Blood-Coagulating Stone

South Slope, in a small courtyard. After spending two hours, Jiang Chen conducted an exceptionally meticulous dissection of the dead rat.

"Strong bones, far surpassing those of its kind. This rat had already broken through the original limits of its body, or perhaps by continually fusing with the blood essence of other species, it had awakened power that had long lain dormant within its body."

His hands stained with blood, Jiang Chen looked at the rat's corpse, deep in thought.

"Unfortunately, I found no obvious extraordinary traits. Perhaps such traits are hidden deep within and cannot be glimpsed through ordinary means. Of course, it is also possible that this rat was a failed specimen and never truly stabilized this trait."

His thoughts churned. Relying on his powerful perception, he searched back and forth, yet found nothing. Jiang Chen could not help feeling somewhat disappointed.

When the rat had suddenly grown larger earlier, that had undoubtedly been a manifestation of extraordinary power, most likely an art it had mastered. Jiang Chen had hoped to glean something from its corpse, but gained very little. As for Soul Illumination, he had tried that earlier as well, with the same result: failure. Its mind was in chaos, and the rat's soul had already become a tangled mess, utterly devoid of anything useful.

"Strictly speaking, this rat was merely a failed specimen that had failed its transformation. If failed specimens won't do, what about successful ones?"

At a certain moment, a spark of inspiration flashed through his mind, and Jiang Chen could not help turning his gaze toward Rat Prodigy, which had successfully transformed.

Sensing Jiang Chen's gaze, Rat Prodigy, already terrified beyond measure, began trembling even harder. Its body, originally the size of a fat cat, curled into a ball at that moment, radiating nothing but weakness and helplessness.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen withdrew his gaze.

He had now roughly confirmed that absorbing the blood essence of other species would have some unknown effect on the mind. That rat had not only completed its transformation smoothly, but had also developed such high intelligence. It was truly rare. Dissecting it now would be a pity; for the moment, its value alive was greater.

"Let's make use of the waste."

His gaze fell once more upon the dead rat's corpse, and Jiang Chen activated the Bloodflame Art.

The next instant, bloodflames surged forth and swallowed the rat's corpse, eventually refining it into a mass of blood essence that resembled flame.

"Different. It truly is different now."

Holding the blood essence in his hand, Jiang Chen pushed his perception to its limit and sensed something within it that he had never discovered before.

"Ferocity. Bloodlust. It is as though this is not mere blood essence, but a living vicious rat. This blood essence contains the will of the dead rat."

After sensing it repeatedly, Jiang Chen confirmed his speculation.

Although the blood essence purified by the Bloodflame Art appeared exceptionally pure, it actually contained the lingering will of the dead creature. The reason he had never noticed it before was mainly because those creatures had been too weak, and the wills they left behind were too faint to detect at all.

This rat was different. It already had one foot across the threshold of the extraordinary. Though its mind had fallen into chaos, its will was indeed far stronger than that of ordinary beasts.

Of course, that strength was relative. In truth, if Jiang Chen did not possess a soul ability and were not exceptionally sensitive in this regard, even other Inspiration Realm cultivators—or perhaps even Qi Refinement cultivators—might not discover the problem.

"So that is why the Dao scriptures do not record any additional uses for blood essence: it carries hidden dangers. Absorbing blood essence into one's body can indeed strengthen the flesh in a short time, but one's mind will also be contaminated. Even if one's soul is powerful enough to withstand it for a while, in the end, the gain is not worth the loss."

Having seen through the hidden danger of blood essence, the doubts in Jiang Chen's heart were immediately dispelled. Blood essence was good, but it had to be used with caution.

"Whether in my previous life or in this world, matters involving the soul and mind have always been rather troublesome. This world may have methods to resolve the hidden dangers of blood essence, but the requirements are likely harsh and the cost high, which is why the Dao scriptures do not record them. But for me, that does not mean there is truly no solution."

As he toyed with the blood essence in his hand, a faint gleam flashed through Jiang Chen's eyes.

Before discovering the problem, he truly had been helpless. But once the problem was found, it might be possible to solve it.

With that thought, Jiang Chen took out a thumb-sized stone and sealed the blood essence in his hand within it. It was a Blood-Coagulating Stone, a method of preserving blood essence recorded in the Dao scriptures. Made from a mixture of various soils and ores, it had the marvelous ability to preserve blood essence. So long as the blood essence was sealed within, it would not disperse for a year.

Taking advantage of assuming office in Golden Sand Valley, Jiang Chen had deliberately had Stone spread word of the materials he needed, and he had successfully gathered them all.

With a hum, as the blood essence entered it, the originally dull gray Blood-Coagulating Stone turned bright red at a speed visible to the naked eye, as though blood were about to drip from it.

Jiang Chen was quite satisfied by the sight.

"A person can be killed, and a soul can be erased. These lingering wills are naturally no exception. My killing intent may prove useful here, though all this still requires experimentation."

With a plan in mind, Jiang Chen tucked the Blood-Coagulating Stone away and immediately summoned Stone, giving him several instructions. First, tell Xiong Li to lead the Mine Protection Team and hunt several more fierce beasts. Second, notify Skinny Monkey to capture another batch of rats and send them over. Third, build a Mouse Garden beside the residence, specifically for holding these experimental rats.

Having received Jiang Chen's orders, Stone did not hesitate in the slightest and immediately bowed in acknowledgment.

In fact, as someone who stayed by Jiang Chen's side, he had long noticed Jiang Chen's unusual nature. Many of Jiang Chen's actions were not things an ordinary martial artist would do. Yet Stone had always kept his curiosity tightly reined in. He never asked too much, watched too much, or spoke too much, and simply carried out his tasks honestly.

"He knows how to keep his mouth shut."

Watching Stone leave, Jiang Chen felt rather satisfied. Though Stone was quiet by nature, he was meticulous and capable. He was someone worth using.

"I can cultivate him in the future. After all, as my cultivation rises, the matters that need handling will only become increasingly troublesome. Take tending the Mouse Garden, for example. If someone were carelessly bitten to death by a rat, that would truly be a joke."

Shaking his head, Jiang Chen began considering training his subordinates.

Having lived through the apocalypse, he knew that a person's strength was limited in many situations, and that huddling together for warmth was necessary. Though this world allowed cultivation and seemed to have a rather lofty upper limit, he was still weak at present. If he had a few capable people to handle trivial matters and gather resources for him, he could devote himself fully to cultivation. That would benefit him.

When he had first crossed over, one reason he had not immediately left the River-Sweeping Bandits was precisely this. Though the previous owner of this body had not been keen on power, he had nevertheless left Jiang Chen a small foundation here, sparing him quite a bit of trouble.

"It should be feasible to rapidly cultivate a batch of martial artists with blood essence. Though they would be force-grown, they would be more than sufficient for handling ordinary matters."

As his thoughts turned, Jiang Chen came to a decision.

And as Jiang Chen's orders were carried out, Golden Sand Valley, which had only just settled into calm, was once again stirred by waves.