stage? Although he felt resentful inside, when faced with the Nascent Soul stage Sect Master, Wei Qi could only grit his teeth and say, ¡°It¡¯s entirely up to the Sect Master.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s it. The Demon Sect Competition is over.¡± The Blood God Sect Master did not care about Wei Qi¡¯s emotions at all. After saying that, he turned into a blood light and disappeared. The few elders did not stay any longer and also turned into blood light and disappeared. Only Elder Blood River did not leave immediately. Instead, he sent a divine thought to Zhang Chen. ¡°You are not allowed to impart the Blood Sacrifice Technique to others.¡± ¡°I definitely won¡¯t teach the Blood Sacrifice Technique to anyone else,¡± Zhang Chen hurriedly promised respectfully. Actually, even if Elder Blood River didn¡¯t say anything, Zhang Chen wouldn¡¯t pass on the Blood Sacrifice Technique to anyone else. ¡°Farewell, Sect Master. Farewell, Elders.¡± The disciples bowed in unison. With the departure of Elder Blood River, the disciples no longer had any restraints and began discussing the competition. As for the late-stage Foundation Establishment disciples, they surrounded Zhang Chen, wanting to inquire about the Blood Sacrifice Technique. However, Zhang Chen did not give them a chance. He directly turned into a blood light and flew away. As they watched the blood light recede into the distance, the faces of the onlookers displayed mixed emotions. In this Demon Path Grand Competition, it could be said that Zhang Chen was the one who obtained tangible benefits. Even Wei Qi, who ranked first in the late Foundation Establishment stage, only theoretically gained knowledge of the Blood Sea Array¡¯s deployment method. Therefore, many people were filled with jealousy towards Zhang Chen. Back in his cave dwelling, Zhang Chen took out the Blood Sea Array Disk he had just obtained. The Array Disk was a simplified version of the grand array, with only one percent or even lower of its power, but it could be carried around. Even someone who didn¡¯t understand formations could instantly deploy one by activating the Array Disk. ¡°With this Array Disk, the secrecy and security of my cave dwelling will greatly improve. At least those below the Golden Core stage won¡¯t be able to approach and detect my cave dwelling.¡± Gazing at the Array Disk in his hand, Zhang Chen was enamored with it and couldn¡¯t wait to start cultivating it. Zhang Chen pointed his finger, and a drop of blood essence flew out. The drop of refined blood landed on the Array Disk and was immediately absorbed, disappearing without a trace. The Array Disk, now infused with the refined blood, began to flicker with red light. In the depths of his consciousness, Zhang Chen sensed a faint connection between himself and the Array Disk. The next step was to continue cultivating with his divine sense, deepening the connection. Only when he reached the point where a single thought could control the Array Disk would he truly have cultivated it. ¡°Is Junior Brother Zhang here?¡± At that moment, a voice came from outside the cave abode. Knowing that it was someone asking about the Blood Sacrifice Technique, Zhang Chen ignored them and continued to focus on cultivating the Array Disk. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, I¡¯m Xiao Zhixiang from the Alchemy lineage. Please come out for a moment. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, I¡¯m Guan Yiwen from the Herb Garden lineage. I have an important matter to discuss.¡± ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, I¡¯m Chen Shizhang from the Internal Affairs Hall¡­¡± More and more people arrived, including renowned disciples in the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, who even stated their names, trying to exert dominance. Zhang Chen turned a deaf ear and remained behind closed doors. Seeing that Zhang Chen still hadn¡¯t come out, some people even began to threaten him. ¡°Just at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, winning against the sixth level and thinking highly of yoneself? So many senior brothers have come, yet you refuse to meet us.¡± ¡°I believe Junior Brother Zhang knows why we¡¯re here. You can¡¯t grasp such a secret technique. Hand it over if you know what¡¯s good for you, unless you never leave the sect!¡± Hearing the threats, Zhang Chen remained unfazed. With his current strength, he could even fight against someone in the early Golden Core stage. He had no fear of these ninth-level Foundation Establishment disciples. After a moment passed and seeing that Zhang Chen still hadn¡¯t come out, the disciple who had been making threats sneered, ¡°How bold! The day you leave the sect will be the day of your demise!¡± Having said that, the person no longer waited and flew away. Seeing that Zhang Chen still didn¡¯t come out, the others also understood his resolute attitude. Waiting any longer would be meaningless, so they turned and left. Only a few persistent individuals remained. ¡°It¡¯s done!¡± Inside the cave abode, Zhang Chen¡¯s face revealed a delighted expression as he looked at the Array Disk floating in the air, emitting waves of blood light. ¡°Next, let¡¯s test the power of the Array Disk. It¡¯s a good opportunity to use the few people outside as test subjects.