Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 169 Qi and Blood
“Your Majesty, those Star People,” the Meteorite, carrying his strange sword, stood beside King Nunn on a high platform in Valhalla, “have requested to go and find their prince themselves.”

King Nuen leaned on the high platform, squinting as he looked down at his city.

This is Dragonhill City, which belongs to Walton.

The king exhaled slowly.

“Let them go,” King Nuen’s voice sounded rather weary. “Perhaps they can find my granddaughter along the way.”

Compared to the current situation, perhaps the Walton family really is secondary.

King Nuen sighed heavily.

Nikolai nodded and turned to give the order.

Before long, the Meteorite returned to the king's side, this time with a solemn expression.

"The patrol team has reported back - we have pinpointed the approximate location of the disaster."

King Nuen's expression changed, and he turned to Nikolai, his gaze regaining its shrewdness and decisiveness.

"In the Shield Zone, two teams didn't respond for over half an hour—then their bodies were found, all reduced to pieces," the White Blade Guard commander said slowly.

"Shield Zone?"

King Nuen pondered for a moment.

“Very good,” the old king looked back at Dragon Sky City beneath him and said calmly, “Turning people into pieces… Is there any information I need to know about that calamity?”

silence.

Until a peaceful voice rang out.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Behind King Nunn, the owner of the dark room, the Scarlet Witch Cassan, bowed respectfully: "If possible, please evacuate the Shield District and even the neighboring districts as soon as possible. If necessary, even evacuate the residents out of the city, if necessary."

Nicolai, who was standing to the side, took a deep breath.

"So exaggerated?"

King Nuen frowned: "For the sake of a calamity, I'm going to empty half the city?"

“Please believe me, Your Majesty,” Cassan began slowly, her voice gentle, “the price of half of Dragonfall City…”

"It's still better than the entire Dragon Sky City."

----

Thales held the little rascal tightly, preventing her from slipping away as she trembled with shock.

"What...what are those things? Who are they?" Little Sly's tears had dried in fright, but the remaining tear stains told of her recent misfortune.

“Whoever they are… I’m here,” Thales said softly. “Everything will be alright…”

But his gaze was involuntarily drawn to the two people in front of him.

Especially the girl who was peeking out from behind Ashida's figure, smiling radiantly at him.

“Child, I told you,” Giza Trillman said, her eyes filled with tenderness and pity, like a girl next door, “we will meet again.”

Thales felt increasingly terrified.

The explosion triggered by Ramon's death blew down two walls, turning the alley into a flat, circular area, affecting many nearby residents.

Such a commotion could no longer be concealed.

"Oh my god! My leg, my leg is trapped!"

"what happened?"

"Help! Someone help me!"

"Go find them! Where's the order officer? Where is he?"

"Did the house collapse?"

Amid the surrounding ruins, the cries of wounded civilians could be heard intermittently. More and more people from the North were awakened from their sleep, came out of their homes, and, after the initial shock and panic, began to help the injured.

There were nearly a hundred people.

"Who are you people!" Several northern men noticed the two magic users facing off and approached them in confusion: "What just happened?"

"Hey, little girl, did you see the explosion just now?" In Thales's eyes, a short, stocky, and older man carrying a torch approached them solemnly. He first stared at the handsome Ashida with suspicion, then said to Giza, whose expression was subtle, "Are you in trouble?"

Thales' heart skipped a beat.

But Giza and Ashida remained standing quietly, seemingly oblivious to the noise and commotion around them.

It was as if the world consisted only of the two of them.

“I’m glad to see you’ve recovered, Giza,” Ashida said softly. “I’ve heard some things about you from that boy—and about your attitude toward him.”

“That’s great,” Giza said with her usual gentle smile, clicking her tongue. “Then I don’t need to repeat myself.”

Aishida's expression turned slightly cold: "Perhaps there's some misunderstanding between you."

Thales swallowed hard. He turned his head, looking for a chance to slip away, but only saw more and more residents approaching.

Oops.

Thales felt a chill run down his spine.

