Refining the Blood Essence

After spending a few more days with his precious daughter, Xiao Ling gently told Xi'er that he needed to enter seclusion and cultivate for a time.

Though the little girl looked reluctant, she still obediently stood on tiptoe, planted a soft kiss on his cheek, and waved goodbye to him.

After comforting his daughter, Xiao Ling found a quiet stone chamber. Sandalwood incense curled through the room, its hazy fragrance washing over him and soothing his mind. He sat cross-legged on the cold stone bed, his eyes half-closed as he slowly spread open his palm.

In an instant, a droplet of liquid as brilliant as molten gold emerged from his sleeve and hovered quietly above his palm. Threads of profound, mysterious fluctuations spread outward like a rising tide.

The moment the Demon Saint Blood Essence appeared, the surrounding worldly energy erupted into violent unrest. Xiao Ling could clearly sense that every trace of energy within a hundred zhang of him seemed to have encountered supreme pressure, fleeing into the distance in panic and not daring to come near.

Though this was not his first time witnessing such a sight, Xiao Ling could not help clicking his tongue inwardly at the domineering power emitted by the Demon Saint Blood Essence. The anticipation in his heart burned even hotter as he wondered what earth-shaking leap his cultivation would undergo after he completely refined and absorbed this drop of blood essence.

"I've already delayed long enough. I'll refine it first."

As soon as the words fell, Xiao Ling lowered his gaze to the molten-gold blood droplet in his palm. Without the slightest hesitation, he tipped back his head and swallowed it.

In an instant, an utterly terrifying surge of energy erupted, like a silent deep sea suddenly raising waves ten thousand zhang high.