Chapter 532 - 532: Forced Transaction

He had sat there for four days.

This greatly surprised Chu Qingyun.

He clearly remembered that after he had finished practicing the Lightning Sword in the Illusion Realm, the sky had yet to lighten. Not even a full night had passed.

In other words, the process of condensing the Blood Talisman Core and having it absorb half his blood had actually taken more than three days!

'Three days to condense just a tiny thread of blood... How long will it take to master this Secret Technique?'

Chu Qingyun couldn't help but sigh, feeling frustrated.

Compared to Secret Techniques like the Profound Celestial Divine Pattern, cultivating the Ten Thousand Spirits Saint Body Inner Chapter was as slow as a snail. It was a pure test of patience, requiring slow and steady work.

But on second thought, he realized it made sense.

After all, not everyone had Blood Pills like he did to restore their blood and Qi and Blood Power.

For the average Martial Artist, if the Blood Talisman Core absorbed blood too quickly, it would lead to a long-term Qi Blood deficiency. Their body would probably give out long before they could master the Secret Technique.

Chu Qingyun mulled over this problem all the way to the Outer Sect.

But ultimately, he couldn't think of a solution.

The Light Card Illusion Realm could save time, but it was useless since only one's consciousness could enter.

Even if his consciousness mastered all ten layers of the Secret Technique to the Great Success stage inside the realm, it wouldn't change his physical body one bit.

After thinking it over, only one thing came to Chu Qingyun's mind: the Saint Extreme Tower.

Qi Hao had mentioned a couple of times that the Saint Extreme Tower could greatly increase one's cultivation efficiency.

Chu Qingyun didn't know if he meant the efficiency of cultivating Primordial Power or that of practicing Secret Manuals and Secret Techniques, but he resolved to check it out if he got the chance.

The Outer Sect of the Saint Extreme Sect had a huge number of disciples.

However, new disciples were always assigned to live in the same area.

So, Chu Qingyun easily found out where Mu Xiaoxiao and the others were staying, as well as his own quarters.

It was a large courtyard enclosed by four rows of houses, designated specifically as living quarters for the newest batch of disciples.

With only two or three months left until the end of the current recruitment period, the place was already bustling with people.

And at this moment, a large crowd had gathered in the courtyard.

It looked like some trouble was brewing.

"Kid, you passed through the outbreak zone in the Blood Sect ruins. Sell me all the Blood Crystals you have."

Three Seventh-level Martial Spirits stood before a newly-entered Sixth-level Martial Spirit, their faces masks of arrogance and smug satisfaction.

Beside them, a Fifth-level Martial Spirit stood with a slight bow, a fawning expression on his face.

"I risked my life for these Blood Crystals! Why should I give them to you?!"

The new Sixth-level Martial Spirit was clearly not going to back down.

"Now, that's not the right way to put it, junior brother. It almost sounds like we're trying to rob you. We're clearly offering to *buy* your Blood Crystals," one of the Seventh-level Martial Spirits said with a sinister grin.

At his words, not only did the new Sixth-level Martial Spirit's face fill with rage, but so did the faces of many of the new disciples in the crowd.

"One hundred drops of Primordial Spirit Liquid for a single Blood Crystal? How is that any different from robbery!" the new Sixth-level Martial Spirit retorted angrily.

"Sigh... another stubborn mule. Looks like we have to do this the hard way..."

The leader of the three Seventh-level Martial Spirits sighed softly and gave one of his companions a look.

Understanding the signal, the man instantly lashed out at the new Sixth-level Martial Spirit.

He threw a palm strike, a gray torrent of Qi erupting from his hand. It instantly shattered the Sixth-level Martial Spirit's Primordial Power defense.

Even though he was on guard, the new Sixth-level Martial Spirit was still grievously wounded by the blow. He collapsed, vomiting blood, unable to even get back to his feet!

Then, the Seventh-level Martial Spirit planted a foot on his chest and wrenched a Storage Ring from his finger.

"Kid, release your claim so we can inspect it."

The new disciple just spat in defiance.

"Heh, you're a stubborn one. In that case, I'll have to teach you the rules of the Outer Sect." As he spoke, the Seventh-level Martial Spirit began to slowly increase the pressure with his foot.

Ultimately, the new Sixth-level Martial Spirit couldn't bear the pain. With a mere thought, he released his claim on the Storage Ring.

For a Treasure claimed through a drop of blood, releasing the claim was a simple matter of a thought from its owner.

The Seventh-level Martial Spirit then claimed the Storage Ring for himself. After searching for a moment, he pulled out four pale red, diamond-shaped crystals.

"Four Blood Crystals... Here are four hundred drops of Primordial Spirit Liquid and your Storage Ring back. Remember, this was just a trade."

He tossed the Storage Ring and four small vials of Primordial Spirit Liquid onto the body of the new Sixth-level Martial Spirit.

But the new disciple's face was a mask of pure humiliation.

A Storage Ring was obviously a very personal item.

Being forced to release one's claim and have the contents of their Storage Ring inspected was no different from being forcibly strip-searched—a deeply humiliating act!

"Tan Xingqi, who else passed through the outbreak site in the Blood Sect ruins?"

one of the Seventh-level Martial Spirits asked the fawning Fifth-level Martial Spirit.

The Fifth-level Martial Spirit, Tan Xingqi, scanned the crowd of new disciples carefully. Soon, he pointed out another Sixth-level Martial Spirit.

"Three Seniors, he... he also passed through the outbreak area in the Blood Sect ruins!"

And so, the three Seventh-level Martial Spirits turned their attention to the new target.

Just then, Chu Qingyun found Mu Xiaoxiao and Dai in the crowd.

"Xiaoxiao, what's going on?" Chu Qingyun asked softly.

He could tell it was some kind of forced transaction, but he didn't know the specifics.

Upon seeing Chu Qingyun's return, surprise and delight appeared on Mu Xiaoxiao and Dai's faces, and they both felt a great sense of relief.

Mu Xiaoxiao quickly explained the situation, and Chu Qingyun understood.

It turned out that the three Seventh-level Martial Spirits were senior disciples of the Saint Extreme Sect's Outer Sect. They had come here specifically for Blood Crystals.

However, they had no intention of obtaining them through normal means.

Instead, they were using threats and intimidation to forcibly buy the Blood Crystals from the new disciples for the paltry price of one hundred drops of Primordial Spirit Liquid.

As for the Fifth-level Martial Spirit, Tan Xingqi, he was actually one of the new disciples from this year's batch as well.

But he had secretly sided with the three Seventh-level Martial Spirits. After gathering information for them behind the scenes, he was now acting as their traitorous guide.

"Doesn't anyone do anything about this? Can people just attack each other freely within the Saint Extreme Sect?" Chu Qingyun asked, confused.

This was a far cry from the sect he had imagined.