My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult-Chapter 198 - : Advancement to One Qi at the Bottom of the Volcano (10,000-word update, please subscribe)

Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Advancement to One Qi at the Bottom of the Volcano (10,000-word update, please subscribe)

Inside the righteous manor.

An Jing lay on the ground, drowsy and wanting to sleep, ever since his essence blood had been depleted, his spirit had become somewhat weary.

In his haziness, he seemed to hear a faint voice and couldn’t help but look towards the entrance.

The person who entered was none other than Luo Chongyang, clad in a Daoist robe.

An Jing propped himself up, his voice weak as he asked, “You’re back?”

Luo Chongyang eyed the pool of blood in front of him and asked in a low voice, “What happened here?”

...

“It’s nothing, just a few small fries.”

An Jing pondered for a moment before asking, “Do you know of any expert with the surname ‘Jin’ from Zhao Country?”

“Jin!?”

Luo Chongyang’s eyebrows raised, then he shook his head and said, “I haven’t really heard of one, but I do know of an expert with the surname Qi from Zhao Country. Why the sudden inquiry?”

An Jing waved his hand dismissively, “No reason, just asking.”

Luo Chongyang didn’t buy that it was a casual question, but since the Ghost Swordsman wasn’t saying, he didn’t want to pry further.

An Jing continued to lie back down on the pile of straw. Now he would sit if he could avoid standing, and would certainly lie down rather than sit.

After hesitating for a moment, Luo Chongyang spoke with a bit more gravity, “There’s something serious I need to discuss with you.”

“What is it?”

An Jing closed his eyes to rest, asking in a languid tone.

Luo Chongyang slowly said, “The Honghu beneath the volcano might have awoken, and there might be danger when you absorb the volcanic essence.”

An Jing opened his eyes and asked, “Didn’t you say it wouldn’t wake up?”

Previously, Luo Chongyang had told him that the Honghu was slumbering beneath the volcano and as long as the disturbance wasn’t too great when he absorbed the volcanic essence, the Honghu wouldn’t notice.

Luo Chongyang shook his head and said, “I’m not sure, perhaps it woke up with the dawn.”

The dawn!? Could this Honghu be a rooster?

An Jing looked at Luo Chongyang with a suspicious face.

Seeing An Jing’s gaze, Luo Chongyang said irritably, “Stop looking at me like that; I don’t want that Honghu to wake up either.”

An Jing fell silent for a while, then said, “Even if the Honghu wakes up, I must absorb the volcanic essence to restore my essence blood.”

Luo Chongyang nodded slightly and replied, “Let’s enter the cave tomorrow and see. There shouldn’t be too much of a problem. You should rest well for now.”

Whether the Honghu awoke or not, he needed to obtain the True Dragon Treasure Blood.

“I’m going to sleep then.”

An Jing yawned and then closed his eyes.

No more words were exchanged after that, Luo Chongyang sat in meditation nearby, watching the drowsy An Jing on the ground, deep in thought.

The night passed without words, and another day flew by as the two ate some dry food.

“I see the sky has darkened; let’s get ready to go.”

An Jing, who had lain down for a day and a night, got up and lazily rose to his feet, picking up the Evil Suppressing Sword from the straw.

Luo Chongyang stuffed pancake into his mouth and looking at An Jing’s state, couldn’t help but say, “Do you know what the scariest thing in this world is?”

An Jing asked, “What?”

Luo Chongyang sighed, “The body has aged, but the heart has not.”

An Jing: “???”

After speaking, Luo Chongyang shook his head and walked out of the righteous manor.

As night deepened, the sky was dotted with stars, adorning the vast night sky, and the entire world fell into silence.

The two followed a narrow mountain path toward the volcanic cave.

All around was bare with no vegetation, the stones underfoot were extremely hard, leftovers from a volcanic eruption.

Even before entering the cave, An Jing could feel the temperature rising, the air growing increasingly dry and hot.

Just then, the Earth Book in his mind flashed a long-missed prompt.

“Prompt Two: There is a blue opportunity at the bottom of the volcano.”

“Prompt Three: There is a cyan opportunity at the bottom of the volcano.”

“Prompt Four: There is a yellow opportunity within the cave.”

“Prompt Five: There is a black opportunity at the bottom of the volcano.”

…..

A black opportunity!? As the light of the Earth Book flickered, a thought crossed An Jing’s mind. According to what the book said, could the black opportunity at the bottom of the volcano be that exotic beast, the Honghu!?

An Jing asked, “The Honghu’s strength must be no small matter, right?”

Luo Chongyang considered for a moment and answered, “This Honghu has lived for hundreds of years and has absorbed the volcanic essence for just as long, it could have the strength of a Three Qi Peak or even a Four Qi Grandmaster.”

A Four Qi Grandmaster!? An Jing seriously asked, “Uncle Master Luo, are you its match?”

“I can’t defeat it, but delaying it for some time should be no problem,” Luo Chongyang said, then coughed twice before continuing, “You should know that it’s the bottom of the volcano. There the Honghu’s strength could rise even further. Even if it’s just a Three Qi Peak, it can exhibit the power of Four Qi. If its inner core reaches Four Qi, it could be comparable to a Four Qi Peak Grandmaster.”

Luo Chongyang spoke truthfully. The Honghu belonged to a branch of the Phoenix bloodline. Now in its own lair at the bottom of the volcano, it’s natural that it would be like a fish in water, and an increase in strength by three parts was not unusual, just as the power of the Black Flood Dragon would fluctuate in the martial world.

After contemplating for a while, An Jing said somberly, “If we encounter danger, you must let me run first at that time, Uncle Master.”

Luo Chongyang immediately assumed a righteous expression, passionately saying, “Of course, if we encounter the Honghu, how could your uncle master leave you alone to escape?”

An Jing stated, “Swear an oath.”

If it had been Lou Xiangzhen that old man, he might have believed it, but this old Taoist made him feel uncertain.

Luo Chongyang raised an eyebrow, “You don’t trust your uncle master?”

An Jing shook his head straightforwardly, “I don’t.”

Luo Chongyang and An Jing locked eyes for a moment, then Luo Chongyang raised three fingers toward the sky and declared, “Your uncle master swears that if we encounter danger, I will definitely do everything I can to protect you, my apprentice nephew.”

“Take a deadly oath.”

“Poison oath?”

“Yes.”

“Uncle Master has sworn that, should there be a crisis, he will definitely do everything in his power to protect his nephew. If he fails, he is willing to be struck by heavenly lightning and to meet a horrific end.”

An Jing nodded and said, “Uncle Master, such poisonous oaths are generally very effective. As a cultivator, you should understand this better than me.”

