In a certain location deep within the bl**d Phoenix Secret Realm.
A figure in bl**d-colored robes stared intently at the name high in the sky.
“She really came.”
The young man’s murky gaze flickered with a hint of excitement.
“It’s been thousands of years… I finally waited for someone like her…”
“Master Han.”
Yin Huaxuan, wrapped in a black robe, approached respectfully, bowing low.
It was his first time seeing the immensely mysterious and influential Master Han, and he couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the aura he emanated.
In the Huanmo Sect, Master Han held a position of extreme power.
Even the high-ranking officials knew nothing about his true identity or what he could do.
Master Han’s methods could only be described as unfathomable.
Within this bl**d Phoenix Secret Realm, even a Sixth Realm’s Law Body Martial Artist couldn’t break its rules, unless a tremendous external force destroyed the entire realm.
Yet Master Han could move freely in and out.
Furthermore.
Though Master Han looked to be in his teens, his knowledge and experience made Yin Huaxuan feel like a frog at the bottom of a well.
Yin Huaxuan felt another sensation.
Since entering the bl**d Phoenix Secret Realm and standing before Master Han, he felt a stifling pressure, like having a bone stuck in his throat.
After a moment.
The young man in bl**d-colored robes regained his calm expression.
“How did the task I assigned you go?”
“There must be rivers of bl**d in this secret realm.”
“Hmm, you’ve done well. Forty years in the Qingyuan Sect must have been a challenge for you.”
The bl**d-robed young man seemed quite pleased.
“For the prosperity of the Divine Sect, I volunteer to sacrifice my life…”
Yin Huaxuan didn’t dare to be arrogant.
The youth known as Master Han waved his hand, a smirk on his face.
“Your contributions won’t go unnoticed.”
“Yes.”
Yin Huaxuan bowed once more.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed not far away, a faint golden skeleton emitting a glow mixed with bl**d-colored inscriptions. The clothing had long rotted away, but the bones remained gleaming and vibrant.
It was almost… lifelike.
And those bl**d-colored inscriptions seemed to be… glowing even brighter than the last time he saw them?
…
On the first layer of the bl**d Phoenix Secret Realm.
In a withered and twisted forest, the sound of branches cracking underfoot rang out.
“Ying Bing is terrifying…”
Tie Qi pulled his gaze down from the sky, squinting at the goosebumps rising on his arms.
“Something feels off.”
His Observation Realm was tuned to the ambush maps of the Gangdou Sect, making him exceptionally skilled in group battles and particularly sensitive to hostile intents.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching him from the shadows.
Yet, looking around, there was not a single living creature…
“What’s going on?”
Tie Qi scratched his head.
With no living beings around, he could still smell something bloody.
He stepped forward a few paces and finally found the source of the scent.
A few tattered pieces of clothing hung from the branches, and their owner had long vanished.
“Strange.”
Just as Tie Qi was about to get closer.
He suddenly discovered that the ancient trees in the withered forest had split open grinning mouths at some point.
The branches began to wriggle crazily.
“Tree demons?”
As soon as the thought crossed his mind.
Whoosh—
A branch, cutting through the air with a chilling whistle, struck like a living snake.
Crack!
Tie Qi stumbled as his energy surged.
He quickly activated his Internal Breath, turning his great halberd into an extension of himself.
After a few exchanges with the branch.
“Break!”
The Internal Breath in Tie Qi’s halberd condensed into a powerful energy, and a ghostly warrior appeared behind him, clad in armor.
With a single thrust, he pierced through the tree demon.
But just as Tie Qi was about to breathe a sigh of relief, his expression suddenly soured.
Creeeak—
The whole forest came alive. Shadows danced like awakening venomous snakes from hibernation.
Covering the sky and blocking the sun.
“This is bad…”
Tie Qi found himself in a tough battle.
Each tree demon here was at the Internal Breathing Realm, and there were far too many of them.
Moreover, their bodies were as tough as his own well-trained physique, making them extremely difficult to deal with.
Even as the ghostly general appeared behind him, the speed at which he wielded the halberd began to slow.
…
Fifteen minutes later.
“I can’t delay any longer. If I wait until I break through, I’ll be out of juice.”
Tie Qi decisively slapped his thigh.
