74: Blood Demon Sect

Three days later, in the refining room.

"Boom—!"

A blinding bolt of Lightning Light suddenly tore through the air, and Lei Tian's figure appeared like a phantom inside the refining room, still surrounded by lingering lightning power.

He grinned, his gaze fixed directly on Jiang Donghua, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground.

"Kid, the three days are up! How is it? How far have you comprehended the 'Lightning Flash Shadow Step'?"

Lei Tian strode over, his voice loud and clear.

Jiang Donghua slowly opened his eyes; a flicker of flame seemed to pass through them before quickly returning to tranquility.

He stood up, bowed respectfully, and said with a wry smile.

"Dean of the Outer Academy, this Dou Technique is indeed profoundly esoteric."

"Oh?"

Lei Tian raised an eyebrow.

Jiang Donghua pretended to ponder, then shook his head and said.

"Your student has only barely grasped the basics of the first stage, 'Thunder Shadow Steps.' But to be able to use it as freely as you, Dean of the Outer Academy, I'm afraid I'll need at least a few more years of practice."

"A few years?"

Lei Tian was stunned for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter, the sound shaking the refining room's medicine pots, making them hum.

He patted Jiang Donghua's shoulder, his eyes full of teasing.

"Kid, if you can truly cultivate this Dou Technique to my level in just a few years, you wouldn't just be catching up to me."

"You'd be dozens of times stronger than me!"

Jiang Donghua was taken aback.

"Why do you say that, Dean of the Outer Academy?"

Lei Tian grinned, showing a set of stark white teeth.

"I, this old man, have been honing this 'Lightning Flash Shadow Step' for nearly thirty years!"

A look of reminiscence flashed in his eyes as he sighed.

"When I first acquired this Dou Technique back then, just achieving the initial stage took me three whole years! Afterward, every time I advanced a level, I had to undergo countless lightning temperings, and there were several times I was nearly crippled by the backlash!"

"If you, kid, can truly master it within ten years!"

"Then I, this old man, might have to hand over my position as Dean of the Outer Academy for you to take!"

Lei Tian narrowed his eyes, looking meaningfully at Jiang Donghua.

Jiang Donghua's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a humble smile on his face.

"You jest, Dean of the Outer Academy. Your student merely stumbled upon a small path; how could I dare compare myself to you?"

Lei Tian stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly burst out laughing.

"Good! Neither arrogant nor impatient, this is the kind of disciple I expect from Jia Nan Academy!"

He reached out, and the scroll in Jiang Donghua's hand automatically flew back into his palm.

Lei Tian tossed it casually; the scroll turned into a bolt of Lightning Light and disappeared into his sleeve.

"Alright, you've seen the Dou Technique, it's time to return it."

Lei Tian waved his hand and turned to leave.

The Black-Corner Region, Blood Demon City.

The entire city was dark red, as if soaked in blood for millennia. The city walls were towering, covered in bizarre crimson runes. From a distance, it resembled a bloodthirsty beast crouching on the earth.

Above the city gate hung a massive crimson banner, and embroidered prominently in the center of the flag were three ferocious characters!

"Blood Demon Sect!"

These three characters seemed to carry a terrifying pressure; every expert passing by lowered their heads and remained silent, their breathing becoming cautious.

The Black-Corner Region was inherently synonymous with chaos and slaughter; the law of the jungle and living on the edge of a blade were the rules of survival here.

Yet, even so, in this lawless land, there was still one name that struck fear into all factions: Old Ghost Blood Demon!

Even first-rate factions that had Dou Zong presiding over them had to behave cautiously when they were in the territory of the Blood Demon Sect!

"Hmph, a bunch of trash!"

Inside Blood Demon City, in a palace constructed from piles of white bones, an old man draped in crimson robes sat high upon a throne, his eyes flashing with scarlet light.

Merely sitting there, he exuded a suffocating pressure that solidified the very air around him!

Old Ghost Blood Demon!

One of the true overlords of the Black-Corner Region, a Peak Dou Zong expert!

"Sect Master, over at Jia Nan Academy..."

A Black Robed Man knelt on the ground, his voice trembling.

"Trash!"

Old Ghost Blood Demon let out a cold snort, and the Black Robed Man instantly looked as if he had been struck by lightning, blood streaming from his seven orifices, his entire body exploding into a cloud of blood mist!

Inside the Blood Demon Hall, the silence was like an abyss.

Old Ghost Blood Demon sat high upon the bone throne, his scarlet eyes scanning the area below. Blood mist churned around him, as if countless wronged souls were wailing.

