txolops Chapter 353 Blood Shadow's Scheme
Chapter 353 Blood Shadow's Scheme
Chapter 351 Blood Shadow's Scheme
In this sea area, only that poisonous dragon is active nearby. Other dragons generally do not easily cross the boundary, after all, high-level demonic beasts have a sense of territory.
If a single transformed demonic bird is already so troublesome, and with the addition of that potentially even stronger venomous dragon, there are probably at least two Nascent Soul level beings gathered in the center of the island at this moment!
However, the intense longing from the depths of his bloodline, conveyed by the spirit beasts, was like the most tempting bait, constantly tugging at Luo Ming's heartstrings.
The fact that something could excite even a transformed venomous dragon, and elicit such a reaction from one's own spirit beast, suggests that the value of the object at the center of the island far exceeds expectations.
"Since we're already here, and have already endured two fierce battles—the Bloodthirsty Mosquito King and this transformed Fire Owl—if we don't see for ourselves what this so-called opportunity is, we'll be truly unwilling to give up." Luo Ming muttered to himself, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
"At worst—if things go wrong, I'll just run away. With my current speed and abilities, as long as I'm not targeted and surrounded by several Nascent Soul cultivators at the same time, I should have a good chance of escaping."
Luo Ming concealed his aura to the extreme, like a ghost without a physical form, and silently stealthily made his way towards the center of the island.
He made up his mind to only observe from the periphery and never venture into the core battlefield easily. If he found that the danger was beyond his tolerance, he would immediately flee.
In the central area of the island is an ancient altar covering a vast area, paved with some kind of dark red crystal.
The altar's surface was engraved with countless intricate and twisted runes, exuding a bloody and savage aura. Many of these runes were now faintly shimmering, as if they were slowly rotating.
At the very center of the altar is a blood pool, about thirty feet in diameter, tightly shrouded by a complex array of restrictions that are solid, thick, and shimmering with crimson light!
The water in the pool was not the dark red of ordinary blood, but a viscous, crystalline, deep red liquid that seemed to wriggle slightly as if it were alive, exuding an indescribable, powerful blood aura and pure energy!
However, the atmosphere around the blood pool was tense and filled with murderous intent.
Three figures stood in different directions from the blood pool's restrictions, subtly presenting a confrontational posture.
One of them, with a robust physique covered in dark gold scales and a short horn on his forehead, was none other than the transformed Poisonous Dragon! His face was grim, his eyes flashing with ferocity as he locked onto the two people opposite him.
The two people opposite him, one of whom was wearing the Star Palace's signature moon-white elder's robe and had a refined appearance, was none other than the Ninth Elder of the Star Palace.
The other person was a monk whose face was obscured by a wide black robe.
This person's aura was fluctuating, suggesting he was carrying a serious injury. He was standing slightly behind the Ninth Elder, his posture showing obvious wariness and a hint of barely perceptible anxiety.
The black-robed cultivator was so frustrated he felt like he was going to vomit blood.
After overcoming countless hardships and dangers, he finally found the legendary "Pool of Ten Thousand Spirits Blood" and was preparing to break through the outer restrictions to enter and seize this great opportunity.
Before he could even make a move, the transformed poisonous dragon appeared like a ghost and, without saying a word, immediately tried to kill him. If it weren't for the special nature of this secret realm, which restricted the poisonous dragon's use of many powerful divine abilities, and the fact that Elder Jiu of the Star Palace happened to arrive nearby to restrain it, he would probably already be a dead soul under the poisonous dragon's claws, and he wouldn't have the chance to stand here.
Seeing the venomous dragon and the Ninth Elder locked in a stalemate, the black-robed cultivator grew anxious.
He knew how attractive the "Blood of Ten Thousand Spirits" was to a demon cultivator like the Poison Dragon, and he also understood that he alone would definitely not be able to contend with the Poison Dragon.
His eyes darted around, and he quickly transmitted his voice to the Ninth Elder beside him, his tone urgent yet tempting: "Ninth Elder! The water in this pool is extraordinary! It is the legendary Blood Water of Ten Thousand Spirits!" It has incredible effects on a cultivator's tempering of the body and strengthening of blood energy! In particular, it can greatly enhance the potential of bloodlines! Such a treasure must not fall into the hands of this demon race! Otherwise, the consequences will be endless!"
Upon hearing this, the Ninth Elder's eyes flickered slightly. He glanced at the blood pool shrouded in restrictions, then at the black-robed cultivator. His tone was calm, yet tinged with inquiry: "Oh? Myriad Spirit Blood Water? Young friend seems to know quite a bit about this place? Even the origin and effects of this blood pool are crystal clear?"
The black-robed cultivator felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that he could no longer hide the truth.
He gritted his teeth and replied telepathically, "To be honest, senior, I do have some knowledge of this secret realm. I learned about it from a book of the Sea King Sect that I obtained by chance."
This place is an important secret location of the Sea King Sect, and the Myriad Spirit Blood Pool is one of its core secrets. This junior is willing to reveal all the information I know, only asking that senior protect me and allow me to share some of the blood!
He's planning to trade intelligence for protection and a share of the spoils.
A glint flashed in the Ninth Elder's eyes, and he was about to ask another question.
Just then—
"Whoosh—!"
A blazing crimson beam of light shot through the air from outside the altar at an astonishing speed, landing on the altar in an instant. The light faded, revealing the figure of a transformed fire owl.
