52: Chapter 52 Blood Lock

The hunter hadn't expected Yellow Beard to strike so suddenly; his throat was crushed instantly, and then Yellow Beard snapped his neck with another twist, leaving him dead on the ground.

After killing two people in a very short time, Yellow Beard responded indifferently to Elder Ming, "That kid isn't simple. I don't understand how he did it, but he must have seen through us and convinced these people. Besides, you couldn't kill him yourself; I would have had to step in eventually anyway."

Only now did Old Qi and the others dare to believe their eyes.

"Everyone, be careful! Tang Long was right, he really is an accomplice of the Blasphemers! Fire!"

Yellow Beard easily deflected four crossbow bolts with his hand shield and drew a long saber. "As I suspected. But... it doesn't matter. Now I'll tell you clearly, you can drop the word 'accomplice'; I am a genuine Blasphemer. Old Ming, let's get serious."

As he spoke, a black three-leaf mark emerged on his forehead, spinning and extending rapidly.

Almost simultaneously, a black triangle mark appeared on Elder Ming's forehead, folding even faster until it covered his entire body in an instant.

He then stood up straight again and pointed his blade at Tang Long.

"Kid, let's go again."

Tang Long ignored him.

The two Blasphemers had laid their cards on the table, creating the situation he wanted, and at a pace even faster than he had anticipated.

However, it wasn't quite ideal.

A minute ago, he had used his Detection on Elder Ming and hadn't checked Yellow Beard.

Only now did he realize that Yellow Beard, in his Blasphemy Power state, was significantly stronger than Elder Ming.

[Huang Han: Blasphemy Power - Desolate Domain]

[Faction: Blasphemers Medicine Market Group Leader]

[Realm: Qi Manipulation Stage 5]

[vitality: 5091/5091]

[Spirit Energy: 776/755]

[Attributes: Strength 30, Agility 29, Spirit 27, Endurance 28]

[Technique: Universal Breathing Method LV6]

[Skills: Spirit Astral LV1, Blasphemy Power]

For some reason, this guy's Spirit energy actually exceeded his own limit.

But with average attributes close to 30, and strength only slightly lower than his own current level, this kind of power was absolute top-tier among the mid-stage Qi Manipulation martial artists he had seen.

Furthermore, darkness was constantly spreading from that guy into the surroundings; in just these few seconds, the snow within a three or four-meter radius of him had been stained as black as ink.

It was still unclear exactly what was so sinister about that darkness.

This person was quick-witted enough to realize so fast that he had incited the other hunters. And he was ruthless enough to kill two people in a sudden strike.

He was shrewd, cruel, and powerful, and his Blasphemy Power was quite bizarre; the remaining four Bounty Hunters were likely no match for him.

And since he had revealed his identity, his intention to silence the witnesses was very obvious.

The problem was... Tang Long needed these Bounty Hunters alive to prove the evil of the Blasphemers and his own innocence to the relevant authorities.

If all these Bounty Hunters died, wouldn't this whole performance be for nothing?

No!

He had to help them first.

However, just as he was about to step forward, he felt a powerful resistance. His chest tightened, and he felt so miserable it was as if he were about to spit blood.

"Kid, thinking of running now? Is it still in time?"

"Since you know I'm a Blasphemer, you must have seen Blasphemy Power before. Every Blasphemer's power is different; this is also our greatest secret."

"But I can tell you, my Blasphemy Power chains your life to mine. The more you try to move away from me, the more you will be harmed and bound by this power."

"Today, between you and me, only one can live."

Only then did Tang Long see that a black-red mark had appeared on the ground between him and Elder Ming at some point, looking like a chain condensed from black blood.

He couldn't help but be a bit surprised, having not noticed when he had been hit by the move.

"Stop guessing. This incantation uses my blood as a medium; when you stabbed and wounded me just now, you were tainted by my blood."

Old man, you're really in a hurry to die.

Tang Long couldn't help but laugh twice. "Fine then, I'll send you to reunite with your granddaughter first."

"What arrogance. Do you think you still have a chance of survival before two Third-rank Blasphemy Stars? You'd better not... Urgh!"

Before Elder Ming could finish his sentence, a dagger suddenly appeared in Tang Long's previously empty hand. With a flick of his wrist, it flew out like lightning, striking Elder Ming right in the heart.

With an expression of utter disbelief, Elder Ming's body fell straight backward.

Tang Long had just turned around when that feeling of chest tightness suddenly reappeared. Greatly shocked, he couldn't help but look back abruptly, seeing Elder Ming—who should have been dead—sitting up from the ground.

He pulled out the dagger from his chest, coughed slightly, and then revealed a bizarre smile.

"Kid, your strength is indeed great. In a fair fight, I might not be able to defeat you, but having activated my Blasphemy Power, I possess an immortal body. You cannot kill me, nor can you escape. Your end is already fated."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and made a grasping motion toward Tang Long from a distance.

Tang Long immediately felt as if his heart were being gripped hard by an invisible claw, and he suddenly spat out a large mouthful of blood.

Elder Ming laughed, his laughter somewhat hysterical.

Tang Long wiped the blood from his mouth, his expression becoming quite grave.

That strike just now had clearly zeroed his health, yet now Elder Ming had not only restored his full health, but Tang Long's own vitality had plummeted by nearly two thousand.

Combined with that blood-colored chain, it seemed to forcibly limit the maximum distance; breaking away would cause severe damage.

This ability mechanism was truly a bit eerie!

If it were anyone else, they might truly have been scared into a panic.

But Tang Long knew that Blasphemy Power, unlike Hetero-blood talents, did not belong to one's own abilities but was a kind of bestowed 'external force.' To use Blasphemy Power, a Blasphemer first had to pay a heavy price themselves.

The stronger the ability, the greater the price.

Moreover, Blasphemy Power couldn't be without a solution. Even the abilities of more powerful sixth or seventh-rank stars were nothing special once they were analyzed, let alone those of a mere third-rank star.

He immediately opened his eyes again, searching for Elder Ming's flaw.

Under the Fire Eye, Spirit energy of different attributes appeared in different colors; fire-attribute Spirit energy was bright red, ice-attribute was cold white, but the Spirit energy inside Elder Ming's body right now was black.

Within it were three blackest points, located in the left hand, right foot, and tongue respectively. The black-red chain connecting the two of them was precisely formed by the intertwined Spirit energy flowing out from these three areas.

Also, he remembered that Elder Ming's vitality was over two thousand before, but now it had dropped to less than one thousand nine hundred.

So this ability connected to the opponent's life, sucking the opponent's blood when taking fatal damage, at the cost of consuming one's own vitality.

Tang Long secretly marveled at how truly useful the Fire Eye was; combined with the game system, it was simply invincible.

Being able to see through the opponent made things much easier.

Before he could finish being pleased, his peripheral vision suddenly caught a strange mass of gray, and his heart instantly shook with fear.

He saw an old man sitting in the wooden cabin not far from Elder Ming. Although the Spirit light within his body seemed covered by dust, the density of this layer of obscuring Spirit energy was terrifyingly high.

Holy crap!

How is there such a terrifyingly strong person hidden here?

He's not coming for me, is he?