Chapter 20: Refining the Body with the Blood of a Half-Step Demon King

“Young Master, this is far too precious; we cannot accept it.”
“Yes, Young Master, although you are a true heir, your foundation is still unstable, and you need cultivation resources.”
Li Dabao and the others declined.

They had learned that the Misty Peak Li Wudao had joined was bleak and desolate, with no support from the sect and a grim future ahead.

“No matter, my master gave me something better. You should take these,” Li Wudao insisted, offering the items despite their refusals.

The three accepted nervously, expressing their gratitude repeatedly.

“Wait, take these pills as well,” Li Wudao said, sighing as he produced three bottles of Replenishing Pills.

Given their talent and resources, it would take an unknown amount of time for them to become inner disciples. As fellow disciples of the Li family, he wanted to help them as much as he could.

“Young Master, what kind of pills are these?” Li Xiaoyu asked curiously.

“These are pills that accelerate your cultivation. Take one a day, no more. Train hard, and if anything happens, you can come find me at Misty Peak.”

Li Wudao did not reveal the truth. If they knew these were fifth-grade elixirs, they might be afraid to accept them and could even bring trouble upon themselves.

After he left, Li Dabao and the others clenched their fists, their resolve rising.

“The Young Master is nurturing us so well; we must train diligently and not disappoint him.”
“Exactly. I’ll start training as soon as we return. At the newcomer competition in three months, I will make the Young Master proud.”

With that, the three entered the Scripture Pavilion together.

Meanwhile, the Elder of Cultivation Methods still had his head lowered, eyes vacant, murmuring to himself.

Only after Li Dabao and the others called out several times did he reluctantly raise his head and dismiss them, clearly not yet freed from his inner turmoil.

This showed just how deeply Li Wudao’s presence had shaken the elder.

...

Misty Peak.

As Li Wudao arrived at the valley bottom, a strong stench of blood reached his nose from afar.

“Ugh, what is that? Why does it smell so strong...”

He covered his nose with one hand, frowning as he walked inward.

Unbeknownst to him, his surrogate master had already returned.

The old man stood in a clearing by the lake, stirring a large wooden barrel with an iron rod.

The pungent blood smell came from inside the barrel.

“Master, what are you doing?”

Li Wudao approached quickly, his face full of suspicion.

“Boy, you’ve come at just the right time. This blood bath will help temper your body and lay the foundation for your flesh. Hurry in.”

Xia Gucheng turned to him, dropping the rod.

Looking at the bubbling, lurid liquid in the barrel, Li Wudao swallowed hard.

“Master, maybe this is a bad idea... I feel like I might die...”

He forced a weak smile and stepped back.

He didn’t know what animal’s blood it was, but it was foul and acrid, with a fierce intensity that even the blood aura burned.

If he really soaked in it, his skin would tear and he might lose half his life.

“You won’t die. At worst, you’ll be bedridden for a few days.”

Xia Gucheng smiled thinly, then suddenly moved behind the boy, grabbing his neck in a swift motion.

Before Li Wudao could react, he was hoisted up and dumped into the barrel.

“Old Deng, that’s not honorable—an ambush!”

Li Wudao cursed inwardly.

“Hot! Hot...”

Instantly, he began to wail as smoke rose from his soaked clothes, burning fiercely.

Within a few breaths, his shirt was tattered with large holes.

“This is too painful; I can’t take it.”

Li Wudao gritted his teeth, cold sweat on his brow, struggling to climb out.

He felt his skin was burning through, the pain scorching all over.

“You must endure. If you come out early, I’ll break your legs.”

Xia Gucheng grabbed the rod again, watching him closely. If he dared stand, he’d strike him down immediately.

Li Wudao surrendered, muttering curses.

He couldn’t fight, so he had to soak obediently.

“Boy, don’t be ungrateful. This is the blood of a fourth-rank demonic beast—a Blood Wrath Python. Its aura is dense and potent, perfect for tempering the body and doubling the effectiveness of your training. It’s very beneficial to your constitution.”

