Chapter 363: The Secret of the Extreme Western Lands

A moment later, Gu Fan looked at Bai Qianhe, who had just left.

“Was that a guess that my identity comes from one of the Four Major Sects?”

Otherwise, why would his final words remind him to be careful?

But this Bai Qianhe was no simple figure. For someone who knew such great secrets and could still move about freely, that alone was enough to prove something.

Even if what he said was not true, spreading such rumors should have made the Cang Blood Tribe capture him.

Yet up until now, there had been no movement at all. This showed that either this man’s background was extraordinary, or his strength was unfathomable.

In any case, such a person was definitely not simple.

Just like that, another half hour passed, and more people were gradually brought in.

Finally, the man responsible for guiding everyone here appeared before them and said:

“Everyone, you have all come because of the assembly called by the Cang Blood Tribe. Now, the Young Master of the Fangya Branch of our Cang Blood Tribe has arrived to discuss this matter with you.”

As he finished, a man with a pale face but short stature walked in.

When he saw those present, his brows furrowed ever so slightly.

It seemed he was not very satisfied with the gathered crowd.

Gu Fan found this somewhat strange. Was he disdaining the weak cultivation of those present?

What for? This was just an assembly, not a mobilization before war. No one had said they would sell their lives for the Cang Blood Tribe, yet he was already looking down on them?

But the Young Master of the Fangya Branch did not reveal too much. After the slight furrow, his expression returned to normal.

He then revealed a gentle smile and said to everyone:

“Everyone, welcome to our assembly order. You are the first batch of participants in this grand gathering. I, Chu Xiao, represent the Cang Blood Tribe in welcoming you all.”

The crowd glanced at each other, somewhat confused about the Cang Blood Tribe’s intentions.

“Young Master Chu Xiao, we only heard that the Twelve Holy Sons of the Cang Blood Tribe called us here to discuss preparations against future dangers lurking in the Extreme Western Lands. We are only curious whether this is true or not.”

“Yes, we are all cultivators of the Extreme Western Lands. It has not been easy for this place to develop as it has today. Naturally, we do not wish to see any threats arise.”

After their words, Chu Xiao smiled and replied:

“We can understand your concerns. That is why I am here today, to explain the situation to you all.”

Saying so, Chu Xiao slowly walked to the main seat and sat down. He looked at everyone present and spoke:

“Thousands of years ago, the Extreme Western Lands were among the weakest regions of the continent. At that time, everyone could bully cultivators from here. Do you know why?”

“It was because the Extreme Western Lands lay in the desert, barren of cultivation resources. Cultivators here fell behind from the very beginning. Once they went outside, they were naturally looked down upon. Foreigners would even block our very doorsteps and bully us!”

“But after so many years, how has the Extreme Western Lands managed to rise to an equal standing with the outside world? Everyone, what do you think the reason is?”

Someone immediately spoke up:

“Of course, it was because of the rise of the Cang Blood Tribe! With a first-class power’s protection, we were no longer soft persimmons to be pinched at will!”

“That’s right! That is exactly why we rushed over at the first hearing of the assembly order.”

“So, Young Master Chu Xiao, what is it that you truly wish to say?”

Chu Xiao only shook his head with a smile.

“The rise of the Cang Blood Tribe also required resources—Yuan Crystals for cultivation. But while everyone knows of our rise, has no one wondered why the Extreme Western Lands have, over the years, produced more and more experts, and why cultivation speeds have gradually caught up with the other treasured lands of the outside world?”

At these words, the entire crowd froze. The straightforward statement immediately made them realize something.

“The reason the Cang Blood Tribe has always remained in the Extreme Western Lands is because, long ago, our Twelve Ancestors discovered a miraculous cultivation resource deep within the desert. It was a Blood Pool. A single drop of blood evaporated from it could provide all cultivators in the Extreme Western Lands with enough spiritual energy for a full month of cultivation!”

“It was precisely this Blood Pool that caused the spiritual energy of the Extreme Western Lands to grow richer and richer over the years. Only then could cultivators here, despite meager resources, rival the many great cultivators outside!”

As soon as these words came out, everyone was shaken.

A Blood Pool? A single drop of blood able to supply all cultivators in the Extreme Western Lands with a month’s worth of cultivation energy?

That was far too outrageous!

“So it turns out that the Cang Blood Tribe has always monopolized this Blood Pool. No wonder they grew so strong!”

“So that’s the truth… But still, such a heaven-defying Blood Pool shouldn’t belong to the Cang Blood Tribe alone, should it?”

“No, if it was really exclusive to them, the Cang Blood Tribe wouldn’t have revealed it today… Could there be some hidden reason behind this?”

Chu Xiao nodded.

“You have only heard that a drop of blood could supply everyone for a month of cultivation, but you overlooked the word I used—evaporate!”

“The blood within this pool is extremely peculiar. We only know that it is red, but we are not even sure whether it is truly blood.”

“The blood energy inside is unimaginably thick and heavy. Each drop weighs as much as a thousand catties! To absorb it directly? Heh…”

At this point, Chu Xiao revealed a slightly eerie smile.

“We once tried. Once the blood entered the body, the flesh collapsed instantly. Even a cultivator at the Tribulation Crossing Realm would have their body destroyed.”

“The only way to use it is to continually burn spiritual power into spiritual fire beside the pool, evaporating it drop by drop. Only then can the blood turn into spiritual energy that cultivators of the Extreme Western Lands can absorb!”

“But each drop requires no fewer than five cultivators at the Tribulation Crossing Realm, taking shifts day and night, burning their spiritual power without rest. Even so, it still takes a full ten days to evaporate a single drop!”

“And because of this, most of the Tribulation Crossing Realm experts of our Cang Blood Tribe rarely live past three hundred years! All because they constantly overdrew their life essence to sustain this. Only then could the Extreme Western Lands undergo such a transformation in spiritual energy over the years!”

When these words finished, everyone’s jaws dropped in shock.

So this was the hidden truth behind the Extreme Western Lands…

If what the Cang Blood Tribe said was true, then all cultivators here owed them gratitude for their sacrifices.

“So that’s how it was… No wonder… Senior Chu Tianxiong sat in meditation ten years ago. I was puzzled back then, why a Tribulation Crossing Realm expert would pass so early. I thought he had failed one of the five tribulations.”

“Now that I think of it, it was because he had long since exhausted his essence… He could not even overcome a single trial…”

Someone spoke with deep emotion, and the others all changed expressions upon hearing it.

“I also remember. I once had a brief encounter with Senior Chu Jie. He too passed away before reaching three hundred years at the Tribulation Crossing Realm… So it was all because of this.”

With such real examples as proof, Chu Xiao’s words became all the more convincing.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep