Translator: Cinder Translations
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Three days ago.
At a place more than ten miles away from the Cheng family, the Sacred Gu discovered a large underground cave, which contained a blood pool several meters in size.
The blood pool was already dry.
In one corner of the cave, a large number of corpses were piled up.
Worms crawled over many of the bodies.
Clearly, the time of death was not long ago, likely within the past month.
The Blood Demon did not kill people just to bleed them; it had constructed a blood pool to collect blood and refine essence.
Evidently, the sharp decrease in the Cheng family's population was not solely caused by the Blood Demon; many had fallen victim to the treachery of their own kin.
Cheng Ruida's slaughter of his family members certainly had ulterior motives.
Song Wen did not wish to get involved in the affairs of the Cheng family, which was why he wanted to leave.
Cheng Ruida glanced at Song Wen and then at Zuo Shuiyun.
"Are you both really not planning to stay a few more days in the Cheng family?"
"No, thank you for your kindness," Song Wen declined.
Cheng Ruida's originally friendly expression turned somewhat sinister.
"It seems you've discovered something. I had wanted to discuss this with you two, but now it seems I must resort to a bit of force."
"Cheng Han, why don't you reveal yourself?"
Cheng Ruida shouted violently!
Suddenly, in the courtyard of the Cheng family, a figure shot into the sky, swiftly flying towards them on a sword.
Zuo Shuiyun's face changed, looking somewhat grim.
"Cheng Ruida, what do you mean by this?"
Song Wen also appeared surprised; the Cheng family actually had a hidden foundation-building cultivator.
Having stayed at the Cheng family for a few days, he hadn't noticed a thing, which meant that the other party was hiding within a formation that could conceal their presence.
However, the newcomer was only an initial-stage foundation-building cultivator, not enough to threaten Song Wen.
Cheng Ruida and Cheng Han surrounded Song Wen and Zuo Shuiyun from the front and back.
"Elder Zuo, Elder Wu, don't be alarmed. I mean you no harm; I just wish to ask for your help in refining a type of elixir," Cheng Ruida said.
Cheng Ruida was a mid-stage foundation-building cultivator, and with Cheng Han's assistance, he was confident he could keep the initial-stage Song Wen and Zuo Shuiyun here.
"Cheng Ruida, think carefully. Elder Wu and I are both elders of the Beastmaster Sect. If you dare to lay hands on us, the sect will not spare you or the Cheng family," Zuo Shuiyun said with a fierce tone but a hint of trepidation.
Cheng Ruida smiled faintly, clearly not taking Zuo Shuiyun's threats to heart.
"Elder Zuo has misunderstood. I truly have no ill intentions. As long as you assist me in refining the elixir and swear a soul oath not to disclose the matters of the Cheng family, once the task is completed, not only will I let you both leave safely, but I will also present each of you with three thousand spirit stones as a reward."
"If you insist on opposing me, then I will have no choice but to be ruthless. Even if the Beastmaster Sect holds the Cheng family accountable afterward, what does that have to do with you? You will already have returned to the underworld."
Cheng Ruida brandished a whip in one hand and a sugar stick in the other, pressuring Song Wen and Zuo Shuiyun to comply.
"Refining elixirs?" Zuo Shuiyun said, somewhat skeptical.
She looked at Song Wen, waiting for him to make a decision.
She realized that she had somewhat underestimated this low-key Elder Wu in the past.
Since Song Wen could uncover Cheng family's scheme, perhaps he could make a more accurate choice.
Song Wen replied, "Elder Zuo, since the Cheng family has sincerely invited us, let's lend them a helping hand."
Zuo Shuiyun looked at Song Wen in surprise; she hadn't expected him to agree so readily.
A glimmer of killing intent flashed in Song Wen's eyes.
He was quite satisfied with his days in the Beastmaster Sect and did not want to stir up trouble.
He had originally wanted to avoid the affairs of the Cheng family.
However, since Cheng Ruida wanted to seek death, he could only play along and satisfy his own curiosity.
What exactly was Cheng Ruida plotting by ruthlessly slaughtering his own kin?
Cheng Ruida laughed heartily, "Good! Those who know how to adapt are true heroes. Elder Wu is indeed wise to assess the situation. Please wait a moment; once I subdue the Blood Demon, I will discuss the elixir with you in detail."
After saying this, he gave Cheng Han a glance, signaling him to keep an eye on Song Wen and Zuo Shuiyun.
Then, Cheng Ruida raised his hand, and seven sealing nails flew out.
The barrier of the formation trapping the Blood Demon suddenly cracked open a small opening at the top.
The sealing nails shot through the opening like meteors.
Like the fangs of a poisonous snake, they swiftly and mercilessly pierced into the Blood Demon's body.
The Blood Demon had its meridians sealed by the nails, unable to summon its internal spiritual power, and its breath instantly became weak as it fell to the ground helplessly.
In its crimson eyes, despair and helplessness shone through.
Cheng Ruida retracted the formation and threw out a chain.
The chain twisted and changed shape like a spirit snake, tightly binding the Blood Demon.
Cheng Ruida grabbed one end of the chain, pulling the Blood Demon to his side.
Looking at the Blood Demon, its body a bloody mess yet still baring its teeth at him, Cheng Ruida spoke contemptuously.
"You beast, you will never escape my grasp."
Dragging the Blood Demon, Cheng Ruida approached Song Wen and Zuo Shuiyun.
"Please, esteemed elders."
After saying this, he dragged the Blood Demon deeper into the Cheng family's premises.
It was as if he were completely unconcerned that Song Wen and Zuo Shuiyun would take the opportunity to escape.
Song Wen followed suit, flying into the Cheng family's grounds.
Zuo Shuiyun glanced back at the direction they came from, then at the figures of Song Wen and Cheng Ruida, hesitating for a moment before ultimately deciding not to escape alone.
Soon, the four arrived at the Cheng family's alchemy room.
The alchemy room was constructed from large stones, comprising over ten rooms for alchemy.
Cheng Ruida held a square token and inserted it into the stone wall of one of the alchemy rooms.
The stone door of the alchemy room opened.
Once inside the alchemy room, Cheng Ruida inserted another token into the wall.
A hole suddenly appeared on the floor of the alchemy room.
"Please follow me."
Cheng Ruida jumped into the hole first.
Song Wen, who followed closely, did not act recklessly.
As he approached the edge of the hole, a Sacred Gu slipped from the bottom of his shoe and fell into the hole.
After the Sacred Gu confirmed that there was no danger ahead, Song Wen jumped into the hole.
After falling for about several dozen meters, a vast underground cave came into view.
The cave was adorned with a qi-concealing formation, somewhat similar to Song Wen's "Qi Concealment Formation." It was also a second-grade formation, primarily designed to conceal one's presence, making it difficult for outsiders to notice anything within the cave.
Having spent several days at the Cheng family, Song Wen realized he had not detected Cheng Han's presence; he could very well be hiding within this cave.
At the center of the cave stood a tall alchemy furnace.
Three cushions surrounded the furnace.
Once all four entered the cave, Cheng Ruida spoke.
"I invited you here to assist me in refining a certain elixir. This alchemy process is extremely complicated and time-consuming. I find it difficult to sustain it alone."
Then, he tossed two jade slips, which flew towards Song Wen and Zuo Shuiyun.
"The slips contain the formula and the techniques for refining this elixir. I originally planned to invite a senior alchemist and Cheng Han to assist me in the refining process."
"But I didn't expect that the sect would send two peak elders here, which is even better. Cheng Han won't be needed; he's not skilled in alchemy."
(End of the Chapter)
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