Shackles of Humanity

Fur Monkey’s expression was solemn. "Luo Kai," he said, "Teacher instructed me to tell you the origin of the Holy Sect. Humanity has existed for over three million years, but our current civilization is only a few thousand years old. Do you know what happened during all that time in between?"

Luo Kai withdrew his awareness from within his body, his expression shifting. "You’re saying prehistoric civilizations existed."

Fur Monkey nodded. "That’s right. Over those three million-plus years, several civilizations arose. Each one flourished for a time, but they all eventually declined from their peak and met with destruction. Besides their own internal reasons, there’s another factor: they triggered a great calamity of Heaven and Earth. This calamity, also known as the Great Cataclysm, is a natural consequence of the world maintaining its balance. The Technology Civilization before the last cataclysm is now what we would consider a prehistoric civilization. As time wears on, the remnants of the previous civilization are gradually forgotten. Our current civilization’s path can be called a biological one."

Fur Monkey stood up, walked over to the statue, and continued, "Our Blood Holy Sect can be traced back to the third civilization. During that era, a group of sages researched the methods of using Blood Energy. When the great calamity of Heaven and Earth arrived, that civilization was also destroyed. However, one of those sages managed to condense his own Blood Energy Essence into twelve drops, allowing them to survive the cataclysm and be passed down. The founder of the Blood Holy Sect was the inheritor of one of those drops. He’s the one this statue is modeled after. We call him the Blood Ancestor, and it’s said he cultivated Blood Energy to its absolute zenith."

A realization dawned on Luo Kai. He had no desire to become some monster with Three Heads and Six Arms. He asked nervously, "Are you saying that the cocoon I just ate... was a drop of Blood Energy Essence?"

"That’s right. The sacred heirloom of our Holy Sect is that very drop of Blood Energy Essence! In truth, there was never any Brain Worm Pill, and Teacher never gave this young lady any drug at all."

Luo Kai gritted his teeth and glared at Li Gui’s corpse. ’That old man was as cunning as a fox.’ He carefully checked his body but, for the moment, felt nothing out of the ordinary.

Lu Qing walked over, her face tense. "Luo Kai, what’s going on?" she asked.

Luo Kai gently patted her hand. "It’s nothing," he said. "I just got played by a tiresome old man."

Fur Monkey hoisted Li Gui’s body onto his shoulder and started walking slowly toward the entrance. After a few steps, he suddenly turned back. "Teacher never truly intended to kill you," he said. "What happened last time was a complete accident. Gao Zan, the Grand Commander of the Dragon Shark Camp, lured Teacher back, then secretly imprisoned him to torture the secrets of the Holy Sect out of him. Teacher barely managed to escape, but his body was completely depleted. He had originally planned to pass the Blood Energy Essence to me. But when he ran into you again in Changyuan, he changed his mind. I don’t know if this will be a good or a bad thing for you... but please, don’t hate him for it anymore."

With that, he pulled a small notebook from his clothes and tossed it over. "These are Teacher’s research notes on Blood Energy. I hope they’ll be of some use to you."

Luo Kai caught it but didn’t open it right away. "Where will you go now?" he asked.

Fur Monkey pointed up toward the ceiling. "This place is my home. I was originally a Monk, you see. My parents abandoned me right after I was born. Thankfully, Teacher rescued me. He didn’t have time to raise me himself, so he had me stay here at Lianyun Temple. Once this is all over, I’ll naturally go back to being a Monk."

Luo Kai said nothing more. Taking Lu Qing’s hand, he followed Fur Monkey out of the Underground Space. He saw Fur Monkey in a clearing not far from the temple, setting up a tombstone for Li Gui. The grave was already dug. It was obvious Li Gui had planned everything, even predicting that Luo Kai himself would pursue them here.

After a moment of hesitation, Luo Kai walked over and bowed deeply. It didn’t matter whether Li Gui’s intentions had been malicious or not, or if this so-called inheritance was a blessing or a curse. His bow was simply in memory of the time they had faced adversity together on Nanya Island.

After descending the mountain, they stopped for a bite to eat in a village before strolling around Moon Bay. Beautiful sights have a way of calming the soul, and Luo Kai’s thoughts gradually settled. Lu Qing, however, was acting strangely, spacing out at odd moments for no apparent reason.

That afternoon, sitting on a large rock by the lakeshore, Luo Kai opened the notebook. It detailed the Cultivation Method for Blood Energy. Blood Energy was a form of Dark Energy, and the only way to advance was by consuming the blood of the living. Blood served as the transport channel for Energy in all life forms. The purpose of the Blood Energy Essence was to filter out all other energy types found in blood, allowing the user to absorb only the pure Dark Energy.

Dark Energy could drastically enhance the resilience and Energy-transport efficiency of one’s blood cells. This would increase a Cultivator’s heart rate, significantly improve their oxygen supply capacity, and make their body stronger and their sense of smell keener. They would also gain an exceptionally powerful Perception in the darkness. Once cultivated to the extreme, as long as the heart and brain avoided critical damage, the body was essentially immortal; all organs could regenerate infinitely.

In the Early Stage of Fusion with the Blood Energy Essence, the Cultivator would feel an uncontrollable urge for blood and develop a fear of Light Energy...

Reading this, Luo Kai glanced up at the sun, a little confused. He stared at it for a moment. It felt a bit bright, but he felt no other discomfort. ’It seems this Blood Energy Essence isn’t doing anything to me.’

Before he realized it, night had fallen, and a crescent moon was hanging in the sky. Luo Kai stood up and stretched, then turned to look at Lu Qing beside him. She was staring blankly at the moon.

"Qing’Er, what’s wrong?" Luo Kai walked over to her, his voice tinged with worry. Lu Qing had seemed out of sorts all day, often getting lost in thought for no apparent reason.

Lu Qing seemed to come back to herself. She turned to look at him and whispered, "Luo Kai, if I left, would you miss me?"

Luo Kai touched her forehead. "Are you feeling sick?" he asked, concerned.

Lu Qing gazed into his eyes as if she were hypnotized. "Luo Kai," she murmured, "knowing you is the greatest blessing of my life."

"What are you saying, you silly girl!" Luo Kai leaned in and affectionately rubbed his nose against the tip of hers.

Lu Qing pressed herself into his arms, hugging him tightly, as if he would vanish the moment she loosened her grip.

A vague, ominous feeling crept into Luo Kai’s heart. He tilted up Lu Qing’s pretty face and said in a low, serious voice, "Qing’Er, what’s really going on? Just tell me. There’s always a solution."

Lu Qing shook her head and asked, "Luo Kai, do you believe people have a next life?"

"Why are you spouting such nonsense today? Did that old codger Li Gui do something to you?" Luo Kai frantically activated his Spiritual Power, scanning her body.

Lu Qing let out a soft sigh, her voice laced with an inexpressible melancholy. Her beautiful eyes gazed at him, brimming with deep affection, as she said gently, "You need to be more cheerful from now on. Little girls don’t like blockheads like you."