Chapter 54: Blood Spellcaster
"Whoosh..."
Blood mist stirred without wind, swirling around Gu Nie, forming a vortex of crimson.
One by one, blood bubbles bloomed on his body.
This was a visual manifestation of his blood undergoing extraordinary transformation.
As his blood underwent this extraordinary change,
His physical body, Source Energy, soul, and his own extraordinary properties were also transforming.
From the inside out, Gu Nie was experiencing a radical shift.
This was a crucial step for an ordinary being to transcend into an extraordinary one.
With the increasingly rapid blood mist vortex, Gu Nie's aura pulsed and contracted.
Some blood even flowed from his eyes, mouth, nose, and ears. Then, as if alive, it writhed on his skin like earthworms before being swiftly drawn back into his body.
These blood cells, imbued with life, were attempting to escape during the moment of Gu Nie's breakthrough when his control was weakened.
Unfortunately, Gu Nie wouldn't grant them the opportunity.
His aura expanded and twisted, continuing for over ten minutes.
Whoosh... whoosh... whoosh...
The blood mist vortex rapidly retracted towards Gu Nie's body.
At this moment, the bloodthirsty aura emanating from him intensified, becoming richer, thicker, and more potent.
Suddenly,
The blood mist vortex, like a whale swallowing water, was quickly absorbed into his body.
The entire chamber fell silent, bathed in a dim, yellowish light.
At this moment, a faint, blood-tinged aura of extraordinary pressure emanated from Gu Nie, filling the chamber. This was the unique extraordinary pressure of a Blood Spellcaster.
"Ark... Las... Ark... Las..."
A soft, murmuring whisper gradually faded.
The inexplicable whisper only caused Gu Nie a slight irritation.
He effortlessly suppressed this irritation.
Apart from that, there were no other effects.
"Huu..."
Gu Nie opened his eyes and exhaled slowly.
His pupils were a chilling crimson.
"Indeed, becoming an extraordinary individual is different."
Feeling the transformation from within and without, Gu Nie couldn't help but marvel.
For a while, the Blood Spellcaster's extraordinary properties had been merging with him, which was good.
But the Blood Spellcaster's extraordinary properties were still latent, not yet fully activated.
Gu Nie only possessed his own extraordinary properties, not those of the Blood Spellcaster.
However, his own extraordinary properties were quite weak. How could they compare to the extraordinary properties of a powerful extraordinary profession like Blood Spellcaster?
Now, after the Blood Spellcaster's extraordinary properties had fully integrated with him, they underwent a transformation.
The extraordinary profession "Blood Spellcaster" had perfectly fused with Gu Nie and was fully activated.
At this moment, Gu Nie had become a powerful extraordinary individual – a Blood Spellcaster!
Carefully sensing the Blood Spellcaster's power,
Gu Nie understood that he had crossed the threshold.
His strength was greater than ever before.
"Firstly, my soul. After the enhancement of my extraordinary properties, my perception has significantly improved."
"Spatial perception is clearer and more detailed."
"I can even sense the bed's position without looking behind me."
"Also... my casting speed has increased."
"I should be able to cast fourteen spells per second, perhaps even close to fifteen now."
"The increase in soul strength has led to a significant increase in my carrying capacity. My soul capacity, after this period of automated learning with the 'Soul Mark Codex,' might be able to successfully condense six or even seven Secret Passage Runes."
"My instant-cast limit has increased significantly."
"Speaking of which, Father promised to find me powerful unconventional spells. I haven't forgotten about that! I wonder if he's forgotten. I should probably remind him tomorrow."
Gu Nie reined in his wandering thoughts.
He continued to sense his physical form.
"My Source Pool has also expanded, reaching a capacity of fifty units of Source Energy."
"Combined with the Source Energy stored in my physical body, I've surpassed the entry-level 100 points required for a Rank 2 extraordinary individual."
"More importantly... my Source Energy density has increased significantly, by about twenty percent."
"Correspondingly, my spell potency has also increased by 20%. This is a substantial boost."
The most crucial aspect of the extraordinary profession's level transformation is the qualitative change in Source Energy.
Sensing this Source Energy transformation, Gu Nie pondered silently.
"I've undergone several reincarnations, each resulting in a degree of Source Energy transformation."
"Now, my Source Energy density is likely no weaker than that of an average Rank 2 extraordinary individual."
"Physical Body!"
After sensing his physical body, Gu Nie smiled.
"More resilient, agile, powerful, and durable."
"And combined with my blood!"
Sensing his own blood, a smile played on Gu Nie's lips.
"My survivability is exceptional."
With Gu Nie's advancement to Rank 1 Blood Spellcaster,
His most powerful aspect, the extraordinary properties of his "blood," had been fully activated.
