The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
Lin Ye stood beneath the dim moonlight, his figure flickering in and out like a phantom.
The lingering traces of blood essence still flowed within his body, strengthening him with each passing second.
He clenched his fist.
Power surged.
Alive.
Hungry.
"…System."
A translucent interface appeared before his eyes.
Cold. Mechanical. Precise.
[Blood Slaughter System]
Level: 5
EXP: 40 / 500
Blood Points: 65
[System Shop – Tier 1 Unlocked]
Lin Ye's gaze sharpened.
"Open."
The interface shifted.
Items appeared one by one—
🩸 System Shop (Tier 1)
Basic Healing Pill – 10 Blood Points
Qi Gathering Manual (Low Grade) – 30 Blood Points
Blood Claw Technique – 50 Blood Points
Enhanced Body Tempering Scroll – 40 Blood Points
Killing Intent Concealment Art – 60 Blood Points
Lin Ye studied each carefully.
Not rushing.
Not greedy.
"Healing… unnecessary."
"With my absorption… I recover fast enough."
"Qi Gathering…"
He paused.
"That's essential."
Without cultivation technique—
He couldn't truly step into the martial path.
Then his eyes moved—
To another item.
"Killing Intent Concealment…"
A faint smile formed.
"That one… keeps me alive."
After a moment of thought—
"I'll take both."
[Ding!]
[Purchase Successful]
Qi Gathering Manual acquired
Killing Intent Concealment Art acquired
[Blood Points Remaining: -25 → Adjusting…]
[Insufficient Points → Partial Purchase Confirmed]
Lin Ye frowned slightly.
"…Only one?"
[Killing Intent Concealment Art acquired]
"…Fine."
A stream of information flooded his mind instantly.
🧠 Killing Intent Concealment Art
Suppresses aura
Masks killing intent
Reduces detection risk
Lin Ye closed his eyes briefly.
Then—
His entire presence changed.
The cold, sharp killing aura around him—
Vanished.
Now—
He felt like an ordinary disciple.
Weak.
Unremarkable.
"…Good."
In this world—
Strength alone wasn't enough.
Survival required deception.
🌲 A New Threat
Just as Lin Ye began walking back toward the sect—
A voice echoed from behind.
"Well, well…"
Lin Ye stopped.
Slowly turned.
A man stepped out from the shadows.
Tall.
Lean.
Eyes filled with arrogance.
"Outer disciple Lin Ye…"
He smirked.
"I've been watching you."
Lin Ye's gaze narrowed slightly.
"…Level?"
[Ding!]
[Target Identified]
[Name: Zhao Kun]
[Level: 6]
[Status: Outer Disciple Elite]
Stronger.
Noticeably.
Zhao Kun glanced at the corpse behind Lin Ye.
Then chuckled.
"Didn't expect trash like you to hide such a secret."
He stepped closer.
Aura pressing down.
"You killed all of them in the dorm… didn't you?"
Silence.
Lin Ye didn't deny it.
Didn't confirm it.
"…What do you want?"
Zhao Kun grinned.
"Simple."
"Your secret."
"And everything you have."
He cracked his neck.
"Otherwise…"
"I'll drag your body back to the sect myself."
⚔️ Pressure of Strength
The air grew heavy.
Zhao Kun moved first.
Fast.
Faster than anything Lin Ye had faced.
WHOOSH!
His fist shot forward—
Aimed straight at Lin Ye's chest.
Lin Ye reacted instantly—
Blood Shadow Step!
FLASH!
His body vanished—
Reappearing to the side.
Zhao Kun's eyes widened slightly.
"…Movement technique?"
Lin Ye didn't respond.
He counterattacked.
BAM!
His fist slammed toward Zhao Kun's ribs.
But—
BLOCKED.
Zhao Kun caught it easily.
"…Too slow."
BOOM!
A kick slammed into Lin Ye's stomach.
"—!"
He was sent flying backward.
Crashing into a tree.
Pain exploded through his body.
"…So this is Level 6…"
Far stronger.
Zhao Kun walked forward slowly.
Calm.
Confident.
"You rely on tricks."
He sneered.
"But your foundation is garbage."
Lin Ye wiped blood from his mouth.
"…He's right."
Speed alone wasn't enough.
Technique.
Cultivation.
Strength.
He lacked all of it.
But—
He wasn't afraid.
Instead—
He smiled.
"…Then I'll take yours."
🔥 Desperate Evolution
Zhao Kun frowned.
"What?"
Lin Ye suddenly moved again—
Blood Shadow Step!
This time—
Faster.
Sharper.
He appeared behind Zhao Kun—
And attacked relentlessly.
Punch.
Kick.
Strike.
Wild.
Unrefined.
But aggressive.
Zhao Kun blocked most—
But not all.
"Annoying!"
He turned—
Grabbing Lin Ye's arm—
CRACK!
Breaking it.
"—!"
Pain surged.
But Lin Ye didn't scream.
Instead—
He stepped closer.
"Got you."
Zhao Kun froze.
"What—?"
Lin Ye's remaining hand—
Pierced forward.
THUD!
Straight into Zhao Kun's abdomen.
Blood spilled.
But not fatal.
Zhao Kun roared in rage—
"You're dead!"
He raised his fist—
But—
Lin Ye leaned in close.
Whispered—
"…Not yet."
Then—
He activated it.
[Blood Absorption – Forced Activation]
Zhao Kun's eyes widened in horror.
His blood—
Started flowing out.
Directly into Lin Ye.
"No… NO—!"
His strength weakened rapidly.
Lin Ye's aura—
Exploded.
Growing.
Rising.
"More…"
His eyes glowed red.
"Give me… MORE!"
BOOM!
A surge of power burst out—
[Ding!]
[Absorption Successful]
[+300 EXP]
[Level Up: 5 → 6]
Zhao Kun collapsed.
Dry.
Empty.
Dead.
🌙 Silent Witness
A few meters away—
Hidden among the trees—
Su Qingyue stood silently.
Her cold eyes—
Locked onto Lin Ye.
"…He devours blood…"
Not normal.
Not righteous.
Demonic.
Yet—
Her gaze didn't show disgust.
Only curiosity.
"…Interesting."
🔥 End
Lin Ye stood alone once more.
Stronger.
Breathing heavily.
His broken arm—
Slowly healing.
His eyes—
Darker than before.
"…This path…"
He looked at Zhao Kun's corpse.
"…There's no turning back."
Behind him—
Unseen—
A faint, cold voice whispered into the night.
"Lin Ye…"
"I'll be watching you."