High Martial Arts: Liver Becomes the Master of the Universe

Chapter 281: Rushing to acquire Blood Jade Crystals, Three Hundred Years Pass in the Blink of an Eye!

Within the blood-red forbidden land, Qin Feng continued his solitary yet purposeful journey.

The concept of time becomes blurred and cheap on this forgotten ancient battlefield.

The gray-white sky remained unchanged for ages, with neither sunrise nor sunset. Only the mist rising from the blood-red river in the distance and the occasional bursts of dark red light from the lava rifts provided a touch of dynamism to this desolate world.

He was like a tireless shadow, sweeping across the endless mountain range of bones and traversing the forest of giant trees that had long since turned to charcoal.

His mental power was like the most intricate net, spreading out inch by inch from himself to a radius of hundreds of kilometers around him, searching for any valuable energy fluctuations.

The vastness of this forbidden area is beyond imagination, and the stability of its spatial laws and the viscosity of its force field are far beyond what the outside universe can match.

Here, light-years are a meaningless unit of measurement. Even Qin Feng must measure this land in the most primitive way, with his footsteps and time.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, a century has passed.

Over the course of this long century, Qin Feng's storage ring was filled up time and time again.

He had found the "Soul Crystal Flower" growing inside the skull of a Marquis-level expert. This item could nourish spiritual power and increase its total amount.

He unearthed "Crimson Flame Divine Gold" buried deep within the magma veins, an excellent material for forging black hole-level peak secret treasures.
He even discovered several golden pages containing incomplete secret techniques in the ruins of a collapsed ancient temple. Although they were of little use to his current path of "proving the Dao through force," they gave him a deeper understanding of the past of this world.

He amassed a fortune from rare and precious materials and divine gold mines, a fortune that would make any cosmic nation envious.

However, his primary objective for this trip—the Blood Jade Crystal—remained elusive, as if it were merely a vague and unattainable legend.

It wasn't until the 80th year that a turning point appeared.

At the end of a plain torn apart by a huge sword mark, he finally found a reference point marked on the treasure map—"Soul-Severing Cliff".

It was a black mountain range that had been cut in half, the break as smooth as a mirror, and to this day, a faint trace of the emperor's sword intent still remained.

Qin Feng hovered in front of the Broken Soul Cliff, immersing his spiritual power into the treasure map and comparing it with the scene before him.

After a moment, he came to a conclusion that was neither good nor bad.

His luck was indeed bad. When he first entered the Crimson Forbidden Land, random teleportation threw him into an extremely remote corner of the entire forbidden land.

The true extent of this blood-red forbidden land, estimated using the scale of the treasure map, is comparable to that of a complete galaxy.

With his current limited mental power, attempting to conduct a thorough search across this galaxy-sized territory is nothing short of a pipe dream.

All he could do was patiently follow the routes marked on the treasure map that might offer opportunities, step by step.

"It seems inevitable that I will stay here for a thousand years, or even longer."

Qin Feng felt no ripples in his heart; instead, he felt a sense of natural calm.

For him, time is no longer a standard for measuring gains and losses.

As long as one can achieve tangible improvement, there is no essential difference between a thousand years and a day.

"Very well. Such a long period of time is enough to elevate my foundation to a whole new level. This can only be beneficial, not detrimental, to completing the final mission issued by the will of the universe."

He adjusted his mindset, transforming this treasure hunt into a long-term retreat for spiritual practice.

In the past century, besides collecting resources, his greatest gain has been his own advancement in cultivation.

Relying on the accumulation of a vast amount of rare and precious materials, as well as the constant reflection and refinement of martial arts philosophy, he finally succeeded in the ninety-ninth year in advancing the top-level secret technique [Nine Spirits Yuan Diagram] from the three spirits realm to the four spirits realm.

At that moment, the [Eternal Singularity] in his inner world trembled violently, and four mysterious and ancient totem imprints were imprinted on its core, slowly rotating. With each rotation, unimaginable energy within the singularity underwent a higher level of qualitative change.

A terrifying sense of power, far exceeding anything he had ever felt before, filled his limbs and the depths of his soul.

Four times the amplitude!
This is a purely numerical description, but for Qin Feng, the feeling is far more intuitive than the numbers suggest.

He could clearly feel that his precision in controlling energy, his instantaneous burst of power, and even the resonance between his physical body and the singularity had all reached a new level.

However, even so, when he tried to touch and understand the legendary realm he learned about from Prince Yuexuan—the "Divine Forbidden Zone"—he still felt an unreachable barrier.

