74: Chapter 74 Ancient Blood Refinement

Deep in the Qingyun Mountain Range.

Before the entrance of a canyon hidden in the clouds and mist, one hundred Golden Core Cultivators and all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Ling Family stood in formation.

Everyone had changed into uniform black iron battle armor. This was standard-issue equipment rushed out overnight by the Creation Hall. Although it was only smelted from ordinary iron, the surface was engraved with simple "Source Stabilization Array Patterns," which could enhance the conduction and protection of Origin power. The armor was pitch black, with only the shoulder guards branded with a silver ancient star sword, gleaming with a cold, piercing light in the morning sun.

Ling Hao stood at the very front of the formation. His green robes remained unchanged, save for an ancient bronze token at his waist. That was the "Secret Realm Key Token" parsed from the information in the creation jade pendant, which required the Chaos Origin to activate before it could open this entrance that had been hidden for ten thousand years.

Half a step behind him, Ling Xiao was in silver armor with lightning patterns, his aura as deep and condensed as an abyss; Ling You was hidden in the shadows, his presence faint yet hair-raising; Ling Xue had her ice-blue long hair tied into a ponytail, a snowflake mark on her brow shimmering with cold light, her Golden Core Middle Stage cultivation fully stabilized—she was no longer the little girl who needed her brother's protection.

Further back, Ling Shi, Ling Shuang, and ninety-seven other newly advanced Golden Core seeds stood with straight spines, their eyes filled with both anticipation and determination. They knew this Secret Realm trial was no sightseeing trip; the Young Lord had made it clear: those who enter the Secret Realm are responsible for their own lives.

"This place is the 'Blood Refining Valley,' ranked seventy-third among the one hundred and eight Desolate Ancient Secret Realm Trial Grounds of the ancient 'Huangtian Divine Dynasty'." Ling Hao's voice was calm, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"According to the records of the jade pendant, this place was originally a training ground for the Divine Dynasty's battle generals, containing multiple trials corresponding to each major Realm from Qi Refining to Soul Transformation. The Divine Dynasty fell ten thousand years ago, the Secret Realm was sealed, and now that it has been reopened, the dangers within are unknown."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "But the Opportunities are equally unknown. The Secret Realm contains remnants of ancient battle soldiers, armor, Medicinal Pills, Cultivation Techniques, and perhaps... even undispersed battle soul Legacies."

"I have only one requirement: come out alive."

"For anyone who walks out of the Secret Realm alive, regardless of how much they have gained, Family resources will be doubled, and they will be conferred the rank of 'Lingtian Divine Guard' reserve."

At the mention of the Lingtian Divine Guard, everyone's breathing hitched.

This was a new concept proposed by Ling Hao: to establish an elite battle guard within the Family that was directly under his command and composed entirely of Origin Cultivators.

The Divine Guard was divided into three levels: Reserve, Official, and Commander. With each level promoted, the resources and authority obtained would increase exponentially, and one could even practice the Family's core secret techniques!

"Now," Ling Hao raised his hand, the bronze token blooming with a chaotic halo, "Enter the valley!"

"Hum—"

The clouds and mist at the canyon entrance surged suddenly, and a bronze giant gate, ten zhang high and about three zhang wide, slowly solidified in the Void Realm. The door was carved with countless reliefs of warriors holding spears and fighting. Despite the erosion of time, the stern, murderous aura still rushed towards them.

"Creak—"

Amidst the heavy sound of the door opening, the bronze giant gate opened inward.

Behind the door was not a valley scene, but a swirling vortex of Chaos. From deep within the vortex came the faint sound of clashing weapons and warhorses, as if it led to another time and space.

Ling Hao stepped in first.

Ling Xiao, Ling You, and Ling Xue followed closely behind.

The other Ling Family Disciples, without a single moment of hesitation, filed in one after another.

The feeling of dizziness lasted only three breaths.

When his vision cleared, Ling Hao found himself standing on a dark red land.

The sky was a depressing leaden grey, with no sun or moon, only murky light coming from unknown sources.

The ground was cracked, and red mist surged from the fissures, carrying a thick smell of blood and Evil Qi. In the distance, tattered banners fluttered in the wind, broken weapons were stuck all over the hills, and white bones were piled into mounds.

Rather than a Secret Realm, this place was more like... an ancient battlefield ruin.

"The concentration of Evil Qi is more than ten times that of the outside world." Ling Xue frowned, an ice-blue light shield automatically appearing around her, isolating the red mist, "Prolonged exposure will inevitably erode one's mind."

