Chapter 143: Strength and the Blood Pill (Seeking Collection)

Chapter 143: Strength and the Blood Pill (Seeking Collection)



The refined magic carpet, even carrying two people, was significantly faster than before.

Like an arrow released from a bowstring, it streaked across the horizon, slicing through the endless sea towards the depths.

The wind rushed against their faces, but under the influence of the carpet's force field, it transformed into a gentle breeze, caressing their long hair.

"The scent of the ocean," Ana said, reaching out to touch the sea breeze. "It's wonderful."

Blasphemy Knights had short lifespans, and Ana, no longer young, was feeling the increasing severity of her bloodline's influence.

Sometimes, she would close her eyes for what felt like a brief nap, only to find that an entire day had passed, and her hair was turning whiter.

It felt like something was about to emerge from her back.

Her fear and anxiety about death could only be soothed by her devout faith, something no one could help her with.

"We're here!" Karl bowed his head and looked down at the sea.

In the undulating waters, an unremarkable island came into view, with several ant-sized ships hovering nearby.

As they drew closer, the ships grew in size, the largest among them, a warship, exceeding a hundred meters in length.

The Homeward Ship! The ship of homecoming.

Currently, the largest and fastest warship in Swift City.

Its hull was made of wind-affinity wood, and it was equipped with powerful vehicles.

On the sea,

This homecoming ship could hunt legendary creatures!

Several other ships, primarily cargo-carrying cork ships and smaller warships, circled around the Homeward Ship.

"Swish!"

The magic carpet descended and landed on the deck of the Homeward Ship.

Aya, Conn, and the others had already been waiting there.

"Crocodile Island is just ahead," Conn said, pointing towards the island. "This island was discovered by the Dragon King Guild several decades ago. It's home to two legendary creatures similar to crocodiles, which is why it's named Crocodile Island."

"Unlike other legendary creatures, these two crocodiles can devour the souls of creatures near the island."

"Once, a ship came too close to the island, and as a result, the entire crew died."

Soul Devouring!

With this characteristic, there's a high probability that they possess abyssal bloodlines.

Karl nodded in satisfaction, recalling the method of refining the blood pill in his mind.

His fused bloodline originated from the abyss, and it was best to use a similar bloodline for refining the pill, ensuring better results.

"Do you have a plan?" he asked, not intending to take action himself unless necessary.

"The legendary creatures on Crocodile Island not only devour souls but also eat flesh," Aya explained their plan. "We plan to send some yellow sheep to the island. The sheep will be coated with poison, and if they eat it, they might die from the poison!"

"Poison..." Karl frowned. "Is there another way?"

The accumulation of poison would render the corpses unsuitable for refining the blood pill, and abyssal creatures had high resistance to toxins.

It was likely to be ineffective and might even anger them.

"Another way?" Aya thought for a moment. "The Sea God can extract a substance from a type of seaweed that induces sleep. A few drops can put a black bear to sleep. What if we make them sleep?"

"We can try it," Karl nodded. "Be careful."

"Don't worry, Uncle," Aya smiled. "We have plenty of potions to stabilize our souls. If all else fails, we might still have a chance in a direct confrontation."

She waved her hand and gave instructions.

"Replace the poison with the sleep-inducing Hypnosin. Be careful not to let it touch any wounds, or the yellow sheep might fall asleep first."

"Send ten sheep to the island!"

Soon after,

A simple bamboo raft carried ten plump yellow sheep, bleating as they approached the island.

Due to favorable winds, the raft quickly reached the shore, and the sheep broke free, leaping onto the island.

"They're here!"

The first to sense the anomaly was not Karl, but the Blasphemy Knight, Ana.

As her bloodline gradually awakened, more and more supernatural abilities manifested within her.

Superb Perception was one of them.

Two chilling and ferocious auras emerged from the center of the island, rushing towards the scattered yellow sheep.

"Four less, five, six..."

"So fast!"

Onboard the ship, the observer, responsible for monitoring the sheep's life force, was astonished by the disappearing numbers.

The yellow sheep were not slow; in fact, they were quite fast, and their reactions were sharp. Hunting them was no easy task.

Moreover,

Their dispersal across the island and the speed at which they were being eliminated indicated the swiftness of their hunters.

