# Chapter 1160: The Price
Just now, the gray-clothed elder had gone to pursue and kill the Blood God Sect's sect leader. Zhang Ruochen very much wanted to know the result, but he did not immediately ask. Instead, he walked over, bowed respectfully, and said, "Thank you, senior, for saving my life."
The gray-clothed elder withdrew his sacred qi back into his body, once again becoming plain and unremarkable. A smile appeared on his face as he said, "I followed Chi Lin Yuan's true body all the way to the Endless Abyss, mainly wanting to eliminate the hidden danger of the Blood God Sect. I did not come specifically to save you. Of course, since I did save you, you must pay some price to repay this debt of gratitude, no?"
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen immediately became vigilant. "Does he also want to seize some treasure from me?"
Although the gray-clothed elder appeared kind and benevolent, when he displayed his killing methods, he was quite ruthless. Wasn't the ground covered with corpses proof of that?
Zhang Ruochen said calmly, "What does senior want?"
The gray-clothed elder did not immediately answer Zhang Ruochen. It was as if he were immersed in his own world as he said, "Chi Lin Yuan has fled to the second gradient of the Endless Abyss. This old man must go and slay him, cannot leave behind a root of trouble. I must also go and eliminate the hidden dangers of the second gradient..."
The gray-clothed elder's gaze was somewhat complex. He sighed before continuing, "The second gradient will be even more dangerous. It is very likely that an ancient secret spanning a thousand ages is hidden there. This time, I go, and I do not know if I will be able to return alive."
Zhang Ruochen felt that he might have misunderstood the gray-clothed elder. With the elder's cultivation level, if he wanted to seize treasures from Zhang Ruochen, it would be an extremely simple matter. He would not waste so many words.
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Does senior believe that there are even more and stronger blood beasts in the second gradient?"
The gray-clothed elder nodded. "Chi Lin Yuan raised blood beasts in the Endless Abyss, likely wanting to use their power to contend for supremacy over the world. The blood beasts in the first gradient are merely the tip of the iceberg. More blood beasts are still in the second gradient. Moreover, this old man suspects that behind Chi Lin Yuan, there is an even more terrifying figure."
The gray-clothed elder already had some guesses but did not voice them.
However, a hint of solemnity appeared between his brows, showing that the figure behind Chi Lin Yuan was definitely quite formidable.
Zhang Ruochen felt puzzled. Could it be that the figure behind Chi Lin Yuan made even the gray-clothed elder feel troubled?
The solemn expression on the gray-clothed elder's face gradually dissipated, and he smiled again. "Now, we can talk about the price and repaying this debt of gratitude."
Since when was there a rule about forcing someone to repay a debt of gratitude?
"What price?"
The gray-clothed elder was definitely not someone to be trifled with. Zhang Ruochen remained vigilant, guarding against being schemed against by him.
The gray-clothed elder said, "Chi Lin Yuan has a deep cooperative relationship with the Undying Blood Clan. Besides him, there are definitely other Undying Blood Clan members lurking within the Blood God Sect. You must find them out and eliminate them, cutting off future troubles."
"That's all?" Zhang Ruochen was somewhat surprised.
"Correct." The gray-clothed elder smiled.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Why should I agree to this? Besides, what does the Blood God Sect's matter have to do with me?"
The gray-clothed elder straightened his back, a cold light flashing in his eyes. "You are the divine son of the Blood God Sect, and in the future, you will succeed the sect leader's position. How can you say it has nothing to do with you? Boy, you have gained so many benefits from the Blood God Sect. Do you want to shirk responsibility and just walk away?"
"So that's it. So you already saw through my identity long ago." Zhang Ruochen was not only surprised but also shocked.
The gray-clothed elder said, "Your Thirty-Six Transformations of Formlessness and Form may fool others, but they cannot fool these eyes of mine. To be honest, you are still too inexperienced. Compared to that old man Xuanji, you fall short by more than a little."
"You know my master?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"There is a bit of a connection between us." The gray-clothed elder said.
Zhang Ruochen was silent for a long time before finally asking, "Since you knew I was not Gu Linfeng, why did you allow me to remain in the Blood God Sect and even help me become the divine son?"
Back then, during the competition for the position of divine son, if the gray-clothed elder had not sent a message to the Blood God Sect's sect leader, Zhang Ruochen would not have so smoothly become the new divine son.
The gray-clothed elder laughed. "Whether it is Zhang Ruochen or Gu Linfeng, as long as one has true ability, they can naturally become a disciple of the Blood God Sect, or even become its divine son."
This gray-clothed elder was too mysterious, and his cultivation was astonishingly high. In front of him, Zhang Ruochen could not hide any secrets.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "I cannot do it. What you ask of me has already exceeded my capabilities. Not to mention whether I can defeat the Undying Blood Clan's lurkers, just finding them out alone is no easy task."
Ordinary Undying Blood Clan lurkers, Zhang Ruochen could still identify and expose. But for Undying Blood Clan lurkers at the Saint realm, with Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation, he simply could not recognize them.
The gray-clothed elder seemed to have anticipated Zhang Ruochen's response. "What if I could give you the 'Blood Clan Secret Volume'?"
