Throughout the entire journey, the magical guards stationed nearby failed to detect Han Li at all. At this moment, Han Li found himself even more curious about the identities of the two figures ahead. He had been able to bypass the magical seals at the city walls thanks to his own powerful abilities, and yet, the two figures before him—clearly far less powerful—had passed through these seals with no disturbance whatsoever. It was evident that either they possessed special artifacts capable of overcoming the seals, or they themselves were individuals who inherently controlled the entry and exit of the seals, thus holding a certain status within the Blood Crow City. As Han Li's thoughts turned, his presence remained firmly locked onto the two figures ahead, like an unyielding shadow, following them continuously until they had traveled over ten thousand miles, eventually arriving above a dark, scattered pile of rocks. Suddenly, the green glow leading at the front dropped down and vanished instantly among the stones. The gray glow following closely behind paused only slightly, then descended without hesitation. Below, a massive boulder shimmered and settled, revealing an elderly figure dressed in gray robes with silver eyes, his face stern and gloomy, scanning the surroundings. "Hm, isn't that the lord of Xueya City?" Han Li silently materialized above the scattered stones, gazing down at the elder, his expression briefly surprised. The lord of Xueya City naturally did not notice Han Li concealed in the air; he swept his gaze around, then emitted a cold exhalation, flipping his hand and suddenly producing a small black parasol. With a series of incantations, he launched it skyward. Crack! The black parasol instantly expanded to the size of a ten-foot span, hovering in midair and radiating ten thousand beams of dark light, fully enveloping a stretch of land beneath it. At a smaller boulder some dozens of zhangs away, a deep rumble echoed. A faint blue figure, as if struck by a powerful force, staggered into view—ordinary in appearance, dressed in a blue robe, yet utterly expressionless, as though he had anticipated his exposure all along. Han Li clearly saw the middle-aged man's face, his gaze flickering slightly. This man was none other than "Yang Lao Er," the magical race elder who had just bid for and secured that holy brick at the auction hall earlier. As soon as the man was forced to reveal his true form, the Blood Crow City Master suddenly exhaled a low cry, then suddenly waved one hand toward the void. A streak of blood light, stretching over ten zhang, flashed past and instantly cleaved the massive stone in front of Yang Lao Er in two, sending it crashing with a thunderous roar. Yet the middle-aged man's figure blurred and vanished from his spot in an instant, as if the slash had struck empty air. A deep gash, stretching ten zhang long, immediately appeared on the ground, looking astonishingly dramatic. "Indeed, you've deliberately brought me to the outskirts of the city. If you have any allies, please go ahead and summon them all." The Lord of Xueya's eyes flashed with cold light as he slowly spoke to the middle-aged man. "Allies? Why would Master Bing say this? Aside from me, there is no one else here." Old Yang chuckled and replied. "A mere Xuangui stage cultivator—without support, how dare you remain so composed before my very eyes?" The Lord of Xueya's eyes shimmered with silver light, his tone steadily darkening. "If Master Bing still doesn't believe me, then I have no choice but to concede. However, I came to bring you here without any ill intent—my only intention is to propose a mutually beneficial transaction." Yang blinked calmly, showing no concern. "A transaction is certainly possible. But first, you must prove you have the standing to speak with me. Should I decide to kill you, I can simply take what I desire—no transaction needed." The Blood Raven City Master burst into laughter, then took a decisive step forward, vanishing suddenly amidst a surge of bloodlight. At the next instant, a ripple of energy surged behind the middle-aged man, and the Blood Raven City Master materialized like a ghost, his form expanding instantly to reveal a massive blood-colored hand that slammed with a sharp, bristling breeze straight toward Yang Lao'er's head. Unheeding the man's words, the Blood Raven City Master immediately summoned his great power, intent on crushing the middle-aged man with a single palm strike. Yang Lao'er's