"How long has Blood Fiend been dispatched?"

He spoke slowly, his voice hoarse, like a knife scraping bone.

"R-reporting to the Sect Master, it has... been seven months..."

A Dou Huang Elder responded fearfully, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

"Seven months? And you haven't even found a shred of information about the Heavenly Flame?"

Old Ghost Blood Demon's mouth stretched into a grin, revealing stark white fangs.

His five fingers slowly clenched, and the bone throne beneath him emitted a groaning "crack, crack" sound under the strain.

"A bunch of useless eaters!"

"Boom—!"

Violent crimson Dou Qi suddenly erupted. The dozen or so Dou Huang Elders in the hall felt as if they were crushed by a mountain, kneeling simultaneously, their knees shattering the floor, blood flowing everywhere!

"Sect Master, please calm your anger!"

The crowd pleaded in terror, their voices trembling.

Old Ghost Blood Demon slowly rose. His crimson robes billowed without wind, and with every step he took, a patch of scarlet blood patterns spread across the ground.

"Calm my anger?"

He chuckled softly, and the blood light in his eyes flared intensely.

"I, the Sect Master, have supported you for so many years, yet you can't even handle this small matter?"

"Then what use are you to me?!"

Before his voice faded, he abruptly raised his hand, his five fingers like hooks, grasping through the air!

"Pfft—!"

The Dou Huang Elder in the very front instantly exploded into a cloud of blood mist. His essence blood was extracted, turning into a crimson thread that submerged into Old Ghost Blood Demon's palm!

"Sect Master, spare our lives!"

The remaining Elders were scared witless, frantically kowtowing.

Old Ghost Blood Demon licked the blood from his fingertip, a cruel pleasure flashing in his eyes.

Inside the Blood Demon Hall, the atmosphere suddenly solidified.

Just as Old Ghost Blood Demon's killing intent boiled over, a strange black mist suddenly emerged in the center of the hall, spreading silently.

The black mist seemed to devour light; wherever it passed, even the crimson candlelight dimmed slightly.

Old Ghost Blood Demon's scarlet eyes narrowed slightly, and the churning blood energy around him uncharacteristically subsided a little.

He stared at the black mist and spoke hoarsely.

"Law Enforcer Liu, your timing is quite fortunate."

The black mist slowly condensed, finally forming a figure.

The person had a sinister face and sunken eyes, and was surrounded by a chilling aura that made one's heart tremble.

Soul Hall Protector, an Eight-Star Dou Zong!

Law Enforcer Liu chuckled softly, his voice grating like sandpaper rubbing together.

"Sect Master Blood Demon, having such a temper can shorten your lifespan."

Old Ghost Blood Demon let out a cold snort, and with a wave of his sleeve, the remaining Elders in the hall acted as if they had received a great pardon, quickly bowing and retreating.

After everyone left, he said gloomily.

"I already sent people to take action, but somehow the news leaked, and even Blood Fiend returned empty-handed!"

The blood light in his eyes flickered, and his tone carried a hint of impatience.

"If your Hall of Souls wants me to do something, you must first give me some incentive, right? Otherwise, do you think a mere empty promise is enough to make my Blood Demon Sect risk our lives for you?"

Hearing this, Law Enforcer Liu curled his lips into a mocking arc.

He slowly raised his hand, and a pitch-black jade slip appeared in his palm. Strange runes wrapped around its surface, and faint, mournful soul cries could be heard emanating from it.

Inside the Blood Demon Hall, black mist swirled.

Law Enforcer Liu's chilling voice echoed through the great hall. He lightly tapped his fingertip, and the pitch-black jade slip floated before Old Ghost Blood Demon, emitting an eerie, faint light.

"This thing can temporarily suppress the surging blood energy within your body."

Law Enforcer Liu's lips curved slightly, revealing a hint of mockery.

"I know you dare not easily make a move because you fear alarming that old monster, Mang Tianchi!"

Old Ghost Blood Demon's scarlet eyes flickered slightly, but he still maintained an impatient expression, even raising his hand to pick his ear, flicking the earwax away with his finger.

"Heh, I've heard too much nonsense; my ears are getting calloused."

He sneered, his tone filled with disdain.

Law Enforcer Liu paid him no mind and continued in a low voice.

"But I can guarantee you that a Heavenly Flame is definitely hidden within Jia Nan Academy!"

He took a step forward, his black robe billowing without wind, his voice like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, full of temptation.

"As long as you obtain it and refine your entire body's blood, you will certainly be able to step into the Dou Zun Expert realm!"

