The middle-aged man had a head of blazing red hair and wore a blood-red imperial robe. His skin lacked any sign of vitality, looking almost like a corpse — no different from the rest of the Blood Imperial Clan. Yet the terrifying majesty and overwhelming aura radiating from him allowed Lan An to instantly confirm his identity…
This was the Blood Emperor, a peak True Immortal expert. Moreover, Lan An's senses told him that the man was also a Body Cultivator…
If they fought head-on, Lan An had no fear of the Blood Emperor. He was confident that even if he couldn't defeat the man, the Blood Emperor wouldn't be able to do anything to him either… After all, he had already faced someone as powerful as Yi Lao. He still had some ability to gauge the strength difference between them…
The real problem lay in the fact that beside the Blood Emperor right now stood nearly the entire top combat force of the Blood Realm. Lan An quickly assessed them and found nine Blood Kings whose strength ranged from Half-Immortal to True Immortal, along with nearly a hundred Blood Envoys…
There were no experts below the Blood General level. After all, in a battle of this scale, Fusion Realm cultivators wouldn't make much difference.
Even so, this lineup created enormous trouble for Lan An. If the Blood Emperor held him down while the swarm of Blood Kings and Blood Envoys launched sneak attacks from the sides, even if he had three heads and six arms, he would still fall into a desperate situation.
This was the worst-case scenario Lan An had never anticipated. He had originally been confident that he could roam freely across the Blood Realm, but that was when their main forces were scattered throughout the realm. Who could have guessed they would all gather in one place?
From this, one could see just how important the Blood Lord was in the eyes of the entire Blood Imperial Clan. Merely a rumor about his safety had caused the Blood Realm to mobilize its peak forces immediately…
Below Blood Imperial City, a crowd of Blood Clan members watched intently, unease rising in their hearts… Why had all the top figures of the Blood Realm gathered here? And why were they standing in opposition to Blood Lord Great One?
"Well? Why haven't you revealed your Blood Clan True Form for your Imperial Father to see?" The Blood Emperor noticed "the Blood Lord" glancing around, and his suspicion grew stronger. His voice became even heavier.
Under the scrutinizing gazes of the Blood Imperial Clan's upper echelons, Lan An — still disguised as the Blood Lord — furrowed his brows and spoke with feigned confusion:
"What is going on here? Why is everyone looking at me with such suspicious eyes? Why do you suddenly want me to reveal my Blood Clan True Form? This Lord demands an explanation!"
The Blood Emperor's eyes narrowed. One of the main reasons he favored the Blood Lord among all his descendants was that the young man always obeyed him without question…
No matter how excessive his demands, the Blood Lord would carry them out without the slightest complaint…
Yet now, "the Blood Lord" actually dared to question him in return? The doubt in the Blood Emperor's heart deepened. However, whether in appearance or aura, the person standing before him truly seemed to be the Blood Lord. There wasn't even the slightest flaw…
How was this possible?
Still, the answer would come soon enough. He wasn't in a hurry. In a deep, majestic voice, he said:
"Xue Leng reported several matters to me, saying that something unfortunate had happened to the Blood Lord. I need to verify his words!"
"Something unfortunate?" Lan An let out a cold, contemptuous laugh. His eyes shifted to Xue Leng as he shouted sternly and coldly:
"This man deserves to have his entire clan exterminated! What is this Lord's status? What is this Lord's strength? Who could possibly harm me?"
Being stared at by "the Blood Lord," Xue Leng broke out in cold sweat. His legs went weak. He knew that if he made even the slightest mistake here, not only would he die — everyone connected to him would be wiped out in the Blood Imperial Clan's fury.
However, Xue Leng trusted his own senses and eyes. He took a deep breath and said seriously:
"I was standing guard outside the pagoda and sensed extremely powerful shockwaves coming from inside, so I boldly peeked in. What I saw was a shocking scene… Blood Lord Great One was actually being completely suppressed by Xue Mie…"
"Out of extreme fear, I… I immediately fled in panic and reported everything to Blood Emperor Great One!"
