Chapter 25 Heavenly Demon Blood Pool

The disturbance before the Vice Sect Master's hall had temporarily come to an end, but the undercurrents within the Heavenly Demon Sect became even more turbulent due to Luo Li's Breakthrough and the sudden emergence of Xiao Ming.

The next day, Xiao Ming was led by his Revered Master, Luo Li, to the Sect's Heavenly Demon Blood Pool.

The Blood Pool was located inside a massive underground cavern, where the air was filled with thick blood Qi and pure spiritual energy.

A vast pool of dark red water churned like boiling magma, constantly rolling and emitting heart-palpitating energy fluctuations.

At the entrance stood a guarding Elder with a withered face but eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

At this moment, on the periphery of the Blood Pool, over a dozen Core Disciples were sitting cross-legged, refining themselves. Each had their brows tightly locked and faces twisted in pain, clearly bearing immense pressure.

When Xiao Ming and his Revered Master, Luo Li, walked in side by side, the Blood Pool cavern, which had originally been filled with pained groans, miraculously fell into a moment of eerie silence!

Almost all the Disciples' gazes were involuntarily drawn to the pair, their eyes filled with astonishment and awe.

Today, Luo Li did not wear the formal palace attire that symbolized the majesty of a Peak Revered Master. Instead, she had changed into a simple, profound black ice-silk long dress. The hem of the dress trailed on the ground, outlining her breathtakingly graceful curves.

Her cloud-like dark hair was simply held up by a single jade hairpin, with a few strands falling beside her cheeks, making her cold and otherworldly face appear even fairer and more translucent.

Although she did not deliberately release any pressure, the indifference in her peach-blossom eyes and the powerful aura naturally radiating from her body, belonging to a Soul Transformation expert, made her seem instantly like the most dazzling and unprofanable existence in this Blood Pool cavern.

"Look... it's Peak Master Luo!"

"Heavens, why is she here!"

"Is this the demeanor of the goddess Luo Li? Truly... peerless in beauty, one dare not look directly at her..."

Bursts of suppressed, amazed whispers spread among the Disciples.

Many male Disciples' eyes flashed with obsession, fervor, and awe. Everyone bowed their heads to show respect, not daring to look for too long. In this Demonic Path Sect where strength was everything, Luo Li's beauty and power were themselves a supreme authority.

Of course, many gazes also fell upon the handsome youth beside Luo Li.

"Who is this person? He can actually walk side by side with Peak Master Luo?"

"Oh... I know, I know! He is Peak Master Luo's Disciple, seems to be called Xiao Ming?"

"I heard this is the Disciple who recently gained the favor of both Peak Master Luo and the Vice Sect Master, and even became their shared Disciple!"

"It is said he is the one who killed a Golden Core leader from War Demon Peak, and that is how he soared to success!"

"Hiss... he looks so young, yet he could instantly kill a Middle Stage Golden Core! This talent..."

"What's so special about that? If it were me, I could do it too!"

The discussions varied. There was envy, jealousy, and even more, scrutiny and curiosity.

Xiao Ming's rise was like a meteor suddenly streaking across the night sky, attracting attention and inviting countless suspicions.

However, among the many scrutinizing gazes, the female Disciples of the Demonic Path were naturally an exception. Their eyes lingered on Xiao Ming's handsome face and upright figure, lacking the scrutiny and jealousy of others, and instead holding more of the boldness and fervor unique to the women of the Demonic Path.

Women of the Demonic Path had always admired the strong, and their temperaments were more fiery and direct.

Xiao Ming not only had astonishing talent and strength, but his appearance was also unparalleled—sword-like brows, starry eyes, and a tall figure. Even standing beside a Soul Transformation powerhouse, his calm and composed demeanor did not fall behind in the slightest, possessing a fatal attraction for them.

Within the circle, one woman was particularly eye-catching:

She had quite a reputation for beauty within the Heavenly Demon Sect and had already reached the Middle Stage of the Golden Core. Unlike the bold and wanton behavior of the surrounding female Disciples, she appeared unique and stood out particularly.

Wearing a flowing cloud dharma dress, with the hem fluttering, it subtly wrapped around her tall and graceful figure, making her appear exceptionally cold and reserved.

As she walked, it inadvertently outlined her slender, supple waist and perky hip line.

Her temperament was cold and gorgeous, her features exquisite, and her whole being radiated a cold, aloof sense of detachment. But when those eyes landed on Xiao Ming, they were filled with appreciation and inquiry. Her name was Mo Qingzhu, and she was in the top 100 of the heavenly demon ranking.

"Yo... Senior Sister, it seems... you are very interested in this Junior Brother Xiao?"

A female Disciple nearby cast her gaze onto Mo Qingzhu, her eyes full of teasing.

Her appearance was passable, but still inferior compared to Mo Qingzhu. She was seen twirling a strand of hair on her chest with her long, slender fingers, showing no restraint. Her gaze swept over Xiao Ming's robust physique with great aggression, and she licked her lips, her legs subconsciously crossing and rubbing against each other: "Such a top-grade Junior Brother, how could I miss out? It's just that I don't know..."

Her voice paused slightly, her eyes brimming with flirtatiousness, as she whispered with hidden meaning, "Is he... all show and no substance?"

Upon hearing this, Mo Qingzhu only glanced at her indifferently, her long, jade-like fingers gently brushing over her wide sleeve, her tone calm and waveless: "Junior Sister, watch your words. How could someone who gained the favor of Peak Master Luo and the Vice Sect Master be mediocre? I advise you to restrain yourself, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."

