A disciple's words were spoken, and everyone turned their gaze forward.
In the mountain valley ahead, a towering aura of malevolent energy seemed to be present.
A heavy scent of blood permeated the surroundings.
Under the crimson hue, the entire valley became exceptionally eerie.
At the center of the bloody stench stood a determined-faced youth, around whom the malevolent energy surged and swirled.
Scattered around the youth were numerous torn scraps of clothing.
These were the attire of the handyman disciples and outer disciples.
Witnessing the scene, Lin Shan slightly pursed his lips, his expression shifting.
This Lin Dong, after only a few days, had become like this. If he were allowed to continue on this path…
Who knew to what extent he would grow.
No, I must eliminate him now.
Lin Shan's heart was filled with cold, killing intent.
"Kill that little beast for me!" Lin Shan then said coldly.
He no longer wished to torture Lin Dong; he simply wanted him dead… only the dead could put his mind at ease…
The inner disciples around him showed no change in expression at the command.
He was merely an outer disciple; killing him was no big deal…
Following that, several inner disciples charged towards Lin Dong.
The bodies of the inner disciples were adorned with the shimmering of spiritual energy in various colors.
"Seeking death! I wasn't looking for you, yet you've come to my doorstep!" Lin Dong's voice was hoarse.
His raspy voice echoed through the valley.
A powerful aura seemed to swirl within the gorge.
Lin Shan felt his scalp tingle. How could Lin Dong's strength be like this?
Merely his voice carried such potent pressure.
No, run, I must run…
Lin Shan no longer cared about dealing with Lin Dong; he had to escape…
Preserving his own life was paramount.
As Lin Dong's words fell, a streak of blood-red light appeared on his person.
This blood-red light formed a sharp blade beside Lin Dong.
The moment the blood-red blade materialized, space itself seemed to freeze.
The inner disciples charging at Lin Dong instantly turned pale.
They felt as if they were rigidly pinned down by something.
An infinite dread filled the disciples' hearts. How could a mere outer disciple…
"Swish, swish, swish!!!"
Immediately after, the blood-red blade shot towards the inner disciples with incredible speed.
Accompanied by sharp whistling sounds and cries of extreme terror.
The inner disciples were instantly cleaved into bloody fragments by the blood-red blade, and the thick scent of blood permeated the entire valley in an instant.
Lin Shan, fleeing far away, felt an overwhelming sense of fear.
Why, why had this little beast become so terrifying, why…
Lin Dong, watching Lin Shan flee, showed no intention of pursuing. Instead, a cruel smile spread across his face.
"Lin Shan, run! Your terror has only just begun. And Jiang Li, I will make you pay the price…" Lin Dong licked his lips and continued.
After Lin Dong finished speaking, the blood-red blade he had just unleashed transformed into a streak of blood-red light and returned to his body.
Following this, the scattered blood around them seemed to be drawn and surged towards Lin Dong's body.
Under the constant influx of blood, Lin Dong's aura gradually grew stronger.
The entire valley became even more blood-soaked.
…
Xuyang Peak.
Within a room of serene surroundings.
A remarkably handsome youth sat cross-legged on the bed, holding a high-grade spirit stone in each hand.
Concurrently, he continuously ingested spiritual liquid.
Pure, concentrated spiritual energy of heaven and earth swirled within the youth's body.
The Golden Core within him became exceptionally active under the nourishment of the spiritual energy.
For the past two days, Jiang Li had spent his time in calm cultivation, aside from seeking opportunities.
His progress in several martial arts, aided by the Dao Comprehension Stone, was extremely rapid.
[Spirit Snake Step] had been practiced by Jiang Li to the peak of perfection, and [Thunderclap Fist] had reached the great completion stage.
Furthermore, the auxiliary martial art [Spirit Clarity Eye] had also achieved the great completion realm.
[Tai Xuan Gathering Spirit Art] continuously strengthened Jiang Li's spirit.
The starlight energy from [Star Forge Body Tempering Art] made Jiang Li's physical body even more robust.
Although Jiang Li's current realm was only the Core Formation stage, he could already contend with ordinary mid-Core Formation cultivators, thanks to his exotic fire and various powerful techniques and martial arts.
If he were to use [Great Desolation Heaven Severing Finger], Jiang Li himself did not know how powerful he would be.
After a long while, Jiang Li slowly opened his eyes.
The spiritual energy within the high-grade spirit stones in his hands had been completely absorbed.
Only scattered powder remained on the ground.
Next, I'll try the alchemic techniques from this [Tai Qing Elixir Canon].
Jiang Li took a deep breath and took out the elixir furnace and alchemic materials he had prepared in his spatial ring.
This elixir furnace and alchemic materials were purchased by Jiang Li at the inner sect market for spirit stones.
They had cost Jiang Li nearly a thousand mid-grade spirit stones.
However, mid-grade spirit stones were now merely numbers to Jiang Li; he could earn a considerable amount of spirit stones by simply finding opportunities in the mission hall.
Although Jiang Li had not intentionally collected mid-grade spirit stones, their quantity had unknowingly reached over three thousand.
High-grade spirit stones were far fewer, only a mere couple hundred.
Most of them were obtained from the previous cave mansion of the Divine Sea stage expert.
However, this was still an astonishing fortune. One must know that the value of a high-grade spirit stone was ten times that of a mid-grade spirit stone, and that was the minimum. In certain special circumstances, one high-grade spirit stone could be exchanged for twenty mid-grade spirit stones.
High-grade spirit stones not only contained more abundant spiritual energy but also possessed purer spiritual energy, making them more conducive to a cultivator's absorption.
Jiang Li placed the elixir furnace in position and the alchemic materials to the side.
Immediately after, a ball of deep black flame leaped from Jiang Li's hand.
A scorching heat instantly permeated the entire room.
Then, following the refining method for the Spiritual Energy Elixir in the [Tai Qing Elixir Canon], Jiang Li began his first attempt at alchemy, step by step.
The Spiritual Energy Elixir was a pill suitable for Core Formation stage cultivators. Its medicinal properties were gentle and did not damage one's foundation. However, consuming too much would lead to drug resistance, and it would eventually become ineffective.
Jiang Li held the Dao Comprehension Stone in his left hand while simultaneously controlling his exotic fire to carefully melt the medicinal ingredients.
If others knew that Jiang Li was attempting to refine the Spiritual Energy Elixir on his first try, they would be utterly shocked.
Most people learned alchemy starting from the lowest grade Body Tempering Elixir. Jiang Li, however, was directly starting with the Spiritual Energy Elixir, which was simply outrageous.
With Jiang Li's powerful mental strength and the assistance of the Dao Comprehension Stone, he was actually managing to make it look presentable.
Every step was remarkably precise.
As time slowly passed, Jiang Li's eyes grew brighter.
A faint fragrance gradually wafted from the elixir furnace.
Could it be that I'm succeeding? I really am an alchemic genius; I succeeded on my first try.
"Boom!!!"
Just as Jiang Li thought he was about to succeed, with a bang, the elixir furnace exploded.
…