Blood Spring First Congeals, Strike Straight at the Yellow Dragon! (2-in-1 Big Chapter)

On the stone platform, Xiao Yi Xian's long eyelashes fluttered.

Like a tender leaf sprouting from a branch in early spring, they carried a timid, probing quality.

Her eyelids felt as heavy as lead, and it took a great deal of effort to pry them open just a sliver.

At first, her eyes were clouded with a misty haze, reflecting the mottled, flickering light on the cave ceiling, much like her own chaotic thoughts.

After several seconds, her vision slowly began to focus.

The first thing to enter her sight was the black-clad figure sitting cross-legged not far away.

The youth did not look very old, yet the lines of his profile revealed a cold rigidity that belied his age.

When his lashes lowered, they cast a shallow shadow across his eyelids.

Though the aura surrounding him leaned toward the cold, it strangely did not make one feel alienated.

It was him.

Memories flooded back like a honey jar that had been punctured, instantly overflowing.

At the moment of her deepest despair, when she thought death was certain.

This youth had appeared as if descending from the heavens, kicking that terrifying Rock Armor Lizard to pieces with a single blow...

The sharp pain in her abdomen awakened along with her memories, so piercing that she gasped.

She instinctively wanted to reach out and touch it, only to discover that her torn, blood-stained clothing had been carefully tidied.

Clean strips of cloth were wrapped around her wounds, providing a steady, taut sensation.

Though it still ached to the bone, the panic of blood gushing out was gone.

There was even a warm energy within her body, slowly circulating.

Like the warm sun in winter, it was nourishing her weak body bit by bit.

He had saved her, and... treated her wounds?

A layer of pink flush "popped" onto Xiao Yi Xian's pale cheeks.

Even the tips of her ears turned quietly red.

Though she had spent years running with mercenaries and matured earlier than most girls.

She still understood how private the location of her wounds was.

Yet, in her heart at this moment, there was only shyness, no resentment.

Instead, it was filled to the brim with the relief of surviving a disaster and deep gratitude.

It felt like she was clutching a piece of soft, warm cotton.

She bit her lip and tried to sit up, but the moment she moved, it tugged at her wounds.

The pain made her let out a "mmph," her voice carrying a hint of irrepressible grievance.

Lin Chen opened his eyes immediately.

When his gaze landed on her, that touch of coldness instantly melted away, and though his tone was steady, it hid a trace of concern:

"Don't move around; the bleeding just stopped."

His voice was clear and light.

Yet it was like a warm hand gently pressing down on her frantic heartbeat, inexplicably putting her at ease.

Xiao Yi Xian obediently stopped moving, simply turning her head to look at him.

Her voice was as soft as cotton candy due to her weakness:

"Th-thank you, my lord, for saving my life..."

Only after the words left her lips did she remember that he didn't look much older than her.

She hurriedly lowered her head, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes.

Seeing her flustered appearance, the corners of Lin Chen's mouth curved almost imperceptibly.

He frowned slightly and spoke:

"Just call me Lin Chen; there's no need for 'my lord'."

He had never been fond of such empty formalities.

Especially toward the young girl before him, he felt it created unnecessary distance.

"Lin... Lin Chen?"

Xiao Yi Xian looked up abruptly.

A flash of surprise crossed her eyes:

This youth with such terrifying strength had such a gentle name.

She nodded hurriedly, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum:

"Yes, Young Master Lin Chen."

"My name is Xiao Yi Xian, and I am an apprentice at the Myriad Herb Pavilion in Qingshan Town..."

"This time, I really... I really thank you so much..."

As she spoke to the end, she recalled the mercenaries who had died such miserable deaths.

Her bright eyes were veiled in a layer of mist, and her long eyelashes, like dew-drenched butterfly wings, trembled gently.

"What happened?"

Lin Chen spoke up.

He could roughly guess a few things, but he still wanted to hear her version of the story.

When his gaze fell upon her reddened eye sockets, it softened slightly.

Xiao Yi Xian sniffled.

Her voice, laced with a sobbing tone, began to recount the events in a low murmur.

She had entered the mountains to gather herbs with a temporary mercenary squad, which included two members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.

They had accidentally discovered a highly rare Three-Colored Ghost Orchid.

The guarding magical beast was none other than that Tier 3 Rock Armor Lizard.

It had been agreed that they would work together to lure the beast away before harvesting the herb.

