Are you surprised and shocked to see me here?

Chen Xiang did not act immediately either, instead finding a secluded spot to hide.

The female cultivator, looking nervous, ascended to the second floor and entered a bedroom.

Chen Xiang followed her in, and there he beheld the old friend he had been longing for day and night.

Luo Tianming was in a truly wretched state now. He lay upon the bed, his body writhing and tossing about erratically like an insect.

His once-handsome features were now somewhat sunken, his complexion deathly pale. His eyes flickered between pitch black and blood red, and he struggled to emit miserable shrieks.

Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be enduring the agony of ten thousand insects gnawing at his bones.

Had it not been for the soundproofing barrier placed around the room, his cries would likely have been heard outside the attic.

"Tsk tsk, I knew it back then. To suddenly skyrocket from the second layer of Spirit Transformation... oh wait, the fifth layer of Spirit Transformation straight to the peak of Spirit Transformation—the backlash from such a secret technique must feel simply wonderful!" Chen Xiang thought to himself.

Seeing Luo Tianming in this state served as a warning to him: if he ever used such secret arts in the future, he must exercise caution, for this kind of pain was not something one could simply endure and brush off.

Now that he had found his target, Chen Xiang prepared to grant him a quick release. If you do not eradicate the roots, the spring breeze will cause them to grow back! If he didn't strike now, when would he?

Just as Chen Xiang was about to reveal his form, Luo Tianming caught sight of the female cultivator.

Without hesitation, Luo Tianming lunged at the female cultivator like a madman, knocking her down to the floor.

The female cultivator struggled slightly at first, but offered no further resistance, closing her eyes as if resigning herself to her fate.

Luo Tianming forced the female cultivator to sit on the floor, summoning strength from unknown sources to tear her Dharma robes into tattered shreds, exposing a vast expanse of fair skin.

Her body was already marked with various large and small bite marks.

With practiced familiarity, Luo Tianming lunged at the female cultivator's shoulder and bit down. The female cultivator let out a muffled groan as her shoulder was punctured, and bright red blood began to flow.

Luo Tianming eagerly and deeply drank the fragrant liquid in his mouth. The blood-red hue in his eyes faded slightly, and the agonizing pain in his bones subsided considerably.

The female cultivator, meanwhile, flushed deeply, panting heavily and sensually as if she derived pleasure from the bite.

Chen Xiang watched the spectacle from the side with his jaw completely dropped.

What the hell, are you a human or a vampire?

What kind of ungodly operation is this?

He had merely come to commit a murder, only to receive a complimentary live-action adult drama.

"Sigh, what the heck, this brat is living a pretty good life. I only ever kissed Qin'er and touched Li Hanwei's breasts, and you've already started drinking blood?" Chen Xiang thought with intense reluctance.

After drinking the blood, Luo Tianming temporarily regained his sanity.

He stood up, sat down on the edge of the bed, and without uttering a word, patted the space beside him with practiced ease.

Having lost blood, the female cultivator's complexion was somewhat pale, yet she did not dare to defy Luo Tianming's will and sat down beside him.

Luo Tianming licked his lips, discarding his previous effortless demeanor, and chuckled lewdly: "You've worked hard these past few days, my good Yuping."

With those words, his hands began to wander all over the female cultivator's body.

The female cultivator's expression tightened. She instinctively shifted backward by a short distance and asked in terror, "Luo... Elder Luo, didn't you promise you only needed my blood?"

Luo Tianming nodded, his expression calm and devoid of anger, and said placidly: "Earlier, I said I needed your offerings of blood, which is why I have treated you well within the sect. However, the cultivation technique I practice differs from yours. I practice the Dao-Union Technique. Since you are already at the eighth layer of Core Formation, if you engage in dual cultivation with me, you will undoubtedly break through to the Nascent Soul stage within three years! Think carefully about this."

"Nascent Soul..." The woman's breath hitched. Though her talent was decent and reaching the Nascent Soul stage was certainly within reach, she had no idea how long that would take. But the chance to break through to Nascent Soul within three years—such an opportunity...

