I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals-Chapter 353: Costly Trade

Read 50 Chapters Ahead On Patreon :D /zilawere

Chapter 353: Costly Trade

Qingluan Peak.

As soon as Lan Chang'an returned to his cave residence, Xiao Qingshan, the chief steward of the main peak came to greet him and took the initiative to report on the current affairs of Yunxia Sect.

Over the past year, aside from Yunqing Immortal preparing for and attempting the Nascent Soul breakthrough, nothing significant had occurred within the sect.

Inside his private chamber, Lan Chang'an studied Xiao Qingshan’s distinguished features and tall, upright posture.

From his appearance and demeanor alone, it was difficult to associate him with Li Erqing from his past life.

Lan Chang'an mused inwardly—a reincarnated person might not always resemble their past self; they could even have entirely different personalities.

Xiao Qingshan had received the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment chapters of the “Dragon Phoenix Dual Cauldron Technique” from Lan Chang'an.

His talent in dual cultivation proved to be exceptional, allowing him to cultivate at a speed comparable to someone with high-grade spiritual roots.

Even after reaching the mid-Foundation Establishment stage over ten years ago, he continued to advance steadily, showing great long-term potential.

Moreover, like Ancestor Heavenly Net, Xiao Qingshan possessed techniques to preserve his youthful appearance.

Despite residing in Qingluan Peak for over a decade, his looks had remained unchanged.

To outsiders, what was even more surprising was that despite becoming a trusted confidant of a Core Formation Great Cultivator and enjoying years of prestige, Xiao Qingshan had never taken a concubine.

His relationship with his Dao companion, Si Lu, remained harmonious and stable, making him appear to be a devoted man.

"Elder Xiang, not long after you left the sect, I overheard a small rumor at a gathering—it concerns Sect Master Hu."

"Oh? Sect Master Hu?"

Lan Chang'an recalled his brief exchange with the aging Core Formation Great Cultivator while waiting outside the sect for Yunqing Immortal’s tribulation to conclude.

"It is said that Sect Master Hu previously submitted a request to the Supreme Elder, seeking to resign from his position and enjoy his remaining years in peace. However, his request was ultimately denied. Perhaps they want him to hold on for a few more years."

Hearing this, Lan Chang'an’s expression turned thoughtful, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit of sympathy for Sect Master Hu.

Now that Yunqing Immortal had failed to form his Nascent Soul, the number of high-level Core Formation cultivators in Yunxia Sect had dwindled even further.

As the leader of a Nascent Soul-level sect, the sect master’s status and prestige must be upheld.

Typically, such a position was held by a Core Formation Great Cultivator with strong authority and influence.

"Elder Xiang… about Uncle-Master Yunqing…"

Before leaving, Xiao Qingshan cast a glance toward the main peak’s fourth-rank spirit vein, where the tribulation had taken place not long ago.

Although he had his suspicions, he could not be completely certain.

Lan Chang'an sighed softly and shook his head slightly.

Once a cultivator successfully shattered their core and attempted Nascent Soul formation, failure meant almost certain death.

This was precisely why Nascent Soul Tribulations were so dangerous.

Throughout history, this tribulation had barred countless geniuses and prodigies from advancing further.

...

The next day.

News of Yunqing Immortal’s death quietly spread within the sect.

Yunxia Sect chose to handle the matter discreetly, organizing a low-key funeral and limiting attendance to close family and disciples.

The failure of Yunqing Immortal’s Nascent Soul breakthrough meant that Yunxia Sect’s hopes of having three Nascent Soul cultivators had been completely shattered.

Underground chamber of the cave residence.

Lan Chang'an took out the Xuanmu Vine Gourd and replanted it in the spiritual soil, allowing it to reconnect with the earth’s qi.

Compared to forty years ago, the small tender shoots of the vine had grown slightly.

This was the result of years of nourishment from both Lan Chang'an and his Profound Water Turtle bloodline abilities.

"Being away for just one year has little effect on Yunxia Sect’s overall fortune. Yunqing’s failure to form a Nascent Soul has nothing to do with me."

Lan Chang'an gazed toward the main peak, where Yunqing’s funeral was being held.

At present, the vine’s ability to gather fortune for Yunxia Sect was minuscule—its effects on individual cultivators were negligible.

