Blood Restrictor

Jia Meng stood in the underground passage. Beneath the dim lights, his shadow stretched tall, and confidence shone in his eyes.

He crossed his arms and spoke in a low, firm voice. "If you want to talk about fighting, comparing your style with Mo Hei Shen Zai's is the only way."

A trace of pride slipped into his words. It was clear he believed that his strength had been honed through countless battles.

Jia Meng continued calmly, "I can sense cursed energy, and I'm exceptionally sensitive to my own. When I fought you, I kept adjusting my cursed energy. In the end, I landed my first Black Flash."

His voice held a hint of control, as though he could use his cursed energy and physical strength exactly as he pleased.

After a brief pause, he went on:

"Then I immediately tried to land another Black Flash. The second time I fought you, I kept adjusting my blood pressure, heart rate, and other physical factors. I actively approached that state again and successfully landed a second Black Flash. The next one came on the third try."

Mo Hei Shen Zai listened to Jia Meng, deeply shaken.

He had never met anyone with such formidable strength and such profound understanding and control. He couldn't help feeling a deep respect for Jia Meng.

However, Jia Meng showed no interest in Mo Hei Shen Zai's admiration. He continued:

"You don't need to worry about those details. Even if I tell you, you still can't use cursed energy, and you can't land a Black Flash. I'm just talking to kill time."

Mo Hei Shen Zai was taken aback, his admiration for Jia Meng vanishing in an instant.

He drew a deep breath and tried to steady himself. "What exactly do you want? I'm trying to have a friendly chat with you, and you're just making fun of me."

Jia Meng smiled faintly, as if he'd already seen through Mo Hei Shen Zai's reaction. "Then I'll get straight to the point. I need you to be my assistant."

Mo Hei Shen Zai faltered for a moment, then wore a complicated expression.

"I'm supposed to be your assistant? If someone as strong as you can't handle it, what use would I be?"

Jia Meng shook his head, his eyes revealing a profound ambition.

"This isn't an ordinary assistant job. I'm going to build an entirely new world of sorcery. I can handle the work myself, but it'll be tiring, and I don't want to wear myself out. That's why I need help. You're one of the people I've chosen."

His voice was steady and resolute, as if he could already see the future.

Mo Hei Shen Zai looked into Jia Meng's passionate eyes, and an indescribable feeling stirred within him.

He knew he had already been drawn into a storm that would engulf everything.

In the dim, narrow underground space, the traces left behind by the battle were plain to see. Dust hung in the air, mingling with the smell of blood and a faint, pungent odor.

Mo Hei Shen Zai stood before Jia Meng, staring at the young man's ambitious face. His heart was a jumble of emotions.

"You want to change the world of sorcery? What makes you think you can? You're making me laugh."

Mo Hei Shen Zai's voice was laced with contempt, as though he doubted Jia Meng's sincerity, yet also recognized the unusual power he possessed.

Jia Meng laughed softly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. His confidence was so compelling that it was hard not to believe him.

"Whatever you say. I can leave now, right?"

Mo Hei Shen Zai picked up the cursed tool that had been thrown to the ground and prepared to leave the dangerous place.

Jia Meng didn't try to stop him.

"There are still three things you need to know."

His voice was cold and serious, as though he were announcing something important.

"First, I've confiscated your special cursed tool, the Inverted Spear of Heaven. Consider it my spoils."

A hint of unmistakable amusement appeared in Jia Meng's eyes. Mo Hei Shen Zai froze.

"What?!"

His voice was filled with shock and reluctance. The Inverted Spear of Heaven was the most precious cursed tool he owned. If not for the other man's strength, he would have tried to snatch it back.

"Second, I suggest you leave the city as soon as possible. If you stay, you might be killed. And if I have to save you, I'll charge you for it."

Jia Meng looked Mo Hei Shen Zai in the eye again. His gaze was filled with confidence and a trace of unmistakable arrogance.

"That's impossible. I already killed him!"

Mo Hei Shen Zai's voice held a note of panic. He couldn't accept the cruel truth.

But Jia Meng merely smiled faintly, as if he were talking about something perfectly ordinary.

"Believe it or not, he didn't die. He's only gotten stronger. If you see him again, you won't be his match—and I might not be able to save you."

Jia Meng's warning was well-intentioned. He didn't want Mo Hei Shen Zai to get killed by someone he'd once fought alongside.

Mo Hei Shen Zai waved dismissively. He knew Jia Meng was telling the truth, and so he chose to believe him.

After witnessing Jia Meng's strength, he found it much easier to accept that someone else might be stronger than him.

"Lastly, I didn't save you for nothing. You've been hit by my cursed technique. It won't affect you under normal circumstances, but if you try to do something I don't allow..."

Jia Meng's voice cut off. His body suddenly began to glow.

"Blood Manipulation: Blood Restrictor!"

As his words fell, Mo Hei Shen Zai suddenly felt the blood in his body surge out of control. He staggered and nearly collapsed.

His face turned deathly pale, and shock filled his eyes.

Jia Meng watched Mo Hei Shen Zai's reaction, a satisfied smile on his face.

He knew he had successfully planted the seeds of fear in the heart of this ambitious sorcerer.

And that fear was the first step toward controlling Mo Hei Shen Zai.

Mo Hei Shen Zai stood before Jia Meng, his eyes filled with wariness and caution. He couldn't accept that his life could be controlled by someone else.

"What do you mean?"

Mo Hei Shen Zai's voice was low and firm. Every word carried tremendous weight.

His eyes revealed a stubborn determination, as though he would rather fight to the death than surrender.

Jia Meng smiled faintly. His smile held a trace of mischief and dark amusement.

"Nothing much. Since we're bound to either kill each other or work together the next time we meet, we might as well trust each other from the start."

His voice was calm and confident, as though everything were already under his control.

Mo Hei Shen Zai's eyes turned cold. He stared at Jia Meng, as if trying to pierce straight through him.

"You're threatening me."

His voice held unmistakable displeasure, as though he resented Jia Meng's words.

Jia Meng shrugged, showing that he didn't care.

"If you insist on seeing it that way, there's nothing I can do. But didn't you already throw away your pride? What are you holding on to now?"

His words were sharp and merciless, as though he were reminding Mo Hei Shen Zai of the self he had once left behind.