Next, he separated a large amount of blood essence from his body and loaded it into a blood storage bottle. His cultivation realm returned to the fifth level of Qi Refinement.
He did this to make himself inconspicuous and better hide his secrets.
An outer sect disciple who had barely passed the test would certainly be scrutinized if his cultivation suddenly advanced by leaps and bounds.
"It's been seven days since the last blood delivery. It's time to send some to Li Mumin again."
After some preparation, Zhang Chen left the cave with the blood essence.
Inner Sect, outside Cave 14.
"Is Senior Brother Li here? Zhang Chen is here to deliver some blood essence."
After a while, Li Mumin walked out of the cave abode expressionlessly. "Give it to me."
"Yes, Senior Brother." Zhang Chen respectfully handed over the blood storage bottle.
After taking the bottle, Li Mumin said, "I'm preparing to reach the Foundation Establishment realm and need a large amount of blood essence. Over the next seven days, do your best to exchange for blood essence. The more, the better."
With that, Li Mumin took out several blood storage bottles.
"I'll definitely do my best." Zhang Chen cupped his hands and took the blood storage bottle.
"When I successfully reach the Foundation Establishment realm, I will definitely reward you," Li Mumin promised.
"Thank you, Senior Brother. I'll go back and exchange blood essence for you now."
"Go on."
Zhang Chen knew that the reason why Li Mumin could reach the Foundation Establishment realm so quickly was because he kept providing blood essence.
If Li Mumin successfully reached the Foundation Establishment realm, it would be a good thing for him to have a personal disciple as his backer. He could also be bolder.
The next day, after completing the task, Zhang Chen came out of the Alchemy House and found Feng Wensheng.
"Junior Brother Zhang, this is the Wound Healing Pill you wanted."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Feng. This is the blood essence." Zhang Chen handed over the water pouch containing the blood essence.
After completing another transaction, the smile on Feng Wensheng's face widened. "Junior Brother Zhang, do you need anything else?"
"Senior Brother Feng, please forgive me. I plan to go back and test the effect of the Wound Healing Pill before making a decision."
Although there was no problem with Feng Wensheng's reputation, the cautious Zhang Chen still had to see the effect for himself.
"It's my duty." Feng Wensheng nodded confidently.
"If I need any more pills, where should I go to find you?"
"I am often near the Alchemy House. If I'm not there, look for me in Cave 260."
"Alright, I'll take my leave first."
"Take care, Junior Brother Zhang."
After saying goodbye to Feng Wensheng, Zhang Chen took the blood pill and returned to his cave.
"Let's see if the Wound Healing Pill is really effective."
Zhang Chen condensed a blood saber in his hand and cut a moderately deep wound on his arm. Then he swallowed a Wound Healing Pill.
The Wound Healing Pill dissolved in his stomach, and a gentle medicinal power spread throughout his body, making him feel warm and comfortable.
The flesh on the wound grew and healed at a visible speed. In no time, it was completely healed without a scar.
Touching his arm with no trace of the wound left, Zhang Chen nodded with satisfaction. "If I meet Feng Wensheng tomorrow, I can try another pill."
Putting away the pills, Zhang Chen took out a blood storage bottle and began practicing demon blood refinement.
He calculated in his mind how much blood essence he should give Li Mumin after seven days.
He wanted to show off his abilities and earn trust, but he couldn't give too much, so as not to arouse suspicion.
Time passed day by day. Soon, seven days had passed.
"Senior Brother Li, I have tried my best to exchange for this much blood essence. I don't know if it's enough." Zhang Chen handed over the blood storage bottle.
Li Mumin took the blood storage bottle and scanned it with his mind. His expressionless face showed surprise. "So much, it's enough for 14 days!"
Three bowls of blood essence a day meant that there would be 42 bowls in total for 14 days.
One bowl of blood essence was equivalent to one month's cultivation in the Refinement Stage. 42 bowls were equivalent to three and a half years' cultivation.
This was the amount of blood essence Zhang Chen had decided to give after careful consideration.
