Upon seeing the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable, Chu Feng scrutinized him closely.
He hoped to discern something, but the figure was shrouded in bandages, revealing nothing of his true appearance. All Chu Feng could sense was a potent ancient aura and an unfathomable power.
This confirmed for Chu Feng that the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable was indeed a martial cultivator from ancient times.
“Subordinate Zhang Boyi pays respects to Lord Qin Kunlun.”
“N-no, no, I mean… I mean, pays respects to Lord Blood-devouring Demon Venerable!”
Seeing the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable, Zhang Yanfeng and the others were visibly nervous.
Zhang Boyi, in particular, was so flustered that he got the name wrong.
This terrified him.
“Lord Demon Venerable, your subordinate is incompetent and misspoke. Please punish me severely.”
Zhang Boyi proactively requested punishment, his plea utterly sincere, not a trace of pretense.
“Calling me Qin Kunlun isn’t exactly wrong. Don’t worry about it.”
The Blood-devouring Demon Venerable waved a hand with a smile, and a gentle breeze swept into the lake, lifting the kneeling Zhang Yanfeng and the others to their feet.
His demeanor was remarkably kind, his tone soft and devoid of any lofty airs, more like that of a genial elder.
Observing this, Chu Feng’s first impression of the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable was quite positive.
Despite the eerie appearance of being wrapped in bandages, his attitude, at least for now, was impeccable.
Though Chu Feng didn’t kneel, he still bowed with clasped fists, offering a respectful salute: “Junior Chu Feng pays respects to Senior.”
“Young friend Chu Feng, this matter had nothing to do with you, yet you were willing to lend a hand. I am deeply grateful.”
The Blood-devouring Demon Venerable returned a salute to Chu Feng.
“Senior, you’re too kind. Wang Qiang and I are brothers who’d go through life and death for each other. Since this concerns him, it’s my business too,” Chu Feng said.
“Are the youths of today all so loyal? Truly, the younger generation is formidable,” the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable said with a chuckle.
Then, addressing Chu Feng and the others, he got to the point: “Let’s talk business.”
“You have now merged with the power of the Void Divine Tree, but the formation’s support has made it less painful.”
“Without the formation’s aid, you may experience some pain.”
“Only by dispelling the formation’s power can you truly master the Void Divine Tree’s power and channel it into my body.”
“Next, I will remove the formation’s power.”
“And you will face the true power of the Divine Tree within the lake.”
“I hope you’re prepared,” the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable said.
“Lord Demon Venerable, your subordinates are ready,” Zhang Yanfeng and the others said, clasping their fists.
“Senior, let’s begin,” Chu Feng added.
“Hold fast to your convictions.”
With those words, the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable waved his sleeve.
Rumble—
The stone formation in the valley shattered entirely.
As the formation broke, the lake water, previously suspended in midair, plummeted, carrying Chu Feng and the others back into the valley.
“Argh—”
The next moment, heart-wrenching screams filled the air.
They came from Zhang Yanfeng, Zhang Boyi, and Zhang Shirui.
The three clutched their heads, letting out agonized cries as they writhed in the lake water.
They looked as if they were on the brink of death.
Though Chu Feng didn’t scream like they did, he clenched his teeth, his face contorted in evident pain, clearly enduring some kind of torment.
“Hold fast to your convictions, or you will die,” the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable’s voice rang out again.
“Die?”
“You old thing, w-what… what do you mean by that?” Wang Qiang’s face darkened with anger.
“It’s merely the cost of fusion,” the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable said.
“Cost?”
“This cost is that dangerous? W-why… why didn’t you tell me before?” Wang Qiang demanded furiously.
“You’re a martial cultivator, aren’t you? Do I really need to spell it out?”
“How many cultivation sanctuaries require cultivators to risk their lives for even a sliver of gain?”
“Forget distant examples—take the Divine Hall in the Void Divine Tree.”
“Those unwilling to take shortcuts, unwilling to refine others’ souls, had to risk their lives for a chance to enter the Divine Hall.”
“Honestly, if not for your brother, most of them would’ve died before even reaching the Divine Hall.”
“And even with your brother’s help, once they entered the Divine Hall, how much did they gain? Were those benefits anywhere near what this lake offers?” the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable asked.
“W-well…”
Wang Qiang wanted to argue, but on reflection, the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable’s words seemed to hold truth.
“My method only brings them pain, with a possibility of death. As long as they hold firm in their convictions, they’ll be fine,” the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable continued.
“B-but… but you should’ve told me beforehand. If I’d known it was this dangerous, I wouldn’t have let my brother help me. Y-you… you’ve put me in an unjust position!” Wang Qiang said, his face full of self-reproach.
He felt guilty for putting Chu Feng in such a perilous situation.
“Why not let him help you? Would you have your brother miss such a cultivation opportunity?”
“That wouldn’t be helping him—it’d be harming him,” the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable said.
“But…”
“No buts. You can’t shield him from danger just because he’s your brother.”
“If you did, he’d be doomed to remain weak, bullied, and trampled upon. What meaning would such a life have?” the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable countered.
Wang Qiang fell silent. He understood the logic, and he knew Chu Feng’s character. If Chu Feng had the choice, he’d likely opt to take the risk.
Still, his heart ached with guilt. Chu Feng had entered the lake to help him.
“Enough overthinking. Your brother’s willpower is exceptionally rare. With his conviction and resilience, this won’t faze him.”
“It’s those three youngsters who are in danger if they keep going like this,” the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable said, turning his gaze to Zhang Yanfeng and the others.
Following his gaze, Wang Qiang looked back at the lake.
He realized the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable was right.
After a brief adjustment, Chu Feng’s expression had eased, clearly adapting to the pain.
But Zhang Yanfeng and the others showed no improvement.
Zhang Shirui, in particular, looked increasingly anguished, as if she were on the verge of giving up.
This puzzled Wang Qiang.
“Strange. M-my… my brother surpasses those three in every way. How come they all broke through in the lake, but he didn’t?” Wang Qiang muttered under his breath.
Though his voice was low, meant for himself, the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable overheard.
“Who said Chu Feng gained nothing?” the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable asked.
