243: Empty shell

Lin Xiuqin stood silently by Zhao Jingchen’s side, her gaze as calm as a deep pool as she discreetly scanned Ye Hao, Li Pingan, and Zhao Xu.

Her Senior Brother had previously mentioned that Ye Hao and Li Pingan had saved his life, so she should naturally feel grateful. However, being cautious by nature, she remained somewhat wary in the face of two Cultivators whose cultivation bases were far higher than theirs and whose origins were unknown. She didn't say much, only nodding slightly in greeting.

Ye Hao didn't spare her a single glance. His eyes fell directly on Zhao Jingchen, and his tone was indifferent:

"No matter, the three of us have a way to enter the Demon Suppressing Tower. If Fellow Daoist Zhao trusts us, why not come along?"

The reason he took the initiative to invite them was, firstly, that everyone had the same goal, and traveling together would allow them to look out for one another. Secondly, and more importantly, if something truly unexpected happened inside the Demon Suppressing Tower, involving the Tianque Sect would provide an extra bit of assistance and disperse the risk. It was better than the two of them fighting alone.

Upon hearing this, a flash of joy immediately appeared in Zhao Jingchen’s eyes. He hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, two Young Masters, for your righteous help!"

The group of five then headed toward the main gate of the Demon Suppressing Tower!

Seeing this, Zhao Xu immediately took a step forward and smiled at the two fellow Cultivators at the gate, whose auras were heavy and calm. "Hard work, Senior Brothers. We have come to handle some matters on the orders of the Sect. Please make it convenient for us."

Before his voice had even faded, he flipped his palm, and a jade life plate, lustrous throughout, appeared in his hand. Carved on the plate was the unique flowing cloud pattern of the Chusheng Sect, with delicate lines and a hazy Spiritual Qi.

The two Golden Core Cultivators glanced casually at the jade plate. Without even inspecting it carefully, they stepped aside to make a path, continuing their idle gossip. Their voices weren't loud, yet they clearly reached everyone's ears:

"I heard that in the demon-slaying trials over in Yunxi City, several peerless geniuses emerged who could actually slay Nascent Soul Stage Yao Race while only in the Golden Core Realm. It’s truly terrifying."

"Hmph~ they’re probably Prodigies from other continents who came here for training."

Zhao Jingchen’s footsteps paused slightly. He subconsciously glanced at Ye Hao, hesitated for a moment, and then lowered his voice to inquire tentatively:

"Is this Fellow Daoist perhaps from the Chusheng Sect?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuqin’s body instantly stiffened. She stopped dead in her tracks, her gaze locking directly onto Ye Hao’s trio, and her aura quietly tensed up.

"Does Fellow Daoist Zhao still remember Bishui Village?"

Ye Hao didn't respond directly, only throwing out a concise sentence before later explaining Zhao Xu’s delicate situation.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jingchen finally breathed a sigh of relief. He hurriedly cupped his hands again and said apologetically:

"Please forgive me, Fellow Daoist. I was quite offensive just now."

"There was no offense to speak of. I only wish to uncover the truth about the Sect now." Zhao Xu squeezed out a bitter smile after finishing his sentence.

As soon as the five of them stepped onto the first floor of the Demon Suppressing Tower, a pungent, mixed odor of decaying wood, the stench of dried blood, and the unique foul smell of Yao Beasts rushed toward them, drilling into their noses and making them almost want to gag.

It seemed that this Demon Suppressing Tower was quite different from the one Ye Hao and Li Pingan knew where Daoist Yunche resided; here, even the first floor was used to imprison the Yao Race.

The group ascended the steep stone steps. They passed through five consecutive floors, and the prison cells along the way were all empty, though there were many bloodstains and traces of fighting.

But forget the Yao Race, there wasn't even a single living thing.

Clearly, without the support and maintenance of the Formation, this Demon Suppressing Tower had long since become an empty shell that was all for show.

"Should we continue investigating further up?"

Zhao Xu stopped and turned to ask the group.

