Chapter 354: Blood Abyss Ends, The Legend of the Holy Lord's Celestial Palace

Blood Fiend Force is a unique malevolent energy that originates in places with abundant Blood Dao power. However, it can also accumulate within individuals. Simply put, it arises from excessive bloodshed and countless acts of killing.

Zombies feed on blood and grow stronger by refining malevolent energy. Blood Fiend Force is a perfectly suited and highly versatile resource for nurturing zombies. Almost any type of zombie can refine Blood Fiend Force to enhance themselves.

Spirit zombies are an exception; malevolent energy would only erode their nascent sentience. They are better suited to cultivating by absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

The Grand Yin Fiend Zombie and Thunder Zombie in Wang Yu's possession had always consumed relatively few treasures and resources for zombie cultivation, partly because he hadn't actively sought them. Despite this, their combat effectiveness had always been substantial.

However, regarding their blood sustenance, its quality has been very high since their creation. Daily, they were sated with Tier-3 human blood, even able to drink their fill, further aided by the Fiend Nurturing Coffin. Their growth rate was not slow either. When they previously visited the Buried Pit Secret Realm, both zombies gained significant benefits, accumulating a solid foundation.

Now, with the infusion of Blood Fiend Force, their bodies became significantly more robust, particularly the Grand Yin Fiend Zombie, which was originally a rare variant born from lunar malevolence. Many blood patterns emerged on its body, and Wang Yu used his Corpse Refinement Art to assist it. The Thunder Zombie, however, remained unremarkable, perhaps having expended all its potential during its transformation into a Thunder Zombie. This time, it was merely absorbing Blood Fiend Force, unlike the Grand Yin Fiend Zombie, which underwent multiple transformations.

Wang Yu quietly refined his zombies, and his own cultivation continued without pause, just as it had on Scarlet Snow Mountain. The only difference was that the effects of the Myriad Spirit Blood Essence had somewhat diminished.

Xue Yu had strong opinions about this. Scarlet Snow Mountain was suitable for its cultivation, but in the depths of the Blood Demon Sea, even the Profound Ice Bed was unusable. Furthermore, every time Wang Yu left, he had to leave her to watch the two zombies furiously absorb Blood Fiend Force. They showed no signs of stopping, like a bottomless pit that could never be filled, no matter how much was poured in.

Xue Yu's personal wishes were actually not important. Besides, she only grumbled a bit; it wasn't overly serious. She only quieted down after Wang Yu thoroughly ruffled the fur on her head.

—Time passed. The end of the Blood Abyss trial was drawing nearer.

One day, on the Blood Demon Sea, winds and clouds surged. Although Wang Yu had descended to a great depth, he was cultivating near the edge and had no intention of getting involved again. The Blood Infant Fruit for this session had already been claimed. He truly had no desire to contend for it. As it turned out, this also gave him the chance to observe the final battle. While he was meditating, the sky was suddenly covered by dark clouds stretching for a hundred miles. A massive illusory black bell was clearly visible from a great distance. Behind it, Xie Xie'an's sinisterly smiling face emerged, his right hand lightly shaking the black bell. An invisible sound wave could be felt rapidly spreading.

Though seemingly unheard, the sound wave had already affected them. Over three hundred powerful individuals were involved in this ambush on Xie Xie'an. Many direct disciples of the Nine Peaks and geniuses from prominent families were among them. Yet, facing a Spirit Transformation spiritual treasure, even though Xie Xie'an activated less than one percent of its power, they plummeted into the Blood Demon Sea like falling dumplings.

They didn't die. However, they all suffered severe soul damage, with their spiritual consciousness almost completely drained and their minds significantly harmed. If they couldn't receive timely treatment with appropriate treasures afterward, more than half of them would be permanently crippled. Wang Yu secretly clicked his tongue at such ruthless tactics, truly believing it was madness.

Xie Xie'an's actions caused heavy casualties in this Blood Abyss trial, particularly among those from the master-disciple factions, as the Nine Peaks' direct disciples were all Nascent Soul cultivators. They wouldn't be easily appeased. Yet, after committing such a heinous crime, Xie Xie'an sat cross-legged in the void as if nothing had happened, seemingly comprehending the true meaning of Rakshasa. A murderous aura, no less intense than that of the Asura Killing Path, rose from him. Wang Yu was most familiar with this state, recognizing it as the initial entry into the Mind Dao, having just reached the first realm of Purity.

"It makes sense..." Both the *Rakshasa True Devil Scripture* and the *Asura Killing Saint Scripture* contain elements of the Mind Dao's true cultivation meaning. It's not surprising that Xie Xie'an could use this to achieve initial enlightenment after completing them. He truly lived up to being chosen by the old monsters; he genuinely has a talent for cultivating the Rakshasa Demonic Dao. After obtaining the Spirit Transformation spiritual treasure, the Heavenly Demon Bell, it suited him perfectly.

