Chapter 98 Xiliu
"Novels really are deceptive," Bai Mo mumbled, clutching his throbbing head in regret. "All that talk about protagonists enduring soul-searing pain to purify their spiritual power impurities—this agony is simply unbearable. No normal person could withstand it. I swear, I'm never trying that again."
"Sea!" Bai Mo changed his attack method, instead learning another Blood Clan secret art. He transformed his spiritual will into an ocean, mobilizing vast amounts of spiritual power within his body to slowly erode the opponent's indestructible spiritual sword.
"This is also my clan's secret art! How could you learn it so quickly?!"
"Perhaps, it's just talent. Can you understand how I felt just now? You're indestructible, yet your opponent is a fluid that ignores physical attacks."
"Tell me! Why did my Immortal Body suddenly fail?!" Ou Gao La Si's sword hacked wildly, but as a remnant soul without a source, he was helpless against Bai Mo's evasive, attrition-based tactics. Though Bai Mo's spiritual power retreated three paces wherever the sword struck, the continuous drain gradually dimmed the sword's light.
"Tell me!" Ou Gao La Si continued to scream.
Bai Mo ignored Ou Gao La Si, continuing to sift through his memories. He knew that Ou Gao La Si could also access his memories, but this fragment of will, now driven mad, apparently no longer held that intention.
From a distance, Chen Bo and Ye Zi walked over, only to find shattered debris strewn across the ground and Bai Mo clutching his head.
"How'd it go?" Chen Bo asked.
"Farewell." Bai Mo bid goodbye to Ou Gao La Si's dying remnant will, then used his tidal spiritual power to utterly destroy the already shattered will-sword.
"It seems my power development should focus on deeply exploring spiritual will. However, judging by their centuries of research yielding little progress in this area, this path appears far too long. Ethereal and intangible spiritual will offers no clear starting point for research."
"He's finally stone dead," Bai Mo said, opening his eyes again to Chen Bo and Ye Zi.
"A dead enemy is a good enemy," Chen Bo quipped, offering a dry joke.
The instant Ou Gao La Si died, in an underground base somewhere in Siberia...
"Bang!" With a sharp crack, a wooden plaque on a table deep within the base suddenly shattered.
"We have a problem with a high-ranking cadre! Mr. Ou Gao La Si, the South European regional director, his life plaque has shattered! Notify His Excellency immediately!" shouted the monitor in the base.
"How could something happen to Ou Gao La Si? Anyone capable of completely killing him is certainly no ordinary foe. Xi Liu, go investigate discreetly first, and try not to expose yourself. Those three are still in seclusion; the day they emerge will be the day of our Blood Clan's resurgence! For now, let's not stir up any unnecessary trouble." A middle-aged man in the base instructed the black-clad figure behind him.
"Understood." Without another word, the black-clad figure took his leave.
Bai Mo scanned his surroundings, picked up the remaining pieces of Ou Gao La Si, and caught up with the two individuals walking ahead.
"How did you come up with the idea of creating thermal fatigue with rapid hot and cold cycling to denature and shed the liquid metal composing his body?"
"Because Council Member Liu went outside from a heated room yesterday, caught a cold from the wind, and that's how I thought of the rapid hot and cold alternating method."
The atmosphere immediately turned awkward.
"Are you injured?" Chen Bo attempted to break the awkward silence.
"Minor injuries. Accumulated some damage from close combat with him, but nothing serious. Honestly, after half a fight, neither of us was really hurt. If it weren't for your stroke of genius, I don't know how long we would've fought—until the year of the monkey and horse! His physical damage immunity combined with his immense strength and speed made him incredibly tough to beat."
"Did you notify Council Member Liu?" Bai Mo continued.
"Already notified."
"Once you've plundered everything in the castle, take the special plane back to the country. They have a massive organization behind them; if they were to send out their full force, the few of us wouldn't be able to stop them." Bai Mo had learned the full scale of the Blood Clan through Ou Gao La Si's memories. It was largely consistent with what Qiao Zhi had previously stated—there were indeed over a dozen second-generation vampires at his level.
The three returned to the castle, where the others were still busily searching for useful materials.
"Vampires really are vampires. A small room actually had a whole bathtub full of fresh blood; it's absolutely disgusting! All those tragic yet beautiful love stories between humans and vampires in movies are pure lies." Yue Yu's thoughts turned to the vampire films she used to watch, recalling how she'd been infatuated with vampire protagonists for a time, her emotions now a complicated tangle.
"Less romance, more textbooks, little sister." Yun Jie, as always, made a sarcastic remark to the disillusioned Yue Yu.
"I personally took down two vampires, what about you?"
"They were taken down by high-explosive grenades, not you. If everyone hadn't given you their grenades, allowing you the luxury of using ten to blow up a single vampire, do you think you would've gotten the kill count?"
"Well, you still don't have any combat achievements!"
"You're one to talk! I was almost done incapacitating the enemy when you suddenly teleported over to 'kill steal' and nearly blew me up too!"
"Both of you stop bickering, they're back." Liang Gong interjected, skillfully playing the peacemaker.
Chen Bo and Ye Zi walked at the front, with Bai Mo, his clothes once again tattered after the major battle, bringing up the rear.
"I didn't expect both of you to be captured." Bai Mo flickered into existence in front of the three spheres guarded by Li Changfeng, lightly patting two of them.
"You... you lunatic?!" A voice from one of the spheres clearly sounded panicked.
"For the experiments back at base, I hope the three of you will cooperate nicely." Bai Mo displayed a "benevolent" smile, but both the vampires inside the spheres and Li Changfeng, who was guarding them, felt a deep chill behind that smile.
"This person is definitely not to be trifled with," Li Changfeng secretly labeled Bai Mo.
"According to Ou Gao La Si's memories, high-level vampires generally possess some rudimentary spiritual power application methods. Once we return, I can systematically compile them. Of course, the most important gain is the Blood Clan's core cultivation technique, the 'Immortal Body' art. However, based on his deepest thoughts and years of contemplation, this technique seems to contain a massive pitfall. Unfortunately, by the time he realized this, he had already fallen too deep to extricate himself." Bai Mo began to ponder the gains from this battle.
"All units, retreat!" Chen Bo issued his final order as temporary squad leader after everyone had finished looting. Then, Bai Mo, Nian Xiong, and Li Changfeng each carrying a large silk sphere, began walking towards the town.
Upon reaching the town, Chen Bo, who was leading the group, linked up with the police who had already received instructions from their superiors. The police explained to the local residents that they were mercenaries hired by the military to capture dangerous creatures. Of course, the group paid no mind to what explanation the police used.
"Give me two minutes." Bai Mo handed the large silk sphere he was carrying to Rong Jingya, who was standing nearby, then teleported into the town's church.
"Was it you spying on me today? During the battle, I sensed someone in the direction of this town watching me through some means." Bai Mo asked the nun in an unfriendly tone.
"How dare you! She is..." A man in white knight armor rushed out, intending to drive Bai Mo away, but before he could finish his sentence, his windpipe was gripped by Bai Mo's hand, forcing him to swallow the rest of his words..
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