The deeper Caleb ventured into the Forsaken Hills, the more difficult the hunt became. The oppressive aura left behind by the Azure Gale-Wolf had turned the woods into a graveyard of silence. To find a worthy prize, Caleb had to push further into the treacherous terrain, navigating by the ancient methods of his house.

  He moved with a ghost’s tread. After several hundred meters, his nostrils flared. He sensed the thick scent of blood energy nearby.

  Dropping into a crouch, he parted a curtain of dense vines. There, he saw his first mark: a Dark-Metal Beast. It was a creature common to these peaks, its fur as tough as tempered wire and its hide a deep, burnished brown that shimmered like dark ore. Though it had short limbs, it was a creature of pure, crushing power.

  Though this Dark-Metal Beast was only at the Early-Stage of the Blood Condensation Realm, its hide was so dense that it was as dangerous as a mid-stage beast.

  Caleb didn't hesitate. He waited until the beast was distracted by its meal, then gathered his blood energy into his right fist. He lunged from behind a massive tree, his strike a blur of lethal precision.

  CRACK.

  His fist, reinforced by the Sanguine Tide, slammed into the beast’s neck. The Dark-Metal Beast was sent flying, snapping a small tree before skidding through the mud. It tried to rise, but the blow had shattered its spine. With a second, clinical strike, Caleb ended its struggle.

  He didn't celebrate. Instead, he pulled a small vial of Wood-Lotus Powder from his belt and sprinkled it over the carcass to mask the scent of fresh blood. After concealing the body with brush, he moved on.

  Ten minutes later, Caleb stopped again. This time, his expression grew solemn.

  In a clearing ahead lay the Giant Tiger he had seen the day before. The beast was a Late-Stage Blood Condensation monster—Caleb’s equal in rank. But the "King of the Ravine" was in a wretched state. Its right hind leg bore a deep, jagged furrow—a claw mark from the Gale-Wolf.

  Caleb saw an opportunity. A healthy tiger was a gamble, but a wounded one was a gift for his starving clan. This single beast could feed the House for three days and provide enough essence to help the younger warriors break through their bottlenecks.

  He tried to sneak closer, but the tiger was no common beast. It sensed him instantly, its golden eyes locking onto his position.

  Caleb stepped out from the shadows, his blood energy humming. The tiger didn't roar; it simply rose to its three good feet, its claws sinking into the earth like obsidian daggers. Both predator and hunter stood their ground, searching for a single opening in the other’s stance.

  Chapter 26: The Emerald Shard

  The standoff was brief. The tiger, knowing it was at a disadvantage, struck first with a desperate ferocity. Caleb met the charge head-on, his movements fluid and sharp. After a grueling exchange of steel and claw, Caleb found his opening. He channeled the full force of his blood energy into a final strike, ending the tiger’s life.

  Caleb leaned against a boulder, his chest heaving. He was battered and his energy was depleted, but the prize was won.

  Then, the world went cold.

  The forest fell into a silence so absolute it felt like a physical weight. The smell of blood was suddenly drowned out by the sharp scent of ozone.

  Caleb’s heart froze. He turned slowly to see a silver-furred nightmare emerging from the mist. The Azure Gale-Wolf.

  The Silver-Rank predator looked at Caleb with eyes of frozen ice. It didn't care about the tiger; it saw only a weak human encroaching on its domain. With a flick of its paw, the wolf sent a blade of wind tearing through the air. Caleb barely dodged, the shockwave slamming him into a tree and cracking his ribs.

  As the wolf stepped forward for the kill, Caleb reached into his tunic with trembling fingers. He pulled out the jade-like leaf York had given him.

  How do I use this? he wondered frantically.

  With no other choice, he crushed the leaf.

  Instantly, a violent surge of vitality erupted from the shattered fragment, pouring into his body like molten gold. Caleb’s blood boiled. His wounds closed in heartbeats, and his strength didn't just return—it surged beyond its limits. For a fleeting moment, he felt as though he had stepped past the threshold of the Blood Condensation rank.

  The wolf paused, sensing the sudden, unnatural spike in the human’s power.

  Caleb stood tall, his eyes glowing with a fierce emerald light. He didn't attack. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a second leaf—a common, withered leaf he had snatched from the ground—and held it up with a cold, confident smirk.

