Chapter 27: Driving the Tiger to Devour the Wolf

Ancient Mountain Stream, Lair of the Dragon Ape.

Before him lay the Myriad Spirits Blood Pool, emanating a powerful aura that made Luo Hao’s heart race with excitement. According to the knowledge imparted by the ancient mirror, this very pool was used by the Dragon Ape to break through the shackles of its cultivation. If so, then perhaps he too could use it to shatter his own limits.

“This pool has gathered so much life essence—if I can absorb it all, I might reach the Blood Condensation Realm.”

The Blood Condensation Realm—the very pinnacle he had yearned for every waking moment! Staring at the three-foot-square pool, Luo Hao’s heart burned with anticipation, as if that realm was already beckoning to him.

But soon, a grave issue became apparent. This was the Dragon Ape’s lair. The immense beast had gone out to hunt, but it would not be long before it returned. If it found a human soaking leisurely in its sacred pool, cultivating, the outcome would be unimaginable—he would certainly become but another ingredient in the pool.

“Hmm? What’s this?”

Gazing longingly at the Myriad Spirits Blood Pool, Luo Hao was beset by frustration. The treasure was right before him, yet he could not use it. At that moment, the two whirlpool-like vortices at the pool’s center caught his attention.

Beneath the twin vortices, he spotted a flicker of gold within the blood-red waters. His curiosity piqued, he bent closer, inhaling the thick, metallic scent.

He frowned slightly as golden light filled his vision. Peering below the swirling currents, his eyes widened in suspicion and wonder.

Suspended beneath the central vortex was a fist-sized fruit, glowing gold and crimson. From this tiny fruit, Luo Hao could sense an aura even more terrifying than that of the pool itself. Strangest of all, the fruit pulsed rhythmically like a living heart. With each beat, it sucked power from the pool through the two whirling vortices above.

A faint buzzing echoed in his dantian as the ancient mirror trembled once more, sending a new message into Luo Hao’s mind. He couldn’t help but grumble inwardly—was this wretched mirror sentient? In these times, even a mirror could grow a spirit!

With a soft sigh, he focused on the new message. Blood Essence Fruit: condensed from the myriad vitalities within the Myriad Spirits Blood Pool. Its efficacy in breaking through cultivation is superior even to the pool itself. Yet, as it is formed from countless blood essences, it is infused with boundless baleful energy; consuming it incurs the risk of violent backlash.

“So the Dragon Ape’s ambition runs deep!”

From the information about the Blood Essence Fruit, Luo Hao realized that the Dragon Ape’s plan was not merely to condense the pool, but to refine this fruit and, by consuming it, shatter its limits to become the supreme overlord of the ancient mountain stream.

Staring at the Blood Essence Fruit hovering in the pool, Luo Hao unconsciously licked his lips. To encounter such a treasure—there was no way he would let it slip through his fingers.

Though desire burned within him, he did not let greed cloud his reason. The fruit should, by rights, be a deep blood-red, but now it gleamed gold and crimson. A closer look revealed a faint, golden mark inscribed upon its surface—the Dragon Ape’s imprint. Should anyone touch the fruit, the beast would instantly sense its location.

“Damn it all—let fate decide! If it’s a fight you want, so be it!”

Glancing at the sky, Luo Hao reckoned the Dragon Ape would soon return from its hunt. For the sake of the Blood Essence Fruit, he gritted his teeth and decided to risk everything. He calmed his mind and attempted to rouse the ancient mirror in his dantian. If anything could suppress the Dragon Ape’s imprint, it was the mysterious artifact residing within him.

The mirror thrummed in response the moment his mind reached for it.

“You actually understand human speech now!” Luo Hao could have wept—never had he expected the usually aloof mirror to react so readily.

Within his dantian’s boundless chaos, the ancient mirror floated, emitting a faint, starlike glow. Upon its mottled surface, the Azure Dragon among the Four Ancient Spirits flickered with a dim green light. In the next instant, that light shot from his dantian straight towards the Blood Essence Fruit.

To Luo Hao’s amazement, the golden imprint vanished from the fruit’s surface, replaced by a faint green glow that shrouded the fruit completely.

