smoke cleared, and everyone fixed their eyes on the ground a short distance away, where the earth had been blown to pieces.
Three Abyss Lectors lay in the center, life or death unknown. Each bore a claw-like gash across their bodies, still oozing blood.
But from the faint rise and fall of their chests, there was a good chance they were still alive.
Kong nodded slightly, unimpressed by how Farnreb had grievously wounded the three.
"Carry them off to heal. Later we'll cut each of their hearts into three pieces."
The Abyss Chanters, who a moment ago had been pitying the three losers, instantly clutched their chests in regret and looked at Kong with reddened, envious eyes.
They wouldn't die — help test it out, and each of them might get a piece of heart meat.
What a bargain!
Of course, even if they'd volunteered themselves a moment ago, the odds they'd survive were slim. Abyss Lectors were high-end combat units of the Abyss to begin with — and Farnreb had absorbed a drop of the essence-blood.
Against ordinary Abyss Chanters…
they'd probably be killed in one strike.
Envious, the Abyssal mages carried the three away.
Kong gave a satisfied smile, walked over, and patted the nearest Penitent on the shoulder.
"Good work."
"All gratitude to Your Highness the Prince! I dare not take credit." The Penitent shook his head.
He wouldn't pretend to ally with Kong because of a little success. The Abyss folk knew Kong's strength too well. Right now he was on par with Liyue's martial god. In terms of variety of techniques, he even surpassed Zhongli.
But that was only the old Zhongli. The current cultivator-Zhongli — if Kong truly dared to face him, Zhongli wouldn't need to call on divine aid; one slap and Kong would be dead.
A six-thousand-year-old dragon, unscarred by time, with accumulated life experience and insight — though it wouldn't instantly let him attain transcendent cultivation — his primal energy density ranked second only to Jiang Yan.
"Peerless at the same rank" — Zhongli had already achieved that.
Kong examined the Penitent and saw he looked a little drained; that overwhelming strike had indeed been powerful, but it had taken a heavy toll.
"How did it feel to be covered by the blood-energy just now?" Kong asked casually.
The Penitent hesitated, then answered softly, "Powerful! Unprecedented power! Unrivaled strength."
"And it's completely different from how we draw on elemental energy from the leyline, or draw on Abyssal power from the Abyss."
"This power springs entirely from myself. It relies on no external object — it is intrinsic strength!"
"When I activated the blood-energy, at that instant I felt myself strengthened from the inside out."
"Especially my body — my intuition told me my body itself is the weapon that shatters everything."
"With this power and this physique, elemental forces and Abyssal power become trivial."
As he spoke, the Penitent sounded almost fanatical.
Kong continued, "Then why are you so exhausted afterward?"
The Penitent was helpless. "Your Highness, my blood-energy was completely spent by that strike."
Kong frowned slightly and asked in a low voice, "Can it be restored?"
"Yes!" the Penitent replied decisively. "After absorbing and converting the essence-blood, that blood-energy transforms into my own power and is stored in my dantian. Although it's exhausted right now, my instinct says it will slowly condense out from my body and recover over time."
"If in an area rich with elemental energy, it would recover faster."
"If there is flesh saturated with abundant elemental energy, not only would recovery be faster, but the accumulation would be greater."
Farnreb looked at Kong expectantly and hinted to him.
Kong smiled wryly and shook his head. "Go fetch a piece of heart meat later."
"Yes! Thank you, Your Highness the Prince!" Farnreb answered delightedly.
Kong grew curious. "Where does this intuition of yours come from? Also — you said you can grow stronger. Do you have any idea how?"
Farnreb frowned and thought for a moment, then suddenly clapped his hands. "Your Highness, I remember now. I overheard the Millelith of Liyue mention it."
"They said powerful feral beasts' essence-blood contains inherited memories of the beast!"
"Although not as complete as a true monster, it still transcends the system of elemental energy."
"I heard that some of Liyue's grand masters rose by consuming the essence-blood of a peak foundational-stage feral beast to breakthrough."
Kong's eyes lit up — he seemed to have grasped something important and asked urgently, "You're saying Liyue's masters consumed the essence-blood of a peak foundational-stage beast? So you're now the equivalent of a Liyue martial master?"
Farnreb shook his head uncertainly. "I should be considerably stronger than them."
"A peak foundational-stage feral beast is no longer something ordinary vision-users can tame — at least comparable to the demon-god's kin. Such a beast's essence-blood is both opportunity and poison."
"My physique was already very strong, so I could withstand the blood's ravaging."
"If it were Liyue people… not to boast, if those famed Liyue strongmen were only members of the Millelith…"
"They definitely couldn't stand a whole drop of essence-blood."
"I imagine it was divided among them."
"So right now I estimate myself comparable to a grand martial master."
Kong fell silent for a moment and countered, "Only a grand master, and you approach demigod levels? Then… what about Terrestrial Immortals?"
"I… do not know," Farnreb said, shaking his head, his eyes full of yearning. "According to Liyue's accounts, a Terrestrial Immortal can at least suppress a top-tier demon-god kin."
