Translator: AnubisTL
The crimson Blood Lotus was no small thing; capable of enveloping a person entirely, it dwarfed ordinary lotuses.
At first glance, Li Qing had assumed the Blood Lotus was an artificial creation, refined through some specialized technique. But after closer inspection, he dismissed this idea.
The blood pool reeked of a pungent, metallic stench. Li Qing extended his divine sense, detecting fragments of limbs and claws settled at the bottom—all seemingly derived from strange beasts.
The Blood Lotus's roots were deeply embedded within this festering mass of beastly remains.
The sight of these mangled remains stirred memories in Li Qing. He recalled the hunters in the city who made their living by hunting strange beasts. They would bring their kills back to the city and sell them to the Blood Lotus Sect in exchange for profit.
If his deduction was correct, this blood pool wasn't refined with human blood at all, but rather with the blood and flesh of strange beasts.
"Tell me," Li Qing said, his back still turned to the Blood Lotus Sect Leader, his hands clasped behind him, radiating unwavering confidence. "What exactly is this lotus? And why does it require such a vast quantity of strange beast blood and flesh to sustain it?"
The Blood Lotus Sect Leader seethed inwardly at this condescending interrogation, a surge of uncontrollable rage rising within him.
But soon, the Blood Lotus Sect Leader narrowed his eyes, discerning a different meaning in Li Qing's words.
"You've traveled the world. Haven't you encountered such strange plants and peculiar roots in other great domains?"
Li Qing's brow twitched. He immediately recalled the terrifyingly bizarre willow tree he had seen in the Black Wind Domain.
Could it be that other great domains also harbor such strange plants?
Yet he found it difficult to connect the Blood Lotus before him with that eerie willow tree from the Black Wind Domain, simply because the differences between them were so vast.
Though this Blood Lotus was indeed massive, it paled in comparison to the willow tree, whose colossal form could blot out the sun and moon.
"I did see a willow tree on my way here, its trunk covered in the Crystal Cores of strange beasts. Could these two share a common origin?" Li Qing asked directly.
The Blood Lotus Sect Leader nodded slowly.
"Indeed. After the End of Dao Era descended, I discovered this Blood Lotus in a hidden place within the Autumn Mountain Domain. At first, I mistook it for some immortal flower or Spiritual Root, capable of surviving even when spiritual energy had completely withered."
"Later, I realized my mistake. This Blood Lotus is no spiritual object; it actually absorbs the light of the Red Moon and grows at an astonishing rate!"
"Seeing the Great Dao severed, countless fellow cultivators fell into utter despair. But this Blood Lotus inspired me to create a new path: absorbing the Red Moon Secret Power."
As he spoke, a faint hint of pride flickered across the Blood Lotus Sect Leader's face.
Li Qing was genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected that the bizarre dao path now prevalent in the World of Eternal Night had been pioneered by the Blood Lotus Sect Leader himself.
If that's the case, Li Qing mused, this man might actually deserve to be called a Dao Patriarch!
Of course, this was just a playful thought. The World of Eternal Night was vast and boundless. The path of absorbing Red Moon Secret Power for longevity couldn't have been discovered solely by the Blood Lotus Sect Leader. Li Qing suspected that cultivators in other great domains had likely made similar attempts.
Calling him a Dao Patriarch was merely a jest.
Still, Li Qing couldn't resist teasing him:
"Heh, so you're a Dao Patriarch now?"
The moment the words "Dao Patriarch" left Li Qing's lips, a flicker of awkwardness crossed the Blood Lotus Sect Leader's face. He cleared his throat and said:
"Ahem, I wouldn't dare claim such a title. I merely sought an alternative path for my fellow cultivators. I imagine others in different great domains have also tread this path."
"Fellow Daoist Limitless, you've seen enough. Perhaps now you'll reveal the purpose of your visit?"
If he could avoid it, the Blood Lotus Sect Leader truly didn't want to clash with this enigmatic young man. That's why he had answered Li Qing's questions as thoroughly as possible throughout their journey here.
He sensed a palpable aura of danger emanating from Li Qing.
This seemingly ordinary young man was likely far more profound than he appeared.
Li Qing fell into contemplation. It was clear that the Blood Lotus was no extraordinary spirit herb or immortal flower. Once he confirmed this, his interest waned considerably.
