Chapter 142: Entering the Blood Cavern, The General Offensive of Demons and Monsters

Returning to his residence, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation. Every day, he purchased twenty jin of second-grade martial sustenance, all dedicated to advancing the Cloud Step technique.

Such rigorous training caused silver to flow out like a rushing river. Even at a discounted rate of eighty percent, twenty jin daily required eight hundred taels of silver. Over a month, that amounted to twenty-four thousand taels. Since arriving in Lingwang City, Lu Yan had already spent over fifty thousand taels on second-grade martial sustenance. The one hundred thousand taels he earned from the Ge family of Snake City had mostly been exhausted.

Time passed swiftly, like flowing water, and two months soon elapsed. The Cloud Step technique progressed at an astonishing pace, reaching seventy-five percent mastery of the state where body and martial spirit merge, drawing ever closer to the unity of human and martial force.

The cost was steep: the entire one hundred thousand taels earned from the Ge family was spent, along with a considerable additional sum.

At this moment, Zhao Sirong finally brought good news to Lu Yan.

A month later, her father’s associates had secured a spot in the Pure Blood Cavern, which could then be transferred to Lu Yan.

Overjoyed, Lu Yan expressed his sincere gratitude.

Within the secret council chamber of the Zhao clan, ten figures sat around a table. All were grandmasters, and all belonged to the Zhao family.

The Zhao clan, the foremost sect in the six eastern prefectures, truly lived up to its reputation: ten grandmasters within a single family, a strength rivaling that of three other grandmaster-level clans combined.

“The strange creatures infiltrating the city have not acted recently. What do you all think is their purpose?” the eldest among them spoke. This was Zhao Tiansheng, head of the Zhao family and their strongest expert, reputed by many as the most powerful figure in the six eastern prefectures.

“At first, I thought their aim was to sow discord, to make the great clans suspicious of each other, perhaps even to drive them from the city and weaken Lingwang’s defenses. But after careful thought, it seems more complicated,” said another grandmaster, a striking woman who appeared to be in her forties.

Martial experts possess vitality far beyond ordinary people, aging slowly; appearances often belie true age. Especially after reaching grandmaster level, their lifespan is greatly extended. This woman, though appearing in her forties, was in truth well over a hundred years old.

“Demons could bypass Lingwang City and attack elsewhere, yet they persistently focus on this city. There must be a purpose—could it be...?” another grandmaster began, then fell silent, the meaning clear to all present.

Demonic Bone!

Beneath the Zhao clan’s bloodline land lay a complete demonic bone, an ancient relic at least five thousand years old, predating the Great Ancient Dynasty, a remnant from a long-forgotten era.

The demon bone is a source of corruption, saturated with foul energy.

For demons and evil creatures, the demonic bone is a priceless treasure.

Their constant focus on Lingwang City, sending possessed fiends to infiltrate, likely centers on acquiring this demonic bone.

But the demonic bone is a closely guarded secret of the Zhao family, known only to their ten grandmasters.

How do the demons know of its existence?

Though unclear, all signs point to the demons’ intent being the demonic bone.

“I share this suspicion,” Zhao Tiansheng finally said after hearing all opinions. “A storm is brewing. Though the infiltrating fiends have been quiet, they are merely lying low, gathering strength. I feel that sooner or later, they will erupt, coordinating internal and external attacks. When that day comes, a fierce and arduous battle will ensue.”

“The clan leader is right,” a middle-aged grandmaster sneered. “Those demon attacks were mostly feints, attempts to confuse us. Ha! With their limited wit, trying to outsmart us is laughable.”

“Clan leader, we must prepare early,” an elder grandmaster advised.

“Yes. I intend to depart for Kunwu Mountain to borrow the Immortal Horn. With it, we can strike down the Demon King and eliminate this great menace,” Zhao Tiansheng declared.

The other nine grandmasters’ expressions shifted in unison.

“Borrowing the Immortal Horn from Kunwu Mountain won’t be easy, clan leader,” one grandmaster hesitated.

“If it means ending the demon threat, the cost is justified. I will set out tomorrow. Lingwang City will be temporarily entrusted to you. If the demons attack soon, just hold the line,” Zhao Tiansheng instructed.

The nine grandmasters bowed deeply.

Days passed.

Twenty days later, the Cloud Step technique finally reached the unity of human and martial force.

A gift from heaven descended: Lu Yan’s physical body was nourished by a special power, growing stronger and more resilient.

The eight bone energies within him absorbed this unique energy, becoming more powerful and robust.

By the end of this celestial blessing, each of the eight bone energies had increased by thirty percent, nearing the peak of the third tier of Martial Marquis.

He also sensed a clear increase in his blood and qi capacity, though the precise extent remained to be tested.

Lu Yan began consuming martial sustenance to accumulate qi and blood.

With the aid of the second-grade martial sustenance, it took eight days to fill his internal reserves.

A surge of qi and blood flooded into his bones, birthing a new bone energy—the ninth bone energy.

However, its strength was only equivalent to that at the initial Martial Marquis stage.

“Blood and qi capacity has increased by about twenty percent,” Lu Yan silently estimated.

