Chapter 187 - 136: Butt Ache

Chapter 187: Chapter 136: Butt Ache

At the very center of the Inner Island was a massive mountain. All the various buildings and cultivation grounds of the Blood Demon Palace were built around this mountain, just as the Outer Islands encircled the Inner Island.

This mountain was normally a restricted area. Let alone an Elder, even a True Master was forbidden from ascending without the Blood Demon Lord’s command.

Moreover, it was fraught with danger. Demon Beasts and plants, their minds warped by bloodlust, could be seen everywhere. Anyone below the Fifth Realm who entered would almost certainly be walking to their death.

But today was an exception.

Because of the Young Master’s trial, the restrictions on the mountain had been lifted for the day.

Climbing the mountain was the first stage of the trial.

The Blood Demon Lord had over twenty heirs. Some among them were bound to have a weak foundation. It would be one thing if they willingly gave up their claim to the Young Master’s position, but if they overestimated their abilities and attempted to climb the mountain... well, aside from the Blood Demons swarming the slopes, they could also expect a "warm welcome" from their dear siblings.

If their luck ran out and they died halfway up the mountain, then they were simply dead.

After all, it wasn’t a problem to be incapable. The problem was being an incapable fool who didn’t even recognize their own incompetence.

Looking into the distance, one group had already reached the halfway point. They were making the best time, and their leader was a beautiful woman holding a whip.

"Miss Nichang, shouldn’t we pick up the pace?"

Town Elder looked up at the darkening sky, extended a mechanical arm forged by Lu Ban Palace, and caught a single raindrop.

It was raining.

Blood-red raindrops pattered against the leaves of a nearby tree, staining them a scarlet hue.

Not only that, but the rain was surprisingly cold. It carried a strange, distracting quality that muddled the mind, almost like... a Desire Demon. Yes, it corrupted the human heart just like a Desire Demon.

Fortunately, the rain wasn’t very strong yet. Town Elder estimated that it could only affect Cultivators below the Third Realm.

Xue Nichang said lightly, "It’s fine. The gates to the Burial Ground have not yet opened."

She, too, frowned as she watched the rain.

Even Xue Nichang, who had lived on Blood Demon Island since she was a child, had never seen such a blood rain. The malice within it made her skin crawl.

It felt as if the blood in her veins was boiling, ready to burst from her body at any moment.

CRACK.

The Blood Whip sliced through the air, sending ripples through it before landing viciously on a Blood Centipede in the jungle. Flesh and blood flew everywhere.

Town Elder checked his own pulse, his expression darkening. "This Dragon Transformation Bone affair... it seems unusual. I think I can feel the tremors of the earth veins within the palace grounds."

On the surface, the Dragon Transformation Bone was just part of the Young Master selection. While important to the Blood Demon Palace, it shouldn’t have been enough to cause such a huge commotion.

It wasn’t as if the Emperor of a Mortal Dynasty had died, sparking a war of succession between the Nine Dragons.

Zi Hua Master chuckled with narrowed eyes. "About three thousand years ago, a grievously wounded monster fell onto this island. The monster spent many years recuperating here, but then someone happened to pass by. Seeing the monster still healing, they devised a plan to seal it and use the earth veins to draw out its power."

Town Elder asked curiously, "How do you know such a secret, Zi Hua Master? I’ve never heard of anything like this. Is it true?"

"Of course it’s fake. I’m not from the Blood Demon Palace. How could I possibly know more than all of you Blood Demon Palace Cultivators?"

The matter of the Blood Demon being suppressed beneath the Blood Demon Palace was a secret known to very few, aside from a handful of Yao Guang who had fought their way through the chaotic eras and the current Sixth Realm Masters of the Blood Demon Palace.

Therefore, even Town Elder and Xue Nichang were unaware of this secret.

Even Lu Changyuan only knew that the other half of the Blood Demon was hidden here because the Little Fairy in a White Skirt had mentioned it offhandedly in her small green gauze sedan chair.

Xue Nichang’s group picked up their pace again.

Town Elder couldn’t help but ask, "Zi Hua Master, why aren’t you using your Paintbrush?"

The monsters blocking their path were dispatched with ease, yet Zi Hua Master hadn’t used the Secret Techniques of his Qingluo Painting Palace, nor had he revealed his Dao. Instead, he was brutally killing the monsters with palm strikes.

’Since when did people from the Qingluo Painting Palace have such powerful Palm Techniques?’

"I don’t need to bring out a Magical Artifact like my Paintbrush for these things. It’s better to save my energy for the Dragon Transformation Bone."

The explanation was plausible enough, and since time was short, no one raised any objections.

Soon, the summit of the mountain appeared before them. A blast of heat washed over their faces, and sweat began to drip down.

The largest mountain on Blood Demon Island was actually an active volcano. They were now standing on the crater’s rim, looking down at the churning lava below, a sight that inspired deep fear.

Xue Nichang suddenly caught a metallic, bloody scent. "This isn’t lava," she said. "It’s a Sea of Blood."

For some reason, this scorching hot blood didn’t evaporate, but remained thick and viscous like lava.

Paying no mind to the strange sight, Xue Nichang looked up. Not far away, Cyan Blood Master was already waiting. He nodded when he saw that she had successfully reached the summit.

Xue Nichang flourished her long whip. "Master, when will you open the Burial Ground?"

Cyan Blood Master said, "We will wait one more hour, until early evening."

That is, before the sun sets.

But with blood raining from the sky and dark clouds blanketing the world in gloom, the sun was nowhere to be seen.

So, Xue Nichang had no choice but to sit cross-legged and wait.

Another hour passed.

Including Xue Nichang, a total of five of the Blood Demon Lord’s heirs had reached the summit to compete for the position of Young Master.

Cyan Blood Master took out Xue Yanluo’s Young Master’s Token.

"Then let’s have everyone enter the Burial Ground."

Xue Nichang asked, "Where is the Demon Lord now?"

They had exhausted themselves to complete the trial and racked their brains to find the so-called method for the Dragon Transformation Bone, all to be seen by the Blood Demon Lord. Yet, up to this point, the Blood Demon Lord had not made an appearance.