Tianxingzi's Visit, Legend of the Blood Demon

The following day. An elderly man crossed through the encampments of several factions and, under the watchful eyes of numerous Ice Fort cultivators, stepped into the Luotian Association's camp. "Isn't that Tianxingzi of the Luoyun Sect?" One cultivator watched the old man's departing back, his expression turning solemn. A companion beside him whispered, "It really is him. At merely the late Foundation Establishment stage, he was granted an exceptional promotion to an elder seat in the Luoyun Sect. Even if he sits in the very last seat, he's certainly not someone to be taken lightly." Tianxingzi had not been particularly well-known in his earlier years. Although counted among the true disciples, he had shown little distinction in his cultivation, combat methods, or even the Luoyun Sect's pride and joy—the art of puppetry. Yet he had spent many years traveling abroad, handling all sorts of miscellaneous affairs on the sect's behalf. No one knew what tremendous merit he had managed to achieve, but he had remarkably become the only Foundation Establishment elder in the entire history of the Luoyun Sect. Watching him enter the Luotian Association's encampment now, the various subordinate forces stationed under the Ice Fort could not help but be thoroughly astonished. They had anticipated that someone might come to call on the President of the Luotian Association. Yet none had expected that the very first guest would be such a heavyweight figure! Inside the Luotian Association. Luo Chen looked across at the familiar figure with the "unfamiliar" face and broke into a smile. "Elder Tianxingzi, your distinguished presence truly brings great honor to our humble association!" His guest had removed the golden mask he had worn for years back in the Dahe Market. Yet that did not impede Luo Chen in the least from recognizing him. Tianxingzi smiled. "Fellow Daoist Luo, to have you find time in your busy schedule to see me is an honor for this old man as well." "Please, have a seat!" Once the two took their seats, Luo Chen had expected a round of polite pleasantries, but to his surprise, Tianxingzi directly tore away the veil. "Murong Yuan?" "Haha, merely an alias. Please don't take it to heart, Fellow Daoist." Luo Chen knew that the pseudonym he had used at the Zhenlong Black Market could never remain hidden from him. It had worked at first, but with the massive herb transactions they carried out later, exposure had been inevitable. After all, back then, the Dahe Market had only a few sizable forces. The only one capable of swallowing such massive quantities of medicinal herbs had been the Luotian Association, which focused primarily on the elixir business. Luo Chen's reputation as Danchenzi had also spread far and wide by then. His background had naturally been very easy to deduce. The only thing Tianxingzi had likely been uncertain about back then was a single question. Seeing that Luo Chen made no attempt to conceal it, Tianxingzi nodded and immediately asked, "That Foundation Establishment friend of yours?" "None other than myself!" Luo Chen replied calmly. Tianxingzi raised an eyebrow. Alongside his sudden realization, he felt no true surprise. He had suspected as much early on, only to dismiss the thought later. Yet as Danchenzi's fame resonated throughout the Jade Cauldron Domain, like a flood dragon plunging into the sea with wind and clouds rising in its wake, the suspicion he had once discarded suddenly became entirely logical. He scrutinized Luo Chen from head to toe. Tianxingzi could not help showing a look of genuine marvel on his face. "More than a decade has passed in the blink of an eye. Fellow Daoist, your progress today truly commands immense respect." Luo Chen chuckled freely. "That I have reached this point today is also largely thanks to the Foundation Establishment Pills sent by you, Fellow Daoist." "Merely three Foundation Establishment Pills. I can hardly claim credit for that," Tianxingzi said with a smile. Luo Chen's smile stiffened slightly. Three? He had received only two back then! Tianxingzi failed to notice the shift in Luo Chen's expression. It had lasted only a fraction of an instant before Luo Chen returned to normal, smiling warmly and full of enthusiasm. Sensing that the atmosphere was agreeable and recalling their past ties, Tianxingzi cut straight to the chase and revisited an old matter. "Your attainments in alchemy were something I greatly admired even back in the Dahe Market. Today, Danchenzi's name rings like thunder across the Jade Cauldron Domain, like a flood dragon taking to the sea, sweeping the clouds along with it." "You flatter me." "It is by no means an exaggeration. Take the Blood Burning Pill you once concocted, for instance. Though it was a Tier 1 pill, you elevated it to supreme grade, to the point that it was effective even for early Foundation Establishment