Although Xue Leng's voice trembled slightly, his words carried undeniable sincerity…
"HAHAHA!"
Lan An laughed as if he had heard the funniest thing in the world. He threw his head back and roared with laughter, then spoke word by word:
"Ridiculous! What is Xue Mie? Nothing but an insignificant ant! He dared to offend this Lord's dignity and was tortured until he no longer looked human. Can you even recognize him anymore?"
As he spoke, he deliberately lifted the battered ball of flesh in his hand. It truly looked miserable beyond words…
The group of Blood Kings and Blood Envoys nodded upon hearing this. Although Xue Mie had performed decently in the Blood Child Assessment, the idea that he could suppress the Blood Lord was something they simply could not believe. After all, Xue Mie was merely a Body Cultivator.
Moreover, the Blood Lord standing before them was undoubtedly the real one. Even his usual arrogant and indifferent demeanor was perfectly displayed…
Under the crowd's questioning gazes, Xue Leng trembled violently. He gritted his teeth and said:
"That Xue Mie erupted with an extremely powerful force and summoned the phantom of a legendary dragon, which allowed him to suppress Blood Lord Great One. As for why Blood Lord Great One is standing here now, I don't know. However, to verify the truth, we only need Blood Lord Great One to reveal his Blood Clan True Form!"
"Hmph, why should this Lord have to reveal it? Are you saying that Xue Mie might actually be capable of defeating me?" Lan An, still in the role of the Blood Lord, laughed coldly with domineering arrogance and turned as if to leave.
"Wait!" The Blood Emperor spoke in a cold voice:
"As long as you prove your identity, this Emperor will exterminate Xue Leng's entire clan for daring to make unfounded accusations!"
Hearing this, Xue Leng nearly collapsed to his knees. He knew his fate would be decided in this very moment.
"You don't even trust me?" Lan An looked at the Blood Emperor with eyes full of extreme disappointment and said in a low voice.
Kim Nhi secretly curled her lips upon seeing this. Young Master's acting skills are truly improving… Combined with the terrifying power of the Heavenly Face Mask, he really was an authentic Blood Lord.
The Blood Emperor also raised an eyebrow slightly, but he still nodded and said:
"Your Imperial Father is only doing this because he doesn't want anything to happen to you. Quickly reveal your Blood Clan True Form to prove it!"
Lan An cursed inwardly. As expected of an old fox. It seemed there was no way around it this time…
He nodded toward the Blood Emperor and the others. Under Xue Leng's fearful and anxious gaze, he suddenly threw his head back and cursed loudly:
"Blood Clan True Form my ass, you bunch of trash!"
In the dumbfounded eyes of the Blood Imperial Clan's upper echelons and the countless cultivators below Blood Imperial City, the Blood Lord's appearance rapidly changed… In the blink of an eye, he had become Xue Mie…
"It really… it really is Xue Mie. Then where is Blood Lord Great One?"
The Blood Imperial Clan members were filled with horror. They unconsciously glanced at the mangled ball of flesh in Xue Mie's hand and shivered inwardly. A strong sense of unreality washed over them…
"Could it be that the Blood Lord is…?"
"Heavenly Peerless! True Dragon Battle Form! Eight Gates Dunjia — all open for me!"
Lan An activated a series of techniques, pushing his physical state to the absolute limit. Without sparing the Blood Imperial Clan even a glance, he carried the Blood Lord in his hand and charged madly toward the Star Guidance Hall, intending to force his way inside…
"Die for this Emperor!"
The Blood Emperor's fury reached its peak. For countless years, he had never been this enraged…
A massive Blood Claw that covered the sky formed. Blood Immortal Power condensed to the limit, causing the space in front of him to collapse as it swiped viciously toward Xue Mie's position…
"Dragon Slaughtering Eighteen Palms — Twin Dragon Palm!"
