I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield Chapter 659 - 491: The Holy Blood Mystery and Mirror Demon (2)

However, in the span of two years, Qin Tian underwent a complete metamorphosis, even achieving the feat of slaying a direct descendant of Holy Blood from a higher tier. When looking across the entire Empire, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find any among the younger generation more formidable than Qin Tian.

"Young Master, your judgment has indeed never been flawed," Zhuge Yu exclaimed with deep emotion, his eyes reflecting a myriad of colors as he regarded Qin Tian.

...

Delicate snow descended like fragments of jade, and the biting wind whipped shards of ice across the desolate ice plain. Four figures stood with imposing presence amidst the elemental fury, their dark robes snapping and billowing in the gale. At their feet lay the corpses of demons, piled high like miniature mountains, their black blood frozen into dark ribbons that intertwined with the pristine white snow, creating a stark and arresting tableau. The pungent aroma of blood, mingled with the foulness of decay, was carried away by the wind and snow, dispersing into the vast emptiness in all directions.

Shengongsi Yuzuo raised his hand in a gestural motion, as if grasping the air, and the ground beneath them quivered slightly. Chunks of Ice Element began to dislodge from beneath the frozen surface, emanating an intense, bone-chilling coldness as they floated towards him. In mere moments, hundreds of these Ice Elements were neatly arranged in the air before him, forming a celestial "constellation" that pulsed with a faint, ethereal blue luminescence.

His gaze meticulously swept over them, and with a deliberate point of his fingertip, the largest Ice Element shot towards his palm with the velocity of an arrow loosed from a taut bowstring. This particular Ice Element was exquisitely clear, seeming to hold within it a residual essence of primeval cold. Shengongsi Yuzuo rotated his wrist, and a serpentine pattern of dark gold suddenly materialized upon his palm, unleashing a potent force of absorption, akin to a swirling vortex.

The Ice Element visibly began to dissipate within his grasp, its blue radiance flowing along the intricate serpent pattern and seeping into his meridians, where it was transmuted into pure, potent energy. Simultaneously, fragmented visions surged into his consciousness like an overwhelming tide—images of his clan members, clad in resplendent Ice Crystal Armor, engaged in solemn prayer before an ancient altar; visions of abyssal black rifts tearing open the very fabric of the sky, unleashing hordes of demons that poured forth like a relentless tidal wave; the majestic palace of the Ice God Race, depicted in its final moments, collapsing amidst deafening roars of despair... These were ancient memories, vague and disjointed, yet they pressed down upon his spirit with immense weight.

After a considerable interval, Shengongsi Yuzuo slowly opened his eyes, a profound contemplation swirling within their deep, dark irises. He tightly clenched his now-empty palm, murmuring to himself, "Where do these demons originate? And why were they driven to annihilate the Ice God Race...?"

"Crack—"

Just then, a subtle cracking sound, like the fracturing of brittle ice, pierced his ears. Shengongsi Yuzuo's expression shifted dramatically as he instinctively reached for his neck, where a piece of warm jade rested, its texture smooth and comforting. This was the "Blood Kin Jade," a protective artifact bestowed upon him by his family prior to his entry into these perilous ruins, possessing the ability to sense the life force of his kin.

Now, delicate, spiderweb-like fissures had materialized across the surface of the once-pristine white jade, and the pinpoint of light representing Shengongsi Hao Er at its core was rapidly fading, its luminescence diminishing at an alarming rate. In the brief span of a single breath, the light point completely extinguished, and the warm jade then split apart with a distinct, sharp crack.

Shengongsi Yuzuo's face instantly became as cold and unyielding as ice, radiating an aura of palpable, chilling killing intent. "Yuzuo, what troubles you?" the woman clad in purple robes beside him inquired softly, having noticed his sudden, unsettling change in demeanor.

"Hao Er is deceased," Shengongsi Yuzuo responded, his voice devoid of warmth, like the biting winter wind.

"What?!" The three companions surrounding him were utterly stunned, their faces contorted in disbelief. Shengongsi Hao Er was, after all, a warrior of Seven Tiers, Three Stars, blessed with Holy Blood, and furthermore, he had the backing of five Golden Bloodline aides. Within the entirety of these ruins, aside from a select few top-tier Holy Blood prodigies, no one should have been capable of defeating him.

Moreover, although Hao Er possessed a proud disposition, he was not foolish enough to needlessly provoke those of superior strength. As for the native demons inhabiting the ruins, they could, at best, engage him in prolonged combat, but his inherent ability for self-preservation was more than sufficient to guarantee his survival.

Shengongsi Yuzuo’s gaze then shifted towards the man with striking dark eye makeup adorning the corners of his eyes, who stood at his side. This individual was lean and slender, enveloped in a faintly chilling aura that rendered him both sinister and profoundly mysterious. Sensing Yuzuo’s scrutinizing gaze, the man immediately understood the unspoken request. He retrieved a palm-sized bronze mirror from within the folds of his chest—its reflective surface as smooth and flawless as ice, its edges intricately carved with complex, ancient patterns.

