In this world, life never always went as planned. Sometimes, it moved in a direction one had always expected. Yet no matter how much a person planned ahead, if fate did not allow it, nothing would turn out the way one imagined.
This was reality, and Jang Yue understood it to its core. He did not need to live for hundreds of years to comprehend such principle of logic. After all, fate had brought him to this world. Perhaps his fate was to be a cultivator from the very moment he was born, or perhaps his fate was to die on the day he was shot by a hunter.
But whatever the case, Jang Yue was determined to create his own lineage and become immortal. Whether fate liked it or not did not matter to him.
The autumn moon shone its brilliance upon the Mountain peak.
Jang Yue's hut was not very far from the Mountains of the outer sect.
Though if there's trouble in the sect, he would probably be the first to die, because of how far his hut is from the outer sect.
This was the fate of all disciples by trail.
One thing he knew was that the mountains were connected to a large forest. Within this forest, countless tier one demonic beasts lived as if it were their home.
But just like the cultivation world, this forest was survival of the fittest, if you're not strong enough, you would die upon entry.
Staring at the mountain, laziness clung to him like the scent of perfume. How would he be able to climb such a mountain before dawn?
However, he did not have time to waste thinking about possibilities. That was what losers did.
He ran as fast and as stealthily as he could.
Because of the moon, his overall agility was above that of an average human.
Within a few breaths, he had already reached the mountain and began to climb.
However, Jang Yue did not expect mountain climbing to be this difficult. His hands screamed in pain with every movement.
After climbing for a long distance, Jang Yue realized he had a hidden flaw he had never known.
He was afraid of heights.
This was the first time he had ever climbed a mountain in his seventeen years of living.
He did not have wings like high blood vampires, so one thing was certain.
Jang Yue swallowed hard.
"If I fall right now, I will die."
'Alright. Don't fall, Jang Yue. You can do this.'
He encouraged himself while making his way up slowly and steadily.
However, time was not on his side. If he took the normal stairs to climb the mountain, he would be caught by the sect guards and sent back.
Unlike outer or inner sect disciples who could request leave, disciples on trial were not allowed to do so. When Jang Yue asked why, he was told things like:
"Disciples on trial need more time to cultivate."
"They have to reach the Bone Tempering Realm and become outer disciples as soon as possible."
Hence, Jang Yue had no choice but to use this alternative method of climbing the mountain.
Hours passed, and Jang Yue finally reached the top.
His breath came out jagged, entire body shook from exhaustion.
"I will never do that ever again!"
He said while gasping for air.
Ahead of him lay a vast, dark forest. It did not really have a name.
All types of demonic beasts were known to grow here. Once they reached tier three, they were transported into the inner sect and taken as sect beasts.
The moon's radiance ignited a sweet bluish glow upon the mountain peak.
Despite its beauty, the forest remained dark.
However, this darkness was like heaven to Jang Yue. All vampires could see in the dark as clearly as day.
He removed a manual from his clothes and opened its pages.
"The first demonic beast I'm going to hunt is…"
"Thunderbone Iron Quilin."
He swallowed deeply as he read the details.
"Thunderbone Iron Quilin. A demonic beast infused with heavenly demon thunder. Its weak point is its skull. It has immunity to ordinary weapons and can shoot condensed metal fused with lightning."
Jang Yue closed the book and calmed himself.
"Phew. You can do this, Jang Yue. You can do this. Its core is condensed lightning and metal, exactly what I need to form lightning and metal spirit roots."
He put the book away and stretched his body.
He had come this far, and he was not about to chicken out.
Suddenly, his long ears twitched.
"What was that?"
He burst into the forest like an arrow.
His body brushed past bushes as the leaves of massive trees danced in the wind.
Suddenly, Jang Yue felt it.
Bloodlust.
It was not on the level of the demon lord he had once sensed, but it was far above the Hellhound he had fought days ago.
Jang Yue widened his eyes in shock.
A lion-like beast stood before him in a posture that defied reason. Its mane was wrapped in flames. Its body was ten, no, twenty times larger than that of a lion on Earth.
A Demonic Flame Lion.
However, its opponent was no smaller.
A nine-headed Abyssal Serpent. Though it now only had two heads, it was still an enormous serpent infused with dark attributes.
Jang Yue was certain both creatures were tier two demonic beasts.
Suddenly, the lion leaped inches above the ground, launching a predictable attack at its opponent. Even though the attack was obvious, the serpent was too large to dodge.
Scratch!
One of the serpent's heads lost its eye.
Psss!
The serpent roared in pain and began spitting dark energy.
The lion, swift and agile, launched another attack aimed at the serpent's eyes once more.
However, this time the serpent was prepared. Its fangs sank into the lion's massive body, throwing it into a distant tree.
'Ouch. That has to hurt like hell.'
Jang Yue watched like a spectator, though he stood on neither side.
He was simply waiting for the right moment to reap the rewards.
If heaven openly gave him two beautiful cores, who was he to deny such a gift?
The lion struggled to its feet. Its legs trembled, its breath jagged, blood seeping from its wounds.
Smelling the scent of blood, Jang Yue was about to make his move, but he restrained himself.
'Wait. If you move now, you will die.'
At that moment, Jang Yue realized that the 28 percent blood addiction warning from BA was real.
However, this was the path he had chosen. He had no regrets.
Moments later, the two demonic beasts continued fighting back and forth. Their strength was undeniable, yet they were evenly matched.
Eventually, both were exhausted and unable to continue.
"Now."
Jang Yue launched himself at the Demonic Flame Lion, striking its already injured spot.
His hand plunged into the creature's stomach, and he pulled out its core.
On the other side, the Abyssal Serpent attempted to flee.
"Oh no you don't."
Jang Yue killed it immediately and removed its core as well.
But Jang Yue could not resist any longer.
He began drinking the serpent's blood.
Suddenly, the petals within his body reacted once more.
[Bing!]
[Stabilizing…]
Jang Yue's eyes widened.
His expression stiffened.
"BA was real? I wasn't going insane?"
Then a realization struck him like lightning.
"It appeared last time when I drank blood too."
"Does that mean it functions with blood? No wonder its fonts and everything are pure crimson."
Jang Yue immediately stopped drinking the serpent's blood.
He dipped his hand into its body and began controlling the trajectory of the blood.
He had a feeling that to create a blood root, he needed the blood of a creature.
After a short while, Jang Yue successfully extracted the serpent's blood into a bottle.
Then he moved to the Demonic Flame Lion and did the same. This time, BA reacted.
[Would you like to store blood for the Blood Assistant?]
The words were clear and concise, but what did they mean?
[I work with the blood of creatures. If I lack blood, I return to dormant mode until sufficient blood is available for communication.]
Jang Yue pressed his chin in thought, then asked,
"Does this affect your intelligence when blood is low?"
[Yes.]
Everything suddenly made sense.
The reason Blood Assistant suggested blood roots but did not know how to create them was because it lacked blood to process further thoughts.
"Alright. I'll allow it. How do you want me to store the blood?"
[Host, place your hand on the creature's blood and leave the rest to me.]
Jang Yue obeyed.
The blood began flowing directly into his arm.
[Storing blood in process…]
[Storing 1 liter of blood…]
[Storing 2 liters of blood…]
.....
After a moment, Blood Assistant finished storing four liters of blood from both the lion and the serpent.
Jang Yue was satisfied with his harvest.
However, his true goal had not yet been achieved.
The beast he intended to hunt that night was the Thunderbone Iron Quilin.
With that thought, Jang Yue walked deeper into the forest, his eyes set on his prey.