Perhaps in a few decades or centuries, once the gathered fortune reached a critical level, it could have some influence on a cultivator’s Nascent Soul breakthrough.

However, it would never be the deciding factor.

In Lan Chang'an’s view, Yunqing Immortal’s failure was mainly due to his fortune, and perhaps it had something to do with his state of mind as well.

That said, Heart Tribulations were unpredictable—no one could truly foresee or control them.

Even cultivators who had trained for centuries, possessing unshakable determination, might have too many psychological vulnerabilities, ultimately falling to their inner demons.

Conversely, some cultivators with pure and untainted minds—even if they lacked profound experiences—could pass through the Heart Demon Tribulation effortlessly.

"Fortunately, the Heart Tribulation for spirit beasts is much weaker than that of humans."

Lan Chang'an muttered to himself.

The final step in preparing for the Earth Burrowing Rat’s transformation was acquiring the Profound Heart Beast Pill, which would increase its chances of surviving the Heart Tribulation.

...

Two days later.

Yunlan Peak, the cave where the fourth-rank spiritual vein was located.

For three days and three nights, True Monarch Yunlan sat in silent meditation on his prayer mat.

His gaze was deep and unwavering, yet a new streak of silver hair had appeared at his temples.

His Dao companion, True Monarch Purple Mist, having finished arranging the funeral matters, returned to his side and gently comforted him.

"Senior Brother Yunlan, my condolences. We had already prepared ourselves for the worst possible outcome."

For Nascent Soul cultivators, the death of junior disciples or fellow sect members during Nascent Soul Tribulation was nothing unfamiliar.

However, True Monarch Yunlan had invested a great deal of effort and expectation into Yunqing Immortal.

Not only was Yunqing his final disciple, but he was also a descendant of his bloodline.

"I cannot comprehend this… The sect's fortune has been stable, even improving. Yunqing, as an Immortal Golden Dan cultivator, had an unshakable foundation. His mind was calm, fully devoted to the path of immortality. He had talent, opportunity, and fortune—how could he still fail at the final moment?"

True Monarch Yunlan let out a bitter sigh.

To prevent Yunqing from being distracted by worldly desires, he had forbidden female cultivators from approaching him, ensuring he had no emotional entanglements.

He had even secretly severed many karmic connections to minimize distractions.

Yet, in the end, Yunqing succumbed to inner demons, lost control, and perished completely.

No one knew what he had experienced during his Heart Demon Tribulation.

Only those who succeeded and formed their Nascent Souls could later recount their experience.

"The concept of ‘fortune’ is elusive and uncertain. One should believe in it, but not too deeply. Senior Brother, do not dwell on it excessively."

New n𝙤vel chapters are published on freeweɓnøvel.com.

True Monarch Purple Mist gently furrowed her brows as she tried to persuade him.

However, True Monarch Yunlan remained unmoved.

Suddenly, his fingers formed a hand seal, and he gazed at the sect’s sky above the mountain gate, his expression filled with surprise.

"Strange… Yunqing's failure should have caused the sect’s fortune to decline, yet there is no noticeable dip."

His eyes narrowed.

"Could it be that the sect’s rising fortune was never tied to Yunqing? Is it instead linked to someone else?"

Hearing this, True Monarch Purple Mist’s expression flickered with astonishment.

By all logic, Yunqing’s failure should have negatively impacted the sect’s fortune—even if only slightly.

The two pondered over this for a long time and gradually pieced together a rough conclusion.

"Among the next generation of the sect, there are no outstanding candidates for Nascent Soul. At least for the next century or two, there is no one who can compare to Yunqing."

"If the next generation lacks hope… does that mean fortune is favoring one of us instead?"

A sharp light flickered in True Monarch Yunlan’s eyes.

True Monarch Purple Mist was born with heavenly spiritual roots, however, her foundation was not deep, and as a female cultivator, she lacked the aggressive, battle-hardened mentality required for rapid breakthroughs.

On the other hand, True Monarch Yunlan firmly believed he surpassed his junior sister in intelligence and strength.

In fact, she had only successfully advanced to Nascent Soul because of his assistance.

Years ago, he had harbored great ambitions, intending to lead Yunxia Sect into an era of true prosperity.

Even though his attempt to break through to mid-stage Nascent Soul had failed, leaving him injured and costing him an arm, his aspirations had never truly faded.

