Chapter 378

"How many more times do you plan to die?"

Xu Jin's words exploded like thunder in the mind of the Blood God Disciple, Fu Ying.

Several key phrases triggered a flood of wild imaginings in Fu Ying.

"Tracking method"

"Die a few more times"

Especially those words directly led the Blood God Disciple to conjure up countless possibilities—and then fill in the gaps with his own elaborate fantasy.

This Xu Jin had come specifically to hunt him down.

No one had been told about his journey to the Fourth-Rank Yunluo Star Domain.

But how could this Xu Jin have tracked him here?

Tracking method!

This Xu Jin had placed a tracking method on him—or possessed some other secret tracking technique.

Logically, after his repeated blood-rebirths, no tracking method should be able to follow him.

But in this vast universe, anything is possible.

Even blood-rebirth—a phenomenon beyond comprehension—had occurred on him.

So it was no surprise that this Xu Jin had some bizarre way of tracking him.

Moreover, from Xu Jin's words, it was clear he understood the Blood God Sect's blood-rebirth technique intimately.

How many more times can you die?

Yes, how many more times could he die?

Logically, he could still die two more times.

But if he truly died two more times, he would be utterly ruined.

All his decades of arduous cultivation would vanish without a trace.

He would have to start over from scratch—and once his Soul-Pact cultivation dropped to First-Rank, if his Soul-Star shattered, could he even cultivate again?

True, if he insisted on fighting now, even if Xu Jin killed him, he could still rebirth through blood.

But if Xu Jin tracked him again, his life would be finished.

Truly and permanently dead!

Among those who have experienced death, some become fearless of it.

But others grow even more terrified of it.

Fu Ying was one of those who feared death even more!

In a fleeting instant, countless thoughts flashed through Fu Ying's mind—but in the end, he stopped.

He had no choice; with the speed Xu Jin had just displayed, even if he kept running, he couldn't escape!

Seeing the fleeing Blood God Disciple Fu Ying halt, Xu Jin quietly exhaled in relief.

The first phase of his plan had succeeded—he had found Fu Ying's weakness.

Now he could proceed with the next phase!

BOOM!

A bolt of lightning, as thick as an adult's thigh, exploded on the ground dozens of meters from Fu Ying.

The crackling lightning radiated terrifying power.

Followers of the Blood God Sect, whether psychologically or in terms of Star-Energy cultivation, were inherently terrified of such pure yang forces—especially thunder-based Star Arts.

Seeing this torrent of lightning, Fu Ying knew that if it struck him, he would already be reduced to ash.

He would begin his third, extremely dire rebirth.

His cultivation would plummet to Third-Rank Star-Refining, and his Soul-Pact cultivation would crash directly to Second-Rank Star-Forge.

That state would be horrific.

The Blood God Disciple Fu Ying also knew that if Xu Jin hadn't killed him outright, it was because he still had value—so he wasn't panicking. He took a deep breath and stared steadily at Xu Jin.

"Fu Ying, I have a secret method to track you, but it takes effort. I don't want to waste more time on you."

"I also know the cost of your Blood-Sacrifice Rune."

"Kill you once more, and you'll be half-ruined."

"Kill you two more times, and you'll be completely useless."

"So—will you become my prisoner?" Xu Jin's thunderous wings shimmered behind him, lightning crackling around his body, as if he were a celestial deity.

Fu Ying looked up at Xu Jin and replied not with an answer, but a question: "Can I live? If I become your prisoner, will you let me go alive?"

"As long as you give me what I want, I'll let you live. A dead you has no value to me."

Xu Jin added, "Besides, you have the Blood-Sacrifice Rune—if I break my word, you can still rebirth through blood after this body dies."

"But why not try this chance to stay alive now?"

"One less death means everything to you right now," Xu Jin urged.

The Blood God Disciple Fu Ying had to admit: this Xu Jin was a masterful persuader.

Every word struck right at his heart, hit his most vulnerable point.

One less death mattered immensely to him now.

If there was a path to life, why not try it?

"Fine."

As Fu Ying agreed, the Blood God Sect followers behind him began slipping away—like the Altar Master Long Yu, whom Xu Jin considered a true master of the Goudao.

But many others, fanatical believers, charged forward recklessly, desperate to protect the Blood God Disciple.

"It's a misunderstanding—he's an old friend. I didn't recognize him at first. Everyone, stand down," Fu Ying waved his hand.

"You, go wait in that wooden hut. This abbot of yours won't be allowed to run."

"Understood."

As Fu Ying turned and flew toward the wooden hut on the other side of the valley, Xu Jin's thunderous wings flared—and vanished in a blur.

Only after he disappeared did the thunderous sonic booms erupt.

This sight shattered the last flicker of hope Fu Ying had just entertained.

He had just been thinking: maybe he could flee while Xu Jin chased after others.