"Hey! You two! I don't know if you're arguing or putting on a show at the Temple of the Underworld," the short, stocky man said impatiently, pointing around at the wounded scattered everywhere. "But everyone needs help right now, you'd better not just stand there..."

But his voice was interrupted—the sound of heavy footsteps approached from afar.

A full patrol of soldiers, carrying torches, arrived here, spread out in formation, and cautiously observed everyone on the street as they approached.

Thales was startled.

The patrol team from Dragon Sky City, but—he glanced at the mage who was still silently confronting him: their arrival was ill-timed.

"A misunderstanding?" Ignoring the sudden appearance of the patrol, Giza shifted her gaze back to Ashida, her eyes subtle: "Don't worry, the misunderstanding between me and that child will be cleared up soon..."

The Blood Mage licked his lips: "Soon."

Thales glanced at her feet and saw a piece of remains that he couldn't tell if it was Ramon or Black Sword, and felt the hairs on his body stand on end.

Aishida frowned; he understood what the other person meant.

"Everyone, quiet! Stand close to the street!" Just then, a gruff voice came from the patrol: "In the name of the King, submit to the order officer's inspection! Then leave here immediately in order!"

Some civilians were rescuing the wounded, while others were watching with curiosity, all turning their gazes toward the order officer with a mix of emotions.

"Do as I say!" The order officer who stepped out of the team said sternly, "I'll say it again..."

"Hey, officer!" The short, stocky man who had interrupted the magic users' conversation patted his chest in dissatisfaction and turned to the order officer: "We're full of wounded here! We need help!"

"Are the lives of people in the Shield Zone worthless?!"

As he spoke, a chorus of boos rose from the common people.

“You will receive the aid you deserve, but the Shield District must be evacuated as soon as possible! You,” the Order Officer said impatiently, but then he paused, narrowing his eyes: “Wait, I recognize you, ‘Big Belt’ from Glacier Outpost, right?”

The short, stocky man nodded slightly, his expression serious: "We need help."

The officer recognized the short, stocky man, and his attitude softened considerably. He turned and waved to his subordinates: "Alright, for your sake—go help first, get the injured out! Then evacuate immediately!"

The civilians were then calmed down.

The order officer turned his head, frowning at the large belt: "Where's Griveo? Only he can keep these guys in check."

"I was just summoned away by some officials, who said it was an order from the king, but I don't know if it's true," the big-belted man glanced at the mage he was confronting. "Why the evacuation?"

“I don’t know, it was the King’s order,” the officer shook his head. “We were also dispatched urgently… Have you seen anyone suspicious?”

“Suspicious people? We’re in the Shield Zone, it’s almost impossible to find someone we don’t know…” Big Belt paused, a look of surprise on his face, and turned to the two magic users: “There really are.”

Meanwhile, on Thales' side, the magic users continued their conversations in their own world.

"This child—do you know who he is?" the Qi Mage said slowly. "Do you know what he means to us?"

“Of course, I know exactly who he is,” Giza laughed, a hint of coldness in his voice. “Get out of the way, Ashida.”

Ashida remained motionless, her expression growing increasingly grave: "I don't like being ordered around, Giza."

Oops.

Thales's expression changed.

“You two! And those two children over there,” the order officer approached with several soldiers, looking at the mage with suspicion as he examined their thin clothing, “Where did you come from? What’s going on?”

Giza turned her head, looked at the soldiers who were on guard, and smiled charmingly: "You, or me?"

“That will attract attention,” Ashida shook her head. “Perhaps we should keep a low profile.”

No.

Thales observed Giza and Ashida's expressions and actions, feeling a chill run down his spine.

“Alright, I’ll do it then,” Giza sighed. “I can gather some materials anyway.”

Ashida frowned slightly.

Thales felt a chill run down his spine.

not good.

"go!"

Thales took a deep breath and yelled at the people who were surrounding him, "Get out of here!"

"Everyone, get out of here immediately!"

"Report this to Valhalla!" Under the questioning gazes of the Order Officer and the big belt, a boy desperately dragged a trembling little girl, shouting in panic, "It's dangerous here!"

But a child's innocent voice clearly could not stop the northerners' doubts and curiosity.