That doesn't seem to be a limit that can be broken through simply by accumulating power; it's more like an essential leap in the level of life, in the understanding and application of the laws of the universe.

"Even now, if I were to face a true Domain Lord-level expert, I would still have no chance of winning."

Qin Feng calmly assessed his own strength.

He knew very well that the difference between four times the vibration and three times the amplitude, when facing the mighty power of a domain lord who had already begun to control a "domain," was only whether he could sustain it for a moment longer or be instantly annihilated.

The result will not change.

Having clearly understood the gap, Qin Feng's Dao heart became even more composed. He remained humble and continued his journey.

Time flies, and another fifty years have quietly passed.

On this day, Qin Feng was following the guidance of the treasure map, flying towards a crater area marked "possible rare items." Along the way, his mental energy continued to scan his surroundings as always.

Suddenly, his expression shifted slightly, and he stopped.

At the edge of his mental perception, a familiar yet weak and chaotic aura was rushing toward him at an extremely fast speed.

It's Feng Zhiyu.

"So you've really thought it through? You actually dare to enter this blood-red forbidden land alone, seeking a glimmer of opportunity?"

A barely perceptible smile appeared on Qin Feng's lips.

In his perception, Feng Zhiyu's aura at this moment was more than one level stronger than it had been 150 years ago in the Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom.

If Feng Zhiyu's progress on his martial arts path was only 30% back then, now he has at least completed 70%.

This rate of progress is terrifying.

Clearly, over the past 150 years, Feng Zhiyu has also obtained his own opportunities in this blood-red forbidden land.

However, at this moment, he was in a sorry state.

Behind him, three figures exuding the same peak galaxy-level aura were hot on his heels, their sharp attacks tearing through the air and exploding around Feng Zhiyu, forcing him to dodge in a sorry state, and his injuries were increasing.

Qin Feng saw through the essence of the battle at a glance.

In terms of energy level, Feng Zhiyu was on par with the three pursuers.

There are two reasons why he was hunted down so relentlessly.

Firstly, his strength increased too quickly, and his foundation grew rapidly, but the corresponding killing techniques and combat experience failed to keep up, resulting in him having power but being unable to efficiently convert it into combat effectiveness.

Secondly, the other side had a large number of people and worked together seamlessly, while he was all alone.

"kill him!"

"The remnants of the mere Tianxuan Universe Kingdom dare to compete with us for treasures!"

"kill!"

The roars of the pursuers, filled with murderous intent, could be clearly heard even from a great distance.

As Feng Zhiyu fled, his breathing became increasingly disordered, clearly indicating that he was at his last gasp.

Qin Feng did not hesitate any longer. His figure blurred, transforming into a streak of light that was difficult to detect with the naked eye. In an instant, he traversed a vast distance, silently standing between Feng Zhizhi and the three pursuers like an ancient, unchanging mountain.

"Ok?"

As Feng Zhiyu was fleeing for his life, he suddenly saw a flash of light ahead, and a black-robed figure, who was not particularly tall but gave him a great sense of security, blocked his way. He was stunned for a moment, and then his eyes burst with unbelievable joy.

The three pursuers, caught off guard by this sudden turn of events, abruptly stopped and stared warily at the mysterious man in black robes.

"Who is coming!"

One of the pursuers, who had a single horn on his forehead, shouted sternly, "We are cultivators from the Taizai Universe Kingdom, and we are currently eliminating our enemies. You'd better not meddle in our affairs!"

Qin Feng didn't even turn his head, still keeping his back to the three pursuers.

He uttered only a soft, faint snort, yet it contained supreme authority and absolute will.

"Humph!"

The voice was not loud, but it seemed to be the first decree of the universe at its beginning, a supreme divine oracle whose words became law.

An invisible, intangible, yet irresistible and terrifying force swept across the area in an instant, carried by sound waves.

The fierce expressions on the faces of the three arrogant galaxy-level pursuers instantly froze.

Their bodies underwent irreversible disintegration, starting from the smallest particle level.

Without an explosion or a roar, it silently and completely transformed into a sky full of blood-red mist from the inside out. Along with their soul imprints, they were utterly crushed and erased, returning to nothingness, with that cold snort.

Throughout the entire process, Qin Feng didn't even make a move.

With a mere gesture, or even without raising a hand, one can annihilate their peers with a single word.

This is the current state of his life, a gap as vast as an insurmountable chasm between him and ordinary star system-level cultivators.

