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墨書 Inktalez
Zhang Bailun, at the age of three hundred and twenty-one, had been promoted to Blood Count fifty years ago. He specialized in Dark Magic, with some knowledge of Nature Magic as well. In his youth, he was a renowned Martial Artist who traveled the world, making him one of the top warriors among demons. He had once joined the International Demon Alliance but withdrew from the organization after being elevated to a count, instead taking on a family role within the Dark Council.
On paper, Zhang Bailun seemed quite ordinary. For a demon, his experiences were unremarkable, lacking any noteworthy achievements or reputation in the demon world.
When Zhang Bailun formally challenged Fang Lin Kong, his reasoning was not without flaws. Fang Lin Kong's involvement in the Thomas Incident was merely a trigger. Observing that the Blood Princes remained silent, Prince Oshir simply shrugged elegantly and returned to his seat. Fang Lin Kong knew that the moment had come to verify whether he was worthy of being considered a guest of the blood clan.
Arlen Xuding Si's subordinates served as affiliates, and the six masters of the Holy Flame Knight Order were no ordinary figures. Liexiezi proved his qualifications through his own strength, demonstrating that he not only met the requirements but exceeded them.
As a human of such young age and with little fame, Fang Lin Kong had long been a source of dissatisfaction for the elder blood clan members who valued rank and experience. Seizing this opportunity, they immediately instructed Zhang Bailun to make good use of it. The position of guest in the blood clan was not something just anyone could occupy.
The Azure Sky Ancestor glanced at Liexiezi and noticed his disciple wearing a mocking smile, clearly not intending to stop the impending battle. To someone of his extraordinary caliber, a blood count held little more status than an ant. He had great confidence in Fang Lin Kong's abilities.
As the person involved, Fang Lin Kong looked around awkwardly before finally realizing that he could rely on no one but himself. He boldly stepped forward and addressed Zhang Bailun, saying, "I wonder how this esteemed blood clan friend plans to assess my qualifications?"
Zhang Bailun's expression remained cold; as a high-ranking blood clan member, he exuded an impressive demeanor. Coupled with his icy composure from afar, he possessed an irresistible charm that spoke of an indescribable masculine allure. He pointed lightly at the Eternal Tree and coldly stated, "If Mr. Fang Lin Kong is willing, we can have a duel up there so our blood clan brethren can witness the strength of our invited guest."
Fang Lin Kong paid little mind to this veiled mockery. With a grin, he replied, "This is your Bloodline Century War battlefield! If I go up there and win once, will I not earn a title?"
An elder from the Demon Faction suddenly interjected, "If Mr. Fang Lin Kong can defeat Zhang Bailun, I would be willing to grant you the title of Blood Count on behalf of my family. If you fail, please vacate your guest seat; we will arrange an appropriate viewing position for you as you remain our guest."
Neither Azure Sky Ancestor nor Liexiezi were individuals to be trifled with; even the typically arrogant blood clan members from the Demon Faction dared not offend such powerful beings. Prince Oshir initially intended to speak but fell silent after glancing at Azure Sky Ancestor and feeling a slight shift within himself.
"Blood Count is quite a nice title! I just wonder if it conflicts with that three-star Demon Hunter License! Who cares!"
After contemplating for a moment, Fang Lin Kong quickly set aside his worries, adjusted his clothing, and confidently strode out of Azure Sky Ancestor's small palace.
Zhang Bailun spread his arms and slowly floated into the air, heading towards the crown of the Eternal Tree. Fang Lin Kong was not to be outdone; he lightly stepped off the ground and soared upwards.
As the elders' floating palace ascended once more, a massive and efficient sound transmission system began broadcasting the latest developments to the entire venue.
"In order to strengthen friendly relations with the International Demon Alliance, our guest Mr. Fang Lin Kong intends to apply for a title within our bloodline. The examination will be presided over by Count Zhang Bailun. As one of the largest members of the Dark Council, accepting beings from other races into our bloodline has been a long-standing tradition. In the past fifty years, seven friends have joined this ancient family..."
For diplomatic reasons, the bloodline's Princes did not disclose the truth, allowing Fang Lin Kong to save face. However, among the young bloodline members watching, almost everyone knew this was merely for show.
Fang Lin Kong had recently made significant progress in his abilities; he had already mastered the Wind Riding Technique to the tenth level. If given a few more years, breaking through to the highest twelfth level would only be a matter of time. Although Zhang Bailun was a Blood Count with exceptional Floating Technique skills, he ultimately lagged behind Fang Lin Kong in speed. Despite starting first, by halfway up the Eternal Tree, Fang Lin Kong had already surpassed Zhang Bailun and ascended ahead of him.
When Fang Lin Kong stepped onto the crown of the Eternal Tree, he was greeted by a dueling arena larger than any Olympic stadium, sending a rush of excitement through his veins. Throughout its growth, the Eternal Tree had accumulated countless sediments and stones; even on its crown, there was a small peak whose origin was unknown. The entire crown resembled a massive island. After careful organization and renovation by the bloodline, it became suitable for all types of combat.
