Chapter 214: What the Hell is This Ghost Story?
At the bottom of the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool, a dark red world lay still and silent. In the center, there was a vortex, constantly swallowing the surrounding dark red matter, resembling a bottomless black hole that devoured everything around it.
If someone were nearby at this moment, they would notice that a figure was seated at the very center of this black hole.
Sky-blue flames surrounded the figure, and beneath it was a green lotus. The terrifying suction force continuously absorbed everything around, turning the vast energy, filled with intense fire poison, into the purest form of energy, nourishing the figure's meridians and muscles.
The dark red energy contained overwhelming power. Even though it had been purified by the heavenly flame and green lotus, the burning sensation it carried was still unbearable.
It was like swallowing scalding hot water—the pain was unimaginable.
However, to Yao Yan, this was nothing. Over the course of his journey, he had endured far worse. To become the strongest, pain was the most basic test. If one couldn't endure a little pain, how could they go far on the path of cultivation?
"At this rate, in a while, I can attempt to break through to Dou Zong!"
Yao Yan felt the changes in his Dou Qi and body and could roughly assess his current state. He was now just a step away from Dou Zong. What he had been lacking before was the accumulation of Dou Qi, and now the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool had fully compensated for that.
Cultivation can be sped up with external objects, but some crucial stages can only be crossed on one's own.
For example, the threshold from Dou Huang to Dou Zong.
Using a breakthrough pill, one could easily cross over, but that would waste an opportunity—a chance to comprehend the heavens and earth. The transition from Dou Huang to Dou Zong was a transformation, and the Dou Zong stage was more about comprehending the power of space. Only by mastering the power of space to perfection could one qualify to enter the Dou Zun level.
This process was different from the earlier stages of cultivation, where one just needed to accumulate Dou Qi. From Dou Zong onward, one had to begin comprehending the power of space—or the power of heaven and earth.
After all, a Dou Sheng level expert could create a small world with just their own strength.
Such methods were considered divine.
Time passed slowly. Despite the dryness and pain of the cultivation, Yao Yan felt no annoyance in his heart. There was nothing more enjoyable than feeling his power growing… aside from matters between men and women, of course. After all, that wasn't something he could control. A man could control his thoughts and actions, but he absolutely couldn't control his "little brother."
Even when he met a woman he liked, he would still make the choice for a man.
...
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Yao Yan's absorption of the dark red energy had not stopped. His body seemed to never get full, constantly absorbing the overwhelming energy that poured in, merging into his limbs and bones. His aura was now more than two or three times stronger than before, and even without doing anything, he exuded a terrifying pressure.
As the power within his body continued to grow, several of his Dou Emperor bloodlines began to further awaken. Their awakening clearly relied on the nourishment of the vast energy, and the energy of the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool was the best nourishment.
"…This energy is truly amazing," Yao Yan's eyelids flickered. He suddenly felt a bit surprised, as he noticed that his Hun was also being nourished by this energy, moving toward the so-called "Heavenly Realm" level.
The energy of the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool could not only refine the body, but also the Hun power.
Even at the peak of his Hun realm, he could still clearly feel the refining sensation. In just over a month, he could distinctly feel his Hun power growing stronger, bringing him a step closer to the Heavenly Realm.
In addition, Yao Yan felt his body was 'hungry,' needing vast amounts of energy to continue nourishing it.
This hunger clearly came from the several Emperor-level bloodlines.
When Yao Yan merged them, he was still at a youthful stage, which increased his talent considerably. But these Dou Emperor bloodlines had clearly not fully awakened. After all, with his body at the time, he could not bear the full power of several Emperor-level bloodlines.
Even the power of just one Emperor-level bloodline, when activated, could directly raise a cultivator's strength to the level of a Great Dou Master or even Dou Ling.
Let alone the combined power of several Dou Emperor bloodlines.
Once they were fully awakened, it would directly elevate Yao Yan's strength to the Dou Huang or even Dou Zong level.
