The Blood Sea Trial

To take the spiritual veins of the East to enrich the barren West, one must bear the criticism of all.

Jieyin and Zhunti looked at each other and smiled, their laughter hearty and uninhibited.

In this laughter, there was both joy at seeing Lu Tian rise, revealing his potential to contend for supremacy in the Primordial World;

and solace that the Western Teachings would finally have an inheritor, no longer needing to stand alone.

Although the current Lu Tian was not yet strong enough to give back to the West, that day, it was likely not too far off.

Tens of thousands of years have passed since you took form, and today, you have finally seen the clouds part.

Jieyin sighed and patted Lu Tian's shoulder.

From now on, do as you please, and I, your master, will have your back.

There is only one thing you must remember—

Your senior brothers' cultivation is still shallow. If you have the spare capacity, I hope you will guide them more.

He did not mention Lu Tian giving back to the West.

With Lu Tian's current cultivation, merely establishing himself in the Primordial World was already difficult.

For him to shoulder the responsibility of revitalizing the West was still too soon.

On the other hand, Pharmacist, Maitreya, and the other five senior brothers, though they had joined earlier, had inferior cultivation.

They needed the help of someone like Lu Tian.

Lu Tian nodded solemnly: Understood.

He was not a heartless person.

The Western Teachings had shown him immense kindness. During this Blood Sea Trial, the resources Jieyin and Zhunti had poured into him, if divided equally among all the disciples, would have been enough for each of them to advance significantly in their cultivation. Yet, they were all used on him to help him repair his foundation.

One does not worry about poverty, but about unfairness.

The fact that the five senior brothers had no complaints showed the deep bond between fellow disciples.

Lu Tian bowed to Jieyin and Zhunti: "Masters, after leaving the Blood Sea this time, I **wish to travel to the East again. May I have your permission?"

Jieyin and Zhunti looked at each other and nodded.

The West was, after all, lacking in resources, and staying there would make breakthroughs difficult.

Only by heading East could they improve.

With their protection, Lu Tian's safety was assured, so there was naturally no reason to stop him.

Seeing their agreement, Lu Tian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

If they had refused, it would have been troublesome.

This journey to the East—

He was determined to visit famous mountains and great rivers, using the system's advantages to accumulate his foundation.

Jieyin and Zhunti thought he was unable to give back to the West, but they did not know he possessed a system, capable of supporting the entire Western Teachings.

If that is the case, let us depart.

Jieyin placed a hand on Lu Tian's shoulder, about to break through the void and leave.

The Golden Immortals and True Immortals still remaining on the Crimson Continent

held no value for them anymore.

The only use these Asura Race members had

was to become nourishment for Lu Tian to repair his foundation.

Now that his foundation was restored, the Blood Sea Trial held no further meaning.

Ultimately, who would win the championship depended on their own fortune.

"Three fellow Daoists, please stay!"

Styx's voice transmission suddenly rang out.

Amidst the surging blood waves, the ancestor had already traversed the void and arrived.

He cupped his hands and smiled, "You are all embarking on a long journey. I, this humble one, have come to see you off."

However, his gaze was fixed on Lu Tian.

Lu Tian performed the proper etiquette: "Greetings, Senior Styx."

Styx suddenly chuckled, flipped his hand, and took out an item, handing it over: "Since young friend has entered the Blood Sea Trial, we are fated. I gift you this. Although it is not a supreme treasure, it has some marvelous uses."

The strange object, shaped like a placenta, pulsed with vigorous life force, as if it were nurturing a new life.

He had chanced upon this item when creating the Asura Race back then, and had studied it for many years without understanding its marvel.

Today, I suddenly felt that it had a connection with you, little friend.

Why don't you take it?

Lu Tian stared at the placenta, his heart suddenly trembling.

In the depths of the void, it seemed like destiny—

This thing, He had to take it!

"Thank you for your generous gift, Senior Styx. I respectfully accept."

Lu Tian took the lustrous placenta, and a strange pulse traveled through his fingertips. He was secretly surprised—he was seeing this thing for the first time, yet it caused his Purple Mansion to tremble, as if an ancient sword that had been silent for many years suddenly heard a dragon's roar.