  The wolf hesitated. It was an intelligent creature, and it didn't know how many more "blessings" this human possessed.

  Suddenly, a long, mournful howl echoed from deep within the mountains. The Gale-Wolf’s ears twitched. It glanced at Caleb one last time, then turned and vanished into the darkness, retreating toward the source of the call.

  Caleb let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. The surge of power began to fade as quickly as it had come. He didn't waste a second. He hoisted the tiger’s massive carcass onto one shoulder and grabbed the Dark-Metal Beast with his other hand, racing back toward the hidden tunnel.

  On his way back, Caleb did not forget to retrieve the Dark-Metal Beast he had hidden earlier. Under normal circumstances, he might have struggled to carry two such massive prizes after a grueling battle, but having absorbed the essence of the Wood-Lotus leaf, he felt an inexhaustible strength coursing through him, allowing him to move as swiftly as the wind.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  By the time Caleb reached the Sanctum, the borrowed power had completely vanished. He collapsed onto the stone floor, his body screaming in protest as his old wounds reopened.

  Lord Silas rushed forward, his face pale. "Caleb! You’re hurt!"

  "It’s nothing," Caleb wheezed, gesturing to the two massive beasts he had dragged in. "The meat... and the essence for the tree."

  Silas looked at the Giant Tiger in shock. "A Late-Stage beast? You actually did it."

  Caleb looked up at the Ancient Yew, his gaze complex. He told his father about the encounter with the wolf and the miraculous effect of the leaf. Silas listened with tears of gratitude in his eyes, bowing low toward the tree.

  "The Guardian has truly looked after us," Silas whispered.

  Caleb tried to stand, but his legs buckled. He looked at the tree, and for the first time, there was a hint of genuine respect in his eyes. "I’m going to rest and recover," he muttered.

  High above, York watched the exhausted youth. He felt a sense of satisfaction. The Sylvan Shroud had worked perfectly, and the return on his vitality was sitting right there on the floor in the form of two high-quality carcasses.

  You did well, brat, York thought.

  He didn't let Caleb leave in pain. As the young warrior turned to go, York shook his branches. A few shimmering green motes of light drifted down, sinking into Caleb’s back. The stinging pain of his cracked ribs vanished instantly, replaced by a soothing warmth.

  Caleb paused, feeling the sudden healing. He didn't say anything, but he gave the tree a short, silent nod before disappearing into the manor.

  Silas watched his son leave, then turned back to York, his heart full of hope. "The balance is shifting," he murmured to the silver leaves. "With your protection, perhaps the Thornes will not fall after all."

  Caleb hurriedly pulled the jade-like leaf from his tunic. The movement caused the Azure Gale-Wolf to pause. Wolves were naturally suspicious, and even after reaching the Silver Rank (The Ascendant Realm), this trait only intensified. It watched intently, wondering why this human would produce a seemingly ordinary leaf at the brink of death.

  Caleb stared at the leaf, momentarily confused. How do I use this?

  Without a second thought, he crushed it and swallowed the pulp.

  In that instant, a massive surge of Blood Energy erupted from the leaf, flooding into Caleb’s body. Both man and beast were stunned. As the energy coursed through him, Caleb felt his blood boil. His injured body suddenly exploded with its ultimate potential.

  In a heartbeat, his internal circulation returned to normal. Not only that, but his blood felt thicker and more potent, as if he had taken a significant step forward within the Late-Stage of Blood Condensation. His eyes shone with a fierce light, and a powerful fighting spirit erupted as he glared at the wolf.

  The Gale-Wolf stood its ground, baffled. It could not understand how a dying man could recover and grow stronger in an instant. However, the gap between them was not something a single leaf could bridge. Sensing the human was still fundamentally weaker, the wolf prepared to strike again.

  But then, Caleb produced another leaf in his hand.

  The wolf hesitated. It didn't know how many more of these "blessings" the human possessed. Just then, a long, piercing howl echoed from the distance. The wolf’s expression shifted. It cast one last lingering look at Caleb before slowly retreating into the dark forest.

  As the wolf vanished, Caleb let out a breath of pure relief. He wasn't truly a match for a Silver-Rank beast. He tossed away the leaf in his hand—it was just a common leaf he had plucked at random to bluff his way out.

