The misty sea was eerily still, disturbed only by the flight of a small bat.
On its tiny back, two droplets of colorless liquid clung firmly, continuously absorbing knowledge from the surrounding fog and converting it into sorcery power.
"The absorption rate is still too slow..." Shivlyn sighed internally, dissatisfied with the pace of her sorcery growth.
Two droplets of Colorless Origin Blood equaled six droplets of Rainbow Origin Blood, which further equaled 18 droplets of Golden Origin Blood or 54 droplets of Silver Origin Blood. This granted her an absorption rate of 560%—a staggering 5.5 times faster than the average sorcerer, showcasing the inherent strength of the Blood Saint race.
Yet, this advantage was fleeting.
In the Sea of Knowledge, Shivlyn's rapid absorption of sorcery power gave her an edge, but as soon as she ascended to two-winged Golden and stepped onto the Continent of Time, Silver Origin Blood would lose its potency. Only Golden Origin Blood could sustain absorption then.
With her current supply of two Colorless Origin Blood droplets, she could only produce 18 Golden droplets. Her absorption rate would drop to 200%, merely twice the efficiency of a regular sorcerer.
Reaching the three-winged Sanctum, her only usable resources would be six Rainbow Origin Blood droplets, dropping her efficiency to 80%, lower than her peers of the same tier.
And when she ascended to four-winged Legend, only two Colorless droplets would remain, with an absorption rate of a pitiful 40%—less than half that of her fellow sorcerers.
Thus, while the Blood Saints boasted eternal life, they faced a relentless race against time. To truly thrive, they had to rapidly cross the Sea of Knowledge and the Continent of Time, ascending to the three-winged Sanctum while still "young." Only then could they receive the Blood Moon Sovereign's blessing and undergo the bloodline purification ritual.
The later this ritual occurred, the less effective it was. Without high-grade Origin Blood, they couldn't reignite their vitality for a second prime.
Shivlyn had seen many aging Blood Saint sorcerers in the research institute, trapped at two-winged Golden or three-winged Sanctum for their entire existence. Despite their extended lifespans, their pitiful absorption efficiency often meant they couldn't fully unfold their Rainbow or Golden Wings before their souls withered away.
The Blood Saints, though freed from time's shackles, were not exempt from eternal silence.
"Hmm?"
Suspended mid-flight, the little bat emitted a soundless ultrasonic pulse, probing the surrounding terrain.
Miracle: Blood Bat Form was a racial gift of the Blood Saints, one nearly all could master with ease. Transforming into a bat in the Virtual Realm allowed them to avoid the arduous swimming most sorcerers endured in the Sea of Knowledge. It also greatly increased their survival rate and exploration efficiency.
The Ultrasonic Detection, an advanced form of this miracle, gave Shivlyn a general sense of the nearby terrain. Though its range was limited by the fog's heavy sound and visual interference, it was better than nothing.
Moments ago, her scan had picked up an anomaly to the right—a non-uniform signal amidst the sea's flat expanse. Yet when she paused to investigate, the anomaly vanished.
A Knowledge Beast?
Shivlyn wasn't particularly afraid—quite the opposite. She was eager to test a newly learned miracle and was in search of a suitable "victim."
However, the anomaly came from an otherwise empty patch of ocean, with nothing in sight.
Frowning, she briefly considered investigating but ultimately dismissed the thought. The Virtual Realm was full of mysteries. If she stopped to explore every anomaly, her centuries wouldn't suffice to uncover even a fraction of its secrets.
"Still, I wish I could encounter a Knowledge Beast. There are a few sorcery spirits I want to trade for..."
As Shivlyn began turning away, a distinct splashing sound reached her ears.
The bat froze mid-air, momentarily stunned. It was the first time she'd heard such a noise in the Sea of Knowledge. It sounded like… someone tossing a stone into the water?
Could it be another sorcerer?
After a brief hesitation, her curiosity won out. She flew toward the source of the sound, confident that even if she couldn't win a confrontation, she could at least escape.
Besides, this was her first time potentially encountering another sorcerer in the Virtual Realm. The sheer novelty of the possibility made the risk worth it.
Who could they be?
Another sorcerer from the Blood Moon nation?
What's their age? What disciplines do they master?
And if they're from another nation, could we communicate?
Excitement and apprehension mingled in Shivlyn's heart as she fluttered toward the sound. Breaking through the fog, she saw—
—an island.
On it stood a juvenile White Electric Dragon, its body sheathed in pearly scales, with a neck supporting a grotesque head that lacked eyes, adorned only with a wide, jagged mouth.
White Electric Dragons were prized Knowledge Beasts, often accompanied by rare lightning-based sorcery spirits. They were among the most valuable targets in the Sea of Knowledge. Even if Shivlyn didn't need their spirits, the research institute would pay handsomely for them.
Normally, she'd be thrilled to encounter such a worthy prey. But right now, disappointment weighed on her heart.
"I really wanted to meet another sorcerer... Even a little trash talk would've been nice!"
The dragon snarled upon spotting the bat, releasing a deafening screech that could temporarily deafen a sorcerer.
But Shivlyn seized the moment, shifting into her human form mid-air. During the 0.1-second transformation, she was immune to all effects, seamlessly avoiding the dragon's attack.
As she landed, a crimson mist erupted around her, enshrouding the island. The dragon roared, electricity coursing over its body, and lunged.
The island's small size left little room to evade, and the dragon's electric arcs were lethal even with minimal contact.
Shivlyn stood firm, raising her hand.
"Miracle: Blood Thorns!"
The mist coalesced into barbed vines that wrapped around the dragon, tearing into its pearly scales with each movement. Blood oozed from countless gashes, making it look like the beast was being flayed alive.
Wincing, the dragon flapped its wings furiously, tearing free from the thorns before retreating into the sky. From above, it prepared to strike again, wary of the dangerous mist.
Undeterred, Shivlyn performed intricate hand signs, murmuring, "First time using this in battle… Hope it doesn't fail."
Electricity crackled as the dragon transformed into a deadly plasma sphere, hurtling downward. Even the most defensive sorcerer would be annihilated by a direct hit.
Shivlyn clapped her hands together, her crimson eyes glowing.
"Miracle: Blood Reversal!"
A chilling scream tore through the air. The dragon's charge faltered, and it tumbled like a broken kite, crashing into the ground. Its body convulsed violently as blood vessels ruptured, spilling blood like blossoming flowers.
Shivlyn's earlier Blood Seeds had already infiltrated its body, enabling her to manipulate its blood flow at will. Whether to accelerate bleeding or force reverse circulation, the effects were devastating.
Knowledge Beasts were formidable, but against a skilled Blood Sorcerer, their odds were slim.
The dragon let out one final, eerie wail before whipping its tail, scattering three sorcery spirits into the air. It then fled into the mist, disappearing as quickly as it had come.
Shivlyn caught the spirits, unbothered by the dragon's escape. She knew that unless the circumstances were overwhelmingly in her favor, soloing a Knowledge Beast to death was nearly impossible.
As she pocketed her rewards, her sharp ears caught a faint sound in the distance—another dragon's wail?
Frowning, she strained to listen, but the fog's density muddled her senses. Dismissing it, she prepared to resume her exploration.
Just as she morphed back into her bat form, another splash echoed from the same direction.
Shivlyn hovered mid-air, bewildered.
"Again?"