Luo Chongyang patted An Jing on the shoulder and laughed, “Would your Uncle Master harm you? You think too little of me, suspecting a Daoist of such pettiness. Since I’ve accepted your Black Flood Dragon Essence Blood, of course I will help you. Dealing with an exotic beast like the Honghu is not a big deal; if it comes to it, your Uncle Master is willing to risk his life.”

An Jing thought to himself, it seems this old Daoist is no simple character; with the cultivation of a Four Qi Grandmaster, he is willing to fight to the death.

Luo Chongyang pointed toward a cave ahead and said, “That’s the cave in the southeast direction. I’m very familiar with this path; let’s go in here.”

Following Luo Chongyang’s finger, a natural cave appeared in front of them, clearly formed by volcanic eruptions.

As soon as An Jing set foot in the cave, a hot wind howled towards him, mingled with the occasional volcanic essence.

Luo Chongyang reminded from the front, “The deeper we go, the more volcanic essence there will be. If you don’t want to be affected by the fire poison, you can absorb the volcanic essence while ridding yourself of the fire poison…”

While he was speaking, he suddenly noticed that the volcanic essence around them was rushing behind at a frenzied pace.

Turning his head, he saw the Ghost Swordsman surrounded by a dense swirl of volcanic essence, seeming to form a vortex that continuously flowed into his dantian.

Luo Chongyang’s brow furrowed deeply. “So quickly…?”

The volcanic essence is even more domineering than the Five Poison Sect’s Thunder Pool, usually, those with low cultivation cannot absorb a bit of it without suffering torment from the fire poison.

Even a master at the Master Realm wouldn’t dare to absorb so much volcanic essence. Yet, the Ghost Swordsman in front of him seemed completely unconcerned with the fire poison.

What’s more important is, which heart method could possibly absorb such large amounts of essence so crazily?

At this moment, An Jing was running the “Nameless Heart Scripture” in his body. As he silently recited the incantation, a vortex formed directly in his dantian, voraciously absorbing the surrounding volcanic essence.

The instant the volcanic essence entered his dantian, all the fire poison within the essence was filtered out.

“What an impressive ‘Nameless Heart Scripture.'”

A sharp light appeared in An Jing’s eyes, and he could not help but think to himself, “If the ‘Nameless Heart Scripture’ can directly absorb volcanic essence and filter out the fire poison, then I can fully absorb the volcanic essence without concern, not only replenishing my essence blood but also enhancing my cultivation.”

The two of them walked one behind the other, with Luo Chongyang leading the way and An Jing absorbing the volcanic essence like a madman.

The deeper into the cave they went, the higher the temperature became, and the more abundant the volcanic essence was.

At this moment, the volcanic essence that converged was all gathered in his dantian, nurturing his body; however, transforming it into essence blood was not something that could be done overnight.

After walking a few dozen yards further, Luo Chongyang couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you afraid of the fire poison?”

“Just trust me, Uncle Master.”

An Jing smiled faintly as his dantian continued to absorb the surrounding volcanic essence.

Seeing the Ghost Swordsman’s relaxed demeanor, Luo Chongyang became even more curious but didn’t ask any further questions, as everyone has their own secrets.

This cave was formed by volcanic eruptions, so it had countless branches and routes.

Before they knew it, the two had already reached the depths of the cave, where the swelling heat waves hit them full force. Even a First Grade Expert would have difficulty resisting this scorching tide.

And the volcanic essence around them was becoming increasingly concentrated.

Suddenly, blue glows began to appear in An Jing’s mind from the Earth Book.

The chance of blue!

An Jing couldn’t help but say, “Wait a moment.”

Upon hearing this, Luo Chongyang turned around and asked.

An Jing headed toward the cave next to them, “Something’s not right here.”

“Not right?”

Luo Chongyang followed suit.

After several twists and turns, the two arrived in a dimly-lit cave where the temperature was extremely high, and the atmosphere was unusually dry and oppressive.

Luo Chongyang glanced around and asked, “What’s not right about this place? It seems perfectly normal to me.”

An Jing didn’t speak, but walked over to the wall, where the Earth Book’s cyan glow was now at its brightest.

This is the spot.

An Jing extended his palm, and two rocks were directly lifted up and ‘thud’ struck the cave wall beside him.

As the rocks levitated, a plant with a bright red body about three to four inches tall appeared, with one stem and nine spires, and at the end hung two red fruits the size of grapes.

“Is that the Fire Bodhi?”

Luo Chongyang came over, a glint of light in his eyes.

“Yes, it’s the Fire Bodhi,” An Jing exhaled deeply.

The Fire Bodhi was a rare treasure of heaven and earth, usually growing in places of extreme yang. It was nourished by the essence of fire, took a hundred years to take root, and bore fruit every ten years.

Currently, with two fruits hanging on the leaves, it was clear that they had undergone twenty years of growth.

Luo Chongyang marveled, “This is a healing holy medicine, surpassing even the Snow Lotus Seeds from the Great Snow Mountain, and it can also enhance cultivation.”

Throughout history, healing holy medicines had always possessed the ability to restore essence blood, and the Fire Bodhi had the miraculous effect of curing injuries and bolstering powers even without injury, making it more precious than ordinary healing medicines.

An Jing narrowed his eyes, then stretched out his hand, and his vigorous True Qi formed a barrier that enveloped the Fire Bodhi.

With the breakage of the stem and leaves, the two grape-sized Fire Bodhi fruits fell into his palm.

“I’ll consume one first.”

After saying this, An Jing directly swallowed one of the Fire Bodhi fruits.

Instantly, a scorching qi surged down his throat and, as the “Nameless Heart Scripture” began to operate, this hot qi immediately transformed into a vast amount of essence that merged into the flesh and blood of his body.

At the same time, with such a large supplement of essence, the essence blood within An Jing’s body was also continuously recovering.

“How did he discover this Fire Bodhi?”

Luo Chongyang looked at the bare stem and leaves, his brow becoming deeply furrowed.

Just a moment ago, the two were simply walking forward, and the Ghost Swordsman seemed to suddenly have a mysterious connection with the Fire Bodhi.

Could this be the mark of someone who occupies a great destiny?!

In this secluded, gloomy cave, where few people came to begin with, and with the Fire Bodhi growing in a crevice between two rocks, how could one know about it so clearly without prior knowledge?

The more Luo Chongyang thought, the more confused he became, and the Ghost Swordsman in front of him seemed all the more mysterious.

Time passed, and a day hurried by.

A powerful qi burst forth in the cave, with white smoke floating above.

An Jing slowly opened his eyes, and it seemed as if streaks of red flame were flowing within his pupils.

“How do you feel?”

Luo Chongyang, who was meditating, looked over and asked.