His blood density had reached three times that of a normal person, and he could perfectly control it.
At the same time, Gu Nie's blood contained a large amount of life essence, comparable to a basic refined healing potion. Minor and major injuries could heal quickly.
For other extraordinary individuals, methods of causing death through damage to physical functions,
Would be completely ineffective against Gu Nie.
"Huu... Xii..."
With a deep, prolonged breath, Gu Nie slowly suppressed his Blood Spellcaster's bloodthirsty aura.
The crimson in his eyes gradually faded, returning to their usual black.
He checked the time.
It was a little past nine at night.
"There's still plenty of time."
"Let me try condensing two Secret Passage Runes. Although I don't need them right now, the more I have, the better."
"When those powerful spells are in hand, I can instantly cast them."
Immediately, Gu Nie calmed his mind and began condensing "Secret Passage Runes."
He was already close to condensing his fifth Secret Passage Rune.
Combined with the automated learning from the 'Soul Mark Codex' during this period,
And this soul transformation,
Condensing the fifth Secret Passage Rune was incredibly easy.
Gu Nie effortlessly and smoothly completed the condensation of this fifth Secret Passage Rune.
When he started condensing the sixth one, Gu Nie encountered some difficulty.
Moreover, the difficulty level suddenly increased significantly.
"As expected, the condensation of any spell rune becomes increasingly challenging with each subsequent one. Not to mention the Secret Passage Rune, which is inherently difficult to condense,"
Gu Nie mused inwardly during the condensation process.
However, despite this, Gu Nie steadily progressed towards condensing the sixth "Secret Passage Rune."
After about half an hour,
Gu Nie finally condensed the sixth Secret Passage Rune.
With the sixth Secret Passage Rune condensed,
Gu Nie distinctly felt a powerful pressure on his soul.
Fortunately, his automated learning of the 'Soul Mark Codex' had enhanced his soul's resilience and carrying capacity.
He could still withstand the pressure from the sixth Secret Passage Rune.
As for the seventh one, he wouldn't even think about it for now.
"The pressure and difficulty of condensation increase exponentially with each subsequent rune."
"Overall, being able to condense six Secret Passage Runes at Rank 1 Extraordinary, even among Spellcasters, is top-notch."
"Coupled with my automated learning system and reincarnation abilities,"
"There's a good chance I can condense a number of 'Secret Passage Runes' beyond the imagination of ordinary extraordinary individuals."
"Overtone Runes, I'm not in a hurry for those right now. Dual casting isn't very useful for me at this stage."
"Unless I can capture a powerful creature like the 'Ghost King of the Netherworld' and use it to refine my 'External Soul,' then the significance of Overtone Runes will become crucial."
"Having two or even three souls within one body is incredibly difficult for others."
"But for me... well... it's not that difficult."
Slowly withdrawing his focus, Gu Nie checked the time.
It was now past ten at night.
In Sugh City, except for the steam-powered factories that were still operating, spewing thick smoke and roaring,
The entire city had entered a state of nocturnal tranquility.
And now, Gu Nie was ready to act.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 55: Fanatical Killing Intent
Deep in the night, in the shadowy corners of the streets,
Gu Nie, clad in a black robe and hood, his face concealed by a swirling ghost mask, moved silently like a phantom.
His speed was incredibly fast and agile.
An ordinary Rank 1 Spellcaster would never possess such nimble and swift movement.
The reason for Gu Nie's exceptional speed and agility was twofold.
Firstly, his automated learning of the 'Blood Pool Codex' and the 'Devout Knight Breathing Technique' had made his body as strong as a knight and as agile as an assassin.
Secondly, it was the pair of "Mithril-grade" English aristocratic boots he wore.
Gu Nie's extraordinary aptitude for nurturing abilities was exceptionally strong.
After continuous nurturing during this period, these Mithril-grade boots had begun to exhibit some of their extraordinary properties.
Although they hadn't reached the point where he could walk on water or climb sheer cliffs with ease,
They could make his footsteps silent and his movements agile and elusive.
He reached into his robe with one hand.
The Mithril-grade staff "Silver Feather" appeared in his grasp.
Not only the boots but also the staff "Silver Feather" had been nurtured.
Silver Feather, as a powerful Mithril-grade staff,
Firstly, possessed powerful inherent material properties.
Silver Feather itself could be considered one of the sources of Source Energy channels.
Holding Silver Feather, a small, faint stream of Source Energy would flow into his body.
While not as potent as a basic Source Energy potion, or even weaker than Source Energy spring water,
This restoration came at no cost and lasted indefinitely.
At the same time, holding Silver Feather increased his Source Energy recovery speed by 120%.
