Previously on I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield...
Qin Tian faced Shengongsi Hao Er's ultimate form, Yamata no Orochi, which unleashed a devastating barrage of lightning, poison, and fire. Using his Eye of Fear and Flame Master state, Qin Tian identified and targeted the main brain controlling the beast. He unleashed a powerful "Thunder Tribulation Reincarnation Saber - Reincarnation Hell Slash," slaying the Holy Blood creature and obtaining its talent.
"Warning! Warning! Fusion of this talent will trigger a fatal conflict with your existing abilities. Strong recommendation against proceeding!"
A glaring red warning message, its text like blood, appeared before his eyes, almost piercing his consciousness.
Qin Tian's pupils contracted sharply. The Holy Blood talent could not be fused into his body.
This was the first time he had encountered such an intense "warning" since connecting with the system.
Previously, even when talents clashed, the system had always enabled them to coexist within him. For instance, the divine punishing power of the Celestial Punishment Divine Thunder and the corrosive evil essence from the Evil Demon Soldier, opposing forces of life and death, fused flawlessly; the Heaven Burning flames of the Soul Devourer and the extreme cold essence of the Celestial Frost Ice Body, though seemingly incompatible, coexisted without issue within him.
Multiple talents resided within him, and even theoretically "natural enemies" found harmony. This had fostered a deep-seated belief in him – that with the system, no ability was beyond fusion.
However, at this very moment, he realized the Nine Great Holy Bloods appeared to be a distinct exception.
"Why?" Qin Tian's mind was overwhelmed with questions.
Was the origin of the Nine Great Holy Bloods uniquely special, or did a deeper secret lie concealed?
Chaotic thoughts surged like a relentless tide: within the Empire, numerous clans thrived, and bloodline inheritances were scattered like countless stars, but from where did these bloodlines truly emerge?
Why did the Nine Great Holy Bloods manage to stand supreme, suppressing all other bloodlines for millennia, yet no new Holy Blood lineages had surfaced?
While the Holy Bloods seemed isolated, was there an unperceived connection linking them?
These lingering questions, suppressed until now, erupted in his mind, seizing this opportunity presented by the system's warning, leaving him momentarily adrift.
"Boom, boom, boom——!"
Suddenly, a volley of deafening spiritual energy explosions echoed from a distance, like thunderclaps, jolting him back to the present from his contemplative state.
Qin Tian looked up, observing that the battlefield below had already taken a decisive turn.
With Shengongsi Hao Er defeated, his five followers were thrown into disarray, exposing numerous vulnerabilities in their defenses.
They attempted to retreat, but the Eight Trigrams Array had already sprung its trap, rendering escape an impossibility.
Witnessing the three figures below methodically concluding the battle, the bewilderment in Qin Tian's eyes gradually receded, replaced by his characteristic sharp clarity.
The inability to fuse the Nine Great Holy Bloods didn't appear to be a significant drawback.
He now possessed talents equivalent to three Holy Bloods, and with continued accumulation of Evolution Points, the number of Holy Blood-level abilities under his command would only grow.
Furthermore, if he were to fuse a Holy Blood talent, how would he justify it if it were inadvertently exposed during future confrontations?
Qin Tian dismissed the matter. Although the system's warning brought momentary confusion, it had also shielded him from a potential impending crisis.
As for the enigmas surrounding the Holy Bloods, he resolved to uncover them himself in due time.
A faint smile graced the corners of Qin Tian's lips. With a subtle shift of his body, he descended into the Eight Trigrams Array, azure and golden light patterns swirling beneath his feet, seamlessly integrating with the surrounding energies.
"I will handle the rest."
Before his words fully registered, the Thunder Saber had already materialized in his grasp, purple lightning writhed along its length, moving with such velocity that only a fleeting silhouette remained.
The crimson fire beast had just sensed the imminent danger, but Qin Tian was already behind it, his blade flashing like lightning.
The beast's pupils widened in shock; unable to even utter a cry, its head was swiftly severed.
The onmyoji to the left, startled, clutched a talisman, preparing to cast a spell, but by then, Qin Tian had already materialized directly in front of him.
The Thunder Saber swept horizontally, its edge grazing his throat, instantly drawing a line of blood. The onmyoji's spell was halted mid-cast as his head separated from his body, tumbling onto the icy ground.
Next, Qin Tian's figure was reflected in the eyes of the purple fire man locked in combat with Huo Yuan Sheng. His hair stood on end, and he desperately sought to flee, but the restrictive power of the array held him captive.
With a swift motion, Qin Tian unleashed a slash. The Thunder Saber pierced through the man's Spirit Shield, plunging directly into his heart. The purple flames were instantly extinguished as the man's body stiffened and then collapsed.
The swordsman, witnessing this turn of events, flew into a rage. Shouting, he swung his katana, launching wind blades towards Qin Tian's back in an attempt at a surprise assault.
Without even looking back, Qin Tian shifted his wrist and executed a backward slash with the Thunder Saber. The instant the blade met the katana, a burst of violet lightning erupted, demolishing the opponent's weapon and slicing through their chest.
The swordsman's eyes widened in shock and dismay as his body tumbled lifelessly to the frozen ground.
The final onmyoji was already trembling, desperately crawling towards an opening in the defensive array, but Zhuge Yu swiftly moved to seal it.
With a casual flick of Qin Tian's finger, a whip of lightning snaked around the onmyoji's ankle, yanking him back towards Qin Tian.
As the Thunder Saber descended, the opponent instinctively squeezed their eyes shut. The blade plunged through the head, a swift and decisive end, leaving nothing unfinished.
In mere moments, five bodies lay strewn across the ice. The bloodstains on the Thunder Saber's gleaming surface were instantly vaporized by the violet lightning, leaving behind only a faint trail of blue smoke.
Zhuge Yu and the other two exchanged glances, a trace of awe dawning in their eyes. Five Tier Six powerhouses, each possessing Golden Bloodlines, had fallen before Qin Tian as if they were mere lambs to the slaughter, offering no resistance whatsoever.
For them, this display was as astonishing as if Qin Tian, a mere Tier Six cultivator, had effortlessly defeated the Tier Seven Holy Blood powerhouse, Shengongsi Hao Er.
"What a formidable existence..."
Taishi Feng couldn't help but murmur in disbelief. He had witnessed many prodigious talents before, individuals who, despite lacking Holy Bloodlines, could rival or even surpass direct Holy Blood descendants through potent spiritual artifacts, advanced cultivation techniques, and fortunate opportunities.
Yet, Qin Tian's prowess wasn't merely comparable to Holy Bloods; it utterly dwarfed them, as if his very bloodline was intrinsically superior.
Zhuge Yu's gaze was filled with a complex mix of emotions. He had encountered Qin Tian previously, during the Azure Wood Star Realm's genius competition, and had even fought by his side. Even then, Zhuge Yu had recognized Qin Tian as an unparalleled talent. It was no wonder that Dongfang Haoyue had taken a keen interest in him and had personally instructed Zhuge Yu to recruit him wholeheartedly.
