He died.
Gao Yucheng had died like this.
Moreover, his eyes remained open, unblinkingly staring at the world.
He couldn't seem to fathom that, despite all his calculations and plans, he had ended up dead.
Gao Zanhu also opened his eyes at this moment. He had witnessed Gao Yucheng's murder by a mysterious person.
He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he said nothing at all.
Praying mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind – in an instant, he understood the entire situation.
No matter how meticulously he had planned, who could have expected that there was still an "oriole" hidden behind?
The newcomer was naturally Lu Changsheng.
He had followed the five martial artists all the way to the underground secret chamber.
However, the five martial artists remained clueless.
Lu Changsheng personally witnessed this tragedy of brother killing brother and son killing father.
Lu Changsheng bent down and picked up the Blood Exchange Pearl from Gao Yucheng's hand. The surface of the pearl seemed unremarkable, but he had taken action precisely because of this pearl!
The Blood Exchange Pearl appeared to be capable of helping martial artists achieve the Divine Power Realm. Such a treasure was hard to come by, and naturally, Lu Changsheng was tempted.
Furthermore, the people of the Gao family were not upstanding individuals, much like the five martial artists.
Lu Changsheng stashed the Blood Exchange Pearl away and then gripped his dagger, his gaze falling upon the five martial artists lying paralyzed on the ground.
These five martial artists shivered all over and had a growing sense of foreboding.
"Since you've obtained the Blood Exchange Pearl, please spare us. We are..."
These five individuals had just begun to reveal their identities.
"Whoosh."
Lu Changsheng's figure vanished in an instant, and a white light flashed.
The five martial artists convulsed, their blood flowing freely as they slowly lost their breath.
They were dead.
Before they could even disclose their identities, Lu Changsheng had killed them.
Lu Changsheng had no interest in knowing their identities.
Some people were better off dead, as knowing their identities would only be troublesome.
Lu Changsheng crouched down again and carefully searched the bodies.
This was a good habit he couldn't afford to lose.
Unfortunately, the five individuals had nothing on them.
Lu Changsheng slowly stood up, turned his head to look at Gao Zanhu, and now, only Gao Zanhu remained.
"How do you use the Blood Exchange Pearl?"
Suddenly, Lu Changsheng asked.
"Your voice..."
Gao Zanhu heard Lu Changsheng's voice, and he widened his eyes, seeming to realize something. His voice trembled as he said, "It's you..."
Evidently, Gao Zanhu had guessed Lu Changsheng's identity.
"Hahaha, I didn't expect to be the one who let the wolf into the house."
"You must be here for the Blood Exchange Pearl, right?"
"Well, you've killed those five people as well. You'll only take the Blood Exchange Pearl and won't seize control of Gao Family Manor. That's the silver lining in our misfortune."
"I'll tell you how to use the Blood Exchange Pearl. You just need to cut open a wound on your body and insert the pearl into the wound. The Blood Exchange Pearl will slowly melt and merge with your blood."
"I still have a younger son and daughter. I hope you spare them; they know nothing."
Gao Zanhu's eyes held a hint of pleading.
"I only want the Blood Exchange Pearl!"
After a long while, Lu Changsheng spoke.
"Whoosh."
The next moment, Lu Changsheng's dagger lightly cut Gao Zanhu's throat.
Lu Changsheng couldn't let Gao Zanhu go because he had already guessed his identity.
However, Gao Zanhu's younger son and daughter, whom he had never met, would not be harmed.
Gao Zanhu covered his throat and quickly fell silent.
Lu Changsheng searched Gao Zanhu's body but found nothing.
Then, one by one, he began to open the secret chambers.
The secret chambers contained a large amount of supplies, including food, ironware, armor, weapons, and more.
Lu Changsheng had no interest in these items; he wanted to find martial arts techniques and skills.
Unfortunately, it seemed there were no martial arts techniques or skills in the secret chambers.
What Lu Changsheng wanted most were Divine Power Realm martial arts techniques.
Even though he couldn't achieve the Divine Power Realm yet, gaining an early understanding of it would greatly benefit him.