eye twitched sharply, yet he did not turn, instead delivering a counterpalm of his own. A howling wind erupted, and a dark, massive hand rose to meet the blood one. A thunderous clash echoed as both figures were hurled backward, driven by a sudden gale. "Late stage of fusion— you're not Yang Lao'er!" The Blood Raven City Master's voice, filled with astonishment and fury, rang out amid the roar. As the piercing light faded, his face revealed a slightly pale hue. At this moment, the middle-aged man across from him had also stabilized his stance, and beneath the surging spiritual pressure radiating from him, there was clearly the mark of a Consolidated Mid-stage cultivator. "Is it really that important whether I am or not the old man known as Yang Er? After all, who says I'm not Yang Er?" Yet Yang Er's face betrayed a strange expression. "You've been so painstakingly persistent in your pursuit of me—so, are you one of the Seven Thunder Lords of the Sea of Thunder, or a representative of Tian Fang Mountain?" The Blood Crow City Master stared at Yang Er for a moment, then asked coldly. "Master Bing is indeed quite perceptive. I hail from the Sea of Thunder, but I am not among the Seven Thunder Lords—only a wandering cultivator. When the Seven Thunder Lords and the representatives of Tian Fang Mountain seized the place where the Saintly Ancestor Qi Ling passed away, and quietly took three out of the four Sacred Bricks, it was you who managed to secure your own position as the ruler of this distant city. Remarkable! I wonder—if the Seven Thunder Lords and the people of Tian Fang Mountain were to learn of this, would there still be room "Yang Er chuckled lightly. "Hmph, you seem to know quite well about my past. And the holy tile auctioned off at the gala—wasn't that a fake you deliberately arranged?" asked the Lord of Xueya, his lips twitching. "The tile was officially appraised on the spot by the auction house. How could it possibly be false? I merely damaged some of its incantations. Don't you see, Master, you've come all this way specifically to pursue this fourth holy tile?" Yang Er waved his sleeve and, with one hand gently supporting it, suddenly revealed a jade-green wooden chest, speaking with evident intention. The Lord of Xueya stared at the chest, his expression shifting between gloom and surprise, before finally asking, "Regardless of your origins, I truly intend to secure this fourth holy tile. Please explain your terms." "Brother Bing is indeed a man of straightforwardness. Then, I shall make no further formalities. We both know well that these four holy tiles are central to the legendary 'Qilin Secret Map.'" It is said that if the four holy bricks of the Sacred Ancestor of Qi Ling could be gathered together, not only would one inherit all his divine powers, but also receive the secret map he personally drew back then. Beyond the various rare treasures mentioned, the single flying treasure—'Mò Líng Holy Vessel'—ranked among the top three in the Sacred Realm alone—has drawn the admiration of countless people. Should one obtain it, even a regular Holy Ancestor would find it difficult to easily defeat us. I would like to work with my friend to gather this secret map and then jointly divide the treasure among us," said Yang Er, with a gentle smile. "With three holy bricks of mine and only one in your possession, do you really think it's too trivial to expect equal shares?" The Blood-Hawk City Master responded as though he had anticipated this, yet spoke with a cold tone. "I believe that one brick and three bricks are fundamentally no different. If your lordship could gather the secret map solely with your three bricks, then surely you wouldn't have been so cautious and patient in this Blood-Hawk City for so many years." "My request for an equal division of the treasure is far from unreasonable," said Yang Er with confidence. "This matter is of great importance, and I need some time to consider before making a decision. Moreover, before that, I would like to inspect the Sacred Bricks you hold." After a moment of thoughtful consideration, the Blood Crow City Master spoke seriously. "How would you like me to inspect them? Will you not simply hand them over directly to me?" Yang Er was momentarily startled, speaking with a hint of caution. "That's not necessary. All you need to do is bring out the bricks and slightly activate them with your spiritual energy, and I will use a secret technique to verify their authenticity." The