Upon hearing the words "blood oath," Zhang Daoling instantly panicked, exhibiting clear resistance.
However, in his current death-like state, his actions were at the mercy of others, making resistance impossible.
Thus, Ying Chen picked up Zhang Daoling's ring finger and lightly drew a line across it with his fingernail.
A bloodline slowly emerged, and a drop of blood, red with a hint of gold, trickled out.
Seeing this drop of blood, Ying Chen couldn't help but click his tongue, "I didn't expect my brother here to be close to achieving the Golden Mercury Body before he died. Impressive, very impressive!"
The Golden Mercury Body is a Daoist cultivation technique akin to alchemy. It requires practitioners to undergo repeated refinement and tempering, much like forging a nine-revolution golden elixir.
Until the ninth revolution is reached, the practitioner's blood will transform from red to gold.
At that point, they become impervious to blades and spears, possessing bronze skin and iron bones, capable of unleashing terrifying power like a vast ocean with a casual strike.
Zhang Daoling's blood, red with a hint of gold, indicated he was only one revolution away from the ninth. With another sixty-year cycle of cultivation, he would have almost achieved the perfected state of the Golden Mercury Body.
Alas, fate granted Zhang Daoling no more time, leading to his premature demise.
Otherwise, had Zhang Daoling cultivated the Golden Mercury Body, he would not have needed the aid of top-tier materials like the Phoenix Feather Golden Thunder Bamboo to withstand the passage of time and await the spiritual energy resurgence.
After obtaining Zhang Daoling's blood, Ying Chen likewise made a cut on his own ring finger.
A drop of blood also emerged.
However, Ying Chen's drop of blood was vastly different from Zhang Daoling's.
Ying Chen's drop of blood, like a crystal-clear dewdrop, emitted a radiant glow within the underground palace.
Witnessing this, the three elders, including Elder Dong, were all astonished.
Especially Elder Dong, his eyes were filled with longing and excitement.
If, prior to this, Elder Dong still harbored a sliver of doubt about Ying Chen, considering his purported path to immortality too ethereal; then now, Elder Dong was completely convinced.
Because he had seen Zhang Daoling, a living corpse who had lived for eighteen hundred years!
He had witnessed the various wonders displayed by Zhang Daoling!
And yet, in the face of such a marvel, Ying Chen was not at all inferior, completely dominating Zhang Daoling!
Even with just a small drop of blood, Ying Chen firmly suppressed Zhang Daoling.
Drip...
Ying Chen mixed Zhang Daoling's blood with his own.
The two drops of blood, like two celestial bodies with immense gravitational pull, attracted each other and slowly converged.
The moment they touched, a cluster of textual runes formed within the blood.
Then, with a thunderous sound, it shattered into two halves, each flying into the bodies of Ying Chen and Zhang Daoling respectively.
"Done! The blood oath is effective, and from now on, you are my good brother!" Ying Chen affectionately patted Zhang Daoling's shoulder and said.
Zhang Daoling responded with a tremor.
As for whether this tremor signified joy or anger, it remained unknown.
A blood oath was largely ineffective for ordinary people, but for cultivators, it served as a potent means of restraint.
This was because the rune oath, formed by the blood of both parties, would be embedded within their spiritual consciousness.
One could break it, and indeed, there might be no immediate adverse consequences.
However, when the time came to advance their cultivation realm, or during times of great peril when their soul wavered, the rune oath would transform into a demonic thought, not only hindering their progress but also claiming their lives.
Therefore, all cultivators dared not lightly break a blood oath.
A blood oath was akin to a golden fillet on one's head; harmless in normal times, but capable of inflicting unbearable pain at crucial moments.
"Suddenly having a younger brother feels like suddenly having a responsibility. Alas, the road ahead is long and arduous!"
Ying Chen shook his head and sighed.
It was as if he had suffered a great loss.
Zhang Daoling, on the other hand, completely feigned death, not even bothering to tremble anymore.
"You three have also seen that I have sworn brotherhood with Little Zhang. As Little Zhang's elder brother, I absolutely cannot stand idly by while his sarcophagus is desecrated. So, do you understand what I mean?"
