Breaking the Masked Man

"Please, young master." Jin Gu led the way for Yao Yan with great enthusiasm. Before leaving, he did not forget to bow to Venerable Feng. His obsequious attitude made it impossible to associate him with a Dou Zong.

As the two entered the thick fog, Venerable Wind waved his hand to disperse the enormous blue phoenix beneath his feet, then sat cross-legged in the void, his figure slowly dissipating as if merging into this space.

……

In the thick fog, it was almost impossible to see one's own hand in front of one's face, and even spiritual power was blocked.

"Young master, stay close to me. This place is quite unique. The dense fog has the ability to create illusions. If you're unlucky, even a Dou Zong level expert can easily get lost in it." Jin Gu explained to Yao Yan very considerately, while leading Yao Yan towards the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool.

Yao Yan followed behind the other party, and soon his eyes were covered by a sky-blue flame, and everything around him became clear.

"?!" Jin Gu was also stunned when he sensed the aura of the strange fire. After a moment, he understood. No wonder Venerable Feng dared to bring him here in advance. Without the protection of the strange fire, he would not have been able to enter the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool, let alone break through to the Dou Zong realm.

"May I ask, young master, do you possess a strange fire?" Jin Gu asked softly.

"Okay." Yao Yan nodded.

“In that case, things are simpler. Young Master can go directly to the bottom of the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool. That place was developed by our Gold-Eating Rat clan and was not open to outsiders in the past.” Jin Gu slowly introduced the preciousness of this place.

"The Tianshan Blood Pool is a natural volcanic crater. Due to its special location, a massive energy tide rises every three years, converging into a blood pool entirely formed from energy. This is the origin of the Tianshan Blood Pool."

There was a pause.

Jin Gu continued, "However, this is not the most wondrous part of the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool... During each energy tide, although the vast majority of the energy condenses into the red liquid within the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool, a small portion settles down and eventually infiltrates the deepest part of the pool. Although this portion of energy is scarce, it appears exceptionally pure, perhaps due to the condensation over time... Unfortunately, although it contains immense treasures, it is also the place with the most concentrated fire poison. However, since you possess a unique fire, you should be unharmed. Perhaps this is why the Medicine Venerable sent you here."

"Has Venerable Medicine been here before?" Yao Yan asked curiously upon hearing this.

“I’ve studied it,” Jin Gu said with a strange expression, clearly thinking of some things from back then.

Yao Yan was not surprised to hear this. Given Yao Lao's personality when he was young, how could he not come to study such a magical place? You know, every alchemist has a restless heart and is full of curiosity about everything, wanting to try whether they can be used as medicine!

Some who go astray even use human bodies to make medicine! (End of Chapter)

Chapter 213. Preparing a Gift?

213.

At the top of Tianmu Mountain, strangely shaped rocks stand tall.

As soon as Yao Yan entered the mountaintop area, he noticed that the surrounding mist had dissipated, replaced by an extremely dense energy tide. It gathered in the sky, radiating an extremely terrifying energy pressure that sent chills down one's spine.

However, the energy tide does not seem to have reached its peak yet; it is still accumulating and emitting a faint, multicolored haze.

"This place is truly peculiar." Yao Yan's eyes flickered as he looked at the crater. He was curious whether there was anything hidden inside the volcano, but this thought quickly dissipated. Since the old Yao had studied it back then, it meant that this place was just a naturally formed area, and there was no special opportunity there.

If this place were related to a Dou Sheng or Dou Di, it would be impossible for it to have been controlled by the Gold-Eating Rat Clan for so long.

Yao Yan followed Jin Gu toward the crater. As they approached, the surrounding energy gradually became tainted with fire poison. Just a little absorption of that energy was enough to feel one's meridians being burned, somewhat similar to the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower.

The two soon arrived at the mountaintop.

At this moment, someone was already waiting on the mountaintop. The other party was an old man in gray robes, whose appearance was more upright than Jin Gu's. He smiled and said to Yao Yan, "I am Jin Shi, the patriarch of the Gold-Eating Rat clan. I already know why you came. I didn't expect that Venerable Yao would be safe and sound. This matter will probably shock many people."

As he spoke, he laughed, seemingly knowing the old doctor.

"I previously informed the clan leader that this is a special talent of our Gold-Eating Rat clan. In the past, our clan has also been responsible for gathering information. If you have any needs in the future, young master, you can come to us." Jin Gu enthusiastically promoted the talent to Yao Yan. Yao Yan was a descendant of the Medicine Venerable, and he had reached such a level at a young age. Moreover, he possessed a strange fire, so he was obviously also an alchemist. Befriending him would be entirely beneficial to the Gold-Eating Rat clan.

