Chapter 377: How Many More Times to Die?

Xu Jin had already clashed with the Blood God Sect many times, especially after the battle against the Blood God Son Fu Ying in the Fifth-Rank Spirit Weapon Star Region, including the spoils afterward, which gave Xu Jin deep insight into the Blood God Sect.

In that battle, Xu Jin learned of the Blood God Continuation Art.

In Yangjiang Commandery, the Grand Supervisor Chu of the Great Chen imperial court's use of ten million Chen subjects to forge the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Pill made Xu Jin despise the Blood God Sect to the utmost.

Now, Xu Jin had again detected traces of the Blood God Sect in the Fourth-Rank Yunluo Star Region, and he would not act as recklessly as before.

Previously, killing the Blood God Son Fu Ying had taught Xu Jin that Blood God Sons could not be truly killed.

But could they truly not be killed?

Who was the leader of the Blood God Sect in this Fourth-Rank Yunluo Star Region?

This was the last star region Xu Jin intended to cleanse.

After clearing this star region, Xu Jin planned to try the method he had discovered earlier, to see if he could break through to Fifth Rank in one go.

So there was no rush.

Instead, Xu Jin simply concealed himself in the shadows, slowly observing the Blood God Sect's movements within this star region before devising a plan to strike.

He aimed to capture the leader in one decisive move.

The reason for this plan was still the Blood God Continuation Art he had learned earlier.

If he could obtain the Blood God Continuation Art, and if the method was not too absurd, then Ning Yuchan's severed leg and Ying Ge's disabilities might yet be restored.

In the future, if he could rescue his master Qi Shanye from the Sixth-Rank Star Region, perhaps his master's severed arm could also be healed by this method.

As for the celestial treasures capable of regenerating severed limbs, Xu Jin had heard of two during his long time in the Star River Battlefield.

But only heard of them.

The two treasures he had heard of were ones he could never hope to see.

According to legend, these limb-regenerating treasures had once appeared in the Seventh- and Eighth-Rank Star Regions.

Seventh- and Eighth-Rank Star Regions were still far beyond Xu Jin's reach for now.

After shifting for three hours, Xu Jin, still concealed, infiltrated the enemy army's encampment and quietly interrogated several enemy army commanders using Wen Meng.

He quickly understood the situation.

The Blood God Sect's demons still used their old trick—traveling the world as Blood God Messengers.

But this time, they had changed tactics, claiming that a certain treasure, if seized by any king, would allow immediate breakthrough to Sixth Rank and unify the entire Yunluo Star Region.

Why would anyone believe it?

Because several Fourth-Rank Ninth Layer peak enemies, who had long been hopeless of breaking through to Fifth Rank, had broken through because of this treasure.

As a result, the three races nearly fought each other to death.

And two of them had united to attack the third.

Because the Blood God Messenger had first appeared among the strongest tribe of Yunluo Star Region, the Jinyun Clan, and had displayed many so-called miracles, somehow the other two tribes had learned of it.

Then, war began.

One must admit, the Blood God Sect's skill in inciting discord was truly remarkable!

After obtaining confirmed information, Xu Jin immediately infiltrated the Jinyun Clan's royal city.

Because all the corpses were transported by corpse-collecting teams toward the Jinyun Royal City.

The Blood God Sect's Blood Refining Array should be inside or near the Jinyun Royal City.

Perhaps this Jinyun King still retained some sanity and had not placed the Blood Refining Array inside the royal city, but instead in a valley outside it.

When Xu Jin infiltrated, the Fifth-Rank Ninth Layer peak Jinyun King was inspecting the progress within this valley.

Soon after entering the Yunluo Star Region, Xu Jin had used the refined blood of slain enemies to forge Blood Concealment Blood Pearls via the Blood Concealment Star Pattern, hiding his own aura.

Thus, even this Jinyun King, who possessed the star region's celestial will, could not detect Xu Jin.

Moreover, Xu Jin discovered that the Blood God Sect had many operatives in this star region—dozens at least.

