Chapter Sixty-One: Departure

When the Blood Demon heard those words, cold as ice and bone-chilling, a shudder ran inexplicably through its heart, and a surge of humiliation flooded its chest. If it hadn’t been sealed for hundreds of years, its power greatly diminished, how could it have fallen so low that even a mere “Dan Embryo” could order it about, point fingers at it?

The more the Blood Demon thought, the more enraged it became. Yet, its strength was now feeble, and with Chen Jiu having just broken through, his momentum was unstoppable—it was not wise to confront him head-on. So, the demon’s fury dissipated, and it replied awkwardly, “Since you have succeeded in breaking through, please depart. I… I won’t see you off.”

Chen Jiu let out a mocking laugh. “Are you, sir, a turtle with an extendable neck? How flexible you are—able to stretch and shrink at will.”

“If I were you, after suffering such humiliation, I’d have already smashed my head and died.”

To deal with such a twisted demon, one had to repay sarcasm with sarcasm.

Blood Demon: I’m so furious I could die!!!

“What do you want from me, you little wretch?! When I escape, I’ll slaughter your entire clan ten times over!” the Blood Demon was beside itself with rage, its dried-up body trembling as blood-red light surged around it, as if threatening to burst forth.

Chen Jiu’s heart jumped—was the demon about to self-destruct?

“I don’t care to waste words with the likes of you!” Chen Jiu’s eyes flashed coldly, and he reached out with his hand, grasping at the demon’s body from afar.

A series of “clack clack clack” sounded as the iron chains rattled and tightened!

“Stop! Stop!” the Blood Demon shrieked in terror.

But this time, what was forced out of the demon was no longer a ball of light.

It was a sword—

Chen Jiu’s heart tightened as he saw the hilt protruding. Was there some treasure hidden within the Blood Demon’s body?

He increased the pressure of the iron chains binding the demon.

With a crack, the demon’s body was compressed to the size of a common bowl, countless bones broken.

“Stop! Please, stop! I’ll agree to any terms!” the Blood Demon pleaded desperately.

Chen Jiu gazed at the blood-red sword, now fully extracted, and after a moment’s thought, realization dawned. “So, the sword worshipped by the Blood Demon clan is inside you…”

The Blood Demon’s heart leapt violently at his words.

“You must not touch that sword!” it cried in a mix of terror and fury.

Aside from its core demonic energy, this sword, worshipped for a century, was all the demon possessed.

The Blood Demon clan, ever since its massacre by the Sky Eye cultivators, had vanished from sight, hiding somewhere beyond the borders of the Great Jin.

Chen Jiu stared at the blood-red sword for several moments.

Suddenly, his eyes gleamed gold, bathing the entire scene in golden light.

Alarmed, Chen Jiu wondered if he had fallen into another trap set by the demon.

But as a familiar sensation washed over him, he relaxed.

This ability to turn his vision golden and pierce through the illusions of demons and spirits—it was none other than his “Soul-Piercing Technique”!

And this time, without summoning the “Sky Eye,” he could use it—a sure sign of his cultivation’s significant progress.

This would make things much easier in the future. He would no longer need to risk summoning the “Sky Eye” when using the “Soul-Piercing Technique.”

Through Chen Jiu’s perception, the blood-red sword was enveloped in demonic aura; moreover, a pitch-black substance was hidden within its blade, invisible without the Soul-Piercing Technique.

“Though it’s a demonic sword, I do lack a formidable weapon right now…” After a brief hesitation, Chen Jiu decided to take the “Blood Demon Sword.”

Even if the sword would infect him with demonic energy, Chen Jiu now possessed the Longevity Pearl, which could suppress demonic energy at any moment, so he wasn’t much afraid.

Without delay, he swept his sleeve, and with a flash of azure light, the sword hovering above the demon’s head was effortlessly taken into his sleeve.

The “Universe in the Sleeve” technique was exceedingly practical—perfect for quickly storing numerous items.

Deprived of its sword, the Blood Demon’s entire body trembled uncontrollably.

“Give it back! Give it back!!”

No matter how hysterically it raged, Chen Jiu ignored it.

However, how to destroy this demon was another matter. The great formation not only sealed it but also protected it. It was difficult for external force to break the array and then kill the demon.

