Chapter 306 - The End Of The Blood Race In Bright Mountain City

At noon on September 17, Year 110 of the Hongli Federation, carriages of yellow and black formed a long train with steel wheels, sparking slightly as they rounded curves. The coal-fired engine emitted steam from gaps in the boiler car.

A long trail of white mist rose into the sky like the wings of the yellow and black iron snake. The train from eastern Beiliu County to northern Shire County had departed at 6 a.m. and was expected to reach its final destination in four days. The last window of the eighth car had its white curtains open, allowing a slight breeze to enter.

A boy with dazzling blonde hair who looked between youth and adolescence, sat with his eyes closed, seemingly napping in his seat. After a long while, the train gradually changed direction, and warm golden sunlight bathed the man. The mid-September light was no longer as scorching as midsummer, and was instead softer and more soothing. A breeze brushed his hair, revealing a smooth forehead with a shallow cross-shaped indentation that gave off a sacred aura.

The scene of the youth bathed in light was inexplicably harmonious and beautiful. His eyelashes fluttered slightly as he opened his eyes. His soft and holy aura completely vanished as his brows stretched, revealing sharp and icy arcs. A dangerous red glow flashed faintly in his pupils.

The balance of the three core principles had been once again restored. Since he had unexpectedly broken through the thirteenth acupoint of the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist a week ago, his mental state had briefly fallen under the influence of the Killer Persona. Occasionally, a surge of violent murderous intent would rise in his heart while walking or thinking. His muscles would then grow excited as they sought someone to fight.

Fortunately, Cassius could still control this level of influence and avoid a berserk state like last time. However, having such a hidden danger lurking was ultimately a problem. No one knew when this ticking bomb might explode. Therefore, acquiring other Southern Dipper Covert Martial Inheritances was extremely necessary. He needed to balance the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist with the Southern Dipper Sonic Snake Fist; in other words, use the Cold Persona to counter the Killer Persona. Hopefully, everything that followed would fall into place.

Cassius inhaled the grassy fragrance outside the window as he reassessed his body's condition. His Qi and physique were robust and balanced, with a vigorous strength deep within his body. Every inch of muscle under his skin had a hardness and toughness comparable to steel wire.

The third kidney that he had activated during combat was now recovering steadily. Cassius estimated it would take a few more days to fully recover. Overall, it took about ten days to recover from a Kidney Activation, after which he could have another berserk episode.

Of course, that was provided he recovered normally. If he used life vibration energy, the recovery process would be greatly accelerated. However, Cassius didn't do that. He wanted to know the recovery time of his kidneys under normal conditions. He needed to understand every detail of his body and master the specifics of each trump card, to avoid misjudgment in dangerous situations that could lead to unfavorable outcomes.

Cassius glanced at the information in the upper right corner. It was a simplified symbol of a pendant, with a slender thermometer-like scale beside it. The pendant was the legendary antique, Wind Elephant Tusk Pendant, representing the lingering attachment of the original owner, Li Wei.

Cassius had now completed all three time-travel nodes of Li Wei's life. The pendant emitted a slight golden glow, indicating Cassius could choose to end his time-travel and bring all his strength back to reality. But obviously, he wouldn't do that for now.

The scale beside the pendant indicated the remaining time in the time-travel. Including the additional time Cassius gained from killing the Dead Blood who participated in the annihilation battle, he could stay for over a hundred and sixty days. That is, just over five months.

Cassius had decided to devote all his time to obtaining the Southern Dipper Sonic Snake Fist. Spending the remaining time would be worthwhile as long as he could acquire this Southern Dipper Covert Martial Inheritance.

Cassius briefly reviewed the issues he needed to consider during this next phase. Then, clearing his mind again, he fell into a rare state of laziness. He relaxed his body and leaned against the backrest. The wind outside the train brushed past his temples and ears. It was not as biting as the cold winter wind, nor as fiery as the summer heat waves. The current temperature was just right, like a thirty-seven degree celsius hand gently caressing his face with warmth.