“What’s wrong, kid?” The short, stocky man with the big belt stepped forward and glared warily at the expressionless Ashida. “What did this guy do to you?”

Thales retreated while frantically shaking his head, "No—"

“You, little girl,” just then, an impolite soldier grabbed Giza’s arm, “Don’t just stand there, get out into the street!”

But the soldier suddenly shuddered and fell to the ground, his arm twitching uncontrollably.

I could hear Giza's giggling laughter.

"Damn it, my hand! What have you done, you little brat?"

The surrounding soldiers looked at the fallen soldier and burst into laughter.

"Can't even catch a girl, Jason—you should retire!"

Ashida remained expressionless as she watched the pitiful soldier who had touched Giza and then collapsed to the ground, his face flushed red.

His fate was sealed.

"Attack the patrol?"

“Very good, arrest them,” the officer narrowed his eyes, paused for only a second, and then said decisively, “Send someone to report to the higher-ups…”

Thales sighed.

He knew it was too late.

The patrol soldiers laughed and surrounded the two magic users.

Giza turned to them, giving them the gentlest of smiles.

In that instant, Thales slammed the little rascal down to his knees, pulled the poor girl into his arms, and blocked her view.

"Don't look."

Thales' eyes were cold as he spoke softly.

The little rascal trembled slightly.

But she still obediently buried her head in his arms.

Don't listen.

When the first scream was heard, the timid and confused little rascal was forced by Thales to cover his ears.

"Don't worry about anything."

"I am here."

At that moment, even Thales himself closed his eyes tightly, resting his chin on the little rascal's hair.

He knew what was going to happen.

These people are unaware of the fate that awaits them.

That's cruel.

"What's wrong with this girl... I can't catch her..."

First came the soldiers' surprised and questioning voices.

"Ugh... this girl is weird! She's so hot!"

Several more sounds of bodies hitting the ground reached Thales' ears.

"Ah! My hand! My hand!"

Several unusual screams followed.

“Jason! My God, he… he’s melting! His blood…”

Prompted by the man yelling "Big Belt" in a panic, the patrol team realized something was amiss.

"My God! No! What are you...?"

At the anxious command of the order officer, the soldiers drew their weapons.

"You filthy bitch! No matter what kind of evil magic you're using, you fucking stop right now! Otherwise, I swear... I swear I'll kill you!" This was the roar of the Order Officer.

However, the screams of agony grew louder and louder.

"Something's moving on my back...it's moving!"

"Robbie! Hang in there, hang in there! I'll cut this thing off right now!"

"Boss, kill her now!"

There was a bang.

"boom!"

Thales, who was holding the little rascal tightly, suddenly shuddered.

That was the sound of flesh and blood exploding, and it rang out once again.

This caused a commotion of fear and astonishment among the onlookers.

"No!" A heart-wrenching scream.

"The corpse...parts of the corpse are moving on their own! Is that Siti's hand? Oh my god!"

Accompanied by Giza's soft laughter.

"What are you waiting for! Kill her! Kill her!" This was the hysterical order officer.

The sound of sword blades piercing flesh echoed repeatedly.

Then came the sound of a head hitting the ground.

And Giza's continuous gentle laughter.

"No, it can't be! Her head, why... why is it still moving..."

"Help! Boss! The thing sticking out of her body... a monster, it's a monster!"

"God! Don't go any closer to that thing! Back off! Everyone back off!" the man called Big Belt roared frantically.

Thales gritted his teeth, trying his best not to think about anything around him.

The little rascal trembled slightly in his arms, even though he couldn't see or hear anything.

In the birch forests of the northern border of the stars, he had seen those scenes—those nightmarish scenes.

"Retreat! Everyone, retreat now!" The officer's voice finally began to tremble; fear seized his mind and overwhelmed his courage.

It's not just the patrol team.

Realizing they were facing an inexplicable unknown, and that the patrol was unable to control the situation, panic finally spread among the crowd.

People began to panic and fled in panic.

But it's too late.

The sound of earth and rocks being broken could be heard.

