Immortal Mansion: With mediocre qualifications, I have no choice but to live forever

Zhou Yiqiao and Li Mubai were both visibly stunned when they heard Zhang Yuan's words.

"This Blood-Draining Valley is filled with blood mist, corrupting people's minds. How could there be cultivators who can stay here for a long time?"

"The seniors don't know."

Zhang Yuan explained.

"Although the Blood Valley is full of dangers, there is a strange place called the Blood Lotus Pond deep in the valley."

"It is said that the blood mist there is very thin, and that a strange blood lotus that can purify the soul grows in the water. If a cultivator who has lived nearby for a long time can get help from the blood lotus, he can not only resist the erosion of the blood mist, but also practice special skills and greatly increase his strength."

"In addition, there are some people who have been corroded by the blood mist in the Blood Sucking Valley for a long time. They have become addicted to the blood mist. They choose to practice here, fighting poison with poison, and try to find a way to break through their own limits in this extreme environment."

"We usually call these monks 'Blood Refiners'. They often behave erratically, and due to being affected by the blood mist for a long time, their temperaments have become more violent and unpredictable."

Zhou Yiqiao frowned slightly when he heard this.

The news about the Blood Refiner was not good news for him. Zhao Tiezhu had been in the Blood Valley for decades. He originally thought that he had just encountered an unexpected life-and-death crisis, but now it seemed that he was very likely to have degenerated into the Blood Refiner that Zhang Yuan mentioned.

Li Mubai guessed what Zhou Yiqiao was thinking and immediately asked what he wanted to know most.

"How strong are those blood refiners? What's so special about them?"

Zhang Yuan pondered for a moment and answered solemnly.

"The strength of the blood refiners varies, but they are generally stronger than ordinary cultivators."

"Among them, there are many who have high cultivation levels and can freely control the blood-smearing energy in the blood mist and turn it into a means of attack. They are extremely difficult to deal with."

"What's even more terrifying is that due to being in the blood mist for a long time, their bodies have gradually changed. Some of them have skin that is as tough as iron, while others can temporarily hide in the blood mist, making them difficult to detect."

"Moreover, blood refiners often have extreme temperaments. Once they encounter each other, they rarely choose to resolve the issue peacefully. Most of the time, they fight to the death."

Zhou Yiqiao calmed himself down and spoke.

"No matter what, Zhao Tiezhu is our last hope, so we'll have to trouble you to lead the way."

Zhang Yuan nodded.

"Okay, then let's go to the Blood Lotus Pond first. If there's still no one you two seniors are looking for, then we'll go to where the Blood Refiners gather."

After he finished speaking, Zhang Yuan turned around and clapped his hands, gathering the remaining members of the team together to form a rather dense formation, and walked towards the Blood Lotus Pond with Zhou Yiqiao and Li Mubai.

With the protection of Zhou Yiqiao and Li Mubai, the entire team did not encounter any obstacles. Even if there were a few ignorant monks who tried to attack, they were easily strangled by the two.

As we go deeper, the surrounding scenery gradually becomes strange.

In the originally dim blood mist, a faint red light could be seen, as if countless tiny flames were jumping in the mist.

This scene lasted for several hours until everyone came to the entrance of a swamp. Suddenly, their vision became clear and their spirits were lifted.

The blood mist seemed to be isolated outside by an invisible barrier. Inside the swamp, everything was clear. In the center lay a blood-red pond. Blood lotuses bloomed in the pond. Their petals were crystal clear, as if they contained endless vitality and purifying power, forming a sharp contrast with the surrounding gloomy environment.

Surrounding this pure land, a simple but orderly settlement gradually took shape, with thatched houses scattered around and smoke rising from the sky. It was incompatible with the gloomy blood mist in the distance, and it seemed extremely quiet and peaceful.

"This is the Blood Lotus Pond."

Zhang Yuan gave a brief introduction, then led Zhou Yiqiao and the other person across the barrier and stepped into this pure land.

The group's dusty appearance immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the Blood Lotus Pond.

Zhang Yuan was the first to raise his hands and explain his purpose to the monks who were looking over.

"Everyone, we are the cultivators of the Dawn Squad. We are visiting the Blood Lotus Pond at the request of two seniors to find out the news of a fellow Taoist."

As he spoke, he led the members of the "Dawn" team to make way so that Zhou Yiqiao and Li Mubai could appear clearly in front of everyone.

The monks in the Blood Lotus Pond looked at each other, and then some people started discussing in a low voice. The atmosphere gradually became lively because of Zhang Yuan's explanation.

After a long time, a monk who looked the oldest and was dressed in a long robe walked out slowly, bowed towards Zhou Yiqiao and Li Mubai, and asked respectfully.

"I don't know who the two seniors are looking for when they visit our Blood Lotus Pond Market. But if we know anything, we will tell the two seniors."

After hearing this, Zhou Yiqiao looked around at everyone present, but did not immediately state his purpose.

Upon seeing this, the elder immediately understood Zhou Yiqiao's concerns, and he stepped aside and led everyone into a more secluded hut.

The house is simply decorated, with a rustic wooden table in the center. Several oil lamps emit a soft light, dispelling the darkness outside.

