A chill surged through Iron Sword High Person's heart, but he dared not let any of it show. He could only suppress his apprehension and look at the Snow Bear Demon King with feigned composure.
The Snow Bear Demon King noticed the wariness in his eyes but did not expose it. Leaning his corpulent body slightly forward, he said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Iron Sword, there is no need to worry about your enemy. I know you fear that body cultivator from Central Province, so I have prepared a trump card especially for you."
"A trump card?"
Iron Sword High Person's eyes brightened slightly, and the taut strings of his heart loosened a little. He hurriedly asked, "Is that truly so, Demon King? What sort of trump card could stand against that vicious brute?"
The Snow Bear Demon King smiled faintly and waved his hand. A rounded crimson orb of light, wreathed in dense, bloody vital energy, floated above his palm. Blood energy roiled within it, its pressure restrained yet deeply intimidating.
"This is blood essence, a supreme treasure I specifically requested from the Bloodthirsty Demon King, one of the Eight Great Demon Kings."
The Snow Bear Demon King explained softly, "It concentrates the essence of baleful blood energy to form a blood-colored barrier, stabilizing the soul and flesh. It can withstand a lethal strike from a Demon Talisman."
A treasure requested from the Bloodthirsty Demon King?
Iron Sword High Person's spirits soared, delight filling his face. He hurriedly asked, "Then what level of attack can this blood essence withstand?"
The Snow Bear Demon King answered with calm certainty, "It can reliably withstand an all-out strike from anyone at the fifth level of Body Integration or below, enough to keep your life safe. However powerful that Central Province body cultivator's Demon