Just as Shen Yanliu led a large group of people into Stone Monkey Lane, surrounding Wei Yutian’s mysterious residence, a tattered beggar huddled in an inconspicuous shadow at the entrance of the alley not far away. His hair was matted, his face covered in greasy grime, and he seemed frightened, shrinking his neck and shuffling his way to the other end of the alley...

In the secret chamber mandala in the backyard, Duan Rong waved his sleeve, and a faint puff of medicinal powder spread across Xiao Yu’s face. Then Duan Rong controlled his inner breath, the slender breath barely emerging from his fingertips, and skillfully pointed at several of Xiao Yu’s acupressure points.

This was a new height for Duan Rong’s control over his inner breath after achieving the Micro Realm. He could now use his inner breath from his fingertips instead of a silver needle to perform acupuncture.

The acupuncture skill combined with the refreshing medicinal powder woke Xiao Yu almost instantly.

Xiao Yu suddenly awakened and saw a black silhouette amidst swirling dust, kneeling beside her. In the dusty haze, she couldn’t clearly see the person’s face.

She knew she had been abducted by a strong expert at the True Qi Realm. Seeing this eerie and unfamiliar place shrouded in smoke and dust, Xiao Yu felt a chill all over, realizing her chances of survival were slim. Finally, waking up, she was keenly aware of what she would face next, and a strong sense of impending death quickly enveloped her.

Xiao Yu was about to circulate her inner breath to sever her meridians and die, to avoid suffering humiliation alive.

At that moment, the kneeling shadow suddenly spoke. "Xiao Yu!"

Xiao Yu’s scalp tingled as if electrified, and tears uncontrollably burst forth. It was Duan Rong’s voice.

It’s Duan Rong!

She stared blankly at the shadowy figure in the swirling dust, the blurry silhouette reminiscent of the back that shielded her amid a flurry of blades on the day of her little sister’s funeral, transcending time and space to once again stand before her.

Xiao Yu flung herself forward, tightly embracing Duan Rong, her defenses shattered, and she wept bitterly...

Duan Rong knew that Xiao Yu had experienced a life-and-death situation and was emotionally overwhelmed. He gently patted her shoulder, comforting her, "Alright, alright, it’s okay now..."

But the more Duan Rong comforted her, the harder Xiao Yu cried...

As Duan Rong comforted Xiao Yu, his divine sense carefully scanned the secret chamber.

Earlier, his divine sense was focused on Xiao Yu and Wei Yutian, merely glancing over the chamber’s layout without any attention.

Now, using his divine sense, Duan Rong carefully scanned the secret chamber, and he was suddenly alarmed.

This chamber’s construction bore many similarities to the descriptions of the mandala in the Fetal Concealment Scripture he had seen. Duan Rong was almost certain this chamber was also a mandala.

The Fetal Concealment Scripture and the Filthy Blood Divine Skill, from the perspective of origin, might be the same thing...

As Duan Rong’s thoughts swirled, he suddenly "saw" a wooden box next to Xiao Yu, the lid already slit open, with two items inside that seemed to be copper awls.

Duan Rong’s divine sense swept over, and the handle of the copper awl had a construction of male and female coupling, with the waist area perfectly matching the concave area where one would grip.

Duan Rong felt a twinge, grasping the copper awl in his hand. Its design was exquisite, the texture smooth, fitting snugly in his palm. Duan Rong’s eyes flickered as he thought, "Read the artifact spirit."

Immediately, a set of data appeared before Duan Rong’s eyes.

Artifact: Bloodstained Copper Awl

Artifact Spirit Tier: Tier Three

Devouring Requirements: Host’s Spiritual Power Level 3 (Satisfied)

Devouring Effect: Filthy Blood Divine Skill Second Level

Duan Rong looked at the data panel in front of him, his expression showing hesitation.

The Filthy Blood Divine Skill was evidently an evil technique. Though from the perspective of cultivation, its origin seemed to align with the Fetal Concealment Scripture, its development path was evidently entirely different.