"Most likely… they've already achieved demon-god-level power."
"Given that inheriting beast traits can grant partial immunity to non-spiritual damage, their actual combat power might be even stronger."
Kong turned to look at the remaining eight drops of essence-blood. "So… one drop of essence-blood creates one top-tier demon-god kin? That's an absurdly profitable trade."
"How many more drops can you take? Could you become a Terrestrial Immortal?"
Farnreb's eyes burned, but then he gave a rueful smile. "Sorry, Your Highness. Though I'd like to use another drop, my body tells me if I do, I would burst — I can't withstand such impact."
"I can only slowly expand my dantian's resilience and find ways to increase blood-energy storage."
Just then, an Abyssal Cantor nearby suddenly spoke up, "Your Highness, I remember something! Back in Mount Shu I heard some Liyue Millelith warriors say…"
"Their internal power began as internal qi. As internal qi accumulates, the dantian expands. Eventually the internal qi condenses into a liquid, becomes inner power, and grows stronger."
"The final Terrestrial Immortals, it's said, condense an inner core."
Kong was stunned for a beat, then spun and angrily slapped the Cantor. "You idiot! You only tell me something this important now? What good are you?"
The Cantor clutched his face in grievance. Farnreb glared at him too, and then continued, "If that's the case, Your Highness, I roughly know how to increase in strength."
"Condense the blood-energy into a liquid, finally turn it into a blood-dan…."
"This might be a path distinct from Liyue's martial way."
"For Liyue people, their bodies are frail; they can't withstand such essence-blood shocks."
"But for us Khaenri'ah people, the curse of undying has already repeatedly shattered and recomposed our bodies, making them extremely tough."
"Combined with the honing of Abyssal power, using feral beast essence-blood would instead yield a very high success rate for us."
"Your Highness!" Farnreb's eyes brightened as he thought of something. "We might not need a separate martial art — feral beasts themselves could be the new path we blaze!"
"Your Highness, please give this path a name!"
The Abyss folk around listened, hearts stirred.
Farnreb's reasoning, when examined, actually made sense — it could become reality.
If so…
the Abyss Order's power would soar.
Kong showed a pleased expression and nodded slightly. "If what you say is true, then it is Khaenri'ah's fortune."
"This path, based on feral beast essence-blood, absorbs the blood, tempers strength, fortifies the self, and frees us from dependence on leyline or Abyssal draw."
"In that case, call it the Savage Beast Martial Path!"
The Abyss erupted.
"The Savage Beast Martial Path! Khaenri'ah finally has its own martial way!"
"Our Savage Beast Martial Path already looks stronger than Liyue's!"
"I've seen Liyue's martial techniques — they're exquisite, but in raw destructive power they don't match Lord Farnreb's Beast Path!"
"Of course not! This was forged from the essence-blood of a peak foundational-stage beast!"
"If peak foundational-stage beasts are this strong, if we have beasts that can refine essence into qi…—"
"What nonsense are you spouting? So many died against peak foundational-stage beasts — beasts that refine essence into qi, only the Prince could possibly handle them."
"Lord Farnreb could do it after some training!"
"I want to practice the Savage Beast Martial Path too…"
Listening to the Khaenri'ah folk cheering, Kong smiled with satisfaction. Today had been full of pleasant surprises — a single peak foundational-stage beast, by a fluke, birthed Khaenri'ah's Savage Beast Martial Path.
From now on, on the turbulent land of Teyvat, the Abyss Order would not be left behind.
"Your Highness, shall we still contact Miss Lumine?" Farnreb asked softly.
Kong considered for a moment and nodded slightly. "We should try to contact her. You fought supremely just now, but you relied on blood-energy to overpower opponents — too wasteful."
"Liyue's martial way may have less raw destructive power, but it is extremely refined and uses strength efficiently. We still need techniques and methods to make the Savage Beast Path reach its fullest potential."
"And besides…" Kong paused, a hint of melancholy in his voice. "Although the Savage Beast Path looks promising, forging it won't be easy."
"For one thing, we'll need massive numbers of feral beasts to create the path, and future training in the path will demand vast amounts of beast meat."
"Jueyun Karst is a forbidden zone with many dangers; even with your strength, entering it without permission is suicide."
"Moreover, so many people have their eyes on the beasts in Jueyun Karst and Liyue Harbor. We must avoid those areas where possible."
"That makes sourcing beasts a real headache."
"We'll have to contact Lumine."
"Lumine is in Mount Shu — not only are there peak foundational-stage beasts there, but there are beasts that refine essence into qi."
"Plus that secret realm, which contains Spirit Transformation Beast."
"If we are to follow the Savage Beast Path, we must possess enough beasts."
"Right now, only Lumine can help."
Kong sighed softly. "Keep watch. Once Lumine appears, find a way to contact her. Until then, send more people to gather feral beasts."
"Whether meat or essence-blood — we want it all!"
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