“As expected of the healing holy medicine, my essence blood has recovered quite a bit.”

An Jing looked at his palm, “The remaining injuries do not affect my strength and will need time to heal slowly.”

Essence blood is not something that can be recovered immediately by replenishing a large amount of essence. It also requires time.

Moreover, the loss of a minute amount of essence blood does not affect the exertion of one’s strength at all.

At this moment, An Jing had fully recovered to the strength of the Master Realm, but his cultivation was on par only with the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, having just entered the initial stage of the realm.

Among the Five Qi, not even his essence qi had returned to its place.

Luo Chongyang greedily eyed the Fire Bodhi in An Jing’s hand, “The remaining piece of Fire Bodhi won’t be much effective even if you consume it…”

With such rare and exotic treasures, the first dose always brings the best effect, while subsequent doses have much less impact.

An Jing threw the Fire Bodhi to Luo Chongyang and said, “Uncle Master, we should continue deeper. Although some of my essence blood has recovered, I feel that I can still absorb the volcanic essence. There’s a chance to reach the One Qi Realm.”

Swallowing more Fire Bodhi was pointless, so it was better to offer it to Luo Chongyang as a friendly gesture, especially since An Jing still needed his help to infiltrate the Demon Sect.

Luo Chongyang had only made a casual remark, but he didn’t expect the Ghost Swordsman to actually give him the Fire Bodhi. He smiled and said, “Good, let’s head to the bottom of the volcano. The volcanic essence there is the richest, and I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”

After eating something simple, An Jing and Luo Chongyang continued towards the bottom of the volcano.

With some of his essence blood restored, An Jing felt much more vigorous, and his true qi was gathering within his body. This allowed him to have a clearer sense of the Master’s strength.

Especially when controlling that transparent true qi in his hand, there was a world of difference between it and inner strength.

If the strength of inner strength could be likened to wood, then the strength of true qi was more like metal. It was at that moment that he truly felt a tremendous leap in his abilities.

Heat waves assaulted them, even forming powerful impacts.

An Jing and Luo Chongyang both had to raise their true qi in front of them to resist the invasion of the heat waves.

After walking several dozen yards forward, the two finally arrived at the mouth of a cave.

The temperature around them was extremely high, and the volcanic essence in the air was also at its most intense.

Intense red lights flashed sporadically, giving off the impression of jabbing upwards, accompanied by sweltering heat waves, almost as if they had come to life.

Below them lay a turbulent sea of fire, its fierce flames like a raging beast.

This was a pool of magma that had been simmering for who knows how many years.

“Gulp!” “Gulp!”

Looking down at the magma below, the waves of heat that rolled in made An Jing sense a hint of danger, let alone the idea of diving in.

But the closer one got to the magma at the bottom, the richer the volcanic essence became.

“Uncle Master, I’m going down to absorb the volcanic essence first.”

An Jing said, then slowly drifted downward.

Whoosh whoosh!

The red magma below constantly spewed magma bubbles, making gurgling sounds, with droplets of red magma bursting open.

Scorching!

It felt as though one could be steamed dry alive.

The violent heatwaves were like massive dragons, seeking to swallow An Jing whole.

Before long, he arrived in front of the magma.

At this height, the bubbles erupting from the magma and the exploding molten rock seemed as if they could touch him at any moment.

Such intense heat nearly melted the barrier of True Qi before him, and even An Jing, who had reached the Grandmaster Realm, was now covered in dense sweat on his forehead.

The heavy iron mask on his face was especially conveying a heart-throbbing temperature, making him extremely uncomfortable.

An Jing took a deep breath and sat down cross-legged, with the “Nameless Heart Scripture” beginning to circulate within him.

True Qi followed the route of the “Nameless Heart Scripture” for two Circulations, and immediately, the Volcanic Essence surged towards him, rushing into his Dantian.

Because the Volcanic Essence was moving so rapidly, it seemed to form waves of heat.

A large amount of Essence nurtured in his bones and blood, further supplementing his depleted Essence Blood, while the remaining Essence converged in the Dantian, transforming into a great deal of Essence Qi, stimulating the Essence Qi within his body to move towards the depths of his brain.

“What an astonishing rate of absorption.”

Luo Chongyang, seeing the Ghost Swordsman enter a state of cultivation, also took out a compass, “If I cautiously stimulate the True Dragon Treasure Blood today, it shouldn’t alarm the Honghu, right?”

Yesterday, his movements had been too bold when he tried to draw out the True Dragon Treasure Blood in one go, which awoke the Honghu. Today, he planned to coax it out slowly.

With this thought, Luo Chongyang started to channel his True Qi toward the compass.

“Whir, whir, whir, whir!”

As True Qi continuously gathered on the compass, the remaining Black Flood Dragon Essence Blood inside was once again stirred, issuing deep dragon roars.

The entire bottom of the volcano trembled slightly, and the magma quivered as well.

“Roar!”

Just then, a crisp dragon roar erupted from the bottom of the volcano, seemingly resonating with the Black Flood Dragon.

“True Dragon Treasure Blood!?”

A glint of light emerged in Luo Chongyang’s eyes, recognizing the high-pitched sound as the True Dragon Treasure Blood being drawn by the Black Flood Dragon Essence Blood, “It seems that as long as I’m careful, the Honghu may not notice after all. It just takes a bit more time.”

Thinking so, he continued to channel True Qi to the compass, slowly attracting the True Dragon Treasure Blood at the bottom of the volcano.

An Jing was absorbing Volcanic Essence at the bottom of the magma, while Luo Chongyang above was cautiously drawing the True Dragon Treasure Blood with his compass.

Time flew like a fleeting steed; in the blink of an eye, three days had passed.

The Volcanic Essence turned into specks of red luminance at the bottom of the volcano, all of which were absorbed by An Jing, and his Qi Mechanism was growing at a rate visible to the naked eye.

If Zhao Qingmei, Li Fuzhou, Lin Yiyang, and others had settled into the Grandmaster Realm after some time, An Jing, by incorporating Volcanic Essence into his body, compensated for that foundation and accumulation.

Because of the “Nameless Heart Scripture,” what would have taken a significant amount of time to replenish, his Essence Blood was now quickly recovering — even to the point that a mere few days would suffice to restore him to his original state.

This displayed the terrifying aspects of the “Nameless Heart Scripture,” and it was only one of its many effects.

Not only did it heal injuries rapidly, but it also contained the power to temper bones and flesh, enhancing the body.

The subsequent secret techniques and other marvelous uses would need to be unlocked at even more profound levels.

Luo Chongyang held the compass, having depleted much of his True Qi. At that moment, he was multitasking: absorbing the surrounding Volcanic Essence without drawing it in too quickly to filter out the fire toxins, while simultaneously expending True Qi to attract the True Dragon Treasure Blood from beneath the volcano.