Xu Jin was not in a hurry; he found a corner to conceal himself and carefully activated the Thirty-Six Mingji Star Patterns to begin sensing.

Not long after, a slightly familiar aura arrived with a corpse-collecting team, bringing back more corpses from outside the valley.

The aura was familiar, yet strange.

For a moment, Xu Jin could not place it.

"Son of the Gods, this new batch of corpses has arrived; there are still twenty thousand more behind. I believe this is sufficient for the Blood Refining Array's needs for ten days. Might we ask the Jinyun King's army to withdraw slightly, to slow the pace of battle?

After all, the longer the corpses remain, the less Ten Thousand Spirits Blood the array can refine." As the Hall Master Long Yu spoke, he stepped forward to stand before the blood-clad figure at the center of the array; Xu Jin could see only its back.

The moment he saw that back, Xu Jin suddenly remembered.

Why did this Blood God Sect member's aura feel familiar?

Hall Master.

Back when he was still in Jinshan Commandery, shortly after entering the Meal Xia Realm, Xu Jin had gone mountain foraging and encountered Blood God Sect demons; after slaying two, he pursued another group.

Among them, he captured one Zhou Baihan, but the Second-Rank Casting Star Hall Master had fled with extreme caution.

He turned and ran at the sight of Xu Jin, a mere First-Rank Meal Xia cultivator.

In hindsight, that Hall Master had been right—because Xu Jin had been holding Ning Yuchan's Third-Rank Spinning Blade Star Pattern, ready to unleash it the moment things turned bad.

But he had not given Xu Jin the chance.

Later, the captured Zhou Baihan had revealed the identity of this Casting Star peak Hall Master: Long Yu.

Unfortunately, by the time the Jinshan Commandery's Star Patrol arrived, the outpost had been scrubbed clean—only a wanted notice could be issued.

Who would have thought he would appear now, in this Fourth-Rank Star Region?

And his cultivation was no longer low.

Fourth-Rank Seventh Layer!

But he had already been Second-Rank Casting Star peak back then, and followed the Blood God Sect's accelerated path—such cultivation was understandable.

The title "Son of the Gods" bestowed upon this "Long Yu" had piqued Xu Jin's interest.

Son of the Gods?

Was this another Blood God Son?

If this were another Blood God Son, then Xu Jin might have a chance to obtain the Blood God Continuation Art.

Also, this Blood God Son's cultivation was low—only Fourth-Rank Ninth Layer!

According to Master Dong Zhao, Blood God Sons began at Fifth Rank.

A Blood God Sect disciple who had not reached Fifth Rank had no qualification to become a Blood God Son.

Then who was this one?

Strange.

Xu Jin was not in a hurry; he continued observing slowly, seeking a way to capture or apprehend this Blood God Son.

Otherwise, given the Blood God Sect's Blood God Son cultivation method, as long as a single drop of blood remained outside the body, resurrection was possible—Xu Jin might kill him, but could not capture him, let alone obtain the technique he wanted!

"Your Majesty, why not order the army to withdraw at an opportune moment? In a few days, once these corpses are mostly consumed, we can resume battle.

Otherwise, it would be wasteful!

This way, we also conserve the strength of our Jinyun Clan." The Blood God Son said.

The tall Jinyun King, whose face and exposed skin were entirely covered in golden patterns, nodded. "That could work—I'll arrange it myself shortly. But, Divine Messenger, how long until your Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Pill is ready?

It's been over a month already!"

"Your Majesty, due to the limitations of this world's laws, living beings can only reach Fifth-Rank Ninth Layer. My Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Pill draws upon the faint true spirits within the bodies of billions of beings in this star region, to deceive heaven and earth, hoping to allow Your Majesty to break through the boundaries of this world!

Thus, the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Pill Your Majesty requires is incomparably greater than the ones used to help Fourth-Rank Ninth Layer peak cultivators break through.

Your Majesty does not believe that ten or a hundred times the quantity of ordinary Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Pills could break the world's restrictions, do you?

If Your Majesty has no patience!