True Monarch Purple Mist saw the renewed determination in his eyes.

Although she did not fully believe in his chances, she did not wish to discourage him.

She knew that her Dao companion had little chance of further advancement after his past failure and injuries.

In fact, in terms of potential, she now had a better chance than he did.

But striving for greater heights was the desire of all Nascent Soul cultivators.

No one was willing to abandon their final glimmer of hope—herself included.

If the opportunity presented itself, in theory, both of them still had a chance to advance further.

"Currently, there are only two remaining Core Formation Great Cultivators in the direct lineage of our sect."

"Sect Master Hu is aging, with only two or three decades of lifespan left."

"Meanwhile, 'Immortal Xuefeng' is in his prime but must oversee an external Immortal City..."

True Monarch Purple Mist’s starry eyes flickered as she shifted the topic.

"Senior Brother, why not place more responsibility on Immortal Xiang?"

"You mean… retiring Sect Master Hu early, recalling ‘Immortal Xuefeng’ to take over as sect master, and assigning Immortal Xiang to oversee the external Immortal City?"

True Monarch Yunlan pondered, hesitating slightly.

"Senior Brother, you still don’t trust Immortal Xiang? He would only be stationed in Fengxia Immortal City as a deterrent—not managing its affairs."

True Monarch Purple Mist understood that her senior brother was highly cautious, especially toward Core Formation cultivators who joined later in life.

"Fengxia Immortal City is one of our sect’s most critical sources of wealth. Immortal Xiang has only been with the sect for two or three decades—we still need more time to evaluate him."

After a brief moment of contemplation, True Monarch Yunlan ultimately did not agree.

He cast a sidelong glance at his stunning Dao companion, noticing something unusual.

For all these years, this was the first time his junior sister had actively recommended and promoted an outsider.

Clearly, she truly admired this ‘Xiang Dalong’.

True Monarch Yunlan's eyes narrowed slightly, his face remaining calm, but deep down, his wariness and suspicions grew.

"I recall that you once mentioned this person was preparing an opportunity for his spirit beast’s transformation?"

He asked this in an offhanded manner.

True Monarch Purple Mist nodded.

"Immortal Xiang does not engage in romantic affairs within the sect, yet he is deeply affectionate toward his spirit beast. He is doing his utmost to ensure its transformation, striving to leave no regrets."

"Hah… his own Nascent Soul advancement is uncertain, yet he still expends energy and wealth for a spirit beast’s transformation?"

True Monarch Yunlan chuckled coldly, disapproving of Lan Chang'an’s choices.

If it were him, he would hoard all resources for himself, maximizing his own Nascent Soul chances.

Dividing resources was a foolish act.

In his mind, he had already foreseen the eventual tragic outcome awaiting Immortal Xiang and his spirit beast.

However, he chose to say nothing.

Immortal Xiang was merely a wandering cultivator from a small province—his chances of reaching Nascent Soul were slim to begin with.

Moreover, an outsider Guest Elder advancing to Nascent Soul would have both advantages and disadvantages for the Yunxia Sect.

It was not necessarily a good thing.

...

Two months later, Yunxia Sect’s full-sect lockdown had been lifted.

The failure of Yunqing Immortal’s Nascent Soul breakthrough had not caused much of a stir within Great Yu Kingdom’s cultivation world.

On this particular day, during a brief trip outside the sect for supplies, Lan Chang'an quietly dispatched his fourth-rank green-armored puppet.

This fourth-rank puppet was primarily controlled by the Puppet Master Wei as the puppet spirit.

With the integration of Lan Chang'an’s second life, he could share its senses and remotely control it over a much greater distance.

This puppet was effectively an advanced version of a puppet clone.

Due to the presence of Puppet Master Wei’s ghost spirit consciousness, it was capable of independent action, making it far more effective at acting on its own.

Lan Chang'an instructed the puppet to infiltrate Great Snake Mountain’s domain to gather intelligence and locate "True Monarch Red Serpent."

Without a high-level introduction, meeting a Nascent Soul True Monarch was no easy task.

Furthermore, True Monarch Red Serpent was a demonic path cultivator—his whereabouts were unpredictable, and he was unpredictable and insidious.

If he had sent the Earth Burrowing Rat or another puppet, the risk of exposure while searching for a Nascent Soul cultivator’s movements would have been too great.