The True Dragon Treasure Blood intermittently let out low dragon roars, the sound growing ever closer.

Such developments increasingly delighted Luo Chongyang’s heart.

“Hmm!?”

Suddenly, a whistling sound came from afar, followed by the subtle sound of footsteps.

“Who’s there!?”

Luo Chongyang’s brows furrowed as he looked over.

The figure flashed by and then disappeared without a trace.

“Someone’s there!?”

A sense of foreboding settled in Luo Chongyang’s heart as he had distinctly felt a trace of Qi Mechanism just now.

One must know that this was the core area of the volcano, where only masters of the Master Realm, who had sufficient cultivation, dared to venture deep into this region. This indicated that the figure who had flashed by must also be a Grandmaster.

Luo Chongyang’s spirit sank, and he watched the compass in front of him with full concentration.

…..

On the other side of the cave.

A shadow flitted by, rapidly retreating towards the exit of the cave.

This person was none other than Qi Shu, who had hurried here from the North Field upon hearing the news.

The distance from North Field to Beili Volcano was not short, a good eight hundred li away. Moreover, as Qi Shu had traveled south with extreme caution, it inevitably caused some delay.

His visit to the Dragon Slayer Land was precisely for the True Dragon Treasure Blood.

Obtaining the True Dragon Treasure Blood would not only allow him to directly advance to the Three Qi Realm, but, with the support of the Black Ice Platform, he would also have the means to catch up to Xiao Qianqiu’s progress.

Looking across the entire world, there were only a few masters stronger than Xiao Qianqiu at present, and these people could be considered the pinnacle of this world. As long as there was no collapse in the major trends of the world, their emergence was virtually impossible.

For these individuals, reaching the Great Grandmaster level was extremely difficult and the hopes were slim, whereas Xiao Qianqiu was currently the most promising person in the world capable of achieving the Great Grandmaster level.

Keeping pace with Xiao Qianqiu meant that he, too, had a chance to reach the realm of the Great Grandmaster.

A lifespan of three hundred years—who in this world could resist such a temptation?

Hence, as soon as he learned of the news of the True Dragon Treasure Blood, he rushed over without any hesitation.

However, he had not expected that apart from him, other masters had already arrived here in advance.

Qi Shu’s brows furrowed as he thought, “That Taoist’s cultivation is even above mine. Who on earth is he? Could he be a Hidden Mountain expert from the Zhenyi Sect?”

He had met both Yu Ying and Xiao Qianqiu of the Zhenyi Sect, so he knew for sure that this person was neither of them.

Aside from Xiao Qianqiu and Yu Ying, the Zhenyi Sect’s top cultivators, most of the others were in seclusion on Hidden Mountain.

“No matter who they are, the True Dragon Treasure Blood is mine to claim.”

Qi Shu took a deep breath and pondered, “It seems that person has already found a way to lure out the True Void Treasure Blood. To entice the True Dragon Treasure Blood, he must be expending a great deal of energy. I’ll let him continue to exhaust himself first, and when the True Dragon Treasure Blood appears, I’ll have my showdown with him.”

With that thought, a touch of cold light surfaced in his eyes.

In the Jianghu, treachery, deceit, and blades in the shadows are the norm.

Anyone in Jianghu will tell you to uphold the code of honor, but no one will tell you that this code of honor is meant for the living, never for the dead.

……

Within the Beili Volcano, dark undercurrents surged, and killing intent lurked on all sides.

Outside, however, the situation was tumultuous and ever-changing.

Following the Holy Master of Houjin’s decree, both the Golden Eagle Banner and the Black Feather Banner armies, with hundreds of thousands of troops, set off towards the Heavenly Gate Pass at the border between Houjin and Great Yan.

The Golden Eagle Banner had been waiting at the Great Yan Border for some time, and it was already famous across the world for its swift and fierce movements. By the time word of this spread, the Golden Eagle Banner had already arrived outside Heavenly Gate Pass.

Everyone in the world was paying close attention to this great battle.

Many sighed that the fierce tiger of Houjin had finally made up its mind to move southward.

There were also some who were slow to realize what was happening and mocked the southern barbarians of the grasslands for their foolish ambition to swallow the Ancestral Lands.

Different people had countless opinions, but this battle indeed captivated the attention of many.

It even caught the attention of others, such as the Western Pure Land, Southern Barbarians, Zhao Country, and other powers.

Chen Shi, the leader of the Golden Eagle Banner, brought seventy thousand troops with him, and, with great momentum, they arrived impressively. The army only rested for a single day before he ordered the assault on the pass.

The commanding general at Heavenly Gate Pass, Wang Houbai, had also received word earlier and had hastened to set up defensive works, making thorough preparations.

In a moment, a fierce and grueling battle was about to erupt, with the siege warfare lasting an entire day.

The sounds of combat were relentless, and the sky above was shrouded in thick darkness.

When the battle ceased, the ramparts of Heavenly Gate Pass and the ground below were littered with dense bodies and blood, and beyond, an endless sea of black extended out of sight.

The Houjin soldiers fought bravely and with vigorous vitality; once in battle, they fought as if they were unafraid to die.

In just the first day, a third of Heavenly Gate Pass’s defending soldiers had fallen.

As the night deepened, in the camps outside Heavenly Gate Pass,

a middle-aged man clad in golden iron armor, tall and burly, sat in the chief seat, his face furrowed as he studied a sand table before him.

This man was Chen Shi, the leader of the Golden Eagle Banner. From his features, one could tell that his bloodline was not purely Houjin; it likely included the blood of Zhao Country and Yan Country as well.

Below him, a Golden Eagle Banner general whispered, “Leader, this Wang Houbai is Xia Shiyi’s most capable lieutenant. He not only fights fiercely but also combines brute force with cunning. And having been prepared in advance, it might be difficult for us to take Heavenly Gate Pass in a short period.”

Chen Shi’s brows were tightly knitted. He had long argued for a direct assault on Great Yan by targeting Heavenly Gate Pass, but the Houjin court had hesitated, giving Xia Shiyi ample time to prepare.

Now, although they had marched with great speed, Xia Shiyi had clearly been prepared for a long time, turning this into a siege.

For the majority of Houjin’s forces, a siege was costly, let alone for the Golden Eagle Banner, which excelled less in such warfare than in open battle.

Chen Shi took a deep breath and said, “Wang Houbai is waiting for reinforcements. By my estimate, they will arrive soon. Once they enter Heavenly Gate Pass, it will be even more difficult.”

“Therefore, we must take Heavenly Gate Pass within three days.”