"Two seniors, this is the place where we, the Blood Lotus Pond monks, communicate. Although it is crowded outside, it is absolutely safe here. Please feel free to tell us what you want."

The elder's voice was gentle, revealing a calmness that came from having experienced the vicissitudes of life.

Zhou Yiqiao nodded and finally explained his purpose.

After listening to Zhou Yiqiao's description, the elder frowned slightly, as if searching for the name in his memory.

After a moment, he shook his head slightly.

“I have never heard of the name Zhao Tiezhu directly, but among the blood refiners, there are indeed many cultivators with unknown identities and complicated origins.”

"Maybe someone among them really knows something."

"only......"

The old man hesitated.

"But if this is the case, we will have to make the purpose of your visit known to the public. I wonder if you two are willing to do so?"

Zhou Yiqiao and Li Mubai looked at each other and saw helplessness in each other's eyes.

"So be it!"

Zhou Yiqiao nodded in agreement.

"In that case, the two seniors, please wait here for a moment. I will take care of the rest."

After the old man left the room, Zhou Yiqiao and Li Mubai waited quietly in the house, feeling a little anxious.

After a while, the old man returned to the hut with a middle-aged man.

The man was dressed in rags and had a pale face. It seemed that for some reason, his blood and energy were severely depleted.

"Two seniors, this is Lin Feng. He has been in the Blood Lotus Pond for fifty years, so he can be considered an old man among us."

"More than 20 years ago, he encountered a cultivator named Zhao Tiezhu while he was out exploring."

The old man introduced.

Lin Feng took a step forward and bowed:.

"Junior Lin Feng, nice to meet the two seniors."

"Indeed, more than 20 years ago, I met a Jindan cultivator named Zhao Tiezhu in the Blood-Draining Valley."

"At that time, I learned from him that he ventured into the Blood Valley in order to find a mineral called Bloodstone to refine a magical weapon."

Zhou Yiqiao and Li Mubai were cheered up upon hearing this and immediately asked for details.

Raymond Lam recalled.

"At that time, Zhao Tiezhu and I explored a dangerous place together. There were rich bloodstone veins there."

"But during the in-depth exploration, we encountered a powerful earth vein beast. After a fierce battle, we lost contact."

"Where is that dangerous place?"

Li Mubai asked anxiously.

Lin Feng took out a map and pointed to a location deep in the Blood Valley on the map.

"Right in the heart of the Blood-Draining Valley, there is a mountain range covered in blood mist. We call it the Blood Mist Mountain Range. That's where Zhao Tiezhu and I got lost."

Zhou Yiqiao and Li Mubai looked at each other and had already made a decision in their hearts.

They thanked Lin Feng for the information and expressed their gratitude to the old man.

"Thank you for your help, fellow Taoists. We will head to the Blood Mist Mountains to find Zhao Tiezhu's whereabouts."

The old man nodded, but there was a hint of worry in his eyes.

"The Blood Mist Mountains are extremely dangerous, the two seniors must be careful."

Li Mubai didn't care.

"It's okay. Although the Blood-Draining Valley is a dangerous place for you, it is just a slightly tricky place to explore for me and Brother Zhou."

"We have our own way to deal with it, please rest assured."

After saying that, Zhou Yiqiao and Li Mubai stood up and prepared to leave the hut.

Seeing this, the old man said no more, just bowed again and watched the two leave.

When we left the hut, it was already late in the evening. The market in the Blood Lotus Pond gradually became quiet, with only sporadic lights flickering in the night.

Zhang Yuan and members of the "Dawn" team had been waiting outside for a long time. When they saw the two men come out, they surrounded them.

"Senior Zhou, Senior Li, did you gain anything?"

Zhang Yuan asked with concern.

Zhou Yiqiao smiled slightly and nodded.

"There's a little clue."

Zhang Yuan and his group immediately stood up and pretended to leave, but were stopped by Zhou Yiqiao and Li Mubai.

"No need. This place is deep in the Blood Valley and is very dangerous. You two should not go there together."

"If you really want to help, then please stay at the Blood Lotus Pond Market for us and continue to inquire about other possible news. If you have any information, pass it to us as soon as possible."

The next location is likely to be where they will find clues about Zhao Tiezhu. The two don't want more people to know the real purpose of their trip, so naturally they have to stop everyone.

Zhang Yuan felt somewhat unwilling when he heard this, but he also understood that his and his companions' strength was still far behind Zhou Yiqiao and Li Mubai, and that following them rashly would only add to the burden.

"In this case, we will stay in the Blood Lotus Pond and wait for good news from the two seniors."

As he spoke, he took out a stack of path-finding talismans that he had used before and solemnly handed them to Zhou Yiqiao.

"Although these talismans are not valuable, they are very effective in fighting the blood mist in the Blood-Draining Valley. Please accept them, seniors."

Seeing this, Zhou Yiqiao felt a little relieved. After taking the talisman, he patted the storage bag on his waist, took out a large number of jade bottles and distributed them to the many monks of the "Dawn" team.

"Here are some elixirs suitable for your cultivation. They are our compensation for wasting your time."

With the "Dawn" team expressing their gratitude, Zhou Yiqiao and Li Mubai flew up into the sky and disappeared into the night.