"Watch out! What's that popping out of the ground... Ah!" "Nina, don't worry about me! Take our son and run!"

"Is this a tree root...? I can't cut it! No, Father, no!"

"No! Get away from me! Ahhh!"

Countless cries of fear from men and women followed.

"Boss! Boss! What do we do?"

"These things are everywhere!"

The officer's voice was drowned out by the soldiers' panicked screams.

Thales closed his eyes tightly and bit his lower lip hard.

His hands, which were holding the little rascal, were trembling.

The scattered, frantic footsteps gradually diminished.

Instead, there were countless screams, countless dragging sounds, countless thuds of weapons hitting the ground, and countless desperate wails.

"Wait, where's the signal crossbow! Fire it now and notify the higher-ups!" Big Leather's labored voice came through the air, accompanied by the scraping sound of him being dragged across the ground.

The crossbow mechanism clicked.

However, less than a second later, a "clanging" sound came from the sky.

"The crossbow bolts won't go out! It's like, it's like something in the air is blocking them!" This was the panicked cry of a soldier.

Thales clenched his teeth tighter and tighter.

The next moment, a cool male voice hummed in the air.

"Humph."

Thales felt the air around him move.

"Crack!"

A dozen or so crisp cracks came from near and far, as if human bones were being crushed all at once in an instant.

The sounds around me suddenly subsided.

The silence lasted for about ten seconds.

Occasionally, the sound of bodies being dragged could be heard, along with chilling rustling sounds.

Like a wild beast feeding.

Thales tried his best to suppress his trembling.

Finally, everything around returned to silence.

"Saying no..."

"So you did get involved after all," came the lazy female voice of the Blood Mage. "How boring."

Strangely, Giza's voice seemed to be coming from underground.

Her response was a faint, cold snort from Ashida.

Thales took a deep breath and then slowly opened his eyes.

Surprisingly, the surroundings were spotless.

There was no blood, no corpses, no disgusting remains.

Of course, there wasn't a single living person among them.

All that remained were weapons scattered on the ground, shoes that had come off, collapsed house walls, and broken ground.

It was as if everyone had run away in the blink of an eye.

Thales breathed softly, turned his head, and then his abdomen churned.

Giza's torso slowly picked up her still-smiling head from the ground, gently placed it down, and slowly straightened it.

The Blood Mage touched the junction of his neck and shoulder, and the bloody wound instantly disappeared.

“Completely transformed.” Giza noticed his gaze and smiled sweetly at him.

Thales gritted his teeth.

Only then did Thales dare to release the little rascal and let him open his eyes.

The little rascal looked at the eerily clean streets around him and suddenly shuddered.

“Although I have blocked the signal crossbow bolts and the transmission of sound,” Ashida shook his head and said, “with so many people missing, they will find out sooner or later.”

"Are you scared?" the Blood Mage smiled.

Ashda remained silent, turned around indifferently, and walked towards Thales.

Thales didn't dare to breathe, his mind racing as he considered how to escape—or rather, how to save his life.

"Wait a moment," Giza said gently.

Aishida stopped in her tracks, her expression turning cold.

“Leave the boy,” the Blood Mage said, raising his gaze to Thales. “We’ll still be good friends, shall we?”

Thales shuddered!
The Qi Mage was silent for a moment.

“The Soul-Slaying Spear and the Soul-Severing Blade are both in the city,” Ashida turned to Giza and said slowly, “Even you, in your physical form, cannot resist the power of the Soul-Slaying Spear.”

"We'd better run away quickly."

"Oh?" The Blood Mage slowly shook his head.

“You deliberately attracted the patrol,” Giza said slowly and calmly, “just to use this as an excuse to force me to leave? To protect your precious boy?”

"It really makes me sad."

"Partner".

Hearing this, Ashida sighed.

"Have you forgotten the original purpose of our cooperation, Giza?" For some reason, Thales felt that the air mage's voice was tinged with sadness at this moment: "Our cooperation, whether it is my plan, Freylan's ideal, or your persistence, is all for the sake of the day when mage can break free from that shackle."

The Blood Mage scoffed.

