Blood-Eyed Illusion

After confirming that he had become a vampire through and through, Li Ye was not overly saddened. He even felt a little secretly delighted.

"At least with these, I finally have some ability to protect myself in this world."

He knew that on the Cloud Soaring Continent, whether because of the environment or because that supposedly nonexistent spiritual energy of heaven and earth truly existed, people here generally possessed far better physical qualities than humans on Earth. Any ordinary young adult could probably take on three or four Earth humans alone.

Even without cultivation, many people enjoyed long lifespans under the nourishment of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

As for martial cultivators who had awakened the bloodline within them and possessed a Blood Soul, there was no need to even mention them.

After spending an entire night on it, Li Ye had roughly familiarized himself with those two talents.

As for the aspect of becoming stronger at night, he barely needed to cultivate it deliberately. It was like an instinct: once night fell, all his abilities would multiply. But once dawn came and the sun rose, the effect would vanish.

The other ability, Blood-Eyed Illusion, made him pay close attention.

"I still can't awaken the Blood Soul within me. This illusion technique is my only means of self-defense right now."

At that moment, the darkness outside the window was fading, and a rising sun slowly emerged on the horizon. Feeling the abundant power within his body quietly receding, Li Ye shook his head.

"During the day, I'm currently at most on par with a martial cultivator at the first level of the Spirit Martial Rank. Perhaps I'm a little stronger, but I definitely can't compare to someone at the second level of the Spirit Martial Rank."

According to the memories in his mind, within this small Wuzhou City, martial cultivators at the first and second levels of the Spirit Martial Rank were the most common. Even ordinary mercenaries outside often possessed greater strength than that.

"Within the Li Family, even clansmen with the poorest talent possess strength around the second or even third level of the Spirit Martial Rank. Right now, I still can't make those people take me seriously."

Having fused with a soul, he had likewise inherited everything from that soul. That soul held an intense obsession toward that lineage, and it also influenced Li Ye's thoughts at this moment.

He knew very well that this was the influence of another soul upon him, yet he did not resist it.

"Since I've come to this world, I need to become part of it as well. Let me fulfill that wish in your heart for you."

As though speaking to himself, the moment Li Ye finished speaking, some sort of ripple seemed to come from within his mind. It felt like release, and also like gratitude.

At last, the final lingering trace of that soul dissipated between heaven and earth.

Having crossed into this world several days ago, Li Ye had more or less grown accustomed to his new identity.

He was an abandoned son of the Li Family, one of Wuzhou City's three great families. Of course, he was not the Li Family's first abandoned son, nor would he be its last. As a great family that had developed for nearly a thousand years, any clansman discovered to lack potential would be cast out.

It was cruel, but also helpless. A family could not support so many people. Resources had to be supplied to those who could truly bring development to the family, not to a bunch of trash.

Without question, in the eyes of the family, Li Ye was trash.

Of course, every month the family still sent him some money. But that was only out of consideration for the fact that he was the sole son of the family head, who had been missing for many years.

"To return to the family, I must let those people know that I, Li Ye, am not the trash they see, but talent the family needs."

That day, Li Ye was already able to skillfully control his Blood Eyes to cast illusion techniques. Against ordinary people, he could even do it without anyone noticing.

"I just wonder how effective it will be against martial cultivators."

Generally speaking, martial cultivators who had awakened their bloodlines and possessed Blood Souls had far stronger mental power than ordinary people. The higher their realm, the stronger their mental power would certainly be.

Just as he was considering whether to find an opportunity to test it on a martial cultivator, someone unexpectedly delivered himself to Li Ye's doorstep.

"Li Haoran? What are you doing here?"

The person who appeared before Li Ye was a youth around twenty years old. He was handsome, yet his face was pale from excessive wine and women. His features did not resemble Li Ye's, but he was indeed Li Ye's cousin in name, the grandson of the Li Family's Third Elder.

Li Ye's expression turned cold as he looked at him. Although Li Haoran was relatively close to him by blood, he had bullied Li Ye plenty over the years. Seeing him appear, Li Ye sneered inwardly.

"Trash, why aren't you dead yet?"

Seeing Li Ye standing before him completely unharmed, Li Haoran was somewhat stunned.

Li Ye took in every change in his expression. Several days earlier, Li Ye had been carried back after suffering severe injuries, beaten until he was half-dead, though no one knew who had done it.

Many people had thought he would not survive. In truth, that had indeed been the case. Unfortunately for them, Li Ye had crossed over, seized this body, and been reborn.

Looking into Li Haoran's startled eyes, Li Ye was no longer the former Third Young Master of the Li Family. He immediately understood quite a few things.

"So this guy was behind it."

Of course, Li Haoran could not have acted personally. With his status as the grandson of the Li Family's Third Elder, all he needed was to let slip a hint, and someone would understand his meaning. Besides, Li Ye was fairly well-known in Wuzhou City: a tiger father giving birth to a dog son, the laughingstock of all Wuzhou City. Even if someone beat him to death, would the Li Family really pursue the matter?

