While Li Zheng was pondering, the black-faced elder continued to ramble on:
"...We cannot determine the true cultivation level of the master of the Black Evil Sect. He also has close guards like the Four Blood Attendants we encountered today. With just us, we are definitely no match for them. So I suggest, Senior, that you should not provoke them actively. It would be best to wait for reinforcements..."
"Rest assured, this Black Evil Sect master is at most at the late Foundation Establishment stage, not a Core Formation cultivator."
Han Li, who had been listening to the elder's words all along, suddenly interrupted with a very certain tone.
These words from Han Li stunned the black-faced elder for a moment, then brought him great joy. The others also showed expressions of great relief.
Although they didn't know why Han Li was so certain, since Senior Han said so, it was likely to be correct! Just now, the few of them were discussing that if the enemy turned out to be a Core Formation cultivator, they would have no choice but to flee with their tails between their legs! Even if the reinforcements from the Seven Sects arrived, they might not be able to do anything to the Black Evil Sect master.
Now that Han Li had said this, the Four Friends of Mengshan naturally felt much more at ease.
"Can Senior tell us more about this? The Manager Wang we interrogated knew nothing about the Black Evil Sect master's cultivation level!" The young man, who had recovered somewhat from Fifth Sister's blow, asked, wanting to understand clearly.
"Fourth Brother, what kind of talk is that? Since Senior Han said so, he must have absolute confidence." The black-faced elder, however, put on a stern face and scolded the young man sharply.
Hearing what the two had said, Han Li smiled slightly on his face and said calmly:
"There's nothing to keep secret about this! This information comes from the fact that this sect master still needs Foundation Establishment cultivators for blood sacrifice."
Han Li's voice was unhurried as he slowly explained:
"Although our Yellow Maple Valley doesn't involve much with demonic cultivation techniques, we do have some understanding of evil methods like blood sacrifice that force growth. This demonic art that absorbs the essence blood and cultivation of other cultivators to enhance one's own cultivation was once quite common among demonic sects. It can allow a cultivator to greatly increase their magic power in a very short time, eliminating most of the time needed for seated meditation and bitter cultivation. So there was a period in the cultivation world where not only demonic sects, but even many people from righteous sects secretly practiced this kind of technique."
Han Li sneered when he said this, a hint of mockery appearing at the corner of his mouth, then continued:
"But this kind of crazy cultivation method not only requires ruthlessly killing many other cultivators, but its flaws are also fatal. Not only is it only effective below the Foundation Establishment stage, but once one performs blood sacrifice, they are doomed to never achieve Core Formation in their life, and can only linger at the Foundation Establishment stage. Among the many cultivators who secretly practiced blood sacrifice demonic arts back then, not a single one ever succeeded in achieving Core Formation."
"Even worse, when absorbing others' magic power through blood sacrifice, backlash phenomena often occur, and one can easily die from qi deviation if not careful. Of course, the main reason this technique disappeared is that the act of devouring others' essence blood was too taboo for other cultivators. All who knew this demonic art were gradually exterminated by both righteous and demonic sects."
"However, later I heard that demonic sects couldn't bear to lose this means of rapidly increasing cultivation, so they created another cultivation method also called blood sacrifice. But this method no longer directly devours others' essence blood. Instead, it targets the soul and primordial spirit of cultivators. I've heard that although the cultivation improvement isn't as swift as the original blood sacrifice, it also avoids the dangers of being unable to achieve Core Formation and backlash. It's also known as soul sacrifice. Our sect's records don't mention much about soul sacrifice, only that since its creation, it has been kept in the hands of only a few high-ranking demonic sect members. Not allowing it to spread widely avoided it being banned by the cultivation world! Moreover, it's said that there are many other restrictions as well."
Han Li spoke so many secrets about blood sacrifice in one breath that it greatly opened the eyes of the Four Friends of Mengshan, who were loose cultivators. At the same time, they also understood why Han Li was so certain that the Black Evil Sect master was only at the Foundation Establishment level. Obviously, the blood sacrifice method used by the Black Evil Sect was precisely the first type of blood sacrifice.
"We've already figured out the general situation of the Black Evil Sect, but that bald giant escaped back. The people of the Black Evil Sect should also know our situation now. Will they immediately abandon their lair and run away? In that case, they would go from being in the open to being in the dark, which would be very disadvantageous for us." The second brother among the few suddenly thought of something and said worriedly.
"No, they won't! The Black Evil Sect won't flee immediately now. I learned from that little prince that the Black Evil Sect master is currently at a critical stage of secluded cultivation and must rely on a yin cave within the imperial palace to complete it. I heard that the sect master prepared for several years for this cultivation and definitely won't give up halfway. Most likely they are accumulating strength and tightening their defenses against us." Han Li's tone carried a bit more mockery towards the Black Evil Sect.
