"Blood Refining Ancestor, for a mighty Primordial Ocean Realm expert such as yourself to use such a despicable scheme to trick us into killing each other—won’t you lose all face if word of this gets out?" Realizing this was a death trap, a Martial Artist at the Ninth Layer of the Opening Realm spoke up. At the Ninth Layer of the Opening Realm, he was the one with the highest cultivation among the crowd.

At this moment, regret washed over everyone’s faces. Their earlier infighting had played right into the Blood Refining Ancestor’s trap. The field of corpses was a testament to their own foolishness.

Hearing this, the Blood Refining Ancestor’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. He simply smiled and replied, "Little one, that little trick won’t work on me. None of you are leaving here alive today."

"It’s rather shameful to admit," he began, "but even though I’m a Primordial Ocean Realm expert, I can’t reign supreme in the Mysterious City. I’m not guaranteed to win a fight against the other two, so within the city walls, I naturally have to show them some respect. However, since you all left the city on your own accord, my hands are no longer tied. For the sake of my disciple, you will all contribute your blood."

The Blood Refining Ancestor revealed the truth without reservation. He truly wasn’t the strongest in the Mysterious City. Everyone knew that the Mysterious City had three great Primordial Ocean Realm experts. The Blood Refining Ancestor was merely one of them, and the other two were by no means weaker than him.

As the Blood Refining Ancestor’s voice fell, the faces of the several dozen survivors turned pale. They weren’t getting out of this today. It was all because of their own greed.

They had heard news of the Essence-Raising Fruit and rushed here without even considering if it was true or false, even fighting viciously amongst themselves. Now, they had fallen completely into someone else’s hands.

Looking at their bloodless faces, the Blood Refining Ancestor gave a sinister smile. "Alright, then. For my disciple’s sake, you have no other choice. Now, allow me to send you on your way."

As he spoke, the Blood Refining Ancestor struck out with his palm. Instantly, a colossal, blood-red handprint materialized in the air and descended, enveloping everyone.

"Blood Refining Ancestor, don’t kill me! I’ll give you Low Grade Primordial Stones! I have two Low Grade Primordial Stones on me, you can have them all!"

"Blood Refining Ancestor, you can’t kill me! I’m with the Iron Blood Gang! If you kill me, our leader won’t let you get away with it!"

Facing the Blood Refining Ancestor’s killing blow, everyone screamed in terror. They were no match for a Primordial Ocean Realm expert, and now there wasn’t even a chance to run.

"Hmph. We are not inside the Mysterious City now. Even Iron Blood can’t save you." The Blood Refining Ancestor snorted coldly when someone mentioned the Iron Blood Gang.

The Iron Blood Gang was the number one faction in the Mysterious City, and its leader, Iron Blood, was one of the city’s three great Primordial Ocean Realm experts.

BOOM! The giant blood-red palm slammed into the ground. Unsurprisingly, the fate of the several dozen people was sealed. All of them died at the hands of the Blood Refining Ancestor.

In a single strike, he had killed dozens of Opening Realm Martial Artists. At this point, aside from Lin Yun and his two companions, every other Opening Realm Martial Artist was dead.

"Disciple, activate the Blood Refining Technique. Absorb their Essence Blood. It will surely allow your Blood Refining Technique to advance another level." After killing all those people, the Blood Refining Ancestor’s expression remained unchanged as he spoke nonchalantly to the Blood Refining Young Master by his side.

Hearing this, the Blood Refining Young Master did as he was told and sat down on the spot. Chains formed of bloody energy emerged from his body. Like tentacles, these chains frenziedly absorbed the surrounding blood.

This was the blood of Opening Realm Martial Artists, several times more potent than that of ordinary people.

As the blood flowed continuously into the Blood Refining Young Master, his aura began to surge, rising from the Early Stage of the Fifth Layer of the Opening Realm all the way to the Peak of the Fifth Layer of Opening Realm.

The blood entered the Blood Refining Young Master’s body. Most of it went to enhancing his Blood Refining Technique, with only a small portion raising the Blood Refining Young Master’s cultivation.

In less than half an hour, the blood of several hundred people was completely drained by the Blood Refining Young Master. The desiccated corpses made the area look like a Land of Death.

Closing his eyes to cultivate, the Blood Refining Young Master’s Blood Refining Technique was on the verge of a breakthrough. With the blood of so many Martial Artists, breaking through would not be too difficult.

The Blood Refining Ancestor simply stood aside, watching quietly.

’What an evil Cultivation Technique. I was right. This master and disciple duo obviously planned this death trap well in advance. I can’t stay here. I have to leave, quickly.’ Lin Yun, who had been hiding in the distance, watched the pair, not daring to make the slightest sound for fear of being discovered.

Intent on escaping, Lin Yun began to slowly move backward. At the same time, the Monk and Daoist, having also witnessed the evil of the Blood Refining Technique, also started to slowly back away.

After backing away for several hundred meters, Lin Yun was now over a thousand meters away from the Blood Refining Ancestor and his disciple. At this point, Lin Yun spun around and bolted. If not now, when?

The burst of Elemental Power from his sprint instantly alerted the Blood Refining Ancestor to the presence of Lin Yun’s group of three. A bloodthirsty smile crept onto his lips. "I didn’t expect there to be three fish that escaped the net."

"Disciple, focus on your breakthrough here. Master will be right back." After saying this to the Blood Refining Young Master, the Blood Refining Ancestor instantly shot into the air, chasing after Lin Yun and the other two.

This was the second time Lin Yun had been pursued by a Primordial Ocean Realm expert, but this time was clearly more dangerous than the last. After all, last time, the old man skilled in Arrays had bought him some time.

In just a few breaths, the Blood Refining Ancestor had already caught up to Lin Yun. Seeing that Lin Yun’s cultivation was only at the Second Layer of the Opening Realm, a trace of disappointment flickered across the Blood Refining Ancestor’s face. His Realm was too low; his blood would be of little use.

"Boy, stop right there and I’ll give you a quick death," the Blood Refining Ancestor said nonchalantly to Lin Yun.

In his eyes, killing a mere pipsqueak at the Second Layer of the Opening Realm like Lin Yun was more trouble than it was worth. If not for the fact that he couldn’t let word of today’s events get out, the Blood Refining Ancestor wouldn’t even have bothered to chase him.

The Blood Refining Ancestor was relaxed, but a cold sweat had already broken out on Lin Yun. The aura of a Primordial Ocean Realm expert was locked onto him, making Lin Yun feel as if he were being stalked by a ferocious beast.

’My luck is terrible. Do I have some kind of grudge against Primordial Ocean Realm experts? In just two short months, I’ve been chased by them twice.’ Lin Yun lamented inwardly. Was his fate really so tragic?

Other Opening Realm cultivators might not even see a Primordial Ocean Realm expert in their entire lives, yet he, at a mere Second Layer of the Opening Realm, had already been pursued by three of them on two separate occasions.

But no matter what, it was impossible for Lin Yun to surrender without a fight. As long as there was a sliver of hope, he would not give up.

Without a word, Lin Yun just put his head down and ran for his life, his mind racing for a way out. In terms of speed alone, he definitely couldn’t escape. He had to think of a plan to get away.

Lin Yun ran with all his might, while the Blood Refining Ancestor followed unhurriedly behind. The scene looked just like a hawk toying with a rabbit.