Chapter 171

Chapter 171: Path of the Saint’s Blood

Ye Kuanglan had come for revenge.

Outside the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins, rivers of blood flowed, and mountains of corpses piled up. This battle made everyone in the Southern Region realize that aside from the Vast Forest and Zhang Yang, there was another formidable figure—Ye Kuanglan.

Many were left in shock, wondering if he intended to completely overturn the balance of the Southern Region.

The Vast Forest’s ascension to a sacred land had undoubtedly disrupted the existing order, but it was still just an undercurrent brewing beneath the surface. If the Lingxiao Sacred Place, the most powerful force in the Eastern Domain, were to intervene, it would truly unleash a storm.

For a time, the Southern Region was engulfed in strange and unpredictable turmoil.

Inside the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins, however, it remained relatively calm.

Zhang Yang was already aware of everything happening outside.

Able to communicate with the outside world, he had promptly received word from the Vast Forest about Chi Zhenyi asserting his dominance. He was also informed that Yuluan, leading the Snow Guards, and Lang Xiaotian, leading a portion of the Wolf King Guard Squad, were on their way to assist in the battle at the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins.

Now that they had become a sacred land, they could finally move openly without fear.

Zhang Yang, too, had not been idle. He had tasked Flower Phantom and Yi Ren Zui with finding a way to leave the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins without using the main entrance.

He planned to secretly venture out to undergo his tribulation and then return.

If others discovered his plans, they would undoubtedly interfere with his tribulation.

His first attempt at undergoing tribulation had been thwarted, making this next attempt far more critical—he could not afford even the slightest mistake.

Yi Ren Zui’s talent for intelligence gathering was widely acknowledged.

Flower Phantom’s abilities were no less impressive; she even possessed a unique treasure, the Crystal Mirror, specifically designed for gathering information.

Together, they managed to uncover a secret exit—a place tainted by saint’s blood, which prevented the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins from sealing it off.

The location was extremely well-hidden, and more importantly, anyone who approached would be met with an overwhelming Holy Intention, akin to the aura of the path of the dead saint or the seven-colored soil. As a result, even those aware of the danger dared not approach, even if they were at the Eighth Level of Ascending to Heaven.

Zhang Yang, however, with his mysterious bloodline, felt no fear.

He secretly made his way out.

Meanwhile, inside the ruins, Flower Phantom and Yi Ren Zui collaborated to spread rumors that Zhang Yang was amassing forces to prepare for an attack on Phoenix City.

The Ghost City had been destroyed, but Phoenix City still stood.

This news immediately stirred panic within the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins, creating a tense atmosphere as many forces hostile to the Vast Forest began to gather in Phoenix City, awaiting the impending battle.

Unbeknownst to them, Zhang Yang had already entered the mysterious passage.

The passage was nestled within a small mountain forest, inconspicuous yet easily discoverable.

However, no one dared to approach.

Long before anyone arrived, their families and sects had warned them of the many forbidden areas within the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins, such as the path of the dead saint, the corpse of the hundred-meter giant, and the seven-colored soil. Despite the warnings, those who ignored them met their inevitable demise.

The Holy Intention here was as formidable as that of the seven-colored soil from before.

Zhang Yang remained cautious.

Just as before, when the Holy Intention struck, it stirred his bloodline, causing his vital energy to surge and instantly quell the Holy Intention.

What was most remarkable was that this time, his bloodline faintly revealed its mysterious power, stronger than ever, directly suppressing the Holy Intention.

This allowed him to step forward confidently, quickly making his way through the crack in the small mountain.

The mountain was not large, but the crack extended deep underground.

Inside the crack, a heart-stopping Holy Might surged, fierce and devastating. At a glance, the not-yet-fully-dried saint’s blood revealed scenes of saints being slain, indicating that this blood was indeed mixed with the chaotic power of the saints, and it carried a palpable killing intent.

Only with Zhang Yang’s mysterious bloodline could he resist it; otherwise, he would not have stood a chance.

He walked deeper into the crack.

The crack was long.

As he advanced, he realized that it seemed to have been created by a saint.

Zhang Yang remained cautious. He understood well that delving into matters related to saints, especially the fall of a saint, could easily lead to unexpected and terrifying events. He could not act recklessly just because he possessed a mysterious bloodline.

At the same time, he also harbored the thought of using this place’s uniqueness to deeply comprehend the path of a saint.

At present, he had only a shallow understanding of the path of a saint, and he intended to use this opportunity to sharpen his skills, deepen his knowledge, and strive to reach a certain level of enlightenment. In doing so, he aimed to elevate his soul power martial arts techniques to the level of holy power martial arts techniques. At that time, he would gain absolute dominance over his only rival, the Seventh Prince.

Comprehending the path of a saint was a long journey. With his current level—not yet having entered the Ascending to Heaven realm—even with unparalleled talent and perception, it remained quite difficult.

Fortunately, he had gained a hint of insight earlier, laying a foundation upon which he could delve deeper little by little.

The narrow passage was stained with saint’s blood, and the Holy Intention was particularly strong. Coupled with the stirring of his bloodline, it gradually allowed Zhang Yang to gain some insights.

When he reached the end of the passage, three hours had already passed.

He had reaped many benefits and did not immediately exit. Instead, he sat at the end of the passage, continuing to contemplate, striving to gain as much as possible.

Thus, he remained in closed-door training for a full day.

After a day, he finally opened his eyes, his face filled with joy.

"This time, I have truly established a foundation for the elevation of soul power to holy power."

"Perhaps, when the opportunity arises, I will complete the transformation."

He understood that there were still some shortcomings, so he couldn’t hope to accomplish it immediately. However, he was already very satisfied with what he had achieved.

On the immortal path, the second level—the first calamity of the destined three calamities—the Ascending to Heaven Calamity!

If he did not undergo this calamity, he would never have the possibility of entering the Ascending to Heaven realm.

He took a deep breath and stepped out of the passage.

Outside, the sky stretched wide and clear.

No longer was he obstructed by the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins.

Looking back, he saw that the ruins were three to five kilometers away.

The vicinity was empty and eerily quiet.

Mountains and forests stretched into the distance, accompanied only by the occasional cries of birds and beasts.

He looked up at the sky.

There was no need for special effort or practice—he immediately sensed the faint heavenly pressure, as if the heavens had rediscovered him.

He knew that even without training, the overwhelming depth of his Nine Extremes True Essence made him feel even stronger than those in the Ascending to Heaven realm. Given time, the heavenly tribulations would descend upon him autonomously.

Thus, he needed to find a secluded place quickly.

It was crucial to stay far from bustling areas and ensure that he remained undiscovered.

Without hesitation, he employed the Three Steps of Mountains and Rivers and dashed forward.

This place was still too close to the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins. If the heavenly tribulation descended here, it would not go unnoticed.

After running a hundred miles, he was surprised to sense subtle fluctuations emanating from the ground ahead—oddly similar to the feeling of the heavenly tribulation in the sky.

How strange!

Could there also be a heavenly tribulation from the earth?

With questions swirling in his mind, he headed straight toward the source of that sensation.

Before long, he arrived at a massive valley.

Strangely, black lightning currents swirled within the valley.

"How odd… How could this be here?"

"When the first Ascending to Heaven calamity is triggered, the affected area should be limited. It shouldn’t… Oh, I see! When the power of the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins exploded, the lightning calamity must have scattered in all directions. It’s not surprising that some of it landed here. But why has it remained? By now, it should have long since dissipated."

Filled with curiosity, he observed the phenomenon closely and finally uncovered the uniqueness of this place.