The woman clenched her teeth tightly, her expression clearly torn in internal struggle.

Luo Tianming's throat felt dry. He licked his lips and said, "Never mind, consider this matter after you return. For now, give me a bit more blood!"

With that, he pulled the female cultivator toward him, aiming directly for her neck to bite down again.

Yet at that very moment, he felt as though his head had been paralyzed by some mysterious force, completely unable to move downward.

"We can talk about sucking blood later. It's been a long time since we last met, let's have a cup of tea first!" Chen Xiang's voice rang beside his ear.

Hearing this voice, Luo Tianming's pupils constricted, and a look of sheer terror surfaced on his face.

For this voice was one he could never forget in his lifetime!

Chen Xiang's figure materialized before the two of them.

The woman turned pale with fright and opened her mouth to scream, but with a casual wave of Chen Xiang's hand, she slumped into unconsciousness.

"It's you!" Upon seeing Chen Xiang, Luo Tianming's eyes split with rage, though terror outweighed all else.

"It's me. Well? Are you surprised and delighted to see me here?" Chen Xiang asked with a mocking smirk.

Surprised my ass! Delighted my foot!

Luo Tianming simply could not fathom why Chen Xiang had appeared here. One had to know that the defenses here were heavily guarded, and both his grandfather and father resided in the First Pavilion and Third Pavilion respectively. One was at the Great Completion of Spirit Transformation, and the other at the sixth layer of Spirit Transformation—how could neither of them have detected his presence?

"You... don't act rashly. My father and grandfather are both right here. If you kill me, you won't survive either!" Luo Tianming shrank back a short distance with a tense expression, issuing a heavy warning.

"Mm, I know that. But I don't plan on having tea with them just yet; I'd like to invite you to have a cup first," Chen Xiang replied with a natural nod.

Luo Tianming had merely issued a warning and dared not say much more, for he well knew that Chen Xiang possessed a talisman capable of instantaneous escape—back then, it was precisely because he lowered his guard that Chen Xiang had managed to escape.

And at that time, he had been at the peak of Spirit Transformation!

Furthermore, he had set up a soundproofing barrier in this room because of his own private affairs and the excessive noise; if he were to shout now, no one outside would hear a thing.

"N... no need, Brother Chu, I'm not thirsty. You should go find someone else," Luo Tianming pondered for a moment, his complexion shifting slightly as he said nervously.

"Hehe, very well then. I suppose I could just take your head and go have tea with your grandfather or your father instead," Chen Xiang suddenly flashed a row of white teeth and said.

Hearing this, Luo Tianming's expression tightened, and he immediately cried out, "No, please don't! Don't kill me! It was my fault that day, I shouldn't have attacked you. Compensation! Yes, compensation! Whatever you want, I'll give it to you!"

Luo Tianming understood all too well that he currently lacked the strength to truss a chicken; even a Core Formation cultivator could easily finish him off. And knowing Chen Xiang's formidable strength, escape was out of the question. His only option was to use material enticements to buy time and figure out a way out.

Yet Chen Xiang remained entirely unmoved by these offers, sneering coldly: "If I kill you, everything you own becomes mine anyway. Why would I need compensation?"

As he spoke, Chen Xiang drew forth the Coiled Dragon Staff.

Luo Tianming's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly shouted, "Brother Chu, wait! I'll give you everything I have! What's more, the daughter of the Xiao family in Liuxin City possesses the Ice Phoenix Physique—she is a supreme cauldron vessel! I will gift her to you as well. With her, your breakthrough to Spirit Transformation will be guaranteed, and even the Deity Transformation stage will be within your grasp!"

Chen Xiang paused upon hearing this.

Seeing Chen Xiang halt, Luo Tianming let out a long breath of relief and prepared to continue his persuasion.

However, Chen Xiang spoke first, asking: "Is the daughter of the Xiao family you're talking about named Xiao Lin?"

Luo Tianming froze, blurting out, "How do you kn—"

Bang!