Bloody Battle Against the Blood Demon Ancestor

In the mist-shrouded canyon, three figures darted like arrows. Li Chen Zhou carried Zhang Zhiruo in his left arm, pulled the scholar along with his right hand, and moved with the "Wind God Kick" footwork, each step leaving an inch-deep footprint in the rocks.

"Behind us!" the scholar suddenly shouted.

Even without turning his head, Li Chen Zhou could feel the chilling pressure—the Blood Demon Ancestor was catching up! He abruptly shoved the two forward. "Keep running! Don't look back!"

The moment he turned, Li Chen Zhou's pupils constricted. On the mountainside a hundred feet away, a blood-colored figure drifted like a ghost, withering the vegetation in its wake. The Blood Demon Ancestor had fully regained his youthful appearance, but his stunning face was twisted with a chilling grin.

"Little darling, why are you running?" The seductive voice echoed through the canyon, making every hair on Li Chen Zhou's body stand on end. Without hesitation, he drew the "Blood Demon Blade." The Taotie eye on the blade body snapped open, emitting a piercing shriek.

"Ding—Warning! Target danger level increased!"
"Blood Demon Ancestor current status: Vitality recovery 40%, strength restored to Tier 3 mid-stage!"

Li Chen Zhou's heart sank. Tier 3 mid-stage was beyond his ability to handle. But there was no choice now; he had to buy time for Zhang Zhiruo and the scholar.

He activated the Indestructible Divine Skill again to transform, adding another layer of Golden Bell Shield on top.

"Old hag, come on."

Seeing the little bronze man before him, the Blood Demon Ancestor's eyes flickered strangely.

"Buddhist martial arts."

The Blood Demon Scripture and Star Absorbing Art were of the Yin element, and most afraid of the extremely Yang and strong techniques.

Li Chen Zhou had no intention of running either, planning to take a hit head-on. If it really didn't work, he would find the system.

The Blood Demon Ancestor had, after all, recovered to Tier 3, so naturally he wouldn't back down, and engaged Li Chen Zhou in battle.

The bloodthirsty demon claws were used with great power.

Li Chen Zhou also threw the Blood Demon Blade aside and engaged in close combat with the Blood Demon Ancestor.

"Heart-Piercing Dragon Claw."

As the two exchanged blows, the golden Sanskrit bell shadow around Li Chen Zhou was constantly rippling from the attacks.

The Blood Demon Ancestor was not having an easy time either. His originally tattered clothes were further torn apart by Li Chen Zhou, leaving only scraps, with his sensitive areas barely concealed.

Li Chen Zhou, having changed his fighting style, seemed like an unkillable cockroach, intending to trade injuries with the Blood Demon Ancestor.

The Blood Demon Ancestor's blood-fiend aura was very strong. Although his techniques were being countered, the nearly two-tier difference in strength meant that Li Chen Zhou couldn't gain any advantage.

The Blood Demon Ancestor's blood-fiend claws struck the Golden Bell Shield, but Li Chen Zhou used "Golden Bell Shield - Rebound" to send the force back.

Then, Li Chen Zhou seized the opportunity to use "Three-Point Divine Finger," piercing through the Blood Demon Ancestor's blood-colored aura and aiming straight for his vital point.

The Blood Demon Ancestor quickly dodged and retreated, then used the Star Absorbing Art.

However, Li Chen Zhou under the Indestructible Divine Skill was not afraid at all, just reckless. Instead of retreating, he advanced, "Soul Absorption Art—" palms facing each other.

The level of the Soul Absorption Art was higher than that of the Star Absorbing Art, and the Blood Demon Ancestor's power began to flow into Li Chen Zhou.

"You brat..."

"Ding—Gained 5 years of internal energy."
"Ding—Gained 5 years of internal energy."
...

A total of 20 years of internal energy was gained, current internal energy value: 265 years.

Seeing that he couldn't absorb more than his opponent, the Blood Demon Ancestor quickly used the Blood Shadow Escape Technique.

His whole body erupted in a cloud of blood mist, pushing Li Chen Zhou away, and without lingering, he turned and fled.

Li Chen Zhou was also at the end of his rope. After the Blood Demon Ancestor fled, he passively exited the transformation, spat out a mouthful of blood, and sat on the ground to circulate his energy and recover.

"Brother Li!" Zhang Zhiruo exclaimed, rushing over to support him. The scholar warily scanned the surroundings. "Where's that demon woman?"

Li Chen Zhou adjusted his breathing and said, "She's already escaped."

The scholar and Zhang Zhiruo exchanged glances, their eyes filled with disbelief. A difference of two major tiers, yet he had forced him to retreat!

