You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

Chen Yang asked about the actual steps.

Li Rou straightened her expression and said.

“Refining the remains of a blessed land of such scale requires an extremely powerful divine soul as an ‘anchor’ and ‘key to authority’. I need you, my lord… to condense ten drops of the purest ‘original soul blood’. At that time, I will use a special secret method to combine your soul blood with my remaining true spirit power, and use this as a guide to gradually penetrate, communicate with, and refine the core remaining rules of this Azure Immortal Ruins.”

"Ten drops of primordial soul blood?!"

Chen Yang's heart skipped a beat; this was no small amount. Even condensing just one drop for the oath had already drained his spiritual energy considerably. Ten drops meant he was using nearly thirty percent of his current spiritual essence!
This is not a simple matter of depletion; a slight mishap could damage the foundation and affect future cultivation potential.

Seeing the seriousness in Chen Yang's eyes, Li Rou quickly added.

"Rest assured, my lord, I will assist you during the condensation process to ensure that you do not damage the source."

Moreover, once the refining process begins, the remaining pure energy from the Azure Heaven Ruins will nourish and replenish you, not only allowing you to recover quickly but also potentially giving your soul a chance to be further tempered and strengthened.

Chen Yang took a deep breath, knowing that this step was a price that had to be paid.

"I understand. Should we start now?"

"You may take a moment to adjust your breathing and get into the best possible condition."

Then we begin to condense the soul blood.

This place is rich in spiritual energy and medicinal properties; it is truly an excellent location.

Leaving Judo.

Chen Yang said no more, sat cross-legged in the "Purifying Pool" again, closed his eyes and concentrated, and circulated the Pure Subtle Primordial Descent Technique to slowly calm and stabilize the still somewhat turbulent magical power and divine consciousness after the enhancement.

About half an hour later, Chen Yang opened his eyes, his inner light shining brightly, indicating that he had reached his peak condition.

"Let's begin."

Under Li Rou's guidance and protection, Chen Yang once again sank into the depths of his sea of ​​consciousness.

This time, the process of condensing soul blood was slower and more meticulous, accompanied by a deeper pain of "peeling" at the soul level. With each drop of soul blood taking shape, he felt as if a small piece of his soul had been shaved off, and his face paled a little more.

Li Rou stood to the side, constantly releasing gentle and ancient soul power fluctuations, like the most precise scalpel and the most effective painkiller, guiding Chen Yang's soul power to condense and peel away in the most efficient and least harmful way.

One drop, two drops, three drops...

When the tenth drop of soul blood, resembling the purest crimson diamond with a swirling galaxy within, finally took shape before Chen Yang's illusory soul image, he swayed slightly, his forehead covered in a fine layer of cold sweat, and his divine sense felt a wave of emptiness and stinging. Ten drops of primordial soul blood were almost the limit he could safely condense at present.

"My lord, you've worked hard!"

Upon seeing this, Li Rou immediately waved her hand and released a warm, pale golden halo that entered Chen Yang's brow, relieving his fatigue and discomfort.

Chen Yang struggled to steady his mind and slowly guided the ten drops of suspended soul blood out of his sea of ​​consciousness, holding them in his palm. The ten drops of soul blood gathered together, emitting astonishing soul fluctuations and a profound sense of connection, as if they were an extension of his divine soul.

"for you."

Chen Yang pushed the soul blood toward Li Rou, his eyes still sharp.

"Remember your promise."

If things don't turn out as expected, or if I discover any wrongdoing on your part..."

"Don't worry, my lord."

Li Rou solemnly accepted the ten drops of soul blood and carefully enveloped and nurtured them with the light of her own true spirit.

"Li Rou swears on her remaining true spirit that she will help you successfully refine the Azure Heaven Ruins and share in the benefits of this realm. You may monitor and control the refining process and final authority at any time."

If you harbor any disloyal thoughts, may you suffer the wrath of the true spirit and be condemned to eternal damnation!

Seeing Li Rou swear again, Chen Yang's expression softened slightly, and he nodded.

"Alright, then I'll wait and see. How long will it take you?"

Li Rou sensed the faint resonance between the soul blood in her hand and the surrounding space, and estimated it.

"The refining time depends on the compatibility between your soul blood and the remaining rules of this place, as well as the efficiency with which I mobilize the remaining energy of this place."

If everything goes smoothly and the compatibility is high, it may be possible to establish initial contact and leave a mark within a few days.

If the process encounters obstacles or requires the repair of certain key rule nodes, it may take several months or even longer.