"Mirror Demon, I command you to locate Shengongsi Hao Er," Yuzuo instructed. The man, in response, slit his own palm with the tip of his finger, allowing a single drop of his vital essence blood to fall onto the mirror’s surface. The ancient mirror suddenly erupted with a brilliant silver-white radiance, and within this dazzling light, a phantasm composed entirely of reflected light slowly materialized—a Mirror Demon, its form shadowy and indistinct, its features blurred, with only its eyes remaining as two swirling vortices of light, exuding an eerie, all-seeing presence.

The Mirror Demon offered a spectral bow towards the surface of the mirror, which then shimmered and rippled like disturbed water. Gradually, an image began to coalesce and clarify within its depths: depicted upon the snow-laden ice plain, a colossal serpent with eight heads lay rigid and lifeless in the snow. Beside one of its menacing heads, dark, frozen blood formed black marks upon the white canvas of the snow.

Adjacent to the serpent's severed head, a figure clad in black observed with downcast eyes. The Thunder Saber was held diagonally, dirtward, with remnants of purple lightning and black flames flickering around him. The visage captured was distinct: brows like swords, eyes like stars, and a chilling, sharp gaze—the very assassin of Shengongsi Hao Er!

At this precise moment, the man within the reflective surface appeared to detect an anomaly. His eyes suddenly blazed with a sharp gleam, as if piercing through the very material of the mirror. A resonant 'buzz—' vibrated as the bronze mirror shook violently. The image contorted and blurred, eventually vanishing entirely.

"That was the ultimate form of the eight-headed serpent!" exclaimed the woman in purple, her voice tinged with shock. Shengongsi Hao Er had been compelled to unleash his final transformation, yet even then, his head met its end.

"Such acute perception," the Mirror Master murmured, gently caressing the ancient artifact. His expression was solemn. "My Mirror Demon rarely falters in its surveillance. Not only did it perceive the threat with remarkable sharpness, but it managed to shatter the reflected image across dimensions. I am convinced this individual possesses some degree of spatial manipulation capability."

"Do you recognize him?" inquired another accompanying powerhouse.

Both individuals slowly shook their heads. Shengongsi Yuzuo, too, furrowed his brow deeply. He had meticulously memorized all details regarding the Holy Blood direct lineage and the most elite Golden talents, but this particular face was utterly unfamiliar to him.

Shengongsi Yuzuo's gaze intensified, becoming even colder. Prior to entering the ruins, the clan elders had explicitly tasked him with ensuring the protection of their kin. Despite the minimal connection he shared with Hao Er, they were, undeniably, related by blood. Now that Hao Er had suffered such a tragic fate, how could he return to the family without exacting vengeance?

"Where is he? Find him!" he commanded the Mirror Master, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

The Mirror Master promptly established contact with the Mirror Demon. The luminous vortices within the demon's eyes spun with rapid intensity. Moments later, a faint blue trajectory materialized on the mirror's surface, indicating a position to the southeast of the ice plain.

"Depart!" Shengongsi Yuzuo barked coldly, his form dissolving into a black silhouette as he accelerated towards the direction shown by the indicator.

Amidst the swirling winds and snow, four figures launched forward like arrows, churning up a tempest of snow. A new pursuit commenced silently across the expansive ice field.

...

"Qin Tian, what's amiss?"

Zhuge Yu, noticing Qin Tian's peculiar expression, moved closer to inquire.

Qin Tian's brow furrowed slightly. "Someone was observing us moments ago."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Yu's eyes sharpened with vigilance. He harbored no doubt regarding Qin Tian's statement, not solely due to his trust in him, but also because he had already braced himself for the cascade of repercussions following the elimination of Shengongsi Hao Er.

"The Shengongsi family dispatched a total of five individuals this time. Their most formidable member is Shengongsi Yuzuo, a Tier Seven Seven-Star Spiritualist with an exceptionally pure bloodline, widely recognized among the younger generation," Zhuge Yu stated gravely. "Accompanying Shengongsi Yuzuo is a Mirror Master named Beitiao Hezi. I suspect it was he who was attempting to spy on us just now."

"Beitiao Hezi."

Qin Tian's mind swiftly searched for pertinent information about Beitiao Hezi – a Tier Six Eight-Star Spiritualist possessing the Mirror Realm bloodline, which leaned heavily towards reconnaissance but also offered some offensive capabilities.

"This bloodline is quite intriguing," Qin Tian remarked, a flicker of interest in his eyes. Beyond the Holy Blood talents acquired earlier, he had also obtained five Orange Talent Spheres. Two were fire-related, two granted Onmyoji talents, and one bestowed Swordsman talent.

However, to be entirely candid, these acquired talents did not stir significant excitement within him. His existing repertoire was already extensive: lightning, fire, darkness, constitution, reconnaissance, burst abilities... At this current stage, incremental additions to his talent pool would scarcely yield a substantial boost to his combat prowess.

As the saying goes, attempting too much can lead to failure. Therefore, his primary focus ought to be on refining and amplifying his current abilities, aiming to elevate more of them to the coveted Holy Blood level.

Nevertheless, he did harbor specific considerations regarding the unique "Mirror Realm" talent.

Qin Tian lifted his gaze to meet Zhuge Yu's, who was also observing him. Their eyes connected, followed by a shared, knowing smile.