Within the command center buried deep in the mountain's belly, Xin Jia used his unique abilities to carve out a small isolation chamber for Gu Xiechen. The chamber, several zhang wide and long, contained only a rush-mat cushion. The walls and ceiling were inlaid with three hundred and sixty top-grade energy crystals, which Xin Jia had collected from the Zakla crystal vein using his Earth Evasion technique. The intense surge of energy saturated the room, the thick, white aura almost liquefying, completely enveloping Gu Xiechen, who sat cross-legged on the cushion, from the neck down in a milky fog.

This unprecedented spectacle failed to capture Gu Xiechen’s attention; his entire focus was fixed on the damaged Nine Dragon Censer in his hands.

The Nine Dragon Censer was forged from some unknown, rare metal, with nine spiraling dragons entwined around its body, forming an arcane seal. It must have been some accident—a broken horn on one of the dragons, perhaps—that damaged the seal, allowing the essence of the Drought Demon blood within to leak out, which is how Ruan Hua discovered it. Ruan Hua had employed every means possible to obtain the Censer, but in the end, Gu Xiechen ended up benefiting from the fallout.

"Three drops of Drought Demon essence blood—a legendary substance. That dead zombie Ruan Hua consumed it and not only survived but actually enhanced his power. But if I, a living man, absorb it, won't I turn into a zombie?"

Three drops of thumb-sized golden liquid hovered before Gu Xiechen, spinning rapidly. Waves of scorching air continuously jetted from the drops, causing sweat to drench Gu Xiechen’s body. He could sense the incredible, boundless power contained within the three drops, but their origin was so utterly bizarre and unpredictable that Gu Xiechen felt quite uneasy.

Gu Xiechen casually tossed the Nine Dragon Censer aside. Xin Jia, ever observant, quickly scooped up the Censer that Gu Xiechen hadn't spared a glance for and tucked it into his battle skirt. Xin Jia beamed at Gu Xiechen, his fingers constantly stroking the iron chains wrapped around his waist. “The Honored Superior is so generous; to just discard a treasure forged from ancient divine iron like that! Hehe, lucky me! Ah, the Honored Superior is the Honored Superior; he’s seen too many treasures to care about a mere cup!”

Gu Xiechen was oblivious to Xin Jia’s petty machinations. To him, a broken sealing vessel held little value; he was solely preoccupied with the three drops of Drought Demon essence blood before him.

The heat radiating from the essence blood intensified, gradually giving Gu Xiechen the illusion that his entire body was catching fire. Fortunately, his Daoist robe and crane cloak constantly emitted a soft, warm sheen of water light that encircled him, neutralizing ninety percent of the heat from the essence blood. Otherwise, with his mortal flesh, Gu Xiechen would have been roasted by the three drops.

Beyond the terrifying thermal waves, the essence blood also continuously diffused a vast life aura. If Gu Xiechen closed his eyes, he would have sworn he wasn't looking at three drops of blood, but three living beings—beings whose life signatures were far greater than Xin Jia's. The essence blood of a Drought Demon was truly extraordinary; just three drops held a vitality unimaginable to ordinary people.

“Hmm, Xin Jia, give the cup back. I’m not ready to take them yet.”

After much deliberation, Gu Xiechen abandoned the thought of consuming the three drops of essence blood. This was undoubtedly an exceedingly rare treasure, yet Gu Xiechen harbored a persistent suspicion that absorbing it would turn him into a zombie like Ruan Hua. Gu Xiechen was quite content with his own race and currently had no desire to forsake his humanity for undeath.

Xin Jia’s face darkened. He was just reaching reluctantly toward his battle skirt to fondle the Nine Dragon Censer when Gu Xiechen’s heart suddenly began to pound violently.

Twelve hundred beats per minute—an unprecedented, frantic speed. Vast surges of energy erupted one after another from his Dao Embryo. The pure energy was so overwhelming that even Gu Xiechen’s innate Gang Qi couldn't control it. These energies flooded his entire body, and an instinctual craving surged out from the Dao Embryo, a ravenous desire that instantly turned Gu Xiechen’s eyes blood red.

