Chapter 9: Blood in the Fog
[Scene: Outer Misty Hollow – Cracked Shrine Grounds]
Morning broke, but the mist clung to the forest like a curse.
Ye Tianfeng stood before a ruined stone shrine. His breath was calm, eyes sharp.
> [Heavenly Engraving Panel]
Talent Scan: Active
Range: 10 meters
Engraving Slots: 2/2
Martial Techniques:
— Gale Step (Lv.1)
— Whisper Vein (Passive Qi Absorption – Fragmented)
He activated the new feature. His pupils pulsed with gold.
> Scanning…
— Target Detected: Qi Beast – Silverfang Wolf (Earth Affinity, Minor)
— Talent Rank: Mortal-Grade (Lv.1)
— Distance: 6.2 meters
His lips curled slightly.
> "Let's test the hunt."
---
[Scene: Foggy Ridge – Combat Sequence]
The wolf lunged from the mist—fangs gleaming, claws extended.
Tianfeng vanished mid-dash, Gale Step warping his movement.
A blink.
Steel flashed.
> [Target slain.]
[Talent Engraved: Minor Earth Affinity]
Slot Exceeded. Choose one to overwrite.
— Wind Affinity (Lv.1)
— Earth Affinity (Lv.1)
He hesitated… and kept Wind.
Earth Affinity shattered into dust—lost forever.
> [Slot remains full: 2/2]
> "So I can only hold two at a time unless I earn more..."
---
[Scene: Cracked Shrine Grounds – Moments Later]
Luo Chen emerged from the treeline, but something was wrong. His face was pale, his hands shaking.
> "They've found us."
Tianfeng narrowed his eyes. "Who?"
> "Crimson Moon Sect patrol. One elder, four disciples. They're tracking your qi signature."
Tianfeng's heart chilled. He wasn't ready to face an elder—not yet.
But Luo Chen wasn't done.
> "This shrine isn't just ruins. It's a trap array. Bait them. And we break them."
Tianfeng looked at the cracked sigils beneath his feet.
His blood boiled—not in fear,
but anticipation.
> "Let's engrave a lesson they won't forget."
---
[End of Chapter 9]