Chapter 80: Chapter 78: Advancing Proudly
The world fell deathly still.
The onlookers were deeply shaken by the battle’s brutality.
They now had a much deeper understanding of Jiang Jichen’s terrifying power.
Twenty Innate Second Realm and ten Innate Third Realm Cultivators had fallen to a single Innate First Realm Junior Cultivator. If word of this got out, no one would believe it.
Even the greatest geniuses of the Southern Continent might not have been able to accomplish such a feat. Yet Jiang Jichen was merely the scion of a Small Family from a Small Country, with a heritage of less than a thousand years, a shallow foundation, and an ordinary bloodline.
’He has such heaven-defying combat power at the Innate First Realm Perfect Realm. If we let him grow for a few more years, I fear no one in the entire Celestial Pearl Country will be able to kill him!’
’If this boy is allowed to live, he’ll be an endless source of trouble.’
...
Various thoughts stirred in the minds of the distant onlookers. Beyond their shock, they were more concerned with how to eliminate the threat that was Jiang Jichen.
Within the Blood Pool, four experts of the Innate Third Realm’s mid- and late-stages stared at the blood-soaked youth standing with his saber. He kept his head bowed, remaining completely still, his life force barely perceptible.
This was exactly why they were suspicious. They didn’t dare to act rashly, fearing it was another one of Jiang Jichen’s traps.
By now, they no longer saw Jiang Jichen as a mere Innate First Realm Cultivator. They treated him as an opponent on their own level, affording him even more caution and apprehension than they would a true peer.
"He hasn’t reacted in so long. It seems he’s truly reached the end of his rope. A single, casual strike should be enough to finish him!"
An Elder from the Golden Snake Sect remarked nonchalantly.
As he spoke, the Golden Snake Sect Elder flicked his sleeve. A black, venomous snake shot out, its massive maw gaping as it lunged for Jiang Jichen’s throat at lightning speed.
But at that moment, Jiang Jichen, who had been motionless with his head bowed, suddenly raised his hand. A flash of Blade Aura streaked out, and the black serpent was instantly sliced in two, its halves falling to the ground.
Then, Jiang Jichen abruptly raised his head and looked at the Golden Snake Sect Elder.
Meeting Jiang Jichen’s gaze, the Golden Snake Sect Elder’s heart trembled. An uncontrollable fear began to well up inside him.
The others saw it too.
What kind of eyes were those?
They were as black as a bottomless abyss, as merciless as a winter blizzard, and as cold as the ten-thousand-year-old Profound Ice on a mountaintop.
The sight of those eyes filled them with the urge to flee.
A chill rose from the depths of their souls, nearly making them surrender without a fight.
"The Bloodthirsty Demon Eye!"
"How could he possess such eyes?"
"It’s the Blood Spirit Pool... Blood Refining and Spirit Transformation... the Blood Demon Dao!"
The four of them cried out in alarm as they saw the Blood Pool begin to change.
The Spiritual Flesh of the twenty Innate Second Realm and ten Innate Third Realm Spirit Cultivators that Jiang Jichen had slain was slowly vanishing. It merged into the blood-colored jade of the Blood Pool, transforming into a surging Spiritual Energy Flow that converged entirely on Jiang Jichen.
"It really is the Blood Spirit Pool! Blood Refining and Spirit Transformation... Not only can it instantly restore one’s Cultivation, but it can even bring the dead back to life and grant one immensely powerful Life Energy and Blood Qi! But... doesn’t that require the legendary Blood Spirit Skill to activate? How is Jiang Jichen doing this?"
In the distance, the Elder Pharmacist cried out in alarm upon seeing this.
He had been waiting here the entire time, hoping the others would kill Jiang Jichen. He wanted nothing else but to claim the body for alchemy.
To his surprise, however, Jiang Jichen proved incredibly difficult to kill. After twenty Innate Second Realm and ten Innate Third Realm Spirit Cultivators had fallen, he had been certain Jiang Jichen was finished.
But no one could have imagined that Jiang Jichen would activate the Blood Spirit Pool, refining all the Spiritual Power and Blood Qi from the dead for his own use!
Not only was his Life Energy completely restored, but he had even grown stronger. And under the influence of the Blood Spirit Pool, Jiang Jichen would become even more Bloodthirsty and murderous.
"Fall back! In the Blood Pool, Jiang Jichen is uncontrollable! He’s practically invincible!"
The Elder Pharmacist roared, warning the four Innate Third Realm Spirit Cultivator Powerhouses to retreat immediately.
But it was clearly too late. Jiang Jichen’s eyes suddenly turned from pitch-black to blood-red, like those of a savage, Bloodthirsty demon.
His injured body erupted with a monstrous Blood Qi. His Life Energy was now immense, and his combat prowess was unfathomable.
"Blood Saber Cuts Green Threads!"
Jiang Jichen roared, his voice deep and hoarse, like a raging Blood Demon.
At that instant, the blade in his hand pulsed with a red light as it carved a mystical path through the air—a strike that could sever ten thousand threads at once, annihilating everything in its way.
The four Innate Third Realm mid- and late-stage Spirit Cultivator Powerhouses surrounding Jiang Jichen were instantly engulfed by an endless, blood-red Blade Aura.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
The four Innate Third Realm mid- and late-stage powerhouses unleashed all their techniques, desperately trying to destroy the incoming torrent of blood-red Blade Aura.
However, Jiang Jichen’s single slash had created a vast and endless sea of blood-red blades.
Normally, Jiang Jichen’s Innate First Realm Cultivation would never have been able to support such an explosive technique. But now, standing within the Blood Spirit Pool and activating its Array, it felt as though an inexhaustible power was surging up from beneath his feet.
At this moment, the four Innate Third Realm mid- and late-stage powerhouses were not just fighting against Jiang Jichen alone. They were fighting against the combined power of twenty Innate Second Realm and ten Innate Third Realm Cultivators.
Thus, their defeat was inevitable.
In this battle, defeat meant death.
SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!
One by one, the four Innate Third Realm mid- and late-stage powerhouses faltered and were torn to shreds by the blood-red Blade Aura.
When the blood-red Blade Aura finally dissipated, Jiang Jichen had also exhausted the Blood Pool’s power. His body swayed, and he almost collapsed.
With a CRACK, his Treasure Saber shattered, destroyed.
By borrowing the power of the Blood Spirit Pool, Jiang Jichen had finally survived his most intense and difficult battle yet.
But the next fight would be his most perilous yet—a battle for his very life.
His next opponents were lurking in the shadows, ready to deal a fatal blow at any moment.
He, on the other hand, had exhausted nearly all his techniques and drained the Blood Spirit Pool’s power. He was fatigued, weak, and injured. The path ahead had become even more treacherous.
But at a time like this, one needed an unyielding will to fight, an indomitable spirit, and invincible confidence and courage.
And so, though his body trembled and his footing was unsteady, though he looked as if he might collapse at any second, Jiang Jichen’s gaze remained firm. He took a step forward, out of the Blood Pool.
Beyond the Blood Pool was another world entirely.
Wind and snow, the Ice Forest, deep snowdrifts... danger could be hiding anywhere. Crisis lurked around every corner.
’Whew... Jiang Jichen has stepped out of the Blood Pool. He actually killed every single one of his attackers. How terrifying!’
’Don’t be afraid. He’s trembling and his footing is unsteady. He has less than twenty percent of his combat power left. We can kill him from the shadows!’
’If he doesn’t die today, he will become a legend.’
...
Outside the Blood Pool, opponents both seen and unseen blocked his path forward.
Every step was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but Jiang Jichen held his head high and pressed forward with pride.
