Chapter 147: Drink My Blood Wine, and There'll Be No Turning Back

Chapter 147: Drink My Blood Wine, and There'll Be No Turning Back

A cultivator's blood is actually an extremely valuable substance with countless applications.

One of its primary uses is for tracking and location.

Xiao Chen had encountered related artifacts early in his journey—the tracking compass gifted by Elder Chen. By dripping one's fingertip blood into the compass, the user could pinpoint the location of other compasses within a certain radius. This function remained effective even if the target compass was stored inside a storage bag, though the range would be reduced.

If the user was a master of blood-based techniques, these limitations could be further relaxed.

Dongfang Xingzhe happened to be an expert in blood manipulation.

Before even reaching the cave, he had already detected the unique scent of fresh blood, allowing him to directly locate Xiao Chen hiding inside.

Even within the Divine Flame Cult, only a select few knew that Dongfang Xingzhe had participated in compiling nearly all the techniques in the Blood Refinement Divine Manual. Those crimson characters weren't metaphorical—they were literally written in blood, including a portion of Dongfang Xingzhe's own.

This was just one reason for his confidence.

Another was that he had already used secret techniques to probe Xiao Chen's spiritual roots and bone age. The youth was young and possessed mediocre talent, yet had reached the Foundation Building stage—a feat nearly impossible without demonic cultivation methods.

This led Dongfang Xingzhe to mistakenly identify Xiao Chen as a wild demonic cultivator drawn to the blood path.

Dongfang Xingzhe's primary mission in infiltrating Li Zhou was precisely to recruit such wild demonic cultivators to destabilize the Lihuo Sect's rear lines, preventing them from reinforcing the Spirit Origin Sect.

"What divine lord?" Xiao Chen replied, half-acting but partly genuine. "I don't understand what you're saying."

"It's good to be cautious", Dongfang Xingzhe said with a smile. He formed a hand seal, and crimson blood beads immediately appeared on his fingertips—a gesture to prove his identity as a demonic cultivator.

Then, he subtly exuded a late Foundation Building stage aura: "Let me be honest—I am one of the Four Guardians of the Divine Flame Cult. I can offer you power and spirit stones—ten or even a hundred times what you've ever possessed. Join us, and these will be yours for the taking."

Xiao Chen finally understood—though he couldn't fathom why, the man clearly wanted to recruit him.

He played along: "How can I trust your words?"

At this question, Dongfang Xingzhe's lips curled upward. Offering substantial benefits made recruiting solitary cultivators almost laughably easy.

"It's simple—I can grant you power right now."

He slapped his storage bag and produced a thick manual: the Blood Refinement Divine Manual. "You should recognize this cultivation text, shouldn't you?"

"Go ahead—open it and see how it differs from the one you've seen before."

As Xiao Chen flipped through the pages, he realized the two manuals he'd previously obtained were merely abridged versions. This was the complete, authentic text.

Beyond the original three techniques, it contained far more advanced applications. Even more crucially, it introduced two entirely new techniques: the Nine Heavens Blood Transformation Art and the Blood Sacrifice Secret Technique.

The latter included a hand-drawn illustration of the Soul-Chasing Shuttle—identical to the flying shuttle Xiao Chen had discovered in Huangque Valley.

The preface to this technique bore eight characters: "Coated in impure blood, no defense remains unbroken."

Xiao Chen's gaze sharpened. He now understood the crimson light Song Family's patriarch had mentioned—one capable of piercing defensive formations. The Blood Sacrifice Secret Technique was clearly the source.

Reading further, he discovered the Soul-Chasing Shuttle's capabilities extended beyond formations. According to the manual, it could effectively counter a cultivator's protective body aura. A shuttle refined through successive layers of blood rituals could even bypass low-tier defensive spells to strike the cultivator directly.

This explained why Su Dechang had left no signs of resistance in Huangque Valley's courtyard. A surprise attack with the Soul-Chasing Shuttle would catch an unprepared cultivator off-guard. If they instinctively resisted with spells, the shuttle could deliver a fatal blow.

"What do you think?" Dongfang Xingzhe's voice dripped with temptation. "Join us, and this true cultivation method will be yours. Earn merit, and even greater secrets await."

"You needn't worry about lacking opportunities for glory. I'll first take you to hunt a Foundation Building cultivator to strengthen your power. By October, a grand feast awaits."

Xiao Chen pretended to ponder before tucking the manual into his robe and nodding. "Fine. If you're willing to help me grow stronger, I'll join the Divine Flame Cult. But let's be clear—I won't throw my life away recklessly. You must tell me first about this October feast."

Seeing Xiao Chen bite, Dongfang Xingzhe's smile deepened. "Patience. Since you've joined us, let's seal our bond with sacred wine."

He poured a goblet of blood wine from a small cauldron behind him. "Drink this, and from this moment, we are brothers."

This was no ordinary spirit wine—it was Dongfang Xingzhe's specially brewed poison. Any cultivator who drank it would be bound to his will, their life hanging by a thread of his command.

Though he had already identified Xiao Chen as a wild demonic cultivator, Dongfang Xingzhe harbored no complete trust. After all, no demonic cultivator was truly trustworthy. This control was necessary.