During this period, if I need your cooperation or additional assistance, I will promptly inform you through the Soul Blood connection.

"can."

Chen Yang agreed, but then a question came to mind.

"You're refining here? Although this place is secluded, it's still inside a blessed land. Isn't it... unsafe? Could it be detected by other things that might exist, or by those other remaining blessed lands you mentioned?"

Li Rou shook her head.

"Your considerations are correct."

This place is indeed unsuitable as the location for refining the core. We need to return to your Sumeru space first.

That is the initial space entirely under your control, the one most closely connected to my true spirit and your soul blood, and absolutely hidden. It is the safest and most suitable 'operating platform' for in-depth refining and communication. After the initial refining and gaining some core permissions, we will return to complete the final 'on-site fusion.'"

"Then let's go back first."

Chen Yang also felt more at ease on his own turf.

Without further delay, the two left the secret chamber where the "Cleansing Pool" was located and returned along the same route. Soon they arrived at the ancient array in the center of the island that had teleported them there.

Chen Yang reconnected with the spirit core and activated the array. A milky-white light curtain rose, causing spatial ripples.

As the two stepped inside, accompanied by a familiar tearing sensation and dazzling light, their figures gradually blurred and disappeared.

The next moment, they were back in Chen Yang's Sumeru space, which was the size of a basketball court but already contained small hills, puddles, and faint signs of life.

Only when he felt grounded did Chen Yang truly breathe a sigh of relief. Back in his own "territory," the sense of control returned.

Li Rou wasted no time. She walked to the relatively open central area of ​​the space and sat cross-legged on the ground. With her hands clasped in front of her chest, the ten drops of Chen Yang's soul blood, which were enveloped in pale golden true spirit light, and the three drops of true soul blood that she herself forced out, which were pale purple and contained the aura of ancient stars, slowly floated up and formed a strange, slowly rotating energy vortex in front of her.

"My lord, the refining process is about to begin. In the initial stage, we will use soul blood as a guide to establish a deep resonance and mapping of rules with this place and that place. You can sense it from the side, but please do not easily interfere with the flow of energy."

Li Rou closed her eyes and concentrated, her voice ethereal.

Chen Yang nodded, took a few steps back, and sat down cross-legged as well. He carefully extended his divine sense over to observe Li Rou's movements and the changes in the mixed soul blood vortex.

Li Rou began chanting ancient and difficult syllables, her hands forming complex and profound hand seals.

As she moved, the vortex of mixed soul blood began to spin faster, emitting increasingly stronger soul fluctuations and spatial ripples.

Chen Yang could clearly feel that his ten drops of soul blood were miraculously merging and resonating with Li Rou's true soul blood. Simultaneously, the power of this mixed soul blood began to slowly permeate the "boundaries" and "rules" of the Sumeru space, as if weaving an invisible net. What surprised Chen Yang even more was that, under Li Rou's guidance, the fluctuations emanating from the mixed soul blood seemed to subtly resonate with the items placed in a corner of the space, originating from the Azure Heaven Ruins!

"This is……"

Chen Yang was puzzled. Li Rou had said that refining required her true soul blood in conjunction with the secret technique, which he could understand. But seeing his own soul blood so deeply intertwined with Li Rou's soul blood, both serving as a "catalyst," still gave him a strange feeling.

This secret technique seems to be more than just "using" his soul blood; it's more like a... deeper level of binding?
Seemingly sensing Chen Yang's doubts, Li Rou spared a sliver of her mind to explain telepathically.

"My lord, do not doubt. My true spirit is broken, and my soul power is insufficient to be the main force. I need your pure soul blood as the 'foundation' and my soul blood as the 'guide' and 'bridge' to carry the secret technique, penetrate the void barrier, and reach the core of the Azure Immortal Ruins."

Only when the two are combined can the unique 'Key of Refinement' be formed.

This is an essential step in the ancient method, and there is absolutely no other intention behind it.

Hearing the explanation, Chen Yang temporarily suppressed his strange feelings and continued to observe.

The light from the vortex of mixed soul blood grew brighter and brighter, gradually outlining a very blurry, constantly flickering miniature phantom resembling the island of Biluo Immortal Ruins in front of Li Rou! The refining process seemed to have truly begun.

After watching for a while and confirming that Li Rou was focused on casting the spell and that the process was going smoothly, Chen Yang knew that he couldn't interfere in the initial stage.

With a thought, his consciousness left the Sumeru Space and returned to his original body in the outside world.

