Blood Alley

The refined blood flowed through his body, as though a warm campfire had been kindled within him.

Xiao Tianhao could clearly feel that gentle, pure energy seeping into his muscles and bones, nourishing and strengthening them continuously.

The wound at his temple healed completely, leaving only a faint mark. His exhaustion vanished, and even his five senses seemed much sharper.

He could even hear the rustling of rats scurrying deep in the alley outside.

"Void Derivation Art..." Xiao Tianhao sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, closed his eyes, and focused, trying to practice the profound introductory method in his mind.

Every shift of his thoughts drained his concentration enormously, like a small child trying to move a massive boulder.

Yet as he activated the art, the energy radiating from that drop of blood essence in his abdomen seemed to find direction, slowly gathering and settling deeper within his body, at some unseen "source."

An extremely faint, almost imperceptible warmth began to emerge and swirl slowly at his dantian-or rather, where the beginnings of his Soul Sea lay.

The sensation was extraordinary, like the first trickle of water finally flowing into a dried-up riverbed!

Though this "trickle" was as weak as a dying candle in the wind and could go out at any moment, it truly existed-the first sign of Soul Force being born!

The Profound Space Pearl's refinement, combined with the Void Derivation Art, had forcibly torn open a crack leading him toward the extraordinary!

Get stronger! I need more blood essence from stronger Demon Beasts!

That thought branded itself into Xiao Tianhao's heart.

He stood and stretched his limbs, feeling a strength unlike anything he had ever known.

He pushed open the door, and the foul air of the slums hit him in the face, yet a trace of excitement stirred within him.

This was the lowest rung of Glory City, and also the place where information and shady dealings circulated most frequently.

He needed money, information, and, above all, a safe way to hunt Demon Beasts.

For a "herb gatherer" without any backing, frequently leaving the city to hunt Demon Beasts was no different from seeking his own death.

With a thought from Xiao Tianhao, everything before him turned illusory, and he immediately appeared in his room in the modern world. This time, he felt none of the wrenching pain or dizziness he had experienced before.

He hurried to the supermarket to buy lighters, watches, snacks, and other goods, then raced home.

Back in his rented room, he willed it, and his vision blurred as he returned to the world of Tales of Demons and Gods.

To be safe, he found several general stores and sold the goods separately, earning well over a hundred thousand Demon Spirit Coins.

Xiao Tianhao began wandering cautiously through the slum streets, where fish and dragons mingled, pricking up his ears to catch scraps of information while his gaze roamed the shadowy corners and shabby shops.

Soon, one place caught his attention-the "Black Rat" information post.

It was a small stall squeezed between abandoned stone houses. Its owner was a thin, short man, and an assortment of low-grade herbs and ores of dubious authenticity lay on display.

"Boss, I'd like to ask about something."

Lowering his voice, Xiao Tianhao placed a compressed biscuit on the stall-one of his few remaining pieces, which he had originally saved as provisions for himself.

The stallholder glanced at the unfamiliar food, quickly snatched it up, and stuffed it inside his clothes. An ingratiating smile spread across his face. "Ask away! There's nothing in West City that I, Black Rat, don't know!"

"Where can I 'safely' get fresh, unspoiled Demon Beast blood? Preferably... from something that only recently died." Xiao Tianhao chose his words carefully.

Black Rat narrowed his tiny, mung-bean eyes and gave him a knowing smile.

"Heh, brother, you know your stuff! Blood from freshly killed Demon Beasts is in high demand. The apothecaries and body-tempering halls all have their eyes on it! Still..."

He rubbed his fingers together. "Ever heard of Blood Alley, in the west of the city? At night, especially after midnight, there are always a few 'lone wolves' or small groups with decent 'hauls' who don't want the City Guard taking too big a cut. They go there to get rid of their 'scraps.'

"If you're lucky, you can pick up something good. As for the price... that depends on your skill."

Blood Alley! Xiao Tianhao committed the name to memory.