  To avoid the wolf’s return, Caleb didn't linger. He hoisted the Giant Tiger’s carcass onto his shoulders, retrieved the hidden Dark-Metal Beast, and raced toward the secret tunnel. With the power of the leaf still coursing through him, he felt as light as a feather despite the heavy load.

  The moment he slid the stone slab back into place inside the Sanctum, the surging power vanished as if the source had been cut off. His blood energy plummeted back to its original state, and the pain from his wounds began to flare up again.

  "How is he not back yet?"

  In the Sanctum, Silas Thorne paced anxiously. York, the Guardian Tree, also felt a flicker of doubt. He had sensed the leaf being used half an hour ago. Did I not provide enough vitality?

  Finally, Caleb’s voice echoed from the tunnel. "Father, I’m back."

  Silas rushed forward as Caleb emerged, covered in blood and tattered clothes. "Caleb! You’re hurt!"

  "It’s nothing, just minor wounds," Caleb wheezed, dragging the two massive carcasses out.

  When Silas saw the Giant Tiger, he gasped. "A Late-Stage Blood Condensation beast?"

  Caleb nodded and recounted the encounter with the Gale-Wolf. Silas was filled with awe and gratitude. "It is the Guardian’s blessing. If the tree can provide more of these leaves, our House might not only survive but strike back."

  Caleb turned to leave to tend to his wounds, but then he paused, looking at the tree expectantly.

  York, sensing the "hint," gave a mental sigh. Fine, since you brought back such a good harvest. He shook his branches, and several motes of green light drifted down, sinking into Caleb’s body. The pain vanished instantly. Caleb gave a silent, respectful nod and left the Sanctum.

  Darn, that cost me 0.4 Vitality. A whole night's work for nothing, York grumbled inwardly. But his attention soon shifted to the Giant Tiger. A Late-Stage beast would surely provide a massive amount of Blood Energy.

  Silas Thorne, meanwhile, was staring at the tree's leaves with a new light in his eyes. He knew the "blessings" were limited, but they were the key to their survival. Without hesitation, he personally sacrificed the Giant Tiger to the tree, keeping the Dark-Metal Beast as food for the clan.

  "Sensible," York thought as his roots pierced the earth to drink the tiger's blood.

  The energy was immense. York felt his Blood Energy points surging. When he checked his internal state, the numbers had shifted:

  Blood Energy: 20 (Convertible to Vitality)

  Spiritual Power: 6

  Deduction Points: 15

  The tiger had provided 20 points of Blood Energy and 5 points of Spiritual Power—far more than any previous prey.

  This time, York didn't choose to deduce new skills. He needed raw Vitality to fuel his existing powers. He converted all 20 points of Blood Energy into Vitality.

  His Vitality rose from 16.3 to 26.3.

  The ten-point increase didn't sprout new branches, but his roots expanded several meters further beneath the courtyard, and his leaves grew a deeper, more vibrant green. He felt stronger, more grounded.

  Shortly after, Silas approached the tree. They spent half an hour in a silent "negotiation." When Silas left the Sanctum, his face was set with grim determination. It was time for a final reckoning with House Lee.

  The next morning, a light rain began to fall. The Thorne clansmen patrolled with a new sense of resolve. By evening, the estate seemed eerily quiet, with only a few dim lamps flickering.

  House Lee

  "What do you mean they've disappeared?" Varick Lee barked, his brow furrowed.

  "My Lord," the scout reported, "since noon, the Thorne guards have vanished from the walls. No smoke from the kitchens, no movement at the gates. It’s as if the house is empty."

  Varick’s eyes snapped open. He crushed the prayer beads in his hand into dust. "The secret tunnel! I should have known!"

  He cursed his own patience. "They aren't starving; they’re evacuating! They’re taking the elderly and children through a hidden path. If they escape into the mountains, we'll never catch them."

  Varick stood up, his voice a roar. "Assemble everyone! Every warrior above the Mid-Stage of the Iron Rank! We attack the Thorne estate tonight! We will find that tunnel and burn them out!"

  The Lee family mobilized instantly. Thirty warriors gathered in the rain, led by three Late-Stage Blood Condensation masters. This overwhelming force marched through the mud, intent on ending the Thorne legacy once and for all.