Opening his eyes, he found himself still in the quiet room of the Qingwei Sect's leader's pavilion. Outside the window, the sky was completely dark, filled with stars.

This trip to the blessed land, though seemingly short, actually involved so much and left me mentally and physically exhausted.

He stretched his stiff body and was about to take a breath when he noticed that the screen of his phone, which was lying to the side, was lit up with several missed calls—all from Ali.

Chen Yang's heart tightened, and he immediately picked up his phone and called back.

The call was quickly answered, and Ali's familiar yet slightly anxious and tired voice came through.

"Chen Yang? You finally called back!"

Why couldn't I get through to them?

"Just now... I was dealing with some urgent matters in a place with no signal."

Chen Yang brushed it off vaguely and hurriedly asked.

"What's wrong? You sound off. Did something happen at the mountain god temple?"

"Ok!"

Ali's voice was solemn.

"Those men in black are here again!"

This time there were more people than before, and they were stronger. There were also two guys who looked like leaders, and they were very troublesome! If it weren't for Senior Gu Jinghui triggering an ancient restriction left over from the Mountain God Temple at the critical moment, and Uncle Li desperately holding one of them back, they probably would have succeeded!
However, they were eventually driven back, and Senior Gu and Uncle Li suffered minor injuries.

A cold glint flashed in Chen Yang's eyes.

"It's good that you're all alright."

Those persistent ghosts!
It seems the last blow from the Northwest didn't cripple them, or... this is a counterattack from another force.

"Chen Yang, this can't go on."

Ali said worriedly.

"If they fail this time, they might send more people and more powerful experts next time. We can't always rely on our predecessors risking their lives or on ancient restrictions, can we? We need to find their stronghold, or... find out who's been directing them all along! Otherwise, there will never be peace."

Ali's words struck a chord with Chen Yang. Passive defense will never solve the problem.

"You're right. I've been investigating as well. Don't worry, I won't wait this time. I'll use every means possible to find out who's behind this as soon as possible!"

"I will send two more elders and a group of capable disciples to reinforce your side tomorrow, along with a batch of newly arrived defensive formations and equipment. Tell Senior Gu and Uncle Li to be extremely careful and prioritize their own safety."

"Yes! You need to be careful too!"

Ali gave his instructions.

After ending the call with Ali, Chen Yang's killing intent and sense of urgency intensified. The mountain temple was a crucial stronghold for him, and also Ali and his group's safe haven; it absolutely could not be lost!

He thought for a moment, then got up and left the quiet room, going to the side hall next to the main hall of the Qingwei Sect.

The place was brightly lit, and Liu Yu was handling some daily affairs of the sect while also sorting through some materials brought back from the Northwest.

"Sect Leader?"

Liu Yu was somewhat surprised to see Chen Yang arrive so late at night, and quickly got up.

"Elder Liu, please sit down."

Chen Yang waved his hand and asked directly.

"Regarding those men in black who attacked the mountain god temple, and their possible collaborators or protectors in the country, did you discover any more specific clues or hints during your trip to the Northwest?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yu's expression also turned serious.

She pondered for a moment, then walked to the bookshelf next to her, took down a jade box sealed with special runes, and opened it. Inside were several paper documents that looked like some kind of experimental record or communication summary.

"Sect Leader, on the way back, I didn't have time to explain some of the findings because I was worried about being eavesdropped on or intercepted."

Liu Yu handed one of the documents to Chen Yang.

"Look here, and here too."

Chen Yang took the document and quickly scanned it. It contained lists of material allocations, personnel movement codes, and encrypted communication summaries. The text was mostly a mix of English and strange symbols, but Liu Yu had marked and translated some key parts with red ink.

"These supplies... many of them are rare metals and high-precision electronic components that are strictly controlled internationally, and some even contain code names for biological samples... According to our preliminary analysis, the source points to channels that are closely linked to several shadow companies and research institutions in 'the United States'."

Liu Yu pointed to several markings and said.

Chen Yang was not surprised; he had long suspected that the men in black organization had overseas connections.

"What about collaborators? Are there any clearer targets in China?"

Liu Yu then pulled out another document, which contained records of tasks and personnel evaluations.

She pointed to a recurring nickname, her expression grave.

"Sect Leader, look at this code name—'Heavenly Path'."

In numerous records involving coordination with domestic forces, resource transfers, and intelligence provision, this "Heavenly Way" appears as a liaison or source of instructions. However, it does not seem to refer to any specific family or sect. (End of Chapter)