Stronger with Crimson Modifier

The severed edge was ragged and uneven, as if torn off by some great maw. It dripped with blood—a shocking, gruesome sight.

BUZZ!

At that moment, a golden Demon Infant, with only half its body remaining, shot out from the severed edge, frantically trying to escape.

However, before it could get far, the surrounding water suddenly churned. Amidst the surging currents, a black shadow flashed by like lightning.

In an instant, the half-corpse and the half-golden Demon Infant vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed.

Modification Points +467 (23%)

The River-Devouring Demon Monarch—who had cultivated for a thousand years, reached the Nascent Soul Realm, and ruled Tai Ze Lake for centuries—had fallen!

Hu Qi stood his ground, quietly absorbing the River-Devouring Demon Monarch’s memories.

Originally, the River-Devouring Demon Monarch had been nothing more than an ordinary Black Crocodile, not even qualified to be considered a Spirit Monster.

However, a certain object had awakened its intelligence and caused its Cultivation to skyrocket.

Within a thousand years, it had actually broken through to the Fifth Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm.

That object was the very thing before him, which the River-Devouring Demon Monarch had named the Dragon Blood Jade Bed.

At this thought, Hu Qi’s gaze shifted to the side.

It was an enormous Jade Bed, completely different from ordinary ones.

The Jade was filled with vein-like, blood-red threads. Strangely, these bloody veins seemed to be alive; staring at them for long enough revealed that they were constantly writhing.

Hu Qi walked over and gently placed his palm on the Jade Bed.

At the same time, his Demon Sense spread out like silken threads, penetrating the Jade Bed.

In an instant.

A deep roar echoed in his mind.

In a daze, he saw a golden True Dragon appear before him.

It fell from the sky.

Its body transformed into the Spirit Veins of Tai Ze Lake.

But a piece of its Essence Blood was preserved, having merged with a piece of Jade.

That piece of Jade was the very Jade Bed before him.

"So that’s how it is!"

Hu Qi’s eyes flickered.

’This Black Crocodile must have constantly absorbed the power of the Essence Blood within this Jade Bed to transform its own Physique.’

...

「Outside Swallow River Palace.」

Hong Yuan, who was waiting, suddenly saw the palace gates open.

The aura of a Nascent Element Realm cultivator rapidly approached, finally landing before him and taking the form of an old man with a sleazy face and a wispy mustache.

He recognized this person. He was a loach who had gained sentience through Cultivation, and his strength was at the very bottom among the Nascent Element Realm Demon Kings.

"Hehe, follow me. The Demon Monarch has summoned you!"

The old man grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

Hong Yuan’s eyes flickered. Though suspicious, he recalled Hu Qi’s earlier voice transmission and followed.

Soon, he was led to the entrance of a hall. The old man quietly retreated, leaving him alone.

Hong Yuan paused in thought for a moment, then stepped into the main hall.

The hall was vast and silent. A lone figure sat on the main throne—it was the ’River-Devouring Demon Monarch’.

However, Hong Yuan looked around but saw no sign of Hu Qi.

He was puzzled but didn’t let it show on his face, merely offering a respectful bow.

"Don’t be nervous. It’s me!"

Just then, the ’River-Devouring Demon Monarch’ spoke, his voice deep and familiar.

Hong Yuan looked up and saw that the other’s molten-gold eyes had transformed into Crimson vertical pupils—they were Hu Qi’s eyes!

Hong Yuan’s heart pounded. He understood instantly.

’His sworn brother had somehow replaced the River-Devouring Demon Monarch!’

’This meant that the River-Devouring Demon Monarch—who had cultivated for a thousand years and reached the Nascent Soul Realm—had been defeated by Hu Qi in such a short time!’

Before he could process this, Hu Qi waved his hand, and a streak of light shot over, landing in front of Hong Yuan.

"This is for you."

Hu Qi said coolly.

Hong Yuan looked and saw a fist-sized mass of writhing, bright red blood.

Flashes of golden light occasionally flickered within it.

Staring at the mass of blood, he felt an intense craving from deep within his body, as if the blood shared some mysterious connection with him.

He voiced this feeling, but Hu Qi didn’t explain much, only saying...

"This is True Dragon Essence Blood. You can refine it yourself."

’True Dragon Essence Blood?’

Hong Yuan’s heart shook violently.

"Thank you, Big Brother!"

His expression turned solemn, and he gave Hu Qi a formal, deep bow.

After Hong Yuan left, Hu Qi’s eyes grew pensive.

’According to fate, Hong Yuan is supposed to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm in three years.’

’But that should have been impossible. Now that he has this True Dragon Essence Blood, it actually makes sense.’

’If things had followed their normal course, Hong Yuan must have obtained the Essence Blood from the Dragon Blood Jade Bed somehow.’

’Are my actions now, in a way, also aligning with the trajectory of fate?’

He sat in the hall, his gaze profound, as if peering through the void to glimpse the great net of fate that enveloped the entire world.

...

「Three days later.」

It was a bright afternoon, and the accumulated snow was melting.

In a courtyard paved with blue bricks within the Wang Family residence, sunlight streamed through the gaps between branches, scattering flecks of gold across a catalpa wood Go board.

Wang Zhiyuan leaned against a woven bamboo armrest, his long fingers tapping lightly on the sandalwood Go bowl. His gaze fell upon Jin Ling’Er, who sat opposite him, lost in thought.

Her slender, pale fingers held a white stone, her brow furrowed slightly as she seemed to be weighing where to place it.

The shadows of the sun crept silently, the patterns of light on the blue bricks shifting by an inch.

Suddenly.

Wang Zhiyuan’s brow arched. With a flick of his wrist, the black stone between his fingertips shot forward with a whisper of wind, landing firmly on the Tengen point.

The corners of his lips lifted, and he let out a low chuckle.

"Ling’Er, I’ve won again!"

The clear click of the stone against the board echoed in the courtyard.

Jin Ling’Er looked up, her gaze meeting Wang Zhiyuan’s.

She saw the boyishly proud curve of his lips as the light and shadows cast a shifting pattern across the lapels of his dark robes.

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