Crimson Heir: Shadows in Academia

12

His body felt no discomfort from the first absorption; instead, it felt as comfortable as absorbing dark energy.

When Alex Qi released his mental energy, he discovered that there was no dark energy present in the world. After his mental energy enveloped his heart, he found that his purple crystal had mysteriously disappeared from his heart.

Gradually, Alex Qi's speed in killing the giant wolves increased, giving him time to use his mental energy to study the blood mist absorbed by his body. It turned out that the blood mist drifting towards Alex Qi's body was absorbed by him like dark energy. When the blood mist was absorbed, most of it was directly absorbed by his bones and muscles, and the remainder was directly absorbed by his heart; none of it seeped out of his body like dark energy. Most of the blood mist absorbed by his heart was compressed and converted into blood, while a small portion continuously gathered at the original crystal's location.

Alex Qi's blood was also becoming increasingly viscous at a considerable rate. Although his movement and fighting consumed blood, it was negligible compared to the increased concentration from absorbing the blood mist. He hadn't eaten or drunk anything in this blood-red world; his body's energy was entirely sustained by his blood.

This continuous absorption by Alex Qi felt like purified dark energy, constantly strengthening his body. Another blood-red crystal condensed in his heart, though it was significantly smaller than the previous purple crystal.

"2147," Alex Qi slashed down another blood-red giant wolf, his steps becoming somewhat leisurely. Lately, Alex Qi had found himself not only no longer worried about the appearance of the blood-red giant wolves, but also somewhat looking forward to it. Hunting these giant wolves not only allowed him to absorb blood mist to increase his cultivation but also continuously hone his combat experience.

"3500" Alex Qi breathed slightly, his eyes scanning his surroundings, ready to eliminate any giant wolves that appeared beside him. He had now completely stopped in his tracks, no longer fighting or dodging the wolves, but hunting down these entities he perceived as dark energy.

"7777" Alex Qi closed his eyes, relentlessly hunting down the crimson giant wolves that appeared around him, as if he could see them. Alex Qi had finally discovered the wonders of mental power; as he absorbed the blood mist, his mental power had grown considerably stronger. Mental power could now sense the presence of other objects around him; even with his eyes closed, he could quickly appear before the newly formed crimson giant waves using his mental power. And recently, due to his constant use of mental power to probe his surroundings, Alex Qi's mental power had become even stronger! His senses had become increasingly precise and expansive.

"9999" Alex Qi dealt with a crimson giant wolf that had just appeared with one head, and the presence of any more giant wolves could no longer be sensed. Slowly opening his eyes, Alex Qi found the crimson world before him vanished. In fact, during the time Alex Qi had kept his eyes closed, the crimson world had been gradually fading as he hunted down the giant wolves that appeared, but he hadn't noticed.

Alex Qi looked at the world before him, feeling as if he were standing in the universe, seemingly floating in mid-air. Countless stars stretched before him, near and far, so beautiful and so vast.

"Have you seen enough?" Just as Alex Qi was captivated by the scenery he had previously only seen on television, the same voice he knew came from behind him. But now it sounded less domineering and authoritative, and more strangely familiar.

However, Alex Qi's back was immediately soaked with cold sweat. "I didn't even sense his presence. When did he appear behind me? Even with my powerful mental strength, I couldn't detect him. Is the gap between us still that vast?" Alex Qi silently wondered, slowly turning around.

Before Alex Qi stood a high platform entirely constructed of skulls, resembling a pyramid with its top horizontally sheared off. Facing him were tiered stairs leading up the platform. At the top of the platform sat a magnificent, blood-red chair, inlaid with countless unknown gems. The shimmering light of these gems, combined with the starlight behind it, gave Alex Qi a sense of solemn grandeur.

Seated in the chair was a middle-aged man with jet-black hair casually draped over his shoulders. His pupils were as deep and dark as stars, conveying an air of antiquity and profound experience. He wore a plain white robe, typical of ancient American Confucian scholars, with a white jade pendant at his waist and cloud-patterned boots. He held a landscape fan in his hand, a slight smile playing on his lips.

A high platform constructed of white skulls, a solemn blood-red chair, and a refined yet unconventional scholar in white robes. "Damn, what kind of scene is this?" Alex Qi's brain short-circuited.

"Evil? Kind? Alex Qi, are you wondering what kind of person I am? Heh..." Alex Qi, whose brain was completely blanked by the extremely incongruous environment and people before him, was interrupted by the slightly weathered voice of the middle-aged man on the large chair.

"Um? Senior?? I just want to understand two things. First, who are you? Second, how did I get here?" Alex Qi hesitated slightly, but still spoke his mind directly. Because Alex Qi couldn't sense a trace of malice from this person; instead, he felt a faint sense of care. It was care, the kind of care an elder would show to a junior, a teacher to a student. Although this feeling was strange, Alex Qi felt it was the strongest evidence he could believe.

"My name is Gaine, or Cain. To conceal all cause and effect, to hide the past. Be your true self, and pursue your own path to power. You are now within your own divine realm." The middle-aged man on the throne looked up at the starry sky, responding to Alex Qi's two questions with a touch of melancholy.