Yun Fan was wary of everything around him, yet at this moment, he still felt no sign of any living being.
Just then, a blood mist rose, and from within it, a blood-red figure condensed.
The blood figure sneered at Yun Fan, "I never expected anyone to embark on the path to the universe at this time. It seems I can feast tonight!"
"A non-existent being?"
Yun Fan looked at him with confusion.
"Precisely! I both exist and do not exist. I am immortal, and your attacks are useless against me!"
He said playfully to Yun Fan, "Why not give up your resistance? I'll grant you a swift end!"
It had to be said, his words were incredibly arrogant and annoying, but he did possess the capital for it.
Yun Fan then asked, "Then how did they pass?"
Hearing this, the blood figure chuckled sinisterly, "Dream on if you think you can pass. When there are many people, you might stand a chance. But when there are few, I miss no one, especially when it's just you. If you can pass, I'll kneel and sing 'Conquer' for you!"
He smiled triumphantly, wondering what Yun Fan was thinking. Even now, he was still concerned about passing.
Did he really take him for a decoration? He wasn't a life form, but a curse. And as a curse, any attack would be ineffective against him.
Therefore, even if he wasn't strong, he could still outlast Yun Fan. After all, he was just one person, and the blood figure didn't take him seriously.
"Blood Curse!"
Yun Fan said, "It seems ordinary means won't kill you!"
Hearing this, the Blood Curse replied, "No means can kill me. I am invincible. Are you ready to face death?"
However, as soon as he finished speaking, a devouring force materialized in Yun Fan's hand.
"I wonder if this method will work on you?"
Upon seeing Yun Fan's Heaven-Smiting Power, the Blood Curse immediately knelt on the spot, "Master, I've knelt before you!"
"Uh..."
This sudden kneeling caught even Yun Fan off guard.
"Didn't you say no means could deal with you?"
Yun Fan asked, bewildered.
The Blood Curse said servilely, "Heaven-Smiting Devour doesn't count as 'any means.' After all, that thing isn't from this universe!"
"So, can you sing 'Conquer' now?"
Yun Fan retorted.
The Blood Curse surrendered. He had guarded this first pass, becoming a curse within the city, having devoured countless beings and symbolizing invincibility.
But he was conquered ten thousand years ago by the third strongest individual wearing a mask. He was nearly devoured; indeed, that devouring power was too monstrous.
It could even devour him, a mere phantom curse.
In the end, it was only by threatening that he would be the first to be destroyed, preventing others from passing, that the third strongest individual gave up on devouring him.
Unexpectedly, ten thousand years later, another monstrous existence had appeared. He didn't know what to say.
He should have let him pass earlier.
At this, he resorted to his old trick, threatening Yun Fan, "I'll let you pass. Don't devour me, or future generations won't be able to pass!"
Yun Fan heard this and directly replied, "What do future generations have to do with me! By devouring you, I'll become stronger!"
The next moment, Yun Fan's devouring power enveloped him. The Blood Curse's expression changed, not expecting Yun Fan to fall for such a trick.
This was utterly shameless. Helpless, he could only start singing 'Conquer.'
"Master, can you leave now?"
He desperately wanted Yun Fan to leave immediately. Other visitors to this place were eager to leave, and he was also eager to leave.
But Yun Fan was like a plague god. He desperately wanted to send Yun Fan away, yet Yun Fan showed no intention of leaving.
"You've devoured so many prodigies. You must have gathered a lot of their spirit materials and treasures! They aren't of much use to you anyway. Why not sponsor me? I'll be grateful!"
As soon as he said this, the Blood Curse completely broke down. He had met shameless people before, but never someone as shameless as Yun Fan.
Even he never imagined that he, a notoriously fearsome curse, would one day be robbed.
This guy was utterly shameless. Compared to the one ten thousand years ago, who had high moral standards, this one had completely shattered his integrity.
"Nothing!"
He refused to compromise, thinking that Yun Fan would leave if he got nothing. But he had already suffered, hadn't he? He had even knelt and sung 'Conquer' for Yun Fan. It had to be said, even his bottom line was gone.
At this, Yun Fan said, "They say there are many opportunities on the path to the universe. Don't be stingy, lest it be bad for everyone, right?"
As soon as he said this, the Blood Curse almost choked to death. He had never heard of anyone getting benefits from the first pass.
Did this guy have any shame? To want benefits from the very first pass, why didn't he just aim for the sky?
