Chapter 3: Blood Pays for Blood
Rain kept falling without mercy.
Li Tian stood in the center of the courtyard, barely able to hold himself upright.
His legs trembled.
His breathing was broken.
His body… was already at its limit.
Blood dripped from his wounds, mixing with rainwater beneath his feet.
In front of him stood three guards.
Careful.
Alert.
They had seen what happened to the first one.
Now, none of them rushed.
Zhao Yun watched silently from behind.
His expression calm.
But his eyes… sharp.
He was observing.
Studying.
Li Tian felt that gaze.
Even now…
I'm still just a test subject to him…
The system flickered again in front of his eyes.
[Dragon Blood Resonance Rising]
[Warning: Host nearing collapse]
[Requirement: Fresh blood essence]
Li Tian frowned.
Fresh blood…?
Then another line appeared.
[System Principle: Blood pays for blood]
His heart sank.
So this was the truth.
No free power.
No miracle.
If he wanted strength—
He had to pay for it.
With blood.
The guards began to move.
Slow steps.
Surrounding him.
Cutting off escape.
One of them spoke coldly, "You won't survive this."
Li Tian tightened his grip on the sword.
His hand trembled violently.
"I don't need to survive…"
He whispered.
"…I just need one chance."
The nearest guard attacked.
Fast.
Precise.
Li Tian raised his sword to block.
CLANG!
The impact sent pain shooting through his arm.
Too strong.
He stumbled back.
Another guard moved in from the side.
A kick slammed into his ribs.
"AGH—!"
Li Tian crashed to the ground, coughing blood.
His vision blurred.
Everything felt heavy.
Too heavy.
I can't win like this…
The guard above him raised his sword.
No hesitation.
Li Tian's fingers dug into the wet ground.
Fear crept into his chest.
Cold.
Real.
This is death…
The blade began to fall.
At that moment—
The system flashed.
[Fresh blood essence required]
His eyes shifted.
The guard's exposed arm.
Rainwater sliding over his skin.
Blood beneath it.
Li Tian froze.
No…
That's madness…
But then—
The sword cut into his side.
A shallow but painful wound.
Hot blood flowed.
Pain exploded.
And with that—
Hesitation broke.
Li Tian lunged forward suddenly.
He grabbed the guard's arm—
And bit down hard.
"ARGH—!"
The guard screamed.
Blood filled Li Tian's mouth.
Warm.
Metallic.
Disgusting.
His stomach twisted.
But the system reacted instantly.
[Blood essence detected]
[Absorbing…]
Heat surged through his body.
Violent.
Burning.
Not healing.
Just… forcing him to move.
Li Tian released the arm and slammed his head into the guard's face.
CRACK.
The guard staggered.
That was enough.
Li Tian snatched the sword and slashed wildly.
Not controlled.
Not skilled.
Just desperate.
The blade cut across the guard's chest.
Deep.
The man collapsed.
Li Tian stumbled back immediately.
The energy vanished.
His body screamed again.
Worse than before.
So this is the cost…
He wiped his mouth, but the taste of blood remained.
His hands shook.
Not just from pain—
From what he had just done.
The remaining guards stared at him.
One of them whispered, "He's gone mad…"
Li Tian didn't respond.
Maybe he had.
But madness was better than dying like this.
Zhao Yun spoke softly from behind.
"Interesting…"
That single word made Li Tian's chest tighten.
Even now—
He was being watched.
Analyzed.
The last two guards attacked together.
No hesitation now.
Li Tian knew—
He couldn't win head-on.
Not like this.
He stepped back slowly.
Leading them.
Toward the center.
His eyes dropped briefly.
The formation marks.
Faded.
Broken.
But still there.
A dangerous thought formed.
The system flickered again.
[External array detected]
[Activation requires host blood]
Li Tian's jaw tightened.
Of course.
Everything needs a price.
The guards closed in.
No time left.
Li Tian raised the sword—
Then suddenly dragged it across his own palm.
"AH—!"
Blood flowed instantly.
Fresh.
Warm.
The guards hesitated for a second.
Confused.
Li Tian slammed his bleeding hand onto the ground.
"Activate…"
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
The carved lines beneath him glowed faintly.
Red light spread.
Weak.
Unstable.
But alive.
The guards reacted too late.
A pulse of force erupted.
Not strong enough to kill—
But enough to disrupt.
Both guards stumbled.
That moment—
That single moment—
Was everything.
Li Tian moved.
He drove his sword into the nearest guard's abdomen.
The man gasped and collapsed.
Li Tian turned instantly—
But too late.
The last guard had already recovered.
His sword came down hard.
CLANG!
Li Tian blocked—
But the blade shattered in his hand.
The broken sword flew away.
Silence.
Li Tian froze.
Empty hands.
No strength.
No escape.
The guard smiled coldly.
"Now it ends."
He raised his sword.
Li Tian tried to move.
His body refused.
Nothing left…
Then—
A voice.
"Stop."
Lian'er.
Everyone froze.
She stepped forward slowly.
Her eyes locked on Li Tian.
"If he dies now," she said calmly, "we lose everything."
Zhao Yun watched her.
Then nodded slightly.
"Correct."
Li Tian's heart sank.
Not saved.
Just… preserved.
Like an animal.
Zhao Yun raised his hand.
"Break his legs. Take him below."
The guard nodded.
Li Tian's mind went blank.
No…
Not like this…
The guard stepped closer.
Sword lowered.
Preparing to cripple him.
The system flickered weakly.
[Emergency Option Available]
[Refine Dragon Blood Essence x1]
[Cost: Lifespan reduction]
Li Tian's breath stopped.
Lifespan…?
Not blood.
Not pain.
Life itself.
This system…
Was truly cruel.
The guard was only a few steps away.
No time.
No choice.
Li Tian lowered his head.
A faint smile appeared.
"If survival has a price…"
He whispered.
"…then I'll pay it."
"Refine."
The system activated.
[Refining…]
[3 years lifespan consumed]
A powerful surge exploded inside him.
Heat.
Pressure.
Something ancient awakening.
The air around him trembled.
The guard froze.
Zhao Yun stepped forward slightly.
For the first time—
His calm broke.
Li Tian slowly raised his head.
Blood slid from his lips.
His eyes…
Flickered with a faint golden glow.
Something had changed.
Something dangerous.
And this time—
Even Li Tian didn't know what would happen next.
🔥 The Dragon's Ancestral Legacy 🔥