If not for the blood mist's concealment, Wang Yu would have seen numerous pitch-black fissures appearing in the sky, with thin blood mist seeping out.
This time, there was no black force to obstruct it.
Outside, Yin Ghost Mountain also began to emit blood mist from the ground, an anomaly that, for now, no one had noticed.
Within the Heaven Soul Sect secret realm.
Wang Yu watched as the black lightning struck the Blood Corpse Giant into a short stump. Its several-hundred-meter form seemed a thing of the past, and the Blood Demon power within it was mostly gone.
In this state, ninety-nine percent of its power had drained away. Any random Foundation Establishment cultivator could easily handle it.
It roared, charging at Wang Yu, only to be tripped by his foot and firmly pinned underfoot on its chest.
Reaching out, he pried loose the bead wreathed in dragon shadows.
The moment his true essence touched it,
Information, as if a gift from heaven and earth, flooded his mind. It was a method for using a Dragon Vein Treasure. Even without refined smithing skills, one could refine it into a bonded item.
"So that's how it is."
The Blood Corpse Giant, lacking intelligence, instinctively used the Blood Demon's power to corrupt it, applying the wrong method, not understanding the Dragon Vein Treasure's correct usage.
Wang Yu unceremoniously stored it away, then had Xue Yu bring Long Yiran over.
With the Heavenly King Life-Preserving Pill, her condition stabilized.
But with two severe injuries in less than a year, this time, recovery would be long. Wang Yu didn't have a better solution.
Using the Ice Coffin Sealing technique to completely immobilize the Blood Corpse Giant,
He then collected Long Yiran's array flags, jumped into the fissure the Blood Corpse Giant had emerged from, sealed it with black ice, and set up his own set of second-tier array flags.
The two humans and the fox headed towards where the dragon vein's tail had been discovered.
Brushing away the piled-up soil,
A golden qi-dragon came into view, its flowing, iridescent qi emitting shimmering, starlight-like glimmers, resembling a river of stars.
"Found you!"
The harvest after risk was the most thrilling moment.
Wang Yu, with Xue Yu and the unconscious Long Yiran, entered the dragon vein, heading towards the dragon's head location.
Utilizing a dragon vein wasn't limited to refining it.
One could also receive a Dragon Vein Baptism, akin to a blessing, gaining immense benefits.
This third-tier dragon vein had lain hidden here for many years.
Apart from the Dragon Vein Treasure being taken, its own power remained abundant and potent, sufficient for three Dragon Vein Baptisms. After waiting a few hundred years,
Once the dragon vein absorbed enough power from earth qi, it could bestow baptismal blessings again.
Such action would hinder the dragon vein's growth, but Wang Yu never intended to occupy it permanently. Receiving one baptism was already a tremendous opportunity.
Advancing within this dragon-like underground passage for most of a day,
Yet unable to reach the dragon's head, Wang Yu first restored his condition. The massive blood loss could be quickly replenished by the Dragon Spine.
Damage to essence blood required longer recovery.
But thankfully, the upper limit wasn't reduced. Reaching peak second-tier body refinement hadn't been easy.
Two days later.
At the dragon vein's end, a true dragon's head composed of golden qi streams and starlight appeared before Wang Yu. Xue Yu beside him yipped a few times, showing intense curiosity about this place.
"Lucky you."
Rubbing the fox's head, seeing Long Yiran showed no signs of waking, Wang Yu began communicating with the dragon vein as recorded in the *Earth Mother Scripture*. He was too impatient for the gains.
Not long after.
The dragon vein emitted a high-pitched dragon's roar. Vast amounts of golden qi converged into three brilliant golden pearls, each floating into the brows of Wang Yu, Long Yiran, and Xue Yu.
Leaving a dragon shadow mark on their foreheads.
In that instant, Xue Yu whimpered, prompting Wang Yu to take out the Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Bed. It eagerly jumped on, its three tails wrapping around its body like a giant, fluffy cocoon.
Long Yiran, still unconscious, had her internal injuries rapidly heal. In a few breaths, her aura became deep and steady. Array patterns emerged from her brow,
Weaving into a spherical talisman orb. Her body also sat cross-legged, entering a wondrous state.
Wang Yu's experience was most peculiar.
His consciousness ascended, as if leaving his body. A torrent of inspiration continuously flooded his mind, all related to the Netherworld Demonic Flood Dragon Art.
He watched his own body move. The Dragon Spine continuously clicked and cracked. His physique, previously at the realm's limit, was further elevated under the Dragon Vein Baptism.
The qi-and-blood manifestation, the Netherworld Demonic Flood Dragon, continuously coiled around him.
This second-tier body refinement art had already been progressing towards the third-tier in the Placement Slot for many years, advancing about one-third.
Wang Yu's inspiration sprouted from this, flowing ceaselessly.
The Netherworld Demonic Flood Dragon's form began to change. Its single horn split, growing new dragon horns. Scales became denser and smoother. Dragon whiskers grew. Ice-blue lines along its sides extended into mysterious patterns.
Its back bulged, with numerous slender bone spikes standing up like a porcupine's, yet able to retract like a mane. Its four limbs below differentiated into four claws. When leaping, it exuded multiple layers of profound majesty.
In Wang Yu's eyes, this was merely a moment.
In reality, time's passage far exceeded his imagination. From receiving the Dragon Vein Baptism, three years quietly slipped by.
