250: Chapter 25 Iron-Blooded City and the Wounds of the Great Luo Path

Gray Realm, Shura Realm, edge of the Burning Bone Forest.

The air was filled with the smell of burning and sulfur, and the surrounding temperature was startlingly high, enough to melt ordinary iron in an instant.

"Crack."

Zhou Wannian pressed a single hand onto the head of the Early Stage Golden Immortal Vicious Beast, the [Fiery Rhinoceros]; that seemingly casual press felt as if an ancient divine mountain was crushing down. No matter how this giant beast roared and struggled, its four hooves digging deep pits into the ground, that slender large hand remained motionless.

"This beast's wild nature is hard to tame, and its hide is thick and flesh tough."

Zhou Wannian looked at the red-armored female cultivator before him who was already stunned, and gave a faint smile.

"If used for Artifact Refining, it would be quite a good material."

"Sen... Senior..."

The red-armored female cultivator finally came to her senses. Looking at the terrifying muscular lines faintly visible under Zhou Wannian's tattered green robe, and the Evil Qi pressure that made even her Soul tremble, she hurriedly put away her weapon and bowed respectfully.

"Junior is Shen Qiao of the Shen family from Ironblood City. Many thanks to Senior for coming to my rescue!"

"Ironblood City?"

Zhou Wannian's eyes flickered slightly. He had seen this name on the map he scavenged from Shi Zhanfeng; it was a medium-sized satellite city on the edge of the Shura Realm, belonging to the sphere of influence of the Shura Realm Master, Lord Rahu.

"So it is the Young Miss of the Shen family."

Zhou Wannian released his hand. The Fiery Rhinoceros felt as if it had been granted a great amnesty, but it had already been scared witless by that Taiyi-level physical strength just now. It crouched on the ground, shivering, not daring to flee at all.

"This beast is yours now, consider it a fee for directions."

Zhou Wannian casually brushed the dust off his hands.

"To tell the truth, I am Li Feiyu, a bitter cultivator. I lost my way in a Spatial Storm earlier and ended up here by mistake. I wonder how far it is to the nearest city with a cross-domain teleportation array?"

"Cross-domain teleportation?"

A trace of surprise flashed in Shen Qiao's eyes. In the Gray Realm, those who could perform cross-domain teleportation were all great experts without exception.

"Senior Li, within the Shura Realm, only the main city 'Shura City' possesses a cross-domain teleportation array. However..."

She looked with some hesitation at Zhou Wannian's battle-scarred appearance.

"Shura City is still hundreds of millions of miles away from here, and the most dangerous 'Blood Sea' lies in between. With Senior's current state, I'm afraid..."

She didn't dare to finish her sentence.

Zhou Wannian's brow furrowed slightly.

"Hundreds of millions of miles? And crossing a sea?"

Although he had escaped Yin Hua's pursuit, the wound on his back struck by the Daluo Law was like a maggot on a bone, constantly eroding his vitality. If he didn't find a safe place to heal as soon as possible, the consequences would be unimaginable once he encountered a powerful enemy.

"Tiezhu, damage assessment."

"Residual Daluo Oblivion Law: 12%. It is continuously destroying cell regeneration. Suggestion: Need to find a high-grade material called 'Blood Evil Crystal' for neutralization, or find a high-concentration Blood Pool for Physical Body repair."

"Blood Evil Crystal?"

Zhou Wannian's heart stirred, and he looked at Shen Qiao.

"Miss Shen, since the journey is long, I would like to stay in your city for a few days to recuperate. I wonder if it would be convenient?"

"It's convenient! Of course it's convenient!"

Shen Qiao was overjoyed upon hearing this.

"She had come out hunting this time to find a birthday gift for her father, but she almost lost her life. Now, being able to befriend a great expert whose Physical Body was comparable to a Taiyi (even though he seemed injured) was simply a godsend for the currently precarious Shen family of Ironblood City."

"If Senior doesn't mind, please board my 'Red Flame Boat'."

With a wave of Shen Qiao's hand, a crimson flying boat about thirty zhang long appeared out of thin air... Inside the guest cabin of the Red Flame Boat.

Zhou Wannian sat cross-legged, not truly resting but carefully extending his Divine Sense to cover the entire flying boat.

"Although this Shen Qiao appeared to be only a Middle True Immortal, those few guards were all battle-hardened veterans with fierce auras."

"Tiezhu, analyze the Laws of this Shura Realm."

