Chapter 29: The Blood Replacement Bead!

Dead.

Just like that, Gao Yucheng was gone. His eyes remained wide open, refusing to close even in death. Regardless of how far he had planned, it seemed he had never foreseen his own demise.

At that moment, Gao Zhanhu opened his eyes as well. He had seen it all with his own eyes, the mysterious figure striking down his son. His lips moved as though he wanted to speak, but no words came out.

Gao Yucheng had stalked the cicada like a mantis, yet he remained oblivious to the oriole stalking him. By the time he sensed what lurked in the shadows, it was already too late.[1].

The one who had struck from the darkness was none other than Lu Changsheng.

He had followed the five martial artists all the way into the underground secret chamber, and they had remained completely oblivious to his presence. From beginning to end, Lu Changsheng had witnessed everything: a brother ruthlessly killing his own brother; a son raising his sword against his father.

Lu Changsheng bent down and picked up the Blood Replacement Bead from Gao Yucheng's lifeless hand. At first glance, the bead didn't seem extraordinary, even though this object was precisely what had driven him to act.

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

According to rumors, this bead could help a martial artist reach the Divine Strength Realm. One could not simply go in search of such a fabled treasure; only by the greatest luck might one stumble upon it. Naturally, Lu Changsheng had no intention of letting it slip away. Besides, the Gao were hardly good people, no different from the five martial artists. Ultimately, they were all cut from the same rotten cloth.

Lu Changsheng put the bead in his pocket, then gripped his dagger and gazed down at the five martial artists slumped on the ground.

They were trembling, a chill rising in their hearts.

"H-Hey, you've already got the Blood Replacement Bead, so please spare us... We're—"

They were just about to reveal their identities.

Swish!

But Lu Changsheng was already gone, a flash of light sweeping in his wake. The martial artists convulsed violently as blood spilled across the floor, pooling beneath them. Their life force quickly faded until their breathing utterly ceased.

Lu Changsheng couldn't care less about their identities. To learn them would only invite unnecessary trouble. Some people, once slain, were best left nameless.

He crouched and searched the corpses with practiced care—a valuable habit he had cultivated. Unfortunately, the five carried nothing of worth.

Slowly rising, Lu Changsheng turned his gaze toward Gao Zhanhu, the last one remaining.

"How does one use the Blood Replacement Bead?" he demanded.

"Your voice..." Gao Zhanhu's eyes widened. That was when it struck him. "It's you..."

He finally understood who it was that stood before him.

"

Hahaha

, so I brought the wolf into my own house. You came here for the Blood Replacement Bead, didn’t you? Very well. After all, you did kill those five. The bead has fallen into your hands, but at least you won’t seize Gao Fortress. Within all this misfortune, a small blessing has risen.

"This is how you use the bead. You cut yourself somewhere and press the bead inside the wound. It will dissolve slowly and merge with your blood."

Gao Zhanhu looked at Lu Changsheng with pleading eyes. "I have a young son and daughter. Spare them... they know nothing of this."

Lu Changsheng stared at him briefly before saying flatly, "I seek nothing beyond the Blood Replacement Bead."

Swish!

In the next moment, he lightly swept his dagger across Gao Zhanhu's throat. It was inevitable, as Gao Zhanhu had seen what Lu Changsheng had done. As for those two children, Lu Changsheng had never even seen them, so naturally, he would not go out of his way to harm them.

Gao Zhanhu desperately clutched his throat, but he went limp within seconds.

Lu Changsheng carefully searched the body but found nothing of worth. He moved on, opening one chamber after another. Each was filled with supplies like grain, ironware, armor, and weapons stacked in neat piles.

None of it caught his interest. What Lu Changsheng sought were manuals for martial arts and combat techniques, and it seemed unlikely that he would find any here. He was awfully disappointed. Above all, he longed for the martial arts of the Divine Strength Realm. Even if that realm was still beyond his reach, any kind of insight would be of great benefit.

Unfortunately, nothing of the sort could be found. If such manuals did exist, they were most likely hidden away somewhere far, beyond his reach. After searching fruitlessly for a while longer, Lu Changsheng gave up at last. He stepped out of the underground secret chamber and pulled its doors shut behind him.

The underground secret chamber lay deeply hidden, its existence known only by the patriarchs of Gao Fortress across the generations. Even if the clan discovered that Gao Zhanhu, Gao Yucheng, and Gao Yuzhi had vanished and searched frantically, it would take them a lot of time to find the chamber.

Lu Changsheng returned quietly to his room. He could hear the steady breathing of Master Wu Jing and the apprentices from the adjoining chamber. They were clearly sound asleep, which put his mind at ease.

Lu Changsheng did not sleep. Instead, he drew the Blood Replacement Bead from his robes. Its surface struck him as peculiar, as though forged from some unknown material. When he held it, a faint icy chill seeped into his palm. This was truly a treasure beyond compare.

He resolved not to delay this any longer, as doing so might invite trouble. Hence, he immediately pulled out his dagger and bared his arm. With a gentle stroke—

Slash!

Blood immediately poured from his arm in a steady stream. Without hesitation, he pressed the Blood Replacement Bead into the incision. What followed was incredible: the bead began to dissolve the instant it touched his blood. It melted seamlessly into his veins, its essence coursing through his body as though it had become one with his very blood.

Lu Changsheng closed his eyes and focused on the sensation, carefully attuning himself to the bead's effects. A faint chill seemed to settle in his chest, wrapping around his heart.

Thump, thump, thump...

With every beat of his heart, the chill pulsed outward, flooding his body. Wherever it spread, Lu Changsheng felt impurities being expelled bit by bit. He even circulated his blood qi slightly.

Voosh!

To his astonishment, his blood qi surged once again. It had long since reached its peak, and under normal circumstances, it should have been impossible to advance further without stepping into the Divine Strength Realm. However, the truth was undeniable. With the bead, even the upper limit of blood qi could rise anew, and the reason soon became clear.

To step into the Divine Strength Realm, one must break through the Profound Gate of Life and Death, replace marrow and blood, and remake the body. But with this bead, the Blood Replacement is already half complete. With it, advancing to the Divine Strength Realm will be far easier.

It was no wonder that so many had desperately fought to claim this treasure. At this rate, the Blood Replacement would take at least a month to complete. Over that month, Lu Changsheng's physique would be refined and strengthened in every aspect. In a way, this process was a true rebirth.

To test its effects, Lu Changsheng began cultivating the Cold Bone Tempering Art. He quickly discovered that his efficiency had increased drastically. There were no ice blocks at his disposal, no medicinal meals, and yet the improvement was undeniable.

The realization settled in his heart. The most crucial feature of the Blood Replacement Bead was that it did not hinder future breakthroughs. When the time came for him to pass through the Profound Gate of Life and Death, he could still undergo Marrow Transformation and Blood Replacement. That would be his second transformation.

Each replacement brought a significant leap in strength. Once he reached the Divine Strength Realm, the advantage of having undergone two replacements would ensure that his power far surpassed that of his peers.

Lu Changsheng was deeply satisfied.

This journey to Gao Fortress has been incredibly fortuitous!

1. This proverb comes from Liu Xiang's Strategies of the Warring States (战国策). The gist is that someone intent on immediate gain risks falling prey to a hidden enemy. While plotting against your foe, you remain blind to another foe plotting against you. ☜