Sen Lei, dressed in sturdy gear with the ink bamboo sword strapped to his back, set out on foot towards the Beast Ridge. He chose to walk because he didn't want to draw too much attention to himself, knowing his current situation was perilous.
With a sigh, he thought, "The Lord of Feng Country wants me dead, the Hall Master of Xuanxiao Hall and the Grand Elder of Rade Academy are also against my family. My situation is too difficult right now; it's better not to be conspicuous!"
Wrapped in black from head to toe, Sen Lei looked so unremarkable that no one would notice him on the street. With the ink bamboo sword on his back, he quickly left the city and moved swiftly towards the Beast Ridge. He urgently needed actual combat to hone his skills, as he hadn't even practiced many of his abilities.
For example, Blood Fury, Mountain Crasher, and Cross Slash—these skills couldn't be used without a weapon.
Sen Lei had tried Blood Fury before. His left hand had transformed into a giant red sword with a terrifying laughing face on it, just like in the game. Using this skill doubled his blood energy, significantly boosting the power of any skill or spiritual technique!
He had gone from a spiritual body of the eighth level to the power of a spiritual sea realm.
However, this state took a severe toll on his body. After using it, he would be extremely weak due to the overuse of his blood energy. Thus, he avoided using it unless his life was in danger.
In his memory, the Blood Emperor's skills included many states like Blood Fury, Blood Awakening, Berserk, Bloodthirst, and Blood Surge.
"If I stack all these skills together..." Sen Lei dared not continue the thought. The result would likely be beyond terrifying.
Yet, considering the severe weakness from even using a low-level state like Blood Fury, the aftermath of stacking all those skills together... he dared not think further. The outcome would be disastrous.
As he pondered, he found himself far from the royal city of Senluo.
Looking back, he saw the peaceful and bustling city life, with vendors happily shouting and citizens living contentedly. There was no bullying or hooliganism. The unity during the recent martial arts competition had astonished Sen Lei.
What is the most crucial aspect of a country?
It's the governance of its royal city. Judging by this peaceful and prosperous royal city, Senluo Country was indeed powerful!
Perhaps one day, Senluo Country could return to its former glory.
"Let's go!" Sen Lei turned and vanished into a forest.
...
At the outskirts of Beast Ridge, Sen Lei, looking at the spiritual energy map in his hand, was sweating profusely.
"Good heavens, without the map Father gave me, I probably wouldn't find this place before Rade Academy's enrollment begins!" Sen Lei sat on a big rock, panting as he looked at the sky.
Even with the map, it had taken him almost a day to get here, crossing numerous rivers and hills. Despite his peak spiritual body strength, it was exhausting.
As he gazed at the starry night sky, a familiar figure appeared in his mind, haunting him.
He felt a sharp pain in his heart.
"What's happening to me?" He clutched his chest.
"Is that woman really related to me? Was I really from the so-called 'Divine Domain' in my past life?" Sen Lei closed his eyes, trying not to think too much. Ahead was Beast Ridge, an ungoverned territory where he needed to leave quickly.
"Where are you heading, kid? We've been following you for a while!" Three figures emerged from the darkness behind Sen Lei. Leading them was a muscular man, resembling a bodybuilder Sen Lei had seen on TV. Beside him was a voluptuous woman clinging to him, smiling seductively and occasionally licking her teeth. Behind them was an oily, obese man.
All three were at the fifth level of the spiritual body realm.
Sen Lei shook his head helplessly, "I originally wanted to find a few beasts to kill quietly. Your ambush is quite troublesome."
"Hahaha! You little brat, pretending to be a big shot!" The muscular man laughed heartily at Sen Lei's youthful and handsome face.
The voluptuous woman kept licking her tongue, "Little brother, why don't you come with me? I'll make you feel like you're in heaven every day."
"Haha, well said! We want everything you have, including your life!" The fat man pointed at Sen Lei.
Sen Lei grinned and looked at the nearly 400-pound man, "Honestly, fatso, you should lose some weight. Beware of high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol!"
"You brat! You're asking for it!" The fat man, though not understanding the term 'high blood pressure,' knew he was being insulted as a fatso!
"Enough, Fatty Qiao, just finish him off quickly! Don't kill him though, I need him for tonight." The voluptuous woman threw a flirtatious glance.
Fatty Qiao, aroused by her look, began to salivate.
Sen Lei felt a wave of disgust.
"Kid, you're lucky today. Our boss is sparing your life!" Fatty Qiao wiped his drool.
Without further ado, Fatty Qiao attacked, believing the boy before him, with no visible spiritual power, was courting death by coming to such a place.
"Spirit-level technique! Ghost Silk!" He spread his fingers, releasing countless black threads like vines on a wall, swiftly attacking Sen Lei.
"You'll pay for what you said, brat! Prepare to be drained by my Ghost Silk... huh?" Fatty Qiao's words were cut short.
Sen Lei erupted with blood energy, which surged back along the black threads, attacking Fatty Qiao.
"Urgh... ah!" Fatty Qiao felt his heart about to explode!
"What are you doing, Fatty Qiao?" The muscular man glared at the immobilized Fatty Qiao.
Fatty Qiao struggled to turn around, his face beet red as if being burned.
Realizing something was wrong, the muscular man shouted, "What's happening? Kid, you're dead!"
He and the voluptuous woman charged at Sen Lei.
Sen Lei mumbled something as they rushed, "Idiots..."
Unleashing his aura, he casually waved, releasing the word "Su" in the air.
The two attackers were terrified, "Peak spiritual body level!"
With a bang, they were sent flying, one crashing into a rock, the other into a tree.
Sen Lei turned to the now cowering Fatty Qiao, "How's it feel, having your heart invaded by blood energy?"
Fatty Qiao's pleading expression, combined with his bloated, red face, was comical.
Sen Lei didn't kill them, influenced by his ethical and moral principles. A lesson was enough!
"Unlucky for you to meet me!" He walked into the Beast Ridge without looking back.
Fatty Qiao, finally able to move, collapsed, gasping for air. The other two stumbled over, glaring hatefully at Sen Lei's disappearing figure.
They felt no gratitude for being spared; their resentment only deepened.
Sen Lei would pay for his mercy in the coming days!