Chiyou, standing by the blood pool, could feel the aura erupting from within. The immense pressure was like Mount Tai bearing down on him, making it difficult to breathe.
Chiyou wanted to flee, but he knew he hadn't lured out the Blood Spirit yet. If he retreated now, not only would he fail to draw it out, but he would likely lose Ye Ling's protection.
"I'll risk it!"
Chiyou gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and leaped into the blood pool!
*Boom!*
The moment Chiyou plunged into the blood pool, numerous tentacles shot out, ensnaring him and binding him in mid-air.
"Heh heh heh… another spirit dares to jump into my blood pool? I haven't seen this in ages."
"Let me see which little darling is so bold?"
A sinister voice echoed from beneath the blood pool. The pool began to churn violently, and a man formed from blood emerged from its center.
A powerful aura permeated the surroundings.
Chiyou, struggling in mid-air, saw the man in the center of the blood pool and his pupils constricted. He exclaimed in shock, "Emperor, this is the Blood Spirit of this Blood Prison!"
"How noisy!"
The Blood Spirit sneered upon hearing Chiyou's words. A blood-red tentacle shot out from the pool, aiming for Chiyou's head, intending to pierce it!
Chiyou's eyes flickered with terror as he watched the tentacle approach.
He could sense that if this tentacle impaled him, his soul would be scattered.
However, just as Chiyou thought he was about to perish, a ball of dark demonic flame erupted before him, blocking the tentacle!
*Sizzle!*
Under the scorching heat of the demonic flame, the blood-red tentacle evaporated, dissipating into steam.
"I'm saved…"
Chiyou breathed a sigh of relief, surprise and joy filling his eyes.
When he came to act as bait, he had been constantly worried about whether Ye Ling could protect him from the Blood Spirit's attacks.
If Ye Ling's strength was insufficient, he would be the first to die.
Jumping into the blood pool was entirely a gamble with his own life.
After all, Chiyou only knew that Ye Ling was stronger than him. He lacked a proper frame of reference at a higher level.
Chiyou wasn't sure who was stronger between Ye Ling and the Blood Spirit.
But judging by the current display, Ye Ling was at least on the same level as the Blood Spirit. Chiyou's anxious heart finally found some peace.
The Blood Spirit seemed surprised that someone could block its attack. It turned its gaze towards Ye Ling and chuckled, "Truly interesting. Someone can actually block my strike. Has Earth developed to the point where it can produce a powerhouse like you?"
As it spoke, the Blood Spirit's expression turned ferocious. "Let's see how long you can protect him!!!"
With its words, several more tentacles, even stronger than before, surged from the blood pool and shot towards Chiyou!
This time, Chiyou couldn't even discern the shape of the tentacles. He saw more demonic flames rise before him, completely vaporizing the tentacles formed from blood!
"Phew… there's hope! There's hope!"
Seeing Ye Ling deflect all of the Blood Spirit's attacks, Chiyou couldn't hide the joy on his face. He was utterly exhilarated!
After falling into the Blood Prison, Chiyou had believed he was doomed. All his previous struggles were merely his desire to catch a glimpse of the legendary Great Dao Blood Crystal before death.
But now, Ye Ling's strength far exceeded his imagination, even matching the Blood Spirit!
With such a powerful ally, Chiyou saw a glimmer of hope for escape and became increasingly excited.
Not just Chiyou, but the Blood Spirit in the center of the blood pool was also thoroughly excited. It stared intently at Ye Ling, its eyes gleaming as if it had found a prey it desperately desired!
"Interesting! Interesting! I haven't encountered anyone as interesting as you in a long time!"
"For the previous attacks, I used only thirty percent of my strength, yet you blocked them all. Not bad!"
"It seems I'll have some fun today!"
Thirty percent of its power?
Chiyou, who had been excited moments ago, felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water upon hearing the Blood Spirit's words. His mood plummeted like a roller coaster.
If the Blood Spirit was so powerful with only thirty percent of its strength, how formidable would it be at full power?
Chiyou couldn't imagine.
In his fear, Chiyou instinctively turned to look at Ye Ling, trying to gauge the situation from his expression.
However, Ye Ling remained expressionless throughout, making it impossible for Chiyou to analyze anything!
Chiyou's relaxed mood suddenly became tense again.
Xu Xiaoqing, looking at the Blood Spirit in the center of the blood pool, felt a deep-seated fear. She instinctively hid behind Ye Ling and whispered, "Emperor, we…"
"Don't worry," Ye Ling gently reassured Xu Xiaoqing. "I'm here."
Before the Blood Spirit had emerged, Ye Ling had worried it might possess Dao Venerable cultivation and anticipated a tough battle.
But after the Blood Spirit appeared, Ye Ling realized his earlier concerns were entirely unnecessary.
Chiyou was not wrong; the Blood Spirit in the blood pool possessed the strength to kill an Emperor.
The Blood Spirit's power, even across the Three Realms, was undoubtedly among the strongest, capable of casting an endless shadow over them and striking fear into countless powerhouses.
However, in Ye Ling's eyes, this Blood Spirit was merely an evil entity that had just broken through to the Emperor realm, barely stepping into the Supreme level.
In other words, it would only take Ye Ling one hand to deal with this Blood Spirit.
Since the dangers within the Blood Prison had been resolved, Ye Ling's attention naturally shifted from the Blood Spirit to the Great Dao Blood Crystal in the blood pool.
If the Great Dao Blood Crystal truly existed in this blood pool as Chiyou claimed, then even Ye Ling's strength would significantly improve upon obtaining it.
Currently, Ye Ling's greatest frustration was his lack of mastery over the Law of Time. Many things he wished to accomplish were hindered by his inability to manipulate time.
If this blood pool contained a Great Dao Blood Crystal that could directly grant one mastery over the Law of Time, then once Ye Ling mastered it, not to mention the amplification of his power from the Great Dao,
The mere ability to manipulate time would make many things Ye Ling previously found impossible, exceptionally simple.
The Blood Spirit in the center of the blood pool was unaware that Ye Ling had lost interest in it. It was still appraising Ye Ling with a playful and excited gaze, saying, "Not bad… truly not bad… you have a perfect body!"
"If I can possess your body, escaping this Blood Prison will be within reach!"
"Hahaha! Thinking of this, I'm getting more and more excited!"
Chiyou, watching the Blood Spirit laugh heartily, felt terror welling up in his eyes. He quickly called out to Ye Ling, "Emperor, save me first! I can't take it anymore!"
The Blood Spirit laughed, "Little fellow, without my permission, no one can save you. Just obediently become nourishment for this pool of blood!"
The moment the Blood Spirit finished speaking, dark energy surged around Chiyou.
Then, the tentacles binding Chiyou dissolved!
With a casual wave, Ye Ling pulled Chiyou to his side.
The Blood Spirit's laughter abruptly ceased.