Gazing at the mangled corpse on the ground, Song Yan felt an overwhelming sense of absurdity.
The body of a Golden Core cultivator was lying right before her eyes, a Golden Core at that!
She had thought Jiang Zheng might find a couple of Foundation Establishment cultivators, but she never imagined he would kill two Golden Cores!
One had to know that the total number of Golden Core cultivators in An Prefecture was perhaps only around twenty.
Which one of them wasn't a famous figure in their own right? Having lived for who knows how many years, they were actually killed so easily by Jiang Zheng, and two of them at that!
Moreover, he seemed very relaxed, as if he hadn't suffered any injuries.
Thinking of this, her gaze swept to the wooden box beside her, meaning that inside it was also the corpse of a Golden Core cultivator.
Ever since Jin Ling had delivered the wooden box, she had become increasingly curious about what was inside, but it was covered with a strange barrier, making it impossible to open.
"There are only a dozen or so Golden Core cultivators in this land, I wonder which family's Golden Core Elder Jiang killed?"
Suppressing the shock in her heart, Song Yan asked again.
The Golden Core corpse on the ground was a bloody mess, making it impossible to discern its appearance or identity.
However, the Golden Core cultivators of An Prefecture were few, and for hundreds of years, even if they were far apart, they were all known by reputation. As long as Jiang Zheng was willing to say, she would surely be able to find out.
"Are you very curious?"
Jiang Zheng grinned, then pointed to the corpse on the ground and said with interest:
"Then don't you think the aura of this corpse on the ground is a bit familiar?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Yan's heart trembled, and she released her spiritual sense to envelop the corpse on the ground.
Under Jiang Zheng's smiling gaze, she carefully sensed for a moment, and the shocked expression gradually returned to calmness.
"Elder Jiang is joking, how can a dead person have any aura?"
Song Yan smiled bitterly, feeling like she was being played.
But in reality, it wasn't so. Although Wu Yazi was already a corpse, Jiang Zheng could still sense his identity through the aura emanating from the body.
It was just that this aura wouldn't last long, and would probably fade to the point of being undetectable after a few days, but he had overlooked that Song Yan, with her Foundation Establishment cultivation, couldn't detect such an aura.
"You can't recognize him? It doesn't matter, maybe you're not familiar."
Jiang Zheng smiled slightly, then reached out and summoned the wooden coffin beside him. Under Song Yan's gaze, he brushed away the barrier on it, and then pulled open the lid.
Clang—
Song Yan stared intently, her whole body suddenly stiffened, her pupils contracted, and her eyes couldn't stop trembling.
She seemed unable to believe everything before her eyes. In an instant, her whole body felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
Lan Tianyu! The thing in this wooden box was actually Lan Tianyu's corpse!
Lan Tianyu, the previous Sect Leader of the Spirit Creek Sect!!
Jiang Zheng had actually killed the Sect Leader?! This was simply deceiving his master and destroying his ancestors!
Song Yan stared straight at Jiang Zheng, as if looking at a demon. The young man standing in front of her was no longer human.
His head of crimson hair was like being dyed with blood. He killed without blinking an eye, killing anyone!
He used any means to achieve his goals, and didn't recognize his relatives!
He was a devil, he was a living devil!
Thoughts surged in Song Yan's mind like rolling waves. There seemed to be a buzzing in her ears, and the shock in the depths of her pupils gradually turned into apprehension, and finally into pure fear.
"You…! You actually killed the Sect Leader?!"
"No, no, no."
Jiang Zheng shook his head with a smile, as if not accepting the slander, "He was already going to die anyway. Jiang only made his death have value. Elder Song can't slander me."
But at this point, Song Yan didn't dare to believe a single word he said, and her eyes drifted to Wu Yazi's corpse again.
Her gaze noticed something. Under a strip of blood-stained cloth, a token slowly slipped out.
Finally, it fell to the ground with a "clang". It was an emerald green token with the character "Wu" engraved on it.
Song Yan seemed to have thought of something and cried out in alarm.
"Wu! This is Sect Leader Wu Yazi's token?! You…! He…! He's Wu Yazi!!
You…! You even killed the current Sect Leader?!
