About five minutes later, Blood coughed, and Ballock watched as his eyes fluttered open. Slowly, Blood rose to his feet, gazing around with a strange, bewildered look.
A red glint shimmered in his eyes, flickering with delight.
"Whooa! This is it—I've finally stepped into the Bronze Realm." he exclaimed, his voice trembling with excitement.
Blood was indeed astonished, feeling like a dream come true. He remembered the days when he thought he would never cross the lower stages of the Iron Realm, and yet here he was, a Bronze Realm cultivator.
Blood didn't dwell too long on the thought. Instead, he cupped his fists, feeling the energy coursing through his veins. Nothing could stop him now.
There were no one of his age to fear anymore—at least, none that he knew of.
[Host has completed his breakthrough and successfully entered the Bronze Realm]
[Host status has been modified]
[Check the Shop for sophisticated items.]
The Blood Book confirmed his breakthrough!
Blood shook his head with a bitter smile as memories of insults and oppression surfaced, but he held them back. Those days were in the past. He resolved to live his life anew, and draw his friends and family close, and to leave all others in the dust.
Suddenly, his mind felt honed and refined. His vision blurred for a moment and then became clear—he could see into his spiritual space with ease, something that had been impossible before without meditation.
Although he was in the outside world, his gaze as if able to pierce through all impediments, reached directly into that secluded space.
While his mind lightened, the octagonal prism began to pulse, ousting waves of red hues. The sensation began to course through his body, and it was as though every burden he had carried was lifted.
At that instant, Blood felt renewed, cleansed of impurities, and reborn in strength.
His thoughts appeared to flow quickly and clearly. It was a strange, exhilarating feeling. He could now see the octagonal prism directly from the outside world without even stepping into the spiritual space.
"Hehe, Ballock. It seems you've worked hard on your cultivation as well. You've stepped into the Bronze Realm too." Blood said, genuinely surprised as he sensed the faint fluctuation of Ballock's energy.
"Of course!" Ballock replied firmly. "I wasn't faineant while you remained in that strange state. I've been working diligently. But tell me—why is it that I cannot sense your cultivation at all? It's as if you were a commoner. I know you've just broken through, yet your energy fluctuation is completely concealed. How is this possible?" His voice carried genuine perplexity.
Indeed, Blood emitted no energy fluctuation, which was a strange phenomenon that would have made others mistake him for a commoner.
Blood himself was startled when he realized Ballock's words were true. He then tried to release his energy, and at once the fluctuation became visible to the senses like normal.
"Ah, now I can feel it." Ballock said with a broad smile. "So you can conceal it at will. That's a fine skill to possess."
But Blood knew instantly that Ballock's smile was not entirely sincere. Beneath it was restlessness. He looked at his friend again, his face falling. He had kept too much from Ballock, and though he knew Ballock had questions, but was reluctant to ask.
Blood fidgeted for a moment, then sighed, deciding to open up. He had kept him waiting for far too long.
"I once promised my one and only love that if I were to reveal this secret, she would be the first to know. But it seems you've won the race, my friend." Blood said quietly.
Ballock smiled and felt gratified. He knew exactly whom Blood was referring to. Also, he had never seen anyone beat that girl once.
"But first," Blood continued, "how do we get out of here? And tell me—how much time has passed while I was in that state? It felt no longer than an hour or two, right?"
Ballock suddenly burst into laughter when he heard that, his voice echoing through the region. Blood looked at him in confusion.
What is wrong with this guy?
"Hours, you say? How about seconds?" Ballock teased. "You were immersed so assiduously in cultivation that you lost all sense of time."
"This is the thirteenth day we've spent here," Ballock finally revealed, "and you've spent them all cultivating."
Blood froze when he heard that. The words seemed to strike him like a thunderclap. The thirteenth day? His parents must surely be searching for him by now.
Oh sh*t!
"I suggest we follow the adjoining hill." Blood muttered, stowing the trident carefully. "Maybe there's a path that will lead us out of this place." he spoke with urgency, unwilling to wait even a moment longer.
