Taibai Heavenly Mountain, Tianying Peak.
This peak is surrounded by numerous rays of dawn, covered by restrictions.
However, inside a massive cave chamber within Tianying Peak, the situation is completely different from the outside.
A strong smell of blood and medicinal herbs fills the entire cave chamber.
In the center of the chamber is a gigantic blood pool, its blood water bubbling as if boiling, emitting a scorching heat.
Surrounding the blood pool are cages made of special materials.
Inside these cages are several young women, all of whom are unconscious, completely unaware of their situation.
Above the blood pool, in the center, sits an old woman with silver hair and a withered face.
This old woman is none other than the Grand Elder Hongying, as mentioned by Shen Mo.
Her full name is Ji Hongying, a powerful figure who has reached the Nirvana Realm, holding the esteemed position of Grand Elder of Taibai Heavenly Mountain, with a status so high that even the current sect leader must address her as "Shigu."
Yet, despite this, Ji Hongying cannot withstand the erosion of time.
Now, Ji Hongying has only a few years left to live.
To prolong her life, she is forced to frequently use a forbidden technique, collecting the essence blood of young female cultivators to brew a potent medicine, replenishing her own vitality.
Ji Hongying opens her eyes and flicks her fingers.
With a soft sound,
the body of a young woman in one of the cages is pierced through, and blood gushes out like a fountain from the wound, falling into the central blood pool.
As fresh blood is poured into the blood pool, the density of the blood within increases further.
However, in Ji Hongying's eyes, this is still far from enough.
She continues to act, piercing through the bodies of over a dozen women, their blood flowing into the blood pool.
In less than half a tea time, the bodies of these young women visibly transform into dry corpses.
At the same time, the blood in the pool boils completely, and strands of crimson mist rise from the blood pool, carrying a unique medicinal fragrance.
Seeing this, Ji Hongying's eyes light up, and she immediately begins to practice her secret technique.
Strands of crimson mist gather from all directions and are absorbed into her body.
Her appearance gradually changes; her once withered face slowly transforms into that of a middle-aged woman, and eventually, she becomes a woman in her twenties or thirties, still possessing charm.
This scene is simply astonishing!
After nearly an hour, Ji Hongying, who has completely changed her appearance, finally opens her eyes, but her brows furrow slightly.
"The effect of this Blood Soul Transfer Technique is getting worse; it actually takes so long to achieve such results!"
Ji Hongying murmurs, her starry eyes flickering.
"I hope Shen Mo can bring back that person with the Heavenly Sound Mystic Body to the sect; then I can try another way to defy fate!"
Just as she thinks this, a transmission jade talisman arrives.
Ji Hongying recognizes it as a message from Shen Mo and immediately takes the talisman in her hand to check it.
After a moment, a look of surprise appears on her face.
"He didn't bring back that musical genius?"
After reading the message, Ji Hongying's brows furrow slightly as she murmurs.
After pondering for a while, her figure flashes and she disappears from the spot.
Meanwhile,
outside Tianying Peak on Taibai Heavenly Mountain, Shen Mo stands respectfully, waiting for Ji Hongying's summons.
Before long, a crack slowly opens in the restriction array outside Tianying Peak.
Seeing this, Shen Mo immediately steps inside.
After a while, Shen Mo arrives at Ji Hongying's hall with familiarity.
He sees Ji Hongying dressed in a red gown, seated at the head of the hall.
Shen Mo enters the hall, his expression somewhat anxious, and immediately bows, saying, "I pay my respects to Grand Elder Hongying!"
"I have failed the Grand Elder's trust by not bringing back that musical genius; please punish me!"
As he speaks, he presents the four items taken from the Lu Wangfu with both hands.
These four items were given to him by Ji Hongying before he went to the Lu Wangfu.
Now that he has failed the task, he returns them immediately.
He knows that this female Grand Elder has an unpredictable temperament, so he must first plead for forgiveness.
Seeing the two scrolls of techniques and two magical treasures presented by Shen Mo, Ji Hongying does not immediately take them back but instead speaks directly.
"Tell me, why didn't you bring that musical genius back to the sect?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Mo does not hide anything and recounts his trip to the Lu Wangfu in detail.
"Oh, that musical genius absolutely refused to join the sect!?"
"They didn't even look at these four heavenly-grade treasures!"
After listening to Shen Mo's report, Ji Hongying is quite surprised.
She knows that the four heavenly-grade techniques and treasures she offered would be fought over outside, yet the Lu Wangfu actually looked down on them!
"You say that the lord of the Wangfu possesses the strength of the Divine Union Realm, and even you are no match for him!?"
When she hears that Shen Mo was defeated by Lu Qingxuan, Ji Hongying's eyes reveal further surprise.
After pondering for a moment, Ji Hongying waves her jade hand, taking the four treasures Shen Mo presented, and then speaks.
"In that case, you need not concern yourself with this matter; I will handle it myself. You may leave now!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Mo feels relieved and immediately takes his leave.
Watching Shen Mo's disappearing figure, Ji Hongying murmurs.
"I sent someone to your Lu Wangfu to recruit disciples with kind words, yet you dared to directly refuse my goodwill. Since that's the case, don't blame me for using my power to bully the weak!"
Now that she knows that the musical genius from the Lu Wangfu possesses the Heavenly Sound Mystic Body, how could she bear to let such a suitable disciple slip away?
If she could take this person with the Heavenly Sound Mystic Body as her true disciple, she could attempt to defy fate in another way.
After searching for so long, she finally found someone with such a compatible talent; how could she let them slip through her fingers!
"As long as I wait for half a year to stabilize the Blood Soul Transfer Technique and adjust my condition to the best, I will personally visit the Lu Wangfu!"
As she speaks, Ji Hongying's figure instantly blurs, and in an instant, she disappears from the spot.