“No need to be polite!”
The ugly youth named Qing Yan spoke to Huo Ru Yan. As he said this, he took out a transparent jade bottle the size of a fist.
Then he produced a blood-coloured disc about half the size of a palm. Qing Yan held the disc in his right hand and the jade bottle in his left, tilting the disc vertically over the bottle’s mouth.
Blood flowed steadily from the disc, pouring continuously into the jade bottle.
In the end, it filled the entire fist-sized bottle.
Qing Yan handed the bottle to Huo Ru Yan and said, “This is blood obtained from that Array Saint. It yielded two bottles in total. I need to take one back.”
“Brother Qing Yan’s kindness, Ru Yan is deeply grateful for.”
Huo Ru Yan accepted the bottle and bowed in thanks.
At this sight, everyone else looked shocked.
What exactly was that blood disc? Its surface was only slightly concave, incapable of holding so much blood.
Nor did the disc appear to contain any blood. It was simply blood-coloured. Yet now, it had produced an entire bottle of blood?
And according to Qing Yan, another bottle could still be squeezed out?
Even Lin Xiao could not help feeling astonished. To wound a Martial Saint and extract his blood, that disc must be extraordinarily remarkable.
Qing Yan nodded and said, “Let us deal with these people first.”
With that, Qing Yan swept his gaze over the crowd. His pupils glowed with cyan light, and combined with his ugly features, it sent an involuntary chill through everyone’s hearts.
Were Qing Yan and the Blood Demon Physique about to kill them?
“What is he to you?”
When Qing Yan’s gaze fell on Lin Xiao, cold light suddenly flashed in his eyes, thick hostility surging forth.
“He is an old acquaintance of mine.”
Huo Ru Yan replied. When speaking of Lin Xiao, her tone differed from the respect she had shown earlier.
“Just an old acquaintance?”
Qing Yan said coldly. “I am afraid it is more than that.”
Huo Ru Yan frowned and said, “Brother Qing Yan, please show some restraint. You and I are merely friends.”
Qing Yan’s expression darkened. He turned to face her fully, his icy gaze fixed upon Huo Ru Yan as he said gravely, “What did you say?”
Huo Ru Yan met Qing Yan’s eyes directly and repeated in an indifferent tone, “You and I are only friends. Nothing more.”
“You have been using me?”
Terrifying killing intent erupted from Qing Yan. Demonic qi faintly shrouded his body.
“I am sorry. I was indeed using you. However, I, Huo Ru Yan, am someone who repays kindness. But between us, it is impossible.”
Huo Ru Yan spoke with firm resolve.
Even denser demonic qi surged from Qing Yan, killing intent rolling out in waves. Battle seemed imminent.
At this, the crowd grew shocked again, quickly piecing together the situation.
Clearly, this Demon Saint had been used by the Blood Demon Physique.
Now the two had laid their cards on the table and were about to fight.
Lin Xiao also frowned. Qing Yan’s strength was terrifying. The array had not yet dissipated, so he could not leave.
Huo Ru Yan had only just broken through. It was unknown whether she was his match.
Clearly, Qing Yan harboured deep affection for Huo Ru Yan, while she had exploited that affection to protect her during the breakthrough.
Now Huo Ru Yan had revealed the truth outright, and part of the reason involved him.
The two confronted each other for a while. Finally, Qing Yan took a deep breath, suppressing his rage. He said through gritted teeth, “I know you were using me. If not for my lord’s wish to see you grow stronger, I would have taken you by force long ago, even if you killed yourself and became a corpse.”
Huo Ru Yan’s brows knitted. So the other party had known her intentions all along. It was Qing Yan’s lord who had instructed him to aid her.
If not for the figure behind Qing Yan, he would have forced himself on her long ago.
She had nearly brought disaster upon herself.
“The one you like is him, isn’t it?”
Qing Yan turned to Lin Xiao, cold light flashing in his eyes. Killing intent involuntarily surged from his body.
“If you lay a hand on him, I and your Demon Frog clan will be enemies unto death!”
Huo Ru Yan’s eyes hardened as she spoke with resolute determination.
Terrifying aura erupted from her, vast blood qi spreading out.
Behind Huo Ru Yan, the Blood Sect members all radiated killing intent, clearly prepared to fight at any cost.
“Demon Frog. He is a Demon Saint of the Demon Frog clan!”
Hearing Huo Ru Yan’s words, the crowd could not help exclaiming in shock.
Though the Demon Frog clan was not counted among the continent’s six great beast races, it was only because their numbers were extremely rare.
However, the individual combat strength of Demon Frogs was extraordinarily fearsome. Even the six great beast races and the various overlord forces dared not provoke them lightly.
This showed the prestige the Demon Frog clan held on the continent.
The Demon Frog clan hid deep in the northwest of Sacred Province and rarely ventured out.
No one expected one to appear here, and upon appearing, it was a Demon Saint of immense power.
“No wonder he is so ugly! He is literally a toad himself.”
“Indeed. True to his race. Even in human form, a toad transformed still looks like a toad.”
“I have heard the Demon Frog clan is terrifyingly strong. Even major forces dare not offend them. It seems the rumours are true. I wonder if they will fight?
If they do fight, perhaps we will have a slim chance to escape.”
… Some people began whispering among themselves, hoping the Demon Frog and Blood Demon Physique would clash.
Lin Xiao was also deeply shocked. No wonder the other had become a Demon Saint before thirty. He was a spiritual beast who had taken human form.
The apparent age of a spiritual beast in human form did not match its true lifespan.
Taking the form of a youth could mean it had lived for several hundred years.
The lifespan of spiritual beasts differed from humans, generally much longer.
At the same time, he felt some worry for Huo Ru Yan. After all, this was the Demon Frog clan that even major forces feared.
In the end, the Demon Frog suppressed his anger once more and did not attack. His tone was extremely displeased as he said, “Humans are truly troublesome!”
Seeing the Demon Frog refrain from acting, Huo Ru Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She said solemnly, “Though I used you, I, Huo Ru Yan, repay kindness. I will remember this favour from the Demon Frog clan. In future, I will surely return it.”
“I aided you only because it was my lord’s wish. If you wish to repay it, come with me to meet my lord. My lord wishes to see you once.”
The Demon Frog said.
Huo Ru Yan pondered for a moment before replying, “Very well. But I must first settle matters here.”
“Three days from now, come find me at Cold Fierce Peak ten thousand li away!”
With those words, Qing Yan put away the disc. His figure flashed, demonic qi surging as he soared into the sky and soon vanished from everyone’s sight.
“We are finished!”
At this, despair appeared on everyone’s faces. The Demon Frog and Blood Demon Physique had not fought. Next, the Blood Demon Physique would likely turn on them.
