Chapter Forty-Six: The Three Brothers

The Blood Refining Art, when combined with the Blood-Devouring Spear, formed a perfect synergy. As long as the Blood-Devouring Spear pierced into a demonic beast’s body, it could absorb its essence blood. Once a demonic beast lost its essence blood, it would die instantly, for essence blood was the foundation of all demonic beasts, vital to their existence. The same applied to humans.

The Blood-Devouring Spear was a growth-type magical treasure. After absorbing essence blood, the spear would store it within its shaft, which was made from the Blood-Devouring Spirit Wood. This Spirit Wood would slowly consume the essence blood, gradually increasing the quality of the spear. However, the rate at which the Spirit Wood devoured essence blood was agonizingly slow. Even after a hundred years, the spear might not advance to a medium-grade magical artifact. But with the Blood Refining Art, everything was different.

The Blood Refining Art could enhance the spear’s blood absorption, reducing the time required for it to evolve into a medium-grade artifact. Furthermore, it could refine the impurities out of the essence blood, purifying it. Through this art, Chen Yi could also refine the essence blood stored within the spear, thereby increasing his own cultivation and augmenting the essence blood within his body.

After acquiring both the Blood-Devouring Spear Technique and the Blood Refining Art, Chen Yi left the Treasure Pavilion, returned to his small courtyard, and began to practice the spear techniques.

“Devour the Demon.”

“Devour the Immortal.”

“Devour the Devil.”

Chen Yi executed the three forms of the Blood-Devouring Spear Technique one after another. In his hands, the spear danced like a crimson dragon, coiling and weaving around him. Dust and gravel swirled in the courtyard, and his figure was nowhere to be seen.

Although the spear technique consisted of only three forms, each had its unique strength. “Devour the Immortal” was meant to deal with cultivators, unleashing tremendous power and suppressing them. “Devour the Devil” targeted devil cultivators, while “Devour the Demon” was meant for demonic beasts.

Of course, “Devour the Immortal” could also be used against devil cultivators, but its power would be diminished, as the energies within immortals and devils differed greatly. The technique was developed specifically for immortals, and when used against devils, its effect was naturally reduced.

Ten days later, Chen Yi had mastered the Blood-Devouring Spear Technique. He decided to set out for the Elephant Tribe’s gathering grounds in the Tianlong Mountains. However, those grounds were extremely dangerous, so he thought of seeking out other disciples who had also accepted the ivory retrieval mission.

Chen Yi went to the mission hall and approached the steward to inquire about the other disciples undertaking the mission. Since the task could be completed jointly, the steward readily gave him their information.

From this, Chen Yi learned that, besides himself, three other inner disciples at the Foundation Establishment stage had taken on the ivory mission. They, too, would be heading to the Tianlong Mountains soon.

Upon learning this, Chen Yi immediately went to the location listed in the records. The three inner disciples all lived together on the same mountain peak.

These three—Fu Aoxuan, Wang Haochen, and Yu Ming—were well-known within the Five Elements Sect, especially among the outer disciples. Their reputation was not due to their cultivation, but their brotherly bond.

Before joining the sect, the three had been close friends in the same village. When a Five Elements Sect disciple discovered their aptitude for cultivation, they all joined together as outer disciples. With their excellent talents and mutual support, they quickly broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage and entered the inner sect.

Their famed loyalty spread far and wide, especially after they completed their first mission as inner disciples. Having just broken through, they were filled with confidence and ambition. Against the advice of friends, they accepted a dangerous mission—hunting a Foundation Establishment stage swamp crocodile in the Dark Marsh of the Tianlong Mountains. Fu Aoxuan believed that, with their cultivation, this would be a simple task.

However, they hadn’t expected swamp crocodiles to move in packs. Once they attacked one, they were surrounded by dozens. In the midst of this horde, despair set in. Facing one or two crocodiles, they might have escaped, but surrounded by so many, hope vanished.

For the sake of his brothers, Fu Aoxuan burned his essence blood and unleashed the forbidden technique, “Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts.” In an instant, his speed soared. Grabbing Wang Haochen and Yu Ming, he dashed toward the distant forest.

With the forbidden technique, Fu Aoxuan moved so fast that, in a blink, the crocodiles were left far behind. Unable to keep up, the beasts gave up the chase.

Although the three escaped with their lives, their wounds were severe, especially Fu Aoxuan’s. His body was covered in injuries, and he had lost too much essence blood. The moment they reached the safety of the forest, he collapsed.

Fortunately, his wounds were only superficial, but the excessive loss of essence blood left him weak and unconscious. To restore his vitality, Wang Haochen and Yu Ming sought out a master alchemist in the sect.

After explaining their situation, the alchemist agreed to provide a life-restoring pill, but on one condition: Wang Haochen and Yu Ming had to force a late Foundation Establishment cultivator back by just one step.

Though it was only a step, the gap in their strengths was immense. For two fresh Foundation Establishment disciples, this was nearly impossible.

But Wang Haochen, thinking of his unconscious brother, gritted his teeth and accepted the challenge.

When the late Foundation Establishment cultivator appeared, Wang Haochen attacked wildly, but his strikes couldn’t even break through his opponent’s magical barrier.

Seeing this, Wang Haochen’s eyes turned bloodshot. Gathering all his energy and channeling his inner turmoil into his hands, he unleashed all his strength in a single strike.

“Desolate Soul Palm!”