Chapter 40: That old man is truly cunning.

"Fellow Daoist Fu, my true cultivation base is indeed at the Golden Body Realm. Would you like to strike me down right now and reclaim your sacred sword?"

Standing on the immortal vessel, gazing out at the mountains and plains, Chen Pingan spoke with a calm and indifferent expression.

The ancestor of the Fu family was a man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. He had even harmed his own blood descendants in his pursuit of immortality; therefore, Chen Pingan had never associated him with being a good person and had remained on guard against him all along.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Wang, you are joking. You are so powerful, how could I ever be your match?"

The Fu family ancestor chuckled awkwardly, still not daring to make a rash move.

In the depths of the Fu family's underground palace, he had nearly been killed by this Fellow Daoist Wang. As the saying goes, once bitten, twice shy; he dared not take any more risks.

*He is clearly at the peak of the tenth level of the Void Spirit Realm, yet he insists on pretending to be at the Golden Body Realm to lure me into attacking. This old fellow is truly wicked...* the Fu family ancestor cursed inwardly.

He knew there was no chance of reclaiming the sacred sword, but as for taking revenge, he would have plenty of opportunities once they reached the Purple Blood God Sect.

The immortal vessel flashed and vanished.

Seven days later, the vessel plunged into the Yunmeng Marsh, which was shrouded in dense, boundless fog.

The Fu family ancestor produced a compass; its surface shimmered with light. He observed it carefully, adjusting the course of the vessel as he navigated.

"The Yunmeng Marsh is vast and boundless, filled with treacherous demonic beasts. Without the guidance of this compass, it would be impossible for us to venture deep inside..."

Seeing Chen Pingan leaning in to look at the compass, the Fu family ancestor hurriedly explained with a smile, "However, my Purple Blood God Sect has long since mapped this area thoroughly, so there will be no trouble."

"I see," Chen Pingan replied with a faint smile. "I look forward to joining."

"Fellow Daoist, once you have mastered the Purple Blood Return to Origin Technique and combined it with the sacred sword in your hand, you will be absolutely invincible under the heavens!" The Fu family ancestor’s eyes lit up as he offered loud flattery.

Chen Pingan laughed heartily.

"Invincible under the heavens? Can I surpass the Sect Master?"

"The Sect Master has always been low-profile and unassuming. Even though we have been members for so long, we have never once seen him. He is a recluse, so there is no possibility of him vying for supremacy with a fellow Daoist like you..." the Fu family ancestor said with a beaming smile.

Chen Pingan nodded, his expression growing even calmer.

This Sect Master of the Purple Blood God Sect must have a connection to the Purple Blood Leech. He had suspected as much back in the Fu family’s underground palace, which was why he had chosen to join this sect—it was to get to the bottom of the matter.

He had two goals: first, to obtain the blood, and second, to find the Purple Blood Leech and ask it who had taken its blood all those years ago.

Having lived for over ten thousand years—despite spending most of that time preoccupied with romance—Chen Pingan had witnessed countless schemes and power struggles. He keenly sensed that the poisoning of his two former lovers was by no means a coincidence.

He was determined to unmask the mastermind!

Two days later.

The immortal vessel came to a halt in front of a thick bank of fog.

"We have arrived."

The Fu family ancestor felt a surge of joy. Just as he was about to raise the compass, a voice suddenly laughed from behind him.

"Fellow Daoist Fu, long time no see."

A middle-aged man in purple robes appeared out of thin air and landed on the immortal vessel.

"Ha, so it is Fellow Daoist Hong."

The Fu family ancestor smiled the moment he saw the man, cupping his hands in greeting. "It has been a century since we last parted. I never expected to see you again during this harvest of the mother blood."

Chen Pingan studied the man.

His cultivation was at the peak of the first level of the Void Spirit Realm, just like the Fu family ancestor, yet he possessed the aura of a superior, bearing the distinct air of a faction leader.

Hong Tianxiong cast a strange look at Chen Pingan, who appeared to be only at the Golden Body Realm, and laughed, "Fellow Daoist Fu, who is this beside you?"

"Ha, I forgot to introduce him. This is Fellow Daoist Wang, who also intends to join our Purple Blood God Sect."

The Fu family ancestor tapped his forehead and laughed awkwardly.

This Fellow Daoist Wang’s cultivation level was truly too conspicuous; a mere Golden Body Realm cultivator among a group of Void Spirit Realm experts was like a crane in a flock of chickens—it was impossible not to notice him.

Hearing this, Hong Tianxiong began to cough. "Fellow Daoist Fu, are you serious about Fellow Daoist Wang’s cultivation level?"

The Fu family ancestor’s face flushed. "Haha, do not take it at face value. Fellow Daoist Wang is a master; even I am no match for him."

"Very well."

Hong Tianxiong nodded helplessly, raised his compass, and with a flicker of his figure, flew into the fog.

The Fu family ancestor steered the vessel, gripped the compass, and plunged in as well.

After a dozen breaths, the fog suddenly vanished, and a vast mountain range came into view.

The immortal vessel flew over the mountains for the duration of an incense stick before heading toward a towering peak.

At the summit stood seven or eight purple palaces and an enormous plaza.

The vessel landed.

The Fu family ancestor and Chen Pingan walked toward the largest palace.

*Hum!*

An aura at the peak of the tenth level of the Void Spirit Realm erupted from Chen Pingan once more.

The Fu family ancestor felt a weight lift from his heart.

*This old thing is truly cunning, hiding his cultivation all the way here!* he cursed silently.

Arriving before the main hall, the Fu family ancestor bowed respectfully to an elderly man in purple robes standing at the entrance. "Elder Ouyang, I am here to introduce someone to join our Purple Blood God Sect."

"Fu Ying, is this person reliable?" Elder Ouyang asked indifferently.

"Extremely reliable," the Fu family ancestor smiled, a flash of cruelty crossing his eyes.

"Very well, follow me."

Elder Ouyang nodded, turned, and entered the hall, with the other two following closely behind.

The hall was vast, dim, and reeking of blood. A massive pool of purple blood caught Chen Pingan’s gaze.

Not far away, Hong Tianxiong held a purple gourd high above his head and said respectfully, "I humbly request the Sect Master to grant the mother blood."

*Splash!*

The pool water churned, and a thin stream of purple blood shot out, arcing through the air and into the gourd.

After receiving the mother blood, he suddenly tapped his chest, opened his mouth wide, and a large mouthful of purple blood flew into the pool.

"Is that not taking blood?" Chen Pingan asked.

The Fu family ancestor explained, "After receiving the mother blood, one must also offer one's own purple blood to the Sect Master."

Watching Hong Tianxiong’s aura weaken significantly, Chen Pingan nodded, seemingly understanding everything.

This evil method was so similar to how the Fu family ancestor controlled his own kin.

He quietly released his divine sense, but as soon as it reached the edge of the blood pool, it could go no further.

"You are a newcomer. You must follow the rules here; do not use your divine sense."

Elder Ouyang turned and gave him a sharp, warning glance.

Chen Pingan hurriedly agreed, accepting the instruction humbly.

The three walked over to Hong Tianxiong.

Hong Tianxiong smiled at the Fu family ancestor. "Ha, Fellow Daoist Fu, I have already received the mother blood, so I shall take my leave now."

With that, he strode out of the hall and vanished into the horizon in a flash.

Elder Ouyang looked at the Fu family ancestor. "Fu Ying, you take your blood first, and then I will teach him the Purple Blood Return to Origin Technique."

"Very well."

The Fu family ancestor, looking excited, produced a purple gourd and performed the same ritual as Hong Tianxiong.

A moment later, he had obtained the mother blood and donated his own.

Chen Pingan watched coldly, noting that the mother blood was deeper in color, its aura intense, with a faint, cloying fragrance.

"What is your name?" Elder Ouyang asked, looking at Chen Pingan while holding a purple gourd.

"Wang Ye," Chen Pingan replied.

Elder Ouyang held up the purple gourd and said with a solemn expression, "Disciple Guo Ying of the sect introduces the newcomer Wang Ye. I humbly request the Sect Master to grant the mother blood."

*Splash, splash...*

The pool water surged violently, the sound deafening, with an aura that seemed ready to erupt into the heavens.

Elder Ouyang’s expression changed instantly.

Something was wrong!

There was a serious problem with the newcomer recommended by Fu Ying; he had actually startled the sleeping Sect Master!