"'Blood Clan Secret Volume'?" Zhang Ruochen looked at the gray-clothed elder with a skeptical gaze. "Legend has it that the 'Blood Clan Secret Volume' was kept in the treasury of the Holy Bright Central Empire, and the treasury was taken away by the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion. How could you have the 'Blood Clan Secret Volume'?"
"Coincidentally, this old man happens to know the master of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion and obtained a handwritten copy of the 'Blood Clan Secret Volume' from him. Of course, even though it is a handwritten copy, the content recorded in it is exactly the same as the original, not a single word different." The gray-clothed elder said calmly.
Zhang Ruochen's heart could not calm down. He quickly asked, "Who exactly is the master of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion? Where is he?"
The gray-clothed elder said, "The identity of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion's master is mysterious, and he holds the treasury of the Holy Bright Central Empire. Countless people in the world want to know his identity. Why should this old man tell you? Besides, I cannot tell you."
Then, the gray-clothed elder took out a yellowed book and handed it to Zhang Ruochen, saying solemnly, "Although it is only a handwritten copy, it still has extraordinary value. You must not lose it. Find a suitable opportunity and a suitable person, make it public, and spread it throughout the world. It will definitely be a heavy blow to the Undying Blood Clan."
Zhang Ruochen had no further reason to refuse, so he agreed to the gray-clothed elder's conditions. "Very well. Since I have received benefits from the Blood God Sect, I must do something for it. However, if I encounter a Saint among the Undying Blood Clan, I have no way to deal with them. Why don't you lend me the Blood God Scepter?"
"Don't even think about the Blood God Scepter. With your current cultivation, you cannot unleash its power."
The gray-clothed elder took out a tattered talisman and handed it to Zhang Ruochen. "This talisman possesses extraordinary power. Do not use it unless absolutely necessary."
The talisman looked no different from waste paper—wrinkled, with nothing magical about it. Zhang Ruochen felt that if he used a bit more force, he might tear it apart.
Zhang Ruochen frowned deeply but still accepted the talisman with suspicion and carefully put it away.
The gray-clothed elder added, "After Chi Lin Yuan goes missing, there will definitely be considerable turmoil within the Blood God Sect. You must handle it carefully."
Next, the gray-clothed elder told Zhang Ruochen some things to be mindful of before picking up the Blood God Scepter and walking away, disappearing into the entrance of the second gradient.
Xiao Hei finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Zhang Ruochen, the Blood God Sect is already a place of trouble. Even the sect leader is working for the Undying Blood Clan. The Undying Blood Clan's power within the sect must be enormous. This emperor believes you should leave immediately and not get involved. This mess is not something you can clean up."
"I have already agreed to him. Isn't it a bit too late for you to say this now?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Xiao Hei was momentarily speechless, not knowing how to continue.
When the gray-clothed elder was present, how could it dare to say such things?
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the book in his hand, his mind already made up.
As long as it was about dealing with the Undying Blood Clan, no matter how dangerous, he would face it head-on.
Zhang Ruochen left the Endless Abyss but did not immediately return to the Blood God Sect. Instead, he entered the Eternal Ancient Snow Mountain and hid in a secluded valley.
Outside the valley, a concealment formation was arranged.
"Whoosh—"
From time to time, the sound of someone breaking through the air could be heard in the sky, heading toward the Endless Abyss.
Standing in the valley, Zhang Ruochen's eyes carried a hint of worry. "The power fluctuation emitted by the Blood God Scepter was too intense, alarming all the strong experts of the Blood God Sect. The news of the sect leader's disappearance cannot be hidden for long. I wonder how great a shock it will cause?"
Zhang Ruochen entered the Scroll World. First, he checked on Huang Yanchen's injuries. After confirming that she was out of danger, he began to heal his own wounds.
Once his injuries had fully healed, Zhang Ruochen took out the handwritten copy of the "Blood Clan Secret Volume" and quietly read it.
The "Blood Clan Secret Volume" recorded many things—not only how to see through the disguises of the Undying Blood Clan but also their weaknesses, methods to deal with them, and some of their secrets.
Back then, the Grand Tutor and Guardian Shangguan Que led a large group of Saints who had fought against the Undying Blood Clan to compile this book. Naturally, it possessed infinite value.
Otherwise, why would the Undying Blood Clan go to great lengths to find and destroy it?
The last few pages of the "Blood Clan Secret Volume" recorded some deeds about Xue Hou. Among them, one matter caught Zhang Ruochen's attention.
According to the book, when Xue Hou was young, she had a great battle with Kong Shangling, the master of the Peacock Manor. Kong Shangling transformed into a seven-colored peacock and swallowed Xue Hou into his belly.
One must know that even when Xue Hou was young, she was already quite powerful, able to contend with older-generation Saints.
Since Kong Shangling had swallowed Xue Hou into his belly, there could only be two outcomes.
First, Xue Hou was refined by Kong Shangling and died.
Or, Xue Hou killed Kong Shangling in turn and burst out of his belly.
However, in reality, neither Xue Hou nor Kong Shangling died, and both became pivotal figures in history.
Zhang Ruochen very much wanted to know the result of that battle.
"How could this be?"
Zhang Ruochen discovered that there were no more words after that. Upon closer inspection, he found that the last page had been torn off! (To be continued.)