cultivators. That is certainly not something an ordinary Tier 2 alchemist could accomplish." Here came the meat of the conversation. Luo Chen kept smiling without speaking. Tianxingzi's heart sank slightly, yet he pressed on: "I wonder if you currently have any spare supreme-grade Blood Burning Pills for sale? I am willing to purchase them at the price of Tier 2 pills." "My apologies, but you should know my current situation." As he spoke, Luo Chen glanced toward the ice palace outside. Although Tianxingzi had anticipated this, he still felt a pang of disappointment. Indeed, even if such pills could be refined, the quantity would surely be limited. After supplying the Ice Fort, there could hardly be any surplus left for him. Thump! Tianxingzi looked down curiously at the jade vial placed on the table. "This is?" "I do not have many supreme-grade Blood Burning Pills on hand right now. These three are for you, Fellow Daoist. You may take them back and bestow them upon your close juniors to save their lives in times of peril." Tianxingzi felt a surge of interest. "This is hardly appropriate. I cannot accept a reward without merit." Luo Chen smiled faintly. "This is no transaction, merely a gift between friends. What, now that you have been promoted to an elder of the Luoyun Sect, you no longer acknowledge me as your little friend?" Tianxingzi froze. Then he burst into hearty laughter. "How could I ever be such a man!" With that, he accepted the three Blood Burning Pills without further demurral. "Speaking of which, on your Foundation Establishment, I ought to have presented a modest gift in person. To think I would end up receiving things from you instead." Tianxingzi shook his head and suddenly said, "Word has it that the cultivators under your command are looking for a Foundation Establishment cultivator named Wang Yuan?" Luo Chen's expression grew solemn. "You know of him, Fellow Daoist? Please, tell me in detail!" "I do not know much," Tianxingzi apologized first, then spoke slowly. "However, through our sect's scouts, I did manage to learn a bit of news regarding him." "Do you know which is the only peak among Mount Thunder Accumulation's Nine Peaks that has yet to be occupied by either side?" Luo Chen hesitated. "The Ninth Peak?" Tianxingzi nodded gravely. "Indeed..." *** Tianxingzi took his leave. He had arrived in high spirits, and though one could not say he left with every desire fulfilled, their conversation had certainly been a delightful one. Moreover, with a piece of rather minor intelligence, he had obtained three supreme-grade Blood Burning Pills from Luo Chen. Most importantly, he had preserved his friendship with him. That address of "little friend" years ago had truly not been spoken in vain! Yet what seemed like inconsequential news to him was nothing short of timely aid to Luo Chen. "President, is it true there's news of Hall Master Wang?" Inside the room, Xu Huanzhen, Duan Feng, and Li Yingzhang—who was now able to move around freely—looked at Luo Chen with expectant eyes. Facing their gazes, Luo Chen slowly nodded. "Indeed, there is." Joy broke across their faces. Over the years, Wang Yuan had demonstrated his prowess time and again. To call him the foremost expert in the Luotian Association aside from the President would not be an exaggeration in the slightest. Back in the night battle on the Seventh Peak, Min Longyu had first bombarded and slain five early Foundation Establishment cultivators with the great formation, and Wang Yuan had subsequently held the rearguard, single-handedly intercepting three mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators and one late Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator. Such capability had left everyone utterly astounded. If Wang Yuan could be retrieved, uniting with the President, the Luotian Association would have sufficient strength to protect itself in the coming war even if it ran into a squad led by a Great Cultivator. And yet, amidst such good news, why was the President's expression still so grave? Could it be... Just as grim surmises arose in their minds, Luo Chen shook his head. "He has not fallen." Before they could breathe a sigh of relief, Luo Chen continued, "However, if news regarding his current state leaks, I fear it will put our Luotian Association in a very unfavorable position." "Eh?" "What does that mean?" "Could he have provoked some massive trouble?" Facing these three questions, Luo Chen let out a sigh. Massive trouble? What kind of trouble could it be? Even if one killed a descendant of a Golden Core cultivator or a true disciple of the Sword Sect on the battlefield, it was still just wartime business. When two armies clashed, life and death were decided by fate. With great difficulty, he asked, "Are you aware of the legend of the Blood Demon currently circulating?" The Blood Demon! The moment those two words were spoken, all