Chapter 60: Blood Pool

Chapter 60: Blood Pool

Judging by their appearance, these three individuals seemed to be patrolling inside the secret door of the Pinjian Tower.

The moment the head-shaped rack opened, the trio approached but hadn’t yet realized what was happening.

Before they could react, a fist was already in front of them.

The Youquan Cult disciple’s face changed as he tried to dodge, but it was too late.

With a calculated strike, the punch landed squarely on his chest, unleashing the power of the Seven-Injury Fist, instantly shattering his internal organs.

Without even a groan, he fell dead on the spot.

The three were positioned one in front and two behind. Su Mo killed one with a single punch and then swiftly extended his hand, using the Great Kaiyang Scattering Palm.

In a sweep of his five fingers, he first deflected the opponent's raised hands, then tapped several acupoints on his chest, finally landing on the Zhongxuan point.

Struck by the force of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique on this vital point, how could there be any chance of survival?

His body jolted, his head tilted, and he was already lifeless.

The last person had already fallen into Luo Zhen’s grasp. He was highly skilled in grappling techniques.

With a twist of his palms, a crack echoed as the Youquan Cult member’s neck was broken.

Though the sequence of actions sounds complex, it all happened in the blink of an eye.

All three bodies had not yet fallen when everything was completed.

Su Mo gently laid down the two corpses, his brows slightly furrowed. "Do you smell anything?"

"It seems like... the scent of blood?"

Yang Xiaoyun came closer, helping Su Mo strip the Youquan Cult disciples of their clothes.

Luo Zhen, being an expert at such tasks, quickly donned the Jade Willow Villa attire over his white robe within moments.

However, due to his height, the outfit hung loosely, making him look like a child wearing adult clothing.

Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun exchanged peculiar looks.

Luo Zhen paid no mind, and the sound of bones cracking echoed. In an instant, he grew a foot taller.

"Remarkable."

Su Mo praised him.

"..."

Luo Zhen’s lips twitched. "Just a minor trick."

While the technique wasn’t sophisticated, he executed it with incredible skill.

Bone-shrinking techniques have long been known in the martial world, allowing bones to be manipulated easily.

However, bone-shrinking is easier than extending. This man effortlessly extended himself by more than a foot without batting an eyelid, a feat that could only be described as miraculous.

Meanwhile, Luo Zhen looked at the long spear in Yang Xiaoyun’s hand with a hint of schadenfreude.

But Yang Xiaoyun silently disassembled the spear into three sections, neatly concealing it without any trace.

Luo Zhen’s lips twitched again, feeling rather embarrassed.

As for Su Mo’s sword case, he couldn’t hide it and could only carry it on his back, ready to act accordingly once they descended.

After arranging the corpses to the side, the three smeared their faces slightly before cautiously entering the passage.

Upon entering, the head-shaped rack closed silently behind them.

Inside, a winding staircase led downward.

The walls of the staircase showed signs of age, causing Yang Xiaoyun to frown slightly. "Do you think this place was built by the Youquan Cult? It doesn’t seem like they constructed it."

"Of course not," Luo Zhen said. "Jade Willow Villa has faced many dangers over the years. Before Liu Suifeng emerged, it nearly faced destruction multiple times. I wouldn’t believe it if there weren’t any shelters beneath the villa. The Youquan Cult likely discovered it later and took it over, secretly operating here... Hmm, the scent of blood is stronger now."

Su Mo also noticed the scent and reached into his pocket, taking out two detoxification pills and handing one to Yang Xiaoyun.

Although not the best antidote, taking one in advance would still be beneficial.

Seeing Yang Xiaoyun swallow the pill, Su Mo turned to Luo Zhen. "Senior, you mentioned earlier that Jade Willow Villa might have become the Youquan Cult’s blood pool. That steward ‘Liu’ also said most disciples were practicing near the blood pool tonight. What exactly is this blood pool?"

Luo Zhen’s expression darkened, seemingly recalling something. Before he could speak, the scene ahead suddenly became clear, revealing a blood-red sight.

They saw numerous corpses hanging in the air, their chests cut open, with drops of blood falling into small pits below.

Several Youquan Cult members dressed as Jade Willow Villa disciples and servants inserted their hands into the pits, drawing blood with demonic techniques. The blood flowed along their arms, spreading upward, their faces glowing red!

"This is the blood pool!"

Luo Zhen’s eyes narrowed. "Tonight, the villa is eerily quiet. These demonic brats are indeed gathered here beneath the Pinjian Tower for their practice.

"The Youquan Cult’s sacred scripture is the Youquan True Scripture. Their Black Heart Palm technique requires heart blood as a catalyst, supplemented by the Youquan Holy Pill for cultivation.

"The power of the Black Heart Palm... you’ve seen it yourself."

Su Mo nodded slightly.

Wang Taiheng, despite his immense strength, died silently under the Black Heart Palm.

The corpse was withered and emaciated, barely recognizable.

Indeed, it is an extremely vicious martial art. I just didn't expect the cultivation method to be even more cruel.

And these corpses hanging in mid-air were either visitors who had come to Jade Willow Villa or the original disciples and servants of the villa.

Those who died from the Black Heart Palm were placed on those racks.

Others were brought here to serve as practice materials, filling the blood pool.

This explained Su Mo's earlier confusion: some places on the rack had names but no heads.

They had been brought here.

At this moment, Su Mo glanced around and saw that there were at least twenty to thirty Youquan Cult disciples practicing in the open space.

Fortunately, these people were focused on their cultivation, their eyes tightly shut, leaving no time for them to look around. Thus, the three felt quite at ease.

Especially Su Mo, who was carrying his sword case openly, yet no one paid him any attention.

Beyond the blood pool hall, there was a tunnel ahead.

On both sides of the tunnel were stone chambers.

Some stored weapons, others held food.

But further ahead, the stone chambers held live captives.

These people were ragged and huddled together, their eyes devoid of any light.

"They might truly be the original inhabitants of Jade Willow Villa."

Luo Zhen whispered, "But if the Poisonous Scholar Ye Yichen came here, why is there no sign of him?"

Su Mo was also pondering this question.

Ye Yichen arrived before him; logically, there should have been some reaction.

As he was thinking, Yang Xiaoyun suddenly tugged at his sleeve, gesturing for him to look.

Su Mo followed her gaze and raised an eyebrow.

They were passing by a stone chamber where someone was sitting inside, sighing heavily.

"Liu Qingkong?"