"Send another ten!" Aya ordered, her face darkening.

"The ship is retreating in order, don't disrupt the formation."

"Yes!"

"Bamboo raft!"

"Release the sheep!"

"Hurry!"

"..."

The plan proceeded smoothly, and another ten sheep were released while the ships slowly retreated.

Karl looked at Aya, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

What had he missed in the past few years? The little girl who once peddled her goods in the market had grown to such a remarkable level.

Conn, the legendary captain of Swift City, had entrusted her with command, and he showed no displeasure.

"There's only so much Hypnosin on the ship. If it doesn't work, we might have to resort to a frontal assault," Aya said.

"No need," Karl shook his head.

"They've already sensed something amiss."

"Roar!"

Before he finished speaking, a deafening roar erupted from the island, and the sound waves transformed into a fierce wind, sweeping across the surrounding sea.

The waves crashed against the ship, causing it to sway violently.

"Strong!" exclaimed Karl.

Ana's expression turned grave. "They aren't ordinary legendary creatures."

Karl wasn't surprised by this revelation. The merchant guild in the Free Port had the ability to hunt legendary creatures, and the fact that they left them alive was not out of kindness. It was either due to fear or a disastrous attempt to do so.

"Hmm?"

"They're coming!"

Two massive shadows emerged from the island, crashing through trees and boulders in their path as they charged towards the shore.

Their movements were noticeably sluggish, as if their cerebrums were underdeveloped, causing them to stagger clumsily.

This indicated that the drugs were taking effect.

Karl stepped forward, focusing on the targets.

They were two gigantic crocodiles, each over twenty meters in length, covered in scales that shimmered with a metallic luster.

Their heads were enormous, filled with sharp fangs that were as sharp as knives, capable of easily crushing anything with a single bite.

Their pitch-black eyes were cold and cruel, like a gaze from the abyss, making it difficult to look directly at them.

A first-rank late-stage Abyssal Crocodile!

'Its strength is stronger than expected, but it's fine. We're not in the Magic Forest, and a first-rank late-stage creature can't borrow astral energy. It's not a solo fight, but it's still dangerous and manageable.'

'If we were in the Magic Forest, even one of them would be a challenge. It's a good opportunity to test my current strength.'

'Using their blood and flesh to refine a blood pill will definitely enhance its effectiveness!'

"Roar!"

As Karl pondered, another roar echoed.

One of the Abyssal Crocodiles opened its massive jaws and roared at the ship on the sea, sending out not sound waves but invisible spiritual ripples from above.

In an instant.

The closest ship to the island suddenly stalled, and faint shadows began to separate from the physical bodies.

First-rank Spell - Soul Extraction!

"Boom!"

The Entulaxi trembled slightly.

A several-meter-long arrow shot out from the cannon, piercing the 'crocodile' that was trying to devour souls.

The immense force of the arrow knocked the 'crocodile' away, interrupting its soul-devouring action, but its sturdy scales prevented any significant damage.

"Go!" Karl commanded.

"Let's separate them first."

"Swish!"

Ana's figure flickered, and she rapidly shot forward, transforming into a shadow that rushed towards one of the targets.

Her incredible speed allowed her to skim across the water's surface as if it were solid ground, reaching her target within a few breaths.

Slash! Seventeen consecutive strikes!

The greatsword carried a destructive aura, clashing with the 'crocodile', causing waves of energy to ripple.

"Boom!" The Entulaxi fired another giant arrow.

On the other side, Karl, riding a magic carpet, crushed a rune.

Chain Fireballs!

A one-meter-wide fireball appeared out of thin air and collided with the other 'crocodile'.

Automatic targeting was a basic function of first-rank spells, and with such a massive target, it was impossible to miss.

"Boom!"

The fireball exploded, transforming into a giant flame that was powerful enough to lift the Abyssal Crocodile with its blast.

But there was more than one fireball.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

Three fireballs followed in quick succession, slamming the Abyssal Crocodile into the trees a hundred meters from the coastline.

"A first-rank wizard can cast three chain fireballs, a mid-rank wizard can cast six, and a late-rank wizard can cast nine." Karl's eyes flickered.

