Chapter 44

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Chapter 44: Saint’s Blood

The sudden turn of events stunned everyone.

Zhang Yang and the Ironback Blue Bull were caught off guard.

Even Lu Fang, who had been fleeing for his life, stopped in his tracks, eyes wide with disbelief.

None of them had anticipated this.

"Hahaha!" A crazed laugh echoed through the battlefield. "I, Yun Luofeng, have spent years hiding my identity, joining the Demon Slayer Team just to play my part in this scheme! Today, by slaying Zhang Yang, I will become the sole heir of the Yun family! Hahaha!"

His laughter was wild, filled with unrestrained excitement.

Reaching up, he peeled away a layer of skin from his face, revealing a strikingly handsome yet malicious countenance. His eyes gleamed with madness, intoxicated by the moment.

Turning to Lu Fang, he sneered. "Lu Fang, there’s no need to run. I’ve taken care of him."

The White Jade Tower Shatters

"My White Jade Tower is a high-quality spiritual weapon, personally refined by my uncle, Lord Yun! Not just Zhang Yang— even stronger opponents wouldn’t be able to shake it!"

Yun Luofeng’s chest swelled with pride. "This time, I, Yun Luofeng, am destined to make a name for myself in the Southern Region! Lu Fang, there’s no need to run—I’ve already suppressed him!"

But then, something puzzled him.

Lu Fang wasn’t stopping because Zhang Yang had been sealed away. Instead, he was running even faster, disappearing in an instant.

Yun Luofeng spat in disdain.

"What a coward."

His voice dripped with contempt. "One of the top ten rising stars of the Great Xia Empire, and you’re scared? I’ve already trapped Zhang Yang, yet you’re still running? I should take your place."

He sneered and turned back toward Zhang Yang—just as a loud cracking sound filled the air.

Crack!

The so-called high-quality spiritual weapon, the White Jade Tower, shattered in an instant. The shards exploded outward like razor-sharp knives, slicing through the air. The violent gust sent Yun Luofeng’s hair flying, nearly blinding him.

He barely had time to react before the dust settled, revealing Zhang Yang.

Riding atop the Ironback Blue Bull, Zhang Yang looked at him coldly.

At that moment, Yun Luofeng finally understood why Lu Fang had run.

Even knowing that Zhang Yang had been trapped by a spiritual weapon, Lu Fang still chose to flee—because he had known it wouldn’t hold.

Yun Luofeng suddenly felt like crying.

Zhang Yang stepped forward and casually patted him on the shoulder. "You’re quite impressive."

Yun Luofeng clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay composed. "If you’re going to kill me, just do it! I, Yun Luofeng, won’t flinch."

Zhang Yang raised an eyebrow. "Kill you? No."

Yun Luofeng’s heart leaped with unexpected joy. "Really? You mean it?"

Zhang Yang scoffed. "I don’t say things I don’t mean. If I say I won’t kill you, I won’t." Then, after a brief pause, he added, "Now hurry up and lead the way. Ahem, take me back to Howling Wolf Palace. You go first."

Yun Luofeng blinked in confusion.

Lead the way?

He must have misheard. It had to be his nerves playing tricks on him.

Before he could think further, Zhang Yang kicked him lightly. "What are you standing there for? Move!"

Yun Luofeng stumbled but quickly steadied himself. With no other choice, he turned left and started walking.

Zhang Yang and the Ironback Blue Bull exchanged glances, then nodded—this was indeed the correct direction.

As they moved forward, Yun Luofeng’s initial arrogance gradually faded. He was well aware that Zhang Yang might not recognize his true identity, but there were people in Howling Wolf Palace who certainly would. If he was exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

All the terrible things he had done would come back to haunt him.

Suddenly, he stopped walking.

"Mo?"

Before Zhang Yang could ask what was wrong, the Ironback Blue Bull let out a low, irritated growl.

Yun Luofeng shivered at the sound and quickly raised his hands in surrender. "I—I know where to find Saint’s Blood! If you promise to spare me, I’ll tell you!"

Zhang Yang’s heart pounded.

He knew that once a martial artist reached the Small Boundless Realm, their bloodline began to evolve, growing more refined and powerful. From that point on, their descendants would inherit stronger bloodlines, making future generations naturally gifted in martial arts.

