Chapter Sixteen: Blood Refinement

Of course, in comparison to the many requirements of the "Blood-Refining Demonic Art," its power was extraordinary. First and foremost, the spirit insects cultivated through this method of blood and soul dual refinement were absolutely incapable of betrayal. Naturally, should the insects be completely wiped out, their master’s soul would suffer severe damage, possibly even death. Moreover, the spirit insects nurtured by the "Blood-Refining Demonic Art" could be used as weapons, transforming according to the master's will, and their intelligence surpassed that of ordinary spirit insects; at crucial moments, they could even defend their master.

The true difficulty of the "Blood-Refining Demonic Art" lay in the resources required—not only the materials needed for the insects’ advancement, but also the master’s own essence blood, which far exceeded the amount demanded by ordinary methods. Yet, this was precisely why the spirit insects could become so formidable.

"Risk and reward always go hand in hand. I shall do it," Li Ruoyu decided, being a man of resolve. He first studied the "Blood-Refining Demonic Art" in detail, ensuring he had mastered every aspect. Then, he retrieved the Fire-Devouring Ant eggs he had acquired from his Sumeru Ring. Though there were over ten thousand eggs, they took up little space when placed before him.

Li Ruoyu brought forth a vessel, placed the Fire-Devouring Ant eggs within, then cut his own hand with a blade, letting blood drip onto them. He repeated this process multiple times, draining himself of blood repeatedly. Though he replenished himself with potent medicinal herbs, the loss was still considerable, and his pallor betrayed his weakened state.

Now, the ant eggs in the vessel were thoroughly soaked in his blood. Li Ruoyu placed another potent herb into his mouth, restoring himself somewhat, and then, following the method described in the "Blood-Refining Demonic Art," he instilled the mark of mastership. In that hazy moment, Li Ruoyu felt a sharp pain in his spirit, as if his very soul had been slashed by a blade. He understood that this was the effect of imprinting the master’s mark—part of his divine soul had been severed and fused into the Fire-Devouring Ant eggs. After the pain subsided, he knew the initial stage of blood refinement was complete.

He would need to repeat this blood and soul dual refinement nine more times; only then would the Fire-Devouring Ants belong solely to him.

Over the course of two more months, Li Ruoyu finally completed the full ten cycles of refinement. Now, the ant eggs in the vessel radiated a strong aura of his presence. He stored them back in his Sumeru Ring and slowly restored himself with the aid of medicinal herbs.

Two days later, Li Ruoyu returned to his peak condition and set out to explore the vast "plain."

As he ventured deeper, Li Ruoyu noticed that the closer he drew to the center of the forest, the more extraordinary the bones that appeared became. Gradually, he approached the central region, where a remnant corner of an ancient divine battle was revealed before his eyes. All around lay the remains of ancient creatures—he spotted the suspected bones of a phoenix, a celestial dragon, a giant kun, and more. Li Ruoyu gazed toward the very center.

There, two colossal mountain-like bones stood, golden in hue, thrusting into the clouds. "What kind of ancient beast is this?" Li Ruoyu wondered. He climbed along one of the massive bones, ascending into the clouds themselves. Passing through the mist, he looked upward, only to witness a scene beyond his imagination.

A gigantic titan lay before him, so vast that Li Ruoyu was not even as high as its knee. He continued his ascent along the giant's leg bones, and in time, he reached the position of the giant’s eye socket. Peering within, he found it tunnel-like, leading into unfathomable darkness.

Li Ruoyu carefully explored the eye socket. Though the divine battle had occurred in epochs past, and time had buried all things, he dared not let down his guard. This giant was clearly among the mightiest of those ancient beings. Proceeding with caution, he found that ahead lay petrified brain matter, some parts of which emanated a faint glow. The way was blocked; Li Ruoyu attempted to clear a path with his tools, but even petrified, the giant’s brain was as hard as divine metal. Observing closely, he noticed that certain blockages in the passage seemed less solid than the stone-like brain tissue. Focusing his efforts, he struck at these weaker obstructions with his tools—difficult, yet not impossible to break through.

Fixing his gaze on one of the glowing spots, Li Ruoyu chose his route and pressed forward, clearing the way as he went.

Five days later, he finally drew near the source of the glow. Breaking through the passage, the misty radiance drifted towards him.

At that moment, words seemed to echo from the depths of his soul: "...Forbidden...dispatched men...seek to annihilate life...the heavens will collapse..." Was this a spiritual imprint, a message the creature sought to leave even in death?

The fragmented message startled Li Ruoyu: "...Forbidden...dispatched men...seek to annihilate life...the heavens will collapse..." In these few words seemed to lie an earth-shattering secret, so vital that this terrifying being was determined to pass it on even in death. Across the ages, it had become an obsession. Li Ruoyu turned his gaze to the other two glowing spots, curiosity and wonder shining in his eyes. What did the message mean? Did the other two sources of light hold further clues?

He continued to clear a path with his tools, making his way to the second spot of radiance. After half a month, he arrived at the second glowing site. Breaking through, another fragmented phrase echoed in his mind: "...Destroy the Dao...slaughter the demons..."

"...Destroy the Dao...slaughter the demons..."

Was this about the struggle between Dao and Demon? Did the Dao seek to slaughter demons, or did demons seek to destroy the Dao? Li Ruoyu felt it was not so simple. Or perhaps someone wished to both destroy the Dao and slaughter the demons? He recalled the words from the first glowing spot: "...Forbidden...dispatched men...seek to annihilate life...the heavens will collapse..." Could it be that the heavens themselves sought to destroy the Dao and slaughter the demons? He could not be sure. The information, decayed with time, was incomplete, and any guess seemed far from the truth of that era. Li Ruoyu pressed on to the third spot of radiance.

After ten days, he broke through to the final source. There, a small banner emitted a glow. He took it in his hand. Whatever its origin, Li Ruoyu knew that for such a banner to be found here, it must be extraordinary.

He gazed at the banner and dripped his blood onto it. Suddenly, the banner began to absorb his blood on its own. Realizing the danger, Li Ruoyu tried to cast it away, but it continued to draw his blood. He quickly swallowed several potent medicinal herbs to replenish himself. Then, a wave of pain struck his soul, as though he had been violently attacked, and he lost consciousness.

Three days later, Li Ruoyu awoke, looking at the banner in his hand with a shiver of dread. The banner’s recognition of its master required not only essence blood, but even drew upon the master’s very soul. Fortunately, he had survived. He put the banner away.