Chen Shi understood Xia Shiyi well—a man of great cunning and divine military strategy. If Chen Shi failed to take Heavenly Gate Pass soon, he feared it would become even more challenging once reinforcements arrived.

Heavenly Gate Pass was crucial to opening the gates of Houjin; it was Great Yan’s doorway and the first barrier facing Houjin.

The surrounding Golden Eagle Banner generals looked solemn, none spoke.

Considering the day’s siege, they estimated internally that at the very least, it would take five days to conquer the pass. Moreover, should any unforeseen events occur, or if Wang Houbai was ruthless enough, he could hold out for a few more days. Seizing this well-prepared stronghold in three days was nearly impossible.

Chen Shi’s eyes glinted with a bloody light as he stared down the assembled generals, “Prepare the enforcer squad for me. Any soldier who retreats will be slain by me, and any general who retreats, I will kill that general. If Heavenly Gate Pass is not taken within three days, I will offer my head to the Holy Master.”

Upon hearing Chen Shi’s words, a chill went through the hearts of the generals present.

“Report!”

Just then, an urgent voice rang out.

A flustered soldier bearing the Golden Eagle Banner rushed in from a distance, holding a secret letter in his hand. “An urgent sealed order from the Chief of the Black Feather Banner, for your eyes only.”

Chen Shi’s brows furrowed, and he commanded, “Bring it over for me to see.”

“Yes, sir.”

The Golden Eagle Banner soldier advanced two steps and then bowed to present the secret letter above his head.

Just as Chen Shi was about to seize the letter, a cold gleam flashed in the soldier’s eyes.

Before the thought had fully formed, the moment was upon them. A sharp blade suddenly materialized in the soldier’s hand and thrust straight towards Chen Shi’s throat.

Fast!

Too fast!

Neither Chen Shi’s personal guards nor the Golden Eagle Banner commanders beside him had time to react.

But just as the blade was about to pierce Chen Shi’s throat, it was forcibly clamped between two fingers.

The disguised ‘Golden Eagle Banner soldier’ looked aghast at the owner of those fingers.

“Bang!”

Chen Shi sneered and delivered a fierce kick to the spy’s abdomen, sending the ‘Golden Eagle Banner soldier’ flying backward, landing on the ground coughing up blood continuously.

The surrounding Golden Eagle Banner commanders regained their senses, drawing their weapons and pointing them at the man.

“Who are you?”

“Quite the audacity!”

…..

Chen Shi spoke coldly, “No need to ask, this is the martial prowess of the Great Yan Martial World. This person must be from the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall.”

The ‘Golden Eagle Banner soldier’ sneered coldly, “What a pity, not being able to kill you, barbarian dog.”

Chen Shi replied indifferently, “Quite the tough one, aren’t you? I wonder if you can withstand the Golden Eagle Banner’s torture?”

“I’ll be waiting for you on the road to hell.”

With a mocking curve to his lips, the ‘Golden Eagle Banner soldier’ decisively bit off his own tongue and fell to the ground, lifeless.

Upon witnessing this, the people of Houjin all frowned deeply, their expressions grim.

The experts of the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall were more like death soldiers.

“Drag him away.”

Chen Shi ordered flatly.

“Yes, sir.”

Two soldiers promptly dragged the corpse of the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall expert away, and then they fetched a cloth to clean the blood stains from the ground meticulously.

“Report!”

Just then, another shout arrived as a messenger quickly entered, “Our rear supply has been attacked, suspected to be the work of Yan Country’s martial experts.”

“How is the situation now?”

“Dozens of attackers, three or four dead, the rest wounded and retreated. The supply remains intact and undamaged.”

Hearing this, the people of Houjin breathed a sigh of relief.

“Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall, is it?”

A glint of cold light shone in Chen Shi’s eyes, and an idea immediately formed in his mind. If Wang Houbai could make use of this sharp sword, then he, Chen Shi, could use it too.

It was well known that over the years, the Soul Seeker Mansion had grown significantly stronger than the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall, having absorbed many experts from Great Yan, Zhao Country, and even the Southern Barbarians. These individuals were mostly brutal and wicked, yet their skills and strength were indeed formidable.

Chen Shi thought of someone and ordered one of his personal guards, “Go and summon Ye Yurong.”

“Yes, sir.”

The personal guard nodded upon hearing the order and headed out of the tent.

……

Two days had already passed in the blink of an eye, and the battle at Heaven Gate was intensely fierce.

The ground before the gate was covered with corpses, the air thick with the stench of blood. What used to be a nightly ceasefire allowing both sides to collect their dead had become nonexistent; the bodies remained uncollected before Houjin launched another assault.

Fighting from dawn to dusk, the sounds of slaughter were deafening, echoing throughout Heaven Gate.

Heaven Gate, General’s mansion.

Wang Houbai, armored and weary, dragged his tired body back. After consecutive days of relentless battles, even he was physically and mentally exhausted, his nerves stretched to their limits.

Only he knew all too well that without reinforcements, Heaven Gate couldn’t hold for long.

But as a commander, his orders were to defend Heaven Gate at any cost, and even without those commands, as a patriot of Great Yan, he was bound to hold his position.

“General, everything is ready.”

At that moment, a fawning aide approached and said, “This time it’s a real beauty. They say she used to be an Oiran. I believe you’ll be quite pleased, general.”

A gleam of excitement appeared in Wang Houbai’s eyes, “Excellent, I’ll go bathe and change right away.”

Some indulge in drink, others consumed by lust, and Wang Houbai belonged to the latter category. Especially now, with his nerves on edge, his burning desire was even more acute.

As Wang Houbai’s confidant, his job was to procure beauties for his commander to quench the flames of his desire.

After a quick bath, Wang Houbai hurried to his chamber.

The thought of the beauty waiting inside made his heart pound.

“Creak–!”

Opening the door, he walked in eagerly.

As soon as he entered, he was greeted by a faint, refreshing fragrance that revitalized his spirit.

He saw a woman lying on the bed, stunningly beautiful with a seductive demeanor. She was clothed in a red garment that revealed her long, smooth legs, leading down to her delicate, pale feet.

Wang Houbai’s breathing quickened, his eyes filled with lascivious fire.

“General.”

The woman glanced at Wang Houbai and smiled sweetly.

Her allure was irresistible.

“Indeed, a real beauty.”

Wang Houbai laughed heartily and approached quickly, extending his hand toward the woman’s feet.

“General, I’ve been waiting for a long time.”

The woman, like a spirit snake, wrapped herself around Wang Houbai’s body. “General, you should cherish me well,” she cooed.

“Don’t worry about that,” he replied.

Wang Houbai could no longer attend to other matters and immediately pounced.