Rolling waves of sinister Qi sprayed from Gu Xiechen’s pores—the unrefined Qi emanating from a certain unfortunate Vampire Prince contained within his Dao Embryo. Curiously, this Qi also held an extremely pure Daoist essence. The unique mixture of sinister energy and Daoist breath coalesced into a thin, light red mist that enveloped the three drops of Drought Demon essence blood. The three drops seemed like sentient creatures; sensing the kindred, strange aura radiating from Gu Xiechen, they cheered with delight and flashed into three streams of red light, plunging into Gu Xiechen’s body.

One drop merged into Gu Xiechen’s glabella; a rolling torrent of heat poured into his Zifu Sea of Consciousness like a waterfall inverted from the heavens.

One drop merged into his sternum; a powerful, violent surge of heat, like a breaking tide, flooded the bones and flesh throughout his body.

One drop merged into his Dantian; streams of potent power, like liquid mercury, instantly coursed through the energy meridians of his body.

It was as if hundreds of small suns exploded sequentially inside Gu Xiechen. His soul origin expanded rapidly, his physical functions sharply increased, and his innate Gang Qi soared at a terrifying speed. Essence, Qi, and Spirit all surged across the board. Gu Xiechen’s body ballooned by several rings with a dull crack.

The Dao Embryo’s pulsations grew faster and faster. The zombie essence within the three drops of essence blood was continuously absorbed by the Dao Embryo, converted into the unique nourishment it required, further strengthening it.

Gu Xiechen instinctively activated the Marrow Cleansing chapter of the Hanyuan True Canon. The surging energy within him, mixed with his innate Gang Qi, transformed into fine, wispy mist that seeped through his bones and into the marrow, slowly refining and restructuring its composition. An intense, piercing itch originated from within every bone. The previously loose bone marrow gradually became dense and solid. Nourished by the vast vitality contained within the Drought Demon essence blood, Gu Xiechen’s marrow slowly transformed into something resembling top-grade mutton-fat jade, becoming pure white and translucent, while all acquired impurities were slowly squeezed out through the bone crevices.

Thick, reddish-brown viscous fluid continuously seeped out from Gu Xiechen’s pores. These impurities from the bone marrow carried a strong, bloody scent, causing Xin Jia, standing in the corner of the chamber, to quickly retreat a few steps.

In just twelve short hours, fueled by the massive energy of the three drops of Drought Demon essence blood, Gu Xiechen’s Marrow Cleansing technique reached Great Completion. Driven by his will, the newly formed marrow ceaselessly manufactured new blood. This new blood was no longer the usual bright red but a delicate pink tinged with a magnificent jade-white hue. The fresh blood continuously flowed into his body, gradually mixing with his old blood.

The surging energy within his body had not diminished in the slightest; the energy contained in the three drops of Drought Demon essence blood was practically inexhaustible. Just as Gu Xiechen was about to press his advantage and continue cultivating the Blood Filling chapter of the Hanyuan True Canon, his Dao Embryo suddenly began to madly plunder the surging energy in his body. Saturated with zombie Qi, the Dao Embryo possessed an astonishing suction force. In just a few breaths, seventy percent of the heat within Gu Xiechen was drained away. A dazzling ball of red light pierced through Gu Xiechen’s heart, radiating outwards. This ball of light was as scorching as a miniature sun, causing the temperature in the chamber to soar, making even Xin Jia break out in a few beads of sweat.

As the Dao Embryo initiated its action, Gu Xiechen panicked: “If you drain all the essence blood, what will I use?”

The thought barely formed when the soul origin in Gu Xiechen’s Zifu Sea of Consciousness instantly transformed into a vast, pervasive purple net that swept over his entire being. The remaining thirty percent of the energy was completely sucked dry by Gu Xiechen’s soul origin, which then rapidly expanded as if it were a rising steamed bun.