But at the critical moment, those two suddenly turned on them; not only did they steal the medicinal herb, but they also deliberately lured the beast toward the others.

Except for her, everyone else had...

"How could they do such a thing..."

As Xiao Yi Xian spoke, her voice became choked with tears.

Her shoulders trembled slightly:

"Those men, in order to cover my escape, were..."

She could not finish her sentence, her words blocked by a sob.

Tears, like beads from a broken string, rolled down her cheeks.

Lin Chen listened quietly, his fingertips tapping lightly against his knee.

The law of the jungle, betrayal, and treachery were nothing new in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Yet, when he heard "Wolf Head Mercenary Group," a trace of coldness flashed in the depths of his eyes.

It seemed this trouble would have to be settled.

After all, to touch someone he had taken an interest in was to invite trouble upon himself!

He looked at the girl's tear-reddened eyes, which made her look like a little rabbit that had been wronged.

The trace of malice born from the slaughter in his heart faded significantly, and he uncharacteristically added:

"The law of the jungle is common, but if you want to survive..."

"You must either become stronger, or... learn to protect yourself."

The words felt too harsh once spoken, so he offered a soft comfort:

"At least for now, there is no need to be afraid. You have me."

Xiao Yi Xian raised her teary eyes to look at him.

The youth's face appeared exceptionally clear in the light and shadow of the cave.

Although he still wore no expression, his gaze was unusually earnest.

She nodded, seemingly understanding yet not quite grasping the full meaning.

The panic in her heart actually began to fade.

This youth was clearly about the same age as her.

Yet he stood like a reliable mountain, making one feel inexplicably at ease.

The atmosphere quieted down for a moment.

A lone man and woman sharing a cave—Xiao Yi Xian only now felt a belated sense of shyness.

Especially when she thought about how he might have touched her wounds.

Her cheeks were hot enough to fry an egg; she quietly pulled up her collar, her eyes drifting toward the pebbles on the ground, not daring to look at Lin Chen again.

Lin Chen saw all of her small movements.

However, she was still quite young, and he had no interest in her.

He shifted his gaze away:

"Rest here while I cultivate for a while. Once you are feeling better, I will see you out."

"Mm..."

Xiao Yi Xian's voice was as thin as a thread.

Lin Chen walked to the center of the cave and took out the scroll containing the pair of eagle-bone wings:

"BOOM!"

The moment his soul power slowly permeated the scroll, a massive torrent of information, accompanied by a piercing eagle cry, surged violently into his mind!

Countless profound techniques regarding energy circulation, wing manifestation, and flight maneuvers emerged.

There was also a violent remnant soul of a flying magical beast attempting a backlash!

For an ordinary cultivator, merely resisting that remnant soul would have exhausted their entire mental focus.

But Lin Chen's soul power was already formidable, and he had the protection of the Styx inheritance.

With a slight shift of his will, that wisp of a remnant soul was like snow meeting a scorching sun.

It let out a shrill, miserable shriek before being shredded into nothingness!

In just a moment, Dou Qi surged behind Lin Chen's back.

A pair of slightly translucent eagle wings, formed entirely from dark red Dou Qi, suddenly unfurled!

The wingspan was nearly two meters, with edges sharp enough to cut.

As they flapped, they stirred up low, thunderous gusts, causing the air currents in the cave to churn wildly!

"That... it's done?"

Xiao Yi Xian's eyes widened in shock.

Her small mouth was slightly agape.

A flight Dou Technique, mastered in such a short time?

This wasn't a genius; this was a monster...

Yet, as she looked at those wings, a strange sense of anticipation stirred in her heart.

Lin Chen felt the weight of these "Purple Cloud Wings" and nodded slightly.

The speed was decent, the agility sufficient; it would be enough until he reached the Dou King realm.

He dispersed the wings and walked back to Xiao Yi Xian's side.

His tone became a bit more natural:

"Can you walk?"

Xiao Yi Xian tried to move.

The pain in her abdomen made her knit her brows, and she shook her head, her eyes filled with a touch of embarrassment.

Lin Chen didn't say much; he bent down and scooped her up in a bridal carry.

She felt very light in his arms, causing him to subconsciously tighten his grip, his voice softening:

"Hold on tight."

Xiao Yi Xian let out a soft cry of surprise.

She instinctively reached out to wrap her arms around his neck, her entire being instantly enveloped by the crisp, powerful aura radiating from the youth.

His embrace was steady, carrying a strength that made one feel at ease.