Cassius felt relaxed, perhaps because he had finally resolved the lingering attachment of the three nodes of the Wind Elephant Tusk Pendant, or perhaps because he had finally avenged Li Wei. Or perhaps it had felt like he had personally lived through a chapter of life's journey, and was now bidding farewell to the places and people he had encountered along the way. Inevitably, there was a sense of melancholy.

After all, Li Wei's teacher was also Cassius's teacher. From beginning to end, he was not a bystander but a participant—a participant who had already invested his emotions.

Opening his eyes again, Cassius slowly raised his hand. White air danced between his fingers like a sprite. It was agile and lively, carrying a light and cheerful energy. The Azure Wind Flow, his teacher's final legacy. While practicing the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist, he had created a move called Red Mist Finger Gun.

Azure Wind Flow, Bloodthirsty Ripple, and Finger Gun. Together, they formed a lethal pinpoint strike, one of Cassius's three ultimate moves in the Red Falcon Fist, alongside Thousand Palms and Blood Spear.

However, this was ultimately not a complete development of the incomplete Secret Technique, Azure Wind Flow. Previously, Cassius’s realm had not been high enough to reach the desired level, but things were now different. He planned to spend time and effort after returning to the real world to perfect Azure Wind Flow, elevating it from a Secret Technique to the level of a Covert Martial Art.

Cassius had the confidence to do exactly that.

***

The weather was clear on September 21, at 9 a.m. A train pulled into the platform of Bright Mountain City in Shire County, and various tourists stepped out of the cars. Couples held hands, families wore smiles, and one or two tour groups of a dozen people left under the guidance of their guides.

Shire County was a large county in the northern part of the Hongli Federation with a population close to twenty million. It stretched to the coast in the east, and toward Alphama Mountains in the west. Bright Mountain City and Mirror Lake City were two western cities that were primarily developed on the basis of its timber sales and tourism.

It was autumn in early September, still carrying on from the summer. Although the number of tourists in the two cities was slowly decreasing, the tourism industry hadn't entered the off-season. Many visitors were still enjoying the slow-paced life of the summer retreat and retirement city.

At 10 a.m., a car that had driven all the way from the train station arrived at a standalone residence in the city, gradually stopping at an open space. The car door opened with a

click,

allowing three imposing figures to step out.

In a flash, three days passed and it was the morning of September 24. A light mist shrouded the area, causing the air to be slightly chilly. Closed breakfast shops lifted their shutters one after another, starting their morning bustle. The rich aroma of hot milk and food wafted enticingly through the air.

A man was standing on the corner of a gray street beside a streetlamp. He had just walked out of a store that had been selling snacks. He had half a squid roll in his mouth, and unfolded a newspaper as he walked and read.

The man wore black clothes and sunglasses, his brows exuding a cold and sharp aura. If not for his messy, bird-nest hair, he would have looked quite cool at first glance. He unfolded the daily Bright Mountain Morning News, skimming through recent events line by line amidst the smell of ink. Taking another bite of the squid roll, he gently turned the page.

"Hmm?" His eyes narrowed, and his lazy gaze became serious. It was a rather lengthy report.

Shocking!!! A major murder case occurred last night in Falk Town in the western suburbs of Bright Mountain City. The victims died in horrifying ways!

The article was accompanied by pictures, not of corpses, but of some buildings and traces left on the ground. The man examined the pictures carefully; his expression grew more solemn, and he stopped chewing his food.

The grayish images seemed to show traces of fighting, with some blurry claw marks. The man was certain that the claw marks were from the Blood Race. The corrosion marks on the walls were clearly from the blood energy of the Blood Race. It was not a simple major murder case but a supernatural case involving the Blood Race.

Furthermore, there seemed to be quite a number of them. Could it be that a large number of Blood Race members were hunting and feasting in the town? According to the report, many innocent residents in the town had likely died. It was normal for the deaths to be tragic since humans drained of blood by the Blood Race would have withered bodies. Their skin would wrinkle like mummified corpses.

"Damn vampires, one day I'll kill you all!" The man crumpled the newspaper into a ball and threw it into a trash can. Finishing his breakfast in a few bites, he left in low spirits.

He had decided to move forward his hunting plan from that night to right then. Nathan was no ordinary person. He was a Mercury Hunter raised and trained from a young age to track the traces of the Blood Race.