Unexpectedly, at this very moment, Yun Fan's devouring power once again enveloped him. The Blood Curse began to compromise.
He directly produced these spirit materials and treasures and offered them to Yun Fan. Originally, he had intended to keep these spirit materials and treasures, hoping to become a true living being one day. He never expected to be plundered clean by Yun Fan, a bandit.
"Just this little?"
Yun Fan angrily cursed, "Are you sending me scraps for beggars?"
Helpless, the Blood Curse brought out all his savings, leaving him so poor he didn't even have a grain of rice before Yun Fan would let him go.
Then, Yun Fan directly crossed the first pass.
"So smooth. It seems the so-called path to the universe isn't that difficult?"
Yun Fan strode away, but the Blood Curse cursed Yun Fan's ancestors for eighteen generations.
"If you didn't have that devouring power, let's see!"
However, Yun Fan was destined not to hear him.
Before entering the second pass, he refined these spirit materials and treasures. Although the improvement wasn't significant, because of the sheer quantity,
he directly broke through to the fifth realm of Immortal Emperor.
When he arrived at the second pass, there were still no people. Yun Fan knew that it was already a year late. Even if there were prodigies, they would likely be after the fourth or fifth pass.
Therefore, he directly entered the second pass.
This pass was not as bizarre as the first, but the difficulty was still considerable, as he had to face a powerful clan guarding the path to the universe.
To call them a powerful clan might be an overstatement; they were more like bandits.
This powerful clan had an agreement with the Lord of the Universe: they could kill any prodigy who arrived there and seize their treasures and belongings.
Yun Fan, of course, wasn't afraid of this powerful clan, as according to the information he had obtained and his own senses, the strongest among them was only at the fourth realm of Immortal Emperor.
One realm weaker than him, so the second pass was considered secure.
Just then, Yun Fan arrived at the grand hall of this powerful clan. To pass the second pass, he had to obtain the clan's pass document.
Generally speaking, although this powerful clan had the right to life and death, they wouldn't kill easily. After all, any prodigy who arrived, as long as they were prepared to offer enough spirit materials and treasures, would be spared and given a pass document.
This was more profitable than killing. After all, with so many prodigies arriving, if they truly started killing, not to mention whether they could finish them all, if these prodigies ganged up against them, they wouldn't be able to withstand it.
Just then, the clan leader emerged and said to Yun Fan, "Young man, you've fallen too far behind. Those prodigies left here a year ago!"
"It's alright, I will catch up to them, and surpass them!"
Yun Fan said confidently.
The clan leader didn't take Yun Fan's words to heart. Yun Fan had concealed his realm, and in his eyes, Yun Fan was just an insignificant ant.
At this, Yun Fan asked, "If I offer the agreed-upon spirit materials and treasures, can I pass smoothly?"
"That's right!"
He said to Yun Fan, "For the price of ten thousand catties of spirit material or a treasure of equivalent value, you can leave!"
Opting for a peaceful resolution, Yun Fan intended to offer spirit materials.
But at this moment, the clan leader raised the price, "That was the price from a year ago. It has increased now!"
"Increased by how much?"
Yun Fan asked, confused. He wanted to be righteous, but fate compelled him to be a rogue. What could he do?
The clan leader then made an exorbitant demand, "One hundred thousand catties!"
"Holy crap!"
Yun Fan exclaimed, "Isn't this price too steep?"
"There's no other way. This is the current price. If you don't pay, not only will I not give you a pass document, but I will also take your life!"
After all, he had the same calculation as the Blood Curse before him: take advantage of Yun Fan being alone to extort him severely.
Yun Fan also saw through it; this was a case of profiting from someone's misfortune. Yun Fan was extremely angry at this moment.
"Clan leader, this is a long-term business. Are you planning to kill it in one blow now!"
The clan leader smiled slyly, "There's no other way. The path to the universe only opens once every few thousand years. If we don't gather more spirit materials now, what will my clan do in the future? We're poor, after all!"
As soon as he said this, Yun Fan said directly, "I completely understand your feelings!"
"Then quickly hand over the spirit materials! Let's not waste everyone's time!"
The clan leader pressed Yun Fan aggressively.
"I don't have any!"
"You're seeking death!"
The clan leader and his subordinates were about to make a move, but Yun Fan said, "While I don't have spirit materials, I have a great treasure!"
"What treasure?"
The clan leader looked at Yun Fan with greedy eyes.
The next moment, "It's this!"
Upon seeing this great treasure, the clan leader and his subordinates' expressions changed drastically.