The Bloodline Resonance Statues, guarded by this group, were quickly carried into the heart of the storm, covered by thick tarpaulins to brave the rain.

Wearing long rain boots, they splashed through one puddle after another filled with water, drawing curious glances from many townsfolk on the road, who stared oddly as they hurried toward the hurricane-like source of bloodline contamination, holding something beneath a tightly pulled tarpaulin like a banner.

Beside them, a faint white wall of mist revolved, blocking the incoming barrage of azure energy spheres.

“Hero, I didn’t expect you to have such a magical guardian beast. “

The coachman and the steward, shielding themselves under the enormous tarpaulin, were mentally reeling from shock.

The reason Yang Zicang had brought everyone along, except for the two old house owners, into the heart of the storm was his fear that, while he collected the bloodline miasma, the military outside would launch a sudden attack on the building nearest the barrier.

Moreover, journeying alone would leave him constantly worrying about a potential attack from the “Aetherial Realm. “

This seemingly ordinary world was far too dangerous.

The figure of the White Shadow Mind Dragon was reflected in their eyes—a silent deterrent cast by Yang Zicang. If any hidden enemies lurked nearby, they would at least recognize the terror of a psychic nightmare.

“Ahead is the source of the storm, ” Ebiser said, his heart swelling with endless elation. Hiring this “hero ” as a bodyguard at his daughter’s insistence had truly been the most correct choice.

Standing beside Yang Zicang, Qiao Bing remarked, “Brother Yang, this is your first time collecting bloodline energy, right? Want me to teach you how to do it? “

“How is it done? ” Yang Zicang admitted plainly that he had no idea how to use the Bloodline Resonance Statue.

“Normally, when facing a source of pollution, we first need to clear out anything that has an energy exchange with it—the monsters mutated by its influence. But if the source is already consciously willing to surrender its contaminated power, meaning it’s proactively rejecting that power internally, then we can directly absorb that part of it. “

As he spoke, Qiao Bing, who was running alongside, pointed at the arm-length statue in Yang Zicang’s hand.

“You should be able to bind with it, right? Try opening the first vacant pulse ring on it now. “

｛I begin attempting to activate the pulse ring.｝

｛Due to the absence of bloodline resonance, I am currently unable to make an active investment in it.｝

“What’s going on here? “

Yang Zicang had tried more than once, but had never succeeded. The people around him, especially Luna, who was clutching a bundle of luggage, watched his movements with curiosity and nervousness.

“Opening a pulse ring is different from a model, ” Qiao Bing explained. “The user needs to activate it using the Five Elemental Energies or another corresponding imprint from the ‘Sacred Origin Source Mark.’ Any similar secret technique you’ve trained in can trigger it, but don’t do that yet! “

Qiao Bing immediately stopped Yang Zicang, who was just about to release an elemental-based secret technique.

“This choice is critical. If you use a secret technique to trigger it, you’ll also get a response with this information, ” Qiao Bing said.

“What information? ” the coachman asked.

“It’s about the correspondence between the statue and the mark of the Sacred Origin Source. “

Before the others could ask further, Qiao Bing continued sternly:

“If you activate the Blood Circuit using the Five Elements, then the entire manifested power of this purified Ring of Bloodline will be related to the Five Elements. But if you activate it with another ‘Sacred Origin Source Imprint’, then these Blood Circuits will resonate with the ‘Sacred Origin Source’ of the imprint you used, and the bloodline power will also give birth to imprints attached to those powers. “

At this point in the explanation, two people in the team already felt a dawning realization.