This place was too mysterious. Although he wanted to explore the mysteries, he knew there was no time to waste. Even he would not be spared if he failed to provide a good reason for his absence from home.
Worse still, he had already been gone for days!
Thirteen days! Blood was beyond shock!
Ballock said nothing about the trident, simply following behind while recounting all he had done during Blood's strange state.
Blood listened intently. He was amazed by the many things Ballock described. When Ballock finished, Blood spoke of the Blood Book, though he left some certain things unspoken.
And while the two friends wandered in their incognizant stroll, elsewhere, someone was locked in the midst of a flaming battle…
___
"Khyaaa!"
A man covered in battle robes cried out as he pulled his broad sword free from the body of an enemy warrior, who collapsed uncontrollably onto the blood‑soaked ground.
He raised his blade high and stamped the earth with violent force. The aftermath made the ground shuddered, and molded pieces of stone and soil rose upward, moving toward the incoming opponents.
The wave of earth engulfed them, hurling their bodies aside with little resistance.
"That man from Sand‑Scale City is truly overbearing," a warrior with whisky‑colored hair muttered with distaste. "He has single‑handedly slain many of my men. Why won't you let me confront him?"
Beside him stood an old man, calm and unshaken as he watched the battle unfold. He seemed indifferent, his voice unhurried as he replied, "Do not be troubled yet. Greater forces are at play. Sand‑Scale City truly underestimated us, sending only two divisions."
He paused, eyes narrowing. "Once, that might have been enough to kill us outright. But now that others have join us in secret, it is impossible. Our aim is not to win outright against Sand‑Scale City, but to weaken them severely—so that the larger forces may finish the task. When these two divisions are crushed, they will learn their place. They will see that their role is defense, not offense." He scoffed, his gaze darting toward a shadowed corner of the battlefield.
"Oh, I understand." the whisky‑haired man said, nodding with newfound clarity.
The old man inclined his head and added, "When we slay these two divisions, we will withdraw from the challenge and let other contenders have their chance to shine. Sand‑Scale City is doomed to fall." he said with determination.
The moment he spoke those words, a force in large numbers moved into the fray, their sudden arrival caught the opposing force off guard.
Yet their warriors held firm, and reorganized with swift precision, forming groups of twos, fives, tens, and more.
All of a sudden, their formations moved in unison, unleashing coordinated strikes that engulfed the newly arrived enemies, cutting through their advance like a storm.
Salza and Kamil, commander of the seventh division, stood at the forefront where the battle was raging fiercely. The enemy reinforcements of Bland Town pressed in from the opposite side, ensuing chaos.
However, neither commander relented. With grim expressions on their faces, they nodded, instantly propelling themselves from the ground.
Large torrent of energy began to rise at that instant, coating their weapons as they concentrated their strength.
Together, they unleashed a conjoined strike—an overwhelming fusion of power was drawn from stage eight and nine warriors of the Silver Realm. Their combined strike filled the sky like stars, descending like a storm of destruction, racing downward with unstoppable force.
The enemies' expressions contorted, sensing the looming threat. They raised their shields desperately to resist, but the attack descended with a crushing force, slamming them into the earth while others were swept away.
Cries of pain and horror echoed across the battlefield as the fierce energy split the terrain, flinging bodies violently to all sides. The coordinated strike was devastating, overwhelming, and merciless. Many were reduced to nothing but fragments in its aftermath.
"Sir, more enemies are coming from the west." Galock reported, sweat dripping from his brow. His green eyes flickered with unease as he added sharply, "I believe they have the support of other territories. They must have been lying low since the beginning."
Salza gritted his teeth, a renewed interest vivid in his eyes. The enemy's scheme was almost flawless.
"No wonder they fought with such confidence." he muttered darkly. "They had someone powerful standing behind them."
"The Settlers truly allowed this!" Kamil roared, his voice thick with unconcealed hatred. "They were supposed to monitor the battle, yet they permitted such treachery. How shameless! And with Bland Town of all places…"
"Give the signal. We must retreat at once before the enemy encircles us. There are other ways to fight a war."