Who's blood did you have to sacrifice? You even killed two Sect Leaders in a row. What exactly are you trying to do?!"
"Tsk tsk tsk… You recognized him so quickly," Jiang Zheng clicked his tongue with interest, wanting to see what her reaction would be next.
She lowered her head, terrified, as if she had smelled the aura of conspiracy.
A guess instantly surfaced in her mind. Although there weren't many Golden Cores in the world, it was more than enough to find two. Why did he have to kill his own sect's Golden Cores?
And two Sect Leaders at that. Could it be…
Song Yan suddenly raised her head, "You…!"
The words stopped at her lips, only to see that Jiang Zheng's gaze towards her was extremely cold, like a beast about to devour someone.
That kind of coldness was the first time Song Yan had ever seen it in her life, terrifying and oppressive.
"Elder Song is really smart, but a little too smart," Jiang Zheng said calmly, his gaze returning to calmness.
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Yan's whole body was drenched in cold sweat.
She couldn't help but want to slap herself twice. She had really been muddle-headed just now, how could she have said such a thing.
He could even kill the Sect Leader, now that she had discovered this demon's secret, how could the other party let her go?
Perhaps the day she formed her Core would be the day she died. Looking at the corpses on the ground, Song Yan couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart, feeling a sense of impending doom.
What could she do?
No, she couldn't sit still and wait for death. She was frantically thinking of countermeasures in her heart. How could she be willing to die here?
Every time the flames in the furnace flickered, Song Yan felt that she was one step closer to death.
Or should she stall for time first… and find a way to escape after this demon goes out?
No, not to mention whether she could get out of the barrier outside, just the Foundation Establishment demon beast's strange golden light was incomparably terrifying, she was no match at all.
Besides, even if she ran away, how could she escape the pursuit of a Golden Core cultivator?
If her escape caused this furnace of pills to be ruined, the other party would probably chase her to the ends of the earth…
"Alright, don't be afraid, Jiang was just teasing you," Jiang Zheng smiled and comforted her: "I'm not someone who kills innocent people indiscriminately… forget it… You just need to know that the reason I killed them was because they were blocking my path.
As long as you obediently refine the Fourth Revolution Golden Pill, Jiang will be grateful to you, how could I possibly kill you?
Just refine the pills properly, the day the pills are completed will be the day you are free."
"This… This little woman believes that Elder Jiang… no, Sect Leader Jiang is not a person who goes back on his word."
Song Yan was half-believing and half-doubting Jiang Zheng's words, but based on the current situation, refining the pills well was the best choice.
This way, there was still hope of survival, otherwise, it would really be a dead end.
"Be careful with the furnace fire," Jiang Zheng nodded and reminded her softly, not minding the change in her address, it was just flattery forced by the situation.
"Mm," With the golden light gradually releasing from the furnace, Jiang Zheng closed his eyes and sensed it. Inside the raging flames, four Grand Revolution Golden Pills were constantly taking shape.
They seemed to be a circle smaller than ordinary Golden Cores, and they were filled with a gentle golden light.
Seeing this, Jiang Zheng instantly understood the wonder of this Grand Revolution Golden Pill. Although ordinary Golden Cores could be directly refined, they were ultimately not Golden Cores nurtured by oneself.
There was still the will of others remaining on them, and it would take a lot of effort to refine them.
But this Grand Revolution Golden Pill was different. Just by feeling the aura on it, Jiang Zheng had the confidence that he could refine one within two days. After all, this Grand Revolution Golden Pill was the purest Golden Core, without even a trace of the will of others.
"When can the blood sacrifice be done?" This was what Jiang Zheng was most concerned about.
"Wait a moment," Song Yan only replied with two words, then concentrated on controlling the furnace fire.
After an incense stick's worth of time, the furnace lid was wide open.
"Quick, throw the corpses in!"
"Okay!" Jiang Zheng was quick-witted and didn't dare to delay at all.
With a wave of his hand, Wu Yazi and Lan Tianyu were swept up by the golden light and thrown into the huge pill furnace.
Song Yan's beautiful eyes narrowed, and the hand seals in her hand were constantly changing, and the raging flames roared inside the pill furnace.
Suddenly, golden light radiated everywhere!
