Chapter 149 – A Try!
Jiang Zhe fixed his gaze on Jin Hong, who was leading the way, growing increasingly intrigued by Chi Ying—especially by the possible existence of that drop of "source blood" in her heart, a one-seventy-second fragment of a precious treasure.
After all, both the source blood and blood pool were things Chi Ying had mentioned herself. Their truthfulness was still questionable.
But for now, he chose to assume they were real.
Continuing to probe, Jiang Zhe sent her a mental message:
"Is there competition among the nine of you? Because if you want me to go up against them with you, that's going to cost extra."
"Nine?"
Chi Ying looked puzzled for a moment before realization dawned.
"Oh, you mean the nine pure-blooded demons of the gold lineage, born from the source blood pool of the First Abyss?"
She continued,
"There are no longer nine—counting me, only seven remain. Two slots have fallen into eternal silence."
"I'm the most recently born one. According to my inherited memories, it's been over 4,300 years since the last pure-blood demon emerged.
We aren't in a state of extreme competition. We can't devour each other. But given the chance, they wouldn't mind killing me—one less to share the feast.
After all, the entire First Abyss is basically our personal 'cafeteria.'
As for our internal matters, you don't need to get involved. Our cooperation is strictly about acquiring demon hearts."
Chi Ying sounded a bit impatient.
"Are all off-world humans like you? So petty and calculative—no wonder demons find you annoying!"
Jiang Zhe retorted with conviction,
"I'm a stranger in a strange land. Of course I have to be cautious. Otherwise, I'd end up helping you count the money after you sold me out."
This time, there was no reply. Chi Ying had decided to ignore him and focused on searching for the magic blood plant.
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhe, ever the chatterbox, kept pressing for more.
"Chi Ying, what is 'eternal silence'?
Didn't you say before that when you die, your source blood returns directly to the blood pool?
What went wrong with those two drops of source blood—why couldn't they give rise to new pure-blood demons?"
"Eternal silence means permanently lost."
Chi Ying suddenly glanced back at him.
"If you're strong enough to break into the source blood pool, you could take the source blood that's still in its gestating state. That's why 'eternal silence' happens.
You off-world intruders are always so domineering."
"As for you... unless you break through to Duke (Immortal) level, you're far from it. Don't keep eyeing me like that. Even if you kill me, without breaking into the source blood pool, you'd never get my drop of source blood."
Her clear eyes seemed to have the terrifying power to peer into hearts.
Exposed so directly, Jiang Zhe didn't have time to feel guilty. His brow furrowed as he considered a worrying possibility.
In his mind, he asked,
"Anna, the Third Abyss—the Fire Abyss—its demon lineage is called the Flame Demons, right?"
"Master, I understand what you're concerned about."
Orianna bluntly analyzed,
"The Flame Demon Lord stationed outside the Flame Demon Palace is probably a human's flame demon avatar.
Given he should be a Universe Overlord, the quality of his avatar wouldn't be low. It was likely formed using a drop of fire-type source blood.
And the two missing drops of gold source blood from the First Abyss were almost certainly taken by the Virtual Universe Company."
Jiang Zhe's face darkened slightly.
That was bad news.
It meant he would never be able to gather all 72 drops of source blood.
Based on his earlier hypothesis—"140 × 9 × 8"—there was already a flaw. He wouldn't be able to create a clone with a life gene level at ten thousand times!
After witnessing Chi Ying's teleportation-type talent, Jiang Zhe had grown quite keen on the demon race.
As long as the life gene level was high enough, he wouldn't mind creating a demon clone.
His thoughts racing, outwardly he still casually sent Chi Ying another message.
"Who's eyeing you? Don't say nonsense like that! We're the closest partners—I'd never hurt you. Everything I do is for your sake."
"Hmph! Remember what you're saying now." Chi Ying snorted lightly.
"Bleh—"
Jiang Zhe, playful now, even made a funny face at her back.
Then he kept chatting (or rather probing).
"Chi Ying, I notice you demons all like to carry weapons, and they're all extraordinary. Is there a special reason?"
The "Ghost Clan" was the term for the gold demon lineage.
