Chapter 30. Refinement, Great Luo Sword Qi, Golden Divine Blood Emerges

The method to fuse with the Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda was simple. A blood sacrifice was required to establish resonance.

Lu Yuan picked up a kitchen knife and sliced at his palm. But after several attempts, he could only sigh in frustration. The blade was perfect for chopping fruit and vegetables, but the moment it touched his skin, a sharp metallic clang rang out—and the edge curled instantly.

It was useless; his body had become far too tough. His skin was like forged steel now. Even bullets couldn't pierce through it, let alone a flimsy kitchen knife. If he pressed any harder, the entire blade would probably snap.

With no other option, Lu Yuan turned his eyes toward the Great Luo Sword Embryo.

The sword embryo was still pitch-black. However, strands of dazzling brilliance flowed across its surface. On closer look, they weaved into strange patterns.

The Great Luo Sword Embryo was a celestial object. To this day, he still didn't know what material it was made from.

But this sword embryo had two advantages.

First, it was incredibly sharp. Once refined, it could merge with the body and connect to the wielder's mind, changing its form according to their will.

Second, it had the ability to grow. It could absorb rare divine metals and undergo metamorphosis to become even more powerful.

Simply put, it was like a no-level-limit growth-type weapon from a game, one that would grow alongside its master.

If not for these two traits, Lu Yuan would never have stayed at the farmland for ten whole days just to obtain it.

"Forget it. Guess I'll refine the Great Luo Sword Embryo first," Lu Yuan muttered with a helpless sigh. In a way, he could only blame himself; he had gotten too strong for his own good.

But it didn't really matter. He still had time. He could afford to ignore the chaos outside for a little longer.

He picked up the sword embryo. It felt cool against his skin, with a faint weight to it.

The refinement method was just as simple as with the Blood Pagoda—it needed his blood.

As a celestial item from beyond the realm, the sword embryo easily sliced into his palm. In the next instant, Lu Yuan's blood was drawn into it.

Streams of radiant light erupted from the sword embryo. Unlike any other ordinary glow, each of them took the shape of a sword. And when these ethereal blades struck the ground, the stone floor split apart as if it were soft tofu. Even the falling remnants of sword light was this powerful!

This was the other fearsome might of the Great Luo Sword Embryo: the Great Luo Sword Qi.

But, Lu Yuan barely spared it a glance. He channelled his will into the sword embryo,

Swoosh!

In a blink of an eye, the Great Luo Sword Embryo vanished from sight.

The next moment, with just a flicker of intent, beams of sword light burst forth around Lu Yuan. The lights then gathered in the air and merged to form a three-foot-long sword. Its entire body was pitch-black, adorned with intricate golden patterns that shimmered faintly, and it exuded a mysterious, commanding aura.

The weapon's form had taken shape according to his will. When he reached out to grasp it, the weight and length felt as if they had been made for him alone; it was perfect in every way.

Great.

Lu Yuan gave it a test swing.

Even in this initial form, the Great Luo Sword Embryo was enough to match his current strength. And as he grew stronger, feeding it rare divine metals and spirit orbs, it would evolve alongside him. He would never need to replace it.

Clearing his mind, he knew it was time for the next step: to assimilate the Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda.

But first, he checked the time. Another half a month had already slipped by. He wondered briefly how chaotic things had grown outside, but quickly dismissed the thought.

Using the Sword Embryo, Lu Yuan sliced his palm once more, letting droplets of blood fall onto the Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda.

Whooong...

The pagoda trembled and radiated streams of crimson light. Yet this blood red glow felt sacred; there wasn't even a hint of eeriness.

It was as though the pagoda had been stained by the essence of an enlightened Buddha.

Minutes passed, and the glow began resonating with Lu Yuan's body. The fusion had begun.

Fusing with the Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda will take some time. I have to remain completely focused.

Closing his eyes, Lu Yuan directed his will inward. The next moment, the pagoda flew into him and sank straight into his chest.

Thump-thump-thump!

Thump-thump-thump!

His heart pounded violently like a war drum heading into battle. Each beat was heavy and resounding.

Once inside, the Blood Pagoda split into eleven beams of light—each a different color—that shot toward his five viscera and six bowels.

Bzzzt!

At this moment, blood-red radiance erupted from every inch of Lu Yuan's skin, making him look as if he had been sculpted from living blood.

From his pores, threads of crimson began seeping out, trickling down his body in a chilling sight.

He knew what this meant: his internal organs were still too weak. To withstand the power of the Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda, he had to endure an agonizing process.

But to Lu Yuan, such pain was nothing. In his past life, he had struggled ten years of hardship at the very bottom.

Steeling his resolve, he pushed away all distractions and focused on adapting to the power. The assimilation process was long and it wasn't as smooth as when he had fused with the Bodhi Tree. The blood that seeped out of his pores dyed his clothes red and started to pool beneath him.

As time passed, the blood continued to flow. But upon closer look, the blood now shimmered with threads of golden light, giving it a sacred appearance.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

According to legend, when a monk's cultivation neared the realm of an Arhat, their blood turned gold.

And now, with the aid of the Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda, Lu Yuan was walking on that very path.

Once the transformation was complete, his physical body would be enhanced with the power of the Blood Pagoda and he would once again undergo another unprecedented leap in power.

And so, as days passed by, Lu Yuan endured the painful process of fusion, and his body grew stronger.

As for the upheaval happening outside, that had nothing to do with him.

Meanwhile, on a farmland on the outskirts of Zhouwu City...

Zhang, the farm's original owner, stood trembling inside his villa. Cold sweat glistened on his forehead.

The strange upheavals of recent days had completely overturned everything he thought he knew about the world. Landscapes stretched and twisted, rivers flowed backward, wild beasts and birds mutated into terrifying creatures. And most terrifying of all, a bunch of humans had emerged with godlike powers; they could breathe fire and conjure water, just like the immortals from ancient myths.

Almost everyone was affected. They called it the dawn of the New Era. Ambitious people rejoiced and embraced the change.

However, ordinary folks like Zhang held different sentiments about the new world.

Morality had crumbled, and the rule of law was hanging by a thread.

Even money had become worthless paper.

In these chaotic times, Zhang knew he could only live carefully. Else if he accidentally crossed one of these so-called Awakened, he could vanish without even leaving a speck of dust behind.

Yes, after the strange changes over the past few days, those who had gained supernatural powers and evolved were given a name: Awakened.

Up till now, Zhang had only seen them on the news or in TV reports.

But today, one had shown up at his doorstep.

Now, beads of sweat poured down his face as he glanced around the villa. The place had been turned upside down. Chairs smashed. Furniture overturned.

Seven figures dressed in tactical gear moved about the room. They were tall, solidly built, and all heavily armed.

Their sleeves were also marked with a distinctive emblem. Two embroidered words were faintly visible: Longevity Genetics.

"Captain, nothing found," one of the men reported.

"Got it," the leader replied with a nod. He then turned and walked toward Zhang.

He was fully armored, his face hidden behind a mask. Only his eyes were visible. But those eyes glowed with an unnatural emerald green, carrying a wild, chaotic energy laced with bloodlust.

When he finally stood in front of Zhang, he looked down at the latter like one might look at an insect. His voice was cold, calm, and razor-sharp.

"You get one chance. That man with the last name Lu, who is he? Where does he live? What's his background?"