three turned pale. Li Yingzhang spoke with particular urgency: "The Blood Demon where everyone below the Golden Core realm dies wherever he passes, their essence blood drained completely dry?" Xu Huanzhen frowned. "Hall Master Wang doesn't seem like someone that bloodthirsty!" Duan Feng's expression was grim. He vaguely recalled certain rumors from the Dahe Market era. Though unsubstantiated, the spears had always pointed at Wang Yuan. It was only because the Dahe Market had undergone so many drastic changes during that period—with far too much happening within two or three short years—that no one had paid heed to Wang Yuan. And now, the Blood Demon... Watching the shifts in their expressions, Luo Chen felt a slight wave of relief. Whether it was true or not, at least they were of one mind. None had called for his execution as the Luoyun Sect and Sword Sect had done. The Jade Cauldron Domain had no place for demonic cultivators! This was no longer a squabble between sects or a clash of interests. It touched upon the deeper divide between the righteous and demonic paths. No matter how petty, hypocritical, or cunning cultivators were in ordinary times, they maintained the appearance of righteous conduct on the surface. Anyone stepping slightly out of line would be branded a bandit cultivator or evil cultivator. Yet those who practiced demonic arts and committed atrocities had nowhere to stand whatsoever. Just like the Soul Refining Loose Cultivator Gu Yue years ago—even as a mere early Foundation Establishment cultivator, he had been treated like a rat crossing the street, with everyone shouting to beat him. "The legend of the Blood Demon is indeed related to Wang Yuan. It has been circulating in the vicinity of the Ninth Peak and the Boundless Yellow Sands. Thus, Wang Yuan's whereabouts naturally lie in those places." "Only the four of us may know of this matter; it must not spread outside." After a moment of astonishment, the three nodded one after another. The divide between righteous and demonic could not outweigh bonds of kinship and loyalty. Wang Yuan was one of their own, and he had never done anything to harm any of them. Even if he truly became a demonic fiend reviled by all across the Jade Cauldron Domain, they would still choose to shelter him to the best of their abilities. "If you happen to come across him by chance, persuade him to return if at all possible, or notify me immediately." Luo Chen retrieved three voice transmission jade tokens from his storage bag. Such magical tools allowed rapid communication across a thousand-li range. "Very well, you may step outside!" The three still had things to say, but seeing Luo Chen's deeply furrowed brows, they chose not to disturb him further. After they departed, Luo Chen let out a long sigh. "Brother Wang..." He had never imagined that Wang Yuan would ultimately embark on this path. It was almost identical to the future he had first simulated through the Ghost God Heart-Inquiring Mirror. The Blood Demon! Luo Chen had always known that Wang Yuan possessed a secret technique capable of rapidly healing his bodily injuries and even advancing his cultivation by absorbing cultivators' essence blood! Back when the Great River Gang launched its full-scale assault on the Mountain Breaker Gang, it had dispatched three peak ninth-layer Qi Refinement experts to surround Wang Yuan. That battle had reduced the Qingjiang Long Street to ruins. Wang Yuan had killed one, maimed another, and gone down together with Broken Blade Xu Renke, tumbling into the Lancang River. Yet later, Wang Yuan had not only returned safe and sound, but his cultivation had also surged considerably! Back then, the dense stench of blood clinging to Wang Yuan's body had been because he had absorbed all the flesh and essence blood of Broken Blade Xu Renke. Later, in order to gather ingredients for the Blood Fiend Pill, he had engaged in widespread slaughter inside the Golden Core ruins, collecting the essence blood of numerous cultivators. Only then had Luo Chen been able to refine the Blood Fiend Pill with an open hand. Now, a similar situation was recurring, and it truly matched Wang Yuan's style of doing things. If Wang Yuan had deployed this secret technique once more solely to heal heavy injuries suffered while holding the rearguard at the Seventh Peak, it would have been entirely understandable. Yet the legend of the Blood Demon currently spreading across the battlefield was no longer directed at merely one or two enemies. It was occurring on a massive scale! The corpses of many cultivators who had just died in battle had their essence blood drained completely dry. Even some living Foundation Establishment True Cultivators were frequently ambushed. Expanding the scope to this degree was downright unhinged. Luo Chen could understand it, yet he dared not condone it. This was no bid for survival; it was a path to