Chapter 825: 810: A Beauty in His Arms, Affection Quietly Grows
Although being suspected by Lan Mengling moments ago left him rather annoyed, the methods he had displayed were far too bizarre and ingenious. It was completely normal for someone like her to be suspicious.
As for constantly getting hit by her… that was more like playful banter between friends. Otherwise, if an expert at the Quasi-Emperor Martial Realm Fourth Heaven genuinely slapped him, how could he possibly survive?
Many times when Mengling struck, she never actually hurt him; she merely left him looking a little disheveled.
And when it came to the topic of essence blood, Shen Lang was not angry in the slightest.
Regarding Lifebound Essence Blood, Shen Lang had simply been unable to hold back his curiosity and just wanted to test the waters.
He had never expected her to actually give it to him.
But her words just now…
It sounded as if she was willing to give it to him. She was just terrified that he wouldn’t be able to withstand the power of the Vermilion Bird Essence Blood and the fierce, malevolent will within it, afraid it would kill him…
Shen Lang stopped in his tracks. His gaze landed on Mengling’s face, his expression a little odd. “Do you mean that if I can withstand the Vermilion Bird Essence Blood, you’d be willing to give it to me?”
Mengling’s face flushed slightly. She turned sideways and rolled her eyes. “No! Keep dreaming!
“Giving it to you will only bring about your destruction. I saved you back in the Purple Chu Imperial Capital, so you still owe me a favor. You want to die before you’ve even paid it back? Not a chance!”
Her excuse was incredibly weak and forced, but even a fool could hear the deep affection hidden within those words.
Shen Lang was certainly no fool. Seeing Mengling display such a rare, quirky side, the nameless frustration in his heart vanished without a trace, replaced by a wave of genuine emotion.
Shen Lang organized his thoughts. “My physical body is far stronger than other Martial Artists of the Same Tier, and my willpower is so resolute that even the boundless Evil Qi within the Candle Dragon’s Death God Nail couldn’t affect me. Even if the Vermilion Bird Essence Blood is formidable, I am confident I can handle its Refinement. Can you just let me try?”
“Try my foot! Is this the kind of thing you can just ’try’? The chances of survival aren’t even one in ten thousand, and you still want to try?” Mengling scolded.
Although it was a scolding, her tone was entirely laced with deep concern for him.
Shen Lang opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.
A moment later, Mengling let out a soft sigh. “The Demon Race’s essence blood is coveted by your Human Race. Aside from the formidable Innate power it contains, it also holds Talent Abilities that humans lack.
“Divine Beasts like us—the Vermilion Bird, the Xuanwu, and so on—were born in Chaos when heaven and earth were first formed. Therefore, our Lifebound Essence Blood contains the Origin Rules of this world. If someone can obtain it and fully comprehend it, not only will they master the corresponding Talent Ability, but they can also transform into our true forms, wielding peerless might.
“Moreover, they can use the opportunity to touch upon the Rules of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.
“However, the power within the Vermilion Bird Essence Blood is extremely aggressive, not the slightest bit weaker than the Dragon Race’s Lifebound Essence Blood. Legend has it that during the Ancient Era, experts from various races obtained it, but without exception, they all exploded and died.
“Throughout history, there has never been a single person who successfully fused with it and transformed into a Vermilion Bird. Why must you seek your own death like this?
“If you want to increase your strength, there are plenty of other ways. Besides, your Cultivation speed is already absurdly fast—it’s simply unheard of! When I saw you last time in the Purple Chu Imperial Capital, you were only at the Xuanwu Realm Sixth Heaven. In just a few days, you advanced to the King Martial Realm. Right before entering the Yumu Cave Blessed Land, you had just broken through, yet when I met you again, you were already at the King Martial Realm Second Heaven!
“With such an unimaginable Cultivation speed, why are you still not satisfied? Why resort to a method as high-risk as using Divine Beast Essence Blood?”
Shen Lang shook his head. “Compared to other Martial Artists, it is indeed fast, but it’s still far too slow. The Nine-Star Linked Pearls will align, and the Earth Yin Qi will emerge. The Blood Ancestor will be reborn in just over eight years. I merely want to push my Cultivation to its absolute limit before then so I can face this catastrophe and protect my loved ones.”
These words were not a lie. As he spoke, his mood grew heavy, and his gaze naturally shifted.
Mengling was slightly startled. “The Blood Ancestor will be reborn in just eight years? What does that mean? How do you know this?”
Shen Lang laughed heartily and began to spout nonsense again. “My lady, this humble monk is proficient in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I am a master of poetry and song. I excel in all weapons—swords, spears, halberds, and axes! I know astronomy above and geography below. I understand the ways of harmony, Yin Yang, the Eight Trigrams, and mystic arts. I can strategize within a command tent to win a battle a thousand miles away. With a pen I can charm young maidens, and on a horse I can conquer the world… Ah, I’ve strayed off-topic. I truly possess a Dharma Gate to safely use Divine Beast Essence Blood. Lan’Er, won’t you help me?”
Mengling almost fainted from his dizzying rant. Rolling her eyes, she said, “Although your Cultivation is lacking, your knowledge surpasses mine. So why don’t you understand? There has never been a successful case, so where would you get a Dharma Gate for it? Even if you did find one, how would you verify if it’s real?
“How about this… Utilizing Divine Beast Essence Blood is indeed the fastest and most convenient way to boost your strength. If what you said about the Blood Ancestor’s rebirth timeline is true, then things are going to be quite thorny. Let me think of a way.