"Could you all please help me gather information about the Ancient Dragon Clan of the Void?" Yao Yan asked.

"Ancient Void Dragon?!"

As soon as Yao Yan spoke, Jin Shi and Jin Gu were quite frightened, their expressions changing drastically. They did not expect that this human man, who was not very old, would have such a big mouth. The Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan was the absolute overlord of the magical beast world. Don't be fooled by the fact that the magical beast world is now known as the three great families. In fact, it is because the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan has retired that the other two clans have nothing to do.

Looking at their expressions, Yao Yan asked with some curiosity, "Is it difficult?"

"May I ask why you are inquiring about this clan, young master?" Jin Shi asked slowly after a moment of silence.

“I’m curious. The Ancient Dragon Clan of the Void has disappeared for a long time. I’d like to know if you can find out any news about them. If not, then forget it.” Yao Yan said casually, with an indifferent expression.

Young master's curiosity... Jin Shi and Jin Gu exchanged a glance and roughly understood Yao Yan's thoughts. It's normal for young people to be curious.

Jin Shi thought for a moment before slowly saying, "The Ancient Dragon Clan of Taixu was once the overlord of the magical beast world. Information about their clan will not be cheap... What kind of information does the young master want? If it is just some simple information, I can give it to you for free."

"No, I've never liked owing people favors, and I believe that free things are usually no good," Yao Yan said, feigning generosity, his demeanor befitting a rich second-generation heir.

"Does the young master have a method to remove the fire poison?" Jin Shi asked, his eyes flashing slightly and his tone a little hurried.

He didn't want to waste Yao Zunzhe's favor so easily. If he could get a solution from Yao Yan, he could save Yao Zunzhe's favor for when he broke through to Dou Zun in the future.

“Yes, I have a seventh-grade pill that can perfectly remove fire poison.” Yao Yan raised his hand and tossed over a scroll of pill formulas.

Jin Shi took the pill formula, his expression showing some excitement. However, he quickly suppressed his emotions, because this was just a pill formula. If he wanted to refine a seventh-grade pill, he would need to hire a seventh-grade alchemist. That price would be enough to make the Gold-Eating Rat clan bleed a lot.

He thought for a moment, then looked up at Yao Yan and asked, "Young Master, do you know how to refine it?"

“Of course.” Yao Yan nodded.

Jin Shi was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly said, "While you are in seclusion, I will prepare the medicinal herbs for you. As for the information you are looking for, I will also send people to gather the latest news to ensure its accuracy... Is there anything else you wish to inquire about?"

"That's all. Go into seclusion first. The sooner you break through to the Dou Zong realm, the better your chances of refining pills for you will be," Yao Yan said with a soft laugh.

“Young Master is right.” Jin Shi nodded, then took out a dark gold skull from his storage ring and handed it to Yao Yan. “Beneath the Blood Pool of Tianshan Mountain is a spatial barrier set up by my Gold-Eating Rat Clan. Only with this can one enter.”

"Okay." Yao Yan took the skull, transformed into a streak of light, and headed towards the crater.

The three-year period has not yet expired, the blood pool in the crater is extremely shallow, and the fire poison is even more intense than before. However, none of this can stop Yao Yan, who possesses several different kinds of strange fire. His whole body is covered by sky-blue flames, and he disappears directly into them.

"Sky blue... Is there such a color among strange fires?" Jin Shi said with great surprise upon seeing this.

"I don't know... but the strange fire inside this kid's body is indeed extremely terrifying; the boys are all frightened." Jin Gu's expression turned serious at this moment, and he no longer had his previous lewd appearance. He said in a deep voice.

"It's normal for someone's descendant to be somewhat special... I just didn't expect that Venerable Medicine would still be alive." Jin Shi sighed.

"Whether we live or die has nothing to do with us. The Soul Hall is not to be trifled with, especially since it has a very deep relationship with that clan. We can't afford to offend them," Jin Gu said calmly, his expression unchanged.

“Strength… If our clan were stronger, we wouldn’t have to suffer this humiliation. It’s a pity that so many clansmen died to find this place, and it has been so easily taken by outsiders.” Jin Shi said helplessly.

"Forget it, that place is a menace to me. Even with your strength, you almost fell in. If you keep cultivating, I don't think you'll live much longer," Jin Gu said irritably.

"There's no other way. If my strength isn't enough, I can't suppress the fire poison within my body. But if I want to quickly increase my strength, I have no choice but to go to the depths of the blood pool..."