¡± Zhang Chen smirked coldly and infused mana into the Array Disk. With a decisive hand gesture, he activated the formation, saying, ¡°Activate the array! Outside, several Blood God Sect disciples saw the cave dwelling¡¯s door suddenly open and couldn¡¯t help but show joy on their faces. As they approached, they saw several palm-sized blood-colored flags flying out from it. ¡°Swoosh swoosh swoosh.. The flags scattered in all directions, enveloping the entire mountain peak. ¡°These seem to be the formation flags on the Array Disk!¡± Someone recognized the flags and realized the situation was not good. It appeared that Zhang Chen had activated the Array Disk and set up the Blood Sea Array, covering the entire mountain peak, including themselves who were still inside the mountain, within the formation. As the flags landed, a dense blood mist began to diffuse, quickly shrouding more than half of the mountain peak in the blink of an eye. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Several disciples transformed into blood light, trying to leave. The blood mist surged and seemed to have consciousness as it blocked their path. The Blood Sea Formation was the protective formation of their Blood God Sect. Even if the Array Disk had only one percent of its power, they dared not easily challenge it. Several disciples paused and changed direction. However, the blood mist surged again, blocking their path once more. In just a short moment, the blood mist had already enveloped the entire mountain peak. Everything before them turned blood-red, and they couldn¡¯t see their own fingers in front of them. The Foundation Establishment disciples¡¯ divine senses were suppressed within the blood mist, making it impossible for them to leave their bodies. They couldn¡¯t discern the directions. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only It was as if they had encountered a maze, unable to fly out of the range of the mountain peak no matter how they tried. One disciple angrily questioned, ¡°Zhang Chen, what do you mean by this? Are you intending to attack within the sect?¡± ¡°I just wanted a few senior brothers to help test the power of the Array Disk, ¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s calm voice came from within the blood mist. He had already tested the entrapment ability, and now it was time to test the offensive power of the formation. Just as the people trapped in the formation were about to speak, they suddenly found the surrounding blood mist transforming into blood water, engulfing them.. Chapter 149 - Chapter 149: Refusal to Meet the Sect Chapter 149: Refusal to Meet the Sect Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Gurgle, gurgle¡­¡¯ A large amount of blood flowed into their mouths, accompanied by a strong bloody smell that assaulted their senses. If it were ordinary blood, they would have been delighted and welcomed it without hesitation. But this blood was far from ordinary. Not only could they not absorb it, but their bodies also felt like they were being dissolved. After soaking in the blood for a long time, they would eventually turn into blood themselves. They quickly activated their mana, forming a protective shield around their bodies to ward off the invading blood. ¡°Crack, crack, crack¡­¡¯ Under the pressure of the blood, the mana shield emitted strained cracking sounds. It required a significant amount of mana to maintain it at every moment. Although they managed to isolate the blood, they couldn¡¯t escape from the array. No matter which direction they ran in, they could not leave the array. It was as if they were truly trapped in an endless sea of blood. The blood incessantly eroded their shields, rapidly depleting their mana. At this rate, within two hours at most, their mana would be exhausted, and they would be assimilated into the blood. ¡°Could it be that Zhang Chen really intends to kill us?¡± ¡°This is still within the sect. How dare he!¡± As time passed, they felt the mana in their bodies decreasing. They grew increasingly desperate, terrified, and at the same time, incredulous. The Blood God Sect was a demonic sect that never showed mercy. Going against the sect¡¯s rules meant certain death. Naturally, Zhang Chen wouldn¡¯t actually kill these people. He was merely testing the power of the Array Disk. Among the individuals in the formation, the weakest was at the late Foundation Establishment stage, yet they were still completely powerless within the formation. Zhang Chen was very satisfied with the power of the Array Disk. Even if the formation disk had only one percent of the power of the protective formation, it would be invincible against those at the Foundation Establishment stage. Even someone at the early Golden Core stage should be able to withstand it for a while. The only downside was the enormous mana consumption required to maintain the formation. As Zhang Chen monitored the situation within the formation, he took out a blood storage bottle and absorbed the essence of blood to restore his mana. Using the cultivation base of the fourth level of Foundation Establishment to activate the Array Disk was still a strenuous task. Within a short period, his mana had reached its limit. Sensing that the mana shields of the individuals in the formation were dimming, Zhang Chen knew it was time to release them. With a thought, the blood water within the formation surged, forming a gigantic wave crashing toward the group. ¡°We¡¯re done!