Dragon Reversal Power surged violently. Two black逆 dragons roared furiously as they soared into the sky… Their shadows blanketed the entire Blood Imperial City. Then, baring fangs and brandishing claws, they clashed head-on with the Blood Claw…
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Twin Dragon Palm and the Blood Claw collided with a deafening explosion. A terrifying shockwave blasted in all directions. Lan An was forced back dozens of steps, his arms numb and tingling…
"True Immortal Perfection… truly difficult to deal with!"
It had to be known that he was currently boosted by True Dragon Battle Form, Eight Gates Dunjia, and Heavenly Peerless, yet he still suffered a slight disadvantage against the Blood Emperor…
"No wonder he was able to defeat the Blood Lord. My son did not lose unjustly!"
Compared to Lan An's shock, the Blood Emperor's heart was also surging with towering waves. Just what kind of terrifying power had this young man used? To be able to fight a True Immortal Perfection expert like him while only at the Fusion Realm?
Although he hadn't used his full strength, Lan An's performance still left the Blood Emperor — who had lived for countless years and witnessed countless events — feeling deeply shaken…
"Kill him for us!" More than a dozen Blood Envoys refused to fall behind. They all activated their Blood Escape Movement Techniques and rapidly surrounded Lan An, launching fierce palm strikes…
For a moment, the sky was filled with the stench of blood… The entire Blood Imperial City trembled violently. Even the Star Guidance Hall below shook intensely, causing the Blood Imperial Clan members to fall into panic…
If anything happened to the Star Guidance Hall, the Transcending Star Blood Formation inside would likely collapse. At that point, all the effort and achievements the Blood Imperial Clan had built over the eras would turn to ashes…
ROOOAR! ROOOAR! ROOOAR! ROOOAR! ROOOAR!
At the same time, five earth-shaking dragon roars rang out. Beneath Lan An's feet appeared a supremely domineering war chariot. It brutally rammed into the Blood Envoys who had just charged forward, sending them flying in all directions…
The Five Dragon War Chariot had finally revealed itself in the Blood Realm for the first time…
Five proud Dragon Skeletons covered the sky. Their peak Eight-Revolution auras boomed powerfully. Any Blood Envoys who approached were violently knocked away, impossible to stop…
"Quickly block the entrance of the Star Guidance Hall!" Seeing Lan An standing majestically on the war chariot, the Blood Emperor shouted in a deep voice.
A group of Blood Kings immediately obeyed and tore through space. When they reappeared, they had already sealed off the front gate, summoning Corpse Puppets and Blood Pearls. Their overwhelming might blanketed the sky like a vast net. Not even a fly could hope to slip through…
"Haha, well blocked!" Lan An threw his head back and laughed loudly. In the widened eyes of the Blood Imperial Clan, he suddenly grabbed the limp arm of the mangled flesh in his hand and brutally yanked it downward…
"AAAAAHH!"
A few weak screams escaped. The Blood Lord, now looking like a pig's head, actually felt pain…
However, those few cries alone caused the hearts of the Blood Imperial Clan members to ache. Their eyes turned blood-red as they roared in unison:
"Xue Mie! The Blood Imperial Clan will never coexist with you under the same sky!"
It had to be known that the Blood Lord was the greatest genius, possessing the purest Blood Clan bloodline. He was the one the Blood Emperor valued most and viewed as the successor to lead the Blood Imperial Clan…
That was why the mere rumor of the Blood Lord being in danger had caused the entire Blood Imperial Clan to gather at full speed even before confirming the truth. One could see just how important the Blood Lord was to them…
Now, seeing the Blood Lord tortured by Xue Mie, they all wished they could tear the young man into ten thousand pieces, drink his blood, flay his skin, and pull out his tendons…
"Block me, attack me… put it all on the Blood Lord's head. Understand?" Lan An laughed loudly.
Seeing a Blood King who could no longer suppress his rage charging toward him, Lan An laughed coldly and used the Blood Lord as a shield.
That Blood King's hair immediately stood on end. He hastily withdrew his attack, causing his own body to suffer a backlash. He spat out a mouthful of blood and roared with hatred:
"Despicable! Xue Mie, do you still have any face left?!"
