The rain did not stop.
If anything—
It grew heavier.
Li Tian ran through the darkness, his footsteps uneven, his breathing broken.
Each step felt like his legs were about to give out.
Behind him—
Voices.
Shouts.
"Spread out!"
"Don't let him escape!"
"They went this way!"
The hunt had begun.
Li Tian didn't look back.
He couldn't.
If he slowed even for a moment—
He would be caught.
The ground beneath him shifted.
From stone…
To mud.
From structured paths…
To wild terrain.
Trees rose around him.
Tall.
Dark.
Silent.
The forest.
Li Tian stumbled as he crossed into it.
Branches scratched his skin.
Thorns tore his clothes.
The ground was uneven, slippery with rain.
Perfect place to hide.
Perfect place to die.
He pushed forward.
Deeper.
Further away from the prison.
The system flickered weakly.
[Host condition: deteriorating]
[Blood energy: critically low]
[Warning: collapse imminent]
Li Tian gritted his teeth.
"Not yet…"
He whispered.
"Not here…"
His vision blurred.
Dark spots formed at the edges.
His body had reached its limit long ago.
Everything after this—
Was just force.
Just will.
Then—
A sound.
Low.
Deep.
A growl.
Li Tian froze.
His heart skipped a beat.
Slowly—
He turned his head.
Two glowing eyes stared back at him from the darkness.
Yellow.
Hungry.
A beast.
A large one.
Its shape slowly emerged from the shadows.
A wolf.
But bigger.
Thicker.
Muscles coiled beneath wet fur.
This wasn't a normal animal.
This was a spirit beast.
Li Tian's grip tightened on the sword.
"Great…"
He muttered weakly.
"Of all times…"
The wolf stepped forward slowly.
Its eyes locked onto him.
Not afraid.
Not hesitant.
Predator.
Sensing weakness.
Li Tian took a step back.
His leg slipped slightly in the mud.
Bad.
Very bad.
The wolf lunged.
Fast.
Too fast.
Li Tian barely reacted.
He raised his sword instinctively.
CLANG!
The impact sent him crashing backward.
His arms went numb.
The sword almost flew out of his hand.
Too strong…
Stronger than the guards…
He tried to stand.
His legs shook violently.
The wolf circled him.
Patient.
Watching.
Waiting for the right moment.
Li Tian's breathing grew heavier.
His chest burned.
If this continues—
I die here…
No guards needed.
No Zhao Yun.
Just… this beast.
The system flickered.
[Blood essence detected: high-grade]
[Suggestion: absorb for rapid enhancement]
Li Tian's eyes narrowed.
High-grade…?
This beast's blood?
That means—
More power.
But also—
A bigger price.
He clenched his jaw.
Everything here had a price.
Every step forward cost him something.
But stopping—
Cost everything.
The wolf lunged again.
Li Tian didn't retreat this time.
He stepped forward.
At the last moment—
He twisted his body.
The wolf's claws tore across his side.
Blood sprayed.
Pain exploded.
But—
He was inside its range.
Too close.
He drove the sword upward.
The blade pierced into the wolf's shoulder.
The beast howled in rage.
Its body slammed into him.
Both crashed to the ground.
Mud and blood mixed.
The wolf snapped its jaws—
Right beside his neck.
Li Tian grabbed its throat instinctively.
Struggling.
Losing.
It was stronger.
He could feel it.
His arms trembled.
His grip slipping.
No…
I can't overpower it…
Then—
Don't.
Li Tian shifted his body slightly.
Ignoring the tearing pain in his wounds.
He pulled the wolf closer—
And bit down.
Hard.
Into its neck.
Warm blood flooded his mouth.
Hot.
Wild.
Different.
The system reacted violently.
[High-grade blood detected]
[Absorbing…]
A surge exploded inside him.
Stronger than before.
Much stronger.
"AGHH—!"
Li Tian screamed.
His veins burned.
His muscles tightened.
His vision sharpened.
The world slowed.
The wolf struggled violently.
But Li Tian didn't let go.
He held on—
Until the beast weakened.
Then—
He drove the sword deeper.
Straight into its throat.
THUD.
The wolf's body jerked—
Then went still.
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Li Tian released it.
Falling back onto the mud.
His chest rose rapidly.
His body shaking uncontrollably.
The power—
Was fading again.
But the cost—
Remained.
His wounds burned.
Worse than before.
His breathing was unstable.
His head spun.
Too much…
This is too much…
The system flickered again.
[Blood essence absorbed]
[Temporary enhancement ended]
[Host damage increased]
Of course…
Always like this…
He tried to stand—
But his legs gave out.
He dropped again.
"No…"
Not here…
Not now…
Then—
Voices.
Distant.
But getting closer.
"He ran into the forest!"
"Spread out!"
Li Tian's eyes widened slightly.
Still chasing…
Even now…
He forced himself up.
Barely.
His body swayed.
His vision darkened again.
The system pulsed one more time.
[New mutation detected]
[Dragon Blood adapting…]
Mutation…?
Before he could understand—
A sharp pain struck his chest.
He gasped.
Something… was changing.
Not fully.
Not yet.
But something had begun.
And he didn't know—
Whether it would save him…
Or kill him faster.
The forest grew darker.
The rain grew heavier.
And somewhere within that darkness—
Li Tian stumbled forward.
Half-dead.
Half-awakened.
And still being hunted.
🔥 The Dragon's Ancestral Legacy 🔥