¡± Seeing the incoming wave, the group¡¯s faces turned pale, thinking that Zhang Chen was about to deliver a fatal blow. The wave crashed down, and their mana shields shattered with a resounding noise. They looked at each other with despair and terror in their eyes, followed by a sensation of dizziness and disorientation. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Outside the Blood Bamboo Peak where Zhang Chen¡¯s cave was located, several figures dropped from the sky, creating several craters on the ground. As Foundation Establishment cultivators, the fall from such a height wouldn¡¯t kill them. ¡°We¡¯re not dead?¡± The group crawled up in a sorry state and found themselves at the foot of Blood Bamboo Peak. They exchanged a glance, still trembling with fear as they looked at the mountain shrouded in blood. Without saying anything else, they turned into blood lights before departing. Zhang Chen did not put away the Array Disk. With a thought, the blood water transformed back into blood mist, shrouding the entire Blood Bamboo Peak. Within the blood mist, the mountain appeared partially obscured, giving off a sinister and mysterious aura as if it were a place of great danger. Then Zhang Chen took out 10 spirit stones and placed them into the grooves of the Array Disk. Without activating the killing array, only using the illusion formation to isolate detection, the consumption was not significant. One spiritual stone could sustain it for a day. Due to the size limitations of the Array Disk, only 10 spirit stones could be placed at a time. The Array Disk been refined, so as soon as someone entered the formation, Zhang Chen would immediately sense it and take control of the Array Disk. ¡°With the Array Disk, those below the Golden Core stage won¡¯t be able to investigate my cave anymore. I can feel a bit more at ease,¡± Zhang Chen said with a slight smile at the corners of his mouth. Normally, people wouldn¡¯t use their divine sense to probe other people¡¯s caves. However, Zhang Chen had a strong sense of insecurity due to the many secrets he held. Soon, news spread within the sect about Zhang Chen using the Array Disk to expel several late Foundation Establishment disciples. ¡°The power of this Array Disk is so immense? Just at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, and he can expel late Foundation Establishment disciples?¡± People were both astonished and envious upon hearing the news. ¡°I¡¯m determined to obtain the secret technique that can allow the Blood God Son to break through. It would be perfect to receive the Array Disk as well.¡± Some powerful ninth-level Foundation Establishment disciples still didn¡¯t give up. They knew the Array Disk consumed a tremendous amount of mana and couldn¡¯t be maintained for a long time, so they weren¡¯t worried. In the following days, people continued to come to Blood Bamboo Peak to investigate. However, their calls received no response, and with the lingering blood mist that showed no signs of dissipating, they could only leave in disappointment. A blood light descended and transmitted a message to the peak, ¡°Junior Brother Seven, I¡¯m here. Senior Brother has something to discuss. Please meet me.¡± Inside the cave, Zhang Chen frowned. It was the voice of Fifth Senior Brother, Zhou Xuewu. Zhou Xuewu¡¯s purpose for coming at this time was quite obvious, so Zhang Chen had no intention of meeting him. ¡°If Senior Brother came for the secret technique, please leave. Our Master has given orders not to disclose the secret technique,¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s cold voice echoed from within the blood mist. Hearing this, Zhou Xuewu felt awl?vard. He did come for the secret technique, but it wasn¡¯t for himself. It was because the others could not see Zhang Chen, so they changed their target and approached his senior sister and senior brothers, hoping to negotiate through their relationship. Under coercion and enticement, Zhou Xuewu came to try his luck. However, he did not expect Zhang Chen to reject him so bluntly. Zhou Xuewu opened his mouth a few times but hesitated. In the end, he sighed and said, ¡°Since Master has given the order, I won¡¯t disturb you anymore.¡± Those who wanted to obtain the secret technique finally gave up on the idea of meeting Zhang Chen when even his senior brother who had the same master was rejected. In the following days, no one came. As for whether there were still many people watching in the dark, no one knew. Zhang Chen did not care about this at all. ¡°They must be hoping for me to leave the sect so they can attack and search my soul. It just so happens that the agreed-upon six-month period with Shen Yijun has also come to an end. Well, I¡¯ll fulfill their wish and send them on their way to reincarnation as soon as possible.¡± Zhang Chen chuckled coldly. ¡°No, I¡¯ll use the Soul Devouring technique to consume their souls. They shouldn¡¯t even have a chance to be reincarnated.¡± ¡°They see me as prey, but why shouldn¡¯t I see them the same way?¡± Zhang Chen took out dozens of spirit stones and tossed them to the Blood God Son, instructing, ¡°Remember to replace the spirit stones and maintain the operation of the Array Disk after I leave. Don¡¯t let anyone enter the cave.¡± The Blood God Son caught the spirit stones and obediently nodded. After making all the arrangements, Zhang Chen stood up and walked out of the cave abode. A moment later, a blood light flew from the blood mist. Shortly after Zhang Chen left, several more blood lights flew away from the vicinity of Blood Bamboo Peak. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, Zhang Chen has left the sect.¡± ¡°Oh! Zhang Chen actually dared to leave the sect at this time?¡± Wei Qi looked surprised. Wei Qi was the eldest senior brother of Elder Cold Blood¡¯s lineage. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Although he ranked first in the demonic path¡¯s Foundation Establishment competition, he didn¡¯t receive any substantial rewards. He harbored some resentment towards Zhang Chen and was also very interested in Blood Sacrifice Technique. Therefore, he sent someone to keep an eye on him. He had thought that Zhang Chen would stay hidden within the sect and then, with some manipulation, be forced to take on sect tasks. He didn¡¯t expect him to voluntarily leave the sect after just a few days. ¡°Did he gain enough confidence in his strength after obtaining the Array Disk, or is there some other scheme at play?¡± Wei Qi furrowed his brow in contemplation. Zhang Chen¡¯s actions were truly unexpected, and it was hard not to be suspicious.. Chapter 150 - Chapter 150: Luring the Enemy Deeper Chapter 150: Luring the Enemy Deeper Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios At this moment, the disciple who came to report said, ¡°Senior Brother, Zhang Chen did not take the Array Disk with him when he left.¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t take the Array Disk?¡± Wei Qi was even more surprised. In his opinion, although Zhang Chen¡¯s strength was good, there was still a big gap between him and the disciples who had reached the perfect ninth level of Foundation Building. Only with the Array Disk in hand could he resist for a short time. Wei Qi could not understand why Zhang Chen suddenly left the sect. Could it be arrogance and inability to see the situation clearly? Wei Qi suddenly smiled confidently. ¡°Why bother thinking so much? I am the first in the Demon Path Grand Competition, and it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that I am the number one below the Golden Core level. What is there to fear? ¡°In the face of absolute strength, any conspiracies and tricks are just a joke. ¡°By then, I should encounter other junior brothers, and it will be a perfect opportunity to become my nourishment. As Wei Qi spoke, a sinister smile appeared on his face, and he walked out confidently. At the same time, other disciples from Blood God Sect at the perfect ninth level of Foundation Building also received the news of Zhang Chen leaving the sect. Although they were also puzzled why Zhang Chen would leave the sect at this time, most of them didn¡¯t want to give up this opportunity. They would observe first, decide based on the situation, and then determine whether to take action. Moreover, there would definitely be many people secretly going there this time. Even if they themselves didn¡¯t obtain the secret technique, they could find out who did and then plan to obtain it later. Some people also thought that Zhang Chen was just playing mind games, trying to scare them and make them suspicious, so they wouldn¡¯t dare to attack him. There were also some disciples at the later stage of Foundation Building, who had not reached perfection, quietly leaving the sect, hoping to seize any opportunities that may arise. ¡°Swoosh- As soon as Zhang Chen left the sect, he immediately turned into a blood light and flew away. Shortly after his departure, Wei Qi appeared. After scanning around and not finding Zhang Chen, Wei Qi dispersed his divine sense to investigate. ¡°You think you can run away? You¡¯re too naive.¡± ¡°Do you think you can escape? How naive.¡± Wei Qi grinned ferociously and transformed into a streak of blood light as well. Subsequently, one after another, figures continuously emerged from within the Blood God Sect and flew towards the direction Zhang Chen had left, resembling shooting stars. Although Zhang Chen was only at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, thanks to the effect of the Divine Forging Technique and the Soul Devouring Technique, his divine sense was comparable to that of an early-stage Golden Core cultivator. Therefore, he could sense the few individuals following him from behind without being detected. Although he had deliberately lured these people here, he did not know how many would actually follow. Through his divine sense perception, he discovered that there were seven cultivators at the later stage of Foundation Establishment behind him. Among them, four were at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, two were at the eighth level, and one was at the seventh level. ¡°There are quite a few people following.¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s gaze turned icy, showing no intention of stopping as he continued flying forward. However, he did not use the Blood Light Escape. Instead, he used the ordinary Blood Escape to maintain the normal speed of the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. Two hours later, Zhang Chen had already flown several hundred miles, and some disciples from Blood God Sect began to grow restless. After flying another hundred miles, someone finally couldn¡¯t hold back. A blood light suddenly accelerated and blocked in front of Zhang Chen. ¡°Who goes there!