Chapter 953: Blood Gate

Before Han Li could finish cursing, he felt a churning sensation inside him as the heat transformed from the Sulfur Flame Blood Cloud suddenly erupted, turning into countless streams of hot currents that instantly flowed throughout his body.

Wherever the hot currents passed, it felt like countless red-hot knives were churning, causing his limbs, bones, and all eight extraordinary meridians to swell and distend, as if they were about to be torn apart.

His face instantly turned as pale as paper, while his skin became a bright red. Veins bulged, and egg-sized protrusions moved erratically across his body surface like living things, appearing extremely eerie.

Han Li's face showed an expression of extreme pain, with bean-sized sweat droplets continuously emerging from his forehead and streaming down, while his body trembled incessantly.

After an unknown period, the blood and qi within him, influenced by the hot currents, operated at full force like a boiling cauldron, instantly lighting up all the already opened acupoints throughout his body.

Han Li was a man of strong will, but at this moment, he felt somewhat dazed and confused.

Although he still retained a trace of consciousness and wanted to protect his sea of consciousness to avoid falling into a deep sleep, at that moment, the Heavenly Fiend Prison Suppression Art within him began to operate on its own, guiding the streams of hot currents toward various parts of his body.

If Han Li were awake at this moment, he would realize that those places were precisely the unopened acupoints recorded in the technique!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

With a series of strange sounds like popping beans coming from various parts of his body, the unopened acupoints, under the continuous impact of the hot currents, began to stir restlessly.

This dense barrage of impacts caused Han Li's body to tremble continuously, and waves of excruciating pain kept assaulting him, jolting him awake.

While secretly breathing a sigh of relief, he immediately realized the changes occurring in his body, feeling both surprised and delighted.

Suppressing the pain within, he resumed a normal cross-legged sitting posture and activated the Heavenly Fiend Prison Suppression Art, guiding the streams of hot currents to impact those acupoints.

Bang!

To his surprise, the acupoints that were previously difficult to break through had now become quite unobstructed. In just a moment, one acupoint was already opened.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

One acupoint after another opened wide, and in no time, a full twenty-odd acupoints were unblocked.

At this moment, a total of two hundred and sixty-three acupoints throughout his body were shining!

Just then, the scorching heat within Han Li suddenly changed, the heat completely receding and transforming into a cool, comfortable sensation that spread throughout his body, causing his soul to tremble slightly.

An indescribable feeling of exhilaration surged into his heart, and he almost let out a moan. It took him a while to steady his mind.

This Sulfur Flame Blood Cloud, truly worthy of being hailed as a divine substance for body refiners, could indeed allow one to break through so many acupoints in such a short time!

Though still somewhat incredulous, the fact was undeniable.

“I wonder if there are any hidden dangers in opening acupoints through this method?” Han Li couldn't help but think to himself.

As he pondered, all the abnormal phenomena on his body surface disappeared, and his internal state seemed to return to normal in an instant.

Han Li did not dare to be careless. He continued to activate the Heavenly Fiend Prison Suppression Art to completely calm the surging blood and qi within him before standing up and darting toward the main group ahead.

Although he had been away for quite a while, he had been careful to note the direction and had not lost his bearings.

At this moment, the surrounding Sulfur Flame Mist Sea had become considerably thinner than before.

After a short while, Han Li found the team led by E Kui and Madame Six Flowers. Perhaps deliberately waiting for those who had gone searching for blood clouds, E Kui and Madame Six Flowers were moving very slowly.

Except for Shi Chuankong, Xuan Ye Xing, Fu Jian, and Duan Tong, everyone else had already returned.

E Kui showed no expression at Han Li's return, while Madame Six Flowers glanced at Han Li but quickly turned her head away.

“Brother Li, you’re finally back. Why so late? Judging by your appearance, your strength has improved considerably!” Chen Yang, who was at the rear of the team, came forward to greet Han Li.

“Not bad, some progress.” In front of Chen Yang, Han Li did not deny it.

“That’s good, but don’t be careless. It’s said that Zhu Ziyuan and Zhu Ziqing of Xuan City also obtained Sulfur Flame Blood Cloud and greatly increased their strength. Especially Zhu Ziyuan, whose original strength was already formidable, not much inferior to us city lords. Now with the power of the Sulfur Flame Blood Cloud, the situation is even more unfavorable for us.” Chen Yang nodded and switched to voice transmission.

Han Li looked up at Zhu Ziyuan, who was following closely behind E Kui, and saw that his gaze was fixed straight ahead, showing extreme concentration.

“Brother Shi and Brother Xuan haven’t returned yet. Could something have happened? Fu Jian hasn’t returned either. I hope Brother Shi and the others weren’t unlucky enough to run into him,” Han Li looked around and transmitted.

“Probably not. They left first and might have gone to explore farther away,” Chen Yang said, seemingly not too worried.

Although Han Li was somewhat worried about Shi Chuankong, he didn’t say anything more.

