Chapter 287: Merging Spirit Blood

“I can guarantee this. Now I’ll give you the answer…”

Wan Fang kept staring at the giant tree, trying to see Thousand Questions’ appearance. Yet despite using every method, the thousand-headed snake refused to reveal itself to his sight.

After receiving the answer, Feixue underwent drastic emotional changes. She appeared dazed, occasionally breaking into foolish giggles.

Qiu Yu stayed silent. Though Wan Fang wanted to press further, he abandoned the idea after brief consideration.

When night arrived, the giant tree’s yellow leaves emitted faint glows like weathered faces displaying various emotions.

This eerie phenomenon intensified after dark. While blood mist enveloped other areas, the withered trees shimmered with ghostly light. Hundreds of marks surfaced on the giant tree, lighting up one after another.

Wan Fang muttered in wonder, “What’s this…?”

Qiu Yu shook her head slightly, warning him to stay quiet.

Feixue watched the glowing marks with conflicted eyes.

Silence dominated the woods, broken only by the spectral glow.

Qiu Yu entered a meditative state beneath the giant tree.

Feixue gazed into the distance, lost in memories.

Wan Fang paced around the tree trunk, visibly bored.

…

In the blood lake, Cheng Lingyu healed his wounds while Hu Yuer meditated nearby to optimize her condition.

By midnight, Cheng Lingyu finished healing. His eyes opened to see the golden-lit scroll above repelling blood water, shielding them both.

The lake lay calm, crimson phantoms drifting beneath its surface – barely noticeable unless closely observed.

Hu Yuer’s form flickered with light during her meditation.

Not disturbing her, Cheng Lingyu activated his Spirit Cloak Ring to retrieve eight jade vials containing spirit blood.

Peering deeper into the ring, he frowned. The faintly visible castle meant Chi Mei’er remained distant.

Uncorking the vials released spiritual light that materialized eight spirit beasts.

“True spirit blood indeed – containing their innate essence.”

Each vial held one precious drop. At each opening, the blood transformed into the beast’s true visage.

Cheng Lingyu identified them as top-100 spirit beasts, though lower-ranked.

Activating the technique of origins, he calculated whether his body could absorb multiple spirit bloods simultaneously for enhanced effects.

Though theoretically impossible, Hu Yuer had mentioned rare historical successes.

Combining the technique of origins with Destruction of Space Divine Thought Wave and his mind’s mysterious grass, Cheng Lingyu conducted thorough simulations.

“High feasibility. I’ll attempt it.”

Ecstatic, he swallowed one spirit blood. His veins ignited with explosive power threatening to rupture his body.

Vigilantly, Cheng Lingyu channeled the technique of origins with Thousand Layers of Snow’s principles, synthesizing his abilities to refine the blood.

Typically, late-stage Soul Martial cultivators absorbed spirit blood gradually to accumulate strength for reaching the Blood Martial Realm.

Refining spirit blood required time, depending on a cultivator’s cultivation level and physical constitution.

Cheng Lingyu proved exceptionally gifted in this aspect. While others in the same realm needed half a month, he completed the refinement in mere hours.

After absorbing the first spirit blood, Cheng Lingyu sensed immediate bodily changes.

Blood formed life’s core essence. Before consuming spirit blood, his blood quality already peaked from rigorous tempering. Now merged with spirit blood, his blood gained vivid spirituality. It directly drew void’s spiritual energy, enabling new blood generation. Over time, his entire bloodstream would transform into spirit blood, strengthening his physical form and harmonizing him with nature.

Cultivation sought closeness to the Dao. The Blood Martial Realm surpassed Soul Martial Realm because its practitioners wielded the power of all things more swiftly and potently. Though Cheng Lingyu’s overall strength surged after absorbing spirit blood, he remained outside Blood Martial Realm due to his unique constitution and vast potential requiring greater breakthroughs.

Hu Yuer awoke to find Cheng Lingyu consuming a second spirit blood. Recognizing its aura, she barely stifled a gasp. Dawn revealed the Blood Moon sinking into the blood lake, sending powerful shockwaves through spiritual energy-rich waters. Visible energy streams poured into Cheng Lingyu’s body.

“Unnatural talent,” Hu Yuer murmured. Previous Blood Moon descents always roused Cheng Lingyu, but now his translucent flesh glowed crimson as two spirit bloods merged in his veins, releasing terrifying strength he stored for future realm advancement.

The rising stone pillar signaled new trials. Most experts resumed challenges while Cheng Lingyu meditated calmly.

At the Eighteenth Gate, Shui Yingyue, Ye Anlan, and Yunxiu faced the final trial with solemn expressions. Hua Yuehong and Bai Ruomei at the Seventeenth Gate lost their earlier Arrogance, faces shadowed. Most lagged at Sixteenth Gate, two trapped at lower trials.

Yu Feilong and Li Moru glared from Sixteenth Gate. They’d waited since yesterday when Cheng Lingyu lay gravely injured. His current cultivation session deepened their frustration, mistaking his focus for cowardice. Unbeknownst to them, Cheng Lingyu planned to absorb all eight spirit bloods consecutively after sensing his body’s accelerated adaptation.

Days of failed attempts frayed nerves. All understood failure meant eternal entrapment. Blood Martial experts could survive months without sustenance but not decades. Worse, Shui Yingyue’s trio nearing success might trigger unpredictable changes in the blood lake.

Atop Eighteenth Gate, three sacred artifacts blazed as the women pushed against the trial. Yesterday’s failure honed Shui Yingyue’s cultivation, while Ye Anlan and Yunxiu similarly grew stronger through struggle.

Cheng Lingyu consumed his third spirit blood, body becoming bottomless vessel. His blood shimmered multicolored as a scroll spun above him, golden light outlining a feminine figure.

By the blood river entrance, sect experts waited anxiously. Lou Ri City’s Xiao Lingfeng, Han Zhen, and Chen Song worried over Cheng Lingyu’s prolonged absence. Major forces like Jiu Yang Sacred Palace and Tianlei Sacred Church shared the tense vigil.

Blood energy permeated the lake, deterring unprotected Blood Martial experts. Each night, Blood River True Monarch materialized as guardian.

On Blood Moon Wasteland, fewer than ninety survivors pressed onward from the original hundred eighty.

…

After an uneventful night, Wan Fang, Feixue, and Qiu Yu journeyed forward, finding no trace of Tian Yi and Fang Mu. “Could danger have taken them?” Feixue fretted. Hunting a gravely injured Second Stage Spirit Martial expert should’ve been simple.

Wan Fang surveyed the horizon grimly. “Let’s search.” Qiu Yu lingered silently, detached observer to the growing unease.