The inherent Source Energy channel of Silver Feather, combined with the self-boosting recovery,
Together, they were almost equivalent to ordinary "Source Energy Spring Water." This recovery speed was already astonishing.
In prolonged battles, wielding Silver Feather, the recovery amount was substantial.
Currently, while Gu Nie was sprinting, his Source Energy consumption was far less than his recovery. He could essentially maintain a state of "full mana."
Secondly,
Silver Feather contained four "Water Element Runes."
These "Water Element Runes" were of the same caliber as Gu Nie's "Secret Passage Runes" and "Overtone Runes."
Water Element Runes enhance the affinity of Water Element Spellcasters with Water Element, accelerating the speed of element gathering.
Elementalists need to borrow elemental power from nature.
Their elemental spells take longer to form but are powerful and wide-ranging.
In particular, the charged spells of late-stage Elementalists are terrifying.
Those "Elemental Forbidden Spells" formed by accumulating a vast amount of elements are devastating weapons capable of destroying the world.
Furthermore, Silver Feather contained a total of six "Amplification Runes."
The function of Amplification Runes is to increase the potency of spells.
One Amplification Rune can increase spell potency by 10%.
Ten Amplification Runes can double the potency of a spell.
And the six Amplification Runes within Silver Feather, if activated, could increase spell potency by 60%.
Overall, this Mithril-grade "Silver Feather" is essentially a staff for Water Elementalists.
"Amplification Runes," "Element Runes," and "Acceleration Runes"
These three types of runes are the mainstream runes for Elementalists.
Correspondingly, "Secret Passage Runes," "Acceleration Runes," and "Overtone Runes" are the mainstream runes for Spellcasters.
And the mainstream runes for Pact Masters are "Sensing Runes," "Pact Runes," and various "Dimensional Runes" corresponding to different planes.
Of course, these are just mainstream, not absolute.
Spellcasters who condense "Amplification Runes" are numerous.
There are also many Elementalists who condense "Secret Passage Runes."
Some more unique and unusual "Rare Runes" are also circulated among talented Spellcasters in certain powerful factions.
Silver Feather wasn't very compatible with Gu Nie's Blood Spellcaster profession.
But it was still a powerful Mithril-grade staff.
Gu Nie couldn't use the Element Runes.
However, the "Source Energy Recovery" aspect was excellent.
Carrying Silver Feather and nurturing it with Source Energy could double Gu Nie's recovery ability. After normal Source Energy consumption, he wouldn't have to worry, as it would quickly replenish.
And the "Amplification Runes" were also quite beneficial for Gu Nie.
Currently, one of the "Amplification Runes" within Silver Feather had already been activated by Gu Nie.
Gu Nie's spells were high-level and inherently powerful.
Combined with his higher Source Energy density, this further increased spell potency.
Then, with the 10% amplification from Silver Feather,
Even a simple "Rocket Blast" would be enough to make enemies experience despair.
...
After about seven or eight minutes,
Gu Nie stopped running after traversing several blocks.
The night was pitch black.
The dim streetlights only illuminated a radius of seven or eight meters.
Beyond that, darkness enveloped everything.
Standing in the darkness beyond the reach of the dim streetlights,
Gu Nie looked at the standalone villa before him, which exhibited a hint of Byzantine architectural style.
According to the information, this was a Blood Ear Elf hideout.
Quite a few Blood Ear Elves had arrived in Sugh City this time.
They didn't dare to appear in public, their movements were extremely secretive, and they didn't gather in large numbers at any single location.
They feared being wiped out in one fell swoop.
This dispersed approach gave Gu Nie an opportunity for revenge.
Gu Nie didn't currently have the strength to kill a large number of Blood Ear Elves.
Dealing with six to eight relatively weak Blood Ear Elves here was perfect.
Eliminating these Blood Ear Elves and letting those lurking in the shadows know the consequences – that was Gu Nie's plan for revenge.
He raised his hand slightly, and the tip of the Silver Feather staff glowed a light blue.
The next second,
Buzz!
A low hum of Source Energy emanated.
The massive black wheel of "Ring Bombardment" formed before Gu Nie.
Then, the Ring Bombardment smashed through the iron fence, plowing a deep furrow in the lawn.
It charged towards the villa's front door.
A little over a second later,
Boom!
The Ring Bombardment slammed into the front door, exploding violently.
From a distance of over twenty meters, Gu Nie could feel the intense air shockwave surging outwards.
After all, it was a Rank 5 extraordinary spell. Its power was such that a Rank 1 or 2 extraordinary individual, if hit, would be either severely injured or killed.
With the violent explosion of the Ring Bombardment,
The silence of the night was shattered.
In the distance, various canine creatures disturbed by the noise began barking.
Gu Nie focused his attention on the villa.
The once sturdy front door was now shattered into pieces.