"My benefactor!"

Feng Zhiyu stared blankly at the three rapidly dissipating clouds of blood mist, his mind a complete blank. Several breaths passed before he came to his senses, his voice trembling with extreme excitement.

Qin Feng slowly turned around, his calm gaze falling on Feng Zhiyu, and asked, "What's the deal with this Taizai Universe Kingdom?"

Feng Zhiyu suppressed the turmoil in his heart, daring not to conceal anything, and said urgently, "My benefactor! Not long ago, the twenty-fourth prince of the Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom and I discovered a treasure land where Blood Jade Crystals were born! But the people of the Taizai Universe Kingdom also discovered it. They are numerous and powerful, and one of them is an extremely powerful black hole-level being. In order to cover me, the twenty-fourth prince was severely injured and captured by them. I... I had no choice but to risk my life to escape and seek help!"

At this point, Feng Zhiyu's eyes were bloodshot and filled with anxiety. He pointed in the direction they had come from and said very quickly, "Qin Feng! Go quickly! That's the Blood Jade Crystal!"
It's a legendary treasure capable of directly enhancing both physical and mental aptitude! Just like the difference between a mortal body and the legendary golden human physique, once refined, one's aptitude will be fundamentally improved, leading to a world of difference in future combat power!

"it is good!"

A glint of light flashed in Qin Feng's eyes.

Without the slightest hesitation, he unleashed his spiritual power to hold back Feng Zhiyu and said in a deep voice, "Show me the direction!"

At the same time, a vast, pure, golden-red spiritual energy surged out instantly, transforming into an indestructible shield that completely enveloped Feng Zhiyu.

The next moment, Qin Feng moved.

He didn't use any special flying shuttle treasures, but instead used the purest physical strength to unleash his current maximum speed.

Forty-five times the speed of light!
boom--!
In Feng Zhiyu's perception, the world had "disappeared."

One second he was on a scorched earth, the next he was plunged into a chaotic vortex of countless bizarre colors and twisted lines.

The concepts of time and space were completely shattered; he was even unable to think, as if his entire soul was about to be torn apart and disintegrated under this extreme speed.

The only thing that allowed him to maintain his existence was the warm and sturdy golden-red protective shield around his body.

He could feel that all the terrifying pressure from the outside world, enough to instantly annihilate him, was easily blocked by this protective shield.

He was deeply shocked.

Is this... Qin Feng's true speed?
Back at the Hidden Smoke Tower, Qin Feng used a black hole-level secret treasure shuttle to take care of him. Although it was fast, it was nothing compared to what he was doing now.

Now, Qin Feng can not only unleash such incredible speed with his physical body, but he can also use his mental energy to precisely protect himself, this "burden".

This strength and control were completely beyond Feng Zhiyu's comprehension.

This bizarre feeling didn't last long.

Almost the instant Feng Zhiyu had a thought, all the distorted light and shadow suddenly disappeared, and the world became clear again.

He realized that he had arrived at his destination.

Ahead lay an enormous, deep pit, its bottom reeking of an overwhelming stench of blood and resentment.

In the center of the deep pit, three crystals, each about the size of a fist, floated silently, emitting an eerie crimson light.

The crystal was entirely blood red, as if it were formed from the blood of billions of living beings.

Its surface was covered with countless eerie blood-red patterns, as well as even deeper and more ominous black runes.

Feng Zhiyu only glanced at it, but he felt as if his soul was being sucked into it. He seemed to hear the roars and wails of countless wronged souls, and a terrifying illusion of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, where all living beings were sinking into oblivion, appeared before his eyes.

Without a doubt, that was the Blood Jade Crystal!

Beside the deep pit, several black hole-level beings dressed in the attire of the Dazai Cosmic Kingdom were surrounding a raging inferno.

Within the flames, a figure belonging to the Feather Clan was struggling in agony. His soul was branded with a mark filled with torment and curse, his face was extremely distorted, and he let out a silent scream.

He was the twenty-fourth prince of the Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom.

One of the beings, whose aura was the strongest and had reached the peak of the ordinary black hole level, was holding a similar blood jade crystal in his hand. He was slowly absorbing wisps of blood-red energy into his body, and his face was full of enjoyment and intoxication.

"Such speed... In just a breath, they covered the distance I had been desperately fleeing for months..."

Feng Zhiyu stood beside Qin Feng, his mind still reeling, muttering to himself.

