Bitter Realm: Have the Four Realms been united today?

Chapter 8 Blood Refining Technique

Xuanming felt a warm sensation spread out, but there was no pain as he had expected, so he breathed a sigh of relief.

He is actually extremely afraid of pain.

A moment later, a tiny drop of blood, faintly glowing red and still somewhat ethereal, slowly appeared on his forehead and gradually solidified over time.

The Soul Burial Emperor, who had been silently observing, suddenly narrowed his crimson eyes, and his previously heavy aura suddenly became sharp.

"Strategist..." he began to speak in a deep voice, but was calmly interrupted by Yue Tianji.

"Soul Emperor need not worry." Yue Tianji's voice remained calm, his gaze focused on manipulating the spell.

"Everything is under control; he will be fine."

Xuanming, unaware of the reason, simply assumed that the Soul Burial Emperor was concerned about him.

"Soul Emperor, I just feel a little hot, nothing's wrong!"

"Hmm!" The Soul Burial Emperor's gaze swept between Yue Tianji's calm profile and the drop of blood on Xuanming's forehead, and finally suppressed his emotions, saying nothing more.

He believed his advisors knew what they were doing.

Time passed second by second, and the blood droplets on Xuanming's head became more and more solidified.

The Soul Burial Emperor's brows furrowed involuntarily, and even Ling Shuangjie sensed something was amiss. He leaned closer to Mu Yunzhishu and silently asked her question using lip reading.

"Strategist, the blood-drawing technique is just a common one. Usually, after the rune enters the body, it only takes about ten breaths to extract a drop of primordial blood. But the strategist has been performing this technique for over fifty breaths. Why isn't it over yet? Will there be any problems?"

Mu Yunzhi also responded with lip reading.

"The runes are undoubtedly a blood-drawing technique, sir. Perhaps you have other intentions in using them for so long!"

He was also filled with confusion, unable to fathom what the Heavenly Secrets were trying to achieve.

Just as the two were talking, the red blood bead at Xuanming's spiritual point had completely solidified and was about to detach when a sudden change occurred!

"puff!"

Yue Tianji's body jolted violently, as if struck by an invisible giant hammer. He abruptly turned his head to the side, and a mouthful of bright red blood gushed out without warning, staining his snow-white clothes!

The white aura flowing from his fingertips instantly dissipated, and the red blood droplet hovering in front of Xuanming's forehead also vanished without a trace with a "pop" like a bubble.

"Strategist!" The Soul Burial Emperor reacted with lightning speed, stepping to the table in one stride, his broad and powerful hands steadily supporting Yue Tianji's slightly swaying body.

A surge of shock, anger, and worry instantly welled up in his crimson eyes. "How is it?" His voice was deep and thunderous, carrying the pressure of an emperor and containing genuine tension.

Yue Tianji raised his hand and wiped the blood from his lips with his clean white sleeve. His face was paler than usual, but his eyes remained clear and calm.

"Cough... Soul Emperor, there's no need to worry, I'm fine." He was breathing heavily, clearly enduring the pain.

"Mr. Yue!" Xuanming was also taken aback by this sudden turn of events.

Looking at the glaring crimson on Yue Tianji's clothes and his instantly pale face, a strong sense of guilt gripped him once again.

It's all his fault. He was too greedy. He shouldn't have told that lie in the first place, and he shouldn't have clung to the hope that he was reincarnated and continued to hide the truth.

Now things are really messed up. The blood extraction failed, the Soul Burial Emperor's injuries cannot be healed, his secrets may be exposed, and Yue Tianji was injured as a result.

He truly is a jinx; no matter which world he goes to, he only brings misfortune to those around him.

Xuanming kept his head down, his hands clenched so tightly that his nails almost dug into his palms, and his face was extremely ugly.

Suddenly, a cool hand touched his wrist.

Yue Tianji had caught his breath sometime earlier; though his voice was slightly hoarse, it remained steady.

"Your constitution seems quite unique; the blood-drawing technique is proving ineffective. How are you feeling right now?"

"I'm fine!" Xuanming didn't dare to look up, his gaze fixed on the crimson stain on Yue Tianji's sleeve.

"Your injury, is it... serious?"

Seemingly certain that Xuanming's body was indeed alright, Yue Tianji withdrew his hand from taking his pulse.

"It's nothing serious, just a backlash from the blood-drawing technique. A few days of rest will do the trick, but the Soul Emperor..."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know it would turn out this way. Is there any other way? I can cooperate with any method." Xuanming lowered his head further, and his voice became weaker.

"I have no other choice for now." Yue Tianji shook his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the slightly cold food on the table, his voice revealing a hint of weariness.

"It's getting late, and you're weak from just waking up. You haven't eaten yet, so you must be hungry."

"Let's leave it at that for today; we'll discuss this matter again another day."

"I'm sorry... in the end... I couldn't be of any help."

Xuanming actually hated those three words. Whenever he said them, it meant that he couldn't do anything about it.

Just like now, all he can do is apologize; there's nothing else he can do to make amends.

Upon hearing this, Yue Tianji paused, as if remembering something, and turned to look at the boy.

"Only those here know of the Soul Emperor's injury. Please do not reveal this matter to prevent unrest within the army!"

"I understand, Mr. Yue, please rest assured!"

The atmosphere inside the council hall of the Imperial Palace was solemn.

Behind the large table symbolizing the supreme power of the Huang Army, the Soul Burial Emperor sat on the Black Iron Throne.

He didn't deliberately exude an aura of power, but his tall and upright figure, wrapped in a blood-red battle robe, and his eyes, calm as an abyss and occasionally flashing with a crimson edge, naturally emanated an aura of imperial dominance that commanded respect.

It was as if he himself was the axis of this world.

Before the desk, a strategist in white knelt on one knee, his long, snow-white hair falling to his shoulder, making his complexion appear even colder.

The deep blue lines on his forehead shimmered with a profound luster under the light of the pearls in the hall.

His posture was as upright as a bamboo stalk, yet respectful, exuding the humility and politeness of a refined scholar, while his slightly lowered tone revealed his deference and self-reflection.

"By overstepping his bounds and committing treason by reading the Heavenly Secrets, Your Majesty, we beseech you to punish him!"

On either side of the hall, Ling Shuangjie and Muyun Zhishu stood solemnly.

Ling Shuangjie stood upright like a spear, a hint of confusion in his heroic brows.

Mu Yunzhi lowered his eyes slightly, his expression respectful, and waited for the Soul Burial Emperor's decision.

The Soul Burial Emperor waved his hand gently, his expression showing no reproach, and said slowly, "Get up!"

"I know the strategist was testing the boy's character, but why change the spell?"

He paused slightly, a hint of disapproval flashing in his crimson eyes, "Once the Blood Refining Technique is successfully completed, that boy will immediately die."

"Blood Refining Technique?" Ling Shuangjie couldn't help but exclaim softly, exchanging a glance with Mu Yunzhishu, who also looked puzzled.

She stepped forward, clasped her hands in a fist and asked, "Soul Emperor, please forgive my foolishness."

"The runes used by the strategist are clearly those of a blood-drawing technique, with a gentle aura, intended to guide the essence of the source. How can this be considered blood refining?"

The Soul Burial Emperor's gaze swept over Ling Shuangjie, and he explained in a deep voice, "The spell runes used by the strategist are indeed a method of blood extraction."

"However, if the caster deliberately delays the guiding force, causing the spell to remain in the recipient's body for a long time, it will melt all the blood in the recipient's body into a single drop of blood essence."

"Blood becomes..."

"A person is dead!"