"Chi Xue, you..."

"Enough. No need to say more!"

Chi Xue Dao Master interrupted Jun Baimu directly.

Jun Baimu showed a bitter smile, bowed respectfully to the sky, and said nothing further.

"Dao Master Chi Xue actually isn’t interested? But, refusing me in front of so many people, surely he won’t go back on his word!"

In his view, such a powerhouse is as good as his word; now that he’s rejected the Jun Family, if he appears with another faction later, that would be a slap in the Jun Family’s face.

Jun Baimu didn’t think Dao Master Chi Xue would do something so irrational.

On the other side, Xu Yang silently thought, just as expected.

Shi Hu really had guessed Jun Baimu’s purpose right.

Though none of this had anything to do with him or the War King Family.

Xu Yang only glanced once before withdrawing his gaze, silently working to restore his body.

This injury was even worse than before!

Still, once he recovered, his physical body would advance tremendously.

And there was still that drop of divine blood from the Blood Ming Divine Sparrow.

He had to admit, this journey to Chi Xue’s Dao Field had benefited him greatly!

"Xu Yang, how are you doing now?" Shi Hu walked over, a little worried.

"I’ll definitely recover before it starts," Xu Yang sighed with a smile.

"That’s good!"

Shi Hu felt a weight lift off his heart.

After all, Xu Yang was now the War King Family’s best hope for a good result—he couldn’t afford to get hurt.

Immediately, Shi Hu sat in meditation nearby to stand guard for Xu Yang, and to digest his own gains as well.

The rest, some left directly, while others, like the pair, stayed at the outskirts to settle their minds.

Jun Baimu glanced at Xu Yang, then drifted off with Yai Ruotong.

The plaza quickly fell silent.

With the Divine Sparrow’s breath finished, no one felt like talking; those who remained all went back to cultivating.

As time passed, more and more martial artists gradually dispersed.

Three days later, only Xu Yang and Shi Hu remained nearby.

Swoosh!

Two figures suddenly descended from the sky, without the slightest attempt to hide themselves.

Xu Yang and Shi Hu instantly opened their eyes.

The newcomers were none other than Xuesheng and Chi Ling, the two child attendants.

"Mr. Xu, the Divine Sparrow requests your presence."

Xuesheng looked at Xu Yang with unconcealed envy.

Hearing this, Shi Hu was dumbfounded: "The Divine Sparrow wants to see you?"

He practically thought he’d misheard, spun around to stare at Xu Yang: "Did you make some kind of deal with the Divine Sparrow earlier?"

No wonder he’d think that way.

First, Xu Yang had been given a drop of divine blood; now the Divine Sparrow wanted a meeting with him—if there wasn’t something fishy going on, he found it hard to believe!

But seeing Xu Yang’s face full of bewildered surprise, Shi Hu froze. What was going on?

Was there really nothing strange?

"May I ask why the Divine Sparrow wants to see me?" Xu Yang asked warily, unable to calm his heart.

What could such a powerful being want with him?

"That I don’t know." Xuesheng shook his head with a bitter smile.

Xu Yang’s expression flickered, then he rose slowly, nodding at them.

"Shi Hu, wait here for me."

Shi Hu hesitated to speak, but in the end silently nodded.

Then Xu Yang, supporting his weak body, followed Xuesheng across the plaza, down a small path toward the depths.

A short while later.

They arrived at the edge of a valley, surrounded on three sides by endless, ancient green woods.

"Mr. Xu, the Divine Sparrow is waiting inside."

Xuesheng pointed toward the valley, then turned and left.

Xu Yang, full of doubt, walked slowly into the valley.

The first thing he saw was a vast pool of blood. Within the pool surged mighty bloodwater, its surface covered in a dense mass of scarlet blood feathers, as though layered with glowing plumage—strangely eerie.

At the same time, an astonishing aura rushed toward him.

Xu Yang grunted low.

Three days weren’t nearly enough for much recovery from his wounds.

Facing such terrifying pressure, his physical body even showed faint signs of splitting apart.

Xu Yang forced down his pounding heart, shifting his gaze.