Zhao Jingchen surveyed the deathly silent surroundings and said in a heavy voice, "It seems that after the Tower Master of the Demon Suppressing Tower defected, the remaining Yao Race here were already cleared out by someone."

Defected?

Ye Hao’s heart stirred slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across his mind.

No wonder the damage to this Demon Suppressing Tower was so severe after being attacked, as if even its Foundation had been shaken.

It turned out the person in charge had defected to the enemy, leading to an internal collapse. In this way, everything made sense and was no longer strange.

After a moment of silence, Li Pingan spoke to break the quiet: "Let's go to the Tower Revered Master's room and see; perhaps we can find some clues!"

Everyone nodded in agreement and continued to climb upward.

The moment they stepped onto the eighth floor, a smell of blood several times thicker than that on the lower floors surged toward them, carrying a heart-palpitating chill and malice.

Following that, a pool roughly ten feet square appeared before them. The inner walls of the pool were as black as ink, made of an unknown material. A small amount of dark red blood remained at the bottom, emitting a faint mixture of Demonic Qi and a bloody scent.

Lin Xiuqin narrowed her eyes, her gaze solemn. "I didn't expect the ten thousand demon blood quenching pool of this Demon Suppressing Tower to be hidden on the eighth floor."

Ye Hao’s gaze swept over the environment surrounding the pool. He saw ancient, complex runes carved into the walls, which had long since grown dim and dull, leaving not even a trace of spiritual energy fluctuation.

He couldn't help but ask curiously, "This is the ten thousand demon blood quenching pool? Is one of these set up in every Demon Suppressing Tower?"

"Does Young Master Ye really not know about this?" Zhao Jingchen was somewhat surprised, then explained, "This ten thousand demon blood quenching pool can be considered one of the specialties of the Rain God Continent's cultivation world."

"Many Cultivators from other continents come to the Rain God Continent for training specifically for a spot in the ten thousand demon blood quenching pool!"

However, these were basically private transactions with the Sects or the Tower Master of the Demon Suppressing Tower.

Standing to the side, Zhao Xu secretly speculated that the two Seniors most likely came from another continent, which was why they had high cultivation bases yet didn't know much about the situation in the Rain God Continent.

"Years ago, under my Revered Master's guidance, I also underwent the tempering of this ten thousand demon blood quenching pool."

Recalling the past, Zhao Jingchen’s expression grew a bit more complex. "The situation back then was truly perilous. Even thinking about it now, I still have lingering fears."

"Truly perilous?" Li Pingan raised an eyebrow. "Since this pool can perform Body Tempering, it should be a beneficial thing. Why call it perilous?"

Zhao Jingchen then explained in detail: "The benefits of this ten thousand demon blood quenching pool are indeed not small. Soaking in it allows one to use the power of the essence blood of ten thousand demons to temper the physique, strengthening the intensity of the Physical Body. It can also cleanse the marrow and transform the veins, solidifying one's cultivation Foundation, and even wash away the cultivation Impurities accumulated within the body, allowing one's cultivation base to reach a higher level.

But at the same time, it is accompanied by great risks!

The essence blood of ten thousand demons contains the violent Qi and residual wills of countless Yao Race members. Those with weak Divine Souls can easily have their minds eroded by it, turning into madmen who know only slaughter. Even if one's Divine Soul is firm, it still requires immense perseverance to endure it."

"After about two days of enduring, many people's Divine Souls will begin to blur, and they need someone by their side to guard them."

"So that's how it is!"

"Thank you for clearing that up, Fellow Daoist."

The five of them chatted as they continued up the stairs. The smell of blood gradually faded, replaced by the scent of old books. It gave off a strong sense of contrast.

It seemed that this floor did not imprison any Yao Race!

Ye Hao and the other four pushed open a vermilion wooden door and entered the room.

The room's furnishings were simple. A sandalwood desk was placed by the window, with a thick stack of books piled on top, their corners slightly curled, showing that they were frequently flipped through. There were also several bookshelves near the wall, making one feel as if they were not in the Demon Suppressing Tower, but rather in the study of some manor.