"What does whether I die or not have to do with you? Could it be that you were behind what happened last time?"

The moment those words came out, Li Haoran's expression changed. His gaze flickered, and he did not dare meet Li Ye's eyes directly. Pretending to be confused, he asked, "What are you talking about? I never did anything!"

"What an idiot!"

Li Ye was not at all surprised by Li Haoran's idiotic performance. In his memories, this grandson of the Third Elder was an ignorant, good-for-nothing dandy. Though already over twenty, he had only reached the third level of the Spirit Martial Rank. Within the entire Li Family, he was considered fairly worthless.

If not for the fact that his grandfather was the Third Elder, he would have long since been driven from the family.

"Enough, Li Haoran. We both know perfectly well what happened, so there's no point saying it aloud. But I'm warning you: don't think I'll keep swallowing my anger forever. Think carefully before making a decision next time! Don't wait until regret is too late!"

Third level of the Spirit Martial Rank? Li Ye was no longer that cowardly piece of trash from before. Even outside the night, he did not fear Li Haoran at all. Especially looking at his wine-and-women-addled body and unsteady feet, Li Ye truly suspected that even someone at the second level of the Spirit Martial Rank could easily defeat this so-called third-level martial cultivator.

Li Ye's attitude utterly stunned Li Haoran. In his memories, Li Ye had always been submissive and meek, without the slightest temper. Even when wronged, he swallowed his anger without daring to make a sound. That was why he and others had dared to bully him in the first place. He had been the family head's son—who would have dared otherwise? Even though the family head had vanished, his lingering prestige remained!

Now, seeing this cowardly brat, who had always been too afraid even to raise his head and whose voice had been as faint as a mosquito's, dare speak to him like this, Li Haoran was utterly dumbfounded.

But he quickly came to his senses and immediately began cursing loudly!

"Trash! Have you gotten too bold? You dare talk to me like that? Believe it or not, I'll make you spend the rest of your life in bed? As long as I don't kill you, the family won't have any objections!"

As he spoke, Li Haoran swung a backhanded slap. Though his body had been hollowed out by wine and women, he was still a martial cultivator at the third level of the Spirit Martial Rank. If that slap landed, an ordinary person would probably be bedridden for at least ten days to half a month.

A chill flashed through Li Ye's eyes when he saw Li Haoran attack.

In his memories, Li Haoran had relied on his status to bully him plenty of times, even beating him viciously on many occasions. But he was clever. Every time, he avoided Li Ye's face and specifically struck places covered by clothing, so no one could discover it.

The same was true now. Li Haoran's palm headed straight for Li Ye's abdomen. With his strength at the third level of the Spirit Martial Rank, even though this strike was casually thrown out, it was enough to crack solid granite. If Li Ye took it head-on, he would suffer serious internal injuries.

"Li Haoran, you brought this upon yourself! I was still somewhat hesitant, but since you're courting death, I won't hold back!"

To be honest, if it had been Li Ye from a few days ago—the cowardly trash in everyone's eyes—he would definitely have lost half his life from this.

But now?

Li Ye's body merely swayed slightly, and he easily dodged Li Haoran's palm. Though he had no Blood Soul and could not use the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to cultivate, as a vampire, his reaction speed was extremely fast. Li Haoran had thrown this palm out casually and had not even used one-tenth of his strength, so Li Ye effortlessly avoided it.

"Huh? This trash has gotten much quicker than before. But do you think you can dodge forever? You actually dared speak to me like that. If I don't teach you a lesson today, who knows what you'll be like in the future?!"

Although surprised that his strike had missed, Li Haoran did not feel in the slightest that he was stepping into danger. A vicious glint flashed through his eyes. This time, he directly raised his strength to thirty percent and viciously struck out with his palm. This was enough to kill an ordinary person!

"Li Haoran!"

Suddenly, Li Ye called out softly to Li Haoran. Instinctively, Li Haoran's gaze met Li Ye's eyes.

In an instant, he felt as though he had seen a blood-red world, and his mind was dragged directly into it.

Looking at Li Haoran, who had stopped moving, Li Ye let out a breath of relief, while joy surged through his heart!

"It actually worked!" Just now, Li Ye had clearly used Blood Eyes, one of a vampire's two great talents, and directly controlled Li Haoran with an illusion technique.

At that moment, saliva actually dribbled from Li Haoran's mouth, while an expression of extreme lust covered his face, as though he were having some beautiful dream.

Trapped in the illusion, he was already like a lamb awaiting slaughter, utterly defenseless. Li Ye walked before him, hesitation still lingering in his eyes, but it was quickly swept away by resolve.

"I hope this guy's blood essence gives me a pleasant surprise!" As he muttered to himself, Li Ye's pupils instantly turned blood-red. He opened his mouth, revealing two sharp fangs, and bit directly into Li Haoran's neck!