His appearance immediately attracted the attention of the cultivators from the Taizai Universe Kingdom.

The black hole-level expert who was refining the blood jade crystal slowly opened his eyes, his gaze falling contemptuously on Feng Zhiyu, before letting out a sneer.

"Oh? So it's you, you stray dog ​​who managed to escape by sheer luck. What? You found your Heavenly Profound Universe Kingdom's retainer so quickly, wanting to come back for revenge?"

He glanced at Qin Feng's black robe, which showed no aura, and his disdain deepened.

"What a pity, those old guys in your Tianxuan Universe Kingdom who have reached the ultimate black hole level are probably all dealing with more important matters and have no time to spare. If they weren't ultimate black holes, I'd kill as many as they came!"

The black hole-level being slowly stood up, raised the blood jade crystal in his hand high, and an incomparably domineering aura erupted. He laughed loudly, "Remember my name, Gu Yun! Below the limit, I am number one!"

Qin Feng's gaze didn't linger on Gu Yun for more than a second.

His gaze fell on the blood jade crystal held in Gu Yun's hand, his tone tinged with impatience, as if he were shooing away a noisy fly.

"Don't touch that blood jade crystal again."

The moment he finished speaking, he pointed his fingers like a sword, and a wisp of extremely subtle yet extremely dazzling golden-red light flashed and disappeared from his fingertips.

A tiny glimmer of light.

Gu Yun's arrogant smile vanished instantly.

His pupils didn't even have time to reflect that golden-red light.

An incomprehensible, irresistible, and ineffable sharp force pierced through his brow, destroyed the core of his soul, and annihilated all his life force.

His body, like a sand sculpture weathered by the elements, shattered inch by inch from the inside out, eventually turning into a thick cloud of blood mist that dissipated into the air.

Qin Feng reached out, intending to collect the spatial ring left behind by Gu Yun after his death, as well as the fallen blood jade crystal.

However, at this moment, a sudden change occurred!
In the space where Gu Yun's body shattered, the surrounding void suddenly began to twist violently.

Countless mysterious blood-red patterns appeared out of thin air, like living vines, frantically converging towards the center.

The remaining flesh and blood energy, soul fragments, and even the blood jade crystal essence that Gu Yun refined into his body in that space were forcibly extracted, pulled, and recombined by these blood-colored patterns!
Om-!
A low humming sound emanated from the space.

Under Qin Feng's astonished gaze, the crimson patterns and black runes intertwined and eventually condensed into three blood jade crystals exactly the same as before!

"After a cultivator dies, will the blood jade crystals they refined reappear?"

A storm raged in Qin Feng's heart.

This discovery is even more important than obtaining the Blood Jade Crystal itself!

what does this mean?
This means that he no longer needs to search for traces of the Blood Jade Crystal in this vast forbidden area like a headless fly.

He only needs to do one thing—hunt down those creatures that have already refined the Blood Jade Crystal!
This is undoubtedly the most efficient and fastest route.

Indeed, beings that refine the Blood Jade Crystal will have their aptitude improved and their combat power enhanced.

But no matter how strong you are, can you be stronger than him?

Now that Qin Feng has reached the fourth level of the Nine Spirits Origin Diagram, he can easily kill even the strongest black hole-level experts.

Even if he encountered a half-step divine forbidden level prodigy who had touched the threshold of "divine forbiddenness", he was confident that he could fight to a standstill and be evenly matched.

In this blood-red forbidden land, apart from the unfathomable Stone Buddha, who is hailed as the second-ranked on the Hidden Dragon List who has stepped into the legendary "forbidden" realm, Qin Feng fears no one.

Moreover, even if Qin Feng were to face the Stone Buddha, he would not be without the ability to fight back.

He still has many trump cards that he has not yet used, such as the King-level secret treasure obtained from the Twin Rivers. Once its maximum power is activated, even a true Domain Lord-level expert will have to temporarily avoid its edge!
With this thought in mind, Qin Feng had no more worries.

With a wave of his hand, a gentle yet irresistible force surged forth, taking in all three blood jade crystals from the deep pit, as well as the three blood jade crystals that had just condensed after Gu Yun's death, plus the one that had fallen.

All seven blood jade crystals fell into his spatial ring.

Qin Feng pocketed all six Blood Jade Crystals in a smooth and swift manner, so fast that even Feng Zhiyu and the rescued prince of Tianxuan Kingdom couldn't fully react.

Only when the eerie crimson light completely disappeared from Qin Feng's fingertips did they slowly recover from their extreme shock.

