Crushing Decay, Ye Chen Crippled

Taking without asking was theft. Plundering another person's bloodline—how was that any different from blocking their path?

Once Shen Yun's killing intent arose, he acted with thunderous decisiveness.

Spiritual energy swirled above the pool, visibility less than a hundred meters. Like a silent ghost, he rapidly closed in on Ye Chen's position.

Su Yu'er was still cultivating foolishly, completely unaware that her bloodline was being stolen.

"Shen Yun helped me just now, so that settles one score. Once this auntie's Dao Body reaches great achievement, I'll only give him two bumps on the head."

A faint smile hung on her lips as she imagined the wonderful sight of defeating Shen Yun. Even the pain of tempering her body seemed to lessen by a few points.

"Why has circulating the Indestructible Wind and Thunder Body become so sluggish? Could it be that something went wrong with my cultivation?"

Tantai Jing wore a doubtful expression, yet after checking himself, he found nothing at all and slowly dismissed his misgivings.

Murong Xue's willow-like brows slightly furrowed, light flickering in her indifferent eyes.

"There's something wrong with this Dragon Blood Pool."

Her tone was utterly certain. After investigating once more, she became even more convinced of her judgment.

Then her body slowly rose, as though an invisible force had lifted her above the water.

Sky-blue droplets gently fell, sending several concentric circles rippling across the still surface and disrupting the reflection in the water.

"Sure enough, once I leave the Dragon Blood Pool, that feeling is gone."

Murong Xue gazed into the distance and murmured softly, "There are no traces whatsoever. Who exactly is making a move?"

Ye Chen stood amid the pool water as an endless stream of bloodline essence fused into his Physical Body.

Centered on him, a powerful aura spread in every direction—majestic, vast, unmatched... like a king descending.

"Flood Dragon Bloodline. I've finally reached this realm."

Ye Chen was brimming with satisfaction. This period had truly gone smoothly for him, and his gains had been abundant.

It was exactly as the saying went: "When the time comes, Heaven and Earth lend their strength; when fortune departs, even heroes lose their freedom."

Ever since the day the Ye Family had been reduced to ashes, his good fortune had flowed without end. This trip to the Dragon Blood Pool had not only transformed his bloodline into the Flood Dragon Bloodline, but also raised his cultivation to the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining. It could truly be called double happiness arriving at the door.

"Huh!? The power of ice mist suddenly vanished from the bloodline essence. Could Murong Xue have discovered it?"

Ye Chen was slightly surprised, but his movements did not stop.

"The Nameless Technique steals the creations of Heaven and Earth. Even Golden Core experts failed to discover me before. Murong Xue must have merely sensed something abnormal. It is not worth mentioning."

Ye Chen began to speculate inwardly, a trace of urgency rising in his heart.

"Tantai Jing's Power of Wind and Lightning is of great use to the Flood Dragon Bloodline. I absolutely cannot let such a heaven-sent opportunity slip by."

His heart hardened. He began burning spiritual energy to increase his absorption efficiency, going all out and vowing to squeeze Tantai Jing dry of every last bit of value.

Shen Yun took in the entire scene. Using the Qi Concealment Technique, he hid within the spiritual mist, and Ye Chen could not detect his presence at all.

Ruthless toward others, ruthless toward himself too. He truly is someone.

Shen Yun stared at Ye Chen, suppressing his own aura. When Ye Chen entered deep meditation...

Unfortunately, you offended me!

Terrifying spiritual sense turned into a heavenly blade, erupting with dazzling radiance in an instant!

The naked eye could not capture it at all. The moment the thought arose, the blade had already struck.

Like a peerless assassin who had lain in wait for three days, it unleashed a heaven-shaking blow when its prey let down its guard.

He spared no effort, as though intending to settle everything in a single strike, holding nothing back.

Shen Yun's spiritual sense had broken through again. This slash had already surpassed the Qi Refining Realm and reached an entirely new level.

Why do I suddenly feel so uneasy? Could something have happened?

In an instant, alarm bells blared in Ye Chen's heart. This sixth sense had helped him escape danger several times and had even allowed him to kill his opponents in return.

However, this time he had encountered Shen Yun. The Spiritual Sense Heavenly Blade was faster even than his thoughts.

Ye Chen's Spiritual Platform was like butter meeting a hot knife, melting in an instant. Even his pain nerves could not keep up with such extreme speed.

When he let out a scream, another blade had already struck his heart.

His spiritual sense was like a wrecking ball, ravaging his bloodline without cease. In but an instant, it severed all of the Flood Dragon Bloodline he had cultivated for so long.

The Seventh Layer of Qi Refining he had just broken through to also instantly fell due to his unstable foundation.

His spirit, bloodline, and realm—the three as one—were all heavily damaged at the same time. He was directly beaten into a half-cripple, his injuries several times worse than Shangguan Mo's.

"Who was it? Who ruined my Dao path? I will not live under the same sky as you!"

