"Good."
Qin Shaoyang nodded repeatedly, taking out all the bones he had stored.
In an instant, all the spirit stones and bones he had on him were emptied. Only three spirit crystals remained. The rest of his belongings were all thrown into his storage ring.
"Alright, you can leave now." Zhou Yan put away the storage ring.
"Wait a moment."
Qin Shaoyang called out, stopping him.
His eyes filled with hatred as he said, "Zhou Yan, you killed two of my trusted subordinates and destroyed my flying sword. I, Qin Shaoyang, will not forget this enmity."
"What do you want?" Zhou Yan asked.
"Heh heh..."
Qin Shaoyang gave a sinister laugh and said, "Your Zhou family in Yunzhou City has immense power. If you are willing to come with me, I will spare your life. Otherwise, I will immediately notify the Qin family's ancestor and send experts to attack Yunzhou City."
"Are you threatening me?" Zhou Yan narrowed his eyes and asked.
"That's right, I'm threatening you. Who told you to be so arrogant?" Qin Shaoyang sneered. "If you're smart, you'll quickly come over and kowtow for forgiveness."
"Hahahahaha..."
Suddenly, Zhou Yan burst into laughter and said, "Qin Shaoyang, I originally intended to let you go, but I didn't expect you to be so stubborn."
"Huh?" Qin Shaoyang frowned.
"You just said that the Qin family's ancestor is a martial artist at the seventh level of Qi Gathering. However, you forgot one thing: I also have an ancestor."
Zhou Yan sneered, "Since you seek death, don't blame me for being ruthless."
With that, he raised his arm, and a black vortex appeared in his palm, with wisps of black mist surging out, transforming into a giant hand that suppressed Qin Shaoyang.
"This... this is..." Qin Shaoyang was startled.
The black giant hand was filled with corrosive energy, causing him immense dread, as if he had encountered the most evil entity in the world.
"I will take your stored bones. Consider this a gift for your good fortune," Zhou Yan said indifferently.
*Poof*
The black giant hand descended fiercely, crushing Qin Shaoyang's head.
Qin Shaoyang's soul scattered, vanishing completely.
Zhou Yan collected his storage ring and examined it briefly. He couldn't help but let out a wry smile. Inside the storage ring, apart from some ordinary treasures, there were only some medicinal herbs, which were of no help for cultivation.
"Alas, I am ultimately just a small figure..." Zhou Yan sighed emotionally. He had once thought that with the terrifying cultivation method of the 'Soul Devouring Secret Codex,' he could dominate Yunzhou, or even the entire continent. He never expected to be so humiliated here.
"All of this is because my strength is too weak. Otherwise, how could I be bullied like this?" Zhou Yan clenched his fists, vowing to increase his strength as quickly as possible.
He turned his head and looked at the corpse on the ground, sneering dismissively, "Trash like this dared to try and snatch my belongings. They were simply seeking their own demise."
Zhou Yan shook his head and walked directly to the edge of the blood pool.
The blood pool was a meter wide, its blood crimson and vibrant, moving as if it were alive.
"This blood... could it be..." Zhou Yan's heart pounded.
"This is Demonic Saint Blood. It is said to be able to temper the body and enhance one's physique..."
He took a deep breath, calming his mind. He extended his right index finger and pressed it into the blood pool.
"Buzz..."
Instantly, the blood pool trembled, as if sensing danger, it churned wildly, trying to escape.
"Swallow."
Zhou Yan roared, opening his mouth and spewing out blazing flames that enveloped the entire pool of blood.
With a whoosh, the blood was incinerated by the flames.
"Huh? No reaction?"
Zhou Yan frowned. He tried to control the blood, but it remained still.
"Strange."
Zhou Yan pondered. He clearly remembered that this blood pool could burn souls and had the effect of devouring souls.
Why was there no reaction when he touched it now?
"Hmph."
Zhou Yan snorted coldly, activating the Soul Devouring Secret Codex. A faint glow flickered.
"Condense for me," Zhou Yan commanded in a low voice.
*Whoosh*
In an instant, the blood pool churned, and wisps of blood mist permeated the air, instantly enveloping Zhou Yan, forming a thin membrane on his body.
"Hiss..."
Zhou Yan gasped, feeling an intense chill. It was as if he were in the depths of hell, surrounded by gloomy wails, making his scalp tingle and his hair stand on end.
"Hahahaha..."
"Zhou Yan, you are dead. How dare you offend the blood pool left by the ancestor? You are simply asking for death."
"You are dead! You are definitely dead!"
"No matter who you are, you will pay a terrible price."
At the same time, Qin Shaoyang's sinister laughter echoed.
He stood at the entrance, his eyes venomous and full of schadenfreude, as if he were certain that Zhou Yan was doomed.
"Damn it, why is this blood pool so strange?"
Zhou Yan's face contorted as he struggled desperately, but the blood mist was extremely viscous, and he couldn't shake it off.
The more he struggled, the thicker the blood mist became, gradually enveloping him and turning him into a blood-soaked figure.
"Bad!"
Zhou Yan was terrified.
This mass of blood mist was too terrifying. Even his mental power could not resist it, let alone break free.
"Zhou Yan, you don't need to struggle in vain anymore. Let me tell you, this blood pool is a treasure my father obtained from an ancient ruin. It contains infinite mysteries, and you can never break it."
"Not only that, but the blood pool is equipped with a restriction. As soon as you move even slightly, the restriction will activate and attack."
"My father once said that even a martial master at the sixth level of Qi Gathering could not withstand the blood pool's restriction. What's more, you are only at the fifth level of Qi Gathering, so death is inevitable." Qin Shaoyang laughed heartily, full of mockery.
Hearing this, Zhou Yan's expression changed drastically.
"I will kill you!"
The next moment, Zhou Yan roared in anger, his eyes turning red. He, a direct descendant of the Zhou family, was actually pushed to such a state. It was a disgrace!
*Boom*
His will was tenacious, and he refused to yield. Gritting his teeth, he channeled his internal true qi and madly attacked the restriction, trying to tear through the blood mist and escape.
"Hahahaha..."
"Zhou Yan, don't waste your energy. This restriction is extremely powerful, and you absolutely cannot break free. Just surrender obediently," Qin Shaoyang sneered.
"Damn it."
Zhou Yan roared in frustration.
Although he struggled with all his might, the blood mist was too strange, and he couldn't break free. He could only let the blood mist cover him, gradually penetrating his skin, merging into his bones, and eroding his bloodline...
"Ah..."
Zhou Yan let out a piercing scream. His body trembled, his face pale. He felt a burning heat all over his body, as if he were in a furnace, scorching him with pain.
"Haha... stop struggling."
Qin Shaoyang laughed heartily and said, "This blood pool can absorb your blood and essence, slowly draining everything from you."
"Your body will soon wither, and you will become a cripple. At that time, I can manipulate you at will. I will first cut off your tongue, then chop off your limbs, and then throw you into the blood pool to suffer and die."
Qin Shaoyang spoke venomously, his tone extremely cruel.