The Heart's Intent Briefly Revealed, The Sea of Blood's First Enlightenment!

"Xun'er..."

The call, warm yet trembling slightly, reached her ears.

Xiao Xun'er froze completely.

The moment Lin Chen extended his arms and pulled Xiao Xun'er gently into his embrace.

The young girl's body stiffened instantly, as if she were ice dropped into warm water, even forgetting the rhythm of her breathing.

His embrace carried the scorching heat of someone who had just returned from a battlefield of blood and fire, mingled with a faint scent of iron.

Yet, it strangely made her feel at ease:

It was a sense of stability found in being protected by strength, a scent unique to Lin Chen that she had never felt from anyone else.

A crimson flush ignited on Xiao Xun'er's cheeks, spreading from her earlobes down to her neck.

Even her delicate collarbones were veiled in a thin layer of red.

Having grown up to this age, she had never had such intimate contact with a member of the opposite sex.

With his cold yet scalding scent lingering at the tip of her nose, her heart hammered against her chest like a drum.

Even her glass-like eyes misted over, her long lashes fluttering in a panic.

Like butterfly wings swaying precariously in the wind:

"Xun'er."

Lin Chen's voice was low, carrying a softness he hadn't even noticed himself.

His palm pressed gently against the nape of her neck, drawing her closer to him.

His fingertips brushed against her silky dark hair, the texture as smooth as fine silk:

"There are some things I must say, or I fear I won't be able to leave with a steady heart."

Xiao Xun'er did not push him away; instead, she buried her face in his chest.

She could clearly hear his powerful heartbeat, which was half a beat faster than usual.

This subtle change made her heart tremble, and she could only manage a muffled "Mn."

Her fingertips subconsciously tightened on the hem of his black robe, pulling the fabric into deep wrinkles.

As if by doing so, she could hold onto something:

"These past four years, the tea you brewed has suited my taste the best."

Lin Chen lowered his head, resting his chin on the crown of her hair, his voice carrying a rare sense of ease.

"The medicinal pills you handed me always arrived just in time to save me."

"And... when you are by my side."

"I don't always have to think about how to win the next slaughter."

He paused, as if weighing his words.

In the end, he was as direct as the sword in his hand:

"Being with you, I feel at peace."

"This kind of gentleness is something no one else can give."

Xiao Xun'er looked up abruptly, colliding with his deep, dark eyes.

Gone was the icy killing intent of the past; in its place was a clear, scorching emotion, like magma surging beneath a layer of ice.

It took her breath away, and her eyes turned red in an instant.

"I know you understand the path I must take—a path of blades and blood, surrounded by formidable enemies."

Lin Chen's thumb gently brushed over her reddened earlobe, his movements filled with cautious cherishing.

The thin calluses on his fingertips grazed her delicate skin, causing her to shiver slightly.

"But listen to me: there is no obstacle on the path I, Lin Chen, choose to walk that I cannot trample underfoot."

"Be it the scum blocking my way or gifted, powerful enemies."

"I will not retreat!"

"If I want to leave, no one can stop me."

"If I want to return, no one can block me."

His tone carried an unquestionable dominance, yet it was wrapped in a tenderness that made her heart tremble:

"So, wait for me."

"Don't let your imagination run wild, and don't live in fear."

"I will sever everything that stands in my way, just as I severed the roots of the Jialie Clan."

"Then I will stand before you and drink the tea you brew once more."

"When that time comes, I will tell you about the world outside, and tell you how many blind fools I've slain."

Xiao Xun'er's tears finally spilled over, falling like pearls with broken strings onto his black robe.

They bloomed into a small, dark stain.

She sniffled, her voice thick with tears, yet exceptionally firm:

"I will wait."

"No matter how long it takes."

"Even if... even if you return covered in wounds, I will still brew the hottest tea for you."

Lin Chen looked at her red, teary eyes, like a rabbit dampened by dew, and his heart softened.