"It's not just the increase in quantity, but the power will also be enhanced accordingly."

"Based on the defensive capabilities shown by this Abyssal Crocodile, even a mid-rank first-rank wizard would struggle to inflict severe damage."

"Hmm?"

A wave of spiritual power surged towards Karl's mind, causing him to tilt his head back and stifle a groan.

Soul Shock!

It felt like thousands of steel needles piercing his brain, ravaging his spiritual sea.

Fortunately, the existence of the Dimensional Cage and Wrath of the Thunder God allowed him to withstand this attack.

Especially the Wrath of the Thunder God.

By harnessing the Divine Realm Fragment, Karl successfully cultivated this spell, and although he lacked affinity with the thunderous power, the preservation of his soul layer provided the confidence to engage in this hunt.

Even so, the momentary blankness of consciousness caused Karl to struggle to control the magic carpet, and his body wobbled as he fell from mid-air.

"Did Conn not mention that the target had such abilities?"

"If it were an ordinary first-rank early-stage wizard, this attack would have left them half-crippled."

Shaking his head, Karl climbed out of the deep pit, muttering softly:

"More preparation is indeed necessary..."

"Thud!"

The ground shook, interrupting his complaints, as the twenty-meter-long Abyssal Crocodile, still affected by the drug, stumbled towards them after crashing into trees.

Karl's expression turned solemn, and a staff appeared in his hand. He pointed it forward, and water elements rapidly gathered, forming a river that rushed towards the oncoming Abyssal Crocodile.

The water flow spanned several dozen meters, filled with swirling vortices and darting water arrows.

First-rank Spell - Tidal Force!

The staff, named Staff of Life, belonged to Marian. It increased the power of life and plant spells by 50% and other spells by 30%.

Additionally, Karl's robe, also from Marian, enhanced spirit recovery speed by 50%.

These items were not convenient to use in the Magic Forest, but here, he had no such concerns.

"Bang!"

The Abyssal Crocodile plunged into the water that appeared out of thin air, only to be mercilessly battered by the surging Tidal Force.

"Crack..."

"Pfft!"

Its scales were torn off by the hidden currents, and its flesh ripped by water arrows.

In the blink of an eye, the water, gathered by the Tidal Force, turned crimson, and within it, the crocodile roared in agony.

'I cultivate the Source Sea Meditation and possess the bloodline of the Great Squid, both enhancing my water-based spells. Add to that my staff and wizard robe...'

'Even though Tidal Force and Chain Fireballs are both First Rank Spells, the former's power far surpasses the latter's engraved charm. No wonder wizards rarely use First-Grade Engraved Charms; it's indeed a bit of a loss.'

"Roar!"

A sense of soul extraction emerged in Karl's mind, and he grunted, summoning the water to swirl around the crocodile once more.

"Useless!"

"With the enhancement of the Abyssal Bloodline and my spells, my resistance to soul and nightmare spells is terrifyingly high."

"So..."

"Die!"

"Bang!"

The massive Abyssal Crocodile shattered the water's flow and collided with Karl, sending him flying.

"What's going on?"

Karl tumbled to the ground, covered in mud. "Poisoned and injured, my strength is weakened. Even my strongest abilities are useless against it, yet it's still so powerful?"

"First Rank Late Stage, and it's this difficult to deal with?"

The Abyssal Great Squid he encountered earlier was also at the First Rank Late Stage, but as a juvenile, it was far less formidable than the crocodile before him.

"No wonder it's been discovered for decades without any issues. It's truly formidable."

Taking a deep breath, Karl's eyes narrowed. "Then come!"

"Whoosh..."

Thick tentacles emerged from his body, and in an instant, a giant squid appeared in the midst.

One of the slender tentacles wrapped around the staff, and with a gentle wave, it unleashed the Tidal Force!

Several other tentacles grasped massive swords, swinging them in the air and sending beams of sword light towards the crocodile.

Holy Sanction!

Five consecutive strikes! Poisoned, the Abyssal Crocodile's consciousness blurred, and its body swayed, significantly weakened.

Yet, its most potent abilities were useless against Karl.

Facing the onslaught of spells and combat techniques, the crocodile fell, but it continued to roar in defiance.

"Swish!"

