"Is it worth it?"
On the way back, Li Wu couldnât help but ask.
"Itâs a huge loss. A group of ordinary people, what does it have to do with me? Giving up my reward for them is pure idiocy."
Han Zhanâs words baffled Li Wu.
"You knew that, yet you still..."
"Everyone has their moments of foolishness, donât worry about it." Han Zhan patted Li Wuâs shoulder as he spoke.
"..."
The High Priest kept his word and spared all the people of Chuyun Stockade.
But he didnât appoint a new Priest.
Thus, leaving Chuyun Stockade to fend for itself.
Han Zhan wasnât worried about Chuyun Stockade, at least not in the immediate future.
The Jiu Li Warriors of Chuyun Stockade had consumed an entire High Priestâs flesh; soon, someone with exceptional talent would grow to take on the role of the new Priest.
"But what about you? Did the High Priest fulfill the reward he promised you?"
He hadnât forgotten that the original intent of this trip to Chuyun Stockade was to find a way for Li Wu to break through to higher levels.
Li Wu, when asked, nodded. "The High Priest already told me, once he finishes his digestion of this power, he will take me to a place."
"The High Priest also said that if youâre interested, you could come along."
Go? Go where?
"The Blood Pool."
Li Wu mentioned a term Han Zhan had never heard before.
"It is said that itâs the birthplace of the Demon God. After the Demon God was nurtured, the excess waste blood pooled together to form the Blood Pool."
"For the Demon God, itâs useless waste blood, but for future generations of the Jiuli Race, itâs an invaluable place for bloodline tempering."
"The High Priest said that my chance to break through Tier Seven Peak lies within the Blood Pool."
"The Blood Pool has the Godhood Technique!"
Not everyone is qualified to enter the Blood Pool.
Apart from those who have made significant contributions, only the great powers of the Jiuli Race, the Chieftain, and the Great Chief can enter freely.
This is also the core treasure land of the Jiuli Race.
"Listening to you, we only clarified a case and thus are qualified to enter the Blood Pool; doesnât it seem too easy?"
Could there be some plot afoot?
...
On the other side.
The High Priest was using a mouth altar to communicate over long distances elsewhere.
"The issue with Chuyun Stockade has been resolved; the force that attacked Chuyun Stockade has also been completely devoured."
"A new High Priest has not been nurtured. Why? If I must give an answer, itâs because someone stopped me."
"This time, Hejian Village will recommend two slots for entry into the Blood Pool; one has practiced the Body Tempering Technique to its utmost and needs further unlocking of bloodlines to proceed."
"As for the other? Currently, I suspect itâs a powerful member of the Fu Xi Lineage. Skilled in music, very strong, and could fight me to a standstill."
After the High Priest finished speaking, the entire altar fell into silence.
Itâs unclear how much time passed before the bizarre symbols drawn with white earth on the altar began to shine.
Momentarily, two tiny blood-red beads appeared in his hand.
These are the tokens for entry into the Blood River.
"I understand. Letâs leave it at that."
After saying the final words, the white light on the altar disappeared, and the altar located in his mouth fell back into darkness.
"Itchy!"
"So itchy!"
The High Priestâs skin suddenly sprouted a large amount of white Holy Land, and he began to crazily scratch himself with both hands, rolling on the ground.
People from Hejian Village, both old and young, had already prepared their vessels in advance, ready to act.
The familiar scene seemed to repeat once again.
...
The Wizard Lineage.
Several wizards who appeared middle-aged were respectfully standing outside a room.
After a short while, a piece of animal hide was thrown out from inside the door; they hurriedly stepped forward to catch it.
They jostled each other, and finally, one wizard managed to grab it and break free from the chaotic struggle.
"Fantastic, itâs the new installment of Teenage Ahao that I love to read!"
Upon seeing the content on the hide, he couldnât help but exclaim.
Men remain boys until their end.
"Ever since Lady Witch sensed the divine call and bestowed upon us this Book of the Witch God, our perception of the desires of life has become more acute."
"Thank you, Witch God! Thank you, Lady Witch!"
Seeing this, the other wizards also followed suit, speaking in unison.
Inside the room, Li Lingzhen yawned and pushed the door open, walking out.
"Copy this divine call several times; donât rip the one Iâve written for an early read and make me rewrite it again."
"Writing is tiring, you know?!"
This Wilderness of Zhulu Fruit World is fine, except there are no computers and no way to type, only handwriting is possible.
For a forbidden book author, itâs a nightmare.
No choice, since the moment sheâd crossed over, sheâd become the Witch connecting with the Witch God.
"Yes, yes! This time we will definitely make several copies to ensure everyone can read in an orderly manner."
"Lady Witch, has the Witch God given any other divine revelations recently?" another wizard quickly asked.
Greedy, arenât they?
One Teenage Ahao isnât enough for you all? Men, huh.
Li Lingzhen maintained her outwardly cool and detached demeanor, "No."
No?
The wizards exchanged glances.
Yes, they were the same wizards who were once elders on the brink of death.
In just over a dozen days, they had reverted to their middle age.
It wouldnât be inappropriate to describe them using the term âreversal of aging.â
The wizard elder who spoke, with a somewhat uncertain tone, still opened his mouth to continue:
"The Blood Pool of the Jiuli Race is about to enter an active phase."
"Based on records left by previous witches, when the Blood Pool enters its active phase, the influence of the Witch God and Demon God on the Jiuli Race will also increase."
"By that time, even some of the ordinary people with relatively rich bloodlines might sense the Witch Godâs spiritual summons."
"Lady Witch, why do you..."
Thatâs how it is.
Li Lingzhenâs room stored such Witch-recorded histories.
But she was too lazy to bother reading them herself.
She suffered from not reading more books.
Fortunately, sheâs Li Lingzhen, a Blue Star quick talker; this level of difficulty is nothing to her.
Watch her keep a straight face, masking her expression with cold detachment.
"Did the previous witches ever establish a successful spiritual connection with the Witch God?"
"This... they did not."
"Did the previous witches provide you a method to regain youth?"
"No."
"Did the previous witches ever show you books only the Witch God can read?"
"No."
"They didnât have those, and yet you keep bringing up their historical records? Do you trust them or do you trust me?"
Li Lingzhenâs last question left the wizard elders speechless.
For the first time, their judgment wavered.
"Then... do you still need the slot to enter the Blood Pool, Lady Witch?"