"Analyzing... Unlike the cold Evil Qi of the Nine Nether Domain, the Evil Qi of the Shura Realm leans towards 'violent' and 'bloodthirsty'. The creatures here are warlike and murderous, and their physical bodies are generally powerful. The air contains a trace element called 'Shura Blood Poison'; long-term inhalation will cause one to lose emotional control."

"Lose emotional control?"

Zhou Wannian circulated the Fan Sheng True Demon Art, a layer of faint black light appearing on his body's surface, filtering the red Evil Qi before inhaling it into his body.

"For me, it's perfect for tempering my state of mind."

"Cough, cough..."

Zhou Wannian suddenly clutched his chest and coughed violently a few times.

The clothes on his back were instantly stained red by the seeping blood. It wasn't ordinary blood, but carried a gray aura of deathly stillness.

"Yin Hua's palm strike was truly ruthless enough."

A trace of Killing Intent flashed in Zhou Wannian's eyes.

That Daluo Law was like a living thing, biting firmly onto his spine; whenever he tried to circulate immortal spiritual power to heal, it would be devoured by it.

"I must find the Blood Evil Crystal as soon as possible."

...Three days later.

The Red Flame Boat passed through the vast Burning Bone Forest and finally stopped above a crimson plain.

Below, a massive city cast entirely from red copper crouched on the earth like a steel beast. Upon the city walls, banners fluttered, and countless Gray Immortals in red armor were drilling, their battle cries shaking the heavens.

Ironblood City.

"Senior Li, we have arrived."

Shen Qiao stood respectfully outside the door to request instructions.

Zhou Wannian changed into a clean black robe and pushed the door open. Though his face was still somewhat pale, that unfathomable aura of his had grown even denser.

"Such heavy blood Qi."

Zhou Wannian stood at the bow, overlooking the city below.

The concentration of Evil Qi beneath this city was actually several degrees higher than that of Nine Nether City, and it carried a thick smell of rust.

"Senior Li might not know."

Shen Qiao explained.

"Beneath our Ironblood City lies a tributary of the 'Shura Blood River'. My father relied on this blood river back then to Cultivate the 'Blood Refining Divine Art' and establish a foothold in this area."

"Blood River tributary?"

Zhou Wannian was delighted. A blood river meant a large amount of blood Evil Qi, which would be of great benefit to his healing... After entering the city, Shen Qiao directly arranged for Zhou Wannian to stay in the highest-standard VIP building of the City Lord's Mansion—Tingtao Pavilion.

"Senior Li, please take a short rest; Junior will go and report to my father now."

After Shen Qiao took her leave, Zhou Wannian did not remain idle.

He casually set up several layers of Restrictions and released Golden Boy, who had long been unable to contain himself.

"Squeak! So hungry! The stones here taste like rust, they're not delicious!"

Golden Boy (Gold Devouring Insect King) crawled out from his sleeve. At this time, its state had recovered quite a bit; its originally soft carapace had become hard again, and some dark red patterns had appeared on it.

"Just bear with it."

Zhou Wannian took out a high-grade Ore he had previously snatched from Shi Zhanfeng and threw it to him.

"This is someone else's territory, don't run around blindly."

"I feel that things are not peaceful in this city."

Zhou Wannian stood by the window, watching the busy and somewhat panicked servants within the City Lord's Mansion.

"That Shen Qiao, although she tries her best to hide it, the worry between her brows cannot be concealed."

"This Ironblood City is likely in trouble."

...Sure enough.

Only an hour had passed.

Shen Qiao returned, but this time she did not come alone; she was accompanied by a gaunt middle-aged man dressed in a red robe.

Although this man's aura was weak, Zhou Wannian could tell at a glance that he had once been at the Peak of Late Golden Immortal Stage cultivation, but now... "Junior Shen Tieshan greets Senior Li."

Supported by Shen Qiao, the middle-aged man bowed deeply to Zhou Wannian.

"Cough, cough... I heard from my daughter that Senior's Physical Body is peerless, suppressing a Golden Immortal Yao Beast with a single palm strike. To disturb you today is truly because I have an impudent request."

Zhou Wannian sat in his chair without rising, merely giving him a faint glance.

"City Lord Shen is afflicted with a potent poison, and your Origin has been damaged."

"If I'm not mistaken, this injury of yours... should have been caused by the natal Evil Qi of an expert of the same rank, right?"

Hearing this, Shen Tieshan trembled all over, a look of horror appearing in his eyes.

"Senior... is truly a Divine Being!"