Though Zhang Bailun lagged behind, it did not affect his emotions in any way. Following Fang Lin Kong, he silently stepped onto the battlefield atop the Eternal Tree; his black tailcoat billowed in the wind as pure darkness enveloped dozens of meters of ground around him.
"Oh! Count Zhang Bailun possesses such pure dark energy; is he really just a count? I bet that human boy will definitely lose!"
Lilith heard murmurs around her and felt an inexplicable sense of worry. She sensed that while Zhang Bailun's aura wasn't overwhelmingly strong, there was an indescribable pressure that sent chills down her spine.
"If I were to confront such an enemy, defeat would be inevitable!" This thought suddenly sprang to Lilith's mind.
As Fang Lin Kong's opponent, his feelings were even more profound than Lilith's. Zhang Bailun must be hiding some power; this realization caused the refreshing young man to smile subtly at the corners of his mouth without raising further concerns.
The two stood at a distance on the Eternal Tree, each preparing for battle in their own way. Fang Lin Kong feigned friendliness as he called out, "Count Zhang Bailun, may I ask what type of combat you excel in? Close combat? Or perhaps Grass-Soaring Treasure? Or long-range attacks like Psycho Gun..."
In response to Fang Lin Kong's question, Zhang Bailun's tone was icy but serious as he replied.
"I excel in martial arts, and if you don't mind, I would like to have a duel between knights."
Fang Lin Kong chuckled and said, "I welcome this kind of combat. May I ask what weapon you prefer, or do you prefer unarmed combat?"
Zhang Bailun flicked his fingers lightly, and dark energy flowed like droplets in his palm, extending into a slender two-meter-long Stiletto. With a casual swing, he performed the most formal classical court etiquette of Europe. The sharp sound of the Stiletto slicing through the air was like firecrackers, crackling loudly.
"How interesting that someone with a surname would respond to me with action! However, a weapon formed purely from condensed energy doesn't seem to be a Western fighting style. I can do that too!"
Fang Lin Kong spread his palm, and the true energy within transformed rapidly. Finally, a ball of black flame surged into existence. He smiled slightly and said, "I think it would be more appropriate to use this internationally popular dark energy for our battle. The Black Flame of the True Flame Sect is quite powerful."
With Fang Lin Kong's declaration, the Black Flame gradually elongated and condensed into a pitch-black spear. The spear, over five meters long, appeared solid despite being formed from vibrant flames, exuding an intense killing intent that pierced through to the bone. The nearly half-meter-long spear tip formed a perfect cone.
Fang Lin Kong's display immediately drew gasps of surprise from the young vampires present. The True Flame Sect had been gaining significant attention internationally lately, with Camberto at the forefront. After the internal division of the International Demon Alliance, the True Flame Sect expanded its influence aggressively. With Zhou Qingzhe and Zhang Rongying's tacit approval, the True Flame Sect's development in the Asia-Pacific region was rapid, even extending its reach into Europe and Africa. Although there had been some friction between the Dark Council and the True Flame Sect, there had been no overt conflict yet. Fang Lin Kong revealing his Black Flame spear only added to the speculation.
Zhang Bailun's expression grew serious as his slender Stiletto trembled continuously. He had previously fought against members of the True Flame Sect and understood the terror of the Black Flame well. Fang Lin Kong's Black Fire Spear was more than twice the length of his Stiletto; however, engaging in close combat was not an option. Since Fang Lin Kong could condense a Black Flame spear, it stood to reason that he could easily create a simpler Black Flame curved blade as well. An inch longer means greater strength; an inch shorter means greater danger! The classic principles of martial arts did not apply when dealing with supernatural powers.
Fang Lin Kong slowly raised his Black Fire Spear, arrogantly pointing it at Zhang Bailun. This haughty posture instantly stirred up a commotion among the young vampires watching. Only those seated among the elders could truly appreciate how accurate Fang Lin Kong's strategy was.
Zhang Bailun's Stiletto measured two meters in length—far beyond what one would consider a short weapon—and combined with its vacuum blade cutting through air and the condensed demonic energy slash, its attack range could cover the entire Eternal Tree Battlefield. With Fang Lin Kong acting secondarily, trying to regain control under Zhang Bailun's hand meant that no matter what weapon he used, he would be at a disadvantage.
Fang Lin Kong brandished his Black Fire Spear to showcase his strength. His underlying message was clear: "I too can form energy weapons at will; regardless of how the battle changes, I have means to adapt."
Despite appearing to hold all advantages, Fang Lin Kong's full-force expansion contrasted sharply with Zhang Bailun's steadfast defense of inner energy and true demonic power consumption. As long as Zhang Bailun could endure, he would naturally be able to turn the tide of battle.
"Such a boring old man!"
Fang Lin Kong was not afraid of the massive consumption of his vital energy. For someone like him, who could communicate with the heavens and earth through Vitality, maintaining this pressure for a year and a half was absolutely not a problem. However, although Zhang Bailun was at a disadvantage in terms of momentum, he was not in a desperate situation. Unless Fang Lin Kong could force Zhang Bailun to act out of desperation, he would have to seize the opportunity to attack first, even if it meant risking failure.