Xiao Chen accepted the goblet, instantly suspecting its treachery. Though protected by his Divine Veil, he feigned reluctance: "I don't drink."

Dongfang Xingzhe's late Foundation Building stage aura erupted like a storm: "Fellow cultivator, this jest falls flat."

"Drink this wine, and we are brothers. Drink, and I shall grant you the power and resources you desire."

He didn't threaten explicitly, but displaying his cultivation realm was warning enough.

Xiao Chen decided his act had lasted long enough. With a show of resolve, he downed the blood wine in one gulp.

The wine burned sweetly as it flowed into his dantian, surprisingly pleasant. He even felt like drinking more.

Flipping the goblet upside down, he declared, "I've drunk it. Now tell me—what is this October feast?"

Seeing Xiao Chen consume the wine, Dongfang Xingzhe felt reassured. His gaze shifted from wary to coldly dismissive.

Perfect. Another pawn to disrupt the Lihuo Sect had been secured.

Dongfang Xingzhe relaxed into a cross-legged position. "You've heard of the Lihuo Sect's Five Great Families, haven't you?"

Xiao Chen nodded.

Dongfang Xingzhe smirked. "Then let me tell you—after October, there will be only four left."

Xiao Chen's curiosity deepened.

Both Huangque Valley and Zhu County had been soft targets. Did they dare strike one of the Five Great Families?

When Dongfang Xingzhe paused, Xiao Chen protested, "No way! That's too dangerous! Just us two? We'd be throwing our lives away!"

Dongfang Xingzhe soothed him: "Rest assured—I wouldn't send you to die. Besides us, two more allies will join at Nanhu Lake in October. Follow my plans, and I guarantee you'll reach the late Foundation Building stage before then."

As if recalling something, he retrieved a map from his storage bag. "The Su family has only an elderly cultivator at the late Foundation Building stage guarding their main estate, plus three mid-stage cultivators stationed here and here."

"Leave the old man to me. You need only deal with a gluttonous layabout at the mid-stage."

His voice grew more enticing: "Imagine the Su family's accumulated wealth. Split their treasures with me, and you'll gain more spirit stones in one day than you could earn in ten lifetimes. We'll also obtain abundant Foundation Building Vital Blood—enough to cultivate to the ninth layer of Foundation Building."

Dongfang Xingzhe fixed Xiao Chen with a fiery gaze. "Can you envision that feast?"

Yet a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. Normally, greed or excitement would light up the listener's face. But Xiao Chen remained eerily calm, even asking, "Are there truly two other allies? Don't lie to me."

Despite his suspicion, Dongfang Xingzhe dismissed it—Xiao Chen had already drunk the blood wine. "Of course. They've already obtained sufficient Vital Blood for cultivation advancement. You'll meet them at Nanhu Lake."

Xiao Chen inwardly scoffed. He had no intention of waiting until October.

Pressing further, he asked, "Which sects are they from? What are their names? I know many friends in the Lihuo Sect's territory—perhaps I know them."

In truth, he knew few. But no matter—once he had their names, he could trace their lineages later.

Dongfang Xingzhe saw no deception: "If you know other allies, bring them along. As for these two—Cui Chongyun and Cao Honghai."

Xiao Chen memorized the names. "Ah, them! I've heard of them before."

With the critical intelligence secured, he prepared to turn the tables.

Dongfang Xingzhe then outlined his training plan.

Four hundred li southeast of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains lay a spirit mine guarded by a single mid-stage Foundation Building cultivator from the Lihuo Sect.

He would personally teach Xiao Chen to refine the Soul-Chasing Shuttle there for practical application.

This would serve two purposes: verifying the effectiveness of the demonic cultivation manual and obtaining enough Vital Blood for Xiao Chen to breakthrough to the late Foundation Building stage.

"But wait", Xiao Chen interjected, "wouldn't the Vital Blood of a mid-stage cultivator be insufficient for breaking through to late stage?"

He had studied the Blood Refinement Divine Manual before and understood the shortcuts of demonic cultivation techniques.

Despite its rapid progress, demonic cultivation techniques often face far greater difficulties when breaking through cultivation bottlenecks.

From what Xiao Chen understood, there were only two ways to advance from mid-stage foundation building to late-stage foundation building: either slay three cultivators of equal rank, or obtain the vital blood of a late-stage foundation-building cultivator.

Dongfang Xingzhe’s lips curled into a faint smile. “That goes without saying. If one relied solely on the Blood Refinement Divine Manual, there would indeed be limitations.”

“But I possess another legacy that can assist you.”

Another secret lineage?

After persistent pleading, Dongfang Xingzhe abandoned his original plan to teach Xiao Chen the Soul-Chasing Shuttle technique first. Instead, he orally transmitted a demonic cultivation method called the Yellow Spring Demon Fetus Art, a top-tier legacy from the Yellow Spring Sect.

By nurturing a demonic fetus within the cultivator’s abdomen, this technique tripled cultivation efficiency. However, its cost was steep. Not only did it require constant nourishment with the cultivator’s own vital energy, but the rapid advancement it granted was inherently unstable. Injuries sustained during duels or consuming pills that damaged vitality(End of Chapter)

Chapter end