Blood Crow City Master spoke calmly. "If it's only that simple, then I'm quite willing. To gain your trust, I'll make an exception and agree to this once." The middle-aged man hesitated for a while, finally nodding with great reluctance. "Your willingness to agree so readily truly indicates that you are sincerely committed to working with Bing," the silver-eyed elder remarked, naturally delighted. He had previously proposed this condition, intending to further negotiate with the other party, yet never expected such an immediate acceptance. "Friend, observe carefully," said Yang Er, raising his hand and lightly tapping the wooden chest. Instantly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and the lid flew open, revealing a long, translucent slab that drifted gently out and hovered suspended before the middle-aged man's chest. With a gentle touch of his finger to the crystal slab, Yang Er infused it with a pure stream of spiritual energy. A silver glow swelled and contracted, then instantly transformed into a rapidly spinning halo of silver light, instantly drawing the spiritual energies of nearby beings toward its center. "Unfortunate!" cried the lord of Xueya City, his body suddenly shimmering with a layer of crimson light as he slightly arched backward. As the sound of rushing air echoed, a flash of luminous energy appeared above the elder, and a golden beam several zhang long shot forth from the void, emitting a sharp cry, swiftly looping around the lord's neck with the speed of lightning. Yet surprisingly, at the same moment, a ripple of energy surged behind Yang Lao Er, a pale ghostly hand emerged silently, blurred into being behind the man, and with five fingers like blades, plunged down with a firm grasp. Both of them had been struck simultaneously by a deadly surprise attack! ------------ Book X: The War in the Realm of Magic – The Seventh Killer of Blood and the Black Bone Maggot The Lord of Blood Raven City suddenly displayed a look of astonishment and fury, his body trembling slightly as he tried to step aside from the golden light. However, the silver vortex power violently pulled at his spiritual awareness, making his movements noticeably slower than usual. A crisp sound rang out! The golden light struck the Lord of Blood Raven City at his neck, and instantly a burst of blood light erupted—easily deflected like a ripple. Within that blood light, a vivid, crimson jade tablet shimmered, dimming and brightening in an irregular rhythm. To his surprise, the Lord of Blood Raven City possessed a top-tier magical artifact capable of automatically activating to shield him—just in time to withstand the golden light’s fatal blow. Yet even so, he was drenched in cold sweat. With a powerful roar, a blood-drenched gale surged across his body, his spiritual strength surged and reeled back, and his form momentarily wavered—disappearing from his original spot and reappearing on a massive stone several dozen feet away. A sharp cry rang out as a golden light flashed and surged forward. At that moment, the silver-eyed elder had recovered his stance and, without hesitation, opened his mouth, spitting out a black ghost-headed orb that clashed with the golden light, its blood-misted glow meeting the radiant glow in a vibrant duel. Just then, a tremendous roar came from the other side. Yáng Lǎo’èr, knocked off his balance by the ghost’s claw, staggered and rolled over, yet seemed equally protected by a rare treasure. As a layer of silver light rippled across his body, he instantly manifested seven or eight translucent shadows that shot out in all directions, narrowly escaping the ghost’s sudden attack. A soft "Ah!" of surprise was heard. Ripples of energy surged from where Yáng Lǎo’èr stood, and seven or eight black streaks burst forth like persistent parasites, rushing toward the fleeing shadows. Then, a swirling mass of black mist rose, revealing a figure dressed in a dark robe, slowly drawing back his hand. The figure’s face was pale, yet his features—his eyes, nose, and mouth—were indistinguishable from those of the Blood Crow Lord, as if twin The spectral outlines of the middle-aged man fleeing were mostly pierced and shattered by the black glow, dispersing into fragments. Only one spectral figure suddenly expelled a burst of green light, merging with the black glow behind him in a final, radiant fusion—both vanishing together. The blurred figure flickered once and settled firmly in place, his form now clear and