His original capacity was eight times that of an ordinary person.

A twenty percent increase equated to an additional 1.6 times normal capacity, roughly the strength of one bone energy, not quite two.

In other words, his current blood and qi capacity reached 9.6 times that of an average person, nearly tenfold.

“If I master another top-level martial art to the unity stage, next time I should gain ten or even eleven bone energies,” Lu Yan pondered.

Having perfected the Cloud Step to unity, he paused progress on martial arts enhancement, focusing instead on cultivation to strengthen the ninth bone energy to match the previous eight.

Two days later, Zhao Sirong delivered a token.

“Brother Lu, come with me. With this token, you may enter the Pure Blood Cavern,” she smiled.

“Thank you,” Lu Yan replied, visibly excited.

He asked her to wait briefly, then retrieved an iron box from his room, slinging it on his back.

“Brother Lu, you really intend to cultivate the Tempering Heart Technique? I’ve heard it becomes increasingly difficult as you progress,” Zhao Sirong remarked.

“Do what you can and leave the rest to fate. One must fight with all their might, or how could they find peace?” Lu Yan answered.

Zhao Sirong fell silent, thoughtful.

The Pure Blood Cavern lay not far from the Zhao family’s castle built upon the bloodline land, several li to the west.

Surrounding it were naturally skilled guardians, ensuring the safety of those entering.

After passing through three layers of defense, a cave appeared before Lu Yan.

“Brother Lu, inside this cave is the Pure Blood Cavern. Go in, and I wish you success,” Zhao Sirong said.

“If I succeed in cultivation, I shall repay this kindness someday,” Lu Yan vowed, then strode boldly into the cave.

Passing through a passageway, he entered a vast cavern. In its center was a blood pool filled with a dense crimson liquid resembling fresh blood, yet without any metallic or iron scent.

Lu Yan opened the iron box, placing eighteen types of spiritual herbs, three jin of mutated heart meat, and the heart of a second-grade blood-armored lizard into the pool.

He then removed his clothes, setting aside the Crimson Blood Blade, and plunged naked into the blood pool, submerging his whole body except for his head.

He began circulating the first level of the Tempering Heart Technique’s methods.

The blood pool’s liquid possessed a special effect. The herbs, mutated meat, and lizard heart dissolved rapidly, transforming into pure energy. The blood toxin was dispelled, merging with the crimson liquid and seeping through Lu Yan’s pores, coursing along his meridians until reaching his heart.

According to the Tempering Heart Technique’s record, this process must continue for forty-nine days before the first level is complete.

At the Zhao Yi residence, Zhao Yi’s face darkened.

“Hmph, that Zhao Sirong girl—what an ungrateful wretch. Could it be she’s taken a fancy to that Lu Ren boy?” he sneered.

“Master, can you still not deal with that scoundrel? How can Hao’er find peace otherwise?” Zhao Hao’s mother wept.

“Lu Ren is no ordinary opponent. When I last sent assassins from the Dark Moon Organization, even their killers failed,” Zhao Yi said irritably.

“What level of assassin did the Dark Moon Organization send?” Zhao Hao’s mother asked.

“I inquired, but they kept it secret, only saying they lost one of their finest,” Zhao Yi replied, his frustration mounting.

“Master, must we allow Lu Ren to run free? Now that he’s entering the Pure Blood Cavern, can we kill him there?” she pressed.

“According to the Tempering Heart Technique, when cultivating inside the Pure Blood Cavern, one cannot mobilize blood and bone energy; otherwise, the blood will rebel and rupture the meridians, causing death. This is indeed the best time to strike.”

“But the cavern is guarded by experts. No outsider may enter to disturb those inside. I cannot go in myself now.”

“Don’t worry—I will have people watch Lu Ren constantly. There will be an opportunity,” Zhao Yi said coldly.

Days passed, and soon eighteen days elapsed.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

On this day, outside the northern city of Lingwang, a deafening roar erupted.

The demonic army surged forward like a tidal wave, charging toward Lingwang City.

Leading them was the Demon King himself.

This time, the Demon King did not hesitate but charged straight at Lingwang City with overwhelming force, causing the city’s martial soldiers to turn pale.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Urgent war drums echoed throughout Lingwang City.

Countless warriors dashed from their homes toward the east, west, and north city walls.

From the Zhao family’s bloodline land, eight figures sped toward the northern city wall with astonishing velocity.

Each of these eight was a grandmaster, soaring like giant birds gliding through the air, each leap spanning hundreds of feet.

Grandmasters!

The crowd surged with excitement.

Grandmasters stood atop the hierarchy of the six eastern prefectures, the ultimate goal of countless martial artists.

Elsewhere in Lingwang City, other figures likewise raced toward the east, west, and north walls.

They were grandmasters representing the great clans.

With the Demon King personally leading the siege, no grandmaster within Lingwang City could remain idle.

A roar!

The Demon King howled skyward, the sound shaking the land for ten miles.

Within Lingwang City, countless civilians grew pale with fear.

Countless demonic creatures followed the Demon King’s roar, charging madly toward the city.

(End of chapter)