Then this breakthrough pill, I fear—"

The Blood God Son's retort made the Jinyun King laugh awkwardly. "Divine Messenger, I was merely asking—I only wished to know a rough timeline, not pressuring you."

"A rough timeline!"

The Blood God Son pondered, then pointed to the mountain of corpses before him. "Your Majesty, the corpses accumulated so far total roughly forty thousand. At minimum, we need ten times that number."

"Ten times!"

The Jinyun King sucked in a sharp breath. "Even if all three races' armies are wiped out, it may still not be enough."

"Your Majesty, it need not be only armies—the civilians of the other two races will do as well."

"I understand!"

After exchanging a few more words with the Blood God Son, the Jinyun King departed with his retinue, stepping through the stars.

Meanwhile, Xu Jin, observing from the shadows, smiled. How coincidental!

Just now, during the exchange between the Blood God Son and the Jinyun King, perhaps out of courtesy, the Blood God Son had dispelled the blood aura surrounding him, revealing his true face.

Or perhaps the world was simply too small.

Blood God Son Fu Ying.

An old acquaintance.

The Blood God Son Fu Ying whom Xu Jin had slain in the Spirit Weapon Star Region, who had then made bold boasts.

He had appeared in the Fourth-Rank Yunluo Star Region.

And his cultivation had dropped to Fourth-Rank Ninth Layer.

This astonished Xu Jin.

In the Spirit Weapon Star Region, Blood God Son Fu Ying's cultivation had been Sixth-Rank Ninth Layer peak.

After being slain once, had he suffered such a devastating loss?

Xu Jin quickly confirmed two facts.

The first element: the Blood Spirit Substrate cannot be killed!

Last time, the Blood Spirit Substrate's resonance—including blood from all directions—was directly burned to ash by his Great Sun, then swept clean again, yet the resonance still lives on unharmed.

The second element: although the Blood Spirit Substrate cannot be killed, each death comes at a great cost.

Last time, Xu Jin killed the Blood Spirit Substrate, causing its cultivation base to plummet from Sixth Stage Ninth Layer peak to Fourth Stage Ninth Layer peak.

What if it dies again?

Beyond these two elements, Xu Jin was considering another question: could he this time finally kill the Blood Spirit Substrate?

In the end, Xu Jin reached his conclusion: it cannot be killed!

A being that has experienced death before must have backup plans.

Just as last time it used blood-drop rebirth, it surely has the same trick prepared this time.

Therefore, brute force alone cannot yield what Xu Jin seeks.

He already eliminated a Sixth Stage Ninth Layer Blood Spirit Substrate; a Fourth Stage Ninth Layer one? A mere flick of the finger.

But it's meaningless.

Kill it, and it reappears somewhere else!

Interrogate Wen Meng?

With his current cultivation base, Xu Jin could silently bring the Blood Spirit Substrate into Wen Meng without issue.

But Wen Meng interrogation easily triggers Soul Seal restrictions.

Xu Jin did not know whether the Blood Spirit Sect's high-ups had implanted a Soul Seal on the Blood Spirit Substrate.

But if they had, he still wouldn't get what he wanted!

How could he obtain what he desired?

The Blood Spirit Substrate was right there, activating the Blood Refining Array!

Xu Jin was there, deep in thought.

Would one more death count as the Blood Spirit Substrate's weakness?

After long, fruitless contemplation, Xu Jin subtly shifted his intent, activated Wen Meng, and instantly hypnotized the sect master, Long Yu, a practitioner of the Gou Dao path.

He began testing various interrogation methods.

The sole purpose of interrogation:

What is the Blood Spirit Substrate's weakness?

Or rather, what does the Blood Spirit Substrate fear most?

You won't believe it—being fellow Blood Spirit Sect members, Sect Master Long Yu actually gave Xu Jin a direction.

The Blood Spirit Substrate can imprint Blood Spirit Runes, enabling blood-drop rebirth.

Yet although it can rebirth through blood-drop, the cost is immense.

After blood-drop rebirth, its core cultivation base drops by one major stage!