Like before, the lightning demon lineage was the Abyssal Dragon Clan, the fire demon lineage the Flame Demons.
The Ghost Clan looked humanoid, with horns on their foreheads, and habitually carried weapons—a defining trait.
"Zhe, do you realize you're asking about a major secret of my race?"
Jiang Zhe was startled, then nodded.
"I know, but haven't I already asked you plenty of secrets before?"
"That was then, this is now. I'm not in a good mood right now, so I won't answer—unless… hmm, the material of your blade is quite nice. Where did you get it?"
Jiang Zhe's eyes widened. You want my Blood-Transforming Divine Blade?
Wait—material?
He scratched his chin, then pulled out a head-sized piece of E9-grade orange gold from his world ring and tossed it to Chi Ying.
She caught it, happily stashed it away, then still pretended to be serious.
"Zhe, do you realize you're asking about the very foundation of my clan's survival? Was that little bit just now your 'attitude'?"
Jiang Zhe raised an eyebrow.
Interesting—so she wants more money?
If it could be solved with money, it wasn't a real problem.
Her cooperation and flexible bottom line pleased Jiang Zhe.
He sliced off a fist-sized chunk of F-grade treasure metal Heaven's Grace Orange Gold and tossed it over.
Chi Ying, highly sensitive to gold treasures, recognized its value immediately. Though she tried to maintain her composure, her eyes curved with delight.
"What you're asking is just a minor trick of our clan—nothing to hide."
Chi Ying explained frankly,
"Those weapons we carry are our life-bonded arms, forged through a talent secret technique. They grow alongside us."
Jiang Zhe's eyes gleamed.
Sounds a bit like primal embryos.
He quickly pressed,
"Be more specific."
Chi Ying turned her head, eyes gleaming with greed.
Before she could speak, Jiang Zhe shut her down.
Frowning, he sent,
"That's enough. You were vague before, didn't explain it well. Now you want a second payment? Shameless."
"Tch~" Chi Ying snorted.
"It's a talent secret technique called [Edge]. Any Ghost Clan member with a life gene level over 3× will awaken it.
It refines the essence of gold treasures to forge a life-bonded weapon perfectly attuned to oneself.
Keep feeding it resources, and it will keep evolving—heavy treasures, supreme treasures, even strongest treasures—it's all possible."
Jiang Zhe found it fascinating.
Not an earth-shattering effect, but definitely one of the most practical.
Give the Giant Axe Founder a Ghost Clan clone, let the humans pour resources into it—would he ever lack a strongest axe?
He habitually rubbed his chin.
"I wonder, after ascending to True God and regressing to my source, could I still wield a life weapon forged by a Ghost Clan clone?"
The more he learned, the more Jiang Zhe appreciated the demon race.
He secretly plotted to find a way to push a pure-blood demon's life gene level from 1,260× up to 5,000×, even 10,000×.
Encounter with the "Mad Marquis"
After a bit more idle talk, Chi Ying suddenly halted and looked down at the mountains.
Orianna informed Jiang Zhe in his mind that they had flown nearly a million kilometers already—still well within that unlucky Marquis Lister's domain.
According to his training mission, a demon marquis's territory covered tens of millions of kilometers.
"We're here. The mountain cavity below has been hollowed out. The Blood Gold Ganoderma is growing inside—almost ripe."
At the main peak was a crater-like pit.
Chi Ying led, Jiang Zhe followed. They dropped like meteors, plunging into the mountain.
Inside the hollow mountain belly stood a colossal "tree," branches and leaves spreading mightily.
Except…it was made of a bronze-like metal. Leaves, twigs, trunk—lifelike yet entirely metallic.
"Master, that's E6-grade metal—Qingling Copper Mother. It's alive, grows like a plant, and is among the best materials for crafting wood-type weapons."
Orianna identified it.
As they descended past twisted branches, Chi Ying asked,
"Want me to split this tree with you later?"
"No need. Use it to refine your life weapon." Jiang Zhe wasn't interested in such modest gains.
"Good brother!"
Chi Ying flashed a hand sign that, in their culture, meant praise.
The bronze giant tree was roughly a thousand meters tall. About 600 meters up the trunk, Chi Ying stopped.