Suddenly, the room was engulfed in a tumult of passion, with intermittent sounds echoing without cessation.

With a high-pitched cry, the great battle finally reached its end.

Wang Houbai lay atop the jade-like body, huffing heavily, and a brief calm returned to his heart.

The woman’s face was flushed as she caressed Wang Houbai’s broad back and smiled, “General, you are so potent. I am very satisfied.”

Wang Houbai smiled proudly, “Next time, I’ll make it even more comfortable for you, you sly little vixen.”

The woman gazed at the man before her with infatuation and asked, “Why must there be a next time?”

Wang Houbai said, “I’m on watch tonight. Who knows if those barbarians will come again. As the Garrison Commander of Heaven Gate, I naturally can’t neglect my duty.”

Now that his carnal desires were vented, his mind cooled. There was, after all, a need for him to guard Heaven Gate.

The woman chuckled, “General, they will come again tonight.”

Wang Houbai frowned, “How do you know that?”

“Because….”

She smiled.

At that moment, a flash of cold light surged from her arm and pierced directly through Wang Houbai’s throat.

“Gurgling–!”

Wang Houbai’s tiger-like eyes looked at the beautiful woman in disbelief, “You… you…”

With seductive eyes and a slight smile, the woman said, “General, I’ve been ordered to send you on your last journey.”

After speaking, the woman pushed Wang Houbai away, and their bodies were completely separated.

“I… gras…”

Wang Houbai fell onto the bed, struggled for a while, and then breathed his last.

The woman calmly got dressed and walked out of the room, never once glancing at Wang Houbai, with whom she had just shared intimate moments.

Not long after the woman left, the Houjin’s Golden Eagle Banner launched another attack. Because of Wang Houbai’s death, Heaven Gate couldn’t hold for two hours and was completely breached, opening the gates of Great Yan.

After the fall of Heaven Gate, the first command of Chen Shi, who broke through the gate, was to cease fighting for three days. Afterward, each Houjin soldier that entered the city acted as if possessed; as soon as they entered, they started looting, killing, and setting fires.

These Houjin soldiers went on a rampage for two days, and at night they even had to collect the corpses, feeling extremely repressed.

However, not every soldier could participate in the plunder; some had to be posted at the city gates to prevent Yan Country’s soldiers and citizens, the ‘fat sheep’, from escaping.

Such meticulous and professional city looting was not their first time; or rather, they had rehearsed this countless times.

Inside Heaven Gate, the sky was lit up with flames, and more and more corpses piled on the streets, interspersed with intermittent screams and cries.

Within just two days, bodies were strewn everywhere across Heaven Gate, accompanied by the lamentations of the living.

By the third day, almost no living person could be seen on the streets, and there was no room left to even set foot on, as the Black Feather Banner’s soldiers rode in on horses, their hooves crushing the chests of the corpses. Blood flowed from the head of the street to the tail, not yet dried.

In a short span of three days, no words could convey the enormity of the sins and the bloodshed that filled the city.

Within the Great Yan territory.

Chen Shi rode atop a steed, gazing at the distant rivers and mountains, his face devoid of any expression, making it impossible to discern his true thoughts.

“Clip-clop, clip-clop…”

Just then, the sound of horse hooves rang out, and a man clad in armor riding a tall black horse approached.

“Chen, your skill is remarkable; in just two days, you’ve taken Heaven Gate Pass, and these three days have brought a full bounty.”

This man was none other than the leader of the Black Feather Banner, Bai Ying.

The essence of war, for those in power, was for the great rivers and mountains, while for others, it was for glory and riches.

Chen Shi chuckled, saying, “It’s just a minor pass after all. Look at these splendid rivers and mountains, miles of woven beauty, now beneath the hooves of my Houjin cavalry. There is more gold, silver, and treasures here, as well as beautiful women, I’m just afraid that Chief Hu won’t be able to carry it all away.”

A spark of cunning glinted in Bai Ying’s eyes as he said indifferently, “There’s nothing that can’t be taken away. If it really can’t be, then just destroy it.”

Every nomad held the dream that one day, they would move south to graze their horses.

And today, this grand feat lay before his eyes.

Bai Ying was determined to accomplish this deed.

Chen Shi mused, “Wang Shiyi is no simple character.”

He had stayed at Heaven Gate Pass for three days, not daring to act rashly: firstly, because he was waiting for Bai Ying; secondly, he was naturally wary of this Marquis.

“Wang Shiyi is also human, we are human too. What is there to fear?”

Bai Ying snorted coldly and commanded, “Giddy up!”

……

The fall of Heaven Gate Pass and Houjin’s massacre quickly spread throughout the world.

Suddenly, Great Yan was in an uproar, some furious with rage, some condemning Houjin for their cruelty, and others cursing Marquis Wang Shiyi for his misplaced trust. In conclusion, it caused a great commotion.

Many were also deeply anxious, aware that this was just the beginning of the great war. With the fierce tiger of Houjin descending from the north, the hungry wolves from the south were likely soon to make their move as well.

The fact that the Court seemed to be nursing grave injuries only cast a further shadow over everyone’s hearts.

The current situation in Great Yan was indeed perilous.

In Yujing City, atop the Golden Throne Hall.

Today’s court meeting was of utmost importance. Grand Secretary Lv Guoyong, Chamberlain Bai Mei, Zhong Binru of the Imperial Swordsmen, Grandmaster Zhao Tianyi, Crown Prince Zhao Chongyin, Second Prince Zhao Mengtai, Pingyang Marquis Qiu Heng, Yue Tingchen, Zhu Yongfang, and a host of other civil and military officials were all present.

Anyone with even the slightest sway in Yujing City had come to participate in the court meeting.

And as before, the throne was still conspicuously vacant.

Zhao Tianyi glanced over the assembly and said slowly, “You have all seen the urgent report. What opinions do you have?”

“Wang Shiyi is foolish to have let a lecher like Wang Houbai guard Heaven Gate Pass.”

“Heaven Gate Pass is the gateway to Great Yan. Now that the gates have been flung wide open and the war has begun within the territory of Great Yan, no matter what, it is Great Yan that suffers losses.”

“Houjin has come with formidable aggression. This time they mobilized two banner armies, and this move is hardly a mere probe—there may well be other plans behind it. We must not underestimate them.”

“I think we should negotiate peace. After all, this situation is very likely being agitated by those with ulterior motives.”

……

In an instant, the entire court burst into a cacophony of discussions, like a relentless tide.

Zhao Mengtai spoke indifferently, “We could have delayed for a while, but the rapid development this time is largely due to the death of Zongzheng Yuan.”

As Zhao Mengtai’s voice fell, everyone present fell silent.