“What happened twelve years ago has already proven how naive and ridiculous your ideas were,” Giza said, looking up at the moon that was setting in the west. “Whether it’s you or Freylan.”

Thales was suddenly jolted!
Twelve years ago.

Why is it twelve years ago again?
In this bloody year, were the magic users also involved?
Thales couldn't help but recall what Black Sword had said to Ashida earlier.

[While you were wreaking havoc in the Fuxing Palace...]

and also……

Thales unconsciously hugged the little rascal tighter again.

The Blood Bottle Gang is the result of a collaboration between two magic users, Qi and Blood, but judging from their conversation, it seems there is a third person involved.
Who is Freylan?

Ashida let out a deep sigh.

“Very well, then we can go our separate ways from now on—we went our separate ways before the war anyway, that was your choice—and the outcome back then really can’t convince you.”

The Qi Mage's face darkened.

“But what does that have to do with the boy?” Ashida looked up, her eyes gleaming. “You must have some reason why you have to kill him.”

“Of course,” Giza answered readily this time, “his bloodline—I made a promise long ago.”

"A bloodline that must be killed?" Ashida turned her gaze and glanced at Thales. "Do you know his mother?"

Thales suddenly tightened his grip on the little rascal's hand.

But this time, Giza gave a gentle smile: "Guess?"

“That reason doesn’t convince me,” Ashida said coldly.

“Well, there’s one more thing,” the Blood Mage sighed slowly, “I don’t want him to suffer like we have.”

Thales turned pale.

Suffering endless torment?

“This reason still doesn’t convince me,” Ashida repeated firmly, her face growing increasingly grim.

"Don't worry, I only want his life." Giza smiled and shook his head.

"boom!"

The next instant, six blood-red, spiky tree roots suddenly sprang up from the ground around Thales, piercing towards the Star Prince from all directions!
Oops!

Thales was startled; he couldn't react at all.

"Boom! Boom!"

Six tree roots stopped abruptly just inches from Thales, blocked by a transparent barrier.

Ashida raised the ball of light in her left hand, staring intently at the Blood Mage, a blue light flashing in her eyes.

“No, Giza,” he whispered.

Thales, still trembling with fear, gasped for breath as he looked at the terrifying spikes before him.

Giza chuckled again.

The tree roots seemed to move as if they were alive, retracting and then thrusting forward again!

"Ah!" This time, the little rascal screamed as he realized what was happening.

Ashida snapped her fingers lightly.

"boom!"

Several powerful gusts of air swept out around Thales, snapping the tree roots!
“Really? Giza?” The air mage said coldly, his face stiff. “The final battle has already cost us dearly—we’ve come this far with great difficulty, don’t ruin it all.”

The severed tree roots trembled and sprouted sharp thorns again, retreating back to the Blood Mage's side.

"Hmph, that's hilarious." At that moment, Giza suddenly chuckled, "How dare you mention the final battle? You make it sound like you're so proud of it."

Aishida frowned slightly upon hearing this.

“We are one,” the Qi Mage said earnestly. “Dividing into factions will only harm each other and will not benefit the whole.”

"One body?" Giza chuckled, his voice turning cold: "One body!"

The Blood Mage slowly stepped forward, the tree roots beside her following closely behind, and flames seemed to flicker in her eyes:

"Where were you cowards when we were fighting for the future of magic users?"

"Where were you deserters when we were locked in a fierce battle with the Confusionists?"

"Where were you parasites when we were driven to desperation by the schemes of the two empresses?"

“L, Bane, Lebla, B, Arek—where were you so-called moderates when we fell one by one?”

"One body? Bah!"

Thales listened intently to Giza's words, memorizing each and every name, noun, and title.

It might come in handy in the future.

Despite facing what may be the most dangerous enemy in history.

Aishida's face turned cold.

“Don’t label us,” the Air Mage said coldly. “We are not called the Gentlemen.”

“Of course, that’s the nickname Lebla gave to your faction,” Giza’s smile grew even brighter. “Before, B called you…”

"'Torros's lapdog'."

Ashida's expression grew increasingly grim.