doom! Presently, both the Luoyun Sect and the Sword Sect had each dispatched a Golden Core Master to thoroughly investigate the matter. Once caught... "In that simulation years ago, Wang Yuan was merely hunted down by a Golden Core Master, while the title of Blood Demon was earned by me, when I went on a killing spree to extend my life after my longevity ran short." "And now, Brother Wang, you've taken it ahead of me." Luo Chen offered a wry smile. For a time, his emotions were terribly tangled. He had clearly made every effort. He had purchased an orthodox Tier 2 body-refining art for Wang Yuan and thrown open all the cultivation methods of the Luotian Association for him to study. Yet Wang Yuan had still walked down this path. The blood dao! It truly lived up to its name as the path within the demonic dao that was easiest to lose oneself in! Taking a deep breath, Luo Chen gathered his spirits. Regardless of whether the Blood Demon was Wang Yuan or not, he could never abandon him. Along the journey so far, without Wang Yuan supporting him as both teacher and friend, he could never have achieved what he had today so quickly. Luo Chen did not consider himself one to seek petty vengeance, but he understood the principle of returning kindness. What was more, they were friends! "The search for Wang Yuan must continue!" "Furthermore, in half a month, it will be the Luotian Association's turn to rotate to the Sixth Peak. I must heal Li Yingzhang as soon as possible so he can lead Yuan Xiaoyue and the others back to Tianlan." "My research into opening acupoints cannot stop. This is very likely the only means I have to elevate myself before the great battle." In just a brief moment, Luo Chen clearly sorted out the tasks ahead of him. The future remained nebulous. Yet every step beneath his feet had to be taken with absolute solidity! The next day. He continued to purge the earth fire fiend qi from Li Yingzhang, using the Spring Wind Transforming Rain Art—whose proficiency was constantly soaring—to heal the hidden injuries in his body. At the same time, he issued an order to Duan Feng, instructing him to use the network of connections he had established on the Golden Sand Floating Island over this period to gather news regarding the Ninth Peak of Mount Thunder Accumulation's Nine Peaks. The battlefield of the Boundless Yellow Sands could not be overlooked either. Lastly, he instructed Yuan Xiaoyue to use their ties with the Ice Fort to collect Tier 2 earth fire fiend qi for him on the Golden Sand Floating Island. The Golden Sand Floating Island was the base of operations for the Luoyun Sect alliance! Naturally, it was also a gathering ground for immense quantities of resources. It was only Tier 2 fiend qi; as long as one had spirit stones, purchasing it was not particularly difficult. Before long, Yuan Xiaoyue procured ten portions for him. "It wasn't expensive at all—only cost five hundred spirit stones. It's said that many Yan Alliance disciples carry this material with them, so the price dropped considerably after the big battle," Yuan Xiaoyue said with a smile. Luo Chen shook his head. Such a price was by no means cheap. Ten portions of Tier 1 earth fire fiend qi cost a mere fifty or sixty spirit stones. Not that Yuan Xiaoyue had been swindled. Rather, with materials like fiend qi, the higher the tier, the steeper the price became. Back then, Wang Yuan had spent over thirty thousand spirit stones just to purchase the Underworld Yin Fiend. One could only say that under the influence of the war, the price of this seemingly common material had surged as well. "Well done. Continue gathering it for me." "Understood, President!" "You may take your leave!" Once Yuan Xiaoyue excused herself, Luo Chen activated the defensive formation. Looking at the floating rock in his hand, an expectant gleam appeared in his eyes. He had recently devised a technique for using fiend qi to achieve Acupoint Opening, drawing inspiration from the Tier 1 Spirit Clarifying Evil Dispelling, the Tier 2 Qi and Body from the Same Source, and the Tier 3 body-refining art Heavenly Roc Transformation. It also incorporated the numerous body-refining theories Wang Yuan had imparted during their routine discussions. With such a foundation accumulated, he finally felt confident in attempting Acupoint Opening for body refinement. Now that everything was prepared, he could begin! "Though I haven't reached the level of creating cultivation arts from scratch like Wang Yuan, this Acupoint Opening secret art tailored specifically for myself shouldn't be lacking either!" "Even if it fails, I possess well-practiced means to cleanse fiend qi." "Giving it a try certainly won't hurt." With every preparation in place and having ensured that no catastrophic errors could occur, Luo Chen guided his spiritual power, effortlessly drawing forth a wisp of ferocious, domineering fiend qi from the floating rock!