If Zongzheng Yuan hadn’t suddenly died, the situation wouldn’t have developed so quickly. To date, his murder remains an unsolved case of injustice.

“Let’s discuss this matter later. In my opinion, we should first discuss the imminent war with Houjin,” said someone.

Zhao Chongyin spoke up, “Houjin has already breached the Heavenly Gate Pass, next they can head straight for Beihuang Dao. With the Marquis commanding an army of five hundred thousand, and the Golden Eagle and Black Feather banners together amounting to less than two hundred thousand, it’s certainly difficult for them to fully occupy Beihuang Dao. If Houjin continues to send troops, this could result in a protracted war.”

“If we are to fight, what we need to do now is to prepare provisions to send to Beihuang Dao, and also prepare some contingencies. If we are to seek peace, I’m afraid we’ll have to let some blood to feed this evil tiger, and wait for a more appropriate moment in the future to take revenge on this evil tiger…”

Everyone present nodded in agreement with Zhao Chongyin’s words.

To fight or to negotiate peace?

Each person expressed their views, each with their own ideas. Some spoke of negotiating peace, others of fighting to the end. Each perspective had its own rationale.

Zhao Tianyi turned to his former teacher, Lv Guoyong, and asked, “Old Lv, what are your thoughts?”

Lv Guoyong laughed and said, “I’ve heard that the nomads have always dreamed of one day riding south to graze their horses. Houjin has been quietly developing for twenty years, just to fulfill this long-standing desire.”

“In my opinion, this battle should make them fully realize the reality. If they dare to come south to graze their horses, then we should break their horse legs, and breaking their hooves is even more crucial than defeating them on the battlefield.”

Break their horse legs if they dare to come south to graze.

The words of Lv Guoyong sent a jolt through all the civil and military officials present.

Zhao Mengtai nodded and said, “Old Lv’s words are very true. If we do not teach Houjin an unforgettable lesson for their arrogant behaviors, they will not give up easily. This battle must be fought, and we must win.”

“However, as fearsome as a fierce tiger is, we must also guard against hungry wolves.”

Pingyang Marquis Qiu Heng nodded and added, “That’s right, we cannot neglect Zhao Country, nor the Demon Sect. They also have an elite Black Armored Army. Although their numbers are small, they are extremely formidable. According to intelligence, they may have already sided with Houjin.”

What is court deliberation? A thousand people have a thousand opinions, each expressing their own views, all dependent on one person to decide. If the ruler also fails to make decisions, then the court deliberation is as good as not having been held.

At this moment, though Lv Guoyong was not the decision-maker, he was the one who determined the final decision.

The battle between Yan Country and Houjin was now officially underway following this court deliberation.

Houjin chose war, Great Yan welcomed it.

……

Outside Beili City, at the base of a volcano.

Nine days had passed since the two of them had arrived in this place.

An Jing was sitting cross-legged next to the magma, his Dantian continuously absorbing the volcanic essence. On closer inspection, one could see that not only had his essence blood fully recovered, but his Qi mechanism was also rising steadily.

Essence Qi moved upward, continuously returning to its original position. When Essence Qi fully returned, it would reach the One Qi Realm.

Now, having absorbed such a massive amount of essence, An Jing was on the verge of reaching the Grandmaster Realm of One Qi.

The surrounding volcanic essence was being drawn in continuously, even appearing somewhat thin, which showed just how much he had absorbed over these several days.

“Why isn’t this Ghost Swordsman afraid of the fire poison invading his body?”

While eating a pancake, Luo Chongyang watched the Ghost Swordsman sitting cross-legged below, his True Qi still drawing strands of True Dragon Treasure Blood from the heart of the volcano like threads.

Naturally, he could see that not only had the Ghost Swordsman’s Qi mechanism fully recovered, but his cultivation was also climbing steadily, seemingly about to reach the Grandmaster Realm of One Qi.

This would save years of hard cultivation.

“Forget it, it’s best to focus on the True Dragon Treasure Blood.”

Luo Chongyang’s gaze no longer lingered on An Jing; instead, he concentrated intently on the True Dragon Treasure Blood at the bottom of the volcano.

In the past few days, the True Dragon Treasure Blood seemed to be on the verge of being drawn out; now it had reached a crucial juncture where absolutely no mistakes could be afforded.

The deep and resonant sound of a dragon’s hum grew increasingly clearer.

As time slipped through the fingers like sand, several hours passed, and Luo Chongyang suddenly realized something that made his heart shudder.

The magma below started to tremble violently, boiling even more fiercely.

“Roar!”

Following that, an ear-splitting sound erupted as the magma parted explosively, revealing a formidable presence.

From the scorching magma, a drop of red blood rose.

This single drop of blood was exceptionally bright red, yet it gave off a sensation of being as heavy as a mountain, vast and boundless.

True Dragon Treasure Blood!

When Luo Chongyang saw that drop of blood, his eyes instantly lit up.

He was utterly certain in his heart that this was the True Dragon Treasure Blood.

“Swoosh!” “Swoosh!”

Just as Luo Chongyang was readying the compass to collect the True Dragon Treasure Blood, a figure sped from the distance, closing in on the blood in nearly the blink of an eye.

It was the Master’s Secret Technique, Shrinking Land into Inches, and the person was none other than Qi Shu.

He had also been waiting here for a long time, and at the sight of the True Dragon Treasure Blood making an appearance, he could not contain himself.

“Isn’t your hand stretching out a bit too far?”

Luo Chongyang had long been aware of someone’s presence in hiding; he immediately extended his palm, and a vast expanse of True Qi surged forth.

“Boom!”

True Qi interlaced like intersecting beams of light, pushing aside all the Volcanic Essence in the vicinity, as a colossal True Qi handprint surged out with a crushing force.

Qi Shu’s pupils contracted sharply, his True Qi roiling tumultuously as he met it with a punch.

Boom! Boom!

At the moment of the fist and palm collision, the entire bottom of the volcano shook, and the ascending True Dragon Treasure Blood almost fell back down again.

“The fist skill from Black Ice Platform?”

Luo Chongyang’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Qi Shu?”

Qi Shu steadied himself and said calmly, “Your True Qi is almost depleted, you’re likely not my match, so you should hand over the True Dragon Treasure Blood to me.”

Luo Chongyang smiled lightly, “I’ve always been the one to take from others; this is the first time someone dares to rob me.”

Having gone through so much trouble to obtain the True Dragon Treasure Blood, he certainly wouldn’t just hand it over to Qi Shu after a few words.

Qi Shu didn’t want to waste words with Luo Chongyang; he charged toward the True Dragon Treasure Blood once more.

“I must say, you really do have quite the gall, lad.”

Luo Chongyang chuckled softly.