Fortunately, not long after, with the sound of breaking air, two figures darted out from the depths of the blood mist one after another—it was Shi Chuankong and Xuan Ye Xing.

Both looked dejected, clearly having gained nothing.

After a moment, Fu Jian returned with Duan Tong. Judging by their expressions, they were also unlucky. When they looked at Han Li walking side by side with Chen Yang, anger flickered in their eyes.

Han Li, of course, pretended not to see it.

By this time, everyone had already returned to the group, so E Kuai quickened their pace.

After advancing for another hour or so, the surrounding blood mist grew thinner and thinner, finally disappearing completely.

The view ahead suddenly opened up, and a continuous mountain range appeared before them.

This mountain range was vast, with peaks rising one after another, stretching to the horizon.

Not a single blade of grass grew on these peaks, and no rain fell from the sky. Compared to the previous rainforest, it felt like a different world.

What was most peculiar was that everything here—the ground and the rocks—was a blood-red color.

Several great blood-red rivers flowed among the lofty mountains, and the air was filled with a force of blood energy. Strangely, this blood energy had no foul stench but instead gave off a sweet taste.

Without pausing, E Kuai led the group into the blood-colored mountain range, crossing several peaks until they arrived at a huge mountain basin.

Several blood-red rivers converged here, and at their junction stood a colossal blood-red hall. Its height was not much less than the surrounding peaks, and it covered an area of a hundred li, like a huge blood-red beast crouching in the basin.

Outside the hall stood jade pillars, silver characters adorned the jade steps, and a brilliant luster shimmered. Faintly, billions of blood-red rays radiated from it, a magnificent sight that left even the well-traveled Han Li and others momentarily stunned.

"What a magnificent hall," Shi Chuankong couldn't help but admire.

Han Li looked at the blood-red hall, a hint of strangeness flashing across his face, but he quickly regained his composure.

The entrance to the hall was a pair of blood-red stone doors, tightly shut, as if sealed for countless ages.

The doors were carved with countless blood-red runes and various patterns, extremely complex, seemingly forming a spell formation.

Han Li carefully examined the spell formation on the door and soon noticed something.

The formation on the door bore some resemblance to a star formation, but it was not exactly the same. It seemed to be a combination of a star formation and another type of formation.

At five nodes in the door's formation, there were five small black holes arranged in a plum blossom pattern, as if reserved.

Next to each hole were two characters: Ye Sha, You Ming, Bi Lin, Jing Shen, and Ying Hua—five names.

Han Li's eyes flickered, and he touched the two keys on his person.

E Kuai gazed at the blood-red hall, an unusual fervor burning in his eyes, and his breathing grew slightly heavier.

"City Lord, is this hall the forbidden area you mentioned, with the sacred remains inside?" Sun Tu stepped forward and asked.

"That's right," E Kuai said, letting out a light breath and regaining his composure.

The others stirred at this, buzzing with discussion.

Sun Tu looked at the hall, a thoughtful expression on his face. He then stepped forward, approached the hall's door, placed his hand on it, and began to chant.

White starlight emanated from his palm, mixed with traces of blood light, rising and falling like water waves, as if sensing something.

E Kuai watched Sun Tu's actions with an indifferent, casual smile.

"Not bad, there is indeed a strong aura of bones inside," Sun Tu said flatly after a moment, withdrawing his hand.

"City Lord Sun, what do you mean by that? Are you doubting that the City Lord is deceiving us?" Fu Jian said angrily.

Sun Tu glanced at Fu Jian expressionlessly and said nothing.

"City Lord Sun has never been here before, so it's only natural to be cautious. Now that he has verified through his secret technique, it proves that I, E, have not lied. If anyone else is still uneasy, feel free to investigate further," E Kuai said calmly, raising a hand to stop Fu Jian.

The others exchanged glances.

"Our Xuan City's survival to this day is thanks to the City Lord's protection. We of Tongyu City and Xuanzhi City absolutely trust your words, unlike some who are suspicious and ridiculous," Fu Jian said with a cold laugh, glancing at Sun Tu and Chen Yang.

Qin Yuan, standing nearby, quickly voiced his agreement.

Chen Yang narrowed his eyes slightly, looking noncommittal, and said nothing.

"Since no one wishes to investigate, let's not waste time. Let's open the forbidden area's gate," E Kuai said, sweeping his gaze over the crowd and waving his hand decisively.

Fu Jian and the others nodded in agreement.

"Wait!"

Just then, Sun Tu spoke up again.

"Sun Tu, don't be insolent! You are but a subordinate city lord of Xuan City—remember your place!" Fu Jian snapped.

"City Lord Fu, why so angry? I only have some questions I'd like to ask the City Lord," Sun Tu said with a faint smile.

"City Lord Sun, please speak," E Kuai said, showing excellent patience and not the least bit angry, speaking with a smile.

"City Lord E mentioned earlier that opening this forbidden gate requires five keys. We only have one in Fellow Daoist Li's possession. How are we to open the gate? Could it be that the other four keys are all with you?" Sun Tu said, his eyes glinting.