Journey to the East, Part Four: The Vampire

"The ability to control blood?"

Li Ye's pupils constricted, and his mind immediately began searching for Servants who could possess such a power.

"Could it be a vampire?"

Li Ye didn't have time to think further. He casually evaporated the blood arrow with a backhand strike, only to find a sea of fire rushing towards him!

Only then did Li Ye notice the composition of the sea of fire.

It was a vast expanse of crimson. The so-called flames were merely an illusion; what was truly attacking Li Ye was an ocean of blood imbued with a powerful curse!

Bang!!

Distracted by the sea of blood, Li Ye was caught off guard. It felt like being hit head-on by a high-speed train traveling at 350 kilometers per hour. Li Ye's feet left the ground, and he was instantly propelled far away from Sanzang's location.

The surrounding scenery blurred as it rapidly receded.

"What the hell was that?"

Although Li Ye wasn't seriously injured, the Servant, who had transformed into a beast, was tightly gripping his shoulder, attempting to restrain his movements.

What perplexed Li Ye even more was the look of longing in the Servant's eyes.

Yes, longing.

Li Ye found it hard to believe that he was seeing an almost insane desire in the eyes of a middle-aged man, a desire for a part of his body—

"Is it my blood?!"

The hands gripping his shoulder felt like they could tear it off. Heavy breaths, carrying the stench of blood, washed over him.

Reinforcing his body with a large amount of magic power, Li Ye, who was unharmed, leaned back slightly.

Screech—

A flash of crimson lightning erupted in the narrow gap between Li Ye and the Servant.

Bang bang!

Li Ye struck with lightning speed, landing two consecutive punches on the Servant's waist armor. The immense force directly made the Servant almost let go of Li Ye.

Though he didn't manage to repel the Servant, Li Ye's punches bought him enough space to execute his next move!

"Hoo hoo—"

The Servant, incited by Li Ye's attack and its bestial nature, suddenly opened its mouth. Fangs like a wild beast seemed poised to pierce Li Ye's skin and suck his blood!

Splash.

He actually heard the sound of waves. Li Ye immediately glanced around.

He saw that the surroundings were enveloped in blood-red. Flames, accompanied by the sound of waves, slowly approached him, as if intending to swallow him whole.

Li Ye didn't know what would happen if he came into contact with this sea of blood and fire, but judging by the pervasive curse energy in the air, it certainly wouldn't be good.

With a rough estimate, Li Ye knew that delaying any longer would only be disadvantageous. He couldn't possibly let this Servant bite him.

Screech.

Crimson lightning flared again, flowing rapidly along Li Ye's body. Taking advantage of the space created when the Servant was knocked back by Li Ye, he abandoned his punches and used his elbow, his strongest attack, to strike again.

Elbow strike!

The blow, compressed to its limit, landed heavily on the chest armor, emitting a muffled roar.

Boom!

The next instant, Li Ye felt his shoulder loosen. The berserk Servant had been sent flying by Li Ye's elbow strike!

Using the force of this attack, Li Ye successfully stopped himself and landed back in the yellow sand.

"Madness Enhancement, losing all reason and left with only desire, huh?"

Having successfully created distance, Li Ye glanced at the rampaging Servant. At this point, Li Ye had recognized the Servant's identity.

The world-famous vampire—Vlad the Third, or Count Dracula.

If he hadn't been subjected to that berserker flame, this summoned Servant, suspected to be Vlad the Third, would undoubtedly be a true hero.

"As expected, it revolves around him—"

Li Ye glanced at the receding sea of blood and fire. After he had sent Vlad the Third flying, the sea of blood and fire that had almost engulfed him also moved away with Vlad the Third.

From this, Li Ye concluded that the sea of blood and fire was merely a special territorial effect that moved in conjunction with Vlad the Third.

"Where's Sanzang?"

After confirming the identity of the suspected Vlad the Third Servant, Li Ye subtly glanced sideways, right in front of Vlad the Third, trying to locate Sanzang in the distance.

Given Sanzang's capabilities, this speed shouldn't have prevented him from reacting by now. He should have arrived normally.

But Li Ye couldn't see Sanzang anywhere, clearly indicating that the situation from his encounter with Nitocris was repeating itself.

"Did someone intercept Sanzang? Was this an ambush? Or did they choose to summon Heroic Spirits directly?"

Li Ye frowned. This series of actions left him baffled, as if they were carried out on a whim, doing whatever came to mind.

'!'

A foul wind swept in, and a suddenly approaching shadow bared its fangs at Li Ye.

Facing Vlad the Third's surprise attack, Li Ye didn't choose to confront him head-on. Instead, he retreated.

Centered on Vlad the Third, the sea of blood surged like waves. What concerned Li Ye even more was the blazing flames.

Using blood as a guide, cursing the world.

'What in the world is that? Is that how much blood a person can bleed?'

Li Ye frowned at the sight. The amount of blood was far beyond human capability, and it continuously fueled the maddening flames.

Li Ye maintained a certain distance from Vlad the Third, neither increasing nor decreasing the gap, to avoid entering the sea of blood and fire.

Seeing that he couldn't catch up to Li Ye, the enraged Vlad the Third tore open his own skin. The blood that gushed out transformed into arrows and shot towards Li Ye!

Not only were there arrows made from Vlad's own blood, but hundreds of fiery blood arrows also rose from the sea of blood and fire beside him, descending upon Li Ye like a deluge!

Facing Vlad the Third, the world-famous vampire, Li Ye dared not be careless. He instinctively reached for the hilt of his sword at his waist, only to remember that his weapon was damaged.

The blood arrows moved with extreme speed. As Li Ye fumbled for the wrong weapon, they were already upon his face, threatening to pierce him!

The potent curse contained within the blood arrows even caused Li Ye's own Dragon Blood to stir!

'Blood curse?!'

Lacking knowledge, Li Ye could only categorize it as a blood-related curse for the time being. Since it was related to blood, Li Ye couldn't let his own blood come into contact with it.

Screech.

Suddenly, Crimson Lightning enveloped Li Ye. Excess magic power surged through his body, greatly enhancing his Magic Resistance. It even formed a mana membrane on his skin, allowing him to directly confront the hundreds of blood arrows!

Instead of retreating, Li Ye advanced, charging towards Vlad the Third!

Screech.

Like melting snow in spring, the blood arrows made a sizzling sound as they came into contact with the Crimson Lightning on Li Ye's body. It was as if snowflakes were falling into a hot pan, instantly dissolving!

Li Ye stepped back into the range of the sea of blood and fire!

Unlike before, Li Ye shifted his offense and stomped his foot down fiercely!

Crimson mana roared out from Li Ye, spreading outwards like waves!

He actually carved out an opening in the sea of blood and fire, creating a path for himself to advance!

"Hoh hoh!"

Noticing Li Ye approaching him, the frenzied Vlad the Third lunged at Li Ye with excitement.

As Vlad the Third moved, fiery iron spikes shot out from the sea of blood and fire surrounding Li Ye.

And their target was singular.

It was Li Ye!