Burning Blood Essence could indeed increase a cultivator's strength dramatically.
However, there was naturally a price to pay for doing so.
Each drop of Blood Essence served as a cultivator's life energy, and every single drop contained incredibly rich vitality.
The higher a cultivator's cultivation level, the greater the benefits contained within their Blood Essence.
There was once a cultivator who struggled desperately to obtain a drop of Blood Essence from a Phoenix.
After acquiring it, his Cultivation Realm surged significantly, and his cultivation speed became much faster!
Naturally, all of this was because of that Blood Essence.
It contained boundless vitality and a mysterious power that could not be explained.
Even the efficiency of absorbing Spirit Qi increased tremendously!
There was also another way to utilize Blood Essence.
By burning it.
A cultivator who burned their Blood Essence would receive an enormous boost in their Cultivation Realm!
However, the price was a reduction in their lifespan.
And that was precisely why Yang Feng was so furious.
Because of Zhi Xuan, he had been forced to burn his own Blood Essence in order to avoid losing face in the future!
Rather than worrying about the consequences of burning his Blood Essence, his top priority right now was to kill Zhi Xuan first!
Yang Feng circulated Spirit Qi into his fist and launched it toward Zhi Xuan!
"Take this! This is one of the Yang Family's secret killing techniques! You should feel honored to die before a Peak Jindan Realm cultivator!"
The tremendous power rapidly tore through the air.
At the end of its path was Zhi Xuan's face, wearing a faint smile as he looked at the incoming fist.
Anyone would assume that if Zhi Xuan did not dodge this attack, he would suffer severe injuries!
Boom!
However, Zhi Xuan shattered that assumption.
With only one hand, he blocked the punch aimed directly at his face!
"If a fist technique like this was specially created for killing, then just how trash are the Yang Family's other techniques?"
As those words spread through the air, Zhi Xuan suddenly clenched Yang Feng's fist tightly!
"Argh!"
Once again, Yang Feng's scream echoed through the surroundings and reached the ears of the Xuanwu Sect Leader.
The Sect Leader was startled and immediately looked toward the direction where Yang Feng's voice had come from!
"I-Impossible! How can you block a full-powered strike from a Peak Jindan Realm cultivator?!"
Yang Feng could no longer think clearly.
Before he realized it, he had been forced to kneel, his right hand still trapped within Zhi Xuan's grasp!
"Hahaha..."
Zhi Xuan chuckled softly.
Seeing this, Zhou Rouxue and the surrounding disciples found it strange.
Why was he laughing?
"What are you laughing at?"
Zhi Xuan suddenly asked mockingly,
"Do you think Peak Jindan Realm is something extraordinary?"
"Of course! A Peak Jindan Realm cultivator can already be considered a Peak Master!"
"Hahaha!"
Zhi Xuan's laughter suddenly became even louder!
At the same time, Yang Feng wondered whether this man had gone insane.
Why was he laughing like that?
Zhi Xuan released Yang Feng's hand, turned around, and continued,
"From what you just said, I can tell that you're nothing more than a frog at the bottom of a well."
Yang Feng stood up.
"Don't joke around!"
Suddenly, an extremely intense energy fluctuation seeped out from his body!
"Be careful!"
Zhou Rouxue shouted to everyone and immediately retreated!
The energy spread through the air and filled a radius of ten meters!
The next moment—
Yang Feng unleashed a full-powered punch toward Zhi Xuan!
"Hm?"
Zhi Xuan turned around.
Upon seeing Yang Feng's fist approaching at incredible speed,
He merely flicked a finger.
Instantly, a vast amount of Qi poured out from his body and formed a spherical defensive barrier!
It enveloped his entire body and appeared completely transparent!
Boom!
Yang Feng's fist smashed heavily against the Qi barrier!
Dust exploded into the air, and a powerful energy fluctuation spread outward from the center of the impact!
The disciples were stunned for several moments.
Swallowing nervously, cold sweat appeared on their faces.
Their eyes remained fixed on the spot where Yang Feng had launched his attack!
As the dust gradually dispersed in the wind, two standing figures slowly became visible.
The disciples grew even more curious.
What exactly had happened?
And what was the result of that punch?
The next moment, as the dust completely disappeared,
Zhi Xuan could still be seen standing calmly in the same place, his eyes fixed on Yang Feng's face.
Meanwhile, Yang Feng wore a strange expression.
It was as if he could not believe what he was seeing!
"W-What... What happened...?"
Yang Feng stared at Zhi Xuan with fear.
His eyes trembled, and profound terror was carved across his face.
His hair stood on end.
His bones felt frozen.
An overwhelming sense of dread emerged from the depths of his heart!
What is this?
Why does that look like the gaze of death itself?
Did I just challenge death itself?
And why is he completely unharmed?
Didn't I just punch him with my full strength?
This sensation...
Did I just strike a protective barrier?
Those thoughts flooded his mind as cold sweat poured down his face.
The hand he had used to punch had completely lost its strength.
His consciousness began to fade.
Just as Yang Feng was about to collapse,
Zhi Xuan suddenly closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead while letting out a long sigh.
Just now, Zhi Xuan had almost failed to restrain his emotions.
A grave mistake...
He had nearly lost control.
He had almost killed Yang Feng using nothing but his aura.
His heart was in turmoil.
Slowly opening his eyes, he looked at Yang Feng with a trace of complaint.
Meanwhile, the disciples who witnessed everything were rendered completely speechless.
They couldn't utter a single word.
Only one phrase echoed within their hearts, perfectly describing their feelings toward what had just occurred...
Incredible!
That simple word alone was enough to express their entire sense of admiration for Zhi Xuan!
Without using a technique.
Without launching an attack.
He had defeated a Peak Jindan Realm cultivator!
At that moment, a face became deeply engraved within their hearts.
That face was handsome and heroic.
Its appearance was extraordinary, carrying an indescribable elegance.
It belonged to the person they admired!
And naturally, that person was—
The very man standing before them right now!
They immediately rushed toward Zhi Xuan with great enthusiasm.
Seeing this, Zhou Rouxue and her companions could only stand frozen behind the crowd.
They knew this senior was powerful.
But they never imagined he would be this powerful!
To be capable of killing a Peak Jindan Realm cultivator so effortlessly—
Without even making a move?
Then just how strong was he truly?
Could he perhaps even be comparable to the Xuanwu Sect Leader?
"Um..."
...
Meanwhile, hearing the commotion from nearby, Zhi Xuan immediately turned his head.
What greeted him was the sight of dozens of people running toward him with faces full of excitement!
The Qi barrier was still active, so there was nothing to worry about.
The moment they arrived, they loudly shouted the same words.
They immediately knelt and cupped their fists toward Zhi Xuan.
"Please accept me as your disciple!"
The voices of the disciples spread through the air, filling everyone's ears—
And awakening someone who had been cultivating in seclusion deep within a cave located behind the Xuanwu Sect!