Devouring Soul Emperor

Soon, Chu Qingyun found an inn.

After entering, he ordered a few dishes but didn’t touch his chopsticks. Instead, he tossed a drop of Primordial Spirit Liquid to the waiter and began asking about the Blood-soaked Land.

He also spent another drop of Primordial Spirit Liquid to buy a map of the Blood-soaked Land from him.

After opening the map and studying it for a moment, Chu Qingyun memorized the general distribution of cities, as well as the larger forests, mountain ranges, and rivers. He now had a rough understanding of the Blood-soaked Land’s overall layout.

The Blood-soaked Land was shaped like a long, curved strip, separating the Sect Territories from the Land of Hundred Dynasties.

Running through its center was a slanted mountain range that split the entire Blood-soaked Land in two, creating an East District and a West District.

This mountain range was called the Hengduan Mountain Range.

Even on the map, it was clear that the range was immense, filled with towering peaks. Its two ends even extended into the Sect Territories and the Land of Hundred Dynasties.

The Black Blood City, where Chu Qingyun currently was, sat on the western edge of the Hengduan Mountain Range, placing it in the West District of the Blood-soaked Land.

According to the waiter, the West District of the Blood-soaked Land was the territory of the No-Life Gang. The No-Life Gang was one of the two most powerful gangs in the entire region, possessing immense strength.

It was rumored that the No-Life Gang had more than one expert at the Celestial Emperor Realm.

Furthermore, the Gang Leader of the Black Blood Gang, the top gang in Black Blood City, was also an outer Elder of the No-Life Gang.

As for the East District, it was the territory of the other major power, the Cold Star Gang. As one of the two great gangs of the Blood-soaked Land, their strength was in no way inferior to the No-Life Gang’s.

The power of these two great gangs was a far cry from that of the sects.

However, when compared to the Land of Hundred Dynasties, even the so-called Ten Great Dynasties were likely weaker than these two gangs.

Having learned what he wanted to know, Chu Qingyun left the inn. He hadn’t touched a single bite of the food on his table.

In a lawless place where people could be killed in the streets, he couldn’t bring himself to trust a so-called inn.

’Besides, I have a Storage Ring with plenty of food and water inside.’

After leaving the inn, Chu Qingyun prepared to exit Black Blood City from the other side.

While memorizing the map earlier, he had already decided on a route that would take him through several cities on his way to Celestial Martial City.

He chose to pass through cities because the marked roads connecting them were the easiest and safest paths to travel.

The Blood-soaked Land was different from the Land of Hundred Dynasties.

The Land of Hundred Dynasties was a thoroughly developed and mature region where humanity thrived. There were no truly deep, ancient forests or primordial wildernesses to speak of.

The Blood-soaked Land, however, was different. Its population was much sparser than that of the Land of Hundred Dynasties.

It contained vast, true wildernesses, home to many Tier Four and even Tier Five Demon Beasts.

When human Martial Artists broke through the Martial Spirit Realm to reach the Martial King Realm, they underwent a fundamental transformation.

Similarly, when a Demon Beast broke through from Tier Three to Tier Four, it also transformed, truly awakening its spiritual intelligence and gaining wisdom comparable to that of a human.

Tier Four and Tier Five Demon Beasts were in no way weaker than King-level or Emperor-level humans!

Therefore, traveling between cities and sticking to the well-trodden paths was the only way to reach Celestial Martial City quickly and safely.

’Trying to be clever and taking a straight path through the wilderness would likely lead to encounters with powerful Demon Beasts or other dangers. It would be asking for trouble, or even a death sentence!’

Following the road out of the city, Chu Qingyun came to a major intersection where a large crowd had gathered. They were packed together, seemingly spectating something.

He had seen this sort of scene many times since arriving.

’It’s just some people fighting again, with a crowd of onlookers enjoying the show.’

Chu Qingyun had no interest in it. He just wanted to leave the city and head to Celestial Martial City.

However, as he was passing by and skirting the edge of the crowd, a surprised voice suddenly called out from within, "Chu Qingyun!"

At the sound of the voice, the surrounding crowd parted, creating a path.

Chu Qingyun saw them. Inside the circle were a dozen or so Examiners from Great Xia, but they were all people he’d rather not have seen: Princess Qingyou and Yin Feiyang’s small group, as well as the Ninth Prince, Yu Chen, and his larger retinue.

The one who had called out to him was none other than Princess Qingyou.

Her eyes lit up when she got a clear look at him. "Chu Qingyun, you’ve broken through to become a fourth-level Martial Spirit! That’s wonderful! With your strength greatly increased, you might be able to beat them!"

’Beat them?’

Chu Qingyun frowned. He looked up and only then noticed several people standing opposite Princess Qingyou and the Ninth Prince’s group.

Their attire was in a similar style to the Ninth Prince’s group, exuding an air of nobility. They were likely also from the Hundred Dynasties, here for the sect assessment, and probably of significant status themselves.

"My apologies, Princess Qingyou, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m leaving the city now," Chu Qingyun said casually after a sweeping glance at them.

’The Ninth Prince’s group had clearly gotten into a confrontation with those people.’

’Chu Qingyun had no interest in being their hired muscle.’

In fact, the moment he saw the Ninth Prince, he had already changed his plans. He would now secretly tail the prince’s group within Black Blood City and find an opportunity to kill him.

He had promised Xia He that he would kill the Ninth Prince before he could become a Sect Disciple.

’He had originally planned to find an opportunity in Celestial Martial City.’

’But he never expected to run into him in Black Blood City. Since fate had brought them together here, Chu Qingyun had no intention of letting this chance slip by. If they left the city, who knew where he’d find them again.’

"Hey, Chu Qingyun, don’t go! No matter what, we’re all Examiners from Great Xia. We’re in trouble now; aren’t you going to help us at all?" Princess Qingyou said.

When Chu Qingyun was a third-level Martial Spirit, he could defeat a very strong Fifth-level Martial Spirit. Now that he had advanced to the fourth level, his overall strength must have soared. He could probably even handle a fairly powerful sixth-level Martial Spirit. Naturally, Princess Qingyou wanted to keep him there to help.

In response, Chu Qingyun just shook his head, not even bothering to acknowledge her.

’Only when they’re in trouble do they remember we’re all Examiners from Great Xia. But when the Ninth Prince was coming after me, they all seemed to forget that fact.’

’Chu Qingyun couldn’t be bothered to reason with such self-righteous people.’

’It would be a waste of breath anyway.’

’It was better to just ignore them completely.’