“The Xuanwu’s Lifebound Essence Blood also contains tremendous power, but the Xuanwu is the most gentle of us all. It lacks the all-destroying aura of the Vermilion Bird’s blood. Once you reach the Emperor Martial Realm Middle Stage, I’ll take you to find the Xuanwu and ask for a drop of Xuanwu Essence Blood. How about that?
“If you can absorb and complete its Refinement, you will become much stronger. At that point, handling the Vermilion Bird Essence Blood will become a real possibility. Then, I’ll give you mine to lend you a helping hand!”
Shen Lang stared at her in astonishment, his emotions too complex to voice.
He had only asked about the Vermilion Bird Essence Blood as a probe. He never expected her to agree so readily.
He certainly didn’t expect her to offer to help him get the Xuanwu Essence Blood first before he attempted the Vermilion Bird’s!
Previously, upon discovering that the majority of the Ten Great Divine Beasts resided in the Demon God Hall, he felt that obtaining their essence blood would be as difficult as scaling the heavens.
But now, all of this had come far too easily—so easily that his brain struggled to process it.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Seeing his gaze, Mengling frowned slightly. “Don’t overthink it. I’m only giving you a hand to improve your Cultivation because you’ve saved me a few times.
“Besides, you’re Dingdang’s friend. It’s only right that I help you…”
Suppressing the wild joy in his heart, Shen Lang instinctively pulled her into a tight embrace.
How could Mengling have known this rascal was bold enough to suddenly do something like this?
Caught off guard, she froze as he wrapped his arms firmly around her.
“Thank you, Lan’Er,” Shen Lang whispered softly into her ear.
His thick, powerful arms, his broad chest, his distinct masculine scent, and the warm breath tickling her ear left Mengling completely weak in the knees. She couldn’t muster even half an ounce of strength.
His actions were a bit rough, but he was truly, deeply grateful to her.
Strictly speaking, the time they had spent together and the number of their encounters were far too few.
Even if secret feelings had already taken root in their hearts, things shouldn’t have progressed this quickly.
Yet Mengling, a woman who had barely interacted with men, had promised him her Lifebound Essence Blood while her mind was in such a flustered state.
A Divine Beast’s Lifebound Essence Blood! This was not something that one or two Elixir Pills could ever compare to!
Shen Lang had originally been anxious, unsure of how to bring it up or explain himself.
But with just a casual question, the matter was settled!
If he could get his hands on the Xuanwu Essence Blood, would the Vermilion Bird Essence Blood be far behind?
“Thank you!” Shen Lang repeated.
“You little thief… let… let go!” Mengling seemed to use all her strength just to squeeze out those words.
Even so, her voice came out soft and limp, completely devoid of any real force.
Not only did it lack force, but it sounded exactly like the coquettish whining of lovers flirting, which only prompted Shen Lang to hug her even tighter!
“Hurry… let go of me… PFFT!”
Before she could finish her sentence, the flustered Mengling’s body suddenly jolted, and she violently coughed up a mouthful of blood!
Shen Lang was deeply shocked. He flashed behind her and continuously struck her back with his palms, injecting streams of Spiritual Power wrapped in the Vermilion Bird Divine Fire into her body.
After a few bursts of Spiritual Power entered her, Shen Lang’s expression changed drastically. “Are you crazy?” he barked coldly. “Didn’t I tell you to use my Dharma Gate to complete three Circulations and expel all the Palm Force to the various Mystic Gates? Why did you stop before finishing the most crucial final step?”
Mengling suffered in silence. Wasn’t this all his fault?
If she hadn’t felt his burning gaze, and simultaneously thought that the lingering bit of Palm Force was nothing to worry about, how could she have possibly stopped right at that moment?
Not only did she fail to finish the final step, but he had repeatedly disturbed her state of mind afterward. Under such circumstances, it was a miracle she hadn’t suffered Qi deviation and become a Fallen Demon.
…
In the vast Eastern Desolate, inside a Divine Hall surrounded by a dense cluster of altars, sat a man wearing a luxurious brocade robe. By appearances, he looked to be middle-aged.
He sat upright in his chair, resting with his eyes closed.
A massive Black Dragon, so solid it seemed entirely corporeal, constantly circled and danced around him, occasionally letting out heaven-shaking roars.
The man exuded an unstoppable, terrifyingly cold aura, making the entire Divine Hall feel sinister, eerie, and solemnly murderous.
Aside from him, there was no one else in the grand hall.
A moment later, Spirit Light flickered in the center of the hall. The void seemed to tear open like a door, and a young man in flowing black robes slowly walked out.
“You’ve arrived,” the man on the throne stated flatly without opening his eyes.
Despite his middle-aged appearance, his voice was incredibly ancient.
The black-robed young man took two steps forward and knelt on one knee. “Reporting to the Demon Monarch. The Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends experts have arrived at the Dragon Scale Divine Hall in the Yumu Cave Blessed Land. They are secretly guarding the Eldest Miss.
“However, the true body of Taotie is leading his forces within the Dragon Scale Divine Hall, hunting down the Candle Dragon Avatar. He looks determined not to rest until the Candle Dragon is dead.
“Currently, Taotie’s men have heavily injured two of the Candle Dragon’s subordinates. Right now, they are entirely relying on the Candle Dragon’s Sword Slave, Xi Yao, to hold the line. The Black Phoenix’s forces have also interfered, but she has been intercepted by the War God Hall’s White Banner Master Bai Luobing, rendering her useless.
“It seems Taotie has gone a bit too far this time. Should we issue him a warning?”