Until the trigger was pulled, all of Qianye’s movements and reactions stemmed from his battle-honed instincts, leaving almost no time for thought.
Only as the bullet left the barrel did he suddenly realize that the last round fired from the Twin Blossom revolver was the very “bullet” cherished and entrusted to him by the “master.” He hadn’t even imbued it with Origin Power!
A slight sense of embarrassment flickered in Qianye’s heart; such a mistake was unforgivable for a seasoned veteran. Yet, could that blank shell truly be discharged?
He paid no heed to the effect of that final shot. An unfilled Origin Power projectile was merely a metal slug, and without the ignition medium, striking the Blood Noble Viscount would be like tossing a pebble.
Despite the Twin Blossoms’ barrage, none had dealt a significant injury. Zarron merely maintained a simple Blood Shield defense, showing no intention of dodging and focusing solely on neutralizing the blood poison within him. Clearly, the Viscount did not believe a mere level-four Origin Power pistol could breach his defenses.
Qianye himself held no hope for the Twin Blossoms’ destructive power. His intent was merely to deliver more tainted blood into Zarron’s body. The outcome now rested on the struggle between the conflicting blood forces.
Though myriad thoughts raced through Qianye’s mind, his body moved with the speed of lightning. The instant the trigger was fully depressed, he leapt from the ground, bounding towards the chosen escape route.
But mid-leap, an unusual whistling filled his ears, obscuring all other sounds. A surge of immense energy rose behind him, though not directed at him.
Turning, Qianye saw something utterly unexpected.
The “bullet,” halfway through its flight, gleamed brilliantly. Its intricate patterns emitted dazzling light, breaking apart into irregular rings that peeled off layer by layer from the projectile.
These glowing rings, shimmering like starlight, seemed to faintly reveal a pattern with each pulse, much like a micro-Origin Power array. Each ring’s detachment appeared to accelerate the bullet further.
In such a short distance, hundreds of these rings detached, revealing a silver core several centimeters long at the center.
The core’s luminosity was extraordinary, visible even amidst the unextinguished Origin Power glow. The material’s luster was unmistakably that of high-purity mithril, also covered in engravings, possibly some unknown Origin Power array.
Now in full flight, the core’s sharp edge howled, hurtling forward with unstoppable force. If not for the fine radiance, one might have mistaken it for an Origin Cannon shell due to the intense Origin Power fluctuation.
Zarron, caught unawares, looked up, but there was no time or distance for his Blood Shield to intervene, and the bullet pierced right through him!
Stunned, Qianye nearly forgot to keep running after landing. The severely wounded Blood Noble Viscount was a great temptation. The risk of grave injury seemed worthwhile if it meant slaying him.
However, Qianye resisted the tempting notion. Recent encounters with Dark Generals taught him that even a gravely wounded general could take him down to the depths.
Furthermore, he aimed to inject tainted blood using the Twin Blossoms, prioritizing the firing rate and hitting the Viscount, without specific targeting. The final shot followed suit. Judging from the hit, the mithril core just grazed the heart, a non-fatal wound for a robust upper-tier Blood.
Qianye hastened, scaling the ridge and disappearing among the peaks.
In pain, Zarron roared as the surrounding blood energy churned, engulfing him. Looking down at the wound, he saw flesh charred by mithril, organs steaming, and struggling against the invasion. Black tendrils like vines emerged, signs of Qianye’s blood poison.
Zarron retrieved a small black crystal vial, unscrewing the cap with trembling hands. Inside was a drop of blood, constantly rolling as if searching for an exit.
Bringing the vial to the wound, the drop leaped out, merging instantly into his flesh. Zarron let out another agonized cry, collapsing to the ground, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.
But the rapidly decaying flesh halted, and soon, the mithril-corrupted tissue began to slough off, revealing pink, new growth. Black blood seeped from his skin, expelling Qianye’s poison.
This was a drop of pure-source blood from a powerful Baron, bestowed upon Zarron for his past deeds. Used on a human, it could create a Blood Knight, and for lower or mixed-bloods, it significantly improved their lineage. For Zarron, it was a life-saving elixir, capable of healing any non-fatal wound.
Unlike the essence blood used for initial turning or creating thralls, a single drop of this pure-source blood took decades to condense, even for a strong Baron.
As Zarron rose, his once handsome face was now twisted, glaring fiercely in Qianye’s direction. “I will catch you and make you understand what true hell is!”
His voice echoed across the mountains.
Racing, Qianye heard Zarron’s roar, shuddering inwardly. He hadn’t expected the Viscount to recover so quickly from such a grievous wound. The Thirteen Clans’ Dark Generals were indeed formidable.
Qianye sped up, realizing his assumed day of respite was now reduced to mere minutes, leaving no time to cover his tracks. The chase lasted another day and night, gradually closing the gap, albeit slowly.
Surprised by Qianye’s endurance, Zarron was more determined than ever. Despite the peculiar Dawn Attribute Origin Bullet, the invading blood poison confirmed his suspicions. Such a foe, whose bloodline strength matched his, needed to be eliminated before they matured.
Moreover, Zarron’s loss was significant. Replacing the pure-source blood was uncertain, and the time spent chasing meant the mission’s failure would incur severe punishment.
Only by draining Qianye’s blood could he sate his rage.
Climbing a peak, Zarron saw the faint figure vanish again, laughing bitterly, “Fleeing to human territory? Do you think those cattle can save you, blood-tainted scum?”
Ahead, Qianye sprinted, mostly in a straight line, rarely hindered by the terrain. Occasionally, he utilized unique features for temporary advantage.
Yet, the blood from the Blood Knight was nearly depleted, leaving only his own Dawn Power and blood energy. The sole benefit was that his recently enhanced legs, under such prolonged exertion, had stabilized and slightly grown in strength.
Another day passed, spanning over a thousand kilometers. The Zhao domain lay just beyond the mountains. Both had slowed, closing to within a couple kilometers, with little change for a while.
Qianye, however, felt the weight of fatigue. He doubted he could reach the edge of the mountains. Exhausted, he moved mechanically, yet focused, scanning the terrain for a plan.
Over the ridge, a long, gentle slope stretched to the valley below.
Bounding down, he tumbled to the bottom, then sprang up, preparing for one last burst to dash through the valley. Perhaps the topography would briefly hide him from the Viscount. If the far side offered suitable terrain, he might gain a small advantage.
The valley seemed serene, but Qianye’s mind was fixated on the far end, planning his next move.
Suddenly, Qianye halted!
A breathtaking vista unfolded: lush greenery on the slopes, a carpet of grass in the valley, dotted with wildflowers. A mountain stream cascaded down, winding into a crystal-clear river where tiny fish darted about.
At the heart of this scene was a girl.
With raven hair and an ethereal aura, she seemed like an elf, kneeling by the stream, holding her dress, her delicate fingers caressing the water. Her translucent skin beckoned the fish to play around her fingers.
Though loving the creatures, a faint sorrow lingered on her brows, unshakable.
This picturesque scene struck Qianye, leaving him momentarily dazed.
Sensing his gaze, the girl looked up, her clear eyes reflecting Qianye’s image.
In that instant, they recognized each other.
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