Lucian's cold gaze swept over the group, causing many to flinch and look down. His crimson Halberd glead ominously in the dim light.
"Why don't you just co over here?" Lucian said sarcastically.
Julius trembled even more. His eyes were dazed, he couldn't believe what just happened.
The other cultivators saw Lucian pointing at Julius. They moved away quickly, not wanting to be near him.
Julius' legs shook as he walked towards Lucian. Each step felt like a thousand years. Sweat poured down his face. His heart beat so fast, he thought it might burst.
Julius, his legs trembling like leaves in a storm, finally reached Lucian. Swallowing hard, he forced a smile onto his face.
"B-brother Lucian," he stamred, his voice cracking, "What a surprise to see you here! How... how have you been?"
Lucian's eyes narrowed, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Oh? Is that so, Julius? Do you think I don't know who was pulling the strings back in the Empire?"
Julius' face drained of all color, his forced smile crumbling like sand, "Brother Lucian, please spare . I was wrong. I'll never dare to harm you again. I'll be your loyal dog from now on!"
His voice trembled, eyes darting around nervously. Sweat dripped down his forehead.
However suddenly, Julius's expression changed. His eyes flashed with killing intent.
"Die!" he roared viciously.
His hand shot out like lightning, fingers curled into a bloody claw. He aid for Lucian's lower abdon, where the Dao Platform was located.
If he could destroy Lucian's Dao Platform, his cultivation would be crippled forever. Even if he could not shatter it, he could at least damage it, temporarily disrupting his cultivation and giving him ti to flee.
But Lucian just smirked coldly.
With a casual wave of his hand, a burst of crimson energy erupted.
Whoosh!!
An arm rose into the air, blood spraying in an arc. The severed limb spun, fingers still twitching.
"AHHHHHHH!" Julius scread, his face contorted in agony. He clutched the bloody stump where his arm had been, crimson liquid seeping between his fingers.
"What a waste..." Lucian said coolly, his eyes showing no emotion.
Julius fell to his knees, tears and snot mixing with the blood on his face. He sobbed uncontrollably, all thoughts of revenge forgotten in his pain and terror.
Lucian gazed down at the pitiful sight before him. His Halberd glowed with a crimson fire.
"Did you really think you could harm ?" Lucian's voice was soft, but it cut through Julius' cries like a knife.
"You're not even worth wasting ti on," Lucian said indifferently.
At the next mont, before Julius could even blink, Lucian's Halberd flashed through the air.
A head flew, spinning as it arced through the sky. Blood sprayed in a crimson fountain from the neck. Julius' body swayed briefly before collapsing in a lifeless heap and being burnt to ash.
The other cultivators gasped, their faces pale with fear. So trembled, others wet themselves. None dared to et Lucian's gaze.
Lucian's eyes swept over them, cold and rciless, "Leave your storage bags and scram."
After giving their storage bags, the cultivators imdiately scrambled away, tripping over themselves in their haste to flee. Soon, only Lucian remained in the valley.
...
Atop a mountain peak,
The spiritual energy here was far more concentrated than in the outer areas of the secret realm. Each breath Lucian took filled his body with power, invigorating his body and spirit. Discover hidden content at empire
At this mont Lucian held a compass in his palm, its needle spinning wildly before settling on a direction.
He gazed thoughtfully at it, then looked up at the strange landscape before him.
In the distance, the land was shrouded in an eerie darkness. Ice covered the jagged ground, and snow filled the sky.
This was one of the many forbidden places marked on the map. And also the place where the compass was pointing to.
But Lucian didn't rush to enter. Instead, he closed his eyes and extended his Qi Sense, searching for a secluded spot.
After a few monts, he found what he was looking for — a small place nestled between two small cliffs. It was well-hidden for him to use.
Lucian moved swiftly, his footsteps light as he approached the cliffs.
Then he swung his Halberd, its crimson blade glowing with spiritual energy. The weapon carved through the rock like a hot knife through butter, sending chips of stone flying.
