Golden Trait, Setting Off for Cangyun Ridge

[Synthesizing]

[Bloodthirsty [White] ×81 → Blood Healing [Green] ×27 → Self-Healing [Blue] ×9 → Remolding [Purple] ×3 → Resurrection [Gold]]

[Resurrection: Internal injuries recover at extreme speed as blood energy circulates.]

[Note: Only one trait can be bound per path.]

A gold-tier trait!

Blood Demons are formless and shapeless, possessing near-immortal regenerative abilities when attacked.

The gold trait [Resurrection] represents the purest life force within the origin of a Blood Demon.

As this life force merges into Lu Yuan's blood energy, vitality nourishes his physical body as long as his blood circulates.

Broken bones heal themselves; damaged organs regenerate flesh.

No matter the injury, it recovers at extreme speed.

As long as his blood energy does not run dry, Lu Yuan will not fall.

The key lies in the word "extreme."

It could mean fast, or rapid, but it is extreme speed.

With just this one-word difference, it is no exaggeration to call it the ability to bring the dead back to life and regrow flesh on bones.

Bind the trait, then open the trait library.

[Current Trait Library:]

[Red Traits: Heaven Opener, Heaven-Defying Comprehension]

[Gold Traits: Resurrection]

[Purple Traits: Epiphany, Truth-Breaking]

[Blue Traits: Clear Heart and Insight]

[Green Traits: Cleverness ×2, Keen Observation ×2, Spirit Observation, Blood Healing ×2, Blood Burning]

[White Traits: Spirit Thought ×2, Night Pupil]

(The synthesis process for unimportant traits has been skipped; looking directly at the results.)

Given the current situation, it is impossible to produce red traits in the short term.

However, the current configuration of two reds, one gold, and one purple is sufficient.

Thinking of this, Lu Yuan grew increasingly expectant for the trip to Cangyun Ridge.

Cangyun Ridge lies one hundred and twenty miles west of Chixia County, where dense forests block out the sky and sun, leaving the area devoid of sunlight year-round.

The main peak is shrouded in gloomy clouds that never disperse, which the local villagers call the Corpse Cloud.

On the road, Su Ding'an recounted the clues he had uncovered last night.

The Corpse Demon first appeared half a year ago.

Initially, someone discovered several hunters in the mountains whose hearts had been gouged out.

The villagers reported it to the County Office, which then reported it to the local station of the Demon Suppression Division.

A few days later, a Demon Suppression Captain led five elites into the mountains.

Half a month later, a single figure stumbled out.

The captain was severely wounded and had lost an arm.

"Don't go; that Corpse Demon has already become a major threat. Its corpse body is as tough as a magical artifact; an Initial Realm Martial Artist cannot even break its skin with a full-strength strike."

A day later, he died from the corpse poison reaching his heart.

In just half a month, the Chixia County station lost six elites without even figuring out the nature of the Corpse Demon.

The station commander realized the situation was out of control and immediately reported it to the Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division.

Later, upon reviewing the files, they discovered that the creature only acted on nights of the full moon.

After killing and taking the hearts, it would vanish with the cold wind, leaving not even a footprint behind.

Even more bizarrely, it could always avoid the searches of the Demon-Suppressing Guards, as if someone were tipping it off.

"Sir, this isn't right!"

A flash of keen insight crossed Su Ding'an's eyes.

"A Corpse Demon is a mindless thing, driven by a nature to kill and drink blood. As long as one follows the bloodstains and footprints, its whereabouts should be easy to find."

"Yet, this Corpse Demon in Cangyun Ridge only takes human hearts and can evade the searches of the Demon-Suppressing Guards."

"In my opinion, there must be someone behind this Corpse Demon."

Lu Yuan's expression tightened, "Corpse raising?"

"Exactly." Su Ding'an nodded, "I compared the locations of the Corpse Demon's crimes and discovered that these locations all circle the deepest part of Cangyun Ridge."

Lu Yuan recalled the files he had read this morning, "That mountain god temple?"

Su Ding'an nodded, "Ever since the Corpse Demon started causing trouble, no one has been inside."

Lu Yuan pondered for a moment, "If I remember correctly... the day after tomorrow is the fifteenth? Then let's go to the mountain god temple today to investigate."

Su Ding'an subconsciously scratched his head, "Sir, I'm only speculating. If we go into the mountain god temple and find no trace of the Corpse Demon, you can't blame me..."

"But then again, if there really are traces of the Corpse Demon in that temple, I'll be retreating first..."

"...After all, we didn't take a mission for the Corpse Demon this time. If I'm careless and don't make it back, I won't even get a pension. I have an eighty-year-old mother at home..."

"Hahahaha, it has to be you, old Su! Catch!"

Lu Yuan laughed out loud, pulled a silver ingot from his robes, and tossed it over.

"I won't have you running for nothing; these five taels of silver are your reward."

"Many thanks, sir! Your generosity is truly that of a magnanimous man!"

Su Ding'an caught the silver, his face beaming with joy.

"Magnanimous my foot!" Lu Yuan laughed and scolded, "I sold my ancestral home before joining the Demon Suppression Bureau; this is the last of the silver I have on me."

"Sir, this..."

"Enough, don't be coy. If we really find the Corpse Demon, I'll add another five taels."

"Rest assured, sir, I will surely give my all..."

The two chatted and laughed as they spurred their Wind-Chasing Horses, galloping toward Cangyun Ridge.

By the afternoon, the dense forest deep within Cangyun Ridge blocked out the sun.

Three Demon-Suppressing Guards were stumbling as they fled, covered in wounds, their blades chipped and dulled.

Looking back, several mangled corpses missing arms and legs were crawling toward them.

Further back, more figures surged through the woods.

They had human shapes, but were no longer human; some were missing half their faces, while others exposed ghastly white bones.

Step by step, they closed in on the three men.

The leader of the Demon-Suppressing Guards was named Zhao Ping, covered in blood, his wounds tinged with an eerie, bruised black.

"Son of a bitch, those bastards from the Longevity Cult are truly bold, daring to raise corpses in Cangyun Ridge!"

"Li Qing, did you send the message to the provincial bureau?"

Li Qing's face was deathly pale, his hand trembling as he held his blade—a side effect of exerting too much force.

"I've already crushed my waist token; the provincial bureau must have received the message, but the problem is, can the three of us hold out until then?"

Lin Yang, who was trailing at the back, said with a grim expression, "It seems that Corpse Demon is the work of the Longevity Cult. What exactly are they planning by raising corpses in Cangyun Ridge?"

Li Qing wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, "Forget about what the Longevity Cult is planning; those Corpse Puppets are catching up."

Zhao Ping glanced back, "Damn it, you can't hack them to death, and you can't kill them all. Retreat!"

Li Qing said with a pale face, "I can't hold on anymore. You two retreat first; I'll block them for a while longer."

"If I die, remember to burn a few voluptuous women at my grave."

With that, he staggered toward the group of Corpse Puppets.

Just then, a gray-robed figure suddenly darted out and struck Li Qing to the ground with a single palm.

Immediately after, another person stepped forward with a sinister smile.

"As expected of a Demon-Suppressing Guard, to be able to hold on this long after being struck by my Corpse-Dissolving Poison."

"Unfortunately, your time is up."