"Bastard!" Zhou Yan cursed.
He had held onto a sliver of hope, but in the end, it was all for naught.
"I'll kill you..." Zhou Yan roared, his eyes bloodshot, looking like a madman.
"You think I'm still the same as three years ago?" Qin Shaoyang sneered.
Three years ago, he had just entered Tianhuang City. His strength was far inferior to Qin Shaofeng's, and he could only be humiliated by Qin Shaofeng before fleeing, narrowly saving his life.
"Today is your death day!"
Qin Shaoyang's eyes filled with venom as he stared coldly at Zhou Yan, his hatred boundless. He waved his hand, and two men in black stepped forward, taking out ropes and binding Zhou Yan tightly to the stone platform.
"Let me go, you beasts." Zhou Yan roared frantically, his eyes bloodshot, like a ferocious beast ready to devour someone.
"Shut up. Once I get the elixir, you'll recover your health." Qin Shaoyang glanced at Zhou Yan mockingly and turned to leave the blood pool.
Long after his figure had disappeared, Zhou Yan's curses finally stopped.
"Cough, cough..."
Zhou Yan coughed violently, feeling a burning pain in his throat, almost spitting out more blood.
"What's going on?"
Zhou Yan was stunned. He could clearly feel his blood draining at a terrifying speed, his body extremely weak, making it difficult even to lift his hand.
"No, I must break through to the fifth level of Qi Gathering quickly."
Zhou Yan's eyes snapped open, and he looked at the blood pool, his mind racing.
This blood pool was a sacred land for cultivation. If he missed this opportunity, he would regret it for life.
"Boy, have you made up your mind? Hand over the elixir, and I'll spare your dog life." Qin Shaoyang's playful voice echoed.
"Pah! Dream on!" Zhou Yan retorted fiercely.
"Alas, since you seek death, I won't stop you." Qin Shaoyang said with a sigh.
Immediately, he led the black-clothed men out of the cave.
"Heh heh..."
Zhou Yan smiled faintly, sat down cross-legged, and activated the "Blood Devouring Demonic Art," continuously absorbing the blood mist from the blood pool.
"I want to see if your restrictions are more powerful, or if my 'Blood Devouring Demonic Art' is superior." Zhou Yan murmured, fully activating the "Blood Devouring Demonic Art."
In an instant, the surrounding blood mist converged above his head.
The blood mist formed a vortex and poured madly into his body, causing the blood within him to grow rapidly, reaching its peak in a short time.
"Hmm? This blood mist can actually modify blood. What a pity it's too scarce."
Zhou Yan frowned slightly and continued to absorb, but found the speed of the blood mist slowing down, clearly reaching its limit.
"This blood mist can indeed temper the body and improve the quality of the blood."
Zhou Yan mused to himself and suddenly understood.
His mind raced as he pondered countermeasures. Then, his gaze fell upon the blood pool, and a hint of joy appeared in the depths of his eyes.
"This blood pool is enough for me to cultivate for several months, or even half a month. By then, I might be able to transform with the help of the blood pool and become a martial artist at the fifth level of Qi Gathering," Zhou Yan murmured to himself.
"It's a pity that my cultivation has already reached the peak of the fourth level of Body Tempering. If I could devour blood mist from the fifth level of Qi Gathering, I would surely break through smoothly, but it would take half a month."
"But now, hehe..."
Zhou Yan sneered and suddenly got up, leaping towards the stone platform.
"Huh?"
Seeing this, Qin Shaoyang frowned.
"Brother Shaoyang, what's wrong?" Qin Shaoyang asked.
"It's nothing, I just feel like what he's doing is a complete waste of time." Qin Shaoyang shook his head.
"He is a martial master, after all. Let's observe the situation."
Qin Shaoyang waved his hand.
"Yes."
Qin Shaoyang nodded and said no more.
Within the blood pool, the blood mist continued to surge towards Zhou Yan.
As the blood mist entered his body, Zhou Yan could clearly perceive the changes in his blood. Simultaneously, a special piece of information appeared in his mind, causing him to open his mouth in shock.
This information was the cultivation manual for the "Blood Devouring Demonic Art."
"Blood Devouring Demonic Art, it's actually a demonic art. No wonder I always felt a great hidden danger within me. This Blood Devouring Demonic Art seems a bit peculiar."
Zhou Yan's mind raced.
Soon, he found his blood boiling more intensely.
"Bad! My blood is boiling! This is clearly a sign of an imminent breakthrough. I must break through quickly, or I'll surely die!" Zhou Yan became anxious.
"Breakthrough for me!"
Zhou Yan shouted and immediately activated the "Blood Devouring Demonic Art," desperately drawing in the surrounding blood mist.
His body began to glow crimson.
As the blood mist entered his body, Zhou Yan's figure became blurry, as if he had transformed into someone else, exuding a strong scent of blood.
"As expected of a demonic art inherited from the Blood Spirit Sect, it can actually purify the blood mist significantly," Zhou Yan murmured.
"This feeling... it's so wonderful. My blood is transforming..."
Zhou Yan roared to the sky excitedly.
"Crack..."
Suddenly, a light cracking sound came from within his body.
"Fifth level of Qi Gathering?" Zhou Yan was pleasantly surprised.
"Congratulations, Master, on your successful breakthrough."
"Master's talent is truly formidable. You managed to break through successfully in just three days. You are truly a prodigy, and I am in awe."
"After Master breaks through, you will surely be able to sweep across the entire Yunshan County and reign supreme."
The two men beside Qin Shaofeng prostrated themselves on the ground, shouting excitedly.
"Scram!"
Zhou Yan growled and walked directly towards Qin Shaofeng.
"Master? Are you calling us brothers?" The two looked confused.
"Don't ask what you shouldn't, or I'll send you to your deaths immediately." Zhou Yan glared coldly at the two.
"This... Yes."
The two trembled in their hearts and quickly bowed in salute.
Then, they hurried away.
Although they saw the clue, they dared not ask again.
"Whoosh!"
Zhou Yan let out a deep sigh of relief and said, "That was close! Fortunately, I was prepared and managed to fool them."
"Master, what do we do now?"
Qin Shaofeng asked.
"What else can we do?"
Zhou Yan gave a bitter smile and said, "My injuries are too severe. To recover, I fear I would need hundreds of pounds of high-level demonic beast blood essence. You two help me guard me; I need to cultivate diligently."
"Yes."
Qin Shaofeng nodded quickly.
"Hmm?"
Just as Zhou Yan was about to enter the blood pool, he suddenly sensed something amiss. He turned his head and was stunned.
At this moment, a colossal creature lay beside the blood pool.
"Is this... a Dragon Python?"
Zhou Yan's face was blank, and he couldn't help but exclaim.
He was certain he hadn't killed the Dragon Python!
"Roar..."
Hearing the voice, the Dragon Python suddenly opened its blood-red eyes.
It was already severely injured, and its rest was disturbed, so it roared angrily.
"Holy cow..."
Zhou Yan jumped up in panic.
He never expected this Dragon Python to be alive and well, able to stand up.
"You... you're not dead?" Zhou Yan said in horror.