"Does this mean there's absolutely no room for negotiation?" Ashida took a deep breath. "We are, after all, partners."

“Yes,” Giza nodded, smiling sweetly, “you’re playing along with me—aren’t you?”

Ashida sighed, closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with icy coldness.

"I've really had enough of you people."

“B?” The Qi Mage sneered. “That’s the guy, that madman, who turned you all into a bunch of unreasonable, irrational, and rabid dogs!”

There was a moment of silence between them, but Thales felt it was more like the calm before the storm.

“B teaches us to accept ourselves and break free from constraints,” sure enough, a moment later, a frightening blood-red light flashed in Giza’s eyes: “And you, a house dog born in the magic tower, Toros’s little shadow, can’t stand not having a collar around your neck, can you?”

“I knew it,” Ashida retorted, “The witches of the ‘Third Ring’ can’t teach any good students.”

He sneered, "You bastard."

Giza did not speak.

The lovely girl remained silent for three seconds.

But three seconds later, the words she uttered made Ashida's expression change drastically!

"What exactly is Qi?" The Blood Demon Master slowly asked. "Is it something that flows, fills, and is omnipresent? Or is it something that is anchored, sustained, and as light as nothing?"

"What does the existence of Qi represent? What will happen when Qi disappears?" Giza asked nonchalantly. "Is Qi pure, or a mixture of all things? Is Qi constant, or unchanging?"

"Are you yourself a form of Qi? Or is Qi a part of you?"

For the first time ever, Thales watched in horror as Ashda Sakorn's face began to contort.

What is Qi?
Thales was struck by a thought, then he was shocked to recall what Ashda had told him.

The First Covenant of Magic.

They didn't delve into the matter further.

He looked at Giza in disbelief.

No way?
She was...

The blue light in the eyes of the Qi Mage grew stronger and stronger.

"What, shouldn't you be able to recite the three great covenants bestowed upon you by the grace of Toros better than your own name?" The Blood Mage's words sent chills down Thales's spine: "Aishida, little puppy?"

The next moment, before Ashida could react, Giza opened his lips as if roaring like a wild beast and slowly tilted his head back.

In that instant, Thales felt something gushing out of her body.

In our field of vision, the red light in Giza grew brighter and brighter!
A bright red line of blood appeared from Giza's neck, gradually spreading up her face. The line then split into several branches, slowly thickening like blood vessels, until it covered Giza's face.

Moreover, those blood lines seemed to be alive, slowly changing, moving, and trembling on Giza's face.

It was as if it was breathing.

Aishida's expression changed. He walked to Thales' side and frowned as he glanced at the Star Prince.

“How…” Thales began awkwardly, but was interrupted as soon as he spoke.

“Don’t say anything,” Ashida said coldly. “When I tell you to run, you run.”

"Don't look back, don't stop."

Thales looked at Ashida in surprise and could only nod helplessly.

Judging from her tone, even Ashida... doesn't have the confidence to protect herself anymore.

The little rascal huddled tightly in Thales' arms, trembling.

Giza, his face covered in blood, took a deep breath, as if he had just woken from the most beautiful dream. He grinned, his eyes filled with madness.

Her gentle and charming smile transformed into the most dazzling and terrifying angry laugh!

"Ah," the Blood Mage seemed to have unleashed a floodgate of emotion, laughing heartily without restraint, "It feels so good to have this feeling again after so long!"

Ashida looked at her solemnly: "Ascending the threshold at this time and in this place, you are taking a risk!"

"What, you don't dare to ascend to the threshold?" The Blood Mage smiled beautifully: "That's true, after all, you're a coward."

"Aishida, little puppy, let's play a game, shall we?"

Aishida frowned.

“If I can’t kill him every minute…” The Blood Mage pointed at Thales, then raised his arms, laughing wildly as he shouted, “I’ll keep ascending to the next level!”

"No upper limit!"

----

I'm too tired today, so I won't bother with anti-piracy measures. To all you pirated readers, I hope you enjoy reading this. If you'd like, please support Wujian on Qidian or Chuanshu—writing really takes a lot of brainpower.

(End of this chapter)