The higher the cultivation realm, the purer and more formidable the bloodline.

At the Sage Level, offspring were extremely rare, but if a sage did have children, they would be born with unmatched potential, far surpassing ordinary people from infancy.

Thus, even a single drop of Saint’s Blood held unimaginable power.

Zhang Yang’s voice turned sharp. "Bring it out."

Yun Luofeng shook his head quickly. "It’s not with me anymore. It’s inside the ruined Diamond Temple."

Zhang Yang’s gaze darkened. He remained silent, his expression unreadable.

Yun Luofeng raised his hand in a desperate gesture. "I swear! Every word I said is true! If I lie, may I suffer a terrible death!"

Zhang Yang finally spoke. "If you know where it is, why haven’t you retrieved it yourself?"

The Diamond Temple, much like Howling Wolf Palace, had once been a prestigious sect affiliated with the Cangmang Sacred Land. A thousand years ago, a martial artist there had attempted to break through to the Ascending the Heavens Realm, aiming to become a sage. Though he ultimately failed, the temple had remained a site of great significance.

Yun Luofeng sighed bitterly. "It’s not that I don’t want to—it’s that I can’t. The site was discovered by Lu Fang’s people. When they tried to retrieve the Saint’s Blood, they all died under mysterious circumstances. In the end, Lu Fang got so scared he abandoned the attempt altogether."

His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "But you… you’re different. In the Vast Forest, there’s nothing you can’t do. You will definitely succeed where they failed."

Zhang Yang didn’t answer immediately.

Lu Fang was no ordinary opponent.

Being one of the top ten rising stars of the Great Xia Empire wasn’t just a meaningless title.

The Great Xia Empire ruled nearly half of the Southern Region, boasting a massive population. To stand among the top ten of its younger generation required genuine skill and strength.

If even Lu Fang couldn’t obtain the Saint’s Blood, then this mission was far from simple.

Zhang Yang pondered for a long time before finally making his decision. "You lead the way."

Yun Luofeng hesitated. "First, you have to promise to let me go."

Zhang Yang gave a curt nod. "Fine. I promise."

But Yun Luofeng wasn’t satisfied. "Swear it!"

Zhang Yang’s expression darkened, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Beside him, the Ironback Blue Bull looked equally menacing.

Yun Luofeng trembled. "O-Okay, okay, I trust you! The Diamond Temple is in that direction!"

Not daring to push his luck any further, he turned and began leading the way.

Zhang Yang, still seated atop the Ironback Blue Bull, followed behind.

As they traveled, he silently made a mental note—he needed to work on his sense of direction.

After a short while, Zhang Yang decisively gave up trying to make sense of it all and felt somewhat dazed.

The Diamond Temple was quite a distance away.

By the time they arrived, more than an hour had passed.

"That wasteland over there—that’s it," Yun Luofeng said.

Zhang Yang looked ahead.

A vast expanse of ruins stretched before him.

Though the remnants still hinted at its past grandeur, the once-magnificent temple now lay in utter devastation.

Zhang Yang couldn’t help but feel a twinge of emotion.

"No matter how prosperous, everything meets its end."

He dismounted and proceeded on foot.

Yun Luofeng swallowed hard and followed closely, his voice trembling as he pointed ahead. "It’s terrifying in there."

Zhang Yang turned to him. "What kind of terrifying?"

"I—I don’t know," Yun Luofeng stammered, his face pale. "Lu Fang’s people went in… but they never came out. No one even knew how they died."

Zhang Yang narrowed his eyes and channeled his energy to heighten his senses.

The wind whispered softly through the ruins.

There were few trees in this desolate area, and the sunlight bathed them in an eerie warmth.

He took his first step inside.

There were no signs of life.

Behind him, Yun Luofeng hesitated—until the Ironback Blue Bull gave him a few rough kicks, forcing him forward. Gritting his teeth, he pointed toward a crumbling three-story building that still stood, though barely. "The Saint’s Blood is inside."

Zhang Yang stepped onto a small patch of wall that had yet to collapse and surveyed the area.

His sharp eyesight immediately caught something on the third floor—a broken table, atop which sat a small porcelain bottle, pressed beneath a piece of paper.

The paper was tattered, its words incomplete, but one fragment remained legible:

“Purify… a drop of Saint’s Blood… reserved for… Huang.”