Chapter 25: The Scarlet Flow Mastery
The inn room was a sanctuary of focus, its wooden walls adorned with faint qi etchings, the air thick with the scent of herbs and the faint ozone of Lin Xuan's recent crafting. The morning light filtered through the window, casting golden streaks across the floor where he sat cross-legged, the silver-blue flame dancing before him. His crimson eyes glowed as he mastered the Scarlet Flow Phase of the Crimson Blood Crystallization Art, his blood growing denser, a crimson tide that enhanced his strength and healing. The process was grueling, his veins pulsing with power, a faint red glow seeping through his skin.
He summoned Liu Yue and Liu Yang to a nearby training ground, a clearing surrounded by ancient trees, their leaves rustling in the breeze. "Today, we master Crimson Lance Burst," he announced, his voice firm. Liu Yue's raven hair swayed as she practiced, her Icy Skin merging with the art, icy blood spikes forming with a crystalline sheen, the air chilling around her. Liu Yang, his crystalline blood armor glinting, shaped his blood into sharper swords, his young face set with determination. Their arts clashed briefly, a frosty mist rising, but Lin Xuan mediated, guiding their qi to sync, the Celestial Unity Crest pulsing in approval.
As they trained, a rustle in the trees signaled danger—a Bloodshade Abyss Sect patrol, led by a 3rd Layer Qi Transformation cultivator, their crimson robes a stark contrast to the green foliage. The leader, a tall man with a scarred cheek, eyed Lin Xuan's dark qi with intrigue. "Your blood arts interest us," he said, his voice smooth but menacing. Lin Xuan's heart raced, but he remained calm. Abyssal Lotus Step, his body gliding with mixed martial arts footwork, dodging a qi blade that sliced a tree trunk. Vein Fortress Body hardened his skin, absorbing a retaliatory strike, the impact a dull thud. Liu Yue's icy spikes and Liu Yang's blood sword aided, forcing the patrol back.
Lin Xuan unleashed Starlit Void Fist, the celestial punch wounding the leader, who retreated with his men, impressed but wary. "We'll return," the leader vowed, vanishing into the forest. Lin Xuan devoured the residual qi, his aura steadying, and returned to the inn. That night, he refined a pill, Internal Fracture Wave—a shockwave from crystal veins. The process was intricate, his blood resonating with the ring, preparing him for the Hei Clan's next move, the courtyard outside a silent witness to his growth.