Styx's intention was obvious: he was merely planting a seed of karma for the Western Teachings.

The lord of the Blood Sea had always been a master of calculation. By exchanging a useless item for the favor of a future peak powerhouse, it seemed like his usual tactic. However, the attraction from the placenta in his palm grew stronger, even causing ripples in his long-cultivated pure heart.

"Good! A hundred times better than Xuandu's simpering!" Styx clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his crimson sleeves rolling like waves. "This item has a connection with you; keeping it in this old ancestor's hands would be a waste of heavenly resources."

Before his voice faded, a torrent of blood-red light enveloped his figure as he vanished into the void. Jieyin and Zhunti had been standing by, observing the entire time. Only now did they turn their probing gazes toward the **item in Lu Tian's hand.

"** I can sense that this item hides profound mysteries," Lu Tian murmured, rubbing the natural Dao patterns on the surface of the placenta with his fingertips. "If I can refine it..."

He suddenly closed his eyes and entered a state of meditation, a chaotic mist swirling around him. A hundred years passed in the dream world like a fleeting moment. When he opened his eyes again, his usually calm face was etched with shock.

"Chaos Embryo Cloth!"

As the four words left his mouth, the Dao hearts of the two Sages trembled violently. The Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree in Zhunti's hand chimed without wind, and the Twelve-Petal Golden Lotus in Jieyin's palm flickered unstably.

"What did you say?" Jieyin asked in disbelief, ripples appearing on the Golden Wheel of Merit behind his head. "To mend one's foundation is already going against the heavens, and now you can..."

Zhunti suddenly placed a hand on his junior brother's shoulder, his Sage eyes piercing through the chaos beyond the thirty-three heavens—there, a mass of nascent clear and turbid energy was echoing the pulsing placenta in Lu Tian's palm.

Lu Tian's claim that he could continuously evolve his own foundation by devouring was simply astounding!

Since the birth of the Primordial World, no one had ever heard of someone forcibly improving their foundation. Even Lu Tian's previous actions were merely to compensate for innate deficiencies.

Compensating for defects and devouring for evolution were worlds apart!

It was precisely for this reason that Jieyin and Zhunti were so shocked—what Lu Tian said defied common sense, making it difficult for them to comprehend.

If the news of mending one's foundation spread, it would be enough to shake the entire Primordial World.

But if the ability to devour and evolve were exposed...

Even Sages would find it hard to resist **!

Imagine, if the Three Pure Ones had the chance to further enhance their foundation as Pangu's direct descendants, reaching the level of Chaos Demon Gods comparable to Great God Pangu, wouldn't they be tempted?

Faced with such an opportunity, even the three of them would likely find it difficult to remain indifferent!

Jieyin and Zhunti knew very well that although the Three Pure Ones appeared detached now, it was only because there was nothing left in the Primordial World worth their contention.

But if there were enough value, the so-called Sage's dignity would be of no concern.

A secret method capable of evolving one's foundation was definitely worth tearing faces apart for!

"Disciple, do you have confidence in this matter?"

Jieyin, uncharacteristically losing his composure, asked Lu Tian solemnly.

"If this matter is true... what does it matter even if the Western Teachings switch to the Demonic Path!"

Lu Tian knew the gravity of the situation. Relying solely on intuition wouldn't convince anyone, so he simply sat cross-legged and began to verify it on the spot.

Jieyin and Zhunti reacted swiftly, joining forces to sever this piece of space-time from the Primordial World.

If any powerful being were to trace back time, they would find that the traces of their conversation had been completely annihilated.

Still not at ease, they created ** a small universe and sent Lu Tian into it.

Ensuring everything was foolproof, Lu Tian began to devour the placenta in his hand.

Just as Styx had said—

This item indeed had a destined connection with him!

From the very beginning of the devouring process, Lu Tian felt every cell in his body trembling and resonating...

An unprecedented pleasure swept through his entire body, a wondrous sensation Lu Tian had never experienced in his long years.

As the absorption process continued, a thousand years quietly slipped by.

Vigorous life force surged within him, as if every cell contained a Pangu who had created heaven and earth, completely purifying the impurities within his body, revealing an unprecedented state of clarity. The surging life aura almost threatened to break through his physical form.