But Xu Jin's burst speed was at least five times his own—possibly six.

Escape? What a joke.

Better to cooperate obediently.

After the Willow-Thread Star Pattern had been refined to Eighth-Rank Mid-Level, Xu Jin's normal speed exceeded four hundred meters per second. Now, with his Fourfold Flash-Speed, he caught up to Long Yu—the master of the Goudao —who had already fled for over a dozen breaths—in a single inhale.

Honestly, Xu Jin had merely stumbled upon an old acquaintance and taken a passing interest in him, just gathering some useful intelligence.

But Long Yu's reaction had genuinely piqued Xu Jin's curiosity.

The moment Xu Jin appeared, Long Yu had already fled.

Such reflexes, such instinct—rare indeed.

A master of the Goudao like this was worth keeping alive—he might yet bring Xu Jin some surprises.

After all, people like this lived long enough to be useful.

Within two breaths, just as Fu Ying reached the wooden hut, Xu Jin returned, dragging the defeated and dejected master of the Goudao, Long Yu.

As Fu Ying secretly sighed in relief, Xu Jin gave Long Yu his order: "Release your Soul-Pact. I will control it and imprint Soul-Pact restrictions upon you."

"If you hesitate even one second, prepare to turn to ash!"

Long Yu, no doubt a true master of the Goudao.

When thrown to the ground, he offered no resistance, made no plea, knelt with forehead and palms pressed to the earth, and fully opened his Soul-Pact.

Before Fu Ying's eyes, Xu Jin first used a secret technique to seize control of a strand of Long Yu's Soul-Pact, then activated the Star-Official Seal to imprint upon Long Yu multiple Soul-Pact restrictions: loyalty to Xu Jin, no betrayal, absolute obedience.

"Stand guard outside. I have matters to discuss with the Blood God Disciple."

"Understood, my lord."

Long Yu switched roles with astonishing speed—in an instant, he became Xu Jin's most obedient subordinate.

Yet his eyes were filled with bitterness and helplessness.

How had he ended up with a master like this?

Unlucky!

"What do you want?" Fu Ying asked inside the hut.

"Release your Soul-Pact as well," Xu Jin said calmly, watching Fu Ying.

Fu Ying struggled internally for several seconds, then nodded: "You may control my Soul-Pact—but I won't become a mindless slave. I won't accept the Soul-Pact restrictions you used on Long Yu."

"The Soul-Pact restriction must be accepted—but its content is simple: you must not lie to me. You must speak only the truth." Xu Jin said.

"Fine." Fu Ying reluctantly agreed.

After a dozen breaths, Xu Jin completed the Soul-Pact imprinting on the Blood God Disciple—and immediately asked the question he most wanted answered.

"Do you know the Blood God Sect's Blood Divine Severance Art?" Xu Jin asked.

"Yes," Fu Ying nodded.

"Can you use it?"

"No," Fu Ying shook his head.

"It's too hard to cultivate, and not very practical—after being taught, I hardly practiced it at all," said Xue Shenzi Fu Ying.

"Too hard to cultivate, and not very practical. After learning it, I never trained it seriously."

"The Elder who taught me this technique said it was possible, but only after reaching a high level of cultivation," replied the Blood God Disciple Fu Ying.

"Then right now, teach me everything you know about the cultivation method of the Blood God Continuation Great Art," said Xu Jin.

"Is that why you've been tracking me?"

As Xu Jin nodded, Fu Ying shook his head. "No, I cannot transmit it to you."

"Why?" Xu Jin sat up sharply, his expression turning fierce.

"Not because I won't, but because I can't."

"Explain clearly."

"I am one of the few Blood God Disciples of the Blood God Sect, a core member. The techniques I received are all core sect arts. When I was taught, an Elder cast a Soul Seal upon me—prohibiting me from revealing any Blood God Sect secret arts to outsiders, or else my soul will perish."

"Moreover, this Soul Seal was imposed on me before I even mastered the Blood Drop Spirit Mark—it's embedded within my very essence, and even the Blood Drop Spirit Mark cannot bypass it," said the Blood God Disciple.

He added, "So I'm not refusing to teach you—I simply can't. If I do, I die. Completely."

"Otherwise, I'd gladly give you not just the Continuation Great Art, but even the Blood Drop Spirit Mark!"

Xu Jin frowned.

Whether from the earlier Soul Seal or his current use of the Mingji Star Mark to sense and judge, Fu Ying was not lying.

He was telling the truth.

Then what should he do?

He had finally captured a Blood God Disciple, yet still could not obtain the Blood God Continuation Great Art.

Did this mean that even if he captured more high-ranking members of the Blood God Sect in the future, he'd still never get it?

Was the path to regrowing severed limbs through this Blood God Sect secret art now blocked?

This filled Xu Jin with deep frustration.

But Xu Jin did not give up.