A moment later, the golden light slowly dissipated, and the fragrance of pills permeated the air.
"Is it done?!" Jiang Zheng's eyes lit up.
"How can it be so easy?" Song Yan glanced at him and explained:
"If it were according to the original plan, the pills would naturally be completed, but this blood sacrifice also requires a process. I can't estimate the exact time, I'm afraid it will take a day."
Jiang Zheng silently walked to the side, his face showing fatigue, and leaned against the stone wall and sat down.
He leaned against the stone wall, slowly closed his eyes, and the fatigue in his voice was difficult to hide.
"Then I'll have to trouble Elder Song. I'm too tired… I need to sleep for a while."
Of course, he wouldn't be tired at his current realm, but he was indeed very tired inside, and wanted to have a good sleep like a mortal for the first time since returning from the Hunting Convention.
"Giggle…" She smiled charmingly, "Golden Core cultivators can still be tired?"
After saying that, she looked at Jiang Zheng, but the other party didn't respond, and his breathing became even, as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.
Until a moment later, Jiang Zheng still didn't respond, and Song Yan was certain that he was indeed asleep.
The stone cave became quiet.
Only the furnace fire was slowly dancing, making a "whooshing" sound.
But Song Yan's thoughts were no longer on the pill furnace, and her gaze was constantly glancing at Jiang Zheng.
After another moment, Song Yan tentatively opened her mouth again: "Elder Jiang?"
There was no response.
"Elder Jiang…?"
"…"
"Sect Leader Jiang…?!"
There was still no response.
Song Yan raised her voice again, "Elder Jiang?!!"
Her voice echoed in the empty stone cave, but after a long time, there was still no response from the other party, as if he was sleeping very deeply, like a mortal who hadn't slept for days.
Only a slap in the face and a bucket of cold water could wake him up.
At this moment, Jiang Zheng didn't have the slightest reaction, and just leaned against the stone wall, sleeping soundly.
Seeing this, Song Yan's eyes gradually turned cold, and a hint of killing intent emerged.
Then, the hand seals in her hand changed, and the flames in the pill furnace calmed down.
Song Yan stood up and slowly walked towards Jiang Zheng.
The body of a Golden Core cultivator was lying right before her eyes, a Golden Core at that!
She had thought Jiang Zheng might find a couple of Foundation Establishment cultivators, but she never imagined he would kill two Golden Cores!
One had to know that the total number of Golden Core cultivators in An Prefecture was perhaps only around twenty.
Which one of them wasn't a famous figure in their own right? Having lived for who knows how many years, they were actually killed so easily by Jiang Zheng, and two of them at that!
Moreover, he seemed very relaxed, as if he hadn't suffered any injuries.
Thinking of this, her gaze swept to the wooden box beside her, meaning that inside it was also the corpse of a Golden Core cultivator.
Ever since Jin Ling had delivered the wooden box, she had become increasingly curious about what was inside, but it was covered with a strange barrier, making it impossible to open.
"There are only a dozen or so Golden Core cultivators in this land, I wonder which family's Golden Core Elder Jiang killed?"
Suppressing the shock in her heart, Song Yan asked again.
The Golden Core corpse on the ground was a bloody mess, making it impossible to discern its appearance or identity.
However, the Golden Core cultivators of An Prefecture were few, and for hundreds of years, even if they were far apart, they were all known by reputation. As long as Jiang Zheng was willing to say, she would surely be able to find out.
"Are you very curious?"
Jiang Zheng grinned, then pointed to the corpse on the ground and said with interest:
"Then don't you think the aura of this corpse on the ground is a bit familiar?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Yan's heart trembled, and she released her spiritual sense to envelop the corpse on the ground.
Under Jiang Zheng's smiling gaze, she carefully sensed for a moment, and the shocked expression gradually returned to calmness.
"Elder Jiang is joking, how can a dead person have any aura?"
Song Yan smiled bitterly, feeling like she was being played.
But in reality, it wasn't so. Although Wu Yazi was already a corpse, Jiang Zheng could still sense his identity through the aura emanating from the body.
It was just that this aura wouldn't last long, and would probably fade to the point of being undetectable after a few days, but he had overlooked that Song Yan, with her Foundation Establishment cultivation, couldn't detect such an aura.
