Chu Qing and Gentle stepped into the secret passage, the Big Master being carried by Chu Qing, serving as their guiding light.
Qin Yuqi stayed outside the secret passage to provide support if needed.
After all, the situation inside the passage was unknown to anyone except the Big Master. If he tried any tricks to trap Chu Qing and Gentle, Qin Yuqi could still intervene from the outside.
The passage led downward, forming a spiral staircase.
Lights burned brightly on both sides, illuminating the path.
After walking for a while, they reached the bottom.
At this point, even without Gentle, Chu Qing could sll the strong scent of blood.
In front of them were two paths, with the scent of blood wafting from the left.
Chu Qing glanced at the Big Master:
"What’s over here?"
The Big Master’s lips quivered, but he remained silent for a long ti.
Chu Qing simply carried him down the passage. The passage was short, and they soon arrived at a spacious area.
Just at the sight of it, even Chu Qing, with knowledge from two lifetis, couldn’t help but have his pupils shrink.
Even Gentle couldn’t maintain a calm expression. Her mouth opened slightly, her face turned sowhat pale, as she struggled to suppress the urge to retch.
The entire cave was hollow, its floor squared off and fully covered with fertile soil, forming four fields.
Water channels ran through the fields, but what flowed in them wasn’t water—it was blood.
Corpses hung upside down like spider eggs, densely covering the cave’s ceiling. Blood flowed down from their bodies, pooling in the channels and dispersing throughout the fields.
Chu Qing didn’t know what was planted in those fields... as only half-buried stalks remained, with the crops seemingly already harvested.
His gaze swept over the corpses before returning to the Big Master he was holding:
"Explain this. What does it an?"
The Big Master’s voice was dry:
"I acted under orders. That person gave seeds to plant here in Yinfeng Stronghold.
"The seeds cannot see the light of day, or they perish.
"They must be irrigated with the blood of martial masters or the blood of vigorous young people. Exposed to water, they die.
"When they bloom, the fruit they produce is as bright and vivid as blood.
"This harvest occurs twice a year... we just collected them, and yesterday that person ca here—not only to visit the captives but also to take away those fruits."
Chu Qing exhaled gently, understanding why Yinfeng Stronghold craved both money and people.
Money had its uses, and so did people.
"Do you know what this fruit is called? What do they do with it?"
Chu Qing asked coldly.
The Big Master shook his head:
"I don’t know the fruit’s na... but its color is like blood, crystal clear, so we call it Blood Fruit.
"That person said the fruit is the main ingredient in refining an elixir called ’Blood God Pill.’
"The pill has two effects: drinking it diluted with water enhances one’s vitality and cultivation.
"In critical monts, swallowing it in one go greatly boosts one’s inner strength and physique."
"You know so much about it?"
"...Because that person once gave so Blood God Pills and explained their wonderful uses.
"He also promised that as long as I followed orders, I would be given so Blood God Pills in the future, allowing to beco a true master."
The Big Master seed to have completely given up resisting and answered Chu Qing’s questions without hesitation.
Gentle, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but ask:
"If you had Blood God Pills, why didn’t you use one just now?"
The Big Master glanced at Chu Qing helplessly:
"Didn’t have ti..."
"You really have one on you?"
Chu Qing smiled:
"Show ."
The Big Master reached into his pocket and took out a bottle.
Upon opening it, there was only one pill inside. He poured it into his hand. By the light of the torches in the cave, the Blood God Pill glead red, resembling cinnabar rather than blood.
The elixir itself lacked any bloody scent and instead emitted a fresh fragrance.
It was hard to believe this elixir was refined using such a cruel thod to cultivate its main ingredient.
Chu Qing took one last look around the cave, ensuring there were no other paths, then led the Big Master back to their previous location and chose the other path.
This path had rooms on both sides.
The rooms contained the wealth Yinfeng Stronghold had plundered over the years.
In addition to the usual gold, jade, pearls, and agate, there were exquisite wines, weapons, and even won...
Earlier, Chu Qing had circled outside and seen so captive, decent won.
However, those hidden here were even more beautiful.
At the sight of newcors, they instinctively posed seductively, but upon seeing the Big Master’s miserable state, their expressions imdiately changed.
So laughed uncontrollably, others wept loudly, and so knelt down, begging Chu Qing for help.
Chu Qing glanced at them and then diverted his gaze.
Their clothes were scant, clearly for convenience.
Releasing them now would cause issues, so he told them to wait a while; he would rescue them after dealing with pressing matters.
The Big Master stayed silent, obediently leading Chu Qing on.
He was very aware of the situation, guiding Chu Qing to the end of the secret passage, where there was a large iron door.
Chu Qing set the Big Master down:
"Open the door."
Trembling, the Big Master pulled a key from his pocket, but just as he was about to insert it, his legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground:
"I-I’m weak and powerless... My ridians feel frozen, every movent is excruciatingly painful... I truly... truly cannot stand any longer.
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