The Rat Cultivator

Chapter 139: Blood Water Pool

The Blood Water Pool was no ordinary Magical Artifact. Even in its infancy, it displayed characteristics that defied categorization.

Although it was technically only a High-Grade Magical Artifact, its spirituality had already condensed into a tangible form, transcending the limits of its grade. The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Rhyme it had absorbed during the ritual, combined with the innate spirit patterns seized from the Mosquito Mother, acted like the final brushstroke that brings a painted dragon to life.

It was filled with limitless potential.

It could evolve. As long as Wu Yuan fed it sufficient refined materials, it would continuously advance. Given its current foundation, reaching the level of a Second-Grade Dharma Treasure was inevitable—a feat that even Foundation Establishment cultivators would kill for. With enough Fated Chance, it might even evolve into a Third-Grade treasure.

And Fated Chance was the one thing Wu Yuan never worried about.

However, perfection was impossible. The artifact had a glaring flaw: its material foundation was weak.

Due to limited resources, Wu Yuan had been forced to use Purple Jade Marrow and Spirit Copper—Middle-Grade ores at best. These materials were sufficient for a standard artifact, but they struggled to support the terrifying weight of the Blood Water Pool’s high-grade spirituality. It was like building a skyscraper on a foundation of mud bricks.

But none of this diminished its raw power.

Wu Yuan held the artifact in his claws, his eyes burning with admiration. He caressed its surface for a long time before reluctantly putting it away.

Calming his excitement, he raised his head to the void.

“Lord Xiaoqing, you helped me just now, didn’t you?”

It wasn’t really a question.

“Especially that golden spirit pattern drawn from the earth at the very end… that wasn’t my hallucination, was it?”

After a long silence, the voice of the Azure Radiance Grotto-Heaven echoed in his mind, heavy with exhaustion and reproach.

“You are far too reckless.”

“You were walking a tightrope over an abyss. The formation arrangement, the Heaven and Earth Killing Intent, the Mosquito Mother’s resurrection egg, the forging ritual… any single misstep would have meant death.”

“To clean up your mess,” the Spirit sighed, “I nearly exhausted all the Grotto-Heaven Power I’ve accumulated over the years. As for the golden pattern… don’t concern yourself with it.”

Hearing the Spirit’s scolding, Wu Yuan gave an embarrassed, placating laugh.

“Lord Xiaoqing, don’t be angry! Didn’t it succeed?”

“Look at this power! With this artifact, we don’t have to fear the methods of those outsider demons anymore. Our grand plan can be executed much faster!”

The Azure Radiance Grotto-Heaven snorted coldly. “It’s good that you still remember there’s a plan. What is your next move?”

Wu Yuan’s expression instantly hardened.

“Next, we attack Polong Lake.”

“As long as we occupy that territory, we control nearly one-third of the western Azure Spirit Mountain Range. Once that foothold is secure, I won’t fear a coalition of the other demon races.”

The Grotto-Heaven Spirit paused, its tone shifting to worry. “You need to hurry and improve your cultivation. The other demons are advancing rapidly. If the gap becomes too large, no amount of scheming will save you.”

Wu Yuan nodded confidently, patting the artifact at his side. “With the Blood Water Pool, cultivation speed won’t be a problem.”

The Spirit hesitated for a moment, then spoke with unprecedented seriousness.

“Wu Yuan. If you succeed—if you kill the usurpers and clear the mountain range—regardless of whether I can escape my seal, I will give you a chance to inherit the Legacy sealed within the Azure Radiance Grotto-Heaven.”

“I cannot give it to you directly,” the Spirit warned, “but I can open the door. This is the accumulated knowledge of my Master, spanning tens of thousands of years.”

The voice faded into silence.

Wu Yuan stood rooted to the spot, his heart thumping wildly against his ribs.

Legacy. A true inheritance from the ancient era.

For a split second, the temptation to immediately march his army into a suicidal war almost overwhelmed him. But Wu Yuan quickly calmed down.

Steady. One step at a time.

With the Karma Pearl, I won’t lack legacies in the future. But I’d be a fool to let this one slip by.

A sly smile curled the corner of his mouth.

Lord Xiaoqing is probably still wondering how I found that resurrection egg. Good. Let him wonder. Let him believe in my ‘mysterious methods.’

“Legacy, Grotto-Heaven, Rat Horde…” Wu Yuan whispered, his claws clenching until they cracked. “I want them all.”

He turned to his loyal rat commanders.

“Level this place,” he ordered coldly. “Use Earth spells to plow the land three feet deep. Leave no corpse, no bone, no drop of blood.”

“Dismantle the formation thoroughly. And before you leave, have every rat relieve themselves on the site. Wash away the traces with filth. Leave nothing for the diviners to find.”

An open clearing near Little Green Mountain.

Little Wolf wagged his tail, his eyes sparkling with curiosity as he nudged the Winged Tiger.

“What do you think the Great King called us here for?” the Wolf King asked, practically vibrating with excitement. “Maybe he’s distributing Spirit Plants again! I feel like something good happened!”

The Winged Tiger frowned, his whiskers twitching nervously. He looked at the naive dog beside him with pity.

“How should I know?” the Tiger snapped, flicking his tail irritably. “We’ll know when he gets here. And stop grinning, you look like an idiot.”

A sense of foreboding rose in the Tiger’s heart. Something bad is coming.

Just then, Wu Yuan strode out from the treeline, beaming.

“I have a new Magical Artifact!” Wu Yuan announced, his voice booming with anticipation. “I’d like to ask for your help in testing its power.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Wolf King and the Winged Tiger.

“But… it was just refined, so it might be slightly—just a tiny bit—dangerous.”

Little Wolf’s eyes lit up. He darted forward, chest puffed out. “Great King! Unleash it! My body is iron! I can withstand anything!”

The Winged Tiger wailed internally. Don’t drag me into this!

Looking at Wu Yuan’s overly satisfied expression, the Tiger knew this “test” was going to hurt. But when Wu Yuan’s gaze landed on him, the Tiger forced a brilliant, confident smile.

“That’s right, Great King! Unleash it without restraint! We are ready to serve!”

Wu Yuan nodded with satisfaction, a hint of a sadistic smile playing on his lips.

“Don’t worry. It won’t kill you.”

“Are you ready?”