Without hesitation, Gu Nie continued forward, unleashing Rocket Blasts.
Whoosh... whoosh... whoosh...
Countless rockets shot out.
A few rockets flew through the shattered front door, while the majority flew through the windows.
Accompanied by a series of shattering glass sounds,
The Rocket Blasts flew into the house, filling it with fire. The flames spread rapidly, igniting curtains and other flammable objects.
With the opening of the battle,
Gu Nie felt a surge of excitement and bloodlust in his blood, his entire being invigorated.
"Today, I'm going to kill you all."
Licking his lips, Gu Nie's eyes turned scarlet.
His killing intent was as intense and fervent as the flames.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 56: Saturation Strike
These Blood Ear Elves, like sewer rats, hid in various corners of Sugh City, never daring to appear in public.
If attacked, they would flee immediately instead of resisting.
Gu Nie was more than happy to see them run.
His long-range area-of-effect spell, Lightning Arc, was incredibly fierce.
If they tried to run, they would become sitting ducks.
If they chose to resist, Gu Nie wouldn't be afraid either.
Anyone who dared to charge at him would die.
He blasted open the front door, sprinted forward, and unleashed Rocket Blasts.
The entire process took only three or four seconds.
Gu Nie quickly entered the villa's main hall and immediately spotted the entrance to the underground chamber.
The information he had gathered provided detailed descriptions of the villa.
The villa had a spacious cellar chamber.
Gu Nie couldn't be sure if there were any other people in the other rooms, but the chamber definitely had people in it. He would seal the chamber first and then deal with the rest.
Gu Nie's mind stirred, and he didn't even need to wave his staff.
Buzz!
The massive black wheel formed again.
In terms of destructive power,
Ring Bombardment was unmatched.
The chamber's door had been specially treated. Rocket Blasts and Lightning Arcs were ineffective against it.
But in front of Ring Bombardment, it would be a one-hit kill.
The moment Gu Nie condensed the Ring Bombardment,
"Whoosh!"
A swift, sharp glint suddenly appeared behind him.
A blade, with the dark red glow characteristic of magic bronze equipment, slashed towards Gu Nie's neck with blinding speed.
The Shadow Stalker's most brilliant and decisive assassination technique, "Throat Slash."
An extraordinary assassination technique with potent cutting properties. The moment it touched the throat, it wouldn't require much force. The sharp power unleashed by the extraordinary assassination technique could instantly sever Gu Nie's head.
Gu Nie didn't panic at this sudden attack. His mind was calm and composed.
The moment he sensed the Throat Slash assassination technique,
"Lightning Arc."
A spell instantly formed behind him.
Purple electric light, like a dragon, filled the space behind him.
"It's an instant-cast spell."
Sensing the electric light the moment it appeared, the Blood Ear Elf assassin didn't dodge. He was determined to kill Gu Nie even if it meant facing the spell.
Sizzle!
The tip of the dagger touched Gu Nie's neck.
"Clang~"
A faint, dark red shield appeared around Gu Nie's head and neck.
The shield was strangely shaped, not a full-body shield.
Instead, it resembled a spacesuit helmet, covering his shoulders, neck, and head. His body was not protected.
This was the effect of Gu Nie's magic bronze-grade protective gear, the "Magic Shield Necklace."
Other Spellcasters, if they obtained this type of energy protective gear, would likely create a full-body energy shield.
However, Gu Nie had discovered through experimentation that
If he created a full-body energy shield, the defensive surface would be too wide, resulting in insufficient defensive strength.
In that case, if an enemy's attack was sharp enough and focused on a single point, they might be able to break through the energy shield and kill him.
But if he concentrated the energy shield that could cover his entire body into a small area covering only his neck and head,
The defensive strength would increase exponentially, by seven or eight times.
This significantly reduced the probability of an enemy breaking through the shield and inflicting fatal damage to Gu Nie's neck or head.
As for attacks on his body, Gu Nie wasn't worried.
He was confident in his durability. The only vulnerable part of his body was his head.
The dagger's potent cutting power was blocked by the Magic Shield.
At the same time, a violent electric current instantly enveloped the assassin who had attacked Gu Nie.
Zzzt... zzzt...
The terrifying electric current permeated every cell within the Blood Ear Elf assassin's body.
The intense electric shock and burning sensation ravaged his nerves.
As a powerful Rank 2 Shadow Assassin, under the onslaught of Gu Nie's Rank 4 spell, his body convulsed, unable to move.
"Ugh..."
The Blood Ear Elf assassin, uttering unnatural murmurs, seemed to sense his impending doom.
A Rocket Blast pierced through the air.
Sizzle!
The arrow pierced his skull.
Two ordinary spells.
A Rank 2 extraordinary assassin, dead.