Fang Lin Kong withdrew his Black Fire Spear behind his back. After pretending to be a master and failing, he finally decided to engage earnestly in this decisive battle.
"Hey! This human boy has some skill!"
As Fang Lin Kong retracted the Black Fire Spear, his imposing aura suddenly vanished. Zhang Bailun felt as if he were a sailor on the sea, suddenly finding all the water had disappeared, leaving him floundering in the air in a comical manner. This action from Fang Lin Kong made Zhang Bailun secretly admire him; he had almost been provoked into making a move during the ebb and flow of their momentum.
With Zhang Bailun's spirit slightly relaxed, the myriad spear shadows conjured by Fang Lin Kong came crashing down like an overwhelming tide. Fang Lin Kong practiced Xian Dao martial arts but had never truly experienced a contest before. His usual battles relied on powerful spells with long-range attacks. Even when fighting within the Ancient God Chaos, he primarily used Xian Dao martial arts to complement close combat.
It was rare to have a martial arts expert like Zhang Bailun as an opponent, and Fang Lin Kong's heroism, cultivated by countless martial arts novels since childhood, surged to its peak. His spear techniques were executed flawlessly as he completely forgot about the earlier setback in their contest of wills.
Zhang Bailun faced such formidable spear techniques with his slender stiletto angled toward the ground, continuously retreating. In his eyes was not panic or fear but rather a hint of appreciation.
"Only an opponent like this is worthy of my effort. The elders have underestimated this human boy!"
Though the canopy of the Eternal Tree was vast, it ultimately had its limits. In an instant, Fang Lin Kong unleashed one thousand one hundred sixty-five piercing strikes, pushing the unique characteristics of his Black Fire Spear to unprecedented heights. His spear techniques were half taught by Wen Zhongda and half honed in life-and-death battles against the Azure Deity Sage within Ancient God Chaos. The martial skills of Kunlun Celestial Path were among the best even within Eastern Immortal Path, possessing profound and unfathomable intricacies.
Zhang Bailun was well-versed in various combat techniques from around the world, including demon clan battle skills, Chinese martial arts, Muay Thai, Indian jiu-jitsu, and more. His understanding of martial arts had reached Grandmaster level. However, facing Fang Lin Kong's torrential barrage of spear shadows left him with no choice but to retreat. It wasn't until Zhang Bailun found himself at the edge of the Eternal Tree's canopy that he could retreat no further; he let out a low growl and struck out with a punch, searching for Fang Lin Kong's true form amidst countless spear shadows and bracing himself for impact.
At this moment in their battle, Fang Lin Kong finally had the opportunity to clash directly with Zhang Bailun, and he was naturally exhilarated. Channeling energy into his Black Fire Spear and confident in its sinister power from True Flame Sect, he abandoned all variations in an instant. In what seemed like an impossible situation, he adjusted the Black Fire Spear to an absolutely balanced horizontal line and launched a strike that shook the heavens.
Zhang Bailun's fist collided with the Black Fire Spear, leaving all the young blood clan spectators dumbfounded and their thoughts frozen. Even Liexiezi and Azure Sky Ancestor couldn't help but focus their attention on the two fighters.
Fang Lin Kong, who had been confident in the power of the Black Flame, found himself witnessing an unbelievable scene in the next moment. The sharp and sinister Black Fire Spear seemed to crumble under Zhang Bailun's fist, melting away like snow. A force he had never encountered before disassembled the energy that made up the Black Flame into harmless, scattered Vitality.
“How could such an incredible thing happen in this world?”
Confronted with such a strange turn of events, Fang Lin Kong swung his empty left hand, slicing through his own condensed Black Fire Spear with a blade of energy. After dismantling the front half of the Black Fire Spear, Zhang Bailun's unusual fist technique failed to extend further and paused momentarily. Fang Lin Kong's feet trembled as he stomped the ground and retreated, temporarily alleviating the crisis.
“This human boy, you have earned my respect by forcing me to use this move. If you are willing to concede…”
Before Zhang Bailun could finish his sentence, Fang Lin Kong firmly refused.
“The battle has not officially begun; how could I concede? Let’s cut out the nonsense. Show me what you’ve got!”
Zhang Bailun smiled lightly and said, “The ability that just dispersed the Black Flame is something I have only recently mastered. If we continue fighting, I cannot guarantee that it will end without bloodshed!”
Fang Lin Kong rubbed his nose and replied nonchalantly, “Such techniques do not scare me. Without experience teetering between life and death, how can one call themselves a warrior? Strength is not everything that determines victory, Count Zhang Bailun!”
“Very well! Even if you lose this battle to me, I will still acknowledge your qualification as a guest of my clan on behalf of the Bloodline. Human boy, I am about to strike again; brace yourself!”
Zhang Bailun's slender Stiletto pointed diagonally at the ground before gently lifting it to point at Fang Lin Kong. The blade on his Stiletto suddenly became illusory. In that instant, it seemed as if half of the blade had vanished.
At that moment, someone finally recognized Zhang Bailun's combat technique, and a gasp echoed from the elder seats of the Bloodline.
(To be continued)
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