On a block of blood-red jade by the blood pool, stood a petite sparrow, only a few feet tall.

Compared to the form revealed by the Blood Ming Divine Sparrow earlier, this was clearly much smaller.

Its entire aura was sealed away, seeming completely harmless!

But Xu Yang didn’t dare think so. He straightened his expression, respectfully saying, "Xu Yang pays his respects to the Divine Sparrow."

The Divine Sparrow looked up and down at Xu Yang, speaking in human language: "You’re very special!"

Xu Yang paused, special?

He couldn’t help recalling the Divine Cauldron, Divine Fire and other unique things.

He really was quite special.

But what did the Divine Sparrow mean?

"This blood pool is called the Blood Feather Spirit Pool. It was born from the blood feathers I shed while cultivating, packed with vital energy. It can help you restore your body and strengthen your physique!"

"Once you emerge from the pool, you’ll be able to refine that drop of divine blood I gave you."

After finishing, the Divine Sparrow closed its eyes.

Xu Yang blinked, even more baffled.

Giving me a boon?

Was it because they felt they’d gone too far earlier, so now were compensating me?

Other than that, Xu Yang truly couldn’t think of anything else.

After a moment’s thought, Xu Yang hurriedly said, "Thank you, Senior!"

Seeing the Divine Sparrow still acting oblivious, Xu Yang took a deep breath and stopped thinking about it.

He couldn’t figure it out!

Besides, he didn’t worry that the Blood Ming Divine Sparrow harbored evil intent!

After all, the War King Family weren’t pushovers either.

The Blood Ming Divine Sparrow might be powerful, but it certainly wasn’t reckless!

With that, Xu Yang gazed at the blood pool, eyes burning with excitement.

Upon approaching the edge, the intimidating aura grew even heavier, oppressive to the extreme!

Xu Yang frowned slightly. Am I really fit to handle this right now?

Might get torn to shreds the moment I step in.

He glanced back at the Blood Ming Divine Sparrow, seemingly asleep, and couldn’t help but smile wryly.

Since it said so, it should be safe.

With that thought, Xu Yang gritted his teeth, braced himself, and leaped in headfirst. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Splash!

Blood water surged all around.

The instant he entered the blood pool, Xu Yang’s eyes went wide.

The aura had felt utterly terrifying, but once he was submerged, he didn’t feel any violent or crushing force at all.

On the contrary, the sensation was unusually gentle!

It was as if he were soaking in some warm, miraculous elixir, the feeling truly incredible.

Next came pure ecstasy.

He quickly dropped all resistance, pores opening fully, letting the vast, gentle energy flood into him, washing through his bones, flooding him with astonishing nourishment.

Xu Yang only felt every bone in his body tremble and tingle, a hint of pain rapidly drowned out by bliss.

His miserable body, riddled with wounds, began to heal at a pace visible even to the naked eye.

Blood feathers swirling on the surface started to glow, drifting in from all sides.

In moments, he was completely enveloped in blood feathers, as if swathed in a huge cocoon of scarlet.

The valley lay utterly still.

At one moment...

A shadow appeared out of nowhere.

The newcomer was clad in black robes, tall and imposing, his face chiseled like a blade.

Standing upon empty air, yet it was as if he didn’t belong to this world at all.

The Divine Sparrow, who had been sitting with eyes closed, suddenly opened his gaze at the middle-aged man.

"This kid is truly something, but you really mean to follow him there?" Chi Xue Dao Master glanced at Xu Yang, then looked at the Divine Sparrow, frowning.

"You’re scared, but I’m not," the Divine Sparrow replied blandly.

Chi Xue Dao Master gave a bitter smile: "He’s not a good choice at all—he’s a vortex!"

"Not just anyone can become a ’vortex’. There’s something strange about him. Maybe there’ll be a surprise gain." The Divine Sparrow narrowed his eyes. "If things go wrong, that’s my own business."

"It’s been a thousand years. Ever since I reached this realm, being trapped any longer and I’ll go crazy."

"But, you really won’t gamble a bit? What if opportunity does come?" The Divine Sparrow asked Chi Xue Dao Master in return.