Yet, she was still so nervous that her heart hammered like a drum, her cheeks flushing as red as a ripe apple.

She buried her face low, her ear tips turning completely crimson.

She didn't dare to look up at all.

Lin Chen unfurled the Purple Cloud Wings and, holding her, dashed out of the cave.

He flew toward the inner region of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

He had no intention of sending her back immediately.

The high-level magical beasts in the inner region were his targets.

Besides... having this little girl who understood medicinal herbs with him didn't seem so bad...

In the days that followed, Lin Chen traveled through the inner region with Xiao Yi Xian.

He was responsible for hunting magical beasts and devouring their essence, and every time he returned, he would casually bring back herbs she might find useful.

Xiao Yi Xian, dragging her newly recovered body, would carefully collect herbs on the side.

She possessed a high talent for medicine and could always find rare, valuable items.

In the evenings, she would take the magical beast meat Lin Chen had hunted.

Seasoned with the spices she had gathered, she would roast it over the fire until it sizzled with oil, the aroma drifting far into the distance.

Though Lin Chen didn't speak much, he would always leave the most tender parts of the meat for her.

Watching her eat with small, sweet bites, a smile he hadn't even noticed would ripple in the depths of his eyes.

A strange, unspoken rapport gradually grew between the two.

Lin Chen remained a man of few words, yet he would always reach out to steady her whenever she climbed a slope.

He would silently stand guard not far away while she gathered herbs.

The smile on Xiao Yi Xian's face grew more frequent.

In the gaze she cast toward Lin Chen, beyond gratitude and awe.

There was now something hazy, an emotion she herself could not quite define.

Like a vine quietly sprouting in the spring, it slowly wound itself around the tip of her heart.

They temporarily settled in a valley filled with the fragrance of flowers, the songs of birds, and a clear, flowing stream.

It was safe here, the scenery was beautiful, the stream bubbled, and the air was filled with the scent of blossoms.

Lin Chen's cultivation level rose steadily under his frenzied slaughter.

He soon reached the peak of the eight-star Dou Ling!

And his comprehension of the supreme divine ability, Boundless Blood Sea, grew deeper and deeper!

He sat cross-legged by the stream, his body permeated with a dense, almost impenetrable blood-colored baleful aura!

The countless magical beasts he had slaughtered, along with the lingering souls and grievances of those from the Jialie Clan.

Seemed to be drawn in, roaring and struggling within his sea of consciousness!

An ordinary person would have long been driven mad by this terrifying killing intent.

But Lin Chen's soul was as firm as a rock, calmly observing and experiencing it all.

"Boundless Blood Sea... it is not merely an accumulation of energy..."

He muttered to himself.

"The core is the condensation and sublimation of the killing will..."

The blood-red light in his eyes surged violently!

"Forge a supreme killing intent through endless slaughter!"

"Use the grievances and suffering of all living beings as nourishment!"

"With the soul as the foundation and the will as the guide, condense... the Seed of the Blood Sea!"

A flash of inspiration struck him, and he no longer obsessed over the limitations of his cultivation!

The original threshold for practicing this was Dou Zun, which had later dropped to Dou King based on his insights.

Now, having grasped the core of slaughter, he could already attempt to enter the threshold!

In a sense, he could also be considered a genius himself!

"Boom!"

He channeled his full strength to guide the vast, pure killing will and the soul power he had devoured.

Compressing and condensing it frantically toward the depths of his soul!

This process was both painful and dangerous.

His soul felt as if it were being torn apart by excruciating pain!

But his will was like iron, and he gritted his teeth to endure!

He did not know how much time had passed, but in the deepest part of his soul origin.

The churning blood-colored baleful aura and the countless lingering souls and grievances were compressed to the extreme.

Finally... they condensed into an extremely tiny Blood-Colored Spring Eye that seemed to contain a boundless sea of blood!

Once the spring eye was formed, the terrifying baleful aura permeating Lin Chen's body instantly seemed to find its home.

It surged into it frantically!

His aura, which had been slightly violent due to excessive slaughter.

Instantly became restrained and profound, making him even more chilling!

Boundless Blood Sea, successfully initiated!!!

Although it was only a tiny blood spring, it was still far from a true boundless sea of blood.

But this meant he had truly stepped over the threshold of this supreme divine ability!

From now on, he could continue to slaughter.

Integrating the grievances, suffering, and souls of living beings into the blood spring, allowing it to slowly grow until it eventually evolved into a blood sea!