Regrettably, there were no Divine Power Realm martial arts techniques in the secret chambers, or perhaps they were hidden in a more secretive place that Lu Changsheng couldn't find.
After searching for a while without success, Lu Changsheng gave up.
He left the underground secret chamber and closed the door.
The secret chamber was well-hidden, known only to the past generations of Gao Family Manor's leaders.
Even if the Gao family realized that Gao Zanhu, Gao Yucheng, and Gao Yuzhi had all disappeared and launched an extensive search, they wouldn't find them in the short term.
Afterward, Lu Changsheng returned to his room.
He even heard the steady breathing of several apprentices and their master, Wu Jing, in the adjacent room.
Their breathing was steady, a sign that they had entered deep sleep.
Only then did Lu Changsheng feel at ease.
He wasn't in a hurry to sleep; instead, he took out the Blood Exchange Pearl from his pocket.
The Blood Exchange Pearl seemed to be made of an unknown material.
Holding the Blood Exchange Pearl, he felt a faint, icy-cold sensation.
This Blood Exchange Pearl was truly a supreme treasure, and Lu Changsheng didn't want to delay using it any longer, lest the night grow long.
Lu Changsheng took out his dagger directly and exposed his arm.
With a light cut...
"Swish."
A gash appeared on his arm, and blood gushed out.
Lu Changsheng immediately placed the Blood Exchange Pearl on the wound.
A miraculous scene unfolded.
Upon contact with fresh blood, the Blood Exchange Pearl visibly and rapidly "melted."
It seemed to integrate with the blood, spreading throughout his body along the veins.
Lu Changsheng closed his eyes, carefully experiencing the effects of the Blood Exchange Pearl.
He could faintly sense a cold aura attaching itself to the region around his heart with each heartbeat.
"Dong, dong, dong."
With every beat of his heart, the cold aura would radiate out and quickly circulate throughout his body.
Under the continuous spread of this cold aura, Lu Changsheng distinctly felt impurities being gradually expelled from his body.
He even lightly circulated his energy and blood.
"Boom."
To his surprise, his energy and blood began to rise once more. This was unbelievable.
His energy and blood had already reached their peak, and theoretically, they should not have been able to increase further without advancing to the Divine Power Realm.
However, the reality was right before his eyes.
Lu Changsheng used the Blood Exchange Pearl, and even his blood and energy, which had reached their limits, unexpectedly increased once more.
However, Lu Changsheng had a faint understanding of the reason.
"To ascend to the Divine Power Realm, one needs to open the Life and Death Profound Gateway, undergo the Marrow Exchange, and be reborn."
"But, by relying on the Blood Exchange Pearl, one can directly 'exchange blood,' essentially completing half of the Marrow Exchange in advance."
"With the Blood Exchange Pearl, it is indeed much easier to ascend to the Divine Power Realm."
The Blood Exchange Pearl within Lu Changsheng's body was truly a supreme treasure, no wonder so many people coveted it.
At the current rate and efficiency of blood exchange, Lu Changsheng would need at least a month to complete the entire process.
During this month, his physical qualities would also undergo an all-around improvement as a result of the blood exchange.
This was another form of rebirth.
Lu Changsheng also attempted to practice the "Frigid Bone Forging Technique."
He found that the efficiency of practicing the Frigid Bone Forging Technique had greatly increased.
Despite not having ice blocks or using medicinal meals, the efficiency had undeniably improved.
"The most crucial point about the Blood Exchange Pearl is that it doesn't seem to affect my future Marrow Exchange when I open the Life and Death Profound Gateway."
"In other words, if I successfully open the Life and Death Profound Gateway and undergo the Marrow Exchange in the future, it's equivalent to a second blood exchange."
"With each blood exchange, the quality of my physical body will undergo a significant improvement. Once I achieve the Divine Power Realm, due to the double blood exchange, my strength will far surpass those of the same level!"
Lu Changsheng was very satisfied.
This trip to Gao Family Manor had yielded tremendous rewards!