A few months later, through divination and intelligence gathering, Lan Chang'an confirmed that True Monarch Red Serpent was not at Great Snake Mountain but had secretly gone out on a mission.

However, pinpointing his exact location was nearly impossible—he was not a stationary target.

A wandering Nascent Soul cultivator was far too difficult to track down.

Thus, Lan Chang'an resorted to the dumbest approach and had the fourth-rank puppet squatting around Great Snake Mountain.

"When a Nascent Soul True Monarch goes out, it's hard to tell how long it will take, it could be as short as a few months, or as long as a few years, even a dozen years is not uncommon."

Lan Chang'an set a five-year limit for the stakeout.

If True Monarch Red Serpent did not return within five years, he would abandon the plan.

Trading with a demonic path cultivator always carried inherent risks.

Moreover, the Earth Burrowing Rat was at its prime age for transformation—delaying too long would be detrimental.

Still, Lan Chang'an estimated that as a Supreme Elder, True Monarch Red Serpent was unlikely to leave his sect for too long under normal circumstances.

Luck was on Lan Chang'an’s side.

After a year and a half, the fourth-rank puppet, which had been staking out near Great Snake Mountain, finally detected a dark-red streak of light in the distance.

The chilling, eerie aura of a Nascent Soul demonic cultivator accompanied the light.

A figure emerged from the sky.

True Monarch Red Serpent was thin and wiry, appearing around seventy years old.

He wore a black robe lined with a heavy cloak, his bald head, and exposed chest covered in black snake tattoos.

As he stepped off his light beam, preparing to return to Great Snake Mountain, a sudden event occurred—

Whoosh!

An inky-red transmission talisman streaked through the air, flying directly toward him.

This transmission talisman was of top-grade third-rank quality, with an astonishing speed and extended transmission range.

True Monarch Red Serpent’s Nascent Soul spiritual sense swept over the talisman, his narrow eyes flashing with a glint of wariness.

He caught the talisman and inspected it closely.

Suddenly, he let out a soft "Hmm?" of surprise.

"A transmission talisman inscribed with fourth-rank dragon blood?"

As an expert in beast-taming, True Monarch Red Serpent immediately recognized its significance.

With his extensive experience, he could determine that the fourth-rank dragon blood used to inscribe this talisman had come from at least an earth-grade jiao dragon.

Perhaps even a Heaven-grade jiao dragon.

Such high-level dragon blood materials were highly valuable to Great Snake Mountain, and even more so to the Scarlet Abyss Serpent King.

Intrigued, True Monarch Red Serpent carefully examined the message within the talisman.

The sender identified themselves as a passing Nascent Soul cultivator in the Great Yu Kingdom, seeking to trade for the Profound Heart Beast Pill.

The trade had a strict three-day deadline.

Additionally, It was mentioned in the talisman that this transaction could only be done on a one-to-one basis.

If True Monarch Red Serpent brought the Scarlet Abyss Serpent King or any other Nascent Soul cultivators, the trade would be canceled immediately.

"Three days from now, at the border of the Red Moon Merchant Association’s territory..."

True Monarch Red Serpent pondered for a moment.

The time limit was tight.

Even considering the travel time, he had very little opportunity for planning or preparation.

The Red Moon Merchant Association was backed by one of the Sixteen Sea-Suppressing Sects.

Within the Great Yu Kingdom, it was regarded as a neutral force focused solely on commerce—it did not participate in factional conflicts.

Thus, the trading location was reasonable—it was unlikely to be a trap.

The sender had also avoided coming directly to Great Snake Mountain for the trade.

Considering that the Profound Heart Beast Pill was not particularly valuable to a powerful Nascent Soul cultivator, True Monarch Red Serpent could infer that this mysterious trader was not of high status within the Nascent Soul realm.

After returning to Great Snake Mountain, True Monarch Red Serpent made a few arrangements and communicated briefly with the Scarlet Abyss Serpent King, who resided deep in the mountain valleys.

After half an hour, he silently vanished from Great Snake Mountain, heading toward the trade location in secret.

...

Three days later.

The edge of the Red Moon Merchant Association's territory.

A streak of black mist, twisting and writhing like a ferocious jiao dragon, pierced through the sky and descended upon a vast, barren plain.

