Hua Guo City, a city no less grand in scale than Tianbei City, though it lies at a considerable distance from Tianbei City—seemingly just outside the influence sphere of Fenglei Pavilion. The city is governed by a powerful faction known as Hua Guo Sect. While numerous other factions operate beneath it, they have consistently struggled to challenge the sect's dominance. Hua Guo Sect is also known for its measured approach; even when securing substantial benefits, it rarely monopolizes them entirely, thus maintaining its preeminence in Hua Guo City for years without significant challenges from rivals. The sect specializes in water-based cultivation techniques, which possess a certain peculiarity: during combat, its subtle internal force gradually infiltrates the opponent’s body, softening their bones with gentle, flowing energy. As a result, once struck, the opponent often experiences widespread softening of their bones. This unique strength has earned Hua Guo Sect considerable renown even among neighboring cities. And this city was the first place where Xiao Yan chose to stop after leaving Tianbei City, having journeyed nonstop through deep mountain forests and steadily in one direction since then. He had quietly suspected that he was gradually moving beyond the reach of Fenglei Pavilion's influence. Being unfamiliar with the region and having no clear sense of route, such aimless wandering would have been a significant challenge—thus, he needed to secure a detailed map of the Beidu Region to avoid feeling like a blind bee, constantly colliding with obstacles. Moreover, the medicinal herbs required for crafting the Qinghun Dan had to be gathered from these cities, and he also needed to collect various pieces of information through inquiries. This was the first time Xiao Yan had entered a human city since days of nonstop travel, and as he absorbed the overwhelming bustle, he found himself slightly out of his element. With a sigh of resignation, he strolled into the city. The map of the Northern Region wasn't exactly a rare item. In the city, Xiao Yan found a map shop named Tu Ge with little difficulty. Upon entering, gazing at the numerous maps piled up inside, he suddenly felt a bit dazed. Back when he first met Hai Bodo in the Gamma Empire, it had been within a map shop, and it was there that he had obtained the second fragment of the Net Lotus Demon Flame map. To secure the Pure Lotus Spirit Flame, Xiao Yan sighed with a sense of helplessness. Since obtaining the three fragmented maps, he had never managed to stumble upon the fourth—one that left him deeply regretful. The Pure Lotus Spirit Flame ranked third on the list of Spirit Flames, and even Master Yao had only heard of it, never seen it firsthand. This clearly demonstrated its rarity and strength. Should Xiao Yan truly succeed in acquiring and fully absorbing it, his power would undoubtedly surge dramatically. Yet, alas… Suppressing that lingering sense of regret, Xiao Yan stepped steadily into the shop. Inside, there was an elder, though not particularly remarkable—his face reflecting the sharp business acumen typical of merchants. Xiao Yan glanced at him, noting that the elder’s cultivation level had only just reached the Battle Seer rank, suggesting a rather unremarkable innate talent. Xiao Yan nodded, said it casually, and slowly and carefully scanned the store with his gaze. After a while, he sighed in disappointment, still harboring a faint hope that the past events might unfold once again. "Hehe, young sir, here's the northern realm map you requested. It's the most detailed map we've prepared—only three thousand gold coins." The elder swiftly retrieved a neat and elegant scroll from a counter and handed it to Xiao Yan, smiling. "Three thousand gold coins..." Hearing the price, Xiao Yan couldn't help but roll his eyes—this old man was truly relentless in charging high fees. He spread the map out, checked it carefully, and found it indeed quite detailed. With no further hesitation, he paid the full amount and turned to leave. "Hehe, young sir, wait a moment." As Xiao Yan was turning to go, the elder suddenly called out. "What?" Xiao Yan furrowed his brows. "Hehe, I notice you're rather unfamiliar with the area—probably not from Hua Gu City, are you?" Could it also be for the Tianmu Mountain's Tianshan Blood Pond? The elder smiled. "Tianmu Mountain? Tianshan Blood Pond?" These names made Xiao Yan pause—not because they were unfamiliar, but because since he had arrived in the city, he had heard these terms no less than ten times. Yet he still didn't know what special significance they held. Seeing Xiao Yan's expression, the elder was momentarily taken aback, then asked in surprise, "Young sir, don't you even know about Tianmu Mountain and Tianshan Blood Pond?" "I've only recently arrived in the Beidu Region, so I'm not very familiar with these places. Could you kindly explain them to me, Master?" Xiao Yan casually set a bag