“In other words, the same turbulent bloodline could manifest as turbulent fire and water composed of elements, or as a restorative-type turbulent current? “

Among the five, one person tugged at a corner of the canvas awning and, under the protection of the rotating White Shadow Thought-Dragon, also sighed in admiration:

“So that’s how it is! I’ve been wondering why the same bloodline could be used to create alchemical items and also produce restorative effects—it turns out it’s about using different imprints to make the statue accept the Blood Circuits! “

“That’s exactly right! “

Qiao Bing gave a firm thumbs-up and nodded in affirmation, then spoke:

“Speaking of which, I really wish I could have a Bloodline Resonance Statue that can communicate with a restorative-type mark! “

“What? “

Yang Zicang, who had been deep in thought, turned his head in surprise.

Qiao Bing sneered and said:

“Looks like our hero hasn’t heard of it. The restorative type is the most widely applicable, but unfortunately, those model abilities or secret techniques are rare and difficult to train! “

Yang Zicang was slightly stunned at first, then relaxed and said, “I see, so that’s how it is—does that also mean there are corresponding alchemy-related imprints? “

“Exactly right. ” Said another person from under the canvas:

“So, Mr. ‘Hero,’ if you want to contain this lineage while also harnessing its power to craft mystical items, treat injuries, or even commune with nature… hmm, word has it there’s something called the Source of the Holy Spirit Imprint. “

“Oh, is that so? First I’ve heard of it. What’s it called? ” Qiao Bing asked the man.

“I’m not sure either. Just heard it’s tied to communicating with all things—like telling a sapling to grow faster or making the wheat ripen a bit later. Minor stuff. “

Silent Night!

The moment that skill came to mind for Yang Zicang, he knew exactly what it was.

Plus… those vines in the Frequency-Lost Land, the ones that seemed impossible to kill, might well be linked to this imprint.

“Anyway, you should keep the details to yourself. We’re almost there. So, Hero, I’ve got a ‘liú lí/firing craft?’ Mist— style secret skill. It only recovers minor fatigue and little knocks, but it’s enough to earn feedback from the statue’s imprint. Want me to perform such an Enfeoffment of the Statue for you? “

“Mr. Hero! “

Suddenly, someone in the team called out. Lina, Kensuke the butler, and the others turned to look at the speaker, who was a little excited too:

“That reminds me—hadn’t Captain Ashis made us all practice some weird secret techniques before? “

“Ah… are you talking about that eye-heat training method. “

“What’s that, night vision? “

“More or less. But the range of vision is tiny, and everything looks blurry and gray. It can’t distinguish colors either, and to top it off, it’s a huge drain on the mind. So the rest of us thought it pretty useless; only A’Ye here insisted on practicing it and stuck with it. “

“So this is its real value! “

A’Ye, the one who had spoken first, said with some excitement at this point:

“‘Hero’ sir, if that’s the case, the secret technique I’ve been practicing should also be able to connect to some nameless ‘Source of the Holy Spirit,’ shouldn’t it? I’m not implying anything else. But if you, ‘Hero’ sir, are willing, I can help you activate the Mark as well. “

“Good heavens, could it be that mark of the Source of the Holy Spirit that can be communicated with, the one you mentioned before? “

“Both of these secret techniques are such rare and precious types. “

Lianna looked happily at Yang Zicang beside her. With these two people offering more options, she genuinely felt happy for him.

But no one expected that Yang Zicang would say such a thing…

“There’s no need, you two. “

“What? Are you planning to use an elemental-type secret technique to activate your Pulse Ringes? Hmm… although they’re common, still, they’re what most people use. It’s just… ” Qiao Bing sounded hesitant, like he wanted to say more.

Yang Zicang perfectly understood what Qiao Bing was implying—that he already possessed relatively strong strength, and that a standard strengthening combat boost from a Bloodline Statue might only be truly useful after activating a high number of rings.

“‘Hero’ sir, I won’t charge you for my help, ” A’Ye said.

Lianna also looked at him with a hint of worry, while Ebiser shot a warning look at the Coachman, who couldn’t contain himself and was about to interrupt:

“Respect the Mist Man’s choice. Everyone, quiet down and let Mr. ‘Hero’ think it over. “

“Thank you, ” these people were just too enthusiastic. Yang Zicang chuckled, “But there’s no need to think it over. I already possess all the esoteric techniques you mentioned. “

“Wha—what?! “

In the curtain of rain, the several people holding up the tarpaulin stared at Yang Zicang in shock.

