BANG!

A huge explosion erupted from the surface of the sea.

Xiao Mo, wielding the Spirit-Collecting Blade, swung it once, and the crimson Blade Qi split the sea in two.

The crimson Blade Qi held the divided waters apart.

Only when Xiao Mo sheathed his long blade did the Blade Qi dissipate, allowing the sea to crash back together with a SPLASH.

"That should be enough..."

Gazing at the sea, which had returned to its calm state, Xiao Mo took a deep breath.

A month had passed since Xiao Mo used the Blood Evil Qi to reconstruct his Spirit Veins and mend his Root Bone.

During this month, Xiao Mo’s Realm had smoothly recovered to the Peak of the Jade Realm.

However, although Xiao Mo had managed to be reborn from the ashes, it was not without a price.

Originally, every use of the Blood Demon Saber Technique required immense willpower to sustain. He even needed time afterward to vent the Blood Evil Qi from his body, maintaining a certain balance based on his condition.

But now that he had made the Blood Evil Qi a part of his Spirit Veins and Root Bone, it was much easier for the Blood Evil Qi to corrupt his body.

The Blood Evil Qi that accumulated within him was also harder to release.

Compared to before, it was now easier for Xiao Mo to lose control, and even his lifespan would be affected to some extent.

But as far as Xiao Mo was concerned, he didn’t really care.

Even if his lifespan was thirty percent shorter than that of other Cultivators at the same Realm, in Xiao Mo’s eyes, that was still several thousand years.

It was definitely enough time, with plenty to spare.

Turning around, Xiao Mo flew back to the village.

’It’s about time I found a place to undergo my Crossing the Tribulation.’

This time, Xiao Mo was extremely confident.

’After the Crossing the Tribulation, I’ll return to the Wandao Sect.’

He had a feeling something was about to happen at the Wandao Sect, something major involving the Blood Demon.

"Brother Xiao, it’s time to eat..."

Xiao Mo and Wangxin had just returned to the courtyard when Ning Wei ran right up to greet them.

"Alright."

Xiao Mo nodded and scooped a ladle of water to wash his hands.

In the courtyard, Little Chaos was still chasing the hen.

The aroma of cooking wafted from the kitchen.

Before long, Wangxin helped Madam Wang bring out the dishes and place them on the stone table in the courtyard.

Everyone gathered around the stone table. Only after Xiao Mo took the first bite did Madam Wang and the others begin to eat.

Halfway through lunch, Wangxin’s expression faltered slightly, and she lifted her head to look at Xiao Mo.

"I know. Don’t worry." Xiao Mo shoveled down the last of his rice and placed his chopsticks on his bowl. "I’m full."

"Brother Xiao, what is it? Did something happen?" Ning Wei asked worriedly.

"It’s nothing," Xiao Mo said, rubbing Ning Wei’s head. "Just a few uninvited guests. Brother Xiao will go take care of it."

"I... I’ll go with you..." Wangxin said, unable to feel at ease.

"There’s no need. Just stay here." With that, Xiao Mo stood up, took his Spirit-Collecting Blade, and walked out of the courtyard.

Not long after Xiao Mo left, Wangxin, still worried, stood up. "Aunt Wang, Weiwei, I still want to go have a look..."

"But Sister Wangxin, what if Brother Xiao gets angry?" Ning Wei asked worriedly.

"He won’t..."

Wangxin nervously wrung her small hands.

"I’ll just watch from a distance. He won’t discover me..."

...

"Brother Zhao, are you sure Xiao Mo is in Chunye Village?"

In the skies, flying toward Chunye Village, a man named Hao Xiang spoke to the friend beside him.

They were the two Cultivators who had discovered the injured Xiao Mo.

A month ago, after learning of Xiao Mo’s location from those Darts Masters, they had immediately gone to that plain and had been searching nonstop, using the plain as the center of their search.

There were quite a few villages within a hundred-li radius of the plain, and since they were unable to divine Xiao Mo’s presence, they could only search village by village.

After a full month, a villager from Chunye Village claimed to have seen Xiao Mo, so they immediately set out for Chunye Village.

Xiao Mo had suffered serious injuries before, and they were confident he hadn’t fully recovered. This was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

But just as the two were less than thirty li from Chunye Village, a man appeared before them, his back turned.

The two old Cultivators, both in the Immortal Realm, exchanged a look. They knew this newcomer meant trouble.

Just as they were about to ask who he was...

The man turned around and, without a word, swung his blade.

Already on guard, the two Cultivators dodged the slash. After pulling back to a safe distance, they finally got a clear look at him.

"Xiao Mo?"

The two old Immortal Realm Cultivators thought they were seeing things, their eyes filled with disbelief.

’What is going on?’

’Hadn’t Xiao Mo suffered grave injuries?’

But based on that single slash alone, he seemed completely unharmed.

Xiao Mo wasted no time on words. He continued to swing his blade, and with him at the center, Blood Evil Blade Qi spread out, turning the sky crimson.

After twenty rounds of battle, Hao Xiang and his companion were already at a disadvantage.

Xiao Mo, however, only grew stronger as he fought.

"Brother Zhao, let’s go!"

Hao Xiang knew he was no match for Xiao Mo and hurriedly said to Zhao Chen.

Zhao Chen nodded. He had also been thinking of retreating.

But Xiao Mo wasn’t about to let them leave so easily.

Xiao Mo unleashed his Spiritual Power and Evil Qi. Instantly, dark clouds swarmed the sky, and a dense Dao rhythm spread ceaselessly over a hundred-li radius.

In the next moment, a dense aura of the Celestial Dao locked onto Zhao Chen and Hao Xiang.

"Xiao Mo, have you gone mad?"

Zhao Chen and Hao Xiang’s hearts trembled; they knew this was bad.

They realized that Xiao Mo had deliberately pulled them into his Thunder Tribulation.

By doing this, the Celestial Tribulation would identify them as Xiao Mo’s accomplices, and the Thunder Tribulation would subject them to its "Trial" as well.

The problem was, by doing this, the Celestial Tribulation he faced would be even stronger. Did he have a death wish?

Or was he determined to take them down with him?

’Was it really necessary?’

As a hundred thoughts raced through Zhao Chen and Hao Xiang’s minds, a crimson Xiao Mo formed from lightning and Evil Qi descended step by step from the heavens.

The crimson Xiao Mo merely gave Zhao Chen and Hao Xiang a faint glance, then slashed out with his blade. Before either could even let out a scream, their souls were scattered to the winds.

The crimson Xiao Mo did not sheath his blade, merely looking calmly at the real Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo returned his gaze, just as calmly.

The next moment, both vanished from their spots.

BOOM!

Frenzied Evil Qi, a sky full of killing intent, and sharp Blade Intent all mixed together as earth-shattering peals of thunder echoed for a thousand li.

An unknown amount of time passed. The thunder ceased, the dark clouds blanketing the sky gradually dispersed, and sunlight broke through, shining down upon a man holding a blade.

「Wandao Sect, Blood Sin Peak.」

The Blood Demon, who was sitting in a courtyard watching the little Imperial Uncle, lifted her head and looked in a certain direction as if she had sensed something.

The woman blinked, and the corners of her lips curved up slightly.

"Not bad at all."