Hearing this, the Four Friends of Mengshan felt their spirits lift, and all showed slight expressions of excitement.
"Senior, then what should we do next..." After calming down, the black-faced elder asked:
"For now, we don't need to do anything. Just wait quietly for reinforcements! Although the other party knows our appearances, they don't know where we're hiding. Moreover, the person in charge of the affairs in the royal capital is our two captives. Even if the Black Evil Sect wants to find us now, they can't send any capable personnel. However, everyone should still be careful. Don't go out recently. Just stay in the manor and rest well. When the reinforcements arrive, we'll plan from there." Han Li reached out a hand to rub his nose, the corners of his mouth slightly curled up as he spoke, his two eyes narrowing into thin slits.
The seemingly smiling but not smiling expression on Han Li's face left the others in the room completely confused and bewildered.
...
The royal city of the Kingdom of Yue occupied one-fifth of the entire royal capital of Yue, but one-third of its area was completely taken up by the magnificent imperial palace.
Layer upon layer of exquisitely carved palace towers, countless elegantly shaped corridors of various sizes, and dazzling gardens decorated with exotic flowers and rare herbs meant that even young eunuchs and palace maids who had lived in the palace for several years still often experienced the comical situation of getting lost. This shows just how vast the Kingdom of Yue's imperial palace is!
Now it was deep in the night at the third watch, a time when the originally bustling palace with all kinds of eunuchs and palace maids coming and going had become heavily guarded with sentries every five steps and guards every ten steps.
Yet under such circumstances, there was a person completely wrapped from head to toe in a wide cloak, holding a golden command token, swaggering through layer upon layer of palace sentries to stand before a cold palace deep within the imperial grounds.
This person was extremely tall!
Gazing at the gloomy palace doors, the mysterious person suddenly threw off the cloak, revealing a large, shiny bald head - it was precisely the bald giant who had escaped from Han Li's grasp.
At this moment, he no longer had a demonic appearance but had recovered his original features. However, his face appeared pale with little blood, as if his vitality had been greatly damaged.
"Who?"
The bald giant had just taken two steps forward when an extremely cold voice came from inside through the palace doors.
"Ice Demon, it's me."
The bald giant answered without any courtesy, but his feet didn't stop at all as he walked a few steps to the front door.
"So it's Iron Net who went on the mission! But why are your steps unsteady and your breath weak? Did you, who claim your body is invulnerable to treasures and impervious to fire and water, suffer a great loss?" The icy voice said with some surprise, but then gloated with schadenfreude.
"Hmph, what do you know, you cold fellow! The guy I met this time was a tough one. Not just me, even if the two of us went together, we probably wouldn't have gained any advantage! If I hadn't been clever enough to transform into a Sha Demon in advance, I might have left my life there." The bald giant said with a cold sneer.
"You used Sha Demon transformation? No wonder your vitality is so damaged. Looks like if you don't cultivate bitterly for half a month, there's no hope of recovery! But to be able to force you into such a state, this opponent really isn't simple. Can you tell me about it first?" The Ice Demon's words revealed curiosity.
"I'll tell you in detail after I first report my crimes to the sect master! This time, even the sect master's nominal disciple fell into enemy hands. I don't know what punishment I'll receive!" The bald giant answered impatiently.
"Old Iron, you know as well as I do that we are different from the others, almost of one mind with the sect master. How could the sect master punish you severely? At most, he'll just lecture us!" The Ice Demon inside said dismissively.
But as the words fell, the originally tightly closed palace doors creaked open on their own, revealing an incomparably dark portal, like the gaping maw of a demon beast ready to swallow people whole.
But upon seeing this, the bald giant walked in without hesitation.
"Where are Green Pattern and Leaf Snake?"
As soon as the bald giant entered the palace doors, he casually asked towards a white figure on one side inside the door.
"They went to the Blood Prison to practice! Here, only I'm staying temporarily." This white figure in the shadows was indistinct and fluctuating, with faint white mist emanating from the whole body, making it impossible to see the figure's appearance clearly.
"Hmph, that Green Pattern guy is already at the mid Foundation Establishment stage, and still cultivates so diligently. Isn't he afraid of true essence backlash? But that Leaf Snake kid, when did he become so diligent!" The bald giant showed a look of astonishment and asked doubtfully.
"Don't be jealous when you hear this! That Leaf Snake said he seems to have sensed signs of entering the mid Foundation Establishment stage. Who told him to have such good natural talent? He can catch up to you and me without even cultivating. What can be done about that!" Although the Ice Demon's words advised the giant not to be jealous, his own words were full of sourness.