"You can't recognize him? It doesn't matter, maybe you're not familiar."
Jiang Zheng smiled slightly, then reached out and summoned the wooden coffin beside him. Under Song Yan's gaze, he brushed away the barrier on it, and then pulled open the lid.
Clang—
Song Yan stared intently, her whole body suddenly stiffened, her pupils contracted, and her eyes couldn't stop trembling.
She seemed unable to believe everything before her eyes. In an instant, her whole body felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
Lan Tianyu! The thing in this wooden box was actually Lan Tianyu's corpse!
Lan Tianyu, the previous Sect Leader of the Spirit Creek Sect!!
Jiang Zheng had actually killed the Sect Leader?! This was simply deceiving his master and destroying his ancestors!
Song Yan stared straight at Jiang Zheng, as if looking at a demon. The young man standing in front of her was no longer human.
His head of crimson hair was like being dyed with blood. He killed without blinking an eye, killing anyone!
He used any means to achieve his goals, and didn't recognize his relatives!
He was a devil, he was a living devil!
Thoughts surged in Song Yan's mind like rolling waves. There seemed to be a buzzing in her ears, and the shock in the depths of her pupils gradually turned into apprehension, and finally into pure fear.
"You…! You actually killed the Sect Leader?!"
"No, no, no."
Jiang Zheng shook his head with a smile, as if not accepting the slander, "He was already going to die anyway. Jiang only made his death have value. Elder Song can't slander me."
But at this point, Song Yan didn't dare to believe a single word he said, and her eyes drifted to Wu Yazi's corpse again.
Her gaze noticed something. Under a strip of blood-stained cloth, a token slowly slipped out.
Finally, it fell to the ground with a "clang". It was an emerald green token with the character "Wu" engraved on it.
Song Yan seemed to have thought of something and cried out in alarm.
"Wu! This is Sect Leader Wu Yazi's token?! You…! He…! He's Wu Yazi!!
You…! You even killed the current Sect Leader?!
Who's blood did you have to sacrifice? You even killed two Sect Leaders in a row. What exactly are you trying to do?!"
"Tsk tsk tsk… You recognized him so quickly," Jiang Zheng clicked his tongue with interest, wanting to see what her reaction would be next.
She lowered her head, terrified, as if she had smelled the aura of conspiracy.
A guess instantly surfaced in her mind. Although there weren't many Golden Cores in the world, it was more than enough to find two. Why did he have to kill his own sect's Golden Cores?
And two Sect Leaders at that. Could it be…
Song Yan suddenly raised her head, "You…!"
The words stopped at her lips, only to see that Jiang Zheng's gaze towards her was extremely cold, like a beast about to devour someone.
That kind of coldness was the first time Song Yan had ever seen it in her life, terrifying and oppressive.
"Elder Song is really smart, but a little too smart," Jiang Zheng said calmly, his gaze returning to calmness.
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Yan's whole body was drenched in cold sweat.
She couldn't help but want to slap herself twice. She had really been muddle-headed just now, how could she have said such a thing.
He could even kill the Sect Leader, now that she had discovered this demon's secret, how could the other party let her go?
Perhaps the day she formed her Core would be the day she died. Looking at the corpses on the ground, Song Yan couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart, feeling a sense of impending doom.
What could she do?
No, she couldn't sit still and wait for death. She was frantically thinking of countermeasures in her heart. How could she be willing to die here?
Every time the flames in the furnace flickered, Song Yan felt that she was one step closer to death.
Or should she stall for time first… and find a way to escape after this demon goes out?
No, not to mention whether she could get out of the barrier outside, just the Foundation Establishment demon beast's strange golden light was incomparably terrifying, she was no match at all.
Besides, even if she ran away, how could she escape the pursuit of a Golden Core cultivator?
If her escape caused this furnace of pills to be ruined, the other party would probably chase her to the ends of the earth…
"Alright, don't be afraid, Jiang was just teasing you," Jiang Zheng smiled and comforted her: "I'm not someone who kills innocent people indiscriminately… forget it… You just need to know that the reason I killed them was because they were blocking my path.