Qin Feng didn't notice their distraction. He took one out and handed it to Feng Zhiyu.

The blood jade crystal floated silently, its eerie blood-red patterns and ominous black runes slowly flowing, as if imprisoning countless wailing souls, exuding a primal allure that chilled the heart.

"Take it."

Qin Feng's tone was calm and devoid of any emotion, "This item can change your aptitude and foundation, and will greatly benefit your future path in martial arts."

Feng Zhiyu's breath hitched. He looked at the supreme treasure before him, which was enough to drive countless black hole-level powerhouses to a frenzy of fighting. A fervent look flashed in his eyes, but that fervor was quickly replaced by a more complex emotion—a mix of gratitude, fear, and clear-headed understanding.

He subconsciously took a half step back, shook his head vigorously, and said with a bitter yet firm tone, "My benefactor, this item is far too precious. I, Feng, am unworthy to accept it."

Qin Feng's gaze remained calm. He didn't withdraw his hand, but simply looked at Feng Zhiyu. Feng Zhiyu took a deep breath, and seemingly afraid that Qin Feng would misunderstand, he quickly explained, "My benefactor has saved me from dire straits several times, which is already an immense favor. If I were to take such a divine object, how would I be any different from a shameless scoundrel?"
Moreover, my current meager strength is all thanks to the opportunities I gained from this Crimson Forbidden Land; my foundation is weak and my mind is unstable.

This blood jade crystal is both an unparalleled opportunity and a deadly poison to me.

I have neither the right to be an enemy of all the world's geniuses, nor the strength to protect it.

His words were incredibly sincere.

This is not a hypocritical excuse, but the most sober self-awareness after recognizing the insurmountable gap between himself and Qin Feng.

He understood that Qin Feng could regard the Blood Jade Crystal as an ordinary object because Qin Feng stood at the summit overlooking all living beings; while he was still just an ant struggling to climb at the foot of the mountain.

Accepting this blood jade crystal will not help him ascend to heaven; instead, it will make him the most conspicuous and succulent prey in the eyes of all hunters in the dark forest.

Qin Feng listened quietly; he could sense the sincerity in Feng Zhiyu's words.

He was not one to force others to do things against their will, and since Feng Zhiyu had his own considerations and insistence, he said no more.

"Alright."

Qin Feng nodded, and with a flick of his wrist, the blood jade crystal disappeared without a trace, returning to his storage ring.

To him, it was just a trivial matter.

Then, his gaze turned to the prince of Tianxuan Kingdom, whom he had just rescued from the scorching flames.

With a wave of his hand, Qin Feng unleashed a gentle yet vibrant golden-red spiritual energy that instantly dispelled the malevolent curse branded on the prince's soul and repaired his damaged essence caused by torture.

The prince's previously listless aura recovered at a visible speed, and his pale, distorted face gradually regained its color.

He struggled to his feet and recognized Qin Feng at a glance, without even needing Feng Zhiyu's introduction. Or rather, he confirmed the visitor's identity upon sensing the domineering and pure golden-red spiritual power that was exactly the same as the legendary one.

"Senior Qin... Senior Qin!"

The twenty-fourth prince's voice trembled with excitement. He didn't bother to tidy his appearance and bowed deeply to Qin Feng, his eyes filled with the relief of surviving a calamity and heartfelt respect. "Junior is Yueyi from the Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom!"
I've heard my thirteenth brother mention you before, and I never imagined I'd be saved by you yourself today… You, you are truly a benefactor of the royal family of the Heavenly Profound Kingdom!”

His words were sincere, without the slightest affectation typical of royalty.

In this blood-red forbidden land where human life is treated like dirt, one act of redemption is enough to make him remember it for the rest of his life.

"It's no trouble at all, just a small favor."

Qin Feng's tone remained calm. He glanced at the surrounding environment and said, "This should still be considered the outer area of ​​the Crimson Forbidden Land. If you two want to continue to seek opportunities, remember, if you don't have absolute strength, it's best not to touch the Blood Jade Crystal again."

Upon hearing the words "Blood Jade Crystal," Yue Yi and Feng Zhiyu's expressions turned serious. They knew that what Qin Feng was about to say would be of paramount importance.

Qin Feng paused for a moment, then dropped a crucial piece of information that was enough to overturn everyone's understanding of this treasure hunt game: "Because, if you kill a cultivator who has refined a Blood Jade Crystal, the Blood Jade Crystal he refined will reappear."

