Chapter Forty-Nine: Bargaining with the Tiger

The man in red turned pale as paper in an instant and murmured, "So it's true... 'Eightfold Origin' is a secret of the Buddhist sect, never passed down lightly. If he taught you, he must indeed be your master..."

He muttered to himself, then suddenly seemed to recall something, shivered all over, and asked with a tremor, "Did the venerable master come here as well?"

Seeing the man's frightened demeanor, Liang Yan's thoughts raced. He replied, "Of course, my master said he would bring me to find an old acquaintance. He is nearby right now. I was curious and wandered into this spirit mine, but somehow got trapped in a strange illusion. Do you know what happened?"

Liang Yan's intention was to use the old monk's reputation to intimidate the man in red. Strangely, after hearing this, the man seemed to regain some color in his cheeks and no longer appeared as panicked as before. Instead, he looked at Liang Yan with a puzzled expression and asked, "Oh? I've been here for several centuries and never heard of any great figure living on this mountain, one worthy of a visit from the 'Wrathful Monk.'"

Liang Yan's heart skipped a beat as he sensed trouble, but couldn't figure out what he had said wrong. He could only play along, saying, "My master only said he came to visit an old friend—perhaps not some great master, but just someone he once knew."

The man in red burst out laughing. "Boy, must you keep putting on airs?"

Liang Yan narrowed his eyes and asked coolly, "What do you mean by that, senior?"

"Hmph. You first said he is nearby, then indirectly admitted he'd already arrived in the mountain. Do you not realize you contradict yourself? The 'Wrathful Monk' is famed for his hatred of evil. When my 'Bloodfiend Puppet Realm' unleashed such overwhelming fiendish power just now, had he truly been here, how could he not have sensed it? And how would I still be alive at this moment?"

He paused, then continued, "You are clever but your cleverness backfired. Had you claimed your master was on his way, I might not have dared lay a finger on you and would have had to send you out obediently. But you insisted he was already here, which proves he is not. Ha! You thought yourself smart, but lacked the most basic sense."

Liang Yan's expression darkened. "Bloodfiend Puppet Realm? So the illusion I just fell into was your doing, senior?"

"Correct!" the man in red admitted openly. "Boy, how did you find the allure of the mortal world? Back in my prime, countless people were caught in my dream realm, intoxicated and lost, all ending up as playthings in my hands."

He sneered, as if recalling something. "Had I not been sealed for so long and my strength so greatly diminished, even with your 'Eightfold Origin,' you—just a junior at the Qi Refining stage—would already be a mindless puppet by now."

Although this man was sealed here, Liang Yan still could not discern his cultivation; every inch of his being radiated an eerie aura. Not daring to be careless, Liang Yan asked in a deep voice, "I bear no grudge against you, senior. Why do you wish to kill me without reason?"

"No grudge?" The man in red laughed coldly. "On the contrary, our enmity runs deep!"

After laughing, his voice turned grim. "Do you know that I practice the path of blood? I've been imprisoned here for centuries, waiting for the seal to weaken. All I needed was to absorb the blood of a few cultivators, restore some of my power, and I'd have a chance to escape."

"Earlier, I broke open a passage with fiendish energy and deliberately leaked a bit of the treasure's aura. Soon after, a wandering cultivator noticed it. He belonged to a rogue cultivator society and brought seven more to investigate. I intended to feast on them all, but you ruined my plans by killing them!"

Liang Yan was startled. He and Tang Diexian had bought a small thatched house not far from the spirit mine, but it was still some distance away. The battle that night with the black-robed cultivators from the Hidden Cloud Society—he hadn't expected that, buried deep beneath the mine, this man had been aware of it all. His spiritual sense was truly extraordinary.

Liang Yan shifted slightly, positioning himself protectively in front of Tang Diexian. "So, you mean to vent your anger on us?"

"Venting my anger?" The man in red shook his head. "No, my original intent was to turn you both into blood puppets within the dream, to send you out to capture more low-level cultivators and aid in my recovery."

He paused, a sly smile appearing. "But now that I know you possess 'Eightfold Origin,' a secret of the Buddhist sect, there is another option—one that can help me escape and provide a tremendous opportunity for you as well!"

Liang Yan was surprised. "How so?"

"As you see, I am trapped here by a formidable Buddhist monk. That bald-headed monk's cultivation was only slightly above mine, and he managed to seal me here not just with four rare treasures but also thanks to that object above."

The man in red pointed upward.

Liang Yan followed his finger and was stunned to see a small white jade vial floating in the air, luminous and flawless, radiating a gentle light that stood in stark contrast to the surrounding gloom.

