Chapter 123: The Lake of Blood

Everything unfolded smoothly and effortlessly, like flowing clouds and running water—clean and decisive. Ye Yu, caught off guard by the fierce long-distance clash between the two formidable Spirit Cultivators, was left dumbfounded, failing to notice what was happening.

The two Spirit Cultivators concentrated their willpower, fighting with all their might. They only diverted attention when sensing opponents of the same realm. Even Spirit Cultivators at the Infant Transformation stage rarely piqued their interest, for in their eyes, those at that stage were mere ants—let alone Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, who were not even worthy of being called ants. It was like a flea on your skin; as long as it didn't bite, you wouldn't even notice it.

Unaware, Ge Qian obtained the fragment of killing intent and planned to return and fully refine it, hoping to condense the Ashura Pill.

Back inside, Ge Qian’s face flushed red as he coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood. The combat pressure at the Spirit Cultivation stage was immense. Despite unleashing all his skills, he had sustained severe internal injuries and couldn’t help but spit out blood.

Fortunately, his body cultivation method, the Tribulation Body Technique, made injuries a common occurrence. His physique was extraordinarily resilient, and he would recover fully within a few hours.

Ye Yu empathized deeply, reaching out to support Ge Qian with concern. “What’s wrong? Where are you hurt? I have some healing pills here—take them, please.”

Ge Qian shook his head. “It’s nothing. I’ll be fine after a short rest. The interruption during the teleportation caused some backlash. This injury is worth it.”

He secretly rejoiced at having condensed the Ashura Pill. Once he refined five more, he would advance to the Infant Transformation stage.

Upon hearing this, Ye Yu assumed Ge Qian meant that his injury was worthwhile because of her. Her beautiful face flushed like a ripe apple, wondering if he truly liked her—and since when.

She tenderly said, “I’m sorry for causing your injury. Don’t give that Seven Orifice Pill to my brother. Please take it yourself.”

“No, you’re going to the Weihu Sect with the senior disciple in such a hurry; you left nothing behind for Ye Feng. This Seven Orifice Pill is all I have. How could I take what belongs to others? Besides, you and your brother might not meet for years. I can’t keep such a small benefit,” Ge Qian said with a pang of guilt.

Qiao Qian, having seized most of the spearheads, did not linger to fight. Bringing back the Heavenly Fiend Demon Body was already a huge boon for the sect. Moreover, the Lich King was notoriously difficult to deal with, and his own strength was suppressed by the continent’s laws. If he wasn’t careful, he feared he might perish here.

With this in mind, he produced a palm-sized spirit talisman—a Blood Spirit Talisman forged jointly by the four top Spirit Cultivators of the Weihu Sect. It drew power from their bloodlines, combining the strength of all four, granting it immense power.

This talisman was reserved for emergencies during their expedition to the Xuanwu Continent.

Now was the time. Qiao Qian spat a mouthful of refined blood onto it. “Lich King, I present you a grand gift—please accept it!”

The Blood Spirit Talisman absorbed Qiao Qian’s essence as if coming to life. It spun in the air and transformed into a two-hundred-zhang white tiger, its killing intent spreading across heaven and earth. Its eyes opened wide, spewing sharp sword-like light that sliced through everything.

With a flick of its head and swish of its tail, it charged toward the cross-space teleportation array and the altar.

Regardless of the outcome, Qiao Qian swept up Ye Yu, Ge Qian, and the escaping light, shooting forward.

The teleportation array roared angrily. Three witch-power mountain peaks arranged in a triangular formation pressed down upon the white tiger.

Unfazed, the white tiger crashed into the mountains.

The Red Fiend Old Monster, seeing the cataclysmic force of their collision—enough to obliterate him—immediately abandoned his physical body and primordial spirit, teleporting away.

Just as he teleported a hundred zhang away, a thunderous explosion shattered the land. Mountains crumbled, winds howled, and a devastating shockwave tore through the surroundings.

