"Cunning!"

The Divine Phoenix Woman chuckled and softly scolded, but didn't mind Xiao Mu's concealment.

After bidding farewell and leaving the Divine Phoenix Woman, Xiao Mu immediately headed to the warehouse.

He needed to withdraw the energy fruits he required from the warehouse. Afterward, he went to Mengtian Pavilion to find Du Yao to conceal Heaven's Secrets.

Once these tasks were completed, Xiao Mu began to prepare for his journey to the Blood Realm.

The Divine Phoenix Woman wanted him to manage the affairs of the Blood Realm, which he naturally refused, yet the choice to head to the Blood Realm as a guardian was his own.

This allowed him more time for cultivation and the opportunity to look for Yan An or other late-stage True Gods of the Heavenly Court, seeking chances to seize the Five-Color Soil or Green Soul Wood, and seek opportunities to break through to the Peak of True God Level.

After resting at Tai Mie Mountain and cultivating a bit, Xiao Mu exited seclusion three days later and flew directly toward the Blood Realm.

The direction of the Blood Realm was the same as the Eastern Desolation. In fact, the Blood Realm was another area that emerged after the Eastern Desolation was broken.

The Blood Realm wasn't the same as the domain Xiao Mu had been in previously, and they weren't synonymous. If one had to differentiate, the Blood Realm could be called the Blood World, whereas the domain Xiao Mu had been in was merely a region.

The difference between the two was too great.

He entered near the Eastern Desolation, then accessed the Blood Realm via a spatial channel.

Upon entering the Blood Realm, Xiao Mu was nearly stunned. Despite having inquired about the Blood Realm's circumstances prior, the reality almost frightened him.

Before entering, Xiao Mu had learned from the information that, due to the Blood Realm being ripped open, nearly the entire realm was blown up, leading to severe casualties among the beings within.

However, upon entering himself, Xiao Mu understood just how severe the casualties really were.

Upon entering, the first thing Xiao Mu sensed was blood qi. Due to the heavy casualties, the entire realm was awash in blood, with blood qi everywhere, filling the air with a pungent smell.

This might be the real reason why, in the later stages, it was called the Blood Realm.

The Blood Realm was a name given by the human world after it had been pierced. Its original name had become unimportant.

Flying over the Blood Realm, Xiao Mu noticed that under him, the originally Five Elements Cloud was nearly entirely dyed blood red by the blood.

The blood-red Five Elements Cloud made it seem as if he was not riding on a Five Elements Cloud Mist, but a blood cloud, making Xiao Mu feel very uncomfortable.

He continued his journey into the Blood Realm, aiming for the central Grand Hall to first meet the guardian of the Blood Realm and understand its affairs before proceeding.

Throughout his journey, he observed that the Blood Realm was littered with injured and maimed beings, some crying out, others weeping bitterly, and he scarcely saw a complete human form.

Everyone, all beings, had been injured when the Black Stele burst into the Blood Realm, crippling it in the process.

Some had severed limbs, some their hands or feet, while others were missing all four limbs, and some had lost half their bodies.

The cries of agony and sobbing filled the ground.

These ordinary people couldn't comprehend what they had done to deserve such torment. They believed they were suffering a divine punishment, yet they didn't understand why it had fallen upon them.

The cries pierced Xiao Mu's ears, causing him great pain. He felt compassion for them but didn't immediately intervene, realizing that even if he wished to rescue them, he couldn't save so many.

Resolving his heart, Xiao Mu continued flying toward the core area.

A day or two later, he finally arrived at a town.

Compared to the Eastern Desolation, the Blood Realm was unexpectedly a modern place, albeit its modernization level was low, merely in the Steam Age. Yet, having seen the desolate fields of the past, the sight still lit up Xiao Mu's eyes.

The Blood Realm was filled with buildings, albeit not tall, most only two or three stories, with none exceeding five stories, yet they delighted Xiao Mu nonetheless.

He aimed directly at the Blood Realm's center and descended.

Soon, he was standing outside the Domain Lord's Residence of the Blood Realm.

"Who goes there?"

Soon, a guard noticed Xiao Mu's presence, and two Divine Spirits quickly emerged, warily observing Xiao Mu.

Xiao Mu steadied himself, glanced briefly at the two, and immediately stated his purpose, "I am the Grand Elder of the Human Realm, commanded by Headquarters to inspect the Blood Realm. Where is your Domain Master? Take me to him at once."

"The Grand Elder?"

The two Divine Spirits, both lacking limbs, exchanged a look, and the man in black on the left approached cautiously, "Apologies, Grand Elder. There are several Grand Elders in Headquarters. May I know which one you are?"

"I am Xiao Mu."

Xiao Mu announced his name.

"Xiao Mu? So it's Grand Elder Xiao."

Upon hearing this, the two guards immediately beamed with joy, exchanged a glance, and warmly welcomed Xiao Mu, "Grand Elder Xiao, please come in."

Xiao Mu stepped inside, asking as he walked, "Is your Domain Master present?"

"The Domain Master just went out and will return shortly. Grand Elder Xiao, please wait inside the Domain Lord's Residence. I will notify the Domain Master to hasten his return." The guard in black spoke respectfully.

"Very well!"

Xiao Mu agreed and entered the Domain Lord's Residence.

The Domain Lord's Residence was quite empty at the moment, surprisingly without even a single servant. Xiao Mu found this curious but quickly understood.

The Blood Realm was heavily damaged, almost everyone injured, so it made sense for the Domain Lord's Residence to be devoid of attendants.

As Xiao Mu settled in to wait, one of the guards went to contact the Domain Master, while the other poured him a cup of tea, inviting him to rest before withdrawing.

Xiao Mu patiently waited.

However, it became apparent that the Domain Master was at a great distance, unable to return immediately, which puzzled Xiao Mu.

But fortunately, Xiao Mu was very patient and continued waiting and cultivating for over a day.

During this time, the two guards frequently entered to apologize to Xiao Mu, explaining that the Domain Master was far away and hurrying back, asking for his patience.

Xiao Mu was indifferent, understanding that the Blood Realm was vast. It had taken him a day or two to arrive from the edge, so it was entirely reasonable for the Domain Master to be unable to return within a day.

A day later, the Domain Master finally returned, his presence heralded by a blood cloud appearing over the Domain Lord's Residence.

Soon, a figure descended, and as he did, a voice rang out from atop the blood cloud, bright and clear.

He laughed aloud, "I heard Grand Elder Xiao has come to my Blood Realm. I, Zhao Pang, failed to welcome him from afar, and I beg Grand Elder Xiao's pardon."

"No need for such courtesy, haha. Domain Master Zhao, I've come visiting, both commanded by Headquarters to support the Blood Realm and to assess what assistance the Blood Realm needs, wherein I, Xiao, might offer some help."

With that, Xiao Mu stepped outside and soon saw Zhao Pang in the courtyard.

He was an average-sized man, appearing rather solid, seemingly in his early forties.

However, this man was spirited, with the power of a True God, at the late-stage True God Level.

Despite this, like the ordinary people of the Blood Realm, he was injured.

It was evident that the impact of the Black Stele bursting into the Blood Realm was even more severe than Xiao Mu had imagined, injuring even late-stage True Gods like Zhao Pang.

His entire left arm was severed.

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