Chapter 174: Yin Qilin Possession: Bloodlust!
Shi Hao ran with all his might.
The Black Blood Crimson Serpent’s inner core, having exploded, had transformed into a dark red mist that now surged through his veins, a burning heat spreading throughout his body.
He knew this was bad. He circulated both his Daoist and demonic energies, trying to suppress it.
The heat intensified, his body like a furnace, about to explode.
He didn’t know that this energy was called the “Demonic Qilin Blood Poison,” a rare and valuable ingredient for demonic rituals.
Madam Demonic Vine, crippled decades ago when she stumbled upon this place, although possessing formidable power, was now old and frail.
There was a sinister demonic technique called the “Yin Qilin Possession,” which allowed one to transfer their soul into another’s body, discarding their own aging form.
But the host’s body had to be prepared, transformed by the Demonic Qilin Blood Poison.
Du Yuejiao, young and beautiful, was the perfect vessel.
Madam Demonic Vine’s plan had been to use the Blood Poison to transform Du Yuejiao’s body into a suitable vessel for her own soul.
That’s why she had been so enraged when Shi Hao absorbed the Blood Poison and escaped.
This Demonic Qilin Blood Poison was no ordinary substance. It was the essence of the Black Blood Crimson Serpent, which she had nurtured for decades with rare immortal ingredients, their combined power concentrated within its inner core.
But her claim that it was a deadly poison that would cause a slow and agonizing death… was a lie.
Although the Black Blood Crimson Serpent itself was highly venomous, its inner core, like the gallbladder of a snake, contained the antidote.
However, it also contained a potent energy, amplified by the immortal ingredients the serpent had consumed.
If absorbed by a woman, this energy, combining with her yin essence, would transform into a chilling force, freezing her body, transforming it into a suitable vessel for the Yin Qilin Possession.
But if absorbed by a man, the effect was completely different. The energy, combining with his yang essence, created a burning inferno within his body.
Shi Hao felt his mind clouding, his body burning, as if about to explode.
The Sui Marquis Pearl couldn’t neutralize this. It wasn’t a poison but an overwhelming surge of energy.
He roared, a guttural, animalistic sound, and leaped into the air, bursting from the ground.
Several pairs of eyes immediately locked onto him.
Chi Mu Juncheng, the white-haired old man, the barbarian general, Li Ximing, Ghost Howl…
Although enemies, the disappearance of the Sui Marquis Pearl and the sudden tremors and collapsing earth had momentarily united them, their shared desire to find the pearl overriding their mutual animosity.
And then they saw the young man who had taken the pearl emerge from the ground, his roar like a beast’s.
The barbarian general, closest to him, lunged forward, his palm striking Shi Hao’s chest.
He was a fifth-rank expert, a skilled warrior trained by the Chi Mu family and placed within the army.
All four great barbarian families had their people within the military.
With a thud, Shi Hao was thrown backwards, crashing into a boulder, which shattered.
The general, although pleased with his successful strike, was surprised. It had felt like hitting steel. Although he had sent the young man flying, he hadn’t caused any visible injury.
And a powerful counter-force had jolted his hand, his arm numb.
He was stunned.
Shi Hao jumped to his feet, seemingly unharmed.
The white-haired old man and Li Ximing attacked simultaneously.
Shi Hao, his eyes wild, his movements frenzied, drew his sword, its light flashing.
The three clashed, a whirlwind of motion, their skills seemingly equal.
The white-haired old man was surprised. Where did this ferocious young man come from?
Li Ximing was even more shocked. He knew this young man was only sixth-rank. He shouldn’t be this powerful.
Although wary of each other, the white-haired old man and Li Ximing were both fifth-rank experts, facing a single sixth-rank opponent.
Yet, the young man’s every strike unleashed a surge of burning energy, his power immense, forcing them to retreat.
Shi Hao, however, was losing control.
But the “year” he had spent practicing swordsmanship in the Celestial Realm had ingrained countless techniques into his muscle memory, allowing him to fight instinctively, even in his current state.
