Chapter 26: The Bloodshade Whisper
The Misty Forest outskirts were a realm of ethereal beauty and hidden danger, the mist curling around ancient trees, their gnarled branches whispering in the night breeze. The air carried the scent of moss and the faint metallic tang of qi as Lin Xuan ventured deeper, his crimson eyes scanning the shadows, sensing a Bloodshade Abyss Sect aura hinting at Hei Clan ties. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed, a warning of impending threat, his 3rd Layer Qi Transformation aura steady but alert. Liu Yue and Liu Yang followed.
A rustle broke the silence, and a Bloodshade scout emerged—a 5th Layer Qi Transformation cultivator with a lean frame, his crimson robes adorned with black runes, his qi blade crackling with dark energy. "Your blood arts draw our gaze," he hissed, lunging with a qi storm that tore the ground. Lin Xuan smirked, his voice steady. "Courting death!" he taunted, activating Abyssal Lotus Step, his body gliding with mixed martial arts footwork, dodging the storm as trees splintered. Starlit Void Fist erupted, the celestial punch striking the scout's chest, a crack echoing, but the man retaliated with a qi blade, grazing Lin Xuan's arm, a sharp sting flaring.
Liu Yue's Icy Skin froze the air, her icy spikes piercing the scout's leg, the snowflake mark on her palm glowing. Liu Yang's blood sword slashed the scout's side, a crimson arc spraying blood, their arts syncing in a harmonious dance. Lin Xuan channeled Crimson Lance Burst, crystallized blood spikes embedding in the scout's shoulder, forcing a grunt of pain. The scout fought back, his qi storm intensifying, but Lin Xuan's Vein Fortress Body absorbed the blow. Energy Devour siphoned the scout's qi, a cool rush pushing Lin Xuan to the 3rd Layer fully, the scout escaping with a vow. "Bloodshade will claim you!"
Back at the inn, the Celestial Unity Crest flared, a warning of a new threat. Lin Xuan gathered Liu Yue and Liu Yang, his voice grave. "The Bloodshade Abyss seeks my arts, likely with Hei Clan backing. We must prepare." That night, he refined a pill, the silver-blue flame casting shadows as he unlocked the Crimson Vein Phase, hardening his veins for enhanced qi conductivity. The process was painful, his blood thickening, a faint red glow seeping through his skin. Liu Yue's moonlight eyes met his, her trust a quiet strength, while Liu Yang's resolve mirrored his own, the courtyard outside a silent sentinel to their growing power.