Doubling the amount under his best efforts showed that he had strong abilities, was serious about the task, but not overly excessive.
"Not bad, you did well. I didn't expect you to exchange for so much blood essence in just seven days." Li Mumin praised him generously, clearly very pleased.
"As long as Senior Brother is satisfied." Zhang Chen modestly lowered his head.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely reward you after I reach the Foundation Establishment realm." Li Mumin patted Zhang Chen's shoulder and promised once again.
"With your talent, you will definitely be able to successfully reach the Foundation Establishment realm!" Zhang Chen flattered.
"Alright, I can't wait to reach the Foundation Establishment realm. Don't come to disturb me afterwards. I'll naturally get someone to inform you to come after I reach the Foundation Establishment realm." Li Mumin waved his hand.
"Then I'll take my leave." Zhang Chen bowed and left.
In the following days, Zhang Chen resumed his daily life. However, after Li Mumin went into seclusion to break through, he lost his source of demon blood and had to exchange with other outer sect spokespersons.
Moreover, in order not to arouse suspicion, he couldn't exchange too much in one place and had to run to several different places.
He had basically contacted all the spokespersons in the outer sect.
More importantly, he would be exploited by middlemen. A bowl of blood essence could only be exchanged for a pot of demon blood.
This made Zhang Chen often miss the days before Li Mumin went into seclusion.
Three months passed just like that.
One day, when Zhang Chen returned from the Internal Affairs Hall with demon blood, he found a seventh level Qi Refinement inner sect disciple standing outside his cave.
What's going on? Why is there an inner sect disciple outside my cave?
Zhang Chen's heart suddenly tightened, and he kept recalling his actions during this period of time.
He had always kept a low profile and tried his best to hide himself. Even if he was exchanging demon blood, he was very careful and wouldn't exchange with the same spokesperson consecutively.
No matter how much Zhang Chen thought about it, he could not think of a reason why an inner sect disciple would come to find him.
Good fortune could turn into misfortune, and misfortune couldn't be avoided.
If he kept avoiding, it would only arouse suspicion from others.
Zhang Chen adjusted his mentality and approached the inner sect disciple calmly, "Is there anything I can help you with, Senior Brother?"
"You're Zhang Chen?" The inner sect disciple looked Zhang Chen up and down.
He was indeed looking for him!
Zhang Chen's heart trembled, but he remained calm on the surface, "Yes, my name is Zhang Chen."
"My name is Dong Delang. I was entrusted by Senior Brother Li Mumin to invite you to his cave dwelling." Dong Delang did not have the airs of an inner sect disciple and was very polite.
"Has Senior Brother Li come out of seclusion?" Zhang Chen was delighted at first, and then asked cautiously, "I wonder if Senior Brother Li has successfully reached the Foundation Establishment realm?"
Dong Delang nodded. "Senior Brother Li reached the Foundation Establishment realm yesterday and became a direct disciple."
"That's great!" Zhang Chen was genuinely happy. Finally, he wouldn't have to find those spokespersons to exchange demon blood anymore.
"The first thing Senior Brother Li asked me to do after advancing was to look for Junior Brother. It seems that Junior Brother is very trusted by Senior Brother Li!" The reason why Dong Delang did not put on airs was obviously because of Zhang Chen's relationship with Li Mumin.
"I don't deserve it. I'm just doing my best for Senior Brother Li," Zhang Chen replied humbly.
"Zhang Junior Brother, let me take you to Senior Brother Li Mumin's new cave dwelling. Don't keep him waiting."
"Alright, please lead the way, Senior Brother Dong."
Zhang Chen followed Dong Delang to the place where the direct disciples lived.
Each direct disciple could choose a mountain as their private cave dwelling.
In the entire Blood God Sect, there were only more than one hundred direct disciples.
Only after reaching the Foundation Establishment realm could one be considered a true disciple of the Blood God Sect. These outer and inner sect disciples were just pigs raised by the sect to extract blood.