Lin Tian stood before the golden gate, the Wolf Soul Crystal glowing faintly against his chest, its resonance with the gate stirring his bloodline, a primal surge like a wolf pack thundering through his veins. The blue-lit forest's glowing particles drifted like fireflies, casting a serene glow on his and Su Xueyao's weary yet resolute faces, their shadows sharp against the moss. Su Xueyao's claws hung low, crusted with dried blood, her eyes narrowing, voice edged with caution: "Lin Tian, the killing intent beyond is too strong—feels like the Blood Emperor's inner circle."
Lin Tian nodded, fists clenching, golden eyes blazing with defiance: "Whatever waits, we face it together." He pushed the gate, crimson light blinding, air chilling to the bone, the stench of rot thick and cloying, like the breath of countless dead, a shiver crawling down his spine.
Beyond the gate lay a scarlet hall, its blood jade floor gleaming like a frozen lake of crimson, walls carved with vampire runes that pulsed faintly, a sinister heartbeat echoing through the stone. A blood-red coffin hovered at the hall's heart, radiating malice, its surface etched with writhing symbols, its aura like a living thing, oppressive and hungry. The System's voice rang out:
[Task: Protect Wolf Emperor's legacy, defeat Blood Marquis. Reward: Heavenly Wolf Bloodline Awakening Progress +25%, Mysterious Legacy 'Holy Wolf Flame,' Wolf Soul Crystal Activation, 9000 EXP]
Holy Wolf Flame? Lin Tian's pulse surged, sensing a faint trace of Lin Wanqing's aura in the coffin, his fists tightening, resolve burning like a forge, his bloodline roaring for battle.
The ceiling shattered with a deafening crash, stones raining like a storm, a crimson figure descending, its aura apocalyptic, crimson eyes locking onto Lin Tian with murderous precision, the air warping under its presence.
[Warning: Vampire Blood Marquis, Transcendent Level 3. Abilities: Blood Prison Tempest, Blood Soul Plunder. Motive: Seize Heavenly Wolf Bloodline. Recommendation: Exploit hall mechanisms, find weaknesses.]
"Blood Marquis?" Su Xueyao's face paled, claws clenching, breath uneven, but her eyes burned with unyielding fight. The Marquis sneered, crimson cloak billowing like a blood-soaked banner, bloodlight flooding the hall like a tidal wave: "Your bloodline will pave the Blood Emperor's return!" He waved, Blood Prison Tempest roaring, blood waves crashing with thunderous force, pillars cracking, stone shards flying like shrapnel.
Lin Tian roared, unleashing Moon-Devouring Strike, gold light devouring moonlight, fist winds clashing with waves, the floor exploding, heat washing over him, blood mist thick and suffocating. Su Xueyao's claws flashed, tearing the cloak, sparks showering like stars, the stench of burnt blood sharp in the air. The Marquis's blood spear materialized, piercing Lin Tian's shoulder, blood spraying in a crimson arc, pain searing through his veins like fire, his bones groaning under the force.
"Lin Tian!" Su Xueyao cried, claws deflecting a second spear, blood dripping from her arm, her face ashen, breath ragged. The System prompted:
[Environmental Analysis: Blood jade floor triggers mechanisms, weakens Marquis. Recommendation: Lure Marquis to center.]
Lin Tian gritted his teeth, charging the coffin, fist smashing blood jade, the floor quaking, bloodlight erupting to form a barrier, suppressing Blood Soul Plunder, the air scorching, heat pressing against his skin. The Marquis roared, tempest surging, pillars collapsing in a cascade of stone, shards flying like arrows, one grazing Lin Tian's cheek, blood trickling warm. He rolled, triggering flames, the blaze consuming the cloak, acrid smoke choking the hall, firelight casting wild shadows.
Su Xueyao struck, claws aiming for the Marquis's chest, repelled by his blood shield, her arm numbing, breath hitching. Lin Tian's Void-Splitting Slash tore the shield, fist winds slicing through, their fists and claws piercing, gold-blue light gashing the Marquis's chest, blood gushing in a torrent, the floor cracking beneath, blood pooling like a scarlet mirror.
[Critical Hit on Blood Marquis, gained 12000 EXP]
The Marquis staggered, eyes blazing with feral fury: "You've forced my hand…" He roared, bloodlight surging, forming a twelve-meter blood demon phantom, fangs gleaming, aura surging, air warping, the ground trembling under its weight, cracks spiderwebbing outward.
[Warning: Blood Marquis Berserk, abilities enhanced 60%. Abilities: Blood Demon Devour, Blood Soul Explosion. Recommendation: Full power, swift resolution.]
Lin Tian and Su Xueyao locked eyes, bloodline resonance peaking, their auras roaring like twin wolves, shattering the blood mist around them. "Holy Wolf Flame!" Lin Tian bellowed, golden flames erupting, Wolf Soul Crystal amplifying, blazing like a sun, incinerating the phantom, heat searing his skin, blood mist evaporating in hissing clouds. Su Xueyao's claws surged, tearing bloodlight, their synergy a deadly dance, gold-blue light weaving through the storm, a radiant force against the crimson tide.
The phantom roared, blood waves countering, Lin Tian's shield shattering, chest spraying blood, pain overwhelming, his vision darkening at the edges. Su Xueyao pulled him close, tears glinting in her eyes: "Don't die, human!" Her voice broke, claws shielding him, blood dripping onto his armor, her warmth a lifeline in the chaos.
Lin Tian grinned, blood staining his lips, voice hoarse: "With my partner here, I'm not going anywhere." He clasped her hand, pendant and coffin resonating, blue light flooding the hall, summoning a Wolf Emperor phantom, its aura earth-shaking, the stone trembling, dust raining from the ceiling.
[Heavenly Wolf Bloodline Awakening Progress: 95%! Unlocked: Holy Wolf Flame. Description: Ignites bloodline fire, burns evil, cost: Bloodline overdraw, 12-hour weakness. Wolf Soul Crystal Activated: Enhances skill power by 20%.]
"Holy Wolf Flame!" Lin Tian roared, flames thundering like a supernova, consuming the phantom, the air scorching, stone melting at the edges. The Marquis screamed, body fracturing, Blood Soul Explosion dissolving in the blaze, fading to black mist, the stench of burnt blood lingering, the hall falling silent save for their ragged breaths.
[Eliminated Blood Marquis, gained 20000 EXP. Current Level: Transcendent Level 2]
Lin Tian collapsed, breath faint, vision blurring, bloodline overdraw sapping his strength, his body trembling. Su Xueyao rushed to him, holding him tightly, tears falling: "You idiot…" Her voice trembled, her warmth grounding him, a quiet comfort amid the ruin.
The coffin opened, a stele emerging, inscribed "Heavenly Wolf Eternal," radiating a gentle glow, like Lin Wanqing's whisper, soft yet unyielding. The System noted:
[Obtained: Heavenly Wolf Stele. Item Description: Records Wolf Emperor's history, unlocks Blood Moon Forbidden Zone clues.]
Lin Tian gripped the stele, resolve burning through his exhaustion, voice low: "Xueyao, the Blood Emperor's plot is just beginning." Outside, the blood moon hung low, growls echoing through the stone, new threats stirring in the darkness, the air thick with impending danger, the path ahead fraught with trials.