Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 948 - 477:

The Blood Pool continued to bubble, forming a thin layer of blood-colored mist, hanging over the surface and lingering.

The two "eyeballs" composed of condensed plasma suddenly turned, their scarlet gaze penetrating the mist and locking onto the silhouette suddenly appearing on the altar.

"Who are you? How did you get here?"

The sound emanating from the blood swayed slightly, hoarse and rough, as if something were stuck in the throat.

At that moment, Xuan Zhen’s consciousness swiftly scanned the surroundings of the grotto.

The ground was strewn with the corpses of villagers, lying in chaotic disorder, bearing no signs of combat, yet entirely devoid of breath.

Clearly, during the recent blood ritual ceremony, they suffered substantial backlash, leading to such a dreadful end.

Beside the altar, the man wearing black-framed glasses lowered his head, gazing at the eerie human face within the Blood Pool.

"You may not recognize my appearance, but surely you recognize the aura surrounding me, don’t you?"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Zhen hesitated for a moment, confusion in his gaze before blurting out:

"You are... Ye Zhiran?! You’re still alive!"

The expression on the face that was formed by coagulated blood was extraordinarily colorful, filled with shock, disbelief, and an inexplicable panic.

The true name revealed "Professor"—Ye Zhiran, rendering a slight mocking smile on his scholar-like face.

"Thanks to you, it’s been seventeen years, and this ’traitor’ is still alive and kicking."

"How could you possibly find this place?!"

Xuan Zhen’s voice instantly elevated, causing the human face on the surface of the Blood Pool to tremble violently, sending waves across the pool.

His heart was shocked, nearly accepting the reality before him.

This place, "Myriad Soul Mother Gu Pool", has never been disclosed to outsiders.

Even amongst the core members of the Ideal Land, only a handful know its general location, let alone the precise spatial coordinates.

This was his ultimate trump card for survival!

Within the organization, Xuan Zhen was never known for direct confrontation.

He excelled at using various occult tricks, remote controlling consciousness, manipulating hearts, coming and going like a shadow, leaving enemies in a state of fear and vigilance.

What allowed him to act so recklessly, ignoring noble families and the Special Search Team, committing numerous grave offenses while still managing to remain free.

Was precisely this "Myriad Soul Mother Gu Pool".

Over a hundred years, Xuan Zhen encountered countless powerful foes and was crushed multiple times.

Yet, he could always escape danger, even if his physical form was destroyed, he could return in no time.

Thus acquiring the terrifying title of "Undying Blood Demon" among the mutant circles, his fearsome reputation exceeding even that of several leaders of the organization.

Now, his most hidden trump card was discovered.

He felt as if stripped naked, exposed under the Hunter’s gun.

The suffocating fear almost hindering his thought process.

Ye Zhiran didn’t answer his question, merely observing coldly the distorted face within the Blood Pool.

Xuan Zhen also stared at Ye Zhiran for a while, as the alarm and suspicion in the blood-colored eyes gradually calmed down, regaining some composure.

He snorted, attempting nonchalance:

"Seems like you’ve made some progress in strength over these years."

Ye Zhiran replied indifferently:

"Indeed, after all these years, whether in strength or intellect, even a pig should have made some progress."

"Heh..."

Xuan Zhen let out a dry laugh:

"You underwent cosmetic surgery, I assume to avoid the organization and government’s pursuit of your identity."

"If so, why travel thousands of miles to this wilderness to meddle in muddy waters, inviting trouble that shouldn’t be invited?"

"Xuan Zhen."

Ye Zhiran suddenly interrupted him, questioning:

"Do you still remember what you told me seventeen years ago?"

Xuan Zhen was startled by this, confused.

Ye Zhiran then slowly spoke:

"You said, to live a ruthless life, otherwise others won’t fear you, be ruthless enough, and even the biggest troubles would avoid you."

His voice was chillingly calm, as if narrating a story unrelated to himself.

After a pause, he raised his head, the look behind the lenses revealing a cold sharpness, curving his lips slightly:

"I’m here now to prove to you, I’ve learned."

Xuan Zhen’s blood-colored pupils slightly contracted:

"You’re still seeking revenge for what happened seventeen years ago?"

"You guessed right."

Ye Zhiran’s response was simple yet firm.

"Just you?"

Xuan Zhen sneeringly dismisses, full of contempt:

"Back then you were just a kid running errands behind me, even if your strength has grown entering S-Class, what of it?"

"Ideal Land has gathered the world’s top mutant experts, in the outside world, S-Class seems unattainable, but here, it’s not even ranked!"

"To challenge the entire organization alone is nothing but a fool’s dream, like a mantis trying to stop a cart!"

His voice gradually carried a trace of malice:

"And that master’s strength, you’ve seen it before."

"Do you think that near-divine power can be defeated by someone like you?"

"I am indeed not a match for that master."

Ye Zhiran openly admitted, then swiftly shifted:

"But dealing with a ghost like you, who has lost physical form, I still have some confidence."

"Haha, you think losing my physical form greatly diminishes my strength?"

Xuan Zhen seemed to hear the funniest joke in the world, causing the Blood Pool to churn endlessly.

"I am a Spiritual Ability User! My methods, my Secret Techniques, do not rely on physical form!"