Karl leaped forward, pouncing on his target. The tentacles, covered in fangs and suction cups, wrapped around the crocodile's body.

Terror Aura!

Devour!

"Suck!"

"Boom!"

"Rumble, rumble..."

The two colossal beasts entangled, enveloped by water, rolled frantically in the island's dense forest.

The thunderous roars persisted.

After a long while, Karl, covered in dirt and grime, emerged from the ruins, summoned a magic carpet, and flew towards the other side.

The Blasphemy Knight, Ana, was locked in battle with another Abyssal Crocodile.

Her physical body was unique; the bloodline of an evil deity granted her immunity to most spells, including those of the mind.

The Prayer Stream was adept at resisting mental attacks.

Every day, every hour, and every second, she fought against the erosion of her bloodline's will.

When it came to resistance, she was no less capable than Karl.

Coupled with her terrifying burst of power and rapid recovery, she could even stand toe-to-toe with First Rank Late Stage beings.

Moreover, with the support of the distant warship, she held her ground, even if it would take time to defeat her opponent.

First Rank Spell - Tidal Force! Karl lightly tapped his staff, and the water surged, instantly trapping the Abyssal Crocodile in place.

Slash! Ana's eyes narrowed, and with a swift motion, she and her sword became a streak of light, piercing through the crocodile's skull.

...

Afterwards, Karl reviewed the day's events.

"A bit risky."

"Fortunately, the target is dealt with. You guys clean up the island and head back to Swift City."

"Next time, choose a less dangerous location."

He had thought that in a world where he didn't advance beyond the Second Circle, his various advantages would keep him safe.

Who would've thought...

Danger lurked everywhere!

"Uncle."

Aya, overseeing the landing party, asked upon hearing his words:

"You're not coming with us?"

"No." Karl shook his head. "I still need to deal with these two corpses. Ana, you can stay."

Without waiting for Aya or the others to respond, he turned and grabbed one of the corpses, heading deeper into the island.

The Nest.

Abyssal creatures favored the underground.

The 'dwelling' of the two Abyssal Crocodiles resembled an underground cave, cold and damp, covered in various mosses and algae.

"Ghoul Moss, Yin Stones..."

"There are quite a few good things here!"

After inspecting the surroundings and collecting useful materials, Karl sat cross-legged in the center of the nest.

"The reason Blood Pills can accelerate bloodline fusion is that they stimulate one's own bloodline."

"To refine a Blood Pill, you need the life force of a similar bloodline creature, as well as your own..."

"Heart Blood!"

"How is this like a demonic cultivator?"

Shaking his head, Karl focused, and with a flick of his fingers, he drew a sword across his chest, right above his heart.

"Sss..."

His skin split, revealing his beating heart.

With a slight flick of his finger, a drop of heart blood flew out, suspended before him, and was engraved with a spell circuit.

The wound on his chest healed at a visible rate.

With the Abyssal Bloodline, Karl could now repair any part of his body, including his heart, and even opening the floodgates of his heart blood was no issue.

"Go!"

With a command, the heart blood, imbued with spells, shot towards the corpse in the center of the room, and a ball of blood light appeared.

The blood light enveloped the corpse, and as time passed, the Abyssal Crocodile slowly transformed into a Blood Pill.

Half a month later, the fusion rate of the bloodline had increased to 30%—32%, and his physique had improved to 5.9—6.4. After consuming a Blood Pill, both the bloodline fusion rate and his physique showed significant improvements, but his spirit power remained unaffected.

"My cultivation has skyrocketed!" Karl's spirits soared.

"Even if I take Blood Pills consecutively, the effects will weaken. But even the Blood Pills made from the second Abyssal Crocodile should increase the fusion rate by at least a little."

"If I successfully refine multiple batches of Blood Pills, advancing to the intermediate stage of the Bloodline Wizard path should be a piece of cake, right?"

"Hmm..."

"You're thinking too much."

"Using the flesh and blood of a First Rank Late Stage creature to refine Blood Pills will undoubtedly boost the fusion rate significantly. But even in another world, First Rank Late Stage beings are rare, especially those with Abyssal bloodlines."

"Overall, with the help of suitable medicinal assistance, progress is much faster than solitary cultivation."