He raised his hand to wipe away her tears with his thumb, his movements clumsy yet gentle:

"Why cry? It's not as if I'm not coming back."

"My, Lin Chen's, life is tough; it's not that easy to die."

"I'm not crying."

Xiao Xun'er stubbornly turned her face away, yet she leaned closer into his embrace of her own accord.

Her small hands gripped his lapels:

"I'm just... afraid you might forget the way back."

"I could never forget."

Lin Chen tightened his arms, pulling her closer as if to knead her into his very bones and blood.

"Wherever you are, that is the signpost."

"As long as I know you are waiting, no matter how far the road, I can walk back."

This embrace was no longer stiff, filled with a silent, mutual understanding.

The night dew dampened their hair, and the moonlight spilled over them, coating them in a layer of silver frost.

Only when Xiao Xun'er's cheeks were burning hot enough to smoke did Lin Chen finally release her.

His fingertips gave her cheek one last pinch, earning him a shy, annoyed glare.

That vivid, lively expression made the corners of his lips curl into a smile:

It was a sense of relaxation he hadn't felt in days of constant slaughter.

"Wait for me."

He turned, his black robe billowing in the night wind, his back as straight as a pine, without a hint of hesitation.

Soon, he merged into the ink-black night.

Xiao Xun'er stood where she was, gazing in the direction he had vanished.

She raised a hand to touch her burning cheek, where the warmth of his fingertips still lingered.

Under the moonlight, her smile was both sweet and bitter, like holding a green olive, and it did not fade for a long time.

Several days later, on the eastern outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Qingshan Town.

When Lin Chen stepped into the Yingkelai Inn, the scent of blood on him was almost dripping.

It drew side-glances from the innkeeper and the patrons alike.

He couldn't be bothered with their wary or fearful gazes and simply tossed out a pouch of gold coins:

"The best room, and two pots of strong liquor."

The innkeeper nimbly caught the coins and personally led him to the innermost room on the second floor.

Closing the door to shut out the noise from below, Lin Chen finally took off his blood-stained black robe.

It revealed the blood-soiled fighting gear underneath.

He first gulped down half a pot of strong liquor, the spicy liquid sliding down his throat.

Only then did he suppress the surging, violent aura within him.

Once his breathing steadied, he took the cyan jade slip from his storage ring.

The jade slip bloomed with a cyan light, merging into the center of his brow.

The contents of the Void-Splitting Sword Art surged in like a tide:

Earth-tier high-level Dou Technique!

The sword moves were fierce, capable of splitting the void, and they resonated faintly with the killing intent of the Yuantu Abi Twin Swords.

A flash of surprise crossed Lin Chen's eyes, followed by a slight upturn of his lips.

Xun'er was truly attentive; she had even remembered the sword technique he had only mentioned in passing.

He ran through the contents of the sword art in his mind before centering his focus:

"Good stuff, but for now, it is not the time to practice it."

What he needed was power that could rapidly elevate his cultivation, a brutal strength capable of smashing through every obstacle.

After resting for half a day and replenishing his water and dry rations, Lin Chen picked up the Yuantu Abi Twin Swords.

He plunged into the Magical Beast Mountain Range once more.

He headed straight for the inner perimeter, ignoring the low-level monsters he encountered along the way.

He didn't even spare them a glance; the gains were too meager.

This time, he had no intention of slowly searching for prey; he went straight for a Tier 4 Bloodthirsty Demon Wolf.

Deep in the dense forest:

"Hiss!"

The demon wolf was gnawing on the carcass of an antelope, but upon seeing Lin Chen intrude, it jerked its head up.

Its dark green eyes were filled with malice as it roared and lunged at him.

Lin Chen didn't even draw his swords; he sidestepped the wolf's claws and struck its forehead with a single finger:

"Boom!"

Blood-colored battle qi erupted, instantly shattering its brains.

"Not enough."

Lin Chen frowned, dragged the wolf carcass to the center of a valley, and used his strength to tear it into pieces!