"What do we do now?" Zhang Zhiruo's voice trembled slightly, her fingertips still shaking from the fierce battle.

Li Chen Zhou slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, the cold glint in his eyes undiminished. "Although the Blood Demon Ancestor is a Grandmaster, he has been in seclusion for many years, and his vitality has been greatly depleted. He was also severely injured by me this time, making it difficult for him to recover in a short period." He sneered, "At least for several months, he won't dare to seek revenge."

Hearing this, the two were even more shocked. That was the Blood Demon Ancestor! A demonic powerhouse who had been famous in the martial world thirty years ago, yet Li Chen Zhou had forced him into such a sorry state?

"Let's go, back to the inn first." Li Chen Zhou stood up, dusting off the dirt from his robes. "Once we reach Jiangnan, within the territory of Famous Sword Manor, he'll have to think twice before acting wildly."

The three of them didn't delay any longer, hurrying back to the inn that night, and setting off south before dawn the next day.

The Blood Demon Ancestor staggered as he fled, the true energy within his body as chaotic as boiling water, his meridians scorching inch by inch. He never expected that after thirty years of seclusion, he would be forced into such a desperate situation by a junior as soon as he emerged!

"Li Chen Zhou... Li Chen Zhou indeed!" He gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot.

However, what alarmed him even more was that the vitality within his body was still constantly draining away. The extremely Yang power of the Indestructible Divine Skill, the domineering internal force of the Three-Aspect Primordial Energy, the backlash from the Soul Absorption Art... with all sorts of injuries piled up, he was now at the end of his rope, barely able to maintain his form.

"Must recover as soon as possible..." he gasped, his steps faltering, even beginning to see black spots before his eyes.

Just then, a rough laugh came from the forest ahead.

"Boss, look! There's a broad over there!"

The Blood Demon Ancestor looked up and saw a dozen bandits surrounding him. The scarred-faced leader leered, sizing up the skin barely visible beneath his torn clothes, and licked his lips. "Tsk tsk tsk, who would have thought there'd be such a beauty in this desolate wilderness?"

"Boss, this chick looks weak. How about we take her back and make her your lady of the manor?" A lackey rubbed his hands together, his face full of obsequiousness.

Scarface laughed heartily and strode forward. "Little beauty, this is a deep mountain forest, full of wild beasts. Why don't you come back to the stronghold with your big brother? I'll guarantee you'll eat well and live comfortably!"

A hint of mockery flashed in the Blood Demon Ancestor's eyes, but it vanished in an instant. She feigned weakness, lightly biting her lower lip, and whispered, "Then... please, Your Majesty, have mercy on me..."

Scarface was overjoyed. He picked her up in one swoop, his rough hands caressing her waist, eliciting a burst of laughter from the bandits behind him.

"Quick! Back to the stronghold!" he roared impatiently. "Prepare hot water for the lady! Tonight, this old man will consummate our marriage!"

Inside the stronghold, the lights were brightly lit.

The Blood Demon Ancestor sat in a wooden tub, hot water steaming, the mist swirling around her. Her fingertips lightly caressed the surface of the water, and a chilling smile crept onto her lips.

"Madam, is the water still hot?" Scarface rubbed his hands together, his eyes burning with desire, approaching step by step.

"Your Majesty..." She looked back and smiled, her eyes full of seductive charm. "Can you promise me one thing?"

"Not just one thing, but a thousand, ten thousand things! This old man will grant them all!" Scarface patted his chest, his face full of lewd laughter.

The Blood Demon Ancestor slowly rose, water droplets sliding down her snow-white skin. She parted her red lips, but her voice was as cold as ice:

"Then... I'll borrow your life for a bit."

Before her voice faded, she formed her five fingers into claws and suddenly seized Scarface's throat!

"Ugh—!" Scarface's eyes bulged, and the essence of his entire body surged towards the Blood Demon Ancestor's palm like a tide! In just a few breaths, his burly body withered at a speed visible to the naked eye, eventually turning into a shriveled corpse, collapsing to the ground with a thud.

"Although crude..." The Blood Demon Ancestor licked the bloodstains from her lips, grabbing the stronghold leader's clothes from afar. "Barely enough to replenish some vitality."

The Blood Demon Ancestor took a deep breath, and a few traces of color returned to her pale face. She put on the clothes, pushed open the door, and swept her gaze over the bandits in the stronghold who were still drinking and making merry, her eyes filled with chilling killing intent.

At midnight, when the last bandit had turned into a dried corpse in his sleep, she looked towards the southeast and sneered, "Li Chen Zhou... wait until this old one recovers my strength..."