"what?!"

These words struck them like a thunderbolt.

Yueyi and Feng Zhiyu's pupils suddenly contracted to their maximum size at the same time!

They instantly understood the chilling, bloody law behind those words!
This means that the struggle for the Blood Jade Crystal will not be a simple treasure hunt, but an endless, relentless "breeding of venomous insects"!
Every cultivator who refines the Blood Jade Crystal will instantly transform from a treasure hunter into a moving, breathing "treasure trove" that may continuously increase in value!
This will make the killing in the entire Crimson Forbidden Land a hundred or a thousand times more bloody and cruel than before!
Seeing the shocked expressions on their faces, Qin Feng continued his strategic analysis in his calm, almost cold tone: "I am not sure at the moment whether there is a specific method to track down cultivators who have refined the Blood Jade Crystal."

However, based on common sense, with so many top talents from various clans entering this place, they must possess information and secret techniques that we are unaware of.

Perhaps, after refining the Blood Jade Crystal, a cultivator will have some unique mark left on their body; or perhaps, the refiners will develop a special connection with each other within a certain range.

He looked at the two of them and gave them his final advice: "So remember this. If you encounter Blood Jade Crystals again, either pretend you didn't see them and don't touch a single one, and peacefully go and seek other opportunities;

Alternatively, be fully prepared, find an absolutely safe location, refine all the blood jade crystals you can find to your own limit in one go, and then leave this blood-red forbidden land as quickly as possible without looking back. Do not harbor any illusions, and do not think that you can continue to wander here after refining one or two crystals.”

These words, each one a gem, were like a bucket of cold water, completely extinguishing the nascent greed in Yueyi and Feng Zhiyu's hearts.

They exchanged a glance, both seeing lingering fear and relief in each other's eyes.

"Thank you so much for your guidance! I will never forget it!"

Yueyi bowed deeply once again, this time for the life-saving grace and the guidance he had received.

"Thank you, Qin Feng." Feng Zhiyu also bowed respectfully.

Qin Feng nodded slightly. For him, that was the end of the matter, and so was the end of their connection.

He turned around, without saying another word, and his figure transformed into a faint phantom, merging into this desolate world of gray, white, and red, disappearing without a trace.

Only Yueyi and Feng Zhiyu remained, gazing longingly in the direction Qin Feng had left, their hearts surging with emotion, unable to calm down.

……

Time is the cheapest grain of sand on this ancient battlefield.

After Qin Feng and Feng Zhiyu parted ways, another long period of time, long enough for the stars in the outside world to change and civilizations to evolve, quietly passed by.

century.

For mortals, that is a cycle of reincarnation.

But for a cultivator like Qin Feng, whose lifespan is already endless, a hundred years is nothing more than a slightly longer period of seclusion and travel on the long path of martial arts.

Over the past century, Qin Feng's footprints have covered countless corners of the outer area of ​​the Crimson Forbidden Land.

……

Twenty-three years after we parted ways.

A swamp shrouded in a blood-red mist.

In the heart of the swamp, in a makeshift camp built from the bones of a giant beast, three monks clad in magnificent golden armor sat around a campfire, full of vigor.

Their armor was branded with a giant axe totem that cleaved the sky—the royal symbol of the "Opening Heaven Universe Kingdom," a powerful and warlike nation in the surrounding star system.

"Hahaha! The Third Prince is truly brilliant! We deliberately spread the news that we had found three Blood Jade Crystals, and sure enough, it attracted those fools from the 'Silver Feather Universe Kingdom'!"

A burly monk was wiping his battle axe while laughing loudly.

"Those flat-feathered birds really think they can be the ones to catch the prey, but little do they know that we are the real hunters!"

Another, thinner cultivator, a cruel smile playing on his lips, said, "Three Blood Jade Crystals, plus the two we took from them, that's a total of five! Once we refine them, our strength will definitely increase dramatically!"

The one they called "Third Prince" was a handsome young man with an arrogant air about him.

He toyed with a blood jade crystal in his hand, his eyes filled with obsession and ambition: "Five crystals are not enough. This Crimson Forbidden Land is the ladder to heaven that Father Emperor prepared for us!"

Once I've raised my physical and mental aptitude to their limits, the Hidden Dragon Ranking and the Stone Buddha will all be stepping stones beneath my feet!

Just as they were envisioning a bright future, an indifferent voice rang in their ears without warning, like a judgment from the deepest abyss.

"Have you finished dreaming?"