Late at night, the slums sank completely into darkness, with only scattered lights flickering like ghost fires.

Xiao Tianhao pulled his battered cloak, bought from a secondhand stall, tightly around himself. Like a shadow, he slipped silently into an even narrower alley in the deepest reaches of the city's western quarter, thick with the stench of blood and decay-Blood Alley.

It seemed to be the other face of Glory City.

Both sides of the alley were piled with foul-smelling rubbish and the remains of unidentified animal entrails.

In the dim corners, indistinct figures crouched or stood.

Filthy beast hides were spread on the ground before them, displaying freshly butchered, bloody meat, bones still covered in sinew, and even whole low-grade Demon Spirit crystal cores filled with impure energy.

Buyers and sellers kept their voices low, trading like phantoms, their wary eyes sweeping over everyone who approached.

The blood stench hung so thick in the air it seemed impossible to disperse, making Xiao Tianhao's stomach churn.

But the Profound Space Pearl hidden against his body instantly stirred to life, like a drop of water thrown into boiling oil!

An intense craving surged through him like a tide, aimed directly at several spots deep in the alley that radiated the rich aura of fresh blood!

He forced himself to stay calm and scanned the "wares."

Most were remains of low-grade Demon Beasts, their blood either long since clotted or contaminated beyond recognition.

At last, he stopped in the darkest corner.

The stallholder was a one-eyed man with a hideous claw scar across his face, his entire bearing radiating ferocity and menace.

A relatively clean beast hide lay before him, holding a small pile of neatly cut, dark-red meat.

Beside it, a sturdy wooden bucket was more than half full of thick, steaming, dark-red blood, giving off a strong bloody odor mingled with a strange, sweet fragrance! Tiny flecks of fat and fine bubbles floated on its surface.

A savage-looking fox head had been tossed beside the bucket. Its fiery-red fur resembled burning flames, its sharp fangs were bared, and its dull eyes stared emptily at the sky.

A Crimson Blood Fox! Fully grown! And only recently killed!

Xiao Tianhao's heart gave a violent thump.

Crimson Blood Foxes were exceptionally fast among low-grade Demon Beasts, and their fur and blood contained a certain amount of fire energy, making both quite valuable.

This bucket of blood was definitely excellent raw material for "refined blood"!

"How much... for this blood?" Xiao Tianhao pointed at the bucket of fox blood, trying to keep his voice calm.

The one-eyed man raised his remaining eye and swept a vicious gaze over Xiao Tianhao. Seeing his shabby clothes and weak aura-Xiao Tianhao had deliberately suppressed the faint fluctuations of his newly born Soul Force-he made no attempt to hide his contempt.

"Kid, you know quality when you see it, huh? Fresh, hot blood straight from a Crimson Blood Fox's heart! Top-grade stuff for tempering the body and brewing medicine! Four hundred Demon Spirit Coins, and you're not taking it for a single coin less!" He raised his callused hand and wagged four thick fingers.

Four hundred Demon Spirit Coins!!

What the fuck! Xiao Tianhao screamed inwardly.

Normally, unrefined Demon Beast blood like this was worth a little over a hundred Demon Spirit Coins at most!

"Too expensive." Xiao Tianhao shook his head. "Boss, I only need a little under half a bucket to make a folk remedy for warding off the cold. How about a hundred and twenty Demon Spirit Coins?" He tried to bargain.

"Get lost!" The one-eyed man waved impatiently, as though shooing away a fly.

"A pauper like you dares come to Blood Alley? A hundred and twenty Demon Spirit Coins? That wouldn't even buy its shit! If you've got no money, piss off and stop wasting my time!" His spittle nearly sprayed Xiao Tianhao's face.

A flicker of anger flashed in Xiao Tianhao's eyes, but reason smothered his impulse. Just as he was about to pay, hurried footsteps and muffled cries of alarm suddenly sounded from the alley entrance!

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