The dragon shadow mark on his brow had vanished, and this body refinement art had also reached the third-tier, top-grade level.
"—Netherworld Demonic Dragon Art!"
The moment he opened his eyes, Wang Yu felt thoughtful. The transformation from flood dragon to dragon in qi and blood not only completed all the art's mysteries but also incorporated many flashes of inspiration during the Dragon Vein Baptism.
"Bloodline True Artifact forging diagram, bodily supernatural abilities, combat methods... all completed."
Was this the proper effect of a Dragon Vein Baptism?
However, as he pondered this, the dragon vein had already vanished from his sight. It might have left long ago, but Wang Yu, immersed in comprehension, never noticed.
The birth of the Netherworld Demonic Dragon Art meant he had exploited another loophole. Once perfected, the Placement Slot could forcibly deduce it to the fourth-tier.
One must know, this thing started at only the first-tier.
It rose entirely through various coincidences and opportunities. His encounters were truly mysterious; no one would believe it if told.
**[Netherworld Demonic Dragon Art]** also became the first third-tier art in his possession. Before he could delve into its bodily supernatural abilities, Bloodline True Artifact, combat methods, etc.,
Long Yiran and Xue Yu simultaneously ended their baptismal transformation.
The former's talisman orb suddenly dispersed.
Her essence, energy, and spirit reached their peak. Though her realm remained at Foundation Establishment peak, the feeling she gave off was entirely different. Even without Core Formation spiritual material assistance,
She seemed confident in condensing a Golden Core.
This was the power of a third-tier Dragon Vein Baptism. After experiencing it, one couldn't help but imagine what a baptism from a stronger dragon vein would be like.
Xue Yu's situation was especially unique.
Its strength hadn't increased either. The baptism seemed to have purified its bloodline, elevating it from upper-grade to infinitely close to Earth-grade.
It gained an improvement in aptitude and incorporated part of the Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Bed's power, gaining many blue patterns on its body.
It wouldn't be long before it broke through to mid-second-tier peak (sixth layer).
"*Whimper~*"
"Wang Yu."
After rubbing Xue Yu's face and putting it into the spirit beast pouch, Long Yiran walked over, her expression full of curiosity.
"The Dragon Vein Baptism is over? How long has it been?"
"Three years."
Mentioning this, his expression was also complex.
"Let's talk as we walk."
He truthfully recounted the situation after Long Yiran's coma. As for the Dragon Vein Treasure, he didn't need to say it; she could guess it was in his hands—a wonderful tacit understanding.
The two walked back along the passage where the dragon vein had been.
Long Yiran wore a look of regret: "Not seeing the dragon vein's complete form is truly a pity for an Earth Master."
"After the dragon vein's blessing, it left. Don't know where. Probably still within this Heaven Soul Sect secret realm."
"It's gone."
Long Yiran shook her head, explaining to the puzzled Wang Yu:
"Dragon veins are among the rarest opportunities under heaven. As long as you don't use Feng Shui secret arts to capture it, once its true form is seen, it will leave.
"Space cannot block it. The dragon vein will slumber deep underground or in uninhabited places, waiting to be discovered again after countless years."
Only then did Wang Yu understand he was mistaken earlier. No wonder Long Yiran was willing to risk her life to trigger the Nether Tiger Prison-Suppressing Layout.
Once the Blood Corpse Giant abandoned its capture, she knew this was the only chance!
"Thank you."
"Hmm?"
Long Yiran suddenly bowed to Wang Yu.
"Thank you. After I fell unconscious, you were still willing to let me receive the Dragon Vein Baptism."
"You earned it. I keep my word.
"And without you, I might not have been the Blood Corpse Giant's match."
Next, both fell silent, pondering what came next.
Moments later.
Arriving below the large fissure, after withdrawing the array, the black ice had been chipped away by blood corpses. Wang Yu flew out first, his狂暴的阴寒真元迅速扩散 (violent, Yin-cold true essence rapidly expanding),
Transforming the surrounding thousand meters into a frozen hell.
Nearby active blood corpses were all frozen within. Long Yiran also flew out.
She asked: "What should we do next?"
Clearly treating Wang Yu as the decision-maker.
He contemplated: "Continue searching for the Heaven Soul Sect's Scripture Pavilion. These blood corpses' power is bizarre, but they were all Heaven Soul Sect disciples.
"They might have identity tokens like disciple tokens or elder tokens, which could be helpful.
"However... deep within these ruins, there might still be entities like the Blood Corpse Giant, or even stronger blood monsters. Before that, we can cultivate for a while to improve our strength."
A good method, but implementation had some difficulty. Long Yiran's main gain from the Dragon Vein Baptism was immense help for Core Formation.
She was confident she could break through without Core Formation spiritual materials.
But a problem arose: she wasn't too confident about the Core Formation Lightning Tribulation. Her past wandering cultivator life was impoverished; forget tribulation-avoiding treasures, she didn't even have a third-tier magic treasure.
With cultivation unable to advance, when she stated her dilemma,
Wang Yu took out twelve array flags—the **[Heaven's Heart Scattering Thunder Tribulation-Avoiding Treasure Array]**.
"You can borrow this. With your array master skills, you should be able to utilize it perfectly.
"Additionally, I have a Lightning Corpse about to break through to the third-tier. We can let it test it first. After the Lightning Corpse and you use it, I'll also attempt a breakthrough."
**(End of Chapter)**