His very essence was undergoing a transformation, even generating an illusory sense of power that could shake the entire Primordial World, almost causing him to become lost in this unreal sense of strength.

"Awaken!"

Zhunti's roar was like a great bell, shaking Lu Tian's soul. He suddenly awoke, and as he examined himself internally, he was astonished to find that every cell was as crystal clear as jade, radiating a lustrous glow. With every movement, a natural, elegant fragrance emanated, refreshing the mind and spirit.

"This is..."

Lu Tian examined himself in disbelief. He was now like a masterfully crafted work of art, so perfect that he seemed unreal. Even when he had mended his foundation before, he had never felt this way.

He hurriedly checked his main body's status. The purple bamboo was brimming with vitality, its roots becoming even more lush, and new branches had sprouted from its original nine sections.

A foundation on par with a Chaos Demon God?

This discovery shocked Lu Tian to the core. This evolution had propelled him halfway into the realm of Chaos Demon Gods, the life level occupied by supreme beings like Hongjun, Yang Mei, and Pangu.

If he could completely absorb this placenta, he should be able to fully ascend to the level of a Chaos Demon God.

Looking at the placenta, which took a thousand years to absorb only ten percent, Lu Tian had to pause his devouring. His current strength could no longer keep up with the speed of his life level's advancement. Forcing himself to continue might lead to unforeseen consequences.

"Master, it can indeed continue to evolve."

His voice trembled involuntarily as he spoke, even he was shocked by the terrifying secret method he had accidentally comprehended. If this were to spread, it would be enough to double the number of powerful cultivators in the Primordial World.

It was only now that he truly understood the meaning of Sage-level comprehension. Jieyin and Zhunti's gazes were sharp, their eyes filled with even greater anticipation.

"Excellent! Excellent!"

Zhunti clapped his hands in delight, completely losing his Sage's dignity. He looked as overjoyed as a commoner whose son had become the top scholar.

"The prosperity of the West is just around the corner!"

Jieyin remained silent for a long time, only uttering this sentence.

The ethereal matter of the West's prosperity finally saw a glimmer of hope.

This hope rested entirely on Lu Tian!

The Demon Heart Swallowing Heaven Scripture was not only Lu Tian's fortune, but also the West's turning point.

If all the disciples of the Western Teachings could improve their foundations like Lu Tian and transform into top-tier powerhouses, wouldn't revitalizing the West be an easy task?

Lu Tian couldn't help but smile as he saw his two masters' joy.

He said softly, "Masters, the Demonic Path is not the righteous way for our West."

"With Luohu defeated, there is no need to follow the path of the vanquished. I will not present this Demonic Path inheritance to you."

"The method for the West's prosperity must be forged by us forging our own path."

He knew what Jieyin and Zhunti were thinking.

After speaking, Lu Tian condensed two points of spiritual light on his fingertips and passed them into the palms of Jieyin and Zhunti respectively.

"This is the Devouring Secret Method and the Demonic Heart Secret Method. The two complement each other and are indispensable."

"However, this Demonic Heart..."

"Will require a slight modification from you two masters."

Jieyin and Zhunti took the spiritual light and exchanged smiles.

"While the Demonic Heart Secret Method is suitable for you to cultivate alone, its widespread dissemination among disciples is indeed inappropriate."

"We will modify it, hoping that your senior brothers can reach a higher level."

Jieyin's voice couldn't hide his excitement.

"This is the key to the West's revitalization!"

Lu Tian nodded with a smile.

He had originally worried that the Western Teachings would abandon the gradually established Buddhist Path and turn to the Demonic Path.

After all, Buddhism represented the great trend of the future and was the true path to revitalizing the West.

Looking at Jieyin and Zhunti, who were delighted for him and his senior brothers, Lu Tian smiled again.

This was perhaps the feeling of belonging.

After the joyful reunion of the master and disciples, they returned to serious matters.

Jieyin pondered, "Although this is a secret method you are offering to the sect, we cannot accept it for nothing."

"However, this secret method is extremely precious, and finding an equivalent item... is truly difficult. We can only inconvenience you."

Lu Tian was slightly taken aback, then smiled, "Whatever you deem fit, masters."

"The Western Teachings are not without equivalent items."