This couldn't help but remind Wang Yu of another Spirit Transformation spiritual treasure: the Asura Killing Sword! Theoretically, this treasure had the highest probability of falling into Jin Miaoshan's hands. However, he hadn't heard her mention it, so she likely hadn't met the requirements to wield it yet. If Xie Xie'an was naturally compatible with his treasure, then Jin Miaoshan was forcing her way into this path, lacking any talent in the Asura Killing Dao. Otherwise, even with the resources of the Golden Full Pavilion, she wouldn't still be affected by murderous intent. She hadn't even been able to forge an Asura Killing Heart. Given such a vast difference between the two, it was only natural that she couldn't wield such a divine sword. Remembering this, Wang Yu couldn't help but entertain a bold idea.

"After this battle, the trial will be almost over." After thinking for a moment, Wang Yu decided not to loot the "corpses." It wasn't due to a strong moral compass, but because the items on these individuals were quite sensitive. With Xie Xie'an at the forefront, drawing everyone's attention, he would be much safer.

After observing this crushing battle, Wang Yu was unable to successfully advance his two zombies in the last few months; they only reached the peak of Tier 3 mid-stage. However, he did use the One Yuan Gourd to accumulate thousands of Blood Fiend Crystals. After a few more years of nurturing them outside, they would be almost complete. This Blood Abyss trial had largely achieved his goals.

In the eighth month of the 38th year of Elder Wang Yu's career, his cultivation advanced significantly once more. His maximum magic power continuously increased, gaining nearly six hundred strands of magical power. Reaching 3,593 strands, he took a firm step in the Core Formation eighth layer. He was still far from the peak of six thousand strands, and outside of a treasure trove like the Blood Abyss, his improvement rate wouldn't be as rapid.

At Blood Canyon, at the entrance to the Blood Abyss, a considerable number of people had gathered here after a long time, but they appeared scattered and loosely positioned. Some looked confused, while others were eager to leave. When Wang Yu arrived, he saw Wei Hao waving at him from afar. The Wei clan had participated in neither the struggle for the Yin Erosion Palace nor the battle for the Blood Infant Fruit. They had only lost one early-stage Core Formation cultivator, largely preserving their original team. However, they gained many benefits, generally advancing by several minor cultivation stages. This was especially true for Wei Shanze, who possessed neither magical artifacts nor divine abilities. Yet, his cultivation unexpectedly reached the peak of the Core Formation third layer. From his demeanor, it seemed he would break through to the fourth layer upon exiting, making him quite an anomaly. In just thirty years, he had shed the frail initial phase of Core Formation. No wonder there were always rumors that the Wei clan produced intelligent individuals; their ability to seek advantage and avoid harm was truly impressive.

"Brother Wang."

"Junior Brother Wei."

After hunting down Jiang Mingxin's group, their relationship had deepened. The atmosphere was very harmonious when they met again, as they waited for the Blood Abyss entrance to open. Wang Yu naturally brought up the matter of the Saint Token. Wei Hao, being very generous, handed it to Wang Yu without further questions.

"Junior Brother Wei, aren't you curious about the purpose of this item?"

Wei Hao calmly shook his head. "What is destined to be mine will eventually come to me, and what is not cannot be forced. Brother Wang, please do not tell me its secrets, lest I, your junior brother, develop greed."

Hearing this, Wang Yu couldn't help but chuckle. "I don't know the use of this token either; it was merely entrusted to me. But you... your perspective is very clear. The Core Formation realm is certainly not your limit."

"Thank you for your auspicious words, Brother Wang!"

After speaking, the two exchanged smiles. An unspoken understanding passed between them, greatly puzzling Wei Shanze, who watched from behind. He scratched his head, looking at Wei Hao, then at the exceptionally handsome Wang Yu. He didn't remember his cousin having a preference for men! The wait was long, and more people arrived gradually, but the total number was definitely under five hundred, even counting cultivators who had remained from the previous session. The high death rate was evident from this.

After Yan Ling's team also arrived at Blood Canyon, Wang Yu noticed that Song Yun was absent, as were all the Cold Blood sect disciples who had left with him. Not a single one of them was seen returning, an 80% probability they had died at Xie Xie'an's hands. Wang Yu merely felt a touch of sentiment about this. What people fear most is lacking self-awareness and not listening to others' advice. Dying would have been pointless. Song Yun's filial piety was commendable, but his judgment was lacking...

"Your Highness Yan Ling."

"Fellow Daoist Wang."

Yan Ling saw Wang Yu approaching from the Wei clan's group and instantly understood. It seemed he had obtained the token. She then voluntarily left her team and erected a sound-insulating barrier.

"Since you have the Saint Token, I'll be direct."

"Please."

Wang Yu adopted an attentive listening posture. Yan Ling pondered and organized her words before speaking. "This token is the key to opening the Heavenly Palace of the Sacred Lord. Have you ever heard of the name 'Sacred Lord'?"

Sacred Lord? Heavenly Palace? With such a noble title, this person shouldn't be obscure. Given Wang Yu's extensive reading of ancient texts, he shouldn't have been unfamiliar with it. But in truth, he was unfamiliar with it.

"Please enlighten me."