The three men's expressions changed drastically, and they stood up abruptly, unleashing a powerful surge of mental energy!

"who!"

The Third Prince shouted sternly.

In the blood mist not far away, a figure clad in a black robe stood quietly, as if he had been there all along, but they had never noticed him.

"Those who hide their true colors are asking for death!"

The burly cultivator had the most fiery temper. With a roar, the giant axe in his hand unleashed a torrent of bloody light as he prepared to strike Qin Feng down.

However, his action was forever frozen at the moment he raised the axe.

Qin Feng didn't even glance at him, but instead pointed at the arrogant Third Prince from afar.

A faint, almost invisible golden-red light ignored the distance in space, ignored the light from the several protective treasures that instantly lit up on the Third Prince's body, and ignored his protective energy that he had pushed to its limit.

puff.

A soft sound, so faint it was like a bubble bursting.

The shock and disbelief on the face of the Third Prince of the Kaitian Universe Kingdom were frozen forever.

A tiny red dot appeared between his eyebrows. Then, his entire body, along with his soul and his very existence, began to rapidly and silently annihilate from that red dot, turning into the most basic particles and dissipating into the blood mist.

"Your Highness... Your Highness?"

The remaining two guards' expressions instantly shifted from rage to utter terror. They watched helplessly as their master, a powerful Black Hole-level prodigy, was effortlessly "pointed" away by a beam of light right before their eyes.

They couldn't even comprehend what kind of attack this was.

Fear, like an icy tide, overwhelmed their reason.

They all turned around simultaneously, bursting into their fastest speeds ever, and fled frantically in different directions.

Qin Feng remained standing in the same spot, without moving an inch.

He simply pointed out two fingers in two different directions once more, casually.

Two more golden-red streaks of light appeared, arriving first despite being launched later.

After two equally faint sounds, the swamp returned to deathly silence.

Qin Feng slowly stepped forward and walked to the campfire.

Where the Third Prince had originally stood, space slightly distorted, and five blood jade crystals were quietly floating there.

He waved his hand, pocketed the five blood jade crystals, turned and left. The whole process took no more than three breaths.

Sixty-one years after we parted.

In an underground cave, stalactites shimmer with an eerie phosphorescence.

Deep within the cave, five cultivators dressed in dark green robes, exuding a chilling aura, were surrounding a corpse that had just lost its life.

The corpse belonged to a human cultivator; his face was contorted in pain, and his entire body was black, clearly indicating that he had been poisoned by some kind of deadly poison.

"Hehehe... This human brat does have some skill, actually managing to find a spiritual cave where two blood jade crystals were born."

A monk with a voice as hoarse as an owl chuckled strangely.

"Unfortunately, he encountered our 'Azure Netherworld Sect'. Before our sect's 'Soul-Eating Poison', even the strongest genius is nothing more than a cold corpse."

Another cultivator licked his lips, his eyes filled with greed.

The leader was an elderly man with poisonous markings on his face. He held two blood jade crystals he had found on the corpse in his hands, feeling the immense energy within them, and nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. Adding to the one we got from hunting that unicorn beast, we now have three. Pass down the order: everyone refine them on the spot and improve your strength as quickly as possible!"

"Yes, senior brother!"

Just as they were preparing to divide the spoils, a cold voice came from the shadow of the stalactites above them.

"Refining something that doesn't belong to you comes at a price."

The five people looked up abruptly and saw a figure in black robes hanging upside down on the huge stalactite above them. A pair of calm eyes looked down at them as if a god were scrutinizing ants.

"who!"

The senior disciple reacted extremely quickly. With a sharp shout, a dark green poisonous mist instantly erupted from his body and swept towards Qin Feng.

This poisonous mist is the sect's most prized treasure. It is formless and intangible, and it specifically targets the soul and the foundation of one's cultivation, making it extremely vicious.

However, the poisonous mist, which was enough to terrify cultivators of the same level, seemed to encounter an invisible barrier when it came within three feet of Qin Feng, or like ice and snow meeting the blazing sun. It quickly melted and purified, unable to penetrate even an inch.

"Little tricks."

Qin Feng uttered four words calmly.

He didn't even change his posture, still hanging upside down, but simply flicked his finger lightly towards the center of the five people below.

A golden-red ray of light, like a drop of water falling into a calm lake, shot out silently.

The senior disciple's pupils constricted sharply; he sensed an unprecedented crisis of death!
He and his four fellow disciples were of one mind and instantly formed a Five Elements Poison Array. Five cold and vicious energies intertwined to form a huge dark green shield, blocking in front of them.

