“这血池……！”

没过多久，就有一位龙宫成员来到了血池之外，正是坐于一只肌肉巨兔身上的龙宫专属炼丹师紫凌儿。

她的巨兔因常年试药，对于气息非常敏感，刚刚降临苍莽山脉，就寻得此地。

一...

这血池……！PurpleButterfly‘seyeswidenedinshockasshetookinthescenebeforeher.Thebloodpool,whichhadbeenaseeminglyinsignificantdotonthemap,wasnowstaringbackatherlikeamalevolententity.Shecouldfeelitsdarkenergycoursingthroughherveins,makingherskinpricklewithunease.

AsamemberoftheDragonPalace,PurpleButterflywasnostrangertothearcanearts.Shehadspentyearsstudyingtheancienttomesandpracticingtheintricatetechniquesof炼丹,butnothinghadpreparedherforthis.Thebloodpoolseemedtobe...watchingher,itspresencesuffocatingherlikeaphysicalweight.

Withouthesitation,PurpleButterflysummonedhertrusty巨兔，GiantRabbit,tostandguardbesideher.Hercompanion‘spowerfullegscoiledaroundtheair,readytounlea**sfullfuryuponanypotentialthreats.TheairaroundthemseemedtovibratewithanticipationasPurpleButterflytookanotherstepforward,hereyeslockedonthebloodpool.

“Welcome,youngone,“avoiceechoedfrombehindher,sendingshiversdownherspine.

PurpleButterflyspunaround,herhandinstinctivelyreachingforthedaggeratherbelt.Afigureemergedfromthetrees,cloakedinshadowsthatseemedtowritheandtwistlikelivingdarkness.

“Youshouldn‘tbehere,“PurpleButterflywarned,hervoicefirmbutlacedwithcaution.

Thefigurechuckled,thesoundsendingripplesthroughtheairlikeacoldbreezeonawinter‘snight.“Oh,IthinkIshouldbe,“itsaid,itseyesglintingwithmalevolentintent.

PurpleButterflydrewherdagger,itsbladeshimmeringwithanotherworldlylightasshesizedupthenewcomer.Therewassomethingunsettlingaboutthisperson?somethingthatdidn‘tquiteaddup.

“You‘renotfromaroundhere,areyou?“PurpleButterflyasked,hertonemeasured.

Thefigureshookitshead,itsfeaturesshiftinglikesanddunesinthewind.“No,“itadmitted,“Iamnot.“

PurpleButterfly‘sgazenarrowedasshesearchedforanyclueaboutthisperson‘sidentityormotives.Theairwasthickwithtension,heavywithunspokenthreatsandhiddenagendas.

Suddenly,afainthummingnoiseemergedfromthebloodpool,growinglouderbythesecond.PurpleButterflyfeltherskincrawlasthesoundbegantotakeonarhythmicquality?likeapulse,beatingintimewithsomeancient,forgottenheartbeat.

“Isthisthingalive?“sheasked,hervoicebarelyaboveawhisper.

Thefigurechuckledagain,itseyesglintingwithmirth.“It‘smorethanthat,“itsaid,itsvoicedrippingwithanunnaturalreverence.“It‘sthesourceofalllifeanddeath?andIhavecometoclaimitformyself.“

PurpleButterflyfeltacolddreadcreepingupherspineasshegazedatthebloodpool.Thiswasnoordinarycreature,andwhatevermagiclaywithinitseemedtobecallingtosomethingdeepwithinherownsoul.

Thehummingnoisereachedafeverpitch,thensuddenlyceased,plungingtheclearingintoanoppressivesilence.PurpleButterflytookadeepbreath,steelingherselfforwhatwastocome.

“Iwon‘tletyouhaveit,“shedeclared,hervoicesteadyandunwavering.

Thefigure‘ssmilegrewwider,itseyesflashingwithexcitement.“Oh,butIthinkyouwill,“itsaid,itsvoicedrippingwithmalice.

Withasuddenmovement,thefigurereachedoutahand?andPurpleButterflyfeltherselfbeingpulledtowardthebloodpool,asifbysomeunseenforce.Shetriedtoresist,butitwastoolate.

Asshesteppedintothebloodpool‘sdepths,PurpleButterflyrealizedthatherjourneywasfarfromover.Thefateofthisstrangecreature,andthesecretsitheld,werenowherstounravel?nomatterthecost.