The Red Fiend’s primordial spirit screamed, “Master, save me…” before being shattered into countless fragments.

The shockwave devastated tens of miles, turning the core of the Red Fiend Desert into a wasteland. Killing intent drifted everywhere, mingling chaotically with spiritual energy pouring in, creating utter confusion.

A thousand miles from the Red Fiend Desert, a twenty-zhang giant eagle radiated immense power, at the peak of the second realm. Yet from it, no trace of demonic aura could be sensed. Its eyes flickered red—clearly a puppet beast, flying at incredible speed.

Standing atop it was a beautiful young girl with flowing long hair and garments billowing in the wind.

The towering killing intent of the Red Fiend Desert formed a thousand-zhang-high mushroom cloud. The girl watched intently, her expression shifting as she looked at Bai Ruyu, Ye Feng, and Ying Xue—still unconscious on the eagle’s back. She murmured, “Something’s gone wrong in the Red Fiend Desert. Judging by the commotion, it must be the work of Spirit Cultivators. Even Infant Transformation cultivators caught in the crossfire won’t survive. Could Wang Meng be dead? If so, I’ve lost big—three superior spirit stones, and the cultivation method for spiritual perception, all wasted.”

This girl was Qian Huixian, who had brought Bai Ruyu and the others through the Red Fiend Desert on a puppet dragon.

Her eyes gleamed thoughtfully. “I won’t be so unlucky, right? Maybe he’s already out of the desert. I hope he returns safely. My spirit stones and cultivation method—I’ll wait in Sanlong City for three months. If I don’t see any sign of you by then, you and your friends will have to bear the loss with me.”

With that, she urged the giant eagle onward, piercing the sky.

Deep within the Myriad Demon Mountain, a hundred-li-wide area was shrouded by an exceptionally powerful composite formation—sealed so tightly that not even a fly could enter. This was the forbidden ground of the mountain.

At the formation’s center lay a blood lake spanning dozens of li, its crimson waters surging violently. The stench of blood rose to the heavens. Without the formation’s restraint, the entire mountain would become an endless sea of blood.

A thousand-zhang-tall altar hovered above the lake, witch power surging and runes flickering as it slowly rotated. Atop the altar sat a towering figure radiating overwhelming presence. Though motionless, his aura suffocated all nearby.

This was the Lich King.

He cursed furiously, “Bastards! Spirit Cultivators from the White Tiger Continent dare run wild on my Xuanwu Continent, stealing my Heavenly Fiend Demon Eye and the fragments of the Heaven-Connecting Divine Treasure. This grudge I will repay. Wait until my plan reaches fruition; I will wash the White Tiger Continent in blood! Hahaha!”

Suddenly, the blood lake boiled violently, the waters parting to reveal nine blood-red glass lamps bound by countless chains. The flickering flames made the chains writhe and strain, about to snap.

The Lich King hastily cast spells to suppress them, and the altar suddenly dropped, smashing down on the nine lamps.

Within the towering flames stood a handsome and otherworldly youth. Tall and fair-featured, with five fox tails slowly swaying behind him.

He laughed heartily. “Lich Shengyu, finally tasting defeat? Feels good, doesn’t it? You’re despicably shameless and arrogantly proud. Do you not know that pride comes before a fall?”

“King of Myriad Demons, you are now my prisoner. As the saying goes, ‘The victor is king, the defeated a bandit.’ Great deeds require ruthless means. Brotherly bonds are nonsense. If I hadn’t suppressed you today, I wouldn’t have let that Spirit Cultivator who stole from me escape. I would have made him part of this blood lake. Speaking of which, you were his accomplice. For the remainder of your days, I’ll make sure you’re well entertained,” the Lich King snarled viciously.

The King of Myriad Demons remained unnervingly calm. “I only want to hold you here, preventing your true form from descending. You are confined to this place with me. Your plans will crumble one by one, your grand schemes and conspiracies will fail. When I truly comprehend the secrets of the nine glass lamps, I will break free and strike you down.”