"Rip!"

The crisp sound of snapping tendons and bones echoed through the forest as hot blood splattered across the rocks and grass.

"Hiss!"

The stench spread instantly, like a silent horn, declaring a challenge to the magical beasts in the vicinity.

In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the ground trembled slightly, and a Tier 4 Iron-Armed Ape came roaring toward him.

It stood two zhang tall with arms as thick as pillars, smashing toward Lin Chen's face with a sound that tore through the air.

"Boom!"

Lin Chen didn't retreat but advanced instead, thrusting the Abi sword backhanded at an incredibly tricky angle.

It pierced precisely under the ape's armpit, the weakest point in its defense.

Though, it made no difference where he stabbed.

He simply wanted to hone his combat techniques; he couldn't rely solely on the sharpness of his weapons!

"Puchi!"

The blade sank in to the hilt, and with a twist of his wrist, Lin Chen unleashed his battle qi, shredding its heart!

The Iron-Armed Ape's massive body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust, its limbs still twitching.

Lin Chen stepped onto its chest, and blood battle qi surged from the soles of his feet:

"Hiss!"

In less than ten breaths, the giant beast was reduced to a shriveled husk.

Only its bulging eyes remained fixed on the sky, wide with the refusal to die.

The scent of blood grew thicker, so dense it was almost impossible to disperse.

Soon, two Tier 3 Variegated Leopards lunged at him from front and back, their movements as swift as lightning.

Their sharp claws, glinting with cold light, raked toward his throat and heart.

Lin Chen's figure flickered as he pushed Shadow Escape to its limit, turning into a blur to evade the attack.

The Yuantu sword transformed into a streak of blood-colored lightning—"Swish! Swish!"

"Hiss!"

Two leopard heads soared into the sky!

The scalding columns of blood sprayed all over him, splashing onto his face with a warm sensation.

He casually kicked the twitching leopard carcasses into the pile and slung his twin swords over his shoulders.

His gaze swept coldly across the surroundings, like a hunter waiting for his prey:

"Come faster."

As if in response to his provocation, a Tier 4 Venom Python soon slithered out from a crevice in the cliff face.

Its twenty-meter-long body coiled like a small mountain, its maw opening to reveal two curved fangs.

Venomous saliva dripped onto the ground, instantly corroding it with a trail of white smoke.

Lin Chen charged straight into the poisonous mist, and the moment the python's body coiled around him.

He struck with both swords, attacking from left and right!

"Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!"

A flash of sword light passed, and the Venom Python was sliced into several segments, its foul-smelling entrails spilling all over the ground.

Green venom splashed onto the rocks, emitting a sizzling sound.

Lin Chen stepped onto the remains of the python's head, letting his Blood Dou Qi ravenously devour its essence and blood.

A cold, sharp smile curled the corners of his lips.

For someone cultivating the Blood Scripture, this level of toxin was nothing more than trivial nourishment.

As the scent of blood grew increasingly thick!

A sweet, intoxicating aroma permeated the air, drawing more and more magical beasts toward him!

A Tier 4 Iron-Armored Rhino, a pack of Tier 3 Wind Wolves, and even a Tier 4 Shadow Demon Bear...

"Chi! Chi! Chi!"

But not a single magical beast could withstand a single strike!

The valley was soon piled high with corpses, the stench of blood so thick that even flies dared not approach.

Lin Chen moved through the beast horde like a blood-bathed Asura:

"Chi!"

Every swing of the Yuantu and Abi swords brought with it the crisp sound of snapping bones and tearing flesh.

Wherever the sword wind swept, the limbs of magical beasts went flying.

When there was no time to bring his sword back for defense, he simply used his fists to shatter the beasts' skulls:

With a crisp "crack."

Brains mixed with blood splattered onto his face, yet he did not even blink.

He grabbed another beast by the neck with a backhand motion, exerted force, and snapped its neck clean off.

