Blood Bats

"What's wrong with me?" Man Yao raised her jade-white arm and asked in confusion.

"You've been poisoned, Man Yao," Qian Xunji said slowly.

"The air in the City of Slaughter carries a certain toxin. Under the effects of the toxin in the air and the stimulation of your own Killing Intent, you need blood to calm the agitation within you. Moreover, the toxins in that blood can also excite people and even make them stronger. But once the deadly poison within is triggered, I'm afraid no one can resist it. Fortunately, you've never drunk Bloody Mary, so the poisoning isn't deep yet. For now, I can only use my Soul Power to help you suppress it temporarily."

"Still, this only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. I need to think carefully about how to detoxify you," Qian Xunji said with a frown.

"Mhm. I believe in you, Brother Qin," Man Yao said slowly with a smile.

Seeing this, Qian Xunji stroked Man Yao's head and said fondly, "Don't worry. I'll definitely find a way to cure your poison. For now, let's leave this place first."

Qian Xunji carefully examined their surroundings and was surprised to discover that beyond the Circular Platform beneath their feet, which was five meters in diameter, lay a bottomless abyss.

Besides that, a Narrow Path less than half a foot wide—only wide enough for both feet to stand side by side—led into unknown darkness. It was also the only route from their platform to the outside.

Qian Xunji and Man Yao held hands as they slowly made their way toward the dark end of the path.

After an unknown amount of time, the two felt the air grow scorching hot. A faint sheen of sweat appeared on Man Yao's smooth, jade-like forehead, and she panted heavily. The blood-red color in her eyes gradually surfaced again, showing signs of relapse.

Qian Xunji hurriedly had Man Yao sit cross-legged on the ground. From behind her, he slowly poured his golden Soul Power into her Limbs and Bones, regulating her condition and helping her suppress the poison. But this too only treated the symptoms, not the cause. Qian Xunji could not think of a solution for the time being, so he could only suppress it temporarily and consider the matter after they got out.

"Brother Qin, don't worry about me anymore. With a burden like me, just helping me suppress the poison will consume quite a bit of your Soul Power. If this continues, neither of us will be able to get out," Man Yao said weakly to Qian Xunji.

"What nonsense are you talking about? I'll definitely take you out. That's my promise to you," Qian Xunji said confidently.

"Alright, I've already suppressed the poison for you. Let's go. Pull yourself together," Qian Xunji urged.

The two of them rallied their spirits once more and continued forward.

Man Yao tightly gripped Qian Xunji's hand. His hand was not large, even somewhat slender, with long fingers that could easily hold her icy little hand. At that moment, Man Yao felt that if she could hold Qian Xunji's hand, she would be content even if she died here.

After walking for roughly another quarter of an hour, the air grew even hotter. Qian Xunji and Man Yao's clothes were nearly soaked through, sweat splashing onto their garments and turning into raindrops of varying sizes that gently fell to the ground.

"There should be magma below. The heat means we're getting closer and closer to the end of Hell Road." As soon as Qian Xunji finished speaking, he and Man Yao raised their heads at the same time and looked ahead. Within the surrounding Dark Red, they vaguely saw a faint glimmer flash by.

Gradually, that subtle sound entered their mental world as well. It was not loud, but its frequency was extremely rapid, and it was suddenly approaching them.

The buzzing grew louder and louder. Blood Red bats appeared in their sight one after another, numbering well over a thousand.

"What do we do?" Man Yao's expression immediately turned grim. Such a vast number of Blood Red bats was enough to threaten them. Moreover, she was still resisting the poison and could only use half of her strength.

Qian Xunji's expression remained unchanged. He reached out and drew Man Yao behind him, shielding her and leaving her with the sight of his slender yet powerful back.

"Don't worry. Leave it to me."

Those Blood Red bats flew quickly and closed in within moments. Their eyes were Blood Red as well. Upon spotting their targets, they let out harsh cries, exposing their sharp fangs. More than a thousand blood-colored bats flapped their wings together, bringing with them a foul, fishy gale.

But just as those Blood Red bats came within a hundred meters of Qian Xunji and Man Yao, Qian Xunji slowly uttered in a calm, icy voice, "Angel Domain."

A dazzling golden curtain of light instantly unfolded, shielding Qian Xunji and Man Yao as it spread rapidly outward. In the blink of an eye, it had expanded to a diameter of fifty meters. The Blood Red bats seemed to lose control of their bodies. Amid a string of shrill screams, the first several dozen bats that had lunged forward immediately stiffened like falling meteors and plunged into the abyss below.

This was Qian Xunji's fully awakened Angel Domain. Once the Angel Domain was deployed, it could cover several thousand square meters of airspace, and Qian Xunji was its absolute master. The Angel Domain could turn Qian Xunji illusory, increase his own strength by thirty percent, and weaken his enemies by ten percent. Within it, the domain was filled with holy power that continuously dissolved and purified the enemy's Soul Power. It could also greatly weaken the enemy's Sensory Ability. Even Teleportation could not escape the range of the Angel Domain.

The Blood Bats' special ability could not be disturbed by Mental Power, but there was one ability that was their natural bane: domains. Within a domain, their special ability would be affected. Much less Qian Xunji's Angel Domain, which was the nemesis of creatures with such dark attributes. The damage it inflicted would only be greater.

Man Yao stared blankly at the enormous golden curtain of light supporting itself before them. She had no idea what it was, only that the ability was incredibly powerful. It was also the first time she had seen Qian Xunji use it. [Since Man Yao had lived in the City of Slaughter since childhood, she lacked knowledge about Soul Masters and did not know many common facts about cultivation.]

The Blood Bats seemed incapable of feeling pain as they mindlessly crashed into Qian Xunji's domain, wave after wave, dying in unknown numbers without end. After some time, those Blood Bats also sensed the domain's power. They hovered blankly in place, no longer daring to advance.

"Let's go." Qian Xunji grabbed Man Yao and hurried forward. The Blood Bats followed closely behind them from a short distance away.

"Annoying pests." Qian Xunji cursed under his breath and accelerated again.

The surrounding air remained scorching hot and continued to grow hotter. Although the Blood Bats behind them were a threat, the rising heat from the abyss on both sides made the two even more vigilant.

"Screech!" A larger Blood Bat suddenly cried out. Immediately afterward, all the remaining Blood Bats began emitting piercing shrieks. Their cries were incredibly harsh, making Qian Xunji frown.

Then, he suddenly felt a foul wind blow from ahead, sending chills down his spine. He stopped and looked forward.

Directly ahead of them, beneath the Narrow Path, hung upside down an enormous creature. Under the faint reddish glow around it, it emitted a dark golden radiance.

The creature was over four meters long, and its two enormous claws gripped the Narrow Path. Each claw was more than a meter across, its sharp talons embedded deep in the stone.

Amid the shrieks of the countless Blood Bats, a pair of enormous wings slowly unfolded from that dark golden body. Its terrifying wingspan was actually ten meters wide. Its claws suddenly released their grip, and with a powerful flap of its gigantic wings, its massive body took flight. It was an incomparably huge bat.

Its Entire Body was dark gold. Most terrifyingly, it had three heads. All the Blood Bats swiftly swept through the air and gathered behind the massive Dark Gold Three-Headed Bat.

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