Ye Chen let out a hysterical roar. His Anger Fire seemed to turn substantial, blazing fiercely above his head.

Such a tremendous disturbance also drew the attention of the others. A white-haired old man appeared out of thin air, and his powerful aura instantly stilled the turmoil.

"Who is so outrageously bold as to dare make a move in the Dragon Blood Pool? Are they trying to become enemies of my Great Zhou?"

The old man's starry robe fluttered without wind as his powerful spiritual sense radiated outward. Yet half a minute later, he still had not detected the slightest clue.

The moment Shen Yun's strike landed, he departed without lingering in battle, hiding both his achievement and his name.

Throughout it all, he had concealed his aura with the Qi Concealment Technique. The killing move unleashed by his spiritual sense was formless and intangible—more professional than even a gold-medal assassin.

Two days passed quietly...

"I've finally cultivated the Five Elements Primordial Chaos Body to the Minor Achievement stage. Thanks to the Dragon Blood Pool."

Shen Yun let out a long breath. With Ye Chen no longer causing trouble, his cultivation progress had advanced by a thousand miles each day.

Even the Great Zhou Ancestor likely had never imagined that one could temper the Physical Body with all five types of Five Elements Spiritual Power at once. Only Shen Yun's Divine Comprehension, combined with Fang Tianyi's peerless Dao technique, could create such a miracle.

He unhurriedly left the Dragon Blood Pool, only to find the Outside World in complete uproar.

The shore was surrounded by Imperial Guards clad in golden armor. At minimum, they possessed late-stage Qi Refining cultivation and wielded refined second-tier Flying Swords. Their solemn Killing Aura was enough to make people tremble at the mere mention of it.

The old man in the starry robe looked at Shen Yun with eyes like torches. After examining him for a moment, he said, "Not him."

At those words, everyone shifted their gazes and continued staring at the entrance to the Dragon Blood Pool.

Shen Yun was not surprised in the slightest. Walking to Zhou Ziyou's side, he asked, "What happened?"

Zhou Ziyou's expression was grave. "Someone carried out an assassination in the Dragon Blood Pool. Even Second Imperial Uncle was alerted."

The old man's status was extraordinary. He was the elder brother of the current Human Emperor. Having long ceased involving himself in worldly affairs, he had remained at the Dragon Blood Pool comprehending the Supreme Great Dao.

Shen Yun raised a brow and appeared greatly shocked, his tone grave as he asked, "Who was assassinated?"

"Ye Chen," Zhou Ziyou slowly said. "That assassin was truly vicious. He blew apart Ye Chen's Spiritual Platform and completely ruined his bloodline. From now on, he will probably be able to stop only at the Qi Refining Realm."

"What a terrifying assassin. What kind of grudge was that?"

Shen Yun's expression changed slightly, as though frightened, but inwardly he sighed. As expected of someone bearing great destiny. He really is hard to kill.

Second Imperial Uncle appeared Calm and Peaceful, but he had actually been observing Shen Yun's reactions in secret. Seeing this, all his suspicions were dispelled.

"All four have come out, and none of them are problematic. It seems an assassin from outside infiltrated the Dragon Blood Pool."

Second Imperial Uncle made his judgment, but his heart was chilled.

To infiltrate the Dragon Blood Pool without anyone noticing—the cultivation of such a person had to be enough to shake Heaven and make ghosts weep. Their threat to Great Zhou was simply too great.

After that, Shuntian City was placed under full lockdown. Even a fly entering or leaving had to undergo strict investigation.

Ye Chen received emergency treatment at the Sacred Doctor's Workshop for three days before all his external injuries were finally healed.

"Your bloodline has already been ruined. There are four penetrating cracks in your Spiritual Platform. I'm afraid even an Immortal Dao Great Power would be powerless."

"In this life, you can at most reach the Qi Refining Ninth Layer. Find a place and spend the rest of your years well."

Hearing the physician's words, Ye Chen felt as though he had been struck by a bolt from the blue. For a long time, he did not move at all.

Only when a peerlessly elegant woman came looking for him did focus return to his pupils.

"My apologies, Ninth Princess. I let you see me in such a sorry state."

Ye Chen forced a smile, no longer possessing his former high spirits.

The Ninth Princess's gaze was incomparably deep. Looking at Ye Chen, she said gently, "Go to the Lone Swan Sword Sect. They may be able to help you there."

Seeing the gloom on Ye Chen's face, her tone became stern. "In my heart, you are a genius who never admits defeat and repeatedly creates miracles. Could it be that this setback has knocked you down?"

Ye Chen Took a Deep Breath and said solemnly, "I will not give up on the Sword Sect examination."

He pulled himself together once more and gazed at the rising sun. That was the direction of the Lone Swan Sword Sect.

The Ninth Princess gave him a deep look, her thoughts churning. Who could have damaged Hidden Dragon Destiny? It seems Tianlan Prefecture's peaceful days will not last much longer.

Cannot Find the book title? Try Search author instead—perhaps it was merely Changed name!