His swordsmanship, simple and direct, yet precise and powerful, combined with his surging energy, forced even the two fifth-rank experts to be cautious.
Suddenly, his sword, unable to contain the power he was channeling, shattered, the fragments scattering like exploding stars, forcing the white-haired old man and Li Ximing to roll aside.
Shi Hao turned and fled, roaring like a wild beast.
The white-haired old man and Li Ximing, enraged, gave chase.
Chi Mu Juncheng was about to follow when he saw another section of the ground collapse, a young woman emerging, carrying a frail, withered old woman on her back.
It was the girl who had been with the young man earlier.
Chi Mu Juncheng’s eyes flickered… The Sui Marquis Pearl might be with them.
And even if it wasn’t, capturing them would force the young man to hand it over.
He activated his supernatural ability, his body transforming into a galloping horse, flames erupting around him.
Like a fiery steed, he charged towards them, his spear aimed at their shoulders, intending to impale them both.
The old woman, however, said, “Go after him. Leave them to me.”
The girl, using the Illusory Moon Movement Technique, pursued Shi Hao.
The old woman on her back, turning slightly, struck out with her palm, and with a loud thud, Chi Mu Juncheng, his spear deflected, was thrown backwards, landing ten zhang away, blood spurting from his mouth as he stumbled.
The barbarian general, shocked, rushed to his side, “Young Master!”
Chi Mu Juncheng hissed, “Stop them!” The Sui Marquis Pearl was too important. He couldn’t let them escape.
The general roared and led the other barbarian soldiers in pursuit.
Ghost Howl and his Ghost Extreme Sect disciples, also realizing the pearl might be with them, joined the chase.
The old woman, however, unleashed a series of palm strikes, holding them back.
A figure leaped down from above, landing with a crash that sent dust and debris flying.
It was the metal-winged ape.
It charged towards them.
The frail, withered old woman snorted and struck out with her palm, a wall of force erupting outwards.
The ape, as if hitting an invisible wall of steel, was stopped in its tracks.
But it blocked their path, and Du Yuejiao didn’t know what to do.
The old woman chuckled, “In that case… no more games!”
She let out a sharp, piercing shriek, like a banshee’s wail, a mixture of rage and sorrow, echoing through the cavern.
The ground trembled, cracks appearing on its surface.
The barbarian soldiers screamed as invisible hands reached out from the earth, dragging them down.
They slashed and stabbed at the grasping hands, but more and more appeared, pulling them into the ground.
The ape, before the girl and the old woman, roared and struggled, its massive form entangled in the unseen hands, being pulled downwards.
They heard rustling sounds from below, growing louder and louder, turning into screams, cries, and curses… the sounds of hell itself.
“Go!” Madam Demonic Vine shouted.
As the ape sank halfway into the ground, Du Yuejiao, using the Illusory Moon Movement Technique, leaped over it and escaped.
The ape reached out, but they were gone.
As ghostly hands grabbed at Du Yuejiao’s feet, Madam Demonic Vine held out the Sui Marquis Pearl, its light scattering them.
Chi Mu Juncheng watched as the girl and the old woman, carrying the Sui Marquis Pearl, fled.
He gritted his teeth, ignoring the struggling soldiers, and activated his supernatural ability, his body transforming into a ball of fire, streaking across the sky towards them.
The barbarian general, Ghost Howl, and the other experts, breaking free from the ghostly hands, also gave chase.
High above, two figures watched in stunned silence.
Hou Bomin and Xiang Gu.
Hou Bomin frowned, “What was that? What happened to Shi Chongyun? And who is that old woman?”
Xiang Gu also stared, her eyes wide, completely bewildered.
Shi Hao, his body burning, ran blindly. The swirling purple clouds above began to dissipate.
And as the rumbling sounds continued from below, the ground cracked open, and he felt a strange sensation of… rising.
Sparks of light flickered around him, like breaking chains.
A rift opened before him, and he, his mind clouded, leaped through it, emerging into the open air—
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