Ying Chen looked at the three elders.
The three elders exchanged glances and revealed a hint of bitter smiles.
They certainly understood.
Ying Chen wanted to claim Zhang Daoling's sarcophagus for himself!
In the past, they might have strongly objected, as Ying Chen had previously agreed to hand it over to the state.
But now, not only was the successful excavation of Zhang Daoling's underground palace entirely Ying Chen's credit, with the three of them merely playing a supporting role.
The fact that Zhang Daoling was not dead, but a living corpse in a dormant state, made it inconvenient to hand him over to the state.
Who would hand over a living person to the state?
What if some leader, on a whim, decided to preserve Zhang Daoling in formalin?
Wouldn't that be tantamount to murder on their part?
Therefore, after exchanging glances, the three of them unanimously nodded, "Mr. Ying, you are our boss, and we will follow all your instructions."
Ying Chen nodded with satisfaction, "Very good. I thank you on behalf of my brother. If you are fortunate enough to experience that grand transformation of heaven and earth, I believe my brother will not be ungrateful."
Hearing Ying Chen repeatedly mention some "grand transformation of heaven and earth" piqued the curiosity of the three elders.
However, they understood that such matters likely belonged to the highest echelons of secrets among Xuanmen cultivators. Otherwise, even a patriarch like Zhang Daoling wouldn't be calculating and waiting for such a transformation.
Even if they asked, Ying Chen might not reveal it.
Wisely, none of them spoke to inquire.
Ying Chen then casually closed Zhang Daoling's sarcophagus lid and squinted at the ceiling of the underground palace.
It was now in ruins.
Especially the central area, which had collapsed and was in disarray due to the destruction of the Yang Ping Zhi Du Gong Seal.
However, around the edges of the ceiling, twelve faint lights still flickered.
These were the Twelve Yuan Chen Xuan Yin Bells.
Originally, there was only one Twelve Yuan Chen Xuan Yin Bell, but Zhang Daoling had divided it into twelve parts, each representing a different hour, and embedded them into the ceiling.
If one were to forcibly remove them, not only would it be uncertain if the Twelve Yuan Chen Xuan Yin Bells could be restored, but even if they were, their efficacy would be greatly diminished.
Ying Chen's gaze flickered, and he fell into deep thought.
He absolutely had to obtain the Twelve Yuan Chen Xuan Yin Bells, otherwise, he couldn't remove the Life-Locking Gu from Nannan's mind.
Yet, he couldn't forcibly remove them and take them back to Jianghai.
This left only one option: bring Nannan here!
With this thought, Ying Chen looked at Professor Li, "This underground palace is to be kept confidential for now. Do not publicize it. I still have plans for it."
"Furthermore, this is for your own good. The most valuable artifact in the underground palace, the Myriad Demon Figurines, has been shattered. Even if it were publicized and exhibited now, the world would struggle to comprehend its value and be awed by it."
"During this time, you can promptly collect the powder of these Myriad Demon Figurines. Based on the photos and videos you've taken, replicate them one-to-one."
"Although these will be replicas, they will be made using materials from eighteen hundred years ago. Therefore, even under the most rigorous authentication, their authenticity cannot be questioned. I believe you understand this point better than I do, and you are more professional."
Upon hearing Ying Chen's words, the three elders, who had been worrying, suddenly had a revelation.
Right, why hadn't they thought of this?
Using materials from eighteen hundred years ago to recreate artifacts, even carbon-14 dating wouldn't be able to determine their authenticity.
This would not only recreate the magnificent scene of the Myriad Demon Figurines but also provide an explanation to their superiors and the public!
Otherwise, if they were to hand over a pile of ruins directly to them and the public, they would be severely criticized.
"Okay, I'll contact people to start working on it immediately!"
"The replicas cannot be made within the underground palace. The powder must be transported out and a separate location found for replication. And they cannot be referred to as artifacts from Zhang Daoling's underground palace; they can only be called handicrafts."
"The entire process needs to be kept secret, so only trustworthy individuals can be involved."
"I've got someone!"
Without delay, Elder Dong immediately thought of someone and eagerly began making arrangements.