Chapter 79

(Sorry for the late update)

"Chen Zong, if I, Xiao Wei, do not avenge today's humiliation, I will not be a man." Xiao Wei roared in anger as he ran down the mountain, his body covered in blood.

Behind him, Huang Biao carried Meng Yuanchong, his steps quick and his face pale, indicating that he had expended a great deal of energy and was severely injured.

...

The Dark Blood Mountain was eerily quiet, as if the shadow of a great battle still lingered, creating a heavy atmosphere.

Chen Zong, upon re-entering the Dark Blood Mountain, immediately sensed that the atmosphere was different from before.

As he moved forward, he saw no beasts at all. Gradually, Chen Zong noticed many chaotic marks on the ground, which were very fresh, clearly having just appeared.

"The battle was intense," Chen Zong observed the chaotic marks on the ground. "I wonder if both sides were severely injured? Or..."

Soon, Chen Zong saw the scorpion tail he had left on the ground, undamaged, and felt lucky.

Moving further, Chen Zong saw a robust figure leaning against the Blood Essence Fruit Tree. For some reason, it gave him a sense of a hero in his twilight years.

The Bloodthirsty Iron-Scale Beast had a wound about a meter long, cutting through its iron scales, with blood gushing out and staining half of its body. There were over a dozen smaller wounds, all oozing blood, indicating severe injuries. The most serious injury, however, was the knife embedded in its left eye, with only the hilt remaining.

Chen Zong recognized the short knife at a glance—it was the one Xiao Wei had.

"If that knife were a bit longer, it might have been fatal," Chen Zong thought.

As for Xiao Wei and the others, Chen Zong found no trace of them, estimating that they were still alive and had fled.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Zong's eyes grew intense.

A severely injured second-tier mid-rank beast, especially a rare Bloodthirsty Iron-Scale Beast, was valuable for its iron scales, two fangs, claws, fiery mane, and tail.

"Kill!"

Chen Zong's eyes became resolute and cold.

He activated the Wind Step, moving swiftly and lightly towards the Bloodthirsty Iron-Scale Beast.

Sensing Chen Zong's approach, the Bloodthirsty Iron-Scale Beast rose, but its hind leg trembled involuntarily, the wound reopening and blood gushing out.

"Roar..." The roar was filled with anger and madness as the Bloodthirsty Iron-Scale Beast charged at Chen Zong, determined to fight to the death.

Chen Zong drew his sword.

The sword's light was sharp and swift, like a streak of lightning, transforming into a point of starlight and striking the hilt of the knife in the left eye, causing the short knife to tremble and sink deeper, the pain making the Bloodthirsty Iron-Scale Beast shudder violently, and its charge halted.

"Lonely Star Emerges!"

The sword rose, shining like a solitary star descending upon the world.

As the starlight dimmed and disappeared, the sword had already pierced the right eye of the Bloodthirsty Iron-Scale Beast. Chen Zong, as if riding the wind, landed on the beast's head, firmly planting his feet and gripping the sword hilt, driving it deeper until only the hilt remained.

The Bloodthirsty Iron-Scale Beast struggled wildly, trampling rocks to pieces and reducing withered trees to dust. Chen Zong watched from a distance, amazed at the immense destructive power.

After a moment, the Bloodthirsty Iron-Scale Beast fell, the sword piercing through its right eye and into its brain, causing it to die instantly.

Chen Zong sheathed his sword, then pulled out the short knife and began to dissect the Bloodthirsty Iron-Scale Beast.

"I wonder if this Bloodthirsty Iron-Scale Beast has condensed an inner core?" Chen Zong wondered.

Second-tier beasts had even more formidable physiques and more vigorous blood energy, with a certain possibility of condensing an inner core, which was a concentration of essence.

A second-tier beast that could condense an inner core was often stronger than other beasts of the same rank. This Bloodthirsty Iron-Scale Beast was rare and very powerful, comparable to a second-tier high-rank beast, and might have condensed an inner core.

With a glimmer of hope, Chen Zong cut open the beast's body and found a round ball the size of an egg near the heart.

"Ha, it really has an inner core," Chen Zong said with joy.

He carefully wiped the blood off the inner core, which was somewhat flexible, like a rubber ball, red all over, and emitted a fierce blood energy.

This was the essence inner core that could only be condensed within a beast. If a beast consumed it directly, it would greatly benefit, but a martial artist could not. Direct consumption would destroy their blood energy, and in severe cases, cause them to explode.

However, after years of research by predecessors, some methods were found.

For example, refining it into a pill, but this required high-level alchemy skills and various herbs to remove impurities and balance the properties, which was the best method.

A less effective method was to soak it in strong liquor for forty-nine days, after which the inner core would dissolve into the liquor, creating a Blood Essence Fruit Wine. This method was much simpler and cheaper than refining it into a pill, and the medicinal properties were not inferior. The only drawback was that the fierce energy still existed, though diluted, and the user had to endure it.

Generally, a martial artist with Seventh Layer Blood Energy Realm cultivation and practicing a high-grade human-level cultivation technique could endure and neutralize the fierce energy.

Chen Zong carefully stored the inner core, collected the materials from the dissected Bloodthirsty Iron-Scale Beast and the scorpion tail, and quickly left.

The area was heavily bloodstained, and staying too long might attract more beasts.

