Chapter Ninety-Four: The Legend of the Star Blood Crystal

“Blood energy compression—so it’s actually blood energy compression!” Commander Wang Yang’s expression was one of utter shock as he stared at Ye Cheng, whose eyes were tightly closed and whose aura surged with turbulent blood energy. He could hardly believe it. “I never expected Brother Ye’s martial talent to be so terrifying.”

“Blood energy compression?” Nangong Xue, standing beside him, turned to ask Commander Wang Yang, “Commander Wang, what is blood energy compression?” She was unfamiliar with the term, having never encountered it before. She did not understand what blood energy compression was, nor why it could so astound someone already at the peak of the Yuan Realm.

Hearing her question, Commander Wang Yang finally recovered from his shock. He glanced at Ye Cheng, whose blood energy fluctuations were growing ever stronger, before explaining, “Blood energy compression is the mark of a martial artist at the peak of the Blood Energy Realm reaching the point of perfection in that realm.”

“The perfection of the Blood Energy Realm…” Nangong Xue’s beautiful eyes trembled. She knew well what reaching perfection in the Blood Energy Realm meant. Those who achieved it were either prodigies in martial arts or possessed extraordinary constitutions.

After Ye Cheng received the legacy of the Fire Body, she had considered that one day he might reach that height—but she had not expected that day to come so soon.

“Commander Wang, is it true that martial artists who have no hope of reaching the perfection of the Blood Energy Realm never undergo blood energy compression?” Nangong Xue asked suddenly.

“Yes, generally that is the case,” Wang Yang nodded, continuing, “Ordinary martial artists reach the peak of the Blood Energy Realm as their limit. The exceptional among them can gather over seventy blood threads, then step into the Yuan Realm; most, however, reach saturation upon gathering sixty, unable to go further in the Blood Energy Realm.”

“But Miss Xue, you must know that the more blood energy one can condense in the Blood Energy Realm, the greater their future achievements in martial arts. Take myself, for example: I condensed seventy-two blood threads before entering the Yuan Realm. I heard the family head, in his youth, managed to condense eighty blood threads, so this theory is certainly true.”

Nangong Xue nodded in agreement. This was wisdom handed down from generation to generation, and she knew there was truth to it.

“Ordinary martial artists never reach the point where blood energy must be compressed; when their blood energy saturates their bodies, they break through to the Yuan Realm. Even if they don’t break through, all latent blood energy has already been fully developed, making further progress difficult. It’s better to advance to a new realm.

“But those who have hope of reaching the perfection of the Blood Energy Realm are different. Their blood energy saturates their bodies, yet they continue to unearth new blood energy, forcing them to compress it. It’s like squeezing cotton within a quilt—compress it and more space appears.

“Those who have hope of reaching the perfection of the Blood Energy Realm must perform blood energy compression?” Commander Wang Yang’s words caught Nangong Xue’s attention. A familiar figure flashed through her mind, and she asked, “If that’s so, then my father, who once condensed eighty blood threads, must have had a great chance of reaching that perfection. Did he ever undergo blood energy compression?”

“Yes!” Commander Wang Yang affirmed. As the trusted aide to Nangong Xiong, the current head of the Nangong family, he knew well the path Nangong Xiong had taken. “Back then, the family head performed blood energy compression four times, condensing four stellar blood crystals within his body. Though he later broke through to the Yuan Realm, his performance astonished all the elders of the Nangong family, and it was then that his position as family head was established.”

“Four stellar blood crystals?” Nangong Xue’s brows furrowed in confusion.

Seeing the doubt on her face, Commander Wang Yang explained, “When a person’s blood energy reaches the body’s limit and there is still undeveloped blood energy, they must compress it. When saturation returns, they compress again. Each compression condenses countless blood energy in the dantian into a star-shaped blood crystal, known as a stellar blood crystal. Only upon condensing nine stellar blood crystals does one reach the perfection of the Blood Energy Realm.”

“But only a rare few can condense nine stellar blood crystals. In all of Nanyang Prefecture, perhaps only a handful of true geniuses have ever accomplished it.”

At this point, Commander Wang Yang paused, looked at the thoughtful Nangong Xue, and smiled. “However, Miss Xue, you’re now at the peak of the Blood Energy Realm yourself. Perhaps soon you’ll condense a stellar blood crystal, maybe even surpass the family head.”

“That’s easier said than done,” Nangong Xue lifted her eyelids, casting her gaze on Ye Cheng, a wry smile on her lips. “My blood energy has yet to reach full saturation. Who knows how long it will take? Compared to him, I seem far behind.”

She suddenly recalled when she first met him, he was only at the advanced stage of the Blood Energy Realm, a level below her. Yet in just a short span, he had left her far behind.

The feeling unsettled her.

“Gurgle, gurgle…”

As the two conversed, a tangible wave of blood surged from Ye Cheng’s body, his blood energy rising, his aura climbing steadily.

Sensing this blood energy, both Nangong Xue and Commander Wang Yang showed astonishment. The latter murmured, “Brother Ye’s blood energy is so refined, no wonder he’s compressing it so quickly.”

Nangong Xue felt the same—the refinement of his blood energy was like raw iron forged into a thumb-sized ingot. Astonishing.

“Miss Xue, there’s no need to wait. This process will take some time; he won’t finish compressing his blood energy so soon.” Commander Wang Yang spoke, then sat down where he stood and closed his eyes to meditate.

Nangong Xue nodded. After watching a while longer, she too closed her eyes, allowing traces of yuan energy to flow in—clearly beginning her own cultivation.

Within the room, three figures occupied separate spots. Among them, the young man’s aura surged ceaselessly.

At that moment, all of Ye Cheng’s internal injuries had fully healed, his devouring constitution’s terrifying regenerative ability apparent. He had no idea he had stumbled upon a path to the perfection of the Blood Energy Realm.

Blood energy compression was merely a method he devised to continue storing blood energy when his body reached saturation—a lucky accident.

He was utterly engrossed in the massive undertaking of blood energy compression. As his blood energy was compressed, his aura kept rising, growing ever stronger…