Duan Rong had no intention of practicing this evil technique. Besides, the Filthy Blood Sect was wanted throughout the territory by the Taiyi Sect. Practicing such martial arts would bring trouble upon himself, wouldn’t it?

Yet, he was somewhat curious. Even if he didn’t cultivate it, devouring it would allow him to better understand this cultivation technique. In the future, if he ever encountered disciples of the Filthy Blood Sect, he could know his enemy.

Duan Rong then thought to himself, "Devour."

At that moment, the sound of chaotic footsteps reached the secret chamber, and Li Chong entered with five or six government constables.

At this time, the dust in the secret chamber mandala had already settled since the originally sealed stone gate had been shattered by Wei Yutian’s True Qi, allowing the air to mix and the dust to disperse.

Upon hearing the footsteps, Duan Rong immediately returned the Bloodstained Copper Awl to the wooden box.

Xiao Yu had gradually stopped crying as well. Having vented her emotions, she was much more composed. Now that the dust had cleared, looking at Duan Rong’s face, her feelings were indescribably complex—joy mixed with melancholy...

Li Chong entered the secret chamber mandala, noticing the four tall Five Passes Evil God Statues, his expression one of shock. His gaze shifted from Duan Rong to Xiao Yu beside him and asked, "Who is this woman?"

Duan Rong replied, "She is Xiao Yu, an escort master from Yuan Shun Escort Agency. She was abducted by Wei Yutian from the agency to be sacrificed to the Five Passes God while practicing the Filthy Blood Divine Skill."

Upon hearing Duan Rong’s words, Li Chong said no more. Being a victim, she was naturally not subject to interrogation.

Li Chong circled around the secret chamber mandala, visibly amazed by the various offerings inside. He turned to instruct those who had followed him in, "Guard this chamber. No one is allowed to touch anything inside."

Having spoken, Li Chong strode out, preparing to report to Shen Yanliu.

Duan Rong also helped Xiao Yu up, and the two of them walked toward the chamber’s exit together.

Outside the secret chamber, beside the fake mountain in the backyard.

Two figures flashed swiftly. Wei Yutian moved left and right but was consistently intercepted by Shen Yanliu. Each time she intercepted, it was with a vicious steel-gloved grip aimed at him. The angles were tricky and ruthless; if not for the barely adequate defense of the Filthy Blood Divine Skill, Wei Yutian would have been dead!

After dodging several times, Wei Yutian was significantly depleted, his face pale as paper, breath ragged, and cold sweat poured out in layers.

Shen Yanliu’s expression was merciless, True Qi surging, and she attacked Wei Yutian again with an iron hook.

Wei Yutian’s Filthy Blood Divine Skill was nearly exhausted; he could only attempt to dodge once more, but he was evidently too slow. Shen Yanliu’s iron hook claw severed his entire right arm.

The right arm broke, yet not a single drop of fresh blood spilled. Instead, numerous tiny, dense blood threads twisted like clusters of maggots...

Disgusted, Shen Yanliu flung the arm away. Just then, a patrolling government constable emerged from behind the fake mountain, and the severed arm hit his face. Instantly, countless fine blood threads, like maggots on bones, clung to his face. With the constable’s scream, his face rapidly shriveled until within moments, he became a dried corpse.

The severed arm, attached to his face, fell to the ground, and the blood threads at the cut of the arm, as if satiated, floated and swayed in the night...

Shen Yanliu furrowed his brows, looking at Wei Yutian in the distance, finally understanding why Wei Yutian’s face was so pale and why the severed arm didn’t bleed. It turned out that the Filthy Blood Divine Skill consumed his essence blood.

At that moment, blood threads entwined and coiled, weaving incessantly at Wei Yutian’s shoulder, astonishingly healing the wound at a visible speed. Moreover, a new arm seemed to grow from the original stump.

However, that arm was tender and small, almost like baby flesh.