“Done!”

Seeing the mark disappear, Luo Hao’s smile grew broader. He knew, however, that the suppression was only temporary; once the green light faded, the Dragon Ape would sense its loss at once. With a final, regretful glance at the Myriad Spirits Blood Pool, Luo Hao swept his arm and retrieved the fruit.

Even outside the pool, the Blood Essence Fruit throbbed like a living heart in his palm, its power more palpable than ever. Suppressing his greed, Luo Hao turned and dashed swiftly towards the valley’s edge.

Moving at full speed, he became a golden blur among the trees. In his palm, the green glow on the fruit dimmed further, on the verge of dispersing.

As he vaulted lightly over a branch of an ancient tree, he saw, up ahead, a group of dozens from the Purple Micro Pavilion encircling a beast. Focusing his gaze, he recognized it as an early-stage, second-tier Ironback Azure Bear—a creature of immense strength and iron-hard hide, but clearly outmatched by sheer numbers.

“Senior Brother Liu, look! Qi Spirit Fifth Layer, dressed in the newcomer robes of Skysea Sect—he must be Luo Hao, the one who made that wager with Senior Brother Zhang!” a sharp-eyed disciple cried, pointing up at Luo Hao.

At his words, every gaze from below fixed upon him. Since he’d been spotted, Luo Hao made no attempt to hide, leaping down from the ancient tree.

As he did so, he made sure to let the Blood Essence Fruit in his hand flash into view. Though it was only a fleeting glimpse, it did not escape the notice of the Purple Micro Pavilion disciples, especially Senior Brother Liu. Greed flared in Liu’s eyes; even that brief flash was enough for him to recognize a true treasure.

“Gentlemen, do you have any advice to offer?” Luo Hao stood before them, face expressionless, showing not the slightest trace of fear as he regarded the group of dozens.

“Heh, you are no ordinary man to remain so calm at a time like this. This ancient mountain stream is now under the seal of Purple Micro Pavilion. Your trespass is a violation of our rules. However, since you are a fellow disciple, you’d better not resist—come with us to answer for your crime.” The voice carried a mocking edge, and as he spoke, Senior Brother Liu stepped forward.

Clad in purple robes, young and stern-faced, with his hands hidden within his sleeves, Liu’s mere presence made Luo Hao’s pupils contract sharply.

“Blood Condensation Realm!”

From Liu’s body radiated an oppressive power and menace that Luo Hao had never sensed even from Wei Wuya at the ninth level of Qi Spirit. It was akin to the aura of the Dragon Ape in the valley, though clearly not as overwhelming.

“Oh? Is that all?” Luo Hao sneered at the accusation. Senior Brother Liu was calculating, but everyone knew that on this continent, rules bound only the weak; to the strong, rules were but tools.

“Of course, all gains you obtained in the stream must be handed over, to be delivered to Skysea Sect by us,” Liu said coldly, hands behind his back, looking down on Luo Hao as if he were nothing.

“You want what I found in the mountains? Here—take it.” Luo Hao tossed the Blood Essence Fruit high towards Liu, then, unleashing his power, shot away like a golden arrow.

Senior Brother Liu leaped up, catching the blood-red fruit. Unbeknownst to him, as it touched his hand, the hidden golden imprint reemerged on its surface.

“Senior Brother Liu, he’s getting away! Should we give chase?” The disciples followed Liu’s lead and did not dare question his decision to keep the fruit for himself.

“No need. He won’t escape. Let’s deal with the Ironback Azure Bear first,” Liu replied, his mood light. To him, Luo Hao was no more than an autumn locust—not long for this world.

Luo Hao fled at full speed but didn’t go far. Instead, he settled atop a nearby peak, watching as the Purple Micro Pavilion group attended to the bear’s corpse.

A short while later, a roar of such terror shook the ancient mountain stream that the very ground trembled. A smile appeared on Luo Hao’s face as he thought, “It’s here at last.” That roar sent every beast in the ancient mountain stream cowering in fear—for it was the bellow of the valley’s true overlord, the Dragon Ape.