Just before entering the forest, due to the inconvenience of movement, Logan Benson ordered the black hawk to fly away. This spirit bird was a mount bestowed upon disciples by the Six Extremes Spirit Dao Sect, and had already developed a rudimentary intelligence. Its eagle eyes were sharp, and upon witnessing its master's death, it became desperate.

"Even this feathered beast wants to die? Old man, I'll grant your wish."

The black hawk's strength was equivalent to that of a human at the sixth stage of Martial Refinement. Although the old man was seriously injured, he was not afraid. He raised his palm to meet the attack, clashing directly with the hawk's talons.

With a single blow, the black hawk let out a mournful cry. Both of its steel talons were completely broken, and the remaining force sent it flying over thirty feet away.

The old man spat out another mouthful of blood. The blood he had just forced down surged even more violently, and the massive wound on his right chest began bleeding profusely again.

Hidden in the shadows, Evelyn Benson's gaze focused on the old man's bleeding right chest. A faint trace of green in the blood, unnoticed by others, made him secretly rejoice.

"Black hawk, oh black hawk, you must hold on! Fight this old man a little longer—my life and reward all depend on you now."

Perhaps the black hawk truly sensed Evelyn Benson's hope. Despite its severe injuries, it fearlessly dove at the old man again, its beak like a blade, aiming straight for the old man's head. If it really struck, given the old man's current state, he would be crippled if not dead.

"Courting death!"

Spitting out three more mouthfuls of blood in succession, the old man mustered all his remaining strength, channeled it into his fist, and, just as the black hawk approached within ten feet, killed it with a single punch.

The series of battles had further aggravated the old man's injuries. If not for the medicinal effects of the "Rain-transforming Herb" still lingering, he would likely have collapsed already.

"While the medicine still lasts, I must quickly silence the boy who was struck by my 'Blood-burning Force'..." At this point, the old man had even abandoned the idea of taking Evelyn Benson away to interrogate him about the origin of his magical treasure.

But just as he took a step, his internal organs felt as if they were being squeezed by a giant hand, causing him to howl in pain.

"Poisoned!"

The old man abruptly stopped, silently circulating his internal energy, trying to expel the poison.

Ordinarily, with his "Body-refined-as-Dragon" strength, this would not be difficult. But in his current miserable state, gathering his internal energy yielded no progress at all.

Blood gushed from the wound on his right chest, and the old man finally noticed the increasingly distinct trace of green in his blood.

Hiding nearby, Evelyn Benson continued to hold his breath and remain calm. Everything was unfolding according to his plan, and only the final step remained for complete success. He did not want to fail at such a critical moment.

"Green Soul Grass—the deadliest poison within a hundred miles. Once ground into powder, it's colorless and tasteless. At first, nothing seems amiss after ingestion, but once the blood surges, the poison is released, and within half an hour, the victim will bleed to death..."

It turned out that when he took out the "Rain-transforming Herb," Evelyn Benson had already coated it with a layer of Green Soul Grass powder. This was his greatest trump card, giving him the courage to risk everything.

According to the fragmentary family medical manual, once this poison is released, even a master at the eighth stage of Martial Refinement—"Unmatched Divine Strength"—cannot escape death. Only a master at the ninth stage—"Body-refined-as-Dragon"—can use the unique "Primordial Unity" technique of that realm to expel the poison.

Of course, performing the Primordial Unity technique is no easy feat. The old man had suffered repeated injuries and was already at the brink of exhaustion. In his current state, his chances of successfully using the technique were at best fifty-fifty.

And Evelyn Benson was betting on that fifty-fifty chance...

……

That night, in Evelyn Benson's small hut, a deep, mysterious blue radiance blossomed in his palm.

His gaze fixed on the hexagonal crystal in his hand, Evelyn Benson couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

"After all I've paid, this heaven-sent treasure has finally fallen into my hands, but I have absolutely no idea how to use it..."

It turned out that in the battle in the forest, Evelyn Benson became the final victor. The gray-robed old man, mortally wounded, died from the poison, and Logan Benson, who had been killed by his hand, were both buried in the woods.

As he pondered, a sudden sensation of burning flames erupted within his body, bringing boundless pain. Even someone as tough as Evelyn Benson couldn't help but cry out in agony.

"Damn, the 'Blood-burning Force' that old bastard planted in me is acting up again. If this continues, will I really die within three days as he said?"

The pain was so intense that Evelyn Benson's muscles tensed uncontrollably, and he clenched his fists tightly. With such force, the edges of the crystal in his palm pierced his skin, causing blood to stream down his hands.

The "Blood-burning Force" the old man had planted in Evelyn Benson was exceptionally vicious. This technique was a form of torture used for extracting confessions. If not resolved, death within three days was certain.

Moreover, during this period, it would flare up once every hour. Each time, the raging fire energy would burn blood and bones, corroding muscles and veins. Nine out of ten people could not endure three days and would commit suicide to escape the torment.

At this moment, as the "Blood-burning Force" erupted, Evelyn Benson was already writhing on the ground in pain, his mind blank, his consciousness gradually fading as he slipped into unconsciousness.

Clutched in his palm, the blue hexagonal crystal, now stained with blood, suddenly emitted a light far deeper and more mysterious than before. Fortunately, Evelyn Benson was cautious and had stuffed the cracks of his hut's doors and windows with cloth in advance, so the radiance did not leak out. Otherwise, such a spectacle would surely have been discovered by others.

Chapter Six: A Heaven-sent Fortune