“You’re a bit weaker than me, so you can be responsible for clearing out some scattered Second-rank Blood Beasts near me. I’ll go deeper to hunt higher-tier targets.”
Lorevil put away her idle thoughts, her expression turning serious as she proposed.
“Okay! Don’t worry, I definitely won’t let any low-rank Blood Beasts disturb you.”
Fini dropped her playful demeanor, tightened her grip on the short blade in her hand, and even patted her own still-developing chest.
“And I’ll try to clear out as many as I can, making sure I don’t hold you back.”
She knew that teaming up with Lorevil was a rare opportunity to advance.
Not only could she quickly rack up points, but she could also learn plenty of practical combat skills, so she naturally didn’t dare slack off.
“If that’s fine, we’ll meet up at that spot every half hour to exchange information.”
Seeing this, a hint of satisfaction flickered in Lorevil’s eyes as she pointed to a crooked, blood-colored tree in the distance.
After the two girls agreed on the meeting point, they temporarily split up and headed in different directions.
Lorevil closed her eyes, and the Blood Lines inside her body rapidly spread out like a dispersed spider web.
Her perception covered an area of several dozen meters around her.
The Vampire’s senses were already quite sharp, and with the enhancement of her Blood Line talent, everything around her was clearly presented in her mind.
Soon, Lorevil locked onto a target.
Three Second-rank, Mid-tier Blood Beasts were lurking in bushes of the same color, their presence well-hidden.
If it were an ordinary Vampire, it would probably be hard to spot their tracks.
Unfortunately, they ran into Lorevil.
The bloodline energy inside Lorevil surged quickly, and dark red Blood Lines coiled around her palm, weaving into a Blood Net that shot toward the bushes with a fierce aura.
“Pfft—”
The sharp Blood Lines instantly sliced through the bodies of the three Blood Beasts.
Their agonizing howls abruptly stopped, not even giving them time to struggle.
The Violent Blood Energy that spilled out from the dead Blood Beasts didn’t scatter; instead, it was purified by the Blood Lines, turning into wisps of pure red Blood Qi that Lorevil absorbed.
On the other side, Fini was having a much tougher time.
Hunting a single Second-rank Blood Beast required her to pull out a Blood Rune Stone, like Laide’an had done before, to neutralize the lingering Violent Blood Energy before she could carefully absorb the meager energy.
After continuously hunting three Second-rank, Low-tier Blood Beasts, Fini’s face paled a few shades, clearly feeling the physical exhaustion.
Half an hour later, under the crooked blood-colored tree.
“How come you’re not tired at all?”
Fini unscrewed a bottle of Blood Qi replenishing potion and downed it in one gulp, her face somewhat pale.
“I’m barely holding up even with the Blood Rune Stone to neutralize the Blood Qi; don’t you need to deal with the Violent Blood Energy left over from hunting Blood Beasts?”
Fini looked at Lorevil, whose expression was calm and composed as if nothing had happened, and couldn’t help asking in confusion.
After all, directly absorbing Violent Blood Energy that hadn’t been processed with a Blood Rune Stone could easily cause chaos in one’s Bloodline.
In severe cases, it could even lead to a rampage—no Vampire would dare try it lightly.
That was also why Blood Rune Stones were so popular and expensive in the Blood Hunting Ground.
Lorevil simply explained:
“My Blood Net secret technique is quite special; it can purify Violent Blood Energy before absorbing it, so I don’t need to rely on Blood Rune Stones.”
Afraid Fini wouldn’t believe her, Lorevil extended her hand.
“Chi—”
Under Fini’s shocked gaze, she grabbed a handful of the aggressive Violent Blood Energy nearby and refined it in an instant.
Fini fell silent.
A secret technique that could directly absorb Violent Blood Energy and avoid Blood Qi backlash? It was practically a cheat for farming points in the Blood Hunting Ground.
And the fact that Lorevil was willing to reveal this technique meant she trusted Fini not to leak it.
That trust made Fini’s expression complicated for a moment.
Then, after hesitating for a few seconds, she said in a small voice:
“Uh… that… Lorevil Mom, could you… could you spare me some of the purified Blood Qi?”
Fini lifted her face, fidgeting shyly.
“I’ve been stuck at Second-rank Peak for a long time, and I’ve been lacking pure Blood Qi to refine my Bloodline. With it, I’m sure I can break through to Third Order soon.”
