The Netherblood Sect.
"Ancestor," a blood-robed disciple said, kneeling beside the blood pool. "We've received news from the Supreme Unity Mystic Sect."
A gaunt old man sat cross-legged in the middle of the blood pool.
He was the Netherblood Sect's Blood Butcher Old Fiend, a great fiend in the late Fourth Realm.
"Speak," Blood Butcher Old Fiend said coldly.
"That boy named Lu Zhen..." The disciple swallowed and hurried on. "Not only has he broken through to the Rushing River Realm, he also secured one of the Supreme Unity Mystic Sect's exploration slots for the Primordial Ancient Star. He's already entered it."
"The Primordial Ancient Star?"
Blood Butcher Old Fiend raised his eyelids slightly, a flicker of suspicion and surprise crossing his clouded eyes.
Those old fellows in the Supreme Unity Mystic Sect never stirred without a profit in sight. Slots for the Primordial Ancient Star were priceless. Why would they let some greenhorn who had just entered the Rushing River Realm lay his hands on such an opportunity?
Could it be...
"Enough. Leave," Blood Butcher Old Fiend said with a cold snort.
"Yes!" As though granted a pardon, the disciple scrambled out of the blood cavern.
Deep within the blood cavern, a man covered in blood was chained to a stone wall.
It was Hongwu.
Hongwu was barely breathing, but he was still alive. A cut had been opened at his wrist, and drops of dark red blood slowly dripped into a jade bowl beneath it.
"Truly unbelievable." Blood Butcher Old Fiend lifted the jade bowl and studied the few drops of blood shimmering with a strange golden radiance, his eyes blazing with fanatical greed.
Some days earlier, he had intended to refine a group of people directly into Blood Pills and consume them.
But the instant he began