distinct. Yet, he regarded the figure within the black mist with a cold, steady gaze, speaking word by word. "An outer manifestation! I've always wondered why Brother Bing hasn't advanced in his cultivation over the years—now I understand. All his dedication has been poured into refining this second body." "If it weren't for your timely intervention, would I have come all this way with you? Now, at this point, you must summon your hidden companion as well. The Qi-Ling Secret Repository is destined for only one of us—how could it be shared equally?" The Lord of Xuya City glanced at the golden light, lowered his gaze, and spoke slowly. "Hmph. Now that things have come to this, I have little more to say. Brother Yua, step forward." Though he has a second form, his cultivation still falls short of his true essence; with us working together, we still have a strong chance of achieving our goals." Yang Er's eyes flashed with fierce determination, with no further concealment. "Had I known the Qi Ling Secret Repository would prove so difficult to obtain, especially considering that Bing Dao-friend managed to steal the Sacred Bricks right from beneath the watchful eyes of the Seven Thunder Wretches and the Tian Fang Mountain." A soft sigh echoed through the space where the golden light first burst forth. Then, the golden light flickered, and a tall, barefoot, somewhat unattractive man materialized suddenly in the air. Though his hands were bare, he carried a golden gourd half as tall as a person, and gazed at the Blood Crow City Master with a look that was both amused and composed. "The Golden Gourd Sovereign," the Blood Crow City Master exclaimed, his face visibly changing as he recognized the man's appearance and the towering golden gourd behind him. "I never expected someone of such modest reputation to be known to you." Jin was well aware of Bing's reputation. To finally engage in combat with him today was indeed what he had long hoped for. Jin Hua, the Magistrate of the Magi, smiled slightly and bowed slightly. Though this Magistrate appeared coarse and unattractive in appearance, his manner of speech and conduct was refined and composed, utterly free of the roughness of everyday life, exuding the air of a true recluse and master of the world. "Very well. As long as I eliminate you both today, the Qi-Ling Secret Repository will be firmly within my grasp. It will not have been in vain that I have been meticulously planning for this very day, beginning hundreds of years ago." The Blood-Crow City Master glanced at Yang Er and Jin Hua in turn, then suddenly burst out with a strange laugh. "What do you mean by that?" Yang Er was startled, his alertness rising sharply. The plain-looking man also caught a flicker of surprise in his eyes. The Blood-Crow City Master, however, only continued to smile coldly, saying nothing further, but at the same time, he firmly struck both sides of his waist with his palms. "Pffft!" Two leather bags—one black, one red—shot out simultaneously, their open ends spinning and flipping upside down, spilling forth a surge of bloodlight and a dense cloud of black insect mist at once. The bloodlight appeared ordinary, yet subtly layered into seven distinct shades of red, each varying in intensity, and resonating with a low, humming hum. Within the mist, the maggot-like creatures, each about the size of a thumb, were uniformly black as ink, with pale white patterns stretching across their backs, forming faint, skeletal heads—strangely eerie. "Unfortunate! It's the Seven-Killing Blood Sickness and Black-Skeleton Maggot Beings," exclaimed Jin Hula, the golden gourd master, his voice sharp with alarm as he recognized the distant cloud. Without hesitation, he snapped his hand back, sending his golden gourd soaring upward, enveloping it in a radiant golden glow, and then rocketed backward with a powerful gust of wind. At the same time, Yang Lao'er, observing the blood glow and the surging black insect clouds, felt his heart sink as well, realizing he had underestimated the Blood Raven City's master. Without a word, he merely shook his sleeve, and a surge of green flame erupted from his feet, flowing upward and gathering momentum, following the same direction as the others, fleeing swiftly. Both of them were deeply afraid of the blood glow and the black insect clouds, reacting instantly without hesitation—dashing away in panic. "Now you wish to escape? Isn't that rather too late! For all these years I've stayed in this Blood