In fact, over these past few months, the Blood Spirit Substrate didn't die once—it died twice.

After dying in the Lingwu Star Region, the Blood Spirit Substrate locked onto another Fifth Stage star region, intending to develop there.

But shortly after entering, it was killed by a native Sixth Stage alien race!

Failed to deceive!

After the second death, the Blood Spirit Substrate's cultivation base dropped to Fourth Stage Ninth Layer.

Helpless, it had no choice but to move to a Fourth Stage star region.

If it dies again, its cultivation base will plummet to Third Stage Ninth Layer.

Moreover, when the Blood Spirit Substrate dies and uses Blood Spirit Runes to rebirth, not only does its star-force cultivation drop one major stage, but its soul-force cultivation drops one major stage too!

Star-force cultivation dropping? As a Blood Spirit Substrate, it doesn't care!

Just refine more Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Pills to regain it!

But for soul-force cultivation, the Blood Spirit Sect's demons suffer just like ordinary cultivators—extremely difficult to advance!

In the Lingwu Star Region, the Blood Spirit Substrate's soul-force cultivation was Fourth Stage Eighth Layer.

After its first death, it dropped to Third Stage Eighth Layer.

After dying again, it fell to Second Stage Casting Star late stage—but the Blood Spirit Substrate had connections and obtained vast quantities of soul-force enhancing pills, and within two months, raised its soul-force cultivation back to Third Stage Fifth Layer.

If it dies again, its soul-force cultivation will plummet back to Second Stage.

Die two more times, and its soul-force cultivation will fall back to First Stage.

Once it drops to First Stage, its soul-star will scatter; even if it revives, its soul-force will be extremely weak, and it won't be able to use the Blood Spirit Runes anymore.

In short, after this death, one more death will finish the Blood Spirit Substrate off completely.

The Blood Spirit Substrate isn't truly immortal.

If killed repeatedly in quick succession, it will die for real.

Xu Jin now knew the Blood Spirit Substrate's weakness!

He also knew exactly how to deal with it.

Half an hour later, Xu Jin had fully devised his strategy against the Blood Spirit Substrate.

The next instant, Xu Jin immediately ended his invisibility and revealed his form.

Because his appearance was sudden, no one noticed him at first.

Xu Jin could only go all out.

BOOM!

A bolt of lightning struck down, instantly slaughtering several Blood Spirit Sect disciples, as Xu Jin shouted, "Fu Ying, do you remember me?"

The Blood Spirit Substrate Fu Ying snapped his head up—and in one glance, recognized Xu Jin.

As the saying goes: when enemies meet, eyes burn red.

This man who had ruined his plans—he remembered him all too clearly.

He longed to eat his flesh and drink his blood!

But the instant rage surged, fear and helplessness rose in Fu Ying's heart.

When he was Sixth Stage Ninth Layer, this man was only Fourth Stage early stage—and still managed to kill him.

Now, this utterly despised man had reached Fourth Stage Ninth Layer peak, his cultivation vastly advanced.

If he were still Sixth Stage Ninth Layer, he might still have a fighting chance.

But fate had cursed him.

He'd been killed twice in a row.

His cultivation had plummeted to Fourth Stage Ninth Layer!

No need to think—he was no match for this man before him!

Only one path remained: the thirty-six stratagems, flight is best.

The next instant, the Blood Spirit Substrate Fu Ying roared, "Attack! Kill this intruder!"

Even as he roared, Fu Ying himself instantly transformed into a streak of blood, fleeing at once!

He had to escape!

He hoped those Blood Spirit Sect disciples could buy him time to flee to safety!

But the next instant, thunder cracked—Xu Jin appeared far ahead, blocking Fu Ying's escape route, and calmly spoke a single sentence, one that instantly froze the Blood Spirit Substrate in place.

He stopped fleeing!

"Fu Ying, do you find it strange that I tracked you down so quickly?

Flee?

Can you possibly escape my tracking method?

Or do you still want to die a few more times?"

(End of Chapter)