Yan Jin immediately began piecing together the information he had received. "I'm sorry for your loss, Scar," he said, bowing his head slightly out of respect for the remnant. "Those invaders from fourteen years ago... they probably have the same aura as the creature I just fought."
Scar's form flickered slightly at the mention of the creature. "They are blood witches," Yan Jin continued, his voice growing more certain. "They must have accelerated the corruption, but they wouldn't do that without a purpose. They must be after something precious. What is it?"
Scar remained silent as they ventured deeper into the cave. Yan Jin could sense the air growing colder, the atmosphere thickening with energy. After a few minutes, they came to a stop before an object that radiated an otherworldly aura. Yan Jin couldn't see it, but he felt its presence intensely. It was as if the very air around it crackled with power.
In front of him, a magnificent pill the size of a fingertip lay suspended in the air, crystal clear and icy to the touch, radiating pure, cold energy. It was unlike anything Yan Jin had ever encountered. The power it emanated was almost suffocating in its purity.
"Is that a stem cell?" Yan Jin asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the delicate balance of energy around them.
"Yes," Scar replied, his voice tinged with both awe and sorrow. "This is what they are after"
Yan Jin's breath caught in his throat. "Since cells are the product of the vein their can't live out side the veins for very long" he said, more to himself than to Scar. "But a stem cell... it contains the original strain of the bloodline. It can be transplanted, nurtured... They could recreate another Vein, or a celestial bloodline, it's an immeasurable treasure."
Scar's presence seemed to darken as he turned toward Yan Jin, a new edge of hostility creeping into his aura. "Do you also want to take it?" Scar asked, his voice carrying a warning as the air around them seemed to grow even colder, the tension thickening.
"You might not believe it, but it wouldn't be of much use to me" .Though his eyes could not see, Yan Jin's heightened senses felt the storm of suspicion brewing in the air. He knew that words would not be enough to dispel Scar's doubts. It was time for action—time to reveal a card and hope to convince the opposing party.
Taking a deep breath, Yan Jin began to unshackle the restraints he had placed on himself. The temperature in the cave plummeted, as if winter itself had descended. The air crackled with a chilling energy, a force both awe-inspiring and terrifying that seemed to suck the warmth from the stones around him.
Yan Jin's Gwi bloodline awakened, releasing an energy so intense that it began to coil around him like a living storm.
A fierce wind whipped through the cave as Yan Jin's aura expanded, filling the cavern with an ancient, primal force. From deep within him, the legendary Nether Bird began to emerge—a creature of darkness and mystery, a being of power and authority. As the Nether Bird's essence flowed through him, Yan Jin's appearance began to change, reflecting the creature's otherworldly nature.
His once black hair shifted, deepening into a rich, violet hue that shimmered in the dim light of the cave. Glowing runes appeared on his skin, tracing intricate patterns across his arms, chest, and face, pulsing with the same dark energy that filled the air. Each rune glowed with an eerie violet light, as if they were alive, breathing the power of the Nether Bird into Yan Jin's very being.
Yan Jin nodded, his gaze steady though sightless, his voice carrying the weight of ancient authority. "Some of it, ... " he mutter before passing out.
--
As the overwhelming pressure dissipated, the citizens of Pine City began to slowly rise to their feet, confusion and awe written on their faces. The eerie silence that had settled over the city broke as murmurs filled the air, growing louder with each passing moment.
"What the hell was that?" one citizen asked, still trembling.
"Is that... celestial pressure?" another asked, incredulous.
The tension in the air began to lift as someone shouted from a nearby rooftop, "The vein is fine! The city is safe!"
Cheers erupted throughout the streets as relief washed over the people. Laughter and celebration replaced fear as the citizens reveled in their narrow escape from what they had feared could be a catastrophic event. The threat of the corruption had been looming in their minds, but the city's precious vein remained intact—for now.
In the city's grand hall, Nie Li scoffed, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "You see, City Lord," he said dismissively, "you were alarmed for nothing. The vein is fine. Just a little flair from some overzealous participants, nothing more." He waved his hand as if brushing away the entire event.
But the City Lord's face remained grim, his eyes shadowed with concern. "This is not celestial pressure," he said, his voice low, but carrying an undeniable authority. "Something is wrong with the vein. I can feel it." His gaze was fixed on the distant horizon, his instincts as sharp as ever.
Nie Li's smirk faltered as he noticed the City Lord's worry. "You can't be serious," he muttered.
"Quietly speed up the process for evacuation," the City Lord ordered, turning to his subordinates. "I will not gamble with the lives of Pine City's people. We need to be prepared."
The officials quickly snapped to attention, knowing better than to question him in this state. Nie Li frowned but remained silent, his previous arrogance replaced with a flicker of doubt.
As the celebrations continued in the streets, oblivious to the growing tension among the city's leadership, a sense of unease began to settle over Pine City. The city lord's instincts rarely failed him, and if something was truly wrong with the vein, they were far from safe.