¡± Zhang Chen feigned a look of panic and vigilance. The man opposite him was middle-aged, with skin like old bark and a mix of black and white hair, indicating the use of a secret technique that consumed lifespan. Zhang Chen had some impression of this person. He had previously appeared on the stage during the selection for the Demon Path Grand Competition. His name was Ma Yang, a disciple of Elder Black Blood, who broke through to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment just a few years ago and practiced the ¡®Blood Stiffening Technique¡¯. ¡°If you can¡¯t grasp the secret technique that can help the Blood God Son break through to Foundation Establishment, then obediently hand over the secret technique to me, and I will let you go,¡± Ma Yang said. Ma Yang hadn¡¯t taken action because he knew there were others following behind, and Zhang Chen¡¯s strength was not weak. He couldn¡¯t take him down in a short period of time, and it could lead to a multi-party melee later. If he could obtain the secret technique through verbal intimidation, he would immediately leave with the secret technique, leaving Zhang Chen to be fought over by others, while he stayed out of the matter. ¡°I dare to leave the sect. How could I not have something to rely on?¡± As soon as Zhang Chen finished speaking, a dazzling and brilliant streak of bloodlight erupted from his body. It was none other than the Blood Light Escape, comparable to the speed of Golden Core cultivators! By the time Ma Yang reacted, Zhang Chen¡¯s figure had already disappeared before him. ¡°No wonder he dared to leave the sect. So he has this escape technique.¡± Ma Yang¡¯s face turned gloomy as he watched the opportunity slip away. The others following behind also realized what had happened. Just when they thought they would return empty-handed, their divine senses detected Zhang Chen stopping again, appearing exhausted and unable to continue. ¡°It seems that this escape technique cannot be used for a long time, and even if it can, it won¡¯t be more than a few times. Ma Yang¡¯s face showed a pleased expression as he transformed into a streak of bloodlight to continue the pursuit. He intentionally stopped at a distance where his ninth-level Foundation Establishment divine sense could still sense them and appeared to be greatly exhausted. This would entice these people to continue pursuing him. The reason for doing this was to lure these people to the mountain range where he kept his captive demon beasts. With the number of Blood God Sons he had, combined with Blood Sacrifice Technique, even cultivators in the early stage of Golden Core could be countered. However, he wasn¡¯t confident in completely killing all these people. Once someone managed to escape, his strength and secrets would be exposed. To avoid arousing suspicion, he staged this act. After 15 minutes, Ma Yang caught up again. Since he had already revealed himself earlier, there was no need to hide anymore. He directly stopped Zhang Chen. ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, you can¡¯t escape. As I said before, hand over the secret technique, and I will let you go.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Zhang Chen¡¯s face turned grim as he employed the same technique, and a brilliant streak of bloodlight enveloped him. He flew a distance again and stopped at a place where his ninth-level Foundation Establishment divine sense could still sense them. Simultaneously, he displayed an even more weakened state, giving the people behind him hope. The group chased once again. After several instances, Zhang Chen¡¯s cultivation level dropped to the third level of Foundation Establishment, appearing utterly depleted. The group sensed this through their divine senses and couldn¡¯t help but wonder. If they continued chasing like this, would Zhang Chen¡¯s cultivation level fall to the Qi Refinement stage? In their eyes, Zhang Chen¡¯s strength was considerable, comparable to the seventh or eighth level of Foundation Establishment. It wasn¡¯t easy to defeat him in a short period. Especially with other fellow disciples secretly observing, engaging in a conflict might lead to an opportunist gaining the advantage. Therefore, they had yet to make a move. However, if Zhang Chen¡¯s strength dropped to the Qi Refinement stage, they would have the confidence to instantly suppress him. With this thought in mind, the group refrained from rushing to take action and continued to follow from behind. Two hours later, Zhang Chen¡¯s cultivation level dropped to the second level of Foundation Establishment. Four hours later, it dropped to the first level of Foundation Establishment. It was at this moment that Zhang Chen stopped in the sky above a mountain range enveloped in clouds and mist. Seemingly aware that escape was futile, he prepared to make a desperate move. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Why did Junior Brother Zhang stop running? Isn¡¯t he going to continue?¡± Ma Yang sneered as he appeared in front of Zhang Chen. ¡°What I said earlier still stands. As long as you hand over the secret technique, Zhang Chen remained silent and did not answer, as if he was conflicted about whether to agree or not. In fact, he was waiting for the other six to approach. The mountain range below was where he reared hundreds of demon beasts! With the array enveloping them, those below the Golden Core realm could not sense it at all. There were more than a hundred demon beasts eyeing them covetously in the mountain range, drooling with a stench..