As the divine ability was initiated, the shackles of his realm also loosened.

The Blood-Colored Spring Eye rotated slightly, feeding back a stream of incomparably pure energy!

Nine-star Dou Ling!

It happened as naturally as water flowing into a channel!

Lin Chen opened his eyes, the deep blood-red vortex in his pupils slowly subsiding.

He felt the increasingly surging power within his body, as well as the quiet yet terrifyingly powerful Blood-Colored Spring Eye deep within his soul, and nodded with satisfaction.

It was time to leave.

He stood up to go find Xiao Yi Xian.

He saw her crouching by the stream, carefully spreading out the herbs she had gathered to dry on the stones.

The sunlight spilled onto the tips of her hair, gilding them with a soft, golden edge.

The scene was quiet and beautiful.

"We are leaving."

He walked to her side, his voice softer than usual.

Xiao Yi Xian's movements paused, and the herbs in her hand nearly fell.

She lowered her head to hide the disappointment in her eyes and gave a soft, "Mn."

She had known all along that she couldn't follow him forever.

Seeing this, the corners of Lin Chen's lips curled slightly upward:

"We're heading to Qingshan Town first to take care of some business."

As he looked at her, the coldness in his eyes faded significantly:

"And I'll drop you off on the way."

Xiao Yi Xian looked up abruptly, a flash of surprise in her eyes.

Then, remembering something, her face turned slightly pale; her lips moved, but she didn't say anything.

Lin Chen could roughly guess what she was thinking, but he didn't offer an explanation:

"Hiss!"

He simply unfurled his dark red Purple Cloud Wings.

This time, without waiting for him to speak, Xiao Yi Xian stepped forward on her own.

She gently wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek against his solid back.

The warmth radiating through the fabric made her heart skip a beat.

Her ears turned red, but she was no longer as flustered as she had been at the start, and she tightened her grip:

"Boom!"

With a flap of his long wings, the two of them soared into the sky.

They flew toward Qingshan Town.

As they soared over the mountains and forests, the familiar sights below allowed Xiao Yi Xian to gradually relax.

She pointed toward a cluster of lights in the distance, her voice tinged with nervousness:

"That... that is the base of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group..."

Lin Chen looked in the direction she pointed, his gaze instantly turning cold.

He changed course, diving straight toward the camp!

At this moment, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's base was brightly lit and filled with the noise of a crowd.

The leader, Mu She, was drinking heartily in the main hall with his subordinates, celebrating the large profit they had made.

His son, Mu Li, was there too, wearing a smug smile.

There was not a shred of guilt for the comrades he had caused to die.

Suddenly, a mercenary came tumbling into the hall.

His face was deathly pale:

"L-Leader! In the sky! There's something flying toward us!"

"What are you panicking about! Is it a flying magical beast?"

Mu She frowned and cursed.

He led the others as they rushed out of the hall.

In the night sky, a figure with dark red wings on his back was diving down at a terrifying speed!

In his arms, he seemed to be holding a girl in white!

"A... a Dou King expert?!"

Mu She's face drained of color.

Anyone capable of manifesting wings from Dou Qi was at least a Dou King! Why would such an expert come to their small, insignificant place?

Yet, the figure did not release the pressure of a Dou King:

"BOOM!!!"

The next moment, the figure crashed into the center of the camp plaza like a meteorite.

The ground cracked under the impact, and dust filled the air.

The dust and smoke dissipated, revealing a cold, stern-faced youth.

And in his arms, that white-clad maiden they knew all too well?

Xiao Yi Xian!

"It... it's you?!"

Mu Li recognized Xiao Yi Xian at a single glance.

His expression changed instantly:

"You actually didn't die?!"

Mu She's pupils also constricted sharply.

A sense of intense unease rose in his heart.

Forcing himself to remain calm, he cupped his hands and said:

"I do not know what business brings this young master to our Wolf Head Mercenary Group?"

"If my subordinates have offended you in any way..."

Lin Chen gently set Xiao Yi Xian down, subconsciously reaching out to steady her.

His gaze, as if quenched in ice, swept over the father and son and the group of hesitant, suspicious mercenaries behind them.

He slowly raised his hand, pointing at Mu Li and his father.

His voice was not loud, yet it struck every ear as clearly as the scythe of the Grim Reaper:

"I have come to collect a debt."

"As of today, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group is struck from the record."