of gold coins on the counter, showing genuine interest. He was particularly intrigued by the Tianmu Mountain, which had become such a focal point among so many people. "The Tian Shan Blood Lake atop the Tianmu Mountain Range is truly renowned—almost everyone across the northern region of Zhongzhou is familiar with it. It's said that every three years, a tidal surge of celestial and terrestrial energies emerges at a volcanic crater atop the mountain range. Following this surge, the Tian Shan Lake within the crater fills with an extraordinary crimson liquid—this is the Tian Shan Blood Lake. However, this lake only exists for five days before it completely vanishes." The elder smiled, neatly tucked away the gold coins, then spoke seriously. "What function does the Blood Lake serve?" Xiao Yan asked calmly. "It's said to help some peak-tier Duophoenix warriors break through into Duozong rank, and even Duozong-level warriors who enter experience a fundamental renewal, refining their very essence and enhancing their strength. The blood pool's effects are truly remarkable. Every three years, the Tianmu Mountain is flooded with visitors from the Central Plains' northern region and even beyond. Next month marks exactly that three-year cycle, so recently, countless people have been rushing toward Tianmu Mountain. Hehe—though Tianmu Mountain is vast, home to many high-tier beasts, and its summit is perpetually shrouded in mist. If young friends wish to make the journey, they may purchase a detailed map of the mountain from me for just forty thousand gold coins. With the map, they'll surely reach the summit ahead of the others." The elder chuckled, finally revealing his fox tail. Hearing this, Xiao Yan found himself both amused and a bit embarrassed. The old man had gone on so long, and it seemed he was simply trying to pitch his map of the Tianmu Mountain Range. Yet if what he said were true, the Tian Shan Blood Pond truly did hold considerable appeal—no wonder the people in the city were so enthusiastic about talking about it. And now, he himself has just reached the Nine-Star Sovereign level, nearing the Sovereign rank as well. Yet if he relies on normal cultivation, the time required to break through would surely be lengthy. But Xiao Yan might not have that much time... The Dan Conclave is less than a year away, and besides, he still needs to assist Tian Huo Sovereign in crafting his physical form. As the old pharmacist mentioned earlier, there are three conditions for crafting such a form: first, the Bone-Forming Blood-Infusing Pill; second, the essence and bloodline of a seven-tiered beast; third, the bones of a Sovereign-level cultivator. The latter two—given his current capabilities—can be obtained without much difficulty. However, the Bone-Forming Blood-Infusing Pill is a top-tier pill of the seventh rank. With his current alchemy skills, he simply cannot produce it. Unless he reaches Sovereign rank, the success rate would be low—extremely so. "Young sir, I truly mean well by you. The Blood Lake on Tian Shan may be remarkably effective, but it can only be used by ten people at most. That means, if you arrive after those ten, you'll have to watch the empty lake, waiting for the next three years... " Seeing that Xiao Yan remained silent, the elder promptly added. "Oh?" Hearing this, Xiao Yan was momentarily startled, then nodded with a smile. If that were indeed the case, he would probably have to leave earlier. The Blood Lake's wonders would surely draw many strong contenders. If he arrived too late, he might indeed have to wait for the next three years. Seeing Xiao Yan nod, the elder was instantly delighted, and with a contented smile, he drew out a scroll from his sleeve, chuckling to himself, "Another fine lamb taken. This is the third one today." As for what the elder had in mind, Xiao Yan naturally had no idea, and even if he did, he wouldn’t have bothered to dwell on it. The map might not be worth just this much, but in Xiao Yan’s eyes, the information about the Heavenly Mountain’s Blood Pond far exceeded its value. He casually settled the gold coins, placed the map into his storage talisman, and then stepped out of the shop, under the kindly watchful gaze of the elder. After leaving the shop, Xiao Yan wandered through several herb shops in the city, and though he didn’t come away completely empty-handed, he did secure the water-spirit lotus seeds needed for crafting the Qinghun Dan—though the price was not cheap—yet for Xiao Yan, who was eager to eliminate the soul imprints within his body, it was certainly worth the investment. After touring the city of Huaguo and asking many questions, Xiao Yan gained a much clearer understanding of the famed Tian Shan Blood Lake. The elder had indeed not treated him poorly. Next month, the Tian Shan Blood Lake was expected to reappear, and it seemed that countless people across the North Region were now heading toward the Tian Mu Mountain Range.