Refining Experience Points!

East of Qingzhou City, Spirit Gate.

The Earth Spirit Mountains, which were around thirty-seven thousand feet tall, flanked Lingkou Pass. These mountains were steep, tall, and usually covered with heavy snow due to their cold climate.

During autumn and winter, even a bone pattern realm expert wouldn’t dare cross these mountains. It’s as if a barrier, naturally created, separated Qingzhou City from the ten counties. This pass was the only connection to Qingzhou City.

Halfway up the mountain, Qin Huai climbed step by step against the wind and snow. His body was surrounded by icy dragons which were frozen on the outside, protecting him from the cold.

In half a month’s time, Qin Huai used the divine power book of a thousand creations to refine the experience points gained from killing demons and Sacred Heart disciples during his rescue mission in Qingzhou City. As a result, this brought him closer to refining the guardian spirit item for the third time.

However, his most significant challenge now was the Kun Peng fragments. Less than half of these fragments had hindered his progress in refining the guardian spirit item for the third time, posing a barrier to his investigation of the blood sea.

He stared at the towering blood sea in the distance. “That sea of blood seems even higher than I thought.” Xiang Mingfeng, who was wearing a white robe, followed closely beside him.

Once Lingkou Pass was established, many prodigies backed Qin Huai, leading him to become the leader of the Qingzhou Alliance. Soon after, the alliance announced that Xiang Mingfeng would serve as deputy master.

But, the battle for the other deputy alliance leader position was intense, with Little Cattle King Le Ji’an, Fang Huo, and Xu Tong being the main contenders. The contest was more about martial arts competition than power or status.

“There are seventy-two geniuses in the alliance, including you and me,” Xiang Mingfeng reported. “The least experienced is at four patterns, and none of them are older than thirty. These people were saved by you from the bronze world, handpicked by the Emperor of Qingzhou, and they are completely trustworthy in terms of bloodline techniques.”

“Only seventy-two people? Are there any others in the city that we can recruit?” Qin Huai asked. The current number was indeed a bit disappointing compared to the hundreds of prodigies who originally sided with them after they first left the bronze world.

“During this past half-month, we’ve been in a critical period for rescuing people. I plan to take Fang Huo and others into the city for support. The news we’ve received is not good,” Xiang Mingfeng shared. “Most of the top talents who left the bronze world were killed while being held in their sect, while those who escaped assassination would still face heavy protection during this blood sea crisis. Most would die surrounded and killed.”

Xiang Mingfeng’s voice was filled with sorrow, and his fists were clenched so tightly that beads of blood dripped. However, these hot drops froze mid-air and then fell to the ground.

“These seventy-two people are likely the last survivors from the bronze world,” he added. “Out of the fourteen future kings who fought with us in the past, only nine remain.” He listed off the survivors, “Me, Wan Shan from Wuji Mountain, Fang Huo from Lion Spirit Mountain, Gou Jie from the Thousand Divination Tower, Xu Tong from the Blue Sea Pavilion, Yun Qi, Hua Yanli, Xiong Yujie, and Wang Gang. We can consider ourselves lucky.”

By the time they finished talking, they had reached the top of the Earth Spirit Mountain. Despite being thirty-seven thousand feet high, they still couldn’t see the scene above the blood sea.

Qin Huai frowned, realizing that the blood sea was much higher than they had initially thought— at least twenty thousand meters.

“If the blood sea is more than sixty thousand feet high, even if we manage to get people up there, the qi, blood, and body of a typical fifth-level bone pattern realm warrior may freeze to death,” Qin Huai noted.

Xiang Mingfeng candidly added, “I’m afraid our prepared team won’t be able to make it.” This was much higher than their original estimate of ten thousand meters. The cold wind was severe, almost like it was attacking them.

“I’ll think of another solution,” Qin Huai said as he looked at the resentment-filled sea of blood.

He knew they were short of experts. Only the master of Wuji Mountain, Kong Binghuang, and the alliance master could defeat a fifth-level visceral prefecture realm expert.

Also, even though Xiang Mingfeng and the other future kings had broken through the visceral prefecture realm barrier, they were still far from the forthcoming battle. Those who could stand at the peak of Qingzhou, such as the chief martial lord and the important figures of the Sacred Heart Sect, were all extremely difficult opponents with shocking strength.

Xiang Mingfeng then suggested, “Should we try to enter the city? Those who are able to move have already left, and those who can’t are likely dead. Now, anyone who enters Qingzhou City only needs to be killed. It’s foolproof.”

Qin Huai agreed, but added, “However, the Sacred Heart Sect and the prefecture overseer will definitely have a plan. I’ll give it a shot first… You guys hold down Lingkou Pass. Also, keep an eye on those trying to sneak into the ten counties to cause chaos.”

Xiang Mingfeng reassured him, “Don’t worry, I’ve already prepared for this. I’ve also stationed people in the ten counties. We’ll definitely stop those villains.”