He first glanced warily at the three people facing off in the arena, his gaze lingering particularly on the Ninth Elder and the black-robed cultivator. Then, with a swift movement, he landed beside the Poisonous Dragon, subtly standing shoulder to shoulder with it.
"Brother Owl, you've come at the perfect time!" The Poisonous Dragon's eyes flashed with joy when it saw Fire Owl.
"This is the Pool of Ten Thousand Spirits' Blood! The water in the pool is refined using an ancient secret technique of the Sea King Sect. It has immeasurable benefits for our demon race in cleansing our bloodline, tempering our origins, and enhancing our potential! How about we join forces, first take down these two humans, and then divide this pool of blood equally?"
"The Blood of Ten Thousand Spirits?" Upon hearing this, the transformed Fire Owl's gaze became intensely fiery as it stared intently at the blood pool shrouded by the crimson restriction.
He clearly felt the blood within his body surging with unprecedented jubilation and longing as it approached the blood pool! He involuntarily licked his dry lips, his voice trembling with excitement: "Brother Jiao, is this truly true? Is this really the Myriad Spirit Blood Water that can help my demon race awaken its bloodline supernatural powers, and even return to its ancestral origins?"
"Absolutely no exaggeration!" the venomous dragon affirmed, a profound glint in its eyes. "If Brother Xiao could enter this blood pool and undergo a cleansing process, the myriad spirits' essence contained within might—stimulate the thin 'Zhu Rong' bloodline within you, awakening the 'Zhu Rong Fire Body' in one fell swoop! At that time, your supernatural powers would greatly increase, making you virtually invincible among those of the same level!"
"The Zhurong Fire Body?" The transformed fire owl's breathing suddenly quickened, and a terrifying light flashed in its eyes! That was the legendary top-tier fire-attribute demon body!
If he could truly awaken, his future would be limitless! The Poison Dragon's words ignited the fire of greed in his heart.
But then, he frowned, as if he had thought of something, and looked at the Poisonous Flood Dragon, asking in confusion, "Brother Flood Dragon, the Sea King Sect is just a human sect. How did they—know about this secret technique that has such heaven-defying effects on our demon race?"
This was also his biggest question. Why would a human sect possess a secret technique that would be so beneficial to the demon race? This didn't make sense.
Upon hearing this, the Poisonous Flood Dragon's face also showed a look of solemnity and confusion. He shook his head and said in a deep voice, "This matter—I am also completely baffled. The Sea King Sect acted mysteriously back then, and was particularly skilled in beast taming and blood refining techniques. The formula and source of this Myriad Spirits Blood Water have probably become an ancient mystery along with the sect's destruction. Perhaps they obtained it from some ancient ruins."
He paused, his gaze sharpening again as he looked at the Ninth Elder and the black-robed cultivator opposite him, his killing intent palpable: "Regardless of how they obtained it, the Blood Pool is now right before us! Brother Xiao, deal with these two humans first, then we can discuss anything else! Delay could lead to unforeseen circumstances!"
"Alright!" The transformed Fire Owl no longer hesitated, its eyes flashing with ferocity. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the Poisonous Flood Dragon, two terrifying transformed demonic energies erupted, like two volcanoes about to erupt, locking onto the Ninth Elder and the black-robed cultivator opposite them.
Beneath the altar, deep underground, in the enormous blood pool sealed by four stone statues with crimson chains, the viscous blood plasma churned slightly, and the crimson figure, completely formed of blood light and whose face was indistinct, silently reappeared on the surface of the pool.
He hovered silently, his head slightly raised, as if he could ignore the thick rocks and soil, penetrate dozens of feet of earth, and clearly "see" everything that was happening on the altar above.
"Two level-eight demonic beasts, a human early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator—well, and a Core Formation junior with a strange aura who seems to have cultivated some kind of concealment demonic technique."
The crimson figure seemed to be muttering to itself, its voice tinged with a hint of disappointment. "The quantity—is too little. This little bit of blood and soul is far from enough for my main body to recover from its losses, let alone break this damned Four Symbols Sealing Array—"
"Huh?" The crimson figure suddenly let out a very soft exclamation, tinged with surprise and doubt. "Outside the altar—there's actually another one hidden? Late Core Formation stage—their concealment skills are quite good. However—the aura emanating from this person—"
His "gaze" lingered on Luo Ming's hiding place for a moment, as if carefully sensing and discerning something. Gradually, the blood-red face seemed to furrow its "brows".
"Such pure—the aura of the Four Spirits? Although it's mixed, it certainly has its own charm. Strange, how could a human cultivator have refined so much high-quality demon beast essence blood within his body? This technique—it bears some resemblance to the 'Myriad Spirit Blood Technique' of the Sea King Sect back then—"
The blood-red figure murmured, his voice growing increasingly doubtful: "Could it be—this person is a contingency plan left behind by the Sea King Sect back then?"
He couldn't be sure of Luo Ming's true origins and purpose, but the pure aura emanating from Luo Ming, a blend of the essence of various demonic beast bloodlines, stirred in him a certain association and a subtle, almost imperceptible—fear? Or perhaps, interest?
Just as the crimson figure was secretly watching Luo Ming, his mind racing, yet he hadn't made his next decision—
At the edge of the altar, in the shadow of that dark red crystal, Luo Ming, who was holding his breath and concentrating on observing the situation and assessing the risks, suddenly felt his hair stand on end!
An intense, indescribable feeling of palpitation, like ice water being poured over his head, instantly swept over his entire body!