Blood wanted to escape when he saw her sudden change, but the dragon was soaring so high in the sky that such a plan would only end in death.
Where could I even run to? he thought bitterly. He realized he still couldn't understand that young lady, even after being together for some time. He quietly stopped trying to extend the conversation, fearing he might further anger her.
Even though Ballock and he had planned all of this, they hadn't managed to finish it. She was releasing a unique frost pressure that he was about to collapse beneath its intensifying weight when an unexpected helper came to his rescue.
[Someone has accepted the request to become a Blood Follower]
[The process has started]
[Quest Title: Form a Blood Following (10)]
[Blood Followers: 0 of 10]
Blood's eyes widened in surprise. It took him only a second to scan the message before a token began to take shape in his palm, encased in a bloody array of light.
At its center was an octagonal prism that housed a pendant, misty blood veins could be seen spurting from it like living threads. They were engraved on the token, though unmoving yet emanated a calming presence.
Blood stared at Kate with glittering eyes—
"What is that?" she asked quickly, noticing the strange object forming in his palm. Her vigilance rose instantly; the token's bizarre shape wasn't something to ignore.
Information poured into Blood's mind, and in that instant, he understood how to proceed and what to do with the token.
"First, there are no terms," he said firmly, noticing the pressure on him reducing gradually. "Secondly, this is the Lord's command plate, otherwise known as the Golden Plate. It enables me to issue commands pertaining to the affairs of the domain. But my current authority is laughable. I will try to increase my authority level once we begin challenging those phases later."
He lifted the token slightly, its bloody glow flickering. "Now this is the critical point. Since you wished to become my follower, all you need to do is cover the plate with your spiritual aura. It will recognize you soon after, and you will then be eligible to explore and seek opportunities within the domain." His lips curved into a light smile.
Kate did not hesitate. She wrapped her spiritual aura around the token, having already checked for hidden runes. However, she saw that it was exactly as it appeared, and there was nothing deceptive or concealed on it.
Three seconds passed. Nothing happened.
She turned her gaze back to Blood, suspicion still lingering on her mind, making sure he wasn't pulling a fast one.
By the ninth second, still nothing had occurred. Her patience finally snapped, and she prepared to punish the boy immediately, but then—
A blazing bloody light erupted from the token, flooding the skies with its brilliance.
Blood was shocked at the sudden eruption of light but soon realized what was happening. There was a smile tugging at his lips. She's now within grasp. He had been grinning ever since Kate wrapped her aura around the token.
Blood raised his brows, focusing on the bloody streak. It looked like a congested mass of blood before it shot upward on a whim, then descended even faster than it had ascended.
The streak divided into two as it descended, before darting toward them. It pierced straight into their heads. Neither of them could react, the speed was too sudden.
A tint of red covered their eyes before receding quickly. They collected themselves moments later, obviously shaken.
Realization soon dawned on Kate; she had tried to dodge the light but failed, it was simply too fast. What appeared in her mind after that was beyond her imagination.
Blood himself hadn't expected the system's procedure to be so dramatic. He had never performed it before, nor had he been notified of what to expect.
"Hey, what was that? And what is this sort of red cloud in my spiritual space?" Kate demanded, her demeanor frightening as she glared dangerously at him.
This was a pressing matter. Never had she imagined the selection could intrude her spiritual space. That was the very core of a cultivator's life. She sent her consciousness into it.
If anything goes wrong in there, I might never be able to get hold of myself ever again. This guy is too reckless. He didn't tell me this from the start.
"That's just the identification that you are now an official member of the Red Domain," Blood explained, referring to the Blood Book's dramatic display. He had no idea about the cloud she mentioned, though.
With a stern expression that looked ready to crumble at any moment, he added, "As for the red cloud in your spiritual space, if you could elaborate more, it would be helpful. They differ from one person to another." He coughed lightly, trying to mask his uncertainty.
There was no way he could know what appeared in her spiritual space, as she was his first subject, and the Blood Book remained silent. He had to discover it himself.
Kate gazed at the fourteen‑year‑old boy, her suspicion deepening. She felt he was purposely infuriating her, and that he had somehow tampered with the process.
"Did you tamper with the process?" she asked coldly.
Blood didn't reply. He pretended to be captivated by the token, unwilling to say anything. That was simply how the selection process was meant to unfold.
When did children become so headstrong!
Kate almost rolled her eyes at his silence but restrained herself. Since the red cloud wasn't causing immediate harm, she decided to leave it for later. She ended up describing exactly how it appeared to him.
Blood listened carefully, making sure not to miss a single word. "Hmm. Since it is like this, and the cloud of red energy covered your core, try circulating your energy," he suggested.
Kate's eyes narrowed. "Haven't you done this before?" she asked. It seemed the boy was uncertain about his own words.
Blood drew a deep breath, feigning irritation. "I've done it before. But as I've told you, the process differs from one person to another. Just do as you're told."
This feels more like an experiment… and I'm the specimen. Kate hesitated.
"First of all, know this—if anything goes wrong and something happens to me, your family will be very busy from then on. The core isn't something to be trifled with. Everyone knows I'm with you, so you'd better think straight before committing to something you cannot erase." Her voice was cold, laced with warning.
The core was the main source of energy for any cultivator, the foundation upon which all strength was built. One wrong mistake could end a cultivator's path forever. No punishment from her father could restore her back to who she once was if her core was broken.
Kate slowly began to circulate her energy while Blood drew in a steady breath. He didn't think anything could go wrong. Is it that the Blood Book is creating a second Host by covering her core? That would be troublesome…
The moment she stirred her energy, the red cloud enshrouding her core began to clear. An octagonal prism emerged, emitting an exotic aura.
Kate's eyes widened as she described what she saw. Blood looked impaled by the revelation. Was my intuition correct? Is the Blood Book really creating a second Host? His eyes flashed coldly.
He finally understood the common altercation when a husband takes a second wife. His thought was short‑lived, interrupted by a sudden beep in his head.
[The process has been completed]
[A Blood Follower has been selected and added]
[Blood Followers: 1 of 10]
[A hidden optional quest has been completed]