If he continued to cultivate step by step, it might take him over half a month to break through.

But by using the Explosion Pill technique, this time could be halved.

Determined, Li Sheng tilted his head back and swallowed the Blood Solidification Pill.

A surge of spiritual power rapidly expanded, clashing against the remaining medicinal force in his body.

Caught off guard, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

A strong, stabbing pain rushed over him like a tide, causing him to groan and curl up involuntarily.

His teeth were clenched, veins bulging.

In just a few breaths, sweat drenched his clothes.

Li Sheng gritted his teeth against the pain inside him, laboriously sitting cross-legged, focusing his mind and breath, circulating his technique, and began refining his blood.

...

After parting ways with Li Sheng, Liu Hongfeng returned to her residence, unusually choosing not to practice.

In the dim room, she sat at a table, gazing at her beautiful reflection in the mirror.

Suddenly, a deep scarlet hue stained her pupils crimson.

Blood-colored patterns began to emerge on her fair skin.

The earlier aura of grace and gentleness vanished without a trace, replaced by a hint of madness and bloodlust.

It gave off a terrifying yet noble vibe.

Liu Hongfeng clenched her delicate hands, using her spiritual power to suppress her desire for the scent of life.

As time passed, the crimson in her eyes deepened, and the bloodthirsty thoughts threatened to overwhelm her reason.

"Ah~"

Liu Hongfeng's voice turned sultry, her tongue unconsciously licking her red lips.

"No... no way!"

Before losing her consciousness, she hurriedly picked up a strand of silver hair nearby.

A faint red mist surrounded her, enveloping the hair within.

In an instant, the crimson light blazed brightly.

The silver hair emitted a weak glow, as if resisting, but after a few breaths, it was dissolved.

As the mist dissipated, the crimson glow in her eyes receded.

Looking at her reflection restored to its original beauty, Liu Hongfeng sighed in relief.

But the noticeable silver in her dark hair made her heart sink.

The reason that Monster had left was because it had already planted a seed of corruption.

And Liu Hongfeng was the one bearing that seed; it had erupted once before.

Previously, she had suppressed it using her mutated spiritual power, preventing an immediate outburst.

Now it was the second eruption.

"Following this pattern, subsequent eruptions will be stronger than the last, and by then, I'm afraid"I can't allow this!"

"Devouring monsters seems to delay the eruption of the seed, and it seems I can wield this power..."

Liu Hongfeng extended her delicate hand, a flash of crimson illuminating it, casting her palm in a red glow like a crystal.

This powerful energy startled her.

Liu Hongfeng furrowed her brows, inwardly lamenting.

"I'm afraid even a fourth-tier martial artist wouldn't compare..."

"If it weren't for the fusion of spiritual and magical energy after my last healing, forming this mutated spiritual aura, I might have been corrupted at the first eruption..."

While the seed lay dormant, Liu Hongfeng tried to expel it, but no matter how hard she tried, it remained still.

The sensation of a bloodline connection left her feeling uneasy.

"I can't stay here much longer, Junior Brother..."

Liu Hongfeng sighed, the conclusion already set; she must distance herself to avoid involving her sect.

The feelings for her junior brother were cut off, as she no longer had the right.

...

Three hundred miles away, in a temple on the left peak of Xiao Mei Mountain, dozens of martial artists sat on the ground.

A quarter of an hour ago, they had killed two monsters, losing five companions; now they were urgently recovering.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

The atmosphere was tense.

Suddenly, the temple shook violently.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A loud rumbling sound drew nearer, and the group opened their eyes in panic, heading toward the temple exit.

"What's going on?"

"Be careful; it's probably another monster attack! These creatures just won't end!"

"The monster... so huge..."

The first few to exit the main hall looked up in terror.

Seeing this, the others hurried out.

"My goodness... Ancestors above..."

A colossal being covered in blood-colored patterns passed before Xiao Mei Mountain.

The two hundred-foot tall mountain barely reached its ankles.

As it walked, monstrous energy surged, a horrific aura sweeping across the land, leaving everyone stunned.

With its head slightly bowed, it glanced at the tiny figures below like ants, then continued onward without pausing.

As the rumbling faded, the crowd finally regained their senses.

"It's gone... it's gone! Good!"

"This thing... how can there be such a gigantic monster?!"

"This aura far exceeds any masters I've seen; could it be a Despair-level monster?!"

"On par with a Grand Master's despair level?"

Back in the temple, the leader spoke seriously:

"Quickly recover; while we have the chance, let's head in the opposite direction. There's a good chance we can escape this Lin Chuan Prefecture.

After all, there are strict hierarchies among monsters; where it has passed, few would dare approach for a while!"

"Leader is right!"

"Yes, yes, hurry up and recover!"

Everyone sat cross-legged, but one young man stood frozen in place.

The leader chuckled, "What, are you scared silly? That monster has left, hurry up and recover."

Saying this, he patted the young man's shoulder in comfort.

The young man turned, revealing blood-red eyes filled with madness.

"You..."

"Ah!"

"Monster... monster!"

In the solemn temple, screams and gasps erupted.

A faint red mist shrouded him in an eerie veil.

As the screams faded, the temple returned to silence.

On the ground lay several corpses, and a few drops of blood dripped from the statues on either side.

"Hmph!"

"Hmph!"

The young man hunched over, panting heavily, as the blood-colored patterns on his body continued to swell.

At one moment.

"Boom!"

The young man exploded into a cloud of blood mist, the rich crimson shining brightly, condensing into a fist-sized bead, chasing after the direction the giant monster had left.

...

In Giant Stone City, six hundred miles from the capital, it was a city of true grandeur.

Within it, there were seven first-tier powers, with a permanent population of over four million.

The prosperity of this city stemmed from its status as the former site of the Hongyu Holy Land.

A hundred years ago, it was comparable to the capital.

Though it is now weakened, it still outshines the prefecture city.

Since the outbreak of the demon disaster, the city's population has soared to over six million and continues to increase daily.

The numerous feats of repelling monsters have greatly boosted the morale of the people.

In the city lord's mansion.

In the spacious conference hall, a dozen fourth-tier martial artists sat on either side.

These once-dominant figures seemed somewhat restrained at this moment.

Occasionally glancing up, their eyes held deep respect.

The city lord of Giant Stone City stood humbly to the left, whispering to the two elderly men with white hair seated in the center.

"Oh, are you saying that the Reverse Demon Alliance is plotting against me and Brother Zhou?"

"Yes, Ancestor, this matter was raised by that Spirit Lord; the information is absolutely reliable!"