The three hundred and sixty inlaid upper-grade Zakla crystals simultaneously expelled wisps of mist. Gu Xiechen’s body acted like a sponge, continuously inhaling the mist.

With a resounding boom in the Zifu Sea of Consciousness, Gu Xiechen felt his body lighten; he seemed to have arrived in some vast, boundless void. Ahead, a massive Tai Chi vortex slowly spun, while the surrounding stellar bodies shone with blinding light. Dozens of faint golden points of light surrounding the Tai Chi vortex suddenly flared brightly, and another large portion of Gu Xiechen’s soul origin was instantly torn away. His expanding soul origin was a hundred times more powerful than it had been before he summoned Xin Jia, yet at this moment, ninety percent of his current soul origin was ripped apart, transforming into pure soul energy that surged toward the Tai Chi vortex.

Gu Xiechen screamed out in pain, clutching his head and writhing wildly on the ground. Dazzling beams of light continuously poured into his body from the three hundred and sixty Zakla crystals.

Xin Jia suddenly sensed that something was terribly wrong. He thrust both hands outward, and the chamber, previously several zhang square, violently expanded tenfold in size.

Purple lights flickered continuously around Gu Xiechen, and from these lights, towering figures, about two meters tall, stepped out one after another. These figures were initially somewhat hazy and illusory, but they instinctively began to absorb the energy from the Zakla energy crystals, quickly solidifying their bodies until they were indistinguishable from living men.

These figures were all imposing, radiating confidence, their eyes sharp like lightning bolts, their build sturdy and majestic like lions. They wore moon-white battle robes and moon-white combat boots, the robes and boots embroidered densely with cloud patterns. Their chests were adorned with silver thread depicting a silver leopard with double wings, swooping down. Each one was awe-inspiring and extraordinary.

Exactly one hundred such figures stepped out from the purple light. Once their physical forms solidified, they all saw Xin Jia.

With a resounding bang, the isolation chamber nearly collapsed. One hundred figures simultaneously knelt on one knee, cupped their fists toward Xin Jia, and saluted: “General Xin Jia!”

Xin Jia grinned widely and roared with laughter, “Hahahaha! Our contingent of brothers is finally reunited today! Hahahaha! Everyone, quickly pay your respects to the Honored Superior!”

The figures stood up in perfect unison. They bowed respectfully to Gu Xiechen, who was huddled on the ground clutching his head and shivering, and shouted in unison, “We greet the Honored Superior!”

The sound was deep and thunderous, sending another sharp wave of pain through Gu Xiechen’s skull. He stared dazedly at the figures before him, silent for a long moment.

Xin Jia cheerfully smiled at Gu Xiechen, “Honored Superior, these are the men under my command, who once guarded the Southern Heavenly Gate...”

Gu Xiechen abruptly raised his right hand and waved it gently: “Oh, I get it. Don’t elaborate. These are your underlings? Then they are my underlings. No need for explanations; my head hurts terribly right now.”

Xin Jia immediately fell silent. Gu Xiechen stood up, took a deep breath, and slowly moved his body. His spiritual power was unprecedentedly strong; Gu Xiechen even felt his IQ had multiplied several times over. His soul origin was ten times stronger than before he summoned Xin Jia, so his external spiritual power must have increased by more than ten times, right? Gu Xiechen’s eyes focused, and an invisible psychic shockwave shot out. The cushion on the floor was instantly lifted a mu into the air with a whoosh before slamming back down heavily.

Mental control of objects—this was the preliminary skill of an esper!

××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××

It’s raining heavily back home; we’ve been dry for so long, finally, some rain...

Well, the sound of thunder is a bit too loud, a little scary. Pig Head has always been afraid of using wireless internet, so this laptop got shaken up and broken...

Uh, no more nonsense. Keep smashing those recommendation votes and promoting!

Want to know the special skills of those one hundred men? Keep recommending and voting!