Chapter 412: Not Too Stupid

Soon after, Dongfang Haojie condensed ten drops of blood, which Fang Chen collected into a porcelain bottle.

Dongfang Haojie looked somewhat weak as he mumbled, "Now that you have the blood, can you explain the meaning behind your words just now?"

"Does your father know that Nie Tianyuan has ulterior motives?" Fang Chen said lightly.

Dongfang Haojie nodded. "Of course. He's not a fool, and Nie Tianyuan isn't smart."

Fang Chen smiled. "In that case, why would you dare to travel alone with him? Do you have any defensive treasures on you?"

Dongfang Haojie looked wary. "I don't have any treasures on me."

It was obvious that he was lying, but Fang Chen didn't press further. He just chuckled and said, "You think Nie Tianyuan covets some of your family's. But in reality, Nie Tianyuan comes from the Spirit Blood Sect and knows about the extensive involvement of your Dongfang Family. He plans to use you as bait to turn the Hidden Cloud Region into a battlefield."

Dongfang Haojie had wanted to hear what Fang Chen was going to say, but he was left speechless by what he just heard.

The Spirit Blood Sect? Nie Tianyuan's a cultivator from the Spirit Blood Sect?!

"How is that possible...? The Spirit Blood Sect hasn't appeared for many years. Not to mention that, wherever they may be, they're surely being suppressed," Dongfang Haojie said without thinking.

"They operate covertly, so it's normal that you haven't noticed them," Fang Chen replied nonchalantly.

Dongfang Haojie furrowed his brow slightly. "Who exactly are you, and why do you know about this? Nie Tianyuan wants to use me as bait? I'm not entirely convinced."

When Fang Chen heard that question, memories couldn't help but flash through his mind.

"Why do I know? It's just a coincidence," he replied.

If it weren't for what happened back in Grand Xia, he wouldn't have known about the Spirit Blood Sect. And it just so happened that his unique divine soul allowed him to uncover many secrets. Other cultivators wouldn't be able to eavesdrop on conversations between Golden Core Realm cultivators as easily as he could.

"Whether you believe it or not, it's the truth. You've become a pawn in their hands," Fang Chen said coldly. "If you die, the hidden cultivators among them will incite conflict, leading to a war between Grand Qian and Grand Wei.

"At that time, both the Azure Cloud Empire and the Hidden Immortal Empire will be involved. By then, no empire in the Hidden Cloud Region will be spared. You may not know much about the Spirit Blood Sect, but you just need to know one thing. They are powerful, very powerful."

"There's something wrong with what you said," Dongfang Haojie remarked. "Even if Grand Wei goes to war with Grand Qian because of me, why would Azure Cloud Empire and Hidden Immortal Empire get involved?"

"In those two empires, there are also Spirit Blood Sect cultivators. Their cultivation level and identity are temporarily unknown, but I'm sure they have enough influence to drag both countries into the war," Fang Chen replied.

Dongfang Haojie's expression became serious. "A majestic fourth-tier empire... also has Spirit Blood Sect cultivators!?"

Suddenly, it hit Dongfang Haojie that Fang Chen didn't have a reason to deceive him. Fang Chen had already obtained the blood essence, so what would be the point in deceiving him?

Dongfang Haojie's voice became hoarse. "Sir, is the Spirit Blood Sect doing this to refine the Blood Spirit Pill?"

"You know about this? It seems you have some understanding of the Spirit Blood Sect," said Fang Chen with a light smile. "That is indeed what they are after. In their eyes, ordinary people are just pigs and dogs competing for resources with cultivators. Only when these pigs and dogs are gone can the remaining cultivators have more resources and living space.

"If these 'pigs and dogs' can be turned into elixirs to enhance their cultivation, that would be even better. The Spirit Blood Sect was probably able to grow so strong because the Blood Spirit Pill has allowed some cultivators to take shortcuts, making them deeply believe in the Spirit Blood Sect's ideology and act as their accomplices!"

"Hidden Cloud Region... countless empires...." muttered Dongfang Haojie. "If the entire Hidden Cloud Region falls into a quagmire of war, tens of millions of mortals will die every day... If their essence and blood are refined into Blood Spirit Pills—"

"Perhaps they could directly cultivate a Nascent Soul, or even achieve Enlightenment."

"Thank you for the reminder. I will set off for Grand Wei today and not give the Spirit Blood Sect such an opportunity," Dongfang Haojie said in a low voice. "Once I inform my family about this matter, they will contact some senior members, and with their intervention, the Spirit Blood Sect's goals will never be achieved."

"You can't leave." Fang Chen shook his head gently. "Not to mention that if you leave, the Spirit Blood Sect will change their plans and find another way to achieve their goals. Right now, you are stuck."

"I can't escape? Why not? If it's just Nie Tianyuan, he can't stop me."Dongfang Haojie frowned. "I'm not bragging, but your appearance was too sudden. Given even a little time to prepare, you wouldn't be able to restrain me."

"The Spirit Blood Sect has powerful warriors at the warlord level in Grand Qian, what you call Nascent Soul Realm experts," Fang Chen said lightly. "One of them is likely watching you near the Jade River Pavilion. You want to leave? How will you leave?"

Dongfang Haojie took in a sharp breath as his face turned pale. "Nascent Soul...."

After a few moments, his eyes suddenly flickered, and he whispered, "You've told me so much. There must be a reason for it. If this matter can't be stopped, why did you tell me all this?"

"You aren't that stupid after all. Originally, when I learned that they wanted to kill you, I planned to secretly support you a bit and then eliminate the Golden Core Realm cultivators of the Spirit Blood Sect in Grand Qian one by one. This way, at least I could weaken them and delay their next move. By then, spreading the news to Azure Cloud Empire and Hidden Immortal Empire, I believe the Spirit Blood Sect won't have everything under control, and some seniors will come out to handle the matter," Fang Chen said lightly.

Dongfang Haojie couldn't help muttering to himself, "Secretly supporting me yet taking ten drops of my blood..."

A chill raced down his spine. The other party seemed to know him very well, yet he hadn't had a clue as to who he was!

"What you need to do for now is to not wander around too much. It's best if you stay in the inner city," Fang Chen advised indifferently. "They are planning to poison you right in front of the Nascent Soul Realm expert from the Azure Cloud Empire. To put it differently, you're temporarily safe until then."

Dongfang Haojie's face turned a little green. "You're telling me that there's a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator from the other side here... yet I should continue to stay?"

Fang Chen smiled. "So what if there's a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator here? You have a Golden Core Realm sword cultivator secretly supporting you. If it's an ordinary Nascent Soul Realm expert, I believe they can still put up a fight."

"A Golden Core Realm sword cultivator?" Dongfang Haojie's eyes lit up. "So you're a sword cultivator! Does that mean there's a Nascent Soul Realm sword cultivator backing you up in Grand Qian too?"

"That's right." Fang Chen nodded with a smile. "If we didn't have some reassurance, why would we take action against the Spirit Blood Sect? Everyone's life is precious. Why would we stay here if we know we'll die?"

"Indeed, indeed."

Dongfang Haojie suddenly felt relieved. It seemed that Fang Chen's group had great confidence that things would go well. Otherwise, they would have fled long ago. It was true that sword cultivators had a fiery temperament. They were also unruly and overbearing, but that didn't mean they didn't fear death.