A Compendium of One Hundred Demons: My Path to Immortality in a World of Demons and Monsters

After seeing Shen Qingyi off, Xu Yuan also left the training ground and returned to the quiet room that Shen had arranged for him in the Shen residence.

The quiet room was small and simply furnished, with a table, a chair, a bed, and a calligraphy scroll hanging on the wall.

Xu Yuan placed the pottery jar on the table, took out a piece of demonic beast flesh, and felt it was warm to the touch, as if it still had a slight life force pulsating within it.

Xu Yuan sat down cross-legged, adjusted his breathing according to the methods of the Blood Refining Technique, and then put the flesh and blood into his mouth.

The sweet and pungent taste melted in his mouth, then transformed into a violent surge of heat that rushed into Xu Yuan's stomach.

Although this heat was not as domineering as the mountain spirit's flesh and blood, it still surged and crashed through his body.

Xu Yuan grunted and fully activated the Blood Refining Technique. The pale red energy ball in his dantian began to spin wildly, crushing the incoming demonic power like a millstone and refining it into pure blood and qi.

In his mind, the ogres encyclopedia unfolded on its own, greedily devouring the essence from the flesh and blood of the monsters.

Xu Yuan could clearly feel that his blood and qi were increasing rapidly, his meridians were expanding, and even his bones were making a faint "crackling" sound.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but when Xu Yuan opened his eyes again, it was already dusk outside the window. He was soaked to the bone, but his spirits were more vibrant than ever before.

Looking inward, the energy ball in my dantian had expanded from the size of a pigeon egg to the size of a fist, and its color had changed from light red to dark red.

Current cultivation level: Blood Refinement Level 3

[Hungry Ghost: 30.2% progress]

[Ability: Extremely efficient digestion]

【Characteristics: Unlimited appetite, enhanced strength, enhanced agility】

[Changgui: 6% progress]

[Ability: Taming Animals (0/3)]

【Characteristic: Yin Energy Sensing】

Just a piece of demonic beast flesh increased the progress of unlocking the Hungry Ghost Encyclopedia by 0.2%. At this rate, breaking through to the fourth level of Blood Refinement within six days shouldn't be too difficult.

Without hesitation, Xu Yuan took out a Qi and Blood Pill and swallowed it. The warm medicinal power dissolved and merged with the remaining demonic power in his body, allowing him to further stabilize his realm.

After resting for a while, he picked up his long sword again and went to the training ground.

This time, Xu Yuan was no longer simply practicing moves, but began to try to infuse the blade with his blood and qi.

According to the "Blood Fiend Blade Technique," when blood and qi are perfectly integrated with the blade technique, the blade will glow with a bloody light, and its power will increase exponentially.

Xu Yuan circulated his qi and blood, directing it along specific meridians to his arm, and then channeling it into the long sword in his hand.

At first, the blade trembled slightly, but as he continued to infuse it with his blood and qi, a faint blood-red light began to appear on the blade.

"It's done!"

A hint of joy flashed in Xu Yuan's eyes, and he immediately swung his sword.

The blade flashed like a bolt of lightning, leaving a bloody afterimage in the air. With a "whoosh," it cleaved a small tree, about the size of a bowl, in half at the edge of the training ground!

The broken edge was smooth as a mirror and slightly charred—a trace of the rampant bloodlust.

"The power is at least twice as great as before!" Xu Yuan nodded in satisfaction. If this strike were to hit an ordinary Blood Refining Realm martial artist, it would probably sever their bones and tendons!

Xu Yuan continued to wield his longsword, channeling his qi and blood into the sword techniques.

If this method of "wasting" one's vital energy were applied to an ordinary Blood Refining Realm martial artist, they would probably run out of vital energy after only a few strikes. However, Xu Yuan has the Starving Ghost Compendium, so he doesn't need to worry about this problem at all. Once he runs out of energy, he can just continue to take medicine and eat meat.

Supported by his immense blood and qi, Xu Yuan's comprehension progressed rapidly and smoothly until he encountered a bottleneck when he reached the ninth form, "Boundless Sea of ​​Blood".

This move requires a large amount of bloodthirsty energy to unleash a wide-range attack. Unfortunately, Xu Yuan has killed too few people, so while he has plenty of blood energy, he lacks sufficient malevolent energy, thus he is stuck at a bottleneck and cannot execute it.