As his power grew, those Dou Emperor bloodlines began to fully awaken, continuously enhancing Yao Yan's Dou Qi and body. Even his Hun power grew, and the so-called bottleneck seemed to vanish. The power contained within the Dou Emperor bloodlines directly wiped away the barriers to breakthroughs, like a wide road laid out in front of him, allowing him to run freely.
"Perhaps when I break through to Dou Zong, I can directly devour the Bone Spirit Cold Fire. With the combined forces of several powers, it might allow my Hun to directly reach the Heavenly Realm level!"
Yao Yan sensed the transformation within his body. His mind moved, and the Bone Spirit Cold Fire, located at his brow, drifted to his dantian. It was then enveloped by the refining route of Burning Decision, accelerating Yao Yan's transformation process.
At the same time, Yao Yan immersed his mind, using the power of space within his body to comprehend the power of this world.
Time seemed to become irrelevant at this moment.
Ten days, half a month, one month, two months...
Before long, over half a year had passed.
...
...
The outside world did not remain quiet for long. As the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool opened every three years, the Tianmu Mountain Range began to grow lively.
Young disciples from countless forces and families in the Central Plains flocked toward the Tianmu Mountain Range. There were also countless loose cultivators trying to fight for a spot in the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool, hoping to use its power to reach the Dou Zong level.
At this moment, at the volcano's mouth, two elderly figures stood with their hands behind their backs.
These two were naturally Jin Shi and Jin Gu of the Golden Rat Clan. Both of them watched the calm Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool with some indifference. The blood pool, which should have been overflowing with energy due to the triennial opening, was now in a dried-up state. It seemed as though something devouring the accumulated energy below had caused the blood pool to become parched.
"What kind of monster is this kid?" Jin Shi couldn't help but mutter.
The energy accumulated at the bottom was enough to make Jin Shi consider the possibility of breaking through to Dou Zun, but now it seemed as though the energy couldn't satisfy the kid, even causing the blood pool, which should have been shared by ten people, to dry up.
"I don't understand… but this has become troublesome. The Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool is about to open, but now there's been a change. We might not even be able to give out three spots. How are we going to explain this to the outside world?" Jin Gu shook his head. He didn't understand what Yao Yan was doing, but he knew how much trouble the Golden Rat Clan would face if the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool was affected.
Though the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool appeared to be under the control of the Golden Rat Clan, they were merely the guardians. Its openness was a result of an agreement with many forces outside. The two spots given were simply the Golden Rat Clan's fee for guarding it.
If something went wrong in any given year, the Golden Rat Clan would have to provide a reasonable explanation. Otherwise, those forces and families would never let it go.
After all, the Golden Rat Clan didn't have a Dou Zun guarding it. The powerful families and forces outside didn't take the Golden Rat Clan seriously.
Weaklings never had a say.
"Let Feng Zun come forward. This is beyond our ability to handle. Let him negotiate," Jin Shi said with a frown.
"It seems like that's the only option," Jin Gu nodded and then looked toward the still calm blood pool. He couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The Golden Rat Clan had a keen sense of energy, so he could vaguely feel the increasingly powerful aura coming from below. That terrifying vitality seemed as though some Gu beast was lurking beneath.
It was hard to imagine a human possessing such immense vitality, as if their life force surpassed everyone else's.
"Do you think he's from that clan?" Jin Gu suddenly asked.
"The Medicine Clan?"
Jin Shi's eyes narrowed, and he said in a deep voice.
As the Golden Rat Clan was the most well-informed, they weren't unfamiliar with the major imperial clans. Among them, the Medicine Clan had the most contact with the outside world, and they were naturally aware of their relationship with Pill Master. Considering that Yao Yan was a descendant of Pill Master, everything seemed to make sense.
If he was from that clan, it was easy to imagine the terrifying foundation he possessed. After all, the Dou Emperor bloodline never adhered to any rules. It naturally made one strong and was also a key factor in maintaining the dominance of the major imperial clans.
"Forget it, let's just do them a favor. Even if that kid drains it dry, we'll have to accept it," Jin Shi said after a moment of hesitation, sounding quite helpless.
Considering the current level of the blood pool, if Yao Yan continued absorbing it for another year or two, it would really be drained.