As long as you obediently refine the Fourth Revolution Golden Pill, Jiang will be grateful to you, how could I possibly kill you?
Just refine the pills properly, the day the pills are completed will be the day you are free."
"This… This little woman believes that Elder Jiang… no, Sect Leader Jiang is not a person who goes back on his word."
Song Yan was half-believing and half-doubting Jiang Zheng's words, but based on the current situation, refining the pills well was the best choice.
This way, there was still hope of survival, otherwise, it would really be a dead end.
"Be careful with the furnace fire," Jiang Zheng nodded and reminded her softly, not minding the change in her address, it was just flattery forced by the situation.
"Mm," With the golden light gradually releasing from the furnace, Jiang Zheng closed his eyes and sensed it. Inside the raging flames, four Grand Revolution Golden Pills were constantly taking shape.
They seemed to be a circle smaller than ordinary Golden Cores, and they were filled with a gentle golden light.
Seeing this, Jiang Zheng instantly understood the wonder of this Grand Revolution Golden Pill. Although ordinary Golden Cores could be directly refined, they were ultimately not Golden Cores nurtured by oneself.
There was still the will of others remaining on them, and it would take a lot of effort to refine them.
But this Grand Revolution Golden Pill was different. Just by feeling the aura on it, Jiang Zheng had the confidence that he could refine one within two days. After all, this Grand Revolution Golden Pill was the purest Golden Core, without even a trace of the will of others.
"When can the blood sacrifice be done?" This was what Jiang Zheng was most concerned about.
"Wait a moment," Song Yan only replied with two words, then concentrated on controlling the furnace fire.
After an incense stick's worth of time, the furnace lid was wide open.
"Quick, throw the corpses in!"
"Okay!" Jiang Zheng was quick-witted and didn't dare to delay at all.
With a wave of his hand, Wu Yazi and Lan Tianyu were swept up by the golden light and thrown into the huge pill furnace.
Song Yan's beautiful eyes narrowed, and the hand seals in her hand were constantly changing, and the raging flames roared inside the pill furnace.
Suddenly, golden light radiated everywhere!
A moment later, the golden light slowly dissipated, and the fragrance of pills permeated the air.
"Is it done?!" Jiang Zheng's eyes lit up.
"How can it be so easy?" Song Yan glanced at him and explained:
"If it were according to the original plan, the pills would naturally be completed, but this blood sacrifice also requires a process. I can't estimate the exact time, I'm afraid it will take a day."
Jiang Zheng silently walked to the side, his face showing fatigue, and leaned against the stone wall and sat down.
He leaned against the stone wall, slowly closed his eyes, and the fatigue in his voice was difficult to hide.
"Then I'll have to trouble Elder Song. I'm too tired… I need to sleep for a while."
Of course, he wouldn't be tired at his current realm, but he was indeed very tired inside, and wanted to have a good sleep like a mortal for the first time since returning from the Hunting Convention.
"Giggle…" She smiled charmingly, "Golden Core cultivators can still be tired?"
After saying that, she looked at Jiang Zheng, but the other party didn't respond, and his breathing became even, as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.
Until a moment later, Jiang Zheng still didn't respond, and Song Yan was certain that he was indeed asleep.
The stone cave became quiet.
Only the furnace fire was slowly dancing, making a "whooshing" sound.
But Song Yan's thoughts were no longer on the pill furnace, and her gaze was constantly glancing at Jiang Zheng.
After another moment, Song Yan tentatively opened her mouth again: "Elder Jiang?"
There was no response.
"Elder Jiang…?"
"…"
"Sect Leader Jiang…?!"
There was still no response.
Song Yan raised her voice again, "Elder Jiang?!!"
Her voice echoed in the empty stone cave, but after a long time, there was still no response from the other party, as if he was sleeping very deeply, like a mortal who hadn't slept for days.
Only a slap in the face and a bucket of cold water could wake him up.
At this moment, Jiang Zheng didn't have the slightest reaction, and just leaned against the stone wall, sleeping soundly.
Seeing this, Song Yan's eyes gradually turned cold, and a hint of killing intent emerged.
Then, the hand seals in her hand changed, and the flames in the pill furnace calmed down.
Song Yan stood up and slowly walked towards Jiang Zheng.