"The Sacred Lord was of the demon race, an Ice Phoenix that was active in the era after the ancient immortal dynasty's demise. Before the Grand Yin Sect's rule, it was a flourishing age for the demon race. Legend has it that their Heavenly Palace, which once collected the most precious treasures of a realm, was built within the boundless ice plains. The Saint Token in your hand serves as both a map and a key. Jiang Mingxin sought me out specifically because he knew I possessed an indispensable item for opening the gate."

—The Ice Phoenix Sacred Lord. Wang Yu frowned in thought. The ruler of an era would undoubtedly be a Spirit Transformation existence, perhaps even a peak expert. Yet, these two dared to scheme for such a dangerous place. It truly spoke to the nature of demonic cultivators: fearing nothing and single-mindedly pursuing opportunities.

As for the indispensable item in Yan Ling's possession, Wang Yu didn't inquire further; he maintained that distance. Moreover, after the Xue Ying incident, Yan Ling's impression of him had significantly worsened. When the time was right, she would naturally explain it to him.

"Are there other Saint Tokens?"

"Naturally. Legend says there are seventy-two Saint Tokens in total, and each can grant entry to three people into the Sacred Lord's Heavenly Palace. Most of them are still held by the demon race. The two tokens you and I possess were unexpectedly obtained from the Broken Boundary Mountain Range, which is why I collaborated with Jiang Mingxin. Most of the competitors will be from the demon race."

"I see." With this explanation, Wang Yu could sort out the situation clearly. After thinking for a moment, he asked again. "Are there any cultivation restrictions for the Heavenly Palace?"

"None." At this, Yan Ling gave a wry smile, realizing it meant they would compete with Nascent Soul cultivators, and there was even a high possibility of Spirit Transformation cultivators appearing. While she was only at the Core Formation stage...

"What about the opening time?"

"The Sacred Lord's Heavenly Palace opens once every thousand years, remaining open for a century each time. One can enter at any point during this period. There are still two hundred years until its next opening. This information is no secret among Nascent Soul cultivators. It means this path is fraught with danger, and many Nascent Soul cultivators without Saint Tokens will resort to foul play."

Wang Yu nodded. Two hundred years was a long time, enough for him to break through to the Nascent Soul stage before taking action. He just wondered if Yan Ling would have the same opportunity. Since opening the gate required another indispensable item besides the token, and the Heavenly Palace could be entered at any time during the century it was open, it suggested the indispensable item was not unique. If Yan Ling's cultivation was insufficient, he could find a way to obtain other opening items. Of course, this matter was still far off, so he would simply keep it in mind for now. He had already considered cultivating in the boundless ice plains, so the news of the Sacred Lord's Heavenly Palace truly resonated with him. He would consult ancient texts later. Conveniently, he also needed more information about forming a Nascent Soul, so he could address both matters simultaneously.

"I understand. If I can form my Nascent Soul in two hundred years, let's go together then."

"I thought so too. Core Formation cultivators are indeed not qualified to pursue this opportunity."

As they finished their discussion, the Blood Canyon entrance reopened. The dark, cavernous vortex suddenly widened, and many cultivators eagerly rushed out. Wang Yu deliberately lagged behind, and seeing no sign of Xie Xie'an emerging, he reluctantly gave up. He wanted to see if the man still retained his sanity. By "sanity," he meant whether his personality had been corrupted by the power of the Rakshasa Dao, not whether he had gone insane. Having had previous contact, he had some understanding of Xie Xie'an's character. It would be best if they could talk. It now seemed that the old black hand behind the scenes did not want Xie Xie'an to be attacked by the forces behind those people, considering the bloody crimes he had committed. He was bound to face consequences. Furthermore, not only was Xie Xie'an absent, but he didn't even spot Zhuo Shouyun, who he guessed had used a disguise to blend into the crowd and slip out.

"Truly uninteresting..." he mumbled to himself. Wang Yu looked up at the thick blood clouds in the sky, thought for a moment, then did nothing. As his magical power circulated, he transformed into a streak of aurora and soared towards the Blood Abyss entrance.

Unexpectedly, at that crucial moment, a streak of blood-red light descended from the sky, transforming into a colossal giant before his very eyes. Wang Yu recognized the identity at a glance and quickly bowed his head in salute.

"Junior Wang Yu greets Demon Lord Blood Axe."

He had specifically memorized the appearances of the publicly known Nascent Soul cultivators within the sect, so there was no possibility of confusion or misidentification. However, the scheme laid out for Xie Xie'an didn't seem like Blood Axe's doing at all; his reputation as a brute was well-known throughout Crimson Kite. Therefore, there must be other Nascent Soul grand ancestors involved. Judging by their close relationships, the Three Blood Nether Demons were the most likely culprits!

"You're very good. Your physical body is trained like a man's."

The moment Demon Lord Blood Axe spoke, Wang Yu felt his ears were about to burst, but he suppressed his reaction, awkwardly smiling and lowering his head.

"This is a blessed land for body refinement that I discovered in my early years. Go check it out when you have time."

A talisman paper inscribed with a map route floated down. Wang Yu received it with pleasant surprise. He immediately realized that the last time the sky-descended dispelling talisman was also Blood Axe's doing.

"Wang Yu thanks Demon Lord for your appreciation!"