He had been so focused on the man in red that he hadn't noticed the treasure above his head.

The man in red noticed his astonishment and smiled faintly. "Though that white jade vial is a rare treasure, compared to what's inside... heh, it's nothing."

Liang Yan saw through the man's intention to bait him, but kept his expression neutral. "Please enlighten me, senior."

The man in red glanced at him appraisingly before responding, "Inside is a drop of true dragon blood!"

"True dragon blood?!" Liang Yan's expression changed.

"Indeed! True dragons and celestial phoenixes are remnants of the immortal realm, with a history far older than that of humanity in the Great Wilderness. That bald monk went through countless dangers and life-and-death trials to acquire a drop of true dragon blood from the outer seas, only to use it here to seal me!"

After speaking, the man in red laughed heartily, seeming almost proud.

Liang Yan did not interrupt, but quietly observed his surroundings, his right hand behind his back, fingers gripping an octagonal compass whose pointer spun restlessly as if seeking something.

When the laughter subsided, a sickly flush appeared on the man's face. He coughed twice and continued, "Boy, this is your great chance. You possess mixed spiritual roots; without outside aid, you may never build a foundation in this lifetime. Yet true dragon blood can cleanse your veins and marrow, changing your fate against the heavens. If you ingest this drop and combine it with my blood path techniques, your future prospects are limitless!"

"Cleanse the marrow, defy fate..."

Liang Yan repeated softly, his breath growing heavier.

Since entering the cultivation world, he had always been limited by his poor aptitude—struggling to join a sect, barely reaching the outer gates, and beset by setbacks. If not for a stroke of luck in comprehending the mysteries of the Twin Fish Array, he might still be stuck at the third level of Qi Refining.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his longing, and fixed the man in red with a steady gaze. "Such a great opportunity—what must I do in return?"

"It's simple. Soon I will attempt to break the formation with all my strength. This will draw the combined suppression of the four treasures. At that moment, I will use a great magical art to sever one treasure's connection with the array. You must then blend into the formation, temporarily taking the place of the displaced treasure. The seal is interconnected; by becoming part of it, you can easily reach the white jade vial above and obtain the true dragon blood. With the dragon blood's suppression removed, I will be freed—and we'll both benefit!"

"A clever ruse," Liang Yan commented. "But, senior, have you considered that I am only a Qi Refining novice? How can I blend into such a powerful array?"

The man in red smiled. "You needn't worry. 'Eightfold Origin' contains the highest Buddhist mysteries, sharing the same origin as the formation here. When the time comes, simply channel your arts to their fullest, and you will pass unnoticed."

"So you had this plan all along, senior. Still, a treasure is only useful if one lives to enjoy it. Once you're free, our strength is worlds apart—wouldn't I just be a lamb to the slaughter?"

Instead of growing angry, the man in red seemed to approve. He nodded. "Quite right. In the cultivation world, the strong prey on the weak—snatching treasures and lives is only natural. You're clever, but not hypocritically righteous."

He paused, then said, "Very well! I will offer you a way out."

He raised his hand and cast a spell, sending a streak of red light shooting behind him. It exploded in the air, illuminating that part of the cavern.

In the crimson glow, Liang Yan saw a blue teleportation array.

"This teleportation array was set up by that bald monk to monitor me. The other end leads to his Buddhist sect. There are a few broken spirit stones on it, but I can activate them for you with another spell. Once you get the dragon blood, you can immediately escape through the array. As for me, my first concern upon escaping will be to restore my strength. I will not risk everything to chase down a Qi Refining junior. Does that put your mind at ease?"

Liang Yan still frowned. "This is a serious matter. Let me consider—"

The man in red grew impatient, his voice turning cold. "Hmph! You overestimate yourself! I was polite before, hoping you would help me wholeheartedly. If you keep bargaining, I can kill you with a wave of my hand!"

As he spoke, a crushing aura surged from his body, bearing down on Liang Yan with irresistible force. In moments, sweat beaded on Liang Yan's brow.

He no longer doubted that this man could end his life in a heartbeat.

"Hmph! If I hadn't wanted to make you blood puppets, you would have become my blood food the moment you came down here. Do you really think you can defy me? If I kill you now and wait for the next batch, sooner or later I'll escape with enough sacrifices!"

"This man is too powerful. If I anger him, this will be our grave," Liang Yan thought. "For now, the only option is to play along and see what happens..."

He cupped his hands to the man in red and forced a smile. "Since senior is so gracious and has offered such a great opportunity, how can I refuse?"