From above, True Monarch Red Serpent scanned the open terrain.

The flat, unobstructed landscape made it difficult to set an ambush while also ensuring a quick escape route—ideal for a cautious demonic cultivator.

As he was about to search for the trader, a powerful Nascent Soul spiritual sense swept over him, accompanied by a calm and warm male voice that echoed in his ear:

"It is an honor to receive True Monarch Red Serpent here today. I am Xu."

True Monarch Red Serpent’s pupils contracted slightly—

This spiritual sense was at least at the peak of early-stage Nascent Soul, nearly equal to his own, despite his mastery over beast-taming techniques that strengthened his spiritual sense.

Following the voice’s direction, he quickly located its owner.

A hundred li away, beneath an ancient, towering tree, sat a refined middle-aged man in a blue robe, casually resting upon a large rock.

His aura was profound, and the pressure emanating from his body unmistakably marked him as a Nascent Soul cultivator.

True Monarch Red Serpent narrowed his snake-like eyes and slowed his descent.

Even as he approached cautiously, he activated his spiritual sense and beast-taming secret techniques to ensure that no other high-level beings were hiding nearby.

"I do not recognize you, Fellow Daoist Xu. How should I address you?"

His voice carried a faint rasp, his tone probing.

From the rock, the blue-robed cultivator stood up, maintaining a polite yet distant demeanor.

"I am Xu, not a native of the Central Region—I come from another region of the Great Yuan."

The appearance, aura, and demeanor of ‘Xu’ was identical to that of "Xu Xuan" from the Fengyuan Kingdom in Great Qing many years ago.

This was, in fact, Lan Chang'an, now in disguise as a Nascent Soul cultivator.

To perfectly masquerade as a Nascent Soul expert, Lan Chang'an had even gone as far as to have the fourth life descend, supplementing it with his Hundred Illusions Mask.

As long as he avoided combat, both his spiritual sense and mana presence were indistinguishable from an actual Nascent Soul True Monarch.

In fact, his spiritual sense alone was genuinely at the Nascent Soul level, exceeding even the True Monarch couple of the Yunxia Sect.

"So it is Fellow Daoist Xu."

True Monarch Red Serpent landed a short twenty zhang away, keeping a cautious but non-threatening distance.

Lan Chang'an maintained a calm gaze, studying his opponent.

True Monarch Red Serpent was a seasoned demonic cultivator, and his first words were a test:

"You possess fourth-rank dragon blood. Could it be that you hail from the coastal regions of the Eastern Region?"

His raspy voice carried a hint of suspicion.

In the Great Yuan, it was common knowledge that the sea regions harbored the highest concentration of jiao dragons, most of which possessed Earth-grade or even Heaven-grade bloodlines.

Lan Chang'an simply smiled, his expression unchanging.

"There is no need for Fellow Daoist Red Serpent to concern himself with the source of my materials."

As their gazes met, True Monarch Red Serpent found no cracks or inconsistencies in his disguise.

Lan Chang'an inwardly breathed a sigh of relief—his Hundred Illusions Mask, at the Nascent Soul level, was vaguely approaching its limit.

Perhaps it was a flawed artifact, or perhaps it was never designed to deceive Nascent Soul cultivators at close range.

With the transformation of the divine soul when advancing to Nascent Soul, their ability to detect anomalies in disguises was significantly higher than lower-stage cultivators.

However, as long as he did not engage in direct combat, Lan Chang'an was confident he could fool the majority of Nascent Soul experts.

To further reduce risks, Lan Chang'an had not brought his two spirit beasts to the negotiation.

Even a single trace of their scent could have been picked up by True Monarch Red Serpent’s beast-taming secret arts.

Additionally, for the past year, Lan Chang'an had purged all lingering beast-related auras from his body, ensuring no detectable connection to his spirit beasts.

True Monarch Red Serpent gave a gruff chuckle before finally speaking:

"Very well. I shall make this clear—Great Snake Mountain possesses only a single fourth-rank 'Profound Heart Beast Pill'."

He paused briefly, his tone slow and deliberate.

"This pill stabilizes the soul essence of spirit beasts and demons, repels external corruption, and greatly aids in overcoming the Heart Tribulation of transformation."

He then narrowed his snake-like eyes, gauging Lan Chang'an’s reaction.

