The wind howled as Jang Yue walked deeper into the forest.
While moving forward, he began talking with BA, asking questions that had been bugging him for some time.
"So BA, is it possible for me to create Blood Roots with the cores and blood I have right now?"
[ Negative! ]
[ You need a Heaven Connection Array to create Blood Roots. ]
"Oh come on! Why is the process taking so damn long?"
[ Without a Heaven Connection Array, the Blood Roots will be useless. You will at least be able to break through the Bone Tempering and Qi Condensation realms if you condense Blood Roots without the array. However, you will not be able to attract Heavenly Tribulation to advance to stronger realms and gain immortality. ]
That made perfect sense. Cultivation in this world was all about defying the heavens. Still, Jang Yue was devastated. Where in the sect would he get a Heaven Connection Array?
This was the first time he had heard of such a thing. Even if he had seen one before, he would not have recognized it.
Worse, he did not even know anything about drawing talismans, let alone creating arrays.
As if the Blood Assistant had read his mind, it slowly responded.
[ Heaven Connection Arrays can be found in the outer sect cultivation grounds. ]
"Really? How do you know that?"
[ When I am dormant, I can still perceive the outside world perfectly. However, I cannot communicate with you due to the lack of blood. ]
Jang Yue fell into deep thought.
Unless you were an outer disciple, trial disciples had to pay sect points to use the cultivation grounds.
He also guessed that Heaven Connection Arrays were used to attract Qi from the surroundings, making the sect's Qi denser.
However, the luckiest people in the sect were the core disciples, aside from sect leaders and elders. They had their own cave abodes filled with Heaven Connection Arrays of different elements based on their spiritual roots.
Another thought crossed his mind.
"I noticed you absorbed four liters of blood. How long will that last?"
[ According to my analysis, four months. ]
"How convenient."
Roar!!
Suddenly, Jang Yue heard a threatening sound.
He rushed west, toward where the roar came from.
When he got close, he saw it.
A Tier 1 Thunderbound Iron Qilin.
"Found it."
He said with a chilling smile.
He carefully placed his belongings down and slowly removed his sword.
Like a predator stalking its prey, he stepped toward the beast with careful precision.
Step. Step. Another step.
Suddenly, he stepped on a small stick. It snapped with a click, alerting the Thunderbound Iron Qilin.
'How bad is my luck!?'
The beast glanced at him with murderous intent, its eyes glowing blue with demonic aura.
Its body was huge, almost three meters tall.
Its tail was coated in metal. Looking at it, Jang Yue finally understood why the creature's weakness was its head.
Dense fur covered its body everywhere except a tiny spot on its head.
The demonic energy coming from it was intense.
If he was struck even once, he would surely die.
After all, he lacked the regeneration of a high level vampire.
Roaaaar!!
The beast roared, and a condensed liquid formed on its tail, hardening into metal.
Soon, a sharp metal spike condensed, coated in lightning.
"Ah! Shit!!"
The spike shot toward Jang Yue. He twisted his body just in time, allowing it to graze his clothes.
The projectile shattered several trees behind him.
Seeing this, Jang Yue knew he had to stay sharp.
He rushed forward and slashed with his sword. However, a normal silver sword had no effect.
In mere seconds, four more metal spikes formed.
They shot toward him. This time, Jang Yue jumped upward, thinking he had evaded them.
Suddenly, the Thunderbound Iron Qilin activated its demonic thunder.
As expected, Jang Yue was roasted midair.
[ Would you like to use one liter of blood for healing? ]
BA asked.
Blood was like food to Jang Yue. The more he consumed, the more vitality he gained for a time.
But unless one was a high class vampire, possessed a special bloodline, or was a progenitor, regeneration was nearly impossible.
He accepted immediately.
[ Using one liter of blood for healing… ]
[ Healing completed… ]
Jang Yue returned to full health. But that meant BA would only last three more months.
It did not matter.
If he killed the Thunderbound Iron Qilin, which was nearly three meters tall, he would gain at least ten liters of blood.
But how could he exploit its weak spot?
The Qilin did not give him time to think.
It charged forward, opening its massive maw and swallowing him whole.
Inside its mouth, Jang Yue stabbed his sword into its tongue.
He yanked the blade free and glanced upward at the roof of its mouth, close to its head.
The stench was unbearable. He pinched his nose.
"I have to kill it in one shot."
He leaped upward and, without hesitation, stabbed its weak spot from the inside.
The beast went berserk.
Each roar made the air inside heavier.
Jang Yue did not stop.
Sword in his left hand, claws extended on his right, nails longer than ever.
He stabbed again.
This time, his claws pierced the soft gums, bursting through the top of its head.
Jang Yue crawled out.
Huff. Huff. Huff.
"Stupid beast."
He stomped on it repeatedly.
Then he drank some of its blood. As before, he extracted its core and remaining blood.
The leftovers were for BA.
BA absorbed seven liters of blood in total.
"So BA, how can I form Blood Roots?"
[ I have analyzed several methods to make this possible. ]
[ Would you like me to transfer them to you? ]
Jang Yue nodded.
"I would like that."
[ Transferring Blood Root analysis through blood cells. ]
Information flooded into his mind.
His eyes widened in shock.
"So this is how you came up with it. You analyzed the spiritual roots of everyone I encountered and created a way to form Blood Roots that work with vampire physiology. This is amazing."
"Blood Appraisal Panel."
A translucent screen appeared before him.
[ Name: Jang Yue ]
[ Age: 17/134 ]
[ Species: Vampire ]
[ Bloodline: Lesser Blood ]
[ Lineage: None ]
[ Cultivation Realm: Not Eligible ]
[ Martial Techniques: None ]
[ Divine Abilities: None ]
[ Flaws: Solar Polarity, Flames, Holy Energy ]
[ Traits: Demonic Heart, Lunar Amplification, Blood Absorption, Blood Appraisal Petals, Low Blood Manipulation, Top Notch Beauty (new) ]
[ Currently absorbing demonic blood: 30% chance of addiction ]
"Huh!? Thirty percent chance of blood addiction? Why is it increasing?"
"And Top Notch Beauty? What is that?"
[ You now possess the beauty of a true vampire. You always had this trait, but due to insufficient blood, it remained hidden and your appearance became pale. ]
That made sense.
His mission was complete.
He stood and walked toward the mountain edge.
When he looked down, fear seized him.
His fear of heights was real.
[ You are not afraid of heights. ]
BA commented.
[ You are afraid of the fall, and according to my analysis… ]
"Yeah, yeah. I am not afraid."
[ You are. ]
"Hey, you want a fight?"
[ I am sorry. ]
"That is better. What time is it?"
[ According to my analysis, it is 3:45 in the morning. ]
"Shit."
There was no time for fear.
If he was caught, the punishment would be worse than falling to his death.
[ What are you going to do? ]
"I am going to jump."
[ You cannot. My analysis says you will… ]
Jang Yue had already jumped.
His shout echoed through the silent night of the Infinite Demon Sect.
He covered his mouth, realizing he had yelled.
But he did not jump without a plan.
He reached for a rock, but his hand slipped due to blood.
He fell again.
He grabbed another, then another, until he finally caught a tree.
"I am saved!"
He climbed down and rushed back to his hut.
Dropping the bag of blood and cores, he collapsed into sleep.