This was the power of instant-cast spells.
This was the power of a Rank 4 spell after four transformations.
As long as Gu Nie could withstand enemy attacks, and if they dared to charge at him, they would die!
At the same time the assassin who attacked Gu Nie fell,
The Ring Bombardment followed the downward sloping stairs, crushing the stone steps and slamming into the thick ironwood door.
"Boom!"
The Ring Bombardment unleashed a terrifying shockwave.
The entire house trembled violently.
"This house probably won't survive today," Gu Nie mused with a hint of leisure.
As expected,
The thick wooden door reinforced with a steel frame of the underground chamber was blown to smithereens by the Ring Bombardment.
Through the doorway, a dark, oppressive entrance to the cellar chamber was revealed.
Gu Nie didn't want to know what the cellar chamber looked like, nor did he need to.
All he needed to do was kill everyone outside.
Spellcasters have countless solutions to the problem of how to eliminate enemies who are stubbornly resisting from within caves, chambers, cellars, and other locations.
Gu Nie's approach was simple.
Whoosh... whoosh... whoosh... whoosh...
Countless Rocket Blasts erupted in a frenzy.
In less than three seconds, the countless rockets completely blocked the entrance to the stairs.
Then, Gu Nie took out a Water Mist Scroll.
As the runes on the scroll glowed, it activated.
Gu Nie tossed the Water Mist Scroll into the cellar through the doorway.
Whoosh... whoosh... whoosh...
The Water Mist Scroll rapidly unfolded.
Extremely thick, viscous water mist, like a smoke bomb, exploded outwards.
Within two or three seconds, the entire cellar chamber was completely engulfed in a dense water mist.
The mist even seeped out through the doorway.
Fortunately, there were numerous Rocket Blasts at the entrance,
The flames burned fiercely, dissipating the escaping mist.
The next moment,
Zzzt... zzzt... zzzt...
Gu Nie began unleashing Lightning Arcs into the cellar chamber at an extremely high frequency of over ten spells per second.
The viscous water mist released by the Water Mist spell was an excellent conductor of electricity.
And Lightning Arc was a spell with extremely high conductivity.
Now that the Water Mist spell had permeated the entire cellar,
Gu Nie simply unleashed Lightning Arcs into it, and the electrical power would reach every corner of the cellar chamber's air.
No one inside could escape. They would all be electrocuted.
As Gu Nie continuously unleashed Lightning Arcs,
The numerous spells intertwined to form a dense network of electricity.
The entire cellar was enveloped in a sea of purple electric arcs.
The purple electric light even illuminated the entire hall through the cellar passage.
"My single-second spell stacking has indeed improved,"
Gu Nie carefully sensed the changes in himself while casting spells.
"Before, my single-second spell stacking limit was twelve spells. Now, I feel like fourteen spells per second is the limit."
"The faster my soul's thinking speed, the higher the number of spells I can stack per second. My spellcasting reaction speed will also be faster," Gu Nie mused silently.
To deal with unexpected events, Gu Nie hadn't pushed his single-second spell stacking to its limit.
Instead, he maintained a speed of ten spells per second.
This way, if something unexpected happened, he would have room to react.
After unleashing over a hundred Lightning Arcs into the cellar chamber,
Gu Nie stopped casting.
He didn't care if they were dead or not. He would carry out a saturation strike first.
That was Gu Nie's style.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 57: Explosion
After stopping his spellcasting, Gu Nie didn't rush into the cellar chamber.
While casting spells, he had been vigilant about his surroundings.
After all, he didn't know if any other Blood Ear Elf Shadow Stalkers were hiding nearby.
The Shadow Stalkers' concealment abilities were quite formidable.
If they didn't attack, Gu Nie wouldn't be able to detect their presence.
"My rapid spellcasting for over ten seconds is an opportunity for them."
"If there were any, those Blood Ear Elves wouldn't just stand by and watch their companions be bombarded by me."
"Since none have appeared, then... there's probably none left."
Immediately, Gu Nie lightly raised Silver Feather.
Whoosh... whoosh... whoosh...
Rocket Blasts rapidly shot into the cellar, paving the way and providing visibility.
Rocket Blasts and Lightning Arcs were both two-syllable ordinary spells.
They only consumed a quarter or even a fifth of a unit of Source Energy.
If Gu Nie conserved his Source Energy, he could use an eighth or even a tenth of a unit to cast Lightning Arcs and Rocket Blasts.
Of course, with less Source Energy, the spell potency would naturally be significantly reduced.
Currently, for pathfinding and illumination, using about a tenth of a unit of Source Energy to create these Rocket Blasts was more than enough.
A moment later, the water mist in the cellar was quickly dispelled by the flames, and the firelight illuminated the entire cellar chamber.