This time, instead of silver-white zigzags racing from the hand gripping the statue, a refreshing aura surged from his body.

The two people closest to him immediately felt the ‘Hero’s’ demeanor become serene and gentle.

｛I have begun to circulate the Glaze Saeva Perception.｝

-｛Distributor May Valkyrie is observing my current experience.｝

｛Pure Energy Emblem is sensing my statue.｝

A vast and obscure stream of information pulsed from the statue and manifested within his mind. Because of this, Yang Zicang gained a deeper understanding of what Qiao Bing had just explained.

At this moment, his mind was already made up without any hesitation; he was going to choose the ‘Sacred Origin Source,’ related to bodily restoration, as his statue’s mark.

For right now, alchemy was something he could ask Tarkatan Taming to help with. Regarding the title “Communication with All Things, ” though alluring, choosing it blindly now felt like a gambler’s wager. He himself did not know for sure just how powerful an effect it truly had.

Therefore, by the process of elimination, choosing the Glaze-related mark was also a fairly wise and rational decision.

But speaking of that… Yang Zicang thought, there should be another significant possibility—in the true “Aether ” space, there might still be a mark related to “magic patterns. ” If he had any arcane skills in magic patterns right now, he might well choose that path instead!

-｛Distributor May.Valkyrie gave me a Neutral Review.｝

A neutral review! Gasping for breath, Yang Zicang and the others had already raced through a stretch of residential houses in the rain.

The vast half of the sky ahead was a deep azure storm; they could already feel the fierce wind whipping against their bodies.

｛I, the Great Quadrilateral, am I truly going to resonate with the “Acrylic Mark ” in order to imprint the Bloodline Resonance Statue?｝

For that instant, Yang Zicang hesitated.

He tried to switch his esoteric technique.

｛I, the Great Quadrilateral, begin activating Silent Night!｝

A chilling aura erupted from Yang Zicang, causing those around him to feel a numbing, sinister energy wash over their skin.

｛I, the Great Quadrilateral, begin communicating with the “Night-whisper Mark ” to imprint the Bloodline Resonance Statue!｝

-｛Distributor February.Di’an gave me a Favorable Review.｝

A flicker of joy passed over Yang Zicang’s face.

-｛Distributor May.Valkyrie gave me a Neutral Review.｝

The joy froze on Yang Zicang’s face—still no good…

-｛Distributor Loki.Tata Mingqi signals “spin the turntable. “｝

The group stopped in their tracks, staring at the young man from the Fogfolk standing in the center—a person who exuded an infinite sense of safety and steadfastness, as a different aura rippled through him once again.

Yang Zicang recalled a secret technique Boboli had brought this time.

《The Sacred Flame Demon-Subduing Art!》

Although this secret manual also corresponds to the fire element, after a few years of rudimentary cultivation, Yang Zicang discovered that it wasn’t like the “Blazing Sword Arts “, being pure blazing heat.

Instead, it was a different type of flame that could counter the soul fires of the skeletal beings, carrying a special, high-purity spiritual energy.

“Is this it? ” he murmured solemnly.

The men beneath the tarpaulin immediately sensed a faint, reassuring holy aura emanating from the Fogfolk man before them.

“T-the third special secret manual! ” A’Ye, who had originally intended to lend a hand, was now stunned.

｛I, the Great Quadrilateral, am to channel the ‘Dayblaze Imprint’ to brand the Bloodline Resonance Statue?｝

Yang Zicang’s eyes flashed.

I see, so they are a corresponding pair of Sacred Origin Source imprints!

• ｛Distributor Loki Tata Mingqi expresses his “dislike. “｝
• ｛Distributor February Di’an gave me a favorable review!｝

Another favorable review!

