“What? Blood Demon Physique?”
Lin Xiao could not help exclaiming.
The Blood Demon Physique. Was that not the constitution possessed by Huo Ruyan?
Huo Ruyan was the first girl he had met when he left home for distant training, on his way to the Spirit Beast Mountain Range, within the Qing Sang City area.
A beautiful and enchanting girl in a red dress, with a voluptuous figure just beginning to develop, exuding an extraordinarily charming and alluring aura.
At that time, she had claimed to be searching for a Bloodthirsty Demon Wolf, but in truth, she had been looking for him.
Because Huo Ruyan possessed the Blood Demon Physique, she needed to consume blood once a month. Otherwise, her body would fall into a state of thirst and wither. It was a choice born of desperation.
If the Blood Demon Physique developed normally, the later stages required ever greater quantities of blood.
The violent qi absorbed into the body would grow heavier, until eventually it overwhelmed her, causing complete loss of reason and turning her into a bloodthirsty mad demon, a machine that existed only to devour blood.
Back then, he had taught her the Blood Slaughter Quiet Demon technique. He did not know how her cultivation had progressed, whether she had truly gained control of the Blood Demon Physique or was still tormented by it.
When they parted, Huo Ruyan had said she intended to venture deep into the continent for training. He wondered if the Blood Demon Physique who founded the Blood Sect could be her.
Logically, if Huo Ruyan had cultivated the Blood Slaughter Quiet Demon technique and avoided excessive blood consumption and overly rapid growth, she should have been able to fully control the Blood Demon Physique.
Given her temperament, she should not slaughter the innocent indiscriminately. At that time, she had only fed on mercenaries.
Yet six years had passed. He did not know how Huo Ruyan was faring.
Growing too quickly and losing control, or failing to master the technique, was not impossible.
Of course, the founder of the Blood Sect might not be Huo Ruyan.
Though the Blood Demon Physique was extremely rare, almost impossible to find in the world, the continent was vast. Another one appearing was not out of the question.
Still, the possibility that it was Huo Ruyan could not be ruled out. Even if the chance was small, he had to go and see for himself.
Moreover, the Blood Demon Physique already carried considerable likelihood.
Seeing Lin Xiao’s intense reaction, the sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked middle-aged man was also surprised. He glanced at the gazes turning towards them and said helplessly to Lin Xiao, “Brother, the Blood Demon Physique is indeed terrifying, but there is no need to be this shocked, is there?
We are not the ones who will face it.”
“Cough, cough. I lost my composure. I had heard of the Blood Demon Physique before. It is said to devour blood without blinking, truly frightening.”
Lin Xiao smiled awkwardly.
“Truly ignorant!”
“Some trash from a backwater corner, I suppose. At his age, with so little knowledge. Going there would just be courting death.”
“Scared like that at the mere mention of the Blood Demon Physique, yet he still wants to take on the Blood Sect. Laughable.”
“With that kind of courage, he would be better off staying home. Coming out here is just embarrassing.”
“The world is vast. There really are all kinds of people.”
Disdainful voices rose from the surroundings. Most came from youths under thirty, many at mid-tier Martial Emperor realm, who looked down on such timid behaviour.
The sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked middle-aged man’s expression turned ugly. He wished he could put distance between himself and Lin Xiao.
Fortunately, the others knew he had only struck up a conversation.
Ignoring the scorn completely, Lin Xiao asked the man in a low voice, “By the way, how old is this Blood Demon Physique, and how strong is she? If she is very powerful, would not anyone who goes to slay demons be unlucky?”
The man glanced around. Seeing that the crowd had stopped paying attention, he answered softly, “You are not wrong. The Blood Demon Physique is said to be quite powerful. Almost no one knows how long she has lived. Anyone who has seen her is already dead.”
“So strong, and you people are still going?”
Lin Xiao pressed.
“She is strong. It is said she is invincible below Martial Saint. That would be bad enough, but rumour has it the Blood Demon Physique is about to reach maturity. Recently, she plans some sacrificial blood array to refine blood and attempt a breakthrough to Martial Saint realm. Once she becomes a Martial Saint, no one will be able to stop her.”
The man’s voice dropped even lower. “I heard that this time, Tianji Holy Land has located the Blood Sect’s lair. Tianji Holy Land will send a Martial Saint to eliminate the Blood Demon Physique. That is why so many dare to go along and share the spoils. Otherwise, how could there be this many people heading there?”
Lin Xiao’s brows furrowed slightly. The Blood Sect’s lair had been discovered, and Tianji Holy Land was preparing to dispatch a Martial Saint?
Besides the Martial Saint, they were gathering so many others. This time, Tianji Holy Land intended to completely eradicate the Blood Sect.
In his heart, Lin Xiao could not help feeling worry for Huo Ruyan.
Though he was not certain it was her.
If it was, and she was attacked by a Martial Saint while attempting breakthrough, death would be certain.
“Is there any more information?”
Lin Xiao continued asking.
The man shook his head. “These are just rumours, though they were probably deliberately spread by Tianji Holy Land. More details are likely known only to their people.”
As he spoke, a smug smile appeared on his face. “Brother, you are not tempted too, are you?”
Lin Xiao paused. A sly glint flashed in his eyes. He glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then deliberately put on a sleazy grin. “Tempted? Of course I am tempted. Absolutely tempted!”
“Heh heh, brother really has good judgement. Your cultivation is hard to gauge, so your strength must be considerable. Why not act together when the time comes? We can look out for each other. My name is Ge Jiuwei.”
The sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked man extended his hand, eyes gleaming slyly.
“Brother Ge is right. I am…” Lin Xiao paused, then said, “Gu Juejin.”
The name, of course, was one Lin Xiao had made up on the spot.
He had originally thought of something like Asura Butcher, but decided it was too domineering and eye-catching, so he changed it to Gu Juejin.
The name was not bad, just less aggressive than Asura Butcher and less likely to draw attention.
Yet Ge Jiuwei looked utterly astonished. “Brother Gu, this name does not suit you at all!”
Lin Xiao’s face darkened. The mask was unattractive, fine, but did his aura really not match the name?
He said nothing more about it.
By now, they had entered the city. Many experts had indeed arrived. Mid-tier Martial Emperors were everywhere, and high-tier Martial Emperors were not rare.
Moreover, more people were still coming.
Lin Xiao and Ge Jiuwei found an inn and settled in.
On the third day, booming shouts summoning the forces rang out. Lin Xiao followed Ge Jiuwei and the others to the gathering point.
It was the central square of the city, several hundred zhang across and extremely spacious. Already, large numbers had assembled, totalling several thousand at the centre alone.
Beyond that, even more onlookers crowded the periphery.
Above the square stood an elder in red robes embroidered with a simplified tower pattern. Needless to say, that was the emblem of Tianji Holy Land.
The red-robed elder’s own cultivation had reached the semi-Martial Saint realm. A faint, intangible pressure enveloped the entire area.