Gu Nie appeared in the cellar chamber.
The first thing he saw was a relatively small cellar hall.
It was furnished with carpets, sofas, coffee tables, teacups, decorative murals, and so on, resembling a small underground salon or gathering space.
On the table surrounded by sofas, there was some food.
Fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, and plain water.
Blood Ear Elves were vegetarians.
Well... most Elves were vegetarians.
Of course, except for the fallen Elves.
"These fruits and vegetables are still fresh."
"Could it be that these Blood Ear Elves were discussing something and I just happened to interrupt them?"
After a quick inspection, Gu Nie nodded slightly.
"It seems that's probably the case."
Then, Gu Nie looked at the sofas and the corners of the walls.
He saw seven or eight corpses lying scattered on the ground.
Each one was charred black from the electricity.
Some of their clothes were still smoldering.
It was evident how devastating Gu Nie's saturation strike of Lightning Arcs had been.
Gu Nie didn't rashly approach or touch the bodies.
"Death Feign" was an ability possessed by some Shadow Stalkers or other types of extraordinary individuals.
If these "dead" Blood Ear Elves had a similar skill,
If he approached rashly, they might suddenly lunge at him and deliver a fatal blow.
According to the information, these Blood Ear Elves seemed to include one Rank 3, some Rank 2, and mostly Rank 1 individuals.
The Rank 3 Blood Ear Elf could still pose a significant threat to Gu Nie.
Waving his staff, Gu Nie began unleashing Rocket Blasts to further desecrate the corpses.
Sizzle!
Sizzle!
Sizzle!
Each Rocket Blast pierced through the skull of a corpse.
After a while, all the corpses had been pierced through the head.
The Blood Ear Elves weren't feigning death. They were all dead.
"Huu..."
After confirming the Blood Ear Elves' deaths, Gu Nie finally relaxed slightly.
Killing these Blood Ear Elves was a small act of revenge.
Whether it was for Lan Xir, the injured Paul, Yulair, or his own self-defense, it was worthwhile.
Gu Nie quickly suppressed his slight sadness.
Regaining his composure, he looked at the corpses.
"Next, I need to collect the spoils, dispose of the bodies, and destroy the villa."
"I need to hurry. The patrol team will likely arrive soon."
The patrol team.
Every ruin city had an official extraordinary organization.
Patrol officers were similar to police officers, except that police officers handled disputes and incidents involving ordinary people.
Extraordinary patrol officers handled extraordinary incidents.
With the series of explosions and the villa engulfed in flames, the fire was starting to rise significantly.
The patrol officers wouldn't take long to arrive.
Gu Nie quickly checked the corpses and began "looting."
The most important gains from this battle were undoubtedly the extraordinary equipment on the corpses.
Even black iron-grade extraordinary equipment was worth over a hundred gold coins.
Higher-level magic bronze equipment and spatial storage extraordinary equipment were even more valuable.
Within a few minutes, Gu Nie had quickly and thoroughly collected all the extraordinary equipment and storage equipment from the corpses.
Then, Gu Nie poured "Strong Poisonous Corpse Water" onto each corpse.
Strong Poisonous Corrosive Water was a mid-level "Violent Poison Potion."
Originally, this potion was used to deal with corpses infected with plagues, diseases, viruses, or memes.
Later, some individuals developed it into a handy tool for disposing of bodies.
Extraordinary individuals' bodies had a strong resistance to corrosion.
Even after death, their bodies retained a good degree of resistance.
Unfortunately, "Strong Poisonous Corrosive Water" was specifically designed for this purpose. It didn't fear the corrosion resistance of these extraordinary corpses.
After pouring a bottle onto a corpse, it began to corrode and decay at a visible rate.
Within a few minutes, there were essentially no remains left.
After collecting the extraordinary equipment and destroying the corpses, Gu Nie began to withdraw.
During his retreat, Gu Nie strategically placed Ring Bombardments.
Ring Bombardments, besides being used as rolling offensive weapons, could also be fixed to the ground like explosive charges.
With each Ring Bombardment, Gu Nie fixed it to the ground and left it in a ready-to-detonate state.
After a while,
The entire villa was filled with twenty-five Ring Bombardments placed by Gu Nie.
If he hadn't been worried that the spells were too powerful and the explosion might affect nearby residents, he would have doubled the number.
In the roadside greenery, out of the reach of the dim streetlights,
Gu Nie stood silently in the darkness.
"Explode!" Gu Nie thought.
Boom————
Twenty-five Ring Bombardments exploded simultaneously.
The explosion, like a bolt from the blue, sent the entire villa flying into the air before it rapidly collapsed.
A villa was reduced to rubble.
The explosion was so violent.
Even from a distance of over fifty meters, Gu Nie felt a powerful shockwave. Leaves were shaken from the trees.