Seeing Lorevil raise an eyebrow, Fini quickly added:
“And as repayment, the cosmetics shop my family runs—you can come anytime for free from now on, and you’ll get priority for limited-edition lipsticks to give to Noxia.”
Fini was afraid Lorevil would refuse.
Limited-edition lipsticks?
Lorevil paused.
She had no particular interest or obsession with lipsticks, but when it came to Noxia, it was different.
Limited-edition lipsticks would definitely be attractive.
If Noxia could freely pick all the shades, she’d surely be delighted.
Besides, the pure Blood Qi from Second-rank Blood Beasts could no longer satisfy the advancement needs of a Mid Third Rank; giving Fini thirty percent wouldn’t hurt.
With that in mind, Lorevil said seriously:
“Alright.”
“Great! Lorevil, you’re the best!”
Fini excitedly pounced, hugging Lorevil’s arm and acting spoiled.
Seeing her joyful demeanor, Lorevil smiled too.
Hunting Blood Beasts was dull; having a friend around wasn’t bad.
“Alright, since we’re done resting, let’s continue.”
“Mm.”
Fini nodded obediently.
After reaching the agreement, Fini and Lorevil’s cooperation became much smoother.
Whenever Fini encountered a lone Second-rank Blood Beast, she would handle the containment.
Meanwhile, Lorevil would hunt Second-rank Peak Blood Beasts.
After hunting, she would split the purified Blood Qi in two.
She kept seventy percent for herself to replenish her bloodline energy.
The remaining thirty percent, she condensed into a faint red mass and tossed it to Fini, who was not far away.
Fini cupped the warm pure Blood Qi and eagerly absorbed it, feeling her Bloodline continuously nourished.
“Based on the Violent Blood Energy I absorbed from the Shadow Blood Wolf earlier, I’ll need at least fifty more strands to advance to Mid Third Rank.”
Lorevil silently estimated.
And she could sense that, as they ventured deeper, the Blood Qi around them grew increasingly violent, and the presence of Blood Beasts became denser.
Thus, the two cautiously hunted thirty Second-rank Blood Beasts, of which about thirteen were Second-rank Peak.
“I feel the threshold of my Rank! The bloodline energy in my body has reached saturation—I’m about to break through to Third Order!”
Fini suddenly sat cross-legged on the ground, her cute, delicate face brimming with surprise.
Seeing this, Lorevil stopped as well, keeping watch while looking at her.
“Mwah~”
Fini, overcome with excitement, couldn’t help herself; she stood on tiptoe and planted a kiss on Lorevil’s cheek.
This sudden kiss left Lorevil frozen in place, completely dumbfounded.
She instinctively thought back to when Catherine had undergone Darkening.
Lorevil slowly turned her head, staring at Fini in disbelief.
This wouldn’t trigger Darkening in Fini too, would it?
Lorevil subconsciously glanced at the top of Fini’s head.
Thankfully, there was no Darkening Blood Bar representing the Darkness Value.
It was probably just Fini’s way of expressing gratitude.
Fini quickly realized her move had been too impulsive, and her fair face instantly flushed bright red.
“Y-You misunderstood! That was purely a friendly thank-you!”
“It didn’t mean anything else, don’t get the wrong idea.”
“I was just too excited, overjoyed—that’s all! Really!”
Afraid Lorevil might get the wrong impression, Fini hastily explained.
As for whether it was truly just friendship, only Fini herself knew.
“I see… I figured you were just really happy.”
Lorevil sighed in relief, using her finger to wipe away the lingering soft sensation on her cheek.
For her, as long as Darkening wasn’t triggered, it was a good thing.
Seeing that, Fini’s ears and face turned even redder, and she looked down in silence.
Lorevil felt a bit awkward but quickly composed herself and changed the subject:
“Alright, Fini, let’s keep going. I’ll help you find nine more Second-rank Peak Blood Beasts so you can advance to Third Order.”
“Mm.”
Fini nodded obediently.
But behind her, Fini was still immersed in the joy of her impending breakthrough and the shyness from their accidental intimate moment earlier.
“Something’s coming.”
Lorevil suddenly spoke up, gripping the fine Blood Lines tightly in her hand.
Hearing that, Fini snapped out of her daze.
A gust of wind blew past.
The wind carried a bone-chilling, icy aura mixed with a strong, foul stench, assaulting the nostrils of the two Vampires.