"By then, would you still fear Mang Tianchi?"

Old Ghost Blood Demon's movement paused slightly, the blood light in his eyes flickering, but he quickly returned to his casual appearance.

"The Fighting Qi Continent is vast. Once you step into the Dou Zun Expert realm, you can hide in any corner, and he probably won't be able to find you."

Old Ghost Blood Demon remained silent for a moment, then suddenly grinned, revealing a mouth full of stark white fangs.

"Law Enforcer Liu, your mouth is certainly better at fooling people than those old ghosts in the Hall of Souls."

He slowly stood up. His crimson robes churned, and the blood energy around him surged like a tide.

"Although I, Old Ghost Blood Demon, don't have many years left to live!"

"But I don't want to be slapped to death by someone!"

The blood light in his eyes intensified, and his tone suddenly turned cold.

"That old monster Mang Tianchi is someone even your Hall of Souls' Elder Zun dare not easily provoke. Are you telling me to go and die?"

Law Enforcer Liu narrowed his eyes and laughed sinisterly.

"Therefore, we need to use strategy."

He waved his sleeve, and the black mist surged, actually condensing into a blurry image in mid-air.

Deep beneath Jia Nan Academy, a flame, heavily sealed, was quietly burning!

"Do you see it? This is the Heavenly Flame!"

Law Enforcer Liu whispered.

Old Ghost Blood Demon stared at the mass of flame, his eyes mixing greed and apprehension.

After a long time, he slowly exhaled a mouthful of foul air and spoke hoarsely.

"Tell me, what exactly does your Hall of Souls plan to do?"

Law Enforcer Liu's lips curled into a cold, successful smile. The black mist slowly retracted, completely enveloping the figures of both men.

Inside the Blood Demon Hall, the air seemed to freeze.

Old Ghost Blood Demon stared at the two pitch-black Soul Tablets in Law Enforcer Liu's hand, his pupils contracting slightly.

The chilling soul power wrapped around them was clearly the aura of two Dou Zun Experts!

"Ignite the Heavenly Flame, let it run wild, and attack Jia Nan Academy?"

He swallowed, and a trace of cold sweat actually seeped from his forehead.

This plan was too insane!

Once the Heavenly Flame lost control, the entire Jia Nan Academy would likely instantly turn into a sea of fire. Let alone the students, even the Dou Zong-level Elders might not be able to escape unscathed!

"What's wrong? You, the great Old Ghost Blood Demon, the murderous overlord of the Black-Corner Region, are suddenly getting soft-hearted?"

Law Enforcer Liu laughed mockingly, his voice drilling into the ear like a venomous snake.

Old Ghost Blood Demon's expression shifted between dark and light, and his fists clenched, making cracking sounds.

He wasn't soft-hearted; it was Mang Tianchi!

If that old monster knew the Academy was destroyed, he would probably kill his way directly to their doorstep. At that time, even if Old Ghost Blood Demon reached the Dou Zun Expert realm, he might not survive!

Law Enforcer Liu seemed to see through his worries and laughed sinisterly.

"Someone like you, do you still care about such things?"

He slowly stepped forward, his eyes beneath the black robe flickering with eerie light.

"The more people die, the more fresh blood you can absorb!"

"The Heavenly Flame refines the blood energy in your body, and adding the essence blood of tens of thousands of people in Jia Nan Academy..."

Law Enforcer Liu's voice was low, yet it was like the whisper of a demon, full of temptation.

"Forget One-star Dou Zun, even Two-Star Dou Zun, you might not be unable to reach it!"

Old Ghost Blood Demon's breathing hitched, and the blood light in his eyes flickered madly!

Two-Star Dou Zun!

If he could truly step into that realm, even if Mang Tianchi personally took action, he would have the confidence to escape!

Law Enforcer Liu shook the Soul Tablets in his hand and sneered.

"Look carefully, these two Soul Tablets belong to the two Heavenly Venerates from the nearby Hall of Souls branch!"

"One primary and one secondary, both are Five-Star Dou Zun Experts!"

"With their covert assistance, what do you still fear?!"

Old Ghost Blood Demon stared intently at the two Soul Tablets, struggling fiercely internally.

After a long time... he suddenly looked up, the blood light in his eyes surging violently, his fangs starkly revealed!

"Do it!"

As the word fell, the blood energy throughout the Blood Demon Hall suddenly boiled.

Law Enforcer Liu smiled in satisfaction. The black mist slowly retracted, completely enveloping the figures of both men.

A catastrophe capable of shaking the entire Black-Corner Region was thus decided!