The Alphama mountains hid the Alphama direct bloodline Blood Race, which could be called the center of the northern branch line Blood Race. Although the direct bloodline was not very active, there were quite a few branch line Blood Race members bustling about. After all, there were two tourist cities with considerable human traffic in the area.

Nathan was a relatively free, solitary Mercury Hunter. Ten days ago, he found a target: a low-level branch line Blood Race member. After a few days of observation, Nathan had figured out about seventy to eighty percent of the target's residence, itinerary, and habits.

If he acted, he had at least a seventy percent chance of success. He decided to act immediately.

Nathan returned directly to his temporary rented house and picked up his combat gear. He strapped a yellow quiver on his right waist, and a sharp long knife on his left. On his chest went a strap holding several vials of mercury-like solution. He took a deep breath and draped a loose, oversized trench coat over himself, concealing all his gear.

He then splashed cold water on his face in the washroom. When he looked up, a pair of pure blue eyes stared back at him. He put his sunglasses back on and placed a semi-automatic crossbow into his shoulder bag.

With everything checked and in order, Nathan stepped out of the door. He had to be cautious; although Mercury Hunters were called hunters, they didn't have overwhelming power when facing the Blood Race. At best, they were mutual predators.

Even though the operation had a seventy percent chance of success, he still had to be cautious. A slight oversight could cost him his life.

Half an hour later, Nathan lay prone on a tree, observing a building not far away. He was now less than fifteen meters from the house where a low-ranking branch line Blood Race member lived.

At this time, the Blood Race member should be sitting on a single sofa near the floor-to-ceiling window, enjoying a blood-brewed morning drink. Most of the time, the curtains would be closed. However, on cloudy days, they wouldn't be.

The Blood Race member had very regular actions, like an old-fashioned aristocrat. The time and place of his actions were quite fixed, giving Nathan a good opportunity for a targeted attack. He took a deep breath, aiming his modified and reinforced semi-automatic crossbow at a calculated spot on the floor-to-ceiling window.

He pulled the trigger.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh...

The air whistled as crossbow bolts coated with Mercury Thorn and his fresh blood flew through the air. Nathan heard the muffled

thuds

of arrows hitting flesh amidst the sound of shattering glass. Nathan's heart leaped with joy. It seemed he had hit the target.

He agilely leaped down from the tree. The floor-to-ceiling window shattered directly as he bowled into the room. Nathan squeezed through the curtain with several holes, feet landing on the floor.

His blue eyes lit up in the dim environment as he pointed the crossbow in his hand in the direction he expected the Blood Race member to be. A sliver of daylight from the lifted curtain illuminated the situation. Nathan stiffened. Palpitations and panic gripped his heart fiercely, and cold sweat instantly dampened his temples.

Not one, but four figures!!!

There were three sofas around the coffee table, and four people were sitting on them. Only Blood Race members could associate with each other. The plan had gone wrong; this was a fatal error! He was going to meet his end here today! Numerous thoughts flashed through Nathan's mind in an instant.

He was about to grit his teeth and fight to the death when he suddenly noticed something odd. The four figures were motionless, like wooden dummies. Nathan held his breath, waiting three or four seconds on the spot. Finally, he couldn't help but turn back and lift the curtain.

Sunlight poured in, instantly brightening the room. As Nathan turned back, his pupils contracted and his breath stopped.

Dead people—four dead people. No, they were four slain Blood Race members. They were slumped on the sofas, lifeless. Their skin had wrinkled marks and were gray like statues.

Nathan approached a bit, and noticed a head deformed by immense force. Five finger marks sank deeply, like iron clamps trying to pull out the brain inside. The others also died miserably, and also had signs of forced interrogation.

He looked toward his target on the left sofa. Earlier, an arrow had indeed hit a vital spot, the temple, through the glass. However, it wasn't the right temple but the left. The Blood Race member's head had been twisted one hundred and eighty degrees by some strange force. His neck had been wrung like a pretzel.

His last expression before death was actually a squinting grin, giving off a horrifying feeling. Nathan subconsciously stepped back two paces, leaning against the wall. The solid feel against his back gave him a slight sense of security.

"What force is targeting and hunting these Blood Race members?!"