Stronger with Crimson Modifier-Chapter 123: Omen [4]

When she broke through to the Martial Arts Family realm, Han Yuan had only just reached the Entry-Level.

Yet now, that guy’s strength was nearly catching up to hers, while she was still stuck at the Martial Arts Family level, with no hope of reaching the Qi Sect realm.

Not long ago, her junior brother, Hu Qi, was already on the verge of reaching Qi Blood Perfection. How long had it even taken him?

It filled her with a renewed sense of urgency.

On top of that, with the appearance of the passage in Anshan City, more Black Blood Species were bound to emerge.

Relying solely on the strength of a Martial Arts Family practitioner was already becoming inadequate.

At this thought, the conflict in her eyes rapidly faded.

"Master, you were wrong. State of mind is bullshit. As long as I’m strong enough, I can suppress and shatter anything!"

With that, she picked up the Blood-Gold Vermilion Fruit and shoved it into her mouth.

In the past few days, this Blood-Gold Vermilion Fruit had undergone all sorts of tests. There were no problems; it was indeed the real thing.

The moment the Blood-Gold Vermilion Fruit entered her mouth, Helinta felt the once-firm fruit rapidly liquefy into a cold, sanguine stream with a coppery tang.

Helinta wasn’t overly alarmed by this strange phenomenon. Melting upon contact was one of the known traits of the Blood-Gold Vermilion Fruit.

What she failed to notice, however, was that within the liquefied fruit, a single drop of blood as thick as ink had materialized out of thin air. It mixed in with the rest, and she swallowed it down along with the fruit’s essence.

The next moment, a torrential power erupted within her.

The bottleneck at the Red Snake Secret Martial Eighth Layer, where she had been stuck for years, finally showed signs of giving way.

’The Blood-Gold Vermilion Fruit really lives up to its name!’

Joy blossomed in Helinta’s heart, and a smile touched her usually impassive face.

As time went on, the bottleneck of the Red Snake Secret Martial Eighth Layer shattered as expected. She instantly reached the Ninth Layer, the Peak of Qi Blood Soul Condensation for a Martial Arts Family practitioner.

HISS! A massive, constantly writhing red Blood Snake materialized behind her.

At first, the Blood Snake’s outline was faint, but as time passed, it sharpened visibly. Its serpentine body loomed in and out of view in the darkness.

Though faint, its blood-red glow was exceptionally striking in the quiet night.

Scale after scale materialized, each seemingly carved with meticulous care, shimmering with an eerie, dark-red luster.

In just a few breaths, the spectral Blood Snake had almost solidified into a tangible form.

Feeling the torrential power coursing through her, Helinta sensed that she could break through to an even higher realm at any moment.

’Still, the effects of this Blood-Gold Vermilion Fruit are a little too potent.’

Just as she was pondering this, a layer of inky black mist suddenly began to coil around the Blood Soul behind her.

’Hm? Oh no!’

Helinta sensed that something was wrong, and her expression changed drastically.

But before she could even decide on a course of action, it was already too late.

Layers of black mist enveloped her, and her struggles gradually weakened.

After a long moment, the black mist dispersed, and Helinta’s figure reappeared.

But compared to before, her golden hair now hung in disarray, and her wine-red eyes had grown a shade darker.

At the same time, a plume of twisting black smoke coalesced before her, forming a scene.

Within a grand and lofty hall, a throne forged from solid Gold stood suspended in the void.

A figure in a black robe, as powerful as a Divine Spirit, sat high upon it, exuding an awe-inspiring aura.

His figure seemed to merge with the very space around him, solemn and imposing.

Light spilled down from above,

tracing a mysterious silhouette upon his form.

Suddenly, he looked up.

"Helinta, I will grant you sufficient power. Do not disappoint me."

"Yes! Master, rest assured! I will be here to welcome Your advent!"

Helinta spoke in a low voice. At the same time, a fervent gleam lit up her eyes, like a Fanatic who had just beheld a True God.

At her words, the figure said no more.

The mirror of black smoke instantly dissipated.

...

「A few days later.」

A biting wind howled outside the window. Inside a room in the villa, the central air conditioning was running, pumping out hot air and keeping it as warm as spring.

In the living room, Hu Qi sat cross-legged.

————

[Bloodline: Three-Eyed Primordial Serpent (4%)]

[Three-Eyed Primordial Snake Spirit Devouring Map (Essence Element Chapter, Fifth Layer)]

[Seven Evils Saber (Fifth Layer) Traits: Sheep Horn Fiend, Sharp Celestial Dog Fiend, Erosion]

[Vajra Body (Perfection) Trait: Indestructible Golden Body]

[Tai’e Body (Perfection) Trait: Immune to Water and Fire]

...

[Modification Points: 2 (31%)]

Feeling the even more tempestuous power within him, Hu Qi let out a long sigh of relief.

His Three-Eyed Primordial Snake Bloodline had increased to four percent.

The Three-Eyed Primordial Snake Spirit Devouring Map, meanwhile, had been raised to the Fifth Layer, which was equivalent to the Middle Stage of the Qi Blood Smoke realm.

In addition, he had also cultivated two defensive Qi Blood Techniques during this time to enhance his physique.

After all, Hu Qi knew firsthand the benefits of a powerful defense.

Unfortunately, perhaps because his physique was too strong or his Life Level was too high, raising the two Qi Blood Techniques from Entry-Level to Perfection had only cost six Modification Points.

The boost to his defense was noticeable, but not significant.

In fact, after he raised the second technique to Perfection, the increase was so minuscule it was practically negligible.

But that was to be expected. After all, these were just ordinary Qi Blood Techniques. For practitioners of a Martial Arts Family to truly improve their strength, they had to rely on Inheritance Secret Martial Arts.

His current strength was now a great deal higher than before.

Even the most prodigious Secret Martial Artist would feel inadequate when faced with Hu Qi’s rate of progress.

"It’s a shame the number of Lower-Rank Black Blood Species is still too low," he muttered.

If there were more Lower-Rank Black Blood Species for him to devour, he feared his progress would be even faster.

To others, the Black Blood Species were man-eating monsters. But to Hu Qi...

...they were the exact opposite. They were walking Treasures of Heaven and Earth.

Consuming them not only strengthened his physique but also allowed him to collect a large number of Modification Points. It was like killing two birds with one stone.

’What made him curious, though, was the true source of these Modification Points.’

’He had once assumed it was some kind of substance contained within the bodies of Exotic Beasts.’

’And after the Camphor Tea Duck ate the Black Blood, it seemed to confirm his theory.’

’But when he used his Spirit Devouring Talent to devour a Black Blood Species, he still got that feeling of being strengthened by the Talent, and he also received Modification Points.’

’Did this mean that the Modification Points weren’t actually related to some substance inside the Black Blood Species and Exotic Beasts, but were something else entirely?’

’Of course, this was just a guess. He had no way of knowing the actual reason.’

Hu Qi quickly washed up, then went to check on the Camphor Tea Duck.

It had eaten the Black Blood he brought back yesterday, but its size and feathers remained the same. There didn’t seem to be any major changes.

This was different from what he had imagined.

Of course, it was also possible there hadn’t been enough Black Blood.

’I can try feeding it some more later and see what happens.’

"QUACK QUACK..."

As if seeing Hu Qi, the Camphor Tea Duck flapped its wings and let out an eager cry.

"You little rascal..."