"Huang Biao, Xiao Wei, and Meng Yuanchong are likely still alive and will come looking for me," Chen Zong thought as he walked. "I might as well not return for now and find a safer place to refine two Blood Essence Fruits to boost my cultivation. Ideally, I want to reach the Seventh Layer Blood Energy Realm before the time to enter the Boiling Blood Pool is near."

Deciding this, Chen Zong headed to the Sea-Viewing Cliff, which had a good environment that he was very satisfied with.

The cliff overlooked the sea of clouds, with the wind and clouds constantly changing.

A figure wielded a sword, the sword light flashing, sometimes gentle, sometimes sharp, sometimes slow, sometimes swift.

Each battle and life-and-death struggle was a test, like a whetstone, improving Chen Zong's mastery of the sword and his understanding of sword techniques.

Now, the sword he wielded was no longer limited to the Residual Image Sword Technique, Willow Breeze Sword Technique, Eagle Strike Sword Technique, or Flash Lightning Sword Technique. The True Sword Eight Forms, even at the Subtle Realm, still gave Chen Zong a sense that there was more potential to be explored.

Or perhaps, the subtleties of the four foundational sword techniques were in harmony with some of the subtleties of the True Sword Eight Forms.

Sheathing his sword, Chen Zong exhaled, a white mist spreading.

Returning to the small cave in the mountain wall, Chen Zong took out a Blood Essence Fruit and examined it. The fruit was soft and elastic, with a thin skin and soft, bright red flesh inside, rich in juice.

Biting into it, his mouth was filled with a strange taste, like blood, but not foul, and somewhat fragrant.

Swallowing it, he immediately began to cultivate the True Sword Heaven Supreme Technique. His blood energy, like a sword, emitted a sharp aura from his body.

The cultivation speed of the third level of the True Sword Heaven Supreme Technique was astonishing. The power of the Blood Essence Fruit quickly spread throughout his body, merging with his blood energy and being rapidly refined. Chen Zong could clearly feel his blood energy becoming more abundant.

The blood energy surged like waves, continuously rising.

An hour later, the Blood Essence Fruit was completely refined, with an astonishing absorption rate. After consuming a pill or herb, the human body would have a certain absorption process and ratio, which varied from person to person. Besides individual differences, the cultivation technique also played a role, with more advanced techniques having higher absorption efficiency.

Chen Zong, whose body had been modified by the mysterious sword tip, had a very high absorption efficiency. The True Sword Heaven Supreme Technique, being a top-grade human-level technique, had an absorption efficiency that was beyond doubt. Combined, they almost reached 100%, with no waste.

"Great, one Blood Essence Fruit has saved me at least a month and a half of cultivation time," Chen Zong was delighted. This month and a half referred to the time saved in cultivating the True Sword Heaven Supreme Technique.

Unfortunately, if the Blood Essence Fruit were refined with other herbs into a pill, the effect would be even better. However, this required a significant investment and time, and at this moment, Chen Zong wanted to quickly improve his cultivation. Only by enhancing his cultivation and becoming stronger could he better protect himself, earn money, and obtain other treasures.

One was short-term benefit, the other long-term benefit, and the choice had to be made based on various factors.

His blood energy surged, full and abundant, and his body was filled with strength. Chen Zong left the small cave and faced the sea of clouds to practice his sword techniques again.

The next day, the sun rose, casting golden light over the sea of clouds, which was bathed in a layer of light. Below the sea of clouds, shadows spread, giving Chen Zong a strange feeling, and he couldn't help but think of the Heaven Light Cloud Shadow Sword. Upon careful comparison, he felt there was room for improvement.

The sunlight was divided by the gaps in the sea of clouds and then converged below, creating a unique scene. This made Chen Zong think of the Light Division Sword Technique's Light Division and Shadow Division, and various insights flooded his mind.

For a moment, the connection between the Light Division Sword Technique and the Heaven Light Cloud Shadow Sword became clear.

"Both are inseparable from light and shadow..." Chen Zong muttered to himself, his eyes first reflecting the sunlight and the sea of clouds, then gradually becoming clear.

The sword rose, and the light and shadow of heaven and clouds intertwined and vanished, leaving a clear mark on the mountain wall.

"This strike, I only used one-tenth of my physical and blood energy, yet the power increased by more than half, and the speed of the strike was also faster," Chen Zong's eyes shone brighter, feeling that he had found the right direction to improve the Heaven Light Cloud Shadow Sword.

He repeatedly studied the Subtle Realm of the Light Division Sword Technique and the Heaven Light Cloud Shadow Sword, gradually integrating the essence of the Light Division Sword Technique into the Heaven Light Cloud Shadow Sword, gradually increasing its power.

Taking out the second Blood Essence Fruit and consuming it, his mouth was filled with a mix of blood and fragrance. Swallowing it, he began to feel heat.

The True Sword Heaven Supreme Technique circulated, his blood energy like a sword, emitting a sharp aura. The Blood Essence Fruit was quickly refined and absorbed, his blood energy surging like waves, his skin turning red and hot, his entire body glowing red, and steam rising like mist.

An hour later, the Blood Essence Fruit was completely absorbed.

Chen Zong exhaled, opened his eyes, and a flash of light appeared.

"Unfortunately, I didn't break through to the Seventh Layer Blood Energy Realm," he thought. The two Blood Essence Fruits had brought his blood energy to the peak of the Sixth Layer, just one step away from the Seventh Layer.