The glass of some nearby houses shattered from the explosion, and a cacophony of glass breaking sounds echoed through the air.
There were also some screams mixed in.
Gu Nie's eyes twitched slightly at the sight.
"I'm sorry," he muttered.
Gu Nie leaped into the darkness of a nearby alley.
In the distance, the extraordinary patrol officers were rapidly approaching.
...
On his way back,
Gu Nie quickly reviewed the gains and losses of his operation in his mind.
"Although there were a few minor flaws, they were insignificant. Overall, it was a great success."
"The process wasn't very smooth, but the more I do things like killing, stealing, ambushing, and backstabbing, the more proficient I'll become," Gu Nie mused silently.
He proceeded cautiously, silently navigating through the passage and secret door, entering the underground alchemy chamber.
Then, he entered the living room.
As Gu Nie quietly walked towards his room,
A raspy, old voice suddenly echoed from the corner of the sofa.
"You shouldn't have provoked those fellows."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 58: Patrol Officers
Gu Nie turned around in surprise.
In the corner of the sofa, Old Cohen was sitting there in his pajamas.
Gu Nie was certain that there was no one there before.
This sudden appearance...
"Could it be Father's extraordinary ability?"
Gu Nie wasn't sure about Cohen's abilities.
Cohen rarely displayed his abilities and had never mentioned them to Gu Nie.
"They provoked me first,"
Standing in the darkness, Gu Nie softly responded to Cohen's words.
"Besides, even if I hadn't retaliated, they wouldn't have let me off the hook, would they?"
Cohen pondered for a moment before slowly replying, "But you've completely enraged them now. They'll soon come for revenge. Blood Ear Elves are very vengeful."
"Then we'll all die," Cohen's voice was raspy and authoritative.
"They won't be able to find me," Gu Nie responded.
"Naive!"
Cohen shook his head slightly.
"Do you think that by destroying the crime scene and erasing your tracks, they won't have other ways to find you?"
"Peering into past scenes, occult divination, logical deduction of causality, following the unique information you've left behind..."
"They have countless ways to find you."
"You have no idea how terrifying and mysterious the methods of those powerful beings are,"
Cohen sighed.
"You don't understand the awesomeness of cheats," Gu Nie silently retorted in his mind.
"They won't find me," Gu Nie repeated. "Even if they use all the methods you mentioned."
"Since I dared to do this, I have the means to counter those powerful beings' investigations."
"I guarantee they won't find me," Gu Nie stated confidently once more.
After contemplating for a moment,
Cohen looked up and said slowly, "Are you... truly confident?"
"I'm confident, and... very confident!" Gu Nie replied.
"Of course, if you're not comfortable with it,"
"You can take Maesha and leave for a while."
"Leave?" Cohen shook his head slightly.
"Leaving now would only let those fellows know that something's wrong here, wouldn't it?"
"Since you're confident, we just need to be more vigilant during this period."
"Besides, you're a member of the Vanguard Corps, a high-level Alchemist within the Vanguard Corps. If they really do investigate, we can simply utilize official forces to protect us."
"Within our human territory, we shouldn't be so afraid of some alien races that we run away,"
Cohen's tone was calm and steady.
Gu Nie was momentarily stunned by Cohen's words, then rubbed his forehead and chuckled wryly.
He had been a little too anxious, almost forgetting that he was a member of the Vanguard Corps within the Extraordinary Association, and a very important member at that.
The Blood Ear Elves were ultimately just rats who couldn't stand the light.
Even if they were discovered, using official forces to protect him was a good decision.
Moreover, Gu Nie was quite confident that those fellows wouldn't be able to find him.
"You... have advanced to Rank 1?"
Cohen then asked softly.
"Yes," Gu Nie didn't hide it.
"You've advanced quite quickly. Have you noticed anything unusual?"
"Some strange fellow from deep within my bloodline seems to be constantly watching me," Gu Nie shrugged.
"You're referring to the Bloodline Curse's Gaze, aren't you?"
Cohen's voice was as raspy and old as ever.
"Probably," Gu Nie nodded.
Then, Gu Nie tentatively asked, "Father, about those spells?"
"I've already made arrangements. They're incredibly powerful unconventional spells. I'll take you there tomorrow."
"Also... have you looted anything from there?"
"Yes," Gu Nie didn't hide it.
"Don't sell those items on the black market for now."
"If the Blood Ear Elves can't find you, they'll definitely keep an eye on the black market."
"Understood."
"Once this period of intense scrutiny passes, you can safely sell those items on the black market or within the Vanguard Corps."
"The Vanguard Corps is helping you set up an Alchemy laboratory. I went to check on it today. It should be ready in a few days. Once it's ready, start mass-producing potions and prioritize supplying the Vanguard Corps."
