194: Chapter 193 Dragon Blood

"Please, Master, offer your guidance," he said in a deep voice.

Master Xue Mu looked at him, a trace of gratification flashing in his eyes.

This kid knew how to listen to advice.

"Two months is neither long nor short," he said slowly. "If you want to condense a true killing move, you need to do three things."

"First, enter the Dragon Blood Pool and achieve a complete Breakthrough for the fifth level of the Li Huo Golden Body Art. The Blood Burning power is the foundation of this killing move."

"Second, go to the Scripture Pavilion and select a Heaven Rank True Intent Cultivation Technique to comprehend the method of 'Fusion' within it. I know of the Samadhi True Fire Art; although it does not quite match your Cultivation Technique, its concept of 'three fires into one' might provide you with some inspiration."

"Third—" He paused, his gaze fixed on Jiang Hanzhou. "Go to the Lijian Cliff and comprehend the twenty-third sword mark."

Jiang Hanzhou was slightly taken aback.

The Lijian Cliff, the twenty-third sword mark?

He remembered that there were thirty-six sword marks on the Lijian Cliff. The first twenty-four were left by the Sect Founding Ancestor, and the last twelve were carved by successive generations of Prodigies.

He had meditated before the seventeenth sword mark for two months, comprehending the Metal Sharpness True Intent, which had now reached twenty percent.

But the twenty-third...

"That sword mark contains more than just simple Sword Intent," Master Xue Mu said slowly. "It contains the Dao of 'Fusion'."

"When the Sect Founding Ancestor left that sword mark, he was already at the Peak of the Mysterious Glimpse Realm. That strike fused the seven types of True Intent he had learned throughout his life. With a single slash, the world changed color."

"If you can comprehend even a trace of the Fusion method from it, it will be of immense help in condensing your killing move."

Jiang Hanzhou was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"This Disciple will remember."

Master Xue Mu looked at him, remained silent for a while, and suddenly asked a question:

"Han Zhou, what do you Cultivate for?"

Jiang Hanzhou was slightly taken aback.

He had not expected Master Xue Mu to ask this question.

What for?

To become stronger.

To survive.

To no longer be like in his past life, living a mediocre and unremarkable life.

But he could not say these words aloud.

He was silent for a moment, then said slowly: "To... not have my fate controlled by anyone."

Upon hearing this, a complex light flashed in Master Xue Mu's eyes.

Then, he smiled.

That smile held a hint of gratification, a hint of emotion, and a hint of... relief.

"Good," he nodded. "Remember what you said today."

"Two months from now, at the Dragon Gate Trial, let everyone see—"

"What a Disciple of mine, Master Xue Mu, is like."

Jiang Hanzhou stood up and bowed solemnly.

"This Disciple will certainly not fail Master's expectations."

He turned and walked out of the hall.

The moment he stepped out of Lihuo Hall, the afternoon sunlight fell upon him, warm and cozy.

He looked up at the bright sun in the sky.

Dragon Blood Pool.

Scripture Pavilion.

Lijian Cliff.

Two months.

He took a deep breath, took a step, and walked toward his Immortal Cave.

Behind him, the doors of Lihuo Hall slowly closed.

Inside the hall, Master Xue Mu remained sitting cross-legged on the prayer mat, watching the youth's receding figure, the smile on his lips growing broader.

"Interesting..." he murmured in a low voice. "Three types of True Intent, Dragon Might, Heart Blade... This kid has quite a few secrets."

He withdrew his gaze and looked at the rolling sea of clouds outside the window.

"The Dragon Gate Trial..." he whispered to himself. "This year, it is finally Red Fire Peak's turn to show its face."

His laughter echoed in the empty Lihuo Hall.

...

The next morning, when Jiang Hanzhou walked out of his Immortal Cave, the horizon was just beginning to turn white.

In his hand, he held the crimson jade token. The character "Dragon" on the token flickered slightly in the morning light, as if reminding him of the significance of this day.

Dragon Blood Pool.

The Forbidden Ground at the back of Red Fire Peak, a precious place that only True Disciples were qualified to enter.

He walked up the mountain path, passed through the crimson bamboo forest, walked along the winding stone steps, and half an hour later, arrived before a towering stone gate.

The stone gate was three zhang high, built entirely of crimson rock, and the three ancient characters "Dragon Blood Forbidden Ground" were engraved on the lintel.

On either side of the stone gate, an old man in grey robes sat cross-legged.

Both of them had white hair and beards, thin faces, and an aura that was as deep and heavy as an abyss; they were actually both in the Dragon Elephant Realm.

Jiang Hanzhou stepped forward, took out the crimson jade token, and offered it with both hands.

The grey-robed old man on the left took the token, probed it with his Divine Sense, inspected it for three breaths, and nodded slightly.

"Enter," his voice was hoarse and low. "The Dragon Blood Pool is in the deepest part of the Forbidden Ground. Follow this path all the way, and you will arrive in half an hour."

He paused, his gaze falling on Jiang Hanzhou, a complex light flashing in his eyes.

"Kid, let me give you a word of advice—the Dragon Blood Baleful Qi in the Dragon Blood Pool is extremely overbearing. If you cannot hold on, come out; do not force it. Three months ago, an Inner Sect Disciple went in, greedy for the Dragon Blood Power in the pool. He forced himself to stay for two hours, only to have his mind eroded by the Evil Qi, suffering Qi Deviation. When he was finally carried out, he was already a cripple."

Jiang Hanzhou nodded slightly: "Many thanks for the Senior's reminder."

He lifted his foot and crossed the stone gate, walking along the winding stone steps toward the depths of the Forbidden Ground.

Behind him, the stone gate slowly closed, emitting a dull thud.