"That is why it is a Trial Ground." Ling Xiao raised his hand, a bolt of lightning shattering a mass of Evil Qi that had condensed into a beast form in front of them, "Ancient Cultivators used Evil Qi to temper their hearts and used battle to nurture battle; it is the cruelest and most effective path."

Ling Hao did not speak. He closed his eyes and spread out his Divine Sense.

The Desolate Heaven Battle Body had a natural affinity for the aura of a battlefield. He could "hear" the sounds coming from deep within this land—the unwilling roars of soldiers from ten thousand years ago, the clanging of weapons colliding, the tragic grandeur of blood being spilled.

"The first zone, 'Evil Qi Wilderness'," Ling Hao opened his eyes and pointed to the northeast, "According to the jade pendant, after crossing the hundred-mile wilderness, one can see the first trial tower. But after ten thousand years of changes, the terrain may have changed, so keep your wits about you."

The team began to advance.

The first thirty miles were calm and peaceful. Apart from the increasingly thick Evil Qi and the scattered broken weapons and skeletons everywhere, there was no danger. Many Foundation Establishment Disciples even relaxed their vigilance and began to whisper to each other.

"It seems... not so scary?"

"Don't be careless, the Young Lord said, you are responsible for your own lives."

Before the words fell!

"Roar—!!!"

A pile of white bones on the left suddenly exploded! A hideous Vicious Beast, three zhang long and covered in bone armor, lunged out! It looked like a giant wolf, but it had three red pupils on its head, its claws and fangs as sharp as knives, and its aura had clearly reached the Golden Core Early Stage!

"Bone-Evil Wolf! Form up!" Ling Xiao reacted the fastest, his silver spear thrusting out like a Dragon!

But faster than the spear was a flash of ice-blue sword light.

Ling Xue had already flashed to the flank of the Vicious Beast, the ice sword condensed in her hand tracing a beautiful arc, precisely piercing into the gap of the bone armor, "Crack!" The sword light pierced through and emerged from the other side!

The Bone-Evil Wolf let out a miserable howl, its huge body collapsed with a bang, turning into a mass of dissipating Evil Qi, leaving only a fist-sized dark red crystal core.

Ling Xue retracted her sword, her ice-blue eyes sweeping over the Disciples who looked shocked: "Distraction on the battlefield is just looking for death."

Ling Hao picked up the crystal core, which was warm to the touch and contained pure Evil Qi Origin: "This item can be used to refine 'Sha Source Pills,' which have miraculous effects on tempering the battle body. Everyone remember: in the Secret Realm, every blade of grass and every tree could be a danger, but it could also be an Opportunity."

The team moved forward again, and this time no one dared to relax.

For the next fifty miles, battles were constant.

Fog beasts condensed from Evil Qi, Yao Beasts mutated by the erosion of Evil Qi, and even remains of ancient battle soldiers that still retained their fighting instincts. The most dangerous time was when more than ten "Evil Qi corpses" suddenly crawled out from the ground. They maintained human form, wore tattered battle armor, and had red flames burning in their eye sockets, and the battle formation they formed actually had faint traces of order!

"They were once soldiers of the Huangtian Divine Dynasty." Ling Hao looked at the Evil Qi corpses that turned into flying ash after being defeated and whispered, "Ten thousand years have passed, yet their obsession remains, still guarding this land."

He bent down and picked up half a bronze waist token from where an Evil Qi corpse had dissipated. The token was engraved with blurred characters: "Lingtian Divine Guard, Seventh Battalion, Squad Leader, Zhao Tieshan."

"Collect identifiable relics and place them properly." Ling Hao put away the nameplate, his voice solemn, "Those buried here are all predecessors of the Human Race. Respecting their bones is also respecting myself."

The team continued to move forward, and the atmosphere became increasingly heavy.

As they reached the end of the hundred miles, a different sight finally appeared ahead.

It was a black stone tower a hundred zhang high. The tower body was covered with the marks of sword and blade slashes, and a mass of red-gold flame floated on the top of the tower. A stone tablet stood in front of the tower, with the inscription written in ancient Seal script:

"Those who enter this tower will bear the impact of the will of three thousand battle souls."

"Hold for one stick of incense, and you can ascend to the second floor to glimpse the path."

"Hold for three sticks of incense, and you can receive a 'Battle Intent Baptism' to temper your Divine Soul."

"Hold for nine sticks of incense... you can receive the 'Battle Soul Imprint' Legacy."

"The tower has nine levels, each level is a step to the sky. Those who reach the top can obtain the core authority of the 'Blood Refining Valley'."

The red-gold flame flickered, casting the inscription in light and shadow, as if countless pairs of eyes were staring through ten thousand years of time at this group of new intruders.