Xia Gucheng snorted coldly. “This demonic blood is priceless. Other disciples would kill for it. Only you are so ungrateful after getting such a bargain.”

He waved his hand, and a hundred-meter-long crimson-scaled giant python appeared before them.

Its body was thick as a water barrel, covered in metallic scales that shimmered with a golden hue. From afar, one could feel the overwhelming blood wrath aura, too fierce for ordinary people to look upon.

Oddly, the snake had a small horn on its head.

“Master, you didn’t catch a flood dragon by any chance?”

Li Wudao’s eyes widened. This looked very much like the mythological Jiaolong from ancient tales.

“Something like that. This python might evolve into a demon king in thirty to fifty years. Unfortunately, it met me,” Xia Gucheng explained calmly.

Hearing this, Li Wudao calmed down but felt waves of shock inside.

The ugly blood in the barrel was actually from a half-step demon king!

At his current level, having half-step demon king blood to temper his body was quite fortunate.

“My thrifty master always says there are no cultivation resources, but she still managed to find this for me. I love it.”

Suddenly, he realized the old man probably went out last night to hunt this python specifically for his training.

Li Wudao quickly entered meditation, focusing all his attention.

With the Imperial Scripture circulating, the potent demonic blood gradually seeped into his skin, transforming into pure blood energy.

After one incense stick’s time,

Li Wudao’s tightly furrowed brow slowly relaxed, the stinging pain on his body lessened, and the blood in the barrel became clearer.

An hour later,

The blood was completely clear and the stench vanished.

“As expected of a Pure Yang Sacred Body. For an ordinary constitution, it would take a full day to absorb this much from a blood bath.”

Xia Gucheng watched the whole time, astonished.

Though not the strongest among sacred bodies, the Pure Yang Sacred Body is recognized for having the strongest blood energy, overflowing vitality, and a longer lifespan.

At the Blood Refining Stage, no one had a firmer foundation than the Pure Yang Sacred Body.

With this foundation, Li Wudao’s path would be longer and brighter.

“Thank you, Master.”

Li Wudao stood, cupping his fists in salute.

His previously damaged body had fully recovered, and his skin had become tougher.

Though his cultivation hadn’t advanced much, his blood energy was far more vigorous; his muscles and organs were stronger, and his meridians had widened slightly.

In short, his body’s “container” was reinforced, able to absorb more spiritual energy.

“All right, from now on, every day you will temper your body with this python blood,” Xia Gucheng said, taking a swig of wine and staggering toward a reclining chair.

“Indeed, having a powerful master is a blessing.”

Li Wudao sighed with gratitude.

Suddenly, he thought of Jiang Churan.

The girl carried the ancient Azure Phoenix bloodline; this half-step demon king blood might help her as well.

Li Wudao stroked his chin, sensing opportunity.

The python’s enormous body could spare some without affecting his own supply.

After all, it was a zero-cost acquisition—he might as well exchange it for some goodwill and lose nothing.

Li Wudao returned indoors and began checking the system feedback.

[Beep! Congratulations, host, investment successful. Investment items: One bottle of Jade Scale Pill, one lower-grade spiritual sword of the Profound rank, three Replenishing Pills.]

[Congratulations, host, you have obtained: 1000 lower-grade spirit stones, one Scarlet Gold Soft Armor, ten Silver Moon Flowers.]

[Scarlet Gold Soft Armor: Supreme protective gear of the Profound rank, impervious to heat and cold, impervious to defense break by same-rank spiritual weapons.]

[Silver Moon Flower: Eighth-grade spiritual herb...]

“Not bad at all,” Li Wudao said, quite satisfied. The returns were better than he expected.

Especially the Scarlet Gold Soft Armor—if he wore it, even outer disciples would find it impossible to break his defense.

“Time to train. I’ll try to break through tonight and summon little Churan tomorrow...”

Li Wudao planned as he casually took out ten Replenishing Pills, eating them like candy.

Since obtaining the Pure Yang Sacred Body, he noticed his cultivation speed had slowed considerably, requiring much more spiritual energy.

Before, breaking through a minor realm required only a few Replenishing Pills, but now it took at least five to ten times that amount!