Qi Shu and Xiao Qianqiu were of the same generation, both around the age of fifty, so Luo Chongyang calling him a youngster indeed wasn’t out of line.

In a flash, the two of them began to clash along the rock wall, True Qi surging wildly in all directions, causing the entire base of the volcano to tremble violently.

Meanwhile, at the bottom, An Jing was also at a crucial juncture. A large amount of volcanic essence converged within his body, loosening the original shackles.

The Qi mechanism continued to climb, reaching a critical point. As long as he broke through this critical point, he could return one of the Five Qis—the Essence Qi—to its rightful place and truly step into the realm of a One Qi Grandmaster.

Elsewhere, two Grandmaster-level experts were fiercely battling it out, having exchanged numerous moves in just dozens of breaths.

Qi Shu was shocked to find that he had already thrown his fifth punch, yet the old Daoist opposite him still seemed to handle it with ease, his breathing not even slightly disordered.

A master!

This Daoist was definitely a top-level master!

“Is this the extent of your strength? The number one talent of Zhao Country?”

Luo Chongyang shook his head, “If this is all the strength you have, then I’m afraid it will be very difficult for you to leave Beili Volcano today.”

As soon as Luo Chongyang finished speaking, he stomped his foot and swept his hand, and his robust True Qi surged out like a tide, with a giant Yin Yang Fish emerging behind him.

That Yin Yang Fish was deeply mysterious, as if it brought one to the presence of the great Dao itself.

“Is this… the Qiankun Eight Diagram Technique, a Martial Art from the Mystical Sect!?”

Upon seeing this, Qi Shu’s face became extremely grave.

As a former top-notch sect and the largest in the world, it didn’t have only the “Jade Emperor Scripture” as its Martial Arts Heart Method. In addition, it had three Heart Methods of the Heavenly Martial level spreading in the world, among which the “Qiankun Eight Diagram Technique” was the most famous.

Because of its immense power, the “Qiankun Eight Diagram Technique” was also incredibly difficult to cultivate. Within the Mystical Sect, very few people practiced this Martial Art, and it was said that the difficulty of practicing this one was almost on par with the “Jade Emperor Scripture.”

With the Mystical Sect split into three, this Martial Art had long been lost. Qi Shu did not expect it to appear in the hands of this Daoist today.

Qi Shu clenched his teeth, knowing that he could not match this Daoist. Without any hesitation, he threw a punch towards the bottom of the volcano.

“How dare you!?”

A cold light emerged in Luo Chongyang’s eyes, and he immediately exclaimed.

But it was too late, for Qi Shu’s punch had already hit the bottom of the magma.

“Boom!”

The magma suddenly erupted, followed by violent shaking.

All the volcanic essence at the base of the volcano overflowed, and some of the exploded magma drifted towards An Jing.

Seeing this, Luo Chongyang immediately circulated his True Qi, his robe billowed with strong Force Qi, melting the magma into white smoke.

If this magma were to land on the Ghost Swordsman, even if it did not burn him to death, it would likely interrupt his breakthrough, causing him to suffer severe injuries again.

Before Luo Chongyang could catch his breath, the next moment a terrifying force surged forth.

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“Not good!”

Luo Chongyang’s face became extremely somber.

“Thump, thump, thump!”

Accompanied by the sound of explosions, the Honghu burst out from the bottom of the magma, bringing up a great amount of volcanic essence and scorching hot magma.

Luo Chongyang’s figure flashed, blocking in front of An Jing. The scorching magma instantly turned into streams of white smoke.

“Honghu!?”

Upon seeing the giant beast, a cold smile appeared on Qi Shu’s lips, “Now let’s see if you want this treasure blood or his life.”

Having said that, Qi Shu rushed towards the treasure blood suspended in midair.

Seeing this, Luo Chongyang’s eyebrows knitted tightly, but the enormous eyes of the Honghu were already fixated on him. If he were to chase after Qi Shu now, the ghost swordsman behind him would surely die at the Honghu’s hands.

I swore a poisonous oath… Luo Chongyang sighed inwardly.

“Whistle!”

With an opening of its beak, the Honghu spat out a red flame that whooshed towards Luo Chongyang.

Due to the extreme heat of the flame, it had already turned purple.

Luo Chongyang didn’t hold back in the slightest; his true qi surged forth, and a mysterious Yin Yang Fish appeared before him, blocking the onrushing flames.

“This feathered beast is incredibly formidable.”

The fire and the Yin Yang Fish immediately came to a standoff, and soon after, sweat began to form on Luo Chongyang’s forehead.

“Thank you for your treasure blood.”

Just then, Qi Shu managed to seize the True Dragon Treasure Blood, and looking at Luo Chongyang who was confronting the Honghu, he burst into laughter.

The moment the True Dragon Treasure Blood was in his hand, it radiated a heart-palpitating heat, and Qi Shu’s heart soared with joy.

Luo Chongyang glanced at Qi Shu, his eyes narrowing into slits.

Meanwhile, Qi Shu eyed the ghost swordsman behind Luo Chongyang, pondering for a few moments. In the end, he chose not to take action. If the ghost swordsman remained alive, Luo Chongyang would be somewhat constrained; if the ghost swordsman died, he would inevitably be relentlessly pursued.

With this thought, Qi Shu took a deep breath, gave a shake of his body, and headed out of the cave, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

“Whistle!”

The Honghu raised its head, and the flames it spat out grew increasingly intense, the purple radiance reflecting across the entire base of the volcano.

Luo Chongyang did not retreat a single step, and the Yin Yang Fish also showed no signs of faltering, a testament to the depth of his true qi. But it was becoming very difficult for him to keep holding on.

After all, the Honghu was at the base of the volcano, where its inner core could absorb the essence of the volcano, so its flames were nearly inexhaustible.

Boom!

Suddenly, a wave of qi mechanism surged behind him.

Right above An Jing’s head, a white stream of qi emerged.

Essence Qi Returning, a One Qi Grandmaster!

“Huff…”

An Jing exhaled and slowly opened his eyes.

The moment he did, he saw Luo Chongyang raising a Yin Yang Fish in front of him, and in front of that, a gigantic red firebird.

“Quick, chase after Qi Shu!”

Seeing An Jing regain consciousness, Luo Chongyang shouted, “He took the True Dragon Treasure Blood.”

“Qi Shu!? True Dragon Treasure Blood!?”

An Jing looked confused but still asked, “In which direction?”

Luo Chongyang glanced at the Honghu in front of him and said, “The entrance to the southeast cave. You go after him first, I’ll hold off this feathered beast and will be able to follow shortly.”

Clasping the Evil Suppressing Sword tightly, An Jing flashed toward the southeastern cave entrance.