Her gaze swept over Xiao Ming's still calm and waveless, yet sharp-hidden face, and her estimation of him in her heart quietly rose a few notches.

The female Disciple beside her giggled, her half-exposed, full curves trembling slightly, and said without a care: "Senior Sister Mo, you are just too cautious. If it is truly as you say, for such a person, if we don't take the initiative, are we supposed to wait for him to come find us?"

She had already made up her mind that after the refining was over, she would definitely go up to get to know him, and if she could have a deeper exchange with him...

Their discussion was not deliberately lowered and was clearly audible within the cavern, immediately causing many male Disciples to cast envious, jealous, and hateful gazes at Xiao Ming.

This guy, having only been here for a few days, not only gained the favor of two high-level figures of the Sect, but also attracted these female Disciples to throw themselves at him, especially the attention of the Sect's number one beauty, Mo Qingzhu. One had to know that she was an existence out of reach for most male Disciples in the Sect; although she had now become a Dao Companion with a young Revered Master of a Demonic Path Family, there were still endless people coveting her.

Xiao Ming took in everything around him, but his expression remained calm. Joke, the woman beside him was his own woman; what was walking in side by side? What was there to be nervous about? If he could, he would even want to take a mandarin duck bath! And if he could further...

Xiao Ming cast his gaze directly toward the entrance of the inner area deep in the cave where the energy was more violent, seemingly indifferent to the attention of these people.

At this moment, the guarding Elder who had followed behind came forward and respectfully saluted Luo Li: "Peak Master Luo."

Then he looked at Xiao Ming, "Junior Nephew Xiao, the Vice Sect Master has already given instructions. Please choose a position in the outer area to refine."

Xiao Ming slightly cupped his hands, his words shocking: "Elder, this Disciple wishes to enter the inner area to try."

Once these words were spoken, the entire venue was shocked!

"The inner area? Is he crazy!"

"That is a place where even Nascent Soul Elders need to be extremely cautious. For a Golden Core Cultivator to go in, isn't that just seeking death?"

"Arrogant! Truly a newborn calf that is not afraid of tigers!"

"Sigh, having gained a little reputation, he is already this arrogant!"

"Junior Brother Xiao, you mustn't, you have to know..."

Many whispers of suspicion, mockery, and even schadenfreude instantly exploded among the Disciples.

Even more, some female Disciples were telling him the dangers on the side. Even Mo Qingzhu, who had always been calm, slightly furrowed her delicate brows, and a bit of confusion and scrutiny grew in the gaze she cast at Xiao Ming.

And the female Disciple beside her was stunned at first, then her red lips curled into an even stronger interest: "Interesting! Enough courage! Big sister likes you even more now!"

The guarding Elder's face changed drastically, and he hurriedly tried to dissuade him: "Junior Nephew Xiao, you absolutely must not! The blood Qi in the inner area has condensed for tens of millions of years and is extremely violent. It cannot be entered unless one has a formidable Physical Body or is a Body Cultivator! If an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator steps in, they will be eroded of their consciousness in an instant and explode to death! Although you have exceptional talent, your cultivation is still shallow, do not joke with your life!"

His dissuasion was sincere and heartfelt, clearly not empty words.

Just when the guarding Elder wanted to say something else, Luo Li, who had been standing quietly on the side, finally spoke indifferently. Her voice was cold, carrying an unquestionable tone: "If you want to go, then go! If you encounter danger, just call for your Revered Master!"

A simple sentence made the entire cavern fall into dead silence again. She was not worried about Xiao Ming's safety; given that Wicked Disciple's shrewdness, if he didn't have confidence, he definitely wouldn't go.

Upon hearing this, the guarding Elder swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue, his face full of disbelief. Peak Master Luo actually indulged this child so much? But he did not dare to say more, so he could only bow and reply: "Yes... Peak Master Luo!"

Then, he changed the hand seals, and the ancient demonic patterns at the entrance leading to the inner area of the cave lit up one by one. A blood-colored light gate that could only allow one person to pass through slowly emerged, and from within the gate came sounds of roars and rushing flows that made one's Soul tremble.

Xiao Ming raised his eyebrows at his Revered Master, Luo Li, as if to soothe her and tease her at the same time. Then, without further hesitation, he took a step forward, and his figure was instantly swallowed by the surging blood-colored light.

Luo Li watched as this Wicked Disciple, before leaving, did not forget to tease her. Although she cursed inwardly, her face remained cold. Although she wanted to let this Wicked Disciple suffer a little, she didn't want anything to really happen to him. So she did not leave, but found a relatively quiet and clean corner, sat down cross-legged, and was actually going to personally act as his Protector here. This action made everyone even more shocked, giving them a whole new understanding of the degree of importance Xiao Ming held in his Revered Master's eyes.

The cavern quieted down for a while, with only the gurgling sound of the Blood Pool churning remaining.

The previously bold female Disciple whispered to Mo Qingzhu: "Senior Sister Mo, do you think he... can succeed?"

Mo Qingzhu was silent for a moment, her cold eyes looking at the direction where the light gate had disappeared, and she slowly said: "Hmm... since Peak Master Luo agreed to let him enter and is so indulgent towards this child, I think this person... must have something extraordinary about him. Perhaps he really can create a miracle!"

Time passed bit by bit.

Half an hour passed, and there was still no movement in the inner area of the Blood Pool.

An hour passed, and it was still deadly silent.

Some Disciples who had originally held expectations began to shake their heads, believing that Xiao Ming had probably already turned into pus and blood.