Karl took a moment to compose himself, narrowing his eyes in deep thought.

'Advancement to a formal wizard requires a mandatory level of spirit power, but it seems that becoming a Second Circle Wizard doesn't have this requirement.'

'The Bloodline Wizard path emphasizes bloodline fusion rate and physique, requiring less spirit power. Isn't this an unconventional path, akin to the Knight's path?'

Karl stroked his chin, pondering.

'After reaching the legendary realm on the Knight's path, is there still room for further growth?'

There seemed to be a path, but he wasn't convinced.

Currently, there were three known cultivation paths: the Wizard's path, the Knight's path, and the Priest's path.

The Priest's path, also known as the Faith path, was the one Karl knew the least about.

In both worlds, the Knight's path was affiliated with deities, and these deities primarily promoted the Faith path.

Since the Faith path was inseparable from deities, and Knights, despite their devotion, possessed power that belonged to themselves, they naturally faced suppression.

"Deities allow the Knight's path to exist because war is inevitable, but they will undoubtedly set a threshold."

"The strength of Knights cannot surpass this threshold."

...

"Karl."

Bern Wizard stood up and poured some wine.

"Why are you so distracted?"

"Oh!" Karl snapped out of his thoughts. "Sorry, I was pondering some cultivation issues."

"Even when you're out for a drink, you're thinking about cultivation. No wonder you became a formal wizard at such a young age." Enid lifted her wine glass. "Try this, it's Dwarf Lambs Wine, brewed from a special type of grain. It has a unique flavor."

Karl took a sip, his eyes lit up, and he began gulping down the wine.

"I knew you'd like it." Enid smiled.

"But drinking like this is a bit wasteful."

"Enid, you're quite knowledgeable about wine, aren't you?" Karl turned to her, surprised. "That's rare."

Wizards who enjoyed drinking were uncommon, as they avoided anything that might cloud their judgment.

Wine was one such thing.

Female wizards who drank were even rarer.

"I've loved it since I was young." Enid raised her glass, her eyes distant. "Later, I never thought of giving it up."

"Having a hobby is actually a good thing." Bern Wizard spoke up. "Obsessively cultivating and pursuing knowledge only makes one dull and hinders cultivation."

At some point, the three of them had formed a small circle.

Enid, from the Nelson family, was a wizard with a timid nature and expertise in weaving.

Bern Wizard was a wandering cultivator who ran a shop in the market.

Despite being wizards for many years, their cultivation progress was slow, and they had given up on further advancement. Instead, they focused on networking.

Karl, as a disciple of the Sixth Circle Tower, became a natural target for their networking efforts due to his proximity.

"The dangers on the outskirts of the market haven't been cleared yet, making business difficult." Bern Wizard spoke up. "I heard the three great families are forcibly recruiting wizards from the market to eliminate the remaining beast tide?"

"Has this news spread already?" Enid was taken aback but nodded. "Yes, there are such rumors."

"The Second Circle Wizard from the Andrew Clan won't stay here forever. Everyone wants the market to return to peace, don't they...?"

The Andrew Clan controlled more than just this market.

"Karl," Bern began, "If we're going to clear the beast tide, should we do it together?"

"Hmm..." Karl furrowed his brow. "I might go with the other disciples from the tower, but I hope I won't be recruited. After all, I've just become a formal wizard, and I haven't truly mastered First Circle Sorcery yet." He offered a bitter smile.

"Oh, right!"

He remembered something and asked, "Enid, do you have any knowledge you'd recommend for me to learn flight spells?"

Enid was skilled in crafting magical items, especially magic carpets, which were a market specialty. The magic carpet replicated the sorcery of flight.

"There's no need to go through all that trouble." Enid smiled. "You can come to me with any questions, and I'll give you a half-price discount."

As a formal wizard, she wouldn't overdo the favor, but she would still charge a fee.

"That's great!" Karl stood up to thank her. "I'll probably be bothering you a lot in the future."

"Don't mention it, Karl." Enid waved her hand. "We're friends, and helping each other is the right thing to do."

"Hmm..."

"Isn't that your shop assistant down there?"

Karl turned and saw Lance sneaking towards the outskirts of the market, his brow furrowed in concern.

What was he up to?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end