Having embarked on the Immortal Cultivation Path, Li Qing's sole focus lay on spirit herbs and immortal roots. He found little interest in anything that merely aided in cultivating the Red Moon Secret Power.
Therefore, Li Qing answered the Blood Lotus Sect Leader's question truthfully:
"Don't be alarmed, Brother Blood Lotus. As I said, I have no interest in your Blood Lotus."
"My purpose here is quite simple: I merely wish to peruse some items you consider insignificant."
As he spoke, Li Qing's face broke into a warm, radiant smile, his demeanor shifting abruptly from cold detachment to genuine friendliness.
"Insignificant items? Fellow Daoist Limitless, please specify what you mean," the Blood Lotus Sect Leader said, utterly bewildered. He couldn't imagine what insignificant possessions of his would possibly interest Li Qing.
Li Qing continued to smile as he answered the sect leader's question:
"Heh, I'd like to peruse some of the immortal dao heritage your sect has preserved—scriptures, secret techniques, anything you have."
Immortal dao heritage?! And he's asking to see it so bluntly!
To be honest, the Blood Lotus Sect Leader was stunned by this request, his face betraying his astonishment. He never imagined Li Qing would want such useless relics!
Of course, before the End of Dao Era, if Li Qing had made such a demand, the sect leader would have fought him to the death. A cultivator's cultivation manual and inheritance were considered their very lifeblood.
But now, in the End of Dao Era, these once-sacred immortal dao inheritances had long since become worthless scraps of paper. The sect leader couldn't fathom why Li Qing would want to examine them.
Unable to discern Li Qing's true motives, the Blood Lotus Sect Leader hesitated to grant his request.
"Fellow Daoist Limitless," he replied, "the Blood Lotus Sect possesses no so-called immortal dao heritage. You may not be aware, but our sect was founded after the End of Dao Era. We have no noteworthy immortal dao inheritances recorded."
Li Qing's smile widened. "Sect Leader," he said, "I merely wish to peruse some scriptures to satisfy my yearning for the Dao. Surely you wouldn't deny such a modest request?"
As he spoke, Li Qing fixed the Blood Lotus Sect Leader with a piercing gaze, a dangerous glint flickering in his eyes.
Suddenly, the massive lotus-shaped structure at the heart of Precious Lotus City shuddered violently, as if struck by a massive earthquake!
Rumble!
The sect members and elders waiting outside panicked, their eyes darting toward the depths below.
"What's happening? It's like an earth dragon is thrashing beneath us!"
"The main headquarters nearly collapsed?! This is unbelievable!"
"Wait... could it be the Sect Leader is fighting that mysterious person?!"
"..."
Just as the Blood Lotus Sect elders hesitated about whether to descend and assist their leader, the violent tremors abruptly ceased.
The disturbance had been swift and fleeting, vanishing in an instant.
Deep within the blood pool, chunks of shattered rock continued to fall from the ceiling, splattering crimson liquid across the ground.
At the edge of the pool, Li Qing stood with a relaxed smile, watching the Blood Lotus Sect Leader. He casually flexed his wrist, the wisp of crimson pill fire in his palm slowly fading away, his movements as casual as if he were stretching his limbs.
The Blood Lotus Sect Leader looked far more disheveled, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stammered, "How is this possible? After so many years of the End of Dao Era, you still possess such immense mana? What was your cultivation level before? Could you have been a Nascent Soul True Monarch?"
Li Qing had no intention of answering these questions. His smile faded, and he said solemnly, "Enough. Just lead the way, Fellow Daoist. I only wish to peruse those scriptures you deem useless. I'll leave as soon as I'm done and won't linger in this city."
The Blood Lotus Sect had gathered so many former cultivators, and their leader had once reached the core formation realm! Li Qing refused to believe he hadn't preserved any immortal dao heritage. To force the sect leader's cooperation, he had been compelled to reveal a glimpse of his power.
The result was obvious: Li Qing, wielding immortal dao techniques, had completely overwhelmed the Blood Lotus Sect Leader, crushing him into submission. During their brief exchange, not even a strand of Li Qing's hair had been disturbed.
"Very well," the sect leader agreed. "I'll take you to the abandoned Scripture Repository within the sect."
(End of the Chapter)
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