"Under normal circumstances, this pill is not for sale."

His meaning was clear—even among Nascent Soul cultivators, this was not an item easily traded.

"Unless… Fellow Daoist Xu can offer something that truly interests me."

True Monarch Red Serpent, his withered frame wrapped in dark robes, took the initiative, speaking in an ancient, hoarse voice.

A "non-sale item"?

Lan Chang'an silently cursed, this cunning old snake, years ago, he had displayed the Profound Heart Beast Pill at the Nascent Soul Exchange Gathering.

If it were truly not for sale, he would never have shown it in public.

Clearly, Red Serpent had recognized him as a ‘passing Nascent Soul loose cultivator’ with no faction to back him and was trying to fleece him.

There was no way around it.

The identity Lan Chang'an had fabricated was that of a wandering Nascent Soul cultivator, seemingly weak and alone.

It was the type of person easily mistaken for a fugitive from another region—one who might be desperate for resources and therefore easier to exploit.

Had he not taken on this disguise, he feared True Monarch Red Serpent would have dismissed the deal entirely out of caution.

"Fellow Daoist Red Serpent, let's be direct—what do you want in exchange for the Profound Heart Beast Pill?"

Lan Chang'an cut straight to the point.

This transaction had a time limit.

The longer it dragged on, the higher the risk of Red Serpent summoning reinforcements.

"If Fellow Daoist Xu can offer me a fourth-rank Jiao Dragon Essence Spirit Core, I will consider the trade."

Red Serpent chuckled darkly, his black serpent tattoos writhing across his skin.

A Jiao Dragon Essence Spirit Core?

Lan Chang'an’s expression darkened, and he let out a cold laugh.

"Fellow Daoist Red Serpent is overestimating me. The dragon blood I possess was obtained by working alongside two other Nascent Soul cultivators during a difficult hunt."

Red Serpent was being utterly unreasonable.

The Profound Heart Beast Pill was a niche item—valuable, but nowhere near the level of an Infant Transformation Pill or a fourth-rank Jiao Dragon’s Essence Spirit Core.

"If Fellow Daoist intends to deceive me and take me for a fool, then we may as well call off this deal."

With that, Lan Chang'an rose from his seat, feigning displeasure as if preparing to walk away.

"Ah, no need to be hasty, Fellow Daoist Xu!"

True Monarch Red Serpent quickly raised a hand, smiling as he intercepted.

"It was just a jest. If you truly had a fourth-rank Jiao Dragon Essence Spirit Core, I would certainly offer additional compensation. I wouldn’t let you suffer a loss."

Internally, he was disappointed—it seemed this loose cultivator truly did not have such a rare treasure.

"Then let’s not waste time."

Lan Chang'an sat back down, his expression still sour as he began negotiating.

The two bargained intensely for half an incense stick’s time.

Despite his greedy nature, True Monarch Red Serpent did not push too far.

He was not eager to fight a Nascent Soul loose cultivator with an unknown background—especially one whose spiritual sense was just as strong as his own.

"One barrel of purified dragon blood, one superior-grade magical treasure, and an additional Crystal Condensation Pill."

Lan Chang'an’s face darkened.

But True Monarch Red Serpent knew when to stop.

Lan Chang'an had been thoroughly fleeced, but the price was still within reason.

The purified dragon blood alone accounted for 40% of his total supply.

The superior-grade magical treasure was the scorpion tail needle, originally obtained from Ancestor Heavenly Net—a lethal assassination weapon, an excellent item of the same grade.

If unleashed at the same level, it could pose a threat to Nascent Soul cultivators.

And finally, the Crystal Condensation Pill, a valuable high-grade strategic material.

"Fine. A small loss is nothing in the long run."

Despite his heartache, Lan Chang'an forced himself to remain calm.

With the Profound Heart Beast Pill in hand, the Earth Burrowing Rat’s transformation would now be perfectly optimized.

At the very least, he had avoided the need for life-and-death combat, allowing him to secure the final item peacefully.

Both sides monitored each other with spiritual sense, ensuring that no tricks were played as the trade was completed successfully.

"I wish Fellow Daoist Xu good fortune."

True Monarch Red Serpent, now holding the dragon blood and other goods, was in high spirits. For Great Snake Mountain, this high-quality fourth-rank dragon blood was extremely useful.