_｛Distributor May Valkyrie gave me a neutral review.｝

“……“

Taking a deep breath, Yang Zicang decided to go with the one corresponding to the “Glaze Saeva Perception ” secret manual; it would be the safer choice.

But just as he was about to reactivate the “Glaze Saeva Perception ” secret technique, he felt that since he had already tried these few types, he might as well take another look. Maybe the distributors would unanimously recommend that… the most common choice it would be!

｛The Great Quadrangle activated the Frost-Snow Sword Art…｝

• ｛Distributor Loki Tata Mingqi says “Lie down. “｝
• ｛Distributor February. Di’an gave me a Neutral Review!｝
• ｛Distributor May Valkyrie gave me a Neutral Review.｝

This time, even Mr. Di’an only gave a Neutral Review. Looks like this choice really is wrong!

Yang Zicang thought maliciously, even this distributor who knew little about the sea recognized the Elemental Type as a dime-a-dozen mark!

Then what else could it be…

Alchemy would work, but he didn’t have any secret technique for that, nor was he very interested in alchemy… Wait!

“I have a few alchemy formulas, ” he muttered to himself.

Under the tarpaulin, everyone turned toward the young man’s mouth, witnessing Kardun couldn’t help but stomp his right foot twice as the blood pollution storm grew increasingly violent.

• ｛Distributor Tata Mingqi gave me a Negative Review!｝
• ｛Distributor Di’an gave me a Favorable Review!｝
• ｛Distributor May Valkyrie gave me a Neutral Review.｝

Standing on the muddy ground, Yang Zicang heard these thoughts echo in his heart almost at the same instant.

He Yishu, whose pant legs were soaked by the rain from the side, asked:

“Buchen, is it because you have too many secret techniques that you don’t know which one to pick? “

-｛Distributor February. Di’an gave me a Neutral Review.｝

This silent voice abruptly rang out in He Yishu’s mind.

Before Yang Zicang could answer, he quickly withdrew his head and covered his mouth with his hand. “I’m fine, just take your time thinking.“

“Uh… hmm…” Yang Zicang nodded with a dry laugh, then turned his head back and furrowed his brow, staring at the statue in his hand.

“Forget it. No more choosing. It’ll be the Glaze Saeva Perception.“

-｛Distributor Tata Mingqi gave me a Neutral Review.｝

-｛Distributor Di’an gave me a Positive Review!｝

-｛Distributor May Valkyrie gave me a Neutral Review.｝

What! Yang Zicang nearly jumped. Was this Ms. Fu Jian messing with him?

This time, even Loki. Tata Mingqi gave him a Neutral Review…

Why?…

-｛Distributor Loki. Tata Mingqi implies “Spin the platter.“｝

-｛Distributor Tata Mingqi implies “Sleeping.“｝

What does this mean… Does “sleeping” mean back in the dream?…

-｛Distributor Tata Mingqi implies “Swing the sword.“｝

Yang Zicang’s eyes lit up in an instant—could it mean a secret technique he had already trained in?

It’s the other four secret technique books Boboli had brought him!

In a flash, he recalled that one secret technique he had cultivated for “many years,” yet in the final “few years” he’d neglected due to training other techniques and hadn’t found enough time to practice thoroughly.

“I should be able to barely manifest it!” Yang Zicang thought, not entirely certain.

His chest and abdomen rose and fell as he expelled a turbid breath.

｛I will now begin to exert myself and cycle the Guardian Black Tortoise Extermination.｝

All his aura converged as he stood rooted to the spot, unmoving.

“You people in there… Yang Buchen, hand over your weapons and the secret box and come out to surrender immediately! Otherwise, we will show no mercy! “

Yang Zicang turned his head slightly. Outside, the cannon was already aimed dead at them.

Mr. Ben’s heart thrilled. These fools had voluntarily walked deeper towards the storm! Was this not giving him the perfect chance to annihilate them all in one fell swoop!