He turned again to Fu Ying. "Tell me in detail—what exactly was the Soul Seal the Elder placed on you? Was it a ban against teaching anyone, or something else?"

"No, not exactly. As a Blood God Disciple, I'm responsible for expanding the sect and transmitting techniques to newly recruited disciples."

"So the Soul Seal only forbids me from teaching outsiders," said Fu Ying.

At these words, Xu Jin first froze, then burst into joy—his mind had sparked an idea.

"Then this is simple. If you can't teach outsiders, you're a Blood God Disciple—you have the authority to recruit followers. Just take me in as your disciple, and then you can transmit the Blood God Continuation Great Art to me," said Xu Jin.

Upon hearing this, Fu Ying stared, dumbfounded.

This man truly thought boldly—and dared to think it!

But after a few breaths of thought, he shook his head again. "Still impossible."

"Why?"

"Such rules can't be so easily circumvented. After centuries of transmission, they've already thought of everything. Those you recruit become Blood God Sect disciples."

"But there's still a distinction."

"Those I recruit are called Blood God Sect believers—I can only teach them a few low-level techniques."

"Then, based on their performance and years of loyalty, they must wait at least three years before being tested. Only after passing the test, and having an Elder's projection personally record their name, do they become true core disciples."

"Most people take three to five years to become true disciples of the Blood God Sect," said Fu Ying.

Xu Jin was stunned.

His idea had opened, but failed.

Just as Xu Jin was perplexed, the Dragon Yu, the Great Saint of the Gou Dao, guarding outside, suddenly spoke: "My Lord, I might be able to! If the Disciple transmits it to me, I can then transmit it to you."

It was Dragon Yu, who had overheard their conversation, offering a suggestion.

At this, Xu Jin was overjoyed—he nearly slapped his thigh.

This was brilliant.

Dragon Yu had been a Blood God Sect Altar Master over half a year ago, and now he was a Hall Master—he was unquestionably a core disciple of the Blood God Sect.

With him as an intermediary, there would be no problem.

When Xu Jin called Dragon Yu inside, Fu Ying frowned. "Hall Master Long, if you've been recorded by an Elder's projection, you must have received the Soul Seal too, correct?"

"You can't transmit it either, can you?"

"Disciple, that's true. I was recorded three years ago. A group of thirty disciples who passed the test gathered and traveled to the Yanzhou Branch Hall for recording, identity bestowal, and the Soul Seal ritual."

"After the recording was completed, the Soul Seals began to be applied one by one—but halfway through, elite forces from the Dao Academy of Chen Guo attacked. Chaos erupted, and everyone fled for their lives."

"I barely escaped."

"The other disciples suffered heavy casualties."

"Afterward, I was appointed Altar Master of the Jinshan District branch in Yanzhou."

"But whether the Elder forgot, or found it too troublesome, the Soul Seal was never applied to me!"

"So I should be able to transmit it!"

Fu Ying stared at Dragon Yu in silence for a long time.

This was certainly true—and plausible.

But it was also sheer luck.

The previously unsolvable problem had been solved by this man.

Just moments ago, Fu Ying had already prepared himself for death.

Because under the previous circumstances, he had become useless to Xu Jin.

"Hahaha, excellent!"

Xu Jin immediately pulled out a Three-Refinement Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Pill and placed it before Dragon Yu. "Once you truly transmit the technique to me, this is yours—it should directly boost your Soul cultivation by one level!"

As for the risk of this pill's secrets leaking, Xu Jin had already resolved it.

First, he could use the Star Official Seal to cast a Soul Seal. Second, he had coated the exterior of every Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Pill with a layer of glutinous rice flour—no effect on potency, yet it disguised the pill as brand new.

And it even had a hint of sweetness!

When Xu Jin first pulled out the pill, neither Fu Ying nor Dragon Yu paid it any attention.

Because the pill looked unremarkable.

But now, hearing Xu Jin's words, they were stunned.

Directly boost Soul cultivation by one level?

That was equivalent to the power of seven or even eight Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Pills!

This was an extraordinary divine pill!

In an instant, Fu Ying's gaze toward Xu Jin turned fervent.

"My Lord, could you spare me a few of these pills as well?"

"Once the task is done, you won't be left out," Xu Jin promised. "If so, can all the Blood God Sect's secret arts be transmitted to him, and then from him to me?"

"Theoretically, yes. We can test it."

"Good. Do it now."

"Alright. I'll transmit the Blood God Continuation Great Art to him first," said Fu Ying.

Just as Xu Jin's expression turned expectant, and just as Fu Ying was about to transmit the technique, a specially crafted bronze seal in Fu Ying's bosom suddenly vibrated and began to glow with starlight.

Xu Jin could not see it.

But the Mingji Star Mark sensed it clearly.

"What is that?"

As Xu Jin asked, Fu Ying's face subtly changed.

(End of Chapter)