When a Tier 4 Golden Eagle dove down, its talons like steel hooks raking toward his back.

Lin Chen couldn't even be bothered to draw his sword; he sidestepped the talons, grabbed the Golden Eagle's wing with a backhand grip, and pulled with sudden force:

"Crack!"

The wing was torn clean off, and the Golden Eagle let out a shrill, miserable screech that echoed through the valley.

Lin Chen slammed it into the ground and crushed its chest with one foot, his blood-colored Dou Qi surging wildly into it.

In mere moments, the bird with a ten-foot wingspan was reduced to a thin husk, its feathers scattered across the ground.

The pile of corpses grew higher and higher, nearly swallowing him whole.

Yet Lin Chen's aura grew ever more potent:

Dou Ling Four-Star!

Dou Ling Five-Star...

The Blood Dou Qi roared within his body, scouring his meridians until they were tougher than ever, a faint red light flowing beneath his skin.

Even the depths of his soul stirred with a scorching tremor; it was the sign that the Blood Sea divine ability of the Blood Scripture was awakening amidst the slaughter:

It felt as if, should he wish it, the mountain of corpses and sea of blood beneath his feet could be transformed into infinite combat power.

Only when the valley could hold no more corpses and the very air had turned viscous did Lin Chen leap to the top of the pile and spread his arms:

"Devour!"

As his low, resonant shout fell, his Blood Dou Qi transformed into a massive vortex.

The pile of corpses withered at a speed visible to the naked eye, their essence and blood surging into his body like a tidal wave.

The essence of the Tier 4 magical beasts was as violent as Dotō, while the essence of the Tier 3 beasts flowed like streams.

Mixed with the roars of countless beast souls, they surged and collided within his meridians, only to be forcibly refined by the Blood Scripture.

This tempering was far more thorough than any before:

The Dou Qi in his Dantian compressed frantically, shifting from dark red to a deep, profound purple.

As it circulated, it emitted a sharp, metallic screeching; his sinews and bones were scoured repeatedly by the essence blood.

They emitted faint "click-clack" sounds.

Every inch of his muscle was filled with explosive power, as if magma were flowing beneath his skin.

Most miraculous of all was his soul; amidst the impact and fusion of countless beast souls, ripples stirred in his silent sea of consciousness.

His perception spread outward like a spiderweb, making even the trajectory of falling leaves miles away clearly discernible.

The vague insights regarding the "Blood Sea" within the Blood Scripture!

At this moment, they became clear for an instant:

It was a supreme state of mind, one of proving the Dao through slaughter and nourishing the soul with blood.

"BOOM!"

The barrier to his breakthrough shattered upon impact.

Six-star Dou Ling peak!

Lin Chen snapped his eyes open, a flash of blood-red light flickering through his pupils before clarity returned.

He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body:

"BANG!"

His fingertips could even crush the air, emitting a faint, explosive crackle.

He looked down at his blood-stained hands, his twin blades gleaming with an eerie crimson under the moonlight.

Yet, a cold, sharp smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

This kind of slaughter, this kind of power—this was the only thing worthy of the path he had chosen to walk.

But there was something more important now; he had actually caught a glimmer of inspiration regarding the divine ability, Boundless Blood Sea!

He had to seize it!

Without hesitation, he immediately sprinted toward the outer perimeter; he needed to find a place to digest these insights!

Just as he stepped into the relatively safe outer region!

"ROAR!!!"

From a cliff he had passed earlier!

Came the roar of a magical beast.

The sound carried an unprecedented level of ferocity.

Immediately following it was the panicked, frantic scream of a young girl!

Lin Chen initially intended to turn and leave:

Slaughter in the Magical Beast Mountain Range was commonplace; survival of the fittest was the rule here.

But he suddenly stopped in his tracks:

A cliff? A young girl?

His eyes narrowed, and he gripped his twin blades.

His figure moved like a ghost, darting toward the direction from which the sound had come!