With that, his upper body suddenly shot forward, aiming to break free from this place.
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However.
Suddenly, branches wove a dense net in the air, covering him completely.
It was a Tree Demon King.
Its aura was even stronger than his.
“Is my exploration of the bl**d Phoenix Secret Realm coming to an end…?”
Tie Qi felt heavy-hearted.
His fatigue and pain made him dizzy, and he momentarily recalled his past.
A cripple might be able to practice martial arts.
But what about someone with no legs at all?
Things others could do easily, he had to work twice as hard for— even going to the restroom was a chore.
Compared to other brothers, he felt like a complete invalid.
All he could do was put in more effort than anyone else.
While others ran, he would prop himself up with his hands to descend the mountain, and then painstakingly climb back up, taking days to complete just one trip— eating whatever he could find and drinking only dew.
Later, with the faint traces of his meridians opened up, his master specially crafted a pair of mechanical legs for him.
Once he stood up,
All the ridicule, despair, and confusion from before were left behind.
But those legs weren’t truly his.
His body was still only half complete.
Now, within the bl**d Phoenix Secret Realm, there might be a kind of fruit that could complete his physical deficiencies.
Yet the distance to reach it seemed too great for willpower alone to bridge.
As a branch aimed at him, its tip razor-sharp, rapidly enlarged in his pupils.
The Tree Demon King loomed overhead.
“Is this the ending…?”
“Is it because I’m not trying hard enough?”
There was no bitterness in Tie Qi’s calm heart, only confusion.
Crack—
The sound of a branch snapping echoed.
Tie Qi opened his eyes in confusion.
Before him, the Tree Demon twisted in agony, engulfed in flames.
“Hmm?”
Tie Qi had tried to set fire before, but even with oil, he couldn’t catch the Tree Demon ablaze.
Who?
He looked up.
A figure had just grabbed a sword, lightly swiping a finger along it, igniting the entire blade.
Behind the young man floated what looked like a blazing sun.
The Sword of the Sun Wheel.
“d*e!”
In a single breath, countless sparks erupted from the ring of fire, cascading down with the sword’s trajectory.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
The explosive rain of fire pierced the Tree Demon King’s body.
After a series of crunchy, tooth-grinding sounds, the Tree Demon King collapsed.
The other tree demons fell silent, not daring to approach.
“Li, little brother?”
Looking at the god-like young man, Tie Qi was left dumbfounded.
“Glad I made it in time.”
Li Mo sheathed his sword and turned back, grinning widely.
The two had shared drinks last night, getting along famously.
In short, they were both good at boasting.
“Li, little brother, you better run.”
“This place is mine!”
The hope that had just blossomed in Tie Qi’s heart crumbled again.
That powerful sword technique was definitely a secret skill.
Li Mo was merely at the Inner Breath Jade Liquid Realm and hadn’t even condensed a pill.
For him to invoke such a technique and slay foes above his rank was quite a stretch— he wouldn’t be able to catch his breath.
He wouldn’t be getting away anytime soon; he just hoped this boy, with whom he had crossed paths, would…
“Huh?”
“You want to handle it solo? Sure, sure.”
Li Mo hadn’t expected the other’s determination to be so impressive, wanting to fight even in such a dire situation.
After a moment of contemplation, he produced something.
“Open wide.”
“Eh?”
Before Tie Qi even had a chance to respond, he felt something go down his throat.
“Li little brother, why are you stuffing strange things into my mouth?!”
“I didn’t boast yesterday.”
Li Mo chuckled.
Tie Qi was left stunned.
After taking what Li Mo had given him, he couldn’t help but feel…
A tingling sensation in his lower body?
Li Mo also heard a notification sound in his ear:
【Congratulations, Host, you’ve successfully invested in ‘Tie Qi’, helping him complete his disability and save his life.】
【Investment feedback: Bloodbath Battle Spirit Scroll】
【Bloodbath Battle Spirit Scroll】: “A one-time use item that allows one to channel an ancient battle spirit, dramatically increasing combat power and becoming braver as one fights, lasting for fifteen minutes.”
“Spot on.”
“Too bad it’s only one use…”
This item was simply too sweet as a trump card.
Moreover, with unknown variables still in play within the bl**d Phoenix Secret Realm, having this felt like adding a few more cards to his hand.