"Looks like I need to find an opportunity for real combat," Xu Yuan muttered to himself.

For the next three days, Xu Yuan stayed indoors and entered a state of frantic cultivation.

Nourished by the flesh and blood of demonic beasts and the Qi and Blood Pills, his strength increased at a speed that was unimaginable to ordinary people, and the threshold of the fourth level of Blood Refinement was almost in sight!

On the evening of the third day, Xu Yuan was practicing his swordsmanship in the training ground when Uncle Fu rushed over.

"Young Master Xu, General Chen has sent word that the operation to encircle and annihilate Black Wind Stronghold is scheduled for midnight tonight," Uncle Fu said in a deep voice. "Miss sent me to ask if you would be willing to participate?"

Xu Yuan's eyes immediately lit up: "Of course I'd like to!"

He was just looking for an opportunity to put his skills to real combat, and the bandits of Black Wind Stronghold were the perfect targets for him to test his cultivation results and accumulate bloodthirsty energy.

"However, General Chen said that Zhang Biao, the leader of Black Wind Stronghold, is at the sixth level of Blood Refinement, and Chen Bao, the second leader, is at the fifth level of Blood Refinement. They are quite strong. Although you are about to break through, you have not yet reached the fourth level of Blood Refinement. You need to act according to your ability," Uncle Fu reminded him.

"I understand." Xu Yuan nodded. "By the way, where is Miss Shen?"

"Miss has been preparing materials for the formation these past few days, which she will need when hunting the tiger demon in six days," Uncle Fu explained. "Miss said that if you decide to participate in the encirclement, remember to be careful. This is the protective inner armor she has prepared for you."

Uncle Fu handed over a finely crafted black soft nail.

"This 'Ink Scale Armor' is made of demonic python skin and can withstand ordinary swords and blades," Uncle Fu reminded him. "Wear it; it will give you an extra layer of protection when you're fighting bandits tonight!"

Xu Yuan solemnly accepted the gift: "Please thank Miss Shen on my behalf."

After Uncle Fu left, Xu Yuan did not relax and turned back to continue practicing his swordsmanship.

This time, however, he felt a greater sense of urgency. He was going to leave the city for actual combat tonight and had to break through to the fourth level of Blood Refinement before midnight!

Night falls, inside the quiet room of the Shen residence.

Xu Yuan swallowed the last piece of the demon beast's flesh and blood, and at the same time took a Qi and Blood Pill. With these two methods combined, a powerful energy erupted within his body.

Instead of rushing to refine it, he guided the energy to break through the bottleneck of the fourth level of Blood Refinement.

The fourth level of Blood Refinement is the beginning of tempering muscles and bones. Once you break through, the strength of your muscles and bones will increase greatly, and your strength, speed, and endurance will all experience a qualitative leap!

"break!"

Xu Yuan let out a low shout, gathering all his qi and blood into a torrent, fiercely impacting the invisible barrier.

Once, twice, three times...

The barrier teetered on the brink of collapse, yet remained intact. Xu Yuan gritted his teeth, mobilizing the power of the Hungry Ghost and the Pathfinder within his body, merging them into the torrent of his qi and blood, continuously tempering himself.

"boom---"

The next moment, the invisible bottleneck seemed to shatter, and a surge of powerful qi and blood rushed to every muscle and bone in his body like a flood bursting its banks.

Xu Yuan could clearly feel his bones hardening and his fascia strengthening, and his whole body was filled with explosive power.

Blood Refinement Level 4, done!

Xu Yuan let out a long breath. When he opened his eyes, a flash of blood-red light seemed to pass through his pupils. He clenched his fist, and his knuckles immediately made a cracking sound like popping beans.

"I should be able to directly confront someone at the fifth level of Blood Refinement now," Xu Yuan muttered to himself.

With the Blood Fiend Blade Technique and the power of the illustrated guide, Xu Yuan was confident that he could hold his own even against Chen Bao, the second-in-command of Black Wind Stronghold, who was at the fifth level of Blood Refinement!

Outside the window, the moonlight was as clear as water.

A cold glint flashed in Xu Yuan's eyes. Tonight at midnight, Black Wind Stronghold will be annihilated!