"Xue Mie my ass. This young master's name is Lan An… the one who will trample the entire Blood Imperial Clan beneath his feet!" Lan An was also extremely furious. He could have safely returned to Yuelong Star. Everything had happened because of the greedy nature of the Blood Imperial Clan.
If the Blood Lord hadn't been greedy, even if Xue Di and Xue Leng had meddled behind the scenes, why would they have tried to seize the Wild Beast Fist?
And if they hadn't tried to rob him, none of this would have happened…
A terrifying pressure descended. The Blood Emperor had already appeared in front of the Five Dragon War Chariot. In a cold, majestic voice, he shouted:
"Release the Blood Lord, and this Emperor will allow you to enter the Transcending Star Blood Formation!"
The Blood Emperor was no fool. It was impossible for such a terrifying young man to have been born in the Blood Realm. He must have accidentally entered and was now trying to leave. He hurriedly offered a condition.
"Do you take me for a three-year-old child? I'm afraid the moment I hand over the Blood Lord, I'll immediately become the target of all your attacks, right?" Lan An laughed coldly. The Blood Lord was currently his most important amulet. How could he return him?
"This Emperor swears on the name of the Blood Imperial Clan that we will not make things difficult for you!" The Blood Emperor took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the rage in his heart as he spoke with dignity.
"Don't waste your breath. The name of the Blood Imperial Clan means nothing to me! Let me leave with the Blood Lord. Once I'm safe, I'll return him to you!" Lan An's attitude was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.
"You…" The Blood Emperor nearly exploded with anger. He wished he could crush Lan An to death with one hand.
Although the Blood Imperial Clan was cold and ruthless, it depended on who the target was…
The Blood Lord was the Blood Emperor's own flesh and blood, and his most beloved son. How could he allow the Blood Lord to die?
Even though the Blood Lord had been defeated by Lan An, the Blood Emperor told himself that anyone else would have suffered the same fate. This young man was simply too terrifying… He couldn't blame the Blood Lord.
However, while he thought this inwardly, the Blood Emperor maintained a cold and ruthless expression on the surface. He laughed coldly and shouted:
"This Emperor has many descendants. Losing one Blood Lord is nothing… At that point, you will only have the path of death!"
Lan An secretly cursed the old fox. However, trying to fool him was still far from enough. He said calmly:
"Are you confident you can kill me? Or that even after losing the Blood Lord, you still can't do anything to me? This young master hasn't even used his full strength yet!"
At this moment, the powerful experts of the Blood Imperial Clan had already surrounded him, trapping Lan An and the Five Dragon War Chariot in the middle of the battlefield. As long as the Blood Emperor gave the order, a barrage of terrifying attacks would rain down. Even if Lan An didn't die, he would be left with only half a life.
However, with the Blood Lord in the opponent's hands, they could only glare at him in fury…
"Is he really not using his full strength?" The Blood Emperor stared at Lan An, who was covered in dragon armor, doubt surging in his heart.
From their brief exchange earlier, he still couldn't fully gauge the young man's total combat power…
The Blood Emperor fell into hesitation, while Lan An stood there calmly… arrogantly dominating the center of the Blood Imperial Clan, completely at ease…
"If you don't make a decision soon, I'm afraid your greatest genius won't be able to receive timely treatment!" Lan An lifted the deformed Blood Lord and smiled.
The moment those words left his mouth, the expressions of the Blood Imperial Clan changed drastically.
Indeed, the Blood Lord was already severely injured. If they didn't make a decision soon… he might really die.
The Blood Emperor felt as if his heart was bleeding. Right now, he only had two choices: sacrifice the Blood Lord, or let Lan An go and still accept the risk that the young man might renege and kill the Blood Lord once he was safe…
Thinking of this, the Blood Emperor asked in a deep voice:
"How can this Emperor trust that you will release the Blood Lord once you have safely passed through the Transcending Star Blood Formation?"