Jin Shi smiled bitterly, saying that ever since that one moment of greed, he had been unable to stop himself, as if he were possessed.

"Our clan, relying on the Blood Pool of Tianshan, will eventually produce a talented descendant who breaks through to the Dou Zun level. There's no need to rush; we can take it slowly," Jin Gu said slowly. He clearly understood that forcing oneself to improve one's talent when it's insufficient would only lead to one's own destruction.

Jin Shi remained silent. He was not content to stop at Dou Zong. His goal had always been Dou Zun. Only Dou Zun could stand tall in Zhongzhou and no longer have to be subservient to others.

……

The moment he plunged into the pool of blood.

Yao Yan immediately sensed an extremely terrifying pure energy that enveloped his entire body like flowing water. It seemed that as long as he circulated his cultivation technique slightly, he could instantly fill his meridians. This was the first time he had ever seen such terrifying pure energy.

However, these energies also contain faint traces of blood, which are the so-called fire poison. If they cannot be removed from the body, they will stick to the body like maggots. Once their number increases, they will eventually turn into an extremely terrifying poison that can even corrode bones.

"An enhanced version of the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower..." Yao Yan's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at the glowing skull in his hand. Then, bone wings appeared on his back, and with a flash, he shot towards the deepest part.

As they moved further away from the blood pool, the surrounding colors gradually deepened to a deep red, and the fire poison contained within became increasingly concentrated. This fire poison was not inherent to the energy itself, but rather emanated from the volcano.

The Tianshan Blood Pool is located in the center of the volcano, and the fire poison that has been emanating from it over the years is terrifying.

Azure flames swirled around him, evaporating the approaching crimson energy and transforming it into wisps of pure energy that flowed into Yao Yan's body, rapidly enhancing his aura. The speed of his progress was astonishing, but this was not yet the limit of this place.

He continued to descend for several minutes, and the dark gold skull in his hand suddenly became intensely hot. At the same time, a unique space appeared before him, as if a part of him had been separated from this place.

This is clearly the spatial barrier mentioned by the patriarch of the Gold-Eating Rat clan.

Yao Yan leaned the skull closer, and soon a passage large enough for one person to pass through appeared. He flashed and slipped inside.

As Yao Yan entered, crackling sounds immediately rang out around him. Countless viscous, dark red liquids filled the surroundings, containing fire poison several times more terrifying than that outside. However, as the fire poison was purified, the dark red energy also merged into Yao Yan's body. Instantly, an incomparably pure energy flowed into his limbs and bones, significantly enhancing his aura.

"What a wonderful place!" Yao Yan's eyes flickered slightly as he uttered a genuine exclamation of praise.

He immediately stopped looking around, took out the lotus platform of the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame from his storage ring, landed on it, and began to absorb the surrounding energy with all his might. As he fully released it, the azure flame in his body instantly surged and connected with the lotus platform on the base. It began to absorb and release the surrounding energy, purify the fire poison, and then poured the pure energy contained within into Yao Yan's body.

As this immense energy surged into his body, Yao Yan could clearly feel his physique and fighting spirit rapidly strengthening. The body-tempering effect contained in this dark red energy still worked on him.

The thrill of rapidly increasing strength is truly intoxicating.

This was the first time he had fully unleashed his cultivation, and it was truly exhilarating.

As Yao Yan entered into cultivation, a huge black hole seemed to form around his body, frantically devouring the surrounding energy. The fire poison that would make even a Dou Zong fearful was now like a decoration, and was even completely devoured by the green lotus, making its color even more vibrant.

……

……

In the dim space, a jet-black flame suddenly tore through the space and then transformed into a human figure. As the figure appeared, the entire space seemed to freeze.

"What is it?" The figure's voice was extremely cold and completely indifferent.

"My lord, the young master has already entered Zhongzhou. He is currently in the Tianmu Mountains in the northern region of Zhongzhou. If nothing unexpected happens, the young master should be seeking an opportunity to break through to the Dou Zong realm there."

Upon hearing this, the black flames surrounding the figure trembled slightly, as if the matter had disturbed his emotions, and this scene made the figure kneel even more devoutly.

"Is he about to reach the Dou Zong level? That's quite a good pace. It seems I, as his teacher, should prepare a gift for him. I hope he'll like it."

"Hehehe~" (End of this chapter)

Chapter 214. What the hell is this ghost story?

214.

At the bottom of the Blood Pool of Tianshan, a dark red world lies silent. In the very center, a vortex continuously devours the surrounding dark red matter, like a bottomless black hole swallowing everything around it.