Just as Chen Jiu pondered a solution, the great hall trembled slightly.

Since breaking through, Chen Jiu’s senses were sharper than ever; he could detect even the faintest vibration.

His expression grew tense as he looked around.

Suddenly, with a metallic clang, several iron chains beneath Chen Jiu’s feet snapped simultaneously!

His expression changed dramatically, and without hesitation, he flew out of the blood-red hall.

The moment he left, the sealing formation shattered, cracks spreading everywhere!

Dozens of chains wailed in agony before snapping apart.

Freed from its restraints, the Blood Demon’s tattered body staggered to its feet.

Without Chen Jiu’s “Divine Control Technique” holding it, the demon escaped the ruined array and silently advanced toward Chen Jiu.

Chen Jiu’s heart skipped a beat.

Why had the sealing array collapsed so suddenly?

Could it be… because he had taken the demonic sword?!

Thinking it over, it seemed entirely possible.

The sword was the core of the array—it not only suppressed the Blood Demon but anchored the entire formation.

Now that the sword was gone, the array collapsed and the Blood Demon was freed…

Clack, clack, clack—the Blood Demon, now reduced to a heap of white bones, staggered toward Chen Jiu, each step accompanied by the sound of bone grinding against bone.

“Give me back my sword… Give me back my sword…” The voice was venomous, a dark, rolling demonic tone.

The Blood Demon now resembled a vengeful spirit from the underworld, terrifying and sinister.

Chen Jiu frowned, his expression icy.

How dare a pile of broken bones act so arrogantly?

He opened his “Sky Eye.”

“Tiger Fiend!”

“Mountain Ape!”

Two beams of golden light shot from the Sky Eye, transforming before Chen Jiu into two colossal creatures.

The Mountain Ape radiated golden light, towering more than ten feet tall, its appearance fearsome.

The Tiger Fiend lacked golden light, retaining the form of a giant tiger, but its size was massive.

“Go, devour it,” Chen Jiu ordered.

Although the Blood Demon’s vitality was spent, its soul still remained. Once a sovereign, its soul was ideal for feeding his monsters.

Chen Jiu had no intention of subduing it, for a simple reason—it knew too many of his secrets, and its demonic nature was deeply entrenched. If he tried to control it, it might turn on him.

Better to destroy it completely and leave no trace.

With a single leap, the Tiger Fiend pinned the Blood Demon to the ground.

It opened its maw and, with a crunch, bit off half the demon’s body.

“Ahhh! You despicable little wretch!” The Blood Demon raged as its soul was devoured.

Most of its soul, along with bone shards, entered the tiger’s belly.

The Mountain Ape was not to be outdone—it leaped over, seized the remaining bones, and stuffed them into its mouth, chewing noisily.

Just as the Blood Demon’s last body part was about to be consumed, a streak of blood-red light suddenly escaped!

The blood light exploded in midair, forming a strange mark, apparently a kind of totem.

The Blood Demon’s vengeful voice echoed:

“From this day forth, the Blood Demon clan will hunt you to the ends of the earth…”

With that, the blood-colored totem vanished with a snap.

Chen Jiu’s expression darkened.

Had he been cursed?

But he had no time to dwell on it, for as soon as the Blood Demon’s remaining soul was consumed, the grand hall began to collapse!

The entire chamber was crumbling…

Chen Jiu’s face turned grim. He quickly recalled his two monsters, then summoned his lotus platform without hesitation.

But as he unfurled a curtain of azure light, the hall suddenly erupted with blood-red rays, blotting out his vision!

Thunderous crashes sounded as rocks tumbled all around.

The azure shield before Chen Jiu shattered, and blood light surged in.

“Not good…” The lotus platform in his hand flashed briefly, only to be beaten back by the blood light, returning to his body.

As the ground beneath him crumbled and blood light roared, Chen Jiu’s consciousness faded…

Boom, boom, boom!

The hall collapsed rapidly, and the space within the mountainside caved in…

With countless stones, Chen Jiu plummeted downward.

Ten breaths later.

With a splash, Chen Jiu plunged headfirst into icy, bone-chilling water.

It seemed to be the subterranean river flowing beneath Hongyu Mountain.

No one knew where the unconscious Chen Jiu would drift…