But stopping it now was obviously impossible.
Whether it was Pill Master or Feng Zun, neither were people they could provoke. There's a saying about sunk costs, and having lost so much already, a little more didn't matter.
Just as the two were speaking, the long-calm Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool finally reacted.
"Boom!"
A loud rumble echoed from deep within the blood pool, and the once tranquil Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool suddenly shook violently. The temperature of the surrounding area began to rise rapidly, and the energy tide that had gathered above the volcano also began to stir, emitting an ethereal mist that poured down like a waterfall toward the crater.
"What's going on? Is he about to break through?" Jin Gu swallowed nervously, saying in surprise.
Though the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool could help people break through to Dou Zong, actual breakthroughs happening on the spot were rare. Most people had to cultivate there for some time before attempting a breakthrough. Yao Yan was the first person to break through on the spot.
"This kid really doesn't fear any accidents!" Jin Shi couldn't help but mutter.
Breaking through from Dou Huang to Dou Zong was no easy feat, and there were many risks involved. If the breakthrough failed, it could lead to a regression in cultivation or even serious injury or death. Only a young person would dare to take such a risk.
Just as their conversation ended.
The energy tide from the sky began to spread outward, covering the entire Tianmu Mountain Range. In the center, a whirlpool formed, and the immense energy kept gathering toward the center.
From a distance, the entire Tianmu Mountain Range seemed to be enveloped by this strange phenomenon. The brilliant and violent energy scattered the usual fog that hid the mountains, creating a breathtaking scene.
This sudden change naturally attracted the attention of the entire Golden Rat Clan. Countless astonished eyes turned toward the sky, watching the ethereal and violent energy, which sent a wave of terror through many weaker members of the clan.
At the same time, the young disciples from other major forces who had arrived earlier also looked on in confusion, all showing signs of shock.
Within a thousand miles, many Dou Zong experts felt the change and looked toward the Tianmu Mountain Range.
"Is someone about to break through to Dou Zong again? This direction is the Tianmu Mountain Range… But the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool shouldn't open for another while. Could it be a strong person from the Golden Rat Clan breaking through? Truly lucky."
"The Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool, such an opportunity, but it will only benefit a group of magical beasts. What a shame. If only our sect could claim it… Well, we should send more disciples."
"The Golden Rat Clan is going to get stronger again. How enviable."
...
Outside, reactions were mixed, with many young disciples in the Tianmu Mountain Range expressing envy and longing.
Feng Zun's figure appeared high in the sky, gazing down at the Tianmu Mountain Range. He felt the constantly growing aura and a strange look appeared in his eyes. He muttered to himself, "What is this kid up to?"
At this moment, the aura emanating from deep within the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool had surpassed a three-star Dou Zong, and it was rapidly advancing toward four stars. This advancement speed was unheard of, and Feng Zun wondered if Yao Yan might end up exploding his body in the process.
Who breaks through to Dou Zong like this?!
He hesitated, wondering whether he should go stop him. With such a rapid increase in strength, he was genuinely worried that Yao Yan wouldn't be able to control it, leading to a catastrophic explosion.
But remembering his old friend's admiration for Yao Yan, Feng Zun pressed down his concerns and clenched his fist. "Forget it. With Pill Master's alchemy skills, even if this kid blows up his body, he can probably save him."
While Feng Zun gradually calmed down, Jin Shi and Jin Gu were feeling increasingly uneasy. They could clearly sense the oppressive force emanating from the life energy below. The pressure wasn't just from Dou Qi.
"Is this kid really just breaking through to Dou Zong?" Jin Gu asked, his voice trembling with fear as he turned to Jin Shi.
"I don't understand… The aura now is nearly at four-star Dou Zong… It's already surpassed that!" Jin Shi's eyes revealed shock as well. No wonder Yao Yan had been in the blood pool for so long, even absorbing most of the energy. This was no breakthrough to Dou Zong—he was clearly aiming for Dou Zun!
This kid isn't seriously planning to break through to Dou Zun all at once, is he?!
What the hell kind of ghost story is this?!
(END CHAPTER)
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