However, all this is in vain.

The golden-red sliver of light pierced through the dark green poison shield with ease, without causing any energy ripples, as if the shield didn't exist at all.

A beam of light pierced through the senior disciple's brow, then emerged from the chest of a cultivator behind him, followed by a third, a fourth, a fifth...

It was like an invisible thread that instantly connected the five people in a straight line.

The five men still wore the ferocity and vigilance they had displayed when they formed the battle formation, but their eyes had completely lost their sparkle; the flame of their lives had been extinguished.

After a few breaths, their bodies began to disintegrate and turn to ashes. And where they had stood, three blood jade crystals quietly appeared.

Qin Feng's figure gracefully descended from above, collected the spoils, and walked into the deeper darkness of the cave without looking back.

……

The ninety-eighth year.

At the summit of an active volcano, lava flows like blood, and waves of heat surge.

On the central platform of the crater, four giants, each over a hundred feet tall, are surrounding a strange plant.

The plant was made entirely of blood-red crystals, and at its top were four fruits that were about to ripen—those were naturally formed blood jade crystals!

These four giants are the pride of the "Lava Titans" race.

Their bodies are made of the hardest volcanic rock, and what flows through their veins is not blood, but molten lava.

They are born with superhuman strength, and their physical defense is so strong that they are rarely matched among those of the same level.

"Hahaha, after guarding it for thirty years, this 'Blood Jade Crystal' is finally about to be born!"

A lava titan spoke in a deep, booming voice, like thunder.

"If the four of us brothers join forces, even a black hole-level powerhouse wouldn't be able to budge us in the slightest!"

"Once we consume these four Blood Jade Crystals, our physical strength will undoubtedly increase to another level! At that time, we can hunt down those weaker races and seize even more Blood Jade Crystals!"

They have absolute confidence in their powerful defenses.

Just as the last blood jade crystal was fully matured and emitted a dazzling light, a figure in black robes appeared at the edge of the platform as if by teleportation.

"This item is destined for me."

Qin Feng spoke calmly.

"Humanity?"

A lava titan turned around, a disdainful expression on its massive rocky face. "Get lost, or I'll crush you into mincemeat and throw you into the lava!"

Qin Feng shook his head, seemingly having no interest in arguing with them.

He raised his hand and made a grasping motion towards the four towering lava titans.

There was no earth-shattering fanfare, nor any dazzling light.

But in the perception of those four lava titans, their world was "paused" for a moment by an incomprehensible force.

Immediately afterwards, four golden-red beams of light appeared out of thin air from inside their indestructible rock bodies, precisely striking their life furnaces located at the core.

That rocky body, strong enough to withstand the full force of a black hole-level expert, became more fragile than paper at this moment.

The ultimate destruction, from the inside out, happens in an instant.

Boom——!
The four colossal lava titans didn't even have time to utter a scream before they disintegrated, turning into countless burning fragments of rock that plunged into the sea of ​​lava below, creating towering waves.

Lava churned, and waves of heat washed over us.

Qin Feng slowly walked to the center of the platform and picked off the four naturally matured blood jade crystals one by one.

After doing all this, he glanced at the churning sea of ​​lava below. No new Blood Jade Crystals appeared after the four Lava Titans died.

"It seems that only refined blood jade crystals will follow that rule."

He understood, turned around, stepped into the air, and disappeared into the billowing black smoke and heat waves.

……

Secret treasures, divine metals, rare flowers, exotic fruits...

After a century of accumulation, Qin Feng's gains have reached a terrifying level that cannot be measured in terms of value. His storage ring is already overflowing with all sorts of top-tier resources.

And the most important gain among them was, of course, the blood jade crystal that drove people crazy.

In the century that followed his departure from Feng Zhiyu, he successively seized twelve Blood Jade Crystals from different enemies through various means.

Adding to the seven he had acquired earlier, the total number of Blood Jade Crystals he had accumulated had reached an astonishing nineteen!

Each blood jade crystal represents the life of at least one, or even several, top geniuses.

However, even with such a valuable treasure in his hands, Qin Feng remained absolutely calm and restrained.

He didn't rush to refine any of them.

He is waiting.

Waiting for a more suitable opportunity, waiting for a more thorough understanding of the rules of this blood-red forbidden land, and waiting for myself to accumulate enough resources, so as to complete the most thorough transformation in one go.

(End of this chapter)