"After all, that's the main priority."
"I understand, Father," Gu Nie nodded.
"Alright, go to bed and get some rest," Cohen waved his hand.
Gu Nie turned and walked towards his room.
After opening the door, Gu Nie turned back thoughtfully.
The sofa was empty.
"Father's methods are quite peculiar," Gu Nie mused silently.
...
As Gu Nie drifted off to sleep,
Several blocks away, the police had already cordoned off the villa ruins.
On the lawn of the ruined villa,
Several men in black robes and black top hats gathered in the courtyard.
"Any findings?" one of the men, holding a smoking pipe, said while exhaling smoke.
"Based on the villa's destruction, the perpetrator is a very powerful Spellcaster,"
Among the group, a young man with glasses, holding a black notebook and pen, responded meticulously.
"And to achieve such a powerful explosion,"
"It must have been a mid-level or even high-level Spellcaster."
"Indeed,"
Everyone nodded.
They were all high-ranking patrol officers within the police force, and they were also extraordinary individuals.
They naturally knew the general capabilities of extraordinary individuals at different ranks.
To destroy a building like that,
It couldn't have been caused by a low-level Spellcaster's explosion spell.
Only powerful mid-level or high-level Spellcasters had such abilities.
"Furthermore, this Spellcaster seemed to understand the villa's structural framework. They completely destroyed the entire building, causing it to collapse."
"This was a premeditated act."
"Currently, the villa is in ruins, and cleanup will take several days."
"Confirming the presence of any deceased individuals and their identities will also take several days."
"Of course, if we use our abilities..."
The young man with glasses glanced at a man standing beside him who hadn't spoken a word since they arrived.
The man then spoke softly, "I've already sent my Pact Soul down to investigate."
"The bodies have been destroyed, likely with some kind of corrosive potion. The extraordinary equipment and storage equipment have all vanished."
"However, based on their clothing, we can tell that they were the Blood Ear Elves who came to our Sugh City with malicious intent."
"Blood Ear Elves?"
Everyone's eyebrows furrowed, and they all breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's good that those sewer rats were killed. It's rare good news."
The others nodded in agreement.
"If it was the Blood Ear Elves who died, there's no need to pursue the culprit further," the pipe-smoking man, the patrol captain "Angos Batty," said.
"No... I think it's necessary to investigate further," George, the young man with glasses, pushed his glasses up his nose and said seriously.
"Oh? Why?" Captain Angos Batty looked at George.
"Look at this..." George pointed to a deep furrow not far away.
"Is that a tire track? Did the guy drive a steam excavator here?" someone joked.
The humorous joke sparked laughter among the group.
"It's not a tire track. It's a Ring Bombardment mark."
"Ring Bombardment?"
Everyone's eyes focused on George.
George quickly chanted a spell.
Immediately, a completely black Ring Bombardment, nearly a meter tall but only slightly thicker than a moderately stout tree trunk, appeared.
At the same time, the Ring Bombardment also created a shallow furrow on the ground.
Compared to the large furrow that was over twenty centimeters wide and thirty or forty centimeters deep, this one looked like a baby.
"My Ring Bombardment is Rank 1."
"I suspect this Ring Bombardment was at least Rank 5, maybe even Rank 6."
Rank 5 or 6 spells? Everyone was stunned.
That spell rank was too high!
Usually, after obtaining a spell, extraordinary individuals would focus on cultivating it to reach Rank 1 as soon as possible.
For ordinary basic extraordinary spells, it takes months to reach Rank 1.
For powerful mid-level and high-level spells, it can even take years to reach Rank 1.
After Rank 1,
Generally, extraordinary individuals wouldn't specifically cultivate that spell.
After all, constantly casting spells consumes Source Energy, and potions are essential for rapid recovery.
Therefore, most Spellcasters let their spells level up naturally.
When they have time, they cast and practice, gaining insights.
When they don't have time, they simply ignore it.
This laid-back approach to spell leveling means that it can take years for a spell to reach Rank 2.
Reaching Rank 3 might take decades.
As a result, this laid-back leveling approach makes it almost impossible for a spell to reach Rank 5 or 6.
The only way is to continuously cultivate that specific spell.
Only then can one raise a spell to Rank 5 or 6 within a few years or a decade.
Very few people do this.
For example, ascetics.
And ascetics rarely engage in random killing.
"A mysterious identity, possessing powerful spells." George pushed his glasses up his nose and narrowed his eyes.
"If it was a powerful individual, there would be no need to conceal their actions. They would kill and leave, and what could you do about it?"
"Destroying the crime scene and evidence so thoroughly."
"This guy is probably not very strong. He's an interesting fellow."
(End of Chapter)