"Indeed!"

Shen Tieshan gave a bitter smile, his eyes full of grief and indignation.

"To tell the truth, half a month ago, the 'Black Fang Tribe' of the neighboring city suddenly attacked. Their leader, 'Old Ancestor Black Fang', ambushed me and planted the 'Black Evil Poison'. Now my cultivation has plummeted, and my life is nearing its end."

"And three days from now is the day of the 'Blood Battle' where our two cities compete for the 'Blood River mining rights'."

"Old Ancestor Black Fang has put out word that if we lose, we must hand over Ironblood City and also seize my daughter... to be used as a Cauldron!"

At this point, Shen Qiao was already weeping uncontrollably, kneeling on the ground.

"Senior Li! I beg you to save the Shen family! As long as you are willing to act, the Shen family is willing to give everything!"

Zhou Wannian's expression was calm, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop.

This kind of cliché plot was something he had seen plenty of in the Human Realm and Spirit Realm.

However... "Give everything?"

Zhou Wannian looked at Shen Tieshan.

"I am not interested in your city, nor am I interested in power."

"I only want one thing."

"Please speak, Senior! As long as it's in the storehouse, even if it's a clan-protecting treasure, I will offer it with both hands!" Shen Tieshan said hurriedly.

"I want to enter that 'Blood River tributary' beneath your ground."

A sharp light flashed in Zhou Wannian's eyes.

"Furthermore, I need ten 'Blood Evil Crystals'."

Shen Tieshan was stunned for a moment.

Although the Blood River tributary was precious, it was used for cultivation; although the Blood Evil Crystals were rare, they were by no means peerless treasures. For a great expert who could kill a Golden Immortal in an instant, this request... wasn't it too low?

"What? You're unwilling?" Zhou Wannian's voice was slightly cold.

"No! No! I am more than willing!"

Shen Tieshan was overjoyed.

"Senior might not know, that Blood River tributary is originally used to open the 'Blood Pool'. As long as Senior can win the Blood Battle three days from now for my Shen family, that Blood Pool... is at Senior's disposal!"

"As for the Blood Evil Crystals, there happen to be stocks in the storehouse; I will have them sent to Senior right away!"

"Deal."

Zhou Wannian stood up.

"In three days, call for me."

"Also..."

Zhou Wannian pointed at Shen Tieshan.

"This poison of yours won't kill you."

"Golden Child, come out and do some work."

"Squeak?"

Golden Boy reluctantly crawled out from his sleeve.

"Go, suck the poison out of his body."

"I won't! That's Black Evil Poison! It's very smelly!" Golden Boy protested.

"After you finish sucking it out, I'll give you two pieces of taiyi refined gold."

"Alright!"

Golden Boy instantly transformed into a streak of golden light and pounced directly onto Shen Tieshan.

"Ah!!"

Shen Tieshan only felt a piercing pain, followed by the Black Evil Poison gas that had troubled him for half a month being sucked out mouthful by mouthful by that golden beetle, as if it had met its nemesis!

In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Shen Tieshan spat out a mouthful of black blood. Although his face was still pale, his aura had stabilized.

"This... this is..."

Shen Tieshan looked at that golden beetle, which was burping and full of disdain, shocked beyond words.

"Gold... Gold-Devouring Immortal?!"

"And a mutated high-rank Gold-Devouring Immortal?!"

Zhou Wannian withdrew Golden Boy, his expression indifferent.

"Remember, what happened today stays buried in your stomach."

"If even half a word gets out..."

Zhou Wannian didn't continue, but the Killing Intent released at that moment caused the temperature of the entire room to drop to the freezing point.

"Junior understands! Junior swears by my Dao Heart! I will not reveal a single word!"

Shen Tieshan and Shen Qiao hurriedly kowtowed... After sending the father and daughter away.

Zhou Wannian looked at the ten blood-red crystals that had just been delivered to the table, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Blood Evil Crystals acquired."

"Plus that blood river..."

"Just three days."

"I will be able to suppress the Daluo Dao Injury on my back, and even... take this opportunity to push my Physical Body a step further."

Zhou Wannian picked up a Blood Evil Crystal and crushed it directly.

A dense blood-colored mist instantly enveloped him.

"Old Ancestor Black Fang? Late Golden Immortal Stage?"

Zhou Wannian closed his eyes, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"I hope you're a bit more durable."

"It just so happens that this newly unsheathed xuantian spirit slaying sword of mine..."

"Is still missing a sacrifice."}