She pointed precisely at a palm-sized bright golden ganoderma on the bronze-scale bark.
Hissss…
The "scales" rippled like waves, inflating like breath.
Suddenly, it revealed itself to be a bronze python, previously fused into the tree, now emerging.
Two sharp horns on its head, a body as thick as a barrel, it poked out its head, glaring ferociously.
"Universe Level 3."
"Viscount Level 3."
Orianna and Chi Ying simultaneously reported its power.
Domain Lord-level will pressure, combined with superior bloodline oppression, instantly cleared the python's eyes. It lowered its head in submission.
"Get lost! Before I get hungry."
Chi Ying's cold voice made its mind nearly collapse. It slipped from the trunk, hit the ground, then scurried away in panic.
The prize and unexpected threat
That minor episode over, Jiang Zhe eyed their goal.
A palm-sized ganoderma, as if crafted of pure gold, with blood threads seeping across its cap.
"So this is the magic blood plant you mentioned—the Blood Gold Ganoderma?" Jiang Zhe gave Chi Ying a thumbs up. "Your pure-blood demon instincts are impressive."
According to her, consuming demon hearts with these magic blood plants made fusing demon power far easier.
Back in the Ancient God World or Blood Luo World, would I waste time hunting around for these? I'd just 'borrow' from Domain Lords or World Lords—far more efficient.
Chi Ying enjoyed the praise, cheerfully explaining,
"See the blood threads on the cap? The more that seep out, turning the gold cap fully blood gold and dripping crimson, the closer it is to perfect maturity.
We got here just in time—it'll be ready in a little while."
"By the way, how do we split these? Now you see how important I am, right? Earlier you didn't want to work for free, well I don't want to either."
She gave him a sidelong glance.
"One gold marquis heart for three magic blood plants—that's my bottom line. No compromise."
Chi Ying glared, cheeks puffed, but finally agreed.
A mad World Lord appears
About three hours later, the ganoderma had turned completely blood gold, tiny blood droplets emerging.
Chi Ying rubbed her hands eagerly.
"Just a bit more—once the blood fully soaks the cap, it'll be at peak potency."
Jiang Zhe silently watched, already decided—no way am I combing mountains for these. Better to 'zero-dollar shop' from marquis (World Lords) directly.
"Master, world power just swept over us. A World Lord is approaching—fast. But his aura feels…wrong."
Orianna warned.
Chi Ying sensed it too, her expression changing drastically.
She turned to Jiang Zhe.
"If things go south, run! Don't worry about me—I'll hold him off. Find me later, just don't die!"
"What? Who? What's happening?" Jiang Zhe feigned confusion.
"Coming—be careful!"
She stared at a spot not far ahead.
Whoosh!
Almost instantly, a disheveled figure two meters tall appeared out of thin air.
Wearing only a tiger-skin skirt, muscles coated in black grime, two 30-centimeter black horns on his forehead, long matted hair covering a face where crimson eyes burned with madness.
"Medic…herbs…more?"
"Blood food! The best blood food! Eat…eat them all…"
With the muttering, his red eyes flared.
Suddenly, a wave of chaotic willpower surged outward, trying to drag them into insanity.
This was a mad World Lord!
Jiang Zhe quickly guessed—he must have eaten a demon heart without withstanding its chaotic will, becoming a puppet to it.
"If you can't endure the impact, take the 'Poro Fruit' I gave you. Don't let the madness take over or we're finished!"
Chi Ying warned, then held out her hand.
"Your blade—lend it again!"
Jiang Zhe didn't hesitate, handing over the Blood-Transforming Divine Blade.
World power swept out—the mad World Lord tried to drag them close. Jiang Zhe and Chi Ying easily broke free.
Chi Ying then slashed out, sending a dazzling blood-gold arc at the mad World Lord.
"I'll help—let's kill this lunatic and take his heart!"
Jiang Zhe's eyes spun, shouting loudly.
He focused his mental force into a needle, launching his strongest soul attack.
The fox girl had warned him not to use soul attacks on demon races. He wanted to see why.
"No! What are you doing?!"
"Fool! Didn't your elders ever warn you—never use soul attacks on any demon?!"
The mental needle pierced…
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