In re monts, a small cave took shape in the cliff wall.
Lucian nodded, satisfied with his work. The opening was just large enough for him to enter comfortably, yet small enough to remain inconspicuous.
The space was dark, but Lucian's eyes adjusted quickly. With a wave of his hand, a soft crimson light filled the cavern, illuminating its rough walls.
He then waved his hand, and suddenly the cave was filled with the carcasses of demon beasts he had killed so far.
He placed the Halberd on the ground, and channelled his Spiritual Energy. The blade imdiately ignited with a crimson fla. The fire danced along the blade, casting flickering shadows on the cave walls.
Lucian then began to roast the at. He arranged the beast carcasses over the fla, the heat slowly penetrating the tough hides.
Within an incense stick of ti, the at oil began to sizzle. Droplets of fat fell onto the burning blade, causing the flas to flare up montarily. The crackling sound echoed in the small space.
A mouthwatering aroma filled the cave. It was a rich, complex sll that made Lucian's mouth water.
He wanted to use these peak Qi Gathering stage beasts to increase his cultivation.
Such high-level spirit beasts contained rich spiritual energy in their flesh. By consuming it, Lucian could absorb that energy and increase the size of his Dao Platform.
While roasting, he didn't forget to gulp down a Spirit Stone to refine using his Gluttonous Innate Fate.
After breaking through and beco a Foundation Establishnt Stage Cultivator, he noticed that he didn't need to actively concentrate to refine a low-level spirit stones any longer. It would happen automatically.
So while his Innate Fate refine the stone, and let his Dao Platform absorb the energy, Lucian took out a small red jade from his storage bag.
It was the only item he took from the man in red robes storage bag, other than the spirit stones.
"It should a technique of the demon sect."
Lucian slowly brought the red jade to his forehead and used his Qi Sense to probe it.
Soon, a vast flood of information rushed into his mind. His eyes closed in concentration as he absorbed the knowledge of a powerful demonic cultivation technique.
The jade contained the thods of the "Needle of Blood Fiend," a very domineering secret technique of the demon sect.
After comprehending, a drop of Essence Blood would mysteriously transform into a blood needle as thin as a strand of hair in the heart.
This needle would continuously absorb a tiny fraction of the user's Essence Blood, growing stronger over ti.
Lucian slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a long breath.
The knowledge of the "Needle of Blood Fiend" technique now resided in his mind.
He set aside the jade and began to eat the roasted demon beast at.
The flesh was tender and juicy, bursting with flavor as he chewed. With each bite, he could feel the rich spiritual energy contained within flowing into his body.
As his Innate Fate refined the Spiritual Energy infused at, he closed his eyes and focused inward.
During Qi Gathering Realm, each cultivators would have one drop of Essence Blood, corresponding to each small stages. And while successful breakthrough, one additional drop would appear.
After breaking through and beca a Foundation Establishnt, the amount would increase significantly.
Each break through would create 5 drops of Essence Blood. So at the peak of Foundation, one would have 45.
And with Qi Gathering Realm 10 drops, totalling to 55.
Lucian's Qi Sense sunk into his heart, where 20 drops of Essence Blood silently simred.
Most cultivators at his stage would have only 11 drops — 10 from Qi Gathering and 1 from breaking through to Foundation Establishnt.
But Lucian was different. His breakthrough had given him 10 droplets, a sign of his extraordinary Life Force.
Lucian slowly closed his eyes, began to visualise the blood needle as depicted in the jade.
He focused his mind, concentrating all his attention on a single drop of Essence Blood in his heart.
Slowly, the droplet began to wriggle. It quivered, as if alive, then started to elongate. Like a crimson thread being pulled, the blood stretched into a thin, needle-like shape.
The process was delicate, requiring utmost precision and control. Lucian's brow furrowed in concentration, sweat beading on his forehead as he guided the transformation with his Qi Sense.
The blood needle continued to form, growing longer and sharper with each passing mont.
As the needle took form, Lucian could feel a strange sensation in his heart.
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