The path to immortality through martial arts begins with being forced into marriage!

Because this person was none other than the senior we had just seen on Blood Fiend Peak!

Hunji didn't put on any airs of being a sect leader; he simply took his seat in his designated spot.

Seeing that all the bloodstone thrones were already occupied, an inner disciple dressed in black robes announced loudly, "The auspicious hour has arrived!"

"The Blood-Clad Sect's Inaugural Ceremony for Recruiting New Members shall now begin!"

"All disciples! Bow!"

"Greetings to the Sect Leader, greetings to all the Peak Masters!!"

With that command, the sound was like a mountain roaring and a tsunami crashing!

The hundreds of new disciples in the plaza below bowed in unison, saying, "Disciple greets Sect Leader!"

"Greetings to the Peak Masters!"

Thousands of disciples on the surrounding viewing platforms, regardless of their status, bowed respectfully at this moment, their movements perfectly synchronized!

From a distance, it looked like a dark, imposing mass!

"Please rise, everyone! Disciples of our sect need not be bound by rules; I am who I am!"

"Today, all newly initiated disciples will have the opportunity to undergo a trial."

Hun Ji raised his hand and waved it, and a huge bronze mirror, several feet in diameter, appeared out of thin air directly above the square.

The bronze mirror is ancient and weathered, its frame engraved with countless ferocious beasts and twisted runes, and it is currently emitting powerful spatial fluctuations.

"This is the Blood Shadow Illusion Mirror, one of the most precious treasures of our Blood Robe Sect!"

"A trial illusion containing the true energy of generations of ancestors, infused with the spirits of endless demonic beasts and the aura of bloodlust!"

"The illusionary realm is filled with countless demonic beasts of various forms and strengths ranging from the Qi Refining stage to the late Foundation Establishment stage. You might even encounter a demonic beast projection comparable to the Core Formation stage!"

"However, everything in the mirror is a manifestation of spiritual energy, so even if you die in the mirror, there will be no backlash."

"But everyone only has one chance to be tested, and once they die, they will be expelled from the illusion."

"As for the other rules, they're simple: enter the illusion, hunt monsters, and your score is based on the monster's head or core!"

"Each time a monster is killed, the Illusion Mirror records it and converts it into Blood Refinement Points! The stronger the monster, the higher the points!"

The illusionary realm will be open for three hours! Final rankings will be based on scores!

"The top ten will gain access to the Thousand-Year Blood Pool deep within Blood Fiend Peak, where they will undergo three days of blood pool tempering!"

The moment these words were spoken, the square below erupted in cheers!

Even from the surrounding viewing platforms, suppressed gasps and murmurs could be heard!

"A thousand-year-old blood pool?!"

"I've heard it's a treasure trove where the purest blood essence from the Weeping Blood Abyss and countless rare and precious materials gather!"

"A single body tempering session is enough to increase physical strength by several times, and may even unleash bloodline potential!"

"Getting into the top ten is too difficult! There are nearly four hundred people here!"

"I'll give it my all! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; missing it would be a lifelong regret!"

Everyone in the audience was eager to try, and Cui Yi on stage was no exception!

A thousand-year-old blood pool?

Just from the name, you can tell that the spiritual energy contained inside must be extremely abundant. Wouldn't it be time to put the hatching of the dragon egg on the agenda?

"Teacher, may I try this trial?"

Cui Yi's act of volunteering did not surprise Chi Gui in the slightest.

"You and I have the same idea. The Thousand-Year Blood Pool is not open for every ceremony. Such a place of extraordinary creation needs time to nurture its spiritual energy."

"A burst of spiritual energy occurs only once every ten years, and even then, it can only allow a maximum of a hundred people to undergo body tempering."

"If there are more people, the effect of the blood pool tempering will be greatly reduced."

"Your physical strength is quite good, and this opportunity to temper your body in the blood pool is even more rare. I am very pleased that you are willing to take the initiative to try it."

Red Demon stroked his chin with satisfaction. What could be more gratifying than having an ambitious disciple?

He had previously worried that Cui Yi's talent would make him arrogant, but now it seems that he had simply underestimated Cui Yi.

"hehe……"

"Red Demon, your newly accepted disciple has quite the ambition."

"But isn't this cultivation level a bit too weak?"

"A mere Foundation Establishment stage cultivator dares to try and compete for a spot in the Blood Pool Body Tempering?"

"Could it be that you've only just begun and already think you're invincible?"

An aged voice rang out behind the master and his apprentice.

Cui Yi frowned slightly, turned around at the sound, and saw an old man in red robes carrying a huge bone sword looking at him with a sneer.

This person is extremely short, estimated to be only a little over 1.6 meters tall.

Most strikingly, he was carrying a massive white bone sword on his back!

The bone sword was estimated to be much longer than the old man's own height!

The sword hilt was higher than his head, and the tip of the sword almost dragged on the ground, making him half a head taller than the old man!

This starkly contrasting image was instantly imprinted in Cui Yi's mind, making it impossible for him not to remember it.

The atmosphere on the high platform became somewhat subtle because of the Bone Demon's undisguised contempt.

The other peak masters also glanced over, seemingly casually, with expressions of watching the spectacle.

The smile on the red demon's face slowly faded, and his scarlet eyes turned to the bone demon, a hint of displeasure flashing in them.

"Old man, if you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."

"I know you're always fiercely protective of your own, but what I just said—wasn't it all true?"

"A mere kid who's just stepped into the Foundation Establishment stage, whose foundation isn't even stable yet, wants to run into that 'Blood Refining Illusion' and compete with hundreds of people for a top ten spot?"

"Forget about competing for the top ten. That illusionary realm is teeming with monsters and people are unpredictable. I'm afraid he wouldn't even last the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before he'd be kicked out in a sorry state!"

"Then, it will be your Blood Fiend Peak that loses face!"

Even in the face of such blatant provocation, the Red Demon did not get angry; his scarlet eyes were full of calculating light.

"Since you old bones are so certain, how about we have a bet? It'll add some excitement to this dull ceremony!"

The Bone Demon seemed surprised that the usually hot-tempered Crimson Demon was so composed this time, and a look of doubt immediately appeared on his face.

"A bet? What are you going to bet with me on?"

"good!"

With a flick of his hand, the Crimson Demon revealed a small, umbrella-shaped magical artifact amidst a swirling crimson light.

The moment this umbrella appeared, it caused the light in the surrounding space to be slightly deflected!

"I'm betting my disciple can get into the top ten in this introductory trial!"

"This will be my wager!"

The moment they saw the small umbrella-shaped magical artifact, even some peak masters who had initially been just watching the spectacle couldn't remain calm.

All the astonished and greedy gazes focused on that small umbrella!

"The Chaos Umbrella! That old bastard Red Demon has really gone all out!"

"Gambling on a low-grade Xuan-level magic weapon like that? Has that Crimson Demon secretly made some windfall behind our backs?"