Raven City, refining and perfecting these two techniques—exactly so that you two could experience them firsthand!" The master of Blood Raven City laughed heartily. With a swift gesture of his hands, he pressed his incantations, and the blood glow and insect clouds unfolded, spreading out behind him, pursuing the two with a speed that seemed even faster than that of the two demons fleeing. Yang Lao'er and Jin Hú Mó Zūn naturally noticed this development, and in awe, each spat out a stream of pure blood, integrating it into their own flight energies, which instantly surged and accelerated their The Blood-Raven City Master observed the scene, his face darkening. At the same time, his duplicate flickered and surged forward, each transforming into a streak of gray light that shot out. After several flashes, they both arrived simultaneously at the front of the seven-killing blood calamity, penetrating it before it could react. Yáng Lǎo'èr and Jīn Hú Mó Zūn, who had also halted, exchanged glances, their faces instantly growing grave. "Very well, you've shown your resolve. As long as you allow us to depart, we shall hand over this final piece of sacred brick to you." Yáng Lǎo'èr, known for his decisiveness, swiftly exclaimed to the silvery-eyed elder. "Agreed," the city's lord of Blood Crows replied without hesitation. "You shall present the sacred brick to me for inspection of authenticity, and only then shall I grant you passage." At that moment, the swelling swarm of insects surged forward, rolling over and forming a massive circular ring that precisely encircled Yáng Lǎo'èr and Jīn Hú Mó Zūn, trapping them firmly in the center. The silvery-eyed elder's prompt acceptance, in contrast, left Yáng Lǎo'èr momentarily stunned and hesitating. "Before you hand over the sacred brick, your esteemed companion shall first swear a vow of heart-magic, and then sign this blood pact personally crafted by the Blood Ancestor," Yáng Lǎo' "Very well, but before that, I would like to first verify whether you truly carry the Sacred Brick with you. Otherwise, I would rather annihilate you all and then use the Soul-Extracting Method to search for the brick's whereabouts." The Lord of Xueya spoke calmly. "Jin brother, what do you think?" Liang Er, upon hearing this, had a fluctuating expression and turned to ask his companion. "Indeed, it would be good to show the Sacred Brick to Bing Daojun. However, if he dares to summon the Blood Woe and the Insect Clouds to attack, the brick will be instantly destroyed." The stocky man narrowed his eyes and replied coldly. This Jin Hu Magistrate had immediately grasped the opponent's weakness—clearly a meticulous strategist. "Jin brother's suggestion is sound. I will now present the genuine Sacred Brick to Bing brother for inspection. However, Bing Daojun shall still be able to observe only from a distance, as before, using his secret techniques." Liang Er, after a quick glance, readily agreed and spoke loudly to the distant Lord of Xueya. "Of course, as long as the Sacred Brick is genuine." "At this very moment, I shall issue my vow of heart-madness and seal the blood pact," replied the city's master of blood crows, his face expressionless. Yan Er, second eldest, nodded and, at once, exhaled a swirling mass of black energy from his mouth. Within this black mist, a shape subtly expanded with the wind, taking form as a green wooden chest half a foot long. With a single palm stroke, Yan Er lifted the chest, its lid flying open, and a crystal slab identical to the one previously revealed shot out from within. "This is the fourth genuine sacred slab. If Daoist Bing wishes to take it..." Yan Er smiled, ready to say more to the silver-eyed elder across the distance. But just then, a rift suddenly appeared in the space before him, and a golden hand emerged calmly, reaching out and seizing the crystal slab as it had just flown out. "Unfortunate!" "Dead!" Witnessing this sudden turn, Yan Er and Jin Hua, the Magistrate of the Golden Pot, were both stunned, instantly reacting with shock and outrage. Yáng Lǎo'èr opened his mouth, and several dark, ghostly heads with eerie smiles shot straight toward the golden palm, biting into it. Meanwhile, Jin Hú Mó Zūn's face grew stern; with a swift roll of his sleeve, a brilliant swordlight stretching over ten dozen zhang flashed forward and slashed across the vast expanse of empty space, seemingly intent on cleaving both the palm's owner and the very void where they were concealed in two.